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Kentucky Resources
In Your Classroom : archive
Christmas Around the World
Core Connections
Fishing for "Bias"
Core Connections
By, Jarrod Martin, Calloway County High School
Ever tried to help someone solve a problem they don't realize they have? If you ask most people (adults or students) whether they have a prejudice, you'll get the politically correct answer, "No." And why not? We all know that prejudice can be destructive and debilitating. Just look at the discussion that came out of the debacle of Don Imus. Where does prejudice end and where does it begin? I know it's intimidating, but real change only takes place when we must fish the depths of the human heart.
Prejudice isn't just about race anymore. It's en vogue to hold biases against those who are obese, those who smoke, or those who have a "hick" accent. To excel in today's world students need to be aware of the deep-seated biases and prejudices they hold. This lesson seeks to expose students (and teachers too!) to several activities that will help them think and question their own hidden biases.
Technology and Inquiry
Instructional Illuminations
By: Andrew Clinton, Fulton County Middle School
What do students need to achieve at high levels in the state of Kentucky? Students need units of study that implement useful technology and that have access to a variety of learning activities and assessments. Children today know technology. They watch television, use computers, play video games, and have cell phones. In fact, a good percentage of children know more about technology than their parents. So it is essential that educators use this effective tool in their arsenal. In addition, students today do not learn the same way children did twenty years ago; or even ten years ago. It is important that teachers allow the students to access content in many different ways to ensure student understanding. Gone are the days of teachers standing in front of the students regurgitating memorized information. Today's teachers must not only provide valuable, interesting, and meaningful instruction to guarantee student success, but use instructional technology to foster student motivation, engagement and excitement.
Intrusion, Inclusion, or Infusion?
Instructional Illuminations
By, Linda Payne, Henderson County Schools
"Westward Ho!"
"Go west, young man!"
"California or bust!"
These are famous cries heard from the pioneers of the 1800s on their treks across the rugged terrain of the mid-west in search of a better land and future. In the classrooms of today teachers and students are pioneers (of a sort) in the land of technology. However, the cries of many teachers are much different than those of the 1800's. Being the leaders of students who are growing up in a world filled with technology is both frightening and exciting at the same time.
When televisions and VCRs became the latest technologies added to the classrooms, teachers seemed to clamor to get them. Why are computers and other digital devices in the classroom any different? Why aren't all teachers fighting to get their hands on laptops for their students to use during lessons, CPS systems to help review classroom lessons, or projectors and interactive whiteboards to present lessons in classrooms?
Kids vs. Nutrition
Core Connections
By, Alisha McClure, North Calloway County Elementary
Have you ever driven by the local McDonald's in the middle of the day and cringed at the number of cars in the drive-thru lane? If you said yes, then this unit is for you and your class. Nutrition is a very important aspect of every person's life, especially a child's. Parents teach their children the same eating habits they were taught. If they were raised not to care about nutrition, then odds are that their children won't care either. Since so many parents neglect to instill the importance of being healthy in their children, teachers often have to take the role of dietician along with their regular teaching duties.
Rivers of the World
Core Connections
"Costumes" Across Cultures
Core Connections
With Halloween just around the corner, students will soon start discussing their plans for this spooky holiday. Many students celebrate Halloween by dressing up and going around their neighborhood "trick-or-treating." With students' minds starting to focus on new ideas for different costumes, now would be the ideal time to teach them about "costumes" from different cultures.
Do You Have The Time?
Core Connections
Do you have the time? This is a question which is usually a challenge for the primary student; however it is a skill Kentucky core content says should be mastered by the end of primary and revisited at each grade level. Many students are being taught to tell time on a digital clock so telling time on an analog clock is a challenge.
Reading Recovery - “ Early Intervention That Works
Instructional Illuminations
by: Dawn Quillen, Ballard County Elementary School
"The dog is little." Most people can read this without any problems, but someone who struggles with reading can become frustrated after just a few words. In today's schools, there is a core reading program that classroom teachers use with all of their students. Struggling readers' learning needs can not be sufficiently met with just the core program. They need reading intervention in addition to the core in order to help them over come their struggles with reading. This intervention needs to occur early on in the student's educational career so that his/her reading skills do not stagnate and lead to an "I don't want to try" attitude.
do u txt?
Instructional Illuminations
By Angie Jones, Calloway County Middle School
Chances are your kids do. From instant messaging to text messaging to Internet chat rooms, teenagers are logging many hours online.
