The Jigsaw Strategy is a collaborative learning strategy that works well for teaching Trends in the Periodic table. Learn how to implement this strategy in your general science or chemistry classrooms.
Is Your Classroom ELL-Friendly? Deb Hanson shares 8 practical strategies you can implement right away to ensure that your classroom supports English Language Learners.
Keeping students engaged can be a real challenge. The first step is to get their attention: here are 4 ways to keep it.
5 easy to implement solutions to help your sweet, but slow finishers, get their work done! The reasons behind not finishing are many : some kids are still weak in the skills that they need in order to finish, some kids don’t care about finishing, some kids don’t want to do the next task so the dawdle , some enjoy the constant pushing and encouragement to finish. #1 Let’s start with those who lack in skills needed. Offer to help on 1 problem and let them know that you want to hear them think through the next problem. (This gives some accountability for them to listen to you while you are helping.) When it is their turn to do a problem out loud ( the think through it) don’t jump in and offer assistance too fast. Praise their thinking and willingness to work hard. Fill in gaps in the understanding This is great modeling for the potential peer tutors who are seated near you and are probably listening in. These steps show the other children at the table how to help this struggler should the struggle continue. #2 Buddy Helpers and the GREEN Pen of Greatness Give those fast finishers something meaningful to do. Allow them to assist a friend using the 4 steps above and this poster below. If you give your peer tutors a green pen you can watch this “helping bug” spread like the flu… just kidding spread like wildfire. Maybe your slower finishers just need to motivation to get done so they can get their hands on a green pen! Green Pen The idea for the green pen comes from Amy Green. Brilliant idea! Teacher roams around with some green pens. Completed work gets a green star. In my class we do hearts. Author of completed and accurate work can go on to other things of interest or take another green pen and go help/ look over the work of other friends in class!!! (((purchase a box of green pens from Office Max {here})))) #3 Helping Reluctant Finishers Get it Done: Using Motivational 1/4 sheet and Visual Timers Now what do you do with a child that just does not want to finish? They have the skills, but finishing is not something that they care about. Or they don’t want to do the next assignment, so they are making a “meal” of this one! If this is habitual, call home. It can be a quick call just letting mom, dad, auntie, or other family member know that it’s becoming a habit for the child to not finish even though s/he has the skills to do so. Offer the child a little help. Mention that you have noticed they are not getting their work done. This just isn’t how we do things. Remind them they can ALWAYS ask for help, but you have noticed they KNOW how, but just are moving slower than they should. Give them a 1/4 sheet of paper to help them keep track of finishing on time. Most kids love having the teacher “notice” this change of effort. You can place a sticker over each child. Kids love the dot marker. For some reason that perfectly shaped blob makes everyone happy. Or just make it simple and put a heart over every finished assignment. Utilize a visual timer so they can tell if they are running out of time. I love the classroom timers site!!! Your students will be able to pace themselves better as they watch the fuse burn. The fireworks show is awesome at the end. Have something they miss out on if not done. I will say I have kept a child in for 5 minutes of recess occasionally. Don’t throw things at me. Listen, I think the “don’t take their recess away” movement is right! Seriously don’t throw things at me. But missing 5 minutes of recess really sends a message too. Staying in for 5 minutes in the course of an entire school year can yield a harder worker! #4 Decide if not finishing is OK: Modified Work Some of the kiddos in my room are struggling on every little thing all the time. This is because their age is not matching their academic age. For example, I have a 1st grade 6 year old who is precious, but is at a mid kinder level. Isn’t it OK for him to finish half of the work and tap out? This is modifying. Seriously, if he can do 4 problems (even with help) wouldn’t that indicate that he could eventually finish them all? But the eventual part is the struggle. We don’t have “eventually” in the school day. A phone call home or parent meeting should happen first before work modification begins. All parties need to agree on this. Once you all agree, have the child complete a given amount and then store the unfinished work. #5 Have a Spot to Store Unfinished work: I store mine in this Pacon paper sorter! In December I went back to work after the break and brought in the Pacon Paper sorter. I called it the work in progress condo. I can keep projects we are in the middle of in there and my students can keep their own work in progress there too! I adore Pacon as a company and this paper sorter is the best. Let me tell you why. It was inexpensive. It was so easy to put together, and I am ALL thumbs. It can be painted or covered in contact paper to customize. It easily stores the unfinished work of my slower finishers and the “in progress” work from my week-long intervention groups!!! This product is sturdy and isn’t too big! It fits perfectly under an easel or stands up tall along a bookshelf. It also sits beautifully on a counter top. You can also set it on it’s back to be accessed from the top. LOVE THIS PRODUCT. You must order one NOW. OK but get this… my class is a little “willful” this year. Out of 30 kids I have 14 only children and 1st born kids