Students and Election 2016, and More

Election 2016
The first presidential debate is Monday evening.  Voting for our next president is just six weeks away on Tuesday, November 8th.  As we get closer to voting day in the United States, students may have questions.  The following article from School Library Journal shares some fantastic resources to help students better understand the electoral process, how elections work, and political issues, such as immigration and education, that affect students and their families. 

Informing the Future Electorate shares videos, websites, apps, as well as resources to follow on Twitter.  It includes PebbleGo Vote! for grades K-2, Ben’s Guide for Kids—Elections for K Up, several other elementary, middle, and high school resources. PBS Election Central Classroom Resources is an excellent educational guide to our US Elections. 

Banned Book Week

This week is Banned Book Week as I posted last week.  I found the following interactive infographic from the 2012 Banned Book Week Celebration.  I continue to share ways to help students better understand why we celebrate Banned Book Week, as well as Banned Website Awareness Day (Wednesday).  Check out... I'm With the Banned Interactive Infographic 2012

Celebrate Banned Book Week Sept.25 - Oct. 1, 2016

Celebrate Banned Book Week Sept.25 - Oct. 1, 2016

The first Banned Book Week celebration was in 1982 in response to a growing number of attempts across our country to censor or challenge certain books.  In celebrating Banned Book Week, we celebrate and protect our freedom to read through the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  In raising the awareness with middle school students, many students find this to be "unfair," "unreasonable," and "incomprehensible."  Especially when I share some of the following facts related to books that have been banned or challenged:

1. From 2000-2009 the top banned/challenged book was the entire Harry Potter series.

2. One of the most challenged books is the children's title, Captain Underpants due to offensive language.

3. In 2014, The Absolute True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie was the most challenged book of that year.  It remains on the list yet for 2015-16. 

Many middle school students were surprised to see many favorite books they have read even as elementary students that have been banned or challenged.  To learn more check out some lists of frequently challenged books.

In the article "Dealing With a Materials Challenge" by Teen Services Underground, some interesting infographics explain where and why books are challenged as well as who typically challenges books. 

Password Protection, Books That Show Empathy, and Storynory

Password Protection as explained in this infographic helps us to remember a few simple ideas to protect your passwords.  In terms of our students, the second and third ideas are most appropriate for school related passwords. 

From Preschool Through High School: 24 Books That Show Empathy, Kindness illustrates books that show empathy and kindness, two character traits that we look for in our students throughout the school year.  If you are looking for ways to promote kindness in your classroom atmosphere, have ideas for students when selecting books or ideas that help new students feel welcome to the new school year and new school, consider some of these books. 

Storynory is a free audio story website.  Storynory has educational stories, fairy tales, classics, and many more free audio stories.  Check out Storynory as a classroom option or to share with families as a resource for long car rides or a bedtime activity.

Digital Citizenship

Digital Citizenship

What an exciting new school year!  Last Thursday and Friday 4th and 5th grade students in our district received Chromebooks, this week grades 6-9 will receive them.  With technology integration, digital citizenship is important. As shared in the Common Sense Media article, "Shaping My Classroom's Culture With Digital Citizenship," routines and expectations are important to help students feel comfortable and develop a culture in the classroom regarding technology responsibility.  This article also provides tips for teachers to strengthen digital citizenship in the classroom including the following resource tips:

- K-5 Family Tip sheet titled Common Sense on Digital Life  - This is great resource to send home to parents.  As I collaborate with classrooms regarding digital citizenship lessons, a Family Tip Sheet will be sent home to help parents know what their child is learning in school regarding digital citizenship.

- Parent Concerns Videos help address parental concerns including cyberbullying and screen time.

- Stand with Common Sense: Take the Digital Citizenship Pledge for All is also a great way for teachers to empower students to think critically, behave safely, and participate as a responsible digital citizen.

Please consider reviewing this information, sharing aspects of it with families, and collaborating with me to integrate digital citizenship in your classroom.

Welcome to 2016-17 School Year!

Welcome Back Elementary/Middle School Teachers!  For me the summer zipped by, but I am excited to share another year of ideas, information, thoughts and events. 

A favorite blog I follow is Nerdy Book Club.  One post from this summer that I feel is worth sharing is 10 Mentor Texts To Lift the Level of Students' Narrative Writing .  This collection isn't just a wonderfully diverse collection of outstanding picture books, but it offers craft moves as noted by the author of this blog post, Stacey Shubitz.  Stacey is the author of Craft Moves: Lesson Sets for Teaching Writing with Mentor Texts.

Global Read Aloud (GRA) is a project started in 2010 by Pernille Ripp, a 7th Grade English Teacher here in Wisconsin.  The premise of GRA is they pick a book to be read aloud to students during a set six-week period where during that time as many global connections are made as possible.  It starts in early October and ends in mid-November. For elementary students the author study is Lauren Castillo, which includes her Caldecott Honor, Nana in the City and her newest book, Twenty Yawns as well as several others. The upper elementary/middle school titles are: The BFG, in honor of celebrating Roald Dahl's 100th birthday and Pax, Sara Pennypacker.  I've read both of these wonderful stories!  The selected titles for middle/high school check out Orbiting Jupiter by Gary D. Schmidt and All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely.  Orbiting Jupiter is on my reading list, but I've read All American Boys, which I highly recommend for students, teachers, staff, parents and leaders of our communities.  This 2016 Coretta Scott King Honor and Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Literature is very timely in terms of the national conversation that tends to be in the news nearly on a daily basis in our lives.

I encourage teachers to consider participating in GRA for outstanding literature, a global conversation and much more!

Epic Summer Reading Challenge and National Week of Making

Epic! - Summer Reading Challenge

The Epic! - Summer Reading Challenge flyer explains how families in your school can participate in reading books for free.  Students who read 5 or more books on Epic! receive a special reading certificate.  Check this out and consider sharing this information with your students and parents.

National Week of Making

June 17th-23rd is National Week of Making.  What an exciting way to kick off the summer.  How will you celebrate?  Perhaps this year you will explore Making for your classroom next year or plan some Maker activities with your family.  I hope now that we know that this occurs in June, it could be a great opportunity to embed into our summer school classes. Check out the site to learn more about National Week of Making.

Final Blog Post
This is my final blog post for the 2015-16 school year.  I will continue this blog when the 2016-17 school year begins.  Enjoy the summer, relax, and refresh! 

Summer Fun Ideas for Families

Summer Fun Ideas for Families

There are 8 1/2 days left of this school year and 84 summer days between June 9th the first day of school on September 1st.  I know summer will go quickly for me, but for some kids summer can be long and boring and they are anxious for school to start again.  Below are some links for some terrific summer ideas to share with parents.

Fun Summer Science Projects for Kids - PBS

Creative Summer Learning Ideas - Scholastic
This link from Scholastic also shares some great end of the school year activities!

28 Boredom-Busting Summer Activities

Enjoy the summer, I am looking forward to some time to do things I don't otherwise have time to do.