Grab Their Attention with Small Celebrations!

If you don't have their attention, it's like teaching to the air.  The thing is, getting kid's attention isn't really hard if you know the tricks!  Once you have their attention, it's time for that great lesson you spent all night preparing! How do you do that? My favorite technique is using small celebrations, which means chants and cheers. Chants get everyone on the same page, and eager to learn.  Cheers are used  to celebrate a great answer, or following the rules.  Everyone gets in on the fun, and it's a real ego-booster for the child who receives the celebration.  Both cheers and chants are super quick to do, but dynamite in what they can achieve!  

How do they work?

Chants:

 Chants are perfect to get kids (all of them) to do something you want done.  It doesn't matter if it's cleaning up, taking out a book or whatever.  Use a chant and everyone gets in on the fun.  A few chant videos are included below. 

Cheers:

Cheers are perfect for celebrating any small achievement. If the class is extra quick following a direction,  have a cheer. If a student answers a difficult question, time for everyone to give him a cheer. It's extra fun if the student gets to choose the cheer the class will do for them.  Trust me, it makes EVERYONE smile.  It's important to have a class list somewhere, and mark off each child as they are chosen for a cheer. You don't want to skip anyone.  It's a very powerful motovator, especially for that problem child who doesn't often get possitive reinforcement.  An added bonus is that kids go home and tell their parents when they get a cheer.  I can't even tell you how many of my parents have mentioned the cheers, and what a great idea they are.  Some cheers can be a little loud ( We will, we will ROCK YOU!)  Nothing like a little Queen added to the curriculum.  But I don't really worry about a loud cheer.  With a little modeling and practice the kids know that once a cheer is done, they quiet down. Now for a list of great cheer/chant sites.  It helps to see them done.

Celebration Cheer and chant Links:

Terrific chants demonstrated by a classroom:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tiM2EUCn2A

Great site with 10 cheer directions and videos: 

https://sweetsugarblossoms.blogspot.com/2013/04/classroom-cheers.html

This is enough to get you started!  If you want more, just look on Google.  There are LOTS of videos to choose from.  These are just my favorites.  Good luck bringing real joy into your classrooms!

To see how to use Music to grab your students' attention, check out this post!

Grab Their Attention With Music!

Want lots of free ideas?  Check out my Pinterest page at:

https://www.pinterest.com/janbernard10/

If you are interested in resources that are sure to grab your students' attention, check out my TPT store!

Discover the Magic of Games in the Classroom

If you want to make learning not only easy, but fun, don't miss out on how games help students learn faster and easier. It's all about the brain!

It about Dopamine baby!

You can think of dopamine as the feel good hormone.  It's involved with falling in love, winning a prize, and eating your favorite food.  Here's the key....it's also a major compont of learning.  Why?  Dopamine is a neurotransmitter.  That means it carries information between different parts of the brain. What does that mean?  It means dopamine cocnverts newly learned information into long-term memory.  No dopamine, much less memory.  

If students are stressed, or unhappy during learning, that learning has a very hard time making it into long-term memory.  Dopamine levels increase when we learn new and pleasureable information. In fact, research shows that Dopamine levels increase motivation and goal-directed behavior. Happy students equal better learning.

That implies that the goal of education, before any education can take place, is to increase dopamine levels!

How do games increase dopamine levels?

Games make kids happy.  They get to socialize (which we all love), and they are constantly hit with dopamine every time they get a question right, or solve a problem.  In fact, in a game-based learning environment kids grow to crave that rewarding moment when they solve a challenging problem.  That builds the motivation to persevere, and seek out that pleasurable problem solving situation again.  That's the golden ticket of education! 

 Does This Actually Work in the Classroom?

