Thursday, November 17, 2016

Week of November 17

                Thursday Thoughts November 17




As we prepare for Thanksgiving and some much needed time off, I would like to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the love and dedication that you give our students every day.   You make numerous sacrifices to do this work and it often goes unnoticed.  You give the best of yourself and your time.  Many times this comes at the expense of your personal and family time.  It is my hope that you will spend the upcoming week reconnecting with loved ones and carving out a little time for yourself.  While your work at Medlock is significant,  the most important work you will ever do is for your family, within your own home.  I am so thankful for each of you and hope that you have a blessed Thanksgiving!




Staff Spotlight
This week I would like to shine the spotlight on Jennifer Briskin.  Jennifer is more than just our school psychologist.  She has become a tremendous resource and support for teachers and admin alike.  You will often see her helping us with difficult students.  She offers to lead parent information sessions and makes herself available for SST meetings whenever called upon.  She has embraced our PBIS efforts and works tirelessly to ensure that we focus on students' social-emotional needs.  While Jennifer is only with us part time, she is fully committed to Medlock in every way.  Jennifer, thank you for the work that you do with our students and teachers.  We appreciate you!



Thanksgiving Comics



Image result for thanksgiving comics funny



Image result for thanksgiving comics funny


Image result for thanksgiving comics funny

  

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Week of November 10


            Thursday Thoughts November 10




I think we all knew that no matter the outcome of the election, there would be a segment of our country who would be extremely dissatisfied.  It appears that many people put their trust and hope in one political party or the other.  Instead of second guessing any political outcome, I choose to focus my efforts on influencing our greatest national treasure, our children.  As an educator, I have the opportunity every day to influence a future generation of teachers, doctors, lawyers, judges, politicians and quite possibly a U.S. president.  I have the ability to model civility, tolerance, honesty, and trustworthiness.  I find it awe inspiring that I can help shape and mold young people who I might just cast a vote for one day.  As we move forward in the days and weeks ahead, let us not focus on the present state of politics or what our government has or has not done for us.  Let us leave a positive and lasting imprint on those who will one day lead our country.  




Staff Spotlight
This week I would like to shine the spotlight on Pam Johnson.  Pam has been working hard to create a nurturing and engaging classroom environment for her students.  She has a positive attitude and truly exemplifies what it means to be a team player among her grade level.  Pam is always trying to find the bright side of a difficult situation and keep her team encouraged.  Because she has prior experience as a 2nd grade teacher, she can easily work with the advanced kindergarten students.  She seeks ways to enrich the curriculum and challenge students.  She has embraced STEM opportunities and is a cheerleader for PBL.  Pam's grade level can depend on her to take on any task at any time without complaint.  She has been a member of the Medlock Bridge Team for quite a few years, however each year she seeks to learn more and hone her craft.  Pam we thank you for your dedication to your students, your team and our school as a whole.




8 Strategies to Keep Informational Reading Fun
                    By John Spencer
               Edutopia April 2 2015


One of the biggest complaints I hear about Common Core is the push toward informational texts. This is often accompanied by the complaint that we are no longer allowing students to read for the sake of reading. Just yesterday, a teacher said to me, "I wish we could read novels. With all these informational texts, kids are losing the love of reading."
Minutes later, I went to Facebook and noticed my friends sharing articles. I hopped on Twitter and noticed the same trend. They weren't just sharing the articles, either. They were geeking out on the ideas. We are naturally inclined to find information fascinating -- to the point that we have to share it out to the world. Nobody on Facebook is getting a grade for it. They're sharing an article because they found it relevant.
As a classroom teacher, I want to see that same level of excitement as students engage with informational texts. The following are eight strategies to make informational reading fun again.

1. Student Choice

When I first taught reading, I allowed students to choose novels during silent reading time. I made a huge deal out of the genres that were available. I asked students to develop a personal taste. However, I didn't allow students to select their own informational texts. This was odd, given the fact that every student had at least one interest that he or she was passionate about. If I had simply asked, "What information do you want to find?" rather than "What do you want to read?", I would have been able to help students fall in love with informational texts. Now, as a journalism teacher, I begin with student choice and the natural desire to find information.

