WRITING RESOURCES

Parents and teachers, 
Here are some fantastic websites that can help your students to improve their writing skills.

http://writingfix.com/Traits_Primary.htm      
http://www.writingfix.com/Classroom_Tools/dailypromptgenerator.htm

This is  a fun grammar site!  Students can work independently.

http://www.chompchomp.com/





 
National Novel Writing Month takes place in November.  You have everything you need to create powerful writing experiences for your class. Educators from all over the world participate.

Students can develop their creativity by writing a novel in a month.  The site allows teachers to create their own virtual classrooms and students can publish their work. 

It is also a great resource for after-school programs and writing classes.

http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/what-is-nanowrimo


Reading an inspirational quote helps to remind us of what we already know.  This website has some great quotes from African Americans.


http://africanamericanquotes.org/authors.html

INSPIRING VIDEO: HAITIAN GIRL'S SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS

This video is so inspiring! Try showing this at the beginning of your class.

Leanna Archer is a 13-year-old Haitiain girl who has a line of natural hair care products.  She has some inspiring words for young people.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvfIoXUc-cY&feature=email

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH

A friend of mine decided to make some money while she was in college.  She set up a booth at a local fair and sold black books, tee-shirts, and artifacts.  An elderly, white woman came to the table and asked about the designs on one of the tee-shirts.  "Those are not designs, they are bodies.  That was a plan of a slave ship." The woman was shocked.  "But they look like sardines!"  My friend  just stated the facts; this was a teachable moment.  "That's how the slaves came here." 


My friend said she and this woman talked for a long time about each of the items on her table.  The woman seemed bewildered when she told my friend, "I never knew any of this.  I never even heard about of it."  She bought many items for herself, her children, and grandchildren.  She said she would tell her family what she learned; and she seemed grateful for the lesson my friend shared with her.  It was the easiest sale my friend ever made.  She respected that woman for being open to learning about black history without feeling uncomfortable. 

Some people question the need for Black History Month because black history is part of American history.  The only problem is, many teachers (regardless of race) do not always incorporate black history, literature, art, and culture in their weekly curriculum.  I believe Black History Month is an annual celebration; and there is nothing wrong with a celebration!  Please consider these resources and celebrate the accomplishments of black achievers. 

You should begin your lessons with a discussion about Dr. Carter Woodson, Father of Black History and the creator of Negro History Week.  Many students do not know that Dr. Woodson's home is a national historical shrine.  This site offers some important information about Dr. Woodson and his work.  This can help build background knowledge.

http://www.asalh.org/WoodsonHome.html


The NAACP offers information on Dr. Woodson and his life.

http://www.naacp.org/pages/naacp-history-Carter-G.-Woodson


Library of Congress has a slavery resource guide for teachers.

http://www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/

Many young people have never visited a museum. Students can take a virtual tour of The Museum of African Art. African Mosaics offers an exhibit of Haitian leader, Toussaint L'Ouverture, who fought three world powers to free Haiti from slavery.

http://africa.si.edu/exhibits/mosaic/toussaint.html

Education World has an internet black history scavenger hunt.

http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/images/lesson052-4.pdf


History.com offers a wealth of resources and information, including the Black Codes.

http://www.history.com/topics/black-codes


Education.com has some fun activities.  Students can create a postcard from Africa.  After conducting research, they create a postcard that describes the wonders of Africa.


http://www.education.com/special-edition/black-history-month/


PBS offers a timeline from slavery to modern times.


http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/classroom.html


This is a well-written article on how NOT to teach about slavery.


http://www.good.is/post/mock-slave-auctions-how-not-to-teach-kids-about-america-s-history/
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/aaworld/timeline.html

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING: SUPERHERO!

JANUARY 18, 2012 

I believe that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. has become a superhero in America 2012.  He was smart, courageous, and fair.  During his "I Have a Dream" speech, he spoke candidly about how black people suffered from police brutality; however, he urged everyone to remember the "white brothers and sisters" who fought for racial equality.  Today, young people know about Dr. King's dream; but sometimes, that's all they know.  Many students do not know about his other speeches or activities. 

The Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute, located at Stanford University, has some excellent classroom resources that help students to have a realistic view of King and his work.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

Many students do not know that Dr. Martin King Jr. was arrested in Birmingham.  This unit can be used to differentiate your lesson.

1. Divide your class in groups of fours.  Have each group participate in various activities.
2. Ten minutes before the bell rings, have a spokesperson from each group share what the group learned from the activity.
3. Before beginning the unit, write an essential question to develop prior knowledge and guide the class in a short discussion. 
4. Sub Questions are included to guide your unit through each segment.

The curriculum and list of lesson plans for the Unit: Letter from Birmingham Jail.

http://www.stanford.edu/group/King/liberation_curriculum/resources/

The web site provides the following resources:

1. The introduction to the unit on Dr. Martin Luther King’s arrest in Birmingham, Alabama.

2. Photo Examination: Students exam the photo of Dr. King as he is being arrested and answer questions about their observation:

http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/home/pages?page=http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/kingweb/liberation_curriculum/birmingham/roleplay/birm_roleplay8.htm

3. A sample of Letter Dr. King wrote when he was arrested in Birmingham Jail

4. Teenager/Parent Negotiation Role Play for teenagers who want to participate in the Heartbeat of the Negro Movement.  Would your parents allow you to participate in the Civil Rights movement?


