Megan Sheakoski's Blog

Posted by Megan Sheakoski

Thanksgiving Writing Lesson Plan

• Students create a Thanksgiving How-To Book during this explanatory paragraph writing unit.

• Primary students learn about estimation, fractions, states of matter, and measurement while making a pumpkin pie from scratch.

• Elementary teachers can use this list of Thanksgiving themed children’s books and lesson ideas to teach students about Thanksgiving.

• Teachers can teach students to make predictions, identify math patterns, make a collage, respond to writing prompts, and make a turkey bulletin board during this Thanksgiving and turkey themed unit.

• During this Thanksgiving themed writing project students interview a family member or friend about their early Thanksgiving experience and write about it.

• Kindergarten teachers can use One Little, Two Little, Three Little Pilgrims by B. G. Hennessy (Puffin Books, 1999) and a puppet craft to teach about the Pilgrims, the Wampanoag, and the first Thanksgiving.

Posted by Megan Sheakoski

Posted by Megan Sheakoski

There aren’t many events more exciting and nerve-racking than getting ready for the first day of Kindergarten. The teachers busily prepare their lessons and bulletin boards and parents hurriedly go back-to-school shopping as the kids bounce off the walls full of nervous energy.

One Kindergarten teacher in Jacksonville, FL has found a way to turn the anticipation into her first lesson of the year, a lesson that takes place before school even begins. Mrs. Hope Teper types up a Night Before School poem (Author Unknown) and attaches it to plastic bags full of confetti. She then passes out the poem during Kindergarten Orientation to all of her incoming students to read the night before the first day of school.

Mrs. Teper’s students read the poem with their parents at bedtime. The poem talks about how it may be hard to fall asleep the night before school starts and offers a way to help. It tells how the teacher has made magic confetti for the students and explains that, “The confetti will help you sleep through the night and you will awake in the morning feeling fresh and bright.”

It concludes with a message from the teacher saying, “I’ll sprinkle confetti under my pillow, too. And remember I just can’t wait to see you!” The poem and magic confetti help calm any fears the incoming students may have by telling them how excited their teacher is to meet them. Mrs. Teper has found a great way to start off the Kindergarten school year!

Posted by Megan Sheakoski

Start your day off with a morning meeting and get your primary students ready to learn from the moment they walk into the classroom.

A Morning Meeting is a 15 minute time period at the beginning of the day where the teacher introduces the day’s events to the students using reading, writing, and math mini-lessons. It is a lively, student-centered exchange that gets the students interacting with each other and the subject matter by playing games, answering questions, and singing songs.

The teacher begins the meeting by reviewing calendar skills. The class goes over the current day, week, and month and the day’s weather. This information is added to a classroom calendar bulletin board.

After the calendar is complete the class reads the Morning Message together. The Morning Message is a letter to the class from the teacher explaining some of the day’s events. The letter is written on large chart paper and hung near the calendar. The teacher can use the letter as a tool to practice language arts skills. For example, the teacher can model how to use different types of punctuation or adjectives.

After the Morning Message the teacher sings songs with the class to help them learn concepts such as the days of the week or the times tables. The teacher also leads the class in fun games such as, “I spy the letter ___” on the Word Wall or the spelling game Sparkle.

Student motivation is increased by beginning the day with a Morning Meeting. They are immediately engaged in learning in a fun and interactive way. Use the Morning Meeting with your elementary class this year and watch their learning grow!

Posted by Megan Sheakoski

Everyone has Summer Olympic fever this week! From the Opening Ceremonies to the swimming finals the whole world has been glued to their TV sets watching to see what will happen next. Bring this excitement into your classroom with lessons based on the Olympics.

Lessons about China and its people have never been more relevant. Students see China every day on television and are naturally curious about it. Use the Olympics as motivation to study the Chinese people and their country.

Elementary students learn best when they can relate to what they are studying. Topics such as clothing, food, school, sports, and games peak their interest and demonstrate how alike kids are around the world. Encourage students to compare and contrast their lives with the lives of Chinese students.

