A Thanksgiving Tradition Using Picture Books

Every year in my classroom I like to teach the concept of Pilgrims and Native Americans using picture books.  It doesn't matter what grade I teach, I always use the same stories.

 

Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl is told through the eyes of a Pilgrim girl recently after the Mayflower landed on Plymouth Rock.  The students like to read this and compare Sarah's life to their own.

Samuel Eaton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Boy is a lot like Sarah Morton, but told through a Pilgrim boy's point of view.  These two characters have a lot in common, yet are extremely different since boys had different types of chores to do and were viewed in a different light.  This book is interesting because there was actually a passenger on the Mayflower named Samuel Eaton.

Tampenum's Day: A Wampanoag Indian Boy in Pilgrim Times is told through the perspective of a Native American boy during this same time period.

The lesson:

• Each day in class, I read a different book.  We compare and contrast ourselves to the characters.
• Once we have read about Sarah Morton and Samuel Eaton, we create a Venn diagram to compare the two characters.
• On the third day, after we have read about Tampenum, we create a 3 circle Venn diagram to compare the three children.  
• On the final day, the children create character masks to symbolize the character that they liked best.  On the back of the decorated mask, the student lists the character's qualities that made them choose him/her.

These wonderful stories helped to bring the lives of Pilgrims and Wampanoags a little closer to my students.  The concept becomes more concrete after reading these stories.

How do you teach about the early settlers to the New World?

Alexis

I'm Failing!!!

After 13 years in education, I’m failing.  
I’m failing as a teacher, I’m failing as a motivator, and I’m failing as a confidant.
There are a handful of kids in my class this year that are really putting me through the ringer.  They are mentally wiping me out.  And because of this, I’m failing.
I’ve mentioned “Tommy” before.  “Tommy” is failing…literally.  He has difficulty reading, writing, with math, speaking in sentences, and his behavior is out of control.  He hits, whines, and just makes teaching a simple lesson the hardest thing in the world to do.  I have talked with the parents, he has a tutor, he is on medication, I’ve recommended neurological testing, the administration is informed.  It’s to the point where I just want to give up.  I’m tired and it’s only November.
Then there is “Jim.”  “Jim” is honestly one of the cutest kids I have ever seen.  He struggles academically, but I am in close contact with his parents and his tutor, and with a bit of TLC, he will reach grade level expectations.  But recently, he acts like the class clown.  He dismisses all that I try to say, any form of punishment that I have given.  I have even tried positive reinforcement by rewarding him for one simple day of great behavior…nothing.
“Brad” is another one.  He has a hearing issue.  This hampers his ability to speak in complete sentences.  He has a wonderful memory, but applying his understanding is difficult.  This one I can work with.  He at least tries.
But still, I am failing.  I am failing these 3 gems that have been placed at the top of my barrel because I just can’t seem to reach them.  I am failing the rest of the class who could also use some individual time.  
I am failing the whole class because I am not happy in the classroom at all.  I feel like all I do is reprimand kids all day.  My poor little quiet rule followers are being pushed aside because 99% of my time is on the ones who are struggling and are behavior problems.
I really just want to give up.  
 
Alexis

Word Play Is The Way

Being a teacher of first graders, my number one goal is to help all children learn how to read.  

I'm a true believer in systematic and explicit phonics instruction and I implement this into my classroom every day.  One way that we do this is through oral language play.

Here are some ways that you can teach through oral language:


1)  Rhyme Time:
I say a word and my students say a word that rhymes.  Simple as that.


2)  Clapping Syllables:
Oh yes.  Tried and true.


3)  Body Letters:
Once I introduce a sound for the week, I have the students show me how "write" the sound with their bodies.  Then I say words and if they hear the sound, they "write" it with their bodies.  If they don't hear it, I have them roll into a ball.  This not only has them focusing on hearing sounds, but also gets my more kinesthetic learners moving while learning.


4) Segmenting Sentences and Words:
I say sentences (short at first) and the students need to clap, snap, or just count the words that they hear.  Once this skill is mastered, I can move into words.  This helps the students to hear individual words and sounds which will aid in reading and writing.

6)  Stretching words:
If you walked into my classroom on any given day, you would hear the students and teacher alike "stretching" words.  We pull words apart and emphasize each individual sound.  I'm sure strangers think we are creating our own alien language, but educators know that we are learning to read and spell.  

These small games would be useful and fun in both a classroom and home setting.  Let's make learning fun!


Alexis

Red Ribbon Poster Ideas

As I mentioned before, each year during Red Ribbon Week, my school holds a contest for door decorations.  The level of competition between teachers is fierce!  Each one trying to "out-cute" the other. 

Now that Red Ribbon Week has come to a close, it is time to reflect on the ideas that the teachers had.

This was my door....I tied for first place most original artwork.  Beep, beep!  (Just tooting my own horn!)

This is the one that tied for 1st place with me....it's awesome!

Which one is your favorite?

Alexis

Before It All Begins

Do you know what went on before your child went to school on the first day?  Do you know how many hours went into getting ready for that day?  Do you really understand the preparation that occurred? 

Your child's teacher probably spent 8 hours a day IN the classroom and about 12 hours of their OWN time at home planning, cutting, gluing, making, and creating the many things that will entice your child to learn each day.  Your child's teacher tirelessly organized and plotted the various nooks and corners of your child's home-away-from-home.  

Getting a classroom ready is more than setting up desks and putting up a bulletin board.  It's buying bins, labels, markers, Ziplocs, colored paper, borders, pocket charts, and sentence strips.  It's making the classroom cheerful and bright.  It's designing the set up in a functional, yet fun way.  It's organizing books, materials and children's spaces in such a way that works...and if it doesn't work, reworking it all again.

Teachers spend a hundreds of dollars of their own money in order to provide all of this for your children.  Did you know that?  Not many do.  All teachers....public school teachers, private school teachers, preschool to high school.  They all do it.  

So when your child goes into their classroom for the first time or the one hundred and first time, think of all that your teacher does behind the scenes.  And thank them!

Alexis

Teaching Is Like Football

I feel like a sideline coach on the verge of a coronary!

My day consists of yelling out plays with no one listening.  I want to take off my headphones and thrust them to the ground!

CAN YOU HEAR ME?  GET IN LINE!   WHAT DID I JUST SAY?  FOR THE LOVE OF PETE!

My little players are all over the place.  Sometimes their questions come out of nowhere and sack me hard in the chest.  Were you even listening to the question I just asked?

But there is always one...the quarterback, who looks my way and takes in all I have to say.  That one child is ever present.  That one child just...gets it.

That one child makes my whole day worth it.  That one child is the reason that I came into this thankless and highly underpaid profession.