Ms. P.'s Place

"Merrie Melodies" of Teaching

2009-08-23T02:48:00Z

I never really thought the Merrie Melodies cartoons I watched as a child would be relevant to my teaching, but I was wrong. I looked up my all time favorite cartoon the other day just to see if I could find it and there it was on YouTube! I watched it about 3 times and that's when its similiarity to teaching hit me. I think teachers are like Marc Anthony and the kids are like Kitty. We try to teach them, protect them and fight for them even when they make mistakes or poor choices that make us cringe or practically faint. We care for them even if they or their situations cause us pain (usually more emotional, than physical). Sometimes, we might shake our finger at them or raise our voices, but we love them just the same and would do anything in our power to help them. They teach us, make us smile, and frustrate us to no end. Yep, teaching, to me, is just like "Feed the Kitty". I really like its parallels to teaching...maybe it should be shown to those taking teaching classes in college? Take a look at the video on YouTube and tell me what you think.

Meet the Teacher

2009-08-12T01:12:00Z

I'm really interested in hearing what all of you do during Meet the Teacher. Do you just meet and greet or what? I usually hand out business cards with the school information, my e-mail address and extension and find out how the student will be going home. I also give out a sheet that I call Helping Hand that parents fill out giving me information about their kids...interests, allergies, etc. I let them look around the room and answer any questions they have about the upcoming year. What else do you do?

Hula Hoop Challenge!

2009-08-12T01:01:00Z

Building a strong team feeling with your class is really important. When students feel valued by their classmates, everything seems to go much better and there are less behavior issues. I start out the year with several team building activities. One of the best is the Hula Hoop Challenge. We usually go out to the alcove or outside for this activity. I have the kids start out in 3 separate groups (because I only have 3 hula hoops) and each group has a hula hoop. The kids all hold hands after I have put the hula hoop on one of their arms. Then, I say, "Go!" and the kids have to get the hula hoop all the way around the circle without dropping hands...they start out rough at first, but then they start figuring it out. After a couple of rounds of this, I have all the kids join into one big group and pass one hula hoop. Next, after the hoop gets around about a third of the way, I add in another hoop and then the last one. Finally, I send the hoops in opposite directions around the circle and the kids have to make sure they get passed the right direction. It is tons of fun and the kids laugh and encourage each other and all of them enjoy their individual success and the team's success. It is an awesome sight to see the cooperation and enjoyment! :) What other suggestions do you have?

Papers, Papers, Everywhere!

2009-08-12T00:37:00Z

Getting graded papers, school notices, forms that need to be returned, etc. passed out to my 3rd grade students can be a nightmare, but organization can really help. I use a "post office" and a folder to help with this task. I have a large mailbox that I put papers in that need to be passed out to the kids. I raise the flag and that tells my mail person to put all of the papers into each student's mailbox (you can make a set or use a shoe storage container). Then, when it is time to get their mail, the kids take it to their desks and separate it into the pockets of their Take Home folder. One pocket is labeled "Keep at Home" and the other is "Return to School". It takes a little bit of time at the beginning of the year to teach the kids how to sort the papers, but it is worth the time because they become quite efficient at the task. If they aren't sure about where a paper goes, they consult a nearby classmate and if there is still a question then they ask me. This helps parents too because they can easily see what needs there attention and what can wait. Do you have any other organizing ideas to share? Please do. :)

Promoting Good Behavior

2009-08-09T23:15:00Z

I work every year to help my class become supportive of each other and take responsibility for their behavior. One of the ways I do this is to have the kids work with Kindness Coins . These little plastic coins that I bought from Oriental Trading have smiling faces on one side and sayings on the other side. We start out in Community Circle and talk about what "kindness" means and share examples. We listen to everyone's ideas and then I have the kids share with the person next to them a time they showed kindness and then a time when they were on the receiving end. Next, I tell the kids that we are going to watch each other today and see if we see any acts of kindness. At the end of the day, I give each child a coin to give away...that's the catch, you are giving to someone else for a behavior you observed instead of getting something for yourself. The kids stand up, tell the reason they are giving the coin and then tell who the recipient is in the class. By naming the person last, the whole class is listening better to the reasons (and hoping that they are the one being talked about) before the coin is given. The kids do not have to give the coin if they did not observe an act of kindness, they just keep it until the next day and start looking again. Those who give their coin away get a new one the next morning. The kids deposit their coin into a see-through container next to their names (I use 2 clear bead containers that have about 15 little separte compartments and they are just the right size for the coins to fit). At the end of the week, I count up each person's coins and the one who has the most is the "Student of the Week" the next week. I give a paper certificate and some kind of Star Student gift (sticker, necklace, etc.), have their name announced on the PA system Monday morning, and hang their picture up in the classroom along with their interest inventory they fill out the first day of school. We practice how to give our statements several times so the kids get used to the procedure. At first, they start out with things like, "I'm giving this kindness coin because this person is kind by being my friend." Then, we progress to more specific behaviors as the kids catch on. I am always with them to help them if they are unsure of what to say. Then, after focusing on "kindness", we change to other life skills or behaviors that we look for in our classmates. This also gives me the chance to help the kids that are having a hard time with behavior or fitting in because I can also award coins. When the others see that I am accepting of the student it increases their willingness to also be accepting. The kids become more aware of their own behavior and that others are also observing them.

