So far, I am still getting my feet wet when it comes to teaching writing, but the kids liked this and seemed to catch on quickly. Thought I would share my little poster with you.
Sunday, December 1, 2013
C.U.P.S. and A.R.M.S.
I am new to teaching Writing in sixth grade. It was a subject previously taught by one of my team members, but now I am on my own. I really wanted to use something simple for my kids to use for revising and editing and it seemed like the C.U.P.S. and A.R.M.S. revising and editing was a simple enough place to start. I also wanted to make something that they could glue into their notebooks for a quick reference. Of course, I quickly hopped over to PicMonkey to create something fast and cute.
UPDATE WITH FREEBIE!!!
Thursday, September 5, 2013
2013-2014 6th Grade Quote
Here it is people! After much deliberation and design consideration, here is our new t-shirt and quote for the sixth graders! I am so excited and it looks great thanks to AMJ. Our new quote is...
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
And although the shirts are not yet off the presses, here is our final design...
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Book Jacket Redesign
As I was going through my stacks of stuff, getting my classroom ready, I found some laminating to be cut. I realized that it was something that I had intended to blog about, but had completely forgot.
In my classroom library, I have rings that hold book jackets that were created by sixth graders. They choose the book that they most enjoyed reading throughout the year and redesign its book jacket. I do this at the end of the year, so I choose my favorites. I have quite a collection as I have done this a few times and on average, I have about 100 sixth graders each year.
We start by analyzing current book jackets. I put a pile of books out for each table group and they brainstorm a list of things that they have in common. I ask them to note what they look like and important elements that they all have. Then, we make a master list to use as a rubric. Usually it includes things like
My sixth graders this last year were awesome. I could brag about them for paragraphs. Each and every one of them was and is wonderful. I have so many awesome book jackets this year, I didn't know how to only share a few, but here they are:
I punch a hole in the corner and put them on rings. Then I hang them up in the classroom library (pictures soon to come). So when kids have free time they can take a set of jackets on a ring to their desk and see if there are any books that they are interested in reading. Many of the reviews on the jacket are quotes from other sixth graders that also read the book. This year, my new sixth graders will get to read jackets from the last two years of sixth graders; they are often kids they have looked up to at school.
A great way to get kids interested in literature because it isn't coming from you, but from their peers.
In my classroom library, I have rings that hold book jackets that were created by sixth graders. They choose the book that they most enjoyed reading throughout the year and redesign its book jacket. I do this at the end of the year, so I choose my favorites. I have quite a collection as I have done this a few times and on average, I have about 100 sixth graders each year.
We start by analyzing current book jackets. I put a pile of books out for each table group and they brainstorm a list of things that they have in common. I ask them to note what they look like and important elements that they all have. Then, we make a master list to use as a rubric. Usually it includes things like
- a bold title
- author name
- quotes and reviews by authors or publications
- great use of graphics and colors (no white space)
My sixth graders this last year were awesome. I could brag about them for paragraphs. Each and every one of them was and is wonderful. I have so many awesome book jackets this year, I didn't know how to only share a few, but here they are:
A great way to get kids interested in literature because it isn't coming from you, but from their peers.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Class of 2014 Quote
So, I admit it. I snuck over to work today and spent some time working on my room. If I ever get it back together again, I will post pictures. I am SUPPOSED to be on vacation, but... Well, if you are a teacher, you know. As I was putting together a to-do list I realized that my team and I had not yet decided on a quote for this year's sixth grade class.
Let me explain...
A few years ago, one of my team members in 6th grade thought it would be a good idea to choose a quote for the year. Something that brings all of the sixth graders together and is sort of their "motto" for the year. Then, we design "Class Of" t-shirts with the quote on the back and we post the quote up in all of the sixth grade classrooms. Here are a few of the tshirts we have had in the past few years...
We all wear our 6th grade tshirts on Spirit Days at school and important events (like camp and playing dodgeball with the Airforce). So, here are the quotes we have used since we have started this great sixth grade tradition:
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Gandhi
"Be true to your work, your word, and your friend." -Thoreau
"The time is always right to do what is right." -M.L.K.
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think." -Christopher Robin
And as I said, I am in search for this year's quote. I have a Pinterest board just for quotes and I keep an eye out everywhere. I feel like when I find it, I will know. I am a HUGE fan of Robby Novak, so I am on the lookout for great Kid President quotes. He is so fun. I found these great posters from Shane Read Creative and I would love to design a tshirt that was a little more hip this year, like this...
