Classroom Connection

Teaching the Value of Something

2010-01-19T10:44:00.000-05:00

In today's world, things don't operate anywhere near the same as in the past. Society has changed, and so have general rules, and with that acceptances.

If I could make one generalization, I would say that kids of today have it much easier, on average, than kids of past generations. I can even look at myself, and hearing about what my parents had to do, I didn't have to do nearly as much. Yes, I did have chores that needed to be done, but no I didn't have an allowance. I was asked to do something, and was expected to do those tasks.

From talking with my students, many of them do not have these same responsibilities, yet many still do get an allowance. I knew of children my age that did get an allowance when I was growing up. It was usually like $5 a week. I hear of students I have now getting $20-$50 a week! And they don't have to do anything. Yes, money doesn't grow on trees.

I'm not saying that if you're doing this you should stop, but what are they learning from this is more where I'm headed. What are they learning by getting $20-$50 a week for doing nothing? They are learning that money is given to them for nothing, and they lose the value of earning it. They lose the message behind value.

Value- n relative worth, utility, or importance : degree of excellence

There is an importance in learning what VALUE means. It is important to learn how to value something. If everything is given to you, and you don't have to earn anything, you are not going to appreciate things the same as if YOU earn it.

Example - This past year I had a great example shown to me, that just shocked me. I student came to school with a brand new pair of jeans. All they did to show me that they didn't value them was write on them with a black pen by the knee. What could we conclude by witnessing that?

If an item is sentimental to you, you place a different value on it than someone else would. There are items on this earth that have great sentimental value to people. Pictures, antiques, letters, etc... What something is worth to one person may vary greatly to another person.

How can we teach the value of something to children, or even people? Some don't seem to have a concept for how much something is worth.

1) First talk with them about the fact that some things may be important to one person and not to another. Some people value different things. Use the word value with them, and give examples.

2) Explain with them how money works. Talk about how it is earned, where it comes from, the basic principles of it.

3) Build your child's money skills. Play games that involve money, such as Monopoly, Payday. Also teach them equivalents. Yes, money is taught in school, but money skills aren't.

4) If they make a poor decision regarding value, talk with them about it. Find out why they did what they did. See things from their perspective before you react.

5) Give them a small allowance. It should give them the chance to buy smaller items. Young kids shouldn't be walking around with $100, but I've seen it.

On one final thought... should you pay your child for A's? or B's? Should children earn money for getting good grades? I never did. My thoughts... if it works, use it. If it doesn't, don't. Still, I have seen students in the hall with over $50 in their wallet/purse/pocket, showing it off to other students. Why do they need that much money on them, and why isn't it in a bank?

Teaching Interview Questions

2009-06-23T17:40:00.002-04:00

Since I have moved and am currently looking for a new teaching position, I will share with you some common interview questions that I have found. Practice answering these questions OUT LOUD, maybe even in front of a mirror. It may seem weird, but the better you know what you're going to say, the less you may ramble or stumble on a question. I have had 3 interviews in the past year, and 2 more coming up this week. The previous 3 weren't the right fit, although I did well. The next 2 are really a good fit, and I'm anxious to see what happens.

Page 1
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Interviewers are paid to ask questions! The following questions were asked
during previous teacher interviews. Use these to practice and you will be
prepared to communicate your teaching skills.
1.
Why do you want to teach?
2.
What is your philosophy of education?
3.
If students are having difficulty learning a skill or concept, what do you do?
4.
Describe your style of teaching.
5.
Would you like to be involved in school (community) activities?
6.
What do you plan to be doing in five years? What are your career goals?
7.
Describe your student teaching experiences.
8.
What was your biggest problem in student teaching? How did you resolve it?
9.
What three words would your students sue to describe you as a teacher?
10.
How do you individualize your teaching?
11.
What techniques would you use to keep students actively involved and
motivated during a lesson?
12.
What are the rules of your classroom? How are they established?
13.
What are the qualities of an excellent teacher? Which of these qualities
do you have?
14.
Some of your students always finish their assignments early. How would
you deal with the free time that they have?
15.
How would you work with students who perform below grade level,
especially those from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds?
16.
What coursework have you taken that you feel has made you an
especially competent teacher?
17.
How would you use teacher aides and parent volunteers?
18.
Are parent/teacher conferences important?
19.
Why do you want to work in our district?
20.
What materials have you used that you find most effective for the slow
learners? The quick learners?
21.
Why should our school district hire you?
22.
Describe an ideal classroom.
23.
Describe the types of quizzes and tests that you give. In a quarter, what
types of evaluations compose your quarterly report?
24.
A student is consistently late to your class. How do you handle the
situation?
25.
What would you do, or how would you treat a student who refused to do
the work you assigned?
26.
How would you handle a student who continually “acted up” in your class?
27.
How do you engage a parent in the education of his or her child?
28.
How should a student’s educational achievement and progress be
measured?
29.
What do you expect from your supervisor? Your Principal?
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30.
How do you stay organized?
31.
What excites you? Annoys you? Bores you?
32.
What motivates you?
33.
Whom do you admire?
34.
Why do you want this job and what do you expect to get from it?
35.
How do you keep from getting burned out?
36.
What didn’t you like about your last position?
37.
What would you do if your Principal made a decision you didn’t like?
38.
What do you dislike about teaching?
39.
Describe how you are a self-starter.
40.
Give an example of how you handle conflicts.
41.
If you had an idea for improving the school, how would you sell it to
colleagues and the Principal?
42.
If you weren’t a teacher, what would you be and why?
43.
What gives you job satisfaction?
44.
How do you get ready to teach a lesson?
45.
Describe the best lesson you ever taught and explain why it worked.
46.
Describe the worst lesson you ever taught and explain why it went badly.
47.
How do you find out what students need to know?
48.
If a lesson flops, what do you do?
49.
How do you handle angry parents?
50.
Give examples of how you handle pressure and stress.
51.
Describe an ideal teaching-learning situation.
52.
Why should we hire you over all the other candidates?
53.
What kind of technology do you use in the classroom?
54.
If it came down to you and 2 other candidates for a teaching job, what
would qualify you? Why should you get the job over the others?
55.
What is a question you might have expected us to ask and we didn’t?
This is your opportunity to answer that question.
56.
How do you manage the diverse learning styles in your classroom as well
as diverse learning abilities?
57.
Describe how you evaluate your lessons (summative evaluation)
58.
Evaluation methods other than tests.
59.
What learning styles have you used?
60.
What is your goal?
61.
Do you use cooperative learning?
62.
Tell me in detail a reading lesson you developed, the reason why you
planned this lesson, the children’s reactions, specific learning tools utilized
and things you taught through the lesson and why.
63.
If you had a child who had a bad grade at the beginning of the unit, and an
“A” at the end, would you count the bad grade?
64.
Explain your classroom management policies.
65.
What do you think are parents’ expectations of today’s teachers? What do
you think of these expectations, agree/disagree?
66.
Knowledge about graduation exams and SAT tests.
67.
Tell of a time when you took initiative to complete a task.
Page 3
68.
Why are you staying in this area?
69.
How would you stay in contact with your parent?
70.
Tell me something that you have initiated yourself.
71.
How would you teach reading to 1st
graders?
72.
What would you do if you had 3rd or 4th
graders who couldn’t read?
73.
Describe how you see yourself as a professional in the classroom.
74.
What have you experienced student teaching?
75.
What are you looking for? What do you expect?

CANDIDATES MUST ASK QUESTIONS, TOO
If you are serious about teaching in the district where you are interviewing, there
are many questions to which you need to know the answers before you accept
an offer. Your interviewer will surely cover some of your questions, but by asking
pertinent questions you will show your interviewer that you do understand
fundamental issues relating to teaching. You should have several questions in
mind before you arrive for you interview.

The following questions should give you a good start.
1.
What is the teacher/student ratio in your district?
2.
Do you encourage teachers to earn graduate degrees?
3.
How many classes a day will I be expected to teach?
4.
What types of school activities promote parent-teacher-student
interaction?
5.
Tell me about the students who attend this school.
6.
What textbooks does the district use in this subject area?
7.
Do teachers participate in curriculum review and change?
8.
Does your district promote staff development activities and conferences?
What types of programs have the teachers attended in the last year?
9.
How does the teaching staff feel about new teachers?
10.
What discipline procedures does the district use?
11.
Do parents support the schools? Does the community?
12.
Do your schools use teacher aides or parent volunteers?
13.
To what extent do staff members work collaboratively to solve problems
and respond to the needs of students?
14.
How are teachers assigned to extracurricular activities? Is compensation
provided?
15.
Does the district have a statement of educational philosophy or mission?
16.
What are prospects for future growth in this community and its schools?

Bullying - Don't ignore it!

2008-05-08T09:19:00.000-04:00

Bullying is a problem all over. Have you ever been bullied? Hopefully not, and hopefully you haven't been the bully. In my school we've had workshops to "Bully-proof our school."

Bullying can be described as many things. It can be teasing, pushing, demanding things, harassing... and there are different levels and stages. Obviously they are all negative behaviors, and should not be tolerated because they make someone else feel bad.

A bully is described as: A person who is habitually cruel or overbearing, especially to smaller or weaker people.

How should you handle a bully, or a bullying situation? If you are bullied, or if you witness it, here are some steps to solve the problem:

1) Write down what happened. Include the date and time the event occurred.
2) Don't blame yourself if you're bullied. You didn't deserve it, and it isn't right.
3) Get support from your friends, but don't gather them together for revenge, or a fight.
4) Tell the bully to stop it. If you feel it's safe to do so.
5) Avoid being alone, stay in groups if possible.
6) If you see someone else being bullied, support the victim, not the bully. Tell the bully to stop it.
7) Tell a parent, teacher, adult about it, so you get some support. If you don't get the support you need, tell someone else.
8) Keep telling until the problem is solved!
9) Learn about the school/club harassment policy. If it isn't being followed, ask why it isn't.
10) If you feel scared at any time, ask to see a counselor, or ask to talk to someone.

*All these tips are courtesy of the Red Cross

Not everyone will follow the Golden Rule. But you can!

Here is a poem I found on the site Bullying Online. It sums up the feelings that are gone through. I thought it really puts things in perspective:

I am
I am the person you bullied at school
I am the person who didn't know how to be cool
I am the person that you alienated
I am the person you ridiculed and hate

I am the person who sat on her own
I am the person who walked home alone
I am the person you scared everyday
I am the person who had nothing to say

I am the person with hurt in her eyes
I am the person you never saw cry
I am the person living alone with her fears
I am the person destroyed by her peers

I am the person who drowned in your scorn
I am the person who wished she hadn't been born
I am the person you destroyed for 'fun'
I am the person, but not the only one.

I am the person whose name you don't know
I am the person who just can't let go
I am the person who had feelings, too
And I was a person, just like you.

The poem can be found here, with some extra information from Laura, the author

Critical Teaching

2008-04-20T00:57:00.000-04:00

In a world where Education has constantly been the subject of change and ridicule, schools fight for the time and opportunity to teach students the new standards and benchmarks creatively.

There has been such an influx of political interruption within the public schools over the past six years. If you really take a look at what has happened through that time period, you might be amazed. Is there any room left for students to investigate, or extend their lessons? Are lessons open-ended enough to go off on a tangent and study something closely related?

With federal education plans being adopted over the past few years, teachers have had to narrow the "roads" they lead their students down. Many teachers are submitting themselves to defeat, and simply teaching toward the tests. This is something that I hope most teachers WILL NOT do. Keep that spark of creativity in your blood. Be the light that inspires your students to want to learn more.

Push the envelope... and foster a desire in their souls that drives them to ask questions: "Why?" "What's the difference?" "How come?" "Does this even matter?"

To teach is not only to present them with the information so that they may learn. To teach is to instill in them a passion for greater knowledge.

Teachers- we need to begin to teach our students critically. The future doctors, lawyers, and teachers shouldn't merely accept things as fact, but need to learn to question why things are the way they are. If they disagree with something, they can make a difference.

Critical teaching, in my own perception, is educating students to prepare them for real life. Another key aspect of critical teaching is presenting tasks to students, and asking them to become activists in some form. The most important concept of all is when students begin to question:

WHY?

What can you do in your classroom?

You can relate things easily to the real world, in all subject areas.

They may ask, "Why am I doing this?" Let your response be, "This is a skill that will help you when you're on your own."

Write letters, assign projects, build things... these are all ways to teach critically. Let students be active and involved in classwork.

The children are the future. Don't allow them to accept everything as fact. Challenge them to ask questions, and seek greater things. By allowing them to think critically, who knows what great things are in store for the world?

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

2008-04-15T09:06:00.000-04:00

"If one doesn't respect oneself one can have neither love nor respect for others." -Ayn Rand

I would have to begin by saying that I really don't agree with the cartoon, but I thought that it provided a topic that I discuss in my classroom, and hopefully is discussed at home as well. That being - RESPECT.

We talk about respecting other people a lot in school, and a great deal of little chats that I have with my sixth graders are about respect. We may be talking about respecting the feelings of another student. We might focus on just respecting elders, or people of authority. My class has heard me talk about other areas of respect, including respecting ones property, space, possessions, family, time, differences, and SELF.

What exactly are we looking at doing when we have these discussions? I call them little chats, because it gives a different "feel" to the room when I say it. "OK, it's time for a little chat." I ask questions, they ask questions, and we discuss the importance of respecting others, and ourselves.

And that is where I think it all begins. We need to respect ourselves first, in order to respect other people. Which is why I am pretty much nothing like the teacher in the cartoon. I have a lot of self pride, and I'm proud to say that I'm a teacher. I feel that I play a relevant role in my community, and do a good job in my profession. I respect myself, and I respect others.

What makes life difficult is when you run into people that don't have any respect. I can picture Rodney Dangerfield saying "I don't get any respect." Well, they need to begin with themselves, and work from there. It just seems to snowball though. They begin by not respecting themselves. Maybe they've had tough luck finding a job, or are unable to stop some sort of addiction, which happens all the time. That doesn't mean you're worthless, but some people take that kind of situation too hard. They lose respect for themselves, and with it, they lose respect for other people. They begin to blame others for things. They disrespect other people, and this just makes things so much worse.

That is one thing that I don't tolerate in my classroom at all. I will not allow someone to disrespect another person, especially me. And to be honest, I can tell if someone respects me or not. If they respect me, then they most likely will receive that same respect from me back. If they don't respect me, I'm not going to respect them.

So, to combat disrespect, we talk about ways to show respect:

Complimenting other people.
Showing empathy and understanding.
Addressing people when being talked to.
Removing hats when in public buildings.
Apologizing when necessary.
Saying "Thank You" and "You're Welcome"
Being prepared, and alert.

Among many other things...

"They cannot take away our self-respect if we do not give it to them."- Mahatma Gandhi

School Excuses

2008-04-11T20:31:00.000-04:00

**SKULE ECKSUKES

These are actual excuse notes teachers have
received, spelling mistakes included.


-My son is under a doctor's care and should not
take P.E. today. Please execute him.


-Please excuse Lisa for being absent. She was
sick and I had her shot.


-Dear School: Please ekscuse John being absent
on Jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, and also 33.


-Please excuse Gloria from Jim today. She is
administrating.


-Please excuse Roland from P.E. for a few days.
Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his
hip.


-John has been absent because he had two
teeth taken out of his face.


-Carlos was absent yesterday because he was
playing football. He was hurt in the growing
part.


-Megan could not come to school today because
she has been bothered by very close veins.


-Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre
in his side.


-Please excuse Ray Friday from school. He has
very loose vowels.


-Please excuse Tommy for being absent
yesterday. He had diarrhea and his boots leak.


-Irving was absent yesterday because he missed
his bust.


-Please excuse Jimmy for being. It was his
father's fault.


-I kept Billie home because she had to go
Christmas shopping because I don't know what
size she wear.


