PITA Volume 9 Issue 3 September 2011

Provincial Intermediate Teachers Association

At the start of the year, it is important to have some basic organization in place. But often you don’t

realize you need a certain form or recording sheet until it is too late and you are scrambling to put one together.

Jaime Acker, a PITA Executive Member and a grade 4/5 teacher, has come up with some important, and timely, organizational sheets.

With the BCTF strike and the pos-sibility of students not having re-port cards, Sheet 1 is an easy way for students to track their own progress. This form would be ben-eficial in a classroom even in the absence of a strike because it rein-forces the message that they earn their own report card grades.

Another useful form is one to record notes of parent commu-nication that happens regularly throughout the year. Sheet 2 is an easy way to do that. Simply have one copy in each child’s file and jot a quick note every time you have a planned or unplanned conversa-tion with a parent about his or her child.

Throughout the year, PITA will be providing you with easy ideas like these to help make your time in the classroom as simple as possible... and that is no easy feat, we know! Download these forms and more at www.pita.ca.

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Grade Tracking Sheet

Assignment/ Test

Score_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____

%

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Then plot your percentage on the graph below. This will give you a visual of your progress.REMEMBER, you're only comparing your marks against your own work in the past. Don't worry about other people's marks. JUST DO YOUR BEST!

For each assignment and test that you get back, record your mark and percentage here.

SHEET 1. Grade Tracking Sheet

Parent Contact Form Student’s Name: ______________________________________ Date Type of

Contact What was discussed

- Phone - In Person

- Phone - In Person

- Phone - In Person

- Phone - In Person

- Phone - In Person

- Phone - In Person

- Phone - In Person

- Phone - In Person

- Phone - In Person

SHEET 2. Parent Communication

{ }notePRESIDENT’S

Grade Tracking Sheet

Assignment/ Test

Score_____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____

%

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Then plot your percentage on the graph below. This will give you a visual of your progress.REMEMBER, you're only comparing your marks against your own work in the past. Don't worry about other people's marks. JUST DO YOUR BEST!

For each assignment and test that you get back, record your mark and percentage here.

SHEET 1. Grade Tracking Sheet

Let’s Organize!

Music in the Classroom

Teaching Outside the Box

Ten Rules

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in this issue

Technology Resources

This is my last message in the newsletter as President. I believe it was in the Fall of 1991 or 1992 that I walked unknowingly into the PITA AGM somewhere in Delta and first joined the PITA executive as a member at

large. It’s neat that the AGM will be in Delta again 20 years later. Participation in PITA has been a wonderful experience for me on many levels, especially since 2003 as President:• to feel like I am doing something positive for teachers and children, • to meet and interact with so many positive, wonderful teachers from all around the province.• to be somewhat ‘in the know’ • it has been an outlet for my energy, ideas and creativity, to feel like I was involved in building something that can inspire teacher-led Pro D• but especially for the opportunity to work with positive energetic PITA ex-ecutive, presenters and other supporters- who are working to make educa-tion in BC better for every child

Like many of you, as I look back on my time in the classroom, I can identify some children for whom I’m sure I made a difference.

In the same way, through the efforts of a great team, teachers have benefit-ted through the curriculum support at our PITA Fall conference, the instruc-tional ideas presented in PITA Whistler, and just-in-time support for early ca-reer teachers through PITA’s Year of Professional Support.

To the whole generation of talented teachers in our profession, and especially those joining us recently, you can contribute to the community and share in the same rewards I have gained through PITA.

Contributing to our Profession ...

My Way to Personal & Professional Rewards

by Ray Myrtle

www.pita.ca 3

While I considered other kinds of positions of leadership, such as a con sultant or principal, I always remained at-tracted to the opportunity, creativity, autonomy and posi-tive relationships of being a teacher leader. The essence of a profession is that only professionals can provide the leadership necessaryto ensure the public is well served and protected in their area of expertise. Without strong professional leadership from teachers, we will not be professionals.

When you contribute to the profession, you support your community, your colleagues, and build your own knowl-edge to ensure that your teaching practices are the best. Best of all, it’s engaging and fun!

