Teach, love & learn
JUNE 2022
26
How can I be a good teacher?
7
Student teacher tips
5
6 must-haves of a Kindergarten teacher
"
t takes a big heart to shape little minds
"
A
letter from the editor
How have things changed for schools over the last two years of the pandemic, and what are the improvement priorities now for teachers, principals and communities on the ground? Educators were affected all around the world, but education never stopped and teachers found a way through. In this year’s edition called “Teach Love and Learn”, you will discover quality learning resources made specifically to educators, student teachers and educational functionaries. Our main goal is to create a community where we can support each other and share information that will be useful for all of us. You will find a wide variety of articles related to educational topics such as classroom management, tips and strategies for your daily basis, must-haves, ideas for activities, perspectives on education, classroom pedagogy, etc. I cannot wait to go on this incredible journey along with you guys! Please enjoy this resource, hope you like it! Write for us If you are passionate about primary school education and wish to contribute to Teach, Love and Learn write to us on <teachloveandlearn@gmail.com>. Subscribe for free To receive a free, print copy, email your postal address to <teachloveandlearn@gmail.com>.
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ndex
EDUCATION - What Does a Kindergarten Teacher Do?................ pg 4 - 6 Must-Haves of a Kindergartent Teacher.......... pg 5 TIPS AND ADVICE - Student Teacher Tips/Advice.............................................. pg 7-8 - Teacher Interview Tips............................................................. pg 9-11 INNOVATION - Everything You Need to Know About Boom Cards................................................................................ pg 14-15 HOW TO - How to Help Students Become More Independent................................................................................... pg 17-19 - Reward/Behavior Systems......................................................... pg 20-21 VIRTUAL LEARNING - How to Make Connections With Your Students During Virtual Learning............................................ pg 23-24 - Free Online Learning Resources For Kids During Virtual Learning...................................................................... pg 25 BEING A TEACHER - Personal Comment.............................................................................. pg 26
Education What Does a Kindergarten Teacher Do?........... pg 4 6 Must-Haves of a Kindergartent Teacher...................... pg 5
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world" - Nelson Mandela
W
hat does a kindergarten teacher do?
The pandemic has shifted education to a new normal way of teaching and learning. Utilising the internet and other digital tools, you are primarily responsible for teaching, supervising, playing, and learning with groups of children. You are also likely to assist in administrative works such as curriculum planning and organising school activities and events. Becoming a kindergarten teacher requires you to be prepared to perform the following tasks. Creating lesson plans and teaching materials Teaching basic academic skills such as the alphabet, colours, shapes, and number recognition Guiding children in developing personal, social, and emotional skills Conducting fun and engaging lessons through songs, storytelling, games, art, and outdoor activities Instructing and showing children appropriate social behaviour and interaction such as sharing, cooperating, and resolving conflicts Providing necessary support to children with learning problems Evaluating children’s cognitive and social performance Preparing student progress reports Nurturing a safe, clean, and conducive learning environment Communicating and collaborating with parents and guardians to ensure children’s development Taking part in school events and activities Attending seminars and conferences Complying with teaching standards and school regulations
6
Must-Have Qualities of a Kindergarten Teacher
Kindergarten is the most crucial stage in a child’s academic development. It is a stage that they receive first formal year instruction and also get introduced to new skills such as sounds of letters, counting numbers, and so on. Therefore, this is the year that form’s their opinion about the school and learning in general. It is also the years that lays a foundation for their success in future studies. So it is a delicate stage in kids’ academic development that should be handled by a highly trained teacher. That is why the choice of the kindergarten teacher is a crucial factor. There are several qualities that make an effective preschool teacher. That’s what parents and school management should look out for when hiring a preschool teacher. Otherwise, the children might lack the right footing when starting off their academic development. These qualities of a good kindergarten teacher should be about the abilities to work with the children as well as motivating them. Passion In Their Work Flexibility Creativity Patience Compassion Responsability
Tips & Advices Student Teacher Tips/Advice.......................................... pg 7-8 Teacher Interview Tips................ pg 9-11 Tips for Demo Lessons.............. pg 12
"A good education can change anyone. A good teacher can change everything!" -Unknown
S
tudent teacher advice/tips It might be weird at first... Going into the classroom for the first time, remember that you are a brand new to teaching and it will feel a bit weird getting up in front of the class for the first few weeks. Once you develop a relationship with your students and teachers, it will feel more natural! Be patient.