-Please excuse Jennifer for missing school
yesterday. We forgot to get the Sunday paper off
the porch, and when we found it Monday, we
thought it was Sunday.


-Sally won't be in school a week from Friday.
We have to attend her funeral.


My daughter was absent yesterday because she
was tired. She spent a weekend with the
Marines.


-Please excuse Jason for being absent
yesterday. He had a cold and could not breed
well.


-Please excuse Mary for being absent yesterday.
She was in bed with gramps.


-Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having
a gangover.


-Please excuse Burma, she has been sick and
under the doctor.

Oh My Stars!

2008-03-24T07:42:00.000-04:00

We just started my favorite unit each year, Astronomy! We're blessed to have the opportunity to use the STARLAB portable planetarium. I usually reserve it for two weeks to allow us to get into some depth of the locations of certain stars and constellations.

Every schoolyear the content of the unit seems to grow. Mainly the material that we learn inside of the planetarium grows bit by bit. I now can show them the sixteen brightest stars in the Northern Hemisphere, and how to find them, and when. (Here's a link for the 12 brightest)

We also go into the myths behind the constellations. The STARLAB has different cylinders that show different things. The students sit in a circle along the wall and the projector is set up in the middle.

To begin I concentrate on the basic star field. I can set the latitude to where we're located, and the time of year so that they can see where the stars will be at a certain time of day on the current date. One of the things that I like about Astronomy is that I seem to learn something new just about every week. When I began using the STARLAB I didn't really know all that much compared to what I know now, and I continue to try to add more all the time.

One of the first things I emphasize is that living where we do, the winter/spring is one of the best times to see many constellations. I really enjoy the enthusiasm and excitement Astronomy generates in my students. They eat it up like a good piece of pie!

I would have to say that probably my favorite constellation is the easy to find Orion. I use this constellation to show them how to find nearly 10 more.

From there I change cylinders, and show them one that has the stars of constellations connected. They can then see the shapes, and get an idea of what people were picturing when they named them. We talk about what they are supposed to look like, and the constellations around them. Some of the constellations that we talk about are: Orion, Canis Major, Canis Minor, Gemini, Casseopeia, Taurus, Auriga, Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Bootes, Lyra, Cygnus, Aquila, and Leo.

We also look at some of the Native American constellations, and talk about how similar many are to the Greek constellations, even though they were imagined, or developed long, long ago.

Outside of the STARLAB planetarium we study the planets and other space phenomenon. I'm amazed at how much we've learned about our own Solar System in the past few years.

Did you know that in 1995 we believe that Jupiter had 16 moons. As of today, we've discovered 63 moons, and there is a great chance there are more.

Some other tidbits of info:

Venus is the only planet that rotates in an opposite direction of the other planets.
Uranus has an inclination of nearly 90 degrees, so it's nearly on its side
Saturn isn't the only planet with rings- Jupiter, Neptune and Uranus also have them.
Mars has the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons.
Jupiter's moon Ganymede is larger than the planet Mercury.

There are some great Astronomy sites out there. Here are a few that I like:

And a great Blog dedicated to the subject: Tom's Astronomy Blog

There is so much more out there to learn. I could go on and on!

Real Teachers

2008-03-22T20:31:00.000-04:00

 REAL TEACHERS

Real teachers grade papers in the car, during commercials,
in faculty lounges and have been seen grading in church.

Real teachers cheer when they hear April 1 does not fall
on a school day.

Real teachers drive older cars owned by credit unions.

Real teachers clutch a pencil while thinking and make notes
in the margins of books.

Real teachers can't walk past a crowd of kids without
straightening up the line.

Real teachers have disjointed necks from writing on boards
without turning their backs on the class.

Real teachers are written up in medical journals for size
and elasticity of kidneys and bladders.

Real teachers have been timed gulping down a full lunch in
2 minutes, 18 seconds.  Master teachers can eat faster than that.

Real teachers can predict exactly which parents will show
up at Open House.

Real teachers never teach the conjugations of lie and lay
to eighth graders.

Real teachers know it is better to seek forgiveness than to
ask permission.

Real teachers know the shortest distance and the length of
travel time from their classroom to the office.

Real teachers can "sense" gum.

Real teachers know the difference among what must be graded,
what ought to be graded, and what probably should never again
see the light of day.

Real teachers are solely responsible for the destruction of
the rain forest.

Real teachers have their best conferences in the parking lot.

Real teachers buy Excedrin and Advil in bulk.

Real teachers will eat anything that is put in the
workroom/teacher's lounge.

Real teachers know secretaries and custodians run the school.

Real teachers hear the heartbeats of crisis; always have
time to listen know they teach students, not subjects;
and they are absolutely non-expendable.

ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

2008-03-11T18:29:00.000-04:00

What is ADHD?
ADHD is a condition that affects about 3% to 7% of school-aged children. Although symptoms are first noticed in childhood, some children's symptoms continue into their adult lives.

Symptoms of ADHD:
The most common behaviors exhibited by those who have ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Causes of ADHD
The exact origin of ADHD is unknown, but scientists speculate that the disorder may be caused by one or more of several factors.

Treatment of ADHD
Although there is no "cure" for ADHD there are accepted treatments that specifically target its symptoms.

Consequences of untreated ADHD

How does someone seek help for this disorder?

For more information on ADHD, including possible prescriptions, you may want to check out this link:

More information on ADHD

Bias and Prejudice

2008-02-11T19:00:00.000-05:00

In a world where wars still rage, and people still kill other people simply because they look different, you would think that it would be unanimous that bias and prejudice should be subjects that are taught in schools. What is the best way to counteract any problem? The simple answer to that is education. If you understand another person's background, or race, or religion, then you may be able to appreciate the differences between that person and yourself.

Is bias and prejudice still a problem in the world today? You better believe it!

What can we do to solve the problem? Educate the world. Should this all be covered in a classroom? I would hope that these issues could be solved at home, but frequently the home may be the source of the problem. Therefore, it is somewhat necessary for schools to discuss and deal with these issues.

Often the main problem behind a bias is either a lack of understanding of another culture, race, sex, religion or other factor. The other reason there may be a bias is because of someone specifically being targeted and being a victim of circumstance.

I can understand the second option much more easily than I can the first. The first one can be solved quite easily by gaining more information, and by keeping an open mind.

There are many types of prejudice still being displayed in our world today. People still, even after the sacrifice and labor of our forefathers have issues with people of different colored skin. Others have a superiority complex over another gender... "Girls can't do that! That's something only a man can do." It doesn't end there... Cultures battle over traditions, religious leaders ridicule other religions, and much more.

It seems that some people simply gain satisfaction by putting other people down. I don't understand what other reward they could obtain by slandering or offending someone that isn't of the same group.

In my classroom we've had some good discussions about these topics. I've tried to make strong points, and keep teaching my students to keep an open mind about issues of bias. Much of what my students learn in these cases comes from their homes. You can see some strong beliefs being passed on from old to young. My main priority through all of this is to show the whole picture. The school I teach at is 99% white. We celebrate Black History Month, and learn about notable Americans of the past who fought for equality. We talk about the issues of slavery and the struggles people had to go through. We read the novel Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, which really paints a picture of the hardships faced by blacks in the early 1900's. We talk about other cultures and the troubles they have had, or are having.

Education, what an eye-opening tool!

One of the other things that we talk about in my classroom is empathy. Empathy is the ability to place yourself in someone else's shoes.

How did they feel? What would you have done in his/her situation? Can you imagine what it was like for him/her?

Empathy is a topic that I continually come back to throughout the year. I may have to talk to someone out in the hall, "Barb, I'm not sure you realize how hurtful the words you used were. Can you imagine what it would be like to have someone say those words to you?"

It isn't always easy for everyone to obtain empathy. Some people just don't get it. Some children just do not have remorse, or compassion, which is a sad fact. What I try to do in those cases is point out the fact that whatever they did was not the right thing to do. I'll put it out there for them, make it plain and simple, and see if I get a reaction. If there is none, then I tell them to simply apologize.

Yes, teachers sometimes have to play other roles such as peacemaker, conscience, police, babysitter, judge, coach, nurse, doctor, and much more.

The main point behind all of this though is that bias and prejudice are still rampant. Would there be wars if it weren't?

The best solution to solve a majority of the problems with bias and prejudice is education. If you have an understanding as to why people are they way they are, then there is a lesser chance of having issues with that person.

In all reality, all people start out in this world naked, and leave this world the same way. I wish there weren't so many holdups because of the other factors.

Teacher Survival Kit

2008-02-02T19:34:00.000-05:00

TOOTHPICK-reminds us to look for the good qualities in our students. You may be the only teacher who says something positive to them that day.

RUBBER BAND-reminds the teacher that they have to be flexible. Things don't always go the way we plan, But flexibility will help to work it out.

BAND AID-reminds the teacher that sometimes we do more than teach, That we help heal hurt feelings, broken dreams, And lend an ear to a problem.

PENCIL-reminds us to be thankful and we should list our blessings daily, But also encourage our students to list their blessings And to be proud of their accomplishments.

ERASER-reminds us to allow students to know we are human And make mistakes just like they do, and it's ok. We must all be able to learn from our mistakes.

CHEWING GUM-reminds us to stick with it And encourage our students to do like wise. Even the impossible task or assignment can be accomplished By sticking to it.

MINT-reminds us and our students we are worth a mint. (We may not be paid a mint, but are worth one.)

CANDY KISS-reminds us that everyone needs a hug, Kiss, or warm fuzzy everyday. (All teachers, students, parents, and even administrators)

TEA BAG-reminds us we need time to relax, Go over our blessing, and take time for others. Family, husbands, wives, friends, children need quality time together.

A teacher must be willing to show their students how much they care!!!

Phonics vs. Whole Language

2008-01-12T09:06:00.000-05:00

Widely debated back and forth for years has been the phonics, or breaking words up into sounds versus the whole language approach, or reading words as a whole.

I've seen many students through the years come through my classroom doors as excellent readers. I've also seen my fair share of students that have great difficulty reading when they come to my room. Naturally this happens because of many different reasons.

Whole language, also known as "look-say" or "sight" reading, is the most widely used method of teaching reading in the U.S. and other countries. Researchers have determined that experienced readers grasp the meaning of entire words at a time. When children talk they use whole words, without conscious thought about the sounds that make up these words. The founders of whole language felt the same way about reading, that children can be taught from the beginning to read whole words.

Whole language also presumes that after seeing words enough times, children will recognize the words and understand the meaning.

Phonics relies on drill and practice, which is said to get boring. However, it also teaches children to sound out words, and thus are able to read words they've never encountered before.

Which is what I really noticed when I taught junior high language arts. I had students that had not encountered many words. Some of them had phonics, either while at home, or somewhere in their background. Some had whole language the whole way through. I could easily tell the students that were able to sound out these new words. It made things a lot easier for them. The ones who had whole language could not sound out the words, and I had to tell them the word. I wouldn't guess they'd remember it the very next day, but it would take multiple times of seeing the word before it made the connection.

The comparison between the two has been debated for years. I've kind of sided with the phonics, even though the drill and practice approach can get tiring. Phonics worked for me...

As another author put it, in comparing the two:
A friend once complained to me that she didn't want to teach using phonics because the memorization necessary to learn phonetic rules for English is so repetitive and boring. It struck me then that whole language is nothing more than rote memorization of every word in the English language.

You be the judge of which method is more compassionate.

As far as I'm concerned, both have proven to work. It just seems that one takes more drill and practice, and one is on-going for years to come. Phonics takes skill-building, to be able to sound out the words. Whole language is kind of a never ending process, because there seem to be words coming up all the time that are unknown.

What do you think?

Be Consistent - If you say it, mean it!

2008-01-09T20:33:00.000-05:00

The environment inside of classrooms varies greatly when you walk through a school building.

One of the reasons behind this is of course the personality of the teacher. Another reason may directly result from whatever topic the class is studying. Then you may need to look at the content area. Moods change throughout the day as well, so you may see a big difference observing a morning setting and then an afternoon one. And there are other reasons we I could mention as well...

Behavior is an issue that all teachers and parents have to deal with. Sometimes it'll be good, and other times your patience will be tested.

Time and time again, I've witnessed consistency being the best method for solving any issues. If there are expectations and they are not met, and consequences are known beforehand, and it is done the same way repeatedly, negative behaviors seem to disappear.

If I go against what I say I'm going do, it opens up a doorway in their mind that 'what I say isn't always what I mean', and it gives a negative impression. I made the mistake of doing this when I first started teaching, and it really backfired on the behavior in my room, and attitudes. I heard, "well you said that once before, and nothing happened. Why would we expect it this time?"

And you know what? They were right. Why should they expect me not to change my mind? I did it before.

So, I learned to keep my word, and do as I say. This has made such a huge difference!

Now, students find out right away that if when I say "If you don't have your homework done, you'll make it up at recess" ... I mean it.

This works just as well with parenting. Be consistent, and everyone will know what to expect, and live by the rules that are set.

Games = Great Review Techniques

2007-11-14T18:36:00.000-05:00

The title may be a tad bit deceiving. I'm referring more to ways to engage the students in subject matter, more than bringing in monopoly (which is not a bad math tool in certain situations). I would rather like to discuss some of the games, or fun things that I use in my classroom to peak the students' interest.

Jeopardy- This was one of the first games that I tried in my room. This requires about 45 minutes to an hour of preparation for me. I use this in certain subjects, like Science for instance, to review for a test. I may use each lesson of a chapter as a category to choose, and I then arrange the questions by increasing difficulty. I usually break the class up into teams of 3, so in my case this year, that's about 7 students per team. Each team has a spokesperson, and I only listen to that person.

I've also played Jeopardy for fun, and made categories up. Sports, Music, History... there are so many ways you can use the Jeopardy format.

In Social Studies, I call it Geopardy. Students ask to play this all the time. They do understand that it takes time for me to prepare a game to play, but they love it. I'm also a huge trivia nut, so we do a lot of that in my classroom too.

Stump the Star- Students like this game for almost any subject matter. When I say we're going to play stump the star, everyone stands up. All I do is ask questions, which is a good reviewing tool. If they get it right, I move on to the next person. If they miss the question, then they have to sit down. I cycle the room over and over until there is only one person standing, and that person wins. I sometimes give a treat, or a drink pass.

Pass It On!!!- This is another fun game that I made up, and this gives everyone a chance to win... whereas sometimes you have students that you know will never win a certain game. Here is how this game works, and once again this is another great reviewing tool:

First you need to prepare by coming up with 10+ questions pertaining to some area you've been studying. I sometimes write the questions out too and put them on an overhead, so students can read it themselves. Once I ask the first question, I say "It's time to... PASS IT ON!" Students pass their paper to the next person and take the paper from the person before them. I usually explain who they should pass their paper to prior to starting. I then ask the second question, and then once again say, "It's again time to... PASS IT ON!!" Students eventually start chiming in with "PASS IT ON!!" Continue to ask a question and pass it on until you've went through all the questions.

To score, I usually have them pass it on two or three times and then stop. The paper that they now have is their ticket. They win if that paper has the most correct answers on it. We then as a class go over all the questions, and they get a point for each correct answer.

Students usually beg me to play these three games all the time. I have some more that I like too. I think they're a great way to review and help the material sink in.

** On a side note, I've been extremely busy the past few weeks, and haven't had much time to come on a blog. I hope to add more here and there in the days and weeks to come.

Have a wonderful day!

Multiplication and Division Tools

2007-10-11T22:22:00.000-04:00

The grade level that I teach, sixth, expects that students already have their multiplication and division facts mastered. Often this is NOT the case though.

For multiplication, I still continue to work on the basic facts periodically through the year. I give timed tests about twice a marking period, and the students graph the results. Multiplication charts are not allowed by me, unless there are special circumstances. I give them 1 minute tests and there are 50 problems on the sheets. The goal for sixth grade, for my room, is 30 or more in a minute. Everyone last year made it by the end of the year.