There are many opportunities. They have the advantage of being important, available and rewarding. You can contribute as one of the: • Teachers who work together and share their unit plans and resources online• Teachers who test strategies, ideas and resources and share reviews• Teachers who engage in evaluating instructional ap-proaches and share the result so others can learn from them.• Teachers who encourage and inspire others to think, help, collaborate and share

• Teachers who imagine new ways and adapt existing ways of instruction, management, recording and so on• Teachers who manage and organize sharing systems that support teachers• Teachers who budget, promote and proof read• and so on!

I believe that we need to build more high quality op-portunities for teacher leadership. As teachers we need to ensure that organizations such as PITA can develop structures and systems to enable teachers to support teachers.

Only through the development of professional relation-ships and sharing together under the practical, informed guidance of professional teachers will we be able to meet the many needs of the children as they prepare for life in this new century.

Take care.Ray.

PS. If you wish, join me on my new site: www.bit.ly/BCgr4-7ProD or Ray.Myrtle@gmail.com

ERIC RUSSELL November 22, 1945- July 17, 2011

Eric taught in West Vancouver for 30 years at Glenmore Elementary school in West Vancouver, many of them with Brian Herrin, who is a long time friend of mine, and when Brian became involved in PITA as a member of the executive, Eric did too.

They worked together on the newsletter. Brian wrote articles, and Eric did the lay-out and production. For each issue, he and Brian sat down and hand-labeled hundreds of newsletters and delivered them to the post office for mailing. They were a great team. Eric also did the lay-out and production for my ‘First Week of School’ booklet.

Eric agreed to create our very first PITA website. Although we had had a small presence before, it was really Eric who built our site from scratch. He put in lots of time creating and updating our site.

Eric was a great support for me on the executive and afterward. He was always a supporter of the work PITA did and en-couraged me and others.

Eric loved Rover cars and completely restored one. He hosted a website used around the world called ‘Rovernet’. He was traveling in Boston at a Rover con-ference when he became ill.

We will miss his emails, his humor and his encouragement.

Ray

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Music in the ClassroomWe all know how music can affect the way we feel. We play music to dance, uplift our mood, or help us relax. Music can invoke powerful memories and help “set the scene” for our life experiences. Research supports the concept that “Music can greatly enhance our learning and living.”

Why is it that teachers use music in their per-sonal lives but can fail to realize the impor-tance it has in the classroom?

The intentional use of music in the classroom can set the scene for learning and also make it more fun and interesting.

My suggestion for you to get started is to in-corporate one technique that makes you say, “I can do that!” The enthusiasm and response from your students will be a guideline and in-centive to try more.

Side effects of using music:

As you begin to use music, you may find that students want to share parts of their life trig-gered by the music. When this happens, no-tice and celebrate the connections to real life

experiences. Expect and enjoy the miracles that will occur!

Reasons to use music for learning:

• Music establishes a positive learning state.• Music creates a desired atmosphere.• Music can help build a sense of anticipa- tion.• Music can add energy to activities.• Music can change brain wave states.• Music can help focus concentration.• Music can increase attention.• Music can improve memory.• Music adds another sensory dimension.• Music can help release tension.• Music can release imagination.• Music can be used to form groups.• Music can improve community spirit.• Music can inspire and motivate.• Music adds the element of fun.• Music can add a layer to theme-based units.

There are a repertoire of classroom tech-niques that can be used easily by anyone. You don’t need to be a musician, and all ages and levels will experience an increase in the joy of

portant part is to keep a steady beat of 1-2-3-4.

For more ideas on how to use music in the classroom, you may download my free book (in PDF format) titled The “Sound” Classroom -- Introduction to Using Sound and Music to Enhance Learning in the Classroom, which is available on my website. Also, for PITA mem-bers, you may download a free abridged ver-sion of my book (with music tracks), The Power of Rap, a guide to writing your own raps. This is available for download on the PITA website at http://pita.ca/resources/rap.zip.

-- Barbara Feuring

About Barbara Feuring: After a long and successful career in teach-ing music in Western Canada; doing music consulting; and running an educational supply store; an opportunity presented itself to try international teaching in Cairo, Egypt. Barbara spent an interest-ing 4 years teaching music in Cairo before following another op-portunity to Riyadh, KSA (Saudi Arabia), where she taught music at the American International School of Riyadh for 5 years. Although Barbara officially retired from teaching in June, 2011 and returned home to Surrey, BC, she is pursuing several ventures and staying involved with music and teaching. Barbara will also be presenting session F65: Flashmob Dance at the upcoming PITA Fall Confer-ence. Barbara’s website: www.barbarafeuring.com

www.pita.ca 5

in the Classroom(for non- music teachers)

learning by adding music to your lessons.

