I Give You Permission to Pin!

Up until recently, I viewed Pinterest as my own personal web bulletin board. But within the last week, there has been several articles floating around about the "small print" on Pinterest that I guess many people failed to read.... Apparently, once something is "pinned"onto a Pinterest board, Pinterest then owns all rights to use, duplicate and sell this image. Well, my biggest concern when realizing this was "oh my goodness, I pinned so many things.....I gave Pinterest the right to own someone else's image without their permission!"  I can't imagine Pinterest not catching wind of the "copyright" and "ownership" issue soon; I am curious to see how things change in the future. In the meantime, I give you permission to pin WHATEVER YOU LIKE! In fact, I encourage it : )

If you love teacher blogs check out Laura Candler's Corkboard Connections Blog. She has started a linky party for teachers who want to announce that they have "granted the right to pin". Check this site out when you get a chance. Not only is it super resourceful if you are looking for resources for teaching literacy, but because there are several teachers who have already started to link up.





Have a great weekend : )

POOF! Another Picture Prompt...

I was going to use this image to create the traditional, "If you had three wishes, what would they be?" But instead I decided to go with something a little more creative with the hopes that I would inspire my students to be more creative. Today's picture prompt is perfect for narrative and/or journal writing. Feel free to grab it or pin it. I look forward to compiling them all into a great big ebook!!!! If you have any suggestions and/or requests for the type of prompt you would like to see added to the ebook, please feel free to leave a comment below.
           
                                                                            Enjoy,

Another awesome PICTURE PROMPT!!

My favorite movie was ET when I was growing up. I always wondered what I would do "if I found an alien in my backyard".... When I googled weird creatures the image below came up and I instantly thought of a writing prompt to go with it. This would serve as a great narrative writing assignment. I would love to see what my students would write about. 

 Link up below if you would like to add your picture to the Picture Prompt Linky Party!!! Check out all of the added links for more great picture prompts.

                                                                         Enjoy,

Picture Prompt Linky Party!!

Do you use picture prompts in your classroom? Would you like to start using picture prompts in your classroom? Well Selina Smith from Classroom Magic and I have partnered up to bring you some of the BEST picture prompts!!

Picture prompts are great for quick writes, morning activities, story starters, time-fillers and much more! I use them either first thing in the morning during our breakfast period (my students eat breakfast in the classroom during a 30 minute period). Or, I use them right after lunch (so that I can set up for the math period....especially if I had a million things going on at lunch and ran out of time to set up for the next lesson). And lets be honest, sometimes things come up and you need something "quick and easy" to keep your students busy engaged! Picture prompts can be photocopied and laminated for center/workshop activities, they can be used as homework assignments, you can also use them for mini formative assessments. I usually project them from the SMART board, but if you dont have one, you could also use a traditional projector or a portable projector that connects to your laptop/computer (I used that last year and created my own version of a SMART board!). Here are some great picture prompts to get you started!

HOW TO CREATE A PICTURE PROMPT USING POWERPOINT:
1. Paste/drag your image into a blank page (its easier when you don't use a preset format).
2. Create a frame using the option to insert a shape. After choosing your shape, drag the shape over your image (you will not be able to see your image again until after you complete step 4).
3. Use Quickstyles to choose the type of frame you prefer ( a solid, a frame, and color choice).
4. Click on "Arrange", choose "send to back". You can play with it to get it to look the way you want.
5. Insert text using a text box.
6. Once you are satisfied save the document as a picture.

You can then insert the prompt into your blog post as an image. Feel free to ask any questions.

If you use picture prompts, or if you are inspired to create a few, we would LOVE LOVE LOVE for you to join our Picture Prompt Linky Party!!!
 This is how it works:
1. Write a short post sharing your picture prompts.
2. Post our Picture Prompt Linky Party Image on your blog post, and link it back to this post.
3. Link up below.
4. And leave your Pinterest link below. If you are not on Pinterest, please leave your email address and we can add you. Once you have been added, feel free to come back and leave us your Pinterest link and we will add you to the collaborative board.

