Instructor (1990) articles from January 2008

Instructor (1990) archives from January 2008

Asking the hard questions.(from the editors)
January 1, 2008... One of the things that sets teaching apart from nearly every other profession is the time and energy spent reflecting on practice. Likely, you have a few goals you're trying to reach each day--to have your kids do more writing, to get your...

Not an allergy-free zone.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2008... In your last issue, teacher Heidi Echternacht wrote in response to your article "The Deadly PB & J" (Sept./Oct. 2007) that parents with a child who has life-threatening allergies should rethink placing him or her in a public school. As a parent...

The overdecorated classroom?(letters)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2008... When I glanced through the table of contents for the Sept./Oct. 2007 issue, I went straight to page 26 to find "The Well-Organized Classroom." When I saw the photos, my first reaction was, "Wow!"--but not in a positive way. I noticed a bulletin...

What's the rush?(letters)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2008... I read your article "What Happened to Kindergarten?" (Aug. 2007) and in my opinion, children are being rushed into academics too quickly. They need time to learn from their surroundings, from digging in the dirt, and building with blocks. They...

Balancing work and play.(letters)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2008... I would like to congratulate you on publishing a wonderful and relevant article "What Happened to Kindergarten?" (Aug. 2007). It has left a lasting impact on me, and I have no doubt that it had the same effect on thousands of readers. It...

What is the best advice you received as a new teacher?(WE ASKED YOU)
January 1, 2008... * YOU HAVE TO LOVE IT. If your heart isn't in the classroom, your body shouldn't be either.--Jeff Clifton, Dillsburg, PA * PICK YOUR BATTLES. This is true with students, parents, administrators, custodians--everybody!--Alexandra Romanos,...

60%.(your career)
January 1, 2008... 60% of teachers believe that abortion should be illegal.

What's your goal in '08?(your career)
January 1, 2008... More and more districts and schools are requiring you to outline your goals as part of a professional growth plan. * Do your research. Ask a mentor to share his or her previous goals in order to gain a sense of how to get to where you want...

Up for a challenge?(your career)
January 1, 2008... There's a city school out there that needs your leadership. New Leaders for New Schools is looking for outstanding teachers to become urban public school principals. Chosen candidates receive training and support throughout the six-year...

Q & A.(your career)
January 1, 2008... I'm a substitute who'd love to have my own room. What are my options? Get as much experience as you can at different grade levels. Then, consider enrolling in graduate courses to broaden your expertise. Talk to the principals you work with...

The conservative classroom?(your career)
January 1, 2008... With the election year now in full swing, where do teachers stand on the issues politicians will be hashing out on the podium? To the right of other college-educated professionals, says a recent study from the Hoover Institution at Stanford...

Upgrade your tech, get a tan.(your career)
January 1, 2008... Resolved to integrate technology into your practice? Start the new year by attending one of these top-notch educational technology conferences. WHAT? FETC (www.fetc.org) TCEA (www.tcea.org) WHERE? Orlando, Florida...

President for a day.(ideaswap)
January 1, 2008... To celebrate Presidents' Day, my fifth graders write essays imagining life as president of the United States for one day. I set up a podium, provide suits for them to wear, and take a picture of each student as "President." I then attach their...

Valentine vocabulary.(ideaswap)
January 1, 2008... For Valentine's Day, I give each student a gift bag that they label with their names. Then we discuss complimentary adjectives such as kind, good-natured, cheerful, and so on. Kids sit in a circle and pass the bags clockwise. Each child adds an...

Snowman scavenger hunt.(ideaswap)
January 1, 2008... To create winter hallway decorations, I ask parents to help their children find buttons, twigs, and other snowman accessories. After the children make snowmen and snowwomen, I incorporate math skills by having them count buttons and measure...

What would Dr. King do?(ideaswap)
January 1, 2008... I let students listen to recordings of Martin Luther King's speeches so they can hear how he spoke. Then I create a few "scenario cards"--descriptions of conflicts that commonly occur in the classroom. Students write what they think King might...

Keep your eye on the birdie.(ideaswap)
January 1, 2008... In my kindergarten class, every day is Earth Day! In our playground and garden area, we observe the seasons, weather, trees, butterflies, and birds. Here, the students are watching for the red-bellied woodpecker in our tree. We've also observed...

Recycled art.(ideaswap)
January 1, 2008... My students and I make use of everything, from old coffee cans to plastic bags. The reuse of materials that would otherwise be thrown away helps students appreciate our limited resources and builds environmental awareness. For this desk pencil...

Character champions.(ideaswap)
January 1, 2008... I use stuffed animals to represent positive character traits: a lion for courage, a monkey for teamwork. At the end of each day, students share character observations about their classmates (for example, "Brenna showed perseverance today when...

I want to read like the big kids.(ideaswap)
January 1, 2008... Each week, my second-grade students act as scribes for the kindergartners as they write stories based on their letter of the week. They record the stories and read them aloud. Afterwards, they choose books to read. My second graders love being...

