Instructor (1990) articles from May 2005

Instructor (1990) archives from May 2005

Meeting the standards.(Illustration)
May 1, 2005... ARTICLE PAGE READING AND WRITING GRADES Must-Reads by 28 Uses reading skills and strategies to K-8 Age 13 understand a variety of literary passages and...

End the year right.(EDITOR'S NOTE)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
May 1, 2005... "THE END OF THE YEAR is a very meaningful time," first-grade teacher Abby Shestack recently told us. "On one hand, we're all--kids and teachers--looking forward to the summer, and on the other hand, we're looking back at all the changes and...

Middle School Idol.(News & Trends)(Thomas A. Edison Middle School)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Thomas A. Edison Middle School in West Orange, New Jersey, has a hero to celebrate: Anwar Robinson, the school's dreadlocked music teacher who charmed America as one of the finalists on Fox's American Idol. Robinson, who teaches vocal music at...

The parent problem.(News & Trends)(teacher students and parents relationships)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... What is the most daunting challenge you face in the classroom? If you are like many of your colleagues, coping with parents tops your list. For new teachers, relations with parents seem especially troublesome. The MetLife Survey of the...

The numbers.(News & Trends)(United States population )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... 36% of the U.S. population was younger than 18 in 1964, at the end of the baby boom. 25% of the U.S. population was younger than 18 in 2004. 24% of the U.S. population is projected to be younger than 18 in 2020. Source: Federal...

Imaginary pals a boon.(News & Trends)
May 1, 2005... For the past year, seven-year-old Devin has been joined in class by an imaginary dog. Should his teacher worry, or welcome the pup into the classroom? A study from researcher Marjorie Taylor, head of psychology at the University of Oregon, and...

Summer homework.(News & Trends)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Do schools have the right to assign homework after the regular school year has ended? They do, says a Wisconsin judge. High-school student Peer Larson and his father, Bruce, claimed that schools don't have the right to assign homework over the...

This month!(News & Trends)
May 1, 2005... MAY & JUNE ARE... * BOOKISH. Scholastic's Summer Reading Counts! (www.scholastic.com/summerreading) * FREE WHEELING. Bike Month! (www.bikeleague.org) * THANKFUL. May 1-7 is Teacher Appreciation Week. (www.nea.org) * CARING....

Vocabulary rap.(NEWS TO PERUSE)(www.flocabulary.com)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Many teachers criticize rap music for its crude lyrics. But at www.flocabulary.com, the lyrics are designed for learning. Each song track is packed with vocabulary, and kids can click on each word for an instant pop-up definition. The program's...

Media multitasking.(NEWS TO PERUSE)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The homework that you assign faces a barrage of competition, including TV, videos, music, video games, instant messaging, and reading for pleasure. In a study of 2,000 students, Generation M: Media in the Lives of 8-18 Year-Olds, the Henry J....

Radical recycling.(NEWS TO PERUSE)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Rather than watching old computers head for the landfill, a group of students at Babcock Middle School in Westerly, Rhode Island, refurbished and donated them to needy families--and won $1,000 in the bargain. The students earned a first-place...

It's the last bell! School's soon out for summer. Instructor readers share their best plans for break.(TEACHER TALK)
May 1, 2005... Piece of Pisa [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] This summer I will study environmental processes at the University of North Texas--I try to take every opportunity I can to advance my career. Then I'm off on a tour of Italy! I'm so excited to...

"One of my second graders needs summer school. She's a sweet kid who is just beginning to read. From past conversations, I am sure she and her parents are going to be upset. What should I say?".(CAN YOU HELP?)
May 1, 2005... Take a Positive Approach. Before you meet with the parents brainstorm the pros and cons of attending summer school (make a list for parents and a list for your student). It's understandable that they may perceive summer school negatively, but...

Activating achievement awards program.(Contests)
May 1, 2005... Promethean, maker of the ACTIV interactive whiteboard, invites you to enter its lesson plan contest. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DEADLINE: May 15, 2005 HOW IT WORKS: Teachers submit original lesson plans that incorporate interactive...

Academy of pediatrics art contest.(Contests)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Have kids illustrate healthy activities for a chance to win cash prizes. CATEGORIES: 3-5; 6-8 DEADLINE: June 1, 2005 HOW IT WORKS: The American Academy of Pediatrics asks kids to submit original artwork with the theme "healthy...

