Thinkers Not Stinkers

This little mantra caught on today. I could see it in their eyes. It started to sound a little like Jeff Foxworthy. You might be a stinker if . . . . So in the middle of the math lesson, my routine went something like this: "If you used dots to subtract, then you're a THINKER! If you counted back, then you're a THINKER! If you used the number line, or counted up, or used pictures, then you're a THINKER!If you used any of these strategies, then you're a THINKER. If you guessed, uuuuuuuhhhhhh I think 2 is good, then you're a STINKER! If you copied off your neighbor, then you're a STINKER! If you sat there doing nothing, then you're a STINKER! If you chose your favorite number, then you're a STINKER! " By the end, everyone joined in the "you're a stinker" part. Let's all be thinkers and not stinkers. Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Math Test Tie

Today we finished a Math Unit and so it was time for the dreaded Unit Test. I don't like being the bearer of bad news, so I let the students know delicately by wearing my Math Test Tie. Whenever we have a big assessment like this, I sport the tie and students spread the word themselves. As soon as I show up, they pass on the news. "Today is the math test," or, "He has his math tie on, that means there is a test today." Miraculously, we always do excellent on these tests, as long as the correct responses are single-digit answers. Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Super-Advantage Songtime: My Wife Tried to Kill Me with a Block of Cheese

Every Thursday we have Song Time. We sit on the carpet, sing fun songs, songs with motions, play rhythm instruments, and have an all around, academic, good time. Patricia DeCorsey, coordinator of Lawrence University's Early Childhood Music Program in Appleton says, "By introducing children to music, so many areas of the brain benefit at the same time, like the mathematical and language centers. It's really a super-
advantage." That's why we sing this song:

 

We use the rhythm instruments with this song. We sing on the verse then everyone bangs on the drums during the "la-la's".  
Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Bright Ideas

We use bright ideas when it's time to get some very important feedback. I'll get out the stack of light bulbs, especially when it's time to review with a series of questions in a row; to check understanding of steps in a math process, new vocabulary, or information from a topic of study. Obviously, each student has a light bulb with their name on it(the Popsicle stick theory). I'll state, "Let's see who has a bright idea," then proceed with the questioning. "What is a noun?" Then, after shuffling of light bulbs, a light is picked. "Michael?" Michael then answers, "A noun is a word that is a person, place, or thing." I respond, "You have a bright idea!", then give him his light bulb and proceed with the questioning. When the class period/subject is over, everyone with a bright idea is called forward for a reward: caught being good tickets, healthy candy, eraser, free water ticket, etc. Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

 

Phonics Shootout

There was a shootout today in room #34 of the Ramon Urmston Elementary School Annex: a Phonics Shootout. To practice blending sounds, Sheriff Noname comes to town looking for characters who "was a-lookin' fer him."  Some of the opponents are named Stinky Pete, Burpin Bart, Purty Patty, and Silly Sally. The word for the shootout is stated,  the quickdraws take a shot for each sound in the word, then say the word as they spin and holster their six-shooters. Sheriff Noname then grabs his heart, falls to the ground, gives some sad exclamation like "tell my dawg I'm gonna miss him!", and falls to his death. Then he jumps up and says,"I'm okay!". Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Coin Flip

Our core curriculum requires daily quick checks to make sure students are acquiring the phonics skill and knowledge necessary to be independent readers. A list of words is given and students are called on to blend and read individual words. To fulfill this requirement, and to lower the anxiety, we play Coin Flip. We form teams. Currently our teams are The Girls and The Boys. Students are given 3 or 4 minutes to study the list and help their teammates. Then, the game begins. We have a coin that was given to us by a retired submarine captain. One side of the coin has a mountain and the other has soldiers. The teams are assigned a side of the coin, raised hands from each team go up, and we flip the coin. Students get a point for each word they blend correctly. Each sound is required then the word. We keep a running score for each six-week unit. At the end of the unit we name a champion. We are  in the sixth week of a unit and the score is tied 55-55. Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Elvis Cheer

It's fun to have the crowd cheer for you, especially if you are doing something smart. So if someone in class does exceptional work, shares a correct answer with the class when called upon, or just needs some praise, we cheer for them. The Elvis cheer goes like this:

You lift up your collar, bend one knee, stick your hands out with one or two fingers pointing, scrunch the upper lip, and say, "Thank you. Thank you very much." If we really want to show our enthusiasm for the exceptional work, we shake, shake, shake that leg, and move those hips while repeating, "Uh, thank you very much, uh huh huh, thank you very much."

Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Super-Advantage Songtime: Rooster

Every Thursday we have Song Time. We sit on the carpet, sing fun songs, songs with motions, play rhythm instruments, and have an all around, academic, good time. Patricia DeCorsey, coordinator of Lawrence University's Early Childhood Music Program in Appleton says, "By introducing children to music, so many areas of the brain benefit at the same time, like the mathematical and language centers. It's really a super-advantage." That's why we sing this song:

Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

The Page Turner

The triangle is a tool we use in class for turning pages. It's a classroom job and a highly sought after job to boot. The person with the page turner job simply hits the triangle once when it is time to turn the page. This is a high skill job because not only do you have to know when to turn the page, but you have to have a knowledge of sound waves and how to let the triangle resonate throughout the room. When we reach the final page, the page turner gives the "call to dinner" sound. Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

The Lone Ranger

On occasion one student will stand out for doing something great that nobody else in the class is doing. The person may be the sole student with an answer, to follow directions, turn in an assignment on time, or correctly. The student may just be the only one smiling or singing along, helping others in a quiet way, or have a clean desk. The idea is that sometimes students stand alone at doing great, but simple, things. We recognize them as the Lone Rangers of the room. When such classroom heroism is observed, the Lone Ranger lunchbox, inside which little treasures can be found, is unceremoniously passed to the student and they receive their "reward for helping the Sheriff restore order once again to our quiet little town."

Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

S.U.F.R.: Blender Ballers

S.U.F.R.: Blender Ballers: One blending activity we do is called Blender Ballers. Given a word like rim, students get set for the free throw. With each bounce the...

Blender Ballers

BALL IN!!!!!!!!

           One blending activity we do is called Blender Ballers. Given a word like rim, students get set for the free throw. With each bounce they say a sound. Rim would require three bounces. We may repeat if the whole group isn't ready for the shot. After our bounces, we take a shot. When the shot goes up, we blend the sounds together and say "rim". The coach then encourages them with positive affirmations such as: "nice shot!", "swish!", "ball in!", or "that's a three-pointer!".

      The ballers are then given a chance to win the game with a free-throw. Individual ballers are asked to step up to the line. Given a word like cat, they take their bounces, say each sound in cat with each bounce, then say the word. If they get it right they get to take their shot at the regulation hoop(see picture). The whole class puts up their magic fingers(hands up, palms out, wiggling fingers) to will the ball in the basket. If the baller is successful everyone motions a shot and yells, "BALL IN!". When a shot is missed, we say, "OH!, Soooooo close!". Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Morning Song:Garza Lions

Every morning, after the flag salute and the class theme, we sing the morning song. One morning song favorite is the Garza Lions. We give it the old college "rah, rah, rah" in the middle, and we've added a coda to recognize some of those little lions who are present that day. We also sing about those who are absent. the "Garza kitties". The best is when we have 100% attendance and get to sing, "everybody is here today, hooray!". Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Everybody Wants to Rule the World!

We were writing "All About Me" stories as a get to know you activity. One of the topics is what you want to be when you grow up. Several boys want to be soldiers. When one boy heard that the other wanted to be a soldier he asked, "Do you want to be a good soldier or a bad soldier?" The other boy replied, "A good one." "Me too!" replied the first emphatically. Lots of girls want to be teachers. One cute little girl said she wanted to be a good mom.I don't think there's anything better, except maybe a great mom. One boy, who arrived a week late to school, had not said a word for two days, and had limited participation, came to me with his paper. I asked him what he wrote for what he wants to be when he grows up. He excitedly exclaimed, "A king!" Well, alright. We're going to make this kid King of the First Grade!!!!!

Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Super-Advantage Song Time:Crazy

Every Thursday we have Song Time. We sit on the carpet, sing fun songs, songs with motions, play rhythm instruments, and have an all around, academic, good time. Patricia DeCorsey, coordinator of Lawrence University's Early Childhood Music Program in Appleton says, "By introducing children to music, so many areas of the brain benefit at the same time, like the mathematical and language centers. It's really a super-advantage." That's why we sing this song:





I don't care if I go crazy 1 2 3 4 5 6 switch
Crazy go I if care don't I 6 5 4 3 2 1 switch


Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

The Big Question

Our language arts curriculum is divided in themed units and each unit has a big question that generates discussion about the theme. Then each week has a question. These are introduced in the following manner:

Teacher: Hey class, I want to tell you about the Big Question.
Students: What! The big question?(with arms out, looking surprised)
Teacher: Yeah! The big question!
Students: All right!(with a sweep of the arm across the front like the lollipop guild munchkins)
Teacher then goes on to introduce/explain the Big Question.

The question of the week goes as follows:

Teacher: Hey class, I want to tell you about the Question of the Week.
Students: What! The Question of the Week?!(looking surprised again)
Teacher: Yeah! The Question of the Week!
Students: Okie-Dokie!(giving the OK sign like Eddie Murphy as Buckwheat.)

This week's question of the week is, "Who is in our family?" So we listen to this way-cool song from The Roots on Yo Gabba Gabba. Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Thumb Power

 THUMB POWER!!!

To develop skilled phonemic awareness we practice comparing phonemes in two words. We listen for initial, middle, and ending phonemes to see if they are the same or different. To practice we play THUMB POWER!!!!!!!!

Students are given two words like "ten" and "tub". For ten, students hold a thumbs up and  a thumb held sideways right next to it for tub. As the words are compared, they alternate each word three times emphasizing each word with their thumbs. The teacher then says/yells, "Thumbs together!" Students put thumbs up together and yell, "THUMB POWER!!!", if the initial phonemes match (Think: "Wondertwin powers activate!").  If the initial phonemes don't match,  students put one hand down, the sideways thumb,  and make a "raspberry"(a noun; a loud, abrasive, spluttering noise made with the lips and tongue to express contempt. Also known as the "Bronx cheer".)

The hands are held as far out apart to compare final phonemes in a word. As they say the word, students bring thumbs in together to emphasize the final sound. To compare middle phonemes, students hold one hand up high and another down low. The middle phoneme is emphasized as hands are brought together.

After a few different phonemes it gets tiresome making "raspberries", so recently we've converted the raspberry to saying the phrase, "Poopie Pants!". Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Ten Little Cowboys

Young little mathematicians need to learn how to count backward. One thing we like to do is sing the numbers backward. So we sing the classic "Ten Little Indians(Native Americans). Well, we don't want to be politically incorrect, and Native Americans doesn't fit rhythmically, so we've picked a group that would not be offended, hopefully, --the cowboys. So we sing forward, and we sing backward. We start from 1 and end a 10, then back again. We can also start at eleven, but it's a mouthful. The greatest part is this version has a "yeah", and a "yee-haw!!!!!!" Now that's FUN, don't tell anyone!

Cool Class Theme

Every morning, after the flag salute, we recite the class theme. One student uses the long pointer and points to each part as the rest of us follow along.

Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

 Cool Class theme from urmstonp

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Subject/Predicate Dance

Happy Hippie teaches subjects and predicates. The subject tells who does something and the predicate tells what the subject does. Happy Hippie asks the dudes and chicks to "dance it out." Students stand with hands out, right hand down, left hand up, and the left hip out. Positioned in this movement, students say, "Who does something." The body position is then switched opposite side and students say, "What do they do." After each "Who does something", Happy Hippie says "subject". Then, after "What do they do", Happy Hippie say "predicate". Many times a hip bump and a "boom" are added to the movement.
Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Phonics Survey

What's so fun about school?

Peter the Cheater Cheetah

Every Thursday we have Song Time. We sit on the carpet, sing fun songs, songs with motions, play rhythm instruments, and have an all around, academic,  good time.


Several years ago, Peter the Cheater Cheetah , was written with a group of after school kids.  Since then it has become a classroom favorite. One year some girls made a dance to it, so the whole class performed it in the talent show. It's entertaining and inspiring to sing about a cheetah who changes his ways. More entertaining is singing names of students at the end of the song. We add names instead of the la, la, la, la, la part. So we would sing Carla-la-la-la, or jessica-ca-ca-ca. Everyone loves to hear their name in the song. Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Winkadink's High Frequency Show!

 "It's time for Winkadink's High Frequency Show! I'm Winkadink(big wink) and this is my show. The show where students can earn hundreds of dollars just for reading words. For every correct word you win $200. Read all the words and you earn the bonus! But don't get a ZONKO or you will hear this, 'Whah-whah-whaaaaaaaaah!' Our first contestant is from Ramon Urmston Elementary Annex, he likes laying on desks, and throwing crayons on the floor. He's Vern Jones. The audience is ready, the board is ready, Vern is ready, so let's play Winkadink's High Frequency
Show!"
 The contestant takes the microphone, reads the word while the audience repeats the word and yells, "two hundred dollars!". The contestant continues as the words are revealed and the audience continues until he earns the bonus, or get a Zonko.

Winkadink's Microphone

Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone;)

Snap-Crackle-Pop Cheer

It's fun to have the crowd cheer for you, especially if you are doing something smart. So if someone in class does exceptional work, shares a correct answer with the class when called upon, or just needs some praise, we cheer for them. The Snap-Crackle-Pop cheer goes like this:

After announcing Snap-Crackle-Pop, students snap their fingers once, rub the palms of their hands together(crac-kle), then clap(pop). It's short and sweet.

Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Math Momma Mania

Every Wednesday we get some helpers to come in for Math Momma Mania. We set the room up into five stations, split the students into five groups, and spend the math time giving math instruction to small groups. Mrs. Ailstron is the most consistent, and frequent, helper. When students asked why she was coming to help with math, I told them "because she's Math Momma". The mania part, as you can imagine, was inspired by the "energy" and "excitement" of the first few sessions. After a few, the students have become professionals. Stations are set for independent group work, and the "maniacs" usually will pre-teach an upcoming skill, or review where weaknesses arise. Mrs. Ailstron's catch phrase is, "You're a smart cookie!", and everyone wants to be a smart cookie. 

Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Inspections

Once students are trained on how to properly clean and organize their desks, we do inspections. When the command is given, students begin preparing for inspections. As they finish, they stand at attention to the side of the open desk. The sergeant approaches and asks (in a drill sergeant yell), "ARE YOU READY FOR INSPECTION, SOLDIER!!!????" The response, "YES, SIR!!!!!", is barked back. Of course, it has to be loud or we might hear, "I CAN'T HEAR YOU!!!" The sergeant then continues with multiple questions like: "ARE YOU PROUD OF THIS DESK, SOLDIER?!", or, "IS YOUR MATH BOOK IN THE RIGHT PLACE SOLDIER?!", and, "IS THIS THE BEST LOOKING DESK IN THE WHOLE ENTIRE COUNTRY?!". When the soldier has passed the inspection, the sergeant says, "GIVE ME A SAAAAAAAAAAAALUTE!". At which time, the soldier and sergeant salute. Sometimes soldiers are rewarded with a "caught being good" ticket, a piece of healthy candy, or maybe just a "good job, I'm proud of you" and a smile. Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Baseword Baseball

 

When it is time to add suffixes to words in order to make BIGGER words, we play Baseword Baseball.

When playing Baseword baseball, the players pitch the base word, hit the suffix, and catch the new word. Of course, I am the manager of the team, so all the right players are in the right positions. With a word like reporter, the fun would go something like this: 

 Manager: What's the base word?

Team: The base word is report! Coach! 

Manager: What's the suffix? 

Team: The suffix is "er"! Coach! 

