May Round Up

Well, loads of articles have made it into our corner of the blogosphere this past couple of months. In case you’ve fallen behind on your reading, or haven’t had the chance to sign up for our R.S.S. feed, here are a few of the highlights.

· What’s in YOUR Bomb Bag -An extreme teaching article with suggestions on managing your personal classroom evacuation program.

· Fantastic Ideas for File Folders – How can you make the most of this affordable classroom consumable? This article spells it out.

· Portable Puppet Theater -This shoestring teaching tip is perfect for traveling teachers, or those extremely limited on classroom space.

· Newspapers in the Classroom -Need some strategies for working miracles in thin air? Here’s an article with several “no brainer” ideas for these instructional freebies.

· High School Fundraisers – Ideas to start raising cash for older grades that are definitely “beyond bake sales”.

· DIY White Boards – Still want one, but on a major budget? This tells you how to DIY it on the cheap and easy.

· Teach to Travel -Want to know how to break into international teaching? This post spells out all the details you need to get started.

Got a request? Let us know below. We’ll do our best to work in the topic on a future article. Got a favorite? An article in the archives you found particularly fab? We’d love to know about that too. So please, sound off!

Photo Credit: Per Ola Wiberg

Career Hack: Teach to Travel

Sign up to save the world and left feeling like a chump after seeing your first paycheck from the local school district? Here’s an alternative way to maximize the perks of your career choice. It only requires a sense of adventure.

If you haven’t considered overseas teaching and the bargain travel opportunities it offers, perhaps it’s time you started looking into it. Here are just a few of the benefits you can generally expect from a quality international posting:

· Round trip air fare once a year

· Paid, furnished housing and utilities

· Small to moderate shipping allowance

· Affordable regional travel from your posted location

· Tax free salary

· Opportunities for highly paid on-the-side tutoring

How much can you expect to make? It varies by school and by region. Certain parts of the world are known for lower salaries it’s true, but it isn’t unheard of to snag a reasonable salary at a particular school. On the other hand, certain areas are reputed to pay much higher, with the odd school paying less than you might expect. Some strategies to start searching for an overseas post?

· Job fairs. Several take place each year in various parts of the world. A popular one here in the states is the annual event at the University of Northern Iowa.

· Classified ads. There are many places to find current opportunities with this approach as well. TIE-online,Serious Teachers,and the ESL Caféare a few places to start.

· Service organizations. The Peace Corps is likely the most well known one, but there are others out there to explore.

· Placement services. Head hunters are hardly unique to education, but a fair sized niche industry has evolved here as well, particularly for East Asia and parts of the Middle East. Posting a “position wanted” ad on serious teachers will likely net you several calls, and of course International School Services has been around forever.

Are there details to consider before hopping on a plane to the other side of the world? Absolutely . And you will definitely want to ask around for references and other information any school offering you a position. The important thing to remember is, if you are truly interested, you can do it. Others have managed successfully and so will you if you decide to take the plunge. Who says you can’t see the world on a teacher’s salary?

Photo Credit: Nattu

Art on the Cheap: Torn Paper Mosaics

Teaching in an extreme situation where you are short on everything, including scissors? Here’s a lesson idea I got years ago from a frugal art colleague in Micronesia. Bonus? It’s one of those great lessons that can be used from early primary through high school.

The project? Torn paper mosaics. The flexibility? Nearly endless. Useful for covering nearly every topic through art integration, this lesson basically requires copy paper, glue sticks, pencils and colored scraps of paper. Yes, that’s all.

· Basically, you select a topic (pumpkins, multi-cultural landscape elements, modern art shapes, etc.) and make sure your colors of paper scraps fit with the assignment.

· Students lightly sketch outlines for elements in the mosaic picture.

· Colored bits of paper are torn and glued to form the elements of the picture, leaving slight spaces in between to represent the grout. Filling in all areas, including the sky as a background, really adds drama and zip to the student pieces.

To easily modify the lesson for various grade levels, simply adjust the detail and size of the mosaic assignments. Voila! A dirt cheap art project for all topics and grade levels. We’ve got your back.

Photo Credit: Chris Robinson 1945

Twenty-five Ways to Say Good Job!

Every teacher needs an idea bank of ways to provide positive reinforcement. Looking for a few ideas to keep from sounding repetitive?

