Celebrating the end of the school year...

The last two weeks of school have been a little tough.  Many of my students have already "checked out."  We are tired and ready for summer.  Listening skills are lacking and I'm trying my best to keep the students focused until the last day.  It's very difficult.

To try to get them more engaged, we decided to do one fun activity each day until the last day of school.  At this point, we are only two days away from summer!  Here's our list of activities that we started last Monday:

1.  Name Change Day (my students were able to pick out a new name for themselves and I called them by this new name all day.  I had them wear name tags so I could recall their names.  The class said that I needed a new name too.  Yes!  Now I don't have to hear "Mrs. Bowman" a million times a day!  They decided my new name was Mrs. Namwob (Mrs. Bowman spelled backwards).

2.  15 minutes Extra Recess

3.  Gum Day (students brought their own gum, but I also supplied each student with a handful of Dubble Bubble)

4.  Sit Where You Want Day

5.  Soda Day (students brought their own soda)

6.  iPad Play (I gave the students about 20 minutes of free iPad time)

7.  Donuts for Everyone (This was easy because we won a donut party for bringing in the highest number of Box Tops for the school)

8.  A visit from Miko (My little 10 pound, Yorkie mix paid a visit to the class.  I felt this meeting was appropriate because my students have had to listen to stories about him all year.)

9.  Last Day of School party at Fun Station! 

100th Day of School

Today we celebrated our 100th day of school.  As you know, this is typically a celebration for younger grades, but 5th grade actually celebrated this year because of our Every Day Counts: Calendar Math program.  We started using this program last year in order to complement our Math In Focus: Singapore Math program.  EDC (Every Day Counts) is one of the first things we do each day, and it only takes around 10 minutes to discuss a variety of concepts including measurement, geometry, patterns, money, time, place value, graphing, probability, etc. (the concepts change each month).  HERE is a brief clip of me leading one of our discussions at the beginning of the year (I intentionally did not call students by name).

Since the first day of school, we have been counting each day in decimal form, using hundredths.  We write each day/number in decimal form, fraction form, and a percentage so the students can see the connections between decimals, fractions, and percents.  Because we are counting in decimals, our 100th day marked "1 Whole" for the 5th graders:

We celebrated by walking next door to Circle K and getting Polar Pops:

This was a special treat because the students never get sodas, and we've never walked off campus to get these treats.  It was a surprise mini "field trip" that everyone enjoyed!

Happy 100th/"1 Whole" day of school!

P.S.  Just for some silly fun, here's a video showing 100 people, ages 1 to 100 (in chronological order), playing the drums: 

Think Pink

Last week, we kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a School Spirit Day on which we all wore pink.  The campus was decorated with signs and balloons, and my students came dressed in pink from head to toe.  Five of my kiddos walked in with pink hair!  We had pink shirts, shoes, socks, bracelets, laces, etc.  We didn't know there would be a contest to see which class had the most pink...but we were one of the top three winners!

The school also set up a prayer garden for those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.  Names were submitted of those who are currently battling the disease, have overcome the disease, or have lost their battle.  The names will be kept up during the month of October.  I submitted my Aunt Donna's name--she is a two-time breast cancer survivor!

Volunteer Appreciation Gifts



This year, I had several moms volunteer their time each week in my classroom.  I had a copy mom, a grading mom, a mom who put the newsletters and student work together, and reading group moms.  They were a huge help and I wanted to do a little something to show my appreciation.  I found many ideas on Pinterest.  CLICK HERE to check out my "Gift Ideas" board. 

 

I decided to go with a "mint" bag and popcorn (and of course a hand-written Thank You note):      

I put a variety of mints in a bag and printed off the adorable, colorful tag from April's TPT site: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Parent-Volunteer-Appeciation-Gift-Tags-Cards-231826.   

I made the popcorn tags myself and attached a bow (not shown).  I also made this little note in a Word document, but the idea came from Pinterest:

My parent volunteers were amazing and deserved more than this!  Even though it wasn't much, I think they appreciated the gesture and I certainly appreciated their help!

End of the Year Activities

Last week, I randomly came up with a fun activity that I had no idea would be such a hit!  On Monday, during snack, my 5th graders and I were talking about name meanings.  I asked the kids, "If you could choose your own name, what would it be and why?"  I would like to be named Lauren because I think it's a beautiful, feminine name.  After talking for a while, I suggested that the students come up with a name they'd like to be called and I would call them by that name on Friday.  They were thrilled!  I had no idea this was such a gift--I could have been using this as a reward during the school year!  Ha!

Anyway, Friday came and they had to get their names approved by me before they could write it on their nametag and stick it to their shirt.  It had to be an actual name.  I wouldn't approve "Iron Man" or anything like that. 

My boys wanted to be the characters from Duck Dynasty so I had Willie, Phil, Jase, Jep, and Si in my classroom.  I also had Elmer, Leroy, Carlos, and Sheboudaquay (I don't know where they came from!).  The girls were a little more serious.  I had Jessica, Mia, Rose, Miriam, Sadie, and Heather Mae. 