A new study from Vanderbilt University shows that students who played educational games outperformed their peers on standardized tests. Teachers in the study said:

1.  Content games helped to foster in-depth learning, developed critical thinking and problem solving skills

2. Quiz-style games reinforced lessons and helped review material

3. Different types of game play stimulated interest and engagement, particularly in students prone to being off-task

4. Games prompted student-led discussions, collaboration and the sharing of knowledge

5. Simple and complex games increased confidence and content mastery 

6. Teachers reported increased engagement

7.  Improved attention spans: students who normally were off-task became more focused on learning

92% of teachers who used educational games said they would do it again because of the impact on student performance and engagement.  To me, number 3 is the key.  

Resources:

https://www.edsurge.com/news/2017-03-06-new-research-proves-game-based-learning-works-here-s-why-that-matters 

https://blog.mindresearch.org/blog/infographic-brains-games-and-learning 

https://www.eschoolnews.com/2017/10/19/educational-games-teachers/2/

========================================================================

TIME FOR A FREEBIE

So! To get you started I have four free board games for you.  They are designed to use with any task cards you may already have for reading and math, or with your own questions. Just add dice or a spinner and you're good to go.  I use a dime and a nickel as place holders. Click on the picture below to get your freebie!

To get 65 full color game boards with themes from the curriculum, holidays and sports, plus 71 black and white boards check out the resource below by clicking on the picture.

Use Figurative Language to Engage the most Reluctant Learners!

Exaggeration, repeating sounds and playing with language grabs attention.  It just does! That's why people use it.  It's also why teachers use figurative language to dazzle students with listening, speaking, or reading language. So what's the key?  How is it done? Will it really make that totally bored kid in the corner sit up and take notice? You bet it will! Just check out the suggestions below.

Be sure to check out the two free activity sheets on idioms at the bottom of the post. They include grading keys.

1. SUPRISE....POETRY

Yup! I'm not "pulling your leg" or "spitting into the wind", Poetry can be the super-engaging way to reach even students who are struggling the most, or who think they are bored out of their minds. Start with Shel Silveerstein and you can't go wrong. He uses figurative language that plays with language in every poem. You can't niss it!  Once students learn to recognize the basic forms of figurative language ( idioms, similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia, personification, proverbs, hyperbole, and alliteration) It makes finding them in poetry even more fun.
         a.  Use poetry to have a figurative language hunt in pairs or small groups
         b.  Choose a poem and have groups of students replace language used with figurative language. Read together and enjoy.

2. For Reluctant Writers

Focusing on Figurative language often helps reluctant writers get out of "writer's block" since they have something to focus on.
        a. Give students a well known figurative language saying (When pigs fly, etc) and asks them to write a paragraph using that saying in a way that makes sense. Doing this with a partner offers even more help and support to reluctant writers. Then get together to read the paragraphs and enjoy.
        b.  Challenge students to use as many figurative language examples as possible in one paragraph.  This one works great when done in small groups. It's also a ton of fun.
        c.  Ask students to list something they would like to personify. (desk, pencil, shirt, car etc.) Then ask students to list ten words only a person would normally do. Next ask students to write a paragraph personifying the thing they choose, using words from their list.

3.  To Encourage Fluency

Someetimes it's really hard to get kids to read with better fluency. Often that means they have to learn how to read faster  In cases like that, and to encourage reading in even the most reluctant reader, give students a long sentence filled with alliteration.  Then challenge students to read the sentence as fast as possible and still be understood.  It will get everyone laughing and accomplish the goal at hand.  Some well known examples you might use are below:

1.  Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers. If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers, where are the peppers that Peter Piper picked?

2.  A big bug bit the little beetle, but the little beetle bit the big bug back.

3.  How much wood would a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck would chuck wood?  A woodchuck would chuck all the wood he could chuck, if a woodchuck would chuck wood.

4.  Silly Sally swiftly shooed seven silly sheep.  The seven silly sheep Silly Sally shooed shilly-shallied south.  These sheep shouldn't sleep in a shack.

I Have a FREEBIE....in fact two freebies complete with grading keys!  Click on the link below the pictures!  If you are interested in the 103 page Figurative language resource the freebies come from, check out: Figurative Language Teaching Pages

Get Your Freebies Here

Are you interested in resources that teach, and reinforce the different types of figurative language?  This resource includes worksheets, task cards and more!  Click on the picture below to check it out!

Teaching about Insects and Spiders: 10 Websites Not to Miss

I LOVE teaching about insect and spiders. First, because they are facinating, plus the kids love learning about them! It's such a good time to teach about form and function, adaptations, and about predators and their prey! 

The trick is to make sure to keep the unit exciting and interesting. Kids are natural nature lovers, so this is the perfect unit to use in integrating language arts skills too! As you start preparing for your unit, check out these fun sites that not only teach about bugs, but bring out the entomologist in every student!

Spiders

1.  All About Spiders from TheSchoolRun.com  This site includes spider information, a video, and links to all kinds of spider activities such as building a spider web online,  jigsaw puzzles online and even create your own spider!

National Geographic Kids

2,  You can't do better than National Geographic Kids, and this site about insects with blow their minds! This is a good one to send home....they'll be exploring (and reading) for hours!

Orkin for kids

3.  I usually don't like sites from businesses (it's advertising after all), but this site from Orkin is absolutely amazing! It includes an insect safari, an insect guidebook filled with downloadable worksheets (or the whole book). It has games and coloring sheets, plus lesson plans! You can't do better than that!

Mr. Nussbaum's Insects

4. I don't know who Mr. Nussbraum is, but he sure has some great information on the Internet! This site has online stories, a virtual butterfly garden and tons of information! It is so engaging even your reluctant readers will be pulled in!

Spider facts/videos

5.  This fun site from "owlcation" and is FULL of great videos from Anansi, to videos of spiders in webs. It is quite extensive, so I advise teachers scope out what they want their students to see on this site.  This is particularly true of younger students. Some videos show spiders hunting, and can be a little scary. There's lots of information and LOTS of videos. The video of a water spider building an air bubble is pretty amazing. These videos woulld be great on a SmartBoard for sure! Be sure and check out the World's Weirdest Spiders from Nat Geo! 

The Kid Should See This

6.  "The Kid Should See This" is an amazing site filled with videos kids will be talking about to their parents at night! From butterflies and bees drinking turtle tears, to watching lightning bugs in the Iowa woods. If you're looking for a "hook" for your unit, it's here!

Grasshopper

How a caterpillar becoomes a butterfly

7.  I love videos of bugs. Kids do too!  Here are a couple that are particularly good. The grasshopper is on You Tube, but with no commercial, the other is a website. 

Kids.com Insect games and videos

8.  This site from Kids.xom is filled with insect games and videos. It includes word games, and videos of giant tarantulas....plus much more! It's a good one to use for centers, or when kids have free time. 

Education World, Arthropod Academy

9.  It's always great to find some really good lesson plans...why reinvent the wheel? I love this site from Education World.  It has 10 bug lesson plans for a variety of grade levels.  Lots of hands-on goodies. If a worksheet is needed, it is provided. 

The Bee Conservancy

10.  This site from the Honeybee conservancy is really good! There are a number of short videos that are perfect for inserting into lessons.

If you would like to check out my resource on TPT that includes task cards plus 25 pages of teaching materials check out:

This resource is also available as a PowerPoint or as Digital Boom Cards.  The link to these resources is on the page linked above.

I hope you will find the websites helpful, and will save you lots of time....plus really hook your students on bugs!

Burst Through Reading Comprehension Barriers!

I'll never forget a student of mine, let's call him Jay, who could read words so well he could "read" at an eighth grade level in third grade.  The problem was that he couldn't understand a thing that was going on!  That's called "word calling" and isn't reading at all. Reading is understanding, so if the understanding isn't there, it isn't reading. Many times I have discovered that many students have variations of "word calling" that aren't as severe as Jay's, and have gotten away as being great readers because they sound like they know what they are doing. They may pick up just enough information to get by, but true understanding of what is going on in a story or article eludes them.

Comprehension can be greatly increased with three easy to use strategies that kids love, and give great results. Test taking time will tell the tale....comprehension, real comprehension, makes all the difference.

