I've Got the Power

Power Teaching that is.  Have you heard of it?

It's also known as Whole Brain Teaching and it is an amazingly effective tool in the classroom.

It's high energy so it isn't something you would do all day, everyday.  But, it is a great way to deliver important information and to manage your classroom.  

I HIGHLY suggest you give it a try because I do think there are components in it that would benefit every teacher.  

The website is very comprehensive and if you google it you will find tons of youtube videos of actual classroom teachers using it.  In my class we use the following:

Class - Yes

Hands and Eyes

Teach - OK - MY FAVORITE PART!!!

Switch

Scoreboard

I've been using this in my classroom for 4 years.  The other third grade teacher and I switch classes for science and social studies.  When her class came to me for the first time I was able to teach them the key parts that I use for instruction in a matter of minutes.

I don't use the gestures as I find they are way too distracting for my classes.  You'll have to pick and choose and find a rhythm that works for you, but I do think there is something in this for all teachers.

Start by watching this video that shows an overview of several key parts of Power Teaching.  Then watch the second part of it.  Next, go to the website and find the tab that says, "First Steps."  Read through those.

You Say It's Your Birthday!

There are tons of commercially-made birthday charts out there.  Typically, there is space for the teacher to write in the students' names and record the blessed day on which they entered into the world.  I've used them in the past, but wanted something with more meaning to the children than a programmed poster that had been created while they were enjoying summer vacation.

My solution was a birthday pictograph.

I create the chart on my own and usually try to incorporate whatever theme I'm doing.  A simple "Happy Birthday" would work too.

Mine serves double-duty by also covering some open shelving to cut down on visual clutter.  

Start by deciding how big you want your chart to be.  Divide that into 12 columns.  Measure the width of each column and print a label for each month to display at the bottom.  Add a title and cute accents (or don't) and you're done for now.

When the kiddos arrive for the new school year you'll need to take a photo of each of them.  

Give each child a piece of cardstock with the number that corresponds to their birthday on it.  For example, my birthday is December 21st (super-crappy birthdate by the way) so I would have a card with a 21 on it.  You can let the students write it themselves or go my route and print them on a computer first.

Take a photo of them holding the card.  You want it to be a close-up picture so I suggest having them hold it up somewhere near their cute little face when they smile for the picture.

Print and crop the photos so that they are the same width as your labeled columns.

Pass out the pictures to their owners and do a lesson on pictographs / bar graphs.  Attach their photos in the appropriate column.  Make observations about the chart.  For added impressiveness, have the students record their observations in writing and attach them the chart as well (i.e. There are 4 more birthdays in July than in October.  The number of birthdays in May is an even number.)

birthday chart photos pictures of birthday charts birthday chart ideas birthday poster ideas

Ding...You Are Now Free to Start Focusing in the Classroom

I've created a new daily blog specifically dedicated to classroom organization and management. Please visit me there at: The Clutter-Free Classroom

Check out that jeweled bell and Barbie-pink manicure.  

Could I look any more diva-like?

Today I share with you an idea that works like magic.  The only downside is that it has the potential to drive neighboring teachers nuts.  

Take the good with the bad.

In my class we use "tallies."  The students are awarded tallies when they are caught exhibiting role-model behavior.  This would work with any system like that.

As chaos ensues within the classroom (and by chaos I mean anything from "getting a  little chatty" to "full on riots"), I look for someone who is doing the right thing.

And then...

DING!

I whack my little bell and the room comes to a screeching halt.

Because: a) They know somebody is about to get awarded a tally and (even if they were the one go-go dancing on a desk they still hold a flicker of) hope that it will be their name called and don't want to miss it and b) They know that the jig is up and that I'm watching them all.  Theyat least want to give the illusion that they were doing what they were supposed to.  

I don't care why they freeze and look. The point is that they do.  And after I quickly announce who has "earned a tally" they instantly get back to what they 'should' have been doing and a calm fills the air.  There is no raising of the voice.  There is no signaling out negative behaviors.  There is no making anyone feel bad...even if they were being naughty ;)

It's pure magic.

