Three Purposes for Boom Learning Digital Task Cards

Children (and teachers) absolutely LOVE Boom Learning Digital Task Cards.

Did you realize there are different ways to use them?

1. Skills Practice

Skills practice is probably the most popular use of Boom Learning cards. Since Boom Cards can be used on tablets, phones, laptops, or desktops, it's easy to just send a link for the children to practice their skills at home, during center time, or for independent work. 
 

I've made some little videos so you can see the Boom Cards in action:

This first video is an example of part of my fact fluency system. There are 8 different levels for the children to master, and two review levels. 

This is Level 1 Addition and Subtraction:  the +1 families

(This one is a freebie!)

Here's an example of the multiplication and division fact fluency system:

Level 5 Multiplication and Division the X9 families

2. Assessment

Assessment is a great use of the Boom Cards as well! With a paid membership to Boom Learning, teachers can see the records of everything their students have done while on Boom Learning. They can see which questions students got right or wrong, how long the student took on that question, and a record of how many times the student has used that deck. It's a wealth of information about the students, and it's amazingly easy to use!

The above fact fluency decks can be used for assessment as well as practice. I watch the scores of the children, and when they are close to 100% accuracy, we have a celebration and they move on to the next level. 

Assessment can have several purposes within itself! A teacher might want to assess students before a lesson or unit, in order to see what the students know. 

This one will let you know what your students know about figurative language.

Figurative Language Boom Learning Digital Task Cards

 

A teacher might want to do a personality assessment at the beginning of the school year, then again at various points through the year to see how the student grows and changes. Plus, they love talking (writing) about themselves!

Who Am I? Get to Know Your Students Boom Learning Task Cards

Here's a way to assess what your students know about germs!

Germs: Viruses and Bacteria Boom Learning Task Cards

 3. Exploration and Enrichment

Enrichment and Exploration are my favorite purpose for Boom Learning cards! These cards are perfect for the students who have mastered the basic information and are ready to learn more. They can be assigned a deck on a topic they're not familiar with, and explore. The best part? They can do the same deck over and over, and their responses should become more and more accurate! (Teachers can keep an eye on this, and if they're not becoming more accurate, a conversation needs to take place with this student, of course!)

There are plenty of this type of Boom Learning decks. Here are a couple:

 Famous Black Americans: Who Said This?

I have a whole series of Social Studies and Science vocabulary builders. Check out this video of  

City, Country, or Candy

I have plenty more Boom Learning decks, which you can find HERE.

How do you use your Boom cards? 

Do you have other purposes for them?

Learning About the USA

There is a lot going around in politics that is far too brutal for small children. Yet, their little eyes and ears are open, and they're noticing what is going on around them. 

I think this is a good time for the children to learn about the USA.

I prefer to use this interest to teach the children more "safe," "non-biased" information about their country. As teachers, we have an obligation to teach them to think for themselves, and certainly not to tell them how to think! 

I have several Amazon affiliate links below that will bring a few pennies to me, at absolutely no cost to you. These are some examples of teaching children about the United States without teaching them to have an opinion.

How about a book of maps?

Beginner's United States Atlas 

(National Geographic Kids)

How about a book of USA places?

USA Destinations That Spark Our Fascinations 

by Gene Lipen

 

 Here's a fun collection of true tales from American History!

The American Story 

by Jennifer Armstrong

Here are some great biographies about American women!

50 Fearless Women Who Made American History 

by Jenifer Bazzit

Here is a book that will empower little ones!

No Voice Too Small 

edited by Lindsey H. Metcalf, Kelia V. Dawson, and Jeannette Bradley

 

I'm sure you know plenty more children's books to educate children about the United States of America! (Leave a comment below with your favorites!)

Here are a few resources that can be used throughout the year, whether or not there is a patriotic holiday on the horizon!

This is my newest Boom Learning set: the children think about each USA fact, and decide if it is true or false. 

 Fun Facts About the USA 

These Reading Comprehension for Active Learners sets have always been a big hit for my learners! This one tells about the 5 branches of the US military.  

Freedom Isn't Free

Here's another Boom Learning set comparing two of the countries in North America!  Canada, USA, or Both?

This resource is a favorite! It's perfect for helping the children to recognize and accept the differences between the people in our country!

Just or Unjust? Fair or Unfair?

These mapping task cards help children learn their way around the USA map! 

Mapping Task Cards USA Mapping Sets One and Two

This set combines several skills, and can be used for Presidents Day, Election Day, or any day you're learning about the USA! Mapping, Comparing, Syllables, and Opinion Writing with a President Theme

Do your students struggle to remember which patriotic holiday is which? 

Which Patriotic Holiday? A Sorting Game

 All the above items are contained in this bundle, plus several others, all at a huge discount!  

 Learning About the USA Bundle

Plus, these additional resources are also included!

 Patriotic Brain Breaks

President Writing Prompts

President's Day  Mini-Books

Social Studies Review

America Map

USA Paper

How do you help younger children learn about the USA?

Team Building, Ice Breakers, and Get to Know You Activities

To teach children, we need to build relationships with them. 

To work comfortably with each other, they need to build relationships with each other. 

So how can we build relationships?

Whether school is starting soon, or not for a while, these things are important:

• Building bonds of trust with your students.
• Helping students build bonds with each other.
• Get to know the student's academic abilities,
• Help the children get to know your expectations and procedures. 

