So last night, I had this huge explosion of creativity at 11:00 pm, while trying to fall asleep. This explosion involved pizza boxes. I decided that I would use pizza boxes in various ways in my classroom! I love the idea of storing everything necessary for teaching a particular unit in one compact box: books, games, activities, and resources. The box can easily be labeled on any and all sides and stacked neatly ANYWHERE I need to store things in my classroom.
Also, I am very excited about creating learning centers for my classroom that are quick and easy to pull out and use, and then put away and replace with new centers. The boxes could be decorated on the outside with laminated pictures, and laminated directions could be placed under the lid for the students. All necessary center items would be enclosed within the box! I am toying with the idea of creating one new learning center a week, so that I end up with over 50 organized centers at my fingertips.
Another idea I found to use the pizza box is to create a portfolio for each student. The boxes would hold work for the entire year, and could easily be pulled out for parent teacher conferences.
My favorite part about pizza boxes (besides their low cost) is that they come in three sizes and can be stored horizontally or vertically. Pizza boxes of course can also be converted into awesome student solar ovens and green houses for science. I want to be as organized as possible, so I can dedicate my best energy to my students.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Field Trip
I am giddy over my field trip with the kids. I just hope I can find a way to share the video with the kids at school because it is such a large file.
I think I would like to plan about 4 field trips per year.
Saturdays only.
Small groups of about 7-10 kids.
I want to plan these trips around my students' interests and connect it to what we are learning in the classroom.
I want to post the trips at the beginning of the year and have my students "apply" for which field trip they think they should go on and why.
I want one parent volunteer per trip, and I want the trips to last about 4 hours total.
I want parents to drive the students and pick up the students, so they are invested in the day too, AND there will be no additional fees or hassle scheduling a bus.
I want my kids to do follow up projects after the trip that respond to their experience.
I like the small group idea because it allows for more time and attention, and my girls can be involved, which helps me be a better teacher and mother.
Ideas:
Lost River Survival Field Trip - this is perfect to connect to reading - Hatchet, Island of the Blue Dolphins, My Side of the Mountain and so on. This experience is good for boys and girls for sure. I was especially pleased with providing this experience for students who have NEVER been in the wilderness before. I allowed them to really experience the woods. This took much prayer and breath holding. They climbed rocks and logs, jumped streams (in and over), and learned how to start fires with magnifying glasses in an emergency survival situation. Some of this made me nervous, but watching them learn in a way that is so natural for them was simply awe inspiring. Watching their faces as they viewed the entrance to Lost River Cave, put up tents, examined a real live bat hibernating, and made solar s'mores all for the first time was simply an experience I will cherish in my heart for the rest of my life!!
Fairview Cemetery Field Trip:
Math and Reading. Can you say endless scavenger hunt ideas?!!! I've done this in class - I already know what a blast they will have. They can collect evidence with grave rubbings as well. Perfect fall field trip and can be connected to local and state social studies units, math units, and I am sure a million other great ideas.
The Humane Society
Western Kentucky University
Chaney's Dairy Barn (Food origins, agriculture, entrepreneurship)
Disc Golf at the Soccer Complex (with an educational challenge at each hole)
I think I would like to plan about 4 field trips per year.
Saturdays only.
Small groups of about 7-10 kids.
I want to plan these trips around my students' interests and connect it to what we are learning in the classroom.
I want to post the trips at the beginning of the year and have my students "apply" for which field trip they think they should go on and why.
I want one parent volunteer per trip, and I want the trips to last about 4 hours total.
I want parents to drive the students and pick up the students, so they are invested in the day too, AND there will be no additional fees or hassle scheduling a bus.
I want my kids to do follow up projects after the trip that respond to their experience.
I like the small group idea because it allows for more time and attention, and my girls can be involved, which helps me be a better teacher and mother.