Teach Harder and Get More Money

2009-08-08T03:21:00Z

I'm sorry, but WHAT!? It seems to me "merit pay" or getting paid for your students' state test scores means that people think teachers will work harder if you pay them more money. How insulting! Do members of the public and state education boards actually believe that is true? Do they think that we are not already giving all that we can to help our kids be successful? If there is actually a teacher out there who works harder now, due to this extra pay, than he or she did before merit pay came along, then I say that person is in the wrong profession and how dare that person sandbag their kids. I'm not knocking teachers who do receive merit pay, but I don't believe you're getting it because you suddenly decided to work harder, I think you're getting it because you're continuing to do the best job you can like you do every other day. If your district participates, then, by all means, collect the money because goodness knows you could probably use it and I bet a big part of it will go to buy things for your students. However, I think the whole idea is an insult and can set teachers against each other. I know a teacher from a neighboring district who received merit pay and wishes the district didn't have such a plan (of course, the person didn't turn down the money and I don't think they should have) because the teacher saw some of their colleagues turning to behaviors that isolated them, created tension on their teams, and sent them scrambling to try to influence which students were in their classes. I mean, come on...if I'm motivated to work harder because I'm going to get more money, then I sure don't want any of "those" kids in my class, right? See what I mean? How ridiculous does that sound? We don't pick our kids, their home lives, or their abilities. Our job is to help ALL the kids who come to us to achieve the highest level of success possible, not calculate how to get more money through their performance. What do you think?

Children, Teachers & Intelligence

2009-08-07T14:53:00Z

Is there a limit to what a child can achieve, even if his/her teacher has used the best first teaching strategies and provided all the support opportunities possible? According to the article below from the Wall Street Journal there is a limit to what teachers can do if I child has a lower IQ. What do you think? Intelligence in the Classroom - Half of all children are below average, and teachers can do only so much for them. by CHARLES MURRAY

Money is the Most Precious Possession!

2009-08-07T00:21:00Z

NOT!! (as all teachers already know). However, while making my bed the other day, I started thinking about what I considered to be "precious" to me. Of course, my family, including 2 beautiful puppies (see extremely cute pictures below...see, I told you they were beautiful), my friends, and my faith are precious to me, but they are not "things". One of the "things" that is the most precious to me, which I happened to see while making the bed, and the thing that started this train of thought was an old stuffed rabbit. Now, this rabbit could be the twin to The Velveteen Rabbit because it has been so well loved over the years. He has light orange fur, kind of the color of a Push Up ice cream, and was a gift from my Maw Maw (read "grandmother" for those who need a translation) when I was 8. He, the rabbit, has flat black round eyes (I loved off the color long ago), lots of missing fur, has had to have major reconstructive surgery a number of times (3 major full body restuffings being the most extensive), and hasn't had his pink fuzzy nose since he was 2. I could never get rid of him...I'm pretty sure that if he falls apart and can't be resewn, I'll have to collect the pieces in a zippie bag so I can still keep them. The rabbit isn't precious to me because it's a material possession, but because it makes me feel close to my Maw Maw who passed away when I was a sophomore in high school. The rabbit makes me smile and brings back a lot of memories, both happy and sad. So, what's "precious" to you? Will you share it with us?

