How to craft a writing prompt

Mrs. Fairchild’s Prompt:       

How did the Industrial Revolution impact the lives of women, children, and the family?

This correlates to WHII.9c. 

The first thing I am going to do is go to that specific SOL.  There are a few bullet points that will point me in the right direction:

·    Family-based cottage industries displaced by the factory system

·    Harsh working conditions with men competing with women and children for wages

·    Child labor that kept costs of production low and profits high

·    Owners of mines and factories who exercised considerable control over the lives of their laborers

·    Women and children entering the workplace as cheap labor

·    Introduction of reforms to end child labor

·    Expansion of education

·    Women’s increased demands for suffrage

This particular SOL has a fair amount of points.  I would want to narrow my focus.  Since I am a teacher, I am going to focus my research on child labor, reforms of child labor and education.  One suggestion I would make is that your prompt should also have a location and a specific time.  There was an Industrial Revolution in both England and the United States.  I am going to pick the United States.  If you look closely at the SOL it states that the time period is the 19^th Century. 

My reworded prompt is going to be:

How did the American Industrial Revolution impact the lives of children during 19^th Century America? 

My prompt has now narrowed my research focus.  I am only interested in the American Industrial Revolution, during the 19^th century and I am only interested in how it affected children. 

Once you have your prompt written your research scope should be narrowed to a manageable point. 

Information Wall

This year I have tried another room management tool.  I used to divide the far end of my board with tape or borders.  In those divisions I would put the date, whether it was an "A" or "B" day (those determine which classes we see that day), homework, the SOL number/letter and reminders.

I decided to try a system that a few of my friends use; I added a twist.  My friends have laminated papers, glue them on the wall and then write their homework on the laminated paper.

Earlier in the summer I bought decorated half posters and then laminated them.  I hot glued them to the wall.  I used punch-out letters to signal the day of the week.  In the top left corner, I write the date and the SOL number/letter in the top right.  I also write their homework on the poster board.  To let the students know which day it is I have different colored punch-out letters to designate "A" days or "B" days.

My Information Wall

Each Monday they write their homework for the week.  Right now I verify agendas by signing them.  As the year goes on I will change the verification process and check them less often.  My hope is that this will lead to independence.  In the end...isn't that what we want?

Happy Teaching!
C

Fire Demonstration

I love it when teachers share!  Today was a sharing kind of day and my kids and I were on the receiving end of the sharing.

This week we have been discussing archaeologists and Paleolithic and Neolithic Eras.  One of the big "inventions" we've talked about this week is fire.  We discussed that it provided heat, light, protection and means to cook food.

One of the other World History I teachers offered to show my classes how to make fire.  As always, the kids really liked the hands on demonstration.

Mr. Parker even dressed for the occasion.  You can't see it but he had his flint in his hands ready to catch the fiber on fire.

See the fire?!  

Happy Teaching!
C

Artifact Interpretation

I have really enjoyed teaching World History.  I've enjoyed it for two reasons.  One reason is the students.  I am teaching about 30 of my former students.  It is fun seeing them and already knowing them.  I also like getting to know my new students.  However, with over 100 kids I'm not sure I'll know their names by interims.  The second reason I am really enjoying World History (keep in mind I'm a Civics kind of gal- so much so, I have an entire blog about that subject- click here to see that blog.).  I like learning new things and planning new lessons.

Today was one of those new lessons.  We learned about archaeology yesterday and today my kids were archaeologists.  I thought about having them dig in shoeboxes filled with sand but my more practical side got the better of me.  So I borrowed artifacts (foreign coins) from friends.

We watched a short video that showed archaeologists in the field and it discussed what the archaeologists do with their findings. We picked it up from there.  The students were to analyze and interpret their artifact.  They were to write down things that they observed, descriptions, some did rubbings of the coins and wrote down questions they were unable to answer.  Then they were to get another "artifact" and do the same thing.  Their goal was to analyze three artifacts and write their findings.

I found the original idea from this website.

Here are some pictures from today's lesson.

One of my archaeologists analyzing their artifact.

The artifacts.

Happy Teaching!
C

Envelope System I Snagged from Pinterest!

Well, tomorrow is the first day of school and I have been busily (that may be an understatement) running around to put on the finishing touches.

Today, I made my envelope collection system.  I used Excel to make a simple roster/assignment organizer.  The names are down the side of the paper and then I made blank boxes to write the assignments in.  I used duct tape to reinforce the edges and to differentiate the different classes.

The procedure (should go) is I will send the envelope around the room.  The student will put their paper in the envelope and initial or check off.  Once it gets back to me I will have a quick way to see who has turned in their papers and who hasn't.

Hope it goes as planned!

Happy Teaching!

C

Prezi

To start the year off I was asked to give a professional development for the 4th - 7th grade teachers in my county.  I had the pleasure of working with a friend of mine.   We discussed differentiation and collaboration.  To take a look at the differentiation click here.  To take a look at the collaboration presentation click here. 

 If you do not have a Prezi account sign up and take the tour.  Click here to go directly to the website.  I really hope you like it!  

Beginning of the Year

This year is a short summer for us and summer is going by quicker than usual.  I  have less than a month before school starts.  Needless to say, I have already planned out the first few weeks.  I really enjoy the first few days of school because that is when you get to set your routine and get to know your students.  

Last year I tried something new and I will be doing it again this year.  I wrote a letter to my students and in return they wrote back to me.  It was great for a few reasons.  They got to know about me (I'm an actual person!) and I, in turn, got to know about them.  Additionally, I got a writing sample from them.  While I am not a writing teacher, I do expect my students to write in my class.  The last bonus, it was a grade in the gradebook.  

This is the sample that I am writing this year.  I x'ed out the locations here on the blog.  In the classroom I will have the actual place names there.  I may take out the "Favorite World History Teacher" part out.  I like to joke about things like that but usually wait to see which classes I can do that with and which ones I cannot.  

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Dear 8^th Grader:

Hello and welcome to World History I!  I want to take a few minutes and tell you about myself and ask something in return. 

As you know, my name is Mrs. Fxxxxx.  This is my 5^th year here at FMS.  I taught some of you last year in 7^th grade.  I look forward to getting to know you over the school year. 

I live in Mxxxxx, which is near Sxxxx Mxxxxx Lake.  My husband and I will be married for 14 years this year.  My husband works in Rxxxx.  We have two boys: a 6^th grader here at FMS and a 4^th grader at Mxxxxx Elementary School.  We have three pets: a dog named Charlie Brown and two frogs. 

In my spare time I enjoy spending time at Smith Mountain Lake on our boat or dock, reading (I read # books this summer), visiting with my family and playing cards with friends. 

This summer we went on a Western Caribbean cruise and I was able to visit places I have never been before: Haiti, Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Mexico.  Mexico was my favorite as I got to visit the ancient Mayan ruins of Tulum, which we will talk about later this school year.  I also spent time on the lake, visited with family in Georgia and took a few day trips around Virginia. 

Okay, now it’s your turn.  I want you to get out a sheet of paper and write me a letter.  You need to introduce yourself (your first and last name) and your age.  Tell me where you live (the area is fine: Fxxxx, Gxxxx, Bxxxxx, Lxxxxx) and who lives in your house (people and animals).  Also, tell me about your summer.  Telling me it was awesome or boring will not suffice.  You need to give me descriptions.  Then tell me about your favorite class or subject and one goal you have for this school year. 

This assignment is your first grade for the new school year.  Do you best and I look forward to reading your letter.

Your favorite World History Teacher (because I'm your only World History Teacher!),

Mrs. Fxxxxxxx

Happy Teachings!

C