Present the information about China to students in a variety of ways to make learning fun. Have them use the internet to research Chinese recipes and games, watch movies and read books about kids in China, and play Chinese games. For the unit’s culminating activity the class can have a China party or write to pen pals in China.

The Summer Olympic Games provide the perfect opportunity to teach primary students about kids in China. Students see China on television everyday during the Olympics and are motivated to learn more about the country and its people. Learning about Chinese clothing, food, school, sports and games gives kids a greater understanding of and appreciation for different cultures.

Posted by Megan Sheakoski

No one is more excited to write a story or create a book than elementary students. They can’t wait to compose something and share it with others. Teachers can use this excitement as motivation for a variety of language arts lessons during a Writer’s Workshop.

A Writer’s Workshop is a teaching model during which students create stories, poems, paragraphs, and reports by going through the writing process. They go through the steps of prewriting, writing, revising and editing, and publishing at their own speed with the help of their teacher and peers. Instruction is planned to meet student needs in the context of their work, not because it is the next lesson in the English book.

The teacher uses mini-lessons to instruct the whole class, small groups, or individuals. For example, she may use the Sandwich Paragraph Writing Strategy to teach all students how to write a complete paragraph. Then after the lesson the students write a paragraph during the Writer’s Workshop. Then if a teacher finds that one or more of the students are having trouble writing a closing sentence she can re-teach closing sentences to just that group.

Another way to use the Writer’s Workshop is to have the class work together to create a How-To Book. The teacher can choose an encompassing topic, like making Thanksgiving dinner, and have the students write how to do one component of the topic such as decorating the table. During Writer’s Workshop the students work together to revise and edit each other’s work and then publish their writing as a class book.

The Writer’s Workshop approach allows students to develop writing skills at their own pace with individualized instruction from the teacher.

Posted by Megan Sheakoski

The days of following the lessons in the Teacher’s Book and hoping for the best are long gone. Students need explicit instruction of the strategies that good readers use to make sense of what they read. Teachers need to be aware of the reading needs of their students and teach them the specific skills they require to be more successful. Primary teachers can use a variety of strategies to teach reading skills.

The Language Experience Approach Reading Strategy

The LEA reading strategy is used by teachers to help students learn to read better using their own words. After a shared experience students dictate what happened to the teacher who records it word for word into a story. This story becomes the basis for a variety of reading lessons.

The Word Splash Vocabulary Strategy

When students don’t understand the vocabulary in a story or textbook they aren’t able to comprehend the author’s message. Teachers use a Word Splash to teach difficult vocabulary words to the students before, during and after they read.

The Reciprocal Teaching Reading Strategy

Reciprocal Teaching is a four part strategy that increases multiple reading skills at once. The clarifying part of the strategy makes sure that student have a way to figure out unknown words by breaking them into chunks they can manage. Predicting helps students to comprehend material by teaching them to look for clues from the author and interact with the text. Questioning and summarizing are also taught to ensure understanding and to aid in recall and retention of the information.

Teachers need to teach elementary students reading strategies that increase their ability to read effectively. The Language Experience Approach, the Word Splash, and the Reciprocal Teaching strategy teach students how to decode and comprehend text while learning new vocabulary words to become better readers.

Posted by Megan Sheakoski

Ever walk down the hallways of your school the first week and think, “Wow! Everyone else has great ideas for their bulletin boards. Why can’t mine be more exciting?” This year create a High Fives from Our Class bulletin board with your students on the first day of school.

Bulletin Board Preparation

Before the kids arrive cover a bulletin board or large wall area with craft paper and add a decorative border. Cut out squares of different colored cardstock and gather markers or colored pencils. Trace and cut out the letters for the title of the bulletin board, High Fives from Our Class, and staple them to the craft paper.

Create the Bulletin Board

On the first day of school have each student trace his hands on a square of cardstock. Across the palm of the hands have them write their names. Then have the students list five things about themselves on the fingers and thumb. For younger students give them questions to answer such as, “What is you favorite color or school subject?” Display each hand on the bulletin board.

