Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) are doing it wrong. They spend too much time and energy on things that don’t matter for our kids’ education, and they leave out many of […]
Middle School Rewards Are you searching for a way to motivate your middle school students? Found a way to track positive behavior but not sure what to do now? Treasure box? No, that's too elementary. Prizes? No, that's too expensive. Reward coupons are the way to go! Your students will love the opportunity to be rewarded with things that matter to them. Plus, these no-cost options will cut down on the amount of money you need to spend on your classroom! Or, really, just allow you to spend it on other things because let's be real, you'll probably need more pencils or tissues soon! Check out the reward coupon options I provide my students: 1. Choose your seat for the day This is one of the most sought-after rewards in classrooms with seating charts. If you do not use seating charts, you can still use this reward; simply let students choose the type of seat they sit on. If you are REALLY flexible, you could even let your seat (at your desk or anywhere else in the room) be a choice. 2. Free assignment pass My students LOVE this reward. It becomes especially popular close to the end of the grading period. Weird, right?! #procrastinatorsunite 3. Assignment extension This one can be really helpful for student-athletes. In my 7th grade classes, it's often their first time trying to balance practice, games, AND school work. I'm thankful that my school supports students' interests but still holds them accountable. 4. Extra credit points I find it funny that the students who like extra credit the most, are usually the ones who don't need it! Don't tell anybody, but I was that kid! 🙋 5. Drop the lowest grade Some teachers use this practice routinely, but if you don't this can be a great reward. You may want/need to add some qualifying information to this reward; like it must be a daily grade, not a test or project grade. Please make sure you abide by your district/building policies regarding grades. 6. Work in the hallway This is a reward because of the freedom. Middle school students love to feel free, like they have control, and that you are not watching their every-single-move! 7. Listen to music while working This reward is easy if you are in a district/building with 1-1 devices or if you are a little more lenient with your cell phone policy. I do include a couple of qualifying statements with this reward - It can ONLY be used during independent work time and the student MUST have headphones. Image by Karolina Grabowska 8. Work with a friend Who doesn't like to work with their friends?! The social aspect of middle school life is central. Sure, this probably shouldn't be redeemed on test day, but on daily work, why not? Clipart from Pigknit 9. Bring a snack to class I have a snack DRAWER in my desk, so I am definitely not opposed to snacks in the classroom. I know some people worry about mess, if you are one of those people...add some guidelines to this reward. 10. Bring a drink to class I would recommend that you tell your students that their drinks should have a screw-top lid. Less chance of spillage. Image by Kaleb Tapp 11. Chew gum in class Gum is precious commodity. I don't know about your school, but at my school, if you are the kid with gum, you are the most popular! 12. Eat lunch in the classroom This is something that often happens at the elementary level, but sometimes we forget that older students want to build those connections with adults too. 13. Wear a hat in class At the middle school level, you may not have the authority to say that a student can wear a hat all day long, but the hat reward can be redeemed when that student is in your classroom. 14. Take off your shoes in class I know some people find this gross but think about how you get comfy. I don't know about you, but one of the first things I do when I get home is slip off my shoes! Image by Jacob Owens 15. Free time A free time reward can come in many formats to fit your classroom environment. Some free time rewards I have used include time to read a personal book, draw, play on technology, play board games, do puzzles, and just time to chat with friends (as long as it doesn't interrupt the rest of the classroom. You can purchase a set of ready-made reward cards from my Teachers Pay Teachers store - Here
Grab these states of matter worksheets to learn about solids, liquids, and gases with no-prep printables. Perfect science for kids!
Critical thinking questions include, 'Why is this important? What are the causes and effects of this? How do we know if this is true?"
Likability is a key principle of SCM—because it makes building rapport effortless. It causes students to want to listen to you, please you, and behave for you. It helps make your consequences matter. Being disliked, on the other hand, makes classroom management far more ... Read more
Abuse is not always straightforward and in-your-face, however, quiet verbal abuse can have the same impact on your psych nevertheless, maybe even more.
