When my sister and I were little, my mother used to read us poems from Shel Silvertein's "Where The Sidewalk Ends" and "A Light In The Attic." We had so many favorites, and we would ask her to read them to us over and over, and over again. This one was one of them: I've been thinking about this poem all day given the tremendous heat we're experiencing here in Philadelphia. It's Hot! To escape the sweltering temps, I spent the entire day shopping at the Philadelphia Marketplace. I stopped in at Lee Jofa to see the new Lilly Pulitzer collection, I swooned over the Oscar de la Renta furniture line at Century, and seriously contemplated buying this Regency style cabinet at Robert Allen's floor sample sale. Unfortunately, I don't have $6,000 to burn. So I had to pass. But the air conditioning was lovely. Today reached 97 degrees and tomorrow it's going to be 102 degrees... with a "RealFeel" of 113!!! I wish I could sit around in my bones. It's hot! ...
Perfect Days, il nuovo film di Wim Wenders, indaga sul valore della semplicità, attraverso la vita di Hirayama, un addetto alle pulizie dei bagni pubblici di Tokyo. E ci lascia una domanda finale importante…
Inside his quirky rhymes, he left some not-so hidden messages
I don't know about you, but my kids are growing at warp speed. They are changing every day, getting older each minute, and sometimes it catches me way off guard. Sometimes I just want to catch up with them, and hear what they have to say about what they like, what drives them, what influences
When my mum died in 1992, one of her friends gave my step-father a sympathy card that contained a poem by Christina Rossetti. At the time I...
Time well wasted
Be More Chill, with music and lyrics by Joe Iconis and a book by Joe Tracz, has 67.6 thousand followers on Instagram, 9,209 followers on Twitter, and 7,813 likes and 8,049 followers on Facebook. Even more likes and followers have been racked up on unofficial pages and the pages of the cast and cr
More Americans are leaving their childbearing years without kids than ever.
Your complete guide to the essential library for boys and young men. Start your learning process here and build a great library.
Anger is probably the #1 issue the kids I work with deal with. In this post you will find many great links, worksheets, and resources for addressing anger in children of all ages. One of my favorit…
**Updated 7/7/15 - I put the 22 attention getters into 3 different table formats. You can choose which one (visually) works best for you.** I use these attention getters/grabbers on a daily basis with my ELL students. These attention getters are a great way to improve your classroom management. I usually pick one or two to teach the class at the beginning of the year. Then every month or every few weeks, I introduce a new attention getter, which my students can't wait for!! To get my students attention I simply say ‘Ready Set!’ and then they say ‘You Bet!’. Once the students say their part they are quietly looking at me for directions. It's as simple as that! The key is the students have to say their part the way you said yours. So if you whisper, they also have to whisper. If you said it like a robot, then they have to say it like a robot. Your students have to match your tone and intensity, which they love to do! If you like the fonts and background from this product, please check out my store! Make sure to follow me for more great resources! Thanks :)
Deya Muniz is a Brazil-based cartoonist who draws Brutally Honest comics about what it means to be a woman in modern society. Yes, she sometimes plays on stereotypes, and no, not all woman are like this, but hey, they're just cartoons so lighten up already. Also, you might just be able to relate to some of the funny situations below. Like shaving your legs only to discover you've missed a patch when you're absolutely nowhere near a razor, or the almost impossible task of trying to save a brownie for tomorrow instead of eating it today. Check out a bunch of our favorites below.
What do you even talk to them about???
