Getting to Know Students

A new school year means a roomful of new faces and new names. It's challenging to master one hundred or more names within a short time span. Yet, building relationships and safe classroom environments for learning depend upon knowing students, their names, and their backgrounds. Here are some activities to help conquer names and to share students' background information. 

1. Let students create a Road of Life map with at least eight events they would like to share with classmates. Road of Life maps can focus on hobbies, learning adventures, sports, and more. If using folders, students can draw their maps on fronts or backs so that storytelling and writing ideas are always near. For the complete lesson plan, see A Common Core Approach to Narrative Writing. Here are some student samples that can be used as models, and be sure to build your own map to introduce yourself to students:

2. Use compare and contrast to help classmates learn about one another. In pairs, students choose topics, such as hobbies or physical characteristics, complete brainstorming/pre-writing activities, and write a group essay. Meaningful discussions about backgrounds and skills take place as students share information. Take a look at My Best Friend: A Compare and Contrast Essay Assignment:

3. Introduce students to one another and to different genres with Multigenre Writing in the Classroom. Students work in pairs, interview each other, and create three multigenre pieces to introduce their partners to classmates. This fun assignment can be used to access students' technology skills if computers are available.

For more ideas on getting to know students, visit my Teachers Pay Teachers or Teacher's Notebook storefront (not all lessons have been uploaded to TN as of this date).

Happy Back-to-School 
from the
Educator Helper!

Parents' Day is July 28

Parents' Day was established in 1994 by former president Bill Clinton to "recognize, uplift, and support the role of parents in the raising of children." Personally, I did not know Parents' Day existed, and I'm wondering how many other educators were aware of the holiday. In what ways can we celebrate Parents' Day?

My parents taught me to "do a job right the first time", to "treat others as I expect to be treated", and to "help those in need". All are great rules to live by! And, I hope I have passed these rules on to my children. What life rules did your parents instill in you?

I have many things to thank my parents for: a "roof over my head", essentials needed to be successful in life, and good, sound advice--if I had only listened "sooner rather than later"! What do you have to "thank" your parents for when it comes to advice?

As educators, we are similar to parents, and many of us take on the role of parent in the classroom. We teach students to be courteous and respectful. We teach students to "listen and learn". We help students overcome and work through classroom learning and social problems. We encourage students to "do their best" and motivate them to "pursue their dreams". Educators are definitely surrogate parents.

Therefore, I'd like to wish everyone a Happy Parents' Day!

Parents' Day Activities to Make and Give:

Celebrate Grandparents, also: 

How Do You Compose?

Authors compose in many ways. Some storyboard while others list, yet many just let words flow as characters develop across blank pages. To me, writing is like a road trip. There is a starting point or point A, but getting to point B can be a difficult journey. Adventure, battles, decisions, pitfalls, and surprises happen along the way. As a writer, perhaps I took "The Road Less Traveled" by Robert Frost much too seriously!

It doesn't matter what method you use to compose as long as it works well for you. However, if your method does not produce good results, then it's time to try something else. One of the best series of books on writing comes from Ralph Fletcher. The short, easy-to-read books are packed with gems and tidbits, or stories about composing and writing. Young or old, Fletcher will have you engrossed in writing in no time. 

Here are a couple of Fletcher's books: 

Start with "seed ideas": 

Move onto revising and editing:

Then write your life story:

Or, try writing poetry:

How do I use Fletcher's books in the classroom? Students read "How Writers Work" and "A Writer's Notebook" as outside readings then complete their weekly quizzes. The two books are divided into four sections each, and students respond with answers: Paragraph 1 = summary of reading/story-within-story with full citations; Paragraph 2 = Analysis or choose one quote then explain its meaning and use citations as needed; Paragraph 3 = connect what you read to real-life or to your own life. Each paragraph must be at least five sentences without quotes. A Quiz Workshopping Sheet that includes skills worked on in class is used. Students use the checklist to highlight skills within their quizzes. They correct errors in pen/pencil then hand in the messy quizzes--I want to see their processes and know they understand skills covered during the week. Skills are added weekly to the quiz checkoff sheets. 

