As every teacher knows it is a never ending battle with pencils. I work at a school where I know the parents will buy their student a new backpack that week if asked so purchasing pencils should not be an issue. I used to have a small teal pencil box on the corner of my desk for students to take a pencil whenever they might need it. I thought this would work great.
The pencils starting taking over valuable time of students waiting until after the bell to find a pencil or even worse waiting until halfway through class. Pencils were never returned and students who had actually needed a pencil for once never had one. I had the chronic students who needed a pencil every class period and even resorted to making duct tape flags for the pencils would be returned. Students came back from the break and didn't have a pencil. Nothing worked and I was sick of it.
So I put a notice on my website reminding parents their students needed pencils and told my students they had 4 days to purchase pencils before the box was gone. First week in and ONE! one student has asked me for a pencil. I know this won't work for everyone, but I will refuse for the next month to give a pencil and hope to train them.
Now to get more than 80% of my class to turn in their homework.
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Jello Cells!
Like always I start something and than I forget about it or just don't have the time. Well I plan to change all that. Since I last posted I have moved to a small Christian school and I now teach 6th grade science and history. (Woohoo! I finally get to teach my major!). I thought I would share an activity that my 6th graders loved last year. When I ask them at the end of the year what was their favorite science activity this was in their top 2.
Some prep is needed.
1st: make up jello in sheet pans. I used red jello. I poured mine a ½ inch thick and each group of two had a 2 by 4 inch square.
2nd: Make toothpicks with masking tape flags with all the needed parts. Mitochondria, nucleus, vacuole, endoplasmic reticulum, cytoplasm, cell wall or membrane (depending on if it is a plant or animal cell) and any other parts you want your students to know. Or have your TA do this if you are lucky like me to get one.
3rd: Have parents donate different candies to represent different parts.
I used gobbstoppers, chewy sweet tarts, airhead extremes, swedish fish and gummy bears
In class:
4th: Hand out all the toothpicks and have students label what each part does on the masking tape. Check over these before the project begins.
5th: Have students wash hands. Hand out candy and jello to each group and monitor as needed. With my lower level groups I tell them what each candy represents but with my high level I make them figure it out.
6th:Check over and take pictures and let the kids eat up. I always have extra candy to allow them to eat something their classmate hasn't touched.
Some prep is needed.
1st: make up jello in sheet pans. I used red jello. I poured mine a ½ inch thick and each group of two had a 2 by 4 inch square.
2nd: Make toothpicks with masking tape flags with all the needed parts. Mitochondria, nucleus, vacuole, endoplasmic reticulum, cytoplasm, cell wall or membrane (depending on if it is a plant or animal cell) and any other parts you want your students to know. Or have your TA do this if you are lucky like me to get one.
3rd: Have parents donate different candies to represent different parts.
I used gobbstoppers, chewy sweet tarts, airhead extremes, swedish fish and gummy bears
In class:
4th: Hand out all the toothpicks and have students label what each part does on the masking tape. Check over these before the project begins.
5th: Have students wash hands. Hand out candy and jello to each group and monitor as needed. With my lower level groups I tell them what each candy represents but with my high level I make them figure it out.
6th:Check over and take pictures and let the kids eat up. I always have extra candy to allow them to eat something their classmate hasn't touched.
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Lesson Planner
So I had my eye on this planner from Erin Condren, but me being a cheap person I wasn't going to spring for it until next school year. Then I got a Valentine's gift from my mother for a gift certificate to the site.
Today, it arrived! It is super thick and cute and awesome. I have plenty of pages to mark who is absent (I don't know if I will use these for attendance or figure something else out). I have 14 pages of checklists to mark grades. And then the exciting part! Pages for long term planning and then each month has a calendar and a page to make notes. This is great since I have big handwriting and could never fit all I wanted in a box. Then there are pages for daily planning and a folder to hold papers.
Here are some pictures. I can't wait to use it!
Today, it arrived! It is super thick and cute and awesome. I have plenty of pages to mark who is absent (I don't know if I will use these for attendance or figure something else out). I have 14 pages of checklists to mark grades. And then the exciting part! Pages for long term planning and then each month has a calendar and a page to make notes. This is great since I have big handwriting and could never fit all I wanted in a box. Then there are pages for daily planning and a folder to hold papers.
Here are some pictures. I can't wait to use it!
Moving to NC
On August 13, I received a call asking if I was still looking for a job. After a whirlwind of two weeks I was standing in front of my 5th grade classroom and teaching science in Lumberton, NC. The stories and adventures I have had make me laugh and my friends think I am crazy, but to see my students enjoy a subject and learn something new is wonderful.
1st Post
After a suggestion from a friend who wanted to be able to find out what I am up to in North Carolina. I have decided to start a blog.
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