I've been working on a few things for Behavior Management so I thought I'd join the party! Check out The Lesson Plan Diva to see others who have linked up! I've seen a lot of clip charts and stop lights in blog land and I have to say that I am not a fan. Don't get me wrong--I think they are pretty, easy to use, and a quick visual for the teacher at the end of the day when getting things ready to go home. BUT I strongly believe that kids should not be publicly embarrassed for their behavior. EVERYONE makes poor choices from time to time. Would you want the entire staff to know when you missed a deadline or made a mistake? I know this is not the intention, but it happens anyway. Instead I use a binder. I wish I had a photo to show but sadly it is locked up at school. In the binder is a chart with student numbers instead of names. When students make poor choices, they are asked to visit the behavior binder where they place a check mark next to their number. There is also a copy of our Quality Student they should quickly review. When sending students to the binder, I make sure to do it privately so the student is not embarrassed. Each Monday we discuss the previous week's data, celebrate if we made a goal, and make new goals for the coming week. The binder is also handy at conference time. As a class, we set goals for the number of checks we will try to stay under per week. Students also may have personal goals for how many checks they will have each week or grading period. Recently I found Homeworkopoly on Ladybug's Teacher Files and decided to teacher-lift it. She uses this for students who consistently complete their homework, but I decided to use it as a behavior incentive. ALOT of people have been posting about doing away with the prize/treasure box and this could work for that too. I included two "prize box" places on the board but you could easily replace them with something else. I am still working on the Chance cards and I also added a spot for "Student-written questions." My plan here is to have students write their own review questions for topics already covered. So my printer is running low on ink and the colors are a bit distorted but this is the basic idea. My plan is to post it on the chalk board and use pictures of the kids faces to make magnetic playing pieces. Students who made it the entire week without any checks in the behavior binder (or who met their personal behavior goal) will get to take a turn on the Behavioropoly Board. Check out Ladybug's Teacher Files to see how she runs the game. ***Update*** Due to a high volume of requests I am no longer sending out my template by email. You can go to my TPT store and download the files for free!
For you
I've used this format to teach independent novels to students in grades 5-9. Because it is so open-ended, it allows for easy differentiation of kids in the same grade, or for kids in split classes. I like this project a lot because it is very student-centred, and once I hand out the project outline, the students can work at their own pace. Because there is so much choice involved, the quality of work is usually very high, as well. I have borrowed pieces of this from other bloggers and teacher friends. I've also been adding to it/changing things around for a few years, and I have forgotten which pieces came from whom. If you see one of your ideas, please know that I love it (which is why it's still in my project), and let me know in the comments so that I can credit you! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Choice Novel Project Over the next four weeks, you will complete a choice novel study project. You will be responsible for selecting an appropriate novel to read and reflect upon. Choosing an appropriate novel. Read two or three pages of the book and ask yourself these questions: - Do I understand what I am reading? - Do I know most of the words? (If there are five or more words on a page that I don’t know or am unsure of, it’s probably too hard) - When I read it aloud, can I read it smoothly? - Do I think the topic will interest me? If you answered yes to most of these questions, it is probably a good book choice for you. Do not choose a book that you have already read. Have your book choice approved by the teacher. Book Discussions. Each week, you must conference at least once with your reading group and the teacher. During the book discussions, you will ask and answer questions with your group mates and discuss your reflections on the book so far and on your work with the before, during, and after reading tasks. You will be responsible for self- assessing your participation in discussions. I have someone in the group take notes on the discussion to keep everyone accountable. Activities. All students will complete chapter summaries for EACH chapter. You must also complete Before Reading, During Reading, and After Reading activities. You may choose any activities from the lists provided, but you must meet the minimum points requirements. BEFORE READING (10 points) 1.) Write a paragraph about anything that caught your attention about the book (title, cover, layout, pictures, etc.). (10 points) 2.) Write a paragraph telling about what you already know about this book or the author before you begin reading. (10 points) 3.) Based on the title, write a paragraph making a prediction about the action in the novel. Explain how the title relates to your prediction. (10 points) DURING READING (Choose at least 30 points) 1.) Diary/journal. Write from the point of view of one of the main characters to keep a personal journal in which you reflect on major events during the story. Be sure to include thoughts and feelings. Use your understanding of the character to imagine what he or she might write. You should include at least 5 entries, and each entry should be at least a paragraph in length. (15 points) 2.) Picture summaries. Use your art skills to record the some of the main events from the story. Minimum 5 pictures. Each