 More information and examples can be found at Visual Learning for Upper Level Learners.  

One last story: 
I had the pleasure of meeting author Ralph Fletcher through National Writing Project's Greater Houston Area Writing Project. His advice and stories create enthusiasm in all learners! A huge "Thank you!" to Mr. Fletcher for inspiring new groups of fledgling writers each semester!

Activities for aspiring writers:

Comic Book Writing

Back-to-School Make a Book

Celebrating July the Fourth's Freedom

July the Fourth Sale--20% off all TpT products July 4-6!

Freedom! As a kid, celebrating July the Fourth meant fireworks, fun and games. The holiday started with a trip to the local firework stand where I purchased as many goods as allowed. Afterwards came the big event--the July Fourth celebration at the town's park. The event took place where the baseball and football fields sat east of the elementary school. In front of the baseball field and to the north of the stadium was a detached kindergarten building with a park behind it. The grassy area was shaded by large, mature trees and when not being used for public events the park hosted horseshoe players and families of picnickers . 

A favorite of July the Fourth celebrators was a donkey softball game with teams made up of families and friends. Donkeys are so unpredictable, and scoring was difficult. Some stopped dead in their tracks as riders sailed over their heads or slipped off their backs. Other times, donkeys ran one direction while being urged otherwise. Getting donkeys to round bases was no easy feat. If you have never been to a donkey softball game, you don't know what you've missed! 

There was an egg toss with two-person teams carefully chosen--some participants were more in demand than others based on prior years performances. This was largely attended since throwers were sure to come away with splattered eggs on their hands and faces. 

When I was young, I scoured dirt and two-lane roads weeks in advance to find a tortoise for the turtle race. It was a challenge to keep a turtle around the homestead for more than a week, so on many July the Fourths I had several

different ones before the big race arrived. I can't remember having a winning turtle, but it was always a toss up which animal would win. There was no advantages in turtle racing. Still, I tried to train one each year.

Perhaps one of the best things about July the Fourth was homemade ice-cream. Every family seemed to have an ice cream maker--rectangular steel containers that went inside wooden buckets, later on plastic holders. Ice and rock salt was layered in between the steel containers and buckets. Once tops were placed on, people turned crank handles which rotated the buckets. In later years, crank models were discarded in favor of electric motors, which rotated steel containers when plugged into electrical outlets. People brought flavors of all kinds--banana, chocolate, peach, vanilla. It was free as long as your family brought a bucket of icre cream. Yum! I wish I had a cupful of each flavor right now...

Finally, there was time between park events and the night's firework's display for sandwiches at  home. A few personal fireworks were set off before the mad dash to the football field at dusk. Aluminum stands were filled with families and young children. But, on a hill that overlooked the stadium sat carloads of teenagers and young adults; some drinking, some not, and late night parties were planned around ponds in pastures. Then, night signaled the first bang and "ewww" and "ahhhh" echoed across the town as colorful lights glowed in the dark sky.

July the Fourth is about freedom. Whether attending a celebration, partying with families and friends, or relaxing alone at home, it's your choice...it's all about freedom.

Have a safe and wonderful Fourth of July!

Check out:
Fifteen July the Fourth Coloring Sheets for Young Learners 

and
Fourth of July: 24 Fun, Interactive Activities

Much Ado about Summer

Summers are made for fun, learning activities! Whether attending summer camps, going to library events, or visiting museums, education in the summer takes a hands-on approach. For example, the Houston Children's Museum hosted Super Hero Day, and kids made their own super hero capes. The local colleges, such as UHCL's Kids U, offer nature adventures, poetry writing, and robotics, to name a few, while city parks give swim lessons and outdoor hiking excursions. Many activities are free, and for those that require registration and supplies fees there are often scholarships available.

