I give my students 3-ring binders as I teach them how to get organized. Of course I get them the best binders I can. They are 2", so they can hold everything for all of their classes. They have the rings on the back, not the spine, so papers don't get caught in the rings. And they are view binders.
In some of my classes I have had time to pass out scrap paper and give the students time to decorate a page to slide into the front of their view binder. Some students didn't know what to do with it, so I offered some suggestions:
Write with your favorite color.
Write your name.
Draw your favorite animal.
Write about how much you miss your mom.
As students were working, I noticed one girl wasn't writing or drawing anything. So, I asked her why not. She said she didn't know what to do. Again I suggested drawing her favorite animal.
Girl: I want to draw a panda but I don't know how!
Me: Sure you do! It's easy!
I proceeded to pick up a dry erase marker and pretend that I am artistic. At one point I couldn't remember if pandas have black in the center or their stomachs or white...the class debated about it for a little while before we decided it is white. After completing the bear, I decided it needed a sword. Many students were quite impressed. I'm not sure they should have been. The girl asked if she could trace it. I said no.
The next class asked why Kung Fu Panda was on the board. When I explained the story, they asked if I could draw a penguin...So I did. I'm not nearly as proud of this one.
Another teacher saw my panda, then had me look up some panda pictures online. Turns out in some Chinese zoo people are dressing up as pandas when they take care of the babies. Crazy.
In some of my classes I have had time to pass out scrap paper and give the students time to decorate a page to slide into the front of their view binder. Some students didn't know what to do with it, so I offered some suggestions:
Write with your favorite color.
Write your name.
Draw your favorite animal.
Write about how much you miss your mom.
As students were working, I noticed one girl wasn't writing or drawing anything. So, I asked her why not. She said she didn't know what to do. Again I suggested drawing her favorite animal.Girl: I want to draw a panda but I don't know how!
Me: Sure you do! It's easy!
I proceeded to pick up a dry erase marker and pretend that I am artistic. At one point I couldn't remember if pandas have black in the center or their stomachs or white...the class debated about it for a little while before we decided it is white. After completing the bear, I decided it needed a sword. Many students were quite impressed. I'm not sure they should have been. The girl asked if she could trace it. I said no.
The next class asked why Kung Fu Panda was on the board. When I explained the story, they asked if I could draw a penguin...So I did. I'm not nearly as proud of this one.
Another teacher saw my panda, then had me look up some panda pictures online. Turns out in some Chinese zoo people are dressing up as pandas when they take care of the babies. Crazy.
I miss hearing these stories first hand and ocasionaly coming in and getting to be a part of your class. Hope you are well.
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