Instructor (1990) articles from September 2003

Instructor (1990) archives from September 2003

If only ...(classroom management)(Editorial)
September 1, 2003... I LEARNED A LOT DURING MY YEARS in the classroom. Even so, I can't help but think "if only" when I recall the challenges inherent in classroom management. If I'd only known some essential strategies, my teaching time would have been more...

Meeting the standards.(curricula)(Illustration)
September 1, 2003... Meeting the Standards ARTICLE PAGE LANGUAGE ARTS LEVELS Poetry Workshop: Center Uses reading skills and K-4 Bilingual Poetry Insert strategies to understand and ...

Sharp & cool.(New & noteworthy)
September 1, 2003... Fiskar's new Hip-Clip[TM] line of carabiner school tools is sure to be a hit with students and colleagues alike. We just love the pencil sharpener and eraser; pens and highlighters also available. $2.99; www.fiskars.com [ILLUSTRATION...

Wrap it up & go.(New & noteworthy)
September 1, 2003... The new Wrapper Keeper[TM] from Mead, featuring expanding material and a strong Velcro[R] closure, is perfect for keeping all supplies together. Includes a zipper pocket and pen/pencil loops, and is available in three colors. $5.99;...

Tantalize.(New & noteworthy)
September 1, 2003... Improve students' critical thinking--and their test scores--in just minutes a day with Daily Tantalizers[TM] standards-based math activities. $23.95/resource manual; $119.95/set of 30 student journals. www.etacuisenaire.com [ILLUSTRATION...

The one.(New & noteworthy)
September 1, 2003... Bring visual learning to the next level with the new Polaroid One instant camera. Compact, lightweight, and very affordable. Plus: the Polaroid Education Program publishes free classroom guides! $44.99; www.polaroid.com [ILLUSTRATION...

Safety first.(New & noteworthy)
September 1, 2003... Learn the "ARCs of Supervision" with the S.A.F.E. Playground Supervision kit, put together by The National Program for Playground Safety. Includes a comprehensive manual, a video guide, and a safety pack. $155; www.playgroundsupervision.org ...

Totally helpful.(New & noteworthy)
September 1, 2003... The Total Teacher by Lorraine T. Milark M.Ed. (Artemis Press, 2002), offers step-by-step strategies and common-sense advice for transforming your teaching. $22.95; www.thetotalteacher.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Germs begone!(New & noteworthy)
September 1, 2003... Stop the spread of germs before it starts with a squirt of Instant Hand Sanitizer, available in Back-to-School packs for your classroom. Plus: PURELL[R] offers free hygiene lesson plans! $1.59 and up; www.purell.com [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Eraser jet.(New & noteworthy)
September 1, 2003... Sanford's new EXPO[R] Dry Erase 2-in-1 Cleaner will keep your whiteboards looking brand new. Comes complete with 2 oz. of spray cleaner, built-in sponge, and a docking station (with magnets and double-sided tape) for handy storage at the board....

Magazine makeover.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2003... I wanted to let you know that I have really enjoyed the new look and feel of Instructor in the past year or so. Before, I didn't always get much out of it. Now, I read it cover to cover. It's my favorite teaching tool.--Lindy Hopkins, Saltille,...

Marilyn Burns fan.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2003... I am really pleased to see that Marilyn Burns is now in almost every issue of Instructor. I really respect and value her teaching methods for mathematics, and I love to implement them in my own classroom.--Meghann A. Campbell, Orlando, FL

More mid-year inspiration.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2003... Instructor's back-to-school issues are always packed full of ideas that inspire me to try new things. The first half of my school year is filled with new approaches and innovative activities. But then, perhaps like many teachers, I find the...

Computer Grade Books.(Letters)
September 1, 2003... Thanks for "Grade Books Made Easy" (May/June 2003). After I graduated last December, I found myself in a long-term substitute position in January. Obviously, I was expected to record student grades, create interim reports, and complete report...

Student scrapbooks.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
September 1, 2003... I could hardly wait for my August issue to arrive, so I could get a look at the "Scrapbooking in the Classroom" column. Where is it? Last year, my students did beautiful scrapbook pages about Tuck Everlasting, Painted Lady butterflies, and...