Please remember that in order to be added to our collaborative Pinterest board, you must follow us both: Classroom Magic @ https://pinterest.com/selsmith479/  
The Diary of a Not So Wimpy Teacher @ https://pinterest.com/mswainwright/  

OH, and this is the BEST part of it all...... If you link up with us, we will add your picture prompt to our ebook that will be offered to all of a Facebook friends, blog buddies, Twitter friends.....and to just about any one on the web who comes across it!!!! Please make sure that whatever contact information you want shared is posted somewhere on your picture prompt!!

We look forward to reading your picture prompts and adding them to our Pinterest Board!!!

Principal's Book of the Month: Giant Steps to Change the World

I can not tell you enough how refreshing it is to work with an administrator that is truly committed to student success. This year I have the privilege of working with a principal who not only makes it a point to walk around to each classroom daily to greet the students, but he also visits classrooms at random to read his chosen book of the month. There was a time when I was told (by a different principal at a completely different school) that a read aloud was (and I quote) "a waste of time" and that I needed to stop doing them daily and to instead focus on test taking strategies..... Needless to say, the purpose of this post is to share with you a great morning lesson that was presented to my classroom by my principal. 


The Principal's Book of the Month for February is Giant Steps to Change the World by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee. The authors set the tone of their story by beginning with "On some days your dreams may seem too away far to realize… Listen to the whispers of those that came before you...". Throughout the story they share many triumphs of people who fought through fear and difficult obstacles to reach their goals. My principal began the lesson with first talking to my students about what they can do to change the world. He asked them to think about what positive contributions they can make to our school and our community so that they could make a difference. He then shared that he was going to read a book AND that we were going to participate in an informal school-wide contest (I LOVE competitions!!). So he had each student take out a piece of paper. The challenge was, as he read this great story to them, they had to figure out who the authors were describing. Using notable events and descriptive language the Lee's described great contributors to American history. BUT, they never mention the name of who it is they are talking about. One of the first descriptions began with "The road won't be easy. People will try to exclude you. But you must leap over hurdles-like the Olympic athlete who won the gold even though he had been relegated to second-class status by the very country he was representing." (<<Jesse Owens). As my principal read the story, my students were writing the names of the person who they thought was being described. At the end of the story they were eager to see if they were right but they first had to share again what their goals for the future were. There are a total of 11 trailblazers described in this story and my students were able to identify 8 of them correctly! And, the ones they did not recognize they were familiar with once we discussed them. 


My students were so engaged and so eager to share what they knew that a simple 30 minute lesson turned into about an hour! My principal discussed one of his favorite poets, Langston Hughes, and offered my students P-Point (school-wide behavior incentive) if they could name 2 poems that he had written.....MY students named FOUR! (proud moment, we just did a genre study last week and I was happy they retained the information!!). It was also great to see my students engaged in rich dialogue about things that have happened in our past (they get it....they really get it). They were able to answer questions and even add to what the principal was saying. They were able to recall speeches made by Martin Luther King and reference the constitution (AND NO I did not prep them!). 








We had a great morning. Having our principal spend some time with us was refreshing : ) 

Dear Mr. President.....

I will never forget election day 2008. It is a moment that will forever be carved in memory. Leading up to this monumental election I followed every debate, read every article, and whenever asked, openly shared who I thought should be elected President of the United States and why I felt this way. Aside from his political platform, his personal appeal, and the undeniable fact that HE was THE best candidate for this position, there were so many connections, or more like signs, that made me believe from day one that President Barack Obama was going to be elected as our nations first African American President. For one, I remember the Democratic Convention falling on the same weekend as the anniversary of the March on Washington in (August of 1963). I remember the then-senator giving (another) mind-blowing speech that brought my entire family to tears. I felt like when giving certain speeches, President Obama was channeling the great orators in history. He was speaking from a place much deeper than wanting to win a political office. He was always filled with so much.....passion. There were also the many similarities to our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln; the ability to captivate a crowd with charming wit or a compelling speech, the need to preserve the rights and freedoms for those who have gone unspoken for in the bigger scheme of our government, and the "common" background (just a strong-willed intelligent man  paving his own path) that painted a picture of honesty and sincerity when speaking for the American people. Not to mention they both served as top political leaders in the state of Illinois. (President Obama was sworn into presidency using the same Bible that President Abraham Lincoln used when he was sworn into office). It just felt right, like it was time.

