ACTIVE Learning

An instructional method that helps to engage students in the learning process is active learning! Active learning gives students the opportunity to be active participants in their own learning process and become metacongnitive. Active learning increases students' involvement, engagement, critical thinking, independent thinking, and creative thinking. It also increases students' collaboration with
one another and their motivation and performance.

When Should I Use Active Learning Strategies?

• When students work in pairs or small groups
• When in need of pre-assessment data
• When accessing prior knowledge
• To discover misconceptions and misunderstandings
• To set a purpose
• To check for understanding
• To build movement

Examples:

Biopoems - This acvtivity helps students make a personal connection with characters or concepts, helps to increase creative thinking, and gives the students an opportunity to use descriptive language. 

Guidlines for each line:

1. First Name
2. 3 or 4 adjectives that describe the person/object
3. Important relationships
4. 2 or 3 things, people, or ideas that the person or object leved, was attracted to or interested in
5. 3 feelings that the person/object experienced
6. 3 fears the person/object experienced
7. Accomplishments
8. 2 or 3 places, people, or experiences, the person wanted to see or wanted to have
9. His or her residence
10. Last Name

Think, Pair, Share - This activity helps to build wait time, increase participation, check for understanding, provides time for the teacher to prepare. 

Process:

1. Ask a question
2. Tell students to think quietly, allow for at least 30 seconds to a minute of think time
3. Tell students to pair up with a partner and discuss their thinking, allow 2-3 minutes

Signal Cards - This activity gives students a chance to express their understanding of something or express that they are in need of more help. Students are given cards to signal this understanding. 

CoDiNg & rObOtIcS

Helpful Tips

• Let students explore! Give the time to play with it and come up with their own codes.
• Let students be the teacher! Let the students learn own their own and teach YOU!
• Encourage failure! Let students know that this classroom is a safe environment for them to try, fail, and try again!
• Coding and robotics is NOT only for science!!!

Coding with Bee Bots:

Math:

• Adding & Subtracting: have the students roll two dice, add or subtract, code the bot to go to the sum. 
• Mapping: code locational coordinaates to navigate a map.
• 
  
• Even & odd numbers: have students roll the die, if they get an even number they code the bot to go up the ladder, if they get an odd number they code the bot to go down the ladder. 
• Colors & Shapes: code the bot to go to certain colors and/or shapes.

Literacy:

• Spelling words: one student draws a card and the other spells the word on the card using the bot to move from letter to letter.
• Short stories: prepared drawings on the board and have students tell the key events from the story using the bee bot.
• Retell: have students to use the bee bot to retell events from a story
• Letters and Sounds: have students to identify letters and sounds useing the bee bot. 

Super Stupendous STEAM

STEAM stands for Science Teachnology Engineering Art and Mathematics. Now, you may be thing, "Science, technology, engineering, and math all makes sense together, but why art?". Well, I'm glad you asked! This could be representaed as inclusion of Language Arts or as creative art. Students may integrate these as oral or written explanations or their scientific discorveries, drawings, videos, paintings, charts, diargrams, or an other visual or creative way they feel that they can best express their thinking and understanding.
Examples of this may also include:

• Engineering and Science Journals
• Presentations
• Drawings of their predictions and conclusions
• Written summaries of their experiementations

Books and Lessons:

• 11 Experiements That Failed by Jenny Offill and Nancy Carpenter - Lessons: Questions, hypothesis, what to do, what happened, experiements fails sometimes, encourages students to be curious and to experiment, teaches importance of having adult supervision. 
• The 3 Little Pigs - Lessons: Incorporates opoprtunity fo design thinking and engineering, have students make their own houses using different mateirals and see how their designs and engineering hold up against the big bad wolf.
• Junkyard Wonders by Patricia Polocco - Lessons: recycling, teaching diversity, opportunity to write about their creations.
• The Mitten by Jan Brett - Lessons: sequencing events in the story and coding skills (Found on Teachers Pay Teachers).

Apps:

• NOVA
• Tappity
• PBS Play and Learn

Traditional Literature Book Blog

The Ugly Duckling
Written by Hans Christian Andersen
Illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
Published by Marrow Junior Books on March 24th, 1999
Genre: Traditional Literature
Number of Pages: 40




Overview
This classic and unforgetable survival story of a brave and awkward little duckling marching through a cold and harsh winter full of many unwanted and unexpected experiences continues to have a place in many people's hearts. It is a reminder to us all of the patience and perserverence it takes to discover tru happiness in life. The beautiful watercolor illustrations perfectly depict the countryside and help to really bring every aspect of the book to life.