Doorway Information Center

Luckily classroom emergencies are few and far between.

Sure we have the occasional planned fire drill and bus evacuation practice, but a real emergency needs to be planned for.

Since we all exit through the main door of the classroom, I set up my important info station there.  

I simply created a "pocket" by attaching colorful paper and border to the wall by stapling around 3 of the 4 sides.  The blue folder you see sticking out contains my class list as well as all of the contact info for each of my students.  I have it facing in because the front has the students home phone numbers on it.

I also included a map for our fire escape route, staff list and a class list (these all stay on the wall).  Below it is the staff extension list.  Also, note that the phone has directions boldly printed for dialing 911 since an outside line must be obtained first.

If there is an emergency and we need to evacuate then I can grab the folder on the way out.  If there is an in-class emergency, I can dial 9-1-1 and have all of the important info at my fingertips (contact info, allergies, etc.)

Many classroom teachers also mount a hook in the doorway to hang the classroom key from so that it can also be "grabbed on the go."

setting up a classroom, classroom photographs, classroom emergency procedures

The Important Book - a great writing activity

Here is one of my favorite lessons.

I do it every year.  

I do it several times a year.

And you should too. :)

Are you familiar with The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown?  

Love it!

It’s basically a book that details simple objects.  There is a pattern to her writing.  It is such a wonderful example of “organization” if you teach Six Traits.  You can peak at the inside of the book here.

I think the best thing about this lesson is that it can be used with any subject area and at every grade level. For the younger learners simply make a template for them.  For the even younger learners let them dictate it to you.  Older learners can write it on their own.

I read the book.  I discuss the pattern and organization to her writing.  We chat about how she finds the details in simple objects.

I reread the book.  During the second reading we discuss each page.  We talk about how she intertwines the writing with the illustrations.  

I model an example of how they need to write it.  I even work in one of my sad little drawings.

I am creative. I am not artistic.  I firmly believe they are two very different characteristics.

I then give them a topic and they each select something to write about.

I start the year with them writing about themselves.

Example: The important thing about Jane is that she is a great friend.  She is funny, she walks her dog every day and she cries when she gets hit with a ball in gym.  She is ticklish, she loves to eat oatmeal and she is saving money to buy a new American Girl Doll.  But, the important thing about Jane is that she is a good friend.

I have them write about a content area:

The important thing about magnets...

The important thing about Pilgrims...

I have them write about math:

The important thing about a (insert the name of a geometric solid)

The important thing about multiplication is...

It’s a really good way to assess what they know.  The final products make beautiful displays.  They also make fabulous class book.

Hand Signals

Today's Whatever Wednesday Topic is: Hand Signals

Also known as, "I've eliminated the need for you to interrupt me" signs!

Which is a nicer way to say, "LEAVE ME THE HECK ALONE CAN'T YOU SEE I'M TEACHING HERE."

These cards hang above my door.  I printed the hands from the Discovery Kids website and added my own words to show what they mean underneath.  Here's how things go down in my room.

If I am reading to the class or in the midst of a lesson, they are instructed not to request a beverage and should only ask to pee if the alternative to leaving the room would be a puddle on the floor.

That probably sounds harsh so I will add that my lessons rarely last more than 10 minutes so it's not as if I am putting anyone at risk for a bladder infection.  In the event of a true emergency, they are able to get up, sign "bathroom"  and run just as fast as anyone doing the infamous pee-pee dance can possibly run.  Only once has any child ever used the emergency potty exit sign during a lesson.

They are allowed to get up at anytime for a tissue.

When I am not reading or doing direct instruction, the class utilizes the hand signals shown in the photo above.  They hold up the signal and watch for me to make eye contact with them and nod.

1=I need to use the bathroom.

2=I have a question.

3=I need to trade/sharpen my pencil.

4=I would like a drink.

5=The quiet sign

Next year I'm going to flip flop 2 and 5.

I used to do a thing where I would say, "give me 5" to get their attention.  This sort of went with it, but now seems random.

These signals are ideal when I'm working 1:1 or in a small group.  They are also great in a crowd situation such as an assembly.