The night he won the election I was in complete shock. Yes it was great that we finally had a president that was about doing something for "the people". But it was also personal for me. I was ecstatic and I was proud to see that an African American man, one who would have been denied the right to vote less than 50 years ago, was now going to be the leader of our country. I felt like major progress had been made. Despite the many struggles we still face to become a more unified nation, I felt like that moment was as powerful as the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation (signed by who.....President Abraham Lincoln).

With that in mind, I feel compelled to integrate the celebration of Black History Month with the acknowledgement of the upcoming holiday, Presidents' Day. How can you not tie the two together? It is the perfect marriage of struggle, hope, strength, perseverance, education, and PROGRESS. It doesn't mean that I don't highlight the other presidents and their accomplishments.....but like Black History, American history is taught year round. Since January we have been studying the US Constitution and how it is the law of the land. We have also discussed how equality/liberty/justice for all was not given, it had to be fought for. We've learned about the Revolutionary War  and the Civil War. We've also talked about why the Civil Rights Movement was necessary 100 years later. My students are currently learning about how life was in the 60's (segregation laws, injust treatment, and harsh living conditions for many African Americans). This is necessary. It is necessary for them to understand how far America has come so that they can fully appreciate things that are said to them about hard work and success. Also, so they have a stronger understanding of the importance of education and  purpose.

So, here is an activity that my students are working on this week. It is a follow-up activity to the story Barack Obama: Son of Promise, Children of Hope. It requires them to read about the childhood of President Obama and make connections, ask questions, and write a friendly letter. We've been talking about the roles and responsibilities of presidents and what they have to do to qualify for the position. By reading about the childhood of President Obama, students get to see that he was once a young boy that has gone through some of the things they may be going through now. They will see him as a person and not a super hero, and it will plant the seed that they too could become president if they wanted to. I love this book! My students are enjoying it as well : ) Please download this activity and feel free to share your thoughts below. I look forward to reading your comments!

                                                       Enjoy : )

You Know You're a Teacher When.... LINKY PARTY : )

There are so many things that make a teacher a teacher! We are unique in our way of turning someone else's "trash" into a classroom "treasure", we are the go-to person for the best book suggestions or homework helping tips, we always have random school supplies, we are walking resources for take-home projects, and we could be the life of the party once we start sharing some of the stories about the students in our classrooms!!
Teaching isn't just a profession, it is a way of life! So....how do you know you are a teacher??? Let's see.....

For more "You Know You're a Teacher When....." visit Kindergarten Lifestyle's page, she is hosting a fantastic Linky Party!

50 Brainy Black History Facts Freebie

Tonight I wanted to share my 50 Brainy Black History Facts Freebie!! I created this activity because it is a great way to have black history facts on hand. The facts are made in the form of flashcards; this makes it easy for cutting and laminating for durability. I suggest adding these cards to a large silver ring for easy storage. I was careful to keep the layout of these facts simple, providing versatility for those who choose to use them. These facts are not only great for Black History Month, but can also be used year-round to encourage inquiry projects and to build schema prior to related learning activities. I hope you enjoy this awesome freebie!

Check back throughout the next few days (over the course of the next two weeks) as I post the following freebies: 

Faces of the Future: A bulletin board that encourages students to highlight their strengths and interests

Our Children Can Soar: A book review with accompanying literacy activities

Dear Mr. President: A writing activity that celebrates our president, President Barack Obama

I look forward to any comments, suggestions, and/or request! 

Enjoy,

Homework Linky Party!

