Setting the Stage for Success

Setting your classroom can aid in the success your students have in the classroom. Making sure the the students can see you, or important areas, and clearly hear you is important for everyday learning. The I like the idea of puting the desk into groups this way discussion and grouping can be easier for all involved. Having visual aids around the room can be little reminders for the student however you dont want your room to become cluttered. Having a room that is clean and students can easily get to things is important. That helps the teachers and the students. By having everything in a place allows the students to get some of their own materials and help take care of the room. Creating active members in taking care of the room. Everything you put into your room and how you put it should have a tought behind it and how it helps you and the students.

Talent shows

I used to think talent shows were pointless and there was no need for them in a classroom. However after doing one now I see that they can be a great way to get to know people on different levels. You can find out things about a person you never knew. I was going to do a cheer but then with some encouragement I decided to show the class something they didnt know about me which is my drawings. I have been with these people for years now and they never even knew I did any of that. So it really can bring out more understanding in a classroom. This can help to build community and show people even more about yourself. This can also build connections between people. Talent shows can really change how people see another person.

Adding the Arts

Its important to add arts into students learning. Student need an outlet to express themselves that they might not get to do anywhere else. This should let the students let out emotions. This can be an easy task if you know how to do it. It can also help further the discussion of a concept. I love the idea of doing a play. Plays can help students really look at a book further then just reading it. This get the students thinking. When doing the play if the teacher stops them and ask how their character is feeling or whats going to happen next can really open up the students eyes. This will drive the disussion into deeper thoughts and feelings. Arts can be many different things, music,drama, drawing, painting, any way that expresses something. The arts I feel really open up the doors for learning.

Decades Project

I never thought that researching different aspects of a decade could be so fun. I have been getting so excited mostly for dressing up like the 60's but also looking at what everyone else wears. I got to research the entertainment aspect of the 60's. I looked at the music, movies, tv, and books. The thing I found really interesting is that most of the entertainment that was popular back then is still popular today. I can remember watching tv shows like Gilligan Island, The Adams family, and the the classics. The music I still enjoy today like many others. The Beatles, The Supremes and The Temptations to name a few of the many I love. These all might be classics but they have stood the test of time. I had no clue that most of those where from the 60's but im happy i know that know. This makes me what to look at other decades. It's a great way to get students excited to learn about a time in our history and to make connections. This will get students engaged and excited to learn.

Last Lesson of Block 3-Paperclip Measuring

My last lesson in block 3 was in math. Math is not my favorite subject let alone to teach it. However I was very pleased with out it turned out. The lesson was on measuring to the nearest inch and half inch. I had the students do an activity with me where we measured paperclips in inches and centimeters. The students were very interested and actually took me by surprise.The students usually have a tough time in math but today they were focused and involved in the lesson.They were so focused I was a little nervous if they were understanding it, but once I saw their workbook pages, that they worked on with a partner, I was able to see that they indeed understand the material. I did some one-on-one time with a few students that needed extra help. With that extra help they seemed to all at least get the basic understanding of how to measure. I really feel that hands on activities are the key to get students involved and focused on the material.

Lesson On {Wants and Needs}

I got to do a fun lesson on wants and needs this last week. It was one of the most effective lessons I did with my class. They loved the class activity.

First I reviewed what are wants and needs, how are they different, are there things that depend on situations, how to make choices, what is better to buy first, savings. After the review, I showed pictures of items that they might buy and they were supposed to tell me if it was a want or need and then I would stick, with magnets, the item in the right column. This created a lot of discussions. It got the students engaged, asking questions, doing deeper thinking. I was very pleased with how the students did. After the activity the student went back to their desk to do similar activity by themselves.

I was so pleased with how the students did. I will be for sure doing this lesson again :)

Salt Dough Maps

Salt dough maps can be a great way to study your state or country with a hands on activity. These maps can expand on geographic awareness.

Things you can look at after making the maps.
Trade
- how the land of a place can effect how countries or states import and export.
-Compare countries and how they interact with each other.
Topographical information
-location
-landforms
-water
Culture
-human interaction
-environment interaction
How to read a map
How countries change over time
-land
-government
-war
-politics

Students can put together powerpoints alone with their maps to assess and apply their learning. This also gives the other insight onto many other places as well as the one they researched.