SCHOOLAPALOOZA!!

WELCOME to our 2nd Annual BACK to School CELEBRATION...

We are so EXCITED that you decided to stop by!!

We all have some GREAT things happening on our blogs to share with you.

Brenda from Primary Inspired creates these AWESOME I Spy activities and one was recently spied with subtraction facts that would be just right for 2nd graders as they start the year.

Click on the picture above to grab a copy.

Brenda's GIVEAWAY is a measurement card game that is sure to be a hit in your classroom...

Click on the picture to participate. It will only be available from 8:00 to 9:00 pm EST!

Stop by...

to see what else Brenda shares!

Sabra from Teaching with a Twang has all the details about her GIVEAWAY right here, It is set of stations that would be PERFECT for word work .

Click on the picture above from 8:00-9:00 EST to grab it for FREE!

Be sure to check out...

to see what else Sabra has going on these days!

Cierra from Adventures of Room 129 has lots of SUPER organizing ideas for small groups and a GREAT activity with context clues.

Click on the picture above to check it out.

Cierra's GIVEAWAY is just what you need to get your students to begin to set their own goals.

From 8:00-9:00 EST, click on the picture above to grab it!

Stop by...

to see what all goes on in Cierra's room!

Nicole from All Things Apple in 2nd is always SUPER busy sharing BRIGHT ideas!

Her GIVEAWAY is a FUN way to practice Author's Purpose.

Click on the picture above to grab a copy from 8:00-9:00 EST.

Check out...

to see what else Nicole has to offer!

*These GIVEAWAYS will only be available for one hour from 8:00 pm-9:00 pm EST. 

After that time, they will be gone!  

You will then have to head over to their stores to purchase these products and check out a whole lot more!

Be sure to leave a comment below to let us know that you grabbed up a thing or two tonight so we can have some kind of idea how many have been grabbed up. THANKS!

See you tomorrow for more SCHOOLAPALOOZA fun!!

Conquering the Test.. One Day at a Time!

Ok, I know that we're all not wanting to think those dreaded three words "Back to School", let alone start thinking about the even more dreaded standardized tests that will occur in the Spring.  I unfortunately had that philosophy too a few years ago - but then it hit me.  Why do we, or I, feel like once January hits that it's time to 'prepare' the students for these tests - why don't we start doing that on day one?  I mean, yes, I know everything I'm doing/teaching is going to help them.  But I wanted to do something to really prepare them on a deeper level. 

So that got me thinking...

When it comes to 'the test' - what do my students struggle with the most?  After talking it through with a few colleagues I finally figured it out!!  Picture this..  Walking around looking at the test for the first time as the kids are taking it.  You're reading the questions and thinking to yourself - Yes!!! They KNOW this!!  But then you read their answers as you're walking and you can't believe what you're reading - what's going on!?  I KNOW I taught this over and over again - why aren't they getting it!?  Then you reread the question...  and BAM!  There is it - its not what the question was asking - its HOW they worded the question.  They used some large verb and wording that the kids aren't used to seeing or reading.  Could they answer it with the knowledge you've given them?  Absolutely!!  Are they just confused because of how they asked it?  Absolutely!!  

So - here's what I thought.  All of those big words and verbs and wordage that we see on these tests that CONFUSE our kids.. let's teach it to them.  I know - you're probably thinking DUH!?  But - when it comes to trying to prepare them for the test with everything else we have/need to teach them AND then throw this on top, it gets overwhelming!  I needed something that will help my kids conquer these words slowly but surely. 

So I came up with a program called Vocabulary Voyage.  Let's just say - I LOVE IT!!  What it does, is basically teach the students these important and strong words that are commonly used when testing.  It teaches them, not just what the words mean, but also what a question that has that word in it, means!  What is that question asking!?  I used it all last year and it.  was..  amazing!  My kids ROCKED the tests at the end of the year.  I had 100% pass our state standardized test.  No joke!  

So here's the break down in photos:

I have over 90 words in the program and we learn 1 word a day.  BUT we repeat those words the next week too.  So in 2 weeks we've learned 5 words.  Slow and steady wins the race!  All of the words are on cards like so...

And then put on rings... like so...

Then outside my door I have a poster put up and two hooks so the words can hang outside my door.  Each day, the 'word of the day' is shown.  Every time the kids enter the room they have to touch and say the word.  This gets them familiar with seeing and reading the words.  

