A Class Mascot? Sounds Great!
I love this piece. I had never thought of this before, but it is a great way to get the idea of responsibility and community into the classroom.
Suki Dothar recommends the use of class mascot rules. These rules can be used to encourage inclusion, integration and a sense of responsibility.
Ecosystem Diorama
The current, popular understanding of the term “diorama” denotes a partially three-dimensional, full-size replica or scale model of a landscape typically showing historical events, nature scenes or cityscapes, for purposes of education or entertainment.
That’s just what was proposed to the 4th grade class I am now with. I hope to put the rubric with this next week sometime. The kids in the three classes were asked to use the rubric and the information they had gained while discussing ecosystems and make their own dioramas. I think if you look at the video I have made (turn up your speakers), you will see they were stunning!
I enjoyed looking at them and discussing the ideas with the students. We went around like we were in a museum and looked at the other classes as well. Hope you enjoy them as much as I did, too bad you can’t hear the excitement of the kids as they looked at their classmates’ dioramas.
Best Free Software of 2009
You know I have heard that the best teachers share what they find. Well in that spirit I have a great find for all those
wanting to improve their “tech” life. Why recreate the wheel? I have been an avid reader of several “PC” magazines for many years and I love it when they do articles that spotlight things I can use. There are many times they show me things I might have wondered about, but didn’t know I could use until they did a big article on it. Well “PC MAGAZINE” did an article back in January 2009 that was “173 of the Best Software for 2009″. I just recently revisited it and thought I would pass it along to everyone. Hope you find as much GREAT stuff as I did.
- The article is here: Best Free Software of 2009
Our ASU Social Studies Curriculum Guide
Our Social Studies professor, Dr. Jenks, wanted us collectively to come up with something we could use when we begin teaching. He suggested we put together a Social Studies Curriculum Guide that would encompass all the Georgia Standards for Kindergarten through Fifth Grade.
Everyone was put into groups and assigned a certain grade level. They were to come up with lesson plans for each standard in the grade level they were assigned. I was chosen as the one to make sure that it all got put together so we could use it later on in our careers.
I figured as much as I hate lugging around computer peripherals such as Cd’s and/or flash drives, the best idea was to put it all in “The Cloud”. So that is just what I did. It took a while to get all the information uploaded and get a site together that would be easily accessible, but it is finally done.
The website for the curriculum guide is: www.asued2010.com
I bought the domain since we are ASU students in the Education field and we graduate in 2010. Hope you enjoy!
Kids are Funny!
Okay, the other day I was teaching a science lesson. We have been studying ecology and food webs…stuff like that. I looked in the science textbook they have and saw this neat little experiment. The experiment used bananas and yeast to do observations and determine if yeast affected the bananas.
I went through the explanation of how we were going to do an experiment and how we would be making observations along the way. I also talked about safety. How we should be careful with the knives (even though they were plastic) as we cut the bananas and also when opening the yeast packages with scissors. I said, “Now first shake the bag of yeast a little, like you would if you were making Kool-Ade. Make sure you get it all to the bottom of the package.” They did this and I said we were going to see if the yeast liked bananas. They looked at me weird and I said that the yeast was actually a living thing.
One little boy had shaken his package pretty hard and he said, “Oh No! I think I just killed mine!”
Gotta love it!!! 
An Ecology Lesson
Here are a few videos to use with an ecology unit lesson plan:
Began Teaching Today
Well today was my first day back in the class. I knew it would be a great day when several students yelled “You’re back!” and hugged me. I miss being in the classroom, but hey I have to jump through the hoops they want me to in order to get into the classroom right?
The kids were awaiting my arrival it seems. I heard they had asked several times when I would be back so that made it all the more important to get back to them…it is after all a great feeling to know they want you there and not just “putting up” with you.
My Master Teacher said “Hey are you ready to teach a little?” and I said yeah. So I was able to (beyond the one on one I usually do) go over the Math work with them. Thought it went well, since I was able to do a little “mini-lesson” with them while we were going over it. I got so involved I hoped I didn’t go to long, but Mrs. R said I hadn’t and everything went great.
Can’t wait to get more involved with teaching these kids, after all that’s why I am there, right? Each day makes me realize this is what I have always wanted to do! I love it!…however, I haven’t had to deal with the “politics” of teaching just yet. I dread the day when it becomes more than just dealing with the kids actually!
