Leaving Center Games at Your Tables for the Early Finishers! Hello everyone, Fern from Fern Smith's Classroom Ideas here again to share a little tip or two to help make your job easier. Today I want to share how leaving center games at each groups' tables helped me with those students that finish their work early and might need a challenge or two before the next transition. The picture above is one of my freebies from TPT, so you can download it too. I like making multiple copies of the center, placing them on colored file folders and then leaving them in the center of the group table. If, like above, you have a red group, a blue group and a purple group, etc. using your groups' colors for the file folder center makes it easier for the students to know where to return the center and easier for you to file them away, and take them out again when you want to spiral that skill. By keeping the games at the table, there is no movement, no interruption of the teacher's small group time, no "Where do I go?" What do I do?" When the student is done working, they know to pick a center, usually one of five skills, from the center of the table. I do spend a few weeks at the beginning of the year teaching the expectations of the THOSE center games. 1. All work MUST be done before you select a file folder. 2. Two people may work together if they are both done and use a low whisper. 3. Everything must be cleaned up and placed back into the file folder center before the next transition. I love having all these hands-on center games in my classroom. During parent conferences, I love to show the parents of my higher level children what I'm doing to differentiate and motivate my earlier finishers. Right there...right on the table, sometimes having the parents ask the child if they've finished all the ones currently on the table....perfect, instant, immediate feedback for both the parent and the teacher! If you are new to teaching, or maybe just to reading our Owl-Ways blog, and you need to acquire some center games, click here to see all my freebies at TeacherspayTeachers. Click here if you would like to visit my blog to download many more center games and teaching resources! Follow me to be notified of when I publish new resources and freebies!
I have several free resources available at my TpT store. Click on the images below to download your FREE copy! If you do not have access to a printer right away, you can also pin the images to your favorite boards and download them at a later date!! FREE
Teach your students how to space between their words by using this free printable finger-spacer tool. Occupational Therapist approved. Easy, free, customizable finger-spacer. 3 EASY STEPS: 1. Print the free worksheets 2. Customize, Color, & Cut 3. Laminate, Cut, & Use!
If you are looking for FREE activities to use with your elementary students, I got you covered! Unfortunately, thousands of schools across the nation are closing ( or are preparing to close) due to COVID-19.
Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to our V.I.P. exclusive newsletter for SECRET SALES and FREE printables. Note: This blog post contains resources from our TpT store and our Amazon Associate store. --------------------------------------------- Why should you use interactive notebooks in your classroom? Click HERE for almost 100 printable interactive notebooks for your classroom. • Students use both their visual and linguistic intelligences. The left side of the notebooks allows visual learners to use their best medium to explore and share ideas, and encourages nonvisual learners to become more proficient with graphic approaches in a nonthreatening way. Both types of learners will work with their writing skills. • Note taking becomes an active process. These notebooks invite students to become engaged in their learning. Students will spend some time passively recording ideas from a lecture or the board, but most of their time doing something with ideas-putting them into their own words, searching for implication or assumptions, transforming words into visuals, finding the main point of a political cartoon, etc. This is especially true of the left side of the notebook, which is reserved for their active exploration of social studies ideas. • Notebooks help students to systematically organize as they learn. With the teacher’s encouragement, students can used their notebooks to record ideas about every activity they engage in during a unit. Have them use a variety of organization techniques-topic headings, colored highlights, different writing styles-to synthesize historical concepts and make coherence of what they learn. The notebook permits assignments to be kept together in a regular place and in logical order. • Notebooks become a portfolio on individual learning. These personal, creative notebooks become a record of each student’s growth. The teacher, students, and even parents can review a student’s progress in writing, illustrating, recording, thinking, and organization skills. For more ideas, go here: Classroom Articles: Interactive Notebooks --------------------------- Click HERE to see our best selling interactive notebooks in our TpT store. --------------------------------- Here is a FREE plants interactive science notebook to get you started. Your elementary and special education students will love this printable hands-on craftivity. The students will color and cut out a "lift the flaps" book and attach it to their interactive notebooks. Two sets of plant part descriptions are provided. One set is for novice learners, and the other set is more descriptive. Students can cut and paste the descriptions under the correct plant part, or they can write their own description. ------------------------ You may also like these resources from our Amazon Associate store: Classroom Strategies for Interactive Learning, 4th Edition ------------------------ Interactive Notebooks and English Language Learners: How to Scaffold Content for Academic Success ------------------------ Teaching Science with Interactive Notebooks ------------------------ Click HERE to view our Teachers Pay Teachers Promoting Success store. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter for SECRET SALES and FREE printables. Click HERE to follow us on Instagram. Click HERE to follow us on Pinterest. Shelly Anton is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. ** This means there are Amazon affiliate links in these blog posts. This does not mean you pay a dime more when you purchase a product through the link. It just means I am trying to save you valuable teacher time by making it easier for you to find great resources for your students, and I earn a few cents for my research and time. Thank you for all you do for kids!
