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.

I'm so LUCKY to have you in my class!

When I first started teaching I wondered  how challenging the students would be. I heard how difficult your first couple of years are. I was blessed with an awesome group my first year. The following year I got even luckier! Eight years later and I cannot say I've experienced "the worst" year of teaching. Don't get me wrong, I've had difficult times but they had nothing to do with the students and everything to do with the "politics" of education.  I love giving my kids this gift to let them know how lucky I feel.

March is the perfect time to give your students a cute gift to express how important they are to you.  I recently attended a staff development where we had the phenomenal Dave Weber express the importance of relationships with your staff and students. This is the perfect opportunity to build that relationship with them. You can do this with any age group. Even though 6th graders act like they are too cool they really love it! I also made some for my kids teachers. My 3 boys attend my school so it was nice to build that relationship with my peers as well.

                   Materials:

• Snack size ziplock baggies
  Lucky Charms cereal
  Label for students
  Label for a buddy teacher
  Label for child's teacher   

What is Luck...

Spring break BABY! That's right, I get a week off to enjoy some "me" time and rough it up with my 3 boys! Unfortunately our spring break falls during St. Patrick's day so we miss out on some fun. Nevertheless while it's a bit early, I still sneak in a couple fun activities. My favorite one is a quick poem about "What is Luck." While we learn about different poems, I allow my students to create a lot of free verse poetry to express their thoughts or like I tell them, "Write from the heart."

This is a simple writing piece where students simply make a list of reasons as to why they feel they are lucky. It's a writing piece that can be done at any grade level. While kindergarten children can draw pictures of what they feel makes them lucky, I have my sixth graders write about it.  It will blow your mind with the things they say. I love getting a sneak peak at the inside of their minds. It's an affirmation that my kiddos are still young at heart.



Here are some examples that I have saved.

Valentines Letter

I'm so excited to share this idea that I do every year with my sixth graders. The only warning about this project is that you have to make sure that your 5th grade partners don't do this activity or it spoils the surprise.  I have to say that I did not come up with this idea. I actually cannot even tell you where it came from. All I know is that I work at the most amazing school where everyone shares everything and somewhere throughout all the sharing, I came upon this amazing Valentines project!

With the busy lives that most of us live, we sometimes forget to stop and take a moment to tell our children how important they are. For that reason, I stress how this will be the most important homework assignment that I will assign for the year. You can read the attached letter for more specifics. I gather some basic materials and tell my parents/guardians that they are to create a Valentine for their child. I simply supply parents with a colored sheet of construction paper, a few Valentine stickers, and a doily, however most letters return with so much more. They are elaborately decorated with so much more including extremely powerful words that have my sixth graders, boys & girls bawling!


CAUTION #1* You may want to have an early return date to give yourself room in case you need to call and remind a few parents. I've had years where some students do not receive anything. Have a few pre-made envelopes from you so you don't have anyone feel left out. 

CAUTION #2* Have some tissue handy! I have students ask me to read their because they are so proud of what their parents have written.


Here is what you need:

Materials

• 9" x 12" Manila envelope
• Red construction paper
• Valentines stickers
• Heart shaped Doily
• Parent Letter
• Cover letter

 If you try this, you have to let me know how it goes!