Instructor inspires summer book exchange.(Letters)
September 1, 2003... The article "Bridging the Summer Reading Gap" (May/June 2003) was truly inspiring to me. After reading it, I facilitated the first ever "Claremont School Summer Reading Book Exchange" at our school in Ossining, New York. We collected 2,500...

Music develops critical thinkers for the 21st century.
September 1, 2003... The expense of moving a byte of information around the world has decreased some 10 million fold since the introduction of the microprocessor. Never before in the course of human events has the cost of something so valuable fallen so quickly,...

Destination Imagination.(News & Trends)(competitions)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... With the clock ticking down the seconds left, a group of amateur engineers hastily constructs a functional hovercraft--capable of carrying 40 pounds--from a snow tube, two leaf blowers, and a sheet of plywood. It may sound like the popular...

Go Fish!(News & Trends)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Despite tough days handling scales, fins, and fish guts, the fishmongers at Seattle's Pike Place Fish Market have a remarkably positive and playful attitude toward their jobs. That's what John Christensen, CEO of ChartHouse Learning, couldn't...

Chicago shines with science.(News & Trends)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Children in Chicago's schools are proving that they have lots of energy--in more ways than one. Chicago students are learning and applying the benefits of renewable energy, particularly solar power, through a curriculum linked with actual solar...

Working conditions vs. higher pay.(News & Trends)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
September 1, 2003... WORKING CONDITIONS VS. HIGHER PAY Improve working conditions in schools 47% by reducing class size Expand the pool of qualified applicants 39% by increasing pay for all teachers Make it easier to financially reward ...

Lessons that soar.(News & Trends)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Dozens of Southwest Airlines' pilots. recently headed back to the classroom in Cleveland, Ohio, inspiring kids' learning to take off. The pilots were adopted by several fifth-grade classrooms in the city as part of a special four-week-long...

Kids' art, Clifford kits, and much more.(Contests, Giveaways, & Grants)
September 1, 2003... Contests 2004 "Kids Speak Out!" Contest World Almanac for Kids is sponsoring an essay-writing contest for children. To enter, students must write an essay responding to this question: "Who do you think are the three most important...

"My sixth grade is filled with friendship troubles: three of the girls are friends one minute, enemies the next. There are tears and hurt feelings all around. What can I do?".(Can You Help?)
September 1, 2003... Let Them Work It Out. The roller coaster of pre-adolescent emotions can be a rough ride for children and teachers alike. I intervene in extreme cases, but I have found that the children usually work it out themselves. Here are a few suggestions...

Zoom in on digital cameras.(Electronic Learning)
September 1, 2003... Fabulous classroom projects and colorful visual records are easy to achieve with a digital camera, but finding the right camera can be a challenge! The key to making the right choice is figuring out which features you want and need in a...

The invisible disability: one of the best readers in your classroom might have a serious learning disability. Could you spot the signs?
September 1, 2003... Seven-year-old Helen is a whiz at anything that has to do with reading, vocabulary, and language. Easily the best reader in the second grade, Helen loves Sustained Silent Reading. Her reading and her vocabulary are at the high fourth-grade...

How can I get it all done? And 5 more back-to-school dilemmas.(Instructions to teachers.)
September 1, 2003... Over the years, I've gathered some of the most frequently-asked questions from teachers, along with a wide array of real solutions. Here are some that work! How do I get everything done in the allotted time? Time management is a real...

A learning space that works.
September 1, 2003... Meet Allyson Daley, a first-grade teacher at P.S. 321 in Brooklyn, New York, and one of the super teachers and classroom "interior designers" featured in an upcoming Scholastic professional book, Classroom Management in Photographs (June,...

Teacher talk: nine key phrases that help motivate, encourage, and build responsibility.
September 1, 2003... Your choice of words can have a huge impact on your students. The way you give an assignment or a suggestion, deliver a time-out, or phrase a compliment can determine whether you are met with cooperation or saddled with resistance. Teachers...

What's in a name?(September Activities From Our Readers)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... At the beginning of each year, I invite my sixth graders to use baby-name books to find out the origins and meanings of their names. Then I have them interview their parents and families about how their names were chosen. I ask them to write...

