Attitude of Grattitude

 

"Gratitude rewires the brain, boosting happiness, reducing depression, and improving overall well-being." according to the case study done by Tremendo. I found this to be true in my life as well and began thinking of ways we could help students cultivate an attitude of gratitude.

I believe it starts with US!

1. Lead by example. 

If we are going to help students practice gratitude, we need to be doing it ourselves. I love to let students know I am grateful for them by writing them notes, praising them, having lunch with them, and asking them specific questions to know them better.  I also write down 5 things I'm thankful for each day. Teachers could incorporate a time in their day where students quickly write down things they are thankful for. (See next idea). This simple action has truly helped me be grateful for the small things in my life, see how God has his hand on every detail of my life, and helps me choose joy each day.

2. Daily Gratitude Time

When I was in the classroom, I allowed my students a few minutes each day to complete a Daily Check In via a Goggle Form. I asked them how they were feeling, what they were thankful for, and what goal they had for themselves for the day. I would read these quickly before class got started and it helped me know where my students were emotionally for the day, gave me specific things to talk with them about, and encourage them to see their blessings. We also had a Thankful Thursday class meeting each week. This was a time students were able to share out loud what they were thankful for and give compliments to one another. 

3. Classroom Activities

Each month, I tried to incorporate an Acts of Kindness activity tied to the month, season, and/or holiday where students could let others know they were thankful for them or give back to our school. This helps students experience the joy of giving to and helping others. Some of the activities I have done include HartAttack, Light Up Our Classroom, and Gratitude Challenge.

I'm thankful you took a few minutes to read this. Let me know if you try any of the ideas here or how you help cultivate an attitude of gratitude in your classroom. 

Celebrating Student Writing

 

"If it is worth learning, it is worth celebrating." I have always believed in celebrating students in big and small ways. I recently listened to This Teacher Life Podcast by Monica Genta and in her episode, she said, "In schools we need more clapping than criticizing." This made me think about what are we doing to celebrate students on a regular basis. 

As a language arts teacher, I love to celebrate student's writing. Writing is not always a preferred subject, so I like to celebrate it even more. 

Here are a few easy ways to CELEBRATE student writing...

1. Author's Chair- Almost every day, a few students get to share their writing in the Author's Chair. This idea is from Brian Kissel. We always give a compliment or two and then the author gets to pick the other feedback they receive. Click here for a copy of the Author's Chair slide.

2. "Be a Writing Thief" Anchor Chart- As students share during Author's Chair and the class hears amazing lines from their peers' writing, we add it to our Be a Writing Thief Anchor Chart. There is no better compliment than your writing being on display as a model for others. 

3. The Golden "H" award- Like the Newbery Award, but because I'm Mrs. Hartzler it was the Golden H in my classroom. You can call it whatever you want. I bought a wooden H and spray-painted it gold. At the end of each unit, I would pick 2 boys and 2 girls to receive this "prestigious" award. They would get a certificate, take a picture with the Golden H, and then I would email the picture home and brag on them. Click here to grab a copy of the certificate. 

                                           

4. Pennants- Create a pennant that students can take a picture with or even take home. Celebrate that they are an AUTHOR. I always tell my students words are so important, and their words can tell their story and change the world. Click here to grab the template for the pennant. Edit it to say whatever you want it to say. 

 Let's clap loud and celebrate our students!

Compound Sentence Scoots

I am always looking for ways to make Patterns of Power and grammar more engaging, interactive, and fun for students. I also love Lead4ward and their Instructional Playlist. One of my favorite strategies is Odd One Out. It helps students extend their thinking, go deeper, and make connections about their learning at the end of a lesson or unit. 

1Compound Sentence Scoot #1

I changed up the activity a little bit and paired it down to two choices. As students become more proficient with compound sentences you can add in more choices. I created this activity to be done as a scoot with a partner. It gets your students up moving around and discussing and collaborating with a peer. Students have to read the two sentences, decide which sentence is written correctly, then write the incorrect sentence correctly. I think doing a few whole group to introduce the activity would be a great idea. Click here for this scoot.

Compound Sentence #2

The second compound sentence scoot has students choosing the correct conjunction and then joining the two sentences to create a compound sentence. As you introduce more conjunctions, you can add more choices to the slides. Click here for this scoot.

With each scoot I include a recording sheet for your students, but they can use a regular piece of paper as well. Feel free to make a copy and edit for the needs of your students. 

End of Year Reflection Activities

As another school year winds down, I love taking time to reflect on my goals for the year, talking about my favorite moments, and making the most of each day left with my students. I was thinking of some new ideas to do with students that would engage and motivate them in them in the last few weeks. 

1. Class End of Year Bucket List

I always create a Summer Bucket list with my own children, so I thought what about a Class End of Year Bucket list. You could brainstorm ideas together from things they want to recreate or do again to small things that will build memories these last few weeks. 

I made a simple template with some ideas, but you can tweak, make it your own, and definitely change up the list itself! Grab a copy of the Class EOY Bucket List here.

2. Student Reflection

I love reflecting on the year and remembering the best read alouds, stories written, favorite moments, and growth that was made. I created a digital student reflection by the numbers. Students can add their picture, number of books read, words written, share percentage of effort, participation and leadership they showed, insert their favorite read aloud, and share their strengths and all they learned. Making even more personal by adding a QR code sharing what they are proud of. Use vocaroo.com to record their voice and download a QR code.

