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

#BlickARA Twitter Party To Support Art in Schools

Do you believe art is an essential part of your child's education?  Then you already know how important art education is — and how schools are struggling to keep their art programs alive.  That's where Art Room Aid can help!  

A program of Blick Art Materials, Art Room Aid is helping teachers across the country enlist the aid of parents, families, friends, and other art advocates to fund their art projects and keep creative learning going.

Want to learn more?  Join this Twitter Party to find out how you can support art education, make sure art continues to play a role in your children’s lives, and spread the word about Art Room Aid in your community.  We'll be discussing projects you can do with your own kids, and sharing sources of inspiration. 



#BlickARA Twitter party details
 
When: Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2 p.m. ET

Where: We’ll be on Twitter – follow the #BlickARA hashtag to track the conversation. See this Twtvite for more info and to RSVP: http://twtvite.com/BlickARA

Hashtag: #BlickARA

Prizes: We will give away five total prizes - two $25 Blick gift coupons, two $50 Blick gift coupons, and one $75 Blick gift coupon.

Hosts: @theMotherhood, @CooperMunroe, @EmilyMcKhann

Check out Art Room Aid here: http://www.dickblick.com/ara

Blick Art Materials website: http://www.dickblick.com/


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

No More Babies

So we are in the first week of school.  
A time for new beginnings, fresh starts, and new classrooms.

"Little Ricky" started 2nd grade this week.  2nd grade!  
My baby is no longer a baby. 
He was so ready to begin his new year.  Ready to show what he knows and prove that he is a big kid.  (Not to mention, to prove to his little brother that he knows all about 1st grade...)

"The Nag" was a little more jittery.  Even though he knew everyone going in, first grade was a bit more of a challenge for him.  He was also very excited, but more nervous of what to expect.

Picking them up after the first day, they were full of stories about what they did and which of their friends showed up in the same class.  ("The Nag" was also so wiped out he fell asleep in the car on the way home.)

So, as the new school year started, I too was nervous for my little guys, but I also felt sadness that they are no longer babies, but big kids ready to take on a new school year.

How was the new start to your school year?
 

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