This week is National Teacher Appreciation Week—a time in which we can all reflect on those teachers in our lives who made us who we are today. At Imagine Learning, we know that a dedicated teacher can make all the difference in the life of a child. There is perhaps no pursuit more noble in this life.
To kick things off, here’s one of our favorite videos about the teachers who made a difference in our lives. Take a minute to watch the video, and then help us start out our week of appreciation by leaving a comment thanking the teacher who made the greatest impact on your life.
Are your English learners getting enough academic language instruction? Join us for a free webinar with associate professor Dr. Sylvia Linan-Thompson. She’ll examine the effect of explicit literacy instruction on students’ transition from Spanish to English instruction, and the implementation of Response to Intervention (RTI) with English learners.
Academic language is essential for academic success, yet many English learners are not exposed to this level of language. In this presentation, Dr. Linan-Thompson will focus on the use of academic discussions based on rich text to support English learners in developing academic language and conceptual knowledge. The research base for practices will be provided as well as language and literacy practices that can be implemented across content areas. Register today.
Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Time: 2:00-3:00 p.m. MST
Presenter: Dr. Sylvia Linan-Thompson, associate professor, University of Texas, Austin
Previously on our blog we featured a post about how to draw Booster, the friendly robot from the Imagine Learning software.
Letizia Branz, a teacher at Westridge Middle School in Orlando, Florida, used that blog post to create a fun lesson plan for her students. However, she added a twist.
“The assignment was for students to think of themselves as the animators of Booster,” she said. “They were to decide a color scheme for him as well as decide if there was something about him that they would change.”
As you can see from this picture, Ms. Branz’s students have vivid imaginations! We at Imagine Learning were tickled at the different robotic variations they came up with.
“Most of the students changed Booster’s colors to the colors they preferred,” said Ms. Branz. “Some of them created female Boosters and gave him a new name. Others decided that what they would change about him would be his role in Imagine Learning—most said they would make him come out to congratulate students when they did something right and not something wrong! Others wanted to change parts of his body like his feet or eyes.”
We all know that kids love to use their imaginations, and letting them be creative in the classroom is a surefire way to get them engaged. What are some things you do to get your students thinking creatively?
Last week we hosted a St. Patrick’s Day limerick contest. To help aspiring poets, we shared a fun song explaining the rules for writing a limerick. And we received some fun responses—thank you!
Our judges have weighed in, and voted overwhelmingly in favor of our first place winner, Christi Weinzierl! Here is her winning submission:
It”s time for state testing, I fear.
What a nerve-wracking time of the year!
Although I”ve been prudent,
It”s all up to the students!
When the last question”s answered, I”ll cheer!
Christie wins a free DVD set of the Imagine Island television series! Congratulations, Christie.
Second place went to Ashley Cahill:
A first grade teacher I am.
A better job, there never has been!
We learn all day,
August till May,
Then let the summer begin!
Ashley wins a talking Mike the Microphone plush toy!
And third place goes to Sarah via Chrisx:
“I used to be good at a rhyme,
But now I just do not have time!
Wiping food off one face
And cleaning up this whole place…
A mom”s job does not even pay a dime!”
Sarah wins a Booster bobblehead doll!
To our winners, please send an email to blog@imaginelearning.com with your shipping address and we’ll get your prizes sent out to you right away. Thanks again everyone for the great limericks!
St. Patrick’s Day is almost here! To get your students in the Irish spirit, here’s a fun little song about writing limericks featuring Nick from the Imagine Learning software. Nick’s song makes a perfect lesson plan to teach your students about writing limericks (the lyrics are below for your reference).
And to get you in the Irish spirit, we’d like to have you participate in our annual limerick contest! Write your own limerick in the comments section below. Prizes will be awarded by our judges to the top three limericks:
1st prize: a complete DVD set of the Imagine Island TV show 2nd prize: a talking Mike the Microphone plush toy 3rd prize: a Booster bobblehead
We’ll accept submissions through end-of-day Sunday, March 18th. Special consideration will be given to limericks with an educational flavor, and also to student submissions. Check back next Monday to see the winners!
Hello! How are you? I’m Nick.
Here to teach you a fun little trick.
To have a good time
when writing a rhyme
try writing your own limerick!
There are limericks of all different kinds.
So how do you write one that shines?
You’ll see that it’s cool
if you follow the rule:
a limerick is made of five lines.
So listen close to this song.
Lines one, two and five are all long.
And in poems of this sort
make lines three and four short
and I promise you’ll never go wrong.
You need to be sure and contrive
to rhyme lines one, two, and five
Then do it once more
with lines three and four
and your limerick surely will thrive!
So let these pointers take hold
And if you’ll write as you were told
at the rainbow’s end
you’ll find there my friend
your own limerick pot o’ gold!
