Teaching Ideas We Are THANKFUL for! {Kim from For a Love of Teaching}

As a teacher, there's not many moments during the school year that I actually stop, take a deep breath, and reflect on what is going on around me.  However, I found myself doing just that this week as I prepared for this blog post - Teaching Ideas We Are Thankful For!  

It's much easier for me to complain about the little things that wears on me daily as a teacher, but this week I stepped back and took a moment to focus on those "little things" that I'm thankful for in my classroom.  In North Carolina, our state budget has been repeatedly cut over the past six years. Unfortunately, teacher assistants in the classroom is one position that our state has been slowing weeding out.  As a 4th grade teacher, I was one of the first to lose any type of help from what few assistants we had left in our school.  So, I've had to manage a classroom on my own for sometime now. With no help in the classroom, I've had to learn to find that help in other ways.  I quickly learned that Room Mom's are the best thing since sliced bread, especially if you can find a good one!  I've also learned that students can do and be responsible for much more than they are given credit for!

In order to maintain my sanity and keep my everyday classroom chores at a minimum, I came up with classroom duties for my students.  The first year I implemented them I was amazed at how well my students did with the responsibilities I gave them!  The following year, I added a few more.  Once again, they excelled! I watched them take pride in their jobs, and their feelings of being 'just a student' in a room of 18 to 20 others changed, as they were now able to feel ownership of the classroom.

So, instead of being ungrateful for not having a teacher assistant, today I'm VERY THANKFUL that I have 18 dependable students that can help me fulfill many of those classroom duties that might otherwise be the job of myself or an assistant.  

I came up with 24 student job descriptions and assignment cards (found here) that are super fun and very helpful in the classroom!  Each student was required to "apply" for their job with a job application. This was done the first week of school.

After reading their preferred job choices from their application, I was able to "hire" students for their daily duties in the classroom.  All students were assigned to at least two jobs. Students were told that they could be "fired" at anytime for not fulfilling their duties to my expectations, and YES I've fired students and rehired students many times! However, most of them take their job assignments seriously and want to do their best to impress their teacher! :)

Here's a few of my students "in action" as they perform their daily duties.  

I use an Expo marker to write the names of students on the assignment cards.  This makes it easy to change in case I need to fire move a student to a better suited job. ;) 

 Some classroom duties require several students in order to perform them at an acceptable speed.  Others only require 1-2 students.

I also have a girls bathroom monitor.  We all know that students love to tattle, so I have to be careful when assigning this duty!  I always try to pick a student that seems mature enough to handle it.

I'd love to hear how you manage daily classroom duties in your classroom.  Since I don't have extra help in my classroom these job assignments are a life saver!  I'm so thankful for my little group of 4th graders that are willing and dependable enough to help me out!

Teaching Ideas I am THANKFUL For {The Learning Chambers}

One of the teaching ideas that I'm really thankful for is collaborative review strategies.  Doesn't it seem like this time of year we are always reviewing and anything to keep our students working collaboratively is a plus!  One strategy that my students LOVE this year is Collaborative Color Posters.

We just finished our unit on 3-digit subtraction and we used the Collaborative Color Posters to help us review.  Here are the instructions that I gave my students...

I let them create their own subtraction problem and some of them even used addition problems to check their work.  That makes my math teacher heart SO happy!

When they finish, they write their name with their color marker on the back of the poster.  That is how I check to see who did what work on the poster.  It also helps me see who needs an extra teacher small group review :).

Then, we share out our posters with the class and it gives the students a chance to teach others.  It is so powerful friends and the kids just eat it up!

Here is another way to use Collaborative Color Posters.  We used them for an intro lesson on procedural texts.  I gave each of the table groups a set of three procedural text examples to read together.  Then, the kids wrote down what they noticed about each of the procedural text.  It was great to see how each of them contributed to the group discussion and writing.

I'm so thankful for this collaborative review strategy and I hope that you guys are able to use it in your classroom.

Teaching Ideas with are Thankful for! {Stephany from Primary Possibilities}

It's that time of year... the time to start thinking about all the things in your life you are thankful for!  We are sharing some teaching tips, products, and "life-savers" here at The Elementary Entourage this half of the month that we are THANKFUL for in our teaching lives!

I shared this tip a few years ago over at Primary Possibilities.  You can find the original post here...  I gave this file a makeover to freshen it up a little bit and to share it with you!  This has been a lifesaver with a few of my classes over the years.  "Secret Student" is a way to promote positive behavior in the classroom!  Basically, I choose a student randomly at the beginning of the day and write their name on the slip.  I place the slip (folded up) inside of this little magnetic container and stick it up high (away from prying eyes and curious hands).  No one knows who the secret student is for the day.  At the end of the day, I pull down the container and take a quick peek at the name.  I RARELY have a day where I have to say that the student wasn't following the directions, but if it was a kiddo who had a struggle with behavior that day I DON'T call them out.  I just slip it in my pocket and say that whoever it was wasn't a star student that day.  It really gets the kids thinking on those rare days about their behavior.   MOST days, I am able to point out all the ways the student behaved... sitting quietly, finishing work, following directions, an act of kindness.... and that student gets a little treat.  It could be anything you choose to reward with... a sticker, pencil, small piece of candy, etc.  It's a super easy, cheap, quick way to promote positive behavior in the classroom.  The best part is that the kiddo gets to take home the slip to show mom, dad, grandma, grandpa...a great way to build a positive home/school relationship!

