1001 Ways to Use a Digital Camera

This site http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/%7Eucfcasio/qvuses.htm is designed as a reference tool putting educators in touch with creative educational applications for digital cameras in educational settings. Submitted lessons and applications that have been used successfully in the classroom will be displaye d for other educators to view and print.

A Good Impression

Make Sure the Open House Experience Is a Good One

Making a good first impression should be the goal of every teacher. So no matter how your school organizes its open house, there is one sure way to succeed in making a great first impression: plan the event from a parent's point of view.

So, what do parents expect of an open house?

• Parents expect to be greeted at the door with a friendly "welcome" from the teacher.
• Name tags and markers help speed up introductions and enable all in attendance to get to know one another.
• Parents expect the classroom to be clean and orderly; that will signal that their child is learning in a quality environment.
• Parents will be interested in seeing an example or two of their children's work. One year the fifth-grade teachers in one of my schools had students prepare life-sized paper cutouts of themselves. As those cutouts sat at their desks, they were "dressed" in clothes the parents should recognize -- and most did.
• Parents will want to see a display of textbooks and other materials that are being used in the classroom.
• Signup sheets should be available so parents can schedule a one-on-one conference with the teacher; other signup sheets might be available for parents who will be willing to go along on field trips or assist in other ways.
• If allowed, involve the students in the open house. They can answer questions, show how computers are used, and be available to provide other assistance.

Education World ® Lesson Planning: Icebreakers

Education World ® Lesson Planning: Icebreakers

Considering a Classroom Blog....Here are some examples!

http://steers3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2010/06/breakfast-goodbye.html


http://smithsthirdgradenews.blogspot.com/

Happy Happens-theme song for 2010-11 School Year

New Link Added-Looking for Literature

Just ran across this great info from Dr. Buck's blog......


If you are looking for award winning children's literature on a specific topic.....browse using this link's database. You can narrow down the search with many filters. Here is the link: Award Winning Children's Literature Database

More from Annette Breaux

More from Annette Breaux
A few more secrets to improve student achievement:

• Recommit to teaching EVERY day. 

• "What you do speaks so loudly I can't hear what you say." Be careful of your body language. Do you use your desk as a barrier to your students? Or are you so close you can reach out and see their eyeballs?
• Some kids will do what ever they can to push your buttons. 

• Great teachers can be successful with a group of students no matter what time of day they are scheduled to teach them. No excuses....
• Lots of discipline issues from a classroom implies the teacher is weak. 

• Must be an excellent classroom manager. Don't let obstacles get in the way of instruction, such as kids up all the time sharpening pencils, going to the bathroom, etc. 

• Relate all lessons to REAL life....their lives. If a baby is being taught to talk, you wouldn't give them a worksheet. 
• The textbook is a resource...   Teachers must hook kids into learning.....so be a good "hooker"   ha ha!

Sharing CLAS Session Information

Session Name: How to Impact Student Achievement and Make a Difference
Annette Breaux, an author and educational Consultant


My revelations...
There are 3 kinds of students:
1. Kids that will do the wrong thing whether someone is watching or not.
2. Kids that will do the right thing when they are watched.
3. Kids that will do the right thing whether you watch them or not.


What does this mean for R. L. Young? 
You as a teacher must always be "on". You can't get upset with kids when they misbehave but are not being properly supervised (because you know there are 3 types of students). 



How do you as a teacher avoid discipline problems?
*Greet the students each morning or at the door if you change classes. Even if you have to FAKE it, act like you are sooooooooo glad to see them. This warm welcome will pay off.
*If a child misbehaves, quietly ask them "Are you alright?" Give then the benefit of the doubt, but let them know you are on to them. 
*Avoid power struggles with students. If you have to, arrange for them to practice the rule they are breaking during recess. It will only take one time and 5 minutes to make your point that talking out, out of seat, etc. will not be accepted. You are "letting them practice" the rule.
*Remember, you are the role model. Smile all day long.......make your students glad they are in YOUR classroom!

Marble City Grill Gathering...Fun, Fun, Fun!

The group was small, but there was plenty of good food, laughter and great conversation at our table. Everyone was relaxed and although there was a little shop talk, we caught up on what was happening in each other's lives this summer. 


For those who didn't know or couldn't come, plan to join us for the next faculty/staff gathering in July before the school year begins. 

Looking for New Schedules?

Good Morning, Teachers!
You all know I am curious about everything and I am learning more every day about the use of technology. One thing I want to pass onto you is the use of the "cloud". Basically this means instead of cluttering up my documents and desktop, I can store things online (in the cloud). My choice of cloud is GOOGLE DOCS. You don't have to have an account to see what I have stored for you, but you will need one to begin storing things for yourself. TO REACH THESE DOCUMENTS, JUST CLICK THE LINKS. It should take you right to each document. 


It is free to store files online, you just need a google account. If you have signed up to post on the school's blog, you already have an account. This site also offers a free webpage (going to explore that option soon) and a place to make forms, such as the NEW discipline office referral form we will try out this year. (Link is under FORMS)  You fill it out in the classroom, I receive an email, and the info gets dumped into a spreadsheet creating a nice year long data record of our discipline. 


Enjoy...

Door and Bulletin Board Idea Site

Looking for cute door and bulletin board ideas?  Look what I found: Garden of Praise 


Really good stuff here.........

Blog Just for Teachers -NEW LOOK

The blog "just for rlyoung teachers" has a new location and look. Blogger is a familiar way for me to reach out and touch all of you! 
We will hopefully be well connected throughout the year. Check here often and give me feedback so I can continue to make improvements JUST FOR YOU!!