I love the Newsies unit. It is not the great songs that get stuck in my head.It is not that the main character in the movie is Christian Bale (Batman). It is not all the great dance moves in the movie. It is not the fact that kids worked together to change the world for the better, although that is inspirational and impressive. It is not even the feel good, fun movie. It is not that we actually read real newspaper articles about the newsboys from 1899 (which is pretty cool and took an amazing amount of work, New York phone calls and letters of request). It is not that we have a lot of fun in class acting out Newsies scenes from those newspaper articles even though that is pretty fun.
It is because 8th graders go into the Newsies unit like a caterpillar and come out like a butterfly. I could call it the cocoon unit. You crawl into the unit writing well and strong and feed. (Caterpillars eat a lot before they turn into butterflies according The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. 8th graders are figuratively feed because you are in writing shape and you have good organization and paragraph structure.) Any way in the Newsies unit you will get in a cocoon, work hard, learn a lot and BAM you will break free and your writing will be beautiful, strong and you can fly.
Newsies I can't wait,
Mr. Johnson
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
My Goals
Dear Students,
Here are my goals for this year in the classroom as a teacher. I am sharing them with you so that you can keep me accountable, and so that you know that I am striving to be a better teacher the same way you are trying to become a better writer.
1. Movement: I really want you to move about every 20 minutes. I want you to move to wake you and your brain up so that you learn more. Here are some ways I hope to reach this goal.
Here are my goals for this year in the classroom as a teacher. I am sharing them with you so that you can keep me accountable, and so that you know that I am striving to be a better teacher the same way you are trying to become a better writer.
1. Movement: I really want you to move about every 20 minutes. I want you to move to wake you and your brain up so that you learn more. Here are some ways I hope to reach this goal.
- Moving games integrated with writing like the musical chairs game.
- Moving seats and sitting in different groups.
- Simply standing and stretching.
- Writing on big paper
- Brainstorming activities like the airplane game
2. Communication with your parents: I really want to be able to communicate with your parents more for a few reasons. One to tell them how great you are doing. Two so that your parents can help you be accountable at school. Three so your parents can support you and help you in school; we all need a little help. Finally, just because they want to know what is going on in your lives. Here are a few ways we can keep your parents in touch.
- Use your planner and share with your parents
- This blog
- Parent letters between units
- Show your parents your packets
- I would like to e-mail your parents if I have their e-mails
3. Feedback: I want to make sure that I give you plenty of meaningful feedback to tell you how well you are doing and help you fix mistakes before they become a habit. I hope to do this for you in the following ways.
- Read some of your writing almost everyday and give you meaningful written feedback on it. (not a grade)
- Verbal feedback
- Differentiated instruction - put you in groups and give you group feedback and tasks to help you clean up any mistakes
- Sticky notes or electronic notes
4. I hope to be a positive role model: I hope I live a life and teach in a way that you can look up to me. I hope do do this in some of the following ways.
- By simply smiling
- By working hard at being a better teacher and giving teaching 110% everyday.
- By showing you how much a really care about you as a person and a student.
Thanks for helping me reach these goals by being a great student,
Mr. Johnson
Monday, September 12, 2011
Q and A
Questions and answers from student inventory
(My favorite) Besides teaching what are your other hobbies?
What I love about this question: This question implies that in the first day this student not only saw that I take teaching seriously, but that it is a hobby not a job. The fact is teaching is not only a job for me, or a hobby for me, it is a passion. I LOVE IT.
(Another favorite) Are you awesome?
Well that depends on how you define awesome.
If awesome means: Do I strike awe in some people then no.
If awesome means, do I make some people say awe, then also no, that is a dentist.
But if awesome means: That I am awe-kward some times, then yes.
What types of books will we read?
I have 4-6 book options for each unit. Most are historical fiction that go with what you are learning in history, So most are historical fiction but not all. I try to pick good books, some classics, some easy, some for boys, some for girls, some short, some themed on relationships and some on action. I am always looking for more books and I buy new ones to add every year.
My favorite and kids favorite books by the unit:
Immigration: my favorite Ashes of Roses - kids The crossing
Great Depression: my favorite Seabiscuit - kids Of mice and men
Holocaust: my favorite Until We Meet Again and Book Thief - kids the same
Civil Rights - no book
Montana Literature: my favorite A River Runs Through It - Kids The Big Burn and A River Runs Through It
How long have you been rock climbing?
7 years
What is the farthest you have swam?
9 miles, the length of Lake McDonald in Glacier
I have also swam:
Whitefish Lake 6 miles
Width of Flathead Lake 8 miles
Logging Lake 6 miles with a 17 mile run
Two Medicine 2 miles with a 16 mile run
Foys 1 mile (lots of times)
Old Man .5 miles (very, very cold)
Dickie Lake down and back 4 miles
Finger Lake down in back 1.5 miles
Bowman 7 miles
Next Kintla Lake 6 miles
Are you a triathlete?
Sometimes
How old are you?
34 most of the time
Do we do projects?
Yes, we do a lot of writing projects and a really big Montana Museum Project at the end of the year.
Why do you ride your bike to school sometimes?
It saves on gas, I get exercise, and it wakes me up better then coffee. I also swim a lot of mornings before school. I use to get to school after a swim and people would say, "you look really tired." I finally figured out that I looked really tired because of the impression the goggles left on my eyes. So if I look really tired, with bags under my eyes it may just be that I just got out of the pool, or my daughters had nightmares, got sick or otherwise could not sleep, which also happens. Then I look tired because I am actually tired.
Why do you wear ties?
I wear a tie to remind me of my job as a teacher. I take this job very seriously, and when I put on the tie it reminds me that I am a professional and that this job is one of the most important things I can be doing in my life, because I am a role model for you.
Is this class going to be hard?
hmmm, It is going to be one of the hardest classes you have ever had, and I am going to try to make it seem easy.
What is your favorite sport?
Any game or challenge that involves moving and thinking
Team: soccer and track
Otherwise: lake swim races
What annoys you most?
The sound of the pencil sharpener. I have thrown several annoying pencil sharpeners away.
Do you like complete sentences?
Yes, I like complete sentences, unless a student is brainstorming. But I like complete paragraphs more.
When did you start your teaching career?
I started teaching at Somers eight years ago. Before teaching here, I was an aid in a school in Bozeman during the day, while I went to college at night for three years.
How many books do we read?
At least 6 but many will read up to 20.
What writing activities are planned?
Thousands, more then I could possibly list or even name, but here are a couple highlights.
Ghost stories, Faith in Humanity Essay, Montana Museum Project, Memoir Scrapbook
We write for three purposes.
1. To convey experiences (narratives, fiction, nonfiction and personal)
2. To inform
3. To entertain
4. To think
I have a hard time counting sometimes.
Are we going to have a good year?
That is up to you. I am strongly leaning toward YES!
What is your favorite movie and actor?
I don't have a TV and I do not watch many movies, but my favorite movie is probably "Lord of the Rings" I can only think of about 5 actors, my favorite maybe Tom Hanks. (I know I am old)
(My favorite) Besides teaching what are your other hobbies?
What I love about this question: This question implies that in the first day this student not only saw that I take teaching seriously, but that it is a hobby not a job. The fact is teaching is not only a job for me, or a hobby for me, it is a passion. I LOVE IT.
(Another favorite) Are you awesome?
Well that depends on how you define awesome.
If awesome means: Do I strike awe in some people then no.
If awesome means, do I make some people say awe, then also no, that is a dentist.
But if awesome means: That I am awe-kward some times, then yes.
What types of books will we read?
I have 4-6 book options for each unit. Most are historical fiction that go with what you are learning in history, So most are historical fiction but not all. I try to pick good books, some classics, some easy, some for boys, some for girls, some short, some themed on relationships and some on action. I am always looking for more books and I buy new ones to add every year.
My favorite and kids favorite books by the unit:
Immigration: my favorite Ashes of Roses - kids The crossing
Great Depression: my favorite Seabiscuit - kids Of mice and men
Holocaust: my favorite Until We Meet Again and Book Thief - kids the same
Civil Rights - no book
Montana Literature: my favorite A River Runs Through It - Kids The Big Burn and A River Runs Through It
How long have you been rock climbing?
7 years
What is the farthest you have swam?
9 miles, the length of Lake McDonald in Glacier
I have also swam:
Whitefish Lake 6 miles
Width of Flathead Lake 8 miles
Logging Lake 6 miles with a 17 mile run
Two Medicine 2 miles with a 16 mile run
Foys 1 mile (lots of times)
Old Man .5 miles (very, very cold)
Dickie Lake down and back 4 miles
Finger Lake down in back 1.5 miles
Bowman 7 miles
Next Kintla Lake 6 miles
Are you a triathlete?
Sometimes
How old are you?
34 most of the time
Do we do projects?
Yes, we do a lot of writing projects and a really big Montana Museum Project at the end of the year.
Why do you ride your bike to school sometimes?
It saves on gas, I get exercise, and it wakes me up better then coffee. I also swim a lot of mornings before school. I use to get to school after a swim and people would say, "you look really tired." I finally figured out that I looked really tired because of the impression the goggles left on my eyes. So if I look really tired, with bags under my eyes it may just be that I just got out of the pool, or my daughters had nightmares, got sick or otherwise could not sleep, which also happens. Then I look tired because I am actually tired.
Why do you wear ties?
I wear a tie to remind me of my job as a teacher. I take this job very seriously, and when I put on the tie it reminds me that I am a professional and that this job is one of the most important things I can be doing in my life, because I am a role model for you.
Is this class going to be hard?
hmmm, It is going to be one of the hardest classes you have ever had, and I am going to try to make it seem easy.
What is your favorite sport?
Any game or challenge that involves moving and thinking
Team: soccer and track
Otherwise: lake swim races
What annoys you most?
The sound of the pencil sharpener. I have thrown several annoying pencil sharpeners away.
Do you like complete sentences?