Manager: What's the new word? 

Team: The new word is reporter! Coach! 

 

Manager: Pitch! 

Team: REPORT! (pitching motion)

Manager: Hit

Team: "ER"!(hitting motion) 

Manager: Catch!

Team: Reporter!(catching motion)

After the team is warmed up, individual tryouts begin. Selections are made for pitcher, hitter, and outfielder. We take our positions on the "field", with the manager as catcher. We taunt the batter with baseball chatter, "Hey, batta batta!" The pitcher throws a base word. The hitter swings while saying the suffix. The ball goes to the outfielder as the hitter runs the "bases". Outfielder says the new word then throws the ball to home. If the outfielder knows the new word, most likely the runner will be tagged at home, but if there is any hesitation, the runner is usually "SAAAAAAAAAFE!"

Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Worchacaw

     A fun activity we do to practice spelling is WORCHACAW. WORCHACAW is an acronym. WOR stands for word, CHA stands for chop the word, CA stands for card, and the W stands for write.
As each word is given, students are instructed to get the word in their head-WOR.
Then, they "place"the word on their hand and chop it up by sounds-CHA.
After that, students are instructed to find the sound/spelling card that corresponds with each letter-CA.
Finally, the word is written on whiteboards. This is a great way to practice spelling.
     Where is the fun in all of this, you ask? Before each word we stand and do WORCHACAW. At summer camps and adult team building/bonding activities it's know as AROOOSTASHA. WORCHACAW goes something like this:

For the first word we say and do the actions, "Thumbs together! Worchacaw, Worchacaw, Worcha Caw-Caw!" Next word, we say and do "thumbs together, wrists together". Maybe this is too much. We could just write the words 5 times each. Right!!


Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

goofy adults in canned video:

AWE-SOME

It's fun to have the crowd cheer for you, especially if you are doing something smart. So if someone in class does exceptional work, shares a correct answer with the class when called upon, or just needs some praise, we cheer for them. The AWE-SOME cheer goes like this:

Clap and sway as you cheer, "You're AWE(slight pause)-SOME, You're AWE (slight pause)-SOME!"     
Then, pretend to dust your right shoulder as you say, "You're AWESOME!"
Next, pretend to dust your left shoulder as you say: "You're AWESOME!"
Finally, open arms outward one at a time, show the hang loose sign, and say, "To-tally!(with
a total surfer dude voice.)"

That is one awesome cheer and I hope you know why. If you don't, I can only quote the words of one Andrew Bernard, Scranton, Pennsylvania, "So, sorry Tuna but if you don't know why that's awesome, then... you need awesome lessons." 

Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Bobby Balooba and Lovely Lily

The latest entry of the Bobby Balooba story had us attempting to write each kind of sentence in our animal fantasy: statement, command, question, and exclamation. In an earlier fantasy we had Bobby Balooba battle with a  space ninja (I was trying to get the boys attention.), so all they want now is to have Bobby battle other characters. I told them we already had a fighting story and that this one should be about friendship. Well, it turned into more of a love story. There were giggles, whispers, and kissing noises as we brainstormed and wrote.

Bobby Balooba and Lovely Lily

First, Bobby Balooba goes with Lovely Lily to the forest. 

Next, Bobby asks, "Will you walk with me?"

Then Lily whispers, "Hold my hand and I will walk with you."

Bobby yells, "I love you Lovely Lily!" 

Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

The Urmston Card

BEFORE

AFTER

We use sound and spelling cards, with pictures, in the classroom to help students relate sounds, letters, and spellings. The picture for one of the r-controlled vowels is "earth" .

The week I introduced this sound, we were trying to brainstorm some words that use this sound. One little buddy said, "Hey, Earth is like Urmston." We decided that it should no longer be called the "earth" card, but now we would call it the "Urmston" card. If we were sounding out the word "burn", to read or spell, in sound-card lingo it would be: Beiber-Urmston-Nurse. Of course we had to put an Urmston picture on the card. Later, I sneaked into some other classrooms and put Urmston pictures on their earth cards.

Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.