It ends up looking like this...

So that's part of it - we read and say the words.  Easy peasy!  Here's what's next.

Like I said - we learn 1 word a day but we repeat those words the next week.  So Monday - Friday week 1 we're learning the word, how to read it, identify it, and define it.  All of the kids get this paper and each day we write the word and its definition.  It literally takes 5 minutes.  That's it - just 5 minutes each day.  This helps to build that word foundation which is what they're essentially missing when it comes to not knowing how to answer those questions on the test.  

But there's more...  On week 2 - we repeat the 5 words we learned last week.  On the back of the above paper, would be copied this paper.  So now that we've learned the definitions - we essentially need to practice being able to see that word in a question and answer it.  So here's what they do - Just like last week, we find 5 minutes in our day and get out the Vocab Voyage paper. On it is a question for each of the words we learned last week.  These questions can be answered with any book and I let the kids answer it using any book they want - whether it be their independent reading book or the book we're reading together.  So again, we take 5 minutes - they write out their answer to the question (in their writing journal) and we discuss.  What's great about these discussions is that our answers sound 'different' because they're using different books to answer them - however - we are able to find the pieces of the answers that are similar.  And why are they similar?  Because those are the components that the answer must have in order for it to be 'right' - that's what the question is asking for!!!  

So - I know this post is getting long, and I promise I'll try to wrap it up soon - but can you tell I'm totally in LOVE with this program.  

So the program has over 90 words, which if started at the beginning of the school year, will last you the entire year!  So by the time testing comes around - your kids will have been exposed to and have practiced answering these questions and KNOWING what the question is asking!!  The program has questions ready to go for each of the words as well.  These words include a variety of reading and math terms, Blooms Verbs, etc.  A great mixture for any testing grade!    I wish I had picture of the kids using this or even better, a video of their discussions of what the question is asking and how to answer it - we even grade each other's answers verbally if we have time.  It only takes me about 5-10 minutes a day so I don't even have to try to squeeze it in.  

I'd love for you to check it out.  Click on the photo below to take you to it.  It has some great feedback on it so make sure to read it too - I'm not the only one who is in love with it :)  

Click HERE to download the first week for free!  And make sure to let me know what you think!  The 5th person to leave a comment letting me know what they think will get the entire program for free! And thanks for reading through until the end.  I promise I'm done talking now!  

Have a great week!!  

  

The 5 W's of Exit Tickets

While in New Orleans at the Reading, Writing, Math and More Conference, I had a lot of questions about my Exit Tickets.  So I figured - Hey?  Why not do a blog post!   So Ta-Da!!  Here goes nothing! The 5 W's of Exit Tickets.  Hopefully I can help give you some new and fresh ideas and maybe answer some questions you may have lurking around as well.  :)

What:     What ARE exit tickets?

Exit tickets are a quick and easy way to gather immediate data at the end of a lesson.  They can be formal (something you found online, paid for, printed, etc) or they can be very on the spot and informal.  The exit ticket is like a snapshot of what the students learned from the lesson that is about to end (or begin, but we'll get to that in a bit!)  They can easily be differentiated as well.  My informal exit tickets are always on post it notes.  Students pull them out, I write a question on the front board, they answer and bam, we're done!  The great thing about exit tickets is that you can ask ANYTHING!  They can be used in any subject and can contain work or more open ended writing type answers.  Basically, there's no need for students to take more than 5 minutes to show you what they learned.  If they can show you in 1-4 questions or 1 open ended writing question, then they've got it and you've got the data to use to decide where to go next with your lessons!

WHO:     Who are exit tickets for?  

Most teachers think that exit tickets are for the teacher - which is very true, but I see them as being not just for me but also for the student.  How are they 'for the teacher'?    Exit tickets are a FANTASTIC way to get immediate proof as to whether or not your students have grasped the concept you just taught.  This give the teacher data to use as soon as they need it.  No more waiting until 'the test' to see if your kids understand what you've been teaching.  By then, its too late!  If I'm going to spend 20-30 minutes on a lesson, I don't want to move on or walk away from that lesson without knowing what they got and what they didn't.  So yes, they are for the teacher.  But - they are also for the students!  How?  What better way to open up a lesson than with showing the students their exit tickets from the prior day's lesson.  Boost some confidence by putting a few students' exit tickets under the document camera and 'review' the concept by showing their amazing work.  Or - do the opposite, cover up the name of a student's exit ticket who didn't do so well and review those mistakes that this student made to the whole class (not identifying the student of course).  Show the students the data you collected - they'll understand it.  It will help them answer the question of "Why are we still learning this?  We just did it yesterday!"  Another idea - pass back the exit tickets and have the students pair up to grade them.  Analyze the data together to give your lesson opener a meaningful kick!  So you see, they are for both the teacher and the student!

