Should Old Procedures Be Forgot... Reviewing Expectations After the Holiday Break

Last day of the holiday and I can no longer procrastinate any longer - I have to get in the lesson planning mode again unless I want supreme chaos in my classroom tomorrow morning!  Speaking of supreme chaos - after two weeks away from school, I know that I am going to have to remind my kiddos of what our classroom expectations are.   I was absolutely inspired  when I saw this post from The Science Penguin to make my own True or False PowerPoint to review my own classroom expectations during our morning meeting tomorrow.  I will show the students the PowerPoint and have them use either a thumbs up for true or a thumbs down for false (or I might have them show me a T or F in sign language).

We use Whole Brain Teaching in our class, so several of  the slides address the 5 rules.

Well, I'm sure you know what the answer is to that one!  LOL!  I have uploaded a file that you can customize to meet your needs as a FREEBIE on Teachers Pay Teachers.

What things do you do to review expectations after the holiday?

Spelling Scaffold

As I was going through my photos for yesterday's 5 For Friday Post, I found this picture of spelling tests I had taken right before the break, and I remembered that I had wanted to share something that has really increased my student's performance on their weekly spelling tests.

I use Words Their Way, and we work with the patterns and rules, but for some reason, a large majority of my students were still failing the tests each week.  When a large majority are having a difficult time, I know I have to change something about my instruction.

I asked one of our special ed teachers if she had any suggestions since I have a few of her kiddos.  She suggested shortening the list and using boxes for the tests.  Well, I decided to try it for ALL of my kids.  We now spend three weeks going over a pattern with a test over one row plus two words from a previous test that are a surprise to the students (to ensure that they don't just learn it for the test, but keep it in their memory.  I also print out spelling boxes for the test using this worksheet generator from Soft School.  The only issue I have is that I have to remember to cut of the top before I photocopy because the words are printed at the top.  I left a list like that for a sub once - oops!

Once I started doing this, the test scores became all A's and B's - and my students are actually transferring the spelling skills into their writing!

What do you use for your spelling program?  Any other tips or advice?

PS - Don't forget to enter to win a $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card!  If your wish list is anything like mine, you can use all the help you can get in making a dent in it! LOL!

Five For Friday January 3, 2013 And Giveaway!

Friday and time again to link up with Five for Friday with Doodle Bugs Teaching.

Two days after Christmas is my son, Tyler's birthday and this year he turned 13!  We celebrated with a trip to Dave and Buster's and the mall where we went to Build a Bear, Game Stop, The Disney Store, and a variety of other stores he and his brothers wanted to visit.

We brought along my nephew Noah, and he LOVED the trampoline ride there just like his cousins do.

It has been awhile since we have had a toddler to chase after (my youngest is almost 8) and he gave us a run for our money.  One of my boys said, "Now I know why they invented those kid leashes!"

It was a nephew week, because we also visited my other nephew, Ender (he was named after the book, Ender's Game which Cody got as a Christmas gift this year).

Cody also got a Rainbow Loom for Christmas and has been making bracelets like crazy!  He has discovered Pinterest (thanks to Mom's major slight addiction) and has been learning how to make a ton of different kinds.   One of those bracelets just might have inspired a new Teachers Pay Teachers creation for me...

 Divisible Me - A Division Game

And last but not least it is time for my giveaway!  You can win a $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card just for following my store and blog.  I give one gift card away each month as a thank you to my followers.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thursday Throw down - Interactive Long Division

I am linking up with I'm Lovin Lit for Thursday Throw down with a few things that I did to help make long division easier for some of my kiddos.  

We started using manipulatives to help them fully grasp the concept of how bigger numbers are divided into smaller groups.  I gave the students base ten blocks and a few easier division problems to start with such as 36/3 and 48/4.  They drew boxes to represent the divisor and then divided the blocks into each box.

Later we moved on to more complex problems that required them to regroup the tens into units, but of course I forgot to take pics of that :/ !  But, hopefully you get the idea.

And. I know that the standard algorithm for division is not introduced until 6th grade in the Common Core, but I have a lot of parents who teach it to their kiddos anyway, so it is easier to show them in class as well.  There are so many steps involved that a few kiddos lose track, so... I finally came up with this graphic organizer template that really helped out A LOT!!! Some of my kiddos who were struggling and struggling were really getting it and actually saying, "Hey this is easy!  And kind of fun!"

