Time for a Timeline

Have you ever had one of those classes where you get all these dates just thrown in your face, and the teacher says "Memorize these for the test! You'll have to put them in order." My response was always something like this….

Why are timelines so hard for me to grab on to? I am a very sequential thinker, but if I am putting a bunch of random dates in order that have no meaning to me, it is a lost cause. I honestly think that memorizing dates is a waste of time. A better way to have children put things in order is by making a timeline a project. It doesn't have to be this big, fancy ordeal, but can actually be kinda fun!

I searched high and low on the wide spaces of the internet and found this website with the top 10 free online sites that you can use in your classroom to build timelines! Top 10 free timeline creation tools for teachers

This is a super cool resource for teachers to think about. This type of timeline project would be super easy to integrate English Language Arts as well (timeline of story events in order etc), and it is very adaptable for any age.

Have fun creating your timelines!

Warm Ups for Cold Weather

I love winter!! Not many people can say that, especially those living in Boston with their 5.5ft of snow (and counting). Here in Mississippi it is pretty chilly and rainy so you feet can stay cold all day.

To beat this cold weather, let's talk about a couple warm ups to keep those young minds in your classroom nice and toasty.

So in our BLOCK class last week, we were all very stressed with our upcoming unit. Our wonderful teacher reminded us that it is important to voice your concerns and listen to your students! I couldn't be more thankful for an understanding teacher. 

Anyways, our warm-up for the day was called QuickWrite. You give the students options of what to pick to write about. The format is like this: "How is a ____ like a __(1)____, __(2)_____, or __(3)_____?" and the students get to choose whichever one they want to write about.  For example, ours was "How is a teacher like a doctor, artist, or builder?"After this warm-up you could hold a discussion about what the students picked and why.

Even with this activity, students can have different interpretations of the same option. For example, in our class 3 of us chose that a teacher is like a doctor, but we all had completely different reasons. 

I found a couple links to some good warm-ups if you ever need a change in your classroom. 

This site has 10 warm-ups for introducing lessons. 

If you have some down time, this site has free downloads and directions for 360 warm-ups.

I hope you enjoy these! Comments are always welcome! And remember to keep those minds working!

Reliving History

Have you ever heard of a simulation unit?

Well that is what we talked about in class last week. And let me just say, I wish history was taught this way to me--maybe then I would like it. A simulation unit is a series of lessons based on a time period in history (say, the Revolutionary War) and the students role play as people during that time. The students really get to feel how historical figures felt long ago.

For a brief example, our teacher used the Revolutionary War example as a simulation unit with our BLOCK class. One student would be a king/queen of England and have a certain amount of Parliament advisors, the rest of the class would be colonists in America. There would also be a tax collector. Using M&Ms as currency, everyone in the class should get an even amount. The king needs money from taxes to do what he wants to do in England. Where, you ask, does he get money? The colonies. So in your class, you start assigning M&M values of tax to certain items that every student has. 1 M&M per pencil/pen, 5 per notebook, 10 per textbook, 3 per pair of shoes, etc. Once all the tax values have been sorted, the tax collector goes around collecting taxes (note: the colonists probably won't be left with much) and brings it back to the king. At this point, students will probably complain that the king has most of the M&Ms and its not fair! And this is where you--the teacher--can teach history!! But hopefully, you won't have the Boston Tea Party explode in your classroom….

Isn't it beautiful? Not the Boston Tea Party---simulation units! I really wish that history was taught to me this way. History seems so much more interesting when presented like this.

When I am a teacher, I think it would be super cool to do a unit like this and integrate different subjects. However, it might take a few tries before I get the execution down pat. A down side to simulation units is that they cost $$. But, I might be able to overlook the cost because it is a great resource.

Do your own digging and find some good simulation units for you!

Until next time.
"Give me simulation units or give me death!"

The Magic of Blogging

Let me tell you how great blogging is…

Blogs do not take super long to set up and it can be one of the greatest tools you can have in your classroom. For real, just search "blogs" or "teaching blogs" on Pinterest and there are tons of resources to aid you in starting a blog.

For my social studies BLOCK class, we are required to post to a blog. To be honest, this is new and uncomfortable for me, but I am slowly getting more comfortable with blogging. Usually, I like to hand-write my feelings in a journal where only my eyes can read. But with blogging, you can express your feelings and other things in just a few minutes. Blogging can be a great resource for teachers as well as for parents. The work that children do in your class can be posted at lightning speed (depending on your internet connection). And of course, what is a blog without pictures?

Blogging can be a great way to keep the parents up to date on the fun activities going on in your class. I have never observed a class where blogs are used. However, I think it would be great to keep a blog for your classroom. And these people think so too….

Here is a link to the top 25 Elementary School Teacher blogs of 2012: http://www.topmastersineducation.com/top-elementary-school-teacher-blogs-of-2012/ 


Because I am still a college student, the most useful way I can blog, is about super cool teaching strategies so that I won't forget them when it comes to real-life teaching. Once I get a job, I can start blogging about cool things I have done in my classroom. But, I might want to save that for the second year of teaching--we have all heard those horror stories of first year teachers.

But anyways, feel free to post comments of your favorite teaching blog or strategy.

Until next time.
Keep Blogging!!!