Social Studies Strategies

Differentiating Instruction for the Inclusive Classroom

Reading like a Historian

Social Studies Grading Rubric

Social Studies Choice Menu

Great Resources for Social Studies

Social Studies Strategies for Success

Inquiry Circles

Interactive Notebook

Language Arts Strategies

Phonemic Awareness

worksheets, games, activities and ideas


phonemic awareness intervention packet


Phonics

Phonics strategies for older students


Writing

the hamburger writing rubric

Bold Beginnings, Mighty Middles, Excellent Endings

Vocabulary

Slap! Vocab game

Comprehension

Foldables, graphic organizers and worksheets



Fluency


readers theater

Free fluency posters

Fun fluency activites


Miscellaneous

language arts website

reading intervention for big kids

Teaching Philosophy

My philosophy of teaching is based on the importance of having a democratic classroom. I think it is very important for the students to have a say in what and/or how they learn. Of course I must stick to the curriculum, but if there is a way to incorporate choices in the classroom, I will do so. I think democracy in the classroom encourages students to be stakeholders in their education. It also makes the students feel like their voices are being heard and that their thoughts are important. Democratic education also helps students grow into adults who positively contribute to our society.

When students have choices in their education, I believe it encourages them to invest in and care about their education. Students can feel a sense of ownership within the classroom and take pride in their work and school community. I believe it is very important for students to be invested in their own education because if they care about their schooling then they are more likely to work harder and do better.

When students have choices in their education, they realize that their voices are being heard and that their thoughts and feelings are important. This also makes them more willing to participate in class discussions and assignments. When students have a voice, they tend to enjoy the learning process much more because they are learning about something that they genuinely care about, all the while knowing that I, as the teacher, care about them. This creates a classroom full of respect, trust, love and equality.

Having a democratic classroom also helps students grow into adults who contribute positively to society. It prepares them for a life in a democracy. They have learned, through school, that their voices matter, and that they have the power to make changes in their community.

Aspects of the Classroom

In my classroom we have many unique aspects of which I would like to bring to a middle school classroom. Some of those aspects include a reading area, quiet area, as well as the set schedule for each day clearly listed and easily understood by each student. Below are some pictures of the various aspects in my current classroom.

The schedule we follow every day. It is easily understood by my pre-k kids! I believe it is very important to keep to a set schedule so students know exactly what to expect and prepare accordingly. Currently my students know exactly how our day goes, how we start the day and what comes next. I find that this helps with classroom management because students transition much better when they know what is expected of them.

The quiet area! I would love to have a quiet area in my middle school classroom. Having a place where students can be alone and not bothered is a nice escape for them. If I am having behavior problems in my class I send my students here where they can look at books, the fish or just cuddle the stuffed animal. It gives students the opportunity to cool off and regroup.

The reading area. I plan on having some kind of reading area in my middle school classroom, or at least comfy chairs and bean bags where students can relax comfortably with a book and read.

Class Activities

I believe projects are very important for students. Lecture is a must, but I would much prefer to do projects when teaching. For my pre-k students we have a plant experiment where we are seeing in what conditions plants grow the best. We have 3 different plant settings, one plant is in soil and in the sun, one is in water and in the sun and the last is in water and in the shade. Through our project we have discovered that plants in soil and in the sun grow the best!

We are also growing plants in our small green house in order to better understand the needs of plants and their life cycle. We have had a lot of fun learning about plants!

These are some pictures from my social studies class this year. during our Ancient Egypt study students wrote their names in hieroglyphics! 

As part of one of geography lessons we took a gallery walk around the classroom to test students ability on determining what kind of map each one was.

At the beginning of our geography study students drew maps of their rooms to better understand aspects of a map (key, compass, symbols).

Classroom Displays

I think it is very important to use the bulletin boards, chalk boards and wall space as a way to present information in an interesting way as well as show student work and art. This way students feel like a stakeholder in their education and they feel like the classroom belongs to them. Below are some bulletin board displays I have as well as student art.

Below is a way to quickly assess the students learning, they simply need to show me which sign corresponds their their understanding.

Below is some art work from our chapter on Ancient Egypt, students were asked to draw their own pharaoh!!

Here is my schedule.