There is no doubt that the Internet is a powerful resource for students; however, it can be just as dangerous if they are not educated to the risks associated with being online. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, one in every three teenagers plan to meet someone they have contacted on the Internet. That is a frightening statistic as well as a call for action from educators and parents.
The Melting Pot of Immigration
Core Connections
By Joe Moneymaker, Livingston County Elementary
Have you ever wondered how this great country started? Immigration is the answer. The United States is often referred to as the "land of the melting pot." Students do not realize that most people today in the United States have ancestors that came from foreign countries. Things that we think are "American-made" were actually brought over to this country by people who had a desire to search for a better way of life.
Tips for Writing a Feature Article
Core Connections
By Leah Harness, Union County Middle School
Writing a feature article is often a hard task for a student. To be honest, writing anything can sometimes be scary for the average student. Questions swirl through their minds as they wonder about the following: what should I write about, how I should begin the article, why is the topic interesting, and where can I find the information I need. The most important concepts are that the students have all the material they need to begin writing, and that they are in fact writing.
The first step in this process is conducting research. Allow the students to gather all the information they need before they begin writing. If the students are used to the writing process, then they should know that their information should be gathered and organized before they ever begin drafting. Once they have completed this step, it is time to begin drafting the article. A good tip is to take them to the computer lab and have them begin typing while the monitor is still off. This is a fantastic technique for breaking writer's block, and the students are not staring at ominously blank documents thinking - I have to fill at least this page.
Google for Educators
Instructional Illuminations
In the fall of 2006, Google introduced a new program called Google for Educators. Google for Educators compiles FREE tools that teachers can use in the classroom to promote creativity, collaboration, research, and critical thinking skills. The site has everything from blogging and collaborative document creation to 3-D modeling, web page creation, and satellite mapping. Below are more details about some of the many tools that Google Educator has to offer.
Use Nursery Rhymes to Teach Word Families
Core Connections
By Kesha Sullivan, Murray Elementary Schools
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the king's horses,
And all the king's men,
Couldn't put Humpty together again
Have you ever taught nursery rhymes to young children for use other than memorization? Using nursery rhymes is a great way to "hook" young children into learning how to identify words with similar endings. Through the use of rhymes, children will learn how to categorize words into word families and have fun reciting favorite nursery rhymes as well.
What's Up With China?
Core Connections
North Calloway Elementary
One might wonder why 3rd graders should take the time to learn about China, a country halfway around the world, when there are so many things about our own country that they don't know. The truth is there's a little bit of China in the daily life of every child. Many students may envision such things as rice, chopsticks, and fortune cookies when they think about China, but they are usually quite surprised when they find out that the kites they fly, the paper they write on each day, the razor scooters they play with, and the umbrellas that keep them dry are all Chinese inventions, not to mention the majority of clothes they wear daily.
Community Helpers
Core Connections
By Aymee Herndon, K-1 teacher Calloway County East Elementary School
What do you want to be when you grow up? Every child has a dream of what they would like to be: Firefighters, police officers, teachers, doctors, mechanics, farmers, etc. Teachers have an important job in introducing students to the possibilities. What better time to teach students than in the early primary years? The goal of this article is to provide educators with resources for teaching their students about community helpers.
SCANing Your Future: Workplace Skills
Core Connections
By John Williams, Calloway County High School
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 40.8 percent of high school graduates, enrolled as full time college students in 2006, were in the labor force. With the rising costs of living, many students must be prepared to enter the workforce earlier in life to ensure successful transition to post secondary education and the opportunity for a lifelong career.
Motivating Students to Achieve at High Levels
Instructional Illuminations
Student Motivation
Can students really be motivated to achieve at high levels? Of course they can. All across Kentucky students are excelling on the Commonwealth Accountability Testing System (CATS) tests. Ideally students would be intrinsically motivated to do well in school. The reality is that some students will be naturally motivated to learn about the people in history and others will want to understand how a house is built. According to research performed by the EDU 631-Application of Learning and Motivation Principles in the Classroom graduate class at Murray State University, students can in fact be motivated by their teachers. Motivating students to learn at high levels is a task that all teachers are given when they earn their teaching certificate and accept a position in the public school system. If you ask teachers they will say that it seems that students today are not as motivated to perform well in school as generations before them; therefore, teachers must work diligently to make their coursework interesting and relevant for their students.