The Lesson Plan Diva is hosting a homework linky party! I just had to jump on this one because I have some pretty strong views on homework! #1 I don't like it. I am not a fan of homework in the younger grades. I do, however, feel strongly about assigning on-going activities/small projects that engage students and require them to practice learned skills on their own. The goal for homework should be to reinforce learned skills so that the students can work toward mastery. However, if a student is struggling with a particular skill and (in my experience) if they don't have anyone to really help them at home, the assignment is more like "busy work" and not beneficial. #2. If I assign worksheets every evening, homework is not as meaningful because I do not have the time to grade homework every day. Honestly. I am not grading 2-3 different worksheets from each child everyday on top of everything else that I have to do. Especially when I know that it is always a possibility that this doesn't really reflect what a student is capable of doing independently. And, if I can't grade it and provide feedback, in my opinion, it isn't meaningful. #3. WE WORK HARD IN SCHOOL ALL DAY! We work hard in my class everyday. There is always a lot going on. I teach bell to bell. I try to keep my students engaged ALL day long because not only is what they need to be successful, but it also helps to keep unnecessary behavior problems to a minimum. I know at the end of the day I am exhausted. Seriously. And I know my students are as well. Aside from practicing math skills and reading for at least 25 minutes every night, I don't find it necessary for them to go home and have to work on more school work for another two hours or so. Is this really beneficial? Are they really taking it all in?
So, the million dollar question is.........How do I do homework in my class?

I provide students with weekly brainwork activities. These are a set of activities that students have all week to complete. It is almost like a homework sheet but different. I'm not a big fan of homework sheets because again, I'm not grading a stack of worksheets for each child everyday.... But, the brainwork activities are good because they are creating some type of a finished project that requires a process. That means Monday they  might work on one or two things, Tuesday and Wednesday they might finish up another step or two and by Thursday they are completing the final steps. So even though this is something they have to work on everyday, I only have to grade the finished product. I like to see their rough drafts and outlines just to see how they developed throughout the week but again, and most importantly, I only have one thing to grade from each student. This also works for me because truth be told, some of my students just don't get the support they need at home. This could be for many different reasons but whatever the case may be.....some need more support than others. So, my students have the option of coming up at lunch and/or staying after school to get the support or use the materials that they may need. They have ALL week to do this. With this said, there are no excuses at the end of the week for not having their assignments done.

I also require that my students read for a minimum of one hundred minutes per week. They can choose to break this up anyway they like. But by  the end of the week, they must have a total of 100 minutes. I have found that many students actually read longer. I do it like this because I am allowing my students to take control and have a sense of choice. I know that they should be reading nightly for about 25 minutes; however, again, being aware of the diverse living arrangements in my classroom I understand that some students may not be able to read nightly for whatever reason. It is their responsibility to make sure they get their time in. My school participates in the Pizza Hut Book It! program. At the end of the month each student receives a coupon for a free personal pizza if they total 100 minutes or more for each week.
Download my brainwork letter and this week's activity (a time line worksheet and Powerpoint outline). Also included is this month's reading log.
How do you do your homework? Join the Lesson Plan Diva and link up your post! Share your ideas and read about what others are doing : ) 
Enjoy: ) 

CELEBRATING 300 Facebook Friends with A FREEBIE!

YAY! The Diary of a Not So Wimpy Teacher is growing!! To celebrate AND to show how much I truly appreciate all of the love, I am sharing a FREEBIE!

Is it time to assign a report? Are you swamped with test prep, paperwork, grading papers, blah blah blah......? Well, if you need to assign a writing project and you are super busy, this freebie is perfect for you!! The President Report: A Ready-made Assignment, has everything created for you. I am providing you with a grading rubric, student directions, a rubric for an oral report, AND quick for facts for EACH president. All you have to do is pass it out! I hope you LOVE it, it really does make assigning a report (written and oral) super easy.

Stay posted, I have some REALLY great reading activities in the works! I had the pleasure of attending the African American Children's Book Fair today and I picked up some great new reads. I can't wait to share them with you : )

Selena, from Classroom Magic, has also created a great mini activity unit that is great for President's Day. She has a math lesson perfect for reinforcing statistical data, a writing assignment, and my favorite, a biographical poem. She is giving this activity away for free on her blog! Stop by and pick it up, let her know Kathie sent you! 

