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Teaching Ideas From Across America
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For this year's Annual IdeaBook, Teaching K-8 asked
our subscribers across the country for their best teaching ideas.
Their responses: A wonderful assortment of ideas, ranging from
diaries kept by pet rocks to a model of the Emerald City of Oz
(complete with yellow brick road). There are 27 teaching ideas
here - one for each year Teaching K-8 has been publishing
- and we think you'll find them all helpful.
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Say It with Music (and Art, Too)
I love teaching language arts with the benefits of art and music.
By designing art-related assignments, I'm able to "draw"
out students who are good with their hands or feet or voice and
can explain artistically the impact of a piece of literature
on them.
Having the kids construct a board game to review a unit, create
and perform a rap on a character, illustrate a favorite scene,
or create a parable using a peer's personality produces some
wonderfully creative and artistic reflections.
An event I hold twice a year is our Camden Coffee House, where
I provide refreshments and the students share their artistic
accomplishments which make our class and life so enjoyable.
Joanne D. Reinhart, Eighth Grade English Teacher,
Caesar Rodney Junior High, Camden, DE
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The Monarch Cycle
Milkweed with monarch butterfly eggs is put in water and displayed
on our science shelf. Magnifying glasses are provided so children
can observe each stage.
The stages can be the basis of an art activity. Divide a paper
plate into four sections. In the first section, children color
milkweed leaves and stems and then glue one grain of rice to
represent a monarch egg. In the second section, they glue spiral
pasta, painted yellow, black and white, to represent a caterpillar.
In the third section, they paint shell macaroni green to show
the chrysalis. In the final section, they paint butterfly macaroni
orange and black. Punch holes in the sides of the plate and thread
yarn through the holes so you can hang the plate on the wall.
Jan Ortner, Kindergarten Teacher, Longfellow
School, Alameda, CA
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Rare Gifts
As I embark on a new challenge in Reading Recovery, I am constantly
reminded of students who, upon receiving praise for a job well
done, l ask, "What are you going to give me?"
I learned long ago that success linked only to the materialistic
world fades quickly and has little to do with future accomplishments.
On the other hand, helping students see their value as responsible
decision-makers who are worthy of our time and interactions gives
them pride and confidence.
Material rewards should be used sparingly for special occasions
and appreciated as rare gifts. Rewards such as student artwork
and writings displayed in the hall, shared student-published
books, being "Star of the Week," etc., are far better
investments of our energies and send powerful messages to students.
Teaching children to find contentment through the excellence
of their successes will foster independence and help them form
lifetime habits that are priceless.
Brenda W. Lee, Reading Recovery Teacher,Griggs
Road Elementary School, Clover, SC
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Reading Strategies
To encourage reading in my classroom, I use several different
strategies. The reading corner in the back of the room includes
magazines and library books, which I change periodically. I also
include some books I order through the school's book clubs. In
addition, there's a sustained silent reading time daily throughout
the school.
Furthermore, to correspond with our school's accelerated reading
program, I have a chart with which I keep track of the number
of books the students read. When a student passes an accelerated
reader test, he or she can choose a ticket. Some examples of
tickets are: to be first in line; help me teach a lesson; sit
in a different seat for one day; and be excused from one homework
assignment.
Christiane Loyer Gonzalez, Fifth Grade Teacher,Bob
Harding Shawmut Elementary School, Valley, AL
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