2. Think More and Work Less

Often when a student gets frustrated with informational reading, it has less to do with reading and more to do with the work required. When students read one page and answer nine text-dependent questions, they get frustrated by the work. When teachers ask students to practice strategies mentally (such as thinking about clarifying questions rather than actually writing the questions), students spend more time reading. This, in turn, leads to reading endurance.

3. Keep the Strategies Flexible

Close reading isn't a bad thing. However, too often close reading becomes a lockstep procedure rather than a flexible strategy. Students focus on whether they are doing the process correctly instead of thinking about the information in the text. I've seen students stare at a poster worrying about what color they are supposed to use when highlighting a text rather than thinking about the accuracy of information and the bias of the source.

4. Personalized Practice

Informational reading becomes more fun when students feel like they are improving as readers. This is why I ask students to look at the standards to identify which areas they have mastered and which areas still require improvement. Before reading, students select two strategies that are strengths and one that is a weakness. Instead of the hurried, frantic race of a pacing guide, students are given the time to practice a reading strategy until they have mastered it.

5. Solve a Problem

Outside of the classroom, one of the most common motives for seeking out an informational text is the desire to solve a problem. Too often, though, students are simply answering text-dependent questions that do little more than test comprehension. What if we started informational reading with student inquiry? What if we allowed students to see informational texts as an integrated part of research? When this happens, informational texts become challenging and relevant to an actual context. That, in turn, makes the task of reading fun again.

6. Make Something

One of the best parts of teaching photojournalism is that students get a chance to use the information for making something new. This could be research for a podcast, facts for a video, or information for an article and editorial. Similarly, when I taught all subjects in a self-contained class, students often read informational texts as an integrated part of project-based learning. The reading remained fun because it was a vital part of what they were creating.

7. Embrace Technology

Too often, students are asked to read informational texts in a way that doesn't reflect the current context of our world. They highlight photocopied articles or take notes on textbook chapters. When teachers embrace technology, students can find more specific informational texts that fit their interests.

8. Don't Shy Away From the Conflict

Teachers do a disservice to students when they treat information as inherently neutral. Informational reading becomes fun when students see the conflict inherent in any informational text. They should be examining the bias of the language and analyzing the social, political, and economic forces at work in an author's argument. As they think critically about the conflict in a source, students see informational reading as the inherently dangerous act that it is.
There is no guarantee that every student will love every text. However, I have found that these eight strategies have helped students regain the inherent love of informational reading.

                    

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Week of November 3

                  Thursday Thoughts November 3




I am a political junkie, however I am not one to participate in discussions about politics.  I find it to be a very personal subject and quite frankly one that can get ugly real quick.  I don't think anyone can dispute that this election cycle has been exhausting.  I must say that I am looking forward to next Tuesday and hopefully the end of a very long political season.  Despite how I feel about the process, I would never take for granted the privilege that I have been given to cast my vote.  I think about people who live in some countries where democracy is not an option.  They would probably give anything to participate in a free election.  There are also people like Karen Cooke who have been out of their native country for so long that they can't vote there.  However, they are not a U.S. citizen so they can't vote here either.  Lastly I am reminded of my relatives (some are still living) who were denied the right to vote. I have heard firsthand accounts from my grandfather about serving in the military of a country that wouldn't allow him to vote.  At 94 years of age, he makes a point to get to the polls to exercise his once denied right.  Even if I am dissatisfied with the characteristics of the candidates, I understand that not voting is essentially still a vote.  I am proud to say that I participated in early voting this year and I encourage all who are eligible to get to the polls on Tuesday.  If for no other reason, vote because you live in a country that gives you the right to do so.



Staff Spotlight
This week I would like to shine the spotlight on Matt Rogers.  By now I am sure that you have taken your class to PE and seen the transformation of the gym into a haunted (but not scary) maze of fun.  His attention to the design and planning of the games and activities in PE is second to none.  In fact, he was recently contacted by Georgia Public Broadcasting because they want to highlight the innovative way that he integrates math into his PE games.  In a time where emphasis has been placed on leaving no child behind, Matt has been dedicated to making sure that no child is left on their behind (Matt's own words).  In addition, we can always count on Matt to facilitate the best fun run and field day events.   I appreciate Matt's creativity and desire to provide the highest quality physical education program possible.  Be sure to check out some of his amazing activities on Twitter @mygymlocker.