Social Emotional Learning is just as important as academics!!!
Make sure to teach them those social and emotional skills to be well rounded kids, THEN teach them the academics!
Classroom management is essential Set clear expectations for your students in every subject. Also, follow through. Don’t just set the expectations and then let things slide. Your students must know that you are their teacher too, and that they must listen and respect you.
Every lesson will not be a hit, and that's okay!!! You’re still learning; that’s the whole point of student teaching. You are not expected to be able to know everything and do everything, and you’re certainly not expected to do it all well. Be patient with yourself. Even veteran teachers have lessons that totally FLOP. Get feedback from your cooperating teachers for every lesson you teach so that you can continue to grow..
Come in early... This can help prepare you for your day, so when it comes time for students to come in, you can greet them, and they can have your full attention..
Organize your time Get your work done during preps and lunches so you don’t have to stay late after school/ work on weekends.
Teacher
Interview tips Probably the most dreaded part of getting a job…the interview! At least for me, this is the most nerve-wracking thing EVER. Lucky for you, I have quite a bit of experience in this area. I have my principal and supervisor certifications, so my principal allows me to help him in interviews at our school. Not only do I get to attend, but I get to ask questions as well. Since I have been doing this at my school for 3 years, I have collected a TON of interview questions and tips for you. So, let’s get into it… Practicing might feel repetitive and silly, but I promise it is worth your time. The more you practice your answers, the calmer and more confident you will sound. The best thing to do is to practice in front of other people. Have a family member or friend ask you the questions so that you can practice your answers with them. This will help you speak in front of other people and get repeated practice answering the questions. If no one is available, simply practice in front of a mirror. This one might seem obvious, but it is something people forget to do very often. Simply, research the school and district that you are interviewing for. You want to know things like the area the school is in, their student population, the demographics of students, what programs they offer, the curriculum that they use, etc. In addition, know the school and/or district’s mission statement. Know what they believe to be important.
Tip #1 Practice, practice, practice
Tip #2 Know the school
Connect it to your students Tip #3 Always connect your answers back to the students! Students are the most important, and you want to make sure that the person interviewing you knows Answers that you believe that. For example, if you were asked, “You had a great lesson planned, but a delayed opening was called. What do you do? How do you adjust?” My initial thought would be to answer with something about still making sure the objective is being hit, even with the shortened period. And that answer isn’t wrong but, what about our students? First thing you would want to do is make sure that everyone was able to get to school safely, see if your students were still able to eat before school, see if everyone is ok, etc. It is hard to think about those things when being asked about a lesson, but the individuals interviewing you will be very impressed that you thought about your students and their well-being.
Have General Answers Prepared Have one general answer on hand for each topic. In my interview questions document, I have questions organized by topic: lessons, differentiation, student engagement, parents, etc. For each of these topics you should have one, very general, answer prepared so that no matter how the interviewer words their questions you can use the answer that you prepared. For example, almost every interviewer will ask you for an example lesson that you have taught and then some follow up questions about it. If you have one very good lesson in mind (for math and ELA) you should be able to answer any of the questions. EYE CONTACT Don’t forget to make eye contact. Don’t make it weird HAHA, but make sure that you make eye contact with the person interviewing you! If it is a panel, make sure that you look at each of them at different times throughout the interview!
This is another one that can sound obvious, but often gets forgotten. Make sure you dress to impress. I am the LAST person to tell you that you MUST wear a dress or a suit. Dress comfortably, but professionally. Wearing nice pants and a blouse or a button-down shirt is just fine. Oh, and brush your hair Even if your university is having you do mock interviews, you still want to dress the part. Principals and superintendents are ALWAYS looking.
Don’t be afraid to be yourself. Don’t try to be someone you are not just because you are in an interview and you desperately want the job. You want someone to hire you for YOU! Don’t be afraid to let your personality come out. I would recommend waiting until the end, but you can definitely ask your own questions. Here are some examples of questions you might ask: When would the position start? Do I get a mentor teacher my first year? What, if anything, do you do to help first year teachers? Does your school have committees?
