Kbrooks - Brooks eAcademy

January 21, 2019January 21, 2019

Brooks eAcademy Bookshelf – All of the Above

If you follow me on Twitter, then you know that every other year the school where I work holds an all school read. Students are given a copy of the chosen book, participate in school led activities and the culmination is a visit from the author. This year the chosen book for the all school read is All of the Above by Shelley Pearsall.

The book is based on actual events and set in a junior high school in Cleveland, Ohio. That alone immediately makes me bias as I am Northeast Ohio born and bred. As a Northeastern Ohio resident herself, it is understandable that Pearsall uses the streets of Cleveland as the setting for a few of her books.

The story follows Mr. Collins, a beyond frustrated seventh grade math teacher who is looking for any way to motivate his students. As an educator, I could feel his pain. I have had that moment in the middle of lesson where the faces of the students are blank and you just know that no one is learning. In that moment you want something, anything that will engage your students. In his effort to reach his students Mr. Collins takes the suggestion to enter a contest. That contest becomes building the largest tetrahedron. One so large that it beats records and can land Mr. Collins and his students in the Guinness Book of World Records.

This is a tetrahedron built at Copley Middle School in Ohio

Pearsall does an excellent job of drawing you in to each of the main characters. The students who become members of the “club” to build the tetrahedron are complex characters who on the surface seem like your typical run of the mill teenagers. As you continue on, you realize that is not the case. The “club” becomes an outlet for them as they deal with everything else in their lives. Broken families and dreams that may not materialize are real issues that affect many young people today. It is also one of the reasons that many young people can relate to the characters in this book. Pearsall has created characters that are in your schools and classes right now. Will the club meet their deadline to finish the tetrahedron or will they get thrown out of shape? Pun intended! 🙂 Read to find out!

All of the Above is a must read for you and your students! I forgot to mention that there are also tasty recipes included in the book. Mrs. Pearsall will visit our school this week to speak with students and families. Students have also created their own tetrahedrons. Check my instagram account for updates later this week!

If you are looking to create your own tetrahedron like the one above, click here for directions. You could use a Cricut machine to get a precise cut for your individual pieces.

Until next time, read on! Kandi B

January 15, 2019January 15, 2019

Are you a Well Meaning Adult?

Ok bear with me! You probably read the title and thought to yourself what is she griping about now?! I really want you to stop and think, "Are you a well meaning adult?"

I'm talking the the adult that knows just what every student needs. The type of adult that sees a student acting out in the hallway and rushes over to help because that student needs to learn respect and you are just the person to do it. You may have experience with children because you are a teacher, parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle. Maybe you volunteered at your religious organization's youth camp or coached some sort of organized sports. Whatever the circumstance, you know kids and you care, so who better to help than you?!

For a special educator or an informed parent, well meaning adults can sometimes be our worst enemy. I have had students who on the surface are rude, oppositional and most times down right mean. But as a special educator, I am trained to deal with that. So many times, I have almost had a student calm and ready to move on, only to have a well meaning adult come along and say something like, "You really need to show your teacher some respect." Now to be fair that is a very true statement. But to a child who is going into fight or flight mode, all they hear is "You are a horrible student," which sets them off even more.

Don't get me wrong your concern is appreciated. In fact your words may be helpful to the student when they are calm and willing to listen. So what can you do in the moment that you see a situation that concerns you? Here are some tips:

Make immediate contact with the teacher. If it is in the moment, address only the teacher by saying something like, "Are you ok?" If the teacher replies in the affirmative, continue on your way. If the teacher indicates that they need assistance, follow their lead.
Make contact with the teacher later. If the teacher has said they didn't need assistance, speak with the teacher later to find out some information about the student and how you can help.
Get to know the student when they are calm. Establishing a positive relationship with the student is key. Next time the student is in a crisis, you may be able to assist, but still follow the lead of the teacher.

Nothing is wrong with being a well meaning adult. At times, I'm one myself and I have to remember to think before I act. You don't want a student to have a negative perception of you.

Until next time, read on!

Kandi B

January 7, 2019January 6, 2019

Some of my favorite TpT sellers and a reading comprehension freebie!

Alas, Winter Break has come to an end! Time to get back into teaching and lesson planning! As I sit and write this post, I’m also completing my lesson plans for the week ahead. The ~~dreaded~~ highly anticipated week after Winter Break!

