Seriously Awesome Student Led Conferences & Digital Portfolios

Student-led conferences are a great way for students to showcase their work, take responsibility for their own learning, and lead their own learning. Autonomy is key. This is very different than a teacher-led conference. In this situation, the teacher is only the facilitator and the students are the leaders. It is student-centered and student lead. Students are able to lead discussions, be in their own process, pick out and prepare the materials to be shown, and are able to reflect on their own work. The teacher is there to facilitate, mediate, provided support if it is needed, provide expectations for the meeting, and may even provide a script for the student if needed. Parents are able to listen, engage, encourage, and ask their child questions.
In order to prepare for this, teachers need to keep students' work samples, give the student autonomy to choose what they want to include, structure the work for the student, and LET GO!
What is I have an ELL family?? Well, I'm glad you asked! If the teacher can have a translator present, that would be great! There are also translating apps, such as Google Translate that could be used. The teacher should also try to incorporate the diversity in your classroom and encourage the use of native language!

Digital Portfolios are a collection of student performance and assessments over time in the digital form. This should be standards-based and show significant student engagement. Work that is showcased is chosen by the student and should include the students' reflections and comprehension.

Apps to use:

• Artsonia Kids Art Museum - empowers students to exhibit their work
• WeLearnedIt - allows students to showcase, reflect, and comment on student work
• Sesame - Custumizable rubric creation

Benefits of Digital Portfolios:

• Great way to express and show student growth over time and provides a record of their educational career.
• Gives teachers the opportunity to see students' learning and areas of improvement.
• Gives students an audience! 

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. 

Differentiation is a MUST!

Differentiation is the act of tailoring and modifying inctruction based on the needs of individual students. By differentiating your lessons, your are giving students from all walks of life and with all differnt learning abilities the best chance to learn and succeed.

Lower-level Students
Students with lower academic abilities often need more supports for their prior skills to help build a firm and solid foundation for any future learning. They need hands-on activites and a diversity of learning modes. They may not also be able to show their understanding through standard tests or assessments, sometimes they may need different forms of assessment ot trully show what htye know and are capable of doing. These students most likely already feel discourage because of their academic struggles, it is our job as teachers to constantly and continuously encourage them and help them feel valued within our classroom.

Strategies:

• Anchor charts
• Visuals
• Video Modeling
• Demonstrate think alouds and the thinking process
• Lists
• Sensory Activites
• Google Doc Collaboration
• FlipGrid
• SeeSaw
• Limited answer choices
• Verbal Exams
• Drawings instead of writings
• One-on-one meetings
• Classroom Jobs

Average Level Students

These are students who are in the middle of the spectrum, not overachieving, but not necessarily underachieving, just meeting the standard right where its at. These students usually need reinforcment of strategies and need misconceptions to be corrected. They tend to be more successful with specific strategies. These students often can show understanding in many ways. Sadly, these student get overlooked the most because they do not need extra help, nor do they need extra challenge. 

Higher-level Students

These students are the ones that are not only meeting the standard, but are exceeding it. They need more challenge and may want to use different strategies than what has been taught. The can show their understanding in many ways that demonstrates their strengths. Many times these students get bored in the classroom from a lack of challenge. 

Success of English Language Learners

English language learners (ELL) are students that are unable or have trouble communicating or leaning in English. Most of the time these students come from non-English speaking homes or environments. These students usually need specialized or modified instruction for both the English language itself, but also for their academic courses.

Relationships and Responsiveness 
Build personal connection! Know your students! Do they have pets, play sports, like superheros? Bring these personal interests into your lessons. Also, bring their culture into your lessons and activites. These little things make a huge difference to your students.

Incorporate their native language and cultures by using tools, such as Google Translate to enhance communication. Use YouTube to show the class aspects of their culture to help build a family among your class. Find multi-cultural and diverse books to help represent their culture and other cultures in the classroom or community.

Time To Process
Increase you wait time by 3-5 seconds! Allow time for the student to process what you are asking, what they are thinking, and what their answer will be. When teaching, speak slowly. Be consistent with what you say and how you say it. These strategies will help to increase the students participation in the classroom!

