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Are You Ready to Ship Your Students Off to a New World?

Yes, the last few weeks have been very busy! 

I'm VERY tired, and so are the kids, but we've got a couple more school days to survive!

Are you ready to ship your students off to a New World? It's a tough time of year! Time to pull all the stops out and try some super fun, engaging activities. (Shh... don't tell them they're still learning!)

It's time to pull all the stops out! Time for high-interest activities that involve conversation and movement. Here are some ideas:

Are you ready to ship your students off to a New World? It's a tough time of year! Time to pull all the stops out and try some super fun, engaging activities. (Shh... don't tell them they're still learning!)

I'll be pulling out this activity from my Science and Social Studies Printables for November.

Are you ready to ship your students off to a New World? It's a tough time of year! Time to pull all the stops out and try some super fun, engaging activities. (Shh... don't tell them they're still learning!)

We'll also be reading informational text and learning about wild turkeys! 

 
Are you ready to ship your students off to a New World? It's a tough time of year! Time to pull all the stops out and try some super fun, engaging activities. (Shh... don't tell them they're still learning!)

 I like to let the children work in pairs or small groups while working on these informational text booklets. It encourages conversation to discuss the information they are learning and encourages them to use their new vocabulary.

Are you ready to ship your students off to a New World? It's a tough time of year! Time to pull all the stops out and try some super fun, engaging activities. (Shh... don't tell them they're still learning!)

Looking for more turkey fun? Try this Turkey Mini-Bundle, which includes that turkey informational booklet that you saw above!

Are you ready to ship your students off to a New World? It's a tough time of year! Time to pull all the stops out and try some super fun, engaging activities. (Shh... don't tell them they're still learning!)

Finally, we'll be getting our reading, writing, word work, and math skills in with these Fun No Prep Activities for Thanksgiving.
 

Planning ahead? 

Check out some of these posts: (See the images for the links!)

Are you ready to ship your students off to a New World? It's a tough time of year! Time to pull all the stops out and try some super fun, engaging activities. (Shh... don't tell them they're still learning!)

Are you ready to ship your students off to a New World? It's a tough time of year! Time to pull all the stops out and try some super fun, engaging activities. (Shh... don't tell them they're still learning!)


Are you ready to ship your students off to a New World? It's a tough time of year! Time to pull all the stops out and try some super fun, engaging activities. (Shh... don't tell them they're still learning!)


Are you ready to ship your students off to a New World? It's a tough time of year! Time to pull all the stops out and try some super fun, engaging activities. (Shh... don't tell them they're still learning!)

How are you keeping the children focused during this busy time?

Are you ready to ship your students off to a New World? It's a tough time of year! Time to pull all the stops out and try some super fun, engaging activities. (Shh... don't tell them they're still learning!)





What would you do if you were president?

Children shouldn't have to deal with actual politics, especially since these days politics can be far too hurtful and controversial! I think it's best to go in a different direction with kids.
 
What would you do if you were president? I asked my students this question, and their responses were absolutely delightful!

 
This year, on election day, we voted for our favorite Indoor Recess Game. Sorry won, with Battleship a close second. We graphed our votes, and drew some conclusions from the data.

A couple of days later, we had a fabulous discussion.

I asked them what they would do if they were President of the United States.  Their answers were amazing!

Here are some of my favorites:

  • I would get rid of smoking.
  • I would expect people to try to get along.
  • I would get rid of drugs.
  • I would make sure people stopped hurting each other.
  • I would have people smile more.
  • I would let people wear their hair however they want.
  • I would have the rich people use their extra money to help the poor people.
  • I would get rid of junk food.
  • I would make everyone read.
  • I would make sure people are healthy.
  • I would make people exercise.
  • I would get rid of bullies.
Honestly, I was inspired and proud! I half expected "typical" kid answers: no homework, no bedtimes, more video games... but they didn't go in that direction at all! 

They've got my vote!

Here's a little freebie with this prompt and another prompt as well:


What would you do if you were president? I asked my students this question, and their responses were absolutely delightful!


Be Prepared for Giggles!

Here's a group game that will bring out the giggles in everyone! 

 
Be Prepared for Giggles! "True or False" is a fun activity that will send the children into fits of laughter!

It can be played at Morning Meeting, indoor recess, or any time of day. It's called True or False?