Grade level: K-3
Content Level: Science, Literature, Reading
Student connection: Not only is this a wonderful book to teach meaningful life lessons and hardships, this is also a great book to talk about habbitats and environments, as well as, the life cycle and habitat of a young duckling such as the main character. This would be great for gited students in younger grades or for students falling behind in older grades who need a little bit more of a push to understand and connect real life application to concepts that are being taught and introduced.

Poetry Book Blog #2

The Llama Who Had No Pajama
Written by Mary Ann Hobermann
Illustrated by Betty Fraser
Published by HMH Books for Young Readers on April 1, 2006
Genre: Poetry
Number of Pages: 68




Overview
This wonderful book of poetry covers every topic from centipede to whales, from swinging on swings to ice-skating in winter, from eating applesauce to celebrating birthdays, the wonderful poems in this amazing collection convey the experiences of childhood in a fresh new light without sacfrificing its timelessness. The illustrations by Betty Fraser dont just add to the text, but enhance it all together. With beautiful pops of color and discriptive imagary, readers will be engaged and entertained from beginning to end.

"Hoberman's rhythms are lively and agile, and her imagination and sense of humor are still in tune with young readers. Fraser's simple but detailed gouache and watercolor illustrations exhibit the same qualities . . . Good for beginning or experienced readers of poetry, this should indeed become a favorite."

--School Library Journal

Grade level: K-2

Content Area: Poetry, Literature, Phonics, Phonemic Awareness, Early Literacy

Student Connection: This book is not only full of rhyming words and alliterations, but it also full of all sorts of information about different experiences. This book could be used for a vieriety of different topics and a great way to introduce new experiences to your class!

International Literature Book Blog #2

Malala's Magic Pencil
Written by Malala Yousafzai
Illustrated by Kerascoet
Published by Little, Brown and Company on October 17th, 2017
Genre: International Literature, Autobiography
Number of pages: 48



Overview 

   This is a true story about Malala Yousafzai and her fight for womens' education in Pakistan. In this story she wishes for a magic pencil to be able to draw whatever she needs, including making everyone happy, erasing the smell of garbage, and sleeping an extra hour. As she grows older and wiser throughout the book, she realizes that there are more important things to wish for. Malala eventually decides she's going to work hard to make her wishes come true instead of wishing for a magic pencil to do it for her.
   Kerascoet beautifully illustrated this retelling of such a captivating true story. This is a great way to show a younger audience the worldview that inspired Malala, and now inspires many others, to have hope and fight for what they believe in.

"This is a wonderful read for younger students that will also provide insight and encourage discussion about the wider world. ... The simplicity of Yousafzai's writing and the powerful message she sends, make this book inspirational for all."

―School Library Journal

"Kerascoët's bright, reportorial watercolors match the text's directness and sincerity, adding gold embellishments to give Malala's hopes and optimism a radiant physicality. The Malala in these pages is both approachable and extraordinary."

―Publishers Weekly 

Lesson and Activity

Content Area: Social Studies, Multiculturalism

Standard: 6 ) Distinguish their own point of view from that of the narrator or those of the characters. [RL.3.6]

24 ) Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences. [W.3.3]

Model: Read the entire book out loud to students twice with no interruptions.

Guide and Scaffold: After reading the book out loud to the students the first time, ask them about what questions they may still have. Tell them to think about those questions while reading the book to them the second time.

Discussion: Discuss the sequence of events with students. Ask them to share a time they stood up for something they believed in.

Activity: Ask students to draw and write about what they would do if they had a magic pencil and share it with the class.

Reading level: 3-4
Interest level: K-4

Sources: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0316319570?_encoding=UTF8&isInIframe=0&n=283155&ref_=dp_proddesc_0&s=books&showDetailProductDesc=1#product-description_feature_div
https://alex.state.al.us/standardAll.php?grade=3&subject=ELA2015&summary=2
https://www.booktable.net/book/9780316319577

International Literature Book Blog

The Great Race: Story of the Chinese Zodiac
Written and illustrated by Christopher Corr
Published by Lincoln Children's Book on January 4th, 2018
Genre: International Literature
Number of Pages: 32




















Overview

   Many, many years ago, in China, there were no years or days. One day the Jade Emperor decided to hold a Great Race to find a way of measuring time. Twelve animals compete to cross the river and have a year named after them.