I also like playing a few games to enhance multiplication. One is around the world. I use flash cards for this. The goal is for a student to make it all the way around the classroom. To advance to the next person, the winning student must say the product of the card I hold up FIRST. That student keeps going until someone says the correct answer quicker. Sometimes you get students who are really fast and they win all the time. In that case, I let them take my job, and that gives another student a chance to win.

Another good multiplication game is flash card capture. This is best with 3-6 students. It can also be played with just students. A flash card is shown. The first person to say the correct answer gets the card. The person with the most cards captured is the winner.

This game can also be played with the division flash cards. The students really like it, and I've had some practice a lot so they can win this game.

Division is a whole different matter for some students. Some don't see the connection with multiplication, even if you show them 100 times. I personally can finish a timed test with the basic division facts much quicker than multiplication, but then again, that's my specialty area. There are only 10 answers though, so it should be quicker.

I do use a couple of ideas that seem to help. One is the Division Family:

Division Family

Daddy- Divide
Mommy- Multiply
Sister- Subtract
Brother- Bring Down
Rover- Remainder

Another thing that I use for division is a division rap:

A Division Rap!

I’m Mr. J and I’m here to say
A division rap, and it goes this way
Divide, Multiply, Subtract, and bring down
I said Divide, Multiply, Subtract and bring down.

I’m Mr. J and I’m on the scene
With a division rap that’s truly mean
Divide, Multiply, Subtract and bring down
I said Divide, Multiply, Subtract and bring down

Now you can do it wrong, or you can do it right
But if you do it WRONG, you could be here all night
SO Divide, Multiply, Subtract and bring down
I said Divide, Multiply, Subtract and bring down.

There are many other methods that work for helping students learn these facts. Sometimes it takes manipulatives, or things they can touch and see. Hands-on learning is one of the best tools for these students. Others just need to see examples. Some need music, like the division rap to get it stuck in their head.

Homework... For what it's Worth

2007-10-05T20:45:00.000-04:00

Nobody generally likes to get homework. I never really cared much for it when I was in school, but I still did it, because I didn't want to get a bad grade.

What's the purpose of it though?

For me, I look at it as a follow-up to any lesson or topic we've been studying. It may be further practice, or it may be additional reference. It may ask the student to use knowledge gained from the discussion in the classroom, and sometimes it plainly asks the student to use the procedures practiced in class and utilize them away from the classroom.

There is only so much time in the classroom to cover the material. I generally have about 45 to 60 minutes for each subject in a given school day. Some days we review previous lessons, correct assignments, or dive into new topics. This takes up a majority of the time.

I do, however, usually give 5 to 10 minutes of class time to work on the assignment before they leave the room. I can honestly say though that many students do not try to get as much done as possible before they leave or before we move on.

I have always been one to suggest also that students do their homework right when they get home. Why? Well, in a logical sense, the material will be fresh in their minds, and they will be able to recall what we discussed in class better. If they wait until later evening, they will not be able to recall as much of the discussion, and the assignment will take more time.

It is also policy in my school that students in a grade do not receive more than their grade level x 10 minutes of homework per night. So, since I teach sixth grade, they shouldn't receive more than 60 minutes of homework. If I had to estimate, I would say that I give about 20-30 minutes per night, but I try not to give any on the weekends.

I do believe that homework is important, and allows the student to further enhance their education, when time is a factor.

Planning Lessons

2007-09-11T22:35:00.000-04:00

Keeping up with current state guidelines and expectations, there are many websites out there that have great lesson plans. I continually go through the state expectations and guidelines, and cover the things I need to cover. That doesn't mean that I can't supplement lessons from outside. I use lessons and ideas from the internet all the time.

Are lesson plans collected and examined in your school? Do you need to indicate the benchmark or strand they follow? When do you write out your plans? How far in the future do you plan your lessons?

I usually write them out the Friday before, and get things ready then, if not before. I do plan out weeks beforehand in subjects from time to time, but I usually don't write it down in my lesson planner. I also use a calendar to log ideas or upcoming events. This is where I'll jot down a thought on when to accomplish a goal by. With about four weeks left of school, I'm in a good position to accomplish what I want by the end of the year. We should have attended to all of the State's grade level content and expecations. The end is in sight, and I'm still managing to keep them focused, even with nineteen days left. "We still have work to do!"

I've found some nice sites for lesson plans. There are times throughout the year when I need an idea, or just would like to borrow something. On my sidebar there are quite a few great links for lesson plans. Here are some of the sites that I visit for ideas:

Edhelper.com
Sites for Teachers
Trip1.org
Lesson Plans Page
Teach-nology

A New Year Begins

2007-08-30T23:13:00.001-04:00

This school year will bring about a change from the normal routine for me. I have taught at the sixth grade level for 8 years, teaching pretty much all the core curriculum, although the classes have switched and so I've team-taught for most of that time.

I will be teaching in a self-contained 5th/6th grade classroom this year. At last count there will be 14 sixth graders and 12 fifth graders. This will be one of four split-level classrooms in my school this year. It is a move to cut costs, although many feel that it is unnecessary. I guess I agree with that, but I need to provide students with the opportunity to succeed.

With the new grade level content expectations I've decided it would be best to teach Math and Social Studies separately, and so I'm working on a schedule that will allow this. I will do the rest of the core subjects together. We have statewide testing about a month after school starts, in which they will be tested on material they learned last year. I'll review some of that prior to the statewide testing period.

I am expecting my students to be able to work independently for 15-20 minute spurts while I instruct and monitor other students. I will also use peer tutoring and teaching as an asset.

If you have any suggestions or thoughts on how I could make this year even more successful, please feel free to drop me a comment, or e-mail me at tachizuno4@yahoo.com. I'm always open to suggestions, as long as it is positive.

True, I would much rather be teaching a straight sixth, or even fifth grade classroom, but I will make this work, and it will be successful.

Thanks!

The Night Before School

2007-08-23T20:29:00.000-04:00

Twas the night before school started,
When all through the town.
The parents were cheering,
It was a riotous sound.

By eight the kids were washed,
And tucked into bed.
When memories of homework,
Filled them with dread.

New pencils, new folders,
New notebooks, too.
New teachers, new friends,
Their anxiety grew.

The parents just giggled,
When they learned of this fright.
And shouted, "Upstairs!
GO TO BED!  IT'S A SCHOOL NIGHT!"

Math Game - Last One Standing

2007-08-21T09:13:00.000-04:00

This is a game that I use in class that most of the students like. It's called "Last One Standing" and I actually created the game before the show "Last Comic Standing" came out.

Basically it follows the same premise... be the last one standing at the board and you win.

I pick 6 students randomly to go up to the board (you could have more or less) I give a problem to solve (usually one of the four basic operations). If any of the six get it wrong, they are out. If all six get it right, the last one to get it right is out. I fill the spots and continue until there is only one left standing, and they receive a prize of some sort.

Sometimes I need to make things move quicker so I say that if everyone gets it right, the slowest two are out.

I use this game to review for a test. Students that are knocked out work on assignments, watch, solve the problems to try to beat those up at the board, or find something else to do.

Lessons Learned

2007-08-17T16:12:00.000-04:00

I did my student teaching in a middle school. Grades 5-8 attended school there. This was done in the mid 90's. My initial student teaching assignment had to be scrapped because of changes made in the schedule of the teacher who was going to supervise me. Kind of at the last minute Patti decided to give me a chance. It was a chance of a lifetime for me.

The school that I did my intern at was accredited. They have a nice building, great staff, and it just feels good to be there. I wish I had been able to work there from day one, but I'm happy where I'm at now. Anyway, Patti was what I would call a seasoned pro. She had taught for over 20 years, and had a lot to offer me.

She welcomed me fully into her room. The first thing she did was found someone to get me a desk too. She put my desk up in the front of the room also. Wow! Did that make me feel great. I had an area to work. She got me my own grade book, and whatever supplies I needed.

Patti's plan was that we were going to teach as a team from day one. Of course I got a chance to teach on my own, but she wanted us to be a team, so that the students knew they could go to either of us for help.

Patti was a strict disciplinarian. If something occurred in class, she handled it immediately. She'd make the student call home if necessary, and explain what they did, and then she'd talk to them afterwards. I thought this was a noble idea. That was the first bit of wisdom. Don't hesitate, if need be, handle things right away...AND be consistent.

Patti and I would talk for the last 10-15 minutes of our prep time every day. We wouldn't necessarily talk about school every time. We'd talk about life, family, and things going on outside. I enjoyed this time with her. We really developed a bond during the semester I was there. I could just feel the connection, and I absorbed what I could.

Another bit of wisdom that Patti instilled in me was "don't procrastinate." If you have something to do, get it done. Don't put it off, because you'll never get your best work out of you if you have a good idea and then let it sit on the back burner stewing. Since then, at least in regard to work, I've done things right away. It has made a difference.

The weeks flew by during my student teaching. I was involved in all areas of her classroom. I was put in charge of teaching her math class early into the year. What a valuable learning experience for me. It enabled me to learn myself what it took to teach.

I was inspired by Patti. She boosted me up every day, and let me know how I was doing. If I needed correction, she'd do it, and explain why, and how to fix it. She also gave me some more crucial advice. Try not to take anything home with you. What she meant was, mentally, enjoy my evenings, and try not to let little things from school sit in my mind. Enjoy, experience, and life will open up doorways.

The semester was drawing to an end. Patti kind of talked me into accepting the invitation to speak at the teaching department's banquet. I eventually did, and still have the notes from the speech. I can see now that she helped me out in saying what I said that day, by what she showed me over those few months. I probably wouldn't have accepted the invite without her coaxing, but I'm glad I did it.

Patti organized a big party on my last day. She had all the students make cards, arranged for a cake, flowers, and a lot of well-wishing. She told me that she was skeptical about having another student teacher, but that I made it well worth it. She told me that I was far and beyond the best she's had, or seen. That made me burst with pride. It was a great day. I was excited to be getting my degree, and now I could at least substitute teach and begin my career.

Seven months later I interviewed for a job where I currently am teaching and got the job. I called home and told my parents the good news. The next person I called was Patti. She was very happy for me, and was surprised I called. I told her that she was the second person I called, and this touched her. I thanked her again for everything.

- - - - - - -

That fall Patti's cancer came back strong, and she wasn't able to teach. The following spring of 1998 Patti passed away.

I miss her very much, but part of her is still with me, every day when I walk into the classroom. I can still picture her smile, "masked" from the students. I remember her saying before school began that fall... "You've got to ride the broomstick for the first marking period" "They'll like you anyway, but you need to set the tone first"

I agree... it works better that way.

I also remember those bits of advice she gave me during our prep when we'd sit down and chat.
"Be consistent"
"Don't procrastinate"
"Don't take your work home with you."

I'll always remember those things, among the other wonderful lessons I learned during my student teaching from Patti DeVold. Thank you- so much!

A Funny School Story

2007-08-05T19:37:00.000-04:00

I found this story online and wanted to share it with you:

Our district recently hired a female custodian for our elementary school. The day before she started work in our building, she had accidentally broken her glasses and had to wear her perscription sunglasses to work.

As the day began, she was involved in some repair work in the boys restroom just as the bell rang to let the children into the building. She thought she would have time to complete her work before the little boys needed to use the restroom.

Much to her surprise, the little boys entered the restroom and began using the facilities as though she was not even there. One little boy finally noticed her and exclaimed," Hey, there's a lady in here!" The little boy standing next to her calmly replied," It's ok, she's blind."

Worst Analogies on High School Essays

2007-05-26T08:15:00.000-04:00

These are the winners of the "worst analogies ever written in a high school essay" contest

His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free.

Her hair glistened in the rain like nose hair after a sneeze.

The children heard the grandfather clock ticking. It sounded exactly unlike the digital clock in their bedroom.

He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes…

Joey was as hungry as a famished locust that had not eaten in days.

The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't.

From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you're on vacation in another city and "Jeopardy" comes on at 7 p.m. instead of 7:30.

Her eyes were like two brown circles with big black dots in the center.

Bob was as perplexed as a hacker who means to access T:\flw.quid55328.com\aaakk/ch@ung but gets T:\flw.quidaaakk/ch@ung by mistake.

Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

Mary was as interested in Joey as she was in a two-day old tuna sandwich left on the kitchen table, hidden by a dishcloth. This perplexed Joey.

He was as tall as a six-foot-three-inch tree.

Her date was pleasant enough, but she knew that if her life was a movie this guy would be buried in the credits as something like "Second Tall Man."

Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph.

They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth.

John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.

The red brick wall was the color of a brick-red Crayola crayon.

Teachers are overpaid??

2007-05-15T20:33:00.000-04:00

(Humorous... I found this online, but thought it was interesting)

I'm fed up with teachers and their hefty salary guides.
What we need here is a little perspective. If I had my
way, I'd pay these teachers myself...I'd pay them
Babysitting wages. That's right. I
Instead of paying these outrageous taxes,
I'd give them $3.00 an hour out of my own
pocket. And I'm only going to pay them for five hours, not
coffee breaks. That would be $15.00 a day. Each parent
should pay $15 a day for these teachers to babysit their
children. Even if they have more than one child, it's
still cheaper than private day care.

Now, how many children do they teach in a day, maybe
twenty? That's $15 X 20 = $300 a day. But remember they
only work 180 days a year! I'm not going to pay them for
all those vacations. $300 X180 = $54,000. (Just a minute,
I think my calculator needs batteries.)

I know you teachers will say, "What about those who have
ten years of experience and a Master's degree?" Well,
maybe, (just to be fair) they could get the minimum wage,
and instead of just babysitting, they could read the kids a
story. We can round that off to about $5.00 an hour, times
5 hours, times 20 children...$5.00 X 5 X 20. That's $500 a
day times 180 days. That's $90,000. HUH? Wait a
minute...! Let's get a little perspective here.

Babysitting wages are too good for those teachers. Did
anyone see a salary guide around here???!!!

The English Lesson

2007-04-27T08:32:00.000-04:00

-------------------------------
The English Lesson
-------------------------------
We'll begin with box, and the plural is boxes;
But the plural of ox should be oxen, not oxes.
Then one fowl is goose, but two are called geese
Yet the plural of moose should never be meese.

You may find a lone mouse or a whole lot of mice,
But the plural of house is houses, not hice.
If the plural of man is always called men,
When couldn't the plural of pan be called pen?

The cow in the plural may be cows or kine,
But the plural of vow is vows, not vine.
And I speak of a foot, and you show me your feet,
But I give a boot - would a pair be called beet?

If one is a tooth and a whole set are teeth,
Why shouldn't the plural of booth be called beeth?
If the singular is this and plural is these,
Why shouldn't the plural of kiss be nicknamed kese?

Then one may be that, and three may be those,
Yet the plural of hat would never be hose;
We speak of a brother, and also of brethren,
But though we say mother, we never say methren.

The masculine pronouns are he, his and him,
But imagine the feminine she, shis, and shim!
So our English, I think you will all agree,
Is the trickiest language you ever did see.

I take it you already know
Of tough and bough and cough and dough?
Others may stumble, but not you
On hiccough, thorough, slough, and through?

Well done! And now you wish, perhaps
To learn of less familiar traps?
Beware of heard, a dreadful word
That looks like beard and sounds like bird.

And dead; it's said like bed, not bead;
For goodness sake, don't call it deed!
Watch out for meat and great and threat,
(they rhyme with suite and straight and debt)

A moth is not a moth in mother.
Nor both in bother, broth in brother.
And here is not a match for there.
And dear and fear for bear and pear.

And then there's dose and rose and lose --
Just look them up -- and goose and choose.
And cork and work and card and ward,
And font and front and word and sword.

And do and go, then thwart and cart.
Come, come, I've hardly made a start.

A dreadful language? Man alive,
I'd learned to speak it when I was five,

And yet to write it, the more I sigh,
I'll not learn how 'till the day I die.