Enjoy the rest of your weekend, 

George Washington Carver (1865-1943)

No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving something behind.
~George Washington Carver   

   George Washington Carver was born on a small farm in Missouri to a young slave couple. Never knowing his father (who died before he was born), and after being kidnapped from his mother at just a few months old, Carver was raised by his slave owners Moses and Susan Carver. As as child, Carver was frail and sickly, which is why he spent most of his time working beside Susan completing chores around the cabin. It was here where he learned many domestic skills such as cooking, cleaning and mending. He also  spent a lot of time in the garden fascinated with plants and flowers. George Washington Carver received a formal education growing up which was rare for African-Americans at this time; as a young adult he went on to study agriculture and obtained a bachelor's degree in 1894 and a graduate degree in 1896.
     As his career began to flourish, George Washington Carver worked closely with Booker T. Washington at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. Carver conducted agricultural research which was significant in  the development and improvement of farming practices for poorer farmers, both black and white. After years of growing cotton, the soil in the south wasn't that great. Carver encouraged farmers to grow peanuts to improve the quality of the soil.
     George Washington Carver continued to make huge contributions to America. He developed many great uses and recipes for peanuts, sweet potatoes and other agricultural products. This was a huge contribution to the south; it helped to improve farmers lives and their diets. It also helped to revitalize the southern economy which was not doing too well at the time. When America was plagued with polio, Carver developed a special treatment using peanut oil that provided some relief for those suffering from the virus. 
     Carver is buried on the campus of Tuskegee Institute where he worked and lived for most of his life. He died on January 5, 1943. He is buried near the grave of Booker T. Washington. Soon after his death, Senator Harry S. Truman sponsored the George Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond. It is located on the farm where Carver was born. 

DOWNLOAD HERE

Download my George Washington Carver activity set! It includes an informative coloring page, a mini science experiment and a tasty peanut butter recipe! 

For a great literacy activity during Black History Month, visit Classroom Magic.

A Tribute to Black History: Garrett Morgan

February is Black History Month, but the impact African Americans have had on the development of our beautiful country and the contributions that have been made to the entire world are recognized and appreciated every day! 

How did this month long celebration get started?

Dr. Carter G. Woodson founded The Journal of Negro History in 1916 and began Negro History Week in 1926. A week in February was designated because that month held birthdays for Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass and Booker T. Washington. This week went on to become Black History Month in 1976, designated by presidential proclamation.

Today's post celebrates Garrett Morgan. 

Born in 1877 to former slaves, Garret spent his childhood working on a farm with his siblings. Unfortunately, his formal schooling ended in his elementary years, but this didn't stop him from continuing his education. In search of opportunity, Morgan hired a tutor as a young adult. He soon began his career repairing sewing machines and later branched out as an entrepreneur, opening his own sewing equipment and repair shop. This was the first of many businesses he would find success with. He soon became well-known as a business man and later went on to invent the gas mask and at the height of his career, the traffic signal.  Garrett Morgan died August 27, 1963, at the age of 86. After living a very full and successful life, Morgan has become known as one of the many influential inventors in American history.




Here is a free printable worksheet that you can use to teach your students about Garret Morgan. 

Here is an extension activity that can go with the printable:

• Have your students read about additional African American inventors. Discuss the inventions that are most relevant to their everyday lives.

• Have your students think about ways they could improve these inventions, or, brainstorm things they can invent to make their day to day lives easier (i.e. a binder that comes with an electric hole puncher attached so that when you go to add paper, it automatically punches the necessary holes for you). Discuss ideas that range from simple to more complex. 

• Once they make a final decision on what their invention can be, have the students illustrate, write about, and/or create a prototype of their invention. You can display their ideas on a class bulletin board, on a display table, or take pics and post them in a "New Inventions" magazine. They can also write a newspaper article introducing their invention, or create an advertisement to promote it. Students can also vote on the invention they would most likely use. 

Visit The Black Inventor Museum for additional African American inventors:

http://www.blackinventor.com/  

Please feel free to post a link to any Black History Month activities you are posting on your blog, Facebook, or website! 

Enjoy : )