Playground Prepositions

Another fun activity to do outside while the weather is nice....

Beachy Flip-Flop Art

Almost summer... so many awesome sunny art projects on pinterest right now!



You could easily tie this in to a writing assignment also... ah... summer days soon....

Window Flower Box Craft

What a fun way to decorate a wall or area lacking windows... would make a great art project for Spring or parents day.


Source

Cloud Jars - Art & Science Experiment for Primary

we read about cumulus clouds and rainbows in simple terms during our morning circle time. During our discussion we discovered how the cloud fills up with moisture and the moisture then turns into rain and falls to the ground…

The process

We started by covering the entire table with two layers of good quality paper towels. Then each child (threes through – Prek) was given their own mason jar filled 2/3′s with water. In addition, each child shared four cups of colored water (we added food color) with a partner. Every child was also given a dropper to work with…

Once we had all the water and colored water in place, Mrs. Stewart added a “cumulus cloud” (shave cream) on top of the water in each child’s jar…

And then Mrs. Stewart demonstrated how to add drops of color on top of the shave cream then to watch carefully as the color made its way through the “cloud” and then dropped into our clear water down below…

Read more about how they turned this neat science experiment into art as well...

Source

Math Strategies

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Classroom Behaviour Activity - 'Bug' Chart

Good way to launch a conversation about classroom behaviors ... http://www.pinterest.com/pin/2251868538310213/

7 tips for struggling readers

3 kinds of readers:

• Those who are good at reading and love to read.
• Those who are good at reading, but yet “don’t like” to read.
• Those who struggle with reading and do not like to read.

1)  Those who love to read.

Your biggest problem is going to be staying current with the newest books.  These kids know what’s new and they want to be reading it. 

2) Those who are good at reading but “don’t like” it. 

This is the type of student that will read if they have the right material.  Pay attention to what they read and what books/magazine that they talk about.  Non-fiction: informational books, biographies, how-to books or stories that are short. Also, Magazines, Comics, high interest reading appeals to these types of readers.

3) Those who struggle with reading and  do not like to read… mainly because it’s hard for them. 
Most of us don’t enjoy doing something that is hard for us.

You know reading is important, but this child just doesn't want to read! Here are 7 tips to help...

7 Tips to help your struggling reader

1)  Set aside time to read at least 4-5 times a week.  Yes…this will be a struggle since they’re going to buck you. Be consistent… this should be a non-negotiable.  These are the types of kids to set page goals with, not minutes.  They will know every trick in the book to waste time.  By setting a page goal of say… 5-10 pages per day, this gives them some power.  When the pages are read, they are done for the day.

2)  Use incentives such as…

• Trade time for something they love to do… certain number of pages read translate into minutes to spend watching TV or playing video games.

• Or so many books read= a trip to the swimming pool or a park.

• Or just down and out bribe them…(yes I went there…) Try a buck a book (with guidelines).  Some times, desperate times call for desperate measures.

3) Read WITH your child…they read a page, you read a page.  

4) Have “reading parties” where every one brings a book and snuggles in a spot to read their book.  Sometimes just snuggling in next to mom or dad is enough motivation to read for a while.

5) If your struggling reader has a younger brother or sister, you have just scored big time! Get them to read to their younger sibling(s).

Have them read a picture book.  This means the stories are usually shorter (and less intimidating) and probably at a lower reading level (which will make them feel successful when they read it).  They get practice reading and the younger sibling gets the benefit of being read to… also very important!

6) Make sure your struggling reader is reading books that are interesting to them.  Kids will read “above their reading level” if they find the book interesting.  But also keep in mind not all of their choices will be high quality literature. At this point, the goal is to get them reading… and the best way to do that is make sure they are interested in what they read.

7) If the book your kid is reading (and enjoying) is part of a series, try sticking to the series.  A series gives your reader the same format, the same characters, and often the same setting for several books.  These familiar things will help them understand the story more quickly.

Read more at source

Bucket Covers for art centres

You could use these for a number of centres: art, math, literacy, table groups, endless possibilities..


Love this idea of using buckets for an art, math or literacy center... http://owl.li/uUdyE

Paper Plate Clocks

I love this idea for learning to tell time. I know it is always a challenge for kids to learn to read clocks, but this is a cool way to help.

SOURCE

Door Decor: There's a 'minion' reasons to read

Love this door decoration.

Check out more on this pinterest board

Primary Science: Sink or Float

I loved this lesson. It would be easy to do as a TTOC or if you found yourself with some extra time and not enough planned. Of course, having the tubs, items and worksheet makes it easier, but students could also write out statements on lined paper.

First, they PREDICT if an item will SINK or FLOAT. 

Then, they put the item in the tub of water to OBSERVE.

Next, they write down their results - did it SINK or FLOAT.

After each student chose an item, the entire group would predict, then observe. Each student had a chance to choose an item to test. At the end, they all wrote sentences to explain why they thought things would SINK or FLOAT.

They were all engaged, it got a bit splashy at times, but they were reminded to be cautious not to get their DATA SHEETS wet and ruin their findings.

What a fun lesson!

Fab Five Writing

A nice visual rubric for primary and early writers with 5 cues to help with writing:




Mrs. Lirette has more great resouces for 'Fab Five' - - - See it all here!

Fun Holiday ideas...

The 'melted snowman' water bottle made me literally laugh out loud....

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Halloween Door Decor and Photobooth Ideas

I love seeing all the students dressed in Halloween costumes. I love the idea of doing a costume parade through the school or other classes, having healthy snacks with the kids and doing fun holiday crafts.

I always take a lot of photos but loved the idea of a 'PHOTO BOOTH' area. I have seen at weddings and showes people set up a back drop and/or frames or signs to hold up for photos. There can also be props that fit the celebration.

Another thing I love about Halloween in Elementary schools especially, are the awesome decorations. I found some cool door designs at Tunstall's Teacher Blog.

So many neat ideas for Halloween! I love it!

Math Families

Fact triangle relationships! 
http://ow.ly/pnY8n

Flower Clock to help learn how to tell time

Love this classroom clock! What a great way to help teach time!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/504614333219421483/

Candy Corn Craft

Neat Halloween themed idea. You could also use numbers to do math, or spell three letter words.

 

http://pinterest.com/pin/266275396691778327/

Roll a Story

 

This would be a fun activity for a 'Writer's Workshop' session..... As a TTOC (teacher teacher on call)

 I always have dice in my Bag of Tricks. What a fun way to inclkude literacy in the classroom.

http://pinterest.com/pin/468374429966809414/

Special Chair in Class

The idea of a special chair in class is not new. As a TTOC I have seen the aithour's chair, L'aime Speciale chaise, the reader's chair, the calendar "leader" chair and so on and so forth.

I saw this post and really loved the creativity of the chair decor.

 

 

 

See many more amazing chairs at Source: http://teachingmyfriends.blogspot.ca/2013/08/authors-chair-share-chair.html

Father's Day Paper Bag Craft

This is a fairly simple craft to do for Father's Day. I have seen the ties made as part of cards etc. but I like this idea because you can put stuff inside the bag as well.

Source: vippins.com via Amanda on Pinterest