 

Here’s a list of twenty-five ways to give verbal praise, many of them useful at all grade levels.

 

1. Rock on!

2. That’s awesome!

3. I can tell you’ve been practicing.

4. That’s very colorful.

5. I like how neatly you’re working.

6. You really followed directions.

7. Way to show what you can do!

8. Bravo!

9. That’s fantastic.

10. Great work.

11. You did that very well.

12. Nicely done.

13. Exciting work, that’s for sure!

14. Look at the detail you put into that project!

15. Wow, you’re fast.

16. Excellent.

17. Incredible job.

18. Good presentation.

19. You’re a rock star.

20. You read that very well.

21. Way to manage your time!

22. You were very responsible with that.

23. You aced that assignment!

24. I can tell how hard you worked on this.

25. Very impressive!

There are many ways to say good job. These are only my top picks. If you have any other great verbal praise phrases, don’t forget to share them with us below. Happy teaching!

Photo Credit: AstroGuyz.Com

International Job Seeking Resource for Teachers: It’s Serious!

Looking for an extra employment resource for overseas classroom positions? Here’s one I tried out when we were on the road for a few months, with rather decent results.

The web site? SeriousTeachers.Com.The premise? Simply post your profile and resume for free. Schools and head hunters who are also registered get to post job openings that you can respond to individually, and they will also approach you if you have qualifications or interests in your profile that meet the types of jobs they offer. The first contact will be through email, and then you’ll progress from there, depending on how great the match is.

As with any type of resource like this, you will want to do your part to ask around the circuit about a particular school, ask for other teachers for school quality references, etc. However, I have to say that I consistently got serious offers, although none that were quite the right fit for me at the time. There was even one that was from a school where some good friends of ours used to work, so they were able to provide references to both the school and us. How cool is that?

If you are looking for a place to start exploring your options without a huge initial cash outlay, Serious Teachers could be for you. Have a success story about the site, or any other type of experience you feel people should know about? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below.

Photo Credit: Angela 7 Dreams

More Classroom Hacks for Teaching in the Trenches

If you’ve been following this blog all along, you’re already aware that I love to pass along great classroom hacks as soon as I think of or run across them. This is no exception. Read on for some great ideas on getting things done on the cheap and easy.

Hula Hoops.

In addition to making great classroom playground equipment, these can be used in PE and also for small group circle assembly. As any primary teacher can tell you, younger students really have a difficult time forming circles on their own. Having a few hula hoops on hand for small groups to assemble around gives them a bit of fun factor and you a bit of sanity. Particularly helpful for teaching in outside environments where the school may just be one shaded area surrounded by coconut trees. These situations also tend to be short on classroom furniture. If you are at a school where most of the instruction has to take place outside, you can easily distribute some hula hoops around your area and have one circle for reading group, one for a language game, and one for quiet PE stations such as stretching or sit-ups.

Affordable Art Smocks.

Remember shirt smocks? So do we, and we’re recycling this age old classroom classic. Old adult-sized long sleeved button up shirts can come from family members or a thrift store such as Goodwill. Great for science experiments and art projects, children need only to put them on backwards and have a buddy fasten a button or two in the back.

Poster Taping Tips

Anyone who’s taught in a jungle environment can attest to how difficult it is to keep posters taped to the wall. If you are lucky enough to have walls you can staple things to, congratulations. If you are stuck with concrete however, this is for you. To protect the back of your poster during end of the year removal, flip it over and place flat pieces of masking tape on each corner. This will give you a stable base to put tape circles on, from which they can easily be peeled off later. The jungle element? Instead of placing your tape circles up and down, go horizontal. Keeping them up is still a challenge, but they will at least last longer this way.

Document the Journey

If possible, consider incorporating a digital camera into your learning environment. Document projects and class work throughout the year, compile a slideshow for open house, etc. This is much less expensive than having to continuously purchase film, batteries and developing services. If you have a tech person, you may even be able to include the documentation in a web site.

Get Some Help from the Animal Kingdom

At an outdoor “garden school” in Tucson, Arizona, a trained therapy dog is a favorite visitor for the students to read to. This is worth considering in any learning environment, as practicing oral reading with a class pet or visiting animal removes the fear some students have of reading in front of others. It also generates enthusiasm for those learners who may not be excited to practice reading aloud otherwise. Even a fish tank or aquarium in the classroom or home learning corner can be used to implement this strategy, which is particularly powerful for the shy ESL learner.

