word walls

One thing you can do to make it more geared toward 6th grade is let them have control of the word wall. Let them write the words, put them up, etc. I would separate it into different subjects and different colors, so it's very distinct. I have to do a word wall too, as do the rest of my team. Good times...

Word Walls

I thought that 6th graders might be a little old for Word Walls, but apparently this is a requirement of any classroom at my school (maybe in Metro). Because I teach three science classes, one math, and one reading, I would like to include ALL vocabulary...not just typical reading vocabulary. I also don't do a ton of direct vocabulary instruction.

Anyways, how do y'all think it would be best to organize such a wall? I could do it in subjects after dividing the wall into three parts. Or, I was thinking I could just post ABC headers and then put the words under the letter they correspond with. I could do all the science words on green, math on red, and reading on purple--or something like that. I'm quite indecisive, so I need a little help here!

white boards

I am not sure how much access you have to a laminator but we have made a several dry-erase surfaces by simply laminating a piece of paper. The colors don't seem to erase as well, but black works just fine.

We have our first field trip on Monday to the apple orchard! I have planned the whole thing, so I am crossing my fingers that we come back with the same number of children we take. Here's to hoping it doesn't rain...

white boards

ashley,

you can get them to cut pieces of shower board for your white boards at home depot. also, i have about 10 extra boards if you'd like them! my parents brought in a couple dollars at the beginning of the year to pay for the white board markers and i got the skinny black expo ones. they have been good. we have mini erasers, but socks work just fine. 

:)

Funny stories

I'd love to hear some funny stories from people!! Here's some from my funniest (and by funniest, I mean ditziest) student.

Every day after my second reading class, we switch back to our homerooms before going to lunch. This student is in my second reading class as well as my homeroom, so she (and a handful of other students) stay in the room. However, every single day (well into the second week with the same schedule) she left the classroom with the other students switching. And, every day, I'd remind her that she needed to stay in my room. Finally, on the last day of the second week, when she tried to leave after reading, I asked her where she was going. Her response: Spanish class. Which was bizarre enough...making it even more bizarre: our school doesn't offer Spanish class...

My second favorite story (much shorter) was about halfway through the third week. I was helping another student with something when I hear a shriek from across the room. I look up, expecting to see either blood or a bug (the only two things that could warrant such a shriek.) Instead, I see this same girl, with the velcroed part of her messenger bag stuck to her cornrowed hair. I had to try really hard not to laugh as she said, "Miss Peterson, I'm STUCK!" How she got stuck, I have no idea...

My final story is about a different student (and Ashley, you'll appreciate this one.) On the very first day of school, I was chatting with the first student to come into my classroom. So, I asked him what he liked to do outside of school. His response: redneck stuff. Oh Bronson...

Ok, I wanna hear other funny stories!!

white boards

I don't remember anything about donated white boards...However, I've heard of a cheaper alternative. If you put a plain white piece of paper in a page protector and write on it with overhead markers it works pretty well. It's a thought.

Class Set of Whiteboards?

I remember that there is a cheap way to get someone to donate a class set of whiteboards, but I can't remember what it is. I vaguely remember something about Home Depot, but I'm not sure if this is correct or what to ask for when I go. Has anyone done this?

I really need some for my math class!!

I'm using

...this blog. Oh boy, I'm glad I can make myself laugh :-) I second your request, Betsy! Let's use this thing. As for a transition song, I can picture something of a call-and-response (military style). You know, where you say "I'm on paaage 4333." Then the kids say "We're on paaage 43333." "I'm not talking, neither are youuuu". Y'know? I probably could never pull this off (my 6th graders would give that the "uncool" label), but, Betsy, I know you could do it!!

Also, for a cool art project, Do-a-Dot markers are great! They're not exactly cheap, but they last for-ev-er. The kids can dot around paper with them to draw pictures, and that's awesome. For really young kids, they're great for helping them learn letters and shapes. You draw it with a marker (Sharpie, of course), and then they dot on the line you drew. Older kids enjoy using them to create their own pictures--because they only make circle shapes, it really pushes their creativity and imagination. I have some precious pictures my 2nd graders made with these!

Another fun, cheap project is using tissue paper and clear contact paper to make stained glass windows. You can cut it up into small pieces, and the kids just put it down on there. You can make shapes out of black construction paper (at my preschool we did crosses in the middle--that might work for your Catholic school, Betsy) to put over them. Then hang them up, and you're good to go! It doesn't take long for the kids to do, but it's fun and cool!

Hope

No matter how bad your day is, you still may be some child's only hope.

??? I need some art project ideas that are meaningful for them. We painted yesterday, and they were SO pumped about it. Preferably cheap materials too. 

??? Transition songs that will tell them what page to be on, what book to get out, etc. that we can all sing together so they don't talk. 

can we like really use this blog? i made it one of my favorites so i check it a lot. let's use it! i need yall!