A Few Really Good Websites
Here is a list that I put together for one of my classes. It is a list of some really good resources that anyone can use.
List of Helpful Websites
This is a list of website that I think are helpful and beneficial to teachers. Although many would not at first thin of these sites, I hope that is a reason to consider them. This list is not always teacher specific, but I have created a list that I think is not only beneficial but also helpful to those who want to be EDUCATORS and not just teachers. (The titles ARE the links.)
1. PocketMod:
Even though this is what is called the “technology age”, there are times when one just wants a piece of folded paper with the information needed to make it through the day. PocketMod is the place to go. Here you will be able to download a very simple schematic on how to form this little book that will keep your day in check. There are even a few templates that you can place within that provide a few amazing minutes of fun to keep you occupied later in the day.
2. D*I*Y Planner:.
Yes we all want to keep up with the times and maintain our world with technology. However there are those who might see better with a pen and paper. This site not only provides templates to keep you organized, but provides articles to keep you organized. If you have ever wondered about the high cost of printed planners, this is the site to get to in order to download almost everything you have ever looked for in planners and calendars for everyday use.
3. WordPress:
There are those times when you want to be accessible to the parents of your students, but don’t want to have to answer questions one-on-one, perhaps it will help all students, perhaps it is something that affects all students, then again maybe it is something that all parents need to know. Well that is where the blog comes into play. Yeah you may be able to find a simple place to put all your classroom notes, but WordPress is probably the best. It has an easy set up (did I mention it was free?) and a place where even the simplest of forms can be placed. It is also a great way to get parents involved. Yes newsletters are perhaps important, but blogging is a step above. It is estimated that 89% of households have computer access so this is another avenue to get parents involved as well as a great “escape” for the students. List what you want, it is always free!
At Brainy Betty there are a host of downloads that will make you the talk of the _-grade hall. There are not only a lot of great things here but also those extras that you need to stay on top. There are free fonts for visuals as well as many education backgrounds for those special PowerPoint presentations you have been wanting to put together.
5. DropBox:
There are always those mornings when you get to class and remember that you left your thumb drive in your home computer usb port. Well those days are over. By signing up for a free account and downloading this application, a folder is placed on your desktop that when you save the document it is instantaneously saved online. When you get to an internet equipped computer you file is always there. This program is definitely worth the few minutes it takes to download the program. You may leave your flash drive at home from now on, on purpose.
6. Newspaper Producitons for Elementary Classes:
Newspaper production may be a thing of the past, but it is something that will get you kids excited they created. This website gives you the advice and the links to get your students excited about creating a newspaper for either the class or for the grade level. Is newspaper dying? Well not when a bunch of your students get excited about creating one!
7. OpenOffice:
OpenOffice is an opensource (that means FREE) program that replicates all that the pricey MS OFFICE has to offer. When you buy that new laptop to keep up on things, MS OFFICE is a major extra. This site offers a free download that gives you every application that Microsoft charges for….but for free. It is almost identical to Office, but there is a small learning curve that is easily overcome.
There are times when using technology can become cumbersome. Well this site not only lets you see what others are using, but it also provides a venue to ask questions and post those so others can help you overcome the deficiencies that you might be feeling. This is a great place to see all that other stuff those “smart” teachers are using and how easily you can join their ranks and be “smart” as well.
9. Techers.net:
Teachers.net is a great place to go. The best part is the chat board. Yes you may talk with the teachers around the water fountain, but how much better is it to talk with thousands of teachers around the U.S. that may have experiences that you can learn from. The best part I feel of this site is the availability to post in this chat log. There are probably already a few thoughts you have had posted before you knew you had them.
10. Education World:
Education World offers a great service to teachers. If I began to list what is available there I would take a page or two. There are specific calendars, awards, and many other free downloads. I have always wondered why people (teachers) try to reinvent the wheel when it comes to the everyday stuff…spend you time more productively by using what others have already created. It is time to become an EDUCATOR and not just a teacher.
A Great Resource
SchoolNotes.com is a great resource for teachers. Here is an example of what I set up.
A few images
Although it really has nothing to do with anything, except to get kids to laugh…here are a few images of me.