Student Anchors

If you’re comfortable going high tech for your student report presentations, consider turning the entire event into a type of news show. Learners can write brief commercials, bring background music for the “anchor people”, write introductory scripts, etc. I have personally done this at numerous grade levels. Students of all ages love the outcome.

Book Parades

This idea was inspired by one of our newsletter subscribers. At this particular school in Texas, students each make a small “float” based on their favorite book, or dress up as their favorite character. The entire school then has a parade to honor the literature each student has celebrated. Home-schoolers could easily implement this as well in their local park or group gathering place.

If you have a great shoestring teaching idea, or one that is just too cool not to share, please post about it in the comment section. Sharing these things helps us all out, and our students as well. Happy teaching, everyone!

Photo Credit: Peiqian Long

Learning Centers for Less

Need some cost conscious ideas for independent, fast working students? Following is a list of my favorite cheapies.

Listening centers.

Whether it’s the old fashioned book and tape set you still have, or an audio book file for an I-pod, listening centers are a powerful supplement to any language program, and fantastic for ESL support.

Deck of cards and a set of math tables.

This is a super cheap center idea that requires two people to play. Basically, both players agree ahead of time whether they are playing an addition, subtraction or multiplication round. One person draws two cards, while the other has the math table with answers. If the card drawer gets the math answer right (checked and verified by both partners), they keep those to cards and start their own pile. If not, the cards go back in the pile at the bottom. Then it’s the next person’s turn. The round progresses until the cards are gone. The person with the most cards in their stack wins. Bonus? This is a great way to use up those old decks of cards that may not be complete. You only need to different value cards with each turn.

Word puzzles in sheet protectors.

These work better if you have the answer key as well. Put the blank puzzle back to back with the answer key and slide them into a sheet protector. Using a dry erase marker and an old clean sock, students can check their own works, clear the boards and try again. Consider having a few out for variety. You could also use math problems as well for extra drill and practice.

Computer with learning games.

Whether it’s online activities, or games from various educational software programs, having a computer available during down time is a great way to supplement your students’ computer lab schedule and provide valuable technical skill enhancement for those who may not have a computer at home. Having a goal of a laptop for day-long use for every student is a lofty goal, but the reality is many schools are far from being able to make this happen. If you have at least one computer with internet access in your room, consider making it available.

Simple crafts.

In my humble opinion, the simpler the better when it comes to setting up a craft center. And while I’m sure there are many out there who would disagree, I think the multi step, paints and brush, huge mess art projects are much better suited to whole group lessons where as a teacher you are more available to provide guidance and structure. Centers are something I like to use as flexible sponge activities, and simple crafts fit the bill. Some ideas? Safety pin bead crafts, friendship bracelets, basic summer camp yarn and stick weavings, etc.

Board games.

Whether it’s a homemade option celebrating the weekly vocabulary words, or a game of Body Boggle, age appropriate board games are a great way to keep children occupied academically in between seatwork assignments and group activities.

Silent reading station.

To make it feel a bit more special than “just read quietly at your desk”, consider letting those done early be able to read silently in a fun seating area like a classroom couch, bean bag or rocking chair. Sometimes, it’s all about switching up the details.

This is obviously not meant to be a fully inclusive list, just a list of the simplest ideas I could think of for shoestring teaching budgets. One thing’s for sure, I’ll definitely be on the lookout for more teacher resource books to review and blog about in the upcoming months. Got another great time consuming cheapie? Don’t forget to sound off in the comment section below.

Photo Credit: Liz Marie

Fantastic Ideas for File Folders

Whether I’m starting fresh or recycling used one, file folders are on my short list for simple, affordable classroom consumables. Bonus? They’re super versatile. Read on for some teacher-friendly ideas.

Some of my favorite project ideas are the ones that involve the easiest methods and most affordable supplies. File folders meet both of those requirements. Here are a few simple things you can do with them in an educational setting.

Pattern cut-outs.

This is a great way to use folders that are a bit tattered around the edges. Trace and cut out one pattern, then replicate as many as you need for classroom “trace and cut” crafts.

Student-published book covers.

This requires starting with a fresh new folder for each child. Simple bind with staples or brass fasteners and use loose leaf paper or printed computer documents depending on student access to technology. Cover designs can also range from simple to elaborate depending on your consumables budget.