The High Fives from Our Class bulletin board encourages primary students to learn about each other while introducing themselves to the teacher. Creating the bulletin board allows teachers to informally assess student skills in a non-threatening manner and is a great way to add personality and color to the classroom environment.

Posted by Megan Sheakoski

Did you ever just look around the classroom and know that is was going to be a long day? A couple cranky kids can cause the mood of the whole class to spiral downward and result in discipline problems. Instead of waiting for the behavior issues to surface teach your students to visit the Classroom Spa or Cool Down Corner to relax and calm down.

Choose a place in your classroom for the Cool Down Corner that is separated from the main teaching area. Place a small table or desk and a comfortable chair in the Cool Down Corner along with some relaxation tools.

At the beginning of the school year explain why and when the students should go to the Cool Down Corner and what they need to do while there. Prompt them to use the Spa and encourage them to ask to go there when they feel frustrated.

What Students Do in a Cool Down Corner

• Play with sand. Show students how to run the sand over their hands to relax.
• Squeeze stress balls to calm down when they are feeling angry.
• Listen to soothing music while taking deep breaths to settle down.
• Use crayons to draw a picture of what is bothering them.
• Write their problem in a feelings journal to share with the teacher.

Teaching students to visit the classroom spa for a few minutes to unwind and distress will save the whole class time by preventing behavior problems. Utilizing the Cool Down Corner will also help kids learn the valuable lessons of self-control and anger management, skills that will help them succeed in life.

Posted by Megan Sheakoski

Planning a field trip for your primary school students doesn’t have to be stressful if you start early and stay organized.

Look at Curriculum and Brainstorm Field Trip Ideas

Make a list of potential places in your area that are age appropriate for your students. Choose an educational outing that complements a topic that the students will be studying.

Determine Field Trip Budget and Fundraising Needs

Talk to your principal or fellow teachers to find out if there is field trip money set aside in the school budget. If not, or if that will not cover your planned trip, make arrangements to hold fundraisers to cover the cost.

Contact Field Trip Venues

Once you have chosen a field trip and arranged to pay for it, you need to call the place and set up a time to go. For an enhanced experience go on the field trip after the students have already studied the complemetary topic.

Plan an Agenda for the Field Trip

Create a timeline for the day of the field trip. Make sure to include travel time, bathroom breaks, and time for lunch or snacks.

Ask for Field Trip Volunteers and Chaperones

As close to the beginning of the school year as possible enlist adult help for the trip. Depending on school policy your helpers can be other faculty or staff members, classroom parents, or older students.

Send Home Field Trip Permission Slips

Follow the guidelines of your building for obtaining permission in writing to take the students off campus. Include a medical release form for treating students in the case of an emergency and distributing medication.

The day of the field trip it is helpful to have all the students dress in the same bright colored T-shirts so they are easy to spot and to specify a meeting place for any who gets separated from the group.

Posted by Megan Sheakoski

Get your primary school age kids excited about America’s Independence Day with an educational activity they can do at home. Use Harriet Ziefert’s Hats Off for the Fourth of July (Viking, 2000) as the basis for a family craft and parade.

What You’ll Need

• Hats Off for the Fourth of July by Harriet Ziefert
• Strips of cardstock
• Construction Paper
• Markers
• Other art supplies

What to Do

1. Before you read the book flip through the pages and look at the pictures. Ask your children to tell you what they think will happen in the story.
2. Read Hats Off for the Fourth of July and talk about what happened in the story. Check to see if the kids’ prediction were correct.
3. Ask them to list the different things that went by in the parade. Reread the book and to complete the list.
4. Discuss the title and then tell the kids they are going to get to make their favorite hat from the story.
5. Use the cardstock strip as the hat’s foundation. Staple the strip so that it becomes a band that fits each child’s head.
6. Cover the band with construction paper to create a motorcycle helmet, a Little League hat, a cowboy hat, or whatever hat they have chosen. The kids can then decorate the hat using art supplies you already have at home.
7. When all the hats are finished have everyone march around the house for a family parade.

