Classroom Teachers and Students Examples

I would have to say that looking at all the students work on these sites kept me super busy! I got so caught up in some of them that I watched them multiple times to get a feel of how to use the same thing in my classroom one day. My absolute favorite would have to be Arron Tuck’s powerpoint/book, “What do you do with a mouth like this?” The book shows images of many different animal parts and discusses how each one would use that specific body part to protect its young. It was a super fun way to research important material and the students actually retained the information because they had to make something and present it to the class. I also liked how Mrs. Rinehart incorporated poetry into her classroom by starting each week out with a poem discussing the weekly topic. She then formed her lessons around the poem which was extremely creative! She stated that she used, Wikimedia Commons, which is media to inspire poetry. I checked out the site and it was really neat and had a million of pictures to choose from! Her poems also helped to incorporate the weekly sparkle words she wanted her students to learn. I also like Mrs. Cassidy’s blog because it was a great way to keep everyone involved and informed from the students and parents to other teachers and the community. I really learned a lot from these informational sites and examples and I hope that I to can come up with some creative ideas to use text in every subject to teach. I also what to have a class blog or facebook page just to keep everyone informed and to show the growth of my students!

Informational Sites

I really liked the informational sites for teachers because everything was laid out in a manner that made sense and was actually helpful. I also liked that the majority of the sites listed below many additional resources that could be used within the teachings to learn more about the topic, this also let you know that the site was well researched and a good site to use within the classroom. My favorite site was the one about all the different animals because even I learned something new off of it! For instance, who knows what an Emus is? Well, I do now! The site also had pictures of each animal, other names they may be called, their living conditions, their way of life, their habitat and much, much more. The page had both in depth vocabulary discussions and then a fun facts page that just gave you quick, need to know information. This site would also be a great one to use the “Who am I riddle booklet,” where the kids make a tri-fold as a fun way to capture research and teach others as well. I also really liked the site about the life cycles of plants because it had a whole link of pages that could be used as activities for your students while you teach the topic. I believe that all of these informational sites would be great to have available within the classroom because they are easy to use and understand and are great visual aids for learning.

Pirate Flag

Pirate Diary Retrieval Chart

Pirate Diary Retrieval Chart

Pirate Diary Poem: Oh, What will you see?

Aboard a pirate ship

Oh, what will you see?

How about a crew full of men looking out to sea.

Aboard a pirate ship

Oh, what will you see?

How about a rat bigger than me.

Aboard a pirate ship

Oh, what will you see?

How about food that t is way past its day.

Aboard a pirate ship

Oh, what will you see?

How about a whale that crashes on me.

Aboard a pirate ship

Oh, what will you see?

How about missing treasure that brings about dreams.

Aboard a pirate ship

Oh, what will you see?

How about men being flung into sea.

Aboard a pirate ship

Oh, what will you see?

How about an abundance of water for as far as you can see.

Aboard a pirate ship

Oh, what will you see?

How about a pirate thats just like me.

Pirate Articles

I really enjoyed reading the articles because it showed me ideas that will help me draw in my students attention and comprehension when doing a social studies unit. I completely agree with the fact that usuing a fictional story book along with a nonfictional story book will help teach the lesson, because the fictional story could be about a 8 year old boy’s life during piracy and the students could relate to, connect with the character and the storyline; putting themselves in his shoes. I also like how some of the fictional books have “notes to the reader” to tell nothing but the facts about the true event in which the story mocks. I also really liked the KWL technique and hope to use it a lot in my own teachings. I believe it helps students organize their thoughts, gain interest in the topic and teaches them responsibility.

I also really enjoyed reading about different activities you can use for a lesson on pirates. My favorite was making the wanted poster for a specific pirate. I believe this would be a great way for students to do research, learn important information and explore their creativity. It would also pave the way for a group discussion and presentations that will catch the students attention. I thought the pirate diary was a neat idea as well. I would have my students write an entry a week about an even we were learning about, for instance, if we were learning about shipwrecks that week their entry would be about them being on a boat that was about to wreck.