DIY journals or learning logs.

These are basically blank, fillable versions of the book cover idea above. Most instructors prefer class sets of those black and white composition books, but depending on your location, these may be hard to come by. Having a DIY option up your sleeve will help keep all of your learning programs available even in tough financial times.

Individual student calendar resources.

Here’s a link to a great way to have students follow along individually with group calendar work in the classroom. Home schooling? Your morning calendar routine will be even more streamlined. You do have to scroll down a bit to see the illustrations, but it’s there.

Mini offices.

These absolutely, totally ROCK! Heard about them years ago. Here’s a link to an excellent illustrated version of one.You basically have all the reference materials you would otherwise have to hand out individually and have students keep track of on one fold-up file folder office. I really wish I had known about these while I was still in the classroom. Personal verdict? One of the best classroom ideas I’ve ever seen. Bonus? Easily adaptable for all grade levels, K-12. Here’s another link to an idea of how you can use these in the classroom.

Individual privacy cubicles.

Basically, you assemble them the same way you assemble the “offices” discussed above. Put two of them together so they overlap in the middle and then staple them together. They can then be stood up on individual student desks for quiz and test taking, or as an extra integration support tool for those students who are easily distracted visually.

Easily stored games and learning centers.

There are loads of ideas out there. Here’s a link with a couple of interesting and simple ones. Want some more? Here are some printouts to just glue on and go.

These are just some of the ways I’ve found to use file folders in the classroom. I think you’ll see how flexible they are as a resource for affordable classroom programming. And there’s no denying they provide a huge bang for the buck. Got a great idea for a file folder project? Share your thoughts below.

Photo Credit: Mooganic

Shoestring Teaching: The Multipurpose Game Board

Need a get-the-job-done, dirt cheap option for reviewing content in the classroom? These multipurpose game boards always did it for me. Read on to find out how to make them.

•Take an extra large piece of oak-tag or other strong paperboard similar to a file folder, and visually divide it into 3-5 inch squares using a ruler and a permanent marker.
•Next, laminate the piece.
•You will need a writing tool that you can clean off from the laminated surface such as an overhead marker or a grease pencil.
•You will also need a flat rubber ring at least 3-4 inches across, such as a rubber ring for a canning jar or an automotive part.

Congratulations! Now you have a reusable game board for reviewing various classroom concepts. And that’s not all! You can also integrate basic math skills at the same time. Here’s how it works:

•Using your washable writing tool, carefully record questions from language arts, science, social studies, etc, into each empty square, making sure you have the answers on hand for cross reference.
•You will also need to record a point value for each square in the corner(s).
•This is where the math integration comes in. Early primary grade educators may only wish to have 1-2 points per square, where other grades may select higher point values to integrate column addition. Advanced classes may even include a small math problem in each corner in addition to the other question to force students to solve what the point value is before adding it to their point totals.
•For each turn, have a student toss the rubber ring randomly onto the game board. The rubber material provides a natural “cling” against the laminating film, helping it to grip the board when landing rather than continuing to slide.
•If the ring falls on one square only, students have a chance to answer only that question, and therefore earn points for that square only. If the ring lands where it overlaps two or more squares, then learners are allowed to attempt to answer all of the questions within the ring’s circumference.
•This would mean of course that they were also allowed to tally any and all points from correctly answered questions. As the educator, you decide if you want each student to tally each point score as a group activity, or to simply record the team or individual points on the board, solving the math together orally.

Still not inexpensive enough for you? No problem. You can either shrink or enlarge the size of this game board and still save money. To make a smaller version, use a piece of photocopy paper with the grid, questions and point values printed on it from the computer (small font). Slide this paper into a clear sheet protector and use a smaller rubber ring. For a larger version, use a large, flat piece of discarded cardboard from a large box. Draw on the grid lines with a yard / meter stick and a permanent marker. Then, cover with clear contact paper.

The rest of the directions are the same as for the original game board. However, for the extra large version you may want to explore larger ring options, such as a ring-toss game pieces or homemade bean bags.

So there you have it, readers. One game board with unlimited content review and introduction options. Simple. Cheap. Effective. Bonus? Kids dig it.

Photo Credit: Justin

Classroom Uses for the Old Fashioned Clothespin

When it comes to cheap office supplies, clothespins are tough to beat. Bonus? There are loads of things you can use them for in the classroom. Following are just a few.