Ideas:
Lost River Survival Field Trip - this is perfect to connect to reading - Hatchet, Island of the Blue Dolphins, My Side of the Mountain and so on. This experience is good for boys and girls for sure. I was especially pleased with providing this experience for students who have NEVER been in the wilderness before. I allowed them to really experience the woods. This took much prayer and breath holding. They climbed rocks and logs, jumped streams (in and over), and learned how to start fires with magnifying glasses in an emergency survival situation. Some of this made me nervous, but watching them learn in a way that is so natural for them was simply awe inspiring. Watching their faces as they viewed the entrance to Lost River Cave, put up tents, examined a real live bat hibernating, and made solar s'mores all for the first time was simply an experience I will cherish in my heart for the rest of my life!!
Fairview Cemetery Field Trip:
Math and Reading. Can you say endless scavenger hunt ideas?!!! I've done this in class - I already know what a blast they will have. They can collect evidence with grave rubbings as well. Perfect fall field trip and can be connected to local and state social studies units, math units, and I am sure a million other great ideas.
The Humane Society
Western Kentucky University
Chaney's Dairy Barn (Food origins, agriculture, entrepreneurship)
Disc Golf at the Soccer Complex (with an educational challenge at each hole)
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Responsive Writing - Student Blogs
http://kidblog.org/home.php
This website is wonderful. You can set up an account for a teacher blog and then allow each of your students to set up their own blog, which only the teacher may view. Very, very handy.
Ideas:
Students write responses to guest speakers, events in the news, a class topic etc.
Writing prompts
Letters
The teacher is able to leave comments that are private for each student or public for the entire class. The teacher can offer suggestions on how to improve writing, ask for revisions in a new post from the student, and use all the writing as EVIDENCE for student learning.
I would probably use this on a rotating schedule with a weekly theme or question. 5-6 students per day write for 10 minutes in their blog, so that all students will have a blog entry by the end of the week. Or once per week in the computer lab or laptops in the room. Whatever works best.
This also eliminates the need for students to be responsible for another journal.
This website is wonderful. You can set up an account for a teacher blog and then allow each of your students to set up their own blog, which only the teacher may view. Very, very handy.
Ideas:
Students write responses to guest speakers, events in the news, a class topic etc.
Writing prompts
Letters
The teacher is able to leave comments that are private for each student or public for the entire class. The teacher can offer suggestions on how to improve writing, ask for revisions in a new post from the student, and use all the writing as EVIDENCE for student learning.
I would probably use this on a rotating schedule with a weekly theme or question. 5-6 students per day write for 10 minutes in their blog, so that all students will have a blog entry by the end of the week. Or once per week in the computer lab or laptops in the room. Whatever works best.
This also eliminates the need for students to be responsible for another journal.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Forward March
"I want to raise the bar for my students, so while their looking up at the bar, they notice the stars up there for them to reach." Mrs. O'Nan
I had some rough days with my kids this week. I had to get tough with three in particular. I need them to trust me, so I have to follow through and be consistent. They pushed the envelope, so I signed, sealed, and delivered their consequences. In the long run, I KNOW that I did the right thing, just hard in the moment.
My days were filled with some self-doubt and worry. I find myself constantly reviewing what I've done and questioning myself. I may be taking self-reflection a bit too far. So, I'm backing up a bit now and trying to recenter myself.
I am proud of how much I am making use of the little amount of time I am given. I finally found a way to have seven kids read to me, listen to the story, take a pre-test, and squeeze in Lexia over the course of 2 thirty minute periods. GEEZ!
I started tutoring J this week. His home life is AWFUL. I managed to have him reveal way more to me than he probably realized. I know we will make progress. I understand kids like J, and I work very well with them. Sometimes I question why I would want to knowing that he will be one of those kids headed to J.D. But I always want to fight for these kids who are so HARD HEADED and so beat down by poverty and parental drug abuse and neglect. They need some kind of window to let the light in. Even if its just to get their GED. At least if they ever hit a bottom from their self-destruction as young adults, they will have a platform to stand on. That's me: Platform Builder.
