My oldest son is getting closer and closer to Jr. High. OH MY! Does this ever give me heart palpitations. Jr. High was a rough time for m...
These highly interactive minilessons are geared toward improving many forms of writing--from creative to research to poetry. They provide scaffolding to help a variety of learners feel successful in your classroom. **Many of the areas I focus on are derived from my experience in the University of Iowa's prestigious writing courses** Activities included in the minilessons invite laughter as well as opportunities for your students to learn more about you, and vise versa. They include some technology and public speaking games. These lessons can be used independently to improve areas where your students struggle, or they can be bundled into a packet. They can supplement writing, fundamentals, research, or public speaking units. Materials include: *A learning plan for each minilesson *Handouts *Answer keys *Resources your students can keep, such as editorial marks printed onto cardstock bookmarks or a grid of common convention errors. Most of the minilessons require 15-20 minutes of class time, with a couple requiring 30-40. All can be adjusted to fit your students' needs. Each one allows for students to write every day through a variety of activities and use their knowledge to revise and edit previous work. These activities can be used year after year with little to no alterations. ***Download the preview for a full annotated table of contents and sample LP's*** Looking for an entire writing unit? Check out this link! The Writing Process and Fundamentals: A 5-week Unit . This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.
My seventh grade rounded out the semester creating acrylic portrait paintings on 11" x 14" stretched canvas. Just like in the Chuck Close inspired portraits from first semester, I took each student's digital photo to start. This time, the students went to the library computers and used Photoshop to change their photo to b&w, crop it in a pleasing or interesting way, and then use the "Posterize" filter to reduce their photo to about 5 or 6 values (which refers to the lightness or darkness of a color or tone). At this point, their photo looked something like this: Back in the art room, students drew a half inch grid over their photos and a one inch grid over their canvas and they used the grid method of drawing to transfer the image onto their canvas. This can be a little confusing for kids, but they did a great job. I had to keep encouraging them to just focus on the different shapes created by the values and to draw what they saw in each individual box, without worrying about the big picture. The last step was to paint each value, starting with the lightest. The students used a monochromatic color scheme (meaning derived from a single base hue, and extended using its shades, tones and tints (that is, a hue modified by the addition of black, gray (black + white) and white) to paint the values. Does this all sound confusing or what?! It isn't really, and the resulting paintings are cool! Check them out!
Our church nursery is starting to grow like crazy and I had to come up with a new and easier security/name tag solution. I really did no...
It is vital for students to be able to make connections between their interests and ideas and the visual art they create. The symbol self p...
Bullying is a target word anymore. Kids cry that they're being "bullied" even when it's harmless teasing. How can you tell the difference and what do you do if your child is being bullied?
How to fold a note...the middle school way Back before Facebook, Cell Phones, Text Messaging and Email.. We wrote notes! Buuwahahahahhaa! ...
Ready, set, POSE! I use my iPhone to take photos of my students. I usually do this on a day during which they are intently engaged with another lesson, and pull one or two students at a time into t…
A calm corner are great tools in the classroom to improve student self regulation, manage behavior, and build social emotional skills.
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This bundle of digital resources makes it easy to teach about the art of Yayoi Kusama. Kusama posters, coloring pages, and tools for assessment means you can be ready to teach about Kusama today!
Elevate your children’s summer wardrobe with our Cloverfield polo, now available in kids’ sizes!. Crafted from a premium poly eyelet mesh, this striking navy polo features white clovers in a pleasing pattern and offers a comfortable and flattering fit.Designed for both style and performance, the 4-way stretch fabric provides maximum flexibility and mobility, and ensures that it maintains its shape wash after wash. This Cloverfield polo offers high breathability and high-moisture transportation capabilities, keeping your active kiddo cool and dry all day long.
10 inexpensive rewards to use in your middle school class.