Project clamps.

Great for all the old stained ones that parents are getting ready to chuck anyway.

Art clothesline.

A bit old fashioned? Maybe. But they still get the job done, and are a great way to finish drying those water color paintings without clogging up desk space.

Communication with classroom specialists.

Working at a place where Post It notes are outside of your budget parameters? Clip a directional note to the seatwork of a student who leaves the room for support in another room.

Stick a magnet on the back and use it to hold student artwork or reminders.

This is also a great project to have the kids create and take home to the folks.

Get a grip on classroom snack storage.

They’ll help keep those plastic bags of crackers fresh.

Make a reindeer ornament at Christmas time.

Simple, affordable, and kids dig it. Here’s a link.

Insect crafts.

I’ve seen several different variations over the years that would be fun to try when doing a classroom unit on insects. Here’s a cute simple one with a grasshopper theme. I think the kids would have fun using these to keep their desk papers organized.

Make a multicultural doll.

Here’s a link to one celebrating Asian heritage. As simple as the design is though, I would think you could easily modify with various shades of paint to match different skin tones from around the world. I’m already picturing one dressed with an African tribal cloth. Here’s another link with resources on making clothespin dolls as well, with a couple pictured that could easily represent the heritage of certain European countries.Cute!

Make a center game using clothespins and the cardboard circles that come inside your pizza box.

I love this idea because it is so inexpensive.

Student communication.

I’ve seen teachers successfully use these for students to communicate their location. Each one would have one with their name on it clipped to one side of a poster board. On another side of the board or across the bottom would be various locations such as bathroom, nurse’s office, etc. Children simply clip their pin under the name of the appropriate destination. Simple!

These ideas represent my top ten picks only. As always, please feel free to share your ideas. These things are so cheap that almost any PTA should be able to pick you up a bag at the dollar store as part of a classroom support package.

Photo Credit: L. Marie

Middle East Henna Activity

Need a cultural heritage activity that’s big on style and short on cash outlay? Here’s a slamming alternative to traditional face painting booths that’s not only more culturally diverse, but cheaper as well.

Using simple henna patterns and inexpensive eyeliner and eyebrow pencils, have your students draw temporary designs on themselves using the easily washed off makeup pencils instead of the semi permanent henna. This is a great center activity, open house activity during international day celebrations, or an alternative booth to face painting at the school carnival. You can find some fun henna patterns for no charge using this link.

This really is fun for all ages, and an unexpected twist. If you want your boss and room parents to think you’re a true rock star, try this out. Really.

Photo Credit: Hiral Henna

The Village of Round and Square Houses: A Book Review

The Village of Round and Square Houses, by Ann Grifalconi is the story of the village of Tos, in Cameroon.

Here, men and women live separately, and in differently shaped houses. Thistale was told to the author by a girl who actually grew up there. From what I understand, they actually had to walk in for a day or two on foot to actually get there. Now that’s a dedicated writer. Ann, you go, girl!

Photo Credit: Barnes and Noble

Free ESL News Resource for Educators!

With all of the not so great freebies out there you need to wade through in order to find the good stuff, it’s always nice to find a consistently updated resource available for instant use in the classroom. If you love to cover current events and have a wide range of ages in your student base, this resource just might be for you. Read on for details.

Breaking News English is a free resource for classroom teachers of ESL students. Need some grown up content for learners with lower English skills? Check this out.

Breaking current news stories are provided in summarized form, along with simple classroom lesson ideas. They also have an archive of previous stories for further exploration or those last minute, need to pull a lesson out of thin air for the adult class situations. Definitely worth checking out for adult ESL ideas on the cheap and easy.

Photo Credit: Prufrock 27

Classroom Management Hacks : Six Simple Strategies

Looking for classroom control from day one, but not interested in spending three days custom laminating name cards and pocket charts? Believe me, I hear you. This article provides streamlined management strategies that will still let you have a life. Read on.

Behavior Points.

A simple, budget friendly way to acknowledge group behavior. Here’s what you need: a chalkboard and chalk.

That’s it. If you want, keep track of points using a pencil and a special corner in your plan book in case they accidentally get erased. Use an unobtrusive corner of the chalkboard and draw a chalk cloud with the title “behavior points” inside. At the beginning of the year, you can use a lower number for the class goal and make the goal daily, with a reward of stopping early to play a few minutes of 7-Up, for example.