  This book is a wonderful way to introduce the Chinses New Year and Chinese Zodiac to early elementary students. The illustrations help to beautifully retell the zodiac story and help to further integrate the Chinese culture. The fun and brightly colored pictures practically jump off of the page. Students will be more than interested and engaged in this colorful tale.

This is an easy introduction to the Chinese zodiac for young students. Recommended"

- School Library Connection

"In retelling the traditional tale, Corr skillfully weaves in traits associated with some of the animals. Corr's distinctive folk-art style gouache illustrations are fun, bright, and bold....a good choice for classroom read-alouds...A visually fun and vibrant retelling of the Chinese Zodiac."

- School Library Journal

Lesson and Activity

Content Area: Social Studies, Multiculturalism

Standard: 11 ) Identify the traditions and contributions of various cultures in the local community and state. (Alabama)

Model: Read the entire book out loud to students twice with no interruptions.

Guide and Scaffold: After reading the book out loud to the students the first time, ask them about what questions they may still have. Tell them to think about those questions while reading the book to them the second time.

Discussion: Ask students to name all of the animals that they remember from the book. Ask students to discuss the different qualities of each animal. Explain that the 12 Chinese zodiac animals include a rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig. Explain that every year has a specific animal associated with it. Remind students of the qualities and characteristics they discussed about each animal and tell the students how people born on the year of each animal are thought to have that animal's particular qualities and characteristics.

Activity: Have students express what they have learned about the Chinese zodiac animals by making an animal mask for their favorite Chinese zodiac animal and act out their specific characteristics and qualities. 

Reading level: 2-4
Interest level: Pre-k - 4

Sources: https://www.education.com/lesson-plan/chinese-zodiac-animals/
https://www.amazon.com/Great-Race-Story-Chinese-Zodiac/dp/1786030659
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/christopher-corr/the-great-race-corr/

Here are some great videos to further explain the Chinese New Year and the Zodiac Signs:

Integrated Arts In Early Childhood Education

Integrated Arts Digital Portfolio

Here is a Digital Portfolio I made for my 21st Century Teaching and Learning class. This presentation has many great resources for how to integrate the arts into the Early Childhood curriculum. Enjoy!

 
DIY Integrated Arts Crafts

Creative Movement Cube

 This was super easy and cheap to make.

Supplies:
Styrofoam cube
Cardstock
Scissors
Hot glue

I personally made each of the activities in a word document. I just typed the activity and inserted clipart underneath it. Once it was all printed out, I laminated it and cut it out, then hot glued each one onto the sides of the cube.

Classroom Use:
You can use this as a fun and interactive activity for creative movement. Have students roll the cube like a dice and do the activity it lands on.

http://choices4children.blogspot.com/2013/10/move-like-animal-cube.html

Drama/Theater Puppets

These were surprisingly easy and fun to make!

Supplies:
Felt
Scissors
Marker
Hot glue
Googly Eyes (optional)

I printed out the template from the website below and used it to cut out each piece of the puppets. Then, I hot glued them together and drew the mouths or noses on and added googly eyes! Super simple and cute!

Classroom Use:
These can be used for so many different things!

• They can enhance storytelling time or read aloud time. 
• They can be used for drama/theater. 
• Students can use them to help express themselves.
• Used as an interactive activity during centers.

https://30minutecrafts.com/2018/01/no-sew-felt-puppets.html

Sensory Letter Activity

Originally, I started to make the road letters myself but ended up printing out the road letters that were already made on the website below. However, if you want to make them yourself, I'll list the supplies below.

Supplies:
Cardstock
Black or grey construction paper
White or yellow marker or paint

Cut each letter from construction paper and glue them onto white cardstock. Add white or yellow road lines to each letter. Laminate each one (optional).

Classroom Use: 
Have students use hot wheels cars or their finger to trace over each letter. This is great to help them learn their letters and can even be used with numbers and punctuation, as well.
https://www.giftofcuriosity.com/product/road-letters/