Well, friends, I've taken a new position this year. I've
been given the opportunity to expand my abilities outside of the classroom as
an educational evaluator for the School District of Oconee County. It's
an incredibly rewarding job. I get to witness amazing teachers in our
schools. That means that instead of just reading stories from my
classroom, you'll get to hear about stories from many different grade levels
and teaching styles. I plan on writing about teachers who are using my
REAL (Relevant, Engaging, Authentic Learning) program in their classrooms.
As you know from all of my previous posts, the REAL program most
definitely conjures up amazing classroom stories!
This post is about my sighting of Dollar the Dog. Now, if you don't know who Dollar is let me introduce you...
Several years ago my students asked if we could have a class pet. The first thought that ran through my mind was a picture of me trudging up to school on a snow day to feed our precious little fur ball. Then it hit me….a class pet doesn’t have to be living and breathing, does it?
Our class “adopted” Dollar, a precious stuffed animal that only requires love and respect. Each night a student is chosen by his/her peer to take our class pet, along with the pet’s diary, home. While at home, the student writes in Dollar’s diary about what they did together. This can be anything from what they had for dinner to what happened at soccer practice. The next morning, the student brings Dollar back to school and reads the diary entry to the class. The diary entry can give a great deal of insight into the home life of students. The class may then raise their hands to ask 3 questions about what was read. Most students ask questions like, “What did you have for dinner?” or “Where did Dollar sleep last night?” This is a terrific opportunity for a class to formally interview a classmate each morning, as well as for the teacher to learn more about the home lives of their students.
Dollar's diary is an excellent way to make
writing relevant to students. They know that their classmates are counting on
them for quality writing and that all ears will be on that writing the next
day. Students become quite creative with it too! At the beginning of the year,
students tend to write from their own perspective. Midway through the year,
students start to write from Dollar’s perspective. This is a great way to teach
point of view.
This morning Mrs. Butler's class at Northside Elementary School
gave Dollar the Dog a new identity. He is now known as "Dollar the Super
Cowdog!"
Mrs. Butler and her students were so thrilled by the creativity of
her young second grader. When I visited her classroom the student who
brought Dollar back dressed as Super Cowdog was definitely the class celebrity.
He was on cloud nine and his confidence was soaring. Mrs. Butler is
such an amazing teacher. She had lifted this young man up with her praise
and pride in him. This was definitely a highlight in her young student's
school day. Props to Mrs. Butler for supporting taking pride and building
confidence in her young learners! Her students are lucky to have such an
amazing teacher creating a warm and positive classroom each day.
To order your own Dollar the Dog visit www.mc4k.com/catalog