June 2020--PLEASE NOTE--this project has been updated for distance learning to now include a HOW TO VIDEO! The updated post is here. And the new video can be viewed below OR on youtube. ENJOY! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a great project that uses only a couple of supplies (and a bit of patience) to create a piece that transforms from "ho-hum" into "WOW!" This is a great way to illustrate how various lines can show movement. Horizontal lines are sleepy and calm. Vertical lines are strong and stand still, but diagonal lines seem to slide and move, bringing our eye from one side of the page to the other and then "whoosh!" off the page! We start off this exercise by using the ruler to create a series of diagonal lines and color them in with markers. Then, we cut the piece up and fan the strips out and create another type of line...a swirly, curving line that also shows movement! This is also a nice op-art activity. You can use complementary colors for your diagonal lines or a full rainbow of color. Experiment and enjoy the process! Movement With Lines Supplies Needed: One sheet of white construction paper, 9"x12" One sheet of black construction paper, 12"x18" Ruler Pencil and eraser Markers, assorted colors Glue sticks Directions: 1. Draw a series of diagonal lines on the white construction paper. You can draw three smaller lines going across the page or fill the space with lines. Both look great, in my opinion. 2. Color in the diagonal lines using markers. This is the "Before" Photo 3. Flip the page over and divide the page into twenty-four 1/2" wide strips. Use your ruler for this and try to be as precise as possible. BEFORE you cut the strips apart, number them on the back from 1-24 at one end (the same end of the strips for all numbers). This photo is kind of hard to see, but it shows all of the strips numbered on the back at the same end. Now, this is where it gets a little bit tricky. I'm sure you can do this many ways, but I made three of these and I finally landed on this way of doing it. 4. Cut out the strip marked #12. Put glue on the back and glue it on your black construction paper background in the middle, like this: Strip # 12 glued on in the center of the black paper (hold the black construction paper vertically) 5. Now you can cut strip #11 out and put glue on the back of it. Overlap the left edge of the strip over the left edge of the previous strip (in this case, strip #12), fanning the right edge out slightly (about 1/2"). Repeat with strips 10-1 (working away from you) until you get through strip #1, forming a nice curve with the strips. Use the photo as a guide. 7. Once you have finished gluing down strip #1. Place glue on the back of strip #13 and overlap the right edge of the strip over the right edge of strip #12, fanning the left edge down slightly (about 1/2"). 8. Repeat with strips 14-24 until you get through all the strips, forming a nice curve in the opposite direction with the strips. Use the picture as a guide. It is OK if the ends of the strips continue off the edge of the page. You can leave them that way or trim them to the edge of the black construction paper. This project is good for the older child since they may be more tolerant of cuting up their artwork and transforming it into something else. Also, they are more capable of handling the precise measuring and cutting this project needs in order to be successful. It took me three times to get all the strips to fit on the black construction paper properly. But I really liked all of the other attempts I made too. It's an experiment, so don't get too stressed! Enjoy!
Teach weather science with this science project featuring a warm and cold front model! This science experiment is perfect for elementary aged kiddos, kindergarteners, and preschoolers!
5 Collaborative Projects for Any Time of the School Year % %
It’s rare to hear anyone say they loved middle school. Even people with positive memories never tout it as the best years of their life. Simply put, it’s an awkward season. It’s a time of constant changes, social shake-ups, swinging emotions, and intense pressures. If I’ve learned anything from working with adolescent girls, it’s how hungry this age group is for comfort and reassurance. I hear it in their voices and see it in their eyes whenever I speak to a…
An elementary art teacher blog with art projects and lessons, DIY projects and outfit photos as well as clothing I have made myself.
Learn more about healthy high calorie foods for underweight kids from Estella Schnelle, who is a Registered Dietitian and mom.
How to Build the Ana White Jr. Loft Bed- DIY Kids Loft Bunk Bed with Stairs instead of a ladder.
This Kids Bible lesson is designed to take the story of Jonah and to teach children that God loves His people. This lesson will be best utilized in a Bible Lesson Plans for Kids God Loves His People (Story of Jonah & the Fish) Preschool Bible Lesson
This post discusses how to use days of the week in Spanish in fun learning activities. It includes instructions, materials to use, and free worksheets.