Fair is NOT Equal
Every single one of your students are different. Even if you have mutltiple ELL students, they are not the same and will not need the same teaching styles and modes of learning. Offer support for your students that vary from student to student. Create lessons to be FAIR not equal. Equal is giving every student the same thing. Be fair by giving every student what they need to be succesful.

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 Assessments for Super Teachers

Assessments
Assessments are the key component of learning. When students can see how they are doing, they will be able to see what they are able to understand. Assessments help to motivate studets by setting goals and being able to see when they achive those goals.

Formal and Informal Assessment
Informal assessment is catagorized as non-standardized and is not taken for a grade. This type of assessment is formative, meaning it is taken throughout the learning process and is used as a way for the teacher to further specifiy their instruction so that it is meeting students' needs throughout the process. This type of assessment is individualized to the student and is used to motivate student learning.
Examples:

• Think-Pair-Share
• Discussions
• Journal entries
• Kahoot!
• Hand signals
• 4 Corners
• Stop/Go sticks, cards, or cups

Formal assessment, on the other hand, is standardized, structured, and taken for a grade. This type of assessment is taken after the learning process. For example, an end of unit test of end of semester comprehensive exam. This assessment is testing the students knowledge and comprhension of the skills that have been taught to show what they know.
Examples:

• End of chapter/unit tests
• Midterms/Finals
• Projects 
• Presentations
• Term Papers

Assessment Tools:

• Kahoot!
• Prodigy
• educreations
• FlipGrid
• goformative.com

All about: Sensory Integration, Ortan Gillingham, & Montessori

Sensory Integration:

Have you walked into a classroom lately? Bright colors everywhere you look, posters filling the spaces on every wall, brightly lit LED lighting,  loud noises coming from every direction, and stacks and stack of books, movies, papers, crafting tools, and toys piling high in every corner. It can be quite over stimulating for even a grown adult such as myself. Just imagine this same situation for a child that already has difficulty paying attention for more than ten minutes at a time. What a nightmare!
Now, just to be clear, bright colors and posters on walls is not inherently bad. However, many modern classrooms have become much less sensory friendly in the past decade.



Many people are disinformaed about our senses, as I learned from the presentation, we do not just have five senses! We also have vestibular and proprioceptive senses. Vestiubular senses focus on the position of the body and its movement. For example, feelings of balance and movement. You may not like fast roller coasters or sitting in the back seat of your aunty's minivan while she drives quickly down a curvy road. Propriopceptive senses process information through contraction and stretching of our muscles and by bending, straightening, pulling, or compressing joint between bones. For example, when you're stretching in your hot yoga class or hanging from the pull up bar at the gym, these movements help to refocus your attention.

Solution Ideas:

• Provide students with frequent opportunities to move!
• Provide a variety of space for individual and group activites
• Provide with opporutnity to choose between a variety of activities, both physical and mental.
• Natual lighting instead of LED lighting
• Flexible seating options
• Opportunity for active and unstructured play

Orton- Gillingham

Created by Samuel Torrey Orton and Anna Gillingham. They brought listening, speaking, reading, and writing together so that students would have the optimal help needed to enhance their learning for all of the language skills. This approach is an action-based learning.

Resources: 

• Orton Gillingham Online Academy
• Making Teaching Fun
• ABC Magic Phonics
• Starfall
• Reading Eggs
• Special Words

Montessori Education

Maria Montessori developed specialized mareials after she realized that children understand complex concepts better if all of their senses are engaged. She also realized that the role of the teacher should be to facilitate student learning and not dominate student learning. She focused on the whole child with the goal of developing responsible adults. Components of Montessori education should include freedom and autonomy of the child, structure and order should be cale and chaos free, reality and nature should be included regularly. 

The Wonders and Uses of Nearpod

This amazing instructional platform provides a space for teachers and students to engage and participate in formative assessment and dynamic media so that they are able to learn and build new experiences together. This platform enables and enhances student participation while promoting 21st century skills and creating digital citizens. Teachers have the option to choose between a variety of pre-created lessons of all subjects and age ranges or they may create their own lessons and fun activities. There are many different games, vitual field trips, discussion tools, and quiz tools available to be inserted into a lessons. The teacher may also download a presentation they have created from Goolge Docs or Google Slides into their Nearpod lesson. Once they have picked the lesson or created their own lesson, their students may access it from any of their own devices using a code given to them upon starting the lesson. They may interact with the lesson, with the teacher, and with each other in real time throughout the lesson. They can participate in games together, write on virtual sticky notes and post them on virtual boards, go on virtual field trips, and take quizes created by the teacher in real time. All answers and progress are recorded for the use of assessment by the teacher.

