Boom Cards are Fun and Easy to Use

If you haven't heard, Boom Learning Digital Task Cards are becoming very popular with teachers!

I'm so excited about all the possibilities with Boom Learning, and I hope you are too! If you haven't tried it yet, I've collected a lot of links that hopefully will help you out. 

First of all, Boom Learning had a "how to" Webinar recently, and the 45 minute video is free on YouTube. Or, you could just watch it here!

 

If you're thinking about taking that "Boom Card" plunge, this is a great place to start.

I wanted to write a blog post about how to use blog posts, but so many already have, I've I've also collected several posts and instructions from others on using Boom cards. Here are several great posts I've found:

What are Boom Cards?

How to Use Boom Learning Cards as a Teacher  

5 Reasons to Use Boom Digital Task Cards in the Classroom

 

How to Use Boom Cards in Google Classroom

How to Use Boom Cards in the Classroom

How to Use and Assign Boom Cards

  

I'm sure if you googled, you'd find plenty more!

 

If you searched on YouTube, you'd find plenty more "how to" videos as well! In fact, Boom Learning has its own YouTube page, with plenty of instructional videos on how to build classes, assign cards, use fast pins or hyperlinks, whether or not you need to purchase a membership, how to find and purchase cards, and even create your own! 

 

You will truly be amazed at how easy and rewarding it all is!

Here's a link to the Boom Cards YouTube Channel

Many Boom Decks in all subjects can be found HERE.

What are you waiting for?

Brain myths: Fact or Fiction?

What do you know about the brain. Or better yet, what do you THINK you know?

There are a lot of things people seem to think are facts about the brain, yet Science has proven them to be NOT true. 

Yet, there are other things that teachers should know to be fact about the brain. 

Let's have some fun with Brain Myths. Which of these are fact, and which are fiction?

We only use 10% of our brain: Fact or fiction? I've heard this one for years! What do you think? Do you think 90% of our brains are unused?

We all use all the parts of our brain! Sorry, Science says that's a myth.

Here's another one:

Men and Women Learn Differently: Fact or Fiction? Many feel that men are better at math and women are better at language. What does Science have to say about this?

Sorry, that's a myth! Men and women are capable of learning both, and any differences you might notice have nothing to do with the development of the brain!

Let's try this one:

Some people are left-brained, and some people are right-brained: Fact or Fiction? What does Science say?

All people use both sides of their brain! I know a few  people who will fight this one, but sorry, Science says no!

What about doing puzzles? Does that help the brain?

Doing crossword puzzles improves the memory: Fact or Fiction? There are people out there selling all sorts of games, puzzles, and challenges for the sake of improving the memory. Is it true?

Nope, don't waste your money! Science says puzzles and crosswords just won't do it!

Now, about the development of the brain:

 

The brain is fully mature at birth: Fact or Fiction?  What does Science have to say?

Oh, heavens, no! The brain isn't fully developed until a person is about 25. Think of your thought process when you were a teenager, or better yet, other teenagers you know. They still have some developing to do, don't they?

What about the size of the brain?

The size of your brain determines how smart you are: Fact or fiction? That age old question: Does size really matter?

Science says no to this one as well! If bigger brains made us smarter, wouldn't elephants be smarter than us? I'd really like to see an elephant doing scientific research!

How well does the brain work under pressure?

The Brain works better under pressure: Fact or fiction? Remember when you had that big project due? Didn't that motivate you to work harder?

 

 

 

Despite waiting until the last minute until getting that project done, Science has proved that stress is NOT good for the brain! Seriously, had you budgeted your time, you probably would have been a better job.

Ok, now how about this one?

Playing classical music makes infants smarter: Fact or fiction?
Did you play classical music for your children when they were babies?

  

Science says there is no evidence to back this up! But I'm sure they enjoyed the music anyway!

Well, how about this one. Do your memories get stored in files, like a computer?

 

 

The brain stores memories like a computer: Fact or fiction? What do you think?

 

 

Sorry, the brain is far more complex than a computer. In fact, many memories are far from accurate! (Judges, lawyers and eye witnesses need to explore this!)

We were always taught that a person's IQ was constant. Is this true?

Your IQ will always stay the same: Fact or fiction? I always believed this to be true! Was I right?

 

Well, Science has disproved this theory as well! A person's IQ will fluctuate throughout his or her whole life!

As teachers, we know that everyone has their own preferred learning style, right?

Everyone has a preferred learning style: Fact or fiction? As teachers, don't we know this to be the case?

Sorry, Science has proved this one to be incorrect as well. It's true that including visuals, sound, or hands-on activities WILL help a person learn, but no one person has one preferred style.

Here are links to some articles that back up this information:

12 Popular Facts About the Brain That Aren’t Actually True

7 Myths About Your Brain

 50 Surprising Things About Your Brain We Bet You Didn’t Know

10 Brain Myths Busted

Top Ten Myths About the Brain

Debunking 10 Brain MythsD

Debunking 10 Brain Myths

10 Surprising Facts About Your Brain

 

So, you want to know some TRUE facts about the brain? Try some of these posts:

• Ten Brain Based Learning Strategies
  

• The Brain, Baseball, and Geography 

• Ten Key Points About the Brain
  

• Seven Brain Based Learning Principles
  

•  Twelve Strategies to Get From Working Memory to Long Term Memory

• Brain Facts

• Seven Benefits of Teaching Handwriting
  

• Predictability and Novelty
  

• 5 Tricks to Help Them Remember Sight Words
  

• The Brain, Memory, Emotions, and Hurricanes

• Routine and Novelty: How Can We Keep a Balance?

