GREAT site on reading current events and differentiated learning:
www.newsela.com
It is free for teachers, and you once you select an article, you can adjust the reading level. There are usually at least 5 reading levels to choose from and it just changes the article. I have used it where I print out several different lexile levels and hand them out to the class. This way, my lower readers don't fall behind!
You can also have your students log onto your classroom profile, where you have already "pinned" certain articles for them to read. They can access it at home and adjust the lexile on their own!
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
Teaching the Bill of Rights and the Amendments
Great opening discussion questions:
1.If the US was being taken over, and the new dictator said you were getting all of your rights taken away except three of the amendments, which would you choose? Why?
..... Make the WHOLE class agree.
2. If you were to come up with a 28th amendment, what would it be?
3. Look at all of the movies you have seen, or any movies for that matter. Come up with scenes that demonstrate the Bill of Rights. For example, in the classic tale of the Little Mermaid- she hands over her voice. A direct infringement on the first amendment. Think of all of the cruel and unusual punishment that is in movies as well. Students are pretty quick at coming up with them.
In class activities:
There are all sorts of scavenger hunt activities out there, giving students a true life scenario and asking them which amendment or article it breaks or supports in the Constitution. It gives the amendments meaning.
Take the School Handbook- have the kids read it (many of them, for the first time in their lives) and have them apply it to the amendments. Which are being "broken?" Which are being upheld? Is the dress code breaking Freedom of Expression? Is the appeals process for suspension upheld by the 5th? A great activity to keep them occupied for a least 45 minutes.
....WHATEVER YOU DO- DON'T MAKE YOUR KIDS MEMORIZE THE AMENDMENTS. The number doesn't matter- what is important that they kids can see how they apply to their own lives and really do matter.
1.If the US was being taken over, and the new dictator said you were getting all of your rights taken away except three of the amendments, which would you choose? Why?
..... Make the WHOLE class agree.
2. If you were to come up with a 28th amendment, what would it be?
3. Look at all of the movies you have seen, or any movies for that matter. Come up with scenes that demonstrate the Bill of Rights. For example, in the classic tale of the Little Mermaid- she hands over her voice. A direct infringement on the first amendment. Think of all of the cruel and unusual punishment that is in movies as well. Students are pretty quick at coming up with them.
In class activities:
There are all sorts of scavenger hunt activities out there, giving students a true life scenario and asking them which amendment or article it breaks or supports in the Constitution. It gives the amendments meaning.
Take the School Handbook- have the kids read it (many of them, for the first time in their lives) and have them apply it to the amendments. Which are being "broken?" Which are being upheld? Is the dress code breaking Freedom of Expression? Is the appeals process for suspension upheld by the 5th? A great activity to keep them occupied for a least 45 minutes.
....WHATEVER YOU DO- DON'T MAKE YOUR KIDS MEMORIZE THE AMENDMENTS. The number doesn't matter- what is important that they kids can see how they apply to their own lives and really do matter.
QR Code Readers
It's a free app at the app stores, and if your district has students with smart phones, this is a great way to include websites or videos for the kids to watch.
All you do is go to www.qrstuff.com and type in your web address. On the right hand side, it forms a QR code. Download the block, and it opens as a PDF. From there, you just copy and paste it right on to your worksheets!
This is great for videos, pictures, websites, and more!
I linked ours to our online textbook for the kids, English teachers: a great link would be to an MLA formatting site, or a Spark Notes character list. Science and Math- formulas, graphs, etc, even procedure lists! Foreign Language: Anything in another language, a translation page, a conjugation page, you name it!
On the job hunt, put it on a resume to connect to your portfolio or classroom website- PROVING you use technology on the job regularly.
All you do is go to www.qrstuff.com and type in your web address. On the right hand side, it forms a QR code. Download the block, and it opens as a PDF. From there, you just copy and paste it right on to your worksheets!
This is great for videos, pictures, websites, and more!
I linked ours to our online textbook for the kids, English teachers: a great link would be to an MLA formatting site, or a Spark Notes character list. Science and Math- formulas, graphs, etc, even procedure lists! Foreign Language: Anything in another language, a translation page, a conjugation page, you name it!
On the job hunt, put it on a resume to connect to your portfolio or classroom website- PROVING you use technology on the job regularly.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Constitution Lessons
This is not mine, I found it on another blog, but wow, was it a life saver.
http://seekoutlearning.blogspot.com/
But specifically:
http://seekoutlearning.blogspot.com/2014/01/21-youtube-videos-that-help-make.html#.UxjoqYXA_C_
It has 21 videos that make the Constitution more interesting.
I'd also check out this documentary on youtube (also available on Netflix): Unconstitutional, the War on Civil Liberties (below)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWMY8GQUjXs
If you have a PBS account, the documentary A More Perfect Union is great as well.
http://seekoutlearning.blogspot.com/
But specifically:
http://seekoutlearning.blogspot.com/2014/01/21-youtube-videos-that-help-make.html#.UxjoqYXA_C_
It has 21 videos that make the Constitution more interesting.
I'd also check out this documentary on youtube (also available on Netflix): Unconstitutional, the War on Civil Liberties (below)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWMY8GQUjXs
If you have a PBS account, the documentary A More Perfect Union is great as well.
Primary Sources
http://avalon.law.yale.edu/subject_menus/19th.asp
AWESOME Primary Sources Site.
They have everything organized from Ancient History through the 21st century, including 5 states' secession letters in the Civil War, tons of treaties, the Athenian Constitution (from back in the day...Ancient History time), and treaties from the 16th century.
It could be interesting to have students compare treaties of the 20th century versus the 16th century. Bet that hits a Common Core Standard (Primary sources, comparisons, perspective, whichever you are looking to cover)!
AWESOME Primary Sources Site.
They have everything organized from Ancient History through the 21st century, including 5 states' secession letters in the Civil War, tons of treaties, the Athenian Constitution (from back in the day...Ancient History time), and treaties from the 16th century.
It could be interesting to have students compare treaties of the 20th century versus the 16th century. Bet that hits a Common Core Standard (Primary sources, comparisons, perspective, whichever you are looking to cover)!
She's a Teacher
Yup, I teach.
Just wanted to chorale all of my ideas in one place.
As I build my resource collection, I don't want to lose anything! I teach Spanish and Social Studies, so most of my stuff will be geared towards those two subjects.
Let's begin with some great quotes. Everyone loves a good quote.
Just wanted to chorale all of my ideas in one place.
As I build my resource collection, I don't want to lose anything! I teach Spanish and Social Studies, so most of my stuff will be geared towards those two subjects.
Let's begin with some great quotes. Everyone loves a good quote.
Teachers-
we're not in it for the income, we're in it for the outcome.
-Well, that's for darn sure.
Everyone smiles in the same language.
- Don't need an ELL endorsement to work with that.
Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
-and it's our job to get ya there, buddy.
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