Hardware store math manipulatives.(September Activities From Our Readers)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Low on math manipulatives for patterning, sorting, and counting? It's easy to stock up on more for pennies at the local hardware store. Nuts & Bolts Chunky nuts and bolts come in lots of sizes, perfect for small hands. ...

Class pencils.(September Activities From Our Readers)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... In my fourth-grade classroom, I've eliminated the annoyance of students grinding their pencils during work times by creating a class pencil can. I place the can, filled with pre-sharpened pencils, next to the class sharpener. Each class pencil...

Classroom reminder tags.(September Activities From Our Readers)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Help kids remember to bring in such oft-forgotten materials as permission slips, library books, homework assignments, school supplies, and more with these handy classroom reminders! First, make multiple copies of the Reminders Reproducible,...

Wendy's[R] Deletree Conmigo[TM] Celebrating Two Languages.
September 1, 2003... Hola Maestros: Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with your class with "Wendy's Deletree Conmigo--Celebrating Two Languages," a free educational program sponsored by Wendy's[R] International with Instructor Magazine. These engaging,...

Mural: "Reach High".(Instructor Poster & Lesson)
September 1, 2003... "The most natural, purest, and strongest form of painting is the mural," said Mexican muralist Jose Clemente Orozco, "it is also the most generous... it is for the people. It is for everyone." Public murals celebrate and add beauty to their...

Twice as much fun with bilingual poetry!(Instructor Poster & Workshop)
September 1, 2003... You and your class are sure to have humongous fun with this month's poetry selection, "Un elefante se balanceaba" (translation: A Balancing Elephant). This delightful, kid-pleasing poem is a favorite in nearly every corner of the Hispanic...

A Balancing Elephant.(Poetry Poster)(Brief Article)(Poem)
September 1, 2003... Un elefante se balanceaba Un elefante se balanceaba sobre la tela de una arana. Como veia que resistia fue a llamar a otro elefante. Dos elefantes se balanceaban, sobre la tela de una arana. Como veian que...

What's another word for ...? Bright [syn. brilliant, glistening, glowing] ideas for teaching synonyms.(Activities)
September 1, 2003... Synonym Games Roundabout: Get students up out of their seats with this game! Ask them to clear their desks and take out a pencil. Then give each student a sheet of paper with a vocabulary word on it. Once everyone is ready, appoint a...

What's the opposite of ...? Turn your students' thinking upside-down with antonyms.(Activities)
September 1, 2003... What's in the Bag? Keep students guessing with this antonym game. Give each student a paper bag with a "mystery" item inside (a small, everyday item, such as a pencil, stone, sticker, of toy car). Challenge students to write antonym clues for...

Sensational sidewalks!(Activities)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Michelle Gowan, a teacher at Sonny Carter Elementary in Macon, GA, has created a down-to-earth way to enhance student achievement. It's right on the ground beneath kids' feet! Michelle enlisted parent and teacher volunteers to paint...

10, 9, 8 ... countdown to open school night: is your school's open school night fast approaching? Here are 44 teacher tips, activity ideas, and last-minute reminders to guarantee a great back-to-school celebration.(Activities: open school night)
September 1, 2003... 10 Get Ready! Checklist At some schools, open house happens during the first week of school. If you're lucky enough to have planning time, make the most of it! Three or More Weeks Before the Event: --Begin gathering examples of...

Clever calculators: the calculations are complete! The winners of the 2003 Create-A-Calculator Contest, sponsored by Hewlett-Packard Co. and Scholastic, have been chosen from more than 7,000 impressive entries that poured into our offices. Students in grades K-12 demonstrated innovation, imagination, and, in some cases, highly advanced math and scientific skills in their quests to create their dream calculators.
September 1, 2003... They Can Even Do Math Our judges had a wonderful time reviewing the many creative and unusual entries. Kids showed an affinity for all-in-one calculators that could store music, play videos, place phone calls and, yes, even do basic math....

Open your eyes: your students will see science in a whole new light with these engaging, eye-catching activities.(Activities)
September 1, 2003... Parts of the Eye Our eyes work in a way that is similar to a camera. Invite students to discover this using the Parts of the Eye Reproducible on page 57. Begin by talking them through the process: 1. Light rays travel from an object to the...

