Cootie Catchers

Do you want to guarantee 100% participation? This is the best activity to reinforce specific skills and it's definitely engaging! My students love making Cootie Catchers or Fortune Tellers. Every once in a while I have to tell them to keep it appropriate.Nevertheless, if they already love making them, why not modify it to make it educational. I found a link where you can buy them pre-made. They focus on math skills, however it includes a blank template! http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Cootie-Catcher-Factors-and-Multiples. I purchased the entire set for $3.00, but the seller is currently having a sale for $2.55

Here is what the seller has to say:

Your students already love them, why not use cootie catchers for a fun math review or center activity. This file includes twelve different cootie catchers for reviewing factors and multiples (2 of each for: prime and composite numbers, factors, greatest common factors, prime factorization, multiples, and least common multiple). The file also contains a blank template for making your own cootie catcher (a perfect activity for test review questions). As a BONUS I have included a Factors and Multiples worksheet or quiz to use as an assessment (answers included).

Here is how I used it:

• Vocabulary: used definition and their partner had to identify the vocabulary word.
• Math: I use it to review on Thursdays before their Friday quiz.
• Language: I randomly place questions to reinforce reading objectives such as plot, author's purpose, figurative language, poetry, affixes etc.
• I plan on using it for science by placing academic vocabulary where students will have to make a connection to an investigation they completed.

Here's how it looks:

• Students face each other in rows.
• One row will have the questions/Cootie Catchers 
• The other row will have a white board to show their work (math) and write their answer.
• I have the timer set up for 45 seconds-60 seconds. This depends on the content.
• I play music in the background to make it a little more exciting.
• Every time the timer goes off, students w/ white boards move seats.
• Basically, it's like speed dating. I tell my students they are too young to date so we call it "speed math" or "Speed Reading" depending on the content.
• After about 4 or 5 rotations, I have them switch roles. 

Getting Pumped up for Testing!

And the countdown begins for AIMS! Testing is only a few weeks away so it's time to hit test prep. While it's not my favorite time of the year, I have to figure out a way to keep my kiddos focused and excited. If you have never used Comic-Life you are missing out! There are many ways to use it in every content. To get my students excited about testing I have them create a Comic-Life page.  Below is the slide I use along with a student example (with her parents approval of course).  I love this because students get an opportunity to read different quotes, set a goal, and create a layout using organizational features.

Name Tags

Here's a simple idea for name tags. It's easy to make some in the beginning of the year, laminate them and stick them on their desks. This is no fun for my sixth graders so I jazz them up a bit. Aside from making cute name tags, the kids appreciate the time I take to personalize them.

Every opportunity I get I change their name tags. It's nice because it reminds me it's time to move their seats around and I also have an opportunity to make new ones for new students. I use scrapbook paper, print their names with cool fonts and laminate them. My 6th grade students LOVE it! They always ask what I'm planning for the next holiday or when I get behind they never fail to remind me that it's time for new name tags. I'm on Spring Break so I'll have to come back and post some pictures later.

• August: I do something bright and "summery"
• October: Halloween theme
• November: Turkeys
• December: Christmas Theme
• January: Snowflakes
• February: Valentines Theme
• March: St. Patrick
• April: Personal Quotes: Our state test is in April so I will be printing name tags with inspirational quotes.
• May: Back to Summer theme. This year I chose to do peace signs.

Here is a link for Free Fonts that I use. You can download hundreds of fonts on your PC or MAC!

Wordle.com

I cannot begin to tell you how much I LOVE this website thanks to my colleague Deirdre who introduced me to it! I seriously think she should have a blog since I have gotten so many of my ideas from her! Wordle.com can be used throughout different content areas. It basically generates words into a collage.

Here is how I have used it:

• To create a writing cover for their writing scrapbooks. They make a list of words and phrases that relate to writing.
• Create an "autobiography collage" about themselves.
• Every year I make one with all the names of my students and frame it. I place it by the entrance of my door.
• When we studied "Diversity of Life" in science, I had my students make a list of all the academic vocabulary words they could think of. They used their science notebooks as a resource.

Advice to a 5th grader

The end of the year is right around the corner! A great writing piece to do is have your students write a friendly letter to a lower grade student. I enjoy reading these letter so much. I'm usually laughing out loud (lol) as I read these.

I have my 6th grade students write to 5th grade students who will become 6th graders in the fall. The things they say are hilarious and yet insightful. It's interesting how they perceive 6th grade and their expectations. You can do this with many grade levels. It would be really interesting to see what sorts of things 3rd graders have to share with 2nd grade students.

Quotes from student's letters:

"Make sure you do your home work everyday or Mrs. Hernandez will not be happy."

"We work a lot, but she makes it fun."

"In the beginning of the year math is going to be pretty hard, but by the end of the year it will all make sense."

Facial Similes

Figurative language is one of my favorite things to teach! By the time students get to sixth grade they know what similes are. To take it to a higher level students use their face to create similes with adjectives.  While students are creating similes, they have an opportunity to personalize their writing by capturing a profile picture of themselves on Photo Booth.

I'm a Girl Who...

While I focus throughout the year on the different elements of writing to get my students ready for AIMS (Arizona’s Instrument to Measure Standards) I also throw in a lot of free verse poetry to give students an opportunity to express their ideas.  This writing piece is done in the beginning of the year.

Title: I'm a Girl Who/ I'm a Boy Who
Objective: TSW develop a list of  descriptive phrases that describe their personal traits to add voice and good word choice to their writing.