who “just” got their 1st sibling. This year has been a struggle to keep them engaged in work vs. pretending school is one big playdate. So, look at the brilliant idea I came up with to keep the talking down a bit!!! Lord have mercy, just that little bit of space between desk groups has really cut down on the talking and has improved work completion too!!! Can I get an Amen? I am giving myself a high five right now!!!! You can also stand the sorter up on it’s end. I am going to buy another one and put it in my guided reading area to hold the awesome materials I keep on hand there. Unfinished work and Parent Communication: What do I do with this unfinished work? I send it home on Friday. I attach a note that says something like this: “This is work that your child was not able to finish in class. We discussed work modification, but I wanted you to have this at home in case you can have an older brother or sister or tutor help your child continue to practice the skills we are doing in class.” Grab this parent letter and other freebies below. Remember: high expectations- I expect you to do what I ask and try hard (even if that means doing 1/2 page I asked of you) meaningful relationships - The green pen and helpers Kelley Dolling of the Teacher Idea Factory says you have to “sell the sizzle” in order to get things done. I hope the sizzle of the green pen and the posters and freebies motivate your little stars to rock this out. Download all the freebies from my store on Teacher’s Pay Teachers by clicking the button below: Make a teacher friend’s day! Share this post with them. Pass on great info and freebies so we can all help our slow finishers.
The 5 Best Methods & Specific Tips on HOW to Incorporate Each in Your Own Classroom Being a teacher is a tough business. It can be hard to navigate the classroom and know if your teaching methods are
Maybe you’ve encountered these scenarios before — you have some students ready to work ahead so they start multitasking on their device, waiting for the lesson to move on. Or, maybe you notice a student frantically scribbling notes, trying to keep up with the information you’re giving. Or, maybe you have students who are absent, […]
Research based teaching strategies you can use today with a free printable chart.
Summer is fast approaching and so is the need to apply sunscreen. For some with tactile defensiveness, applying sunscreen can be an unpleasant experience.
One of the most important parts of AAC implementation is making sure that the entire team (family members, staff) is using simple but effective AAC strategies such as consistent AAC access, modeling, and core vocabulary throughout the entire day! This resource will help you educate others about four foundational, research-based, strategies (or "best practices") for implementing and teaching AAC. This resources includes five sections as follows: AAC Basics: Get familiar with AAC, what it is, the different types, and who uses it. Access: Make sure the system is out and available at all times. Modeling: Consistently model using the system. Core Vocabulary: Focus on core vocabulary and keywords. Communication Opportunities: Plan opportunities for communication throughout the day. Each section includes handouts that teach the skill and explain why it's so important for AAC learning. In addition, each section includes information on related skills and strategies. For example, in the communication opportunities section, there are handouts included about effective prompting and eliciting a variety of communication functions. Each section also includes a challenge in order to boost your use of each strategy and measure your increased success! This resource also includes data sheets, reminder visuals, posters, core vocabulary boards, clear directions for modeling, AAC research citations, staff handouts, and so much more! In addition to the AAC training guide (with the contents noted above), there is also a staff training PowerPoint (which briefly explains each of the 4 strategies) and editable forms of the challenges and data sheets included. These files are PowerPoint files which means you must have access to PowerPoint to use them. To see a video tour of everything you will receive after purchasing the packet, please click here to watch a complete video tour on YouTube. **Since the video was taken, the resource now includes core vocabulary handouts and AAC goal writing tips. Want to see examples of AAC goals? Click here to learn more about AAC on my website! Please DOWNLOAD THE PREVIEW before purchasing to ensure this packet will work for you and your caseload. If you're looking for this entire resource in SPANISH, click here to check it out! This packet does not include information on advanced implementation strategies, AAC activities, AAC assessment, or device specific information. I use many of the forms for assessment and progress monitoring, however it is not intended as a complete resource for this purpose. You can use this packet with any AAC system or device. There is also an alternate version included that can be used with individuals of any age! The page number shown includes the training packet, the editable pages, AND the presentation slides in total. Please Note: This is a zipped file. If you need help opening the file, please click here to read a tutorial from TPT. If you have any questions about this packet, please email me at [email protected] and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. ☟ Let's stay in touch! Sign up for my email newsletter and follow me on social media to hear about freebies, new product releases, and helpful ideas for your therapy room! ☟ Sign up for my email newsletter! • Join my Facebook group! • Follow me on Instagram and Facebook!
Have a chatty class? Do your talkative students get louder and louder during small groups until it feels like chaos? Do they talk when you'r...