Guest blog post by Scott Ertl As an elementary school counselor, I work with teachers and parents to help students most effectively learn, behave and cope with problems. There are many different products available to help students stay on task in school, from yoga balls to wiggle cushions. They are all helpful, but they are often expensive when trying to accommodate a whole class. Bouncy Bands are a perfect DIY project that can cost under $20 for a class of 26 students. They are recycled bicycle inner tubes tied across the front legs of a student’s desk for them to rest and bounce their feet while they work. Bungee cords, rope, and garden hose can also be used. Initially, the inner tubes kept sliding down to the floor, so I added 9” pieces of PVC pipe to keep the Bouncy Band at the optimum height. Even though much research shows the importance of kinesthetic learning and incorporating movement for students to better learn, most teachers after first grade continue to spend the overwhelming majority of time expecting students to stay in their seat throughout the day while learning. And since many students struggle to sit still for so long, they do not learn to their best ability. Instead, they rush through their work, give up, or make careless errors. I found that Bouncy Bands help many students when they have a way to release their extra energy when they work. Students with learning disabilities and/or hyperactivity need appropriate ways for them to release their anxiety and energy without overwhelming them, where they shut down or simply tune out. One student describes Bouncy Bands as a way for his feet to play while he works. Here are a few benefits I've found to using Bouncy Bands: Students can stay on task longer. Students can release their anxiety and extra energy. The bands are quiet and don’t make any noise. They recycle used bicycle inner tubes and last all year! Classroom Management Ideas for Bouncy Bands However, like most things, there can be problems using Bouncy Bands in class. The biggest complaint is, “It’s not fair that so-and-so gets a Bouncy Band. I want one.” Giving students a way to earn their own can be a great incentive. I had a classroom last year and I added Bouncy Bands to all of the desks. When teachers would bring their classes to my room for Guidance, I expected only 5 or 6 students to actively use the Bouncy Bands during my lessons. However, every single student would use their Bouncy Band at one point or another during the lesson. They quickly became the ultimate reward for students to earn at my school. By the end of the year, many students had earned their own Bouncy Bands for good behavior, completing their work, or achieving other goals. Students in two different classes got in trouble using their Bouncy Bands as sling shots. It was interesting how the teachers decided to handle the situations. One teacher immediately removed the student’s Bouncy Band and he had silent lunch for the day. The other teacher decided to seize the moment to teach how it could be dangerous and the class even had fun taking turns measuring the different distances when launching paper balls versus tennis balls. (He was given a warning, but he didn’t lose his Bouncy Band.) Tips for Making and Using Your Own Bouncy Bands: Ask your local bike shop owner to donate their used bicycle inner tubes. Most I approached were extremely happy and willing to assist with this project. Most shop owners wished that they had Bouncy Bands when they were in school, since they struggled to sit still for such extended periods of time. Students enjoy being able to customize the PVC pipes with markers, stickers, contact paper, colored tape and ribbon. They like personalizing their desk station without marking up the desk. You can use regular scissors to cut the bicycle inner tubes; however, be sure to check for holes and use a 34-36” piece that is free of any holes, rips or tears. Also, be sure to cut off the nozzle. Be cautious when cutting the inner tubes to make sure there isn’t any gooey substance inside the inner tube. Some cyclists inject a “fix-a-flat” substance when they are on the road to help them finish their trip and you don’t want to have to clean that from your carpet or clothes. When getting the PVC pipe, first contact your local plumbing supply store to ask if they would be willing to donate four ten-foot long (1.5” diameter) pieces of PVC pipe. Each ten-foot piece can produce thirteen nine-inch pieces of PVC. Give the manager a written request on your school letterhead and they will likely oblige your request. You might decide to start by simply asking for 2 pieces of scrap pipe to see how your students respond to the Bouncy Bands before equipping your whole class. If you are unable to get your plumbing supply store to donate the pipes, it will only cost you about $20 for four pipes (26 sets) when you purchase the PVC pipe from your local Lowe’s or Home Depot. Perhaps your school PTA or parents would contribute towards making and/or collecting resources for this project. Bouncy Bands are a great DIY project that can help students in your class stay on task and learn more effectively. They are an inexpensive way to help students get their wiggles out! Scott Ertl is a school counselor at Ward Elementary School in Winston-Salem, NC. For more information, videos, and tips about making and using Bouncy Bands, feel free to visit his website, BouncyBands.com. Scott will be presenting a session at the Elementary School Conference called "Fun Ways To Use Data To Help Students Track Their Progress With Specific Goals."
Grades: K-5 Encourage Students To Tell The Class About Themselves With These Ready-To-Decorate Posters Each poster has plenty of space for students to fill in and share what they like to do with friends and family, what they're good at, and what they'd like to be. Then students can color and decorate their shoes for a meaningful classroom display.
Are you working on your MLK unit this week? I have two templates for the “I have a dream” speech. Here is a sample of how this printable can be used. Click on the picture to get your copy. Lidia R. Barbosa You Might Also Like:Comprehension Mat FUN!Free Math for Spare MomentsNumber Words Self-correcting Puzzle ... Read More about MLK Writing Paper