When it comes to complex sentences, things quickly become... well... complex. At the mere mention of independent clauses, dependent clauses, and subordinating conjunctions, many young eyes immediately glaze over. One year, when I was about to introduce the topic of complex sentences to my fifth graders, I decided on a whim to use an image of a nurse helping a patient walk. I was amazed by how much this simple image helped my students. I told them that the nurse in the picture was like the independent clause. Just as the nurse can stand alone, so also can an independent clause "stand alone" as a complete sentence. Then I told my students that the patient with the crutch leaning against the nurse was like the dependent clause. The patient could clearly not stand on his own, just as a dependent clause cannot stand alone, either. A dependent clause depends on the independent clause to help it be part of a complete sentence. This idea resonated so well with my students that I've used this explanation ever since. As you can see, I discarded the nurse/patient image I had previously used. (Although it did the trick, it wasn't very visually appealing.) When I ran across the image below when I purchased a clip art set by Educlips, I upgraded my image to this one. A FREE PARTNER ACTIVITY As you can see, there is a lot of information on this anchor chart. Students will only retain these concepts if they get an opportunity to interact with the various elements of complex sentences. Therefore, I created an interactive exercise where students can manipulate each clause and then write complex sentences using the clauses. Personally, I would have students complete this activity with a partner, but students can also do it independently, if you wish. (CLICK HERE if you would like to download this free activity to use with your students.) First, give each student the two worksheets and the writing mat. (This photo shows only the first worksheet, and the writing mat printed on yellow paper.) They follow the instructions written at the top of the worksheet: 1. Read the clauses in each pair. 2. Underline the dependent clause with a green marker. 3. Underline the independent clause with a red marker. 4. Circle the subordinating conjunction with a blue marker. 5. Use the two clauses to write a complex sentence that starts with a dependent clause in the first box of the writing mat. 6. Use the two clauses to write a complex sentence that starts with an independent clause in the adjacent box. **Don't forget to use capital letters and punctuation! Although it's not written in the directions, if you want, you can add a step between Step 4 and Step 5 where students cut out the strips. This might be helpful for students who would benefit from physically moving the dependent clause directly in front of the independent clause before they write the first sentence on their mat. Then, students can move the independent clause to the front before they write the second sentence. Once students are done, they will have eight complex sentences written in both formats. I recommend checking all of the sentences to make sure students used commas in the first column, and that they refrained from using commas in the second column. If you are looking for additional resources for teaching about compound and complex sentences to your upper elementary students, feel free to check out the following resource. I have placed my bundle image here, but all of these items are also available for individual purchase in my TpT store. Finally, I wrote a related blog post at my own blog about compound sentences. Click HERE to check it out! Thanks for stopping by today! FREE Newsletter! Blog TpT Store Instagram Facebook Pinterest My YouTube Video Pin for future reference:
If you ask me (and I am pretending that you did), third grade is the BEST grade to teach! Third graders are still young enough to love school, love their teacher and get excited over simple things like coloring. However, they are old enough to be independent workers and thinkers. Most third graders know how to read
What does your palm lines say about you and your love life?
Here’s a few classroom procedures that have worked well for me – and a couple awesome ideas I’ve run across since I’ve stepped out of the classroom...
No matter how well designed a pattern may be, it cannot fit each individual perfectly. Each human body has its own quirks, and each person has different fitting needs. You may find that you need to enlarge a pattern beyond the sizes available on the sheet, or you might need to shrink it. Perhaps you
Paper Bag Dramatics: A fun activity for Team Building and Developing Community. Here's an idea that can be used just about anywhere at any time. It encourages groups to solve problems, think creatively, and work as a team.
(Image courtesy of http://0.tqn.com/d/diyfashion/) With our focus being upon obtaining a Sewing Kit this week, I thought it would be most helpful to review some basic stiches. (Image courtesy of http://www.sewdresses.com/) Okay, so you see the stitches, when and what do you use them for? Check out these links for more information! http://www.alternative-windows.com/stitches.htm http://cyberseams.com/article/105045/basics/how_to_sew_by_hand_basic_stitches.html http://home.clara.net/hutchal/curtains/sewguide.htm Get a scrap of material, and while you are watching a favorite show, try some of these. You need to practice so that you can use the stitches when you need them. Traditionally, they won't be pretty at first, but after a few stitches, you will get the hang of it! Impress you family and friends! It is surprising how much people marvel when you can quickly fix a garment.....because many of them have never seen it done. Increase your self-reliance skills while showing your family and the Lord that you are thankful for the goodness that you have been blessed with. Stitch away....Today!
Quito, Ecuador is a beautiful South American city that's worth a visit. Planning a trip? Check out my list of the 13 best things to do in Quito, Ecuador!
Dear Teachers, Stop. Just stop. I can not take it anymore. I need you to stop what you are doing. First, it isn't working. And it isn't fair. It isn't right. As a matter of fact, you are only making things worse for yourself and your class. As a mother I have to intervene and tell you like it is...
If there is one thing I have learned from working with preschoolers and now, homeschooling my own preschooler, it is that they love, more than anything else,
Teach kids empathy and compassion through mindful, fun lessons, discussions, and activities that build social awareness and community.
Discover over 20 amazing free things to do in Bordeaux at any time of the year from a local who loves finding free activities in the city!
Wanting to revamp your independent reading program? Try using a classroom book club, which is a great way to enrich, engage, and differentiate in secondary.