Sharpie autographs for education signature contest.(Contests)
May 1, 2005... Encourage kids to gather signatures during the summer, and compile them to win $25,000 in school supplies! GRADES: K-12 DEADLINE: December 31, 2005 HOW IT WORKS: Have kids collect signatures from parents, teachers, and other...

Scholastic Assistance Program.(Giveaways)
May 1, 2005... FREE TO TEACHERS: Schools or districts who sign up for the Scholastic Assistance Program through Teachers' Insurance Plan will receive a cash donation for each teacher who requests a quote--no purchase is necessary. GRADES: K-12 HOW...

Celebrity reading posters.(Giveaways)
May 1, 2005... FREE TO TEACHERS: May is National Get Caught Reading Month, so brighten up your room with posters of celebs "caught in the act," including Derek Jeter and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. GRADES: K-12 HOW TO GET IT: Go online to...

Dream poster.(Giveaways)
May 1, 2005... FREE TO TEACHERS: Get students thinking about dreams with "Zombies, Underwear, and Monkey Kung-Fu," a free poster from the American Innerspring Manufacturers. The poster explains REM sleep and the meaning of several common dreams and encourages...

Teacher Appreciation e-cards.(Giveaways)
May 1, 2005... FREE TO TEACHERS: Celebrate this month's Teacher Appreciation Week (May 1-7) by thanking an inspirational colleague with a Teacher Appreciation e-card from Hallmark. HOW TO GET IT: Go online to www.hallmark.com.

Travel grants for educators.(Grants)
May 1, 2005... Want to know how they're teaching reading in England or Australia? Apply for a travel grant from the International Reading Association, which pays for teachers to attend Association conferences outside their own continents. DEADLINE: June...

Braitmayer Foundation grants.(Grants)
May 1, 2005... The Braitmayer Foundation honors teachers seeking professional development opportunities; grants of up to $35,000 are awarded. GRADES: K-12 DEADLINE: June 30, 2005 HOW TO ENTER: Go online to www.braitmayerfoundation.org.

SMARTer kids grants.(Grants)
May 1, 2005... SMART Technologies will award schools more than $64 million toward their products, including interactive whiteboards and software. DEADLINE: September 30, 2005 HOW TO APPLY: Go to www.smarterkids.org/k-12/smartproducts. --Reported...

Reading about Reading Rods.(FREE TEACHING BOOKS!)(contest)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... If you use Reading Rods in your classroom, you won't want to miss Everyday Assessment With Reading Rods, the helpful new teaching guide from Learning Resources. YOU CAN WIN: Ten lucky Instructor readers will win a free copy of the book,...

Guide your students to reading success with these new resources.(NEW & NOTEWORTHY)
May 1, 2005... Think About It The easy-to-use Thinking Reader software program puts a library of award-winning literature right at the fingertips of your most struggling readers. Well worth the investment for building kids' confidence as well as their...

Spotting bogus, biased, and bad Web sites: teach kids how to discern what's real--and what isn't--on the Web.(ELECTRONIC LEARNING)
May 1, 2005... Is the Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus really endangered? Is it true that Velcro is grown in California farm fields? You bet, according to some Web pages that give every appearance of truth. You might be rightfully suspicious, but many kids...

Stop the summer reading slide: kids who don't read over the summer can lose ground. Here's how to keep books in their hands and skills at a peak.(Cover Story)
May 1, 2005... When you wave goodbye to your students as they head off for summer vacation, you might just be bidding farewell to some of their hard-won gains in reading skills. The "summer slide" is well-documented by research: Unless students read regularly...

Esme Raji Codell's must-reads [by age 13].
May 1, 2005... Since reading about the time machine Esme Raji Codell used to motivate her inner-city students (a foil-covered refrigerator box!) in her 2001 memoir Educating Esme, teachers everywhere have admired the literature specialist's courage,...

Lessons from America's top teachers: 2005 State Teachers of the Year speak out on closing the achievement gap, the state of the profession, and what really works in the classroom.
May 1, 2005... "Teachers are the builders of bridges. We help students develop both their cognitive and emotional skills. What we do and say, the ways we act, and the passion we show for our profession are laying the foundation for our students' futures....

Talking with Judy Blume.(Interview)
May 1, 2005... The believable voices of Judy Blume's characters--such as the troublemaking Fudge from Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and freckle-less Andrew from Freckle Juice--have charmed readers since Blume published her first book, The One in the Middle...

Back-to-school checklist: get a jumpstart on next year's classroom prep, and head into the fall relaxed and ready.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Summer may be just around the corner, but now is the perfect time to start thinking about fall. By organizing your wish lists now--while your needs are fresh in your mind--you can save valuable time and avoid stress later. Whether you'll be...