Summertime Math Activities
Core Connections
With summertime just around the corner and school getting out, students are excited to have the coming months off from school work. While the summer is a much needed break for students (and teachers), it does not mean that students should drop all of their academic efforts. In an article entitled "Should Summertime Equal Studytime?", Kate, a teacher from Yakima, Washington says, "parents should provide opportunities for learning during the summer, but it doesn't have to be formal." Learning doesn't always have to be formal as in the academic school year. Parents can involve their children during the summer months with many different activities. Simply playing games such as Dominoes can help keep your childrens' minds sharp. This link, Summer Math Fun, provides many ideas for activities around the house that you can engage your child in.
Tour Kentucky
Core Connections
Teachers of Fourth grade students in Kentucky have the enjoyable task of educating their students on all aspects of Kentucky history. What better way to get students interested than to suggest a tour of Kentucky before entering 4th grade? As parents plan their summer vacations, students could benefit from teachers recommending a number of historical sites in Kentucky.
The Kentucky State Parks office is sponsoring a series of adventures for families to take part in this summer. Choose from a family adventure quest, a backcountry adventure or a Kentucky history adventure quest. Find out more at this website.
http://parks.ky.gov/offerspackages/ChooseOwnAdventureAd.htm
Celebrating Memorial Day
Core Connections
Memorial Day means a day off from school and the beginning of summer, to most of our students. However, its significance is much greater than that.
Memorial Day celebrations were first recognized in 1868 but the beginning can be traced back to the Civil War. Once known as Decoration Day, it is a day of remembrance for those who died in service to our nation. Women of the Civil War began the tradition by decorating the graves of fallen soldiers and loved ones. Traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years as Americans have forgotten the meaning of the day. As educators we have a duty to remind our students the importance of service to our country and those who have given their lives for our freedom.
"The custom of placing flowers upon graves is an old one, and exists in many countries. The Greeks had rites called zoai, which were performed over each new grave. If the flowers took root and blossomed on the graves, it meant the souls were sending back the message that they had found happiness. The Roman festival, called Parentalia, or Day of the Fathers, lasted for eight days in February--violets and roses were the special flowers. Whatever the flower, wherever the grave, this placing of flowers upon graves has always seemed the natural thing to do." http://www.patriotism.org/memorial_day/index.html
Use the month of May to honor, celebrate and educate our youth about the significance of Memorial Day.
Poetry and Mother Goose Day
Core Connections
In 1987 Gloria T. Delamar founded May 1 as Mother Goose Day. Not only are Mother Goose nursery rhymes a fond memory for people across the globe, they are a very important part of literature. The use of poetry and rhyme to express emotions and thoughts about identity, discovery, family relationships, survival, change, mortality, hopes, and dreams is an important aspect of self-discovery and expression. Students most readily identify poetry with popular song lyrics. They are exposed to these lyrics on a daily basis most likely not realizing that they are listening to poetry. Many educators do not see the purpose of teaching poetry as part of their curriculum, after all students are not going to be asked to compose a sonnet on an accountability assessment and the majority of teachers have not been officially trained to teach poetry. However, the benefits of learning about poetry reach far beyond scoring well on a state mandated test. When reading and writing poetry students are encouraged to use their imagination, express emotions and opinions, and expand their cultural experiences. Often, students who do not perform well on traditional forms of assessment will flourish when allowed to compose a poem as part of an assignment. Students who like to daydream or get side-tracked very easily will demonstrate their creative abilities when given the opportunity.
Project Based Activities
Instructional Illuminations
Project Based Activities Resources
Excitement is generated almost instantly in a classroom when students feel that the work they are doing is important. When students are engaged the potential for learning is increased. Teachers can choose to participate in projects designed by other teachers or organizations or they can create projects themselves. Internet projects can be very basic, short-term activities. They can involve two classrooms or many classrooms. All projects should be based in curriculum, not a desire to use the Internet.
Follow these basic steps as you plan for a project-based classroom activity.
Money Matters -- Teaching Money at the Primary Level
Core Connections
By: Teresa Avery, Morningside Elementary, Christian County Schools
As a second grade teacher for the past three years at Morningside Elementary in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, I have found that one of the most challenging subjects for primary students is math and money. Counting money has been a difficult concept for my young students to grasp. Students are expected to know how to count money up to one dollar and to recognize a penny, a nickel, a dime, a quarter, a half dollar, and a dollar and know their value.. They also need to be able to place the coins in order from least to greatest, to be able to draw the value of each denomination, and to make change.
