Checking Homework...A Time Saver!!

Happy Saturday to you! I hope you are having a wonderful day! It is beautiful here in the St. Louis area. It's supposed to be in the 80's today. I just love this time of the year.

I was thinking throughout this week how there are so many things in our classrooms that we do on a normal basis that are just routines to us. Then I started thinking how one thing that isn't a big deal to me could really help another teacher. I guess that's one of the biggest points with blogging...sharing ideas to help others.

Anyways, I don't know about you, but with all the other demands of teaching, I find grading papers to be overwhelming at times. When I first started teaching, I graded and checked everything. However, I started to learn that I don't need to grade everything, especially homework. One of my teammates shared this with me at the beginning of last year and it was genius to me. This isn't something brand new and some of you may be doing this. However, I wanted to share this, just in case you weren't.

So we start math right after the announcements. Before the announcements and while my kiddos are unpacking, I remind my kiddos to make sure they have their homework out from the night before on their desk (this has been a daily routine since the beginning of the year). Once the announcements are over, I have my kiddos get with a partner and check over their homework with each other with a pen or pencil, depending on what I want them to do for the day (pen is used to just check their answers and a pencil is used if they are going to redo the answers together). Since I have two different math groups who do different homework, they have to pair up with someone who did the same homework as them. As they check their answers, I walk around and chime into their conversations (some of them need some gentle reminders to stay focused and some others have questions about the problems that they didn't do correctly).

If this is a brand new topic, I have my kiddos just circle the answers they do not have the same answers on. I will go over those problems when I meet with their group. If the topic has been discussed for several days, then I have my kiddos circle the answers they do not have correct and then work the answers out. I make sure to tell them my expectations before checking the homework.

Due to the Common Core, I am trying to implement conversations within all subject areas. I find that it is simple within Reader's and Writer's Workshop. I have them turn and talk frequently. However, math was a bit more challenging for me, until I decided to incorporate these within checking homework (and other math areas as well). Not only do my kiddos have to check their homework, they have to prove to each other the answers if they don't have the same answers. This creates some great conversations amongst my kiddos.

This has saved a lot of time and also gives the kiddos immediate feedback. It also allows interactions among my students and allows kiddos to carry on their math skills that they understand and know.

How do YOU check your kiddos homework? How do you get conversations going within math?

I would love your input. Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful weekend!

 



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MORE Testing Strategies...PLUS some pics!

Hey there! Happy Friday to you! My weeks seem to be passing by very quickly since Spring Break. I am having a hard time believing we have been back for 2 weeks already. This time of the year is crazy busy though, which makes time go by so much faster.

We have been working hardcore the past two weeks to continue to prepare ourselves for that wonderful MAP test. Speaking of the MAP test, if you haven't checked out my Fun Test Taking Strategies post, then you are missing out. Click on the link to check it out as it contains some resources on how to make test prep fun. As stated within that post, I wanted to share some pics of some of the things I have completed so far.

I started off my test prep by completing the testing pamphlet. We completed the first 4 flaps on the first day and then second 4 the next day. Here is an example of one of my kiddo's completed pamphlet:

I used the teacher resource page as a guide. However, we brainstormed each flap together. As I introduced each flap, I tried to keep it geared towards music. For example, on the first flap, "Don't Skip a Beat," we talked about how does the music sound when music skips beats. The kiddos shared their thoughts (sounds funny, hard to understand). Then I shared how we could relate that to test taking. We decided that if you don't listen to or read the directions, you can miss out on what to do. We did this for every flap. They recorded notes behind each flap. My kiddos loved this as it pertained to every day life.

Towards the end of last week, we created the guitars I mentioned in the Fun Test Taking Strategies post as well. I wanted them to be completed so they could start to earn their rewards during our Friday stations. Here is a picture of one of my kiddos completed guitar:

I let them choose between two different colors (I didn't want a huge mess and it made it easier to manage). They cut out and traced the guitar cut out onto the construction paper. Then I cut a piece of black yarn long enough so they could wear the guitars. I hot glued the yarn to the back of the guitar.

They love to act like they are playing a guitar like a ROCK STAR. As a matter of fact, they ask me if they can play their guitars when we take brain breaks throughout the day. I will have them use these when we do our fun testing videos before starting the test every morning.