Later in the year, you can try a higher amount and have the reward take place whenever they accomplish it. Usually, a larger reward is in order for a larger point accomplishment. For example, 150 points might earn them a class movie and popcorn. You can flex the number of points and the goal time depending on your class needs and grade level. I have used this at all grade levels in several different countries. It works every time, and is simple and cost effective to maintain.

The Clean Desk Fairy

Clean desk issues can really slow things down academically. Having an end of the day “desk inspection” where the students do not line up for buses until their desks have been checked for neatness works well for various grade levels. On the days you miss, have the “clean desk fairy” leave a note on the board and a chocolate kiss or new pencil on those desks that are exemplary. Need to pinch pennies? Free paper passes issued from the teacher don’t cost anything, and are just as popular with the students as store-bought treats.

Reinforcement Charts

One of the most cost effective systems I’ve found is to purchase one of those reinforcement charts at the teacher store. You know, the ones with a space for the names down the side, and a full poster board sized grid with quarter inch squares running all the way across. Instead of using stickers, they make rubber stamps that fit into those smaller squares which in the long run is much less expensive. Or, to make it even more affordable, have the students color in a square every time they are caught being good. This enables a daily visual for which students need to be “caught being good”, and the students enjoy competing for the lead position. It reinforces graphing skills as well. If desired, you could do something special with the top behavior student at the end of each quarter. Students at all grade levels love this, and it is the most convenient way I have ever found to keep track of positive behavior.

Need an idea that’s even more extreme? Laminate the chart to the wall and use dry erase markers. It’s an affordable green teaching idea, and you can re-use this chart as many times as you need to with a little DIY white board cleaning solution.

Craft Sticks.

These things really come in handy for classroom management on the cheap. Check out the previous poston craft stick uses in the classroom. In addition to several craft ideas, you’ll also find some great management tips on how to include every student every day, incorporate a dirt cheap running program for PE and streamline your classroom communication in a way that you can use from year to year. Score!

Classroom Study Hall.

If your learning schedule allows it, try incorporating a brief study hall at the end of the day. Students who run into problems during daily independent work time can have one on one time with you. Those finished can assist with room organization, handouts, last minute announcements, etc. Admittedly, this can be tough to pull off without the right schedule. However, I did one year and it was one of the best things I ever tried. The students and I both benefitted tremendously, and the last few minutes of the day turned from chaotic to calm on the very first day we implemented the system. If you are blessed with a supportive administration, see what you can do about convincing the powers that be to allow the last class session of the day to be left to the classroom teachers. Chances are, the specialists will appreciate a chance to get organized for the next day’s room hopping schedule as well.

Daily Helping Hands.

Rather than struggling to develop an elaborate job schedule and chart with a spinning wheel or cards to pull and file, just have a daily helping hand to deal with all jobs. If a particular task is too much for one student, they can select a responsible friend to help them with it. Just go down through your grade book in order and select the next student each day. Simple, easy to maintain, and every student gets to help. This will free up your time (especially if you teach younger grades) to work on other important classroom management issues.

That’s it. Classroom management as cheap and easy as I can make it for you. Got another cheap idea that’s low on effort and high on the get a life scale? Share the love.

Photo Credit: Liz Marie

Dollar Deals at Scholastic.Com for the Month of May!

Think there aren’t any screaming deals left out there for teachers on a budget? Guess again. From now until the end of May, Scholastic is offering tons of great classroom supplies . . . all for a buck!

This seems almost too good to be true, folks. But I checked their site, and yes indeed, dollar deals truly abound. Some of the items I saw and consider to be of note?

• Classroom calendars.
• Reinforcement charts.
• Desk tags.
• Multicultural decorative banners.
• Accents, cut-outs and calendar pieces.
• Stickers.

Lots more items there, and the sale is only until the end of the month. This would be a great time to stock up, or get things in order ahead of time if you are switching grade levels. Here’s the link.

Photo Credit: The Blue Dino

Gugu’s House: Review of the Children’s Book

In this book by Catherine Stock, a young girl named Kukamba enjoys spending time helping her grandmother, Gugu, with her art.