Have you been looking for a great way to work on summarizing stories with problems and solutions? What about your quest for a graphic organizer that also guides students with how to respond? Look no further! This *FREE* graphic organizer is exactly what you've been seeking! *************************************************************************** What awesome resource is included? ★ Graphic organizer that breaks down Somebody Wanted But So Then *************************************************************************** What are other customers saying about this product? "This made written summaries so much easier on my kids! It is perfectly appropriate for 2nd grade. Easy to check and hold them accountable too! Perfect!" "I use this summarizing phrase all the time with my writing students- I love how you have this organized!! thanks for the freebie!" "I love how it gives the little hints. Perfect!" *************************************************************************** Want other summarizing resources? Check these out: Summarizing Fun Winter Summarizing Valentine's Day Summarizing *************************************************************************** Want updates on new products added? Follow me! Sign up for my newsletter! Connect with me on Facebook and Instagram!
I love sharing free lessons, activities, and resources with you. Just click on the links below and get downloading! FREE: Writing...
FREE monster feelings cards! Monster feelings cards and games to teach and review feeling words and vocabulary for preschool, pre-k, and kindergarten.
Happy Hump Day! I'm finally getting back into my blogging routine. Since it's Wednesday, I'm linking up with the wonderful Jivey for Workshop Wednesday! According to Common Core Writing Standard 5.2 & 5.7, fifth graders need to research a topic using various sources and then write about. To meet his standard, we spent some time researching environmental issues for a feature article writing assignment. My biggest struggle was teaching my fifth graders some effective note taking strategies. Some had a difficult time organizing all their thoughts and putting information into their own words. Although, quite a few students were natural note-takers, I had a few organizationally challenged students this year. So, I thought I'd share a few resources that helped me and my fifth graders get through our 2 months-ish of nonfiction reading and research! To gather research for our feature articles, I shared Jessica Heeren's Nonfiction Notes Graphic Organizer. This laid out a great way to take notes for my students unsure of how or what to take notes on... it always allowed them to easy go back and find important information by source. We color coded our packets so that each source was a different color so we could cite our sources correctly! Best of all, Jessica's graphic organizer is completely FREE on Teachers Pay Teachers! So grab it up and give her some great feedback! Jessica's Note-worthy graphic organizer! During the researching process, I also used Lightbulb Minds' Nonfiction Writing Unit to help guide some of my mini-lessons and discussions. I used the handouts on plagiarism, choosing a topic, citing sources, writing an "outstanding opening" and creating a glossary. Each of these handouts were well thought out and communicated a clear objective to my students. I loved this pack! Worth every penny! I was easily able to check topics, sources, and glossaries as students conducted their research and carried the piece throughout the writing process! The finished pieces were amazing! However, students had to publish the "old fashion" way by hand due to snow days so I don't have any digital copies to share. My teaching partner created a feature reflection sheet (grab a copy from dropbox) that allowed students to think and reflect on their own writing! Check out Ideas by Jivey for more Workshop gems! Why reinvent the worksheet when so many talented teachers are sharing their resources! Happy Workshop Wednesday!
Don't know where to start when planning your calm down corner? Well, you can have my free calm down corner posters and more
Integrate the inspiring story of 'Wonder' into your classroom or homeschool with our free resources. Now updated to include the new movie trailer. Visit now for a wonderful teaching experience!
This free printable teacher planner is an excellent resource for staying organized. To our dear teachers, this planner is designed with your needs in mind! It includes the basic organizers that can…
Enhance your fungi lesson with our captivating Fungi Coloring Page, crafted to engage students and reinforce their understanding of the variety of fungi in our world. This educational resource is designed to complement your curriculum, making the complex world of fungi accessible and enjoyable for learners of all ages. Key Features: Educational Focus: Our Fungi Coloring Page provides a visual and interactive way for students to explore fungal structures, reproduction, and ecological roles. Engagement: Coloring activities have been shown to enhance retention and comprehension. This page encourages creativity while reinforcing essential scientific concepts. Versatile Use: Ideal for various educational settings, including classrooms, homeschooling, and science clubs. Use it as an introduction, reinforcement, or review activity. Detailed Design: Various fungi have been illustrated, allowing students to easily identify and color different fungal structures, such as hyphae, spores, and mycelium. Printable: High-quality, printable design ensures easy distribution to your entire class, providing a convenient addition to your teaching resources. How to Use: Introduction: Introduce students to fungal biology with this engaging coloring page. Reinforcement: Use as a hands-on activity to reinforce key concepts covered in your fungi unit. Review: Utilize as a visual aid for review before assessments or exams. Benefits: Enhances Understanding: Visual and kinesthetic learners will benefit from the interactive nature of this activity, leading to improved understanding and retention. Encourages Creativity: Students can personalize their learning experience by adding colors to illustrate different aspects of fungal biology, fostering a deeper connection to the subject matter. Easy Integration: Simply print and distribute! This resource is ready to use with minimal preparation. What’s Included: 1 High-Quality 8.5x11 Fungi Coloring Page (PDF format) Add vibrancy to your science lessons and ignite curiosity about fungi with our Fungi Coloring Page. Purchase now and enrich your fungi curriculum with a fun and educational resource!
This worksheet will give your students a chance to practice blending their oil pastel on a much smaller scale. They will gain confidence in this medium before moving onto their project. This is great for all art levels including Middle School and High School! This file is PDF. 'Follow Me' for more updates, new lessons, and resources from my TPT store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Art-With-Shaw Download my FREE Painting Worksheet here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Painting-Practice-Worksheet-9676534 Follow me on Instagram and see what my students are up to: https://www.instagram.com/artwithshaw/ Need a last minute substitute lesson? This is it!
Here you will find the best freebies from my TPT store – enjoy! Pete the Cat – Color by number
I love teaching Social Studies. I really love it. It's exciting to present historical concepts to students and find ways to make it interesting and engaging for them. I love hearing comments like, "Social Studies is my favorite class" and "Social Studies is really fun" because they often come from students who were wary of the subject at the start of the school year. Through our activities and the creation of a positive classroom environment, they find an appreciation for my favorite school subject and sometimes it even becomes their favorite subject of the year. How cool is that?! I also love sharing my passion for teaching Social Studies and connecting with teachers like you who share that same love of learning and bringing history to life in their classrooms! But where to begin? Hint: it involves lots of freebies which are included in a FREE Introduction to Social Studies Mini Unit - 5 complete days of lessons - all activities are included - just for you! Here are some lesson ideas for introducing the subject of social studies in your classroom: Hook Ideas A good hook activity is a great way to start a new lesson. It grabs students' attention and sets the scene for the unit or daily lesson. Here are some easy ideas: 1. True or False? Write a brief series of questions about the study of history and some key terms you plan to cover. Ask students to raise their thumbs in the air (up for yes, down for no) in response to the questions. It's an easy and fun way to assess prior knowledge. You can also use mini white boards and have students collaborate in groups of 2-3 to answer true or false. After each question, you can review the right answer. 2. YouTube Videos I love finding a great (and brief!) YouTube video to use during a lesson. Here are some of my favorites to introduce the subject of social studies: An Animated Introduction to Social Science (Soomo Publishing) Why Study History? (The Pursuit of History) Why Study History? (PragerU) recommended for older students 3. Draw It This hook is perfect for mini whiteboards. Ask students to draw or write images, words, doodles, etc. when they think of the words "social studies" or "history". These images can spark discussions about concepts that relate to social studies! A Word Wall Hold up! Do you have a word wall in your classroom? If not, it's time to start. A word wall is a place to collect the important vocabulary terms you are teaching in your unit. You can even collect and keep them up all year! Word walls give students a chance to review and interact with vocabulary daily. The more students interact with vocabulary terms, the more connections they can make between ideas and build upon those concepts to better understand and make deeper connections to curriculum content. You can make your own word wall for an Introduction to Social Studies unit or download this free resource from my TpT store! :) Introduction to Social Studies Activities Now that your students are hooked, it's time to dive into the unit. I've created some free resources in my TpT store - The Teacher's Prep - to help you in this endeavor! 1. Vocabulary Activities We've already discussed the importance of vocabulary posted in a word wall - now let's talk about some activities students can complete to interact with the vocabulary in a variety of ways! The Introduction to Social Studies Vocabulary Activities resource (it's free, too!) has three activities to use with your students. I like spreading out these activities over the course of the unit to give kids extra practice. The first activity I typically start with is the Introduction to Social Studies Vocabulary activity in which students write the definitions for each vocabulary term. As we use the terms in class during the unit, I give them time to write a sentence using each word in the chart. On subsequent days, there are two more activities to use - a matching activity and a crossword puzzle. Again, the more students interact with the words, the more opportunities they will have to understand the important concepts you are teaching in class! If that sounds like activities you'd find useful in your classroom, download it here! 2. Informational Text Ok, now it's time to dive into the heart of the unit - reading informational text! If you don't already have access to informational text or would like to supplement the resources you currently have, I've created an Introduction to Social Studies Interactive PowerPoint that is filled with informational text students can read. It also directly corresponds to a set of interactive notebook graphic organizers for student note taking. Oh! And not only is it available in PowerPoint in an interactive format, there's also TpT Easel and Google Drive versions included, too. I've got you covered! Check it out here! And yes, it's also free. (It's a theme!) :) 3. Interactive Notebooks How do students organize their notes for this unit? In an interactive notebook! I love these graphic organizers because they consolidate student notes in one place. The graphic organizers directly correlate to all the activities I've mentioned above so far and give students the opportunity to summarize the main ideas and details they learn as they are introduced to the study of history. I love interactive notebooks so much, I made complete sets for Ancient History, American History and Civics / American Government ... in both paper and digital formats. You can check them out by clicking on the links in the last sentence! And of course, this section wouldn't be complete without a paper and digital copy of the Introduction to Social Studies interactive notebooks to take with you! Click here for the digital interactive notebook and here for the paper interactive notebook. 4. Task Cards Last (for now!) but certainly not least are task cards. Task cards can be used as bell ringers, entrance tickets, exit tickets, station work and more! I alternate their use based on my class needs of the day, but they include brief writing prompts to encourage students to think critically about the content they are learning in class. If task cards seem like something you'd like to add to your Introduction to Social Studies unit, click here to download a free resource of them from my TpT store! And Finally... Thank you for all you do for your students to bring history to life in your classroom and engage students in topics that will foster a love of learning. I hope these resources make your life a bit easier and save you valuable time in the school year. I absolutely love hearing from teachers like you. If you find the resources useful in your classroom, I invite you to leave me a note in the feedback sections and let me know how you used the activities in your classroom. I read every word and your notes mean so much to me! Happy Teaching! Oh, and here's a link (click here!) directly to a page in my TpT store that lists all of these free resources in case you don't want to scroll back through the post. :)
Collaborative practice in the classroom can facilitate acceptance, cooperation and teamwork. This collaborative activity was created from the rubric of one of my most popular resources and will be offered "free forever" as part of my own collaboration with teacher/authors here on TpT who are committed, as I am, to teach and model tolerance, respect, empathy and compassion for all children in our classrooms and communities. The concept is simple – the results are awesome! Using simple materials such as colored pencils, markers, crayons, paints - each student works independently on his/her “tile.” Once completed, 4 students join their tiles together to form a whole. Simply trim away the excess paper and tape the squares together on the back. Easier still, tape them in place on a large sheet of colored paper. The completed piece is accomplished by turning each square 90 degrees clockwise and measures app.15½ x 15½ inches. Classroom Teachers It’s no secret that integrating art into your subject matter can be highly effective. After all, this product was created based on radial symmetry and fractions! As a math resource, this page is perfect. Also consider the impact a wall of “Heart Hands" could have. What a unique and powerful presentation! Art Teachers This is a must-have for your sub folder - a no-fuss, engaging project for a wide range of grade levels. Better yet, customize the page to complement your own curriculum. Based on your specific directives, this product can be adapted to fit your units on color, line, shape, symmetry, asymmetry, pattern, texture, shading, contrast and more. This is a resource that not only delivers on a number of learning levels - it brings the “fun factor!” Your kids will love the ease of the process, the opportunity to create their own page and finally the “wow” moment of contributing to the cool, collaborative artwork. Enjoy and spread the kindness! Mary You also might like: Radial Symmetry COLLABORATIVE Activity Coloring Pages Radial Symmetry (2) COLLABORATIVE Activity Coloring Pages Radial Symmetry (3) COLLABORATIVE Activity Coloring Pages Radial Symmetry (4) COLLABORATIVE Activity Coloring Pages CULLABORATIVE Butterfly Mural COLLABORATIVE Flower Mural COLLABORATIVE Flower (2) Mural COLLABORATIVE Flower (3) Mural 3 COLLABORATIVE Flower Murals Count on US to Be KIND" COLLABORATIVE Door Design Spring Bird COLLABORATIVE Door Design "Thank You!" COLLABORATIVE Door Design Holiday Ornament COLLABORATIVE Door Design" "The Scream" COLLABORATIVE Door Design "Together We SHINE" COLLABORATIVE Door Design "TOGETHER WE'RE BETTER" COLLABORATIVE Door Design "Best Class EVER" COLLABORATIVE Door Design Flower Power COLLABORATIVE Door Design Earth Day COLLABORATIVE Door Design Valentine COLLABORATIVE Door Design "Effort and Heart Make Great Art" COLLABORATIVE Mural The Starry Night" by Van Gogh COLLABORATIVE Activity Coloring Pages "The Water Lily Pond" by Monet COLLABORATIVE Activity Coloring Pages "Goldfish" by Matisse COLLABORATIVE Activity Coloring Pages "Sunflowers" by Van Gogh COLLABORATIVE Activity Coloring Pages "The Great Wave" by Hokusai COLLABORATIVE Activity Coloring Pages "The Three Musicians" by Picasso COLLABORATIVE Activity Coloring Pages "Dance" by Keith Haring COLLABORATIVE Activity Coloring Pages Still Life with Fruit Dish" by Cezanne COLLABORATIVE Activity Coloring Pages Visit me on PINTEREST Mary Straw Activity Coloring Pages INSTAGRAM @marystrawactivities This item is protected by copyright. It is unlawful to copy or distribute it without my permission. How to get TPT credit to use on future purchases: Feedback = TPT Credit. On your My Purchases page – beside each purchase – you’ll see a Provide Feedback button. Click the button and you’ll be taken to a page where you can give a quick rating and leave a short comment for the product. How to learn about sales, freebies and shiny, new products? Follow this store! Stay posted (via email) to all things new and upcoming by clicking the little green star near the top of this page. Thanks again! Mary
This poster will help pre k and kindergarten students write the alphabet the correct way. It shows the letters as chicken, giraffe, or monkey letters depending on the way they are written. Graphics by DJ Inkers...