I probably come off as negative - but my heart sure doesn't feel negative. When I stop and think of all those kids in Alateen who had EVERY card stacked against them: genetics being the Ace of Addiction: I think of myself as a realist who better get in there and make a meaningful impact on their future lives before its too late. The ability to read and write AND know that someone cared enough about you to make sure you could do it, and do it well, could be a kid's deal breaker.
I had some rough days with my kids this week. I had to get tough with three in particular. I need them to trust me, so I have to follow through and be consistent. They pushed the envelope, so I signed, sealed, and delivered their consequences. In the long run, I KNOW that I did the right thing, just hard in the moment.
My days were filled with some self-doubt and worry. I find myself constantly reviewing what I've done and questioning myself. I may be taking self-reflection a bit too far. So, I'm backing up a bit now and trying to recenter myself.
I am proud of how much I am making use of the little amount of time I am given. I finally found a way to have seven kids read to me, listen to the story, take a pre-test, and squeeze in Lexia over the course of 2 thirty minute periods. GEEZ!
I started tutoring J this week. His home life is AWFUL. I managed to have him reveal way more to me than he probably realized. I know we will make progress. I understand kids like J, and I work very well with them. Sometimes I question why I would want to knowing that he will be one of those kids headed to J.D. But I always want to fight for these kids who are so HARD HEADED and so beat down by poverty and parental drug abuse and neglect. They need some kind of window to let the light in. Even if its just to get their GED. At least if they ever hit a bottom from their self-destruction as young adults, they will have a platform to stand on. That's me: Platform Builder.
I probably come off as negative - but my heart sure doesn't feel negative. When I stop and think of all those kids in Alateen who had EVERY card stacked against them: genetics being the Ace of Addiction: I think of myself as a realist who better get in there and make a meaningful impact on their future lives before its too late. The ability to read and write AND know that someone cared enough about you to make sure you could do it, and do it well, could be a kid's deal breaker.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
My Life, Day 2 as a REAL Teacher:
I am in love with life presently. I know this is ridiculous, but I am giddy over my bookshelf, my white board, my partition, my trash can (thank you Mr. Frank) and my eight little chairs. I love my teacher's edition, my pen with a flower on the end, and most, most, most of all my NEW STUDENTS. I have 3 K's and 7 5th graders. I pulled them into groups for the first time today. I have a little file for each, all their scores, and my own stash of tiger bucks to pass out for good behavior. This is like playing school, but way more serious because I am responsible for helping these kids get back on track in reading. I LOVE THIS!!! I love all the teachers who have been so helpful and welcoming. This is a very nice way to ease into a full blown teaching career. I get to practice with small groups and make a REAL difference in their lives. I cannot seem to express how excited, grateful, and happy I am at this moment.
Best thing of all, all day yesterday and today, people keep asking me, "Who are you here for?" I keep answering, "me!" and I keep thinking "my kids!" I have NEVER subbed for myself before now - pretty funny. I think I will be all official come Monday as the recommendation has already been put in.
Best thing of all, all day yesterday and today, people keep asking me, "Who are you here for?" I keep answering, "me!" and I keep thinking "my kids!" I have NEVER subbed for myself before now - pretty funny. I think I will be all official come Monday as the recommendation has already been put in.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Wow
Today while visiting the Warren County Board of Education, I noticed a framed teaching certificate from the early 1900's. This teacher's average testing score was an 88 percent. She was tested in about seven subject areas. Her "arithmetic" score was 66 percent. Sixty-Six. She was certified to teach in the state of Kentucky.
That One Moment
My SOE arrived by mail a couple of days ago. I felt so relieved and anxious all at once. I know someday I will look back at this part of my teaching journey and laugh at myself, but I must admit the unknown future is frustrating. So many possibilities, so many potential leads, so many folks e-mailing and texting about the "slight" chance that something will open up. I'm ready to teach. Now.
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