Mathematics is Amazing!

Finally,

 

Just felt like having fun!

 

Bag Idea

Well, I love bags in the classroom. As usual, I was searching to see what is new and I ran across this bag idea. It may be something you want to try in your classroom. Can you add any new ideas as to how this concept can be used in the classroom? 

According to Runde’s Room, the Memory Bag is a perfect way to finish the year, and get the students really reflecting on all they have done and accomplished over the year. When the students finish putting together their bags, and presenting them, put them all out, with the goodies spread all around, so that your students can do a gallery walk through the year. 

With these memory bags, students decorate the front panel of the paper bag. They then include two different reflections on each of the side panels, and a larger one on the back panel. On the inside of the bag, they place 10 objects of importance to them that remind them of their accomplishments over the school year. For each item they place in their memory bag, there is a card that they fill out explaining why they have included the object. 

There are lots of options included in the Memory Bags. For starters, there are front panels for grades 2 - 6, so it works for a variety of grades. For each panel, there are numerous options with different questions students can answer. Perfect for differentiation. And a great way to end the school year.

Closing the Poverty Gap Using

S³ Structures, Skills, and Support

Students from poverty can change when the school works with them. When educational leaders and teachers work together to create a more positive learning environment and better instruction for students of poverty they can solve problems systemically and get better results across the board. Schools can be highly effective in working with children from poverty if they are willing to change, too.

To foster change that gets results, educational leaders must provide the following:
Structures-Must promote positive student-teacher relationships. Teachers who form positive relationships, as an ally with their students, can diffuse stress. Stress can also be mediated by increasing students’ perception of control (making relevant choices, self-assessment and leadership roles) throughout the school day.

Skills-Must improve teacher quality. Teachers can implement a variety of strategies to improve students’ working memory, such as organizing information into smaller chunks, encouraging children to visualize what they just heard or read or involving students in peer teaching.

Support-Must build cognitive capacity and growth mindsets in children who are behind. Good teachers find ways to influence their students in ways that help them shape character. This mindset includes teaching students that they don’t choose everything that happens to them, but they do choose their response.                                                                                                        SmartBrief

Teachers think about it! Let try, try, and try some more to get parents involved.

Give It Five (GIF)

When you have a problem, an issue, a dilemma, a crisis, a conflict or something that requires analysis -- lay your hand on it and GIF!

 

 

When a conflict or some other issue occurred between or among students sit them down and ask them to GIF. Have the involved students write about it and share what they wrote. This improved their thinking and writing skills.   

Also, have them talk to one another. Have them look at one another eye-to-eye and discuss the incident in a kind and respectful way to promote character development, using the fingers on one of their hands to guide the conversation of a GIF sheet that contains the following:

• What happened? When did it happen? Where did it happen?
• Who was involved? Why did it happen?
• The palm: How? How are we/you going to solve this problem so that it doesn’t happen again?

Adapted from SmartBrief