Nearpod Categories:

• Nearpod DCL: Digital Citizenship & Literacy
• Nearpod CCE: College & Career Exploration
• Nearpod EL: English Learners
• Nearpod LL: Learning Lab
• Nearpod HPL: Historical Perspective & Literacy
• Nearpod SEL: Social & Emotional Learning

Cost:

• Silver (Free) - Includes sessions sizes up to 40, storage space up to 50 MB, lesson size up to 20MB, and basic features.
• Gold ($120/year) - Includes session sizes up to 50, storage space up to 3GB, lesson size up to 50 MB, and advanced features.
• Platinum (349/year) - Includes session size up to 75, storage space up tp 5 GB, leasson size up to 50 MB, premium features.
• School & District (Contact Nearpod 1-855-NEARPOD) - Includes session size up tp 200, storage space up to 20 GB, lesson size up tp 80 MB, and all features.
• Higher education (Contact Nearpod 1-855-NEARPOD) - Includes session size up to 250, staorage space up to 25GB, lesson size up to 100 MB, all features.

My Nearpods

https://share.nearpod.com/afjqf84cQ0
https://share.nearpod.com/LjA1EUsk30
https://share.nearpod.com/30vKWNSGH0

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!

Historical Fiction Book Blog

Bud, Not Buddy
Written by Christopher Paul Curtis
Published by Yearling in 1999
Genre: Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 245




Overview 
   This historical fiction is about a 10 year old little boy during the Depression era in Michigan. As he sets out to find his father he is filled with an abundance of hope and adventure. This is a wonderful book for a class that is studying this particular time era and is a great way for the students to really get into the perspective of someone who is actually living it. This novels realistic style is complimented by its humor and air of wonderment.

“Curtis writes with a razor-sharp intelligence that grabs the reader by the heart and never lets go. . . . This highly recommended title [is] at the top of the list of books to be read again and again.” 

—Voice of Youth Advocates, Starred

Grade Level: 4-5

Content Area: Social studies, History, Diversity

Student Connection: This would be a geat book to read when discussing the Depression era with your students. If you had a student who struggle to become interested in the topic of history, this book would definitely help them to become more enthused and interested in the events of that time period. 

Contemporary Realistic Fiction Book Blog #1

Wonder
Written and illustrated by P. J. Palacio
Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers on February 14th, 2012
Genre: Contemporary Realistic Fiction
Number of Pages: 316



Overview
  Wonder is a beautifully written novel about a young boy who stands out. Auggie Pullman has a facial deformity. This challenges him and his whole family, especially when Auggie decides to go to real school instead of being homeschooled by his mom. I love how this story shows many different perspectives to really help to give the reader insight about what is going on in all of the characters' lives. The illustrations on the cover and throughout the chapters are simple, but yet, so impactful. Creating a sense of wonder and curiosity about each character and their story. 

"Wonder is essentially ... a wonder. It's well-written, engaging, and so much fun to read that the pages almost turn themselves. More than that, Wonder touches the heart in the most life-affirming, unexpected ways, delivering in August Pullman a character whom readers will remember forever. Do yourself a favor and read this book – your life will be better for it." 

- Nicholas Sparks, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Grade Level: 4-6

Content Area: Social studies, friendship, Diversity

Student Connection: This book is a great way to introduce students to differences and disabilities. If there were a student in the classroom with some sort of disability, this would be a great way to help students understand what they may be feeling of going through. 

Science Fiction Book Blog

The Magic Tree House Book Series
Written by Mary Pope Osborne
Illustrated by Sal Murdocca
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers; Slp edition (May 29, 2001)

Genre: Science Fiction
Number of pages: 96



Overveiw 
  In the exciting and adventurous books, Jack and Annie are regular kids who stumble upon a magical tree house in the woods. Jack and Annie are whisked back in time to all different eras and places around the world. Ever new visit to the tree house is a new and adventurous learning experience for Jack , Annie, and any student who reads the wonderful book.
   The illustrations, by Sal Murdocca, on the cover and throughout the books, dipict the adventurous tales beautifully. Students will be captivated by the pictures and their connection to the wonderfully adventurous tales.