Sometimes it feels crazy overwhelming to keep assessing students and know exactly what they do/don’t understand. That’s where these quick and easy formative assessment ideas comes in! M…
Discover the best ways to address stubborn behavior in students with autism! These 5 strategies are easy to implement and can make a big difference in your classroom! #autism #specialneeds #education #behaviorstrategies
Implementation Active Learning is more than equipment or materials. It is an approach that can be used to implement instruction in general curriculum and expanded core curriculum, and also to support therapies such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, music therapy, and speech therapy. These ideas can also be used in the home or community.Some things
Are you struggling to find effective student engagement strategies for the classroom that are easy to implement and actually work? This is the list for you!
Implement Game-Based Learning to Develop Student's Conceptual understanding of Chemical Formula
Looking for a great classroom management strategy that kids and teachers will love? Classroom reward coupons are the perfect idea for handling behavior in a positive way!
Learn what the CER writing strategy is and how you can use it to strength analysis and writing skills in your grade 4 5 6 science classroom.
See, Think, Wonder helps students actively think about the text as they read. But what is this strategy and how can you use it with students?
Phenomenon based learning unit on communities
Are you looking for a way to teach critical thinking skills to your students? Give my favorite strategy, "Not the Answer" a try! This activity builds critical thinking skills through the use of multiple choice questions and allows you a look inside your students' thinking.
Find out what are the mandatory documents and records for the successful implementation of ISO 9001 in our article.
Think back to a time when your students were working on a worksheet and you could just feel their boredom permeating the room. There’s no shame in this, we’ve all been there at least once. When I say ‘worksheet’ I mean good ol’ pencil and paper, students independently scribing at their desk (or wobbly chair ... Read more
Prevent geese from pooping in your yard by scaring them off with loud noises and bright, bird-repelling pinwheels. If you live in an area where using noise to
Student engagement is my number one goal in the classroom. None of the academic goals can be achieved without student engagement. It is essential! My biggest advice to you is to decrease teacher talk and the time students spend in their desks.I want to share some more specific ways that I keep my students engaged
Looking for esl task cards to use with your english language learners? Try these picture cards that are perfect for quick and effective language practice!
Learn tips and resources for helping English Language Learners prepare for WIDA ACCESS langauge testing throughout the school year.
If your students lack ownership of their learning or if you are struggling to reach all learners, then the Grid Method might be for you.
5 easy to implement solutions to help your sweet, but slow finishers, get their work done! The reasons behind not finishing are many : some kids are still weak in the skills that they need in order to finish, some kids don’t care about finishing, some kids don’t want to do the next task so the dawdle , some enjoy the constant pushing and encouragement to finish. #1 Let’s start with those who lack in skills needed. Offer to help on 1 problem and let them know that you want to hear them think through the next problem. (This gives some accountability for them to listen to you while you are helping.) When it is their turn to do a problem out loud ( the think through it) don’t jump in and offer assistance too fast. Praise their thinking and willingness to work hard. Fill in gaps in the understanding This is great modeling for the potential peer tutors who are seated near you and are probably listening in. These steps show the other children at the table how to help this struggler should the struggle continue. #2 Buddy Helpers and the GREEN Pen of Greatness Give those fast finishers something meaningful to do. Allow them to assist a friend using the 4 steps above and this poster below. If you give your peer tutors a green pen you can watch this “helping bug” spread like the flu… just kidding spread like wildfire. Maybe your slower finishers just need to motivation to get done so they can get their hands on a green pen! Green Pen The idea for the green pen comes from Amy Green. Brilliant idea! Teacher roams around with some green pens. Completed work gets a green star. In my class we do hearts. Author of completed and accurate work can go on to other things of interest or take another green pen and go help/ look over the work of other friends in class!!! (((purchase a box of green pens from Office Max {here})))) #3 Helping Reluctant Finishers Get it Done: Using Motivational 1/4 sheet and Visual Timers Now what do you do with a child that just does not want to finish? They have the skills, but finishing is not something that they care about. Or they don’t want to do the next assignment, so they are making a “meal” of this one! If this is habitual, call home. It can be a quick call just letting mom, dad, auntie, or other family member know that it’s becoming a habit for the child to not finish even though s/he has the skills to do so. Offer the child a little help. Mention that you have noticed they are not getting their work done. This just isn’t how we do things. Remind them they can ALWAYS ask for help, but you have noticed they KNOW how, but just are moving slower than they should. Give them a 1/4 sheet of paper to help them keep track of finishing on time. Most kids love having the teacher “notice” this change of effort. You