• Five Hints to Help Avoid False Praise and Give Valuable Feedback 
  

• Seven Ways to Brain Fitness for Kids! 

• Categorical Thinking 

• The Importance of Failure
  

What facts do you know to be true about the brain?

But My Students Don't Know This Stuff!

Sometimes I'll lead my students to some activities where they are expected to answer questions that still need to be taught the content. 

How can this be valuable?

I've been doing some reading, and I've found some research proving children learn from an activity that requires guessing. In fact, these challenges are good for them, and enhance learning! The key? Making sure they get immediate feedback.

 

 

If the children are doing an activity where they have to guess at something, it gets them thinking. Once they've thought about it, they'll take a guess. If they get immediate feedback, they'll learn!  

 

It's just like watching Jeopardy! Every time I watch, I learn more facts, even when I didn't know them before I watched! Guessing helps the brain learn! (Thanks, Alex!)

 

 

This sort of activity can be repeated over and over. Each time it's repeated, they'll remember more. As they repeat the activity, there will be less guessing and more remembering! 

 

This is a perfect type of activity for students to work on while you're working with individuals or small groups.

 

 

These are perfect for your "fast finishers" or children who need a little extra challenge after their daily work is complete.
 

Plus, reading random questions counts as reading practice. They do need to be reading every day, right?

They can work alone, but working with a friend brings valuable conversation! You know, the conversations that help them think through and remember information!

 

 

Did I mention how much the children love this stuff? Seriously, they love learning new material!

 

I know what you're thinking... but I'm having enough trouble fitting in everything I have to teach already! Yes, I know, but this isn't just "another thing to do." It's something to enhance what's already happening!

 

 

But what about the standards? Yeah, I thought you might be concerned about that one. I'll tell you a little secret:

Teaching isn't all about the standards. 

Teaching is about enriching the lives of the kids.

 

Shocking, I know. Can you imagine if administrators heard me say that? Well, I'll tell you another little secret:

I'm not here to impress the administrators. 

I'm here to make a difference in the lives of children.

 

Well, I'm not really that much of a rebel, but I really do want to make a difference in the lives of the children. (And yes, the standards DO matter, but there's so much more to kids!)

Now I suppose you're wondering where to find these activities that keep kids guessing!

Well, here's a freebie to get you started:

 

July Boom Learning Trivia and General Knowledge (Boom Cards)

Here's another fun Boom Learning resource for building vocabulary!

Country, Science Tool, or Sandwich? (Boom Cards)

 

Here are a few more:

Facts About Space (Boom Cards)

Black Americans Quotes "Who Said This" (Boom Cards)

Digital Social Studies Topics Practice and Review Bundle (Boom Cards)

Digital Science Topics Practice and Review Bundle (Boom Cards)

Science Review Task Cards

Hurricanes: Reading Comprehension for Active Learners

 

Most of these activities will enhance the children's knowledge with very little work on the teacher's part. Plus, teachers can see their results easily for all those Boom Cards! 

Here are some links to articles about how guessing helps students learn.

How Mistakes Help Students Learn

How guessing the wrong answer helps you learn the right answer 

How Guessing Helps Students Learn

  

How do you challenge your students beyond what they already know?

Five Reasons for Children to Read "Out Soft"

My students read "out soft" for many reasons in the classroom.

First of all, I'll bet you've already figured out the meaning of "out soft." Although I made up the term, the students understand what it means right away. I'll introduce this idea at the very beginning of the school year, and make sure the students know that reading "out soft" means the children are able to hear their own voice as they reads, but wouldn't disturb the person sitting next to them. An adult might call this "barely audible." As you might have guessed, it's the opposite of "out loud," which requires volume and projection. You might call it whispering, but the term "out soft" is just more fun!

 

We practice. Some children, by nature, struggle with turning down the volume and turning off the projection, but they do get it.Once they get it, they are empowered!

1. Understanding directions.

 

 

This little trick has helped many little ones. Plus, it has helped me as well! Sometimes directions are hard to understand, but I've found that when reading those same directions loud enough to hear yourself, they can make a whole lot more sense! Seriously, how many times has a child come to you confused about written directions... then you ask the child to read the directions to you, and suddenly they'll say, "Oh, I get it!"  Works like a charm!

2. Reading Warm Up 

 

 

I always start reading groups with a warm up. The children are trained to arrive at the reading table, choose one of their books, and start reading "out soft." This not only prevents down time while waiting for the stragglers, but it gives me a chance to listen in and do some assessing. Sometimes I'll give them something specific to warm up with. 

 

Studies show reading words in phrases increases fluency, so I often have the children warm up with these phrases: Fry Sight Word Phrases One little hint: be sure the sight words are easy for the children so they can build the fluency when practicing them as phrases.

These sets are similar to the above, using different lists. Reading Warm Up Phrases

3. Aid Concentration 

 

As you know, many children struggle to concentrate on independent reading. They are distracted by just about anything, including their own thoughts. I find having these children read "out soft" really helps them pay attention to their reading!

4. Reading with a partner.

 

Reading with a peer is a wonderful strategy that should be used frequently in the classroom. Think about it, 50% of the children are all practicing their reading skills, while the other 50% are listening and guiding the readers. It's a win-win! Plus, the children love it! But when all the children are interacting at once, they'll need to be reading "out soft!"

 

5. It helps the memory.

 

When children hear themselves, it helps the memory. This works with word reading (see #2) as well as important science facts, and even math facts! When I use these practice cards with my students, I encourage lots of repetition, but I also encourage the children to say the entire fact "out soft." Fact Fluency Practice Cards

 

 

This same system is available on Boom Learning:  Boom Learning Fact Fluency System Bundle

How else can children learn by reading "out soft?"