Before I go on, I’d like to share a little bit about myself. I love the website Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT). I can always find something that I’m looking for and some things that I wasn’t looking for at all, but of course needed! A few years back, I was looking for reading comprehension passages for my students. I wanted something that the students would have to show evidence for their answers. One of my pet peeves is having students just come up with answers and not showing where they got the information. Many of my students have individualized education plans (IEPs) with goals based on their ability to answer literal comprehension questions.

So, I went to my dear old friend, TpT and I happened upon Luckeyfrog and her Super Detective Find the Evidence sheets. She has non-fiction and fiction passages that you can choose from. I highly suggest that you click the link and visit her store on TpT. I love using her passages in my class. My students love using colored pencils, markers or highlighters to find their answers. I also wanted more passages that featured more non-fiction stories of African American leaders with the same format. Unfortunately, there weren’t any out there, so I set out to make my own.

Now, I’m no graphic designer, but when I have to I can get a little creative. First, I got my Black History clipart and Find the Evidence font from Melonheadz, also on TpT. Then, I found the crayon clipart from Livin’ in a Van Down by the River, another TpT seller. I created my Jesse Owens – Find the Evidence resource that I’m giving away free!

I also have a version of this resource for upper grades available for sale here. I decided to offer a few more of African American leaders Find the Evidence resources. They are not just for February either. Any time is an excellent time to teach your students about important historical figures no matter what their race is!

January 2, 2019January 2, 2019

It’s 2019. Now What?!

2018 has come to a close. I am very happy about it. 2018 was not one of my best years to say the least. It was filled with so many challenges, both personally and professionally. I look forward to 2019 as an opportunity to press the reset button and reinvent myself. Come back swinging so to speak.

Let’s be real, I say this at the start of each new year. Then ~~two days later~~, one month later, my zeal has fizzled once again and I’m back into my old habits. Not that my old habits are bad, I still get up each and everyday trying to be the best version of me, teach kids, take care of my family and be an overall awesome person. There were two incidents that occurred in the last two months of the year that got me to thinking, “Am I really giving it my best or do I sometimes just dial it in?!”

It hit me like a ton of bricks that I could be doing more for my family, friends and students. To make it plain and simple, I could just BE BETTER. So my focus for 2019 is to do better and be better. Of course, I had to ask myself, “Self, what does that mean?” The main thing I feel it means is to do all things intentionally. That means thinking about the purpose, being deliberate in my actions and conscious of how it will affect others. Easier said than done, I know, but striving to be better is the start. If everyone took the time to be better, we would see so much change in the world. Don’t worry, I promise to keep my soapbox posts to a minimum! Back to educational things in a couple days!

To everyone reading this, Happy New Year and let’s be better together!

December 26, 2018December 29, 2018

How Tic Tac Toe helps me teach sight words and more!

I’m always looking for ways to make learning as interesting and fun as possible. Although there are many games on the market that involve teaching language and/or reading skills, there is one tried and true game that continues to stand the test of time. It can also be easily adapted to the needs and skill level of your students.

What magical game am I speaking of ?! Why, Tic Tac Toe of course! Tic Tac Toe is easy for young children to learn. Just choose X or O and you have just stepped into infinite possibilities. Okay, maybe not infinite but there are a lot.

Ways to use Tic Tac Toe:

Practice sight words – fill in each square with sight words and student must read the word correctly in order to claim the spot.
Practice grammar – fill in each square with a word that the student must use correctly in a sentence to claim the spot. You could use this to also practice sentence structure.
Use as a word study activity – if you use word sorts you can easily insert pictures or consonant blends, short vowels or whatever your student is working on. If your student can correctly identify the word, they can claim the spot.

Here is the download link for my copy of a blank Tic Tac Toe board. It is basic, but if you use an online platform with a whiteboard, you can easily save this document as a pdf and use it in one of the ways that I have mentioned above. It is even a nice tool to use in your brick and mortar classroom. Add your words or pictures, print and laminate. You could also use the blank copy and slip it inside a sheet protector and use it any way that you like. Update: You can also download a free copy from my online store. Press the button to add to your cart!

Enjoy!

December 11, 2018September 19, 2023

3 Reasons Your Child Needs An Online Tutor

By now the inevitable has happened in your household. Your child has received their first report card of the school year. In some households this has been an occasion of utter joy and pride. Some parents have taken to social media to sing the praises for their scholars who have made the Dean’s List or Honor Roll. You’ve seen the posts, “I’m so proud of my baby, he has a 3.5 GPA!” Usually there is a photo of the smiling child holding their report card or some type of certificate marking their achievement. Depending on your mood you may have double tapped, hit the like button or just scrolled on by. If you’re not on social media, you hear about it from your co-workers or family members who like to gush in person about their children.