drawing should be detailed and fully coloured. Each picture should include a caption. The viewer should be able to get a good idea of what is happening from looking at your pictures. (15 points) 3.) Video blog (“vlog”) or Podcast. This is very similar to the diary/journal activity, but instead of writing your entries, record them using audio or video. Each vlog or podcast should be a minimum of one minute and a maximum of 3 minutes. You must create at least 5 entries. (30 points) 4.) Poetry. Create a series of poems inspired by the themes, characters, and events in your novel. You must write at least five poems representing at least 3 different types of poetry. (15 points) 5.) Comic strip. As you read the novel, summarize it by creating a comic strip of the story. This is something that should be done as you read. Do not leave it until the very end. It should be a work in progress, growing as you read. (30 points) 6.) Double Entry Journal. As you read, complete at least 5 double entry journal entries. The double entry journal should include a short summary of the part of the story you are reflecting upon on one side (with page number) and a reflective response on the other side. (What surprised you? What frustrated you? What was your favourite part?) (15 points) 7.) Chapter Questions. As you read, complete the chapter questions for at least 10 chapters of your book. Ask your teacher for the chapter question sheets if you choose this option. (30 points) 8.) Vocabulary. For each chapter, identify and define 5 words that you or someone in your class may not know. (15 points) 9.) Free Choice. Create an activity of your choice that is on-going during reading. Get it approved before you begin. AFTER READING (Choose at least 50 points) 1.) Plot Organizer. Complete the plot organizer worksheet provided by your teacher. This includes filling out information about setting, introduction, rising action, climax, resolution, and conflict. (10 points) Example of a Plot Organizer worksheet 2.) Dramatization. Act out one or two scenes from your book. You may ask friends to help you, but you must be the main actor. In a short (2-4 minutes) speech, tell why you chose the scenes and how they are important to the story. You may do this “live” or you may record it. (50 points) 3.) Screenplay. Individually write a screenplay for the most important scene in your book. If you choose this option, please see your teacher for a handout about “how to write a screenplay.” (30 points) 4.) Movie Poster. Your book is going to be made into a movie and you are the director. Design a movie poster for your novel that makes people want to see it. Aside from being visually stunning, your poster will feature actors you have selected to play the main roles in the film. For each actor selected, explain in a well-organized paragraph why they are perfect to play the role you have given them by discussing the character’s appearance AND personality. (30 points) 5.) Trash Talk. You go through the trash of the main character/person in your book. Based on what you know about their personality and actions from the book, explain what you might find in there. For each item, write a short paragraph explaining why this item would be in their trash, using references to the book to help your explanation. Please identify/discuss FIVE items. (20 points) 6.) Slideshow. Create a slideshow that acts as a timeline to show the most important events of the story. Include at least 12 events (so at least 12 slides). Describe why each of these events is important. (30 points) 7.) Song. Write a rap or song that tells about the theme of the story, an event from the story, or a character from the story. You may use an existing song for the tune, but the lyrics must be original. You can choose to perform it live or record it. (50 points) 8.) Interview. Interview a character from the book and respond as if you were that character. You must include at least 10 deep questions (no yes or no answers!) and responses. (10 points) 9.) ABC Book. Create an ABC book, focusing on key events, characters, ideas, and information from your book. For each page in the book, you must include a word or phrase that goes with the letter as well as an explanation as to how this word or phrase relates to the book (at least two sentences). (50 points) 10.) Book Review. Write a review of the book explaining what it is about, whether or not you liked it (and why), who the intended audience is (and how you know), and who you would recommend it to (and why). (20 points) 11.) Alternate Ending. What events might have changed how the story ended? Change at least one key event and write a new ending to the story. Your ending should be a minimum of one page, and a maximum of three pages long. (40 points). 12.) Character Sketch. Write a character sketch of the protagonist in your novel. Write a paragraph about his or her physical traits and a paragraph about his or her personality traits. (10 points). 13.) Soundtrack. Create the soundtrack of your book. Choose at least 8 songs that fit the mood/theme/emotions of different events in the book. For each song, explain what event it would highlight and why it is a good fit for that event. (40 points) 14.) Movie Trailer. Your book is being made into a movie and you are in charge of marketing. Put together a movie trailer for your novel. Recruit friends and family to play the major roles. Film the action, and present it as a short trailer (~2 minutes) complete with music. The trailer should entice people to see your movie, without giving away the end. (50 points). 15.) Free Choice. Create an activity of your choice to “sum up” the book. Get it approved before you begin. Evaluation: Chapter Summaries ____/10 Before Reading ____/10 During Reading ____/30 After reading ____/50 TOTAL: ____/100 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- What do you think? Do you do something similar? Will you try this out? Let me know in the comments below.
