Student Recommended Books

Today I was with a 5th grade class. I asked them for book recommendations. They had some great ideas.

One student recommend "Artimes Fowl" because its a great mystery that keeps unfolding. Just as one mystery is solved another one begins. I'm going to have to give this one a try. I've had many students ask for book recommendations who are looking for mysteries. I think this will be good to have in my back pocket. 

One student had just begun the "Spiderwick Chronicles" because so many of her friends recommended it. I have also read this book, it is a charming modern fairy tail.

"Big Nate" was recommended to a student because it is funny and Nate is always doing what he isn't supposed to.

A student recommended "Calvin and Hobbes." She loves all how funny it is. Yay for a classic cartoon! It makes me really happy to see kids reading things that I read when I was a kid.

This book is recommended by a fifth grade boy for having really good action and adventure.

 

This one is currently the class read aloud book. Over two days I had the pleasure of reading chapters three through six to the class. Each day they begged for more. It is a tale of a young girl who's family is going through hard times, how she deals with her struggles (such as living in a car) and how she tries to help her family in an unconventional way. It is now on my book list. 

Behavior Chart

This is a great idea. When a student is doing good they are asked to move their pin up one. If they are not on task, they move their pin down one. Everyone starts the day on green. At the end of the day if your pin is on blue you get 1 ticket, on pink you get 2 tickets & on purple you get 3 tickets. At the end of the week there is a ticket drawing.

I spoke with the teacher who made this. She said she hardly ever needs to have students take a break. She just has them move their pin down one color.

Thing 1 and Thing 2

Walking through the halls of a school last week I saw a great idea. Students (probably in 1st or k) had written short pieces about what they would do if the Things came to their house. They published their work with this adorable craft project.

Great Sub Plans

This is what I want to see in sub plans. Every thing is laid out clearly. There is a good hierarchy to the information between the time, the activity and the description. There is enough information describing each activity but it is never over explained. I love these plans! It's all about the little things in life.

Sweet

Today's great idea is sweet and simple. If you are having a planned absence, write a post-it note to each student with a nice, short message.

Basket Project (not for students)

1) Wrap raffia in news paper and creat frame.
2) Twist strips of news paper into cord weave back and forth for bottom.
3) Weave sides, use three strands of cord before counter weaving.
4) Wrap about 10 cords in a cris cross with the crosses weaving into the edges.
5) Coat with modge podge.

Skyline

Today I got a great idea for an art project. Sadly, only one girl need to put the finishing touches on her project, so I did not get to see the whole process, but a few students in the class talked me through what they did.

1) Cut out a skyline. Many students did city sky lines but some did country.
2) Tear up colorful tissue paper.
3) Glue tissue paper down to create a sunset or twilight sky. Teacher should mix water and glue ahead of time. Students brush glue onto tissue paper with a paint brush so the paper doesn't get bogged down with glue.
4) Allow background to dry.
5) Glue the sky line in place with a glue stick.

Here one last student needed to glue down her skyline.

Her finished work of art. Ooh, aah, lovely!

Reading Buddies

Today I am back in my favorite 5th grade classroom. They have 1st grade reading buddies. Each Friday (when there are no scheduling conflicts) they take turns going to each others rooms to read. This Thursday (they don't have school tomorrow for conferences) the first graders came to the fifth grade room. Before they arrived students picked two picture books to read to the students.  

When the first graders got to the classroom they quickly found their buddy and sat down. They have been doing this all year so they know who their buddies are, there was only a small shuffle for students who were absent.

The fifth graders where reminded to stop and ask their first grade buddy questions about the book. They were also reminded they were modeling what it was like to be a good reader for the younger students. 

Next Friday, the fifth grade will visit the first grade classroom and the younger students will read to the older kids. 

Bulletin Boards

To day I'm in a 5th grade classroom with some simple but effective bulletin boards.

Each new learning target it posted (all in the same style and sized font - very classy). 

A bulletin board behind the teacher's desk show's his former classes (even from different schools) and his college degrees are also posted. A nice quick way to show students and families how you got to where you are.  

This was on the door down the hall. I think its a great way for students to own the classroom and showoff something - school related or not - that they are proud of. The words behind each kid say "I'M REALLY GOOD AT..." and each student created a poster with one big word filling in the blank.