I simply free hand wrote the boxes along with little codes (D,M,S, B) for the steps required to get that box's digit.  Then I laminated them quickly during recess and we were ready to go!  The kids used dry erase markers and we solved a few problems.  And, I am happy to say it was so much LESS painful!

You can actually see hints of smiles on kid's faces who had been near tears before recess!

I just made these  Division Games that I can't wait to use after the break!

Divisible Me A Division Game

Don't Duck Division Long Division Style

Don't Duck Division - Basic Facts

And If you have made it this far, I am giving away one of the above products of your choice to the first three comments! Just leave your email and the item you would like :)

Ringing In The New Year With January 2014 Currently and a Giveaway!

Happy New Year!  I think this last year has flown by!  Hopefully next year will be a bit more leisurely!  Anyway, the first of the month means time to link up with Farley for Currently!

We have had a nice and relaxing Christmas vacation so far.  We hosted Christmas Dinner at our house on Christmas Eve, then went to my brother's for Christmas morning, followed by a buffet dinner, and a quick trip to my Sister In Law's house that night.  Two days later we went to Dave and Buster's and the mall because it was Tyler's Birthday and he is now a teenager!  ACK!  Where does the time go?

Wishing you a very Happy New Year!



In honor of the New Year I am having a sale in both of my stores!  20% off every item in both stores:

Teachers Pay Teachers 
Teachers Notebook

While you are there, remember to follow my stores for a chance to win a $25 TpT gift certificate!  I have a giveaway for store followers every month :)  Just a little thank you for being a follower!

I am also having a giveaway at Teacher's Notebook for my newest product
  You can enter here.
There are also a lot of other great giveaways from other sellers as well.  I have already won two great products!

Thank you so much to Sheree from Peterson's Pad for the awesome sales button.  She is also having a sale in her store today!

The Best of 2013 And a Sale!

Really Top 5! :)

Since today is the last day of 2013, I thought I would share some of the best posts of 2013 from my blog.  I have learned so much from my fellow teacher bloggers, and I love sharing things that I have learned, things that I have tried, and things that honestly haven't gone as well as I would have liked, because, as I tell my students - mistakes are proof that you are learning!

My number 1 Blog Post from 2013 was Whole Brain Teaching The Scoreboard.  Many teachers LOVE the results from this method of teaching that also includes behavior management.  I know I have seen significant improvement in behavior and engagement during lessons using many of Chris Biffle's Strategies.This post showed how I use the Scoreboard in my classroom and includes a FREEBIE!

In the number 2 slot is The World Would Be More Awesome If post.  This post is how I turned an inspiring Kid President (my kiddos LOVE him) video into a writing assignment.

My 3rd most popular blog post of 2013 was my post about Marzano learning scales inspired by a Pinterest pin.  Our school district has heavily adopted the use of Marzano learning scales for our students to self assess.  This post shows my old version of the scales, but I now have each student keep a copy of the scales in their notebooks.  I will post about this soon.

In 4th place is another post about Whole Brain Teaching!  This one was about the 5 classroom rules and also included several links to some FREEBIE signs to hang in your class.

And... last but not least the 5th most popular post of 2013 was my teaching subjects and predicates with Mr Morton (of grammar rock fame).  This one also included a FREEBIE!

I am sensing a theme - FREEBIES and Whole Brain Teaching!  So, expect more of both kinds of posts (as well as a mix of others) in the New Year!  Thank you so much for visiting my blog, whether that means you are a new visitor today or you have been visiting all year long!  As a special thank you - I am having a sale!

I am also having a sale today and tomorrow in honor of the new year!  You can get 20% off every item in both my Teachers Pay Teachers and Teachers Notebook stores.  While you are there, remember to Follow my Stores for a chance to win a $25 Gift certificate!  I have a giveaway for store followers every month :) Just a little thank you for being a follower! Thank you so much to Sheree from Peterson's Pad for the awesome sales button!  She is also having a 20% off sale at her store tomorrow as well.

Merry Christmas From My Family To Yours

I wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas!