Callie+Casselli

Holly Grove Middle School~Ms. Beddingfield~Sixth Grade Language Arts and Social Studies

**Unit Plan!!!!** **Theme:** Belonging **Materials/Texts:** I do not have specific texts chosen yet, but I have the literature text book and other resources to find a few short stories. Also, I plan on using a few novels for literature circles.
 * Reasoning: ** This theme was recommended by my CT, but I think it is a great idea. Sixth graders are still trying to find their place, both in their school and in their group of friends/peers. This unit will help them find ways that they can belong and, "fit in." Using a theme of belonging may cause the class to form a stronger sense of community when the students see the importance of it and begin to feel like they can belong. Also, there are numerous novels, stories, and poems that this theme can be found in.

**Activities:** My CT and I talked about using literature circles to study various novels with a theme of belonging, and I definitely want to do that. Based on all of the subjects that I have to cover (there are quite a few) I may have to come up with quite a few mini activities. I am no so sure how I am going to go about this yet, because I need to figure out if every single lesson has to relate to the theme of belonging.

Obviously, on the first day, I will have to set some rules, which I plan on creating with my students. I want to do a contract that I and the students sign. We have talked about that a lot in our classes, but this article didn't really mention making rules, but it is important for students to know what is expected of them. On the other hand, I loved how this article was so keen on getting to know each student's unique, individual personality. That is something that is very valuable to me, as I'm sure it is for most teachers. I definitely plan on doing some kind of activities where I and the students all get to know each other.

We have seen a lot of activities similar to the ones in the articles in text books we have had for other courses. One that is new to me is the one about making a fib. It seems like such a great idea and something I could use as a journal entry, or something of the sort, in the first few days. In addition, although it is an idea I have seen quite a few times through my college career, I still think exchanging letters between the student and the teacher is a fantastic idea, especially responding in detail as a teacher. One of my professors did this last semester, and even as a twenty year old, it made me feel really special. Similarly, I want my students to feel special and like each and every one of them matters.

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Writing Myself into Being/Online Identity

Ever since I have began using social media, I have been very careful about what I post, for my dad was on Facebook and Myspace, which were all I used then. Now I still have my Facebook, in addition to Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr, and more than just my dad are watching. My mom, step dad, and little sister are on some of these sites, and they see it all. Needless to say, I have never posted anything inappropriate; however, I do post some things that may seem unprofessional. Because these sites have become part of me, they show off my unique personality, I have chosen not to delete them, but I really think about what I post even more than before. I will not post during classes (not that I ever did), I will not post negatively about people (except celebrities and such), and I will not post anything that could be interpreted in an inappropriate way. I may consider making my Twitter private to further avoid this. I would like to start a blog, after being inspired by so many, and that will be public. It is not bad, I am just very guilty of over-tweeting about television shows while I watch them. I am also going to further the privacy settings on my Facebook. This is just a thought, like I said, I do not have anything inappropriate, per say, just some things that may come across as unprofessional.

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Teaching Philosophy

 To me, the most important task in the classroom is fostering a safe, comfortable, and accepting environment for my students. Class discussions can cause a very strong learning experience, but is difficult if students are not comfortable, and feel self conscious, speaking in front of their teachers and peers. I want every student to have a rewarding experience in my class, and that begins with feeling confident in their own skin. <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;"> Its no secret that standardized testing places high stress on students and teachers. Teaching to the test takes all of the fun and authenticity out of learning, in my opinion. Therefore, I strive to create hands on lesson plans that incorporate the needs of all of my students. I make these plans and wishes that students will leave my class every day with a positive attitude.

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<span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">--- <span style="font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">Name Inquiry

The most beautiful of the elf army: that's how I've always explained my name. I think its pretty unique. Callie is derived from the Greeks and means beautiful. I'm not actually Greek; however, my whole step-family is. They told me that Callie is actually short for Calliope, who was the muse of epic poetry. Through different searches, I've found out that Olivia has two popular meanings. One is, "of the olive tree," but that's boring; I prefer the meaning "of the elf army." I'm not sure my last name, Casselli, has a meaning, but it is Italian and I learned that my family is from around the Naples area of Italy, which is apparently the home of pizza!

My parents probably have the most interesting story of where my name came from. My mom worked at Hooters, and one of the girls that she worked with was named Callie. Her and my dad both liked it. My dad, a surfer, also liked it because it reminded him of the beach. Its ranked 221 in the name system, so its unique, which I like. Furthermore, my mom loved the Cosby show, and she took Olivia from Raven Symone's character. Although, I'm pretty sure somewhere down the line I had a great great, maybe great great great, grandma named Olivia.

Cali is how my name usually gets written on orders and things like that. People associate it with California, which is totally fine by me, because I love California. They ask me, "Are you from California?" or, "Is that short for California?" I don't know how many people are actually named California, but I guess its a good conversation starter.

Poem

Callie Beautiful, from the Greek Olivia Elf army, or olive tree

Taken from Hooters Some think I shouldn't tell I think its awesome Otherwise I'd have been Michelle

Before she was, "So Raven" My mom noticed her Or a name of a beauty In an old work of Shakespeare

Its pretty unique Number two twenty one Never would I ever Trade my name with someone

Some think the west coast The sun and the sea I can't really complain The name is Callie

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<span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">11/7/2013 <span style="font-family: 'Lucida Sans Unicode','Lucida Grande',sans-serif;">Poem

I will escape to the place I’ve known so long It wasn’t until recent years I’d go this far The troubles caused me to desire to escape into the deep blue Floating endlessly over smooth waves, not wanting to return

Lying solo, salt water keeping me buoyant It would lap at my face and I could smell the ocean breeze The bright white sun made me close my eyes And I could still see the glare through my dark lids.

My hair drifted out as a mermaid’s would And I did not wish to go back to the real world The fear of what’s to come, where I’ll be Its all happened way too fast And I just want to go back