I called them by their new names all day.  The students would snicker when I'd ask questions like, "Elmer, how did you come up with 40% as your answer for problem #10?" or "Can you tell me the difference between monocots and dicots, Willie?"  It sounded so silly!

The kids were having so much fun with this and at one point during the day, I overheard a student tell another, "Man, I wish we could do this every Friday...or at least do something cool every day until the end of the year." 

That comment made me think.  I would love to do something special each day until the end of the year (I'm getting weary too, ya know).  It would be nice to have something fun to look forward to.  I quickly remembered an "End of the Year Activity" pin from Pinterest and decided to use the idea.

After school, I blew up colorful balloons (8 to be exact, since we have 8 days of school left) and hung them from the ceiling.  Each balloon has a sheet of paper inside with a fun idea/activity written on it.  We will pop a balloon each day and do whatever activity is listed.  My activities cost virtually no money and I knew they would be something the students would enjoy.  Here they are:

1. Sit where you want for the day
2. Hold one class outside
3. Trip to the Treasure Chest for everyone!
4. Popsicle Party (This was the only thing that cost me money, but a box of popsicles wasn't expensive.)
5. Icee Attack! (We will walk next door to the Circle K and get Icees.  This is something 5th grade does once every 9 weeks.  Parents send in money for this treat, so it doesn't cost me anything.)
6. Have a "Study Hall" so that you can finish your homework at school.  (Trust me; this will excite them.  I know it doesn't sound awesome, but they've been begging me for a "Study Hall.")
7. 15 minutes extra recess
8. $20 in tickets for everyone (The tickets/money is part of my behavior management plan)

Check out my "End of the School Year" board on Pinterest for more ideas:  CLICK HERE

Mother's Day Project

Each year, I have my students create a TIME Magazine for their moms as a Mother's Day gift.  We announce the "Mother-of-the-Year" and inside each issue, the kids write articles about their family, what they appreciate about their mom, etc.  I love this project, but it needed some updating.  Here's a photo of the previous cover:

The students would glue a picture (or draw one!) of their mom on the front.

Here's a photo of the cover I'm using this year:

Now, instead of the TIME Magazine, we are working on Mom's Gazette.  I found this cover on Pinterest, but click HERE for the link to Martha Stewart's site. 

Here are pictures of the inside pages, as well as a direction sheet.  I'm sorry that the pictures are a little dark and fuzzy.  If you wish to print these, I've attached the documents below.  Be warned--sometimes Google Drive changes my font and distorts my documents.  If you know why and can offer a solution, I'd love to hear your suggestions! 

For "Cover Story" download, CLICK HERE

 

 For the "Interview" sheet, CLICK HERE

 

 For the "Family" page, CLICK HERE

 

 For the "Sports" section, CLICK HERE

 

 For the "Personal Interests" page, CLICK HERE

 

For the "Famous Sayings" section, CLICK HERE



For the directions, CLICK HERE

 

Once the pages are complete, I bind them with a binding machine and they are nice and sturdy.  What are your favorite Mother's Day craft ideas/projects?  



April Fool's Day

I love practical jokes and had several ideas on how to "get" my students today.  I decided on the most light-hearted prank, however--one that would leave them disappointed only for a moment.  I went with the "Brown-E's" joke from Pinterest:

During snack today, I told the students that I was so proud of their recent behavior and I thought they deserved a special treat--brownies!  They were so excited!

I passed out paper plates and napkins and had the students close their eyes.  When a brown letter E was placed on each plate, I said, "Open your eyes and enjoy your brown E's!"   

April Fool's!!  They all got the joke, but weren't too thrilled until I pulled out actual brownies for them.

Did you pull off any fantastic pranks?  Did your students try to prank you today?  

Holy Week

Last week was very special because I had the opportunity to teach my 5th graders about Holy Week and the Easter story.  At the Christian school where I teach, every grade level focuses on the Easter story in some way.  For the past few years, I've shown the JESUS film during Holy Week, along with my lessons, and it's been quite powerful. 

The movie is kind of old (1979), but the kids enjoy it and we follow along in the book of Luke as the film is narrated.  The movie is two hours long, so we watched 30 minutes each day and then concluded with an Easter craft on Friday morning (we had a half-day).

Here are snapshots of the lessons I taught throughout the week:

Day 1 Lesson--The Triumphal Entry

• I reminded students that Palm Sunday celebrates Jesus's arrival into Jerusalem.
• Scripture focus:  Matthew 21:1-11
• Essential questions:  "What makes Jesus different from every other religious leader in history?"  "What makes him different from every other human being in history?"

Day 2 Lesson--The Last Supper

• We focused on the betrayal of Jesus and the last supper He and His disciples shared together.
• Scripture focus:  Matthew 26:1-30 and John 13:1-20
• We discussed how, in John 13, Jesus's act of washing the disciples' feet during the supper was a great example of selfless service.  We, as Christians, are to remember this act and humble ourselves, giving generously to (and serving) others.

