I've noticed that my blog normally links to the page with EVERYTHING on it. This is one of my biggest pet peeves when I'm looking at stuff of Pinterest and then it links you to a page like that...but since most of those pins are from people who are looking at the blog, not the blogger herself (usually the ones I look at are from female teachers), I can't blame the blogger.
To try to help make things easier for people who (hopefully) will be lead to my blog from something like Pinterest, I will try to make my titles as specific to the topic as possible so that the links off to the right can be used to get to exactly what you want. Hopefully this will work and I won't have people unable to find what they're looking for. Good Luck!
Monday, May 13, 2013
Personalized Binders for InterActive Notebooks
The school I will be working for has an AVID program and try to utilize many of the ideas from the program into all their classes. One of the techniques they especially like for the science classes are the InterActive Notebooks. I love the idea of incorporating both the left and right sides of the brain, and encouraging students to think through what they just learned and try to internalize the information.
I also like the idea of having all the handouts, homework and notes for a topic all in the same place so that students can see that they all go together; but I can't understand why it should be a notebook instead of a binder. To me, a binder makes more sense because then the students can keep everything together and looking good. The only drawback I can easily see with a binder is that the students could, theoretically, put in the information at a later date instead of right then and there, but if they're going to do something like that, I'm pretty sure they could figure out a way to do it with a notebook too.
I've already talked with the chair of the science department, and he doesn't see a problem with using binders instead of notebooks either. So that's my plan, use InterActive Binders instead of InterActive Notebooks. I will also want to keep a sample notebook for each of my classes, just in case a student falls behind, because to me, it seems more important for the students to have the information together in a useful way rather than not be able to use their notes, even if it isn't on time. I wanted to be able to easily identify the notebooks, but also have them look good, so-as usual-I found something on Pinterest and made my own. Here's what they looked like:
And here's how I did it:
I got two different pattern Stash Starter fabrics from Walmart (I got a whole yard of each, but you could easily use just a half yard, or maybe even a quarter yard), some Mod Podge (this was also my first time using Mod Podge, but everything I've read says to use the real stuff, not to make your own), a pair of scissors and a foam brush and I got started. I basically just followed the directions in the pin. The only thing I saw that she did, but didn't put in the directions was to cut a small area out around the edges for the binder rings and opener. I think this project cost me about $10 total for the binders (assuming they were new), the fabric (which could have been less if I'd gotten a smaller size), and the Mod Podge (the most expensive part at about $5 a bottle, but I hardly used any of it to cover the whole binder inside and out).
I also like the idea of having all the handouts, homework and notes for a topic all in the same place so that students can see that they all go together; but I can't understand why it should be a notebook instead of a binder. To me, a binder makes more sense because then the students can keep everything together and looking good. The only drawback I can easily see with a binder is that the students could, theoretically, put in the information at a later date instead of right then and there, but if they're going to do something like that, I'm pretty sure they could figure out a way to do it with a notebook too.
I've already talked with the chair of the science department, and he doesn't see a problem with using binders instead of notebooks either. So that's my plan, use InterActive Binders instead of InterActive Notebooks. I will also want to keep a sample notebook for each of my classes, just in case a student falls behind, because to me, it seems more important for the students to have the information together in a useful way rather than not be able to use their notes, even if it isn't on time. I wanted to be able to easily identify the notebooks, but also have them look good, so-as usual-I found something on Pinterest and made my own. Here's what they looked like:
And here's how I did it:
I got two different pattern Stash Starter fabrics from Walmart (I got a whole yard of each, but you could easily use just a half yard, or maybe even a quarter yard), some Mod Podge (this was also my first time using Mod Podge, but everything I've read says to use the real stuff, not to make your own), a pair of scissors and a foam brush and I got started. I basically just followed the directions in the pin. The only thing I saw that she did, but didn't put in the directions was to cut a small area out around the edges for the binder rings and opener. I think this project cost me about $10 total for the binders (assuming they were new), the fabric (which could have been less if I'd gotten a smaller size), and the Mod Podge (the most expensive part at about $5 a bottle, but I hardly used any of it to cover the whole binder inside and out).
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Getting Crafty While I Wait/Objective boards
Seeing as the current school year isn't over and I can't get into what will be my classroom, I am doing what I can while I wait. Today I went out and bought all kinds of supplies to get things started for my classroom.
For starters, I saw this post on Pinterest. I really love her idea of using picture frames to post the objectives, but I think I will be putting mine somewhere other than on the whiteboard to save precious board space. I took these supplies,
I cut the wrapping paper to fit into the frames, wrote in the words "Objectives, SWBAT..., Chem, and AP Chem", and I ended up with this:
I plan to actually write the objectives for each day on the large frames on the bottom in the picture.
I also got eight of those easy to change, standing, plastic picture frames so that I can put station instructions at the lab stations without having to worry about needing to replace them each class period. I also took that idea from pinterest, here.
If you're interested in what else I have on Pinterest, here's a link to me; I sift through all the elementary, math, and reading pins so you don't have to!
Introduction
I have just gotten my first job as a chemistry teacher. I will (most likely) be teaching Chemistry 1 and AP Chem my first year. I am very excited about this, and a little nervous. While I've taken all the education classes and stayed on track during my student teaching while also working nights as a Lab TA at the college, I still feel that I am not fully prepared. I know I will make mistakes, but I want to do all I can to minimize them.
And, I am a planner, so plan I shall. My intentions for this blog are to:
1) Be able to write and reflect about my lessons
2) Share my success and failures with other teachers
3) Help others avoid making the same mistakes I will
4) Look back at my first year and find areas of growth and goals for the next year.
I've learned through my classes how important it is to be able to reflect on my classroom management and lessons. During my student teaching, I fell behind in this and didn't learn as much as I know I could have, and I regret it. I'm hoping that I will gain followers and have something to encourage me to continually write my reflections in a timely manner, before I forget the details.
Along the way, I will also be sharing my DIY creative solutions (mostly taken from Pinterest, because I've faced the fact that when it comes to artsy stuff, I just don't have what it takes) for my classroom. I'll try to avoid sharing anything that doesn't have applications in the classroom.
...Here goes nothing!
And, I am a planner, so plan I shall. My intentions for this blog are to:
1) Be able to write and reflect about my lessons
2) Share my success and failures with other teachers
3) Help others avoid making the same mistakes I will
4) Look back at my first year and find areas of growth and goals for the next year.
I've learned through my classes how important it is to be able to reflect on my classroom management and lessons. During my student teaching, I fell behind in this and didn't learn as much as I know I could have, and I regret it. I'm hoping that I will gain followers and have something to encourage me to continually write my reflections in a timely manner, before I forget the details.
Along the way, I will also be sharing my DIY creative solutions (mostly taken from Pinterest, because I've faced the fact that when it comes to artsy stuff, I just don't have what it takes) for my classroom. I'll try to avoid sharing anything that doesn't have applications in the classroom.
...Here goes nothing!
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