Another part of our 4th/5th grade Give Back Club's "The world would be better if..." project, a couple of big bulletin boards everyone can write on.
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Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Give Back Club
Dear Resume,
Another part of our 4th/5th grade Give Back Club's "The world would be better if..." project, a couple of big bulletin boards everyone can write on.
Another part of our 4th/5th grade Give Back Club's "The world would be better if..." project, a couple of big bulletin boards everyone can write on.
Captive Classroom
Dear Resume,
Each morning I have duty at the food court where all K-5 wait for the bell to ring. They have to be there; I choose to be there, partly to help keep an eye on things and get the morning started smoothly and partly to pretend I'm a one room school teacher from days gone by. Some days I send them on a run, grade by grade, sometimes I start an art project/exhibit (see Football Art and Your Future) and we have a wonderful Clean Up Crew of 2nd grade volunteers (those middle schoolers before us sure make a mess!). The latest is a lesson in alliteration to name the recess basketball tournament teams, i.e. Dunking Donuts or Wonderful Wildcats. I keep it very casual, don't want to spook them with the idea they're learning something before the bell rings, but I've caught some groups talking about alliteration in store/company names, some making nonsense rhymes all with same letter, and others actually coming up with team names (but c'mon, Bouncing Butter?!?).
Each morning I have duty at the food court where all K-5 wait for the bell to ring. They have to be there; I choose to be there, partly to help keep an eye on things and get the morning started smoothly and partly to pretend I'm a one room school teacher from days gone by. Some days I send them on a run, grade by grade, sometimes I start an art project/exhibit (see Football Art and Your Future) and we have a wonderful Clean Up Crew of 2nd grade volunteers (those middle schoolers before us sure make a mess!). The latest is a lesson in alliteration to name the recess basketball tournament teams, i.e. Dunking Donuts or Wonderful Wildcats. I keep it very casual, don't want to spook them with the idea they're learning something before the bell rings, but I've caught some groups talking about alliteration in store/company names, some making nonsense rhymes all with same letter, and others actually coming up with team names (but c'mon, Bouncing Butter?!?).
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.1 Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.2.4 Describe how words and phrases (e.g., regular beats, alliteration, rhymes, repeated lines) supply rhythm and meaning in a story, poem, or song.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Clearing that Credential!
Dear Resume,
Class tonight. I still love being a student. Almost done with Year 1 of BTSA, next up is designing lessons and assessment, plus a couple more observations. I think the combination of focus on a single PE class plus the subbing at different grade levels has helped me to understand and put into practice the pedagogy concepts and techniques we're going over.
Class tonight. I still love being a student. Almost done with Year 1 of BTSA, next up is designing lessons and assessment, plus a couple more observations. I think the combination of focus on a single PE class plus the subbing at different grade levels has helped me to understand and put into practice the pedagogy concepts and techniques we're going over.
Friday, February 21, 2014
Everyday Object Art
Dear Resume,
Subbed in 3rd grade class today, did the Brainstorm activity and had a little time for Found Object Art while sending kids 2 by 2 to the nurse's office for head lice checks.
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Subbed in 3rd grade class today, did the Brainstorm activity and had a little time for Found Object Art while sending kids 2 by 2 to the nurse's office for head lice checks.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
English Teacher!
Dear Resume,
Spent the day as a middle school English Teacher (No, no Br'er Principal, don't throw me in that English class!), once again demonstrating my adaptability, versatility, and willingness to pitch in wherever needed.
On a side note, what's with Subs that never show up?
Spent the day as a middle school English Teacher (No, no Br'er Principal, don't throw me in that English class!), once again demonstrating my adaptability, versatility, and willingness to pitch in wherever needed.
On a side note, what's with Subs that never show up?
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Instagram Teaching
Dear Resume,
I set up an Instagram account today (mrnauton) as an experiment. When I take pictures of activities at school for the yearbook or for my bulletin boards, the students always ask if I'm on Facebook/Instagram/Vine/a new one every week that I haven't heard of yet. Of course I have no desire to share with the entire school the treasured photos of my goofy boys, our fat cat, or the burgers I eat, but if our students are using it to share and communicate maybe I can sneak a little education and inspiration in?
Right now it will be photos of places we go (museums and the like) or cool things we find (full moons, cool plants, the Lego Movie!) but when I have a classroom it could be used to flip a lesson, share favorite books, and for students to demonstrate learning.
I set up an Instagram account today (mrnauton) as an experiment. When I take pictures of activities at school for the yearbook or for my bulletin boards, the students always ask if I'm on Facebook/Instagram/Vine/a new one every week that I haven't heard of yet. Of course I have no desire to share with the entire school the treasured photos of my goofy boys, our fat cat, or the burgers I eat, but if our students are using it to share and communicate maybe I can sneak a little education and inspiration in?