One person is "it". That person makes two statements. One is a true statement, the other is a false statement. It might sound something like this:  "I have an older brother. I have a baby sister." The others have to guess which is the fallacy.  It sounds so simple, but when the kids try to make up false statements, the giggles begin!

Usually, it's pretty easy to guess the false statement, but that's not really what it's about. It's really about the giggles! After all, a good laugh is healthy!
 
This game can easily be played in the classroom OR in a virtual learning experience. 
 
For more team building games see: 

See the image below or see  HERE for more evidence that laughter in the classroom is GOOD!

Explore this image for a link to this post.

Be Prepared for Giggles! "True or False" is a fun activity that will send the children into fits of laughter!

Election Day Options for Little Learners

I'm tired of watching the attack ads all over the TV, my phone ringing constantly, getting flyer after flyer in the mail, and the signs all over town. Luckily, this campaign season is almost over, thank goodness!
 
 Election Day Options for Little Learners: The REAL election is far too grusome to share with little ones, so here are a few alternatives that will help the kiddos learn in a way they can understand

 I also think it's important to teach the importance of the election to the little ones. But in a gentler, kinder fashion.

Election Day Options for Little Learners: The REAL election is far too grusome to share with little ones, so here are a few alternatives that will help the kiddos learn in a way they can understand

We vote for our favorite indoor recess game! See the above image or see HERE for this freebie for Election Day. It includes ballots, graphs, and suggestions for the day.

We've been working on common and proper nouns, so I've cooked up this matching game with an election theme. I find ANY special day makes learning more fun, doesn't it? This set has several options, including a board game. You can learn more about this set HERE, or by see the image.

Election Day Options for Little Learners: The REAL election is far too grusome to share with little ones, so here are a few alternatives that will help the kiddos learn in a way they can understand

Kids always need brain breaks, and squeezing in a little patriotism doesn't hurt! See the image or see HERE to download this Dollar Deal!

Election Day Options for Little Learners: The REAL election is far too grusome to share with little ones, so here are a few alternatives that will help the kiddos learn in a way they can understand

Here are a few books I've found with an election theme.



Don't forget the Patriotic Music!



How do you honor election day with your little ones?

Election Day Options for Little Learners: The REAL election is far too grusome to share with little ones, so here are a few alternatives that will help the kiddos learn in a way they can understand

Seven Strategies to Help Children Remember Spelling Words

Some children remember sight words easily, but there are others who have a hard time remembering the spelling of words that don't follow the rules. 

Seven Strategies to help children remember spelling words - based on brain research, this blog post shares seven strategies to help those kiddos who struggle to remember spelling!
 

Here are a few strategies, based on research, that will help kiddos remember spelling words.


Seven Strategies to help children remember spelling words - based on brain research, this blog post shares seven strategies to help those kiddos who struggle to remember spelling!
1.  Spell it aloud! The act of saying the letters along with hearing the letters helps the pathways form in the brain.


Seven Strategies to help children remember spelling words - based on brain research, this blog post shares seven strategies to help those kiddos who struggle to remember spelling!
2. Get them moving! Studies show a connection between movement and memory. Students can bounce a basketball while spelling, jump while spelling, or even do interpretive dance while spelling the words. 


Seven Strategies to help children remember spelling words - based on brain research, this blog post shares seven strategies to help those kiddos who struggle to remember spelling!
 3. Integrate Music! Ever notice how you can remember song lyrics from years ago that you never even tried to memorize? Music is closely connected to memory! Make up a little tune to the spelling of the words, or have the children make it up!
 

Seven Strategies to help children remember spelling words - based on brain research, this blog post shares seven strategies to help those kiddos who struggle to remember spelling!

4. Integrate the Arts! Have the children write the spelling words, then make up a design around them. Or, you could have them paint their words! Don't forget the performing arts: they could dance their words or act out their words!

Seven Strategies to help children remember spelling words - based on brain research, this blog post shares seven strategies to help those kiddos who struggle to remember spelling!
5. Color code! Brains really connect to colors! Have the children write the words using one color for vowels, and one color for consonants.

Seven Strategies to help children remember spelling words - based on brain research, this blog post shares seven strategies to help those kiddos who struggle to remember spelling!
6. Hands-on! Use blocks, toothpicks, pipe cleaners or other manipulatives to create the words.