You can grab up the file from my TpT Store by clicking HERE!  It's a really simple and quick freebie!

A product I am thankful for are my Whole Class Writing Journal Covers... they are such a time saver when it comes to the writing station.  They all have writing prompts right on the front cover so all you have to do it print and add writing paper and you have an instant activity for the writing center.  They are great for early finishers to.  

  The ones for the whole year were so popular I decided to make sets for each season, holiday, and important part of the year!  Here is the original set and here are the bundled "add-ons" (which can be purchased individually too).  The kids LOVE when I put out the new books!  

Teaching Ideas We Are THANKFUL for! {Melissa from Mrs. Dailey's Classroom}

I love this time of year for several reasons... the change of the season... warm sweaters... boots... brushing a million pieces of fur off of Shilah, our Husky {not!} and THANKSgiving! This time of year also reminds me to s.t.o.p. and thinking about all that I am thankful for at home and at school.

Today I'll be sharing about a teaching idea that I am most thankful for and proud of because it is working well for me and most importantly, my students this year...

Drum Roll... I am THANKFUL for Interactive Word Walls!

I started this year off by differentiating the words I wanted to use. That's why the words are different colors.

I prepped the words by printing, laminating, cutting, and putting magnetic tape on the back of them. Yes, it was a little bit of a chore, but it should last me a long time and allows the kids to take them off of the wall when needed! 

I got a large roll of magnet tape which you can get here if you need one!

This little girl wanted to use the word "carefully" in her writing. 

She came to the board, took it, brought it to her seat, and then returned the word when she was done with it for others to use it! It almost seems magical when the students get into the rhythm and you start seeing how they incorporate the words into their writing {and speaking}!

I'd love to hear your thoughts on word walls and how you use them in your classroom!

My word wall is such a staple for me in my classroom and I am so thankful for it!

Teaching Ideas I am Thankful For {Mrs. Plemons' Kindergarten}

Can you believe it is almost Thanksgiving? Here in Wisconsin there is already snow on the ground and something tells me it is going to be a L-O-N-G winter.  Our kiddos here (or at least at the schools I have taught at) go out for recess unless the "feels like" temperature is below 10 degrees.  Which means when it gets really cold we have LOTS of dreaded indoor recess days...And we all know that energetic kids + no recess = a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad, afternoon.  Unless you are prepared to get the most out of indoor recess! So cozy up with your mug of coffee and check out these great indoor recess ideas that I am thankful for!

I hope you can use an idea or two with your class on rainy or cold indoor recess days to keep your kids moving! Download a copy of these ideas FREE here :)

Don't forget to stop back each day for the rest of November to check out all of the teaching ideas the Entourage girls are thankful for.

Meet the Elementary Entourage ~ Amber from The Sunny Side of Second Grade

Hey y'all! My name is Amber from The Sunny Side of Second Grade and I cannot tell you just how excited I am to be here sharing on this collaborative blog with so many inspirational women! If it wasn't for some of these women, I definitely wouldn't be here today. Read on to find out more about me, snag a FREEBIE, and enter our amazing giveaway!

I am new to the blogging community and to becoming a Teacher Author on TPT. It is a lot of hard work, but I love creating new products, and connecting and engaging with other hard-working teachers that share the same views. 

Teaching has been a passion of mine since I was in high school and took a Teacher Cadet course in order to fill my schedule...yes I was that senior! Little did I know that this would be what I would love doing with my life. My senior year in high school was full of a lot of firsts...including my first AND ONLY marriage. I was only 17 when I married this handsome devil!

{13 Years Ago!! 17 and 21}

{239th USMC Ball 2014}

 My family and I have moved to many places over the years, thanks to the military. We are originally from Beaufort, SC {born in San Diego, CA and raised in Moultire, GA}. After we married, we were quickly whisked away to Twentynine Palms, CA where we welcomed our first little one. After about one year there, my son and I headed back to Beaufort to wait out my husband's one year unaccompanied tour in Okinawa, Japan. One year and one daughter later we were headed to North Carolina for the first time. Since then, we have had our second daughter, our second trip to CA, and our second trip back to good 'ol North Carolina. But we aren't complaining because we are so close to home...

{Old Sheldon Church, Yemassee, SC}

In my spare time, I enjoy photography

and spending time with this lovely crew:

{Felts Crew @ Myrtle Beach Boardwalk By the Beach 2014}

Our lives are busy, but we always manage to find time for family and friends. Teaching has allowed me to make many friends along the way. Teacher USMC wives make the best combinations and these friendships tend to stand the test of time. {Didn't have one on hand of Dianna and me :)}

{Me and Steph Dean - 2nd grade teacher @ 239th USMC Ball}

When I am not planning lessons or hanging out with my awesome kiddos and husband, you will most likely find me in my home gym. You can ask Dianna, I am spoiled and have a pretty sweet home gym. GRRRRRR!!!

 

Okay, enough about me. Now about you. You have earned a FREEBIE! Head on over to my TPT Store to snag your planning FREEBIE. This freebie will help you plan out your math workstations for the week. This goes perfectly with my SMARTIES Math pack in several different color schemes. Here is a quick preview:

Don't forget to enter our amazing giveaway below.

Until next time...

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