Right now it will be photos of places we go (museums and the like) or cool things we find (full moons, cool plants, the Lego Movie!) but when I have a classroom it could be used to flip a lesson, share favorite books, and for students to demonstrate learning.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
The world would be better if...
Dear Resume,
Chalk art was a success, yearbook staff came out and took pictures, middle school ASB added a lot of quality work. I couldn't find a ladder tall enough to get it all in! Now it can rain.
Chalk art was a success, yearbook staff came out and took pictures, middle school ASB added a lot of quality work. I couldn't find a ladder tall enough to get it all in! Now it can rain.
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| The world would be better if... |
Monday, February 10, 2014
Give Back Club
Dear Resume,
Give Back Club started on the World be better... chalk art. Invited all the other classes to come add their thoughts and ideas.
Give Back Club started on the World be better... chalk art. Invited all the other classes to come add their thoughts and ideas.
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Brainstorm Lesson
Dear Resume,
The concept for this mini-lesson was the Doodle 4 Google competition and the clever art of Javier Perez, who uses everyday objects in drawings. Each table group blindly chose an object (cork, battery, rubber band, hair clip, bottle cap, q-tip, Lego) and quickly discussed what other uses for the object they could come up with -- creativity counts! Set the timer for 1 minute then they traded for another object. Their goal was to listen to group member's ideas and build upon those ideas, working together to list as many uses as possible in the short time.
At the end of the day we went back to the brainstorm activity, this time each student chose an item and made a drawing around it (a straw became a periscope, a shell a pirate's eye patch, etc). I showed their art under the docucam and they traded for other items. Many thanks to Mr. Perez for his inspiration, the students loved his art!
Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures of the students' work. Some were very creative!
Teachers usually leave a long list of things to do and a note saying "You won't finish it all, that's ok!" but I always manage to finish it all... do I teach too fast? Actually I think I rarely have student or time management issues, so we get quickly into the lessons. I always have a book I can read to them (Roald Dahl, The Wayside School) or a quick project such as this brainstorm one.
Common Core Standards:
The concept for this mini-lesson was the Doodle 4 Google competition and the clever art of Javier Perez, who uses everyday objects in drawings. Each table group blindly chose an object (cork, battery, rubber band, hair clip, bottle cap, q-tip, Lego) and quickly discussed what other uses for the object they could come up with -- creativity counts! Set the timer for 1 minute then they traded for another object. Their goal was to listen to group member's ideas and build upon those ideas, working together to list as many uses as possible in the short time.
At the end of the day we went back to the brainstorm activity, this time each student chose an item and made a drawing around it (a straw became a periscope, a shell a pirate's eye patch, etc). I showed their art under the docucam and they traded for other items. Many thanks to Mr. Perez for his inspiration, the students loved his art!
Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures of the students' work. Some were very creative!
Teachers usually leave a long list of things to do and a note saying "You won't finish it all, that's ok!" but I always manage to finish it all... do I teach too fast? Actually I think I rarely have student or time management issues, so we get quickly into the lessons. I always have a book I can read to them (Roald Dahl, The Wayside School) or a quick project such as this brainstorm one.
Common Core Standards:
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.CCRA.SL.1 Prepare for and participate effectively in a range of conversations and collaborations with diverse partners, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.4.1b Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions and carry out assigned roles.
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Homework Club
Dear Resume,
Helping out after school with a 4th grade Homework Club. Talked to the 5th grade teachers about their students needing help, but they didn't jump at my offer. Hope I'm not coming across as the new guy who thinks he can do everything better.
Cuz I can't do everything better.
Yet.
Helping out after school with a 4th grade Homework Club. Talked to the 5th grade teachers about their students needing help, but they didn't jump at my offer. Hope I'm not coming across as the new guy who thinks he can do everything better.
Cuz I can't do everything better.
Yet.
Monday, February 3, 2014
The world would be better if...
Dear Resume,
Working on my Digital Citizenship/Learning lesson plans and found the Google Doodle contest. Looks like fun, there are lesson plans and videos to show that focus on creativity and making the world a better place. Two of my favorite subjects! Without a class of my own I had to borrow and tweak a little, but came up with some brainstorm lesson ideas (to be tried out when I sub tomorrow) and a project for our "Give Back Club" that let the whole K-8 school get involved.
Working on my Digital Citizenship/Learning lesson plans and found the Google Doodle contest. Looks like fun, there are lesson plans and videos to show that focus on creativity and making the world a better place. Two of my favorite subjects! Without a class of my own I had to borrow and tweak a little, but came up with some brainstorm lesson ideas (to be tried out when I sub tomorrow) and a project for our "Give Back Club" that let the whole K-8 school get involved.
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