Puerto Rico: island of enchantment.(Activities)(Suggestions for crafts, cooking and mapping activities.)
September 1, 2003... A Unique Island Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) by learning about our Caribbean neighbor Puerto Rico. The tropical island is located in the Caribbean Sea (about 1,000 miles from Miami, Florida). Originally...

Extreme planet earth.(Cyberhunt Activities)
September 1, 2003... Embark with your middle- and upper-graders on an adventure around the world! Distribute the Extreme Planet Earth Reproducible, page 62, then direct students to begin their interactive hunt at www.scholastic.com/cyberhuntkids Extreme...

I Face the Wind (Gr. PreK-1).(Science Works)(Children's Review)(Book Review)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... By Vicki Cobb, illustrated by Julia Gorton. HarperCollins, 2003; 32 pages; $15.99. Young children learn to make their own discoveries about wind through observation and simple activities that teach science through experience. The experiments...

What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? (Gr. PreK-3).(Science Works)(Use these activities to accompany the book.)(Brief Article)(Children's Review)
September 1, 2003... By Steve Jenkins & Robin Page, illustrated by the authors. Houghton, 2003; 32 pages; $15. Take a jaunt through the animal kingdom to identify the noses, ears, tails, eyes, mouths, and feet of a variety of creatures. On the first page of each...

How Groundhog's Garden Grew (Gr. K-2).(Science Works)(Children's Review)(Book Review)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... By Lynne Cherry. Scholastic/Blue Sky, 2003; 32 pages; $15.95. Meticulous pen, ink, and watercolor illustrations lure us outside with Little Groundhog as he creeps into Squirrel's fall vegetable garden for a nibble. Squirrel takes him under her...

Two Old Potatoes and Me (Gr. K-3).(Science Works)(Children's Review)(Book Review)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... By John Coy, illustrated by Carolyn Fisher. Knopf, 2003; 32 pages; $15.95. A young African-American girl describes how, when she was staying at her dad's house the previous spring, she found two old sprouted potatoes in the cupboard. Dad and...

The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice (Gr. 1-4).(Science Works)(With activities to accompany this book.)(Brief Article)(Children's Review)
September 1, 2003... By Wendy Pfeffer, illustrated by Jesse Reisch. Dutton, 2003; 40 pages; $17.99. Instructive but easy to understand, this engaging picture book, describing the winter solstice and how and why it occurs, is accompanied by attractive illustrations....

Millions to Measure (Gr. 1-5).(Science Works)(Activities to accompany this book.)(Brief Article)(Children's Review)
September 1, 2003... By David M. Schwartz, illustrated by Steven Kellogg. HarperCollins, 2003; 40 pages; $16.99. Marvelosissimo the Mathmagical Magician, whom you should remember from How Much Is a Million? (1985) and If You Made a Million (1989), is back in his...

Earth from Above for Young Readers (Gr. 1-6).(Science Works)(Ideas for activities and other books to use with this book.)(Brief Article)(Children's Review)
September 1, 2003... By Robert Burleigh, photographs by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Abrams, 2002; 77 pages; $12.95. Renowned photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand toured dozens of countries by helicopter, shooting large, spectacular, color aerial photographs that will...

How Ben Franklin Stole the Lightning (Gr. 1-6).(Science Works)(Use these activities with the book.)(Brief Article)(Children's Review)
September 1, 2003... By Rosalyn Schanzer. HarperCollins, 2003; 32 pages; $16.99. A jaunty Ben Franklin romps through the cheery watercolors that accompany a refreshingly peppy picture-book overview of Ben's scientific achievements, inventions, discoveries, and...

The Case of the Mossy Lake Monster (Gr. 2-5).(Science Works)(Use these activities with the book.)(Brief Article)(Children's Review)
September 1, 2003... By Michele Torrey, illustrated by Barbara Johansen Newman. Dutton, 2002; 83 pages; $14.99. Fifth-grade science detectives Drake Doyle and Nell Fossey are back in their top-notch laboratory, solving some new mysteries in their entertaining...