Teacher tips: foolproof ideas from teachers on enlisting parents' help with classroom supplies.
May 1, 2005... Parents and relatives are your best allies when it comes to classroom supplies. They know that teachers do not teach by words alone. Abundant hands-on materials, an inviting classroom, enough curriculum materials for each child, and much more...

School supply list.(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... * Your Child Will Need: ** Box of colored pencils ** Box of crayons ** Safety scissors ** Sharpened pencils (with pencil pouch) ** One blue pen, one black pen ** Elmer's School Glue ** Elmer's Washable School...

The "W" stretch.(FROM OUR READERS)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... My middle graders love this kinesthetic reading review: We name a key literary element as we do a four-part stretch, identifying the who, what, when, and where (characters, plot, and setting) in the text we've read. For example: "Harry Potter"...

Spectacular sun science.(FROM OUR READERS)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... I order sets of light-diffraction "prism" glasses (www.rainbowsymphony.com) to introduce my seventh graders to the sun's usually invisible electromagnetic spectrum of light. As we head outdoors, they are stunned by what they see! We also use...

Soak up a good book.(FROM OUR READERS)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... Late each spring, I create The Reading Beach, a great seasonal reading center. I fill a plastic pool with books and pillows, and add kid-sized beach chairs and a "palm tree." (The tree is a PVC pipe placed in a flowerpot filled with gravel,...

Writers' highlights.(FROM OUR READERS)(Letter to the Editor)
May 1, 2005... I cut down on all the paperwork from my third graders' Writers' Workshop by investing in packs of colored highlighters. I use each color to highlight a different type of error in their writing. This allows me to correct all my students' work...

Polish, proofread & publish: help students' work shine with creative activities that reinforce the writing process.(ACTIVITIES)
May 1, 2005... Class Copy Editor Explain to students that a copy editor's job is to catch mistakes before a newspaper, magazine, or book gets published. Refer students to the proofreader's marks on the Reproducible on page 46. Professional copy editors use...

Teaching with ... Janell Cannon: introduce Janell Cannon's wonderful animal stories with our exclusive mini-poster and activities.(MINI-POSTER ACTIVITIES)
May 1, 2005... ACTIVITIES [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1 Animal Adventures Janell Cannon writes and illustrates books about unfamiliar, unlovable creatures. Invite students to use a three-panel storyboard to illustrate the beginning, middle, and end of...

Off to Africa! Build problem-solving skills as you take your students on an African math adventure!(ACTIVITIES)
May 1, 2005... As summer draws near, invite your students to get ready to take a fantastic journey across the world to Africa--a land of wonder, beauty, and mathematical challenges! Before students set off on their imaginary trip, show them a large map...

The science of Harry Potter: tap kids' anticipation for the next book in the Harry Potter series (due out on July 16th) with magical illusions and super science.(ACTIVITIES)
May 1, 2005... Mandrake Vapors [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE BOOK: Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, pages 115-118. Professor Sprout tells her class that mandrake vapors can restore broken items to their undamaged...

Students care: use these activities on Memorial Day and beyond to help kids learn about--and lend a helping hand to--U.S. service members around the world.(ACTIVITIES)
May 1, 2005... Patriotic Pen Pals As a class, talk about the many different ways troops serve our country, including assisting disaster victims, rebuilding communities, and preserving peace. Many service members must leave family and friends when they are...

Fun, free online computer games: looking for skill-builders to recommend for summer? Check out these sites!(WEB SITINGS)(http://prongo.com/lemon)(www.cogcon.com/gamegoo )(www.sunsafetyalliance.org)
May 1, 2005... Lemonade Larry http://prongo.com/lemon [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The classic summer kid biz takes a high-tech twist at this site! Your budding entrepreneurs are quizzed on basic multiplication facts as...

Instructor catalog showcase: a showcase for your catalogs, products and brochures.
May 1, 2005... EASY ESPANOL! Breakthrough Level 1 Spanish program uses English phonetics and prepared lesson plans, created by a practicing teacher. Can be taught by anyone. No Spanish experience required. Use as a core curriculum, lesson supplement,...

Firefighting friends.(THE CLASS PICTURE)
May 1, 2005... Teacher Luanne Blick snapped this sweet photo of second grader Brandon getting a glimpse of what it's like to be a fireman. This hands-on lesson was part of an end-of-the-year safety day at Bowerston Elementary in Bowerston, Ohio. Now Brandon...