Instructor (1990) articles from November 2007

Instructor (1990) archives from November 2007

Time to make a change.(from the editors)(Editorial)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... From bugs to volcanoes, children love learning about the Earth. And they seem to have a natural affinity for recycling. My own kindergartner admonishes strangers for littering on "Mother Earth" and gives me grief if she finds any recyclables in...

The peanut problem.(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2007... Thank you for your timely article on managing allergies in the classroom ("The Deadly PB & J" Sept./Oct. 2007). I find it alarming that, as a teacher, I am being asked to administer EpiPens (one quarter of my class has them) when, as your...

Magic trick #12?(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2007... Although this is my eighth year in classroom, I very much appreciated your time-saving piece "11 'Magic' Tricks for New Teachers" (August 2007). I have one I'd like to add. All teachers, new and not so new, would benefit from using rubrics. I...

The tattooed teacher.(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2007... I read your article "Teacher Dress Code?" (August 2007) and I agree that grown-ups should not need to be told how to dress. However, if teachers want to be taken seriously, they need to dress the part. After all, our appearance determines the...

Speak out for playtime.(Letter to the editor)
November 1, 2007... As a kindergarten teacher, I wanted to let you know I thought your August 2007 article "What Happened to Kindergarten?" was an incredibly clear exploration of the increasing pressure our 5-year-olds face. I'm planning to share it with all of...

Correction.(Correction notice)
November 1, 2007... The photos in Yvonne and David Freeman's article "Welcome" (August 2007) were incorrectly credited. The children pictured attend P.S. 161, Don Pedro Albizu Campos in New York City. Thanks to teacher Cindy Castillo for letting us know.

What's the best way to get students' attention?(WE ASKED YOU)
November 1, 2007... * HAVE A SIGNAL. I say, "One, two, three, eyes on me," to which the students respond, "One, two, eyes on you."--Rubi Bothwell, Houston, TX * PLAY FOLLOW THE LEADER. Clap a pattern and have your class repeat it. Sing a line or do a funny...

Q & A.(your career)(Interview)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Pressure on our school to perform has everyone on edge. Help. "Concentrate on the children," says veteran teacher adviser Linda Morse. "They're what's important. If you get too wrapped up in the politics, you can't do your job." To deal...

Memoir of a rough first year.(your career)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... No matter how close or far you are from your first year of teaching, no doubt you have vivid memories: the highs and the lows, the triumphs and the trials. Twenty-two-year-old Dan Brown entered P.S. 85 in the Bronx ready to save the world, only...

Would you say no to cash?(your career)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Teachers at Pearl Creek Elementary School in Fairbanks, Alaska, replied, "thanks, but no thanks" to cash bonuses the state awarded for gains their students made on standardized tests. Teachers reportedly felt offended by the offer of extra...

One is the loneliest number.(your career)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Once the classroom door is shut, it's likely you are often the only adult in the room. "Teachers need each other. Unless you seek out other adults who know what it's like, you get burned out and lonely very quickly," explains Brooklyn-based...

The house, the senate, the classroom.(ideaswap)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... To help students understand governmental process, I break my class into Senators and Representatives. Each student brings in a "bill" (a suggestion for a policy at school) to introduce to his or her group. Each bill is discussed, voted on, and...

Vacation learning.(ideaswap)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... When students are on vacation, the learning continues. Before the break, I hand out a sheet of about 20 activity ideas that children can do, whether they go away or stay home. For example, students might bring back an interesting artifact from...

Colonial past lives.(ideaswap)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... During our colonial unit, I group students into families. Each has a cast of authentic characters, which the students research, write about, and present as they play the characters in costume. Then, when Great Britain begins to impose taxes,...

Kindergartners scrub in.(ideaswap)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Each year, my kindergarten class participates in a service project by sweeping gravel off the playground after the winter snow melts. In Alaska, this is a big job! But the challenge helps the students learn to take pride in our school and to...