What I loved most about this title is how it demonstrates so clearly the contribution art can have in our everyday lives, as well as how powerful the concept of temporary art can be. In celebration of the African nation of Zimbabwe, this book also includes a glossary of story terms. Worth including in your multicultural library or as an asset for your African studies unit.

Photo Credit: Target.Com

Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain: A Book Review

Told by noted children’s author Verna Aardema, this tale is from the Nandi tribe of Kenya.

The storytells how an unusual drought on the plain inspires a cow herder to come up with an unusual solution. The illustrations? Absolutely charming. The story was discovered nearly one hundred years ago by Sir Claud Hollis, a noted anthropologist who published the story in his book, The Nandi: Their Language and Folklore, published in 1909. In my opinion, this isa true classic for those studying Kenyan culture and folklore, as well as African heritage in general.

Photo Credit: Amazon.Com

Movie Review: March of the Penguins

A film shot with a fair amount of discipline, devotion and passion for the subject to say the least. For those who have not yet seen it, if you are looking for a new library addition to your unit on penguins or Antarctica, you will not be disappointed.

Narrated in the earthy voice of one of my favorite actors, Morgan Freeman, and edited with amazing footage, this piece really tells the story of just how hard it is for these birds to reproduce and survive each year. For a detailed and exciting look at the day to day life of these magnificent survivalists, check this film out. It’s definitely worth picking up a copy for your classroom or media center.

Photo Credit: Amazon

The Mountains of Tibet: A Book Review

Written by Mordicai Gerstein, this piece tells of a man who is offered all the choices of the universe, yet learns to appreciate the simple beauty of his own life.

The illustrations are softly yet strikingly done, making for an absolutely precious piece of children’s literature. Written from the perspective of Tibetan spirituality, yet perfectly suitable for the multicultural classroom interested in exploring this majestic mountain kingdom.

Photo Credit: Amazon.Com

Why the Sky Is Far Away: Review of the Nigerian Folktale

Retold by Mary-Joan Gerson, this tale from the Bini tribe of Nigeria is at least a half a millennium old.

In the story, the tribe’s people learn the hard way about the management of available resources. In addition to exploring Nigerian folklore, this book would also be fabulous to use when teaching about conservation and respect for the planet’s environment.

Photo Credit: Target.Com

Movie Review: Whale Rider

Based on the novel of the same name, this film celebrates the Maori culture of New Zealand.

A young girl, Pai, must overcome gender resistance from her grandfather, who is helping raise her. According to tribal tradition, any successive tribal leader must be the son of the current one. According to legend, a chief named Paikea rode a whale and led his people to their current land of New Zealand. In a well – directed modern extension of a traditional myth, Pai shows herself to be capable of picking up the torch with a touch of girl power. Family dynamics are also well demonstrated as the girl and her grandmother try to break through to a stubborn man. I can honestly recommend this film in its own right, as well as a companion piece for those studying the novel. For intermediate grades and up.

Photo Credit: Amazon

Paper Clip Ideas for a Rocking Classroom

Simple, cheap and around for as long as most of us classroom warriors can remember, these under-the-radar bits of office supply fluff can help you get the job done on multiple fronts. Read on for a list of affordable classroom tips involving the humble paper clip.

Ornament hooks.

Need a way for parents to hang those precious homemade ornaments your students just made? Or, maybe you need to find hanging options for a load of donated tree ornaments from the PTA. Either way, paper clips can be your best friend when it comes to this.

Hanging art displays.

If you have one of those old fashioned suspended ceilings with the metal grids in your room, then these work great. Over each student’s desk and anywhere else you might need to hang a sign or art item, attach one paper clip to the edge of the metal rib. Tie on a desired length of classroom twine, and then tie another paper clip on to the dangling end of the string. This is where you can clip on flat edges of lighter pieces of art work. Great for open house night.

Bookmarks.

In addition to rubber bands, paperclips can make awesome bookmarks. Bonus? They don’t fall out as easily as paper ones. Word of advice? Go with the coated ones if you don’t want your pages to get rust stains.

Plaster of Paris Project Hanger.

Embed one in the back of each student’s project on the side where they will want to hang it from the back. Allow to dry. Easy breezy.

Emergency Zipper Pull.

Got a primary student with a zipper malfunction? Thread one of these little gems through the hole and pull up. Problem solved.

Unclogging those annoying glue bottle nozzles.

