Wow! Summer is almost over. It's time to pack away those flip-flips and swimming trunks. And, it's time to start thinking about school again...Well, yes, I know what you are thinking. If you are like me, you never have stopped thinking about school, or revising those lessons. Kiddos to you!
So as a treat for all your dedication, I have created my SUPER 5 Back To School Tips. No matter if this is your first year as a teacher or an old veteran like me (18 years), it's always nice to review these helpful hints.
These hints can be found at https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-SUPER-5-Back-To-School-Tips-1977922. And it's free!
If you liked this, please don't forget to leave me some feedback!
Store Link
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Sunday, July 19, 2015
Up your student engagment in history class
If you are like me, taking students to see historical sites or working historical artifacts are out of the question because of logistics or funding.
But the National World War II Museum is working to help address this issue with the Operation Footlocker. Operation Footlocker is a project that brings 15 artifacts from World War II to your classroom. These are not reproductions, but the real artifacts! Some of the items include ration books, V-mail letters, dog tags, sand from the beaches of Normandy and Iwo Jima, wartime magazines, a high school yearbook from the early 1940s, and more. Talking about getting students engaged!
There is also a manual that gives students the historical context of the items and cotton gloves for the students to wear while they are handling the artifacts.
All this for only $75.
If you are interested in the footlocker you contact Walt Burgoyne at walt.burgoyne@nationalww2museum.org or call (504) 528-1944 x333. Have the dates you want your footlocker in mind.
Also, if you are looking for some other ideas to spice up your history classes check out these lessons from the Social Studies Super Store.
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/HIGH-SCHOOL-TUSKEGEE-AIRMEN-MOVIE-GUIDE-1667430
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SECONDARY-Movie-Guide-UNBROKEN-1867758
But the National World War II Museum is working to help address this issue with the Operation Footlocker. Operation Footlocker is a project that brings 15 artifacts from World War II to your classroom. These are not reproductions, but the real artifacts! Some of the items include ration books, V-mail letters, dog tags, sand from the beaches of Normandy and Iwo Jima, wartime magazines, a high school yearbook from the early 1940s, and more. Talking about getting students engaged!
There is also a manual that gives students the historical context of the items and cotton gloves for the students to wear while they are handling the artifacts.
All this for only $75.
If you are interested in the footlocker you contact Walt Burgoyne at walt.burgoyne@nationalww2museum.org or call (504) 528-1944 x333. Have the dates you want your footlocker in mind.
Also, if you are looking for some other ideas to spice up your history classes check out these lessons from the Social Studies Super Store.
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/HIGH-SCHOOL-TUSKEGEE-AIRMEN-MOVIE-GUIDE-1667430https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SECONDARY-Movie-Guide-UNBROKEN-1867758Friday, July 17, 2015
The New Ten Dollar Bill!
This week I am attending the Economic History for Leaders teacher conference presented by the Foundation for Teaching Economics in Williamsburg, Virginia.So, this week we have been studying American history and making many connections to economics - the role a central bank plays in an economy,fractional reserve banking, and the influence of corporations in American history to name a few topics we covered.
This being the case, I was thinking about the proposed new ten dollar bill. And, during the breaks I asked these awesome teachers who should be on the new ten dollar bill. Below are the results:
Harriet Tubman: 5
Do not change the ten dollar bill: 8
Elizabeth Cady Stanton: 2
Eleanor Roosevelt: 3
Rosa Parks: 1
Patti Hetty Green: 1
Ayn Rand: 1
Abigale Adams:2
Francis Perkins: 1
Alice Paul: 1
This is not the complete survey. More data will be added to the blog later.
Please feel free to leave your thoughts on the new ten dollar bill.
Monday, July 13, 2015
THREE HELPFUL BEGINNING OF THE YEAR TIPS....
Yes, I know summer is not over, but school will be here before we know it. This being the case, here are THREE trusty tips to help you start the year off right.
#1) Greet the students at the door. There are many studies that show simply saying "Good morning" to students as they walk into the classroom helps maintain a positive learning environment. I teach middle and high school students, so I simply give a quick greeting, nothing too long or drawn out. Also, I can see if Johnny is having a good day or bad day before we start any work.
2) Give them work. As soon as the students walk into my classroom I have an entry task on the screen. This sends a message to my students that we work from the very first second they walk into my classroom. Meanwhile, I can greet the students or help a student get their missing work when they were absent. Also, this is not busy work. Sometimes these are practice short answer questions about a concept or idea we studied yesterday. Other times, it might be a restated objective question and it gives me an opportunity to check for understanding.
3) The power of the seating chart. I have discovered that a seating chart is a great way to have my students stay focus. When those chatty students sit next to those other students from outside their normal social groups, then working seems like a better option. Also, feel free to move students when every you like. There is not rule about keep students in their same seats all year. I changed my seating charts every quarter, or when I feel like the students are become too chatty.
2) Give them work. As soon as the students walk into my classroom I have an entry task on the screen. This sends a message to my students that we work from the very first second they walk into my classroom. Meanwhile, I can greet the students or help a student get their missing work when they were absent. Also, this is not busy work. Sometimes these are practice short answer questions about a concept or idea we studied yesterday. Other times, it might be a restated objective question and it gives me an opportunity to check for understanding.