Getting Web wise.(ideaswap)
January 1, 2008... My fifth graders are getting more Web savvy than ever--so I decided to create a class "wiki," which is a Web page designed to allow multiple authors to add, remove, and edit content. I can post guidelines and assignments, and students can...

Put the/back in iPod.(ideaswap)
January 1, 2008... My middle school students are obsessed with their iPods--so I found a way to use their favorite music in our autobiography unit. Students choose one or several songs to make up their own soundtracks. They write an analysis that compares the...

4 penmanship pointers for your class.(ideaswap)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Ideas for handwriting happiness for your students in grades 3-5. 1 A Clean Shave Shaving cream is not only a great way to clean desks, it's also an excellent way to practice handwriting! I have my students cover their desks with...

5 artistic geniuses.(BOOKS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Invite kids to meet some creative greats with these brand-new biographies. Piano Starts Here By Robert Andrew Parker. $16.99. Parker's simple yet touching watercolors and text illuminate the childhood of jazz pianist Art Tatum, who was...

4 middle school must-reads.(BOOKS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Tween bookworms complaining, "I've already read everything good"? Not so fast, kiddos. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tunnels By Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams. $17.99. This fantasy debut has been compared to the exploits of a certain...

3 wintery animal books.(BOOKS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... 'Tis the season for penguins and polar bears! And these new books are better than a field trip to the zoo. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Playful Little Penguins By Tony Mitton. $15.95. The title says it all--these cartoonish guys are...

5 fairy tale updates.(BOOKS)(Brief article)(Book review)(Children's review)
January 1, 2008... Princesses, toads, wands, and fairies. Is there any greater cure-all for the winter blues? Such a Prince By Dan Bar-el. $16. This fractured tale centers on a fumbling peasant who must jump through hoops in order to marry the lovely...

Best two-in-one tool.(Colorful, Crafty Supplies to Brighten Winter Days)
January 1, 2008... The double-sided Paintastics Paint 'N Stamp pens from Elmer's allow kids to paint with the brush, then flip the pen over to use the adorable stamps on the other end. "My students use these to make fun borders and gift cards for their families,"...

Best for cutting down on colds.(Colorful, Crafty Supplies to Brighten Winter Days)
January 1, 2008... Fiskars' unique line of antimicrobial scissors inhibits reproduction and growth of bacteria. "It's an additional safeguard in the battle against germs we face every day," says our teacher tester. "The finger loop is great, too."...

Best earth-friendly innovation.(Colorful, Crafty Supplies to Brighten Winter Days)
January 1, 2008... The Sproutz line of furniture is manufactured from 100 percent recycled wood fiber and a formaldehyde-free resin. Options include this four-station art center. "The kids love the handy supply storage, too," adds our tester. www.sproutz.biz;...

Best for paintless painting.(Colorful, Crafty Supplies to Brighten Winter Days)
January 1, 2008... Young artists will love these washable, nontoxic brush pens that create unique strokes--just like painting. The pens are acid free and won't bleed through paper. "My kids can easily make thin and thick strokes, without the mess," says one...

Best grab-and-go Highlighter.(Colorful, Crafty Supplies to Brighten Winter Days)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... With Crayola's Total Tools Erasable Highlighter, students can quickly highlight a passage and then go back and erase parts of it. "The cool, space-age appearance of this pen makes highlighting vocabulary words fun," says a teacher....

Best for snowy afternoons.(New Tools for Teaching Writing)
January 1, 2008... Looking for a way to keep indoors-bound kids occupied? Marko the Pencil comes to the rescue in the new Writing Strategies animated program. In this DVD, Marko helps a young girl learn to write using specific tips. "The DVD explains story...

Best for assessment.(New Tools for Teaching Writing)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Evaluating student writing can be a challenge, but the new Criterion 7.2 makes it a snap. This Web-based program evaluates a student's writing skills and within seconds provides score reporting and diagnostic feedback. "What's great about this...

Best for publishing student works.(New Tools for Teaching Writing)
January 1, 2008... Kid Works Deluxe is a creative writing and reading software program that combines a word processor and paint program to let kids create media-rich stories. "Wonderful," raves our tester. "Students type their stories into a kid-friendly word...

Best for writer's block.(New Tools for Teaching Writing)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Need help jump starting your students' writing? The WRITE! Foundations and Models for Proficiency program combines instruction and assessment, writing models and prompts, and more for each grades 1-8. "Each lesson teaches one grammar skill and...

Best for creating cartoons.(New Tools for Teaching Writing)
January 1, 2008... Kids love animation, and now they can make their own cartoons using the Claymation Studio. "This software program is really easy to use," says our tester. "My students like that they can create their own stop-motion video claymation and...

Best for making storyboards.(New Tools for Teaching Writing)(Brief article)
January 1, 2008... Teachers know the value of using storyboards in the classroom, but creating them can be an arduous process. STORYBOARD PRO software makes it simple. "This software is perfect for creating and animating storyboards," says our teacher. "Kids can...

