Tag: elementary

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Book Summaries, But Make Them Relatable

Have you ever read a book so good you couldn’t put it down? You devoured the story line, related with the characters, and could imagine the whole plot in your mind- it was SO good. Then, a week after you finished it, your friend asks you what your favorite part of the book was or what it was about, and you are completely stumped. For the life of you, you cannot remember any details– just a simple plot summary. 

I know I can’t be the only one who has had this kind of thing happen to them. I think that this happens to us as adults because of a few reasons: we’re reading through material fairly quickly, which doesn’t give our brains enough time to fully process and store what we read, we have so many other things competing for mental storage space as adults that the details of a story often get pushed out, or maybe our reading is interrupted. Perhaps one of the biggest reasons this happens is that we subconsciously know we aren’t being tested or graded on what we read like we were when we were in school, so our brains kind of filter out the smaller details, without any real effort from us. When there are higher stakes, we tend to focus on something more intently, and therefore remember more about it. In school, we often ask students to write down things about their reading– because we know it will help them retain information better. 

Giving them an assignment associated with the reading makes them accountable and will help encourage more active reading. But just taking notes on a story sounds kind of boring, if I’m being honest. If we make it relatable and/or engaging, students are more likely to remember and make sense of what they read– and they are more likely to want to participate in the assignment. When students write down information, it creates a mental connection, which helps to cement information in their minds.

I’ve created two different worksheets you can print off and use. Each worksheet uniquely asks students to recall information from their reading, and does so in an engaging way. Feel free to print them off and use them with your classes. Both worksheets would be most effective for students in upper elementary grades or students in middle/junior high.

**Downloads are intended for classroom or personal use only. They are not to be sold, reposted, or claimed as your own.**

Plot SquaresDownload
Character Text ThreadDownload
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Walking Report Cards

My kids’ school had their final Parent-Teacher Conferences of the year last night. It’s wild to think that we are getting so close to the end of the school year! Last night’s conferences were different from the others we’ve attended this year. Typically, we sign up for a time slot to sit down and talk with each teacher for 10-15 minutes. Those are great, and I love hearing about the progress my children are making and talking with their teachers. 

Last night, however, they did what is called a “Walking Report Card” where the kids were in charge of the night. The teacher provided a set of instructions, then, using a checklist provided by the teacher, the students were expected to take over from there. Each teacher had set up four or five different stations, which we rotated through at our own pace and in the order we chose. Each station focused on a different area of study: science, math, reading, writing, and/or social studies. 

Rather than the teacher going over some of our kids’ work, our kids got the chance to show us what they have been learning about. We were able to see their progress in action! It was such a cool opportunity for the kids to take control of the conference. They felt so empowered and important while they took us through the rotations. Additionally, they took so much pride and ownership in their work as they showed us what they could do. 

It was a nice break for the teachers, too, since they could casually roam the room and answer any questions parents had for them rather than sit at their desk all night. They still had to prepare for the night by collecting work samples to send home with parents, as well as to set up the stations, but the conferences themselves were much more relaxed. 

The stations looked different for each grade, but they all had the same goal: to let the students show what they know. A math station might ask students to complete a couple of equations, draw out an array for a multiplication problem, use a candy bracelet to show their knowledge of fractions, or complete a word problem. Science stations could include activities like demonstrating how magnets work, drawing how a sound wave travels between two objects, labeling the parts of a plant, and so forth. For a reading station, teachers might have students read a passage then summarize what they read, do a timed reading to see how many words they could read in a minute, or reading a short story they had written. For writing, my third grader showed us how he could neatly write a sentence in cursive. My fourth grader read me a passage he had written about the Boston Tea Party. My kindergartener got to show us how he can write the correct word to match a picture. 

There were so many different ways for students to demonstrate their learning, and it was so neat to see first hand what my kids are learning about and doing at school. They did take a little longer than traditional conferences, but the outcome was worth the extra time, and the pride each student felt during and after was priceless!

Does your school do walking report cards?

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Lucky Leprechaun Math

Top o’ the mornin’ to ya! Can you believe we are already to March?! This year is flying by. Even though time is going quickly, March can sometimes feel like such a long month since there aren’t really any holidays or breaks from school. What better way to brighten up the month than by some fun holiday themed math? 

Click on the file below to download and print a fun worksheet that focuses on addition and subtraction. Recommended for kindergarten or first grade.

**Download is for personal or classroom use only. It may not be resold, reposted, or redistributed.**

Lucky Leprechaun MathDownload
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Math Manipulatives: More Than Just A Counting Tool

This one’s for you, preschool and early elementary grade teachers! I’m sure most of you have some sort of math manipulative or counting manipulative in your classroom. Manipulatives are a great way to teach math concepts to younger students– they provide a hands-on experience as students learn. As I’ve mentioned before, the more senses that can be engaged during learning, the better chance you have that the concept will become long-term knowledge. I also love manipulatives because they support fine motor development as their tiny fingers pick up and move pieces around. If you have cubes or another more 3D counter, you might also have them use tongs to pick up the counters and move them, thus encouraging even more fine motor skills to be used.