From what I’ve learned, Christianity is the only religion that teaches you cannot earn salvation. No matter how good you are, you can never be good enough to get rid of your sins on your own. The Bible is very clear on this point. One […]
Twelve Strategies to Get from Working Memory to Long Term Memory: tricks to help students make learning stick!
This step-by-step block printing lesson teaches how to do linocut and foam printing with your students complete with block printing supplies and videos.
It's the tiny moments of everyday ritual that ultimately make the difference to the connection we have with our kids.
It's so important that you are teaching about variables when you teach the scientific method. This post gives you ideas to help your students get started!
Among the 16 most commonly used punctuation marks are the period, question mark, exclamation point, and comma. These, along with the other 12, are all listed neatly and explained for you here.
This method will have your windshield looking as clear as it was when you bought it!
What are the 7 types of ADHD? Let's talk about Dr. Amen's framework of seven types of ADHD, why they're helpful, and how they can help.
An educational blog
For various reasons — namely lack of space, followed by procrastination — I didn’t come to own a food processor until about six months ago. Now that I have one and use it weekly in my cooking, I’m still not quite sure how I went so long without it.
Embroidery patterns, before and after projects, give-aways, chalkboard doodles, a bit of this and a lot of that!
If you think I have the answers here, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. I'm far from having any answers.
This week was Truth and Reconciliation Week in Canada. Although officially recognized over one week, these are conversations and teachings that should happen throughout the school year, not just one week, or one day. Reconciliation is about building relationships and respect, and that just cannot be reduced to a week. I wanted to share some of the activities, readings, and discussions I had with my Grade 5/6 class this year, mainly inspired by this resource, Every Child Matters. After reading the book Trudy's Rock Story, and discussing how Trudy uses rocks to relieve her anger and release her feelings, we decided that making our own Resilience Rocks could help us process some of our feelings about Canada's history, mainly anger and confusion, and by placing them back on the Earth, we could release some of the feelings and remember to act. Tuesday we started painting our rocks orange while I read the story, I am Not a Number. (We used acrylic paint - I would suggest spray paint - we had to do many many coats of acrylic paint, and them still seal them). We also watch a video from residential school survivor, Lillian Elias, and then used orange sticky notes to send her a message. Wednesday we sealed the rocks with an outdoor mod podge. We did this BEFORE they wrote on them, otherwise the sharpie marker would pull the paint off when we wrote. We read the story, When I was Eight, and wrote some more reflections on sticky notes. Thursday was Truth and Reconciliation Day and Orange Shirt Day. For art in the morning, we looked at beautiful examples of Indigenous Art and Artists - current and past. We worked on Canada Goose Drawings, inspired by Benjamin Chee Chee. We chose the Canada Goose because we liked how they inspired flight - and they may have to move or leave for a bit, but they always come back, stronger. I let the students use their laptops to look at different images while they drew their own. These turned out stunningly. Even mine - and I usually struggle with a stick figure. We had been talking about what message we wanted to share on Orange Shirt Day on our Resilience Rocks, and had brainstormed a long list over the week. Some students wanted to apologize, others wanted to send a word of support or strength, and some just wanted to share their beliefs that every child really does matter. We knew we would placing the rocks around our school yard and school community and we wanted to choose something that would inspire continuing to spread this message - that every child matters and why we need to understand why. In the afternoon we took a 2.15 km walk (for the 215 children found in Kamloops) and placed our Resilience Rocks around the school community. As we walked in our orange shirts, we were careful to spread them out around our route so we could share our messages with our small community. I told my students that if they were able, it would be nice to bring their grown-ups to where they placed their rocks earlier, and tell them about our learning and their reflections from the week. Our last day was spent working on the writing reflection, "If I was given a $1000 budget to plan an Orange Shirt Day event at my school, this is what I would do." Again, this was our week of Truth and Reconciliation activities in the classroom, but our conversations won't end at the end of the week. This acknowledgement and promise to learn the truth will continue throughout our whole year of curriculum. If you are looking to add more indigenous-themed books and authors to your classroom, HERE is a good place to get started. How were some ways you observed Truth and Reconciliation week at your school?
Looking for the best frugal living tips for 2024? Want to save money for the future and enjoy your life in the present? If so, keep reading. Here are 50 tips on how to live frugally! Learn everything from saving money at home to managing debt, and more! Are you looking for ways on how to
Do you have money tasks that you need to do but you keep putting off? This financial to-do list will put you back on track.
Origami Animals have been the top popular craft creature in the world of origami. Those animals comes in different shapes and sizes. No matter you are beginners or skilled for origami, there are some of
What's this flaky, scaly skin that appears on the scalp, ears or neck? Learn about the key differences between psoriasis vs. seborrheic dermatitis.
Wondering how to make a narcissist miserable? These 12 things they hate will do the trick. Learn what they are in the article.