can place a sticker over each child. Kids love the dot marker. For some reason that perfectly shaped blob makes everyone happy. Or just make it simple and put a heart over every finished assignment. Utilize a visual timer so they can tell if they are running out of time. I love the classroom timers site!!! Your students will be able to pace themselves better as they watch the fuse burn. The fireworks show is awesome at the end. Have something they miss out on if not done. I will say I have kept a child in for 5 minutes of recess occasionally. Don’t throw things at me. Listen, I think the “don’t take their recess away” movement is right! Seriously don’t throw things at me. But missing 5 minutes of recess really sends a message too. Staying in for 5 minutes in the course of an entire school year can yield a harder worker! #4 Decide if not finishing is OK: Modified Work Some of the kiddos in my room are struggling on every little thing all the time. This is because their age is not matching their academic age. For example, I have a 1st grade 6 year old who is precious, but is at a mid kinder level. Isn’t it OK for him to finish half of the work and tap out? This is modifying. Seriously, if he can do 4 problems (even with help) wouldn’t that indicate that he could eventually finish them all? But the eventual part is the struggle. We don’t have “eventually” in the school day. A phone call home or parent meeting should happen first before work modification begins. All parties need to agree on this. Once you all agree, have the child complete a given amount and then store the unfinished work. #5 Have a Spot to Store Unfinished work: I store mine in this Pacon paper sorter! In December I went back to work after the break and brought in the Pacon Paper sorter. I called it the work in progress condo. I can keep projects we are in the middle of in there and my students can keep their own work in progress there too! I adore Pacon as a company and this paper sorter is the best. Let me tell you why. It was inexpensive. It was so easy to put together, and I am ALL thumbs. It can be painted or covered in contact paper to customize. It easily stores the unfinished work of my slower finishers and the “in progress” work from my week-long intervention groups!!! This product is sturdy and isn’t too big! It fits perfectly under an easel or stands up tall along a bookshelf. It also sits beautifully on a counter top. You can also set it on it’s back to be accessed from the top. LOVE THIS PRODUCT. You must order one NOW. OK but get this… my class is a little “willful” this year. Out of 30 kids I have 14 only children and 1st born kids who “just” got their 1st sibling. This year has been a struggle to keep them engaged in work vs. pretending school is one big playdate. So, look at the brilliant idea I came up with to keep the talking down a bit!!! Lord have mercy, just that little bit of space between desk groups has really cut down on the talking and has improved work completion too!!! Can I get an Amen? I am giving myself a high five right now!!!! You can also stand the sorter up on it’s end. I am going to buy another one and put it in my guided reading area to hold the awesome materials I keep on hand there. Unfinished work and Parent Communication: What do I do with this unfinished work? I send it home on Friday. I attach a note that says something like this: “This is work that your child was not able to finish in class. We discussed work modification, but I wanted you to have this at home in case you can have an older brother or sister or tutor help your child continue to practice the skills we are doing in class.” Grab this parent letter and other freebies below. Remember: high expectations- I expect you to do what I ask and try hard (even if that means doing 1/2 page I asked of you) meaningful relationships - The green pen and helpers Kelley Dolling of the Teacher Idea Factory says you have to “sell the sizzle” in order to get things done. I hope the sizzle of the green pen and the posters and freebies motivate your little stars to rock this out. Download all the freebies from my store on Teacher’s Pay Teachers by clicking the button below: Make a teacher friend’s day! Share this post with them. Pass on great info and freebies so we can all help our slow finishers.
Find out some simple multisensory phonics strategies you can use with your students with dyslexia and other struggling readers.
Looking for ways to help your students develop a love of reading? There are lots of simple ways you can promote a reading culture at your school!
Differentiation is a word that is used a lot in teaching. We know a good teacher uses differentiation strategies daily to meet the needs of…
Channel students' energy by incorporating opportunities for movement into your lessons. In this #2ndaryELA Twitter chat, middle and high school English Language Arts teachers discussed active learning, including movement in the classroom and layouts that accommodate it, games, hands-on activities, and technology that helps to engage students. Read through the chat for ideas to implement in your own classroom.
Looking to try a few new things in your classroom? These six instructional strategies are simple to implement and helpful in engaging your students.
This is my fourth blog post about implementing reading workshop in the primary classroom. In my previous posts, I introduced what reading workshop is and benefits of using this approach to teach reading in your classroom. In my last post, I wrote about how to implement reading workshop into your classroom, whether it be at […]
Looking for ways to discipline kids at home that actually work? We have 9 effective behavior management techniques for parents you don't want to miss!
Learn the 7 highly effective instructional practices to increase student engagement and impress your principal. Are you using them?
