I'd love for you to visit my Teacher Pay Teachers store! There's lots more for elementary and middle school.
Sunday, August 30, 2015
Back to School Game: Scattergories
If you follow this blog at all or have spent even a few minutes here, you know that I LOVE games. I especially love incorporating them into the classroom. It is back to school season, and I just created a Back-to-School edition of Scattergories. It very much resembles my holiday versions of Scattergories. I plan on using this little gem tomorrow, even though we have been in school for a couple of weeks. It'll be a great way to get some teamwork going, especially since we will be starting literacy centers soon. Here's a peek. Click here or on the photo to check it out yourself.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Polygon Game for Analyzing, Identifying, and Classifying Polygons
I love games, and I really love to incorporate them into my classroom. It's tough to make them engaging and really packed with learning potential. However, I think I have accomplished that with this newest Math Game.
This Polygon Guessing Game is a wonderful way to get the entire class involved in math. Students take turns being Clue Givers and Guessers with each new PowerPoint slide. With students participating in two different roles, it requires them to analyze polygons (triangles, quadrilaterals, and more) in different ways. This game can flexibly be used with the whole class, in small groups, in pairs, or as a math center.
The teacher or a student can control the slides by simply clicking through the slide show. It’s very easy to use. Slides 1-9 are teacher slides (printable too), and slides 10-28 are the actual game. If you play often, you can rearrange the game slides so students don’t memorize the order.
Polygons included are:
Acute Triangle, Right Triangle, Obtuse Triangle, Isosceles Triangle, Scalene Triangle, Equilateral Triangle, Parallelogram, Trapezoid, Rectangle, Rhombus, Square, Pentagon, Hexagon, and Octagon.
Here’s what is included:
- Teacher Information with directions, suggestions for use, and more
- Student Directions
- Student Roles Explanation
- Examples for Clue Givers
- Polygon Charts to assist students
- Clue Giving Help Sheet
- One Animated Slide for each included polygon with two example of that polygon and the answer
Here are a few example slides. Click on any of them to get your own and to see the complete product.
This Polygon Guessing Game is a wonderful way to get the entire class involved in math. Students take turns being Clue Givers and Guessers with each new PowerPoint slide. With students participating in two different roles, it requires them to analyze polygons (triangles, quadrilaterals, and more) in different ways. This game can flexibly be used with the whole class, in small groups, in pairs, or as a math center.
The teacher or a student can control the slides by simply clicking through the slide show. It’s very easy to use. Slides 1-9 are teacher slides (printable too), and slides 10-28 are the actual game. If you play often, you can rearrange the game slides so students don’t memorize the order.
Polygons included are:
Acute Triangle, Right Triangle, Obtuse Triangle, Isosceles Triangle, Scalene Triangle, Equilateral Triangle, Parallelogram, Trapezoid, Rectangle, Rhombus, Square, Pentagon, Hexagon, and Octagon.
Here’s what is included:
- Teacher Information with directions, suggestions for use, and more
- Student Directions
- Student Roles Explanation
- Examples for Clue Givers
- Polygon Charts to assist students
- Clue Giving Help Sheet
- One Animated Slide for each included polygon with two example of that polygon and the answer
Here are a few example slides. Click on any of them to get your own and to see the complete product.
Thanks for stopping by!
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Poetry Unit for Elementary and Middle School
April is National Poetry Month. I now say that with a huge smile and a tingle of excitement. If I'm going to be completely honest, and I am, I loathed having anything to do with poetry throughout my own education and teaching it my first few years. That's because up until the past 6 years or so, the only experiences I had with poetry were:
1. having to memorize and recite Shakespeare in front of an entire class (as a teacher, I still don't see the educational value in that)
2. being forced to write poetry with minimal support or understanding of what I was doing
3. having to decode and analyze poetry
So, why the smile and tingle of excitement now? Well, a wonderful friend and colleague turned me onto students writing their own poetry in fun and meaningful ways. At first I was apprehensive because my students didn't want anything to do with poetry either. They thought it was boring and confusing. It was my job to prove them otherwise, and I was going to do it by allowing them to be the poets for a change.
