It's SPRING!

I can't believe so much time has passed! At this point, we have completed both ACCESS and the PSSA testing. The challenge now is to keep everyone engaged, interested, and learning new things. The objective of "you will need this for the test" is gone, and other than the regular Benchmarks, the pace has slowed a bit, and we can all take a collective deep breath and then EXHALE.
I like to keep the students engaged, and developing projects by using the skills students know while introducing new things. Integrating creativity while doing cross-curricular activities keeps my students motivated and interacting in new ways.
One of the projects I'm working through has been making puppets with some of my classes. The puppets are basically socks, and sometimes with a cardboard-based body. It's a lot of fun for me, to see how my students create new characters. When my big, shy-guy 8th grader learned to sew button eyes on a sock, and broke into giggles when he grudgingly looked at its new "face"--it made my day!
After writing a short "bio" for each puppet, the students (with minimal guidance from me) composed short skits for their puppets. My 4th grade boys created a scenario for their alien-monster-ninjas. The 5th grade girls contrasted their personalities with a happy-go-lucky singer, and her serious friend. Eighth grade dealt with a party, and which girl the boy would dance with first. I hope to have my more advanced 8th graders make puppets this week. I may give them a specific story line, and have them design and write to that situation. I may let them simply go for it!
I will be doing a similar project with Multicultural Club. PARENTS-please allow your students to gather up any old, unmatched socks in the house--small or large, intact, or hole-y. I have buttons and thread, as well as "yarn" needles that do not have sharp points. A few girls that do know how to sew may use a regular needle--I have those, too. Besides teaching "character development", I have taken some personal enjoyment in showing the kids (especially the boys!) how to sew on a button! Life skills!
After the skits are written, the students will practice "performing" them for the rest of the class. I plan to have them ultimately perform them for a few classes of 1st and 2nd grade classes. The students will have a 'stage', and if possible, I will videotape them, so they can watch it afterwards. I may even get one of our talented tech people to show me how to upload it to this blog, for your own viewing! Keep your fingers crossed for this- I do plan on having the students behind the stage, so you will not see their faces. I think the audio may be on a separate track. I have very little idea how to make that happen digitally, but I've been assured it can be done. I'll let you know!

On another note: Parent-Teacher conferences were this past week. I was disappointed that out of my 35+ students (those are the students I see daily), I only saw parents for 7. Being able to share with parents the joys and struggles of the classroom is important for all of us, to stay "on the same page". I know many parents do not have computers, and are not able to read this blog. Those of you who can (and do!), I sincerely thank you, and encourage other parents to stay in touch with their childrens' teachers. We all make a special investment in the students, and will be more effective in the long haul when we are able to communicate regularly.
Thank you!

Ok-in a nutshell, here's the skills this project develops overall: small motor skills, planning and brainstorming, creative writing, reading, editing, character development, public speaking.