One of my favorite things to do as a family - to promote family literacy - has been to create a Holiday Family Story. Together, all 5 of us write a silly story that summarizes our experiences throughout the year. We begin with the same starting sentence each year and then each family member adds a sentence or paragraph. How do you incorporate family literacy fun into holiday celebrations?
Have you ever created a Holiday Book Advent Calendar as a family literacy incentive or initiative? (ie. Wrap 24 books and open one each day leading up to the holidays.)
One of the things that do to help keep a positive mindset in the class is telling the students that Monday is actually the best day of the week. It is the day we get to start off fresh and work on fixing all the mistakes we made the previous week. Most of the time, helping students see the school day in a different light helps their success. What are ways you help students with positive thinking?
To find ways to make learning history more appealing to the students, I try to find things that they find familiar and learn the history behind it. Whether it is a celebration, observance, sport, word, or food. This one was particularly interesting because of the fable and the movie Shrek. The history of the Gingerbread Man is a fun way to guide students in asking the question, "Why?".
How can families incorporate literacy development into holiday traditions and activities?
Hi Everyone! I work with students with disabilities in an accelerated college and career program. Do you have any ideas about the best way to choose prefixes weekly for students in a high school dental science class?
During state testing there is not much I can do to help the students. So, I give them each an elephant figurine. Since elephants are my favorite animal, I tell them that they are part of the “herd”. I use this to help relieve stress that the students might have with test anxiety.
As we continue to build relationships with the parents, here is an example of an email I sent to everyone because, well, I made a mistake.
Good Tuesday afternoon everyone-
Remember that time you thought it was a Tuesday because the teacher said it was a Tuesday and you were expecting a Tuesday folder to come home on Tuesday because Tuesday is when the Tuesday folder comes home?
Well, the teacher knew it was a Tuesday and did not send the Tuesday folder home on Tuesday because there was a FAST test on Tuesday and the teacher who even sent an email home saying it was a Tuesday in the subject now has to apologize on a Tuesday for not sending the Tuesday folder home today which is a Tuesday because he forgot it was a Tuesday.
Tuesday word count: 18
Being able to joke during your mistakes helps ease the tension with the parents. It also opens up a closeness when there is effort to be vulnerable with your mistakes. In the grand scheme of things, it is not that big of a deal but it brings people together.
Tis the season...for progress monitoring! We use MAP testing in our district for elementary students and one of my favorite ways to encourage them to meet their goals is to first meet with them before the test and discuss what they feel their strengths are and what is something that they'd like more help in. For MAP, they receive their score at the end so I love to write a sticky note (or put it at the top of their scratch paper) what their goal score is so they know immediately if they met it or not. I will also put an encouraging note beside it to remind them how awesome they are.
What are some ways you encourage your students to meet their goals when taking tests?
What are fun and inclusive activities you do in lower elementary before winter break to learn about different holidays around the world?
What are strategies you use to keep advanced 1st graders challenged that don’t require another teacher or teaching assistant?
Big win for the Thanksgiving celebration! All the families were represented and we had a great time! I highly recommend these events!
We have our second progress monitoring next week. There are some strategies that I use to help the students prepare for the test. For example:
1. Arrange the seating beforehand so the students are not asking, "Why are the desks moved"
2. Give out 2 pencils everyday and collect them.
3. Have timed assignments. This helps pacing and focus.
4. Since we take the test on line, I email the students the link to the practice test so they can get used to navigating the program.
5. Lengthen a reading block so the students can build academic endurance of sustained reading.
6. Conference with the students to show them their first score and show a reasonable goal for the next test.
7. Use the dividers for the students during the weeks prior to the test.
8. Give test taking strategies for the students on how to "flag" and questions and go back to answer.
9. Email the parents with suggestions of foods, study habits and other tidbits to help them prepare their student.
10. Since my favorite animal is an elephant, I give the students a little elephant figuring to keep at their desk because they are part of my herd and they are special.
Do you send any work home with students during school breaks? If so, what kinds of work do you send home?
This year my class is having a "family luncheon". The parents have volunteered to bring the food and we will share in a time of thanksgiving. During the time, I have the students and parents write on a little note care what they are thankful for. I take those notes and type them into a document and send it to the parents. This is a great way to get parents support and build community. What are some other ideas that you have used to build community?
What are some other ways to engage students in an immersive experience? I’ve used mock crime scenes, but would like to expand to other experiences.
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Vocabulary is such an important part of any instruction. What are some creative ways you use to help students retain vocabulary knowledge more than just word walls?
One of the ways I do it is something Talk a Mile a Minute. I put a topic on the board (example: multiplication) and then list 5-6 words that are associated with the topic (example: product, factor, array, repeated addition, equal groups). Students partner up facing each other, with one student facing the board and the other facing away. The person facing the board will give clues about the different words (think $100,000 Pyramid) so that their partner can guess. After that round, the partners will switch. It only takes about 5-6 minutes but it has been a game changer in my room! Would love to hear other ideas as well!