Tip #4 Dress the part
Tip #5 Be yourself!
Tip #6 You can ask questions too!
I hope that you found these tips and the example questions helpful! If you have any questions, I would love to help you out! I would also love to know if these tips and questions help you get a job!!! Keep us updated. The best way to reach us is to Teachloveandlearn@gmail.com
T
ips for Demo Lessons
Ask the school about the makeup of the class and the technology, or lack of, that you will have. If you will have a SmartBoard, prep slides to go along with your lesson to keep you and the lesson on track. Use timers on the slides to keep your time in check. Introduce yourself and give the students an opportunity to introduce themselves or have them make a quick name tag or name tent on their desk. Make your expectations clear at the start of the lesson – 3 easy rules to follow. Display the objective, or at least state it during the lesson. Make the lesson student led as much as possible. Have an exit ticket – even if it’s just calling on a few students to check for understanding at the end of the lesson. Practice, practice, practice!
Innovation Everything You Need to Know About Boom Cards .......................................... pg 14-15
"Education is the key to unlocking the world. It is the passport to freedom" -Oprah Winfrey
B What are Boom Cards?
OOM CARDS!!!
Simply put, Boom Cards are self-checking, digital learning games for kids. These can be used in the classroom or with distance learning. They can be assigned as practice work, homework, remediation or extension. Boom Cards are learning exercises put into game form for students, but track the data that teachers need.
Boom Task Cards are absolutely amazing for elementary students! First, there is no prep! This means you can spend time truly getting to know students. Even better, there will be less stress when lesson planning. Second, there is no worry over cutting, laminating, or printing. Everything is digital, so just a device is needed. Third, they are self-grading! Therefore, students receive instant feedback on how they are doing. It is so nice to have students correct any mistakes while working versus waiting until the end for results. Most importantly, Boom Cards are fun, engaging, and interactive. This means students will LOVE learning! BOOM Learning deck is the perfect fit! This activity can be used on a computer, smartboard, tablet, or even cell phone! If the child answers incorrectly, it will prompt them to try again. If answered correctly, the deck moves on to the next question!
B
enefits
Paperless
No more running to the copy machine just to find a line. No more stacks of paper to keep organized. No more laminating. There is a time and place for paper in the classroom, but this is a fabulous alternative, especially during this time.
Time Saver
Each Boom Card deck is selfchecking. This includes knowing which card the students each got wrong, so you will know what each student needs extra help on. You can record the grade and move onto help your students grow, instead of spending so much time grading!
Student Engagement
Kids love playing games. These learning activities have recognizable themes, bright colors and fun fonts that students will be attracted to which will help them see these exercises as games. PLUS, students can earn badges for their hard work. (These are given at the end of a completed deck.)
No Expiration
Once you have your Boom Card membership, which is very inexpensive, you can purchase Boom Card Decks. Once you make these purchases, you have them for life.
Use on Multiple Platforms
You can use it Directly On Boom Learning, Hyperplay, you can send the link through programs such as: Google Classroom, SeeSaw, Microsoft Teams, etc., you can screen share Boom Cards on Zoom.
Differentiating your Instruction Boom Cards can be used on computer, tablet or smart board. There is an app, but a web browser that is 3 years old or newer works as well. Students will need internet access to use the boom cards.
Finding Boom Cards is Easy You can search by grade level, topic, free or paid, or by your favorite creator.
Differentiating your Instruction
You can assign Boom Cards to the whole classroom or just certain students. This is helpful to keep children on track with what THEY need practice on, individually or collectively!
How to... How to Helps Students Become More Independent............................................ pg 17-19 Reward/Behavior Systems............... pg 20-21
"We're educators. We're born to make a difference" -Rita Pierson
H
ow help students become more independent
Teaching is about more than state standards and assessments. It is about genuinely preparing students for life. While learning to read and write is essential, it is also imperative students have the confidence to do things for themselves. By doing this, students are working on content while focusing on self-reliance.
