Strategies to Learn About Students

The Sorting HatInspired by the Harry Potter series by JK Rowling

Materials Sorting Hat Song(s)

o Lyrics for the three canonical versions can be found here.o Various visuals versions:

Forgiveyourmind’s Visual of the First Song. Stepon7’s Banner Series: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw & Slytherin. Pottermore.com House Key Words. Emily-Corene’s House Traits Series: Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw &

Slytherin Risa Rodil’s Lettering Series.

o Audio/Video versions: GOF Sorting Hat Song by Kim! Sorting Hat Song by Ed Eliason All Four Hogwarts Houses Explained by Badger Gaming

Optional: Hogwarts House Crestso Printable from DGS.

Optional: Hogwarts House Scarf (For Teacher to wear)o Available for purchase here.o Knitting pattern available here.

Set-Up1. Create a PowerPoint/Google Slides with your selected version(s) of the Sorting Hat Song.2. Take the Sorting Hat Quiz on Pottermore.com to determine your House. 3. Read What Your Hogwarts House Says About You by Amanda Clarke to prepare to guide student

discussion.

Walkthrough1. Either read out or play your chosen version of the sorting hat song.2. Explain to students that in order for you to get to know them better and for them to know their

classmates better, we’re going to introduce ourselves and say which Hogwarts house we would be in.

3. Note that while certain qualities are mentioned in the song and/or associated with different houses, the Sorting Hat tends to place students based on what they value as opposed to those traits they personify.

4. Model the activity for students by introducing yourself using this formula:

My name is _____. I am a _____ because ________.

Example: My name is Miss Johnston-Carter. I am a Slytherin because I am resourceful, determined and I am extremely loyal to my friends.

The Choosing CeremonyInspired by the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth

Materials Explanation(s) of the Factions

o Official Website Faction Explanations. o The Divergent Life’s Faction Explanations

Visual Explanations:o The World of Divergent: 5 Virtue-Based Factionso Are Bergonia’s 5 Divergent Factionso Supsbatsy’s Those who…o MTV’s Get to Know Your Factions

Audio/Video versions:o Divergent – Introduction Sceneo Faction Infomercial by MiMeGEEKo Ke$ha Parody “Where You Fit” by Alice Christineo Divergence: How To Choose Your Faction by Jim Backston

Set-Up1. Create a PowerPoint/Google Slides with your selected version(s) of explanations of the Factions.2. Take the Aptitude Quiz on divergentthemovie.com to determine your Faction. 3. Read the Divergent Wiki’s Factions article to prepare to guide student discussion.

Walkthrough1. Either read out or play your chosen version of the Faction explanation.2. Explain to students that in order for you to get to know them better and for them to know their

classmates better, we’re going to introduce ourselves and say which Faction from Divergent we would be in.

3. Note that in Divergent there is a personality test which recommends a Faction, but in the end the decision is left up to the individual.

4. Model the activity for students by introducing yourself using this formula: My name is _____. I would be in _____ because ________.

Example: My name is Miss Johnston-Carter. I would be in Dauntless because I am loud, expressive and I believe in ordinary acts of bravery such as standing up for another person.

Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences

Materials Explanation of Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences for Students

o Visual Multiple Intelligences: A Field Guide by Mark Bennett Curriculum Comics: Multiple Intelligences by Andy Wales 9 Types of Intelligence – Inforgraphic from Adioma Multiple Intelligences from Study & Suceed

o Handouts Learning Styles for Multiple Intelligences Handout from Texas Education Agency Handshake Handouts Theory of Multiple Intelligences from Nomi Naeem

o Audio/Visual Best Ideas Series – Multiple Intelligences from Brock International Prize in

Education Multiple Intelligences by MsHMcKnight 9 Types of Intelligence by Psych2Go Multiple Intelligences by Zach Becker

Optional: Multiple Intelligences Assessmentso Multiple Intelligences Self-Assessment from Edutopiao Multiple Intelligences Assessment from Litearcynet.orgo Multiple Intelligences Survey by Laura Candler

Optional: Ways to Use Multiple Intelligenceso 12+ Ways to Teach Using Multiple Intelligences by Kim Hayeso Learning Tips For Multiple Intelligences by Susan Fitzello Multiple Intelligences Study Techniques from Excelsior College

Set-Up1. Create a PowerPoint/Google Slides with your selected version(s) of explanations of Multiple

Intelligences and print out any handouts you choose to use.2. Determine two of the multiple intelligences which you are strong in and one that you are weak in

so that you can demonstrate the activity to students.

Walkthrough1. Either read out, play or distribute handouts to explain Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences

to students.2. Optional: Allow time for students to take either one of the two online assessments (from

Edutopia or Literacynet.org) or the printable assessment from Laura Candler.3. Explain to students that in order for you to get to know them better and for them to be more

successful in this class and school in general you 4. Model the activity for students by listing two of the multiple intelligences you are strong in and

that one you are weak in. Give examples of how you can learn this knowledge, such as studying in a way that works for your stronger multiple intelligences

5. Optional: Ask students to research ways to use the multiple intelligences which they identified as their two strongest. Students can be given links listed above under “Optional: Ways to Use Multiple Intelligences” or tasked with finding resources on their own.

