Week 6/7 Refelections

Although I had technical difficulties through most of the class Wednesday, I would have to say the biggest take aways were students (really, everybody) are more successful and more engaged knowing the "big picture" and the techniques utilized in the YouTube video are proof positive that the "21st Century" teaching movement is a successful approach to classroom management and lesson planning.

"Big Picture" - Clear learning targets, rubrics, and exemplars all help students see what is expected of them and assists the teachers in instruction, assessments, and remedial targets.

"21st Century" - The video this week showed an engaged class due to a mindful teacher who managed to play on multiple intelligences and seamlessly shift from lesson to "discipline" back to instruction without distracting herself or students.  Her application of good lesson planning, touching multiple intelligences, and a progressive approach (technology, etc.) is in line with the new buzz words of "21st century students" and how to be successful in teaching today and tomorrow.

- Chris

President Book List

The books involving U.S. Presidents is relevant as an educator for a number of reasons.  One is the obvious historical benefits of learning about that certain president and the setting of the time.  Second is the sense of patriotism and heritage it can instill within the student about our nation.  Lastly, it plants a seed at a young age that these U.S. Presidents may have come from humble beginnings and rose to the top office of land through their hard work, perseverance, and other hardships/experiences that the student may connect with as a motivator within their own lives.

1.  I am Abraham Lincoln by Brad Meltzer.

Description:  In this book it shows how Abraham Lincoln always spoke up about fairness, and thus he led the country to abolish slavery. This book follows him from childhood to the presidency, including the Civil War and his legendary Gettysburg Address, focusing on a particular character trait that made him a heroic role model.

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

2.  National Geographic Readers: George Washington by Caroline Crosson Gilpin.

Description:  Great educational piece for kids.  It not only has the historical facts, but fun facts, higher level words (with a glossary), facts bubbles throughout, jokes, etc.  It is a book that will keep most kids interested.

 

 

 

3.  A President from Hawaii by Joanna Carolan.

Description:  Barack Obama is the first United States President to be born in Hawai‘i, the Aloha State. A President from Hawai‘i -- originally distributed exclusively in that state -- explores the unique history and cultural traditions of President Obama’s birthplace. In addition to the well-known concept of aloha, it introduces such Hawaiian concepts as kokua (to help), lokahi (unity), and ohana (family), among others, and includes quotes from Barack Obama’s speeches, books, and interviews that reflect and embrace these themes.

4.  The Look-It-up Book of Presidents by Wyatt Blassingame.

Description:  This book has a biography of every president from George Washington through the winner of the 2012 presidential election, and includes concise descriptions of the major events, issues, and achievements of each administration.

 

5.  Thomas Jefferson: Third President of the United States by Helen Albee Monsell.

Description:  This book highlights the childhood of Thomas Jefferson.

 

 

6.  PRESIDENTS: United States Presidents For Kids by InfoForAll Summaries.

Description:  This book is a summary of key events in the lives of every one of U.S Presidents in American History... so far.  You can read through the true stories of these President's lives and provides information about their life, accomplishments, and the events of their time.

 

 

7.  A Picture Book of John F. Kennedy by David A. Adler.

Description:  Depicts the life and career of John F. Kennedy.

 

 

8.  Take a Hike, Teddy Roosevelt! by Frank Murphy.

Description:  This book is about Teddy Roosevelt and his efforts to protect our environment and establish national parks. Teddy battled asthma all his life, and the list of things he shouldn’t do was long. But when people told him “you can’t,” he set about proving them wrong. This book focuses on his inexhaustible enthusiasm and his commitment to preserving America’s natural resources.

 

 

 

9.  White House Kids: The Perks, Pleasures, Problems, and Pratfalls of the Presidents' Children by Joe Rhatigan.

Description:  Living in America's most famous residence might seem glamorous at first--it's the most fun place any kid could live! There's a bowling alley in the basement, chefs are always available to prepare whatever you're craving, and sometimes presidential aides will even help you with your homework! This book shows the White House through the eyes of the children and grandchildren.

 

 

 

10.  Who Was Ronald Reagan? by Joyce Milton.

Description:  Depicts his childhood in rural Illinois to moviemaking days in Hollywood and on to a career in politics that took him all the way to the Oval Office.

 

 

 

11.  The President's Stuck in the Bathtub: Poems About the Presidents by Susan Katz.

Description:  This books shows the lives of the presidents as fact-filled and fanciful poems.  It also has footnotes and other reference material for students to further learn about the poems' facts.