Standardized Testing and the NCLB Act

2006-12-10T07:02:00.000-05:00

Did you know that by the year 2013-2014 100% of students need to be proficient in the basic skills on statewide tests? This includes every single student in a school... learning disabled, special education, emotially impaired, bilingual students.

This is the mandate of the No Child Left Behind Act set up in 2003. Every year schools in my state must administer a statewide test, which assesses each school's progress in meeting the Grade Level Content Expectations and guidelines. In the recent past, the United States government, under the proposal pushed forward by our President, George W. Bush, adopted the No Child Left Behind act, NCLB.

When standardized tests are given, it costs the state money. The state needs to pay for the printing of the test, the writing of the test, the scoring of the test, and the reporting of the test. Michigan has given statewide tests long before the NCLB act went into effect. My main concern regarding standardized testing is: How are the results used, and are they taking into effect all the data that is given from the testing?

First of all, I ask myself this simple question: Would I want my entire performance analyzed from one test? Is that a true way to judge how well I'm doing? What if the test is poorly written? What if I'm sick the day of the test and can't concentrate? Other questions of a similar nature also enter my mind.

Another thing that I do not like about standardized testing is how big an impact they have on today's schools. Teachers can lose their job, and schools can close because of them. True, this may help weed out the teachers that shouldn't be teaching, but I STRONGLY oppose the idea of teaching toward a test. Many schools have no choice at this time, especially if they performed poorly this past school year. They need to meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) or political people (government) may intervene.

What are teachers supposed to do? Do I teach toward the test, to make sure my students will do well on the "high and mighty test"? Do I continue teaching my students the curriculum, and cross my fingers that they'll perform well on the test? I'm a highly qualified teacher, and I'm nervous about the future of education in my country.

Want to know what I really think?

I think the whole NCLB act is unplanned and a dream thought up in the middle of the night by some idiot. Do we really think we can meet the goals? It would be wonderful if we could, but because of this, it appears that over HALF of the schools in the U.S. are failing.

The NCLB Act is underfunded by around 6 BILLION dollars. Where is the money going for this? Guess..... (hint- think of something that we're sinking millions of dollars into)

The NEA and AFT both have ideas to compensate this terrible education plan, which could possibly put us farther behind than we already are. I do feel that some of what the NCLB act is trying to do is solid, but when you're not funding schools, how can it succeed.

The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) feel that there are solutions available. They stress four main areas to focus on: Adequate Yearly Progress, Highly Qualified Staff, School Improvement, and Funding. You can look at their plan HERE:

The National Education Association (NEA) also feels that the NCLB act is hurting more than helping. You can look at what it says here, and read why:

Schools are closing, or consolidating with other schools. Teachers are losing their passion, and deciding to leave the profession. Many others are deciding not to even bother considering teaching as a profession.

What can we do to improve it?: We need to realize that Standardized testing is not the solution to making schools better. The keys to making schools successful are the teachers, and the supportive communities around them. I hope and pray that schools can make a stand against this current plan, and once again be allowed to be creative and imaginative. The way things are currently working, before long we’ll all be teaching toward the test, and I would hate to have it go that way. I’m sure teaching wouldn't be that much fun anymore, and my classroom would be dull and boring. At that time that I would seriously consider a change in profession.

When You Want to Stay in Bed!

2006-10-23T08:52:00.000-04:00

Early one morning, a mother went in to wake up her son. "Wake up, son. It's time to go to school!"

"But why, Mom? I don't want to go."

"Give me two reasons why you don't want to go."

"Well, the kids hate me for one, and the teachers hate me, too!"

"Oh, that's no reason not to go to school. Come on now and get ready."

"Give me two reasons why I should go to school."

"Well, for one, you're 52 years old. And for another, you're the Principal!"

Words of Wisdom #3

2006-09-22T18:59:00.000-04:00

Stand outside your door when they come into the school, or your room. Smile and greet them with a "Good Morning!" A positive attitude is contagious in many ways.

Imagine the difference it makes when a student is thinking positively before they even walk into the room.

This also makes the students feel appreciated and special. Let them know that you want them there, and that you're glad they are going to be learning from you today.

First Day of School

2006-08-29T20:18:00.000-04:00

This year we don't start until after the Labor Day weekend, which will be an extra week, and I plan to enjoy it!

The first day of school is always very interesting. I still get similar feelings to it that I did when I was younger. Everything seems NEW, and there's a clean slate (literally and figuratively)

Most students come with new shoes, new clothes, and a lot of supplies. It's amazing to compare how quiet the first day of school is with the last day of school. The first day I can't get them to talk, and by the end of the year I'm looking for ways to quiet them down.

I begin with introductions, which is probably the norm. I tell the class about myself and the things that I like to do. I then ask them to tell one thing about themselves, and their name. I learn everyone's name by the end of the first day. For some that may seem easy, and I'm only talking about around 45 students. For others, you may understand how hard this could be.

I then go through the normal topics. The schedule, what we'll be doing in my class, things to expect during the school year, things to look forward to, and my classroom rules and policies. I also tell them what I expect from them.

Then we work with lockers for quite a while. This seems to be a difficult task for some, and I open many lockers for students during the first two weeks of school. The lockers they use have combinations built into them. I don't know why they just couldn't put their own lock on it if they want one.

After that I pass out textbooks. I also record the numbers and expect that they're covered with a book cover. To help them out I usually have a book covering session the next day. When I started teaching this grade I had the same books I'm still using 7 years later, so I want to keep them in good shape.

The following day we start learning, and preparing for the next grade. We have a lot to cover, and many expectations ahead of us. It is going to be another great year!

The ABC's of Parenting

2006-07-25T14:02:00.000-04:00

The ABCs of Parenting
(Source: unknown)

Ask your child about the school day.
Begin your child's day with a nourishing breakfast.
Congratulate you child for doing well.
Discuss homework with your child.
Encourage your child to read.
Find a quiet place for your child to study.
Give your child responsibility.
Hug your child to build self worth.
Include your child in making simple family decisions.
Join a library with your child.
Keep your child on a schedule that includes exercise and sleep.
Limit TV viewing by selecting programs with your child.
Make the time you spend with your child special.
Notice and discuss changes in your child's behavior.
Offer to help your child organize school papers.
Provide your child with good role models.
Question the activities your child shares with friends.
Respect your child's right to have opinions different from yours.
Share an interest or a hobby with your child.
Take time to listen to your child.
Urge your child to say "NO!" to unwanted touching.
Visit places of interest with your child.
Work with your child to set up rules of behavior.
Xerox and save records or articles that benefit your child.
Yield results by encouraging your child to do better.
Zoom through these ABCs again and again!

We left you at the door

2006-07-22T13:59:00.000-04:00

We Left You At The Door

by James Singleton

We took you down to school today.
You're just beginning now;
Although this year you're five years old,
You seem so young somehow!

We didn't take you all the way,
For we'd been told before,
"Don't go into his room with him,
Just leave him at the door."

Up to this time we've always gone
Together everywhere,
And we have had a lot of fun
While traveling here and there;

But we well knew before it came,
We're parted more and more.
So many times we will stand outside
And leave you at the door.

You're growing up so very fast
It's hard to keep in step;
The fact of changing years is hard
for parents to accept.

You'll have to walk your path alone
No matter what's in store;
We'll bring you up to life's classroom,
Then leave you at the door.

While you were ours these tender years,
We treasured every day,
Full knowing that the time would come,
When you would go your way;

And though this love will still remain,
Within our heart's deep care,
Our eyes will sting to see you go
And leave us at the door!

The trivial things

2006-07-12T14:38:00.000-04:00

I'm a trivia addict. I really like trivia games and trivia questions.

I guess it all started back in high school. I had a math teacher who used to ask trivia questions. Sometimes the questions were very hard, and it would take a while to think of the answer. Other questions were easy for me, and because of this I was asked to join the high school quiz bowl team. We had a pretty solid team overall, and I learned so much information in that time period (I couldn't even relate how much I've forgotten since). It just made me realize how fun knowing things can be.

So what profession do I seek once I rule out 2-3 others? A teacher! A person who knows everything... well at least according to his/her students.

Back in the days when Jeopardy and Trivial Pursuit were popular I really enjoyed playing both of those games. In my classroom I sponsor the school's quiz bowl team. I enjoy asking the questions and seeing the students become interested in trivia too.

I'm not confessing to be the world's smartest person by any means. I just enjoy trivia. I've found a few trivia sites on the net that I'd like to share with you. If you have any that you know of, please share them with me here.

Links:
Fun Trivia
Trivia World
Trivia Spot
Trivia Machine
Trivial Pursuit

3 Great Reasons to be a Teacher

2006-06-20T20:48:00.000-04:00

June, July, and August!

Going on a little vacation, so no posts from me for a while.

Favorite subject?

2006-06-19T06:51:00.000-04:00

I'm traditionally known as the Math guy in my school. I guess that has always been the case for me. I do enjoy all subject areas, some A LOT more than others, but to perfectly honest, I don't dislike any of the core subject areas.

When I was in school, and having to do the load of work, I could not stand any Social Studies courses. It just seemed too repetitious, and something that was memorized, and forgotten the next week. That isn't the case anymore, and I find it fascinating.

Maybe the way I felt about these subjects was a direct reflection on how the teacher felt about them, or how they felt about teaching. I certainly have a lot more gusto and enthusiasm when my classroom is working on math problems versus something else. Not that I don't get involved in Science, Language Arts, or other areas, it's just that way with me and math.

An enthusiastic teacher can really do a lot of good things in a classroom though. I know for a fact that a Science class full of hands-on activities and labs excite students a lot more than a lecture/notetaking type of setting.

Have you ever had a teacher that was just outstanding, and made everything seem like a wonderful adventure? Have you had those teachers that drone on and on, making you want to cry, watching the clock tick slowly?

What was your favorite subject in school? Why was it like that?

The Numbers Game

2006-06-16T00:17:00.000-04:00

Schools around the country are continuing to find themselves in a pinch. I know of many locally that are in financial strife because of the underfunded NCLB act, among other reasons.

In Michigan, each school gets approximately $6700 per student for finances, and lesser amounts from other facets. Smaller schools obviously get less money from the State in total. Add to that the fact that schools are having to give statewide tests and not being funded to prepare students for the tests! That leaves many schools in trouble financially.

Schools are battling for students, but every year it seems like all the schools locally are losing enrollment. Families are growing smaller, and they are moving to metropolitan areas, rather than staying in smaller rural areas where work is limited. A logical move, yes, but it's hurting many schools.

Because of declining enrollment, schools are facing the inevitable- cutting costs. Every circumstance is different, and often times this turns into a very politcal matter. The truest way to handle this is to put the kids first and start from there. In my district this year they announced that they need to cut $320,000. This was surprising to most people, because we've been operating with a surplus for the past ten years. Often the first thing you see being done is teachers being pink slipped. This doesn't always mean that they'll lose their job, but it does mean that they might.

What can be done to solve the numbers game? Parents- have more kids! That's a pretty silly solution. But really, what can be done? There are committees set up to analyze this very situation. How can schools survive with low enrollment? Is it possible?

How can schools survive and meet the standards when the funds they receive to operate do not allow them to purchase new equipment, books, supplies?

Unfortunately in the past ten years we've seen a nation where there was supposed to be a boom of teacher hirings, beginning when I began, developing into a nation where schools are simply removing the position. Instead of seeing many openings for teachers in the past ten years, I've seen positions being cut. A neighboring school shut its doors because it couldn't make ends meet. Another nearby school is going to four day school weeks to save money.

There is no easy solution to this problem, which is actually many problems. I do believe that there is money for funding schools out there. State governments need to decide how important education is to the future of this country.

Cutting jobs is also taking away the enthusism of brilliant teachers. They are leaving the profession and seeking jobs in careers that aren't being tampered with by outside forces. I know of handfuls of people who would have been wonderful leaders in classrooms that simply gave up and sought other work.

The game continues to go on, but many are deciding to stop playing!

Choices

2006-06-14T13:02:00.000-04:00

Life's full of choices... you'll be making choices until the day you die. We all have the opportunity to steer ourselves down the road. What branches will we take? That's the choice you'll have to make.

CHOICES

Some people sit – some people try.

Some people laugh – some people cry.

Some people will – some people won’t.

Some people do – some people don’t.

Some people believe and develop a plan.

Some people doubt – never think that they can.

Some people face hurdles and give it their best.

Some people back down when faced with a test.

Some people complain of their miserable lot.

Some people are thankful for all that they’ve got.

And when it’s all over – when it comes to an end

Some people lose out and some people win.

We all have a choice – we all have a say.

We are spectators in life or we get in and play.

Whichever we choose – how we handle life’s game.

The choices are ours – no one else is to blame.

Learning-Related Vision Problems

2006-06-09T09:05:00.000-04:00

I was really amazed at how frequently problems with learning are linked with vision. It is also something that can be helped. I would like to give you some signs of vision problems that would interfere with school performance.

A major portion of all learning is done visually. Reading, spelling, writing, homework, work at the board. And now, with computers, even more of the learning is done relying on vision. Each of these vision skills asks the child to see and understand things that are within arm's length from the eyes.

Many childrens' visual levels do not meet the demands of the types of situations in the classroom. Which is where problems occur.

Clear vision and eyesight isn't all that we're discussing here. We're also talking about difficulties scanning, focusing and visual coordination skills for learning, and for getting meaning from reading. If these skills aren't developed, or are poorly developed, learning is difficult and stressful, and children will react in one or more of the following ways:

They avoid visual work entirely, or as much as possible
They attempt to do the work anyway, but with lowered understanding
They often experience discomfort, fatigue, and short attention span.
They adapt by becoming nearsighted, or by suppressing the vision of one eye

Vision problems don't cause learning disabilities, but poor vision skills can cause learning problems. Good vision skills provide a sound foundation for learning.

***Most school vision screenings test just the sharpness of distance eyesight, so many vision problems go undetected. A child with 20/20 distance eyesight may still have great difficulty doing vision tasks less than arm's length away.

Signs of Vision Problems

Holding a book very close (7-8 inches away)
Child, or adult, holds head at an extreme angle to the book when reading
Covering one eye when reading
Squinting when doing near vision work
Constant poor posture when working close
Moving head back and forth while reading instead of moving only eyes
Poor attention span, drowsiness after prolonged work less than arm's length away
Homework requiring reading takes longer than it should
Child occasionally or peristently reports seeing blurring or double while reading or writing
Child reports blurring or doubling only when work is hard
Loses place when moving gaze from desk work to chalkboard, or when copying from text to notebook
Child must use a marker to keep their place when reading
Writing up or down hill, irregular letter or word spacing
Child reverses letters (b for d) or words (saw for was)
Repeatedly omits "small" words
Rereads or skips lines unknowingly
Fails to recognize the same word in the next sentence
Misaligns digits in columns of numbers
Headaches after reading or near work
Child blinks excessively when doing near work, but not otherwise
Rubs eyes during or after short periods of reading
Comprehension declines as reading continues
Child fails to visualize (can't describe what they've read)

Eliminating vision problems can quickly change academic performance.

I have more information to share with you at another time if you're interested. Or e-mail me at tachizuno4@yahoo.com and I can talk with you further.

Playing Hookie (Hooky)

2006-05-17T18:55:00.000-04:00

I would be lying if I said that I never cut class. In fact, before I realized the impact attendance had on my test scores, I skipped here and there. That was mainly my first year of college, and I was young and immature.

It's amazing to see though, as an educator, how quickly a student can fall behind when they miss even 1 day of school. Of course it sometimes depends on the student, but the majority do fall behind, and it has a domino effect on the grade for the whole unit, or quarter, quite often.

My advice... only miss when you're sick...simple enough. Or, only let your children miss when they're truly sick. We also don't want germs being spread, and a cycle of illnesses beginning.