Yes, I like complete sentences, unless a student is brainstorming. But I like complete paragraphs more.
When did you start your teaching career?
I started teaching at Somers eight years ago. Before teaching here, I was an aid in a school in Bozeman during the day, while I went to college at night for three years.
How many books do we read?
At least 6 but many will read up to 20.
What writing activities are planned?
Thousands, more then I could possibly list or even name, but here are a couple highlights.
Ghost stories, Faith in Humanity Essay, Montana Museum Project, Memoir Scrapbook
We write for three purposes.
1. To convey experiences (narratives, fiction, nonfiction and personal)
2. To inform
3. To entertain
4. To think
I have a hard time counting sometimes.
Are we going to have a good year?
That is up to you. I am strongly leaning toward YES!
What is your favorite movie and actor?
I don't have a TV and I do not watch many movies, but my favorite movie is probably "Lord of the Rings" I can only think of about 5 actors, my favorite maybe Tom Hanks. (I know I am old)
Tips on how to finish your novel by the due date
Dear Students,
Every year some students have a hard time finishing their novels. Here is some helpful advice.
1. Take your book everywhere you go. You only have two weeks to read your book, so take it everywhere. Read on the bus, read in the car, read during down time in other classes, read while your sister is at dance class, read instead of watching TV.
2. Be consistent. Read everyday for the 15 days you have to read it. That way you only have to read a little bit at a time.
3. Read before bed. Get in the habit of reading before bed. It helps you get to sleep, you will remember more of what you have read, and you will have a better chance of finishing the book on time.
4. Listen to the audiobook. This is controversial, but there is research to back up the importance of listening to audiobooks. It improves vocbualry, it improves fluency, it improves writing fluency, and if you read along with the novel it greatly improves reading skills. Many of the novels I offer are downloadable on www.montanalibrary2go.org, and some are on tape or CD in our school library.
5. Check out a book for your parent. Have your mom or dad read the book while you are reading it and talk about the book with them.
6. Set daily goals. Set a 15 page a day goal or 20 minutes a day goal.
Usually it really only takes a desire to make finishing your novel a priority, you can do it, make it happen.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Week One - Welcome to English and Literature
Dear New 8th Graders,
What a week!
Some things I learned from the first week of school:
1. I am out of teaching shape. My feet hurt, my legs hurt and my brain is a little sore.
2. Every class is different, but something about lunch gets every third block I have ever had some energy (awesome)
3. Deep down I think 8th graders still like school.
4. I miss last year's class more than I thought I would, but I am super excited to get to know this years class.
5. Finally, I learned that this class can really write. (great job on the paragraph pretest)
You guys and gals did a great job this week. It was awesome to have every student at school everyday; I know it was only three days, but it makes a difference. It was also really fun to slowly get to know everyone this week. Day one, classes were quiet, careful and a little apprehensive, but by day three personalities where starting to show through one by one. As a class, you guys did great on the paragraph pretest. Your writing showed care, effort, organization and clarity. I could not ask for more.
A couple of highlights for me were reaching some goals and taking some risks. One goal I have this year is to make sure students are moving at least every 20 minutes. I hope I did a good job at this with the musical chairs and other movement things. Another goal I had for the first week is to go through classroom procedures enough that students know what to do, but not enough to bore them with it. I hope I reached a happy medium there. I also took some risks. For example, I was a little nervous about the "By Far the Worst Pupil at Long Point School" skit. I got all kinds of looks from the audience, from big smiles and some chuckles to wide eyes and raised eye brows, like this guy is weird, to some appreciation and applause. I hope you guys and gals feel as good about the first week as I do.
Sincerely,
Mr. Johnson
What a week!
Some things I learned from the first week of school:
1. I am out of teaching shape. My feet hurt, my legs hurt and my brain is a little sore.
2. Every class is different, but something about lunch gets every third block I have ever had some energy (awesome)
3. Deep down I think 8th graders still like school.
4. I miss last year's class more than I thought I would, but I am super excited to get to know this years class.
5. Finally, I learned that this class can really write. (great job on the paragraph pretest)
You guys and gals did a great job this week. It was awesome to have every student at school everyday; I know it was only three days, but it makes a difference. It was also really fun to slowly get to know everyone this week. Day one, classes were quiet, careful and a little apprehensive, but by day three personalities where starting to show through one by one. As a class, you guys did great on the paragraph pretest. Your writing showed care, effort, organization and clarity. I could not ask for more.
A couple of highlights for me were reaching some goals and taking some risks. One goal I have this year is to make sure students are moving at least every 20 minutes. I hope I did a good job at this with the musical chairs and other movement things. Another goal I had for the first week is to go through classroom procedures enough that students know what to do, but not enough to bore them with it. I hope I reached a happy medium there. I also took some risks. For example, I was a little nervous about the "By Far the Worst Pupil at Long Point School" skit. I got all kinds of looks from the audience, from big smiles and some chuckles to wide eyes and raised eye brows, like this guy is weird, to some appreciation and applause. I hope you guys and gals feel as good about the first week as I do.
Sincerely,
Mr. Johnson