Promoting Multiple Intelligences

Greetings!

Many of us are aware of fact that there are multiple intelligences.  Schools are stagnating these various intelligences in the name of academics.  Often times students are removed from art, music, PE in order to achieve success on state standardized test.  Art, Music, Dance and Industrial Arts are placed at the bottom of the educational totem pole.  Yet, skills for the 21st century will demand our students to be critical thinkers and synthesize their knowledge in creating something new.  Sir Ken Robinson is saying in our schools today we are literally destroying the creative nature of our students.  Are we biting off the hand that will eventually feed our students?

Personally, I can not imagine a world without art, music and people who can fix my car, build my homes, design my clothes and cut my hair.  I need and want those people in my life.  I believe all of us our meant to be creators in some fashion or another.  We need to find ways for our students to explore and tune their many gifts.  Finding mentors for students in the arts is one way.  Teachers promoting skills of creativity in technology is wonderful.  Technology is tremendous and can provide for one avenue of creativity. There is still something said for students to create using materials around them or their very own bodies. We as educators must allow for creativity in many ways.  Focus schools may be able to provide some answers to multiple intelligences.  Skyping of mentors could be another.

My husband and I recently went to a concert performed by Buddy Guy.  During his concert he introduced an extremely talented musician. His name is Quinn Sullivan.  He brought the audience to their feet.  He is thirteen years old.  Buddy met Quinn when he was 7 years old.  Quinn came to see Buddy in concert and it was arranged that this 7 year old would come on stage and play a few chords.  So Buddy thought.  Quinn blew him away by repeating what Buddy played.  Buddy became this young artist mentor.  He has encouraged and worked with him.  Quinn has gone out on tour with Buddy for the past 2 years.  How sad it would be NOT to recognize such talent. I have included some videos of Quinn, one of his performance with Buddy at seven and another more current.  Be prepared to be AWESTRUCK!

Habits of Mind

Hello Fellow Teachers,

Some of you may or may not be familiar with the term Habits of Mind.  Habits of Mind is a social studies instruction technique.  This technique is well described in the book "Reading Like a Historian" by Sam Wineburg, Daisy Martin and Chauncey Monte-Sano.  "Habits of Mind" requires students to use critical thinking skills and become investigators of history.  Students are asked to identify their sources as primary or secondary and to identify the perspective of the writer.  Primary sources are often introduced to students to investigate with guiding questions in cooperative learning groups.

I had the wonderful opportunity to hear Sam Wineburg with some of his Stanford colleagues.  This  resonated with my teaching heart and soul.  Since this was my first year teaching 4th grade Nebraska studies, I had a few opportunities to put this into practice but knew in the back of my mind I would be looking to expand this technique into my classroom.

Of course one of the problems is finding primary sources to fit your needs.  The world wide web can be helpful.  You can access many historical archives through the internet including The Library of Congress.  While taking Nebraska Land Trails class, I visited Homestead National Monument in Beatrice.  Low and Behold!!! They had designed an educational activity using primary sources.  This involved looking at claim and proving up documents by homesteaders in Nebraska.  Perfect for 4th grade Nebraska History!  Since they have easy access to these documents, the educational director has agreed to help me find case studies for my students.  I am just ELATED!

During my graduate class, each of us were asked to research and present on the west migration from a perspective of a particular group.  I choose Afro-Americans.  We had the opportunity to go to Nebraska History Museum Archives.  I had the wonderful opportunity to read a autobiography of
one of the first Afro-American homesteaders in Nebraska, Robert Anderson.  Robert was a slave, Civil War soldier, Buffalo Soldier, homesteader who lost, train worker, and finally successful homesteader in Western Nebraska.  His autobiography is titled, "From Slavery to Affluence".
I will definitely be using this in my classroom.  I created a Globster to use in my classroom.
So I will share it with you as well.  I can use this in many ways: overview of Afro-American perspective or jigsawing to cooperative groups.  There are many links to internet sources.

http://amheckman.edu.glogster.com/afro-americans-westward-migration/

Happy History!

Nebraska Land Trails

HOWDY!!!!!  Teaching Partners!

I have just finished a class with Doane College called Nebraska Land Trails.  We have been exploring the time period of the Great Migration.  It is truly amazing the great history right here in our area.
Nebraska was a very important jumping off place to go west.  Those places included Omaha,  Nebraska City, Brownville and Plattsmouth.  If you are teaching Nebraska History or Westward Expansion, I recommend this class.

Many of these places are best kept secrets even to Nebraskans.  Of course, we need to begin with Lewis and Clark.  Try the Lewis and Clark Center in Nebraska City.  They have a life size model of a keel boat and wigwam.  http://www.mrb-lewisandclarkcenter.org/

Next, you want to visit the winter station of the Mormons.  The Mormon Trail is well known as they journeyed to Salt Lake City, Utah.  The first Mormon emigrants established a resting stop and built a village called Winter Quarters. You will get an excellent prospective of the Mormons and it's free.
 
http://www.lds.org/church/places-to-visit/mormon-trail-center-at-historic-winter-quarters

Not to far from Winter's Quarter is Fort Atkinson.  You will not want to miss this.  This is a full scale fort with many buildings and rooms furnished of the time.  Also on the grounds is a monument statue depicting Lewis and Clark offering tokens of friendship with the United States government. The fort was in use from 1820-1827.   http://www.fortatkinsononline.org/

Last, but not least (because there are many more sites in Nebraska) is  Rock Creek Station.  Rock Creek is located near Fairbury, NE.  Historically, Rock Creek has immense significance.  A station for pioneers to gather supplies after paying a toll bridge fee to cross the creek.  Later, this was a station for stage coaches and the Pony Express.  Wild Bill Hickok murdered the station owner and 2 hired hands.  He was employed as a station hand.  The buildings are impressive and you will be able to see the swells formed by the wagons. http://www.fairbury.com/images/history/pony-express.png
Happy Trails to you!! Much easier than the pionees' days!

Hologram - A Instructional tool

Salutations readers!!

Recently, I was listening to a rock and roll station and the radio commentator was discussing a rock singer reaching out from the past.  It really brought a feeling of  Trekiness.  Star Trek, that is.  I seem to recall there being face to face conversations with people transmitted in a three dimensional format.  Or how about a scene from Harry Potter. Harry receives a message from his dead godfather, Sirrus Black.  Sirrus' message is attached to an object when manipulated a certain way displays his image as if he is in the room.  

How cool would it be if we could have a three dimensional Martin Luther King delivering his "I Have a Dream" speech in the classroom.  The possibilities could be endless.  Maya Angelou reading poetry.  Winston Churchill or President Roosevelt with a fireside chat.  Who would you like to come to your 

classroom.   Think it is far off in the future.  Click on the link to see Celine Dion singing with Elvis Presly.  Amazing!  Just AMAZING!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1HtPG6eMIo

Reading Motivation and Technology

Hello Fellow Educators........

I have been busy conducting research.  The basis of my research has been cooperative learning impact on reading comprehension and motivation.  In my quest for knowledge, I discovered that motivation to read declines with age.  Most researchers indicated the decline begins in fourth grade and some studies suggest that the motivation to read begins as early as 2nd grade.  Unbelievable!!!!
Many of us(teachers) have witnessed the energy level return to our classroom when we bring in technology.  So it seems only natural to team technology and reading.  Though the National Reading Panel did report that not enough studies have been done yet to indicate the affect of technology on reading.

In my own classroom of fourth graders it was difficult for them to keep motivation to read independently and I hope to change that with some cooperative learning on self-selected books.  I also intend to infuse some technology to spur their interest in books.  Our school has purchased an elibrary called Tumblebooks.  I hope to incorporate these into my classroom.  Take a look on this youtube video.

Introduction

Hello,
This is my first attempt at blogging.  I am a teacher and have been teaching for 21 years.  I currently teach 4th grade.  I am fulfilling my dream of getting my Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction.  My daughter Kaitlin, once quizzed my on why I did not have my Master's Degree.  To her question I quipped, "Well, let me name the reasons---Thomas, Kaitlin, Jenna and Matt."  Now that my children are mostly out of the house, it is Angie time.  The premise of this blog will be to share and discuss educational strategies and techniques.  The more I learn the less I know.  There is so much out there.  I am thrilled to be expanding the tools in my teacher tool box.