This falls into the, "I promise you will love it!" catalog of ideas for classroom management.

Containerize Within Drawers - Whatever Wednesday

Today's Whatever Wedensday Topic is: Organizing Within a Space

These are my science drawers. I used to keep the science materials in plastic bags within a tub, but this works so much better.  It makes it easy to see everything at a glance.  
These small baskets came in sets of 4 from Walmart.  I've had them for awhile, but they were really cheap.

Mystery Theme Open House Ideas - Whatever Wednesdays

Today's Whatever Wednesday Topic is: Open House Themes/ Mysteries

Our annual Open House is coming up in June. I have discovered that I love doing a theme for Open House each year. It gives the projects a focus, makes everything feel coherent and keeps me on task. A couple years back I did a Mystery Themed Open House. In the weeks leading up to the Big Night we read lots of mystery books. I used a lot of the elements that my teacher hero, Beth Newingham has so generously shared on her website. The kids loved the theme and it made for some fun projects to showcase at Open House. This would make a great classroom theme as well.

I already shared the Story Cubes and Silhouettes a few weeks ago. Below are some more ideas you might want to use. Click on any photo to enlarge it,

WANTED POSTERS: Each student created a character for himself and wrote a story explaining their alibi and why they were innocent. The alleged crime was: Who Stole the Cookies from the Cookie Jar.

CRIME SCENE TRIORAMA: After writing their own mysteries based on a Nursery Rhyme (i.e. Was Humpty Dumpty Pushed? Who really scared Miss Muffett?) we made trioramas based on their writing.

MYSTERY NUMBER: There are clues written on the front of the page with the question mark. You can lift the page to reveal the mystery number.

MAGNIFICENT ME: LOVED THESE!!! Each child painted a self portrait and wrote a bio poem about themself. I printed their poems on an overhead transparency and attached it to the magnifying class cutout. So stinking cute!

JUST THE FACTS: This was another favorite. I took a picture of each friend wearing a detective hat and a trenchcoat with a badge. The printed page read, "Just the Facts About (insert student name)." The children then wrote interesting facts about themselves on the paper. I mounted each onto brown cardstock, rounded the corners and used aluminum foil to make them look like clipboards.

I SPY: Each student wrote a descriptive paragraph about an object. I took a picture of each with the magnifying glass held up close so that it magnified one eye. They were lots of fun.

HANDWRITING ANALYSIS: Third graders learn to write in cursive. They each wrote the alphabet in cursive and then wrote clues about themselves in cursive on a separate card. The parents tried to match the clues to the "handwriting sample."
SCAVENGER HUNT: When each child arrived, I had a badge (came in packs of 4 from The Dollar Tree) anda clipboard waiting for each of them. The clipboard held a scavenger hunt for the night to complete with their families. This encourages them to show off all of their work. The hunt included things like, "What is the third word in the third sentence of your I Spy paragraph?"

Student Silhouettes Made Easy - Whatever Wednesday

Today's Whatever Wednesday Topic is:

Silhouettes Made Easy

Teachers will often trace student’s profiles.  They make great displays for Open Houses and back-to-school bulletin boards.  They are cherished parts of Mother’s Day gifts.  That doesn’t mean they are easy.

In fact, just the opposite is true.

If you’ve ever attempted to get 24 Kindergarten students to stand in front of an overhead and “freeze like a statue” while you frantically try to outline the projection of their cranium onto black construction paper then you know what I mean.

Just getting a 5 year old to stand still is a task in itself.  But, getting a kid to stand still and not turn his head to see the giant shadow of himself that is bating him to one side and the illuminated treasure on the other is a real accomplishment.

I did a mystery unit with my third graders a couple of years ago.  Inspired by the Alfred Hitchcock logo-ish thingy, I wanted to use their profiles as part of a “guess who” writing display.  However, the thought of tracing all those heads exhausted me.

Then I had a lightbulb moment (pun intended).

I had them stand in front of the overhead as I normally would.  Instead of tracing their silhouette, I simply snapped a photo of it.

So. stinking. easy.

And they came out great.

