Class Rules

 

I will admit picking classroom rules are challenging. I knew it would be a challenge to pick the "right" rules for my classroom. I always read the rules of any classroom I visit to see if I forgot an important rule. I remember "Keep your hands, feet, and objects to yourself" was extremely important rule when I was in school. My past teachers always told students not to bother anybody making the rule mandatory for my clas. School's hand books also presented a challenge for me. Handbooks are very detail. I believe if the information is in the handbook then it should not be on my rules since I plan to discuss the handbook with students. Classroom rules are designed to make your life easier. Anything that makes your life easier is tough to keep at a minimum of seven rules. I am sure any teacher could create two hundred rules and still be surprised about student's actions and behavior. I also wanted to combine "little kid" rules and "big kid" rules. Sharing and using kind words are stressed in Pre-K, Kindergarten and First Grade. Sharing and using kind words are important if you are five years old or sixty years old. Rules design to create responsibility for students such as being present and prepared are stressed in Second Grade and higher. Being present and prepared is listed in many college university class syllabuses. Somebody told me a classroom with rules set up and initiated during the start of the school year creates a better learning environment for students and less stress for the teacher.

I created my rules poster at Vista Print. I love the size of the poster. It’s the perfect size - not too big and not too small. I was excited to see polka dots used as a background. Polka dots are great. They are unisex due to the various color schemes. I found polka dot wrapping paper that I used for a bulletin board background. Polka dots can be adaptable for anything in the classroom.

Using Technology in the Classroom: Woolworth Lunch Counter

Students find history much more interesting when technology is possible. I aspire for students to see the people and hear their voices while allowing students to see the locations that changed the course of history. I look to find Internet videos discussing the events or speeches made by the people who changed history. Technology allows historical figures to become real! Students will not find history interesting if you give them a text book to show a portrait of someone while you list or read their accomplishments. I challenge teachers to find videos that make students time travel to the historical event. Let the students see what their ancestors saw then discuss it. The reactions of students will create powerful discussions.

Teachers living in North Carolina can have a field trip to Greensboro, North Carolina to visit the International Civil Rights Center and Museum

Greensboro Sit in Books: Use an Adult's Book and Children's Book in your Lessons

 

Teachers must know background to teach students in order to create the most appropriate lesson(s) or be able to answer any question asked by a student. As an educator, I try to find the best adult book and the best children's book possible on a historical topic, person, or event. The children's book engages the students and gives them the most important points to know about the topic, person, or event. I love children's books because they are beautifully illustrated. The adult book is my resource book. I find out other important details that were not covered in the children's book and put those details into a lesson to further expand my student's knowledge. The resource book allows me to integrate my social studies topic with other subjects. For my Greensboro Sit in Lessons, I used Lunch at the Five and Dime by Miles Wolff for the adult book. I also used Freedom on the Menu by Carole Boston Weatherford for the children's book. Click the title of the book to buy the book(s) from Barnes and Nobles.

The Greensboro Sit In - Free Lesson for Fourth Grade

 

I posted a free lesson plan on Teachers Pay Teachers on The Greensboro Sit In. The lesson is a integrated unit involving Social Studies, Language Arts, Visual Arts, Math, Science, and Drama to teach The Greensboro Sit in. The Greensboro Sit in was a nonviolent protest to obtain the right for African Americans to eat at a lunch counter. This lesson is perfect for North Carolina and Black History Month! The Lesson also requires an event map for story sequence, The Greensboro Sit In background PowerPoint, and Adaptations of African Americans PowerPoint to complete the lesson. All of the downloads are free. I hope your students love learning about The Greensboro Sit Ins. Its an important event that many people do not know about in history.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Amy-Canterbury

Group Tote Bags

 

My classroom has groups to emphasize collaboration and responsibility. My goal is for every student to feel special because they have an important job to do for the day. I chose to get tote bags for my classroom. I hang the tote bags with command hooks on the wall.  Tote bags are washable. I put items in the tote that we do not use every day. The items do not clutter the desks of students. The items do not get lost. I put items in the bag the day before we use the items to prevent running around the classroom trying to find supplies. Each group has their own individual tote bag. For example, my students do not use rulers everyday so rulers would be an item in the tote bag. One person from each group will get their tote bag when instructed. My students always want to pass out papers or items which are great. However, twenty students cannot help me all the time. Five students passing out materials is enough to get items passed out while not hurting anybody's feelings. www.vistaprint.com

The Many Functions of Mailing Labels

I was surprised to notice the multiple uses for mailing labels in the classroom. The most obvious function is a label with a name and address to send a letter or package to someone. The second function is writing “Attention Parents: Important Information Enclosed”. Many teachers have to write in a planner. Some parents check the planner without much attention. A teacher could stick a mailing label in a student’s planner when there is important information about the student or school such as important documents, special events, or weather announcements. The third function of mailing labels would be easy name tags for a desk, student’s shirt, or chart. For example, I made mailing labels using Vista Print. I stuck the labels to cardboard. I used velcro to stick the labels on my Daily Five Charts (I will post later) so students can change stations easily. Mailing labels are cheap and easy. Vista Prints has many designs to pick that will make people pay attention.

My Pirate Classroom

Classrooms should be engaging and academic. I wanted a theme classroom because I prefer items that go together. I believe classrooms should capture the imagination of children while supplying information for their future. Theme classrooms take time and creatively. I started planning a pirate classroom when I was in college. I would buy pirate items with extra money. I looked at The Dollar Tree, Party Stores, Wal Mart, Teacher's Pet, and Target. I could not find pirate numbers so I expanded to an ocean theme as well. My advice for any teaching wanting a theme classroom is to find a theme that can easily go with another theme to make your life easier. Planning a theme classroom is like planning a wedding. Every detail is important and must match. Every detail must have a purpose. I picked a pirate and ocean theme classroom because it is adventurous. The boys love pirates and the girls love cute sea animals. Pirates interest boys and girls. When I was a small child, I enjoyed Peter Pan. I even have a Captain Hook doll for my class. I wanted to become a pirate. Now, I get to be a pirate without being smelling. 

 

Every teacher should sign up for Vista Print. Vista Print will save you time and money. Plus, it will make you look professional. I will show you how I used Vista Print to create my classroom in future posts. My first item I made from Vista Print is a banner. Vista Print is great for theme classrooms.

Introducing Myself

Hello Fellow Teachers, Future Teachers, and Friends,

My name is Amy Canterbury. I have a Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. I love teaching history and social studies. Social studies and history makes teaching and learning fun. I enjoy integrating history with other subjects such as reading, writing, math, art, and science. Integrating social studies with other subjects has made history exciting for my students. The lessons are easier to plan. Also, the purpose of my lessons is to allow students to become well rounded academically. They learn history and other skills while participating in critical thinking and 21st Century Skills. I am a huge fan of Bloom's Taxonomy. My lessons will show you how to incorporate Bloom's Taxonomy in your future lessons. The purpose of this blog is to show other teachers how to effectively teach social studies while also teaching other "testable" subjects such as math and reading whether you love or dread history. I hope you will continue to follow my posts and write comments.