April! Celebrate Poetry!

30 Ways to Celebrate Poetry Month

from Poets.org

 

 

1. Start a poetry reading group.
2.  Chalk a poem on the sidewalk.
   
   
   

Teen Reads

From Goodreads for Teens, some recommendations

 

The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective Teens 

 

by Sean Covey

4.02  ·  Rating details ·  22,521 Ratings  ·  1,615 Reviews

Being a teenager is both wonderful and challenging. In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens, author Sean Covey applies the timeless principles of the 7 Habits to teens and the tough issues and life-changing decisions they face. In an entertaining style, Covey provides a step-by-step guide to help teens improve self-image, build friendships, resist peer pressure, achieve their goals, get along with their parents, and much more. In addition, this book is stuffed with cartoons, clever ideas, great quotes, and incredible stories about real teens from all over the world. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens will engage teenagers unlike any other book.

An indispensable book for teens, as well as parents, grandparents, and any adult who influences young people, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens is destined to become the last word on surviving and thriving as a teen and beyond.

Who Moved My Cheese For Teens 

 

by Spencer Johnson

3.93  ·  Rating details ·  2,173 Ratings  ·  131 Reviews

Teenagers' lives are full of change and this simple book will help them cope with the unique problems that face them every day, such as doing well at school, making career decisions, dealing with parents, relationships and dating, feeling good about themselves and being positive about the future.

A group of teenagers are worried about changes in their lives. To help them out, Chris tells the story of Who Moved My Cheese. Four characters, Hem, Haw, Sniff and Scurry, search through a maze for cheese, to nourish them and make them happy, but soon the cheese runs out. Sniff and Scurry go off in search for more, but Hem and Haw stay to work out what went wrong and wait for more cheese. Eventually, Haw realises that no new cheese is coming, so he sets out into the maze and eventually finds new cheese. The group then discusses the story, finding ways to apply it to their own lives.

Who Moved My Cheese? for Teens is an essential book for teenagers – an entertaining parable that reveals profound truths and insights that will last a lifetime. (less)

New Resources for Teachers

From Jennifer Gonzalez's Blog, Cult of Pedagogy

Packets - Why Worksheets Can Be Good and Bad

Read this if you're thinking about the value of worksheets in your classeroom and/or you're looking for good suggestions on how to craft you lessons with more effective strategies. 

From Learner - The New York Times

Interesting Photos Help Students Become Better Writers

Read this if you're looking for ways to extend the use of claims and evidence in writing.

From Edutopia

The Architecture of Ideal Learning Environments

This blew me away especially since Cape has been planning such terrific environments for the new schools that are now being built. Technology, safety and security, transparency and multipurpose space are defined and explained. Many are included in our new elementary schools - now onto the design of a middle school!

Holiday books for a Special Spring Break!

All About Peter, Tiny and The Bee Book. Brightly recommends giving books for Easter! 

Read Across America Celebrate on March 2!

Celebrate with me!

As I read The Lorax to the students at Mariner Middle School I asked them to think about how Suess used words to make his story rich, interesting and deep using these devices.

Flashback                          

Prediction

Dialogue

Themes

Descriptive words

Alliteration

Plot elements

Rising action

Climax

Resolution

Message/Moral

Assonance -   "a resemblance in the sounds of words or syllables, either between their vowels (e.g. meat, bean) or between their consonants (e.g. keep, cape)". Wikipedia

PBL for Today

Project-based learning has been mentioned in recent meetings that I've attended. Just in time I read a report from KQED-TV (San Francisco)

Here are the elements that are needed to make PBL effective.

"Project-based-learning assignments should include six basic qualities -- intellectual challenge and accomplishment, authenticity, public product, collaboration, project management and reflection -- according to a framework released by the Buck Institute for Education. Executive Director Bob Lenz says "intellectual challenge" often is a missing element in PBL projects"

Motivation to READ? Suggestions

Running low on ideas for getting your students to read?
Some simple suggestions:

1. Read to others. March 2 in READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY and a perfect time to get others involved in your class as guest hosts and readers. 
2. Allow choices. Discuss genres. Try new types of books or articles.
3. Talk about it. Read then discuss in small groups. Celebrate ideas and understanding.