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

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. 

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!

Poetry Book Blog

The Wonkey Donkey
Written by Craig Smith
Illustrated by Katz Cowley
Published by Scholastic Paperbacks on October 2018
Genre: Poetry
Number of Pages: 24




Overview
   Children and adults of all ages will love this spunky, funky book! Follow the journey of the endearing, wonky donkey and find out what all he gets into along the way. Warning: this book may cause fits of laughter and a demand to be reread. The illustrations of this lovely wonky donkey help to further express the silly nature of the book and its intent to make readers laugh.

Grade level: K - 3
Content area: Literature, Poetry, English, Phonemic Awareness
Student connection: This would be a wonderful book for a phonemic awareness lesson to teach rhyming words. Especially if you had students who were struggling to grasp the concept. It would be great to read in a small group and maybe have them hold up something or do something every time they hear words that rhyme. If I wanted to take it one step further for gifted students, I could have them to name out the sounds and explain to me what would make the words rhyme.

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.

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

 

Picture Book Perfection #2

Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon
Written by Patty Lovell
Illustrated by David Catrow
Published by G.P. Putnam's Sons; 1st edition on August 27, 2001
Genre: Picture Book, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature
Number of pages: 32



Overview 

   Molly Lou Melon is not an ordinary little girl. She has buck teeth, a bullfrog voice, and a short stature. Other people notice this as well, her grandmother, who encourages her throughout the entire book, and a little boy, who makes fun of her for her differences. Regardless of the teasing, Molly Lou Melon is unwaveringly confident and joyful.

   This is an outstanding book to use in the classroom to help teach students about acceptance, confidence, kindness, and awareness of what teasing and bullying are. The book is a great example of how to handle bullying or teasing situations. Molly Lou Melon continues to stay positive and confident regardless of how others treat her and address the problem in a nonviolent way. This is a wonderful book for children and even adults who worry about what others think of them. It encourages us to do things anyway, regardless of what others think or say.

   David Catrow, the illustrator, paints imaginative illustrations for readers. Using bright and exciting colors. Each picture attracts attention and drives students to want to know more about what happens next.




Lesson and Activity

Content Area: Bullying, Confronting Fears, Self Esteem, Confidence, Kindness

Standards: 9 ) Actively engage in group reading activities with purpose and understanding. [RL.K.10]
8 ) With prompting and support, compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in familiar stories. [RL.K.9]
1 ) With prompting and support, ask and answer questions about key details in a text. [RL.K.1]
17 ) Describe the logical connection between particular sentences and paragraphs in a text (e.g., comparison; cause and effect; first, second, third in a sequence). [RI.3.8]
12 ) With prompting and support, describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text. [RI.K.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: Ask students to discuss cause and effect. Why did Molly Lou's grandma tell her to "Smile big and the world will smile right alongside you?" What do you think that means? Why did the child at her new school think she was good at football? How come Ronald Durkin brought Molly Lou a penny?

Activity: Ask students to visualize. Molly Lou showed Ronald Durkin and the other kids the things that Ronald teased her about are all the things that made her special. Pick three things unique about yourself and visualize how it makes you feel special. Ask students to draw a picture and/or write these things. Hang artwork in the classroom or in the hallway. 

Reading level: Grades K-3

Interest level: Grades 2-4

Sources:
https://alex.state.al.us/standardAll.php?grade=0&subject=ELA2015&summary=2 
https://www.booksource.com/Products/Stand-Tall--Molly-Lou-Melon__0399234160.aspx
https://www.dogobooks.com/stand-tall-molly-lou-melon/book-review/0399234160
http://museumofdisability.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/4.-LESSON-PLAN-Stand-Tall-Molly-Lou-Melon.pdf
http://thepicturebookteachersedition.blogspot.com/2013/09/stand-tall-molly-lou-melon-by-patty.html