Good News of the Day

Featured


Each day we take time to write the "Good News" that happens at home, in class, or anywhere else. Featured below is the "Good News" of the day. Now that's Fun!!! Don't tell anyone.
I like the horce that can jump from place to place. Written by #14

Veterans Board

Thank a Veteran Board
In my opinion veterans are Awesome because they make hard ckoices sumtainms they have to leve theyr home. Thats why veterans are Awesome. #14

In my opinion Veterans are terrific because they hard choices. Leave home. that why veterans are terrific.


In my opinion Veterans are awesome because Thay keep us free They mae us fafe thats wh veterans are awesome. #11

In my opinion veterans are super because they keeping us free. They mace smaet rules. That's why veterans are super. #8





Super-Advantage Song Time: Drew Drew Drew in His Birthday Suit

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, academically-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:

Super-Advantage Song Time: Itsy Bitsy Birthday Cake

 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, academically-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:




Itsy Bitsy Birthday Cake
Sung by Room #34 November 7, 2014

Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Spell Up!



We are studying the short U sound this week and we have a list of words for the spelling test. A couple students have had very little success with spelling lists of 10 words. I challenged them to be able to master 3 words this week--cut, bus, and up. I told them if they didn't know these words that "they were fired" and couldn't "work for me" any more. They are good workers so I don't want to fire them. Needless to say, we are practicing everyday.
Today while we were forming a line to go home, I asked one of these students to spell the word--up. He couldn't recall the practice we'd done, and was unsuccessful. I was worried about the other words if he couldn't remember the easiest one. Drastic times call for drastic measures, so the following exchange happened with other students who could spell the word: 

Teacher: Bryan, spell up.
Bryan: U-P
Teacher: Yes, I do everyday. 
Students: (random giggling)
Teacher: Daisy spell up.
Daisy: U-P
Teacher: Yes, every recess. 
At this point, students are giggling and calling out, "U-P!, hee, hee, hee." 
Teacher: Angie spell up.
Angie: U-P
Teacher: Yes, (then I put my hand to the side of my mouth as if I was telling a secret) sometimes in my pants.

Students: (hysterical laughter) AAAaHHH, HA, HA, HA, HA!!

Teacher: Angel, now do you know how to spell up?
Angel: (Angel stares at the ceiling as he taps his index finger to his chin)You pee-pee everyday?
Teacher: NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Now that's fun! Don't tell anyone!

Making "boring" Words

To practice spelling patterns with my third grade class, we "play a game" called making words. On this particular day we were practicing the "OR" spelling. I started by asking students to write a word with the "OR" spelling that means "a ropelike object used to plug in electrical devices". They quickly wrote "cord" as they whispered, or blurted, to their friends the answer. I proceeded saying, "change one letter in cord to make the name of a truck or car-it's a car company". Once again they were so excited to write Ford and show me their word on their personal whiteboards. Then I wanted them to write the word Lord. I told them to change one letter in Ford to make a word that means king or prince. There was silence. Seeing the cluelessness in their faces, I hinted that they may need to think of words from church. A student in the back shouted, "bored!". Now That's Fun!Don't Tell Anyone!

The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak





I don't usually buy children's books for my class. I just check them out of the library. But when I watched the video of B.J. Novak reading his book, I immediately went to Amazon.com and ordered it. Today, I read the book, and I got the exact same reaction B.J. Novak did. I left it in the package and told the class, "I just got this book in the mail and I'm excited to read it to you." So I opened it up and read the title, "The Book With No Pictures", and there were audible groans. I then proceeded to read the book and the students were totally amused. Their reactions were right on cue. It was fun to read it, and even more entertaining to watch students' reactions. When I finished, they wanted to read it again right away. Now That's Fun!! and you can Tell Everyone!!!!



A Straight Line is a Quiet Line

http://content.mycutegraphics.com/graphics/teacher/students-in-line-with-teacher.png 
Walking in straight lines gets us from one place to another in an efficient way. It might not be that fun, but it can be. There are 4 parts to the perfect line, a straight line: 1) is a quiet line, 2) look at the back of the head, 3) no separation, and 4) keep you hands behind your back. If these elements are in a line, it is the perfect line. So we work on making the perfect line on the way to lunch.



"Boys and girls, we will have a straight line to lunch. A straight line is a quiet line. Look at the back of the head of the person in front of you; No separation. Keep your hands behind your back. If we get three strikes we will come all the way back, and therefore, we'll be the last ones to lunch. I don't want to come all the waaaaaaaaaay back, because I'm STARVING! Let's have a perfect line."

A strike is merited if one of the 4 elements is not present. I'll say, "Strike one! Separation." As we proceed through 4 stops, I'll remind students how many strikes we have. We have had to return before. (I'll leave for lunch early if I "feel" like we are going to get  three strikes.) Now that's kinda FUN. Don't tell anyone;)