There are so many ways to use manipulatives in your teaching, beyond simply counting with them. Keep reading to discover some fun ways to incorporate these awesome tools into your teaching!

Color sorting

Sorting is one of the earliest and most basic math skills kids learn. Students can work individually or together to sort counters by color. You can have them sort into piles, provide them with colored paper to put them on, or even provide them with colored cups (or color labeled cups) to put them in. 

Grouping by 5s, 10s, etc.

This one might be best for kindergarten or first grade, as that is when they begin to learn to skip count and group numbers. Have students group their counters into groups of 5, 10, 20, or so on. They can do this by color or just by number groups.

Letter Formation

While this isn’t a math skill, you can still use counters for it. Have students practice forming letters with the counters. They might also enjoy spelling their names, or even practicing their spelling words.

Shape Formation

Preschoolers love shapes! Have them use manipulatives to create various shapes. You might need to start with an outline of a shape on a piece of paper for them to follow/trace, but as they become more confident with their shapes, they can do it on their own.

Math Equations

Using manipulatives to display and solve equations can help visual learners see what the math looks like rather than just looking at numbers on a paper. They can create equations for their peers to solve, too, which creates a great opportunity for team work and cooperative thinking.

Pattern Creation

Patterns are all around us, and are another of the foundational math skills that are taught. Students can use counters to follow a pattern or create their own patterns. They can even start a pattern, then share with a classmate to finish it.

Hiding Game

Keeping in mind the abilities of your students, hide counters around the room. Have students go on a “treasure hunt” to find the counters. You can assign them each a color, give them a certain number of counters to find (each student can find 10, etc.), or even put them into pairs to go hunting together. Kids love these kinds of games– they are moving around getting wiggles out, actively searching for something, and if in teams, working together to find the items. 

While these activities are mostly geared toward younger grades, I don’t think students in older grades would mind if you had them try these out. Kids of all ages love to play while they learn!

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It Takes A Village

“It takes a village” is a common saying amongst parents who are referring to the many people who, in one way or another, help raise or care for their children. I love that the word “village” is used rather than “city”– “village” has such a different feel and connotation than “city”. When I think of a village, I think of a very close-knit community, full of people looking out for one another, caring for each other, and helping each other. Thoughts of a city bring to mind lots of movement, people going about their own business, every man for himself, and lots of chaos and noise. A village is a much more welcoming idea.

While parents are typically the ones known for using this common saying, the idea can absolutely be applied to schools as well. I mean, just imagine what would happen if one single person was running the show at a school! It would be nearly impossible for one person to be principal, secretary, lunchroom worker, custodian, aide, librarian, and teacher. The thought alone makes my head spin. 

Rather than placing the load on one person, the work and responsibility is spread out, with each person having their own area of responsibility. The school truly becomes a village as the staff work together to make sure the students have the best experience possible. They all have the students’ best interests in mind, are willing to jump in and help however they can, and are truly looking out for each other. 

Within a school, there are many hands to make this village run smoothly and effectively. In no particular order, some of those are:

  • Aides/Technicians/Paraprofessionals: These amazing individuals often work behind the scenes, making student and teacher life easier. They pull students for remediation, administer tests, reteach concepts, make copies, grade papers, and more. 
  • Speech Therapists/OT Therapists/SPED technicians/Other Therapists: They are constantly helping students reach their IEP goals, make progress, all while helping students gain confidence and pride in themselves!
  • Custodians: Where would we be without them?! From keeping the school clean, mowing the playground grass, shoveling walks after a snow storm, fixing things that break, and so much more, these guys and gals do so much for schools.
  • Food Service Staff: Making sure no student goes hungry, these people work tirelessly to ensure that there are enough hot meals prepped and ready for hungry bellies come lunch time. 
  • Specialist Teachers– art, music, library, PE, computers, etc.: Not only do these teachers get to do a lot of the “fun” stuff, they also help teachers by taking classes for a bit so that those teachers can plan, grade, and prepare. Specialist teachers also teach important skills that often get neglected within mainstream classrooms.
  • School Counselors: These amazing school staff members make sure that students have access to the tools and resources they need to successfully manage and navigate emotions, hard things, and frustration. They offer a listening ear, sound words of advice, and a safe place for students to land.
  • Secretaries: Another essential part of a school’s structure, secretaries handle all the “business” of the school. They take and make phone calls, track attendance, handle financial matters, and keep things running smoothly overall. They are usually the first people school visitors and parents see when they come to the school, and are there to offer a smiling face to all who come to the building.
  • Administration: Principals and vice-principals often take on the harder assignments– disciplining students, making hard phone calls to parents, managing staff member issues, and so forth. But, on the flip side, they get the chance to interact with all of the amazing students and staff at their school. They work tirelessly for their staff and students, and are constantly on the go.
  • Teachers: Where would we be without teachers? Day in and day out, they are there, ready to instruct, ready to love, and ready to take on the exhausting work that is teaching. They spend countless hours preparing lessons and activities. Their days are spent cheering their students on, managing tricky student behaviors, teaching and reteaching concepts, comforting sad students, redirecting, and so much more. Their jobs are often thankless, but the work they do is crucial. 