Posted by Megan Sheakoski

When children are little all they want to do is be read to and look at their favorite books. By the time elementary school hits those days are long gone for many kids- especially in the summertime. Encourage reading and writing by creating a learning center in your home filled with books and art supplies that the kids can use to make their own books, construct their favorite characters, illustrate their poetry, and much more.

The Reading Center Space

Your home learning center doesn’t need to be anything elaborate. It can simply be a small, rolling storage cart next to a bookshelf or a small table in the corner of the room. Find an area that will work for you and your family and decorate and label it. Make the center inviting so the kids will be excited about using it.

The Materials for a Reading Center

Start with some books, different types of paper, pencils and crayons. Depending on what kinds of art supplies your kids enjoy using you can add items such as a hole puncher, glitter, fabric pieces, popsicle sticks, and yarn. Change the books that are in the center frequently so that the kids don’t get bored.

The Rules for a Reading Learning Center

Just like any other area of the house the reading center needs to have procedures that the kids will follow when they use it. Choose whatever rules will work best for you children that address issues such as when the center can be used, how it needs to be left when they are done, and what activities require adult supervision.

Posted by Megan Sheakoski

Whether your child requires extra help, would enjoy enrichment and practice, or needs to maintain current skills summer tutoring may be just what you’re looking for. Use the information below to get the most out of the experience.

Tutoring Options

• Students who need remediation may qualify for free or inexpensive school-run reading or math programs.
• Private tutors such as college students or local elementary school teachers provide one-on-one personalized instruction for primary students. Check your child’s school or the local library for recommendations.
• Tutoring centers, such as Sylvan Learning Center, also provide customized lessons and usually have multiple locations and convenient hours.

Questions to Ask a Prospective Tutor

• What are your qualifications and relevant schooling?
• How long have you been tutoring? Can you provide me with references?
• How much do you charge? What happens if we have to cancel a session?
• How do you plan to assess my child’s strengths and needs?
• How will you measure progress and how often will I be updated?

Characteristics of a Strong Tutoring Program

• Student strengths and needs are assessed prior to instruction and periodically during instruction.
• The tutor seeks input from both the parent and child and, if possible, the former teacher.
• A plan is developed that includes realistic goals for the summer along with specific objectives as to how the goals will be reached.
• Instruction is personalized for the child and takes into account his learning style and interests.

Posted by Megan Sheakoski

As the school year winds down teachers, students, and parents look forward to a relaxed schedule and more free time. But before you pack up your stuff and head to the beach take time to reflect on the past year and create a mission statement for next year’s class.

What is a classroom mission statement?

• Just like a company’s mission statement a classroom mission statement defines the vision of the classroom culture or environment. Anyone who reads the statement can immediately get a feel for the priorities of the teacher and the focus of the classroom.
• Teachers can use the statement to share their views with students, parents and administrators at the beginning of the school year.

How do I create a classroom mission statement?

• The first thing to do when developing a mission statement is to reflect on your instructional and educational values and make a list of the classroom characteristics that are most important to you.
• Go through the list and categorize the qualities into main ideas that you believe are essential to a positive teaching and learning environment.
• Use the main ideas to write a short paragraph describing your vision for the classroom.

Over the summer reread and refine the paragraph until you are satisfied that it expresses your viewpoint. Decide how you will share the mission statement with parents and students at the beginning of the school year and refer to it throughout the year to guide your lesson planning and classroom management decisions.

Posted by Megan Sheakoski

The school year is ending, but that doesn’t mean the learning has to stop. Send home a summer activity calendar with your primary school age students to keep their education going even when you’re not around!

A summer activity calendar can be detailed or very simple. What you choose to do depends on the age and interest of your students. Before school ends create a list of educational activities that the students can do at home. When your list is complete organize the activities by type or category. For example, make a list of reading activities, a list math of activities, a list of writing activities, etc.

Take a blank calendar and fill it in making sure to have a variety of activities each week. Don’t feel the need to put something on the calendar every day, very few students will be able to complete all of the suggested activities. You can choose to make a separate calendar for each month of summer vacation or just one that can be reused each month.

Use this sample week of activities to help you get started.

Monday

Read a story to your pet, younger sibling, or favorite stuffed animal.

Tuesday

Draw a picture or write a letter to send to a family member who lives far away.

Wednesday

Pretend you are a crab at the beach and crabwalk around your house.

Thursday

Use a ruler or tape measure to measure each member of your family.

Friday

Explore your front yard. Take a notebook and record your observations.

Have fun with the list and be as creative as possible. Remember, the activities don't have to be long or involved- anything that keeps them thinking and learning will make a great impact!

Posted by Megan Sheakoski

You’ve just received your Elementary Education Teaching Degree and are finally ready for your own classroom. The next step in the process of beginning your teaching career is to ace the school district interview. You know you can do a great job, now is the time to prove it to your future colleagues. Use the interview tips below to nail the perfect teaching position.

Research, Research, Research

Not doing your homework before an interview can lead to the district not realizing how well you may fit into their school family. Before you send out an application or cover letter, research school districts and schools with open positions. When answering interview questions you can refer to this information in your response.

Use Personal Examples

Depending on how the interview is set up you may not have the chance to show off your complete portfolio or highlight your best work. Draw on brief, personal anecdotes about your teaching experience in your interview answers. When appropriate use your portfolio as a visual aid to draw attention to your teaching skill and creativity.

Demonstrate Good Public Speaking

Every teacher needs to be an excellent communicator. Make eye contact with all of the interviewers and use a clear speaking voice. Show enthusiasm for your subject- remember, everyone loves a friendly first grade teacher!

Posted by Megan Sheakoski

The last week of school can be tough on classroom management. The weather is warmer, the schedule is crazy, and elementary students and teachers can only think of one thing- summer vacation. The management plan and reward system that has been effective all year may not be successful now.

Use the steps below to add an element of summer fun to the classroom by having the students earn an ice cream sundae party.

Set Up the Parameters

• Decide when the party will take place.
• Choose what types of behaviors will be rewarded.
• Develop a plan for how you will handle individual misbehavior.

Create the Materials

• Devote a classroom bulletin board to the ice cream party.
• Draw and cut out all of the parts of an ice cream party. You will need a napkin, a bowl, a spoon, some scoops of ice cream, individual toppings, a cup, and a drink.
• Display the individual parts of the party the class needs to earn around the outer edges of the bulletin board.

Explain the Plan to the Students

• Show the students the bulletin board and talk about what they can potentially have at the party.
• Give them specific examples of behaviors you will reward.
• Discuss what will happen if one student continues to disrupt the class.

Now all that’s left to do is put your plan into place and get ready to enjoy all the ice cream fun!

Posted by Megan Sheakoski

Whether you are a student, have a student, or were a student there is at least one special teacher you are grateful for. Teachers have an enormous impact in our lives, and while you can never really repay a great teacher for all she has done, there are some easy and thoughtful ways to demonstrate your appreciation. One way to honor a special elementary teacher is to donate school supplies to needy classrooms.

Three Ways to Give Back to Teachers

1. Call your favorite primary school teacher and ask what is needed. You then choose what you would like to donate, buy the supplies, and take them to the class. Or you can just send a check to the school to be used however you designate.
2. Visit Donors Choose to give to a class without ever leaving your house. Teachers submit proposals outlining what they need and how they will use it. Donors use the many search options to choose a project that they would like to help fund and donate the money through the website. Everyone who makes a donation receives a thank-you from the students and every donation is tax-deductible.
3. Go to the Adopt a Classroom website to search for a class to adopt. For a minimum donation of twenty-five dollars you can help a teacher to obtain materials for her students. You are also able to visit the classroom you sponsor and even chaperone field trips.

Remember every little bit helps- a pencil may seem ordinary until it is used to write a sentence for the first time. Anything you can give will be very much appreciated by lucky recipients.

For more ways to say thank you to a great teacher read Teacher Appreciation Gifts.