IMOVIE PROJECT

This is a wonderful commercial that one of my students and I experimented with using the imovie app on the I-pad.  What a great way for students to share what they know in an all out debate on what is better for our soil.  The efforts of this program will provide a third world country with either manure or worms to help sustain their life in their country by growing healthy crops and sharing with their neighboring villages.

Skype in your own Classroom

Skype in Your Classroom:

There are so many benefits to Skyping in your own classroom.  Everyone talks about how much more engaged students are and how much more they learn because they are learning from there peers, and I can honestly say that this is nothing but the TRUTH!  My experiences with Skype are few, but I can say that they have been great, and the children that you have the hardest time reaching tend to be the most reached.

This year so far our students have had the opportunity of Skyping with a class in another local school on practice debates, and commercials.  Currently, we are planning a "virtual trip" with Yellowstone National Park to learn more about their habitats and local conservation efforts.  Next week we will be Skyping with Cegar, Serbia.  This is a school that has 8 year olds exploring their first year of English and they want a chance to use it in real world situations.  We will be doing a short question and answer session with the students on their habitats in their country and what they do to keep their earth healthy and clean.  Not only is this a great experience for those students, but a great experience for those in my class that will NEVER have any opportunity besides this one to contact someone outside of their own country.

The impact that Skyping with others brings is limitless.  Students learn best from their peers and from their outside experiences.  Providing students with roles in your Skype allow for learning beyond the curriculum.  This allows students to learn about self control, self importance, and critical thinking skills in real world situations.  Talk about applying what they know. 

If you have not had an opportunity to Skype with your students with another class I suggest that you get involved in this site: Skype in the Classroom

There is a great group titled: World Class for Kids. This group allows you to add your name to a database of teachers from all over the world in an effort to connect globally on so many different issues.  If you try it, leave me a comment and let me know how it goes!

Egg Carton Math- Place Value

Place Value to the hundred thousands-
This game is a great way to review with students place value.  It makes it fun and engaging for all. 

I found out that a lot of my students have issues writing the numbers out.  I gave each table a place value chart that was put into a page protector and allowed them to write the numbers into the chart using a dry erase marker.  This made it easy for the children to write their numbers out before putting in on paper to actually see why it was written the way that it was.   Here is the game:

Egg Carton Place Value Sheet

Click Here for the Carton Covers

Are you dying eggs this Easter? Here is an idea for recycling the cartons. You need a carton, some small manipulatives (I used beans) and the printables below. This game is a review of writing numbers in standard form. You have to pre-program the egg carton with the place value chart written inside. We are working on numbers through the hundred thousands place. Students shake the egg carton with the manipulatives inside. Player one has the top row in the carton and player two has the bottom row. After shaking they see where the erasers land and create the number. Example: maybe 3 landed in the hundred thousands, 1 landed in the ten thousands, 3 landed in one thousand and maybe 0 in the hundreds, 3 in the tens and 1 in the ones places. Then the number written is 313,031. Player two checks his number and then they compare using the greater, less than or equal to signs and record answers on the sheet. (See below).

Patterns- A little First Grade Activity

This is my son sharing his patterns :)  I had him create patterns using clothes pins.  Then I video taped him saying the pattern.  He was so excited to know that he would be on my blog and that the teacher was going to see a video of him saying his patterns! What a great way to excite children. 

You could do something like this for other parents and put it into a QR code.  When back to school night starts you could have the parents scan and see things that there children are doing throughout school.  Just a cute little idea :)  

Inspire Change Wall

Inspire Change.  Next to the white board wall where I have the students write things they noticed others doing that was good; I am going to have an inspiration wall.  This is where I post inspirational quotes to help them through their day, and me :)

I notice when wall

This year our school theme is Around the World in 180 Days.  The primary goal is to teach children about caring, giving, cooperation, and helping others.  We are also involved in National Dot Day and Bucket filling.  This is my bucket filler wall!  I hung up dry erase boards for the students to write comments on.  As they notice students doing great things throughout the day they can write them on the board.  When we have our morning meeting time, I will choose a few that really stuck out to me and share them with the class.  Just one way that we can fill a bucket in our room :)

Note Bucket

I have a really good policy in my room that the students loved last year.  I created this bucket on the front of my desk as a place for children to drop me notes about things throughout the day.  This definitely stopped the tattling issue.  Whenever something was bothering them, or there was an issue, they would write me a note and place it in the bucket.  I would usually get to it at the end of the day and read all the notes.  The next day I would talk with them if it was necessary, but most of the time they had already resolved whatever the issue was.  Great way to get students to think before they speak. This is also a wonderful teacher/student relationship building activity in class.

June Box

JUNE BOX!!!  Great management idea for toys and other unwanted distractions.  I think last year I had a laser pen, erasers ( I loved the puzzle erasers), pencil sharpeners that played music, and plenty of little odds and ends.  When I caught someone playing with something they would get a warning.  If they were caught again I would say put it in your bag and I don't want to see it again.  If they brought it back again it was placed in the June Box.  This means that they can't get it back until June unless a parent comes and collects it from me.  The students didn't like this idea so it stopped the playing around pretty fast.  I did have a some stuff to give back come the end of the year though :)  Great idea for management.

Behavior Chart- Twist on Green light system

This is my behavior chart.  I like having the additional color on top because it allows them to move up as well. I have little people that I bought, laminated, and hot glued to paper clips to give it that "cute" appeal :)  What I typically do is this:  If a child is on Orange they have to write a reflection of their day and what they did wrong, if it's red then the parent is contacted.  I don't always make the parent sign the reflection forms, but it does allow the child to sit and really think about what caused them to get there.  I also use numbers instead of names for child confidentiality reasons.  This way if someone comes in that might know the child on red, that child won't feel embarrassed or violated in any way.

If they have just an outstanding day then they can go to purple.  We are using a punch card system based on this chart, if they are good all day they can get a max of 3 punches for their card.  Once they reach 20 punches they can turn it in for the chance to get a really cool prize.  I will post that game later :)  

No Name Work Board

This is my hand made no name board!  I tried to use wood that looked a bit jagged to give it that shipwrecked look for my jungle theme.  I just painted no name on the top, drew in some vines and added over sized clips for the papers.  Voila! Now the students can view the papers and claim there work :)  Just a cute touch on the idea!