M & M Review

The M & M review is a staple in my classroom. My students ask for it year after year. I have used other small treats that have worked just as well such as Skittles, Candy Corn and even Goldfish!

The day before a content test such as science or social studies, I always did a verbal review. I asked each student a question. Problem was they only paid attention to their question. By offering a small prize for a correct response and the chance of another prize, I had students very excited to answer. Here is the procedure.

I would ask one review question and then call on a student at random. I would not repeat the question so the students had to be listening. If the student answers the question correctly, then they earn the prize. If not, no prize is awarded and I go to the next question and student. To keep students interested, I allowed the student to call on a lifeline. They could ask one student to answer the question for them, even if they already had a turn. If the question was answered correct, both students received the prize. If incorrect, no prize was awarded. Rules were simple. You had to stay seated and if you knew the answer you would raise your hand and hope to be called on. I can not tell you how excited my students would become!

I could not believe how much my students enjoyed this. I was even able to move the prize over into other areas such as cleaning up after art projects. I would announce, anyone who brings me five pieces of trash (cut and paste always made a mess!) would get ONE M & M or prize. It was amazing what I could get my students to do for just one M & M or Skittle. Sometimes, just the suggestion that it would be awarded would get my students motivated.

Parents did not seem to mind that the students received these small prizes. They knew it was only one or two a day and never every day. I had parents sending in the small favors and my students and I reaped the benefits.

Weekly Book Reports

One successful activity I started a few years ago was a weekly book report. Each Tuesday students were assigned a new book report to be completed by the following Tuesday. I chose Tuesday as this was the day we went as a class to the media center. I had many reasons for giving this assignment. I wanted students to interact more with the independent reading they were doing. I wanted to hear about what was being read. I wanted an independent assignment that students could practice time management and organization.

 

I only set aside time to explain the assignment, usually right before we left for the media center. Students were not to take the assignment home, as I did not want parent involvement. I also did not accept them late. I would remind students for the first couple of weeks to work on it during independent times. I posted a sample on the board illustrating what was expected along with the due date and extra copies.

 

My requirements were the same every week. To receive full credit on the assignment, students were given the following criteria:

• Correct capitalization, punctuation, and spelling of the title and author information.
• Correct capitalization, punctuation, and spelling of "known" words used in sentences.
• Paper should be relatively free of unnecessary wrinkles and creases.
• Some color must be added to the graphic but the content should still be able to be read. (This was important, as I wanted students to take pride in making a finished product. Even if all they colored were the eyes on the animal graphic, they received credit, as some students do not enjoy coloring.)
• Content​. Student responses should be on level, make sense and be aligned to the assignment objective.

I had great success with these. I spent a lot of time on my sample and would show students how I cared about the assignment. After a few weeks, I would only had to remind them on Tuesday that if it were not done, they had until the end of the day to turn it in. My students were independent with the assignment before too long and I saw tremendous growth in their writing skills.

Get a free copy of Celebrate A Great Book by clicking here!


Book Report

Monster Multiplication Management

Providing students a foundation to memorize multiplication facts can be challenging. It seems some students learn them easy where others need constant help. I find the more things I put in their hands, have them touch, see, read, recite and do, the stronger the quick recall becomes. I have made a multiplication lapbook that can be used as a reference and management system. Students can track which facts they have mastered, review key vocabulary and keep papers together. They can refer to the chart or flash cards that can be stored if they are stuck on a fact. Check out these pictures below.

Front Lap Book

Inside Lap Book

Back Lap Book

I have also made some practice worksheets available which are included with the lapbook in my Multiplication Management Kit available at Teachers Pay Teachers. Click here to purchase.

Science Fair Management

Getting elementary students to independently participate in a science fair project can be a daunting task. I have found that for my students to be able to independently complete a project, they must have a clear grasp of what is expected of them and clear guidelines to help them along the way. In addition to small group and whole group experiments, I developed a management system that has worked for years. I start with breaking the project down into smaller tasks and require them to work on it every week. This prevents that last minute rush of getting it done the weekend before. I give my students a timeline of when assignments are due and I have something due every week. I color code the forms, staple them in reverse order of use to the timeline sheet and students have an easier time remembering what is due this way. I have put together a science fair booklet that includes an experiment from the beginning to end, showing all the parts explained. There is a slide show that goes along with the booklet so you can review with the students the entire process. I also have included a tracking sheet for grading as well as a form that can be used for judging or grading. I have found giving the students due dates of individual parts has really helped them stay on track. I have been able to conference with my students each week with their log book and guide them along. I know which students are getting help and which are not. Even though the students are allowed to seek parental guidance, some do not have the same guidance available. This has been so successful in my third grade class that my principal had all the teachers in grades three through five use the booklet, timeline and forms. I have put everything together in a pack for sale at 
Teachers Pay Teachers. 

Click here to purchase Science Fair Management Kit!

Science Fair Management

Science Fair Handbook