Supplies In your classroom, it is important to have a very organized supply area. It holds all of the supplies students need. Even include labels with words and pictures on every box to help students find items by themselves. Ultimately, this allows students to pick out what they need while teaching responsibility with cleaning up. .
Pencil Sharpener Learning how to sharpen a pencil correctly can be challenging. Also, it may take time as students keep pulling the pencil out before it is ready. Therefore, you can have a pencil sharpener that lights up blue when the pencil is ready.
Homework Bins Turning in work is critical. Therefore, you can have homework bins for different assignments, such as reading logs and signed tests. Additionally, have a visual reminder posted for students to double-check their name is on all papers.
Sticker Charts Students love sticker charts! To encourage independence, the teacher is not the one to put the stickers on. Instead, students are in charge of placing their stickers whenever the teacher give them permission. There are different charts based upon goals, such as raising hands and being kind. This is a great way to help them be independent. You can also use emotional check in’s in your classroom
Student numbers Every student has a number. The numbers are on everything! Whether looking for their supply box or cubby location, numbers play a crucial role in gaining independence.
Homework Bins Have a huge personal library in your classroom. How you can help yout students become more independent involves allowing them to sign out their books. To do this, number and label each bin. Then, place this number on the back of each book. Hence, students can select a book and then put it back in the correct spot when finished.
Visual Routine Students need to know the order of the day. Additionally, this helps reduce questions about when a specific aspect occurs. Instead, students can look at the routine charts by themselves. There are visual outlines for the morning routine, schedule, and morning work with pictures for each step.
Labels everywhere Have labels everywhere and on everything! There are also pictures on the labels to help students identify where everything goes. This includes everything from headphones to needed materials.
R
eward/Behavior Systems
Preschool is a huge adjustment for some of our littlest students. For some, this is the first time leaving their parents. For others, a learning environment can be very different from what they are used to when spending time with a sitter or at daycare. Due to this, they need time to adjust to the classroom and to understand the different behavior expectations. Therefore, reward/behavior systems in PreK Sped classroom have been essential and life-changing! They allow students to learn routines and expectations in nurturing ways.
Students earn tokens and then can exchange them for a larger reward to celebrate their success. Each board can be individualized for each child. Students need to love their board in order to be excited for it! Therefore, this means you need to get to know your students before creating a board. Furthermore, it is vital to understand that the same board will not last the entire year. Any system you create and use may work for a month or two, but systems need to change as students grow.
Token boards
Binder If your student is traveling around, a binder will be an easy way to keep everything together. Each part of the day can even have its own page. Therefore, a student will be excited to turn the page often and see each step. Then, the student can earn tokens all throughout the day, which can be stored in the front of the binder. At the end of the day, a big reward can be earned!
Mini Clipboards I lOVE putting token boards onto mini clipboards! They are SO sturdy! Now, each token board will be individualized. In this example, the student was working on a quiet mouth and hands in lap. Then, the students would earn a token every time he/she does one of those things. After five tokens, the child would earn an editable treat since this was worked out with the parents.
Checlklists Teachers often love to keep track of to-do lists in a checklist format. However, they can be just as helpful for students! The student would keep this checklist in front of them during group time to remind them of the expectations. Then, if they got all smiley faces during group time, they earned a reward! Additionally, we also had one student utilize a chart like this for everything throughout the day, not just group time.
Unpacking help As students enter the classroom, there is often so much going on. Between everyone coming in, morning work, and checking in with the teacher, there is a lot to handle! It helped the child stay on task and provide motivation to unpack in a timely manner. After putting all of the stars next to the pictures, the child earned a sticker for his class sticker chart. Honestly, sometimes strong classroom management is as simple as giving a sticker!
Virtual Learning How to Make Connections With Your Students During Virtual Learning.............. pg 23-24 Free Online Learning Resources for Kids During Virtual Learning................ pg 25
"Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all" -Aristotle
H
ow to make connections with your students during distance learning
In a traditional, in-person classroom setting, one of our first goals is to make connections and build relationships with our students. Not only will this help us teach each student individually, but it will help them feel comfortable in our classroom family. Now that many are teaching virtually, teachers may have to work a little harder or differently to create these connections.
