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Works4Me

• Holiday Gifts and Chuckles
  

  Holiday Gifts and Chuckles

  Works4Me presents weekly practical classroom tips from real experts -- your colleagues!

  1. Hot Gifts

  Cyndi Stumpf, a second grade teacher in Jefferson Township, New Jersey:

  "For the holidays, my students make a hot plate out of a 12 inch solid white tile. I purchase the tiles at a local home building supply store, and the students decorate the top with permanent markers. I spray the tiles with an acrylic paint sealer which is also available at the home building supply store. The students glue felt squares to the bottom for table protection. These hot plates have been a popular and useful gift as well as being applicable to all holidays."
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  2. Fingerprint Stationery

  From Denise Muto, a fifth grade teacher at Roadrunner Elementary School:

  "Our students make fingerprint stationery for gifts each year. Last year, we used black ink to make a fingerprint on each sheet of paper, each envelope, on a cover for Post-It Notes, on a gift bag, and on a gift tag. The students then used markers to turn the fingerprints into mice.

  "This year, we are using acrylic paints in holiday, colors and the fingerprints (pinkie finger only) will be turned into a string of lights. Again, we will make the entire ensemble of stationery and gift bag/tag. It is fast, easy, and inexpensive. The kids love to do the project and are proud of the results."
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  3. Shell Candles

  From Mrs. V, a third grade teacher in Long Island, New York:

  "We live near an ocean beach. This summer, my husband and I gathered up several large clam shells. My students are going to decorate them and glue in a small tea light to give to their parents for the holiday season."
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  4. Question of the Week: In House Field Trips

  From the NEA Today writers:

  "Your colleagues a tNEA Today are putting together a story about fun and educational field trips that teachers can lead without leaving school grounds. (For example, shall we peek into the school pantry and figure out how many boxes of burgers must be defrosted for Friday's BBQ?) If you’ve taken a field trip without leaving school grounds — or if you have a great idea for one — we’d love to hear it."
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  5. Kids Say the Darndest Things

  Heard Last Week in the Works4Me Lounge:

  "I am a second grade teacher. We were studying nouns, and I felt pretty confident that the whole class knew what a noun was. When I asked for someone to tell the class the definition of a noun, all I could do is laugh. His response? A person who plays with a thing."
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  Works4Me Resources

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  Previous Newsletters: recently published tips

  Tips Library: browse hundreds of archived tips

  Discussion Board: ask questions and share tips with other teachers

   

• Spelling Scatter and Peaceful Music
  

  Spelling Scatter and Peaceful Music

  Works4Me presents weekly practical classroom tips from real experts -- your colleagues!

  1. Spelling Scatter Graphs

  From Curtis Stuart, a third grade ESL teacher:

  "At the beginning of the year, I give my students a list all of the words they will need to know how to spell. They each have a folder with the list and a graph of the words in a sheet protector. I select ten words each week and hang them in different locations around the room. Everyday we go around the room, say and spell the words. On Thursdays, I pull the words down and give them a test. I say the word, where it was and use it in a sentence. Their spelling has improved greatly. On Fridays, I give sticker tests. I have a jar with the year's spelling words written on Popsicle sticks. I pull 10 sticks randomly and ask them to spell them. Some words they've had, others they have not. I graph these sticker tests rather than grade them. I mark the ones they have correct and write the number at the top of their papers. On the wall is a scatter graph where they put a small sticker by the number they have correct. They highlight those correct words on their yearly spelling list and graph in their own folder. They see how many words they have learned by the highlighting and their progress from their own graphs. From the scatter graph, I add the total number of words correct that week and put them on a plot graph on the wall. The class can see how their group is doing and realize if that if someone is absent during the sticker test, the graph may go down. The sticker test process should not take more than ten minutes once they are trained. I have some very limited prior education students, and they love the sticker test. The graphs are also handy to show parents during conferences. Some of our SPED teachers use this graphing method for all subjects in middle and high school."
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  2. Musical Breaks

  From Karla M. Keller, a teacher in Minnesota:

  "All year long, I play music during breaks. When the song is finished, the class is back in their seats and ready to listen. During October I play Halloween type songs. Now I am using various holiday songs. The students don't even notice that I play softer acoustic songs when they need to be calm. I always find a time to play something fun for a dance break such as Jingle Bell Rock. During writing block, I have soft music in the background which makes for a peaceful afternoon. This year I have students from the Middle East so I include some music from their country that I downloaded from the Internet."
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  3. Keeping the Peace before the Holidays

  From Jason Circle,an industrial technology and broadcasting teacher at Ottawa middle school:

  "During the holidays, I drink more eggnog so that I don't notice bad behavior as much. Seriously, I work hard to utilize creative, cross-curricular activities that are hands-on and involve teamwork, problem solving, writing, illustrating, and fun. It is a great time to team teach with someone from a different discipline for a few days."
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  4. Question of the Week: Creative Gifts

  From the Worker Bees:

  "What gifts are your students making this year? Do you have ideas to share for making inexpensive creative projects this holiday season?"
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  5. Disrespectful Students

  Heard Last Week in the Works4Me Lounge:

  "I am dealing with a couple of very angry second graders that are defiant and disrespectful to me and others. I need some fresh ideas to help me deal with these behaviors and still teach."
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  Works4Me Resources

  E-mail Newsletter: sign-up to receive free tips weekly

  Previous Newsletters: recently published tips

  Tips Library: browse hundreds of archived tips

  Discussion Board: ask questions and share tips with other teachers

   

• Computer Cards and Fall Writing
  

  Computer Cards and Fall Writing