As I mentioned in the past, I was going to have my kiddos decorate their guitars with stickers. Well, I don't know about you, but I love to change my mind frequently (my kiddos had to adjust to this quickly as I will change my mind 10 times before making my final decision). I think that's a trait of being a teacher. You seem to change things in the moment. Instead of using star stickers (my original plan), I decided that I would cut little pieces of colorful yarn. The kiddos get to tie the strings that they earn onto the strap (attached yarn) of their guitar. I decided that I had a ton of yarn to use up so why make things more complicated. Besides, I loved the colors and thought it would add more character.

My kiddos are able to earn pieces of string by doing different things. Since one of my biggest strategy that I stress is listening to and reading directions, along with checking their answers, I give kiddos pieces of string when I see them doing this on ANY assignment. It has really helped those kiddos who seem to tune me out or rush through their work. I also hand them out to the kiddos who do the other testing strategies that we have been talking about (underlining important words in the questions and story, Xing out the wrong answers or the answers that don't make sense, numbering the paragraphs within the story, answering their questions in a complete sentence on constructed responses, etc.). One of the biggest ways my kiddos earn their string is by completing the Friday stations correctly.

We started stations last Friday. I divided my kiddos up into 7 groups, since there were 7 stations. They got 15 minutes (or until everyone completed each station) to complete their station. They had to work together as a team to complete the station. I stress this as I think team work is important for them to learn. If they completed their station before time was up, I had them complete the "Build a Soldier" game from Amy's Multiplication and Division Boot Camp. When it was time, I had the kiddos move on. They moved around the room in a circle. Before they could complete the next station, they had to check their answers from the station they just came from with a pen. They circled the ones that weren't correct. If they got them all right, I had them put a star at the top of the page. Here is what one of my stations looked like:

As you can see, I had the kiddos keep the answer key from the prior station on top of the next station (the one they moved to next). I like to have the stations on the floor so they can spread out and have more room to work. Last year, I had them complete stations at their desk, which seemed to work too.

While the kiddos checked their answers, I walked around to make sure they were on task and weren't being sneaky. I have some kiddos who try to change their answers when I am not looking.

After all stations were completed, I had the kiddos head back to their desk and get their guitars. I had them count how many stars they had within their recording sheets (I copied the recording sheets into a packet to make it more organized). Each kiddo got the number of strings for the number of stars. I handed the strings out and they got to tie them anywhere on the strap. They loved being able to see how many strings they had. Whoever has the most strings on their guitar strap at the end of MAP testing will receive a prize. I haven't decided what the prize is yet. However, I want to make it meaningful for them.

This past week, I had my kiddos complete my Rockin' Review stations. My kiddos loved them. You can check them out by clicking on the link.

I know that was all a review from the last post so thank you for baring with me. However, I wanted to show you it in action. I have learned from Amy to take more pictures of things I do in my classroom. She definitely has been a great inspiration for my teaching career! :)

So...something new...the "I Rock" Table. Thanks to Amy again for this wonderful idea! My kiddos loved it last year and I can already tell my kiddos are thrilled for it already. So the grade level sent home this parent letter this week on Monday.

 

I have already gotten prizes and letters from the parents. I decided to get some items from the Target $1 bin to help show it off. My kiddos are ecstatic to be able to choose off of the table.

 

Since we can't look at the test to see how they are doing, I choose my kiddos in different ways. If I know that a kiddo struggles, I will let them choose if I see them put any effort towards doing their best. I take a mental note of the kiddos who I see checking their answers and underlining important words. Sometimes I use it as a confidence booster as well. I try to choose each kiddo at least once. Last year, I had enough donations to have each kiddo choose twice. They don't get to choose until the testing time is completed.

 

When I handed out this letter, I told them that they had to tell their parents they had homework to do. They thought this was the coolest thing. Within this letter, it explains how the parents write letters to their child for encouragement. I also give the kiddos envelopes for their parents to use, that way they don't have an excuse for not having one. These letters are great to give out on the first day of testing. It makes them feel so important and helps to build self-esteem and confidence. Unfortunately, there are always those kiddos who do not have a letter, so I make sure the letters are due the week before testing so I can write those kiddos notes. Last year, I wrote every kiddo a letter as well on the first day (this doesn't include the little encouraging notes I give them with the candy...refer to my last post for more details).

 

I hope you have been able to take away something from the past testing prep posts. I always find it helpful when I get different and new ideas from you wonderful teachers!

 

What do you do to motivate your kiddos when it comes to any type of testing? I would love any feedback you may have.

 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

 

 

Monday Made It & Time Freebie

Hello wonderful ladies and gentlemen! Today was opening day with our St. Louis Cardinals (opening day is a big deal in STL if you don't live in the St. Louis area or aren't a Cardinals fan). My hubby and I decided to watch the game at his parent's house. Otherwise, this post would have been published much earlier.

 

So I must admit, I am venturing out of my blogging realm. I was talking to Amy and she had mentioned how link up parties are the best way to get involved with blogs. So I am taking a stab at it and decided I would link up with 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made It to do something different than just show you what I have been creating for my classroom.

I also have something to admit...I didn't recently do all of this. I apologize that this isn't anything educational. I haven't made anything more recently for my classroom to show off (unless you count all of the resources, centers, games, etc). State testing has taken over my teaching life. However, I have been wanting to blog about this ever since my sister's shower (back in July). What better time than Monday Made It!

 

To start off, I need to tell you that since I grew up on a farm, my mom and I couldn't resist doing a farm theme for the shower. Therefore, I put my computer skills to the test and created banners for the tables (food, cake, gifts, and welcome sign).

 

 

 

 

I printed off the banners onto white card stock and then cut them into shape. Before online scrapbooks became popular, I loved to scrapbook, so I put my scrapbook tools to good use. When the letters were ready to go, I hot glued them onto binder twine (the string used when baling hay). I didn't cut my twine long enough so it made it a little more difficult to attach to the tables. I had 4 banners that said the following: Welcome to Ashley's Farm, Cake, Drinks, and Gifts.

 

To decorate the tables, I decided to create these centerpieces. My mom cans so I used some old Mason jars and put a wad of binder twine at the bottom of the jar to help keep the sticks in place. Then I tied red Raffia around the mouths of the jars into bows. I took little (skinny) doll rods and cut them into little sections (all different lengths to stagger the height of the animals and barn) I purchased some farm clip art off of Etsy and printed off a big enough size of each animal and barn. I cut each one out and using double sided scrapbooking tape, I taped them onto red circles (that I cut out of red cardstock). I hot glued these onto the doll rods and then tied tan Raffia on the bottom (to give the straw like effect).

 

For the picture frames, I purchased little blocks of wood, little popsicle sticks, and little clothespins. My handyman of a dad cut the blocks of wood into little chunks and put a hole in the middle. I painted them green to so they could act as the grass. Then I painted the popsicle sticks red (farm color) and hot glued them into the holes. At the ends of the sticks, I hot glued a clothespin (open end facing up). Along both sides of the block of wood, I hot glued a farm scene that I created with the same clip art. We put pictures of Ashley (my sister) in the clothespins.

 

To add some spice, I placed strips of burlap (from my parent's farm) on the tables underneath all of the centerpieces. My mom put some of her farm figurines on either side of the frames. She had barns to all different farm animals. I thought these turned out so cute!

 

 

I had a lot of fun creating name tents for all of the food that we had. We tried to keep it all farm themed. Up above you can see that we had little smokies (our name was Piglets).

 

 



I also made Miss Piggy. We put fruit salad in a clear, glass bowl. I created ears, a snout, and tail out of pale pink cardstock, along with two black eyes. We had a veggie tray that we named Ashley's Garden, along with deviled eggs (Farm Fresh Eggs) and nachos (Cowgirl Dip). Not pictured was our popcorn bar that we called Chicken Feed.

 

 

My sister and I used to make the dirt cups when we were kids for our birthdays and parties at school (back when you could make treats and bring them in). Therefore, my mom and I decided to implement these into the dessert bar (named Farmer's Soil). My sister loves Rice Krispy treats so we made some and named them "Hay Stacks". My creative and talented aunt created the cupcakes and barn out of Carrot Cake. She did an amazing job.

We had a duck pond as well (punch). I couldn't find plain ducks so they were fancier ducks that had hats and sunglasses. They really didn't fit well with our theme. However, you gotta do what you gotta do sometimes.

We put the forks (Pitch Forks), spoons (Shovels), andknives into mason jars as well. We got yellow plates and cute farm themed napkins from the Party Store.

My mom and I had so much planning for this shower. I have such a hard time believing that my niece wasn't even born yet throughout this shower and now she is just over 6 months old. How time flies!!

Just thought I would share a recent picture I took of her last weekend. I never knew I could love a little one so much. Being an aunt is the greatest thing in the world. I love her to pieces and miss her so much when I am not around her. I am one proud aunt!!

 

 

Ok. So for stopping by and reading this post I figured I would share (quickly) a new game I created over the weekend. It's called Tick-Tock Time and focused on telling time to the nearest minute. It's very simple to manage with your kiddos and reviews place value, along with time. (Grab it by clicking on the link above.)

 



Need some other ideas for implementing some fun games with time!? Check out Major League Math Centers, Beat the Clock, and Spring Time in my TpT store.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Stay tuned for more resources on time, as we just started focusing on it today.

I would love to know how you implement time within your classroom. I am always looking for more ideas from you lovely people! :) Hope the rest of your week goes well!



Fun Test Taking Strategies

Hello! Hope you are having a great week! My Spring Break dwindled down very quickly, since my last post. I was able to relax, clean, organize, and spend time with the hubby/friends/family. I was sad to go back (I LOVE to sleep in and be lazy sometimes) but at the same time, I missed my kiddos. I was so happy to see them Monday morning!

Now that we are back to the grind of things, it is getting pretty intense in our classroom. I don't know about you but my state's standardized test (the good ole MAP test) is quickly approaching. I sat down during my Spring Break and pondered/researched/brainstormed on what to do to try to get my kiddos ready to take this test. Since 3rd grade is the first year our kiddos complete the MAP test, I wanted to make things fun and spice it up a bit. Last year, I feel like I flew by the seat of my pants. I wanted to put more thought into it and implement some fun strategies so my kiddos will be more engaged throughout this whole test prep process (and not get bored).

Now, before I go any further, I must tell you that this is only my 2nd year of giving the test (my test anxiety has kicked into high gear just recently...I sometimes wonder if I am worse than my students). My wonderful teammates gave me some wonderful ideas last year, which I plan on using again this year. However, I want things to be more fun than they were last year.

Side note...Amy and I talk about this all the time. If it's not fun for us teachers, it won't be for the kiddos either. Therefore, test prep needs to be fun and engaging, not tedious and boring. My kiddos were very anxious before taking the MAP test, as they didn't know what to expect. However, by the end of the first day, they loved it (I think a lot had to do with having special privileges throughout the testing time).

To start off my test prep, I decided to have my kiddos create this test taking pamphlet. This is something new this year. In the past, I normally would just talk to my kiddos about these. I don't know about you, but I find when I am "lectured" to, I typically zone out. Therefore, I figured I would add a fun activity to talk about these different strategies. We are still currently working on this. (Pictures to come later)

I gave my kiddos the copied pamphlet, along with the boxes. They cut out the boxes with the flap names and glued them onto the cut flaps. Then I had my kiddos decorate the pamphlets with pictures to help them remember the strategies.

We have been meeting as a whole class and going over each flap. We have been discussing what each flap entails. The kiddos have been writing sentences to help them remember each strategy. As we work through test prep practice (math and communication arts), we will be using these strategies to help us become better test takers.

Last year, I did stations throughout the test prep time. (I used my Major League Math Concepts Review and Rockin' the Review Literacy Centers and Amy's Math Scoot Game, Place Value Scoot Game, End of the Year Math Review, Reading & Grammar Skills-Test Prep Review, Test Taking Skills Review, Splendid Spring Literacy Centers last year.) This year I am going to do things a little differently (Again this is new this year. Pictures will be coming in the near future). I plan on having Friday's as my stations day. I am going to have my kiddos create guitars to wear throughout the stations time. (I purchased Hope King's The Ultimate End of the Year Writing Bundle at the end of last school year, which happens to have a guitar template. I plan on using this for my students to create their Rock Star Guitars.) These guitars are going to show how they are test taking ROCK STARS. They will get to decorate their guitars as they move along the stations (keep reading to find out more).

Before going to the first station, the kiddos will bring down their MAP test prep packet (whatever packet I decide for them to complete), a pencil, pen, and folder to use to write on and to keep papers organized. Each station will have either a communication arts or math concept at it (using those resources above). The kiddos will have 10-20 minutes (depending on the station and how much time we have for stations) to complete each station. I will have 6-8 stations scattered throughout the classroom. I am a very mathematical person. Therefore, I try to keep them in a circle around the room. This helps the kiddos to get up and moving. After they complete a station and there is some time left, they will be working on a MAP test prep packet. These are packets that were given to me from my wonderful teammates. The Buckle Down series is another great resource.

After the timer goes off, the kiddos will then move to a new station. Before starting that new station, the kiddos will check their answers, using the answer key from the station they just came from (if there is one), which will be at the new station. They will put a star at the top of the recording sheet to show if they got all of them right. Whatever problems they don't have correct, they will circle. At the end, the kiddos will get a star sticker for every paper that has a star at the top to place on their guitar. This will show that they are ROCK STARS.