I used the photos as they were, but you could easily enlarge the pictures on a copier and use them as a template for cutting out the traditional black construction paper.

9:02 pee break, 11:26 pee break...

Today's Whatever Wednesday Topic is:

The Bathroom Log

I teach 3rd grade.

That means I am responsible for teaching 25 children an entire school year's worth of state mandated standards by March because even though the school year goes until June, the state feels they should have everything mastered in time for the BIG TEST in March.

My point is, I don't have time to monitor the frequency and time patterns of when my kiddos elect to pee.

Yet, it is another thing we are expected to do.

I created this chart to streamline the process.  I can tell at a glance how many times a child has left to use the bathroom and when they've gone and how long they have gone for.

How's that for data and assessment?

It's a handy little piece of paper.  The children write their number and the time they have left the classroom on the chart.  If it is the 1st trip of the day they write it in box 1.  If it is the 3rd trip of the day it goes in box 3.  When they return they record that time next to the initial time.  If a child is frequently showing up in box 3 or 4 then I can address the situation.  

Good times.

But, if you are required to keep a bathroom log, this could make your life easier.

Assigning Partners: Whatever Wednesday

Today's Whatever Wednesday Topic is:

The Teams / Partners Chart

Class: (every time I announce any form of collaborative work)  "Can we pick our own partners?"

My internal dialogue: "Hell to the no! I am far to micromanaging to allow that.  When have I ever allowed you to pick your own partners?  Plus, you would most certainly pick the worst possible combination possible."

What I really say: "For this activity I will be assigning partners."

But how?

Easy.

My kiddos are actually assigned a buddy for most academic areas.  They are even assigned a place to work with that buddy.  This cuts down on transition times and ensures productive teams working in workspaces that best suit them.  I can easily said, "With your reading partner you will...(insert engaging, creative task here)," and they quickly grab what they need and relocate to their "reading work spot" with their "reading buddy."  

There are times when I need to pair them differently and that is where the partner chart is useful.

As I've mentioned before, each of my students is assigned a # for the year.  The cards on the chart are programmed with the numbers.   Each student has 3 number cards (blue, purple and green).  I arrange the chart so that it creates 3 different possible combinations for partner activities.  

I might say, "you will be working with your 'purple partner." 

Student # 6 would look at the chart and find the purple #6 and see that she is assigned to work with purple #13.  

If I said, "You will be working with your blue partner" then she would find the blue # 6 and see that it is matched with student #16.

Oh, wait.

It gets better.

See those cute and colorful sea creatures?  They are not just decorative.  You can use any theme cutouts (or even just letters).  I have 2 rows of each cutout (fish, dolphin, turtle, whale, octopus).  

If I need to put kids into a group of 4 I will say, "You'll be working with your green (or purple or blue) sea creatures."  In this situation our good friend #6 knows she is a whale.  She sees that the other green whales are #s 11, 16 and 7.  

Another little tip is to put those same cutouts onto the tables where you would like the students to work.  It will eliminate the abundance of "where do we go" questions.

Must Do / May Do Board -Whatever Wednesday

Today's Whatever Wednesday Topic is:

THE MUST DO / MAY DO BOARD

I wish I could take credit for this.  It has made my role so much easier.  I first saw this in a co-workers classroom.  She found it somewhere else.  Regardless of where it came from, you NEED it!

The "must do / may do" board is exactly what the title says.  It's a visual reminder of what tasks need to be accomplished and what can be done once they are.  I created my board using electrical tape as a divider on my white board.  This allows me to use dry erase markers to record the daily activities.  I printed the subjects on cardstock, laminated them and hot glued magnets on the bag.  This lets me move them around as space is needed.

After I complete a lesson and assign a task I write it on the must-do board.  The children know to reference it when they need a reminder on what to do.  After everything is complete they may select and activity from the "may-do" side of the board.  I don't include activities that would encourage the children to rush through their assignments.  My "may-dos" typically include things like: independent reading, free-choice writing, and math fact practice.

It's a great tool for keeping everyone on track with their assignments and eliminates the "I'm done...What Do I Do Next? Chorus."