Cops on campus.(ideaswap)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... During the marathon that is standardized testing week, I asked the parents of my third graders to come visit in the afternoons to talk about their careers to our class. We had visits from a police officer, hair stylist, nurse, speech therapist,...

Kittycat stocking: recycle CDs into a festive holiday craft for kids to take home as a charming gift for relatives or friends.(Holiday Gifts)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... MATERIALS * Construction paper * Elmer's Washable School Glue Sticks * Elmer's white foam board (thin) * Elmer's 3D Washable Glitter Pens * Elmer's 3D Washable Paint Pens * Used CDs or DVDs * Regular scissors ...

Snowman picture frame: children can design their own winter-themed picture frames to display a photo or a piece of original artwork.(Holiday Gifts)
November 1, 2007... MATERIALS * Elmer's Washable School Glue Sticks * Elmer's 3D Washable Glitter Pens * Elmer's 3D Washable Paint Pens * Elmer's white foam board (thin) * Regular scissors * Pinking or shape scissors * Permanent...

4 amazing adventures.(BOOKS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... Pirates, underground cities, and gold rush drama--these new novels are packed with adrenaline-boosting excitement. Alex and the Ironic Gentleman By Adrienne Kress. $16.95. Alex is a charming new heroine--spunky and often mistaken for a...

4 best new audio books.(BOOKS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2007... These recordings give new life to already terrific stories. Perfect for after-lunch listening. Princess Academy By Shannon Hale, read by Laura Credidio and cast. $39.95. If you haven't read Shannon Hale's Newbery Honor winning tale of...

Best for the big picture.(Teacher-Tested Whiteboards and Cool Social Studies Tools)
November 1, 2007... "I didn't realize how efficient I could be until I started using a whiteboard," says our tester. Project your favorite Web sites, create graphs, and much more with the Activboard+2. This integrated whiteboard system includes software, a student...

Best for piecing together the world.(Teacher-Tested Whiteboards and Cool Social Studies Tools)
November 1, 2007... The Children's Faces from Around the World Puzzles teach kids about their neighbors from different cultures. "The puzzles have a fun circular shape," says a tester. "The chunky pieces make it easy for little fingers to manipulate."...

Best update to a classic tool.(Teacher-Tested Whiteboards and Cool Social Studies Tools)
November 1, 2007... The SmartGlobe is "snazzy looking and fun to use," raves our tester. "Touch any point on the globe with the smart pen and find out information about it. There's also a Spanish language feature!" www2.oregonscientific.com; $109.95. Product No....

Best for dramatic play.(Teacher-Tested Whiteboards and Cool Social Studies Tools)
November 1, 2007... Available in a range of ethnicities, Constructive Playthings' "Full Bodied" Puppets truly reflect our diverse world. One teacher says, "They encourage kids to develop language skills." www.cptoys.com; $119 for set of four families. Product No....

Best whiteboard add-on.(Teacher-Tested Whiteboards and Cool Social Studies Tools)
November 1, 2007... The mimio Interactive attaches to any whiteboard, connects to a PC, and when used with a projector, allows you to control desktop applications and documents directly from the board. "You can use it to highlight, spotlight, reveal, mark in...

Ask a psychologist.
November 1, 2007... Q. I have some parents who keep telling me how I should teach. How can I work as a team with families but also stand behind my collaborative learning curriculum? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A. The best advice I can give you in handling...

No need for your wallet--all these resources are free!(free stuff)(Thinkfinity.org.)(RaceBridges)(Freedom's Feast)
November 1, 2007... Find these (and even more) exclusive listings of contests, grants, and freebies for the classroom at www.scholastic.com/instructor. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] CLASSROOM RESOURCES No More Cheese Puffs Your kids will be chomping...