Try this lesson idea:

Write or find a poem that you can say to a steady beat of 1-2-3-4.

Example (from The Power of Rap by Barbara Feuring) :

Instructions: Read and emphasize the itali-cized words.

There are many ways that we are smartTo teach these ways is indeed an artBut if you want to reach ev’ry lad and lassYou’ll use these ways as you teach your class.

Have students clap, step, snap or pat the steady beat while saying the poem. Students can write their own poem alone or in groups and perform for the rest of the class. These poems can be on the topic of their choice or about a topic being studied in class.

Each student or group can teach their “rap” to the rest of the class. If the students want to add mouth sounds, then someone else can say the words. Remember that the most im-

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teachingCome to learn.

Enable your students to become creative & inde-pendent critical thinkers!

find inspiration

outsidePROVINCIAL INTERMEDIATE TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION

2011 FALL CONFERENCE

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 9:15-3:00 & SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 9:30-12:00

N O R T H D E L T A S E C O N D A R Y S C H O O L1 1 4 4 7 8 2 N D A V E N U E , D E L T A

teaching the box

www.pita.ca 7

BCTF Members 175(130 before October 5)

Non-BCTF Members 225(200 before October 5)

Delta Teachers 130

Teachers-On-Call 65

Teacher Candidates 65

Register as a group of 3 or more and receive 10% off

CONFERENCE COST

register atwww.pita.ca/

conferenceprovincial intermediate teachers’ association

pitawww.pita.ca

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION

∙ two days of workshops

∙ coffee, tea, pastries, fruit and lunch

∙ a welcome bag of teacher goodies

∙ PITA membership including semi-annual news-letters, information about new PITA events, and password access to online resources for intermediate literacy circles and novel studies

*Please note: Online registration closes on October 20. On-site & late registration must be paid in cash or cheque at the Fall Conference. Register early to ensure that you book a place in the workshop of your choice. Unregistered par-ticipants will not be allowed into full workshops.

includes: EXPLORElearn | share

find inspiration

outside2011 FALL CONFERENCE

www.pita.ca/conferenceview the full brochure at

8 www.pita.ca

Diana Cruchley is an award-winning educator and author, who has taught at elementary and secondary levels. Her workshops are practical, include detailed handouts, and are always enthusiastically received. (© Diana Cruchley 2011)

Cruchley's Collection

ideas and inspiration to use withTen Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break

if You Want to Survive the School Bus by John Grandits

Ten Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break if You Want

to Survive the School Bus

The folding School bus

There’s a full-colour pattern for a bus on John Grandits website (www.johngrandits.com) which students can cut out, fold, and tape. With no instructions, it’s not difficult, but it might be fun to have students work together to try to do it quickly. It could be printed in

black and white on yellow cardstock to get the bus effect without the expense of printing in colour.

Write the 10 Rules You Must Not Break If you Want to Survive.... book

Brainstorm other topics on which James might give ad-vice, and then ask students to choose one to try to write using the model. Remember that they are all things you must NEVER do. Some possibilities are Ten Rules for: • Doing your homework. • Packing a school lunch. • Riding your bicycle. • Playing in the schoolyard. • Using the library.

Similes

This is a good time to teach students the structure of a simile. Each of the 7 similes in the book is reflected in the illustration, which cleverly reflect the perception of the narrator. You may want to project the illustra-tions as you point out the similes in the book and dis-cuss their meaning. The only simile missing is that of the bus driver, although the illustration of her is of as predatory bird. • A dog...sounded like an arctic wolf that hadn’t eaten all

winter• School bus...charging at me like a giant yellow rhinoceros• Staring at me...I felt like a zebra at a lion party• Big kid...up close,he was the size of a grizzly bear• Girls...as mean as snakes• Bus driver...illustration of a predatory bird, no simile• Brother...jumping up and down like a spider monkey

James advises his brother on the 10 things you must not do if you ride the school bus. In the course of the day, his brother inadvertently breaks all 10, but discovers rule 11 - you don’t have to pay attention to the rules.

