The Teacher In Me ~ Keeping the Learning Going

I'll admit it, when it comes to learning, I let go in the summer.  As a teacher by trade,  I know I should encourage my kids to keep their skills up so there isn't so much loss in the summer, but I'm just so exhausted from the school year, that the last thing I want to do is fight with my kids to do work.  So I slack off.  I'm such a bad mommy & teacher....

Not this year!  It's a summer goal of mine to keep the learning going.   
  


Reading:

This is an easy one.  Pick up a book and read.  

I base the time of reading around The Nag.  However long it takes him to read a chapter, that's how long Little Ricky needs to read.  (Not to mention that Little Ricky is like his mommy, once he starts reading, he doesn't want to put it down.)  

We recently cleaned out our home library.  We donated a bunch of books that the kids have outgrown to our school and to cousins.  Now, we have tons of chapter books left for summer reading.  Right now, the boys are working on The Magic Tree House series.  We also have plans to make it to the public library.  


Math:

The boys' teachers sent home Summer Math Packets for the kids.  They are essentially the math worksheets that the class didn't finish during the school year, so it's a nice bridge to the learning that will take place next year.   I have them work on 2-3 pages every few days. 

My husband also likes to ask them "hard" math facts (addition, subtraction, and multiplication) while we are in the car or eating a meal, so they can work on their recall.  Sometimes, if we are at a restaurant, we make up math problems for them on their "kiddie menus" for them to solve. 




Writing:

Another easy one.  We have marble notebooks that we use as journals.  We got them at the Dollar Tree.  I have them write a paragraph or two about what we did that day.  They also like to write stories from time to time.  Little Ricky just wrote a book as a gift for Father's Day.  (Totally his idea)  I also plan to work on their handwriting....it's awful!!


Science:

The boys LOVE science!  My plan is to do at least one cool science experiment every other week or so.  I also want to take them to The Miami Science Museum for the first time.  We are also planning on revisiting The Fort Lauderdale Museum of Science and Discovery.  These places should get those little scientific brains going!



I'm not saying that I'm home schooling this summer.  Just an hour every couple of days.  Mostly on the days when we don't have an outside activity planned or it seems they may just kill each other.  


What do you do to keep the learning going in the summer?  I would love more ideas!


Alexis

TeachHub ~ The Latest Resource for Teachers

 
As a teacher, I'm always on the hunt for the most current practices, as well as ideas and techniques to use in the classroom.  TeachHUB is the newest place for teachers to go for up-to-date education information, a place to share ideas and "borrow" others, and where you can go to find professional development of your choosing.  

TeachHUB's mission is to improve the quality of education by making available the most current, complete and affordable resources for all K-12 Educators.  "Built by Teachers, for Teachers, we offer free lesson plans, the latest in education news, professional development and real teacher blogs plus the tools and applications modern Educators need to maintain a level of excellence in their classrooms."  TeachHUB.com provides the latest in education technology, news and tools. It's a great free resource for all K-12 teachers.

My favorite part?  I really like that on the home page, they list the top 7 stories using pictures.  This way I can see at a quick glance the newest topics being featured.  It really draws me in.
 

Recently I administered a survey to my students asking them varied questions about what they know about reading, who their favorite characters are, and what do they know about certain library topics.  Some of the questions were really easy for the kids to answer, you know about fiction and nonfiction, their favorite books, and even how they like to read.  But some questions boggled their minds...especially "what does your teacher do in the summer".  (You should have seen some of the answers for that one!)

Check out the first infographic made by kids:

 
TeachHUB.com is a free resource for teachers and parents who want the latest in education news and technology. You can see the latest articles from TeachHUB by subscribing to their Facebook page or following them on Twitter.
 



I was selected for this opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, and content and opinions expressed here are all my own. To learn more about the TeachHUB.com, visit their website. #CleverTeachers #NLW13


Alexis

The Teacher In Me ~ Trapping Leprechauns

St. Patrick's Day is such a fun holiday for kids.  There is luck, magic, mystery & tons & tons of green! 

In our class, instead of just writing about being lucky, we test our luck by trying to catch...what else, LEPRECHAUNS!  Those little men of mystery that are said to lead you to a pot of gold.  Who doesn't want that? 

We invite the men of our class to join us and lend their creative and building skills to help their little people build Leprechaun Traps.  It's such a neat project since the dads, grandpas, uncles, etc. can rarely make it into the classroom since they are always working.  


Here's what we need:

• We ask the parents for their "junk."  We want all recycled materials (cereal boxes, milk jugs, water bottles, toilet paper tubes, etc.  Anything that will help with the construction of the traps.  

