How can we support students who may be frustrated with spelling while keeping it fun for the students who find spelling to be very easy? Each week, for my fourth and fifth grade students, I would assign 10 of the 200 most commonly misspelled words. I put the tricky homophones together, like one week was to, two, and too and another week was there, their, and they’re. If I didn’t put them together on the list, it would become “This is the week for two Os in too.” We took a pretest Monday and shared strategies for knowing how to spell words that sound …
A fun way to help students learn how to spell science terms is with seek-a-word puzzles. To get you started, try these FREE WORD PUZZLES from my Simply Science store, including: five senses people make sounds animals make sounds weather volcanoes layers of the Earth butterflies cells bones muscles circulatory system I’m still adding seek-a-word puzzles so check back often to see what’s new in my store. Let me know if you have a topic (and a list of terms) that you want me to add to the Simply Science store. To create your own puzzles, visit Discovery Education where you’ll find an easy puzzle maker. …
Here is a list of poetry by Shel Silverstein to consider adding to your resources for teaching about force and motion unit. These could support activities that meet NGSS 3-PS2-1♦ and 3-PS2-2â—Š. A Light in the Attic, Shel Silverstein force: “ADVENTURES OF A FRISBEE” inertia: “FANCY DIVE” pendulums: “HOW TO MAKE A SWING WITH NO ROPE OR BOARD OR NAILS” Every Thing On It, Shel Silverstein gravity: “THE JUGGLER” gravity: “TURNING INTO” gravity: “GOOD IDEA” gravity: “LOVE IS GRAND BUT…” Falling Up, Shel Silverstein buoyancy: “SOMETHIN’ NEW” gravity: “FALLING UP” Where the Sidewalk Ends, Shel Silverstein buoyancy: “HOMEMADE BOAT” friction: “MAGICAL ERASER” …
No teacher wants a stack of papers on the desk waiting to be graded days after the assignment or assessment was given. Students need feedback and you need information to guide you as you plan the next lesson. One simple suggestion – make a pattern in the answers! Have students grade their own papers. Because you have a pattern in the answers – they won’t know it but you will – you can walk around checking answers as students volunteer the correct answers for the assessments. Here’s a couple of examples. In my TPT products for introducing frogs, birds, bugs, whales, …
There are many fun poems you can use to enrich science with language arts. You might have students illustrate a poem you’ve found, choose one to share with classmates or family members, or write a new poem that can be shared with all future classes – kids love thinking their work will be added to your resources and used again and again as you teach the topic. In future posts, I’ll share poems I found written by familiar poets like Jack Prelutsky, Jeff Moss, and Shel Silverstein that you can use to teach topics like force, motion, light, and sound. You might also find these resources useful: Ten …
Do you have a pile of scrap paper, scissors, and a few minutes for a quick science demonstration? Challenge students to figure out a way to walk through the paper. If you have any students familiar with the activity caution them to explain after the demonstration. They might have a variation to share like a spiral cut or be able to help classmates with the activity! Fold a sheet of paper in half along the dashed line and then make the vertical cuts along the solid lines. Cut the center section of the fold itself along the heavy solid line. …
Choose a favorite color or decorate it so it is easy to find. Keep it close, maybe in the front of a desk or file cabinet drawer. When there’s a breakthrough for a student who struggles, a great reaction from the class to an activity that took a LOT of planning, or an aha moment for a capable student who may be hard to challenge, jot a quick note to yourself, add the date, and drop it in the file. When a student or parent sends a positive note, add the date and the student’s full name (if it’s not in the …
Establishing clear procedures is key to a successful classroom. Every class of students is a bit different so having a variety of options for this will give you an advantage as you support your students learning. Here are resources I think you might find useful as you collect options for setting up routines and procedures: Dr. Fred Jones - proactive versus reactive management Scholastic – check out the narrated slideshows with images of a variety of great suggestions! Fern Smith – she uses a “Yes Line” to get students from place to place Denise Young – a quick checklist of what and when This …
You might be surprised at what has been stored in bins, boxes, and closets from past science adoptions. It takes a bit of snooping and a willingness to sort through supplies that might be unfamiliar to you. I am amazed at the materials I have collected for my science class! The title of the post is a reference to an actual skeleton we found in a box. A bit of wire (unbent paper clip) and a cleaning and it was a great greeting when students came into our classroom! If you find supplies that may not be familiar to you, check with colleagues, the company online, …
It’s the first day of a school year or the first day with a new group of students. Routines aren’t set, classes like music or PE haven’t started, and you don’t want to spend every minute explaining expectations. What to do with this initial time that’s provides you with information about your students, gives them a chance to be creative, and begins the process of building a team in your classroom? Have your students make people to be posted on the wall. Maybe up high, above your bulletin board? You have a chance to talk to students as they decorate their person. You might have …
