H-O-M-E-R-U-N Motivation

Wow! This time of year goes sooo quickly and it seems there is never enough time to do everything!

I recently created a new reward system to help us get through spring time. I can't say this was all my idea {Thanks Mrs. Kerska @ Polk}. The goal is to make it around the bases and earn the letters of H-O-M-E-R-U-N for each time you pass homeplate.

Once students hit the goal of H-O-M-E-R-U-N on their baseball we will do individual awards such as: Sit in the teachers chair, computer time, SAT (student activity time) otuside, etc. If the whole class hits H-O-M-E-R-U-N by the end of the school year, I will bring in toppings for sundays.

As a first year teacher, I have been trying to keep rewards/motivation charts minimal. I realized last year, the moment you start rewarding for one thing, they expect something for everything. Plus, after doing a consensogram with my reading students, I discovered my particular students are most motivated by free time (read time) and free homework passes. I guess I always thought candy was most motivating--apparently not for these students. The last picture is the consensogram. Enjoy!

Baseball reward: It takes effort to score HOMERUNS!!!

 Consensogram

I got this idea from Gindersnap: http://gingersnapstreatsforteachers.blogspot.com/2011/01/quality-tool-of-week-consensogram.html

Thanks for Reading!

Partner Work in Math {and life}

One thing I have tried to really focus on with my math students is partner work! Our new math series, Trailblazers, focuses a lot on working with partners and groups. Also, my classroom is made up of 17 students, 7 of special needs, so it is very important everyone works together. Our groups are carefully picked and the goal is for students to learn from each other.

Every time a partner activity is in a lesson, we review this poster by all reading it out loud and try to focus on one number (even though they are really working on all)

Thanks for reading!

=) AlwaysSunny

Check Out Our Class Data Center!

In October, I began my first contracted year of teaching. I serve 39 kiddos throughout the day in grades 3-5 for Reading and Math. My 4th grade reading class consist of 9 students who had Unit test scores bellow grade level in October. Here is our Data Center I created the first week I began teaching 4th grade reading.

 This is posted in the front of the room so my students are constantly reminded of our class goal.

"Go Green" signifies B+ or higher on each weekly/unit test. After our class average is in the green range for 5 weeks, we celebrate with a read/feed or 'smarty party'

Although we our class average was low for the Unit 3 Test, (Weekly tests are mostly listening comprehension but Unit tests are strictly self read comprehension) they have really come back strong with 3 Green weeks! Way to Go!

Great Online Teacher Resource

Found this website today! Great, 'quick,' activities to build reading understanding.

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/4th-comprehension.html

First Post

Just testing this out. Excited and nervous to start back up after Christmas break.