Helping Parents Help their Children

"This is a stupid question, but..."

I feel like I am the QUEEN of stupid questions!! But because I am a teacher, I feel that sometimes parents are afraid to ask me their "stupid questions."  I LOVE when some brave soul asks me a question that I had no idea was out there because it gives me the opportunity to clarify something and give better directions (therefore making me a BETTER teacher).

I love how we do homework on my first grade team.  We send a packet of homework each Monday in a homework bag and the homework bag is due (completed) the following Monday (and repeat).  This allows families to manage their time and establish their own routines at home.  Homework for us consists of writing, two math practice sheets, a handwriting practice sheet and an independent paper take-home book that we make from the A-Z reading site for each child.  I also include a check list for all my families for the parents to sign off on, including a place where they assure me they saw the weekly blog that I write for our class.

Sometimes when reviewing my students homework from writing, I may see pieces where I have NO idea what it was the child was trying to write about (no familiar sounds/ spaces etc), or the reverse... The perfectly spelled and punctuated piece (a near impossibility for the average 5 or 6 year old).  It dawned on me that the parents don't know what I (stress on that I) expect of them.  Does the teacher want me to help... not want me to help...

And so I set out to help them, help their writers.

I did this by working with my own son and taking some movie clips of how I do it and what I'd like them to do.  I also included some voice over clips and text to further help the parents.  

I have had some good feedback so hope to continue this, perhaps with reading and even some math strategies that we do in school.  My goal is to make what we do in school as transparent as possible and to help every parent feel like THEY have the power to help their child.  They are (after all) their child's most important and influential teacher.

To see the video I made for writing, you can click HERE or check out below.  Feel free to share my video (and if YOU make one) please consider sharing the link with ME.  I'd love to steal it! ;-)

Thanks!

L

Making Mini Comp Books

I am so excited!!  This explains why I am writing a quick blog post close to midnight when I didn't leave my classroom until 10pm, came home and cut out laminated things and stuffed envelopes and have to be at work for a staff meeting tomorrow morning, but I digress...

I am so motivated and excited for my math workshop this year.  I've always enjoyed teaching math workshop but I'm adding a few things this year in hopes to really build number sense and get my first graders to be problem solvers and to understand and be able to express their thinking (since those days of just figuring out the sums and getting the right answers seem to be gone).

One way to do this year is to have my students share their thinking in a math journal.  I didn't want another full composition book though, I wanted a mini composition book.  If you look at the cost of those, it's crazy.  They are half the size but double the price.  I had heard of people getting regular comp books cut at Home Depot, but after calling and talking to many people from there (all who thought I was crazy), I realized they wouldn't be helping me so I did what many people do...

 Turned to mom and dad!

This is what we did to make these (Thanks Mom & Dad!):

Rip out a page and fold it in half (to find the middle of the book).

Draw a line marking the middle of the comp book.

Then use a table saw and cut on the line.

It looked like it was snowing and some of the edges needed sanding (or just picking) to smooth out, but it worked like a charm (and saved me loads).  It also took my dad no time to rip through all those books.  I'm one happy gal!

If you (or your folks) don't have a table saw, I'd just bring your books to Home Depot anyway and ask them to cut them on their table saw.  Tell them you know someone who did it and it does work!

To finish off my books, I added a big label to the front (the off-center white cover not being the same bugged me... I admit to being a bit anal about things).  I think they turned out so cute and I can't wait to start using them with my kiddos!

Class Preview for New Students

It's that time of year again where kids and teachers (and parents) are getting ready for school to start.  Each year, I make a little preview video so that my students can 'see' what our classroom is going to look like and send it out to them before school starts.  I have had great feedback from my parents thanking me for these videos and some have said that it really helped their child feel less anxiety about starting a new year.

I just take pictures (and a few videos) of things in my classroom and put it to a song in iMovie.  HERE  is my video from this year:

If you've been a reader of this blog you'll see many of my creations in the video. ;-)

Radical Rekenreks!

So at a recent math workshop, I learned about a Rekenrek (which is basically an abacus with two colors).  It really helps build number sense which is great since we are getting away from rote math problems and focusing on the understanding of math and how numbers work.  It is genius to me and so I went about making a class set.  As I was making them, my own kids started working with them and I loved listening to them talk through problems.  They had so much fun with them they each requested I make one for them in their favorite color (which of course I did).  To see a quick YouTube video of a teacher describing how to use them click HERE.

To make my Rekenreks, I used foam board (don't worry... there were all colors, not just the pink), string, beads (pony beads) a hole punch and scissors.  My hole punch is small and fits the string nicely.  I had it from my old scrapbooking days.

Punch four holes like this.

Then string the beads making sure you keep five of each color on either side.

I tied them different ways but this was the best (and fastest).

Snip the excess!

My kindergartner played with his (he wanted yellow) forever!  I couldn't believe the way he was manipulating it after just minutes.  I put a quick video of his review of how to use the Rekenrek that you can see too by clicking HERE or looking below.  My bigger kids (going into 3rd and 4th) also really liked them.  I made them Rekenreks that went to 30.

I also plan to make a more sturdy one for me on the harder foam board and bigger beads.

Summer Writer's Notebooks

I LOVE teaching writing and my students LOVE to write.  In the beginning of the school year, I have them make Writer's Notebooks by jazzing up a composition notebook. The directions are to cover it with pictures of people and things they love.  Because they are first graders and also learning to spell, I have them (or a parent) write the correct spelling of items/people next to the pictures for them to reference should they need to. They then wrap it in clear contact paper and we use it to write all year.

As I mentioned, my students love Writer's Workshop and even asked for it on days when we were on Field Trips or having Field Day (those are always proud teacher days).  With most notebooks filling up by June, I have found a Summer's Writer's Notebook to be the perfect end-of-year gift.  It's also personal because it has pictures to remind them of their first grade year.

To do this, in Publisher, I created a front and back for a Writer's Notebook.  I used class pictures (of them, anchor charts, etc) from throughout the year and typed their name on the front.  I also included a picture of them on the front and on the back pictures of them with their family members (who came in throughout the year as Mystery Readers).  This may sound like a lot of work, but it's not.  I keep a classroom blog (surprised?) and so I copy pictures from there.  The only pictures that are different on the notebooks are those of the student and their family member.  I can get this all done in about an hour.

Next I wrap them.

So... All you need for this project is the front and back pages you make (in publisher, pages... or some other program), composition books, scissors, scotch tape and clear contact paper.  Here is how I wrap my books (and once you get going you can easily kick these out too).

Use a small piece of rolled scotch tape under the page you made to keep it in place on your writer's notebooks.  Make it small because you don't need much.  I have used glue in the past which sometimes shows through, so I prefer tape.

Cut the contact paper so that it can cover your book.

Next peal off the backing and set the notebook as I have shown above (I kept the backing on so you could see how big I make it).

Then pull one side over to the other and pull it taut and smooth it out so you don't have bubbles.  If you do, don't worry!  The contact paper is easy to remove and very forgiving.

Next I cut the corners like this (to make it easier to fold and less bulk inside).

I also cut a small slit at the top and bottom near the binding.

Then I just fold all the sides down like a present.

And there you have it!  As a bonus, I tell my students if they come back in the fall with some great writing in their notebooks, I'll have a small treat waiting for them (a sucker and a new pencil).

I should mention with my own kiddos seeing these (and wanting one), they now have their own summer notebooks to write in too...

Great way to avoid the summer slump!

Write On!

Regrowing Romaine? Who knew?

So it's been a while since I've posted to this blog (and I imagine I will post a lot more once school, dance, T-ball, baseball and dance are over)... BUT...

Did you know this?

Romaine lettuce will regrow itself!

I saw it on a friend's facebook page and being a mother of a son who has a Russian Tortoise who will live forever (OK, only 70 years or so) and eats this stuff (and dandelions) I had to check it out!

The teacher mug on the left shows how the other two were original cut (straight).  The other two are after one week of growth!  How cool is this???  

And how cool is it that I have a pet that lives off lettuce and weeds!  Gotta love that!

St. Patrick's Day fun (for school and home)

Anyone who teaches elementary school knows how mischievous Leprechauns can be and so in my class the children LOVE being creative and thinking about how THEY could catch a Leprechaun. It's always fun to read their ideas.  This year we also made leprechauns using their orange hand prints for beards.  Usually I come back to school and see a mess in my classroom and some green water in the sink.  Who knows what I'll find in Room 119 this year...

I get my kids thinking about leprechaun traps by sharing a video of a leprechaun trap my son made last year.  My students were captivated and I can't wait to hear if they set their own traps this year.  As for my son, he made another trap but again the Leprechaun got away... Here are some pictures of what he did!

This is my son's trap, complete with gold coin (really it's a quarter) and a trap door that you can't really see from this angle.  A friend thought this was perfect since Leprechauns love Amazon

There were trails of shamrocks all around our house.

Thankfully for the Leprechaun, my kids always have dirty clothes that they use to mess up their rooms!

Found on Joey's Trap

Left on my son Joey's trap was the above letter.  If you can't read it, it says:

You almost had me with that trap door

but alas, I broke free now there's trouble in store!

I messed up your rooms and I took your gold

but if you're clever, there's treasure to behold.

If you're smart and really think, boy

you can solve my riddles, you'll find some joy.

But to find my treasure, you'll need some friends.

So grab Ali, Zach and Sean, they'll help you get to the end.

Solve my clues, one by one

And you'll be happy when you're done!

Clue #1: I stopped in the bathroom look up and underneath

While I was there, I brushed my teeth...

Found in the kids' toothbrush drawer in the bathroom.

Clue #2: This isn't the only bathroom I was in, 

go downstairs and lift the lid!

This was taped (with green messages and footprints) to the under seat lid of the toilet downstairs.

Clue #3: You're doing well, don't waste more time.

Go to the clock that makes a chime.

On the grandfather clock...

Clue #4: All this work, my thirst was out of sight.

So I went to your fridge and drank something that was white.

Milk turned GREEN!

Clue #5: So I decided to turn your milk green!

Go find some cushions! Look in between!

Under some couch cushions

Clue #6: It's almost time to end this rhyme biz.

Go find where Sean's lunch box is.

Look inside and don't be shy.

In there is some treasure for you to divide!

In Sean's lunch box!

YOU FOUND IT!

I knew you could find it! I'm proud of you.

Today you wear green instead of blue.

I'll see you next year, what more can I say?

I wish you all a Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

~L