Two years ago we had one of those massive flu epidemics in my school. It started with a few, and was shared to almost the entire school. We wound up having a full week off because we tried to have session on Wednesday, but didn't have enough attendance for it to count. I luckily managed to get the bug on Friday (enter sarcasm).

Every year I see pretty much the same thing though. There are usually 2-3 students in each grade that have very poor attendance. I'm talking missing 15-20 percent of the days. I often wonder what exactly is going on at home? If there are lengthy illnesses, I can accept that, and wish them well. If they miss too much, I personally call the truancy officer, because I see how much they miss after just one day. It's mind-boggling!

And it's not like we don't have an attendance policy, but as long as an absence is excused, they're fine. If the parents are willing to let them miss 50 days a year, then they probably will miss. You'd think it'd catch up with them eventually, and it usually does in one form or another.

I guess all-in-all this is more of a common sense post. Most of you know that it's important to get to school, otherwise you aren't learning. I'm hoping that some of those children that miss though aren't the ones with the parents who hated school or who have a negative attitude about it. They aren't solving any problems that way.

Words of Wisdom #2

2006-03-31T19:37:00.000-05:00

Write things down- Keep a yearly Journal

From everything to a quick recap of phone conversations, to how you handled a discipline situation, write it down with the date and time. This can be very helpful as a reference.

I've used mine as a diary at times. Most of the time I'm so swamped that I just jot down major things that happen instead. It really depends on the current flow. Right now, I'm jotting things down quickly, in shorthand. A very busy time of year for me.

I do use it as a discipline record as well. I just quickly recap what happened and what I did. Of course every year is different as far as students too. This year I've had very little to write about in that regard.

Words of Wisdom #1

2006-03-23T18:31:00.000-05:00

Have an imaginary line around your desk.

I have an imaginary line that they sometimes forget about. I call it my office when they step across the line. I'll say with a smile "I see that you stepped into my office. I don't remember hearing you knock."

Students need to raise their hand to leave their seat in my room. I allow them to do this most of the time, as long as they ask.

There's also a big rule that nobody touches my desk. The things on my desk on mine, and anything they need isn't on my desk.

If I didn't have this rule, I can expect students coming up for every possible thing from being teased to not having supplies.

Are school dress codes fair?

2006-03-20T00:15:00.000-05:00

Strictly referring to school - Are dress codes fair?

I've taught for quite a few years now, and from a personal standpoint, I was quite glad when my school revamped the dress code. It's not so strict as to insist on uniforms for students, but it still is detailed enough to counteract some risque styles.

I teach at an elementary school. I believe things should be enforced to a point even more consistently at the high school level.

There's a point when a line has to be drawn, and I still would imagine that in many schools, the dress codes are still pretty lenient.

Here is what our dress code states:

9.12 Student Dress Code
Students attending the XXXXXX XXXXXXXX School are expected to conform to the following dress regulations:
1. Items of dress will be worn that are no shorter than fingertip length when standing with hands to one's side.
2. Boxer shorts, sleeper lounge pants, cut-offs or frayed hems will not be allowed.
3. Spandex clinging or skintight clothing will not be allowed.
4. Shoes must be worn at all time.
5. Mesh shirts or tank tops may only be worn under or over an acceptable shirt, blouse, or sweater.
6. Shirts must be long enough to cover the stomach area.
7. If pants are too large to remain at the waist area, a belt must be provided.
8. Garments with holes will not be allowed.
9. All clothing should be in good taste. Clothing with obscenities, cigarettes, drug information or sexual connotations will not be allowed.
10. Hat will not be worn indoors except by special permission.

Now, what exactly is the purpose of a dress code? The primary reason for being in school is to learn. Some items of dress are a distraction and may hinder the learning process.

If a teenage boy is sitting in class studying the history of Ancient Rome and the girl next to him is wearing a skimpy outfit, what do you think will dominate his attention? There's virtually no way history can compete.

If you are having issues with this topic in your school district, talk to a school board member, teacher, principal, or maybe even write a short letter to the editor of the local newspaper.

I try to eliminate distractions from my sixth grade room. The clothing today's youth wear can take away from learning. I feel that a specific dress code is becoming an essential step schools must take to keep their students learning.

Fabulous Educational Resource Site

2006-03-03T13:59:00.000-05:00

This would have to be the best educational resource site I have ever found. If you're a teacher or parent with a computer at home, there are TONS of great things on this site.

Trip1 K-12 Educational Resource

I'll add a link to my sidebar too. I highly recommend it!

School Lunches

2006-02-27T18:24:00.000-05:00

Do you get this image in your mind?

Are school lunches meeting the nutrition standards that parents would like?

Based on studies done by multiple sources, school lunches today have improved in both taste and nutrition. However, even though the lunches meet the standards in protein, vitamins, calcium, and iron, they still exceed recommendations for fat.

Some schools have tried to make changes to their menu to accommodate these statistics, but still many fall short.

Still, other studies have contributed to even more startling statistics. Lunches provided from home generally are even less healthy than those purchased through schools!

I thought about it, and things started to make sense. First, how many lunches from home that students bring include milk? According to studies, 87 percent of school lunches include milk, while only 7 percent of lunches from home do. Also, lunches from home include many more snacks than school lunches do. Chips, fruit-rollups, pudding, and candy bars may all include some vitamins and minerals, but they also contain a lot more fat than recommended.

Another issue that is often brought up is that "School lunches are gross. There's nothing good to eat. They're not appealing." To combat this complaint, many schools have used student surveys and other student input, as well as parental input to modify the lunch menus. This has improved the opinion of many students.

There are good arguments from both sides of the issue. And of course things vary from region to region, even school to school. My school in particular has had student input for the lunches. I eat school lunch about once every two weeks. I usually always purchase a milk from school to go along with a lunch I take from home.

Some interesting things to think about anyway.

Here are two links that discuss the school lunch issue. These take a more confrontational approach toward school lunches.

Consumer Reports for kids

Kids health for Parents

"You are what you eat, from your head down to your feet."

I Remember Him Now

2006-02-25T16:04:00.000-05:00

This poem is in the fabulous collection of poems and short stories by Ivan Fitzwater titled "Laugh With Me, Cry With Me."

I Remember Him Now
I remember him now-- a shy little boy who sat in the
back of my class.
He never talked; he did his work just barely enough to pass.
He never tried to play the clown, nor did he seek my aid.
It haunts me when I think about the difference I might
have made.

The principal said I'd be the one to tell his family.
A suicide note addressed to no one simply said:
"I've got to be free."
"Why," I protested, "should I be charged to bring the horrible news?
I hardly knew him. I taught him, yes, but there are
others you should choose."

"It's because of this note that we found in his things
that we ask you to be the one.
The memory book that the dime store gives and the
kids find so much fun--
He only wrote on a single page, that pathetic little
creature.
He wrote your name on the page that says:
THIS IS MY FAVORITE TEACHER."

---All I could say when I read that the first time was "WOW!"
Everyone is important. Everyone is special in his or her own way.
I try to keep this poem in mind and let all my students know that
they are unique and important.

Suicide is not a light subject, and I chose to share this poem more
as a reminder to teachers that you do make a difference.

You are important to your students. True, as they get older it gets harder for them to express your significance in their lives, but they do appreciate you. You can make a huge impact on the direction they take. For some, all it takes is to show interest in something they are proud of. Or to take the time to comment or compliment them on something they put time and effort into. If they have a passion, take the time to boost their confidence, and set their heart soaring with pride.

Everyone is important... everyone is important.

Funny School Stories

2006-02-20T18:06:00.000-05:00

A fifth grade class was in the media center for a dictionary/thesaurus lesson. As I went over the vocabulary words to be used in the assignment, two boys immediately jumped up and began strutting around when I said the word “haughty.” “That’s me!” each one proudly proclaimed. Seems they got “hottie” and “haughty” a little confused. Their classmates (and teachers) had a good chuckle over that.

True story - Kindergarten teacher comes to me in the office, and said a parent called her and said she's sure glad I was back from the illness and hoped there would be no more. Her daughter had come home after a day or two with the teacher replacement and told mom she had a "prostitute" teacher while Miss Kern was away.

When I was in first Grade, my teacher was having a spelling contest....One of my friends was going against another girl. The word was T H I S. Being young and wanting to come in first with the right word, she spelled SH** first. The whole class was stunned and we didn't understand. But our teacher laughed so hard she had to leave the room. And now 10 years later we still tease her about it.

I was waiting for my 4 year old son's preschool class to be dismissed when the door to his classroom opened and out walked one of his teacher's right over to me. Laughing she told me that after their goodbye song she exclaimed "TGIF" and then asked the class if anyone knew what that meant. She said my son, waiving his arm in the air shouted " I do, PAYDAY!!"

Happy Valentine's Day

2006-02-14T22:33:00.000-05:00

Here's my favorite poem...

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)

i fear
no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

e e cummings

Bits of Wisdom

2006-02-13T21:29:00.000-05:00

Just a few little bits of wisdom, leaving thousands more to come...

When asking a question, wait at least 5 seconds before looking for answers.
Read to your children every day
Listen to your children every day
Do things even if they don't appreciate them
Try something new at least once a month
Encourage every child to be an expert at something

Tears of a Tiger

2006-02-07T17:17:00.000-05:00

For one of the college courses I'm taking this winter we had to read Tears of a Tiger, by Sharon Draper. I would like to recommend this book to anyone that teaches junior high, high school, or for anyone with a child that's of that age. I found the book to be very well written, and there are many follow up activities you can do with it. The issues of the book deal with teens.

We had to do a few different activities from Sharon Draper's website that go along with the book. I found them to be pretty creative. The main theme of the book can be found by clicking on the picture of the book, or by visiting Sharon Draper's website.

It was a quick read. I read it in about 3 hours.

Personal Reading Goals

2006-02-04T18:26:00.000-05:00

~~Harper)arper)~~

Newbery Winners 1970-Present

My goal for the past year has been to read the Newbery winning books from 1970- now. In that time I’ve found it difficult to stick with these books because I want to read books that are sequels, or series books. I’ll also list the other books that I’ve read this past year. The ones that I’ve read in the past year are crossed out. The list itself is taken from the ALA Website.

2006: Criss Cross by Lynne Rae Perkins (Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins)
~~2005:~~ ~~Kira-Kira~~ ~~by Cynthia Kadohata (Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster)~~
~~2004:~~ ~~The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread~~ ~~by Kate DiCamillo (Candlewick Press)~~
~~2003:~~ ~~Crispin: The Cross of Lead~~ ~~by Avi (Hyperion Books for Children)~~
~~2002:~~ ~~A Single Shard~~ ~~by Linda Sue Park(Clarion Books/Houghton Mifflin)~~
~~2001:~~ ~~A Year Down Yonder~~ ~~by Richard Peck (Dial)~~
~~2000:~~ ~~Bud, Not Buddy~~ ~~by Christopher Paul Curtis (Delacorte)~~
~~1999:~~ ~~Holes~~ ~~by Louis Sachar (Frances Foster)~~
1998: Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse (Scholastic)
1997: The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg (Jean Karl/Atheneum)
1996: The Midwife's Apprentice by Karen Cushman (Clarion)
~~1995:~~ ~~Walk Two Moons~~ ~~by Sharon Creech (HarperCollins)~~
~~1994:~~ ~~The Giver~~ ~~by Lois Lowry(Houghton)~~
~~1993:~~ ~~Missing May~~ ~~by Cynthia Rylant (Jackson/Orchard)~~
1992: Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor (Atheneum)
~~1991:~~ ~~Maniac Magee~~ ~~by Jerry Spinelli (Little, Brown)~~
~~1990:~~ ~~Number the Stars~~ ~~by Lois Lowry (Houghton)~~
1989: Joyful Noise: Poems for Two Voices by Paul Fleischman (Harper)
1988: Lincoln: A Photobiography by Russell Freedman (Clarion)
~~1987:~~ ~~The Whipping Boy~~ ~~by Sid Fleischman (Greenwillow)~~
~~1986:~~ ~~Sarah, Plain and Tall~~ ~~by Patricia MacLachlan (Harper)~~
1985: The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley (Greenwillow)
~~1984:~~ ~~Dear Mr. Henshaw~~ ~~by Beverly Cleary (Morrow)~~
1983: Dicey's Song by Cynthia Voigt (Atheneum)
1982: A Visit to William Blake's Inn: Poems for Innocent and Experienced Travelers by Nancy Willard (Harcourt)
1981: Jacob Have I Loved by Katherine Paterson (Crowell)
1980: A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal, 1830-1832 by Joan W. Blos (Scribner)
1979: The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin (Dutton)
~~1978:~~ ~~Bridge to Terabithia~~ by Katherine Paterson (Crowell)
1977: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor (Dial)
1976: The Grey King by Susan Cooper (McElderry/Atheneum)
1975: M. C. Higgins, the Great by Virginia Hamilton (Macmillan)
1974: The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox (Bradbury)
~~1973:~~ ~~Julie of the Wolves~~ ~~by Jean Craighead George (Harper)~~
1972: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien (Atheneum)
~~1971:~~ ~~Summer of the Swans~~ by Betsy Byars (Viking)
1970: Sounder by William H. Armstrong (Harper)

Drawing in Class

2006-01-28T19:08:00.000-05:00

A Kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they were drawing.

She would occasionally walk around to see each child's work. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was.

The girl replied, "I'm drawing God."

The teacher paused and said, "But no one knows what God looks like."

Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing, the girl replied, "They will in a minute."

I Teach

2006-01-28T13:32:00.000-05:00

I Teach

I teach because there is great fulfillment that comes in

working with boys and girls.

I teach because I wanted to be a sculptor, and I can do so,

by shaping lives for the future.

I teach because I wanted to be an artist, and I can do so,

by painting dreams for children.

I teach because I wanted to be a musician, and I can,

in giving inspiration for children.

I teach because I wanted to be a historian, and I can in having

recorded something for the lives of great men to come.

I teach because I wanted to be a poet, and I can in writing

impressive passages of mankind.

I teach because of the reward I receive when a child's

frowns turns to smiles, or when he/she says, "Now I understand."

I teach because of the personal growth I receive each day as

I venture out on a quest for knowledge and techniques

to help my students understand.

I teach for it is in this where I can see the worthwhile

and true fulfillment of living.

Author: Unknown

Continuing Education

2006-01-16T19:28:00.000-05:00

I'm taking six credits online through the college I received my diploma from.

Not to mention the fact that I'm going to be a first time parent right at the end of the school year. I'm quite excited about that.

The classes should be fine. Just something more for me to do when I'm not really bored. :)

That's all for now...

Funny Kid Stories

2006-01-09T21:00:00.000-05:00

On the first day of school my first graders were anxious to show me the things that they had brought to school in their backpacks. One little girl came up with a small memo book with a picture of a kitten on the front and told me "Mrs. Byers, I have 2 of these in my backpack!" I responded that it was very nice but, since we wouldn't be using them in school perhaps she could take it home and write in it or do some homework in it. With a huge smile, and as pleased as punch, she said, "It's a diarrhea! (diary!)" I could not stop laughing!

Terri

I worked in an Elementary School clinic for seven years. Needless to say, I have seen a lot of funny things in there. However, one day this sweet little girl came in. She had what appeared to be a cold in her right eye. Trying to rule out pink eye, I asked her if it was crusted over when she woke up that morning. She said, "Yes, I think the sleepy man put too much boogers in it!" Priceless huh?!
Melissa

My family was sitting down eating dinner, and our five year old seemed to be upset. She looked up at my husband and I and said "Mom Dad my teacher said a bad word at school today. I said "oh,no what did she say" She looked at my husband and I to see if she was going to get into trouble and said "Well, today we were learning about bugs, and she said that they were in-sex (insects)"
Lydia

A friend of mine was teaching an art lesson to several first graders. She was trying to get them to remember the colors, and how to make other colors from the primary colors. A little boy walked up to her, held up his first finger and said sweetly "Red". The teacher said that that was very good. He then held up his third finger and sweetly said "Blue". She again replied that that was good. Then she asked him "What color do those two colors make?" He then raised his fist in the air, proudly extended his middle finger and shouted"PURPLE!!!!"......just as the principal walked into the room. It took the principal three glasses of water and several tissues in order to compose herself and resume her day.
Leslie

I passed out snack to a class of kindergartners. One young man looked up at me and told me that he wanted to share his cookie. (He had licked, smeared and gobbered it all over his face.) I told him no thank you, and explained that I had gained weight over the winter break and needed to be careful about eating snacks. He looked at me and I could tell his little mind was thinking. I started to feel bad and decided I WOULD choke down the cookie somehow! But then he said, "Teacher, its ok, really, I think you look the same fatness!"

