The classroom I'm subbing in (6 weeks) requires that the children do AR, but there is no list of books or any organization for it. It has been really frustrating to me, as my AR knowledge is very limited (and I'm not a walking book list!)
I've searched many different websites for a list of AR books, but haven't found any winners.
Until today.
I am in love with AR BookFinder
It's so simple. All you have to do is type in the title/author you are looking for, hit search, and if it is an AR book, it will give you the reading level, the quiz number, the amount of points the quiz is worth, and a little synopsis of the book.
It's great!
Maybe everyone else already knows about this, but I didn't, and it's going to make this job a lot easier.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Friday, September 4, 2009
Back to School Night
I lead my first Back to School night this week--as a substitute!
It was interesting, but good, because I got to get to know the parents a little better. That is important, seeing as how I'll be there for the next 6 weeks or so!
Ever since my education classes in college, I've thought about what I would do to make Back to School night special when I was a teacher. Even though this is not my class, I decided to use some fun ideas for this occasion, too!
I used red construction paper to make apples that were about 6 inches tall. Then I made a smaller apple cut out of large lined paper and put that inside of the red apple. The day before the parents came, I gave each child one of the apples, and had them write a special message to their parents.
It was a great way to have them practice their "very best" handwriting and letter-writing skills, and also gave them a way to be involved in Back to School Night.
The parents loved their special messages, and used the back of the apples to write letters back to their children. The kids were so excited the next morning when they came back to the class to find an apple on their desk from their mom or dad!
I took pictures of a few of my favorites because I just thought they were so cute. I love the first grader's mind!
I'll type them out in "grown-up spelling" as we call it in first grade, but if you want to see what they actually wrote, you can click on the pictures to see them bigger.
"Dear Dad and Mom, I love you at my house. And do you love me? yes or no. And are you coming to my school? yes or no."
"Dear Dad, I love you, and this is a prayer for you: Dear God, we love you, Amen."
"Dear Dad, I love Dad. I have fun at school. I have best friend. I meet my friend Nina. I have lots of fun at school. I love you, Dad."
And this one, I just have to write phonetically, just in case you can't see it it. "Dear Mom and Dad, you hav Bin gud parens." (been good parents. Cute!)
It was interesting, but good, because I got to get to know the parents a little better. That is important, seeing as how I'll be there for the next 6 weeks or so!
Ever since my education classes in college, I've thought about what I would do to make Back to School night special when I was a teacher. Even though this is not my class, I decided to use some fun ideas for this occasion, too!
I used red construction paper to make apples that were about 6 inches tall. Then I made a smaller apple cut out of large lined paper and put that inside of the red apple. The day before the parents came, I gave each child one of the apples, and had them write a special message to their parents.
It was a great way to have them practice their "very best" handwriting and letter-writing skills, and also gave them a way to be involved in Back to School Night.
The parents loved their special messages, and used the back of the apples to write letters back to their children. The kids were so excited the next morning when they came back to the class to find an apple on their desk from their mom or dad!
I took pictures of a few of my favorites because I just thought they were so cute. I love the first grader's mind!
I'll type them out in "grown-up spelling" as we call it in first grade, but if you want to see what they actually wrote, you can click on the pictures to see them bigger.
"Dear Dad and Mom, I love you at my house. And do you love me? yes or no. And are you coming to my school? yes or no."
"Dear Dad, I love you, and this is a prayer for you: Dear God, we love you, Amen."
"Dear Dad, I love Dad. I have fun at school. I have best friend. I meet my friend Nina. I have lots of fun at school. I love you, Dad."
And this one, I just have to write phonetically, just in case you can't see it it. "Dear Mom and Dad, you hav Bin gud parens." (been good parents. Cute!)
Monday, August 24, 2009
So Many Things to Learn!
If I have learned anything in my pursuit of becoming an effective teacher, it is to share ideas with others in your field. One of my favorite professors in college always reminded us, "There's no point in reinventing the wheel!"
As I enter different classrooms as a substitute, read books on teaching, and talk with friends in the education field, I find that there are so many wonderful ideas that I want to hold on to and remember for when I finally have a classroom of my own.
This blog isn't meant to be anything profound, simply a chronicle of my journey of learning, the ideas I pick up along the way, and the dreams I have for my own classroom someday.
As I enter different classrooms as a substitute, read books on teaching, and talk with friends in the education field, I find that there are so many wonderful ideas that I want to hold on to and remember for when I finally have a classroom of my own.
This blog isn't meant to be anything profound, simply a chronicle of my journey of learning, the ideas I pick up along the way, and the dreams I have for my own classroom someday.
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