Melissa+O'Connor

Thematic Unit Plan
Class: 6th grade Language Arts

//Title: Bullying: Then and Now// //Focus: WW2 and Bullying //

//Theme//: Making Choices Rationale:


 * ==Getting Started==

The first days of school are some of the most important days for laying out expectations and creating a classroom climate. The activities I will do with my students for the very first day will first have to depend on the amount of time we have together. My ideal first day of class is based off of a ninety minute block. When students enter the classroom I will greet them at the door and ask them to find their name cards at their desk. I will also try to remember everyone’s names because as Tchudi and Mitchell- say “students generally respond positively to teacher attempts to get to know them” (92). When everyone has arrived and settled in we will begin by reading “Oh, The Places You’ll Go” by Dr. Seuss. I will have a wall decorated like the cover of the book (with a colorful path) and it will be titled with the name of the book.

After we have read the book we will talk about its message and start brainstorming on our goals for the future. As the article suggests, I will talk to students about “why it is so vital that student know each other” before breaking into pairs. In pairs the students will share information about themselves with one another such as their names, where they are from, special interests such as sports or hobbies, and what they have done over the summer. I will then pass at colorful shapes of paper to each student. Each student will write their name and what they want to be when they grow up or a goal for the academic year.

Next, each pair will have the opportunity to come to the front of the classroom and introduce their partner to the class. They will then place their papers somewhere along the Dr. Seuss path and return to their seats to hear the next pair present.

When everyone has had a chance to present we will begin to discuss classroom rules and expectations. Students will co-create the rules with me. We will draw the rules out on large pieces of post-it paper and display the completed list (about 4-5 rules) on the classroom wall. I will explain to them that based off of the list we have created together I will create a class contract and that we will go over the following day.

> = = Tiki-Toki Timeline: http://www.tiki-toki.com/timeline/entry/159746/My-Life-as-a-Student/#vars!date=2001-02-11_18:18:46
 * =My School Map=


 * ==Writing Myself Into Being==

When I google searched myself I was very shocked to see that there was not much to find about me. I tried searching my name with NCSU tagged at the end and could only find information about my participation in the Equal Opportunity Institute. When a classmate searched me she was able to get a hold of my Facebook page, which is set to private. She was able to find out that I went to Tottenville High School and am originally from New York. I am very conscious about the types of things that wind up on my Facebook page and am happy to see that when searching my page it appears to be appropriate for a teacher.

While at first I saw this as a positive thing, I have realized that having practically no online footprint can be a drawback. In order to re-create my online image I have created a LinkedIn account, which can be found by simply searching ‘Melissa O’Connor Raleigh’. I have also created a twitter account for this class, which adds to my online activity. I have thought about adding my middle name to my online accounts in order to distinguish myself from the other countless Melissa O’Connor’s that pop up during a simple google search.

I am considering starting a blog, but am unsure about which direction I’d like to take it in. I love to travel and have done quite a bit of it in my college career. The lessons I’ve learned while traveling would be great to incorporate in my classroom, and a blog would provide a great place for me to reflect on my experiences. It would also be an appropriate place for me to jot down the random teaching-related ideas I have daily. Another online tool I am thinking about is Instagram. Surprisingly, I am a college student without an Instagram! In fact, I will probably wind up creating one within the next few days. I can think of quite a few ways that an Instagram could benefit my classroom!

I would like to incorporate the use of technology in my classroom by either using a classroom website or classroom wikipage. I like the idea of using twitter for quick reminders, and if I were to actually use this in my classroom I would create a separate account, similar to what we have done in our methods courses. The idea of having a classroom Facebook page has been brought to my attention, however I am still unsure about whether or not I feel completely comfortable with that option.


 * ==Classroom Philosophy==

Our literature classroom will be a place where my students and I have created a welcoming environment for diverse peoples and learners. I am the facilitator in our classroom, and the students lead the discussion, eager to share their responses with one another. They take part in literature circles and book clubs within our classroom. It is very important to us that student work is displayed throughout the classroom and that everyone’s accomplishments are recognized. Writing activities are relevant not only to the content being discussed during the lesson, but to students’ lives as well. We incorporate project based assessment into our classroom and each student has the ability to make choices about the project they will be working on. Our classroom is a place students enjoy coming to because they are comfortable with one another, but also know that they will walk away with meaningful knowledge. Our classroom is student centered and focuses on students' interests in order to be able to effectively teach content.

In other classes that I have taken in the College of Education we were required to create a classroom/educational philosophy. I have edited and updated my philosophy from Ed 204, and will use it to plan out the design of my ideal classroom.




 * ==Ideal Classroom Design==

My ideal classroom design includes an outdoor garden where students are encouraged to work on group projects or on independent reading. There is a stage in the back corner of the classroom that acts as both an independent reading corner and a performance/presentation center. There are three tables at the back of the classroom where students can work on group assignments. I have chosen the "U"-shaped desk design because I feel that it helps ensure that all students are included in discussion. We also have access to laptops since our classroom is one-to-one. We enjoy other technological luxuries such as the SMART board and document cam. There are three boards in our classroom. The first board, located behind the main entrance is where students will find the weekly and monthly assignment calendars and the "while you were out" information. The board along the side of the classroom is where our unit theme will be displayed (ex: the Dr. Seuss theme I talked about in the "Getting Started" section), our word wall, quote of the day, and some student work. The board at the back of the classroom will be entirely dedicated to student work. There are three bookshelves in the classroom, where students can find novels to check out of the class library. Also, we have two lamps on the stage, plants in the front corner of the classroom, and a fish tank.


 * ==My Name==

Melissa. With my father’s insistence, my parents named me Melissa. After the Allman Brothers song “Sweet Melissa”, of course. As a child I often saw my parents dance together to this song, or heard it playing in the background during dinner. That’s how I got my name, how it came to me, but not how it originated.

My name has ancient roots in Greek mythology. Melissa was the name of a nymph who nursed baby Zeus. Instead of feeding him milk, she would feed him honey. There are many different versions of this myth, my favorite being how Melissa discovered honey and taught men the feeling of modesty. She discovered a honeycomb and mixed it with water. She taught others to create this drink and to eat the honeycomb, and soon became the honey guardian. The other nymphs used honey to take man out of his wild state and introduce modesty into his world. When you search my name it is often defined as “honey bee” for this reason.

My family name, O’Connor, is one of the most common Irish surnames, and also one of the most important, historically speaking. The O’- means family of, or male descendent of. Connor is the Anglicized form of the Gaelic name Conchobhar. In Gaelic con means //hound or wolf//, while //cobhair// means desiring. My name, O’Connor, comes from the last true Irish monarchy. My class descended from Conchobhar, Connor in English, king of Connacht. The largest of the O’Connor clan resides today in County Kerry, where my grandfather immigrated from. Aside from my grandparents, my entire lineage can be traced back to County Kerry and County Cork, Ireland.

Melissa O'Connor: Honeybee, descendent of Connor. Sounds pretty grand, huh? My name has both mythical roots in Ancient Greece and historical significance in Ireland. My name is powerful, yet rolls gently off the tongue. My name is full of history. My name is unique to me. My name has character.

**M**elody **E**xcellence **L**eader **I**nterest **S**weet **S**trength **A**dventurous

Oak Tree: Continuous Growth and Fertility Helmet: Wisdom, Protection, Strength Green: Hope, Joy, Loyalty in Love White: Peace and Sincerity Yellow: Generosity