Kids say the darndest things

2005-12-07T18:39:00.000-05:00

I'm a teacher that believes that school should also be fun. I try to make my classroom a place for learning, and also a place that students like to go. I have things that happen every year that make me laugh as well, and most times I don't even try to hide it. I just laugh along with everyone else. It depends, of course, on the situation.

The internet is also a great source of information, and I found these funny school stories online. I think they are worth the read:

At Math time, I told the kids that we were going to talk about Even and Odd. One boy yelled out- "I know that story. It's in the Bible! " After I quit laughing, I said- "I think you mean Adam and Eve. "

I was a teacher in a tutoring center and at the end of every session, we would ask the students quiz questions for extra tokens. I asked, "What are the three primary colors?". One of my students said, " I know- black, white, and Mexican!!" I laughed so hard, I gave him 2 tokens.

A wise school teacher sends this note to all parents on the first day of school: "If you promise not to believe everything your child says happens at school, I'll promise not to believe everything he says happens at home.

It was Clown Day at school and I was wearing a pair of large, baggy pants with a hula hoop at the waist. One boy peeked in my pants and said, "You look like you could have a party in those pants."

One of the teachers had a kindergartner come up to her and say that he found a frog. The teacher asked if the frog was alive or dead. The student said it was dead. The teacher asked how he knew. The boy said, "I pissed in it's ear." The teacher said, "You what?" He said, "You know, I went to his ear and said, 'PSST!' and it didn't move. So it must be dead."

A school teacher injured his back and had to wear a plaster cast around the upper part of his body. It fit under his shirt and was not noticeable at all. On the first day of the term, still with the cast under his shirt, he found himself assigned to the toughest students in school. Walking confidently into the rowdy classroom, he opened the window as wide as possible and then busied himself with desk work. When a strong breeze made his tie flap, he took the desk stapler and stapled the tie to his chest. He had no trouble with discipline that term.

One day the first grade teacher was reading the story of the Three Little Pigs to her class. She came to the part of the story where the first pig was trying to accumulate the building materials for his home. She read, "...And so the pig went up to the man with the wheelbarrow full of straw and said, "Pardon me sir, but may I have some of that straw to build my house?'" The teacher paused then asked the class, "And what do you think that man said?" One little boy raised his hand and said, "I think he said 'Holy %$#@! A talking pig!'" The teacher was unable to teach for the next 10 minutes.

On the first day of class I always conduct an "icebreaker" activity. The students are to stand, introduce themselves, and tell us something most people don't know about them. One student responded: "My name is Chris and I hate people that suck up to the teacher......by the way, Western Civ. is my favorite class."

- - - - - -

In my school a fellow teacher told me this story. While working on reading with a first or second grader she had the student read the sentence "The cat sat on my lap," but instead the student read it as "The cat sh** on my lip." She said she was somehow able to not show her laughter, but I sure did.

Thank you for reading this

2005-11-01T18:25:00.000-05:00

Are parents teaching manners to their children in today's world?

In my classroom I have noticed a declining trend in good manners, or the simple courtesies that were stressed when I was younger.

What brought about this trend? Why is it such a bother to say anything when something kind is done?

Let me be more descriptive and then you can make a decision. Keep in mind also that I'm being general here, and if YOUR Tommy, Susie, or whatever is polite as can be, then I'm not referring to your child.

Often times I'll reward my class for their hard work on a project, or assignment. I may bring in suckers, or some other treat. I rarely hear a thank you for this. I'm being totally serious when I guess that less than 10 percent of my students will thank me. I will always say you're welcome, and I'm a very thanking person. If a student does something nice for me, I'll thank them. I'm modeling the behavior, and I'm amazed that I don't hear it more. Every once in a while I'll even say "you're welcome" to generate the thank-you that I was anticipating.

What is the cause of this?

This is the same when you would normally say "excuse me" when trying to get by someone. Most students won't say a word if they're in the same circumstance. Instead they'll bump past a person, or wait.

Is there anything that can be done to solve this? Do you have any solutions to offer me? Do you see what I'm talking about, and agree that it could be better? Or am I just blowing smoke?

To me, the attitude of a person is depicted when this happens. They appear snobby or shallow. A room full of polite people is a room that is fun to be in. I feel unappreciated when they fail to acknowledge what I've done for them.

I've also had situations where I'll say "Good Morning" to someone and many won't say a word. I feel as though I need to repeat myself most of the time to get a response from them. What is going on?

What do you think about it?

Worth a Giggle

2005-10-21T21:39:00.000-04:00

Statewide Testing

2005-09-28T22:01:00.000-04:00

This year will be the first year that I'll have to administer the new Statewide test. There wasn't any statewide test for sixth grade in Michigan until this year. Now there are 3 subject areas being tested, and a total of about 10 hours worth of tests. They'll be testing the Grade Level Content for the previous year.

I don't mind the general idea behind the tests, but what I really can't stand is two big things, and I'd like to talk about that today...

The first thing that really bugs me about this whole thing are the tests. I think a lot of the tests are pretty decent, and are geared in the right fashion, but some consist of some real idiotic questions. I've seen tests where a vast majority of the state's schools fail the test. Do you think that maybe the questions are aiming a little off the base? I think that would indicate a chance...

Over the past year our state has revamped the school curriculums with the updated Grade Level Content Expectations. The tests we'll be giving the first 3 weeks of October will be testing the items from the GLCE. It's amazing though how many really dumb questions are still left on statewide tests. I know it has to be like that elsewhere, and I'm definitely not trying to knock my state, because I think our Department of Education is really near the top in the nation.

The other thing that really bugs me about the state tests is how the results are often used to mudsling the schools. Yes, maybe improvements should possibly be made. But do you think there could be other factors involved? A lot of times the media don't have all the facts, or only use a portion of the facts and write the story. We all know this. I'm not saying that all schools are doing a fantastic job, but I do feel that schools in general receive a lot of negative press without the whole story or facts being portrayed.

I guess my main thought on the whole subject is that we don't grade or assess students on one test, but a lot of times a school is graded or assessed by the performance of one test, just like this.

Classroom Management - Discipline

2005-09-23T21:19:00.000-04:00

In today's world classrooms are different than they were when I went to school. I'm not complaining, I'm just stating a common fact. If you're a teacher, you need to sometimes be creative in your discipline plan. I would like to share the things that I do in my classroom, and if any teachers would like to share with me what they do, I'd greatly appreciate it.

When I went to school we all FEARED the "Board" of Education. Which was actually a paddle that you got a good whack on the backside with if you were incorrigible. Back then I behaved, and I really didn't want to see the BOARD. And you know what else? I really don't remember too many discipline problems in my classrooms when I was in grade school. Maybe it was just the school, or my peers, but I do not recall anyone being sent out of the room, arguing with the teacher, challenging authority, or anything else of that nature. Just the possibility of it happening was enough for me to mind my P's and Q's.

So what do I do in my classroom to keep things under control? First of all you've got to understand that my style isn't every teacher's style. I'm different, and what works for me, won't work for all, but maybe if it's modified it could be put to use. I like to have fun in my classroom too. I joke around, but take my job seriously as well. I'm there to prepare my students for the next year of school, and I tell them that.

I tell them, "I'm here for a reason, and the reason is YOU. I expect that when you come into my classroom you come here to learn, you'll be prepared, and you'll try your hardest. If you fall short of any of those three things, there may be consequences."

I begin the year quite strict, but still approachable. I appreciate questions, but still deal with any disruptions, rule-breaking, or other nonsense IMMEDIATELY. The first incident of the year I usually give a warning, and then use it as a class example.

I keep a chart made on a spreadsheet with each student's name on it, and this has boxes that we can keep a tally of minor rule-breaking. I choose a student to keep track of the chart for a marking period, and they give a "mark" to a student if I tell them to.

If I'm explaining how to add like variables in Math class and "John" is talking and disrupting others and my lesson, I'll stop, and say "mark for John." This immediately quiets them down most of the time.

If the whole class is loud, and they shouldn't be, I give them a class warning. If this continues later on, I say "class mark" and every one that is present gets a mark. This works on keeping the atmosphere quiet enough to get work done.

Five marks in one week = a lost recess. Ten marks in a week = a trip to the principal's office. I rarely have to give 10 marks in one week, but I also take marks away if I witness good citizenship, or if the whole class is exceptional. At the beginning of the next week everyone starts out with a clean slate, zero marks.

Sometimes things happen that require immediate action. I just consider that an automatic 10 marks, and send them to the office. A lot of times I also talk to students one on one in the hallway and give them a second chance. I find it's much better to handle conflict with a student one on one, instead of talking to them in front of their peers.

This has worked for me for six years so far. I can't guarantee it'll even work for anyone else, but I wanted to share it with you.

*** School starts for me next Tuesday. I may miss a few days of posting here and there until things get settled. Thanks for visiting!

Top Books for Children

2005-09-16T17:01:00.000-04:00

This list breaks the books into age levels, which is handy for those of you that are looking for good books for your children. This list is developed by Teachersfirst

Books for All Ages
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
Where the Sidewalk Ends: the Poems and Drawing of Shel Silverstein by Shel Silverstein
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
Heidi by Johanna Spyri

Books for Preschoolers
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise
Brown Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? by Bill Martin, Jr.
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Corduroy by Don Freeman
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise
Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney

Books for Children Ages 4-8
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
Oh, The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss
Strega Nona by Tomie De Paola
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by John Archambault
The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
Jumanji by Chris Van Allsburg
Math Curse by Jon Scieszka A
Are You My Mother? by Philip D. Eastman
The Napping House by Audrey Wood
Sylvester and the Magic Pebble by William Steig
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss
Basil of Baker Street by Eve Titus
The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
Curious George by Hans Augusto Rey
Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox
Arthur series by Marc Tolon Brown
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish
The Art Lesson by Tomie De Paola
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
Clifford, the Big Red Dog by Norman Bridwell
The Paper Bag Princess by Robert N. Munsch

Books for Children Ages 9-12
Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Little House on the Prarie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan
The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
The BFG by Roald Dahl
The Giver by Lois Lowry
James and the Giant Peach: A Children's Story by Roald Dahl
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor
Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh by Robert C. O'Brien
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing by Judy Blume
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary
The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White
The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster
Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson
Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein
Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
Stuart Little by E. B. White
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

Books for Young Adults
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls
The Cay by Theodore Taylor
The Sign of the Beaver by Elizabeth George Speare
Harry Potter (series) by J.K. Rowling

First Days of School

2005-09-08T19:43:00.000-04:00

Pardon the pauses in posts as I begin the school year. Much to do getting things organized and ready, with other things going on too.

The year has begun very well. I've been pleased with the attitudes I've witnessed in my classroom so far. It is actually quite motivating to not hear any whining from ANYONE!

I will post a quality topic in the near future, but wanted to update this with what I've been doing the past few days.

Mainly I've been getting things settled. Things are always a big question mark until the very beginning of the year. I needed to settle on a schedule, and that took a good hour or more to figure out, and balance with specials, lunch, recess and other things. I also teach two sessions of Math, while my counterpart teaches two sections of Social Studies.

I also am using a new Math series this year for the first time since I've been teaching at the sixth grade level. It does a much better job at meeting the Grade Level Content Expectations given out by the state. So, I've been looking through that, and trying to figure out where these students are at.

There are many others things going on as well, not to mention trying to schedule time to work out in the evenings, and sleep, plus an hour drive to school, and back. The day has little free time anymore, so I'll try to "blog" while I'm going to and from school.

I wish all teachers and students a successful and healthy school year.

Teacher's Pets

2005-08-24T00:53:00.000-04:00

I've had my share of teacher's pets. Some are very helpful, and others can be more of a nuisance than good. Generally when I need assistance from a student in my room, I "pick a chip" or draw a name almost every time, unless it's something that needs to be done very fast, and then I either ask the first person I get eye contact with, or someone reliable.

I've learned through trial and error that complete randomness is the best way to avoid hurt feelings, and complaining. I do admit that there are certain tasks that come up that I choose someone I trust to do for me, but most of the time I draw a name... I have little chips that I pick.

By going random, I also avoid students teasing others for being a teacher's pet as well. Still, there are those few each year that are always willing to help, always wanting to do something for me. I appreciate it, and they are a great help.

Now... If I were shopping for a pet for my classroom at the store...

Late Assignments

2005-08-23T00:20:00.000-04:00

I've thought about this topic over and over throughout the years, and changed my standards and rules on Late Assignments a few times as well.

Should Late Assignments be Accepted?

Should a student receive full credit if an assignment is turned in late?

What type of deduction should be given for an late assignment?

In the past I have used two different grade systems. When I used the 11 point scale (12 point scale for some) I initially gave two days to turn in assignments if there was an absence. If the student wasn't absent, they received a zero, or E for the assignment.

After that I changed my mind, and decided that doing the work was important, and some credit should be given, so I deducted 10 percent if they turned it in late.

Since then I also graded by total points, and deducted 10 percent if it is late.

I do think that doing the work is important. It's an extension of the lesson, and further enhances the skills and concepts taught. I now give them until the end of the marking period to get the work in, and only deduct 10 percent. Still I have dozens of incomplete assignments at the end of the quarter.

I also feel that it depends on the class I have somewhat. I will probably have to modify my rule on late assignments again in the future, but as for now, that is how I deal with them.

I like to rhyme, I do it all the time!

2005-08-17T01:26:00.000-04:00

Every schoolyear one of my larger English projects is a poetry unit. I've really modified it over the past few years, and I think it is more successful year by year. I've also added different types of poetry just about every year.

I begin the unit by reading one of my favorite books to the class... "Love That Dog" by Sharon Creech. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it. It is easily readable in under an hour, and it is moving and entertaining. It deals with a boy who doesn't really like poetry, or admittingly feels that boys don't like poetry. Through the book he changes his mindset.

&amp;lt;br&gt;

I then proceed through about a two week span of introducing different types of poetry: Acrostic, Haiku, Senryu, Diomonte, Cinquain, Lyrical, Rhyming, Free Verse, Limerics and finally Shape.

After that I usually read about a few different poets (Dickinson, Frost, Poe) and read some of their work. Throughout each lesson I present different examples, and have students read those (I usually put those on a transparency, and then on the overhead) After we read them, we discuss them, and sometimes rate, or grade them.

Students are assigned a portfolio that asks them to turn in 2 examples of each type, and then gives them a chance to turn in 3 more of the type they like the most. I then make a Poetry display on the wall, and type them up, similar to "Love that Dog." The students really like reading the poems of their peers, and I've really seen some GREAT poetry over the past 5 years. I usually suggest a few put their poems into publication on www.poetry.com or some other website.

One of the main things that I stress is that you can write a poem about anything. It's a great way to express your thoughts and feelings on just about whatever you want.

Here's a poem I wrote and submitted a few years ago.

Campfire
As the night dawned, the firelight grew
I pulled myself closer to the flames.
My mind filled with thoughts of what to do
And remembering faces without names.

I thought of loved ones, with me no longer
My thoughts searching for moments in time.
Wishing to make each bond grow stronger
With those whose lives have crossed mine.

My eyes couldn't leave the light by my feet
Opening doorways, releasing my past.
Reminiscing of times that were so sweet
In my mind those good times will last.

Derek George Johnson

If a Picture's Worth a Thousand Words...

2005-08-12T00:25:00.000-04:00

Sunset over Lake Superior

Lake Superior Beach

Iron Ore Carrier on Lake Superior

If a picture's worth a thousand words, then there's 3000 for you...

*These are from last weekend's mini-vacation with my wife. It was our anniversary.

Words of Encouragement

2005-08-10T10:42:00.000-04:00

A man should never be ashamed to say he has been wrong, which is but saying in other words that he is wiser today than he was yesterday -- Alexander Pope

Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning is young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young. -- Henry Ford

Even if it's a little thing, do something for those who have need of help, something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it. -- Albert Schweitzer

Read to and with your children!

2005-08-08T15:53:00.000-04:00

I'm naive.

There I said it.

I would expect that most parents know the imporantance of reading to your children while they're growing up. NOT saying that you don't know this.

I wonder though how many parents actually do read to their children on a regular basis...

Here are 10 good reasons to read to your child... Feel free to add more!

1) It gets a child's imagination developing.
2) It makes them enjoy stories. What an easy way to travel, go to a made-up place in your mind.
3) It models reading, and makes them interested in it. "If mommy or daddy read to me, it must be important!"
4) It develops another connection between the child and parent, and this can become a special time.
5) It helps put them to sleep! (At least sometimes)
6) It promotes a good, safe hobby. I'd choose books over video games anyway.
7) It develops their brain.
8) It advances them academically, and prepares them for every subject in school.
9) It's fun!
10) There are fantastic stories to be found, that both parent and child will enjoy, and love.

Worsheets, Teaching Tips, Teacher Resources and Rubrics

2005-08-04T12:40:00.000-04:00

Here's a site that offers all that and more.

Teach-nology

And another site that's fun for kids to play, and learn at the same time.

Kid Wizard

I'll be redoing my links, so they're more organized today/tomorrow. I also gave quite a few links in past posts that I never did add to my links section.

This coming weekend I'll be celebrating my anniversary, so I won't be posting.

Teacher Links

2005-08-03T12:00:00.000-04:00

Here are two good places to go for teaching ideas, and for parents as well.

Game Aquarium - All subject areas covered in educational games!

The other link is a site that has links to hundreds of teacher sites, and is an excellent source for information on just about everything to do with education.

Summer School pt. 2

2005-07-29T14:12:00.000-04:00

The second session of summer school begins next Monday. I'm going to take a few days away from Blogland and get my lesson plans in order, and focus on teaching ideas. This has been consuming a lot of my time lately, and I want to make sure I'm effective.

I'm looking for some more good teacher links. If you know of any, please let me know in the comments section.

I've also seen this on another blog, but not sure if you did, so here's something I had e-mailed to me once... kind of neat:

"Aoccdrnig to rscheearch at Txes M&A Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a total mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe." (Anonymous)

Coaching and Teaching

2005-07-28T11:49:00.000-04:00

I started coaching volleyball before I started teaching. I was lucky enough to get a job coaching high school volleyball while going to college. It was a way to make some extra money, work on my teaching skills, and be around the sport that I love.

Looking back at that time period, I realize now that I really learned a lot of great teaching strategies, and a lot of patience. Coaching in a way has molded me into the type of teacher that I am. I guess in essence, I look at it as a competitive thing. I want all my students to succeed, and I challenge myself, and them, to achieve goals. Just the same with volleyball. I have had much success in regard to wins and losses. I have also had players tell me that they learned to love the game, which means a lot to me.

In volleyball, the things that I stressed were that if we use our heads, and play smart, we already have an advantage. Then we go on to strategies that will give us more advantages, which of course involves fundamentals and skill-building.

In teaching I go through similar conversations. "Yes, you will need to know how to multiply, because you're going to be working on more complex problems next year." A very important aspect in the classroom, at least for me, is a positive attitude. Believing something can be accomplished.

I feel the same way on the volleyball court. The team has to believe in me, and I in turn come up with techniques that will get us above the competition.

I really do feel that coaching and teaching help each other out. I know for sure that coaching has molded me into a more passionate teacher. And I do feel that my teaching strategies have helped me get my ideas across more thoroughly on the court.

Current Scenario for Teachers

2005-07-27T07:57:00.000-04:00

I'd have to say that after teaching for nearly a decade, I'm glad that I got a job when I did. Having seen what's been going on in my state, and then hearing about similar things happening nationwide, I'm sure glad that I have my tenure, and I have a secure job.

So many schools today are having budget difficulties. Why did this happen all of a sudden? Well, I don't want to start pointing fingers, but when so many schools are having trouble with finances, maybe there's a problem regarding the funding?

Because of financial woes, many schools are searching for ways to cut costs. One of the first ideas for many school districts is of course to eliminate the largest portion of the budget, a position, or maybe even more than one. Heck, cut 3 positions and you're looking at $100,000.

What I'm getting at is that when I went to college, there were a lot of teachers that were near the end of their careers. They were about to retire, and there was supposed to be a big influx of new teachers. I wonder if the schools are still talking about this same topic now? When whole schools are being closed, when 8-10 positions are being eliminated. Instead of hiring someone new when a teacher retires, they often just don't hire anyone.

Not only are there less teaching jobs posted every year, but there also are more stipulations in becoming a teacher. Not that there weren't enough guidelines and regulations before. I had to take about 10 tests to get my teaching certificate, before I even started teaching, and it appears they're looking for more documentation and proof that I'm qualified.

Now with all this extra work the teachers are being asked to go through, you'd think that there would be some benefit to it, but I haven't seen anything good to come out of it for the teachers. NO extra pay, no extra certification... just more time put in for basically the same job.

I'm not trying to persuade anyone not to go into education, because there are benefits, and it is a very rewarding profession. I'm just trying to clarify, and make anyone reading this aware, that government is making it so that it is really nothing but one hurdle after another to become a teacher. And then you get paid less than the work you put in, and you're still constantly criticized.

I hope things change for the better sometime soon. I really think the latest efforts toward bolstering the Education system have had good intentions, but they just weren't thought out fully, and really have some loopholes. I'll save my thoughts on NCLB and some of these other ideas for a later date.

A couple of funny cartoons

2005-07-26T11:54:00.000-04:00

These made me laugh

And

Elementary Teacher Quiz

2005-07-25T07:24:00.000-04:00

Are You A TRUE Elementary School Teacher?

Let's Find Out:

1. Do you ask guests if they have remembered their scarves and mittens as they leave your home?

2. Do you move your dinner partner's glass away from the edge of the table?

3. Do you ask if anyone needs to go to the bathroom as you enter a theater with a group of friends?

4. Do you hand a tissue to anyone who sneezes?

5. Do you refer to happy hour as "snack time"?

6. Do you declare "no cuts" when a shopper squeezes ahead of you in a checkout line?

7. Do you say "I like the way you did that" to the mechanic who repairs your car nice?

8. Do you ask "Are you sure you did your best?" to the mechanic who fails to repair your car to your satisfaction?

9. Do you sing the "Alphabet Song" to yourself as you look up a number in the phone book?

10. Do you say everything twice? I mean, do you repeat everything?

11. Do you fold your spouse's fingers over the coins as you hand him/her the money at a tollbooth?

12. Do you ask a quiet person at a party if he has something to share with the group?

* If you answered yes to 4 or more, it's in your soul -- you are hooked on teaching. And if you're not a teacher, you missed your calling.

* If you answered yes to 8 or more, well, maybe it's *too much* in your soul -- you should probably begin thinking about retirement.

* If you answered yes to all 12, forget it -- you'll *always* be a teacher, retired or not!

My All-Time Favorite Novel

2005-07-17T00:03:00.000-04:00

I've read many books in my day, and I have many that I truly adore. But one of them sticks out for me above the rest. Luckily I get a chance now to read it in my classroom, and I can honestly say, for nearly half of my class this year, this is now their favorite book too. I'm referring to the wonderful story of Billy Colman, and his two adoring coonhounds, Old Dan and Little Ann. Of course, it's Where the Red Fern Grows.

I've read this novel so many times now, but once again this past school year, the story hit me like a ton of bricks again. I picked out some more things in the story that made me love it even more. Such well developed characters. Such a portrayal of true love, devotion, dedication, honesty, hard-work. So many good values are depicted in the novel. There is great action in many scenes, and it takes you on quite an adventure.

Wilson Rawls did a marvelous job laying out the story. It keeps you wanting more, and he gives you such visual imagery. I can picture myself in those Ozark Mountains, lying with Billy among the Sycamore trees. I can hear the baying of Old Dan as the dogs tail another elusive coon. I can hear the Illinois River as I walk among its banks.

If you haven't read this book, I highly recommend it, just for the pure sake of it being a fantastic read. Not to mention the fact that it'll open your mind and heart to a lovely story. If you are a dog lover like me, I can almost guarantee you'll add this as one of your top book picks.

In respect and gratitude

2005-07-15T12:38:00.000-04:00

I had very influential teachers when I went to school. If I didn't have such a positive mindset about my education, I doubt I would have went into the field myself. As a gesture toward all of my past teachers, I share this poem I found:

THANKS FOR…

making the difference

long, long hours

creating a sense of family

being the keeper of dreams

pleasing a lot

using good judgment

teaching for learning

making reading fun

forgiving

being the wind beneath my wings

that sensitive touch

teaching class

never giving up on anybody

believing in miracles

respecting each other

taking responsibility for all students

keeping a tight rein on disciplines

triving for excellence, not perfection

being bravesmiling a lot

never depriving our children of hope

being tough minded but tender hearted

showing enthusiasm even when you don't feel like it

keeping your promises

giving your best

your wisdom and courage

being punctual and insisting on it in others

providing creative solutions

avoiding the negative and seeking out the good

being there when students need you

listening

doing more than is expected

never giving up on what you really want

remaining open, flexible, and curious

being a friend

sharing

keeping several irons in the fire

being a child's hero

going the distance

having a good sense of humor

being a dream maker

giving your heart

Everyone is Important

2005-07-14T13:41:00.000-04:00

During Mark's first month of college, the professor gave his students a pop quiz. He was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until he read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. He had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would he know her name? He handed in his paper, leaving the last question blank.

Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward the quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They each deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'hello'". Mark never forgot that lesson. He also learned her name was Dorothy.

- In a similar fashion, I've always tried to keep strong rapport, and relationship with everyone at my school... the janitors, secretaries, cooks... everyone. They are important to the education, and to the school, just as much as the teachers are.

Many Links Added + How to tell if you're a Real Teacher

2005-07-13T08:18:00.000-04:00

Yes, I've added many links... Educational, Blogs, and some advertising.

Check them out if you have a chance.

If you'd like to have your blog listed on mine, send me an e-mail, tachizuno4@yahoo.com , or comment on one of my posts.

How to tell if you are a Real Teacher

Real teachers grade papers in the car, during commercials, in faculty meetings, in the bathroom, and (at the end of the six weeks) have been seen grading in church.

Real teachers cheer when they hear April 1 does not fall on a school day.

Real teachers clutch a pencil while thinking and make notes in the margins of books.

Real teachers can't walk past a crowd of kids without straightening up the line.

Real teachers never sit down without first checking the seat of the chair.

Real teachers have disjointed necks from writing on boards without turning their backs on the class.

Real teachers are written up in medical journals for the size and elasticity of kidneys and bladders.

Real teachers have been timed gulping down a full lunch in 2 minutes, 18 seconds. Master teachers can eat faster than that.

Real teachers can predict exactly which parents will show up at Open House.

Real teachers volunteer for hall duty on days faculty meetings are scheduled.

Real teachers never teach the conjugations of lie and lay to eighth graders.

Real teachers know it is better to seek forgiveness than ask permission.

Real teachers know the best end of semester lesson plans can come from Blockbuster.

Real teachers never take grades after Wednesday of the last week of the six weeks.

Real teachers never assign research papers on the last six weeks or essays on final exams.

Real teachers know the shortest distance and the length of travel time from their classroom to the office.

Real teachers can "sense" gum.

Real teachers know the difference among what must be graded, what ought to be graded, and what probably should never again see the light of day.

Real teachers are solely responsible for the destruction of the rain forest.

Real teachers have their best conferences in the parking lot.

Real teachers have never heard an original excuse.

Real teachers buy Excedrin and Advil at Sam's.

Real teachers will eat anything that is put in the workroom/teacher's lounge.

Real teachers have the assistant principals' and counselors' home phone numbers.

Real teachers know secretaries and custodians run the school.

Real teachers know the rules don't really apply to them.

Real teachers hear the heartbeats of crisis; always have time to listen; know they teach students, not subjects; and they are absolutely non-expendable

*From Inspiring Teachers

Top 100 Kids books, according to Kids

2005-07-08T11:47:00.000-04:00

What do children like to read? I found a list of the top books according to a survey done by the NEA.

The National Education Association (NEA) published this list in 2000: Here are the top 100 books as of the year 2000, when kids were surveyed. I'll list some of the top books since 2000 in a future post.

Keep in mind, these books are multiple age levels. I asterisked ** the ones I've read. Just about all of the books that I read are books geared toward the young adult. I apologize if the list is long.

I linked them all to Amazon.com, if you wanted to purchase any of these books for your children, or children you know. If you don't have children, or don't know any, then this post isn't for you. I just love reading. You can also get a synopsis of the book there, which gives a good description of subject area and content.

1. Harry Potter (series) by J. K. Rowling **
2. Goosebumps (series) by R. L. Stine **
3. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss **
4. The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss **
5. Arthur (series) by Marc Brown
6. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White **
7. Shiloh (trilogy) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
8. Hatchet by Gary Paulsen **
9. Holes by Louis Sachar **
10. The Giver by Lois Lowry **
11. The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis
12. Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (series) by Judy Blume
13. Sideways Stories from Wayside School (series) by Louis Sachar
14. The BFG by Roald Dahl **
15. The Boxcar Children (series) by Gertrude Chandler Warner
16. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss **
17. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (series) by Beverly Cleary
18. Pokemon (series) by Tracey West, Maria S. Barbo
19. The Babysitters Club (series) by Ann M. Martin
20. Ralph S. Mouse (series) by Beverly Cleary
21. Little House on the Prairie (series) by Laura Ingalls Wilder
22. Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein **
23. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl **
24. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein **
25. Clifford the Big Red Dog (series) by Norman Bridwell **
26. Stuart Little by E. B. White
27. Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls **
28. The Adventures of Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey
29. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg **
30. The Berenstain Bears (series) by Jan and Stan Berenstain **
31. Animorphs (series) by K. A. Applegate
32. The Witches by Roald Dahl **
33. Nancy Drew Mystery Stories by Carolyn Keene
34. The Hobbit (series) by J. R. R. Tolkien **
35. American Girls (series) by Susan Adler, Valerie Tripp, Connie Porter, Janet Shaw, et al
36. Matilda by Roald Dahl **
37. The Call of the Wild by Jack London **
38. The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss **
39. How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss **
40. James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl **
41. Junie B. Jones (series) by Barbara Park
42. Stone Fox by John Reynolds Gardiner **
43. Falling Up by Shel Silverstein **
44. A Wrinkle in Time (series) by Madeleine L'Engle
45. Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen **
46. Amber Brown (series) by Paula Danziger
47. The North Star by Peter H. Reynolds
48. Have a Nice Day: A Tale of Blood and Sweatsocks by Mick Foley (Mankind)
49. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry **
50. The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
51. A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein **
52. Chicken Soup for the Soul (series) by various authors
53. Curious George (series) by Margret and Hans Augusto Rey
54. The Teacher from the Black Lagoon (series) by Mike Thaler
55. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Joffe Numeroff **
56. The Bailey School Kids (series) by Debbie Dadey, et al
57. The Hardy Boys (series) by Franklin W. Dixon
58. The Mitten by Jan Brett
59. Amelia Bedelia (series) by Peggy Parish
60. Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien
61. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell **
62. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
63. Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater
64. The River by Gary Paulsen **
65. Magic Tree House (series) by Mary Pope Osborne
66. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by John Scieszka
67. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson **
68. Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss **
69. The Complete Tales of Winnie the Pooh by A. A. Milne **
70. Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt **
71. Redwall by Brian Jacques
72. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson
73. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
74. Wringer by Jerry Spinelli
75. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
76. Dear Mr. Henshaw by Beverly Cleary
77. Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls
78. Sweet Valley High (series) by Francine Pascal
79. The Adventures of Mary-Kate and Ashley (series) by Judy Katschke, Cathy Dobowski, Lisa Eisenberg, Nancy E. Krulik, Nina Alexander, Frances Lin Lantz, et al
80. Garfield (series) by Jim Davis
81. Magic School Bus (series) by Joanna Cole
82. Math Curse by John Scieszka
83. White Fang by Jack London **
84. I Spy (series) by Walter Wick, Jean Marzollo, Diana Noonan, et al
85. Love You Forever by Robert N. Munsch **
86. My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
87. The Trumpet of the Swan by E. B. White
88. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech **
89. Draw 50 Airplanes, Aircraft and Spacecraft (series) by Lee J. Ames
90. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
91. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain **
92. The Rock Says by Dwayne Johnson (The Rock)
93. Tikki Tikki Tembo by Arlene Mosel
94. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
95. All About Sam by Lois Lowry
96. Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
97. Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine
98. Hank the Cow Dog (series) by John R. Erickson
99. Piggie Pie by Margie Palatini
100. Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan **

London

2005-07-07T19:12:00.000-04:00

I've spent the day watching CNN for updates on the London situation...

