If you have kids who would like to publish their work, Diane's website is just the place. It's also a great teaching resource. When I asked her if I could interview her for my blog, she volunteered to give away 2 copies of her new book, in ebook form. Kids who submit writing will be entered twice in the drawing! See my blog for details.
Here is some info from her Teaching Resources Facebook page: Do you have a DonorsChoose project online? I'll be choosing one to receive a $100 donation! If you don't have an active project proposal, please go to Laura's Teaching Resources Facebook page to come to the Wall and help me choose a project for my donation. Click the like button on any or all projects that you like!
For more info, and to see the link to the webinar Francie gave on writing a DonorsChoose proposal, got to Corkboard Connections: Get Money for Your Classroom Projects! corkboardconnections.blogspot.com
Which would you prefer - an extensive, all-inclusive teachers' guide that you could tailor for the particular needs of your class or a compact, streamlined version that's ready to use? Why?
I have a degree in English lit. with Honors, a ...See MoreOn 11/18/11, Diane Owens wrote: > Which would you prefer - an extensive, all-inclusive > teachers' guide that you could tailor for the particular > needs of your class or a compact, streamlined version > that's ready to use? Why?
I presume that you are writing something.
I have a degree in English lit. with Honors, a strong background in literary analysis, a single and a multiple subject credential, and experience teaching textual deconstruction. I am not unlike many of my peers. However, I do have personal time limitations.
What I need each year varies, depending upon the reading levels of my incoming kids. Since the analysis of expository writing is a focus for California, we pay more attention to that than to fiction. Our target audience for fictional analysis is third grade.
If I have a "pod" (e.g., six of more kids) reading above grade level who can work independently, I put them on an independent study contract with a novel, an extensive teacher's guide, a different novel, and the challenge to write their own guide for level "4" project work at the middle school level. That gives me time to focus on the 2/3 of my kids who are "not there yet."
I teach at a high end South Bay school in the S.F. area, but a full 80% of my kids are ELL or unidentified ELL (parents say they speak EO at home to avoid having the kid in ELD). What these kids struggle with is the background information needed to process a novel. For example, it is very difficult to read _Johnny Tremain_ unless you know a lot about Colonial America's political and religious practices. It is even harder to read _The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe_, if you don't know anything about WWII or Christian symbolism.
Just as a suggestion, you might think about redirecting your efforts to "synopsis" background information kits for various novels (the two mentioned here plus Island of the Blue Dolphins come to mind). The immigrant parents who initially came on Green Card Visa's often lack the information themselves, and are very motivated to help their young students do well. You could find out the most commonly taught 5th and 4th grade core novels, and provide affordable (under $10) backgrounders for each novel. You'd need to realize that those of us in this situation need something we can photocopy for parent usage without licensing issues. We need to be able to buy the material, and then redistribute it to kids and parents. We are poor, but we want to help our kids make it.
I usually help my peers with this, but I am working on my online Masters in reading this year. My colleagues tell me they "miss me." To this former high tech employee, that sounds like a marketing opportunity to me.
Right now, I'm developing a teachers guide for an MG novel I've written. I plan to incorporate the common core standards through chapter sections on vocabulary, comprehension, whole-class discussion, extended response and related activities. What do you look for in an extensive teachers guide for your independent study groups? What makes a good guide? What makes a great guide? Is there anything you'd like to see that no one is currently doing?
DonorsChoose will email you a special match code that's valid December 5-12th. When your family & friends make a donation, they just enter this match code during check-out, and the donation is instantly doubled!
Laura Candler is going to fund 5 DonorsChoose proposals for $100 each! That means if she selects your proposal to fund, you will get $200 funding!
On Thursday, December 1st, Laura will put out a call for DonorsChoose proposals on her Teaching Resources Facebook page. [link removed]
Post your DonorsChoose project on Laura Candler’s Teaching Resources Facebook page, and then and ask family and friends to "like" your post to help Laura make her decision on Dec 5th. Laura will select 5 DonorsChoose proposals to fund at $100 each!
If you win, you will get the $100 from her AND the DonorsChoose $100 match too!
Now is an excellent time to submit some DonorsChoose proposals so they will be posted and qualify for the special DonorsChoose match! Ideas for proposals: class set of books, audiobooks, cordless headphones, dry erase markers, toner, digital camera, new rug for the classroom.
I presume that you are writing something.
I have a degree in English lit. with Honors, a ...See More