Back to School in a Flash: Student Engagement

I'm so excited about this next week of school.  Every year I always forget how draining the first week can be as the kids are learning the routines and procedures, but then the second week comes and things are so much better.  I thrive on having a routine and I start to really know my new students.  With starting the true curriculum, there is always the need to keep the students engaged and focused as they learn, so today I wanted to share some things I've learned after all these years.   

 I love using games in my classroom to review concepts.  It makes it fun and exciting.  One of my favorite games is Scoot.  It's easy to play... just grab a set of task cards (one card per child), and place them on the different desks.

 The kids have a limited amount of time to answer that one question/card on a separate sheet of paper.  When the teacher calls "Scoot" the kids scoot to the next desk to answer yet another card. The movement makes it fun, yet the kids are still getting a lot of review.  It's because it's such a fun game that I decided to create task cards for every math concept that I need to teach my kids.  Between using them for scoot, intervention, and math centers, the cards are used a lot every single year.  I love how it's a one time prep, many year use.

For behavior, I love to focus on the positives.  One of the best tips I learned years ago was to use prizes that cost me close to nothing.  I didn't have to worry about running to the store at 8pm at night to pick up more treats.

  

I use these prizes as part of my Friday raffle.  In the past years students have turned in their tickets to enter the raffle (I choose 3-5 winners every week), and the kids choose a prize card out of a little bin.  They hold onto it until they use the card.  It's easy stuff - like using a pen all day, or sitting on the floor for a lesson, or taking off their shoes during a test...  It's free if you need something!  This year I decided to not buy any more of the raffle tickets and instead am using a 100 grid.  It worked so well this past week.  I let kids choose a spot to write their classroom number, and then I added students numbers as well when I would normally have given a ticket (pushing in chairs without being asked, lining up quietly, being a helper, etc.... all those normal things).

     

You have probably heard of this before... but student choice is by far one of the most valuable student engagement tools possible.  Years ago (at least 5) I learned about Daily 5.  By far one of the best professional development books I have ever read.  Now, over the years I have tweaked it to make it work for me and my schedule... but that's the beauty of it... CHOICES! 

My workshop time (both ELA and Math) has been changed forever.  The mini lessons add to the day, the student work time has everyone on task, and the kids are excited when it's time for Daily 5 (or Math Daily 3)...  I really love it!  

 Speaking about another thing that has transformed my classroom...  Whole Brain Teaching!

 I have the book, but the best thing that helped me was watching the videos both on Youtube and at WholeBrainTeaching.com 

Want to join in on the fun?  Link up a blog post to the below linky!  I hope this helped.  :)  

An InLinkz Link-up

Five for Friday: I Survived the Week! (Giveaway)

Linking up with Doodlebugs for yet another Five for Friday!  Slow down summer... 5 weeks are over!!!  I knew this past week was going to be a rough one.  I'm a teacher on summer break... yet I worked harder this week than I have in a long time. 

One:  VBS - Arts and Crafts Teacher for Preschool

I loved this years theme of Mount Everest.  This was my "classroom" this past week at night.  Snowflakes hanging everywhere.  We had igloos that transitioned the kids through the rooms.  It's one thing to have 32 fourth graders focus for the 6 hours I have them, it was a challenge to maintain focus for the dozen 3-6 year olds I had for 15 minutes each.  Painting almost every night, bubbles everywhere, it was so much fun!  The AC decided to quit during this extra hot week, so it was a little warm, but thankfully we had a fan to keep us company.  

Two: 21 Day Fix

I decided it was time for me to get real about making good choices.  Too much Diet Coke and treats this past month... it was time to jump back on the wagon.  I'm loving this eating plan!  I am using the free (purple) 21 Day Fit Tracker app to help me keep track of what I'm eating.  Really happy with the results so far!

Three: Getting Ready for Vegas

I didn't go to Vegas last year, and then I drove my friends that went crazy... so I'm beyond excited about next week.  It's starting to feel real, I've been printing out my boarding pass, and name tags... pulled out my suitcase and have been trying to figure out what to wear...  Only a few more days until I get to physically meet some of my best blogging friends!  

Four: Friend Time!

This past week my school has been selling fireworks to raise money.  Yesterday (and today) I spent time hanging out with these lovely ladies in a hot firework cage and holding a sign on the corner.  It was our grade level's turn to sell, we're trying to raise money for next year's big field trip.  I absolutely thank God for these women, it's so wonderful to be able to work with people you call your friends.  

 Five:  Big Week on FB

My FB page reached 3,300 likes!  Feeling loved over there too, I wanted to have a shopping spree giveaway.  Tomorrow night I'll choose a random winner.  The giveaway is over on FB, so please go enter!

Have a great day!

Five for Friday: A Bunch of Randomness

Five for Friday with DoodleBugs?  Sure!

ONE:  Solar Lantern

My oldest is going on his first backpacking camping trip this weekend - leaving in approx. 55 minutes with his Boy Scout Troop.  This time around he has to carry not only his backpack, but also all his food for the weekend, plus his patrol tarp & big water jug, AND his walking stick.  I can barely carry it all, and he's only 11.  When they were going over the reminders last night, they were mentioning about the possibility of bears, definitely to wear a mosquito headnet, and other odds & ends... I kept thinking that I was sending my baby off to be eaten alive.  Most likely he will come back acting even older and less like my little boy.

TWO - My Class Conference Binder

Well my binder has been cleaned out yet again.  This was the best thing I put in a binder a few years ago... just 32 binder dividers - one section per kid, with classroom numbers that can be used from year to year.  I just stick binder paper in the sections as the year progresses and I need more room.  Keeps everything organized.

THREE - Black Out Curtains

My sons have this thing of waking up before God himself wants anyone out of bed.  Every summer we say that we need to get black out curtains to "pretend" it's still the middle of the night, and we finally put them up in their rooms.  It is pitch black in them in the middle of the day.  This mama can sleep in a while longer...

FOUR - Adhesive Ribbon

I picked up the value 24 pack of these ribbons at Michaels and have been having fun prettying up my home and next year's lesson planner.  Life is good with ribbon!

FIVE - Reading to Read

I've been reading both fiction and nonfiction so far this summer.  Staying up way too late until my eyes can't see straight.  It's been wonderful!  What are you reading these days?

Hope you have had a great week!

My Desk (Linky)

Tori from Tori's Teacher Tips is having a linky party all about sharing what our desks look like.  Please don't think less of me after seeing my pictures...Overview of my desk - as of 3:05pm on Friday afternoon.  It's not as bad as I thought it was going to be as it was test day. :)
Now onto the things that I use all the time:
My gigantic apple (it's a cookie jar) makes me smile.  I found it for $5 at a thrift store this past summer and I keep snacks inside for those moments that I have forgotten my lunch or am going to pass out because I'm so hungry.These homework cards aren't usually on my desk - just on Fridays since we play Homeworkopoly with them.  My push on light that I use to keep the children away when I'm working with individuals.  Since I'm usually working with one on ones during silent reading time when I have the lights off, the light is more easily to be seen.  I like that it's a visual reminder that I'm busy at the moment.  I use my pull out drawers all the time.  I like that it's all organized and has stayed this way for 5 whole months.  The baskets at the top are for library cards and encouragement cards.  Books that kids have checked out from me go in one, the books that they have returned go in the other (just to keep track of what they are borrowing), and the other one has little cards that I write notes with.  Gotta love Vistaprint!
Go link up and let me see your desk!
Have a great Saturday. :)