3) The power of the seating chart. I have discovered that a seating chart is a great way to have my students stay focus. When those chatty students sit next to those other students from outside their normal social groups, then working seems like a better option. Also, feel free to move students when every you like. There is not rule about keep students in their same seats all year. I changed my seating charts every quarter, or when I feel like the students are become too chatty.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
VIVA LAS VEGAS!
Viva Las Vegas!
Here in Las Vegas for the Teachers Pay Teachers Conference and have met some awesome teachers! This morning we had an opportunity to network with other secondary teachers from around the nation. One of these great teachers gave me a wonderful idea: Mailing flyers to High School Social Studies department chairs about my TPT page. Wow, why didn't I think of this? Thanks for the inspiration.
Looking forward to my first session entitled "From Teacher to Teacherpreneur" Erin Cobb from Lovin Lit will be presenting during this session. I hope to pick up some good ideas and some inspiration.
Also some little known facts about Las Vegas (After all I am social studies teacher)
1. In 1980, a Las Vegas hospital had to suspend workers who were betting on when patients would die. One nurse was even accused of murdering a patient so she would win. Hey, this is Las Vegas...
2. In some Asian cultures, the number 4 is thought be bad luck. For that reason, some hotels in Vegas have no floors that start with the number 4. Another reason to understand cultural differences.
3. Michael Jackson had plans to build a 50 foot tall moon walking robot replica of himself to roam the Las Vegas desert. It was intended to be an advertisement for a planned 2005 comeback. WOW!
Looking forward to my first session entitled "From Teacher to Teacherpreneur" Erin Cobb from Lovin Lit will be presenting during this session. I hope to pick up some good ideas and some inspiration.
Also some little known facts about Las Vegas (After all I am social studies teacher)
1. In 1980, a Las Vegas hospital had to suspend workers who were betting on when patients would die. One nurse was even accused of murdering a patient so she would win. Hey, this is Las Vegas...
2. In some Asian cultures, the number 4 is thought be bad luck. For that reason, some hotels in Vegas have no floors that start with the number 4. Another reason to understand cultural differences.
3. Michael Jackson had plans to build a 50 foot tall moon walking robot replica of himself to roam the Las Vegas desert. It was intended to be an advertisement for a planned 2005 comeback. WOW!
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
The Power of the Plant
Could indoor plants change the environment of your classroom? According to research they can.
Jennifer S. Doxey and Tina Marie Waliczek from the Department of
Agriculture, Texas State University, and Jayne M. Zajicek of the
Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University,
published a study of the impact of plants in university classrooms. Their main objective was to
investigate the impact of plants in classrooms on course performance and
student perceptions of the course and instructor.
Their study concluded that plants did not significantly improve the students grades when compared to a control group of students. However, when these college students completed the end of course surveys, the students whose class had plants found their instructors' enthusiasm and organization to be better when compared to the students who attended class in a windowless, plant-less room. So, the plants improved the environment for the students and instructors. (entire article may be found at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090903163947.htm)
Might plants improve learning in a classroom? After all, the survey was conducted with adult college students, willing to perform and do their best. These students have paid hundreds of dollars to attended these classes. But let's face it, some of our students in public schools are not very willing students. This being the case, might plants make a bigger improvement with some of these reluctant learners?
Other research seems to support this plants in the classroom. Dr. Reinisch cites plants, among other items, that should be added to a classroom to encourage student learning. Her study included 25 first-graders as she recorded their responses through interviews, student journals and observations. One student was quoted as saying "It’s like a little living room when the plants are here.”
But is there a difference between plants and flowers? Might students respond better the multitudes of colors in flowers than just green? Also, for younger students, might the dynamics of the class change if students were given "plant duty". These students would be charged with watering and reporting any problems with plants or flowers. Might these students look forward to coming to class?
I think plants have a place in our classrooms. Plants or flowers might take the "edge"off for some students and allow them to become focused and ready learners.
Behold the power of a plant!
Jennifer S. Doxey and Tina Marie Waliczek from the Department of
Agriculture, Texas State University, and Jayne M. Zajicek of the
Department of Horticultural Sciences, Texas A&M University,
published a study of the impact of plants in university classrooms. Their main objective was to
investigate the impact of plants in classrooms on course performance and
student perceptions of the course and instructor.Their study concluded that plants did not significantly improve the students grades when compared to a control group of students. However, when these college students completed the end of course surveys, the students whose class had plants found their instructors' enthusiasm and organization to be better when compared to the students who attended class in a windowless, plant-less room. So, the plants improved the environment for the students and instructors. (entire article may be found at http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090903163947.htm)
Might plants improve learning in a classroom? After all, the survey was conducted with adult college students, willing to perform and do their best. These students have paid hundreds of dollars to attended these classes. But let's face it, some of our students in public schools are not very willing students. This being the case, might plants make a bigger improvement with some of these reluctant learners?
Other research seems to support this plants in the classroom. Dr. Reinisch cites plants, among other items, that should be added to a classroom to encourage student learning. Her study included 25 first-graders as she recorded their responses through interviews, student journals and observations. One student was quoted as saying "It’s like a little living room when the plants are here.”
But is there a difference between plants and flowers? Might students respond better the multitudes of colors in flowers than just green? Also, for younger students, might the dynamics of the class change if students were given "plant duty". These students would be charged with watering and reporting any problems with plants or flowers. Might these students look forward to coming to class?
I think plants have a place in our classrooms. Plants or flowers might take the "edge"off for some students and allow them to become focused and ready learners.
Behold the power of a plant!
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