SUMMER HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT FOR ALL NETWORK MEMBERS! :) - The Freshman Transition Network2024-03-29T06:37:32Zhttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/forum/topics/summer-homework-assignment-for?commentId=2630686%3AComment%3A6186&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThose ideas sound great! Our…tag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2009-08-25:2630686:Comment:69852009-08-25T12:07:31.000ZCat Mejiahttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/CatMejia
Those ideas sound great! Our freshman team also gives Student of the Week certificates and I have mine posted on the wall for the week with a picture of the student. They love it! Another thing I like to do is celebrate student success at the end of the grading period. I post stars on my inside door with the top students for each class, the class with the fewest missing assignments, and other accomplishments that have fallen in that six weeks. I keep adding stars each grading period until the…
Those ideas sound great! Our freshman team also gives Student of the Week certificates and I have mine posted on the wall for the week with a picture of the student. They love it! Another thing I like to do is celebrate student success at the end of the grading period. I post stars on my inside door with the top students for each class, the class with the fewest missing assignments, and other accomplishments that have fallen in that six weeks. I keep adding stars each grading period until the door is full at the end of the year. I agree with Scott. Ninth gra…tag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2009-08-25:2630686:Comment:69832009-08-25T11:56:23.000ZCat Mejiahttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/CatMejia
I agree with Scott. Ninth graders will always think we don't understand them. When all of a sudden you can reference a song, show, book, movie, or band that they like, you will have captured their attention. I always try to connect with a student through one of these avenues. Last year I had several students reading the Twilight series, so I read the books too (and they were great!!). It gave me something to connect with them and I would come in and update them on what part I was on. Luckily I…
I agree with Scott. Ninth graders will always think we don't understand them. When all of a sudden you can reference a song, show, book, movie, or band that they like, you will have captured their attention. I always try to connect with a student through one of these avenues. Last year I had several students reading the Twilight series, so I read the books too (and they were great!!). It gave me something to connect with them and I would come in and update them on what part I was on. Luckily I am a fast reader so I was able to keep the connection with students at the beginning of the series as well as the end. The point is that you have to look at the things kids are in to and find a way to talk to them about it. When you are on the same page, then you can talk to them about the values (or lack of) in those things. When they think that you do "understand" them, then they will listen to you. I think that your students ar…tag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2009-08-03:2630686:Comment:62262009-08-03T03:25:30.000ZLouis Mark de Paulo Jr.http://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/LouisMarkdePauloJr
I think that your students are fortunate to have you as their teacher.<br />
<br />
Best Regards,<br />
<br />
Mark
I think that your students are fortunate to have you as their teacher.<br />
<br />
Best Regards,<br />
<br />
Mark Great ideas, Andrea. Thanks f…tag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2009-08-02:2630686:Comment:62082009-08-02T16:57:27.000ZScott Habeebhttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/ScottHabeeb
Great ideas, Andrea. Thanks for sharing. I remember when I started teaching and my freshman team told me that we would give student of the week certificates. I couldn't believe that high school students would like that - it sounded very elementary school-ish. Turns out they absolutely love the recognition. I would go so far as to say they crave it.
