Fidgets

    

Fidgets

 
        Let's face it, we all deal with kids who fidget and need to move. We can't do anything to stop it,  so we might as well give our kiddos something to relieve the internal motivation they have to move their hands , fingers, and feet.  Dodgers are so very important.  Adults as well as children  need fidgets.
 
      I hope all teachers have a basket of fidgets in their room for students to used at will. Not just the students who are ADHD or ADD.  Everyone now and then needs something to hold on to to touch.  When I am teaching, I usually have a binder clip, pencils, highlighter, etc in my hand. I too, am a very tactile person, so I know how my kids are feeling during class. 

       I know that my son has many things on his office desk. He told me that one of his teachers in high school, a very old priest, had a collection of toys on his desk. I guess you are never too old to have a toy on hand, just in case! 

        Here is a small selection of the fidgets I have in my 5th grade classroom. Foam stress balls, pencils with plastic screws and bolts, and little "porcupine balls" are just a few in the basket to choose from.  My students know they are not to be thrown around the room or at another person.  I am pleased to say it is working very well.

         One of my girls came up to me and asked if she could hold a stress ball because sometimes she feels stressed.  If we can make a child more at ease in class, then I say, "Go for it!"
      
     These small plastic cones are used as a reward for a great answer, but they also become something to hold onto during the remainder of class.  They are also beneficial in getting your shy or quiet child to raise their hand to offer an answer.

     Another option is to sit on a rug or a seat cushion while in my room. This is a very popular choice for many of my students. I have seen the kiddos holding on to the rug or just rubbing their hand on the soft material.  I would rather sit on something soft instead of a hard plastic chair, wouldn't you?

       I, myself, like to knit or crochet in the evening when watching tv. It keeps me busy and I feel productive when I have completed a project. I guess that I was one of those kids who needed a fidget when I was in school.

    Do used used fidgets in your classroom?  Please let me know what works in other classrooms.   

    Please take a moment to leave a comment or a note if you have the time in your busy day. I'd love to read your message.

Beti

Personal Offices are Beneficial

             

Personal Offices

     I am the teacher at school that makes all sorts of things out of junk. So here was my version of a personal office.

        If you know me at all, I don't throw anything away.  (I have lessons from my first years of teaching.)  I also don't like to spend a lot of money on things that I can make myself.  A few years ago my class needed new personal offices and I found these boxes in the school cardboard recycle bin.  St. Michael Parish hosts fish dinners on Fridays during Lent.  So there were plenty of these fish boxes for the taking.  A application of wide clear tape on the corners, and I was done. They fold up and store on a shelf.   These personal offices have lasted for a good many years and didn't cost me a dime.

         I like to add information to the personal offices that can lead students to better writing. Here is a list of irregular verbs that can be tricky for some students.

        A chart with  comparisons can be helpful when writing an answer on a test.
       (Please excuse the outer cutting of paper on this chart.  Before school started I had  8th grade students do the cutting and pasting for me. They wanted service hours.  I would take any help I could get the week before school in August!)

      You can see that I like to turn my students desks so that wandering eyes do not have a chance to take a peek at the paper of a classmate. 

      As you can see these boxes were the perfect size for our 5th grade desks. I know they are not the prettiest or cutest that you have ever seen, but they do work well for my students. Each child has a private place to take their test.  I also like to turn desks for test taking.

       When each child finishes their test, they keep their personal office up as not to disturb any classmates.  Some students become very anxious when they see other children finishing early and turning tests in before others.  This also gives everyone the same amount of time to complete and check over answers written on the test paper.  So many times children rush through a test and leave answers blank.  Other children don't bother to reread paragraphs or short answers that they have written.  Before anyone turns a test I ask them to check all their answers and reread what they have written.  Then I ask for a "show of hands" of those who have found a mistake.   I see smiles of those students who have found a mistake and have made a correction.

    

      Do you use personal offices or study corrals in your class? 

Please leave a short comment if you have an extra minute.  I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas.  

Have a Fabulous day!
Beti

 


 

You've earned a CONE!

CONES

          As the school year is beginning again, we all need something new in our classroom.  We all put up new boarders and use new colors to decorate our room. This year why not try a new technique to get those reluctant kiddos to contribute to the class discussions.  Several years ago I purchased three of these cones from the Dollar Tree to use in my class.
     
       I try to get reluctant students to raise their hands to contribute to the class discussion.  This was my answer.  I would give these cones out to students who had a good and thoughtful answer or comment to the class discussion.  It worked like a charm. 
    
          Every time a student gets a cone they actually don't get to keep it.  The cone gets to stay on the student's desk for the class period. At the end of the class the students return the cones so they can be distributed during the next class period. 
            
          As the years have gone by, my students have given me more as  Christmas gifts in a wide variety  of   colors.  My stack of cones has grown from three to more than two dozen. 

       The cones are well loved.  As you can  some of the lettering has worn off, and I have had to do some touch up with Sharpie marker.

     My kids love getting cones.  Some students actually have kept track of how many cones they have received during the year.  This has been a great positive reinforcement technique in my 5th Grade class. They are easliy disinfected with Clorox wipes to make your classroom a little more germ free.

 Head on over to Head Over heels for TEACHING and check out her great idea on classroom management. I have liked up with other teachers to this blog.
www.headoverheelsforteaching.blogspot.com 

   

Please leave a comment if you have a spare minute in your busy day.  I love reading your thoughts and ideas. 

Beti
   

Compliments Chart

      

  Kids love Compliments!

     There are no two ways about it.  If you give a child a compliment,  you will have that child doing great things.   My teaching partner, Suzanne, and I have Compliments Charts in our rooms.   This is basically a 100's Chart with a makeover.

        You know the old saying, " You get more flies with honey than with vinegar". 

       Well, this is true with children's behavior.  We begin the year with instructing our students that we will keep track of any unsolicited compliments that they receive during the year. 

        If they are quiet in the hall another teacher might comment on the fact that "they didn't know the class was even there".  A teacher who teaches Art, Music, Gym, Computers, or Spanish might comment on "how well my class participated that day".  A compliment from the principal becomes 
 two compliments on the chart.   The students have to be reminded that they can not beg for compliments. We mark these unsolicited compliments on our chart as they are received.  You can see the delight in their faces when the children hear a compliment.  

      As time goes on, the students remind each other, " If we are quite, we'll get a compliment."   Then they all get on board with how their behavior should or shouldn't be.
 
      As the months go by, we tell the class that they need "50 compliments before Christmas" to have a movie afternoon and a few treats. Our homerooms have never missed that prize!  You know they will have a movie and treats, but kids can get a little squirrley at certain time of the school year. 

     As you can see, my homeroom has 62 unsolicited compliments as of February 8.  I know my kiddos will get 100 compliments before the end of the year.  Another reward will be on he way!

     This is a much better way than constantly nagging kids to be good. Children will be good if you reinforce the fact that they are good.   There are always the children who act out.  Some reminders can be given to those few who might not get to participate in the reward if they continue the unacceptable behavior. Students learn very quickly that you mean business if you keep to you word.  I am always their teacher not their best friend. 

       The compliment chart works for my 5th graders, give it a try!

     Please leave a short comment if you have an extra minute.  I love reading your thoughts.
 
 Enjoy your day!
 

Beti

 

People Search

People Search
            
     At the beginning of the year, usually the first week of school, I like to have my 5th graders have a People Search.  Each student is given a handout.  They need to find classmates to fill each category. They need to find a different person  for each answer.  

Find someone .......
   Who as a baby in their family?
   Who has traveled to New York?
   Who has has a birthday in the same month as your birthday?
   Who has gone camping?
   Who has gone to another school?
   Who rides the bus?
   Who has traveled out of the United States?
   Who is an only child?
   Who is the oldest child in the family?

Have some fun and make up some of your own questions.
       The tricky part for the children is that this activity is a                             SILENT ACTIVITY!  
     The kids soon realize that they need to communicate with each other without talking. Many groans and moans are heard in the room, but soon they are moving around the rooms silently finding needed information.  They are also making some new friends in the process. This is a great ice breaker for the new students in school. 

     We have three 5th grade homerooms.  My teaching partners and I take our 90 some kiddos to the air conditioned cafeteria because it can be very hot the first week of September in Michigan. 

     We give the students about 15 or 20 minutes to mingle and talk. The children are encouraged to ask both boys and girls for their answers. After the kids are finished, I might say,  " Everyone who walks to school, or everyone who has traveled outside of the country,  come stand here" .  Everyone can see what they have in common with others.
    
Today I linked up with The Whimsical Teacher for Tried and True. Check out all the great ideas.
www.thewhimsicalteacher.com 
     I hope you will be able to use this activity in your room.   

 I have also linked up with 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made It.

www.4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com
                                         
     Have a great year!
Beti

The BEST 5th Grade Class

     

The BEST! 

       On the first day of school each year I greet my new class of students outside before they come into the building.  I say, " Good morning to the best 5th grade class!"   In this way I set the expectations that they will be the Best.
      
       After we are settled in our room I tell my new darlings that the principal always gives me the best class.  I am completely serious when we  have this discussion.  I remind the students not to brag to the other two 5th grade homerooms.  We wouldn't want anyone to feel bad.    The students begin to believe that they are the best class.  I remind them often.  When we are lining up to go to another room or lunch we remind ourselves how to act.
        
