Hi Denis and #makeitreal! Megan, 8th Science, D122 in Oak Lawn, IL. I love everything about the holiday season....but maybe because my shopping is already done!
Maury from TN, Technology teacher and two time presenter now :) I love everything about Christmas. The food, family, picking out gifts for my wife, hanging decorations. trying not to double our electric bill. #MakeItReal
A1: Next week I'm putting a few elves on the shelves around the building. Teachers that find them get prizes like jeans day, class coverage, extended lunch, etc. #MakeItReal
A1: My principal has younger children so I get to hear his at home Elf on the Shelf stories. I teach HS, & since mythology is one class, I prefer Thor in the Drawer. #MakeItReal
A1: YES! The Elf on the Shelf was doing some activity that was appearing in a lesson later on that day. The Ss had to guess what he was doing. #MakeItReal
When I was teaching dance, I choreographed a tap number to their Christmas Can Can - it cleaned house at competition and earned me a Choreographer's Award! Got two brothers who are Indiana alumni, so we're big fans of SNC! #MakeItReal
Because of our cultural diversity, we try to celebrate in other ways besides tradtional holiday decorations, celebrations and activities at school. #MakeItReal
A1 I have had students bring in their elf, which I thought was highly illegal but never used it. I did help our K teacher with some ideas. I think it makes it fun for teachers and students. Something new to look forward to every day. #MakeItReal
A1: I have not used it, but my wife uses it with her first graders. The elf will actually write back to students who write Alfred (his name) letters. I think it is a great way to encourage writing! #makeitreal
A1: Since I will be teaching younger children, an Elf on the Shelf will make an appearance! My mom is a 3rd grade teacher and her kids love "Holly Jingle"! #MakeItReal
Depends. I let Ss help me each year. It starts out as just fun, but then we get more into it. Can place him around school, he looks for kindness, etc. Ss get to decide. Sometimes it is just in my room. #MakeItReal
Q1: Yes! He’s back. My first class names him last year and I kept the name! I love seeing my old students in the hall and letting them know their elf is back!!! They’re always welcome to come and see him! #makeitreal
A2: Promote student writing, use it to teach students classroom geography, or highlight an important space in your classroom that does not get regularly used that they could benefit from. #makeitreal
A2-out of the classroom now but in the past I used him to teach prepositions because it was timely -where can Timmy move? Under, over, behind, etc...same thing with a rat when preposition time fell around Halloween #MakeItReal
A2: Use the Elf as a time-traveling expert on a science concept - @Photoshop his picture into different historical eras to represent the ideas on science at the time. #MakeItReal
A2 Hm... just thinking out loud but maybe consider where your elf is from.. How long does it take him to travel to your classroom and back. What would be he fastest/cheapest route (other than magic of course). #MakeItReal
A2: Distance traveled nightly to North Pole, creating questions that have him in, writing prompts that include him, Google Drawing on what Ss think his house looks like. Just ask Ss what ?s they have about him & go from there.
#MakeItReal
A2: Ss could create a blog as the elf. Search pictures online and everything. It could make for some good creative writing. It would not be that much of a stretch. #makeitreal
A2.2: I know myself. Writing is not my favorite thing to do, but if I can tell a silly story or create some wild adventure, I can go on for days. What if we approached students with this approach to writing? #makeitreal
A2: Elf or Thor (again...HS mythology) can be featured in our Super Happy Fun Circle Time writings, maybe he can travel like Flat Stanley, but I like to challenge Ss to come up with a service project for Thor (Elf). #MakeItReal
A2: Friendly Letter Writing! Jack leaves a letter each day referencing things from the previous day & previewing what they will be doing that day! Ss practice writing letters back! #MakeItReal
Q2: Our class @mrshayes2nd is having a little difficulty adjusting and being kind this year. Our elf rewards the students for being kind. It’s fun to play off of the elf watching Bc you are in control in a way! It’s reinforcing kindness that will last! #makeitreal
Also persuasive letter writing. Have Ss write letters to the Elf to persuade him to not tell Santa about certain actions or to defend a friend! #MakeItReal
A2: I think it could be used as a management tool as well. Encourage reading and writing - students can draw, describe, and make up stories about what the elf does at the North Pole. #MakeItReal
A2: encourage creative writing of the elf’s journey and letter writing. It also promotes discussion, positive behavior, and excitement throughout the day! #MakeItReal
A2: Since he MATHew brings the kids a daily math problem and the kids love him, I think our next activity may be to lock him in a @breakoutEDU box. The kids would love to break him out! #MakeItReal
A3: Secret Santa is a tradition in my yearbook class. We started it one year to build up the team, but it is now a very sacred part of the class. They are creative and sneaky, delivering 'mini' gifts up until the last class period before break. #MakeItReal
A3: The reading of The Polar Express. The students will also use this as a part of an ELA lesson. There is also a craft added to the lesson. The students color their own bell then make their own bell keychain. #MakeItReal
We play Santa to 40 PreK kids @ a neighboring school. Their Ss write letters 2 Santa, we get them, my Ss buy gifts & have a party for them. My Ss give the kids their gifts and play with them for about thirty minutes. The little ones never know where they come from.#makeitreal
A3: I do a Countdown to Christmas Break by wrapping holiday books & putting them under our tree! Each morning, a S unwraps a book & that’s our morning read aloud! “15 Books of Christmas”! 📚 🌲 #MakeItReal
A3 Music, cheer, spirit of giving. Why not take advantage of our students who will inherently look forward to the holidays? Find ways to #makeitreal (your lessons) so you can still capitalize on the time you have with them.
A3: This answer is a little out of the box, but love is a holiday tradition, too, right? I have a handful of Ss who I know will have a rough 2 week break at home. Trying to make sure they get as much love as possible now to keep them going through it. #MakeItReal
A3: One day next week our elf will be reading Horrible Harry and the Holidaze. Then the kids will watch the winter holidays @brainpop to learn about other holidays. #MakeItReal
A3: I remember having many gingerbread house contests throughout elementary school and high school. We had teachers vote for their favorites! #MakeItReal
We did Door Decorating contests. IT got a bit out of hand and I'm not too proud of some of the things I did to win, but in the long run, I can live with it. #MakeItReal
A3: I have students read about holidays around the world. We compare and contrast how they’re celebrated in other countries. Leads to rich discussions and new perspectives while incorporating nonfiction text #MakeItReal
A3b: I'm now wondering how fun it would be to do a GHO around the nation/beyond to check in on holiday traditions in classrooms of my Twitter #PLN . How fun would that be? #MakeItReal
I have a holiday tree in my classroom, adorned w lights and all different types of ornaments-Lots of student made ornaments! I make sure to read different types of stories and have decorations for all! I love doing my gingerbread unit! Who doesn’t like gingerbread?! #makeitreal
Thanks everyone for another great, fun and bucket filling #MakeItReal chat! Love your ideas and can't wait to spread them! See you tomorrow at #EduAR and Next week!
