Good News of the Day

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:

Learn how to get a song on itunes at ReverbNation.com We sang this one this week, November 3, 2014, for my nephew. 
Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

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:

Free Electronic Press Kits template from ReverbNation.com

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

 

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;)

School Stories: Be Good

So we were all working silently in class. It was one of those rare moments where 100% of the class is quiet and working. As I was reveling in the calm, the office secretary came over the intercom and said, "Please send Joe to the office. He's going home."  This broke the quiet and everyone informed Joe that he needed to go to the office. I informed them that he heard the message and they need to keep working. Joe informed me that he knew where he was going. "My sister has a back and it is really gross. It has something all over it." The other students grossed out to this. They must have been imagining how gross the back was because I had know idea what he was talking about. I did know that the wonderful silence was gone and I was quickly losing control of the class. "Okay guys, let's get back to work. Joe you need to bring your homework tomorrow." Then everyone proceeded to announce that their homework was already finished, or they didn't do their homework, or they forgot to bring it(it's due tomorrow), or they lost it. I realize I have lost control of the class. Joe now begins to say goodbye to everybody and they respond with high fives and goodbyes and see-you-tomorrows. Just as I decide to put an end to this, Joe heads for the door, stops suddenly, raises his finger in the air, and says, "Remember guys . . . . ." I'm thinking, "Oh no you don't! That's enough. No more!" Before I can say anything he says, "Remember guys, be good to Mr. Urmston." YES!

High Frequency Word Journal

Each week first graders need to learn their high frequency words--you see em and say em! We glue all ours in our ELA journal for practice and we write a sentence with an illustration. This week's sentence? "I see a green man."  Now that's fun! Don't tell anyone.

Nice, Quiet Music: Brian Wilson--In The Key of Disney

When students need to work independently, we put on some "nice, quiet, music". Nice, quiet music helps us keep classroom clatter to a minimum. We must be able to hear the music or the classroom is too noisy. Nice, quiet music helps us focus on our work, especially writing, and work at it for a longer period of time. A 2002, University of London, research discovered that, "Calming relaxing music had a positive effect on the number of mathematics problems completed, remembering words from sentences and on reported pro-social behaviour in children aged 10–12 years." Also, listening to nice, quiet music, is good for napping when you finish your work. We hope to find that "In The Key of Disney" by Brian Wilson will have a very positive effect because Kids like Disney and we like Brian Wilson. Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

First Day First Grade

For the first day of first grade we'll be snapping first day foto's with this foto-op prop. The thing I'm most proud of, besides this is a cute idea, is that I got the frame for $2 and the letters for $1. Cuteness and thrift are fun! Don't tell anyone.

Teacher Evaluations

One of the reasons I like teaching elementary school is, occasionally, I'll receive an evaluation like the one that follows. How many people get such an honest, insightful, and fair review from their customers,employee or boss, or peer--however you see it?

My Cool Morning Class Teacher
Would you like to hear? about My morning clas teacher. His name is Mr. Urmston. Mr. urmston has brown hair. He is kind of white. He is tall as Mrs. Todd. He is not too fat or skinny but Medium.
Mr. urmston is married He loves His wife. He is kind of nice and mean. Mr. urmston has four kids and also won a race. He is funny. He likes the smartbord. He dresses handsome. He is strong. He has a lot of safe about him.
Mr. urmston hobbies are. He likes to exsercise eveyday. He rids his bike to school. He loves to play guitar he loves to teach. He is a very cool teacher.

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

Boom Chika Boom

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 "Boom
Chika Boom" cheer goes like this:
 
It's a call and response or echo cheer.
(repeat each line after song leader)

I said a Boom Chicka Boom
I said a Boom Chicka Boom
I said a Boom Chicka Rocka Chicka Rocka Chicka Boom
Uh huh
Oh yeah
(insert name here) is cool! (or smart, or whatever)
 
Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Seal of Approval 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 "Seal of Approval" cheer goes like this:
Stiffen arms, extend them in front of you, and cross them over each other. Clap them as you make a barking noise like a seal. To individualize it we say a person's name three times in a barking sound.
Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

ABC Rhyme Time: Exit and Enter

When it's ABC Rhyme Time, I play the theme song and we all go to the carpet. In our big book we find poems for all the letter sounds we are learning in our phonics lesson. The poem is read the first time to listen for the sound. For example, in Robot Robot we would listen for the "R"/ "rocket" sound. We read through the poem the second time and students listen for the "rocket" sound. When they hear it they are instructed to say a specific word that starts with that sound, like "radical". The third time through we make up a song for the poem. "Enter and Exit" was our song for today.

ABC Rhyme Time

When it's ABC Rhyme Time, I play the theme song and we all go to the carpet. In our big book we find poems for all the letter sounds we are learning in our phonics lesson. The poem is read the first time to listen for the sound. For example, in Robot Robot we would listen for the "R"/ "rocket" sound. We read through the poem the second time and students listen for the "rocket" sound. When they hear it they are instructed to say a specific word that starts with that sound, like "radical". The third time through we make up a song for the poem. Robot, Robot was our song for this day:

Cowboy 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 cowboy cheer goes like this:

Put one finger in the air
and circle it like a lasso as
you say, "Yee-haw!"

If we really want to show our enthusiasm for the work of our fellow students, we add "Ride-em' Cowboy!" Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.

Let's Get Started

Another school year started today. Another empty room comes alive one August day. What was once four walls, bulletin bare, the lights were on but nobody was home, now has a heart that beats rapidly from anxious eyes that trigger an affective filter to be lowered to learn by just one confident, warm, smile. Not just anxious eyes: curious eyes, smiling eyes, tearful eyes, fearful eyes, observant eyes, confused and dazed. Twenty-one strangers gather together to acquire knowledge, experience, friendship, respect, responsibility, compassion, literacy, laughter, companionship, story and song. One hundred eighty days. Another school year started today. The wheels are in motion, the ball is rolling, there's no looking back; eyes forward and I like it. Another school year started today. Let's get going. We're going somewhere, enjoying the journey, and curios about the destination. You never know, so here we go. We're going somewhere, another school year started today.

Rappin Ronnie

One activity we have for phonemic awareness is Rappin Ronnie.When we want to change the initial phoneme to form a different word, Rappin Ronnie comes to class. Rappin Ronnie wears his cap sideways, of course, and he has a big, gold, dollar-sign necklace.  The beats are laid down and the rap begins. 

"My name is Rappin Ronnie and I am here to Rhyme

You can rap with me every single time

Don't be a nerd. Say the word

Here we go. Let's start the show"

Rappin Ronnie then calls the initial sound the students will change by saying one of our sound/spelling cards. "I'm a pilot flying in the air, I'm a pilot and I don't care!" Then Ronnie calls and the students respond, "I say dark, and you say  . . . . . . . ." and students yell, "PARK!" --repeated a couple times. There is dancing and arm waving. I new this was catching on when I overheard a group of first grade buddies with this exchange: "I'm a pilot flying in the air! When I say loop, you say . . . . . . . ." Now that's FUN! Don't tell anyone.