Grade Level: 2-4
Contant Area: Language Arts, Social Studies, Science
Student Connection: These books would be great for challenging gifted students and a great way to incorporate other cultural aspects into the classroom and lessons.

Modern Fantasy Book Blog #2

A Bad Case of Stripes
Written and illustrated by David Shannon
Published by Abridge on June 1st, 2004
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Number of pages: 32



Overveiw 
  Camilla Cream loves lima beans, but she doesnt eat them because the other kids in her school doesn't like them. She is very worried about what they will think about her and wants to fit in, but then she becomes compltely covered in stripes! Not just that, she seems to change color to match what is happening around her! Insead of blending in, like she desperately wanted, she is standing out more than ever! Is there anyone that can help fix Camilla Cream?
    The illustrattions in this book are fantasitically creative and colorful. They help students to make connections with the characters and the plot. The pictures are very detailed and beautiffully depicts the scenes of the wonderful story being told!



Grade Level: K-4
Contant Area: Language Arts, Sequencing, Acceptance
Student Connection: This would be a great book for students with special needs or disabilities. It helps to teach students to learn how to accept each other difference and accept their own differences. It helps to start disscussions about not being afraid to stand out. This would also be a great book to help students learn sequencing and themes.

Modern Fantasy Book Blog

Tuck Everlasting
Written by Natalie Babbitt
Published by Square Fish; first edition in 1975, Sunburst edition 1985, Film tie-in edition 2002
Genre: Modern Fantasy
Number of pages: 192



   In this fantastically written book, the Tuck family is presented with a new way of life after drinking from a magical spring. They must live life inconspicuously as they can because of their newfound immortality. One day, Winnie Foster stumbles upon their secret, everlasting lives and is dragged into their world of life without death. Throughout this exciting adventure, problems arise and obstacles are met. Will Winnie choose to join their immortal way of life in the end?

"A fearsome and beautifully written book that can't be put down or forgotten."

- Jean Stafford, The New Yorker

"Flawless in both style and structure."

-The Horn Book

Grade Level: 3-5

Content Area: English Language Arts 

Student Connection: This would be a wonderful book for gifted students to be able to have discussion groups about the plot, characters, and moral standings of the book. You could discuss with your students the choices Winnie makes and ask what choice they would have made and why. 

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:

Diverse Perspective Book Blog #2

The Name Jar
Written and illustrated by Yangsook Choi
Published by Dragonfly Books; Reprint edition on October 14th, 2003
Genre: Diverse Perspective Fiction, Children's Literature
Number of Pages: 40



Overview 
   Being in a new school is hard enough, but imagine also being in a new town and new country. Unhei is the new kid in school who just moved from North Korea with her family. As every kid would be, she is worried and anxious about making friends and the other kids not being able to pronounce her traditional Korean name.  During the first day of school, instead of introducing herself, she decides to pick a new name. Deciding on a new name is a whole new adventure!

   This is a wonderful book to introduce diversity, multiculturism, and acceptence of differences. Students can become aware of idividuality and self acceptance while also learning about friendship. This would be a great way to integrate different cultures into your classroom! Xangsook Choi (author and illustrator) created beautifully simplistic illustrations that enhances the readers experience. Students will adore this book!

“Unhei's reflection and inner strength are noteworthy; cultural details freshen the story." 

- The New York Times

“Beautifully written and illustrated.” - Philadelphia Times

“Interweaving several issues into this touching account and delicately addressing the challenges of assimilation.” 

- Kirkus Reviews

Lesson and Activtiy 

Content Area: Self-Acceptance, Confidence, Kindness, Multiculturalism

Standard: 3 ) Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges. [RL.2.3]

6 ) Acknowledge differences in the points of view of characters, including by speaking in a different voice for each character when reading dialogue aloud. [RL.2.6]

15 ) Identify the main purpose of a text, including what the author wants to answer, explain, or describe. [RI.2.6]

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 importance of acceptance, differences, and diversity. Ask students to identify the characters motivation to change her name and why she ended up deciding against it.