The Art of Recycling

2009-08-04T15:20:00Z

I love to take "things" and make them into something else. I love to take items that would usually get thrown away and repurpose them into some sort of functional or craft project. What I really love is when I can do this with my students! They are always so surprised that they can take "trash" and make it into something useful or decorative or fun. I want to share a few examples of projects I've done with my students and get you to share your ideas too. Here are a few examples: -We took emplty toilet paper rolls and drew designs on them to look like fish or cut the ends to look like legs for an octopus. Then, we used a hole punch and put holes around one end of the rolls. Next, we tied one end of a piece of string to the end of a used straw we washed and a "sprung" paperclip to the other end of the string. Ta Dah! A fishing game! The kids came up with a variety of ways to play this game. Some of them put numbers on their "fish" and a player had to come up with an equation that would result in that number before the player was allowed to remove it from their hook after catching it. Others rolled dice or flipped cards then added, subtracted or multiplied the numbers before getting to "reel in" their catch. -We took leftover paper scraps and made "emergency cups" that we could use to put water in if we needed a cup and one was not available. Now this is something the kids could do whenever they need to if they could find a scrap piece of paper. -We took leftover plastic berry baskets, tied them with scraps of yarn underneath each other about 5-6 inches apart to create multitiered hanging organizers. -We took empty 2 liter bottles, cut off the bottom, added small stones, soil, little plastic animals and planted seeds in them to create a recycled terrarium. -Our school participates in the Coke Rewards program. This year, we are going to work on ways to recycle the plastic lids from the bottles. Any ideas? Well, what recycling projects have you created? What other ideas do you have to recycle with kids? I can't wait to hear your ideas because I know they will be awesome! :)

Dewey and the Rule

2009-08-04T14:58:00Z

I take a lot of time to teach my 3rd grade students about using the library and the wide variety of types of books that are available. We always have a reading activity that asks them to read a book from all of the different sections of the library. I take an outline of a picture that relates to our yearly theme, like a horse, etc., divide it up into enough parts to put in all the different Dewey Decimal sections, like 700-Arts/Recreation. I require that the kids read one book from each section before they read another from that same section. This keeps kids from getting bogged down in always choosing the same kind of book over and over. The kids color in the section after they have read a book and present it to the class in a way of their choice. The kids always have a good time with this and a lot of them discover an interest that they didn't even know they had as we go along. To help kids choose books, I teach them the 5 Finger Rule. I ask the kids to pick a book they think might be interesting, open it to any page and read that page. As they read, they put up one finger for every word they don't know. This is a guide for them to make sure that they are choosing books that are appropriate for their current reading level. The scale we use is: 0-1 finger = too easy 4-5 fingers = too hard 2-3 fingers = just right As the kids get used to using the 5 Finger Rule, they are better able to choose appropriate books, even when an adult can't be right there to help them. After the kids practice for a while, I encourage them to choose a harder book that they can take home for a challenge and shared reading with parents. I do also tell them that it is ok to sometimes choose books that are below their level for enjoyment. I love picture books myself and it's nice for kids to go back to old favorites just for fun. Otherwise, reading becomes a chore and that puts kids off. I think these two ideas really help kids take ownership of their learning and shows them that they are capable of making good decisions for themselves. That's my goal, to help kids realize that they can find the book, answer or information they seek; they don't need to know all the answers, but they do need to know where to look. What other ideas do you have for helping kids choose books or use the library to help themselves? Thanks for sharing. :)

Let the Learning Begin!

2009-08-02T15:54:00Z

Each morning, I greet the kids at the entrance to our room (I say entrance because we don't actually have any doors) with a hug (if they want one, and most of them do) and a "Good morning!". Then, when the kids enter the room they have a morning message that gives them information about morning activities, routines that they need to follow, etc. Next, there is always some kind of learning activity to get them immediately to work. That activity is what I want to talk to you about. Some of the things I've done with the kids before include proofreading to correct sentences, adding ideas to an A to Z topic list, completing a few warm up math problems and journal writing. What kind of morning activities do you have the kids do when they first come into class? Thanks for sharing your ideas! :)

Are You a "Lurker"?

2009-08-01T18:25:00Z

Ok, I admit that previously I was a "lurker". No, not the dark alley or behind the bush kind, the blogger kind. In my 23 Things training, they taught us about "lurkers". Blogging "lurkers" are people who read post after post, but don't leave any comments. As a lurker, I sometimes felt that the post was so far above anything I could add that I wouldn't add anything to the conversation. I know sometimes it's that I didn't honestly have anything to offer that would add to the discussion. Sometimes, more often than not, I thought "Nobody wants to hear what I have to say about their topic". Then, I realized that I was wrong. People do want to hear what I and others have to say or else they wouldn't set up a blog that accepts comments. They want to hear from others, even if it is an opposing view, as long as it is presented in a respectful manner. Are you a "lurker"? If so, realize that I and others do want to hear what you have to say. Your comments are valuable and sharing with each other is how we learn from and teach one another. So come on people, come on in and comment! :^)

Are You an ACTIV Teacher?