                             

Making Connections Book List

These books are an important tool for teachers of any subject.  Helping students make a connection from their personal lives and connect them to a particular situation, social settings, etc.  The list below is a collection of books connecting students to varying degrees of scenarios; dyslexia, ADHD, distractions, disabled family members.

1.  If You're So Smart, How Come You Can't Spell Mississippi? (A Story About Dyslexia) by Barbara Esham.

Description:  A girl always thought her dad was smart; he is an attorney in town, and people are always asking him for advice. She becomes confused since asking him for help with her weekly spelling list as her dad struggles with one of her spelling words.

           

  

2.  Free Association, Where My Mind Goes During Science Class (A Story About Attention. Distraction, and Creativity) by Barbara Esham.

 

Description:  Emily loves science, but one idea sparks another in her mind, leading her away from what’s happening in class. Frustrated, her teacher gives her a notebook to jot down her off-topic ideas. While the point was to discover what distracts Emily, the teacher is surprised to find some creative, science-based thinking in the journal. Though it does not problem solve the correction of daydreaming, it reinforces a method for the student-teacher relationship to move past the distractions.

3.  Katy's Secret - An ADHD Story by Orit Chuosho Shulim.

 

Description:  The book deals with a girl who, from the time she was a baby until she was in a middle grade class, hears everything and fails to achieve the best results on school tests.  She feels different and unusual wherever she goes until one day her teacher calls a personal meeting.

4. Help Me Be Good About Throwing Tantrums by Joy Berry.

 

Description:  The Help Me Be Good Series defines a misbehavior, explains the cause of the misbehavior and its negative effects, and offers children and parents practical advice for tuning the misbehavior into acceptable behavior.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.  Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell.                      

 

Description:  Molly Lou Melon has many features from her appearance to her voice that are easy for bullies to pick on.  But, her grandmother has always told her to walk proud, smile big, and sing loud, and she takes that advice to heart.  As she has to start in a new school, a horrible bully picks on her on the very first day, but Molly Lou Melon knows just what to do about that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.  Now One Foot, Now the Other by Tomie dePaola.

 

Description:  A young boy coping with his grandfather's disability  is set with Grandpa Bob teaching Bobby to walk, and how Bobby returns the favor when Bob has a stroke.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.  Keep Your Eye on the Prize by Barbara Esham.

 

Description:  This book deals with what can be a difficult subject for students or teachers to broach. Parents wanting to help too much for their children's projects.  Dylan, the main character in the book, feels accomplished as he received minimal help for his science project.

 

 

8.  Like Pickle Juice on a Cookie by Julie Sternberg.

 

Description:  When Eleanor's beloved babysitter, Bibi, has to move away to take care of her ailing father, Eleanor must try to bear the summer without Bibi and prepare for the upcoming school year. Her new, less-than-perfect babysitter just isn't up to snuff, and she doesn't take care of things like Bibi used to. But as the school year looms, it's time for new beginnings. Eleanor soon realizes that she will always have Bibi, no matter how far away she is. 

 

9.  Big Moon Tortilla by Joy Cowley.

 

Description:  Marta Enos has been working hard on her homework and is hungry for a taste of Grandmother's big moon tortillas, "the best in the world". But as she rushes out to the cookhouse, disasters happen. Her homework blows out the window and is ruined by dogs. She drops her glasses and breaks them. Grandmother comforts her broken-hearted granddaughter with the wisdom of an old healing song: "When we have problem, we must choose what we shall be". Marta chooses to fly high and laugh at her problems, like the eagle.

 

10.  I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll.

 

Description:  A unique monster-under-the-bed story with the perfect balance of giggles and shivers, this picture book relies on the power of humor over fear, appeals to a child’s love for creatures both alarming and absurd, and glorifies the scope of a child’s imagination. One night, when Ethan checks under his bed for his monster, Gabe, he finds a note from him instead: "Gone fishing. Back in a week." Ethan knows that without Gabe’s familiar nightly scares he doesn't stand a chance of getting to sleep, so Ethan interviews potential substitutes to see if they've got the right equipment for the job—pointy teeth, sharp claws, and a long tail—but none of them proves scary enough for Ethan. When Gabe returns sooner than expected from his fishing trip, Ethan is thrilled.