Word Art

by | Jun 24, 2011 | Reflect

I’ve wanted to make one of these since I saw them in a local mall.  I’ve seen black and white and color versions. I spent a little time looking through my house for letters, armed with my camera, and help from my eight-year-old.   You will be surprised how many letters you find in your own home or classroom when you look! Flickr also has an amazing collection of letters that are ready to use.  Just be sure to check the licensing on them.   So, how could these be used in the classroom?

1.) I think it would be great to spell words like “Create” and “Dream” for the classroom wall!  I might even make on that spells “GATE” for my door.  This one spells my last name, V-E-N-O-S-D-A-L-E!

2.) Make it a classroom project, give your student a camera and ask them to find or create letters.  Kids will love going on a scavenger hunt!

3.) Ask kids to spell out a word that means something to them or describes them.  Hang all of the words on a bulletin board or wall with the title, “In One Word, Meet Our Class.”  It could be another way to bring the question of “What’s your passion?” into the classroom.

4.) Family gifts:  For the holidays, let students make one with their family’s last name.  They could print it in black and white and write a note about their family to attach to it.

5.) For a challenge, have kids pick a vocabulary word and then create the first letter to represent the word’s meaning.

6.) Fundraising:  Extra funds could bring new field trips, guest speakers, opportunities, or allow for students to donate to a charity of their choice!  What about taking a Saturday field trip through a mall or city location and having kids bring their cameras and photograph letters for a couple of hours?  People could place orders for the prints!  The only part that would cost would be the printing! Kids could get creative and help out a great cause!

Any other ideas?

 

 

What’s YOUR song?

by | Jun 23, 2011 | Reflect

I was listening to “Rollin in the Deep” by Adele and it occurred to me that it is exactly what I feel like about education right now.   It really feels like we’re rollin’ in the deep of legislation, budgets, a society that misreads what we’re really about, and at the end of the day, we’ve poured our souls into our classrooms.  The line in the song “Throw your soul through every open door, Count your blessings to find what you look for,” just reminds me of teaching.

Another great contender was “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey, because, well, we HAVE to keep believing that one day, every single kid will get the education they deserve.  That might sound corny, but believing in a better tomorrow is all we have some days.

But, if I had to choose one, it would the “The Story of Your Life” by Matthew West.

The lyrics:                                          

“Your finest hour, Your weakest moment, It where you’ve been,
It’s where you are, It’s where you’re going.”

THAT just reminds me of everyday in our classroom.  It’s not always perfect. It’s not always easy. But, it’s our story.  Every single day is about where we are and where we are going.

Maybe I’ll build a PLN Playlist… What song would you add to represent your teaching or work in education?  What’s YOUR song?

The Misunderstood Gift

by | Jun 22, 2011 | Reflect

“Oh, he’s gifted…” and then it begins.

“What do you mean he’s gifted, his handwriting is messy?” “He can’t be gifted, he never turns his assignments in.” “There is no way he’s gifted, he doesn’t understand a thing we do in math.”  We’ve all heard it, maybe even said it at times.  The truth is, that word, “gifted” carries with it the weight of the world.  I work with kids who carry this “label.”  I was a kid who carried it.  I never thought much about it before.  Until I read this post written by @Deborah Mersino.

Could it be that the very word that we use to define an area of education is causing itself it’s own problems?  Yes.  When we try to simplify things, label things, making square pegs fit round holes for convenience, we get problems.  We get legislators who don’t understand.  We get expectations of perfection for kids to “live up to.”  The gift that doesn’t come wrapped up, comes with layers and layers of complexity.

I am not asking for the word “gifted” to be removed from the dictionary, but maybe for understanding.  Having a high-IQ, super-creative kid sitting in a 2nd grade class when they think on a 6th grade level is an issue.  It’s a big issue.  Yet, all around us, in classrooms everywhere, it’s happening.  Some will argue that it’s school, they need to continue on through ‘like everyone else is.”   What that is really saying is, “Keep trudging kid, I know you’re not growing, but you’re already at grade level, so you’ll be fine.”    Those are the “some” who don’t get it.   They say things like “That’s not fair” or call gifted education “elitist.”  Whatever it’s called, it’s not about words.  It’s about addressing the needs of kids.

So, while I still don’t know what changing the word “gifted” would really mean, I’m thinking about it.  Because if we allow ourselves to consider what we do, what we say, and what we know, that’s when change happens.