Writing

Student Welcome Boards

Reading-Text types and text structures

Start the year off with a blank board, so students can create the display.

Read several books and have students read a book of their choice (already pulled by teacher) w/ a partner. Students complete a sheet where they 1)summarize 2) list things they think are traits of the text type being discussed 3) write down questions they may have.

Come together as a class and discuss the traits of that text type. Students then complete a "page of a book" where they: summarize the story, write the author and illustrator, list the traits (ie authors purpose: entertain, inform, persuade, type of characters, etc). These are posted on the board.

This can be modified for lower elementary

Star Student

Each student is a "star student" for a week. Students bring in pictures of themselves and family on Monday. They share (about 5-10 min). I allow for student questions (2-3 min). On Wednesday I buy students a pop. On Friday, students get to sit at the teachers desk.

Math-Multiplication

Leveled tests are sorted into envelops. Students get a test (the level they are on). They are given 2-3 minutes. Students get answer key for their test and grade it on their own. They can only miss two to move on to the next level.

Another way I have seen this done is to have tests in files (that the kids have access to). Students take test and grade. They chart their progress.

Student Work Display

This is a way to display student work. Name tags were laminated on a piece of construction paper.

Classroom Library

Catorgize books according to genre and more: biography, poetry, mystery, science, etc.

Reading Corner

Includes 2 green shag rugs, a sleeping bag, log pillows(Urban outfitters), a stuffed bear, and a pine tree (fake of course).

Book Talk

Students sign up to give a book talk about a book they want to share. Students helped come up with the criteria. Limit to 2-3 book talks a day with a calendar sign up sheet.

S.S.- Regions/States

Upper Elementary: regions, pics representing region's features

Behavior

Calendar Time

Upper Elementary: jobs, class constitution, lunch count, mailboxes, Friday folders, homework trays

Upper Elementary: Calendar, daily temp bar graph, monthly temp line graph

Lower Elementary: Place value, time money, calendar, weather, hundred day chart