So, what are these strategies?

1. Draw a picture

Start out by asking students to draw a picture of an important part of a story you are reading aloud to the class.  I like to use dry-erase boards. If you want to read a blog on how to make them for just pennies apiece, check out: Make Dry Erase boards for pennies apiece
Share some of the pictures with the class, and ask students to explain why their picture shows an important part of the story.  Once you have done this a few times, ask students to draw a picture of a selection in the book they are reading independently, or at guided reading.  Ask them to tell, or write why the scene they have chosen to draw is important to the story.  Delve into the picture and ask why the student added details that are noted in the reading selection. Details such as how the character is dressed, or how she looks, or showing the setting all demonstrate understanding of details. Draw attention to the details the student has grasped, and used in the picture. Once targeted students can do this easily, move on to asking them to explain in words what is happening in a selection. If they still have difficulty, ask them to read the selection again, and then explain what is happening.

Why this works:  This strategy works because students who skip over details, are forced over time to search them out and use them in the picture. This is why a discussion of the pictures is vital. Students have to undestand that things they have mmissed in their reading are important. They can understand this when seeing that other students have used details from the story to add depth to their pictures.  Basically, this helps student reevaluate how he or she is currently reading.

2. Discuss with a friend

This can be done in two ways, either verbally or in writing. It is much easier to understand a text once it is discussed with someone. If written, it can be in the form of a book review or done as a reading critic. When using this strategy, I like to elicit from the students four or five things they should include in their discussion or written piece once the selection is read. If this is being done for a chapter in the middle of a book, for example, students might include what is going on in the selection, why is it happening, how are characters responding to what is going on and so on. I personally think it is important for students to have imput into this part of the assignment. It gives them "buy-in" and helps them focus on what is about to be read and discussed.

It's important to give students about ten minutes or so to discuss with each other what is going on in the selection, then turn it into a class discussion. During the class discussion students who have missed the point have the opportunity to reevaluate (again) what needs to be noted when reading.
To vary this strategy, ask students to discuss a slection with an imaginary friend, toy or whatever.  Younger kids may enjoy discussing their book with a rubber duckie (for example).

Why this works: Talking about what you know about a text can help clear up things that are confusing. It's a great way to work through lack of understanding.

3.  Stop: Summarize

Include in both oral reading to the class, guided reading and individual reading time to ask students to stop and summarize what is going on up to that point. For example, if you are reading to the class, stop at different points and ask a student volunteer to use one sentence to summarize what is going on.  You will need to have a mini-lesson beforehand to demonstrate how to get the main idea into one sentence, but it is an important skill for kids to have.  Stopping to summarize in a large group helps students who have gotten confused to get back on track again. It is important in a group to ask for volunteers to summarize, to get individual struggling students to summarize, go around privately during guided reading and ask students to summarize in a sentence what is going on. There's nothing more humiliating for a stuggling student than to be put on the spot. Once they feel more confident, he or shee will volunteer too.

Why this works: The more a student can re-contextualize the text in his or her own words, the better understanding will be. It also helps to "lock" the information read so far in their mind, so they can continue on with even greater understanding.

This will all take time. Comprehensiion doesn't come easy to many students. However, with practice and using these strategies over and over again, comprehension will increase not only for struggling students, but for good readers too!!

Want to read my six part blog series on guided reading instruction, plus get freebies?  Check out:

Searching for Guided Reading Materials
Don't Hide from Running Records
What are the other kids doing?
Creating a Guided Reading Schedult that Works
Here Comes Guuided Reading
Take a Closer Look at Guided Reading

Are you looking for a Guided Reading resource that walks you through the entire process, plus includes 100 guided reading worksheets for reading levels 1-5?  If so, click on the picture below!

SaveSave

The 10 Best Multiplication Games to Download Today!