Student Poster

Materials Computers for Poster Creation

o Students will need to be able to access Google Slides Printing Services

o FedEx Online Printing Services o UPS Printing Services o Staples Print Services o OfficeMax Printing Services o Cost Co Photo Center

Set-Up1. Practice setting up Poster in Google Slides (See step 2 in the Walkthrough below) so that you are

comfortable explaining the process to students.2. Research the availability of the printing services listed above in your area and the cost to print

out a Poster. Use this to determine how much extra credit to give to students who print out their poster.

3. Create an example poster and get it printed.4. Create an assignment for the Poster

Walkthrough1. Explain the Poster project to students, including the requirements.

Suggested Requirements Student’s Full Name must be present and legible. At least 10 pictures, with two of them being pictures of the student. No Clip Art Poster must be “G Rated”

2. Pull up Google Slides on Projector/TV and walk students through the steps to set up their poster.1. Create a new blank presentation.2. Click on “File” and then “Page Setup”3. Select “custom” from the drop down menu.4. Set the dimensions of the page to 11 x 17 inches.

2. Demonstrate how to do various tasks in Google slides, such as adding images, text and changing the background color of the slide.

3. Give examples of pictures that students can include, such as favorite food, movies, music, TV Shows, places.

4. Remind students to submit the Poster to Google Classroom when they are finished and how to save the Poster as a PDF for printing. (File / Download as / PDF Document)

5. Explain to students that they will present the Poster to the class on the due date and that extra credit will be given to students who print out the Poster so that it can be displayed in class.

6. Show students your poster and explain why you chose the images you did.7. Give students time to work on posters in class and at home.8. At a later meeting have student present their poster to the class.9. Display printed posters in class and return them to students at the end of the semester/year/etc.

Example Poster

Call You by Your Name

Materials

My Name, My Identity – a Campaign to honor students’ names. How we Pronounce Student Names and Why it Matters by Jennifer Gonzalez A Teacher Mispronouncing A Students Name Can Have A Lasting Impact by Corey Mitchell Name Pronunciation Websites

o Hear Names o Pro-Nounce

Set-Up

1. Take the Pledge at My Name, My Identity to agree to respect students’ names.2. Optional: Make use of the Campaign Tools from My Name My Identity.3. Use your class roster to create a pronunciation guide with the names on one side and space to

write out their correct pronunciation on the other.Walkthrough

1. Before taking roll on the first day of class explain to students that you want pronounce their names correctly and ask them to correct you each and every time you fail to do so.

2. Also inform students that if they have a nickname, preferred name or preferred pronouns to inform you of that when their name is called or afterwards if they do not feel comfortable doing so in front of the class.

3. Go through your class roster, writing out correct pronunciations, nicknames, preferred names and/or pronouns as you go.

Example:Rebecca Johnston-Carter Becky John-stun (not son) Carter (both last names)Laura Howard Jeremy He/Him

Parent/Guardian Information Form

Materials Parent/Guardian Information Form (see next page)

Set-Up1. Fill in the highlighted information on the Information Form.2. Create a Master List to enter information gathered from the form.3. Print out enough copies of the form to hand one out to each student.

Walkthrough

1. Hand Parent/Guardian Information Forms to students.2. Optional: Make turning the form back in a low point value homework assignment.3. Collect Parent/Guardian Information Forms and enter information on Master List.

Dear Parent or Guardian,

I believe that parent-teacher and/or family teacher communication is important for student success. Please take a few minutes to let me know about your schedule, means of contact and preferences. I will not share this information with anyone, unless you allow it.

May I share this information with another teacher? _______ yes _______ no

May I call you at home? _______ yes _______ no

If yes, what’s the number? _______________________________________________

Time when you are at home: _____________

May I call you on your cell phone? _______ yes _______ no

If yes, what’s the number? _______________________________________________

May I call you at work? _______ yes _______ no

If yes, what is the business’s name? _______________________________________

If yes, what is the phone number (and extension)? __________________________

May I contact you by e-mail? _______ yes _______ no

If yes, what is the address? _____________________________

About Contacting Me

During school hours, I am available during my planning period, which is from _TIME_ to _TIME_ , and you can reach me at this number: _NUMBER_.

Outside of that time block, I cannot come to the telephone, because I am teaching or supervising students. I am also available to speak with you in the evenings. Just leave a message for me and be sure to include a description of what you’d like to discuss, so I can bring any necessary files home and be prepared to answer your questions.

I can be reached via email at _EMAIL_. I check this email daily and will do my best to respond as soon as possible.

Thank you for your time!

Miss Johnston-Carter