Make connections before school starts This doesn’t have to be anything fancy, a simple letter on a white piece of paper will do just fine. If you are able, you could deliver this and a small gift to the child’s doorstep. This meeting in person can help tremendously. You can use this space to ask questions about each student and basically pick the brain of each student’s parents/guardians. This is a great time for parents to ask you questions in a one-on-one meeting too! Your school might be having a virtual meet-theteacher, but it may not offer the families individual time with you. Kindergarten is a special grade. For many students, this will be their first time in a ‘structured’ school setting. Typically teachers get a chance to meet students face-to-face at a meet & greet or even the first day of school. You can share about yourself and have the student and parents share too! This is a great time to really dive into an introduction.
Send a welcome letter or post card
Have a virtual meeting with parents
Virtual student meet and greet
M
ake connections during the school year
Record yourself reading a book and send it to each student in a way that they can watch it whenever they would like. Do a 'Flat Teacher1 project using bitmoji, for example. If your students live all near each other, set up a sociallydistanced scavenger hunt in their neighborhood. Giving small gifts
Send postcards throughout the year. Call your students on the phone, or FaceTime if available. Drop off a small gift. Many of us give gifts for Back To School, holidays, birthdays, etc. You can still do this by sending them in the mail or dropping them off at the student’s house. Make virtual class time fun
Show & Tell Dress Up Days Celebrate Birthdays & Holidays Directed Drawing Virtually Field Trips Student Of The Week Question Of The Day Joke/Riddle Of The Day Pajama Day with a Movie
F
ree Online Learning Resources For Kids During virtual learning
All of these resources are online. This ensures that children can stay home and still learn.
DK Find Out! Khan Academy Brain Pops National Geographic Starfall Education Fluency and Fitness
General Education Resources
Vooks Digital Library Storyline Online Guided Reading Videos Raz Kids Epic! Online Books and Videos Scholastic's Learn At Home Teach Your Monster To Read Squiggle Park Reading Games
Guided Reading & Digital Libraries
Houston Children's Museum Frontiers For Young Minds Bill Nye The Science Guy Cincinnati Zoo & Botanicals Mystery Doug Joe Wos: Free Cartoonist Tutorials on Youtube Guggenheim Virtual Museum National Gallery of Art Virtual Museum National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Virtual Museum British Museum Virtual Tours Pergamon Museum Virtual Tours National Museum of Anthropology Virtual Tours History For Kids
STEM
Art
Social Studies
B
eing a teacher...
Being a teacher comes along with a lot of responsibilities. You are in charge of shaping little minds that will be the future of our society. You never know if you are forming the future president, doctor, engineer, architect, etc. Being a teacher is more than a job, it’s a way of life. I’ve always believed that is a gift from God. Not everyone has the ability to dream beyond the four walls of a classroom. Not everyone has the ability to transform lives or bring hope and encouragement every day. You never know what a child might be going through once they leave your classroom, you can literally be their best hope. Sometimes the thing your students need most, has nothing to do with what’s on your lesson plan, teaching is not only about imparting knowledge or absorbing facts, it’s about inspiring change. How you teach is more important than what you teach. Although teaching is a very demanding job or career, I can assure you it’s worth it. Of course, not every lesson will be perfect, but a bad day doesn’t make you a bad teacher. Students don’t need a perfect teacher. Students need a happy teacher, who’s going to make them excited to come to school and grow a love for learning. Always remember, it’s the teacher that makes the difference, not the classroom. Never give up, you matter and the fact that you worry about being a good teacher, means that you already are one.
"The best teachers teach from the heart, not from the book"
Printing information AUTHOR <Esther Abigail Velásquez Hernández> LAYOUT: Abigail Velásquez
2022 EDITION
DESING: Abigail Velásquez
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Abigail Velásquez
PRINTED IN: Guatemala City BY: Teach,love,learn&Co.
TEACH,LOVE, LEARN&CO. Teachlove&learn@gmail.com 8va Av. 15-64 Colinas de Minverva Tel: 5703-2345 Tel: 4560-0328
"If a child can't learn the way we teach, maybe we should teach the way they learn" -Ignacio Estrada