There's all kinds on on-line games to help kids learn their multiplication facts, but sometimes you just want a great, easy to play, simple game that you can give to kids to play at school or at home. Sometimes it may need popsicle sticks, dominos, or even a game board. They are perfect to play with a buddy, and help develop interpersonal skills as well as math skills. I've scoured the Internet and here are my top ten to download today! Enjoy!! By the way....there are more than ten games, some links have multiple games...even better!

1.   This great game from "Fun Games for Learning" is super simple and tons of fun. All you need is a set of dominos!  You can use this one for learning addition facts, or for multiplication.  

Dominom Multiplication Game

2.  This game from "Games for Learning" is one of my favorites!  It includes the free game board as a download. it's great to schedule for the sub since it takes awhile to play.  It can easily be played for half of your math block.  It's also perfect as "homework" for multiplication math fact practice. What's better than a game to play with mom or dad?  I have also included an answer sheet checklist to give to kids as well. One kid plays, the other checks his/her answer. 

Multiplication Squares Game

Answer sheet for 0-12

3.  This site called Bloglovin' actually has three fun multiplication games with a freebie.  The first is a Kaboom game with popsicle sticks, the second is multiplication sppons, and the third is headband multiplication.  All are fun and easy to prepare. The freebie link is just above the last graphic picture.

Three Multiplications Games Your Kids Will Love!

4.  This game from "Suiper Teacher Worksheets" is a super fun game kids love to play...and it's free! It's fun to pull out when you have an extra five or ten minutes at the end of math! It's the first link at the top of the page.

I Have/Who Has Freebie

5. Ok, this is mine, but I love it! So do the kids! You can pull out and combination of multiplication cards that you happen to be working on. There are multiplication cards from 1 through 12.  It is a free 18 page download. 

Feed the Chickens Multiplication Game

6.  I have to admit that I love witches, it doesn't have to be Halloween either. Kids are that way too, so this fun game from "Teacher Take-Out" will become a quick and easy game favorite in no time!

Wicked Witch, A Thrilling Multiplication Game

7. This fun game from "Math Coach's Corner" is perfect for teaching the 2s, 4s, and 8s using the doubling strategy. Love this one!

Double, Double, Double

8.  Love the math games on this site, especially Multiplication War. All you need is a deck of cards and kids! They love this one!  Other games here are equally as good!

Multiplication War and More!

9.  Multiplication Spiral from "Math Geek Mama" is SUCH a great game! Kids will love this and it is wonderful math fact practice!

Spiral Math

10. Lastly I wanted to share this great site that has 22 fun hands-on activities and games to help kids learn their facts. It's a good one and FULL of great stuff!

22 Fun, Hands-on Ways to Teach Multiplication

So that's it! I hope you find a bunch of great games that you and your students find useful!

If you are interested in a new way to teach multiplication that REALLY works, click on the picture  below.

Is Someone Missing from Your Conferences?

What Do the Kids Think of Conferences?

Think about this scenario.  You're nine years old. You are well aware of how you are doing in school. You know multiplication is driving you crazy, but you work on it now and then. The last book you read was kind of hard. You're worried. Conference time is almost here, and you have no idea what your teacher is going to tell your parents. Will they be mad? Will you be in trouble. Then the big day arrives, your mom walks into the room to talk to your teacher while you sit outside the room worrying. What is going on?

I know  that's what goes on in the head of most kids during conference time, because I've asked them how they feel about it. The overall comment is that they are really worried when parents walk into talk to teachers. "They're talking about me!" one child said, "and I don't know what they're saying!"
My next question to students is to ask if they would like to be part of the conference, in the room and taking part in what is going on. To a child they almost yell, "YES!"  That's when I knew I had to change how I did conferences. I just didn't know how to go about it. I didn't want a disaster on my hands!

As Luck Would Have it:

Luckily for me, I was in the same study group as a teacher new to my school, named Vicky, who moved from Oregon.  She told us that her old school did student-led conferences in every grade level, kindergarten through fifth grade. To prove its effectiveness, Vicky gathered her fourth graders, prepared them for the student-led conference, and let them practice for it by allowing our study group to watch how it was done. One of the teachers stood in for the parent. My jaw dropped. This was exactly what I was looking for!