Great ideas, Andrea. Thanks for sharing. I remember when I started teaching and my freshman team told me that we would give student of the week certificates. I couldn't believe that high school students would like that - it sounded very elementary school-ish. Turns out they absolutely love the recognition. I would go so far as to say they crave it. I've been doing lots of refle…tag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2009-08-02:2630686:Comment:62042009-08-02T13:36:45.000ZAndrea Hendersonhttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/AndreaHenderson
I've been doing lots of reflecting on things that worked well in my class in the past and I'm trying to create a system to do these things on a regular basis. I couple of years ago when I changed schools, I created a mission for my myself and my classroom that incorporated the district's mission and my school's mission but really focused on what I wanted for my students. Here is my mission:<br />
<br />
<b>My mission is to transform students into francophone Francophiles who are self-motivated lifelong…</b>
I've been doing lots of reflecting on things that worked well in my class in the past and I'm trying to create a system to do these things on a regular basis. I couple of years ago when I changed schools, I created a mission for my myself and my classroom that incorporated the district's mission and my school's mission but really focused on what I wanted for my students. Here is my mission:<br />
<br />
<b>My mission is to transform students into francophone Francophiles who are self-motivated lifelong learners and world citizens.<br />
<br />
I will ensure a climate of respect.<br />
<br />
I will honor diversity.<br />
<br />
I will foster responsibility and learner autonomy.<br />
<br />
I will create and maintain an engaging learning environment.<br />
<br />
I will help each student find his/her personal best<br />
<br />
GUIDING PRINCPIPLES<br />
<br />
Respect... Autonomy... Responsibility... Active Learning... Motivation ...Personal Best...<br />
<br />
GUIDING PHILOSPHY</b> Teaching every child… learning very day!<br />
<br />
<br />
My mission is my compas that keeps me focused on what is the most important- What has worked for me in the past has been:<br />
<br />
!. Goal setting- At the beginning of the year we set goals and through out the year we discuss strategies to reach those goals.<br />
<br />
2. Class meetings and class officers.- I elect class officers at the beginning of the year who help to lead our class meetings. We discuss what is working or not and it also gives them a chance to say something good about someone. It was great to hear the students thank their group memembers for helping them out.<br />
<br />
3. Student of the week. Each week I selected a student who had shown growth, who really participated in the class community or had otherwise stood out. I gave a certificate which I posted on the bulletin board for a week and they got candy from France (which they loved).<br />
<br />
4. Data folders- At the end of the week, students recorded and graphed their progress that week and it helped them to see how each grade influenced their average. They also had to track their behavior for the week as well.<br />
<br />
5. Celebrations and recognitions- I try to start the week with any upcoming celebrations and like to know what the students are doing outside of my class. I had a student who missed school for a couple of days to attend a gymastics competition out of state and he placed FIRST among many college aged particpants. He was not a member of a team at our school so he did not have a coach to announce this great accomplishement on the PA system. I put in the announcement to be read on the PA and you should have seen his face when all of our class applauded for him! We have to know what kids are doing in their every days lives as well!<br />
<br />
These things worked very well for me. I hope they can work for you! Great ideas, Mark. Thanks for…tag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2009-08-02:2630686:Comment:61862009-08-02T02:04:22.000ZScott Habeebhttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/ScottHabeeb
Great ideas, Mark. Thanks for sharing. I think teachers could take this idea right into the classroom and make it a fun and relevant way for students to plan for the future and to analyze themselves.
Great ideas, Mark. Thanks for sharing. I think teachers could take this idea right into the classroom and make it a fun and relevant way for students to plan for the future and to analyze themselves. 9TH GRADE STUDENT MOTIVATION…tag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2009-08-01:2630686:Comment:61572009-08-01T15:37:07.000ZLouis Mark de Paulo Jr.http://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/LouisMarkdePauloJr
<u><i><b>9TH GRADE STUDENT MOTIVATION & GOAL SETTING ACTIVITY</b></i></u><br />
<br />
The following is an activity which is a blending (doesn't that sound less pompous than "synthesis"?) of two independent activities. The first activity is one which I found on the internet: <a href="http://www.storyboardtoys.com/gallery/coat-of-arms-lesson-plan.htm" target="_blank"></a> which is a social studies activity in which students learn about heraldry and the rules regarding the design of coats of arms as they…
<u><i><b>9TH GRADE STUDENT MOTIVATION & GOAL SETTING ACTIVITY</b></i></u><br />
<br />
The following is an activity which is a blending (doesn't that sound less pompous than "synthesis"?) of two independent activities. The first activity is one which I found on the internet: <a href="http://www.storyboardtoys.com/gallery/coat-of-arms-lesson-plan.htm" target="_blank"></a> which is a social studies activity in which students learn about heraldry and the rules regarding the design of coats of arms as they design their own personal coat of arms.<br />
<br />