My thoughts and emotions are with the victims and those involved in that terrible situation.

I wish you all the best... my heart goes out to you.

The top 100 banned books

2005-06-28T09:52:00.000-04:00

For various reasons, some books are looked at as being unacceptable to read in certain locations, schools, churches, homes. Here is a list of the top 100 banned books according to the ALA (American Library Association) from 1990-2000.

I must add that I've read many of these books, and consider some to be among the best books I've ever read. I'm not trying to promote an uprising, but just point out something I found while surfing. We say we live in a country that is free, yet...

Also, from the ALA website, which I found this at, a quote from author Judy Blume>

“It's not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers.”

Here is the list of the top 15...

1. Scary Stories (Series) by Alvin Schwartz
2. Daddy’s Roommate by Michael Willhoite
3. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
4. The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
5. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
6. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
7. Harry Potter (Series) by J.K. Rowling
8. Forever by Judy Blume
9. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
10. Alice (Series) by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
11. Heather Has Two Mommies by Leslea Newman
12. My Brother Sam is Dead by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier
13. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
14. The Giver by Lois Lowry
15. It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie Harris

the rest can be found on this page:

A good link for educators and parents

2005-06-28T09:34:00.000-04:00

Here's a link to another good education site I just found today while searching for some ideas. Ironically, there's some more good information on Bullying, and a lot of other useful information. I'll add it to my links as well.

http://www.familyeducation.com/home/

Activities for Summer

2005-06-27T09:24:00.000-04:00

Studies have shown that children today are much less active than they used to be. There are so many more outlets for their attention. Sadly, many of these hobbies promote little creativity, exercise, imagination, or interaction. I thought I would list some ideas of things to do during the summer months. It may be hard to get them going on it, but I know from past experience, that these can be a lot of fun.

Keep in mind, some of these depend on the situation, and environment. Please keep this in mind, and modify if necessary.

Ideas for summer, stimulating the imagination and creativity:
1) Create a play - props, scenery, maybe even a script
2) Make up a board game - Include the pieces and directions. Play it with someone.
3) Play board games
4) Obstacle course - Make an obstacle course in the back yard, or even in the house. Climb under, over, roll, hop, skip and jump.
5) Create a TV Program, or News Program- Many homes now have a video camera. Utilize that to the max.
6) Play detective- Create a mystery... leave clues. The case of the missing T.V. (just an example)
7) Promote exercise- Go biking, walking, jogging - as a group if possible
8) Beach day - Sandcastle (architecture) building contest, swimming, diving for rings
9) Plant a garden - Grow it together
10) Plan a road trip- Have them plan the route, covering a certain mileage. Give guidelines that they must follow.
11) Start a business- lemonade? In my day selling worms was a good way to make some money, and kept us busy... up early for the fishermen.
12) Redesign a room- put them in charge.
13) Play school - something I did. I was the teacher, my sister was the student.

Leave comments for any ideas you may have, and I'll add them to my list.

Summer Vacation

2005-06-26T22:20:00.000-04:00

I just got home from a nice relaxing weekend camping with my wife and her parents. It was enjoyable, and we had GREAT weather. My wife and I were able to go fishing a couple times, which was a lot of fun. She even caught the biggest fish she's caught in a long time, a nice small mouth bass. We roasted marshmallows, and made smores, ate some good meals, swatted a few thousand bugs, and just had a nice time.

Also, if you'd like me to list your site in my links, send me an e-mail to tachizuno4@yahoo.com and I'll take a look at it. If I like the look of it, and the topics, I'll add you to my links.

Thanks for all the comments lately, I appreciate them very much. One more week of the first session of summer school beginning tomorrow!

Are you smarter than the average bear or dumber than a box of rocks?

2005-06-21T17:08:00.000-04:00

Are you intelligent, or just full of hot air? Take this IQ test (only once) and let me know how you scored. This is only one version.

Every year I tell my students that if they can score higher than me, they can teach with me for a day. I had one student come very close this past year, scoring 137. I've taken two different tests, and received a 140, and a 139.

Of course, that only goes on logic and intelligence, not common sense.

An explanation of how the IQ test works can be found here.

Have fun with it... although I'd really like to know how you did.

** Yogi Bear was "smarter than the average bear"

New week, new ideas

2005-06-20T08:53:00.000-04:00

After a relaxing and rejuvenating weekend we're into our second week of summer school.

I'm beginning the week by re-enforcing fractions with the sixth graders. We will add and subtract them, simplify, find equivalents, and multiply and divide them. Today I hope to get through the first three stages of that.

Later on today we'll finish up some papers we've been working on, focusing on a good introduction and conclusion, as well as transition sentences.

My fourth grade students will work for a little while on basic multiplication, followed by a basic division flash card contest. We'll then continue working on dividing by one-digit numbers. We've also worked on reading scripts, and trying to go through the lines more fluently. Finally, the fourth grade will read through a "camping" story, and work on a few worksheets that follow it up.

The fourth grade theme for the week is Camping.

I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

2005-06-16T17:10:00.000-04:00

Today is my parents' 38th wedding anniversary! Congratulations to you both!

I really do appreciate all that you've done for me. You both gave me all the tools I needed to be the person I am. You raised me to be respectful, loving and caring. You showed me the way to lead a happy life. And you've always been there for me when I've needed you.

I wish you the best now and always. I love you both very much. I hope my marriage can be as healthy as yours has been.

A good start

2005-06-14T16:48:00.000-04:00

I began the summer school session by testing both groups with the Brigance computation test for math, so I could have an idea on what we really need to work on in math. That took a while, and we went over the test afterwards. From there I'm trying to get them to catch up to where they should be at the end of their respective grade level.

I've started off the reading/writing portion with some stories and questions. This has gone fairly smoothly, although the fluency is an issue with both groups. Which is the reason they are there in the first place, I'd guess. I've stressed grouping words together, and that has already helped some. I'm sure their teachers did that too during the school year, so maybe they just needed a reminder.

If there are any of you that have dealt with summer school that have any comments, please post them, or e-mail me at tachizuno4@yahoo.com

I'm always welcome to ideas that will make me a better teacher. This is my first go at working during the summer. I'm trying to keep it fun, yet constant. I'm enjoying it so far.

Themes for summer school

2005-06-12T21:10:00.000-04:00

I've decided to go with theme units, at least with my fourth grade students.

We'll start off with the farm, and then do camping next week. I'll bring a tent in from home, make up a fire, and bring in camping chairs, sticks, "roast marshmallows" eat smores, etc... We'll work on writing about both topics.. reading stories about both, and maybe acting out a play. I have one about farmers anyway.

For the final week of June I'll take some time and think about the theme for that final week. I'm considering allowing them to choose a theme, but I may not. It'll depend on cooperation, and enthusiasm.

Any ideas from the readers on a theme for the final week Any sources you know of that I could look at????

Proverbs -

2005-06-11T13:54:00.000-04:00

I find these interesting... I've seen some cute ones that primary teachers have done with their students. If you have any of those to share, feel free.

By learning you will teach; by teaching you will learn.
-Latin Proverb

All good things come in threes.
-German Proverb

Luck is loaned, not owned.
-Norway

A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
-Chinese Proverb

It's not enough to know how to ride -- you must also know how to fall.
-Mexican Proverb

There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out.
-Russian Proverb

You can't see the whole sky through a bamboo tube.
-Japanese Proverb

The greatest love is a mother's, then a dog's, then a sweetheart's.
-Polish Proverb

Wait until it is night before saying it has been a fine day.
-French Proverb

And there are many more great bits of wisdom on this site: http://creativeproverbs.com/

A wise man once said

2005-06-10T13:32:00.000-04:00

Never judge a book by its cover!

I know we've all heard this phrase before, maybe a thousand times. This simple phrase can be taken into so many contexts in life. We could simply look at it in physical terms and understand that we should try to read the pages in the book to truly gauge what the book is all about.

In a deeper sense, we can look at people in general, and try not to be as judgemental of them. The same thing applies with people, it's the stuff inside that matters the most.

Off of the soapbox, and onto other things. I try to learn new things every day. In fact today I learned that I'm not as young as I thought I was. My back has had problems in the past, but today it is to the most extreme it's been. Not the best way to start off my summer vacation, but I'll manage. It does seem to feel better once I loosen up during the day. If I'm on my feet it seems better as well. I do have LDDD (Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease) but this seems more like a muscle pull than the discs.

I'm still working on some ideas for summer school. I'm using Edhelper. com as one of my sources for material. I'll be teaching students from my normal grade (sixth) in the mornings, and fourth grade students in the afternoon. The sixth grade students will get to work on basic math operations and some reading comprehension, and also working on reading fluency.

The fourth grade students will concentrate on comprehension/fluency and also on the basic math facts.

Summer school

2005-06-09T14:07:00.000-04:00

I signed up to teach summer school this year, and I'll begin doing that next Monday. I'm mainly going to be working on catching students up as much as possible in math, reading and writing. I've been able to spend some time getting a few lessons together for them. I'm still waiting for the final numbers to arrive. It should work well, having smaller numbers. That'll give me time to focus specifically on each student's needs.

I'm considering using a version of readers theater for one phase of the reading goal. I think we could have some fun with that.

I'm trying to put myself in the student's shoes, and I know they aren't feeling totally motivated about going to school in the summer. Hopefully they'll enjoy the first day, and I can energize them enough to gain some ground.

In August the second session of summer school begins, and I'll be trying to give the students attending a head start for the upcoming school year. This is the first year a summer session has been offered at our school, at least in the past ten years. I'll try to make this as successful as possible.

Smooth sailing!

2005-05-24T21:58:00.000-04:00

Do you feel the vibe like the students do at the end of the year? I certainly do! I still like to challenge myself to come up with new innovative things that spice up the last weeks of school.

Do you have any ideas to share? Let me know what things you like to do at the end of the year, even if it's just your routine for the last few days.

Resources for Teachers

2005-04-28T20:52:00.000-04:00

I'm always looking for new ideas to use in my room. I've found a few websites that I use for supplementing lessons, and units. I'd like to share a few more with you.

Please share any good lesson websites you have with me as well. Anything to improve my instruction is always welcomed.

www.edhelper.com

http://www.lessonplanspage.com/

http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php

http://teachers.net/mentors/

http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/KidsClick!/

Those are a few good sites. Share some with me if you have any great ones!

Readers are Leaders!!!!

2005-04-18T18:58:00.000-04:00

This year I have taken on the goal of reading every Newbery winning book from 1970 on. That's 35 books to read in one school year. Some may think that is easy enough, and others of you may think that'd be insane. It depends on how much a person reads, and again how much a person reads.

I started out great. I had a good handful of the books done by our first break at Thanksgiving. The main problem after that was that I continued to add other books into the fray that weren't on the list. After reading Hatchet by Gary Paulsen, which I had read numerous times before, I followed by reading all the follow-up books that he wrote as a "sequel". That numbered about 5 books alone, but I ate them up like chocolate chip cookies. This really slowed me down, but I have still been trying to get the stack that I have waiting at home down to a few (so I can add more that my students are telling me to READ!!) I started with Bud, Not Buddy. I decided that I'd use that in class. During the first part of the year I also read A Year Down Yonder, Because of Winn-Dixie (not a Newbery, but still outstanding) Tales of Desperaux (Fantastic), Sounder, Walk Two Moons (Another I'll be using in class later this year), The Giver (In my top 10 now), and the Whipping Boy. Not bad, and I know that I'm forgetting some non-Newbery winners.

From the list of winners since 1970 I had already some of them as well... Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, Maniac McGee, Bridge to Terabithia.. to name most since 1970. The exciting part is, I have many "outstanding" books left to read!!!

I may try to read some of them over the summer, but I have also some major plans set aside to begin writing my first novel. I am so enthralled with books dedicated to this age level, that it has consumed me to the point of no return. I am going to write a book. I am currently working on my story-line, and building up finances to get the things I'll need to get this project underway. If you wanted to assist me on this quest, I've added a donation bar on the links column. I'm saving up for a quality printer, writing supplies, and I'm sure some other unforseen costs that go along with the whole process. I thought at first about doing a picturebook, and I did do a simple one in my college teaching course, but I enjoy letting the words take the story more now than the pictures. I guess since I've taught at the sixth grade level for quite a few years, that has focused my brain.

Anyway, if you want to help me on my way, I would be very appreciative of your generosity. I would also like to hear from you about which books you have enjoyed, what you've been reading, or anything related to the whole concept.

My top books, in no particular order:
The Giver
The Harry Potter series, mainly books 2-5 (the first one was good, but more an intro)
The Hobbit
Tales of Desperaux, Because of Winn-Dixie(Kate DiCamillo is wonderful)
Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry
Where the Red Fern Grows
Bud, Not Buddy
Tuck Everlasting
The Root Cellar
Walk Two Moons, Love That Dog (Sharon Creech is marvelous)
Hatchet, and the sequels... Brian's Return, Brian's Winter, Brian's Hunt, The River

I know I'm omitting many, and the list keeps growing, and growing. I'd like to hear what you think about these books, or any others that you've enjoyed!

Light at the end of the tunnel

2005-04-17T19:27:00.000-04:00

Most public schools must be in the final marking period. How do you survive when students are ready for vacation? Or when you are ready for vacation...?

Come up with some fresh ideas!

One thing that I usually do every spring is reorganize my classroom. Sometimes I do this part of this during the school day, so that students are involved in any decision-making. I sometimes set up the desks differently, or maybe just putting up a new bulletin board. This gives a fresh atmosphere to the room, and to the minds of those who are in it.

Another thing that I try to do is have a class discussion about where we're at and what we need to do. I try to be upfront and tell them "As of today we have 40 days of school left. In Science we still are going to cover 4 chapters." I've found that heart-to-heart talks about many topics throughout the year enhance the connection you have with your students. Keep in mind I'm working with 11-12 year olds. That may not work quite as smoothly with a 5 year old.

One final thing that I'll mention today that I try to do during the last two months of school is recapping. I review all that I've done for the year in certain subject areas. With the new expectations and "No child left behind," educators need to follow the curriculum.

To close, I offer you this great link of lesson plans for educators ---> Lesson Plans for Teachers

I would appreciate any comments from the readers, teachers or not.

Tachizuno