This set of poster cards with 13 different habitats is perfect for a concept wall during a unit about animals and habitats. The simplicity of the cards keeps them from being distracting or confusing, and the clipart images give students a clear understanding of the characteristics of each habitat. Habitats included: arctic desert ocean grassland mountains forest rainforest prairie pond river beach cave savannah And for a set of animal cards to go with your habitats unit, click here: Animal Cards to go with Habitats!
Classroom Freebies Too is more freebies for more teachers!
Before I started my first year of teaching, the principal I worked for asked me how I felt about teaching one middle school history class...
Delve into the world of Fortnite with our vast list of lesson plans, printables, and info, categorized by subject. Find both free resources and premium options to enhance learning. Visit now!
Here are two full-page posters of the 5Ws (and H) for both fiction and nonfiction. Also included are smaller versions of these, for students to tape into their writing journals. There are small graphic organizers as well, for planning in writing journals. Hello font by Jen Jones @ www.helloliteracy.blogspot.com http://mrscolegrovesfourthgrade.blogspot.com/ http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Stacey-Colegrove Copyright © 2013 Stacey Colegrove Please rate me if you have time. Thanks for visiting!
*Check out my all-inclusive writing resource with this essay and more! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Consumable-Book-of-Sample-Essays-and-Resources-for-Middle-and-High-School-6318203 **Also available now: ANOTHER Annotated Sample Argumentative Essay, this time with the prompt, graphic organizer, articles for textual evidence, and complete annotated essay. Printer friendly this time, without relying on colors. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Argumentative-Essay-PromptPassagesGraphic-OrganizerAnnotated-Sample-Response-9704316 This sample argumentative essay was written with inclusion special education in mind. It answers the prompt: Should 16 and 17 year olds be allowed to vote? It follows a simple outline, also available in my store. This sample is color coded to accompany the annotations in the margins which give students easy-to-follow instructions for writing their own argumentative essays following this structure. Use this to introduce argumentative writing or as a (student-friendly) example of what to do. Made to meet the following Tennessee Academic Standards: 9-10.W.TTP.1 Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning supported by relevant and sufficient evidence. a. Introduce precise claim(s). b. Develop claim(s) and counterclaim(s) fairly, supplying evidence for each claim and counterclaim while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that anticipates the audience’s knowledge level and concerns. c. Create an organization that establishes cohesion and clear relationships among claim(s), counterclaim(s), reasons, and evidence. d. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented. e. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to manage the complexity of the topic. f. Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone.
Pinay Homeschooler is a blog that shares homeschool and afterschool activity of kids from babies to elementary level.
Students can make their own mini manners book but coloring, cutting and stapling the book together. Clipart provided by : www.edu-clips.com
Teach students to synthesize nonfiction sources with confidence! Your students will learn a successful pattern for synthesis writing and analysis response with this easy-to-follow, recursive six-step process reference handout. Also included: sentence stems for synthesis writing. 1. State a Thesis/Topic Sentence 2. Introduce Evidence 3. Cite Evidence 4. Explain Evidence 5. Transition 6. Evaluate! This resource is helpful for: ★ Teachers new to teaching synthesis writing. ★ Teachers who are looking for a step-by-step process for student use. ★ Teachers who are looking to save time with ready-made resources. ******************************************************************************* Let's Connect! ★ I'd love for you to be my newest follower! Click on the link so that you'll be the first to know about new products, freebies, and discounts! ★ Stop by the Lindsay Ann Learning Blog! ******************************************************************************* Copyright© 2017 Lindsay Ann Learning ⇒ Permission for use by one teacher in his or her own classroom. ⇒ Not for public display or digital sharing. ⇒ If you intend to share with others, please purchase an additional license.
Here's a free, printable sign language alphabet book for kids. Use this as a book or cut apart the letters for different alphabet activities.
