Instructor (1990) articles from August 2005

Instructor (1990) archives from August 2005

Standards.
August 1, 2005... Use this at-a-glance guide to help meet the standards in every subject area. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] READING AND WRITING Gr. K-2 Body-Building Alphabet Knows letters of the alphabet Page 57 Gr. K-2 Puppet Play Tells...

Time for a fresh start.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... If you are like most teachers, it doesn't get any better than back-to-school: fresh faces, new lessons to teach, and with any luck, renewed energy to meet the amazing challenges of the profession. At Instructor, we feel the same way--we have a...

We visited schools in nine states.(INSTRUCTOR ON THE GO)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
August 1, 2005... As the staff prepared to launch a new look for our magazine, we talked to the experts: our readers. We spent the late spring and summer checking in with many of you--visiting schools, going to conferences, and inviting teachers in to visit us....

Full shelves.(your say)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... In your May/June 2005 reading issue, you asked readers to write in with their "secrets for teaching reading." The best way to get kids to read is to share all kinds of books with your students. My classroom library is packed with many different...

Teacher challenge.(your say)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... Here's an idea to share with your readers. My students struggle with problems requiring higher thinking skills: extracting main ideas, solving problems, and coming to logical conclusions. Now we have a daily 10-minute competition: my class...

No secrets.(your say)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... There are no secrets for teaching children how to read. Teachers who do not know how to teach reading should be directed to the National Reading Panel report of April 2000. There are five important components to teaching reading: phonemic...

Middle school matters.(your say)(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... I would like to see more articles and activities for teachers of middle school in your magazine. I think highly of Scholastic and Instructor, and we teachers in the upper grades need ideas also!--Chrissie Long, via e-mail Editors: We hear...

Timely timesavers.(Letter to the Editor)
August 1, 2005... Your most useful articles in Instructor deal with saving time. We really appreciate that. Teachers aren't given nearly enough time to spend in their classrooms to plan and catch up. --Maureen Eliasson, Collegeville, PA E-MAIL US AT...

For Karen King, teaching means reaching out.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... When Connecticut teacher Karen King volunteered in Haiti this past spring, she saw firsthand the poverty faced by children in this small island country. These children have so many needs, she thought, why not start from the ground up? With her...

What you can do to get your students thinking globally.(Teaching methods)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... * GET STARTED: First figure out what you care about. "When you have a passion about something, it's obvious to the children. Anything you feel is contagious," says Karen King. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * FOCUS YOUR PROJECT: Rather than...

Tweens & tech.(Technnological needs of Middle-Schoolers)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Young teens are as particular about their technology as they are about their clothes. One way to appeal to middle-schoolers is to hit them where they live: in the world of cell phones, iPods, and digital cameras. "Tweens and teens tend to have...

A modern-day superhero.(Sha Xianjing saved more than 20 children)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Sha Xianjing, a Chinese teacher at Shalan Central Primary School in northeastern China, discovered some previously unknown strengths when a mountain torrent swept through her school in June. Xianjing made her 10-year-old students stand on their...

From sweeping to teaching.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Eight years ago, Charles Fredes-Williams was in charge of waxing the floors at Garfield Elementary School in Phoenix. In September, he'll be walking those floors again--this time as a sixth-grade teacher. While serving as the custodian,...

From homeroom star to rock star.(teachers' lounge)
August 1, 2005... Who knew these celebs once stood in your shoes? Here's what they say about their former jobs. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sting taught English. "As an entertainer, I feel as if I'm doing virtually the same job. You can't ask people to...

School spending: Springfield, USA.(teachers' lounge )(Illustration)
August 1, 2005... SCHOOL SPENDING: SPRINGFIELD, USA SPRINGFIELD, VT $13,878 SPRINGFIELD, MA $13,088 SPRINGFIELD, IL $9,100 SPRINGFIELD, CO $7,393 SPRINGFIELD, MO $7,200 Source: National Center for Education Statistics' total expenditures...

A conversation about tutoring: straight talk about the Sylvan Learning Center method.(Interview)
August 1, 2005... With Richard E. Bavaria, Ph.D., Vice President of Education, Sylvan Learning Center Dr. Richard Bavaria answers educators' frequently asked questions about the Sylvan Learning Center method. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Q. What is the...

Stack it, file it, rack it: 6 great storage solutions.(products we love)
August 1, 2005... TRAY OF FUN, ALL-IN-ONE Crayola's Twistables, Washable Markers, and Colored Pencils come with their own handy storage unit: the Trayola. www.crayola.com; $12.99 and up. A BALL FOR YOUR WALL The steel frame and colorful balls of...

Share your thoughts wiki-style.(classroom tech)(blogs, easy-to-create Web sites)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... You've undoubtedly heard about blogs, those easy-to-create Web sites where people post their thoughts for the world to read, but you may not be as familiar with wikis--the latest craze embraced by Web-savvy teachers. A wiki, which is Hawaiian...