Scholastic’s Best Kept Secrets: 15 Free Resources to Use Now!

By Genia Connell on January 20, 2016


A red graphic image has the words, 15 FREE Scholasti Resources to Use Now across


Honestly, I've always liked to think of myself as a super-user of Scholastic's website. I've been using it a long time — think waiting for the screeching America Online dial-up long time. That's why, two years ago when I was sitting in an auditorium at Scholastic's New York headquarters listening to my friend give a presentation to new teachers on all eScholastic has to offer, I felt a little embarrassed. I didn't know some of the resources she was talking about!
I started scribbling down notes on resource after resource. Some I had used but forgotten about, while others were brand new to me. I began thinking that if I didn't know about many of the resources (and I'm on the site nearly every day), there were probably others who would benefit from hearing about them for the first time, or perhaps being reminded of all Scholastic.com has to offer.
The resources below are perfect to put into your lesson plans right away and are guaranteed to save you planning time when you insert them into your sub plans. So this week I'm happy to share with you a post that was conceived two years ago in that auditorium. I hope you will be as excited about some of the resources as I am!

 

1. Character Scrapbook

This reading response resource can easily be used to teach character traits or help a student delve deeper into any character — human or animal — from a fiction or nonfiction book. The scrapbook page can be saved and printed. These are also whiteboard-ready and can be done with the whole group. I've had students add their scrapbook pages to their reading response binders. 
Additional Resources: 
Character ScrapbookScholastic's Free Character Scrapbook


 

2. StudyJams! Interactive Math and Science Activities

I have no good reason for forgetting to use Study Jams! with my students — I wrote the scripts for 14 of the lessons! But still, I often forget to add them to my plans when I'm introducing new language and concepts, and only seem to remember them when I need a sure-fire way to make a challenging concept clearer. Use these short, engaging, interactive videos to help make difficult ideas in math and science easier for your students to understand. 
Additional Resources:
Study Jams
Study Jams Free Resource


 

3. Flashlight Readers

Flashlight Readers is an interactive literacy experience. Regardless of whether your students are reading any of the many popular titles, the activities are fun and compelling, inviting students to, "Go inside your favorite books." These are also great to add to a class website because if your students are like mine, they will want to use these activities much longer than class time allows!
Flashlight readersFlashlight Readers Winn Dixie

Books Featured in Flashlight Readers

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamilloHoot by Carl Hiaasen
Charlotte's Web by E. B. WhiteEsperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
A Dog's Life by Ann M. MartinInkheart by Cornelia Funke
Holes by Louis SacharThe Underland Chronicles by Suzanne Collins
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian SelznickAuthor Blue Balliett
Additional Resources:


 

4. Word Workshop

If you are looking for a go-to resource for making word walls, name tags, labels for book boxes and containers, or just about anything else that you want printed with an attractive border and font, then Word Workshop is for you! You can print cards in different sizes including half-page, whole page, and Avery-sized labels. I was at the Scholastic booths at ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) and NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) and was surprised that with all the high-tech things out there, it was the Word Workshop that was getting all the love! Once you visit the site, bookmark it! This is one of those resources I sometimes forget about after the start of the school year when the greatest amount of labeling happens in my room. Try it, you'll like it!
Additional Resources:
word workshop
Word Workshop Free Label MakerWord Workshop Free Label Maker


 

5. Planning Calendar

Scholastic offers a full month of linked, timely resources for every month of the year. This calendar is great for planning ahead or to find special events to share with students such as historical dates and author birthdays. You can even print each month to keep this resource at your fingertips.
Scholastic's Free Printable Planning CalendarScholastic's Free Printable Planning Calendar


 

6. Story Starters

Banish writer's block forever with this fun tool that offers up hundreds of different scenarios for students to write about. It's easy to use, whiteboard ready, and available on iPads. Choose your grade level and the genre you would like, pull the lever, and wait for your writing prompt to appear.  
Kids love when prompts like, Write an email to a forgetful sorcerer whose bracelet has magic powersappear. These can be done by individual students or on a whiteboard with a whole class writing to the same prompt.
Interactive Story StarterInteractive Story Starter
Additional Resources