Activity: Discuss the importance of names, cultural diversity, tolerance, and self acceptance. Read other books on the subjects, such as, Crysanthemum by Kevin Henkes, My Name is Sangoel by Karen Lynn, and The First Thing My Mama Told Me by Susan Marie Swanson. Set out a variety of book with baby names and meanings. Do "What's Behind Your Name" activity shown below.

Reading level: Grades 1-4
Interest level: Grades K-3

Sources: 

https://www.dogobooks.com/the-name-jar/book-review/037580613X

https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/blog-posts/alycia-zimmerman/what-s-name-back-school-literacy-unit/

https://www.teachingbooks.net/tb.cgi?tid=11998&a=1

 

Diverse Perspective Book Blog

Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match

Written by Monica Brown
Illustrated by Sara Palacios
Published by Lee & Low Books Inc. in 2011
Genre: Diverse Perspective Fiction, Children's Literature
Number of Pages: 32

Overview

   Marisol McDonald stands out among her peers because she is "mix-matched". She has firetruck red hair, nut-brown skin, and enjoys wearing polka dots and stripes. Others around her try to tame Marisol's mix-matched choices, however, this Peruvian-Scottish-American girl cannot be tamed.

   This book is a wonderful celebration of multiculturalism and individuality. Through the vibrant and fun illustrations and descriptive text, the illustrator and author portray Marisol's personality and heritage in a creative and non-conformist way. Sara Palacios, who illustrated this lovely book, was born and raised in Mexico City and shows her knowledge of the culture in her colorful images. Each page is covered with interesting and detailed images that help to depict Marisol's mix-matched life. By integrating this book into your class story time, you will be giving your student the opportunity to learn more about multiculturalism, diversity, and originality.

"I wrote this book because, like more than six million Americans, I’m multiracial. I’m the daughter of a South American mother and a North American father, and my childhood was spent in a close community of cousins, tíos (uncles), and tías (aunts).

Like Marisol McDonald, my cousins and I are mixed—indigenous Peruvian and Spanish mixed with Scottish and Italian and Jewish, not to mention Nicaraguan, Mexican, Chilean and African. One thing most of us do share are freckles. According to one of my tíos, the family freckles came from the time my abuelita (grandma) was stirring a big pan of chocolate on the stove—my tío reached for it and it splattered everywhere, leaving chocolate sprinkles on everyone’s faces and toes!

People sometimes ask us, “What are you?” and sometimes even say that we “don’t match.” But we know better. Our mothers told us that we are Americans, yes, but also citizens of the world. My life (and I’ll bet yours too) is bound up with the history of many peoples, and like Marisol McDonald, I open my arms wide and embrace them all."

                                                                                          - Monica Brown

   The quote above is directly from the author's notes on the last page of the book and explains the need for bilingual and diverse children's literature. When reading this books, students with diverse backgrounds will be able to relate and connect to Marisol on a personal level. 



Lesson and Activity

Content Area: Self-Acceptance, Confidence, Kindness, Multiculturalism

Standard: 1 ) Ask and answer questions to demonstrate an understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers. [RL.3.1]
4 ) Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, distinguishing literal from nonliteral language. [RL.3.4]7 ) Explain how specific aspects of a text's illustrations contribute to what is conveyed by the words in a story (e.g., create mood, emphasize aspects of a character or setting). [RL.3.7]10 ) Ask and answer questions to demonstrate an understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers. [RI.3.1]

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 questions to enhance close reading, comprehension, and develop a deeper understanding of the literature. Encourage students to refer back to the illustrations and passage in the book to support their responses. 

Activity: Point out that there are some Spanish words in the English text and some English words in the Spanish text, this shows that Marisol is comfortable using/mixing both languages. Ask students who are bilingual or are from bilingual/multicultural homes to share examples of the way their own family mixes and combines languages. Students could also learn some of those words from another language to incorporate into their own use. 

Reading level: Grades 2-3
Interest level: Grades K-3

Sources: https://www.leeandlow.com/images/pdfs/marisol_tg.pdf
https://alex.state.al.us/standardAll.php?grade=3&subject=ELA2015&summary=2
https://alex.state.al.us/standardAll.php?grade=3&subject=ELA2015&summary=2

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/