If your administration or PTA hasn’t upgraded you to glue sticks yet, this could be one of those tedious problems from the good old days that you still need to deal with. Straighten out a paper clip and go for it. We’ll be pulling for you.

Emergency bra strap repair.

Have a hormonal high school student on high wardrobe malfunction meltdown? If the problem happens to be one of those broken plastic hooks, a paper clip can get the job done in a pinch. If the problem is further up the strap, a safety pin might be more what you need.

That’s it from my end. If you have additional bits of clip wisdom, feel free to post a comment. I’m sure we could all use additional suggestions for sticking to the classroom budget and having a touch of convenience at the same time.

Photo Credit: Sunshine City

Cheap Stuff for Starving Teachers

I don’t know about you, but rarely has my allotted classroom budget met my needs. In fact, in all my years of teaching, I can only think of one school where I was provided with everything I really needed. Even there, I had to be financially careful. And we all know what the unwritten expectation is when school districts can’t fund their own mandates . . .spend your own money. Big surprise. This article highlights my favorite teacher cheapies.

Bonus? They are available in almost every school supply closet, making it easier for you to hang on to your hard earned paycheck.

Page protectors.

I love these. Readers’ play scripts can be protected year to year. They also work great for protecting activity pages where the students need to answer a question or solve a puzzle. Place the paper inside and children can write their answers in water based marker or grease pencil, and wipe off when they are finished. Keeps copying costs to a minimum. Want more ideas? Check this out.

Index cards.

An inexpensive learning supply, they can be used for vocabulary / definition flash cards, spelling memory games, math fact quiz cards and more. For extra flexibility, they are also available in lined and unlined, large and small, and various color options. Tough to beat for affordability, wouldn’t you say?

Cardboard beverage flats.

Even in Micronesia, I had access to these at no cost. If the school does not have a vending machine where these are left over after stocking, chances are there’s at least one store that will save them for you. Use them for holding paper scraps, completed student assignments, desk protectors for messy projects, marble painting, story boards, science fair displays, and homemade hinged-together briefcase portfolios. Here’s a link with more details.

Twigs and sticks.

It doesn’t get any cheaper than this. When you are in an extreme teaching situation and do not even have access to craft sticks, have students bring in twigs and sticks when you need them for things like nature crafts, kite support, puppets, native tribal weaving projects, etc.

Torn paper art projects.

My art guru friend Shelly taught me this little trick while we were teaching on the island of Guam. If you are working in conditions where you do not have scissors for your students, these projects are wonderful. The project she showed me was for torn paper mosaics, where students create a scene with torn bits of paper arranged with spaces in between on a background using glue sticks.

Donated newspapers.

I’ve had English language newspapers donated literally in every location I’ve ever taught at – the States, Guam, Kuwait, Italy, etc. Not only are they free, they provide a tremendous amount of mileage in the classroom. Some of the things I’ve used them for: current events, spelling word search, event collages, stuffing large models of book characters or giant paper sea turtles, tearing up for paper maché projects, and covering desks for messy art and science activities. I’ve also had newspapers offices donate the ends of the rolls of blank newsprint. They usually have a fair amount of paper left over, and it’s great for brainstorming charts and morning language. Old blueprint charts are great for this use as well. For a complete list of ideas for newspapers in the classroom, check out this previous blog post.

Used copy paper.

Folding the pages in half with the printed side in and stapling them allows you to put them together for a clean set of pages to be used for student publishing. Free materials . . . score!

Phone Books

Lots of ways to use these in the classroom. Bonus? Telephone companies will usually donate last years left overs in mint condition.

Dried Beans.

Any large flat bean will do really, and even the smaller ones can work for certain things.Very affordable when purchased at a discount dry goods store, these durable seeds make fabulous bingo and game markers. Substituting these for the expensive plastic game markers assures that you always have plenty on hand when students misplace them (which they will). Economical and eco-friendly!Another really cool thing you can do with the larger flat broad beans is lay a bunch of them flat on newsprint and spray paint one side of them the color of your choosing. The result? Dirt cheap DIY math manipulatives. Take a specific amount of them (nine, for example) and put them inside an empty cup. Shake and dump onto a work space. The beans will come out in various number combinations that equal the number in the cup. Great for younger grades working on math facts and number exploration.

These are items or ideas that made my job easier during my years in the classroom. If you know of others, please let us know.

Photo Credit: Worak