 

 

Because of Winn-Dixie Poem

Young and Loving

I am Opal, young and loving
I am confused about my mother
I am afraid of losing another
I love my dog like no other
I love my dad even though he makes me sad
I am Opal, young and loving
I may judge to quickly but then learn to see clearly
I wish to make more friends
I hope to find my mother
I never dream of finding another
I am Opal, young and loving
I hope for happy days
I dream of answers about my life
I wonder how my dog brightens my life
I love to be strong
I fear to look weak
I protect those I love
I am Opal, young and loving

Word Wizard

1. Exception pg. 15 paragraph: 1

I was what the Friendly Corners Trailer Park manager, Mr. Alfred, called “an exception.”

Definition: A special case where one rule does not include a specific person or thing like it does with another thing or person. (noun)

2. Missionary pg. 13 paragraph: 1

Before I was born, he was a missionary in India and that is how I got my first name.

Definition: A religious person who travels to spread the word of God to non-believers or to strengthen one’s faith. (noun)

3. Pathological pg. 75 paragraph: 5

“Do you know what a pathological fear is?”

Definition: A behavior that occurs no matter what if a certain situation happens; it is habitual and repetitive. (adjective)

4. Melancholy pg. 121 paragraph: 9

“It almost tastes a little melancholy,” he said.

Definition: Something that is or brings sadness and is gloomy. (adjective) 

5. Constellations pg. 28 paragraph: 2

She knew all the constellations, every planet in the nighttime sky.

Definition: A formation or cluster of stars. (noun)

Character Traits- Because of Winn Dixie

Gloria Dump

1. Trait: Wise pg. 66 paragraph: 1

Gloria dump wants Opal to tell her everything about herself, so she can see her with her heart. She is nearly blind, yet she knows not to judge a book by its cover. It’s within the heart and where the people are now in their life is what matters.

2. Trait: Pleasant pg. 69 paragraph: 1

Gloria listens to Opal and sympathizes with her and even helps her with her problems within herself. Gloria is always trying to make Opal feel better and has a peanut butter sandwich ready when she comes to visit. Opal trusted her because she was such a good listener and seemed to truly care about their friendship.

3. Trait: Tolerant pg. 68 paragraph: 1

Gloria had to tolerate Dunlap and Stevie Dewberry calling her a witch and everyone being scared to enter her Gloria had to tolerate Dunlap and Stevie Dewberry calling her a witch and everyone being scared to enter her yard.

 

• Character goal: Gloria Dump wants the children to not be afraid of her and see that she is not a witch, so she can have more visitors and build friendships.
• Problem: The bottles in her tree clank back and forth making the children fear that Mrs. Dump, the witch, is turning children into little toads.
• Solution: Gloria Dump makes friends with Opal and sends her out to invite people to a party and all the neighborhood children attend to see that Mrs. Dump is nothing but a sweet, old lady who has glass bottles hanging from her tree to keep her from stirring back to the past.

Discussion Director- Because of Winn Dixie

1. Why do you think it is easier to be friends and trust in a pet rather than a person?
I feel it is easier to be friends with a pet because a pet cannot physically talk back and judge you for what you say. A pet has to listen to you and brings you comfort in times of need, just be being there and standing beside you. People like to talk back, judge others quickly and put their two cents in and sometimes people don’t truly listen and it’s hard to feel that complete connection like with a pet.
2. What does Opal learn about friendship?
Opal learns that you have to reach out to people and place yourselves in their shoes before you can truly get to know someone. You can’t judge a cover by what you see; you have to make judgments based on their heart. She also learned to give people a chance and open up her heart to friendship. She also learned that friendship can form between people of all ages and animals.

3. In what ways did Opal think that she and Winn-Dixie were alike?
Opal felt like they were both orphaned because nobody wanted Winn-Dixie and her mother had left her and her father was so consumed with preaching that he hardly had time for anything else, including her.

4. At the end of the book, Opal imagined that she is speaking to her mother and says, “I miss you, but my heart doesn’t feel empty anymore. It’s full all the way up.” What does Opal mean and why have her feelings changed?
Opal will always miss her mother simply because she is her mother and she wants to have that special bond with her, but her heart is not empty anymore because she has filled the whole with new friends and love for others.

5. What do you think Opal meant by saying that life was like a Littmus Lozenge and the sweet and sad were all mixed up together and it was hard to separate?
I think Opal meant that life was full of sadness and happiness and it is hard to be completely happy sometimes because so much hurt is holding you back; but you have to learn to live with the pain so you can reach the sweetness of life.