My kids stayed busy with baseball, Boy Scouts, library programs, and vacation bible schools in the summer months. In fact, they would probably say they were "too busy" and would have preferred to sleep in more often than allowed. But, summer was enrichment program time!  

(Photo by Mark Pierce)            
                                           Oklahoma's abundance of parks

contributed to perfect outdoor learning environments. We camped, hiked, fished, and swam on an almost daily basis. We jet-skied and water-skied on man-made lakes, such as Arbuckle, Murray, or Texhoma. On weekends, we packed picnic items and trekked to Turner Falls or Chickasaw National Park. After we plunged from the rocks of Lil' Niagara into the ice cold water, our limbs turned purplish-blue. Then, we climbed onto the banks and shivered in the warm sunlight as we waited to jump again and again into the clear, blue, spring water. We observed nature at its finest during Oklahoma summers.  

Taking learning outside classroom walls is refreshing for everyone. There is so much to experience, learn, and watch--digging for worms, exploring caves, hiking along trails, walking through forests... Outdoors brings learning alive, and summer is made for fun, learning activities!

Fun, learning activities for summer: 

Top Ten Kid Movies to Decipher 

 

















Wacky Wayne's I-Spy 

 If I was President

Time for Father's Day Fun

It seems like Father's Day arrived quickly! When I was a child, my dad used to say, "Just wait until you get older then time will really fly...", and, of course, Dad was right. Looking back, where did the time go? Once again, it's Father's Day--time to honor Dad.

With care, cards are chosen, dinners are planned, and gifts are mulled over. A humorous or sentimental card? Dinner in or out? Homemade or bought gift? Ahhhh...so many decisions. What do dads remember the most about Father's Day? 

Remember making bird feeders, clay pots, colorful cards, and more for Father's Day? Since the holiday falls after most public schools have let out for summer, it's left to caregivers, moms, siblings, and relatives to help little ones come up with Father's Day memorabilia. Here's some Father's Day activities to help make the holiday a festive one:

Father's Day Cards: 30 Make and Give Activities

Father's Day Activities for Elementary Grades (right click to save):

More Father's Day activities at Educator Helper!

Being an Oklahoman

Teachers across the state of Oklahoma have lost years of accumulated teaching materials. How, as educators, can we lend helping hands to our fellow teachers?  As soon as the news of Moore, Oklahoma, hit television stations, TPT (Teachers Pay Teachers) participants came together to donate teaching units to make four teaching bundles. These include lower and upper elementary. The bundles are for sale at TPT for $25, and all proceeds go directly to help teachers in Moore, Oklahoma.  There is more information and a listing of the products at Teachers Care for Oklahoma. 

I'm an Okie, no doubt about it, born, raised, and lived most of my life in Garvin county, Oklahoma... It's in times of distress and disaster that people come together--regardless of differences and origins.

I get lots of kidding for being an Okie in Texas. Yet, I've got so many family and friends who live in both states. It's almost as if the Red River line is blurred. The dirty, muddy red water runs through rather than divides the states. Going forward from today, we are seeing lots of blurring of lines.

I've seen lots of tornadoes in my time. They used to follow the creek behind our home in Maysville. We would watch the storms form then get to the Washita River and split into two tornadoes. Many days and nights we sat in the underground dirt cellar and waited for the all clear sirens. As I got older, tornadoes were simply a "way of life" in Oklahoma. We relied on great weather forecasting and eyes of police and storm watchers to relay information. The skies were watched with uncertainty during the spring and summer months. Now, like the blurred lines of the Red River, the dates for tornado season have also become blurred. Tornadoes can happen at any time of the year.

As educators, there is so much we can do to help our Oklahoma neighbors. Schools have been demolished, homes are gone, and families are left with uncertainties and fear. Where do they go? What do they do? How do they get their lives together again?

Reach out and help a neighbor...

The beginning of the Moore tornado that caused so much mayhem on May 20, 2013. Picture courtesy of Kristy Bell, Newcastle, Oklahoma.