The next time you’re at your child’s school, be sure to take a minute and thank the village members helping to teach, nurture, and guide your child. Or, the next time you are at work, go out of your way to thank the other people in your village for the ways they help you with your students. It truly does take a village, and the village only becomes stronger as the people support and appreciate each other.

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Bringing Olympic Magic to Your Classroom

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been quite invested in the Winter Olympics since they started just over a week ago. There’s nothing quite like watching the world come together to cheer on top athletes as they live out their dreams. It’s inspiring and heartwarming. We’ve been able to sit down as a family and watch some of the events, and it has been so much fun!

I thought it might be fun to also bring the magic of the Olympics to the classroom. There are so many neat activities you can do with your students to bring the spirit of the games to the room:

  • Hold your own class Olympics– think minute-to-win-it type games or even make up your own “sports”
  • In small groups, have students construct ski jumps with cardboard, tin foil, paper, and whatever else you can find
  • Research the host country and learn about its customs, food, language, and geography
  • Make a large chart and keep track of the medal count together as a class
  • If you have a connection to someone who does a sport that is in the Olympics, invite them in to talk to your students about that sport
  • Have students draw themselves doing one of the sports
  • Graph medal counts as a math activity (see free printable below)
  • Survey the class on their favorite sports (see free printable below)
  • Pick one of the countries competing and learn some words from their native language

There are endless options to pick from to bring the Olympics to your classroom. Find what’s right for your class and have fun with it!

**The free downloads are for personal or classroom use only. Do not resell, repost, or claim as your own.** 

Olympic Medal Count GraphingDownload
Winter Olympics Favorite SportsDownload
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1, 2, 3! Eyes on Me!

Today I got to help with three class Valentine’s parties. Yes, three. First, third, and fourth grades. I spent three hours at the school this afternoon, and let me tell you: my respect for elementary school teachers grew even more. But man, those kids are cute and so much fun!

While I was in each classroom, I noticed each teacher’s attention grabber– the quick little saying or line they’d call out to get their class back on track. They were all so different, but all achieved the same result. In fourth grade, I heard the teacher say, “Shark bait!”, and the class would respond with, “Ooo haha!” It worked like a charm. The third grade teacher counted down from five, and once she reached one, all the students chimed, “Thumbs up, arms folded!” In first grade, the teacher rang a quiet little bell, and all students knew that meant to stop what they were doing and stop talking. The last time I was in the kindergarten classroom, the teacher quietly said, “If you can hear me, touch your nose… ears… head, etc.”. 

In all of these situations, I was amazed at how quickly the students responded to the cue. They had been well trained to know what the expectations were, and what they needed to do to meet them. I thought back to my time in the classroom, and wondered if I would have done or said anything differently. I think I probably would have tried something a little more exciting than just counting down from five, but at the time, that worked for me.

There are countless ways to get the attention of your class. Regardless of how you choose to get their attention, one thing is the same across the board: you have to train your class what the cue is and what the expectation is. If you do that, you are setting yourself up for success. Here are a few other attention grabbers I have heard:

  • Teacher: One, two three! Eyes on me! Students: One, two, eyes on you!
  • Teacher: Hocus pocus! Students: Everybody focus!
  • Teacher: Holy moly! Students: Guacamole!
  • Teacher: All set? Students: You bet!
  • Teacher: Flat tire! Students: Shhhhh!
  • Teacher: Mac and cheese! Students: Everybody freeze!
  • Teacher: Hear ye! Hear ye! Students: All hail the queen/king!
  • Teacher: Are you ready kids? Students: Aye, aye, captain!
  • Teacher: To infinity! Students: And beyond!
  • Teacher: One, two! Students: Peek-a-boo!
  • Teacher: Ready to rock? Students: Ready to roll!
  • Teacher: Chicka-chicka! Students: Boom boom!
  • Teacher: Scooby dooby do. Students: Where are you?
  • Teacher: Marco! Students: Polo!
  • Teacher: Eenie meeny. Students: Miney mo!
  • Teacher: Red Robin! Students: Yummmm!

Non-verbal cues can also work well! Ringing a bell, shaking a noise maker, or giving a hand signal can all be effective in getting your class back on track. 

What are your favorite ways to get your class focused and ready to learn?