5. Role Play and Decision Chart

6. Reflective questions to end the unit

EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify, use, understand, and manage your emotions in positive and constructive ways.


Students who learn to manage their emotions succeed in the world of work and higher education. 

(http://helpguide.org/mental/eq5_raising_emotional_intelligence.htm)

Here are a few EI strategies I used when I was an advisor and mentor.  I also used these lessons in my first week of school to set the tone for student behavior.

Children of military personnel need a LOT of EI, and these are colorful, fun, and creative resource. 

I provided my 11^th and 12^th graders with authentic resources that adults use.  A Black, male student told me his father took the handout to his job.  A Hispanic male told me his boss wanted copies of the handouts!  A Hispanic mother called me to say her daughter told her she needed to increase her emotional intelligence!  The mother laughed about it and said she wanted to take copies of the handouts to her co-workers.  Enjoy!

http://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCDV_59.htm

This site helps you to test your level of EI; and the test is free.

http://etesting.modwest.com/questionnaire.php?test=21

PARENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES

JANUARY 18, 2012

PARENTS, BE PARENTS!

At a parent/teacher conference, the parent kept her head down.  We had been down this road so many times; but for me, this time was different and she knew it.  She refused to look me in the eye.  But I said what had to be said, and I’m glad I did.  I did not stop looking at the mother when I told her, “I am not your child’s friend and I am not her buddy.  I am her teacher.  I will work hard to help her to complete her assignments.  She’s very smart and very capable; however, your daughter complains a lot.  First of all, it’s a bad habit, and second of all, it’s unproductive.  I will help her any way I can to complete the college essay.  But she has to do the work.” 

I had been speaking to the wrong person about the college essay.  The child was only doing what she was taught to do: blame and complain.  Parents can’t be buddies and friends; they have to be parents.  And they have to stop making excuses for their child’s failures.  Teachers must be brave enough to challenge parents to be parents. 

Many parents are used to coming to conferences and hearing nothing but bad news about their kids.  By the time the child is in high school, some Black parents are tired.  An exhausted mother may come to the meeting ready to defend her child no matter how wrong s/he may be.  However, enabling our children does not empower them.  Parents must stand firm, be serious, and demand more from their children.  It may be tiring, but it is a necessary step to empowering our children and breaking the cycle of failure!

I have attended teacher/parent conferences where teachers tried to be nice and use friendly customer service to soften the bad news.  You don’t have to put on your game face and fight.  But you help your students more when you are firm, serious, and empathetic.  After that meeting, the student came to class and respectfully asked for help completing her college essay.  She turned it in the next day and it was well done.

Ron Clark is the American Teacher of the Year, is the author of End the Molasses Classes: Getting Kids Unstuck--101 Solutions for Parents and Teachers.  He has written an excellent article entitled, "What Teachers Want Parents to Know" where he administers some tough, relevant advice for parents.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/06/living/teachers-want-to-tell-parents/index.html?iref=obinsite

THE IMPORTANCE OF RAPPORT

Before I attended the conference, my colleagues warned warn me about the grandmother.  "Be careful what you say; she's very combative."  "I was afraid of her."  "She's argumentative."  I decided to suspend my judgment until I actually met the woman.  When I walked in, most of the teachers were there and everyone looked uncomfortable.The woman was a nutmeg colored, middle-aged grandmother with a stern expression and a notepad. 


When it was my turn, I did not sound angry, but I did not hold back. I was the only black teacher this boy had, but he was just as disruptive in my class as he was in his other classes.  I told the grandmother exactly what the boy had been doing when I wrote the referral and had him removed from my class.  The grandmother complained that I did not give him time to make up the assignment.  I said, "I refuse to give two days to answer three questions."  She winced but she said nothing.

I think my presence made a difference for the grandmother. I am black; and I'm also a grandmother. Although I did not have the awsome task of raising a grandchild, I could empathize.  I knew she was advocating for her grandson, and I could tell she wanted to keep the facts straight by writing down significant information, such as missing work, on her notepad.  I did not judge her and I was not afraid of her. She called me the next day and we talked about the challenges of caring for a grandson who caused so much trouble at school.  I told her to hang in there; she only had one more year to go before he graduated, and we laughed.  The student improved once he knew that I had a rapport with his grandmother.  He completed his work and he passed the FCAT!  Sometimes, it is difficult to connect with a student who seems insubordinate and disrespectful.  However, showing that we care does make a difference.


Many black teachers leave the profession after five years.  The New Year calls for a renewed resolution to teach black students diverse, relevant, meaningful lessons that help them to understand the world they live in.  Black, twenty-first century teachers have a unique challenge: undo the internalized self-hatred, learned helplessness, and irresponsibility that keep black students from succeeding in school.  Black educators must continue to correct the misinformation and lack of information that have caused our students to fail and drop out.  Teaching is not easy, but we do make a difference.


Many of my students did not want to write a college essay; but I think it was a good way to prepare for their senior year when they might have to write a real one. They can use the information when conducting interviews for college. Brian Jeffery provides many outstanding resources on his website. However, I especially like the college essay because students write a Personal Statement and an Analytical Essay.


http://mrjeffrey.com/


All teachers should be teaching students to write well. English teachers should not be the only ones teaching reading and writing. Writing Fix is sponsored by the Northern Writing Project. The site contains writing resources across the curriculum.