Then there is your child. The recipient of the report card that also comes with a huge dose of shame and disappointment. You try to understand what went wrong. Depending on the age of your child you may hear things like, “The teacher doesn’t like me so she gives me bad grades” or the ever popular, “That class is sooo boring.” You may have said one of those to your parents back in your younger days. Then there are those kids who really do give it their best and just can’t seem to get the grades they want. This is where Brooks eAcademy can help.

When people think online tutoring, they instantly think that won’t work for my child. It can work for your child and your child needs it! Here are three reasons why:

Specialized Instruction: Your child may excel in one area but may need additional help in an area that the teacher has moved on from. Brooks eAcademy will create an educational plan tailored to your child’s academic needs.
Convenient Scheduling: Your child can have receive tutoring at a time convenient to them and at any location with an internet connection.
More Focus, Less Distraction: Classes at Brooks eAcademy are one on one, so distracting classmates. This also allows your child to focus more on the class information.

Call us today at 440-467-0770 to schedule a trial class.

November 8, 2018November 8, 2018

What Lebron James Is Teaching Us About Parental Involvement

I have a confession to make and some of you may dislike me when you hear it.

I do not like the movie, Field of Dreams. There I said it. At the end of the movie, I was unimpressed and feeling, well meh. When the voice kept whispering, if you build it they will come, I kept thinking to myself, everyone but me. Now you are wondering what does this have to do with Lebron James and education?! Everything!

Lebron has proven, if you build it they will come. At the end of July, in conjunction with Akron City Schools, he opened the I Promise School. There was nationwide media coverage of course, I mean he is Lebron James! At the same time he was able to shine his spotlight on the need for a school like this.

The school boasts a roster of 240 third and fourth grade students. Over the years, Lebron has shared that as a fourth grade he missed over 80 days of school while moving from house to house with his mother. He credits mentors that he found in the school setting with helping him to get to school everyday in the fifth grade.

Students are selected from students who are at least one or more grade levels below their peers. It also has a longer school day and an extended school year that goes from July to May. Students even received brand new bikes! I know, I know, what does this have to do with parental involvement?!

Students are provided free breakfast, lunch and snacks. Gone is the worry of providing a meal or paying for school lunch. Free breakfast and lunch are provided at other schools but not many offer a free snack. At my school I buy snacks for students out of my own pocket. It’s a simple thing that goes a long way. If a child (and a parent) know there is a meal coming soon and they don’t have to worry about it, the more they can be focused on their education. Students are also promised full tuition to University of Akron if they complete the program and graduate from high school. Another load off the shoulders of families who may not be able to pay for it.

The I Promise School also believes that education is not just important for the students but parents as well. Parents are given free GED classes. They can also take advantage of job placement services. Lebron and his team are showing us that in order to educate children we need to educate the family too!

What services does your district offer families and parents?

October 15, 2018

6 Tips for a Successful Parent Teacher Conference

By the time you read this I will be knee deep in parent teacher conferences. As a parent, I love speaking with my children’s teachers good or bad. I feel that my children’s teachers are integral parts of their team or better yet, very important members of their personal coaching staff. Teachers want to help and I know this because I am speaking from the standpoint of an educator. That is mainly the reason many of us get into the teaching profession. WE WANT TO HELP KIDS THROUGH EDUCATION! (puts soap box away) This list of tips came about because even I as an educator still get a little intimidated when I meet with the teachers. I don’t know what it is, but this feeling comes over me. I want parents to come into conferences feeling empowered and relaxed.

ptc

Have an honest discussion with your child. Ask them how things are going in school (this should be happening daily). Some of you may need to have a “Come to Jesus” conversation, meaning give your child an opportunity to come clean about anything they haven’t told you yet. Being blindsided with something you had no knowledge of can be upsetting to say the least.
Make notes or a list of questions. It is so easy to forget to ask something or let the teacher know something important. If you are anything like me, if it doesn’t get written down, it’s forgotten in like 10 minutes. Put it in your smartphone if you don’t want to pull out an actual paper list. Teachers love to see this or at least I do.
Ask for explanations. If you don’t understand why something is or isn’t being done for your child by all means get clarification! Especially if your child receives special education services or has a 504 plan. It is hard to advocate for your child if you don’t understand the process.
Stay calm. It is hard to hear things about our little angels even more so if it is not good. Keep your cool and talk to the teacher about possible interventions and how you can help. Most teachers are nervous about conferences as well (imagine telling a parent that their child is failing or their behavior is a problem).
Follow up. If there is work that needs to be caught up on or corrected, make a date to either meet again or talk via email or by the phone. This also lets your child know that you are fully invested in their education.
Be on time. On conference days, meetings are scheduled back to back. It is important to be mindful of other people’s time. If you are going to be late or can’t make it, just call or text (I love the Remind app)

If you have some other tips that you would like to share, please comment!

Until next time, read on!

Kandi B

October 8, 2018

3 Podcasts that I love!

During my morning and evening commutes to and from work, I sometimes enjoy jamming to some old school music. More often than not, I love listening to podcasts.

Happier with Gretchen Rubin: I was first introduced to Gretchen Rubin through her book, The Happiness Project. From there I learned about her most recent book, The Four Tendencies (which I used as part of a professional development session back in August – soon to be an upcoming blog post). On her podcast, where she is often joined by her sister, she shares tips on travel, making life improvements and her own experiences. No matter your background, you can learn something from this podcast. She also has an app, The Better App, that is worth checking out.
Angela Watson’s Truth for Teachers: I read my first Angela Watson book, The Cornerstone: Classroom Management That Makes Teaching More Effective, Efficient and Enjoyable back in 2009 when I was making the transition from the business world into education (more about that in a future post). I still use many of her tips in my classroom today. When I found out about her podcast, I was so excited. She shares so much about working smarter not harder as an educator. Outside of the blog she also runs a group called the 40 Hour Teacher Workweek Club. If you are a teacher or know one, you know how easy it is work way more than 40 hours each week. Angela provides tips on how to create a balance in your life. I’m a member and it has changed my life in so many ways!
Cult of Pedagogy: Don’t be put off by the name, it’s not a cult but more a collective of people who love education. Jennifer Gonzalez uses her platform to share new education discoveries. She also interviews teachers and others who are working to make education better. She also has a blog and creates teaching resources. Thanks to her, I just learned what a Makerspace is and how it relates to education. You probably don’t know what that is, so now you have to go listen!

Until next time, read on!

Kandi B

September 25, 2018

Isn't that too difficult for YOUR students?

Next Monday my students and I will be participating in the Global Read Aloud (click here to find out more). This is my third year being a part of this amazing project. Each year books are selected for various grade levels. You choose the book that you will read with your class and you can follow the pacing guide that has been set up for the book, usually three chapters per week, or do what works for you. The wonderful part of the project is connecting with other teachers and students around the world. ALL FOR FREE!!!! There are resources provided for each book. If you have not done this before, it is worth your time to check it out. Head over and sign up! It officially begins on October 1st!

Over the past couple of years, I have exposed my students to “The BFG” and “A Long Walk to Water” all because of the GRA. Each year, I have a colleague approach me and say isn’t that too difficult for YOUR students? I try to believe that it is sincerely coming from a place of concern and not a case of dismissing the abilities of my students. Granted some of my students would struggle to read, not to mention understand the aforementioned books independently, but shouldn’t all children be exposed to different types of literature, even those that may be at a higher reading level?!

YES! In his book “The Read Aloud Handbook,” Jim Trelease gives his do’s and don’t’s for successful read alouds. Included on his list of do’s is to “occasionally read above the children’s intellectual levels and challenge their minds.” I have found that some of my non-readers or struggling readers can understand complex texts better when they are read aloud to them. Last year, we had the best discussions while reading “A Long Walk to Water.”

He also suggests avoiding long descriptive passages if a child’s imagination and attention span don’t allow for it. You can eliminate the paragraph altogether or shorten it if it contains important plot information. So my answer to colleagues is are you serious (insert hand over face emoji)?! No, I don’t really say that but it is going through my head. My professional answer is yes, independently it would be too difficult but as an educator, I know how to make it work (insert big cheesy grin). Then I tell them to read The Read Aloud Handbook.

This year I have chosen to read, “Amal Unbound.” This week we are spending some time learning about Pakistan, which is the setting for the story. There are some tough issues tackled in this book. Indentured servants and equal education for all genders are just a few. Again if you have never participated in the GRA, please, please, please check it out! Did I mention it is free?!

Until next time, read on!

Kandi B