The first week of school went really well for me this year. I made some key changes to my daily routine, including adding FVR 4 days each week, that have made a huge difference in my energy levels already. I am very excited for all that I have planned for next week… but, then I went to Sam’s Club and $5 below this weekend.
And my plans flew out the window!
First, I found this monster head from Sam’s Club ($20).
And this psychedelic unicorn head, also from Sam’s Club ($20).
I don’t know about you, but when I find something this cool I just have to incorporate it immediately. I am so darned excited about these heads that my lesson plans are OUT. THE. WINDOW! Gone. Disappeared. Lesson plans? What lesson plans?
I think I will storyask with the monster head and just see where it takes us. Then perhaps with the psychedelic unicorn we will write a story together by going around the room and each student providing one word at a time. I haven’t done this yet, but read about it as a summary strategy in Mike Peto’s My Perfect Year. I’ll let you know how it goes!
I also happened upon this writing prompts book from $5 Below.
As soon as I opened it, I knew immediately these questions could be used for Special Person interviews a la Bryce Hedstrom (and here). I teach levels 3 and 4 this year, so I plan to scaffold up to ask more in-depth questions.
Here are 30 examples:
- Has your pride ever gotten in the way or caused you to lose something important?
- Do you listen when people give you advice? Do you give advice? What’s the best advice you ever gave?
- How do you feel about sharks? Do you believe they are beneficial to the world?
- Do you believe in multitasking or focusing on one thing at a time? How does this help or hurt you?
- Name five things you learned this year. How are they beneficial?
- If you could sit down with any outlaw or criminal (past or present) who would it be and why? What would you ask them?
- While at the beach you decide to write a message in a bottle. What would it say? Who would you like to find it?
- If you fell down a rabbit hole, what do you think you’d find?
- If you wrote a song about your love-life, what would the title be?
- What is an original screen name and password that the Easter Bunny may use when logging in to check his e-mail?
- If you were to start a new business right this minute, what would it be? Describe it.
- You are planning a “murder mystery” dinner party. What’s on the menu? Who is on the guest list? Who gets murdered?
- In what way are you a trendsetter in your social circle?
- Name a fictional character or monster you would love to have as a friend. Why do you think they would be a good friend to you?
- An alien has just abducted you. Give three reasons why it would send you back to earth.
- If you found yourself in Oz, what would you do differently than Dorothy?
- Name something you wish had a remote control that currently does not.
- Talk about your favorite pair of shoes and why you love them so much.
- Pick one of the following careers: music DJ, sushi chef, or firefighter. This will be your job for the next three months. Why did you choose it, and what benefit do you think you will gain from it?
- Choose someone you would like to write a “thank you” note to. Who is the person? Why do you want to write a “thank you” note to them?
- If you could pretend to be someone else, who would it be and why?
- Add a character to your favorite TV, movie, or book series. Who are they? How do they change the plot?
- What gives you the most inner peace?
- What makes you feel content?
- Do you believe every cloud has a silver lining?
- Do you believe the truth always comes out? Has the truth ever set you free?
- You have a chance to mentor a middle-schooler. What would you say to them that will impact their life?
- What is/would be the funniest prank you ever played on someone?
- Name your biggest pet peeve. Do you bring it to a person’s attention when they annoy you with it?
- Do you believe in miracles? Have you or someone you know ever witnessed one?
Where are your favorite places to find props? What is your favorite classroom prop? Do you have list interesting Special Person questions already made? I’d love to hear about them!