Brain Juice: Science Fresh Squeezed! (Gr. 3-6).(Science Works)(Use the accompanying activities with this book.)(Brief Article)(Children's Review)
September 1, 2003... By Carol Diggory Shields, illustrated by Richard Thompson. Handprint Books, 2003. 65 pages; $14.95. Starring off with a heartfelt letter to Miss Fullerton, her favorite science teacher, science enthusiast and poet Carol Diggory Shields...

The Man Who Went to the Far Side of the Moon (Gr. 3-8).(Science Works)(Use the accompanying craft idea with this book.)(Brief Article)(Children's Review)
September 1, 2003... By Bea Uusma Schyffert. Chronicle, 2003; 77 pages; $14.95. On July 16, 1969, Michael Collins, Neil Armstrong, and Buzz Aldrin began their voyage to the moon. Armstrong and Aldrin became household names as the first to set foot on the moon....

The Man Who Made Time Travel (Gr. 4-8).(Science Works)(Use the accompanying craft idea with this book.)(Brief Article)(Children's Review)
September 1, 2003... By Kathryn Lasky, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. Farrar, 2003; 40 pages; $17. In her book, Lasky writes "Throughout history, ships sank and men perished because there was no accurate way to measure a ship's true location." In 1714, the British...

Booktalks: Quick and Sample: http://nancykeane.com/booktalks.(Link up to Literature)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... As described on the site, a "booktalk" is like a movie trailer, which tells just enough about the book to entice a reader. Want students to learn how to create their own booktalk as a cumulative assessment? This site contains more than 1,200...

Aesop's Fables: Online Collection: www.aesoptables.com.(Link up to Literature)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... A treasure trove of fables makes this a great spot to visit during a study of Aesop. The collection has more than 625 of his tales, as well as a variety of audio versions with which children can read along. Great highlights include background...

Children's Picture Book Database: www.lib.muohio.edu/pictbks.(Link up to Literature)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Stumped on finding that perfect picture book for your current theme? This site includes short abstracts for more than 5,000 picture books. The "Keyword Search" feature takes you through a series of subject headings, so the items presented are...

Carol Hurst's Children's Literature Site: www.carolhurst.com.(Link up to Literature)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Do you need some inspiration on how to make better use of classroom books? This extensive site contains a collection of book reviews, ways to use them in the classroom, activities, and professional topics. My favorite sections are "Curriculum...

Book Adventure: http://bookadventure.org/ki/bs/ki_bs_helpfind.asp.(Link up to Literature)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Trying to help students create their own reading list? This site allows them to choose a grade level, fiction of nonfiction, and up to five topics from a list that includes subjects such as holidays, fantasy, and much more. A reading list,...

The Reading Corner: www.carr.lib.md.us/read.(Link up to Literature)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... Compiled by teachers for teachers, this site is a compilation of book abstracts for students in grades 2-8. Searchable by the author's name, title, or subject, and easily browseable by broad categories, the information provided here can help...

Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature: www.dawcl.com.(Link up to Literature)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... If you are looking for a list of high-quality children's books, this is the place to go! The database--containing more than 4,000 titles--allows you to create a tailored reading list for your students. It also provides information about each...

Language Arts Cyberguides: www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/cyberguide.html.(Link up to Literature)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... This content-rich site contains supplementary, standards-based units of instruction, centered on core works of literature. Each CyberGuide contains a student and teacher edition, standards, a task and a process, teacher-selected Web sites, and...

The Doucette Index: K-12 Literature-Based Teaching Ideas: www.educ.ucalgary.ca/litindex.(Link up to Literature)(Brief Article)
September 1, 2003... A quick, no-fuss search of this large database (by author or title) will link you to Web sites and print materials--most of which contain lessons and activities. No browsing here--just a simple searching interface--but the results are...

The truth of a photograph: instead of an eight-year-old "tornado of terror," the photo showed a sweetly grinning child.(End Of The Day)
September 1, 2003... Recently a friend and I flipped through some pictures of my very first class, a lively group of second graders at an inner-city elementary school in Washington, D.C. My friend stopped at one picture, exclaiming, "Oh, look at this one! Isn't he...