 

7. Poetry Idea Engine

Poetry Idea Engine is a part of the Writing with Writers series, but it deserves a special shout-out of its own. The Poetry Engine guides students through writing four different styles of poetry: haikus, cinquain, limericks, and free verse. Clear, line-by-line directions and fill-in-the-blank examples with this interactive poem builder will quickly help your students become experts at each style. 
Poetry Idea EnginePoetry Idea Engine
Poetry Idea EnginePoetry Engine



 

8. Virtual Field Trips

With Scholastic's Virtual Field Trips teachers can take their students to learn about faraway places and get a firsthand look at history all from the comfort of their classroom. While Scholastic's First Thanksgiving virtual field trip isn't a well-kept secret (it's one of the most trafficked areas of the site), you may not know that there are other virtual field trips your class can take part in: 
Virtual Field Trip to Ellis Island

Additional Resources:


 

9. Free Printables

While I love my all-access subscription to Printables and think it's worth every penny, I realize the budget or the situation doesn't always allow for extras. Kudos to Scholastic for offering a very generous number of their printables for free. Look for each month's free p
rintables in your Scholastic newsletter emailed to your inbox each month and be sure to try the dozens of free printables linked in the resource list below. 
Free Printable Resources:
If you like the Scholastic Teachers Facebook page, you'll also find all sorts of free reproducibles delivered right to your newsfeed nearly every day.
Freebies on Scholastic's Teacher Facebook page
My favorite find on the Facebook newsfeed last week was the link to the set of 40 quotes free to print and hang in the classroom. Thanks, Scholastic!
40 Free Printable Quotes for Your Classroom


 

10. Writing With Writers Free Writing Workshops

Created with upper-elementary students in mind, this set of lessons includes writing tutorials from expert authors. Students can learn how to write myths with Jane Yolen, poetry with Jack Prelutsky, and mysteries with Joan Lowery Nixon just to name a few.
Workshops covered:
Writing with Writers
Writing Workshop on Poetry with Jack PrelutskyWriting with Writers Student workshops


 

11. Everything You Need — Resources

Think of any topic you want your students to learn more about and Scholastic has probably put everything you need all in one spot for you. There are nearly 100 topics covered. In the Everything You Need collection, you'll find lesson plans, crafts, articles, book lists, and more. You can see them all here and check out just a few below: 
Everything You Need Resources for dozens of topics


 

12. Computer Lab Favorites

Scholastic's Computer Lab Favorites is an area of their site where you will find more than 50 no-prep needed activities for student enrichment in language arts, math, science, social studies, and Spanish. Many are also compatible with interactive whiteboards. 
Computer Lab Favorites

12.5 Interactive Whiteboard Activities

Scholastic has taken some of their best activities and formatted them to work on your interactive whiteboard. Activities are designed for SMART, Promethean, Mimio, and other brands of boards. 
Free Whiteboard Activities


 

13. Daily Starters

This is another one of those things that I used regularly a few years ago, then stopped for no real reason. I've started using Daily Starters again this year, and I've found many more uses for them than just morning work! See my post "Daily Starters to the Rescue" which includes ideas and links to teacher guides for all grade levels. 
Daily Starters



 

14. Professional Development Videos and Podcasts

With budgets being slashed, it's often not easy to have access to quality professional development, that's why I was thrilled to discover that Scholastic offers professional development from many experts in education. Watch videos and listen to podcasts from authors such as Pam Allyn, Ruth Culham, Laura Robb, and Jeff Wilhelm. Our district has even provided professional development hours for taking part in Scholastic's podcasts. 
Scholastic Free Professional Development

 



 

15. Freebie Corner

The name alone, Freebie Corner, is enough to appeal to me. Here, you'll find student contests, sweepstakes, free resources, and lesson plans for all grades.
Freebie Corner Free Resources for Teachers

Hopefully this post will have helped you discover a new resource you can use in your classroom or even remind you of a forgotten favorite. I know there are still more parts of the website that deserve to be recognized. If you have a favorite, free Scholastic resource, please share it in the comment section below!