Classrooms are going green: how green classrooms are reconnecting kids with nature.(environmental education )(outdoor learning)
November 1, 2007... Not everyone uses garbage as a teaching tool, but maybe we should. Melina Kuchinov, a teacher at Green Woods Charter School in Philadelphia, dumps a trash can filled with compost onto a plastic bag spread on her classroom carpet. For weeks, her...

Be a hero for the planet: paint your school green with earth-friendly activities; Our quick guide.(our green guide)(greenhouse gas emissions )
November 1, 2007... Global warming affects every living thing on Earth--people, plants, and animals. While scientists are working to better understand how the Earth's climate will change over time, some effects are already evident: rising sea levels, shrinking...

12 books every teacher should read.(best practice)(Choice Words: How Our Language Affects Children's Learning)(Kindergarten Literacy)(Do I Really Have to Teach Reading?: Content Comprehension Grades 6-12)
November 1, 2007... We asked a team of top teachers, editors, and experts for their recommendations for the best books on education of the past decade. It's time to hit the bookstore. 1 Choice Words: How Our Language Affects Children's Learning by Peter...

The gift of giving: make-and-take holiday presents!(preK-K)(memo board)(giving bag)(hanging canisters)
November 1, 2007... Need a fun, simple gift for kids to take home this season? These ready-to-go projects are the perfect solution. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE GIVING BAG The contents of this decorative bag let children keep on giving after the gift...

All about shapes.(preK-K)(exploration of basic shapes)
November 1, 2007... Invite kids to explore basic shapes with these six fresh activities. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SHAPES AROUND THE WORLD TARGET SKILL: Identifying basic shapes WHAT TO DO: Have students take turns selecting countries from a map of...

Language arts: no more stale turkey bulletin boards.(grades 1-2)(thanksgiving celebrations)
November 1, 2007... Celebrate Thanksgiving with any one of these eye-catching--and learning-filled--classroom displays. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1. PILGRIM JEOPARDY Use this game to teach and review what students know about the Pilgrims. List several...

Cool math games: let's compare snowflakes.(grades 1-2)
November 1, 2007... "Greater than," "less than," and "equal to" can be tough concepts for students to master. But not with these December-themed games! [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS* WHAT YOU NEED: Chart paper, loud singing...

Nonfiction writing: bring dinosaurs (or American history) to life!(grades 3-5)(successful exposition )
November 1, 2007... Wake up kids' writing with these five tips for successful exposition. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TIP #1: STAY ON TOPIC The best nonfiction writing usually tackles a very narrow topic; for example, instead of "Pilgrims," how about "Why...

Five ways to practice cursive.(grades 3-5)(learning cursive)
November 1, 2007... Remember practicing your Ps and Qs, over and over? These fun and easy activities go way beyond repetition. 1) A STROKE OF GENIUS One of the first challenges of cursive lettering is resisting the urge to lift pen from paper. Why not...

Geography: get comfortable with maps.(grades 6-8)(map reading)
November 1, 2007... These challenging activities make middle schoolers into map readers. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] 1 ATLAS ALPHABET Challenge small groups to find a country, capital city, river, or mountain range that starts with each letter of the...

Reading: not your mama's historical fiction books.(grades 6-8)(Hattie Big Sky)(Penny from Heaven)(How it Happened in Peach Hill)(kids and activities )
November 1, 2007... After years in a yawn-inducing slump, historical fiction is hot again. Here are eight to recommend to kids and activities the whole class can do. HATTIE BIG SKY by Kirby Larson (Delacorte, 2006). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Historical...

Standards.
November 1, 2007... 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-K The Giving Bag (Page 39) Uses...

Laurie David: environmentalist and filmmaker Laurie David wants you to go green!(pop quiz)(teaching students regarding global warming and enviornmental issues)
November 1, 2007... Ten years ago, Laurie David was one of the first champions of hybrid cars. More recently, she produced Al Gore's award-winning eco-documentary, An Inconvenient Truth. Now, with a new book out for children, The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global...