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Month: December 2018

2018

They have a story

December 10, 2018January 12, 2019 kngiordanoLeave a comment

Empowering student voice Just this week we finished up one of my favorite units of the school year. The Library of Congress sponsors a national letter writing contest where students spend time considering books that have had a major influence on them, and then write to the authors of those very books.Even that stands to… Continue reading They have a story

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The best kind of note to get from a substitute when you get back! I love when my kids and my classroom run so smoothly, I can come back and have everything ready to jump back in. The room was cleaned up, whiteboard question created, and all my notes from the sub were positive! It’s not always like this (I wish!), but we have to celebrate when it is 😊 Proud of my kiddos today—and I’m definitely letting them know! . . . . . #middleschool #iteachmiddleschool #studentvoice #empowerstudents #sixthgrade #iteachsixth #iteachela #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #teacherblogger #classroomculture

Day 1 of our STEAM enrichment class has us building and testing structures for their load-bearing abilities! We learned about methods of masonry, buttresses, & structural integrity, then put those principles to use building our own structures. Next week—domes! . . . . . #middleschool #iteachmiddleschool #studentvoice #empowerstudents #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #teachersonfire #steameducation #giftedandtalented #iteachgifted

When your students ask for help drawing something on a poster, sometimes you’ve just got to join them on the floor! ✏️ After a very long week of testing, we needed a little brain break. So we created posters to showcase our “chance encounters” stories that I talked about in my last post. It was a great way to rest our tired brains, but still stay focused on our learning goals! . . . . . #middleschool #iteachmiddleschool #sixthgrade #iteachsixth #kidsdeserveit #teacherstyle #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #teacherblogger #teachersonfire #classroomculture #teachersonthefloor

So ready for our “chance encounters” dialogue activity! A fun and engaging lesson/activity helping students learn to write with dialogue and description. Easy to plan and to execute—a win win in my book! Step 1: Find a bunch of photos of people. The goofier, more interesting the faces, the better! Step 2: Print all the pictures, ✂️ cut them out, & have students randomly select one. Step 3: Write character backstories (fits in super well with a narrative writing unit or lesson on character development)! Step 4: Randomly pair up students & have them tell the story of their two characters meeting. 🤝 Have them include the setting & details of the meet up, and make sure the two have had a conversation! And there you have it! . . . . . #middleschool #iteachmiddleschool #studentvoice #sixthgrade #iteachsixth #iteachela #teacherstyle #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #iteachwriting #teacherblogger #writingcommunity #teachersonfire #teachwriting #teachersgiveteachers #teachingresources #lessonplans

I don’t know about you guys, but one of my major necessities in any teacher outfit is POCKETS. Between the Expo markers, pens, keys, and whatever else I have in my hands during the day, any time I don’t have pockets to quickly shove them in, it totally throws me off. My solution to any cute outfit without pockets is this jean jacket! (When it works of course.) It’s keeping me warm on this chilly April morning, too! . . . . . #iteachmiddleschool #iteachsixth #iteachela #teacherstyle #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #teacheroutfit #teacherootd

On repeat for the next 3 week unit! As we get into narratives, this becomes my mantra to the students. The hardest part of any piece of writing (for most people, myself included) is getting started. The most successful strategy I’ve found? Just start writing, and the words begin to flow and take shape. Sloppy drafts and rough beginnings are where some of the most meaningful, lasting pieces come from. Beautiful written expression takes time, revision, and effort. Our stories take time. All we have to do is begin. . . . . . #middleschool #iteachmiddleschool #studentvoice #empowerstudents #personalizedlearning #sixthgrade #iteachsixth #iteachela #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #iteachwriting #writingcommunity #teachersonfire #teachwriting #teachingresources #classroomculture #writing

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