What's Your Dream?

Watch this video as a class and ask your students to respond to the following questions in the comment section of the blog?  It's very important that we start talking about Dr. King's legacy before MLK day.

What is your dream?
How does Martin Luther King's dream affect your life today?

Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Fun Theory

How does this video relate to culturally responsive teaching strategies?  When you address a student's culture as a positive asset to their identity as a learner, it increases classroom engagement and achievement. This video is a great example of how one small change in your teaching approach or classroom space with regard to culture can raise the fun level!  This change might be a new mentor text, an interactive bulletin board display, or an exciting academic project about student backgrounds.

Culturally Responsive Teaching Video - Staff Meeting

Latishia Wilson, an awesome DRT, shared this video. This video changed my perspective about what it means to be a culturally responsive teacher. I really enjoy using a wide variety of strategies. For example, I have noticed that "Pick a Stick" really increases engagement and active listening. I am also using "Musical Around the Room" to preview vocabulary words. What are your thoughts and reflections about this video.

Text-To-Self Connection to Multicultural Literature

In second grade, we are teaching making connections to our literacy groups. During independent reading time, Jahmaya was able to make some amazing text-to-self connections. "My brother comes to visit me, and I know he will come back soon... just like the character.." She explains. This is an exciting example of using multicultural text to provide a vehicle for minority students to make connections. Also, students who are not minorities identified with this same experience reflected through the main character of the book called, Brothers. Multicultural text is a positive teaching tool for all students because it illuminates how we share similiar experiences as human beings.

November DRT Newsletter

What are your thoughts about November's DRT newsletter?  Post feedback comments about further suggestions and reflections.  Do you plan on inviting the Artist in Residence to your school community?

First Grade Math Game Night

Woodbrook Elementary's first grade team hosted a success night for parents.  Students taught their parents math games for the Investigations math curriculum.  This is an excellent example of cultivating the home-school connection.

My Favorite Multicultural Books (Adele LaFontaine)

Adele excitedly shared two of  her favorite multicultural books.  She explains, "I love the book, Barack Obama of Thee I Sing, A Letter to My Daughters.  It talks about how children can grow up to become whoever they want to be.  I also like The Other Side by Jacqueline Woods because it teaches children to think for themselves. " Please make a comment about these examples of multicultural literature.  Have you heard of these books or shared them with students?

Mix It Up day took place on October 18.  It's a day for students to step outside of their comfort zone and build relationships with students that they do not know very well.  Joselyn Whetzel coordinated the lunch festivities.  Students sat next to different people and learned something new.  Joselyn is also coordinating morning meeting activities for Bullying Prevention Month.  Our students will be signing a pledge and discussing strategies each day to build healthy peer relationships.  What are your thoughts as a teacher on the tradition of Mix It Up Day?  Did your students share any new insights with you?  Did you choose to do any of the suggested morning meeting activities?