• St. Patty's Day is all about green.  So we use green everything.  Green tape, string, yarn, pipe cleaners,  stickers, ribbon.  You name it, we have green.

• Gold coins.  What Leprechaun doesn't love gold coins?  So what better way to lure one into your trap than with gold coins?  Enough said.

Here's what to do:

• The men and kids use their imaginations to construct their traps.

Do you think this will catch a Leprechaun?

Then, since the men took time out of their very busy days, we write them special thank you notes.  They are in the shape of dress shirts with ties.  TOO CUTE!

What do you do that's special for St. Patty's Day?  I love new ideas!


Alexis

Year of the Snake ~ Chinese New Year in the Classroom

I try to teach all of the major types of holidays in my classroom.  Even if it's just a quick book with a craft.  One of my favorite holidays to teach about has always been Chinese New Year.  I love the history, the traditions, and the RED!

2013 is the year of the snake.  I went on the almighty Pinterest to look for ideas to celebrate Chinese New Year in my classroom.  

We'll start our celebration by reading some books.  Here are a couple of my favorites:

Bringing in the New Year:
 
This book follows a Chinese American family as they prepare for Chinese New Year.  There are brightly colored pictures of the traditions for this Lunar New Year. 






Sam and the Lucky Money:

This is a book about a little boy named Sam who decides to donate his Chinese New Year money to a homeless man.  What a great way to teach about giving!








Check out these great snake crafts that are quick, easy, and adorable!  Yuppers, I found them on Pinterest!  (I love that site!)

 

These paper chain snakes were geared for pre-k kids, but I really think my first graders would love this one!  Not to mention, making them in lucky red....cute!

This paper plate snake is also easy and fun.  We can hang them from the ceiling...love it!

These books and crafts would also be something easy and fun to do with your kids at home too.  Put it all together with some dumplings and fried rice...mmmmm!

GUNG HEI FAT CHOI! 

Alexis

The Teacher In Me ~ David Goes to School

Ah, the beginning of school....a time of new beginnings. 

This year, my team and I decided to shake it up a bit, change our old beginning of school routines.  One teammate of mine was scouting some new ideas on Pinterest (you know, the place for EVERYTHING!!), and came across this idea for teaching rules using the lovable and troublemaking "David." 


The idea came from Fall Into First.  What a cute idea using the book David Goes to School by David Shannon.  The kids love David because his extreme rule breaking makes them laugh, yet reinforces the need for rule following.

After reading the book, we brainstormed some rules that should be followed at school.  

Then the kids chose one or more to write about.  Since it was the beginning of the week, I wasn't so picky about true sentence structure.  And finally it was time to make our "Davids."  I love how unique each "David" came.  It was the kids' interpretations of this loveable character.

They came out SO cute!

How do you teach about rules?

Alexis

In Need of a Magic Wand

Do you hear that sound?  
It's the collective groaning of all teachers everywhere.  
Summer is over. 

Time to set up the classroom.
Time to label desks, cubbies, books, EVERYTHING with the students' names.
Time to plan, prepare, and organize.

Time to get a Magic Wand......

I have SOOOO much to do.  My classroom is FULL of boxes all waiting to be unpacked.  I have labels to print, plans to write and a schedule to coordinate.  

And it all has to be done before a new flock of first graders come in to meet me for the first time....no pressure.  

Oh well, it will get done.  It always does.  
I will just have to set up the air mattress at the back of the room.... 

WISH ME LUCK!!  I will need that and a bit of magic!!



Alexis

Mission Possible ~ A Book Review with Giveaway

I educate first grade children.  I educate other educators.  I educate myself.  I am a teacher.

I think back to my years in school before I went to college or graduate school.  I remember the teachers who genuinely loved what they did.  I could tell they loved their profession because it was conveyed in their demeanor and their way of reaching the students each day.  Those teachers taught me to love to learn.  Then there were the teachers who were burnt out.  You know the ones, a few years until retirement, sat at their desk all day, barked at you instead of engaging you.  Those teachers made me look at the clock the entire time.

It makes me wonder…were those teachers being pushed to reach their highest potential?  Were they continually trained in order to better their craft.  Or were they just the ones who were "born to teach?"

I always thought I was born to teach.  At the beginning of every school year, I enter with vigor and excitement of things to come.  Only to find my self three months in and tired.  I am at a place in my career where I feel stagnant.  In no way do I feel that I have reached my peak or my full potential.  I’m not even at the point in my career where I want to be.  And now I'm getting burnt out.  I think to myself, "maybe I'll go back to school or maybe I'll change careers."   