 Every teacher in my study group, including the kindergarten teacher, tried student-led conferences that fall. It was amazing! Parents loved it, kids loved it, and best of all, the behavior we wanted to see changed, really changed. It changed not for a day, or a week, but permanently. Why?

To prepare for the conference students look through their own papers and choose the ones they want to share. Then they write why they think this work shows both their strengths, and those things they need to work on. They also comment about how they have improved over time. They fill out forms about each subject, behavior, and goals to work on. Then they practice the conference with their peers. At the conference I take their goal, include input from parents, and write a goal on a contract. Then we include in the goal exactly HOW the student will meet that goal. That's the key! When they sign it (and their parents, and I sign it too) I explain that they are making an important promise, and not to sign it, if they don't think they will actually do it. They all sign!

Results?

    I sent home a form for parents to fill out about their feelings concerning this type of conference. They loved it! I asked my students if they would like to do this kind of conference again in the spring. To a child, they all gave an enthusiastic "Yes!" Why? It was that hated time sitting outside the door wondering what was being said about them. This included my hardest working, best behaved children. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed just plain crazy to keep kids out of the process. After all, if we want them to change, shouldn't they be part of the process? Would I want my principal to talk to my husband about me, and how I was doing, while I waited outside the door. Certainly not! Why should kids be put through that?

 The successes I have seen with student-led conferences are many, but one child in particular stands out. I'll just call him Sam. Sam was a very, very intelligent learning disabled child who struggled every day to read. Now, in third grade, he was sure he would never learn to read. He didn't think he was smart enough. I watched as he filled out his paperwork for the conference with a lump in my throat. He was negative about everything he did. Since he had just qualified for learning disability classes, I had everything I needed to show him how smart he really was. I told his mom what I would do during the conference, and she was more than on-board.

 After Sam shared his work, and described how poorly he did in everything, it was my turn.  I explained a bell curve and what would be seen in each quadrant. I asked him where he thought he would fall. He said he would be in the bottom quadrant. I went over again the qualities seen in people who fall in the third quadrant. After each quality, I asked him if that described him in any way. When he said , "no" his mom would remind him of something at home that showed exactly that quality. I showed him his IQ score (this is something I have never done, but he needed to know!). It was 134. It took a while, but when it finally sunk in that he actually fell into the gifted category, well, I wish I had a picture of his face. His mom told me that from that day forward his attitude about everything changed. We made a goal that he would read 20 minutes each night. It would be hard, but it would pay off. He followed his goal without fail, it did pay off. By the end of the year he had grown three grade levels in reading. Attitude is everything!

It was the conference setting, the support of his teacher and his mom, plus the conference format to talk together and set a goal that changed his life. Without seeing what he really thought about his abilities, and the format to address his concerns in an authentic way, I shiver at what would have become of him.  By the way, the last I head of Sam, he was in medical school.

Will I ever do conferences any other way? Not on your life!

Responces from parents were overwhelmingly positive! In fact, I found out my parents were singing the praises of student led conferences to other parents. One key is, I always build in a short time for students to wait in the hall while their parents do something really nice for them. they write a short note on how proud of them they are, and the note goes on the student's desk for them to see the next day. BUT the real reason is to give parents the opportunity to talk privately with me about anything they don't want to discuss in front of the child. Parents want (and need) that time.

Would you like to see what a student-led conference looks like? The first video is of a fourth grader, the second video is of a kindergartener. Yup, they can do it too!  , and the last video is a look at how a second grader conducts her conference.  Click on the videos below:











If you would like to read about the thoughts behind student-led conferences click on the links below:

Student-Led Conferences-A Growing Trend

This link concerns middle school kids, but is so true of every age!
When Students Lead Parent-Teacher Conferences



Would you like LOTS of great ideas and freebies? Check out my Pinterest page at:

https://www.pinterest.com/janbernard10/


If you are looking for a product that includes instructions and worksheets to help kids get ready for this very special kind of conference, check out: