Marginalia, Graduate Blog

Blog Topics: Elementary Education

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Elementary Education

Publishing Parties

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Writing on Display

Writing on Display

My formal unit is almost complete. My students have reflected on their writing, rewritten one selected work, reviewed it with a friend, edited it with a friend (and then had it edited by me), conferenced with me, and then wrote their final copy. They also went into the computer lab to type up the final version so that everyone’s stories could be printed in the book. I then created a table of contents and an “About The Author” section, showed them a simple bookbinding process, and we all went home with beautiful final products. On Friday we’re going to celebrate by having a publishing party, where the students will read their work aloud, thank their friends for their help, and bask in their own greatness. I thought that maybe the best way to share the experience with the blog would be to post a couple of the published stories from my third grade classroom. Enjoy!

Publishing Parties

My formal unit is almost complete. My students have reflected on their writing, rewritten one selected work, reviewed it with a friend, edited it with a friend (and then had …

Elementary Education MAT Danielle Holtz, danielle.holtz@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

Integrating Lessons

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Jaunty Fox Scarves

Jaunty Fox Scarves

Integration of subject matter is a teaching goal that’s talked about a lot both in the field and at Columbia. It’s most frequently discussed when thinking about the arts, as it’s vital to learning that students have multiple ways to express themselves throughout the day. Integrating the arts into content is something that I do pretty innately and didn’t feel that I needed a lot of practice to do well. What I have wanted to work on throughout my student teaching, however, is finding ways to integrate subject matter into other subjects, so students are able to transfer knowledge from one subject to the next. I’ve been working on this for the past week and have found it to be an extremely complicated, yet satisfying, task.

Integrating Lessons

Integration of subject matter is a teaching goal that’s talked about a lot both in the field and at Columbia. It’s most frequently discussed when thinking about the arts, as …

Elementary Education MAT Danielle Holtz, danielle.holtz@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

Writing Circles Unit

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Rainbow Canyon

Rainbow Canyon

I haven’t really shared much of my formal unit yet, but I’m very proud of it and hope to share the summative assessment once the students are finished making their books. I am really proud of the writing that I’ve seen and feeling really satisfied with the increase in cooperative group work that has taken place since we’ve begun. Recently the students created mottos for each of their circles and the meanings they gave to them filled me with a lot of happiness. They also created a motto for when the whole group works together. Our circle is called “Rainbow Canyon,” and the motto they created is “In Rainbow Canyon we learn through sharing.” I kid you not. These kids are seriously geniuses. Below is my rationale for the unit along with the essential questions and enduring understandings. I also hope to share some highlights from the lessons in another blog. Enjoy this peek into our circles!

Writing Circles Unit

I haven’t really shared much of my formal unit yet, but I’m very proud of it and hope to share the summative assessment once the students are finished making their …

Elementary Education MAT Danielle Holtz, danielle.holtz@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

Overcoming Unexpected Challenges

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Where are you?

Where are you?

Student teachers live and die by their planners. We plot out and pinpoint every new lesson we want to write, where we want that lesson to lead to, and when we think we should arrive there. We plan ahead for our observations, our grad school papers, and projects. We plan ahead for job applications and career fairs. We plan to take the state required APT test. We lay out every last detail, scratching out what we initially hoped to take place, and we scribe in something better, something that will fit a little easier. And then (if you’re me) in the middle of all that planning, you get hit by a car.

Overcoming Unexpected Challenges

Student teachers live and die by their planners. We plot out and pinpoint every new lesson we want to write, where we want that lesson to lead to, and when …

Elementary Education MAT Danielle Holtz, danielle.holtz@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

Redefining History

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Tuberculosis Exhibit

Tuberculosis Exhibit

When I first saw the banner at Boone announcing the school’s participation in the annual Chicago History Fair, I totally admit that I went into giddy mode.

I had heard of the fair last year after it was over and felt immediate disappointment that I had missed it. What kind of exhibits would be in a middle school fair about Chicago’s history? What did they find fascinating about this city’s past? Would it be expected history or would it be uncovered and unexpected surprises? How would they connect it to today?

Clearly, I am a giant nerd, so it goes without saying that I immediately got myself on the judges list for Boone’s fair.

Redefining History

When I first saw the banner at Boone announcing the school’s participation in the annual Chicago History Fair, I totally admit that I went into giddy mode. I had heard …

Elementary Education MAT Danielle Holtz, danielle.holtz@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

An Apple a Day

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Apple a Day

Apple a Day

Occasionally I hold the distinction of being the kind of person who sees a problem and tries their best to fix it. This is not something I typically do with a lot of success, but, if I am anything in this world, I am someone who likes to fix things. I especially like coming up with ideas of how to fix things. During my first week of student teaching at Boone, I noticed that students were throwing away a lot of food in the lunchroom. Not just half eaten hamburgers, but whole apples, bananas, and pears were being tossed in the garbage can on a daily basis. I asked around and found that most of the lunchroom supervisors had noticed it too and felt troubled by the waste. I was nervous (first week of student teaching!), but I decided it would be worth it to ask the Assistant Principal if I could take on finding a solution.

An Apple a Day

Occasionally I hold the distinction of being the kind of person who sees a problem and tries their best to fix it. This is not something I typically do with …

Elementary Education MAT Danielle Holtz, danielle.holtz@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

Lesson Plan: Cave Paintings

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Ruby Bridges Cave Painting

Ruby Bridges Cave Painting

This post shares one of the most in-depth lesson plans I’ve ever created. I actually needed to cut down the language quite a bit to make it fit. For this lesson, I focused heavily on procedures and planning, because it involves having the students crawl under their desks (which have become caves) to discover that I’ve taped paper underneath for them to use to create cave paintings. It was utterly fabulous—challenging, meaningful, and extremely memorable. At one point I was literally lying flat on my back, shoulder to shoulder with a student as they described in great detail every element of their work. I apologize for the length but hope the idea is useful for teachers!

Lesson Plan: Cave Paintings

This post shares one of the most in-depth lesson plans I’ve ever created. I actually needed to cut down the language quite a bit to make it fit. For this …

Elementary Education MAT Danielle Holtz, danielle.holtz@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

Almost There

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Tree Paintings

Tree Paintings

I am halfway through student teaching. Today was the first day that I took the majority of control of the classroom—I was the primary teacher for all but one subject. My cooperating teacher asked me how I felt halfway through the day. My response was, “Good. Scared, but also like I know what I’m doing.” I think that quote would probably be accurate for not just me, but for all of my fellow student teachers. It’s scary to take control, but it’s also what we’ve been preparing to do for a year and half. I think we’re in that place where we really know what it takes to be teachers… and we’re also doing it. It’s a pretty exciting place.

Almost There

I am halfway through student teaching. Today was the first day that I took the majority of control of the classroom—I was the primary teacher for all but one subject. …

Elementary Education MAT Danielle Holtz, danielle.holtz@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

The Lady Loves Drama

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Glittery

Glittery

I am in an extremely lucky position where the school I am working at has a full-time Drama teacher. It also happens that my students started their semester with Drama just last week, so I’ve been able to spend time observing (and participating) in the class as they learn the basics of stage craft. In an ideal world, I would love to teach Drama. In a practical world (that knows those jobs are few and far between), I know that I can very easily integrate Drama into Social Studies and Language Arts lessons. A big reason I decided to pursue my general education certificate was so I could bring theatre to kids who don’t have a program at their school. But I have to say, the teacher at Boone is phenomenal, and he’s got me imagining exactly what I’d teach if I were to develop a semester of pure DRAMA for K-8 learners.

The Lady Loves Drama

I am in an extremely lucky position where the school I am working at has a full-time Drama teacher. It also happens that my students started their semester with Drama …

Elementary Education MAT Danielle Holtz, danielle.holtz@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

Transcribing Memories

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Apple a Day

Apple a Day

I realized today that while I’ve shared a lot about the process of student teaching, I haven’t spoken a lot about my actual experience with the kids. I want to do this, partly because the 3rd graders at Boone are awesome but also so I have a place where I know the memories are transcribed.

I have been keeping a written journal for my own purposes, but there is often not enough time to write down every crazy cool thing that kids are saying and doing all around me. The necklace I’m wearing in the picture above, for example? I received that the morning of Valentine’s Day. One of my students approached me very quietly and simply handed me a plain white envelope. On the inside, she had placed several stickers of Jasmine (the Disney Princess) and a tiny pink apple necklace.

Transcribing Memories

I realized today that while I’ve shared a lot about the process of student teaching, I haven’t spoken a lot about my actual experience with the kids. I want to …

Elementary Education MAT Danielle Holtz, danielle.holtz@loop.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60605

The Graduate Experience

Trying on the gown
Trying on the gown
Poets are my Heroes
Poets are my Heroes
Manifest
Manifest
Changing With the Seasons
Changing With the Seasons
My view for the past month.
My view for the past month.
Student Artwork!!
Student Artwork!!