Answer Cards
Submitted by: Claudia, Fourth Grade
Answer cards are a great way to involve an entire class and quickly see who’s on the right track. Place inside a library book pocket 6 or more 3×5 notecards. Across the end of each card put one response. I use A, B, C, D, and YES, NO. You may want to add TRUE and FALSE or others you need. The students remove the cards they will need and hold their cards close so no one can see them. Then I state the question and answers, repeat once, then tell them to think (wait a few seconds…..), say “get your answer ready”, “now, show me your answer”. All answers must be held up at the same time. You can see in a second who needs help. If many are wrong say “put your cards back and let me give a clue.” Then repeat the steps. The kids love this and they feel successful and involved. BONUS! I’ve done this several times during evaluations and I never fail to get extra credit for student involvement and motivation.
Computer Time
Submitted by: Morgan, 3rd Grade
I have found that kids love computers, so I loaded some 3rd Grade games on mine and let them play. I made a list going in alphabetical order to see who goes on first. They get to skip reading time to play an educational game that I count for points in their grade. One student a day gets to skip. I suggest The Learning Company as your main software because they have very educational games. The parents love how the kids are learning but having fun at the same time. Sometimes it helps with their typing skills as this will be needed for Middle School.
Fun way to practice & clean at the same time
Submitted by: Diane Daniel, 2nd Grade
Practice spelling, math or whatever, clean the desks and make the room smell great! Have students clear their desks and give them a glob of shaving cream. I have my students practice writing spelling words, math problems or whatever I choose that day. After finished, allow students the creative freedom to explore the cream. When all dried up, sponge off the desks. Everything looks and smells wonderful!
House Points
Submitted by: maxine, Grade Level(s): 3-5
Recently, I created an alternative to the popular Harry Potter and Hogwarts School. I renamed our school the _____ School for Spirituality and Sainthood. It’s a private Catholic School, so this was acceptable. For the public school version, I created another name based on a fictitious animal mascot; be creative.
The four “Houses” in the Harry Potter books were renamed for the 4 elements of antiquity:
- Earth= The Groundwalkers, symbol: Apatosaurus, color: green;
- Air= The Swiftfliers, symbol: a soaring Hawk, color: yellow;
- Water= Waterbearers, symbol: leaping Dolphins, color: blue;
- Fire= The Firekeepers, symbol: a burning wood fire, color: red.
Novel Study
Submitted by: Maureen Graham
At the beginning of the year I give each of my students a white painter’s cap with their name on the brim (purchased at Michael’s). They can wear the hats while reading in class. As they read novels throughout the year for their individualized reading program and complete activities on them, I write the titles of the novels on their hats in coloured permanent marker. The more novels they read and report on, the more titles on their hats! At the end of the year I give them fabric paint to decorate their hats and then they take home a permanent record of the books they enjoyed in grade four.
Grade Level(s): 3-5
PowerPoints
Submitted by: Cathy Carroll, Secondary
Students love to make PowerPoints. This not only will get the students involved but even weak students love to create PowerPoints. The student learns so much about the subject and the technology of creating the PowerPoint. Works quite well in my English III classes.
Reading Treat
Submitted by: Kellee Meyer, K-1
I have made a ‘bus’ for my classroom out of a large box. I have painted and decorated complete with number plate ‘UCANREAD2’. Inside the bus (it has a door and windows) there are cushions. Throughout the day when a student is working particularly well I hand out a ‘bus pass’. This is a little home-made badge with a bus on it. That student whenever they read during the day is allowed to read in the bus. Usually there is a maximum of 2 students issued with these passes.
Scavenger Hunt
Submitted by: Elizabeth Bert
When trying to get my 6th grade students interested in reading about current events and active newspaper readers, I decided to create a scavenger hunt. They got lists of terms or people to find in the newspaper and the first group done was rewarded. They ended up realizing how interesting and easy reading a newspaper is and up to date in current events.
Grade Level(s): 6-8
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