It took me a lot of research and tons of time, but what I created I just have to share. It's a complete unit that takes students through several stages. First they learn about different poems, then practicing writing poems, and finally turn their poetry into an amazing book that includes an About the Author Page, a Table of Contents page, a Cover page, and much more. There is even a rubric to keep your students on track and for you to grade student work. My Poetry Do-It-Yourself Book does the following:
1. Introduces students to 9 different types of popular poetry
2. Provides my original examples of the 9 types of poetry
3. Provides directions for how to write these poems
4. Includes (printable) templates for students to write their own poems
5. Includes all of the materials for students to build their own book with Author, Cover, and Table of Contents Pages
Click here or on any of the images below to get yours. I posted the product cover and some actual pages from the resource. I'd love to hear your experience with this. Happy Poetry Month!
1. having to memorize and recite Shakespeare in front of an entire class (as a teacher, I still don't see the educational value in that)
2. being forced to write poetry with minimal support or understanding of what I was doing
3. having to decode and analyze poetry
So, why the smile and tingle of excitement now? Well, a wonderful friend and colleague turned me onto students writing their own poetry in fun and meaningful ways. At first I was apprehensive because my students didn't want anything to do with poetry either. They thought it was boring and confusing. It was my job to prove them otherwise, and I was going to do it by allowing them to be the poets for a change.
It took me a lot of research and tons of time, but what I created I just have to share. It's a complete unit that takes students through several stages. First they learn about different poems, then practicing writing poems, and finally turn their poetry into an amazing book that includes an About the Author Page, a Table of Contents page, a Cover page, and much more. There is even a rubric to keep your students on track and for you to grade student work. My Poetry Do-It-Yourself Book does the following:
1. Introduces students to 9 different types of popular poetry
2. Provides my original examples of the 9 types of poetry
3. Provides directions for how to write these poems
4. Includes (printable) templates for students to write their own poems
5. Includes all of the materials for students to build their own book with Author, Cover, and Table of Contents Pages
Click here or on any of the images below to get yours. I posted the product cover and some actual pages from the resource. I'd love to hear your experience with this. Happy Poetry Month!
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Graduate Level Course for Teachers- Literature Circles for K-12 Classrooms
If you're a teacher who is looking for graduate level courses, MTI may be a great option for you.
Midwest Teachers Institute is national provider of inexpensive and university-accredited K-12 teacher professional development. It was founded by teachers,who strive to provide exceptional learning opportunities at very reasonable prices.
I'm teaching an online class called Best Practice Reading Strategy: Literature Circles in the K-12 Classroom. It begins on April 13, and there is still time to sign up. Everything is run and turned in online, so you have the flexibility to work from home within a schedule that works for you.
Click to view the syllabus for this class-MTI 516or to view the MTI lineup of online classes.
Midwest Teachers Institute is national provider of inexpensive and university-accredited K-12 teacher professional development. It was founded by teachers,who strive to provide exceptional learning opportunities at very reasonable prices.
I'm teaching an online class called Best Practice Reading Strategy: Literature Circles in the K-12 Classroom. It begins on April 13, and there is still time to sign up. Everything is run and turned in online, so you have the flexibility to work from home within a schedule that works for you.
Click to view the syllabus for this class-MTI 516or to view the MTI lineup of online classes.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Professional Development Class- Vocabulary for The Modern Day Classroom
Midwest Teachers Institute
Graduate Level Professional Development Courses for Teachers
I am so, so, so excited to be checking off another item on my professional bucket list. I wrote a graduate course for teachers that got approved and will be teaching the online version. It's called Vocabulary for the Modern Day Classroom: K-12 Strategies for ELL/ESL, Content Areas, and Beyond. It begins on March 30, and there is still time to sign up. Everything is run and turned in online, so you have the flexibility to work from home within a schedule that works for you.
Teaching vocabulary is my passion. My intention with this class is to provide teachers and school staff at all levels and in all areas with quick and easy strategies they can use to motivate and encourage students to work with words and build their vocabulary. There are games and activities for introducing words, practicing with words, and assessments. I've also included several of my own examples and templates from activities that I have successfully used in my own classroom.