Anybody out there have some good quote suggestions for the class of 2014? I would love to hear them!
Let me explain...
A few years ago, one of my team members in 6th grade thought it would be a good idea to choose a quote for the year. Something that brings all of the sixth graders together and is sort of their "motto" for the year. Then, we design "Class Of" t-shirts with the quote on the back and we post the quote up in all of the sixth grade classrooms. Here are a few of the tshirts we have had in the past few years...
 |
| t-shirt designs for 6th grade |
"Be the change you wish to see in the world." -Gandhi
"Be true to your work, your word, and your friend." -Thoreau
"The time is always right to do what is right." -M.L.K.
"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter than you think." -Christopher Robin
And as I said, I am in search for this year's quote. I have a Pinterest board just for quotes and I keep an eye out everywhere. I feel like when I find it, I will know. I am a HUGE fan of Robby Novak, so I am on the lookout for great Kid President quotes. He is so fun. I found these great posters from Shane Read Creative and I would love to design a tshirt that was a little more hip this year, like this...
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Using PowToon in the Classroom
Summer is my time to try out things that I am petrified to try for the first time during the school year. Today, I searched around for a new, more dynamic way to make presentations. I wanted something a little more engaging then the regular old Powerpoint or SmartBoard lesson. I did a little bit of research and decided on Powtoon.
Why? It was free, easy to use (if you are familiar with presentation software like Powerpoint), and it was cute. Those kids love "cute" and I thought maybe they could also learn to make their own animated presentations. I am hoping it will work for not only presentations and slideshows, but also for short "flipped" videos that could be linked to websites, tweeted out, or on YouTube.
The only drawback is that it requires a flash player. So those of us who work mainly on an IPAD are out of luck. Luckily I have both a laptop and an IPAD for the classroom. The laptop is hooked up directly to my flat screen TV in the classroom, so this works fine for me. Also, instead of getting a few IPADs for my room, I decided to try out the cheaper option, which is a set of about 6 Chromebooks. So, PowToon should be a great tool for those.
First, I started with something I knew I could use right away in the classroom. I took the posters I made for our 6th grade interactive notebooks and turned the information into a short little video.
Then, as I felt like I was on a role, I tried a quick explanation of Main Idea.
It's actually addictive. At first, it takes some time to figure out how to use it. I of course always opt for the "playing around until I figure it out" option which sometimes takes a little longer than watching the tutorial. If you are familiar with PowerPoint and timing slides, then it isn't too hard. Once I got the hang of it, it went pretty quick.
It is a little limited once you get going. There were times I caught myself saying things like, "oh man, it doesn't _____?" But for something totally free, I can't really complain. Easy and fun to work with, if you are looking for animated presentation software online for your classroom.
I would love to hear what other people are using that are similar. I wish I had the time to check them all out. And if you have tried PowToon, what did you think?
The only drawback is that it requires a flash player. So those of us who work mainly on an IPAD are out of luck. Luckily I have both a laptop and an IPAD for the classroom. The laptop is hooked up directly to my flat screen TV in the classroom, so this works fine for me. Also, instead of getting a few IPADs for my room, I decided to try out the cheaper option, which is a set of about 6 Chromebooks. So, PowToon should be a great tool for those.
First, I started with something I knew I could use right away in the classroom. I took the posters I made for our 6th grade interactive notebooks and turned the information into a short little video.
Then, as I felt like I was on a role, I tried a quick explanation of Main Idea.
It's actually addictive. At first, it takes some time to figure out how to use it. I of course always opt for the "playing around until I figure it out" option which sometimes takes a little longer than watching the tutorial. If you are familiar with PowerPoint and timing slides, then it isn't too hard. Once I got the hang of it, it went pretty quick.
It is a little limited once you get going. There were times I caught myself saying things like, "oh man, it doesn't _____?" But for something totally free, I can't really complain. Easy and fun to work with, if you are looking for animated presentation software online for your classroom.
I would love to hear what other people are using that are similar. I wish I had the time to check them all out. And if you have tried PowToon, what did you think?
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
College Week Activity - College Research and Posters
Wow. It has been a really long time since my last post, but as most people know, it is testing season. Most of my time recently has been spent preparing, giving, and then recuperating from the test. We recently celebrated college week here at my school, so I had the sixth graders work on a project in partners to learn a little more about the colleges they were interested in.