Day 3 Lesson--The Garden of Gethsemane (Jesus Prays)

• We read about how Jesus predicted Peter's denial as well as how Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane.
• Scripture focus:  Matthew 26:31-46
• Discussion questions:  "In verse 39, is Jesus saying he doesn't want to die?  Why do you think He asked God to 'remove this cup from me'?"  "What does it mean, in verse 39, when Jesus says, 'Yet not as I will, but as you will'?  How is this a good model prayer for us?"

Day 4 Lesson--The Crucifixion

• We read about Judas's betrayal, Peter's denial, and Jesus's crucifixion.
• Scripture focus:  Matthew 26:47-27:66
• We discussed how the crucifixion of Jesus is a difficult thing to imagine.  Even though it makes us sad to think about, we can see from the scripture how much God loves us.  As Jesus died on the cross, He forgave those who were persecuting Him.  As Christians, we should forgive those who hurt us.

Day 5 Lesson--The Resurrection

• We read the best part of the story--how Jesus rose from the grave!
• Scripture focus: Matthew 28:1-20; 1 Corinthians 15:12-58
• We discussed how significant the resurrection is.  In no other religion has a "god" raised himself from the dead.  Jesus triumphed over sin and death and He has the power to take us to be with Him when we die. 

I do a different Easter craft each year and this year it was sand crosses from Oriental Trading.  ;) 

The students really liked this craft and I liked the fact that they could do it on their own with very little assistance from me!  They each turned out differently but they all looked great. 

I hope everyone has a Happy Easter!  He is Risen!

Teacher Appreciation Week

We have a wonderful PSO at our school that works hard each year to treat all the teachers to a special week--Teacher Appreciation Week.  It's not celebrated around National Teacher Appreciation Day in May.  Instead, we celebrate it in February/March each year because it works better with our calendar.  Anyway, each day is assigned its own theme.  This year...

Monday was prayer day and the teachers were treated to popcorn and smoothies:

Tuesday was school supply day:

Some of my students forgot to bring in supplies on this day (it's totally optional, by the way!) but they brought them in the next day and I ended up with more supplies than what is shown.  Crazy!

On Wednesday, we were treated to an incredible breakfast and then cookies and milk at the end of the day:

Thursday was gift card day:  (And we got strawberry plants)

On Friday, we were treated to lunch and a special surprise:

Several PSO members crashed my classroom around 1:15 p.m., dressed in camo, and delivered my "Survival Kit" full of goodies, gift certificates, and coupons for free stuff at local vendors.

I had a great Teacher Appreciation Week!

All About Pi

Since today is March 14 (3/14--Pi Day), we decided to celebrate by learning more about this mathematical constant.  After watching a BrainPop video on pi, listening to a Flocabulary clip on pi, and reading the book, Sir Cumference and the Dragon of Pi by Cindy Neuschwander, we enjoyed a blueberry pie at snack time and prepared for our afternoon activity with the high school students.

The 9th/10th grade geometry teacher and I decided to have our students collaborate on an activity that would require them to create various circles and then measure the diameter and circumference of each in order to calculate to find pi.

We met on the field, where the students gathered ropes and tied one (at a time) to a secure pole in the ground. 

The rope was pulled taut and measured (this was the radius).  We then secured the loose end of the rope to a distance measuring wheel and walked around in a giant circle.

The students took the circumference and divided it by the diameter (2 times the radius) and should have ended up with pi (3.14).   

It was a little difficult for my 5th graders to keep the rope pulled tight as they walked around in a huge circle, so we got close, but no pi.  We were very close at 3.12 and 3.13--and a few other numbers that I can't remember.

The students had a blast with this activity and were so excited to see who could "get the closest to pi."

P.S.  One of my girls got the closest, which made my boys jealous.  Everything's a competition, don'tcha know.

Happy Pi Day!

Digital Learning Day 2013

Image from Google

This year, February 6th is National Digital Learning Day.  Digital Learning is "any instructional practice that effectively uses technology to strengthen the student learning experience.  Digital Learning Day is one day that highlights this practice, but the hope is that it will continue year round."

I signed up to take part in this event, but I didn't plan anything over-the-top for my class.  I decided to keep it simple and focus on three things.  I introduced my students to glogs, showed them how to create a word cloud through Tagxedo, and got them started on KidBlog.  I gave my students a writing assignment this morning and asked them to share how they use technology to help them with schoolwork, explain what they like about the way I use technology in the classroom, and offer one suggestion on how I can improve my teaching (with technology).  I enjoyed reading their feedback and a few of them offered good suggestions.

I informed my co-workers of DLD and let them know that you don't have to have fancy tech tools (i.e. Promethean board or iPads) to participate.  You can simply introduce your students to a new website like www.flocabulary.com, observe in a technology-rich classroom, video-tape yourself teaching a lesson (and review it to improve your practice), or just get on Twitter and connect with other educators.

Here are a few sites that I found helpful: 

• http://digitallearningday.org/ (Check out Project 24)
• http://pinterest.com/diglearningday/ (DLD on Pinterest)

Save the date for February 5, 2014--the next DLD!