2009-07-31T14:16:00Z

I've used an ACTIVboard for the last 3 years and I just love working with it! My students get better at using it every year and we continue to incorporate it into every subject area. Last year, I was finally able to get the district to install ACTIVstudio onto all of our lab computers and it worked out great! My 3rd graders were able to use the program to create flipcharts to present the findings from their animal research projects. They really created some outstanding items. We held a Technology Showcase, invited others to attend, and many of them chose to show their ACTIVprojects (some chose their motion tech projects instead which were either an original motion narrative or a motion food chain) and I was so proud of them when I listened to them explain their projects to our guests. So, if you have ACTIVstudio on your campus and you haven't had it added to your computer lab and student classroom computers, I would highly recommend you do so. The kids were terrific at interacting with ACTIV lessons and at creating their own flipcharts. Another way I am thinking of using mine this year is to take attendance in the morning. I want to put all of their pictures up on one side of the board under an "At Home" label and have them move it to the other side under an "At School" label; thereby saving us some valuable learning time that's not being wasted on taking attendance. Do you have any suggestions for how to use ACTIVstudio or any other kind of interactive board to help students or teachers? Please share them. I can't wait to hear your ideas!!

Tape + Eww Factor = Motivation!

2009-07-29T12:12:00Z

That's right, tape + eww factor = motivation. Sounds weird, right? Well, one of the best motivational strategies in my arsenal has attained success with the majority of my students every year...letting them clean the floor. I know, I know...you're thinking, "Yeh, sure", but I'm telling you the truth. I know it's nearly impossible to get kids to clean up after themselves, let alone get them to clean the floor of all it's little bits of pencil shaving, tiny pieces of paper, etc. However, add a piece of masking tape into the equation and let the fun begin! The first time I introduce this tape idea, I let the whole class participate so they all get a chance to try it out. I show them a long piece of masking tape. Then, I teach them how to wrap the tape backwards around their hand so that each pass is barely attaching to the edge of the previous one and the tape gets a wider surface with the sticky side out (this is often the most difficult part for the kids to understand and sometimes needs to be repeated a couple of times). After they have all received their strip of tape and we have it wrapped around our hands, they are ready to get started. We establish safety and manner ground rules...you can't bother any other classes with your sound, don't interfere with anyone else's cleaning, and check for "trash" on all of the floor area (including under desks, tables, etc. I don't know what is so fascinating about getting under the desks, but they love it). Finally, they are all poised and I give a "Ready, Set, Tape!" send off. Away they go on their hands and knees scampering around the floor. It's not long before you see the smiles and hear the giggling. Then, they pause to look to see what their tape has collected and the "Eww Factor" kicks in. After a close examination of the "eww" on their tape, they happily return to cleaning the floor and often want another piece because their piece is full. The best, is when they stop to compare their "eww" (maybe I'll have them write a comparison paper on it this year?) because they want to get more than their classmate. Now that they have all had a go at it, I've got them hooked! So, when Devontae decides he doesn't want to finish his Math paper I say, "That's too bad, because I was hoping you would tape the floor when you were finished. Oh well, I guess I'll have to find someone else to do it." Usually, he would say that I don't need to find someone else because he is almost finished and gets back to work. Of course, the work has to be neat and done to the best of his ability or I won't accept it and he'll have to redo it. This keeps him from rushing and putting down any old answer just to get finished. This also motivates the kids near Devontae because there might be a chance of more than one taper being picked. I know, this idea smacks of manipulation, but if that is what it takes for Devontae, and all the others like him, to concentrate seriously on class work, then I'm ok with that. Of course, it doesn't hurt that "taping the floor" is fun to watch. I love to watch my kids smile. :^)

Got Good Junk? Need Good Junk?

2009-07-29T02:05:00Z

While waiting for my turn at the hairdresser last week, I came across a really interesting sounding web site, called Freecycle , in a magazine I was scanning. I quickly wrote down the web address on a scrap of paper I had because I knew I wouldn't remember it later when I wanted to do so (Not because I often have a mind like Swiss cheese, but because I like to practice speed writing on tiny bits of paper as often as possible in places where others are lathering, rinsing and repeating). :^) When I went to the site, I thought, "Wow! What a great idea!". This site is dedicated to reusing all the good stuff we have that we just don't want or don't have room to store. People can list things they would like to get rid of or things that they would like to receive. This is not trashy stuff, people. This is great stuff that is still usable that this organization is trying to keep out of our overflowing landfills. There is no "buying" of items; these are purely "gifts" that we are giving and receiving from each other. You can narrow your looking area to your surrounding community by typing in a city and state. Now, come on, admit it...you've got a lot of "stuff" that others could probably use. Don't trash it! If it's in good condition and usable, "gift it" to someone else. I think this site could become a teacher's best friend. :^)