Look around your classroom with two questions in mind. First, are we set up for Heartwood lessons, with places for materials, reading, and displaying student work? Second, are the attributes prominent and visible to remind us what is important in our classroom? Here are some specific ideas for responding to these questions.
- Post the attributes
Purchase an attribute poster, or have students download large letters, color or paint them, and post the attribute words.
- Author’s chair
Set up a read-aloud space with a reader’s chair and cushions or mats for listeners.
- A microphone
Use a microphone or podium to give special importance to students as they present their Heartwood poetry, pictures, essays, and other work.
- Heartwood corner
You may want to set up a special area of the classroom with a listening space, a bulletin board for student responses, a map of the world or globe, a book display, and storage for Heartwood Journals.
- Heartwood chain
Use large, colorful paper loops and add a link for each book read. By May, it might stretch around the whole room.
Setting the Tone
Here are some ways to create a Heartwood climate and encourage positive interactions.
- Basing their discussion on the attribute Respect, students as a group can decide on three or four classroom rules (more than that may be unwieldy). The teacher facilitates and makes suggestions. Post the rules.
- Every day, teacher and students make references to the Heartwood attributes in reading, writing, listening, teaming, drawing, and informal interactions.
- Each week includes a structured Heartwood lesson as well as related activities and projects.
Building Your Team
- Send home the letters found in the Heartwood Teachers’ Guide to inform parents about Heartwood. Ask parents to help with Heartwood activities during the year by sharing aspects of their culture and community, their profession, or their volunteer work. (We do not recommend substituting parents or other volunteers for teachers in reading aloud the Heartwood books, especially the first time, because bonds forged in reading and discussion are an important component of the program.)
- Visit the librarian and talk about Heartwood. Ask him or her to support you by collecting related books and guiding students when they visit the library. Librarians will find book recommendations in supplemental literature.
- Talk with other teachers using Heartwood in your school. Explore options for professional development. There is always more power with the synergy of a group!
One More Thing...
As you begin teaching Heartwood, please take half an hour to learn how it feels to answer questions about the attributes. Grab a pencil and write (in your journal if you have one) responses to the following:
- How have you shown Courage in your life?
- In childhood?
- Young adulthood?
- Lately?
Repeat for each attribute.
|
|
