Character Education

My students and I will be reading and working from the book, Wonder by R.J. Palacio, this upcoming 2015/2016 school year. We, my students and I, will build a classroom community and incorporate character education to teach students that we are not what we look like, but who we are on the inside that matters. I want my students to help each other and not allow anyone to bully or harass them. I want them to help others.

If you haven't read Wonder, you are missing out on a good book.  I read the book to my students for the last 2 weeks of school. They were hooked and enthralled with it. They couldn't believe that other kids treated Auggie, the main character in Wonder,  that way. I had to tell them that people do this a lot. I always ask them how would that make them feel if that were said or done to you?

I will be using some great products created by Danielle Knight to use with the book. They include an Interactive Layered Flip Book with all vocabulary, comprehension questions, and activities for Wonder. I will also be using her Characterization Mini Flip and her Plot Diagram Puzzle. Check out her blog, Study All Knight. You won't be disappointed!

My students also enjoyed Mr. Brown's Precepts in the book. These precepts are sayings to live by. Our favorite precept was,  "When given the choice of being right or being kind, always choose kind." - Dr. Wayne W. Dyer.

Yes, it is hard to be kind at times, but it can be done.

I also found the Children's Craniofacial Assocaition website. They have a tab called 'Wonder." Under this tab, you will find an assortment of resources for the book Wonder. I love where your class can take the Choose Kind Challenge & Pledge.

I can't wait to begin this wonderful journey of teaching and modeling to always choose kind. We need a more positive atmosphere for our kiddos. Our classroom may be the only place where some students experience kindness.

Warmly,

Michele

Donors Choose

I just finished working on my first Donors Choose Project...I am so excited! If you donate between now and May 31st, and use the word SPARK, they will match every donation up to $100. Here is the link to my project, Choose Kind:

http://www.donorschoose.org/we-teach/2504432?utm_source=dc&utm_medium=teacher_profile&utm_campaign=copyURL&rf=copyURL-siteshare-2015-05-teacher_profile-teacher_2504432

Happy Summer,

Michele

Biography Hanger Person

My students just finished the painstaking task of writing a biography. My students were not to thrilled about writing a six-paragraph biography, but they were very interested in gathering information about their person. 

To help with the painstaking task of writing, I was on a mission to find a "fun" way to do this task. I came across a fabulous blog, Teaching in Room 6. The minute I saw the "Hanger People" I was hooked, line and sinker.  I absolutely loved her idea! 

I love the creativity side of this project. We do not have art as an activity at our school, so I try to incorporate this whenever I can. I believe that putting the arts back into elementary school helps with academic achievement.  My kiddos absolutely enjoyed creating their "Hanger Person!" 

My students worked hard on their biography reports and learned so much.  It was rewarding to see all of our hard work, yes I said "our hard work," come to bloom. The look on my students' faces as I hung their work in the hall for all to see was priceless. I heard compliments from other students, my own students complimenting each other, and administration loving them. They were proud peacocks! 

Here are some of our masterpieces...

Michele

Brand New

Hello! I am new to the Blogger world. For my first post, I would like to talk about a wonderful program I have been involved with for a few years now. It is a true teacher workshop through Mississippi State.

The program is called IMPACT2. It stands for In-Depth Mathematical Practices and Content Teacher Training. It deepens the content knowledge, pedagogical skills, and technology-integration skills of 4th -8th grade math teachers across Mississippi.

I have been very fortunate to be a mentor teacher in this program. I have learned a great amount of skills from other teachers across Mississippi! We have great teachers in this state!

Here is a pic of our mentor group on a field trip to Young Chefs Academy in Baton Rouge, LA. We had a blast!

Here is the webpage if you are interested in IMPACT2.
Here is the webpage for Young Chefs Academy.