TEACHERS - Your spotlight! - Take the stage! =)

anna Posted: Jul 09, 2003 10:32 PM

TEACHERS - Your spotlight! - Take the stage! =)

OK, Teachers:

Aspiring teacher that I am, I Love to get inspiration from hearing all your wonderful stories, and you should know that Im going to post one of these 'picking your brains' Posts, to let you share your stories and to get some creative and thoughtful ideas from you !

*SO, Is there anything unique that you do every year for your class(es) ? Is there something that you make for the class or that they make as a class that you love doing every year?

What struck me to start this post in particular:
I was just babysitting my cousins 10year old and she showed me a Yearbook that one of her classmates made for everyone. He made it at home, of his own free will and made a copy for everyone. I thought it was such a creative and thoughtful thing to do. It was basically a little scrapbook of the entire class' baby pictures (and you have to 'Guess Who?') as well as Awards (Class Clown, etc)... and of course space for well wishes and addresses to keep in touch...
It was just made on regular computer paper, and binded like a report.

Do any of you do anything like this for your classes. School yearbooks are only given in the graduating class right?

Please share your experiences and give yourself some time to shine! You work so hard all year, lets hear all about it !!

Leelee Posted: Jul 09, 2003 10:36 PM

Re: TEACHERS - Your spotlight! - Take the stage! =)

Anna...although I'm not a teacher YET ( ), this is a GREAT idea for a thread!! I'm curious to see what teachers say!!!

yabbobay Posted: Jul 09, 2003 10:38 PM

Re: TEACHERS - Your spotlight! - Take the stage! =)

I think you are looking more for elem stuff...but I will tell you what I do/did with my 10th graders

I like to make things very interactive...so I have them act out ALOT of skits (premade or they write) on historical periods (I'm Soc St) they have formed alliances as countries, started wars, I have even had them get into the trenches (on the floor btw desks) and simulated a bombing (flashing lights and slamming books to the ground)

they usually enjoy it...

anna Posted: Jul 09, 2003 10:41 PM

Re: TEACHERS - Your spotlight! - Take the stage! =)

OMG Erica, that sounds like so much fun !!! You sound like an awesome teacher !! (dont leave the field, those kids need you ! )

PS-ALL Grades and all Subject areas are MORE THAN welcome to respond !!!

Erica-that is awesome. I have to tell John about it. He'd love to be in that class !

prncssrachel Posted: Jul 09, 2003 10:50 PM

Re: TEACHERS - Your spotlight! - Take the stage! =)

I don't have my own class since I am a music teacher, but what I do it I leave enough time at the end of the year to plan lessons on what the kids choose. They are usually really interested in things you would never imagine, like world music and musical theatre. It gives them something to look forward to even when they are getting sick and tired of hearing about 'boring music history' (although I secretly think they all like it!). I also will let certain classes that have a good rapport with one another pick topics to teach lessons on. So they will be teaching eachother. It worked out really well and it was fun for me to have to learn about new things that maybe I never thought they would be into.

anna Posted: Jul 09, 2003 11:18 PM

Re: TEACHERS - Your spotlight! - Take the stage! =)

Thats awesome Rachel ! It seems like the most interactive and child-led lessons are the most successful and fun !

Hey, im going to want to be one of the students and not the teacher !

yabbobay Posted: Jul 09, 2003 11:34 PM

Re: TEACHERS - Your spotlight! - Take the stage! =)

anna...i think anytime a student can teach another student is when learning is most active...

I know I learned more about my subject teaching then I did in college

thats why cooperative learning is so popular now...its a lot of preparation, but it saves your voice...unlike 'chalk and talk'

prncssrachel Posted: Jul 09, 2003 11:36 PM

Re: TEACHERS - Your spotlight! - Take the stage! =)

I DEFINITELY learned way more from teaching than I ever did from sitting in a class. But it's because you need to be able to explain things 10, 20, 30 different ways sometimes if you have that many kids with different learning styles. Once you can approach one topic all those different ways, you know it inside and out!

nycchic_24 Posted: Jul 10, 2003 12:42 AM

Re: TEACHERS - Your spotlight! - Take the stage! =)

I teach preschool so for me its much different but every year my 4 and 5 year olds put together a book of their work for their parents...

We decorate it and lace together for the binding. Its amazing to see the first picture they colored on their first day of school and the one they draw on their own the last day of school.

I also make photo albums of them. I take pictures throughout the year and they can see how much they have grown and progressed. They and their parents love it...wonderful keepsake!

anna Posted: Jul 10, 2003 08:15 AM

Re: TEACHERS - Your spotlight! - Take the stage! =)

Noreen, thats a great idea !! It really is amazing to see progress. Sometimes you have to say 'Oh how nice, what is that ?'
Erica-thats what one of my professors is always grilling us on 'stay away from 'chalk and talk'

Anyone else ???

nycchic_24 Posted: Jul 10, 2003 08:43 AM

Re: TEACHERS - Your spotlight! - Take the stage! =)

I forgot to mention that I also act out skits with them whenever possible...if I see that they enjoy a certain book (this past year my class loved all the tomie depaola books) we act it out. We always do a skit for Columbus Day and the best one I have found is the first thanksgiving in full pilgrim and indian costumes. They LOVE it and I notice that they definately get the most out of it!

Remember, my class is preschoolers preparing for K so its a little different for me

swags1016 Posted: Jul 10, 2003 09:09 AM

Re: TEACHERS - Your spotlight! - Take the stage! =)

I am a foreign language teacher. My classroom is always set up as a cooperative learning enviroment. Well, except when there are tests. I have my kids out their seat and moving and touching and living their vocabulary.

When I teach places in the school- Field Trip around the school. (Principal hates it but tough!)
When we do clothing they prepare a fashion show for every season in Spanish. I teach weather they become weather forecasters! We teach sports we act out that sport. When we do health, the kids all act out injuries with ace bandage gauze and all and I make a power point presentation on it.

Ihave lots of toys and props in my classroom. I am not afraid to make an idiot of myself, so that my children can laugh and learn!

My theory learning should never be boring. I am constantly taking pictures of them and using those pictures to help them learn.

I love teaching!! Got a little spark again thinking about it!! Yeah-- ok ready to go back I guess!

joeslauren Posted: Jul 10, 2003 09:28 AM

Re: TEACHERS - Your spotlight! - Take the stage! =)

anna - this is a GREAT thread. i love hearing all this stuff as i am aspiring to be a teacher in the near future as well! excellent job ladies!!

JennRenee Posted: Jul 10, 2003 10:57 AM

Re: TEACHERS - Your spotlight! - Take the stage! =)

I also do a lot of roll playing. It's probably a little different in kindergarten though!

I have an unusual kindergarten class. My children learn from day one that our classroom is a community, and that respect, and accountability for actions are the most important things they can have. By Christmas they are completely self sufficient.