Best way to retain vocabulary.(New Tools for Teaching Writing)
January 1, 2008... Can't get your students to remember all of their vocabulary words? Phase-6 can help. This Web-based solution helps students lock vocabulary words into long-term memory by making use of multimedia flash cards. "Phase-6 is the ideal practice...

Ask a psychologist.
January 1, 2008... One of my 2nd graders is a little dictator. Q Whenever he's in a group, he needs to be the boss and browbeats the other children until he gets his way. Is he a bully in the making? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] a Let's start by looking...

The resource list you count on ...(free stuff)(Website list)
January 1, 2008... You can find our full listing of contests, grants, and freebies for the classroom at www.scholastic.com/instructor. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FREEBIES Face Science Head-On Send students to You Innovate: 21st Century, a new Web...

What are your expectations? The challenge of teaching across race.(Cover story)
January 1, 2008... Tuesday afternoon, fifth grader Jacob disrupts groupwork with his goofing around. On Thursday, it's his African-American deskmate, Miles, who has the class's full attention with similar antics. What was the likely outcome? Jacob got a...

20 African-Americans your students should meet: there is more to Black History Month than honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Introduce your class to a new generation of heroes.
January 1, 2008... Black History Month is a time to honor the significant contributions of African-Americans throughout history. Introduce your students to these 20 super-achievers and then share the classroom activities on page 38. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Ready for this job? Why would a teacher decide to leave the classroom to become a school administrator?(teacher leader)
January 1, 2008... That is the question I ask my graduate students on the first night of their class in educational administration. Here are some typical responses I hear from teachers considering a career move: "My principal makes the job look like fun." ...

But they all read at different levels: are your students all over the reading map? Expert Laura Robb answers teachers' questions on how to differentiate reading instruction.(best practice)
January 1, 2008... Not too long ago, on a visit to two sixth-grade classrooms, I saw very clearly the challenge teachers have before them when they try to differentiate reading. In both classrooms, 11-year-olds who read like fourth graders shared tables with...

Holiday learning: Valentine's Day centers couldn't be sweeter.(preK-K)
January 1, 2008... These five instant centers are easy on your budget, your planning time, and (especially) kids' teeth. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART FOCUS SKILLS: Creative thinking; math concepts: size, shape [ILLUSTRATION...

Reading comprehension: making predictions.(preK-K)
January 1, 2008... Help early readers make thoughtful, informed predictions as they read. PREDICTION POP FOCUS SKILLS: Examining cover titles and artwork [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHAT TO DO: Show students the cover of a picture book, read the...

Math practice: Manipulatives from A to Z.(grades 1-2)
January 1, 2008... ACES Never throw away a deck of playing cards. They have dozens of math applications: counting, sorting, probability, and card-house engineering, just to name a few. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BOLTS Stock up at the hardware store. Nuts,...

Social studies: Presidents' Day by the numbers.(grades 1-2)
January 1, 2008... Every year, we celebrate George Washington's and Abraham Lincoln's birthdays and their contributions to America. Here's how to put a fun, numerical twist on Presidents' Day. 1ST PRESIDENT THE STORY BEHIND THE NUMBER: After presiding...

Easy experiments: arty science.(grades 3-5)
January 1, 2008... Right brain meets left brain with these creative science experiments. BUBBLY ART WHAT IT TEACHES: Surface tension, visible light spectrum, patterns [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHAT YOU NEED: Canning jar, tempera paint, empty...

African-American history: Escape to Freedom.(grades 3-5)
January 1, 2008... Mark African-American History Month with these great new books. MOSES: WHEN HARRIET TUBMAN LED HER PEOPLE TO FREEDOM By Carole Boston Weatherford. This book recounts the spiritual journey of Harriet Tubman as she leaves all she knows and...

Classroom management: no more quiz cheats, no more backtalk.(grades 6-8)
January 1, 2008... CHEATING [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CLASSROOM CRISIS: Your students are writing an in-class essay, and you notice a student using his cell phone as a modern-day cheat sheet. DO IT NOW: Take the student into the hallway and convey your...

Writers' workshop: Helpful Peer Feedback.(grades 6-8)
January 1, 2008... Teaching kids how to give meaningful feedback on one another's work is a big challenge. These activities can help. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1 GOLDEN WORDS FOCUS SKILLS: Recognizing effective language and giving positive feedback ...

Standards.
January 1, 2008... Use this index to match the ideas in this issue to national standards. READING AND WRITING Gr. PreK-8 Teachers' Picks: Books (Page 12) Uses reading skills to understand a variety of texts Gr. PreK-8 Differentiated Instruction...

Barbara park: the writer who brought us the irrepressible Junie B. talks teaching, inspiration, and taming wild kids.(pop quiz)
January 1, 2008... * What inspired you to become a writer? For me, it was sort of "reverse" inspiration. My plan was to teach high school history. But (somewhat unexpectedly) I did my student teaching in the seventh grade. The word disaster does not even...