Before Spring Break, our grade level decided to start our kiddos on a test taking skills packet. They get the packets on Monday and the packet is due the following Monday. Within this packet, there are stories with multiple choice questions, along with math multiple choice questions. We go over these packets every week, which can be tedious and boring at times. However, in addition to the stars for the guitars, I am going to be handing out tickets (the ones you can purchase from the party store) to kiddos for answering a question correct as we are going over the homework packet, along with any other MAP review packet we complete. This is a great incentive to keep the kiddos motivated and alert.

On the first day of MAP testing last year, I had my kiddos complete some coloring pages for morning work. I told that this will help to relax them and get them focused on the test for the day. Once testing time came, I wanted my kiddos up and moving. I created this song last year to help engage my kiddos every morning before the test booklets were passed out. I included this "Test Rap" (pictured right) that I like to sing with my kiddos, within the pamphlet up above.  After we sing this song, we dance to a song on YouTube, which helps to release any energy they may have (Click here to check out the song). Last year, my kiddos begged for me to replay the video and for us to sing the song again. Sometimes we did this more than once. It just all depended on the day and how the morning started. Right before taking our seats, we would say the MAP pledge that Amy created. This helped to get their minds focused. My kiddos couldn't wait to sit down, as they got to take their shoes off it they wanted to. I told them to get comfortable, and they did!

Another fun thing my kiddos looked forward to every morning is receiving a special note with candy on their desks. Amy gave me the idea of this last year and I LOVED it. I created these labels that go along with different candies.

I plan on using these again this year. I normally would give my kiddos a piece of gum to chew during the test as well.

Because I love technology, I plan on using the following websites throughout my test prep unit either as a station during Friday Stations or during RTI:

• Prepdog
• Houghton Mifflin's Math Test Prep Tests
• Houghton Mifflin's Math Test-taking Tips )

I have to give most of the credit from this post to Amy (one of the 3teacherchicks), who shared some of these ideas with me. I also have to credit Vanessa from Savvy School Counselor for the pamphlet idea. I got the idea of having stations from Stephanie at Teaching in Room 6. Mrs. S from All Things Upper Elementary gave me the idea of implementing the guitars and strategies for answering questions correctly. I ventured upon these blogs and decided to use some of their ideas, but with my own spin.

You can download the above resources for FREE by clicking here. There are some other resources within this pack that I haven't mentioned, so check it out!

Also, check out my Major League Math and Rockin' the Review centers that pair well with these resources.

What are ways you implement test prep into your classroom? I would love to hear your ideas. Just simply comment below!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful rest of your week!

Geography: Regions Radness

Hello darlings!  I wanted to share some Regions of the United States resources with all of you.  I was at a loss as to how to put all of the objectives together in an engaging way without doing A LOT of creating and prep work.  Thankfully, Linda over at Around the Kampfire, already had an awesome unit created!  Yay!

Look at one of the things we created from her unit!  Now I can't give you the recipe for the salt dough project, but I can tell you that the one she gives you works really well and the kiddos loved it!  Of course this was one of the last things we did in the unit.  

I especially loved her landform posters!  She had them to print out in color and put up in the room.  I also projected them on the smartboard when we learned about each one.  If you look behind the kiddos, you can see them.  I printed them in black and white and projected them on the screen in color.

We weren't concerned with the regions for this project.  We were created the major landforms of the U.S.  My third graders had to create the Appalachian Mountains, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Plains, the Desert, the Great Lakes, and the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.  

As you can see below, kiddos had to draw the U.S. first and draw on the landforms before they were able to do the project.  

 This was very sticky and messy, but they loved it!  We used cardboard that students brought from home to hold the salt dough project and we used tempera paint from Michaels.

After we learn about landforms, I send this paper home for students to complete with their parents.  It is a great intro into regions because we can discuss the different places we have been.

To learn about the Regions of the U.S. students used different resources to research one assigned region.  Then their group had to teach the information to the class AND create a 2-3 question quiz for the class.  The group was responsible for grading all the papers.

Resources Used:
Eduplace Kids: interactive landform map
Pearson Social Studies Interactive
States in each region online quiz

Here is the packet that contains the graphic organizer for each region that I give them to fill out as they research.   I know that Geography info out there in cyberspace cannot agree on regions.  Some say there are 4, others say 5.  I use the regions that are in our social studies book.

Here are some groups presenting their information.  I gave them all anchor chart paper and they had to decide how they were going to present their information to the class.  

 I think that regions is the hardest to find any online resources for.  Do you have anything that you use?  I would love some other ideas!