This is not a "read the text, answer questions, and write a 10-page paper" class. It's purpose is to get you creating and developing real, engaging, and meaningful vocabulary and language experiences for your students. These activities have transformed my teaching and my students' attitudes about learning vocabulary and working with words. Click to view the syllabus for this class-MTI 595 or to view the MTI lineup of online classes.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
St. Patrick's Day Activities: Persuasive Writing, Math, Language Games and More
I'm not Irish, but I love St. Patrick's Day! There are so many fun traditions that I bring into the classroom each year. The kids and I always have a blast. Here are some of the resources that I have used. A couple of them have just recently been updated. Click on any of the links or pictures below to get your own or head to my TpT store. Happy St. Patrick's Day. (Now, I'm off to find a new corned beef and cabbage recipe...)
Students try to convince a leprechaun to share his gold
Organizer, Rubric, & Stationary included
Students use their vocabulary knowledge to determine specific words that are related to St. Patrick's day categories
Student take turns using their oral language skills to get their team to guess the St. Patrick's Day themed Taboo words
Students convert fractions, decimals, and percent using the included colored shamrocks
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Valentine's Day Activities: Games, Writing, Math
Valentine's Day can be a wacky day and a fun one for sure! Here are some resources that can help teachers get some academic work done on Valentine's Day. Click here to go to the complete set of resources or click on any of the product images below to go directly to those items.
Valentine's Day Word Games
It includes a rubric and decorative writing paper!
Friday, January 9, 2015
5th Grade Reading Street Vocabulary Resources
I've been teaching 5th grade for quite some time, and vocabulary instruction is one of my favorite times of the day. About 5 years ago, I got a Masters Degree in Reading Instruction, and it changed the way that I approached teaching vocabulary. Students don't learn and use new words by doing basic skill and drill vocabulary worksheets or "write the definition." They have to interact with words, make connections with them, and want to use them. I have created sets of activities and games to use with all 30 5th Grade Reading Street stories. They are highly rated (by students and teachers). Feel free to check out the feedback. If you're looking for activities to supplement your curriculum, give these a shot. If you do, I'd love to hear what you and your students thought.
Here's how things are set up:
* Each story has an individual listing. They are named by the story's title.
* There is a set for each of the 6 units that includes all 5 individual stories.
* There is a complete set of all 30 stories from all 6 units.
Here's how things are set up:
* Each story has an individual listing. They are named by the story's title.
* There is a set for each of the 6 units that includes all 5 individual stories.
* There is a complete set of all 30 stories from all 6 units.
Click here to go to the homepage that has all of the materials.
Links for Complete Units (5 Stories for each of the 6 Units)
Monday, December 8, 2014
Christmas Games, Writing, Math, and More
This is definitely one of my favorite times of the year to be a teacher. There are so many fun, educational (and some just fun) things to do in the classroom. People are happy, the air smells of hot cocoa at least once a week (thanks to some amazing parents), and the snow brings on such excitement.
As our two week break gets closer, there are some activities that I like to do to keep the kiddos interested and motivated in the classroom. You can find all of these activities in my Teachers Pay Teachers store. Use this link to go directly to the Christmas Resources page. You can click on any of the links or pictures below to go directly to the product pages also.
As our two week break gets closer, there are some activities that I like to do to keep the kiddos interested and motivated in the classroom. You can find all of these activities in my Teachers Pay Teachers store. Use this link to go directly to the Christmas Resources page. You can click on any of the links or pictures below to go directly to the product pages also.
Christmas Taboo and Scattergories Games
Happy Holidays!
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Back to School Daily Labels Set
I know it's not back-to-school time, but I just updated this product and wanted to share it. It's not too late to start using these Daily Schedule Labels today. Just print, cut, (laminate if you choose), and display them to keep students updated on what the schedule for the day will be.
There are 43 labels with several activities, subjects, and events (including blank ones). There are also time labels if you want to write in times. Click on any of the links or the image to get yours.
P.S. I'll be running a sale soon, so check back often. :)
There are 43 labels with several activities, subjects, and events (including blank ones). There are also time labels if you want to write in times. Click on any of the links or the image to get yours.
P.S. I'll be running a sale soon, so check back often. :)
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