Thank You... Secret Walker

One of my biggest pet peeves is a noisy class running by disrupting every classroom in its' hurricane of noise.   I can't explain why it grates my nerves so much, but it does.  Probably because as I listen to the stampede of pounding rubber on linoleum floor and the flutter of high-pitched squeals and giggles I lose all train of thought - my fabulously organized and animated lesson replaced with my ever-famous blank stare (my physiological response to any type of sudden confusion).

So...  I really want the class left in my charge to follow appropriate hallway etiquette: quiet, facing forward, hands at your sides, etc.  I might even be on the cusp of militant on this point, but again it's a personal quirk.

Thanks to Amy over at What Happens in First Grade, I found the simplest and most effective tool in managing students' behavior in the hallway: The Mystery Walker.  I called it My Secret Walker, but what's in a name?

It was amazing how well this worked, without purchasing a thing (at first).  The first day I implemented My Secret Walker I explained to the students that I was thinking of a number between 1-18, the students each had a designated number in the classroom.  If the coinciding student behaved appropriately in the hallways and during special, they would earn 5 minutes of free-time for the class.  What an immediate effect!!!  I turned and stifled a laugh as 18 tiny faces transformed into set determination... they really wanted those 5 minutes.    So off we went, in perfect formation, to gym.  As we entered, the students waited patiently for directions rather than running wildly about the open space.  With a simple nod of my head they found there designated spots and sat down.  When the gym teacher threw a questioning glance my way, I quietly explained the rules of "My Secret Walker."

I've used the strategy ever since, even when I substitute teach... amazing!


We Work for Compliments!!!

I love when another adult enters my classroom and says, "Wow, we didn't realize there were students in the room.  Everyone is working so quietly."  Or, "Your class was the best behaved in the cafeteria today!"  Any kind of compliment makes me feel like I achieved something even though it was my students who were successful.

To encourage this feeling of achievement, I tell my students that we work for compliments.  Yes, it is their job, but it's the easiest one they'll ever have.  I explain that all they need to do is follow the rules and adults in the school will notice.  After receiving a few compliments by following directions, I always look at them and say, "I told you so. Easy, Peasy."  The only catch is that I cannot be the one delivering compliments - of course I think their wonderful, so it's not really fair.  The trick is to show everyone else in the school how great they can be. 

Usually I have a Compliment Chain I hang over the door.  For every compliment I add a link with the date and the person's name who delivered the compliment.  Once the chain reaches the floor, I give the whole class a reward: Fun Friday, Munchkin Party, Movie, etc. 

Though I love my chain, it's so easy (and cheap).  I'm visually drawn to Miss Molly's Compliment Jar.  Same idea, just seems a lot cuter.




 

Literacy with Popsicle Sticks

I love popsicle sticks!  If I had known how useful they would be in my career I wouldn't have carelessly thrown them away all those years.  Silly, silly, Ms. Q for not thinking ahead. I love educational games for the classroom and popsicle sticks seem to be one of the simplest ways to do so. 

So here are a few ideas...

1. ABC Order: write spelling, high frequency words, or vocabulary words on the end of each stick.  Have the students place them in ABC order.

Over Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits, she has a list of different games to play along with worksheets.  They're $5 at TpT, but may be worth it.

2. Sequential Order:  Write sentences on the sticks and have students arrange them in sequential order.  Use key words like First, Then, Next, and Finally to practice How-To's and beginning, middle, and end. 

3. BAM!: Or Bang!  Write high frequency words, spelling words, or vocabulary words on the end of each stick.  Include some popsicle sticks with the word BAM!  Students each take turns pulling out a stick and if they can read it they can keep it, but if they pull out a BAM! stick they have to put ALL their sticks back. 

4. Rhyming Jars, Word Families, and Word Sorts:  I LOVE this idea over at First Grader... At Last! 

First Grader... At Last Word Sort

She doesn't use popsicle sticks, but you definitely can. 

5. Parts of Speech: This is another sorting idea.  Write different parts of speech on the end of the sticks and have students sort them into nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc. 

6. Build a Sentence: Write different words on the sticks and have students practice building sentences.  As the year progresses the students can practice building longer more descriptive sentences.

7. Story Prompts:  Color code sticks to represent different parts of a story: people, places, and problems.  Have the students randomly draw one of each to create their own story prompt.

8. Sight Word Puzzle: Place 2 popsicle sticks together and write sight words, or spelling words, across both. The students then have to match them up.  Quick, easy, fun way to practice site words.  Click here.

9. I'm Done: For fast finishers write different activities they can complete on the sticks and place it in a cup.  They can come, pick a stick, and work quietly.  Team V's First Grade Fun has a list of activities you can include.



10.  Organizing popsicle sticks.  This is why I created this blog, to keep track of all the great ideas I come across on my never-ending search for teaching ideas.  There was a post, somewhere, at some time, that I rummaged through where the author organized all her popsicle stick activities by unit.  She labeled each jar and had them ready as the students progressed through the year.  The moment I re-find the wonderful post I will appropriately give her credit for a fabulous idea... 'til then...

What the Kids Want: Persuasive Writing

I love to give students real world examples when writing, gearing prompts to some type of relevance to their lives.  Persuasive writing seems to be a perfect time to teach students how to correctly and effectively argue their points of view.   The topic can be changed according to the seasons, ex: If you were a pumpkin persuade someone to pick you.  Current popular trends.  Why should everyone listen to One Direction?  But, I love this idea.  Use travel brochures and have students write a persuasive piece convincing their parents to take them to their favorite vacationing spot.  It exposes students to different types of print and practices a writing skill. 


Thanks to Caitlyn at Kindergarten Smiles.

Reading A-Z With Style

In the district I currently work with, Reading A-Z is a much-used resourced.  I, still a substitute, am not privy to my own secret password, but have perused the site  Shhh...don't tell anyone.  Actually, this became vital in my most recent position because the school lost most of its textbooks, workbooks, supplies, library books, etc. as a result of Hurricane Sandy.  We all scrambled for materials to use in the classroom.  What I sought most were leveled books and Reading A-Z had plenty of them... thank goodness.

Which is I why I loved this idea so much!!! It's a cute and decorative way to organize all those great resources offered at Reading A-Z. 

Kaitlyn, at Wicked Fun in First Grade, explains how she laminates the cover page and then adds colored duct tape to the edge.  She not only protected them for future use, but color coded them according to levels.   Brilliant!  There are so many possibilities... classroom library, Daily 5 "good fit" books, or as Kaitlyn did - leveled homework reading. 

Touch Math

I love the idea of TouchMath, some students simply need the tactile approach to learn.  I was only introduced to this during the last several days of my 1st grade position and felt my students were at a great disadvantage because of my ignorance.  More than a few students would have greatly benefited from this concept had I known. 

The basis is that the numbers 1-4 have a single touch point the students touch while they count, the numbers 5-9 have double touch points.  By having the students touch these points on the number while they count they build number sense and an understanding that a number has a value. For more information click here.  This seems like a great idea for pre-school or kindergarten students, but can really benefit students who are learning to count on or need practice with basic math facts. 

Now, the other aspect I love about TouchMath is how you can personalize the concept to fit nicely in your classroom,  From examples I've researched you can use wikki sticks, stickers, or add texture to the touch points.  Over at Little Adventure Preschool, kiddos use do-a-dot markers to fill in touch points.

Simple Math Do-Nows

I'm a big fan of simple Do-Nows the students can complete when they enter the classroom, as we transition from one subject to another, or after lunch/recess.  I feel it helps the students switch gears and prepares them for the new task to come.  I'm always looking for something simple, but I also want a sense of repetition for students who benefit from some structure in their lives. 



I found this worksheet on Pinterest and thought this would be a perfect daily math do-now or something to do with calendar time, especially for our little learners.  The best thing is that the worksheet is free over at TeachersPayTeachers.  Click here.

This was another similar idea thanks to Jody at Confessions of a Kinder Teacher!

For older students or accelerated learners I also found a great worksheet that uses a "Number of theDay."  The worksheet has the students write the number in expanded form, word form, adding to the number, subtracting from the number, and much more.  Click here.