Where?  Where to go after giving an exit ticket?

One problem I know a lot of teachers have is where to go after they've given an exit ticket.  Congrats - you gave one, now what?  Giving the exit ticket is just the first step of the process - its what you DO with the data afterwards that makes them meaningful.  I've ALWAYS said to other teachers - if anyone ever wanted to observe me teaching they would need to stay until I leave school because a lot of the 'magic' happens when the kids leave and I'm going through exit tickets for the day and revamping plans for the next day.  You can't just give them and walk away or let them go to the bottom of your 'to grade' pile.  Then they're meaningless.  The purpose of an exit ticket is to have that immediate data to use to guide your next lesson, whether that's the next day - in small groups - or in a few weeks when you revisit the skill.  Before I leave my room, you better believe my baskets are emptied out and I have sat and gone through them.  What do I do with them?  Before I found this GENIUS way to sort them, I simply used paperclips and post its to write notes on who has it and who doesn't.  But take a look at this amazing and easy way to sort your exit ticket (brought to you by Teaching with Simplicity).  Place a few paperclips and boom - you've got them saved, sorted, and ready to go!  Now you have your groups ready for small group lesson.  Now you know who to conference with.  Now you know who to push on and give enrichment lessons to.  USE YOUR DATA!!  

When:  When do I give exit tickets?  

99% of the time, exit tickets are given at the end of the lesson.  Makes sense.  But let's talk about a few other ways you can use them.  Why not at the beginning of the lesson?  I do this a lot more in math than I do in reading.  I'll post one problem on the board and give the students 2-3 minutes to complete.  As they bring them up to me I sort them.  Then, during my entire lesson I know who to ask specific questions to, who to give higher order questions and problems to, who and how to group the students during practice.  It makes the the lesson go so strongly and with a purpose.  And all data driven!  Or - what about in the middle of a lesson?  Who is to say you can't stop a lesson at about the 1/2 way point and ask a question, collect, and use the data to end your lesson.  Same process - just now end your lesson with a BANG!  

Once I have given the tickets (if at the end of a lesson)  I have the kids do a quick reflection on how they think they did.  This is simply added data to use and discuss with them once I've analyzed the data myself.  Check out this adorable and easy set up I plan to use this year.  

Here's what I did with my exit tickets last year.  Each child had their own square and a small magnet (not shown).  When done, they posted it to their space.  Easy peasy!  Click on the photo to grab the "Show What You Know" posters for free!  

You can also use this really fun and easy way to collect them!

Why:  Why?

I think the better question is - why not?  Why would you not use SOME form of an exit ticket after knowing all of the rhyming and reasoning behind them.  They are a part of that teaching 'magic' that takes place.  It's one thing to teach - its another to use data to drive your instruction and give each child their individual and meaningful education they deserve.

So there you have it.  Idk if you learned anything new or not - maybe I'm preaching to the choir?  I'm in the process of putting all of my new exit tickets in one binder (with a cute cover and tabs of course!) for easy access.  Download the cover if you'd like a copy!  Just click on the photo below.  

So if I've "Sold" you on the concept of exit tickets - I'd love for you to check out my new exit ticket packets I'm working on.  So far I have an entire set of Grammar exit tickets with over 30 different grammar concepts all in one bundle!  AND I just added my Number Sense Exit Ticket packet with over 50 pages of exits - great for grades 1-4 and they'll really help with differentiation! There are 4 (same) to a page so they're small and don't take a lot of paper either.  I LOVE them!!   Great for back to school!  Both have previews available with tables of contents so make sure to download the preview to check them out!  (I'm working on having ones for all of the other math concepts as well - computation should be up in the next few days so make sure to follow me on TPT so you're notified when they get posted!)

Well, that's all for me now folks - TTFN!

-Ciera from Adventures of Room 129

Did You Really Do Your Best? (Student Reflections @ the End of a Lesson)

Picture this:  You're sitting at the kitchen table grading papers, late Sunday night (because let's face it, you put it off until the last minute so you could enjoy every ounce of your weekend!).  You come across "Johnny's" paper and realize - IT'S NOT DONE!  Grrr...  Did he seriously not check over his work!?  How could someone turn in a paper not finished!?    Then a few more papers later you get to "Julie's" paper and realize - she did NOT try her best.  She didn't use the anchor chart you provided nor did she take her time!  

These are situations that we've all been in as teachers.  What if there was a way to limit the amount of times this happened?  I would love to share with you what I've done that's helped my students really focus on doing their best work and reflecting on their work before turning it into me.  

I call it "The Reflection Station".  It has this name because I want the students to know that reflecting on his/her work is something we should do constantly and every time we turn in an assignment, no matter how big or small.  I try to refrain from calling it 'the paper trays' or other words/phrases like it.  This has seemed to help make the concept stick more.  

So what IS 'The Reflection Station'??  Here's what it looks like!

I have typed up short, reflection type questions and placed them on the bulletin board behind where the paper trays are located.  Therefore when they are turning in a paper - they see them each time.  The questions are simple to read and simple to answer as well.  They consist of:

*Did I do the best I could?

*Did I use the resources my teacher gave me?

*Did I read the directions carefully?

*Did I double check my work?

*Did I think back to how my teacher taught this to me?

*Did I take my time?

These are a great visual for the kids to remember to ask themselves these questions each time they go to turn in a paper.  At the beginning of the year, we took a LOT of time to discuss each question and what it means.  We also worked on what to do if we answer one of the questions with a 'negative' answer.  Having the board up for them to see is one thing, but really making it meaningful and modeling it for them lesson after lesson is what made it work.  

To help make the questions even more meaningful, I would randomly assign them a question at the end of the lesson that they had to physically answer on their paper before being allowed to turn in their paper.  This made the reflection more concrete and it would also help me see if they understood HOW to reflect.  Sometime I would allow them to choose a question on their own to answer on their paper.  I would gear it to:  "Pick a question that may be something you don't always do...  Do you ALWAYS take your time?  Do you ALWAYS use the resources I gave you?"  This made it a bit more meaningful for them too.  

You can also see that in the middle of the questions is a stoplight themed 'grade myself' system.  These are becoming very popular now and I'm happy to say I've been using one for a few years now and they really do work!  Here's how:

After the students have decided "Yes!  I'm ready to turn in my paper" they then continue their reflection by deciding how well they thought they did on the actual concept/topic itself.  Green = They've got it and they can move on or teach others.  Yellow = I'm getting there and might need a bit more instruction.  Red = I'm not there yet and I'm not confident on this topic.  

Students then place their paper in the coordinating tray that matches their confidence level.  At the end of the lesson and when all students have turned in their paper - I then collect them from the trays.  I use this data to have mini conferences with my students on why they feel the way they feel.  Especially for those students in the 'red' tray.  I've found a lot of time kids will put their papers in that tray but get a perfect or almost perfect on their grade.  It's so nice to have those conversations with the students about 'Why did you feel this way?  and Look!  You did great!"  What a confidence boost for them!!  I do the same for the yellow and green.  The harder conversations are the ones where the papers are in the green tray but yet they obviously didn't master the objective of the lesson.  But what a great conversation it ends up being - so meaningful!  

This is something I had in place all last year in my classroom.  It did take some redirecting and reminding as they year went on.  Students would sometimes get 'lazy' and not do the reflections as meaningful as I would want them to.  But just like all lessons that need a refresher - that's just what we did!

I hope you've enjoyed my little idea and I'd LOVE to hear how you have your students reflect on their learning.  I do lots of other reflection type activities too that differ depending on the lesson, but this is one that is in place no matter what the lesson is.  It's worked great for me and I hope you have found it interesting as well!  If you want to download the reflection questions - Just click HERE or the picture below!  They are yours for free!

Oh - and what better way to have the students reflect quickly on their learning than by using exit tickets!  Check out my newest TPT addition - Show What You Know - Grammar Exit Tickets!  Over 30 Grammar concepts and over 40 pages of exit tickets to make ending your lessons much easier!  

If you like what you see, make sure you're following me on Facebook for other great ideas, freebies, and contests!  

Thanks for stopping by!