4 creative ways to use a graphing calculator.(classroom tech)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... 1 Draw Pictures. Students can use a pencil to draw a picture on graphing paper and then recreate it on the calculator by entering ordered pairs. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 2 Learn Vocabulary. With StudyCards (free, downloadable software at...

Meet tomorrow's Web designers.(classroom tech)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... They've designed Web sites for a church, a daycare center, and a bike shop. For the past two years, fifth graders at the Lincoln Avenue Academy in Lakeland, Florida, have participated in a program called Community Tech, where they design Web...

Q & A real advice.
August 1, 2005... Q: I want my fifth graders to feel that writing really matters to them. What can I do to jazz up my writing assignments? A: Here's a fresh idea from Beverly Drill, a colleague of mine who teaches fifth grade in Hawaii. "I asked local...

7 just-right books for back-to-school.(books we love)(Brief Article)(Bibliography)
August 1, 2005... Ziggy's Blue Ribbon Day (PreK-2) By Claudia Mills. Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2005; 32 pages; $16. Celebrate unique talents with a sweet tale of a klutzy kid who earns the respect of his sports-minded classmates. Think Big! (PreK-2) ...

Online courses.(free stuff)
August 1, 2005... Find need-to-know tips on differentiated instruction, classroom discipline, and test prep from master educators in quick, free sessions from Curriculum Associates. HERE'S HOW: Go to www.catraining.com.

School supplies.(free stuff)
August 1, 2005... Visit Staples on their Teacher Appreciation Day (dates vary by location) to receive $25 worth of fun goods. HERE'S HOW: Go to www.staples.com to find a participating store.

Awesome art posters.(free stuff)
August 1, 2005... Get your free art and architecture posters from the National Educational Travel Council, including a gorgeous shot of the Roman Coliseum. HERE'S HOW: Call 1-800-771-2323.

Healthful curriculum.(free stuff)
August 1, 2005... Sign up for Coca-Cola's new Live It! health campaign for middle schoolers. You'll receive free posters, activity cards, and stepometers for each student. HERE'S HOW: Send your favorite administrator to www.yourpowertochoose.com.

Classroom staples.(free stuff)
August 1, 2005... Turn in the ink cartridges your computer lab goes through by the dozens, and earn cool merchandise like DVD players and school furniture. HERE'S HOW: Sign up for Cartridges for Education at www.hamilton electronics.com.

Marvelous markers.(free stuff)
August 1, 2005... Snag Crayola samples and coupons. HERE'S HOW: Head to www.crayola.com/overwriters.

Deadlines to watch.(free stuff)
August 1, 2005... 8/15 GRABLE-CURTIS RURAL TEACHER GRANTS: $500 allowances to projects that promote cultural awareness www.nationalgeographic.com/education. 9/15 EZRA JACK KEATS MINI-GRANTS: Annual library awards to support literacy and creativity...

Go global.(contests and more)
August 1, 2005... Make the most out of the World Wide Web! Team your kids with students from across the globe to create a collaborative Web site on any topic. PRIZES: The schools behind four winning sites will earn cash awards and trophies. DEADLINE: Sign up by...

Renovate your room.(contests and more)
August 1, 2005... Flourescent lighting got you down? Perk up by entering the EXPO Markers Classroom Makeover Contest! Have kids in grades 4-8 write 100 words or less on how you make teaching fun. PRIZES: Five winners will receive a $10,000 classroom makeover and...

Clean your community.(contests and more)
August 1, 2005... Have your students helped to tackle area vandalism? Celebrate their efforts by nominating them for a Keep America Beautiful Graffiti Hurts National Award. PRIZES: Three winners will earn cash awards. DEADLINE: September 16, 2005 HERE'S HOW: Go...

Bag bargain books.
August 1, 2005... It can be tough to make it to the bookstore. DedicatedTeacher.com makes it easier by offering 4,000 supplemental teaching resources online. PRIZES: Use coupon code SCH367 to receive a 10% discount. Plus 10 Instructor code users will win a $25...

Milk jug Animals.(Teaching methods)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... After reading Eric Carle's Animals, Animals (Philomel, 1989), I invite my students to recreate the book's characters using empty milk jugs, acrylic paint, and felt noses, ears, and tails. The children's eyes light up when they see their...

Classroom stars.(Student attracting techniques)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Second-grade teacher Kimberly Ashbaugh of Edison, NJ, writes: My beginning-of-the-year bulletin board has a Broadway theme. I create a stage, using red fabric for the curtain and gold tassels for ties, and attach a Broadway show-style marquee....

A photo welcome.(welcomes students and visitors in a photogenic way)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... First-grade teacher Ann Marie Stephens of Manassas, VA, welcomes students and visitors in a photogenic way. She explains: I take photos of the word "welcome" spelled out with candy, cookies, or toys on a background of sand. I enlarge the photos...

Teddy bear sleepover.(Teaching Techniques)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... As a language arts lesson, Debra Wolf from McKee Elementary in Oakdale, PA, writes: Every year, I host a teddy bear "sleepover" in my classroom. I start by asking my students to bring in their teddy bears and write about them, describing the...

Race car math.(Student Encouraging Methods)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Eighth-grade teacher Kathryn Spivey of Waldorf, MD, uses geometry to put her students in the Winner's Circle: At the start of the NASCAR season, I created a unit that incorporates geometry skills and word problems based on real numbers from the...

Good behavior graph.(Teaching methods)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Margaret Kinn, a teacher at Chicago's Richard Wright Elementary School, brings out the best in her students: To encourage good classroom behavior, I divide my class into teams and hand out marbles for positive behavior. At the end of each day,...

Helping hands.(To promote equal classroom contribution)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... To promote equal classroom contribution, Dawn M. Carroll of Orchard Park, NY, shares: I've found a great way to choose students for reading or doing classroom jobs. At the beginning of the year, I glue cut-out handprints to craft sticks and...

Future self-portraits.(Teaching Methods)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Fourth-grade teacher Donna Hall, of Central Elementary School in St. Louis, shares: To display students' future dreams, have them draw a self-portrait showing what they want to be when they grow up. Ask them to write their name and future...

Pharaoh party.(Ancient civilizations teaching methods)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Third-grade teacher Gerry Vidas of Port Charlotte, FL, writes: During a unit on ancient civilizations, my third graders learned about Egyptian customs of long ago by dressing as pharaohs. They played a mummy game in which they wrapped toilet...

No Homework Club.(Jill Horn's teaching methods)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Jill Horn of Morrison, IL, likes to use motivational incentives: My class and I have a No Homework Club. If a student keeps an average of 90 percent or higher on tests and quizzes, she or he doesn't have to hand in homework. I keep a running...

Substitute's bag of tricks.(Instructing methods)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Susan Gutterson Ansanelli from Kerhonkson, NY, writes: As a substitute teacher you need to have a bag of tricks at the ready! I photocopy and share contest information from the Internet, Instructor, and other sources. I also hand out word...

Test detective.(reading comprehension tests)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Second-grade teacher Janet Bolus from Fountain City Elementary Development School in Knoxville, TN, writes: Before my students answer the questions on reading comprehension tests, I ask them to get out their highlighter pens. As they read a...

Name phonics.(Pronunciation methods)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Jaci Krogh of St. Paul, MN, shares her tip on taking the fright out of name pronunciation: To help me learn how to pronounce students' names correctly, I ask them to write the names phonetically. First, we review vowel sounds and use the...

A penny for your (historical) thoughts.(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Brenda Wilder of Dallas, TX, creates keepsakes with her fourth-graders: I ask students to begin collecting pennies--one minted for every year they've been alive. For every penny they collect, students must choose an important event that...

Poetry appreciation day.(Diamond Hill Elementary )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Elizabeth W. Cannon and Kathy Stevenson of Diamond Hill Elementary in Abbeville, SC, share their inventive idea: We work hard on our poetry collections and culminate with a "Coffee House" format for oral presentations of each student's favorite...

Guest readers.(Michael Blanchard's Teaching Services)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Michael Blanchard, a second-grade teacher from Union Elementary in Rutherford, NJ, encourages parent participation: Each week I invite a student's parent or grandparent to come into school for about 30 minutes to read a picture book to our...

Fishy "fossil" prints.(kindergartners made fish fossil prints using real fish)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Our kindergartners made fish fossil prints using real fish. As part of their ocean unit, the children learned about fins, tails, and scales. Then they saw what fish really look like. To make prints, they painted one side of the fish and placed...

How do you use alphabet books?(idea swap)
August 1, 2005... * WORD WALLS: I use them to help generate words for our word wall to use in writing.--Ellen Giunchigliani, Rohnert Park, CA [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * LETTER LEAVES: We use alphabet books as inspiration to create alphabet trees, which...

10 ways to ... decorate your classroom: get your class involved and watch the community feeling bloom.
August 1, 2005... Recruit the best decorating corps you have for this year's classroom makeover--your students! Not only does involving kids save money and effort on your part, teachers agree that it increases kids' sense of involvement and respect. Try these 10...

Build a bully-free classroom: stay-cool strategies to teach your students (and yourself!).(best practice)
August 1, 2005... If you could create a wish list for the new school year, what would be at the top? For most teachers, more important than supplies and a spacious classroom is a happy learning environment in which each child feels welcome and safe. That's why...

The hidden lives of middle schoolers: what's really going on in the minds of middle schoolers? Instructor talks to Linda Perlstein, who spent a year finding out.(tough topic)(Interview)
August 1, 2005... Bullying, drug use, sex--curious about whether or not these news-making trends describe your middle school students? And if so, how do they affect your classroom? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We asked Linda Perlstein, a reporter who spent a...

Jasper Johns: Flag.(classroom poster)
August 1, 2005... POP ART Johns helped to lay the groundwork for Pop Art, a 20th century movement that used images from advertising, newspapers, and popular culture. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COUNT THE STARS When Johns created "Flag" in 1954,...

Insist on kindness and respect and kids will follow your lead.(classroom poster)
August 1, 2005... The transformation of a group of unfamiliar students into a caring and respectful community doesn't happen in an instant. But by consistently modeling respectful behavior from day one, you can expect to see a change toward the end of the first...

10 jobs in one! Scientist, coach, computer whiz ... teaching is many professions rolled into one. We asked Instructor readers what it really takes to be "highly qualified.".
August 1, 2005... How do you define good teaching? What makes a teacher "highly-qualified?" For many of us, the answer is "we know it when we see it." We know how we feel about our own teaching, or that of a teacher-friend down the hall, but we find it hard to...

32 ideas to use now!(activities: kids' craft)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Show School Spirit Your emblem never looked so good. Let kids do a free-hand take using the official version as inspiration. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Science Rules Even kids who struggle in science may change their minds with a...

Take a photo, make a friend: easy photo activities that build early skills, self-esteem, and community.(activities: grades k-2)
August 1, 2005... While not as obvious as crayons, glue sticks, or safety scissors, photographs of your students may be the perfect back-to-school resource for your classroom. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Using photos in the classroom can help nurture a young...

Help wanted! Meaningful work and cool job titles can get middle graders thinking about the work world in new ways.(activities: grades 3-5)
August 1, 2005... Each morning in Karen Vanek's third- and fourth-grade classroom, you'll find a botanist, computer technician, and paramedic hard at work. Oak Forest Elementary School hasn't budgeted for these extra positions, but the employees don't...

Discussion stiflers (and what to say instead): the way that you ask questions could be keeping students quiet. Here's how to get them talking.(activities: grades 6-8)
August 1, 2005... Even the best educators can sometimes feel like the stultifying history teacher in Ferris Bueller's Day Off, pleading "Anyone? Anyone?" while his students fall asleep. And is it any wonder why? True discussion--in which the participants...

Learn from the experts at Science Explorations.(New at Scholastic.com)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Scholastic and the American Museum of Natural History have joined forces to create a science program for grades 3-10. Science Explorations, at www.scholastic.com, will present the Museum's latest scientific discoveries, offer information from...

Write it: online writing workshop.(New at Scholastic.com)
August 1, 2005... Last May marked the launch of Write It, a successful writing workshop for grades 6-12. The first unit was on poetry; this month and in September, the focus will be on essays. Your students can read and critique works-in-progress, publish their...

Classroom homepage builder.(New at Scholastic.com)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Make a customized homepage by using our easy step-by-step tutorial. Give parents up-to-date classroom information, recommend book lists and Web sites, and post homework reminders or links to assignments. It's all at...

Mentor Teacher program.(New at Scholastic.com)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... This month marks the launch of the third year of Scholastic's Mentor Teacher program, which publishes select teachers' terrific lesson plans online. Experience five different teacher's timely units, new ideas, and book lists for teaching...

Improve vocabulary with Text Talk.(from Scholastic)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Scholastic recently launched Text Talk, a research-based vocabulary and comprehension program for K-3 students. As required by Reading First legislation, Text Talk helps teachers introduce systemic vocabulary instruction into the curriculum....

New special Ed guide.(Also from Scholastic)(Understanding Special Education )(Book Review)(Brief Review)
August 1, 2005... Look for Scholastic's new book, Understanding Special Education (Scholastic Professional Books, 2005), by Cynthia M. Stowe. It includes definitions and characteristics of 16 challenges students may face, including autism, dyslexia, emotional...

Instructor catalog showcase: a showcase for your catalogs, products and brochures.
August 1, 2005... ONE-STOP SHOPPING FOR SCIENCE AND MATH! * 450+ new and exciting products to supplement your science and math curriculum! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Complete learning systems that offer a hands-on approach to teaching science! *...

Anna Quindlen: the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer tells us about great teachers and what tops her education wish list.(pop quiz)(Brief Article)(Interview)
August 1, 2005... * Who encouraged you? Two teachers made a huge difference. Mother Mary Ephrem was my eighth-grade Catholic school nun. She took me seriously in a way no one else had. Miss Ritzenthaler, my senior year English teacher, was one of the first...