I recently read Mission Possible: How the Secrets of the Success Academies Can Work in Any School by Eva Moskowitz and Arin Lavinia.  It's a book that chronicles the workings of the Success Academy Charter School in Harlem as it rose up to be one of the top schools in New York City.  Wow!  How inspiring.  Moskowitz and Lavinia explained the ways that they created the Success Academies and how it's all about the adults.  "Achieving excellence isn't about the students.  It's about the grown-ups.  When the grown-ups are running on all cylinders, they bring the kids along for the swift, exhilarating ride."  I honestly couldn't agree more.  

When I worked as an educational consultant, I would work in failing schools and coach the teachers with the techniques to help the students meet the grade level expectations.  I saw many energetic teachers who were willing to do whatever it took to help the kids learn.  I would also see the flip side; the teachers who had hit a wall in their teaching, and they didn't want to better their skills.  Teachers tend to get stuck in one place and get complacent with the “known.”  We are in need of continual growth and development of the craft in order to help pump up the excitement for the very thing that drew them to the profession in the first place.

Other countries deem educators as masters of information.  They are, in some countries, the highest revered because they dedicate their lives to enrich others’ lives.  Educators are respected for what they know, do, and say.  I feel that in the US, there is no respect for educators.  Emphasis is placed too much on people in the spotlight.  Oh everyone says the right thing, "Teachers should get paid more.  It's a shame."  But where did the respect go?

I didn't go into teaching for respect.  I certainly didn't choose this profession for the money.  I love to learn and I love to share that learning with others.  That is why I teach. 

Reading Mission Possible lit the spark I have for education.  I feel empowered to go back to school in the fall and demand professional development that will help to improve everyone's fervor for education.  I am lucky that I work with a wonderful staff of dedicated educators, but we all still have so much to learn.



Do you want to get inspired about education?  Here's your chance to win your own copy of Mission Possible.

a Rafflecopter giveaway




I hope to hear your thoughts on why you think this country treats teaching so differently than it does other professions. 


Eva Moskowitz would love to chat with you on Facebook and Twitter as well.  Let her know your opinions and share in the conversations on the importance of making change NOW.






**Disclaimer:  Although I was paid to participate in the review of this book through my relationship with SITSGirls, all opinions are my own.

Alexis
 

My Alter Ego

I have an alter ego.  No, I'm not a super hero.  I'm apparently a little crazy.  

I've started a new blog...The Teacher In Me.

This blog is my way to create a forum for sharing ideas and strategies to help teachers and students.  I look forward to other educators and parents using this platform as a “real life” way to gain and give information from simple ideas to teach your child at home to more complex thoughts on the educational world today.  I hope it can also be a way for others to reflect and vent on the ins and outs of teaching children.

Stop on by and show some love for The Teacher In Me. 

Alexis

Raising Book Lovers

Reading is one of my favorite pastimes...if only I had more time for it....
I'm trying to instill the same kind of love for reading in my kids. 

Since I am a teacher and I have been doing it for so long, I have a HUGE collection of children's books, not to mention my sister gets my kids books for Christmas every year.  

Each night at bedtime, I sit with my kids, and when my husband is in town we sit as a family to read stories.  Both boys get to choose a title that they want to read.  Many nights we have "repeat offenders," but there are nights that I will look on the shelf to introduce a new title.  My oldest is a beginning reader, so at times we have him join in and "show off" his new found skills.


Here are some books that we enjoy reading:

First Grade Jitters by Robert Quackenbush

This story is about a boy who is nervous to start first grade.  We are reading this more recently because my son is going into first grade.  Although he doesn't have quite the same issues with first grade since I teach first grade, he is still a little nervous.

A Giraffe and a Half by Shel Silverstein

We LOVE this book!  There are many things that happen to this boy and a giraffe.  The story is very repetitive.  This helps even the youngest of readers to "read" the book with you.  My 4 year old is a BIG fan!

Scaredy Cat, Splat by Rob Scotton

This is a Halloween themed Splat the Cat book.  Yes, we are still reading it now...I told you, "repeat offenders." Splat wants to win the scariest costume contest at school.  There are many misadventures when Splat is around.  I enjoy the illustrations in this book.

Olivia by Ian Falconer

Olivia is an overly dramatic and imaginative pig.  In all of her adventures, you get lost in how Olivia sees the world, even if it's not necessarily what is really taking place.  I think my kids like this because they too are pretty dramatic and imaginative.

Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes

Wemberly is a mouse who worries about everything.  What if no one comes to her party?  What if people come, but there isn't enough food?  What if I don't have enough money to buy the new shoes that I want?  (Oh wait, that's my worry!)  Her major worry is what will happen at school.  This is also a great beginning of the school year read with your little ones.


What are your favorite stories to share with your kids?





Alexis