Building a Classroom Library with Limited Funds

How convenient is it for students to be able to find books right in your own classroom library? How about this scenario......Celebrating Dr. Seuss week at school and ALL the Seuss books from the media center are checked out. BUT YOU have your own Dr. Seuss classroom collection with a copy of The Butter Battle Book. Kids love this book...... Gotta have~~~~
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Butter_Battle_Book

I have been working on a classroom library myself. I have bought books at garage sales, thrift shops, Goodwill and the Salvation Army stores. You can find great titles at bargain price and save. Not only books but children's music, too! I recently bought a RAFFI CD for $1.99. The electronic store (BB won't mention) down the road was selling the same CD for $12.99. BARGAIN!!! http://www.raffinews.com/

Click on the links for tips on "How to" obtain books. Also read helpful tips on creating and organizing a library for your future classroom. My problem.....too many books!

http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/readingliterature/library.html

http://clerccenter.gallaudet.edu/literacy/resources/tipsforbuilding.html


CLASSIC~~~~Visit Dr. Seuss Website
http://www.seussville.com/

~WebQuests~ Technology in the Classroom

WebQuests are great ways to integrate technology in your classroom. As a future teacher, creating a lesson which uses Web-based activities is cutting edge. Educators are developing new teaching methods in education which allow students to explore and research the Internet quickly & safely. I feel that WebQuests can also be a part of homework curriculum where parents and students can work together at home on projects outside the classroom. This experience can help families bond through meaningful conversation on educational topics. They can both be a part of the discovery process. Parents can help their children with critical and creative thinking skills which will enable them to arrive to a final conclusion. Here's an idea~~~ teachers could organize "Quest Night" or "Quest Meet" where parents and students can come together to share and merge the information they have gathered and documented from the WebQuest. Topics such as environmental or health prevention issues are topic which can spark interest in children not to mention awareness. These issues should be taught in and out of school. Since Health and Safety issues seem to get the short end of the stick at school. Perhaps we can delegate this area to parents using our professional skills by creating WebQuest homework assignments. For those of you who think that this won't work because students don't have computers at home or do not have Internet access. Here are a few facts: Almost two-thirds of all American households have at least one computer and more than half have Internet access. In 2006, 50 million US households are Broadband subscribers.

Check out the Status of Household Computer Ownership and Internet Connection.

http://www.websiteoptimization.com/bw/06

Here are some helpful WebQuesting Sites:

WebQuests for Elementary Teachers

http://www.mtlakes.org/ww/tech/webtools/webq.htm05/


Spartanburg County School District Three

http://www.spa3.k12.sc.us/WebQuests.html

YouTube Video Teacher's Idea, Why Use WebQuests?
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=sarra1126

Kermits thoughts..."It's not easy being green"

Check out Jill Britton Mathematics Web Site.


Geometry


Tessellations


Topology

Flexagons

Number patterns

Escher in the Classroom

http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/home.htm

Listen to Kermit sing......"It's not easy........."
http://britton.disted.camosun.bc.ca/green.htm

Kidspace @ The Internet Public Library

This is a great site with lots of educational information, references, and guides. There is also a link (apple at the bottom of the page) Resources for Parents and Teachers.

http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/

Visit StoryHour

Here is a cute story!

Do Spiders Live on the World Wide Web?

http://www.ipl.org/div/storyhour/

Read-aloud Handbook An Essential Reference Book

READ to Children ~READ to Children ~READ to Children. "Please read to me" said the child.

For anyone, especially parents and educators that SHOULD be interested in children, children's literature, and reading. This is a great book, Jim Trelease's The Read-Aloud Handbook, 6th ed. The first ed. was published in 1979. There is a section which has a nice book list. Treasury of Read-Alouds. 9 Categories. Contents: Wordless Books, Predictable Books, Reference Books, Picture Books, Short Novels, Full-Length Novels, Poetry, Anthologies, Fairy and Fold Tales.

Go to your local or school library and CHECK IT OUT! I have my own copy. Are you trying to get parents motivated to read to their children, lend this book out to them. It will help you get support from home without a doubt. Visit his watch dogs/ censorship page. Also, oddly enough, I found this book in the parenting section at Books A Million. NOT Edu.

http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/


http://childrensbooks.about.com/cs/readalouds/fr/readaloudhandbk.htm

Join the FEA - Future Educators Association

Recently, MTC had its first FEA meeting with only two (2) students attending. Very disappointing. In order for MTC to start its own chapter, we need a minimum requirement of ten (10) students. This is no cost to you except your time; to show up for meetings. Value of $42.00, an Undergraduate Membership. Through the Pathways Project Grant, Mr. Derrick is able to start our own chapter. I encourage you all to join and participate. This will be helpful for your transition into USC Chapter and your professional portfolio. Please visit the web site for more information. http://www.pdkintl.org/fea/feahome.htm

Too Much Testing In Schools

Are you tired of testing your students? Would you like to teach, instead of test?

Stephanie