This post suggests some team-building and getting-to-know-you activities. These activities will also help you get to know your students while showing your expectations as well!

 

Here's one way to get them comfortable with you and with

each other:

Morning Meetings are a great way to start the day! I like to start with some sort of greeting. These Morning Meeting Greeting Activities come with a fun question for every single day, a nice picture and the same writing prompt.

Boom Learning activities are a must! They're amazingly easy to assign in class or online. They're compatible with every platform, and can be sent home with just a link for homework. Plus, the teacher can monitor how each child is doing!

 

 

Who am I Boom Cards are perfect for the beginning of the school year. This is a chance for the children to think about who they are, and how they can contribute to their class. 

 

Plus, they get plenty of reading and writing practice! (And the teacher can assess these skills through their responses!)

Building Friendships is a popular Boom Learning Resource that gets the children thinking about making good choices when it comes to socializing.

Good Citizenship Boom is a great opportunity for children to think about social situations! This will help them learn what kind of expectations you have in your class. The stories give them plenty of examples of positive interactions in the classroom and on the playground. 

This "Get to Know You" Game is a perfect way to begin reading groups, centers, or just have fun. The cards can be shared at morning meeting, or used with the included Board Game.

 

This resource has a collection of games and activities for building classroom community. These are perfect for morning meetings!  60 Team Building Games and Activities to Build Classroom Community
 

Looking to save some money (and time) on a bundle? Try this one:

Back to School Team Builders, Ice Breakers, and Get to Know You Activities! This collection has everything you'll need to get to know your students and get them feeling comfortable with each other! Once you've got them feeling safe and comfortable with each other, then the REAL learning can begin!

I'm sure you'll find ways to build relationships with your students. 

What's your plan?

Back to School Success Strategies Part 4: Watch their health!

It's getting closer to that time again. 

No matter where you are in your summer vacation, getting back is in your future. This series of posts is designed to make that return a bit smoother for you.

Today is Part 4 in a five part series about returning to school successfully.

Watch their health!

The last few years have been difficult. The pandemic has caused huge stress in the lives of our children (as well as us) and it's still around. Health and safety have always been the most important thing in our classroom, but now we are to be even more aware of keeping them healthy, and we can teach them how to look out for their own health.

 

As I've mentioned before, I'm a huge fan of Boom Learning Digital Task Cards for several reasons: they're easy to use, can be used on any device, they're easy to assign through different digital platforms, and most of all, the children LOVE them! This set of Boom Cards helps the students learn about bacteria and viruses and how to fight them. Germs: Viruses and Bacteria Boom Cards

 

This resource has an informational text with 10 questions, 6 brain breaks, and 4 sketching questions. Germs: Reading Comprehension for Active Learners

Here's another Boom Learning Resource! This one helps the children understand what they can do to help fight germs and maintain healthy habits: Healthy Habits Boom Cards

Finally, here's an informational booklet the children can read, learn, and illustrate. This can be easily sent home, or read, discussed, and illustrated in class. If they can keep socially distant, it's fun for them to make posters to show what they have learned! Healthy Habits Informational Text Booklet

Be sure to read the other four parts of these Back to School Success Strategies!

 

  

 

 

 

I imagine you're thinking of more ways to watch out for their health.

I hope you'll share some of these in the comments below.

Back to School Success Strategies Part 3: Review, Review, Review!

It's getting closer to that time again. 

No matter where you are in your summer vacation, getting back is in your future. This series of posts is designed to make that return a bit smoother for you.

Today is Part 3 in a five part series about returning to school successfully.

Review, review, review!

We all know that our students have had a whole lot of time away from learning. You can call it "summer slump" or "summer slide," or numerous other things! No matter what it's called in your neck of the woods, it's time to get them back in the swing of things and bring those skills back!
 

You may remember that I'm a big fan of Boom Cards because they are easy to use in the classroom and can be used remotely by sending a link through any platform. These vocabulary Boom Cards are a fun way to review important science and social studies vocabulary. Building Vocabulary Science and Social Studies Boom Card Bundle

 

Speaking of Boom Cards, these  six multiple choice Boom Cards are perfect for reviewing important skills: Combined 2nd Grade Skills Review Boom Card Bundle

But it's important to keep it interesting. I like to let the children practice important reading skills by having them read informational text about important Science and Social Studies topics. It's a real time saver, and they absolutely love the topics! This bundle of Earth Changes gives them a lot of information, yet loads of practice with reading and comprehension skills. Earth Changes Bundle: Reading Comprehension for Active Learners.

Math fact fluency is an important part of everyday mathematics. (This system was mentioned in Part 1 - Routines.) Brain research tells us it's important to review information in order for that information to go into their long term memory. I recommend that children review frequently the "levels" they have already mastered in this system to keep the information solid. If they never go back to it, they won't remember it! Math Fact Fluency System: the Bundle

 

These Math Challenges are a fun way to review old math skills for grades 3-5! Since math continues to build on previous skills, it's important that those skills are strong. These challenges review second grade math concepts, but with an added challenge! Mystery Math Challenge Bundle

Here's a link to several "summer review" resources that can get their brains back on track: Summer Review Games and Activities

Be sure to read the other four parts of these Back to School Success Strategies!

 

  

 

 

 

I imagine you're thinking of more ways to review and strengthen important skills!

I hope you'll share some of these in the comments below.