Ginger's Kids
Testing Is Over-Now What?
Every year about this time we spring into testing mode. As teachers, we want to give our students every particle of information and every strategy that will enable our charges to perform to the best of their ability on the approaching Achievement Tests.
We all know children can see right through us... They can sense that we are under pressure... and, try as we might to spare them...we have certainly put them under pressure.
The day finally comes, testing is over! The sun shines, the air warms, the chirping of birds beckons from outside the open windows. Bees begin to make their occasional appearance inside the classroom sparking a general uproar. How can we compete?
There is still much to do...concepts and skills that need refined, reviewed and applied. How, we wonder, do we keep our students actively engaged in learning?
are two suggestions that have proven to keep my students actively engaged any time of the year.
The following are two suggestions that have kept my students interested and involved-suitable for any time of the year.
IDEA I:THE MYSTERIES OF HARRIS BURDICK
by Chris Van Allsburg
Great for Sensory Details
Chris Van Allsburg is well know as author and illustrator of THE POLAR EXPRESS and JUMANJI. Another, not so famous book of his creation is THE MYSTERIES OF HARRIS BURDICK.
The book contains fourteen black and white drawings. Each drawing has a title and a caption. A fictional editor’s note (well worth reading!) and more about the book can be found at:
www.goodreads.com › Childrens › Picture Books
I have used this book yearly with my students. They love it!
Sample Pictures
If the book isn’t in your school library, it can be purchased from AMAZON for as little as $14.34 new, $9.94 used. It is well worth having
IDEA II: STORY STARTER COLLAGE
Great for using sensory details in writing.
Materials: A variety of magazines, glue, scissors, sheets of white paper and a transparent paper sleeve ( So that the collage can be reused). 1 teacher-made 5 column chartper student (make ahead of time)
Process:
Option 1: Assemble the "storypages" ahead of time to be distributed -1 per student.
Option 2: Assign students to assemble their own pages with materials available
To assemble pages:
1. Cut out Pictures
- 1 of setting-living room, backyard, school, etc.
- 2 or more of characters-person, animal, toy, etc.
- 1 or more objects important to a story-pipe, watch, broken vase, etc
3. Ask students to look at the collage then list on their chart: what they can:
see feel smell hear taste
4. Write a story about the items in the collage, using as many sensory details as possible ( I t is may be best to allow the students to write the story first, then as they revise-add sensory details.)
5. Edit then write Final Draft
I hope you can use these two ideas. They have proved to keep my students actively engaged at any time of the year.
Teaching Without the Textbook
The last ten+ years of my teaching experience were at NEWTON D. BAKER SCHOOL OF ARTS in Cleveland, Ohio. I was officially a writing teacher, but all subjects were taught through the arts. As teachers we worked closely with, and were mentored by The Ohio State University. Baker was elected as one of few schools in the U.S. to receive an Annenburg Grant for the Arts.It was impossible to teach through the arts strictly from a textbook, therefore, we had to create our own lessons. I am adding many of my arts-based lessons, almost daily, to my TpT Store. I have lessons that integrate art with not only writing-but science, social studies and math. All lessons are standards-based and aligned with grade-level curriculum/content. I hope you will take a look.
Also look for numerous FREE items available for download.
Until next month...HappyTeaching & Happy Testing!
Ginger