     This  has worked very well over the years.  Students have moved on to the upper grades have commented on how they remember being part of the Best 5th grade class.

          We are now at a point in our country where families are quarantined in their homes.  It would be a wonderful time to remind your children and other family members  that they are the BEST Family on the street, neighborhood, city, or town. This is the time to tell others how great they are and how much you appreciate them and all they do!  It will make a positive impact on their life! 

      Give this simple idea a try. You'll be glad you did.

Come back again soon. Please leave a comment it you have the time.

Enjoy the rest of your day!

Beti

Interactive Student Interest Board

        Our 5th graders switch classes.  I teach Religion and Social Studies. My partners, Suzanne and Kathy, teach the Math and Science classes and the Language  Arts ( Vocab, Grammar, and Reading classes) respectively. The students, 30 in each homeroom, line up at the end of each class to move to another room every 45 minutes. This area gives the kiddos something to do when they are standing in line.
        I have an interactive board for the students to work on cooperatively during their free time.  I remind them that working cooperatively does not mean you tell your friends the answers. That will not help your friends. Cooperatively means to help others understand how to solve the problem.

          This is my board that is located to the right of the door leading out into the hall.  The blue background paper is laminated.  I have found it lasts the entire year.  The papers are attached with sticky tack so items can be changed quickly by myself or a student. The kids like to go to the drawer and pick the next game or activity to be placed on the board.
 

     I change the Boggle game sheet weekly.  This keeps the kids practicing their spelling. Sometimes I give a "prize" to the students who has found the most words.

             Jumble For Kids was in the newspaper years ago.  The date on this one is 2004. You can tell that I have been teaching for a while.  The words are usually easy, but answer at the bottom has an interesting twist.  It has to do with the clue in the picture.  This can be  a pun or a play on words. 

        Hocus Pocus  also was featured in newspapers.  The directions are to "Find at least six differences in details between panels."  This is great for examining details and going back and check again.  Many kids want to be finished and do assignments very quickly.  This gives a chance to practice the skill of carefully looking for details.

           SUDOKU is a favorite for some children while others dislike it.  My students teach each other how to play Sudoku every year.  Sudoku is a great thinking game for all ages.

      

              The CROSSWORD PUZZLE  is also popular with some students. Students often work together on the crossword puzzle.  Collaborative work is so important for children. They learn how to learn from each other and teach each other. They also learn that everyone has different strengths.

      I have a variety of different activities because my students have a variety of interests, skills, and skill levels. Teach each child.

 Enjoy teaching your students every day.  

Make it the best year ever!

Please feel free to leave a comment.  I enjoy reading your thoughts and suggestions.

• Beti

Helpers

 Kids love to help in and around the classroom.   

  Most teachers have a helper chart of some kind in their room.
 I have my kids made little people to resemble themselves.

Today I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching and the Five for Friday Linky Party! Lots of great ideas all around.
www.doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com 

 
 

       The tag at the bottom is for the student's name.

Here are a few examples of this year's helpers.  After the designs are completed, I laminate the helpers and cut them out.

         I am so pleased that the children take so much time and add details to the characterization of themselves. At the beginning of the year we are just getting to know our students. By observing student artwork, the teacher can learn so much about their students. Our students wear a uniform to school, so they really enjoy wearing everyday clothes to school on special days.

        Here are some of the helper tags.  The students attach their helper person near the tag of the job they have chosen. 

    What type of Helper Chart do you have in our room?

     Please leave a comment.  I always enjoy hearing your thoughts and ideas.

Have a great  2016 - 2017 school year!

Beti

Student Name Sticks

        

     Today I am linking up with 4th Grade Frolics for Monday Made it. Here is the link...
www.4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com

      

   Teachers have many different ways to call on their students.  Today I made these containers to hold the students' name sticks.    Room 111 is my homeroom.   113 and 116 are the other two homerooms of students that I have for Religion and Social Studies each day.  

I found these cute little plastic jars at the dollar store. To make each class different, I used left over boarder to decorate and hold the containers together. 






      Modge Podge came in handy when I adhered  all 90  names to popsicle sticks. 

        I usually have a student pick students to read or answer questions.  After a name is called, the stick is placed in the second container.  This way, all students are called on each day.  As we all know, there are some children who never raise their hand and don't want to be called on.  I do give students the opportunity to "pass" their turn, but give then another opportunity to speak during class at a "better " time for the child.

        The kids love it when I pick a stick and then say, "Would you like to be the "Stick Person" today?" Their answer is always "Yes!"  That student gets to pick sticks and call student names to read or answer a question.  You know how that keeps more kids on their toes. It it fun and interactive!  What more can I say?

What do you use to call on your students?

    

    Please leave a comment if you have a minute.  I enjoy reading your thoughts and helpful hints.

Enjoy your day!

 Beti