Teaching Torch

Power Panthers with Pilot Pens

2023-04-08T19:41:00.000-07:00

In a few months from now, I will be cheering my students on as they cross the stage at their eighth grade promotion ceremony. I will be frantically signing yearbooks and cards to get one last word of encouragement in with them. And for this critical job, I will be using none other than my favorite pen, the Pilot G-2 bold. Even though I may not be famous, original or notable for my work, Pilot Pens should sponsor me as a professional educator because I am a great promoter, and together we can make a difference on future generations, changing the world. Let’s Power Panthers with Pilot Pens!

I’m headed into my 15th year of teaching writing and the G-2 bold is definitely my pen of choice. This is a well-made pen that is super reliable. As a writing teacher, I believe that I would be a great promoter for Pilot Pens. I am involved in sharing about my craft on Twitter and at my educational blog at TeachingTorch.com. I would happily dedicate a post to the exceptional quality of the G-2 for educational purposes. Each year, when sharing my passion for writing with my students, I am also sharing my love for the G-2. When I hand a G-2 to one of my students, I see a spark of joy ignite amongst feelings of fulfillment as they are introduced to this finely designed instrument. That is why I believe it would be incredible to be able to present a G-2 pen to each of my eighth graders this year at their promotion ceremony. This could be a compelling event that will shape their futures as writers, and together we will be making a difference. Although sponsoring an ordinary middle school writing teacher is a small gesture, it makes a bold statement. The G-2 pen is not the flashiest, most expensive or trendiest pen out there. Likewise, the job of a teacher is not celebrated in our culture the way professional athletes, musicians and celebrities are. This is the perfect time to inspire students everywhere by lifting up the extraordinarily powerful act of learning to write. The future of education, learning and writing is in the hands of educators. I hope that you will join me to power our panthers with Pilot Pens.

Narrative Writing Notebook Handouts

2021-10-17T11:18:00.005-07:00

"The most valuable thing that human beings own is a story." - Jason Reynolds

Narrative writing is one of the most valuable endeavors that we do with students. The following resources are handouts that I use with students to help develop their valuable stories during throughout the writing process.

Narrative Writing Handouts

ELD Writing Levels Poster

2020-02-15T10:39:00.001-08:00

I have created a student friendly writing rubric poster that is available at my webstore. This rubric is based on the ELPA21 writing rubric descriptors so it is huge aid for students in any ELD classroom.

PURCHASE THE POSTER FOR YOUR CLASSROOM FOR FREE HERE.

Student Blogs Using Kidblog.org - ORA Winter Institute Workshop

2016-02-06T15:00:00.001-08:00

Welcome to Student Blogs with kidblog.org at the Winter Institute. Below you will find the links we will be using during our workshop:

1. Post a reason to use student blogs in class on our Padlet Here

2. Join our Kidblog Class Here. Join Code: 4c7yfmq

3. Creating a good digital library for your class is a powerful tool

4. Check out how the Guest Journal Strategy works here.

How to Make a Cardboard Pocket Journal

2012-01-16T17:36:00.000-08:00

One of the most practical and valuable tools in life is a good notebook or journal. A pocket journal is an ideal option for this, but these handy notepads cost the same and sometimes more than a standard size 100 page composition book.

However, with cardboard, paper, yarn (or twine) and a few basic tools you can create a pretty decent pocket journal. Watch my video tutorial below to learn how.

Prezi Updated - Presenting Class Rules and Routines

2011-09-05T14:28:00.000-07:00

Last year I began the year using Prezi a free zoomable presentation online software, to present classroom routines. Since then, Prezi has improved and added features to the software. A few of these features are new templates that help you get started with creating a presentation as well as a simple tutorial. They've also added the ability to save your Prezi as a .pdf and make copies of other prezis you like amongst the shared library. This opens up the opportunity to easily use others presentations as a template for your own.

So, with all these improvements, I felt that I should make some improvements to my own prezi's.

Here's an example of one of the prezis I made to present class routines:

I also created one to present stamina for independent reading:

Finally, here's one I created to introduce a new class I will be teaching this year: Digital Media Literacy.

Reading Survey Template

2011-08-30T13:59:00.001-07:00

If you have a google account you can use your account to create forms for students to complete as a way to gather information, do formative assessments, practice a skill, or evaluate the class. I used google forms throughout the year last year for all of these purposes. This year I think I will begin the year using a reading survey in order to gather information about my students as readers. If you are interested, feel free to use the template below.

Reading Survey Template

Blackout Poetry

2011-08-30T07:29:00.000-07:00

Blackout Poetry is a form of poetry that begins with the newspaper and a marker as inspiration. Through selecting words and thoughts from an article and blacking out what remains, a poem is created. This technique for writing poetry could be used as an extension to articles read and discussed in class, a tool for teaching word choice, as a strategy for teaching free verse poetry, or an activity in identifying key words. Below you will find a few resources related to blackout poetry.

Newspaper Blackout: A website dedicated to Blackout Poetry that allows anyone to contribute their poems.

Austin Kleon: Author of the book "Newspaper Blackout."

Simple English Wikipedia

2011-08-24T13:31:00.000-07:00

Simple English Wikipedia is a version of Wikipedia designed to use basic English vocabulary. This site could be a great resource for low level readers, English Language Learners, kids and adults.

A few other online encyclopedias that I have used in my classroom in the past are:

World Book Basic
World Book Advanced
Wikipedia
Infoplease
Fact Monster

Using KIDBLOG.org as a Literacy Tool

2011-04-04T17:38:00.000-07:00

I have found that using student blogs in my classroom has increased student engagement and interaction in reading and writing. There are many free services out on the web to provide teachers with a blogging community/platform for students, however I have found that www.kidblog.org is the safest and the simplest.

Learn it in 5 creates videos to explain using online tools. This tutorial explains how to set up a kidblog class account in 5 minutes.

If you are interested, I would love to share with you more ideas related to blogging with students or help as a guide to answer any questions you may have as you begin your blogging adventure. www.kidblog.org

Tagxedo

2011-01-23T19:34:00.000-08:00

Create beautiful word art with Tagxedo. This can be a great way to discover and share the central ideas of any text. I made a sample here of my Action Research Project, Audience and the English Language Learner.

Super Teacher Tools: Flash Classroom Jeopardy

2010-11-28T19:05:00.000-08:00

One of my closest mentor teachers always said that we learn best when we are playing. I have found that Jeopardy is a favorite game for review and skill practice. In English Language Development (ELD) class I generally use this game to review vocabulary and grammatical forms. It works best when I have table groups or partners on individual teams. Asking students to discuss and evaluate their answers with a teammate increases the level of thinking.

I've found that using a class set of personal whiteboards for students to jot their answers lowers their affective filter because they can easily make adjustments to their responses. I ask them to show their whiteboards after each answer. Not only is this game a great way to reteach and reinforce material it is a great tool for formative assessment.

Click here to access download link and game creation instructions for Super Teacher Tools Flash Jeopardy Game Maker.

Additionally, Super Teacher Tools makes other flash Smartboard games you may want to try out.

A Prezi of My Class Routines

2010-08-24T10:40:00.001-07:00

Prezi is a great tool for creating compelling animated presentations. There are many great examples of how educators have been using this for a variety of applications. I am excited for students to be able to use it to share their knowledge and demonstrate learning. I am putting it to use on my first day for class routines. Let me know what you think.

Mr. Dalgas Class Routines on Prezi