Classroom Management

11/9/15
In my 6th and 7th grade classrooms I use the free website Class Dojo. This site is often used for elementary school kids but my middle school kids seem to really enjoy it. I can give or take points based on their behavior and participation. The students can then cash in points as a reward. The rewards vary, from 5 points for a piece of gum, to 20 points for a homework pass. Students can cash in points when ever they want. Students can also save their points and cash in for a whole class reward. These rewards vary from 80 points for 10 minutes of heads-up, seven-up, to 700 points for a sundae party. I believe it is very important to give students opportunities to make choices in the classroom. It not only allows students to feel a certain responsibility for their actions, but it also teaches them some life long skills, such as setting goals, saving money (points) for something they really want, and working as a team to meet a goal.

In order to carry out the giving and taking away of points, I have printed out smiley faces and sad faces to hand out during class when needed. The smiley face means they get a point, the sad face means they get a point taken away. Using these simple devices allows me to correct a behavior without interrupting class.

If the taking away of points is not effective in changing a behavior, I will be forced to give the student a write up. If the behavior continues to not change, I am forced to send them to the office for the principal to deal with. I hate doing this, but sometimes it is a must. 

6/22/15
In my pre-k classroom we use a behavior chart as well as stickers in order to promote good behavior and cut down on the bad behavior. Every student begins on green (good day) then can move either up or down based on the students choices throughout the day. They can move up to blue (great day), purple (outstanding day) or off the chart (beyond outstanding!). This allows students to set and reach goals as well as encourage and reward good behavior and choices. The students can also move down the chart when bad choices are made. If the student is on green, and they make a bad choice, then he or she will move down to yellow (warning), then orange (time out for 2 minutes), then finally red (time out for 4 minutes and talk to parents).

Using the behavior chart allows students to better understand that both good and bad choices have consequences. 

Here is my behavior chart.

Once students are off the chart, I give them stickers when they make a good choice. They then collect 10 and get in the treasure box. Depending on what color the student is on, sometimes I will allow them to chose whether they would like a sticker or move their clip up. I think it is very important for students to have choices in the classroom in order for them to feel like their opinions matter as well as  it gives them a sense of ownership.

Here's my sticker chart. 

For management of noise level I have recently started using a noise level chart. There are 5 levels; level 1 being the quietest (no talking), level 2, talk to a partner (which they love), level 3 is normal talking voice, level 4, voice is loud enough to hear from across the room, and finally level 5 is using outside voices reserved for the gym, gymnastics room and outside. 

In our pre-k class we also have jobs that students can choose each morning. This gives them something to look forward to as well as makes drop offs much easier for the little guys. Like I said before, I think having choices in the classroom is very important in order for students to take ownership in the classroom. When they can choose their jobs, students feel like they are needed and important in the classroom community. This makes learning easier and makes school more fun! 

Here is our job chart.

References

Lisa Wayland
Principal of Adena Middle School
(740) 998-2313


Brenda Southworth
Cooperating Teacher for Internship (student teaching)
(740) 773-2638

Karen Corcoran
Regional Coordinator of Professional Internships in Teaching
(740) 774-7200

Tashia Mills
Child Care Director at the Ross County Y.M.C.A.
(740) 772-4340

Resume

Hannah Cryder Spaeth              Phone: 740­649­8831

8106 State Route 180                                                      Email:hannah.e.cryder@gmail.com

Kingston, Ohio 45644                         Online Portfolio: spaethprofessionalportfolio.blogspot.com

Certifications

Middle Childhood (4­-9) Language Arts and Reading   Social Studies

Working toward a Math and Reading Endorsement

Employment History

Imagine Groveport Community School                                            

4th Grade Math  

4485 S Hamilton Rd, Groveport, Ohio August 2018- Present                                                                                                                

• Create and implement curriculum
• Ability to handle 18-20 students in the classroom
• Innovative lesson planning
• Differentiated instruction
• Able to discipline in multiple ways
• Interactive teaching/learning
• Analyze student learning and plan and administer a variety of appropriate assessments

A+ Children’s Academy Community School

5th/6th Grade Language Arts and Social Studies                            August 2016- May 2018

114 Obetz Road, Columbus, Ohio

Adena Middle School 6th/7th Grade Social Studies                          August 2015- May 2016

3367 County Road 550, Frankfort, Ohio

Ross County YMCA­ Lead Preschool Teacher                                   June 2014­- August 2015

100 Mill Street, Chillicothe, Ohio

Student Teaching

Mount Logan Elementary 4th Grade Language Arts                 January 2014- May 2014

841 E. Main Street, Chillicothe, Ohio                          Brenda Southworth Cooperating Teacher

Education History

Ohio University, Athens, Ohio                                                          September 2009­-May 2013 Ohio University­ Chillicothe, Chillicothe, Ohio                                   September 2013­-May 2014 Middle Childhood Education Language Arts and Social Studies