John Grandits, Houston Mifflin 2011ISBN 978-0-618-78822-4

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Journal Writing

Picture books lend themselves to a journal response, because they are really short to read and because they are often useful for other writing purposes. Here are four suggestions for Ten Rules response writing: • A story about giving someone advice. • A school transportation story - bus ride, field trip, ride with a friend, bus trip to a game, etc. • A bully story. • The perfect school lunch and why you would love it. • A story about a brother or a sister.

Stereotypes

This book lends itself naturally to a discussion of ste-reotypes. Ask your class, “What stereotype in particu-lar does James pass on to his brother?” (Answer: Girls talk too much). Continue the discussion by asking, “How do stereotypes impact us and the way we see the world?” and “Do you think the use of stereotypes is OK in a children’s book?”

concrete Poetry

Grandits is a concrete poet and has several books of concrete poetry in print. Every month he also puts one on his website (www.johngrandits.com). The book Love That Dog by Sharon Creech also has a part where the students experiment with the concrete poem. Doodle Dandies is a picture book of concrete poetry by J. Patrick Lewis. There are many less sophisticated versions online that you can introduce students to and then ask them to try to create their own.

This example of concrete poetry is a poem by Gran-dits called The Autobiography of Murray the Fart. Granted, it is much less socially acceptable than some other poems, but still quite interesting.

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Listening Chart

1. Never sit in the first row2. Never sit in the last row3. Never, ever make yourself stand out in any way

4. Never make eye contact5. Never touch anyone’s stuff6. Never talk to big kids7. Never talk to girls8. Never mess with the bully9. Never be the last one on the bus

10. Never, absolutely never, mess with the bus driver

The Rule How the Rule was Broken

Listening Chart

ListeningAttached is a listening chart with the 10 rules on it. As students listen to you read the story, they could note how these rules are broken. Discuss at the end. Are they sensible rules for the most part?

Ten Rules You Absolutely Must Not Break if You Want to Survive the School Bus

by John Grandits

1. Never sit in the first row2. Never sit in the last row3. Never, ever make yourself stand out in any way

4. Never make eye contact5. Never touch anyone’s stuff6. Never talk to big kids7. Never talk to girls8. Never mess with the bully9. Never be the last one on the bus

10. Never, absolutely never, mess with the bus driver

The Rule How the Rule was Broken

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Technology Resources

www.dropbox.com

Now all the work that you do at home or school can easily be transferred to any computer. Simply upload your files to drop-box and they can be accessed from any other computer with an internet connec-tion. No more forgetting your thumbdrive!

pitaprovincial intermediate teachers’ association

www.pita.ca

www.prezi.com

This “zooming presentation editor” will take you from Powerpoint presentations to presentations of the next level. With simple how-to examples, you and your students can present impressive and engaging presentations in no time!

PITA AGMOctober 22, 2011, 12:30pm (Directly after the Fall Conference)North Delta Secondary School11447 82nd Avenue, Delta

This AGM will include a motion to continue our practice of subsidizing one day a week release time for a member of the Executive to manage PITA business.

provincial intermediate teachers`associationA PSA of the BCTF

gamesined.wikispaces.com

This wiki is a collection of educational games. Each game comes with a small blurb about what children will learn and how the site can be linked to subject mat-ter. This is an all-in-one resource for finding the perfect game.

www.veezle.com

Downloading images straight from Google is often against copyright laws. Veezle of-fers a growing collection of free stock pho-tos which can be used by teachers and students without any violation of copyright. Use this to teach students the importance of plagiarism and copyright.

www.pita.ca

Publication Mail Agreement 40063490

Please return undelivered pieces to4695 West 6th Avenue

Vancouver BC V6R 1V6

pitaprovincial intermediate teachers’ association

An easy way to check homework completion and deal with all of the papers that have to go home is to have a series of cheap magazine holders with student numbers written on them. Each morning, students place all of their homework into their numbered magazine holder before class begins. A quick glance will show you who has not completed his or her work. Pulling items out of the holders in order will also ensure that the papers are in the same order as the names in your mark book (a huge time saver!). At the end of the day, students empty their boxes of all handouts and papers that need to go home. This routine will help stu-dents understand their responsibilities in the class and for their papers (which otherwise are so eas-ily forgotten).

quick tip

Access our resources... • more information about memberships and workshops • complete and instant novel study units • easy to use classroom resources • past newsletters

*Please note: You can log in to the resources section using login: pita; password: bread

www.pita.ca