Smencils: Smelly Pencils

These are just too much fun! I have grape, and love it! Get them here.

Free Rice: Do Your Part

Ever heard of an initiative that requires very little initiative, but still produces amazing results?

I have. It's called Free Rice. You play an online vocabulary game. Your time spent playing, yes just playing, feeds the hungry. For every word you can correctly guess the definition to , the Free Rice organization will donate 20 grains of rice to the impoverished. Perhaps a great tool for the classroom. To do your part click here.

Children's Illustrations

My second love, illustrations. Perhaps one day, I'll illustrate my own children's book. In fact, I'll make it a goal to illustrate books my younger sister will write. I'll have to tell her my plan. lol

Anyways, here you will find a collection of some of my favorite images. These are mostly vintage.

What is a Good Teacher?

So, I have a philosophy class this year that is attempting to solve the question, "What is a good teacher?" As you can see, not really an easy question to answer, simply at least.

My first thoughts was to start asking myself smaller questions like:

What is a teacher?

Who can teach, who should teach?

What are teachers supposed to teach?

Who are teachers supposed to teach?

Where and when does teaching occur? etc...

So with these questions, and a few more running through my mind, I did what anyone with a serious question does. I googled it. 

Not just any google search though, instead I thought I'd just type in teacher. As I expected, that turned out to be really generic, overwhelming, and a tad boring. So, I clicked on the images link, and wow, was I surprised to see what "teacher" seems to look like. 

Above are a few images I found. My questions for you are, was this what you pictured? If not, what comes to mind for you when someone says teacher? What doesn't? 

And finally, the real question, why do we picture what we do? 

On a day when class was so much fun, I thought I'd show you one of my favorite poems.

(I suppose you're wondering what made class so fun, hey? 

Well not only did we get to play games in PE, but we also got to share stories and join a sing-a-long in Music!) The life of pre-service teachers is so tough! :)

49 Class Rewards!

Effort has been given to provide a combination of reward ideas suited for both primary and intermediate students.

1. Sit at the teacher's desk.
2. Take care of the class animals for the day.
3. Have lunch with your favorite person.
4. Have lunch with the principal.
5. Join another class for indoor recess.
6. Have the teacher phone parents to tell them what a great kid you are.
7. Draw on the chalkboard.
8. Be first in line.
9. Do only half an assignment.
10. Choose any class job for the week.
11. Choose the music for lunch. Bring in a tape.
12. Take a tape recorder home for the night.
13. Use colored chalk.
14. Do all the class jobs for the day.
15. Invite a visitor from outside the school.
16. Get a drink whenever you want.
17. Use the pencil sharpener any time.
18. No early morning work.
19. Take a class pet home overnight.
20. Be a helper in the room with younger children.
21. Help the custodian.
22. Help the secretary.
23. Help the librarian.
24. Stay in at recess to play a game with a friend.
25. Use stamps and ink.
26. Invite a friend from another class into the room for lunch.
27. Use the teacher's chair.
28. Work in the lunchroom.
29. Take a class game home for the night.
30. Choose a book for the teacher to read to the class.
31. Move your desk to a chosen location.
32. Keep an animal on your desk--stuffed or not stuffed.
33. No homework pass.
34. Lunch with the teacher.
35. Operate the projector.
36. Use the couch or beanbag chair for the day.
37. Go to another class for lunch.
38. Use the computer.
39. Be the first to eat.
40. Use the tape recorder and tape a story.
41. Have a special sharing time to teach something to the class, set up a display etc.
42. Be leader of a class game.
43. Go to the centre or your choice during play centre time.
44. Extra centre time or extra recess.
45. Read to a younger child.
46. Read to someone else.
47. Get first pick of recess equipment.
48. Get a fun worksheet.
49. Choose a movie for the class to watch.

Mannerly Thoughts

What Annoys Other Kids?

• Asking to borrow others' things all the time.
• Not asking to borrow but borrowing anyway.
• Going into other people's desks without permission.
• Calling people unkind names.
• Whispering about others and just plain whispering.
• Always keeping your hand in the air and demanding that the teacher listen to you, not others.
• Calling people to get the homework assignment the teacher gave in class. (This is okay, of course, if you were absent.)
• Bothering others.
• Sending secret notes.
• Not being willing to share.
• Making a book or sheet of paper about whether you like people in your class or not.
• Ignoring people.
• Giving out party invitations in the classroom, but not giving one to everyone.
• Saving seats at lunchtime.
• Getting upset when you don't win.
• Making fun of what people are wearing or how they talk.
• Not being clean.
• Talking about other people's families in unkind ways.
• Playing with your food or others' food at lunch. Chewing with your mouth open. Talking when chewing.
• Bragging.

 

What Annoys Teachers?

All of the things (above) that annoy kids also annoy teachers.

• Acting like you don't like what the class is doing. Saying you are bored.
• Not knowing what the class is doing.
• Complaining about little things that you can handle yourself.
• Not telling the teacher when you need to about important things.
• Minding other people's business.
• Complaining about being partners with some people in your class.
• Always giving excuses.
• Not being thoughtful to classmates and teachers.
• Not listening to other teachers.
• Not realizing that your job is to be a student.

 

Mannerly Activities

Activity #1: Read the lists above and decide if you agree with them. Make a lists on your computer of the other Annoying Annoyances that weren't on the lists.

Activity #2: Make a computer presentation or slide show about manners in school. Emphasize what you think the most important manners are. Show what the perfect classroom would be like.

Activity #3: A friend hands you a fancy, new notebook. It has the title "Our Class" and the date on it. Inside on each page there is the name of a student in your class. All of the students are included.

Your friend asks you to take the notebook home and write something about each classmate.

You look at the book and read what has already been written. Some of it is very nice, but some is not.

Write a story on your computer telling what you will do and what will happen the next day in class. Give your story several possible endings.

Activity #4: Pretend you are the teacher. What rules would you set for the students in your class? How would you enforce the rules? How would you handle problems students bring to you that involve a conflict you didn't see or hear? How would you encourage your students to use good manners?

Activity #5: On the computer, write a funny story and illustrate it. The title is "How to Be an Annoying Annoyance!"