Seven Strategies to help children remember spelling words - based on brain research, this blog post shares seven strategies to help those kiddos who struggle to remember spelling!
7. Get social! Get the kiddos to have conversations about their words. They can talk about the letters that follow the rules, and the letters that DON'T follow the rules. (Add color coding to this one, and that doubles the chance they'll remember the spelling!)

Want more ideas?  


Seven Strategies to help children remember spelling words - based on brain research, this blog post shares seven strategies to help those kiddos who struggle to remember spelling!

This is a set of task cards with 48 color and 48 black and white task cards that can be used with any spelling list!

These cards contain activities based on brain research that include integrating the arts, multi-modality, and multiple intelligences. This set of sight word practice task cards is perfect for a word work center, homework, or extra practice in any setting. 

For more information, see: Brain Friendly Spelling Task Cards.

Seven Strategies to help children remember spelling words - based on brain research, this blog post shares seven strategies to help those kiddos who struggle to remember spelling!


In case you want to see how these Spelling Task Cards work, here's a sampler: Spelling Fun Task Cards Sampler
Seven Strategies to help children remember spelling words - based on brain research, this blog post shares seven strategies to help those kiddos who struggle to remember spelling!

Or grab it for free by signing up for my helpful emails HERE.

How do you help children remember Spelling words?

Seven Strategies to help children remember spelling words - based on brain research, this blog post shares seven strategies to help those kiddos who struggle to remember spelling!


Even or Odd? A Game for Two Students

I played a game with my students this week, since we were studying even and odd numbers. 


I remember doing this activity as a child.
I don't remember what we called it.

I don't remember much about it at all, so I shared with my students what I remembered, and made up the rest.
 
Even or Odd: A Game for two students.  This game requires nothing but fingers, but it's a great way to practice even and odd numbers.
 

It worked.

Here's how we did it.


1 .Children chose partners.
2. The partners decided who would represent even, and who would represent odd.
3. Players stood facing each other with one hand behind their back.
4. One partner said, "One, two, three, shoot!"
5. On "shoot," each player shoots out 0, 1, or 2 fingers. 
6. Both players determine if the total fingers is even or odd, and that player gets a point for that round.
7. Play continues until time runs out, with players keeping track of how many points for "even" or "odd."
A more advanced version: use up to 5 fingers for each draw.
Another way: use dice, add them, odd or even gets a point. They can keep tallies on a whiteboard to keep score.  Playing cards would work, too!

All my games end with a handshake and the words, "good game!"


I had all my students playing with partners at the same time. Of course, I had to join in the fun since I have an odd number of students. We now play this game often as part of our Morning Meeting or as a Math warm up!

Even or Odd: A Game for two students.  This game requires nothing but fingers, but it's a great way to practice even and odd numbers.

The Importance of Read Alouds!

I am committed to reading aloud to my students daily.  

The Importance of Read Alouds: Reading aloud has many benefits. Here are 15!
 
Not only is it my very favorite time of day, but there are so many benefits of reading aloud to kids.

Here are some advantages of reading aloud to children:

1. It's a shared literacy experience within the classroom community.
2. It's a great way to model important reading concepts like understanding characters, using inference skills, predicting, and more!
3. It's a great way to model phrasing and fluent reading.
4. Read Alouds are like an advertisement for books! Ever notice how the kids want to read a book right after you read it to them? Or perhaps another book in the series?
5. Read Alouds develop a child's vocabulary.
6. Shared books are a great way to model writing skills!
7. Shared books are a great way to spark discussion about sensitive subjects.
8. Children learn language patterns and figurative language through Read Alouds.
9. When you have multiple reading levels in your classroom (which most of us do!) it "evens the playing field."
10. Reading aloud helps build attention spans.
11. It's a chance to "think aloud" to model decoding new words using context clues.
12. It's a great opportunity to bring literature into other subjects like Science, Social Studies, Mathematics, and even Music, Art, and Phys. Ed!
13. Reading aloud encourages thinking and using imagination.
14. Reading aloud helps children learn about the world. Not just their own world, but other places, cultures, time periods, and even fictional worlds.
15. It's fun!

Looking to get families involved? Enjoy this resource!


The Importance of Read Alouds: Reading aloud has many benefits. Here are 15!


What books do you like to read aloud to children?
What other advantages to reading aloud can you name?

 The Importance of Read Alouds: Reading aloud has many benefits. Here are 15!

 

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