All of these skills need to be continuously taught throughout the school year to help the students maintain the knowledge they acquire when learning how to count money. It is very important that students are given every opportunity to learn, review, and practice these skills. One way to make sure that students are continuously reviewing money math concepts is to include the skills in every school day. In my classroom, I have a math center where students can manipulate and practice with plastic coins that look like the real thing. Parents need to know early on in the year that counting money is one of the most difficult skills for their child to master and they should help their children at home.
Using the Internet is an excellent resource for students, parents, and teachers. There are many wonderful websites that offer fun interactive games, puzzles, homework help, worksheets and resources for students, parents, and teachers to use.
Motivate Your Students With Blogs
Instructional Illuminations
www.blogging101.com/graphics/blogging-101.gif
"Never in 25 years of teaching have I seen a more powerful motivator for writing than blogs and that's because of the audience. Writing is not just taped on the refrigerator and then put in the recycle bin. It's out there for the world to see and kids realize other people are reading what they write." These are powerful words from Mark Ahlness of Seattle's Arbor Heights Elementary School. Ahlness like many other teachers are finding online blogs and journals useful tools for the classroom.
A blog is an online journal where students and teachers can post items and others can comment on the information. Blogs can contain random information and thoughts or serious research and educational information. Students are using MySpace and Facebook for social networking and fun so many educators are taking advantage of their enthusiasm and using blogs as an avenue for learning. Class Blogmeister (classblogmeister.com) is a blog service for teachers and allows security features controlled by the teacher. Edublogs.org offers free teacher blogs and can be used in a multitude of instructional ways.
Springtime Weather
Core Connections
Spring is in the air! With Spring comes blooming flowers, warm sunshine, flip-flops, and a much anticipated opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. However, the warmer weather also brings an unsettled atmostphere and the possiblity of severe thunderstorms and even tornadoes. As different weather patterns begin to unfold, there is no better time to introduce your students to one of nature's most dangerous phenomenon-- the tornado.
According to USA Today, "Tornadoes and the threat of tornadoes are a key part of the USA's spring weather because spring brings favorable tornado conditions." The following link provides an in-depth look at tornadoes the impact they have on our society: Tornadoes are Earth's Most Violent Storms.
Dedication to the Arts
Core Connections
Corbis. "A Vase of Flowers by Paul Gauguin."
unitedstreaming: http://www.unitedstreaming.com/
On March 16, 1941 the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC opened to the public. Thousands of people a year enjoy the museum not only for it's art but also lectures, performances and concerts.
The museum was the idea of Andrew Mellon, a wealthy industrialist, who donated the land, the plans and his art collection to the nation. Congress approved the construction and President Franklin D. Roosevelt dedicated it in March of 1941. Most students will never by able to tour the museum in person but today's students can visit the online National Gallery of Art at any time. http://www.nga.gov/resources/index.shtm
In our visual world, art is all around us, everywhere you look. Students need to learn to enjoy and appreciate art. As a teacher you have the opportunity to present them with an unforgettable experience by designing a tour for them. On the Internet you can decide what they will see and when. Take a look at these wonderful links and prepare your students to study art and learn about the visual world around them while increasing their love for art.
Integrating Technology in the Program of Studies
Instructional Illuminations
In April of 2006, the Kentucky Board of Education approved the new updated version of the Program of Studies for Kentucky Schools. The Kentucky Education Reform Act implemented a system of local accountability for curriculum decisions. However, the statute requires that the State Board of Education set the minimum content standards required for all students to graduate from high school in Kentucky. The Program of Studies (POS) is the legal document in Kentucky that sets those requirements. The scope and purpose of this broad document is to provide a guideline for local school districts that will ensure that all students throughout Kentucky are provided with common content and opportunities that guarantee Kentucky's students are prepared for the 21st Century. It also provides benchmarks (or standards) for primary, intermediate and middle school programs to guide districts as a framework for building the curriculum for their students.
Newly introduced into the Program of Studies for 2006 is a technology component which requires students to meet a technology literacy requirement. Districts are to implement this new component for graduating seniors by 2012. Content in the 2006 POS is grouped into Big Ideas which include Academic Goals and Expectations, and then by Understandings and Skills/Concepts. The three Big Ideas in the technology component include:
• Information, Communication and Productivity;
• Safety and Ethical/Social Issues; and
• Research, Inquiry/Problem-Solving and Innovation.
Wireless Technology in the Classroom
Instructional Illuminations
For many, wireless technology is part of everyday life. The use of satellite television, cellular phones, remote controls, and garage door openers is commonplace. But have you ever stopped to think about the possibilities of the use of wireless technology in your classroom? You are teaching students that Marc Prensky of Digital Game-Based Learning has named "Digital Natives". These "natives" were practically born with some type of electronic device in their hands. Your students are more technologically savvy than any other generation before them. They have access to laptop computers, cellular phones, the Internet, iPods, and Xbox 360. Teachers strive to keep their students engaged and interested in the classroom, and the implementation of technology is a great way to achieve that goal.
The use of wireless technologies in the classroom is an avenue that warrants exploring. Some examples of wireless technologies to use in the classroom include, but are not limited to, personal response systems (clickers), slates, PDAs, laptop computers, mp3 players, and cellular phones. By incorporating these technologies into your lesson or unit plans, students may be more excited, focused, and eager to learn.
Hatching New Curriculum
Core Connections
By Bill Sampson and Jacob Falwell
With all of the changes in the world of agriculture over the past decades, and even over the past months here in Kentucky, there is an ever increasing need to revise and revisit the curriculum taught in high school agriculture programs. Gone are the days when all boys take agriculture and all of the girls take home economics. The establishment of vocational education in 1917 had that goal in mind. Today, the number of boys who intend to farm after high school is less than 5% of the student body, and only a slight increase of females plan to be the wife of their home. Other changes include the role reversals, since females are now more readily accepted as farmers. These monumental changes along with the changes in farming technology and practices have greatly altered the more traditional education methods. Previous generations enrolled in Ag I, Ag II, Ag III, and Ag IV as they worked their way through the high school. Today classes such as Small Animal Technology, Floral Design, Landscaping, Equine Science, Environmental Technology, and Ag Sales and Marketing compliment the more typical courses such as Farm Management, Animal Science, and Plant and Land Science. The world of agriculture has changed, and so too has the world of agriculture education.
Making the Connection with Core Content
Instructional Illuminations
Todd Anderson is a science teacher at Benton Middle School. Like many teachers Todd admits that his artistic abilities are somewhat limited. Visitors to his classroom would never guess this fact because his classroom ceiling is covered with tiles created by teams of students. The students used their artistic talents to review core content by creating posters that would fit on ceiling tiles in their classroom. Read more about how Todd implemented this activity designed to improve students’ understanding of science core content.
Click title to read the article written by Todd Anderson, teacher at Benton Middle School.
The Chinese New Year
Core Connections
Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The new year begins on the first day of the Chinese calendar, which usually falls in February, and the festivities continue for 15 days. This year the Chinese new year falls on February 18th and is a great time to introduce your students to holidays around the world. Comparing customs from other countries helps students understand their own holidays and customs as well as expanding their mind.
Check out the following link for more information on the holiday and how and why it is celebrated. http://www.chinatown-online.co.uk/pages/new_year/intro.html
Edgar Allan Poe----The Raven
Core Connections
January 29, 1845 - The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe was first published in The New York Evening Mirror. The narrative poem brought him instant fame but not financial success. The poem was known for its perfect literary composition and its haunting theme and meter. His works have been dissected and interpreted for years and make for interesting classroom discussion and study.
A study of Edgar Allan Poe's work and life will expose students to new theories on the nature of fiction and to the genre of short stories.
Space Exploration - Remembering the Challenger
Core Connections
On January 28, 1986 the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) experienced one of the most tragic events in space exploration history. All seven members of the Challenger team, including teacher Christa McAuliffe, were killed as the Challenger's right solid rocket booster O-ring failed due to record low temperatures causing the shuttle to break up and crash into the ocean. As we pay tribute to this crew and other astronauts who have been lost, we must remember that they did not die without purpose.
The Basics of Black & White Photography
Instructional Illuminations
Article by Jamie Scott Teacher: Henderson County High School
The key to a great black and white photograph is finding the perfect object and/or scene for taking the picture. Of course, a proper camera and film can help tremendously. For those who would like to begin a career in black and white photography or would like to teach this in his/her classroom, here are some basics to get you started. In this article, you will see parts of a camera, how to develop film, and how to enlarge a print from the negatives developed.