The second activity is one which my partner (Chatham Woods Ltd) Chris Williams devised in which he has his charges research universities and colleges which interest them. They note entrance requirements, cost, scholarships and grants, and courses of study. They also research different occupations and the earnings of each and the educational and other associated requirements for each. All of this research ends in each student settling on a particular college or university and making a personal pendant for their individual choice. So students will have a college pendant at the end of the exercise and with luck clearer and more concrete goals. It is a super program! It empowers the students with knowledge of not only what is expected of them, but<br />
also "how the system" works! Tremendous motivational activity!<br />
<br />
All that I did, and I confess that my mind thinks this way primarily because I am stuck in the kid mind set no matter how old I may be chronologically, is to merge the two activities into one so that the kids "create" their coat of arms which reflect their future goals and individual values and strengths on their own coat of arms,<br />
Accordingly, a student might have a shield which had a Lion to represent Old Dominion University, a globe with a dollar sign in it's middle to represent a career in international trade, a bulldog to represent a personal quality of determination and tenacity and never giving up, and a a golden cross to represent the "right path of treating others as you would wish to be treated".This coat of arms can be posted in the classroom or "attached" to their notebooks.<br />
<br />
Mark dePaulo Good suggestions, Debbie. I f…tag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2009-07-21:2630686:Comment:58032009-07-21T11:21:53.000ZScott Habeebhttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/ScottHabeeb
Good suggestions, Debbie. I found the following links related to those videos.<br />
1. <b>212 Degrees</b> - a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpJQqzJj534" target="_blank">YouTube version</a> and a <a href="http://www.just212.com/video/?gclid=CJ3R2dvV5psCFcZM5QodqUOt6A" target="_blank">site where you can learn more about 212</a>.<br />
2. <b>Walk the Talk</b> - a <a href="http://www.walkthetalk.com/pages/inspirational-movies.htm" target="_blank">website with information on the videos</a> as well as…
Good suggestions, Debbie. I found the following links related to those videos.<br />
1. <b>212 Degrees</b> - a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpJQqzJj534" target="_blank">YouTube version</a> and a <a href="http://www.just212.com/video/?gclid=CJ3R2dvV5psCFcZM5QodqUOt6A" target="_blank">site where you can learn more about 212</a>.<br />
2. <b>Walk the Talk</b> - a <a href="http://www.walkthetalk.com/pages/inspirational-movies.htm" target="_blank">website with information on the videos</a> as well as many other inspirational and motivational materials.<br />
3. <b>Finish Strong</b> - <a href="http://www.finishstrongmovie.com/" target="_blank">the inspriational movie and stories online</a><br />
4. <b>Welcome the Rain</b> - <a href="http://www.walkthetalk.com/welcome_the_rain/wtr_movie.htm" target="_blank">the video online</a><br />
<br />
I think materials like these would be great to show in class. Students would really look forward to the days when they got to "take a break" and get inspired! I have seen a few of great mo…tag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2009-07-21:2630686:Comment:57852009-07-21T03:08:31.000Zdebbie nicholashttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/debbienicholas
I have seen a few of great motivational videos this summer and have purchased them for use during this school year. <i>212 Degrees</i>, <i>Walk the Talk</i> and <i>Finish Strong</i> are the ones I have purchased so far. Another I saw and plan on purchasing is <i>Welcome the Rain</i>.
I have seen a few of great motivational videos this summer and have purchased them for use during this school year. <i>212 Degrees</i>, <i>Walk the Talk</i> and <i>Finish Strong</i> are the ones I have purchased so far. Another I saw and plan on purchasing is <i>Welcome the Rain</i>. Sharing music with students i…tag:freshmantransition.ning.com,2009-07-12:2630686:Comment:57232009-07-12T22:34:46.000ZScott Habeebhttp://freshmantransition.ning.com/profile/ScottHabeeb
Sharing music with students is another way to motivate students and teach them about life. While it's nice to find songs that kids like, the reality is that many newer popular songs lack positive messages. I'll post a few posts this summer with song suggestions. Don't worry though if you think your kids won't like the songs. It's our job to set the mood and the culture of the class. Therefore, just like a good teacher can get students to appreciate course content, the teacher can also get…
Sharing music with students is another way to motivate students and teach them about life. While it's nice to find songs that kids like, the reality is that many newer popular songs lack positive messages. I'll post a few posts this summer with song suggestions. Don't worry though if you think your kids won't like the songs. It's our job to set the mood and the culture of the class. Therefore, just like a good teacher can get students to appreciate course content, the teacher can also get students to appreciate the lesson and messages found in songs that might not be at the top of their iPod playlists.<br />
<br />
So here's an example:<br />
<a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Randy+Travis/_/The+Hole?autostart" target="_blank">The Hole by Randy Travis</a>. (Click on the previous link to see the lyrics and listen to the song.)<br />
<br />
This song is pretty hard core country. But even some of my "least country" students have ended up singing this song in the hallway and asking me to replay it.<br />
<br />
My suggestion is that you play this song one day AFTER you have shared with them the 5 chapter short story that I shared previously in this discussion - There's a Hole in My Sidewalk. The combo of that story/quote and this song will really help bring home the image of making mistakes being similar to being in a hole. Play this as a Do Now assignment with the words on an overhead. Give the students a few minutes to reflect on the how the song can apply to their lives. Then lead a discussion where they share their thoughts.