First, they had to work together to do research on the college they had chosen. We are lucky enough here to have a few IPADs that we can pass around and share, but this could totally be done in a computer lab. I gave each set of partners this worksheet to guide them.
Then, they make posters using the information they have gathered. Here are a few of the posters my sixth graders made this year.
When all of the posters are complete, I put them on the walls around the room. Then I give them this worksheet. They use it while they walk around the room and get information from the posters that the other students have made.
First, they had to work together to do research on the college they had chosen. We are lucky enough here to have a few IPADs that we can pass around and share, but this could totally be done in a computer lab. I gave each set of partners this worksheet to guide them.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Released Test Questions - California Standards Test
I am just like you. Every year, just about this time, my sixth grade students and I start the long arduous process of going over the California Released Test Questions for the CST. But I knew that somehow this year, I was going to have to mix things up a bit. As many of you, I also saw the "I Choose 'C'" video that has spread across YouTube (made by an 8th grader, by the way). So, I showed it to them. When that many kids in a room identify with something like that, you know it is time for a shake-up.
My students are great test takers. Sometimes I wonder if they are too good. I noticed that many of them were going through the motions while we were analyzing similar questions during the year, so this year I tried something new. In honor of the new Common Core and in honor of making these kids use their brains again, I took the California Released Test Questions and eliminated their choices. Yes, you read correctly. I took the choices away. Well, I did leave a few choices, due to the fact that it is just necessary for some of the released questions. Now, my students MUST answer them first without options A, B, C, or D. It forces them to go find the evidence from the text, not just play the elimination game with the four options. When I have given everyone time to answer the questions and discuss them in groups, only then do I allow them to choose their options. I have put the choices into a PowerPoint and they use what they wrote, highlighted and underlined to make a choice.
What have I learned from this little experiment? My kids have all the knowledge they need in their heads, but if they can find a shortcut to avoid using it, they will. Now, they are having great discussions and they are finding and sharing things they weren't before. I am getting more out of our time we spend going over the released test questions then I was before. And of course, it was important to get feedback from my kids. An easy majority of them said that it was better this way. They said it was easier, not to so much confusion about second guessing their answers. I am getting real information about what standards they are more comfortable with and where we should spend a few minutes reviewing or revisiting. This is not for everyone and it does take time. But isn't this where common core is heading anyhow? Finding justifications in the text? Writing out answers and synthesizing the information presented? I can easily say that I am glad I took a chance and tried this out.
I would love to hear your strategies for covering Released Test Questions! What are you doing to make them more engaging and how do you keep your kids thinking, not just test taking?
My students are great test takers. Sometimes I wonder if they are too good. I noticed that many of them were going through the motions while we were analyzing similar questions during the year, so this year I tried something new. In honor of the new Common Core and in honor of making these kids use their brains again, I took the California Released Test Questions and eliminated their choices. Yes, you read correctly. I took the choices away. Well, I did leave a few choices, due to the fact that it is just necessary for some of the released questions. Now, my students MUST answer them first without options A, B, C, or D. It forces them to go find the evidence from the text, not just play the elimination game with the four options. When I have given everyone time to answer the questions and discuss them in groups, only then do I allow them to choose their options. I have put the choices into a PowerPoint and they use what they wrote, highlighted and underlined to make a choice.
 |
| Analyzing Released Test Questions "More Than A Niece" |
 |
| Analyzing Released Test Questions "Water Picture" |
What have I learned from this little experiment? My kids have all the knowledge they need in their heads, but if they can find a shortcut to avoid using it, they will. Now, they are having great discussions and they are finding and sharing things they weren't before. I am getting more out of our time we spend going over the released test questions then I was before. And of course, it was important to get feedback from my kids. An easy majority of them said that it was better this way. They said it was easier, not to so much confusion about second guessing their answers. I am getting real information about what standards they are more comfortable with and where we should spend a few minutes reviewing or revisiting. This is not for everyone and it does take time. But isn't this where common core is heading anyhow? Finding justifications in the text? Writing out answers and synthesizing the information presented? I can easily say that I am glad I took a chance and tried this out.
I would love to hear your strategies for covering Released Test Questions! What are you doing to make them more engaging and how do you keep your kids thinking, not just test taking?
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