As always tweak to make it perfect for your class. Grab a copy of the Student Reflection here.

3. Memory Lane-

Reflect individually or as a class. Students can add their own favorite memory, growth, or celebration from the year to the butcher paper. Also, it would be a great decoration for end of year party for parents to read and see all the great things happening in the classroom!

Performance Matter Help Sheets

 At our Data Digs this last week, we dove into Performance Matters to help analyze our most recent DPM data. We were able to find great data with Performance Matters that helped us create small groups based on TEKS, look at what we may need to reteach whole group, and what we need to change in our teaching to help students better understand a concept.

It took some trial and error with in Performance Matters to find what we were looking for. A 5th grade teacher helped me find (or what we think is) the best way to manipulate Performance Matters to get the information we want. I created some help sheets that give step by step directions to get to the data you may want and some questions to reflect on along the way.

Grab a copy of the help sheets here!

Please let me know if you have any questions or if you have found other ways to sort data in Performance Matters that you find useful.

New Year Reflections

 

Happy New Year! 

I love the start of something new! In education, I love that I have two chances to reflect on my life and set new goals. 

With my own family, we sit down and reflect together and then talk about the year to come.

This would be a great thing to do with students this year as well. Students love 3-2-1 FriYAY, so I created a 3-2-1 New Year Reflection. I'm excited for the conversations and the community it will help build for the remainder of the year. 

Click here to grab a copy of the digital template of 3-2-1 New Year. 

You can have students fill out digitally, print a copy for each of them, or complete as a scoot.

For the scoot, print a blank copy for each student and place the 3-2-1 sheets up around the room. You could partner students up in groups and have them rotate and discuss as they go around. 

Happy 2022!!

Digital Maze Activities

I was wanting to create a digital maze practice for our students that was similar to our mclass testing. I was researching some different options and came across this template. I thought it was great! I quickly created one for 3rd grade reading and math, but you could easily use the maze template with any grade level and content area or even just vocabulary.

This activity would be great for blended learning in a digital studio or future ready as the students could create their own maze for another classmate. This would show great understanding of the concept and transfer of knowledge.

Click here to make a copy of the reading maze.

Click here to make a copy of the math maze.

I highlighted the correct answers in the second slide, so when students are done they can remove the box and self check their answers. 

You could share this in Schoology as a Google Slide or Kami assignement. Kami makes it super easy for students to highlight the correct answer. 

How might you use this template in your classroom or subject area? 

Reading Detective Notebooks

When planning with my teacher's for our upcoming Reading Units, I noticed a similarity and common ideas between 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade. I love how each grade builds upon the previous one. We started thinking and brainstorming how we could be aligned. We are all going to be some type of detective to dig deep for clues in the texts we are reading to strengthen comprehension and thinking beyond the text. 2nd grade is more broad and will be Reading Detectives, and 3rd and 4th grade will be focusing on tracking their characters. A theme never hurts to build excitement in our students! :)

I created some Reader's Notebooks to go along with the lessons and skills the teacher's will be teaching. Teachers will create an anchor chart during their mini lesson that will correlate to the graphic organizer in the Reader's Notebook. You can print 2 slides to a page and cut the notebooks in half, upload the slides in to Schoology for a digital notebook, use Peardeck for collaboration as a class, the possibilities are endless.

Click here for the: 2nd grade notebook, 3rd grade notebook, and 4th grade notebook. Grab your magnifying glasses, put on your detective gear, and lay out the paw prints to track! Let's get excited to UNCOVER clues about the text we are reading and really comprehend what we are reading!

Dot Day Activities

Did you know International Dot Day is this Wednesday, Sept. 15th? 

The Dot is written by Perter H. Reynolds.

International Dot Day is celebrated by adults and children for boosting courage so that their creative potential is released. It is a great day to connect and collaborate, and also to celebrate self-expression.

I created and complied a Slide Deck with a read aloud, some quotes, a song, and some activities I found to go along with Dot Day and inspire creativity.

Click here to grab a copy.

How will you celebrate Dot Day with your students?

Be Brave, Be Bold, BeYOUtiful!

 

Closing the Gap Choiceboard

In order to help my teachers wrap their minds around the Accelerated Instruction that must be done for students that did not pass STAAR, I created a Closing the Gap choice board to help them easily plan for what all students would be working on while the teacher pulled small groups.

This choiceboard was inspired by Stephanie Howell's this or that choice board ideas. It gives students choice while providing differentiation and meaningful activities for all students to be creative, collaborate, and grow.

 Click here to view and make your own copy. 

The This or That boxes can be changed and adapted to focus on skills your students need to review. You could also have 2 or 3 different choice boards that you share based on student levels. Work with teammates to come up with activities. You can change the subjects at the top, add a column or delete one. Set your expectations with your students. Must complete one activity from each subject area or one from reading and math by the end of the week or 2 weeks.

Make it work for you and your students!

Share with students in Schoology so they can assess links in the choice board. You could also print off for those who need a physical checklist.

I plan on talking with my teams at our weekly planning to help come up with engaging activities to make our Closing the Gap time for students purposeful but stress free for teachers.

How are you Closing the Gap with your students?

Google Maps- Pin your Read Alouds

I believe read alouds are the heart of your classroom! Incorporate Google Maps for an extra layer of engagement and excitement. 

Using Google Maps can help you keep track of what you have read, build background information, and integrate Social Studies. Students that have traveled to these places may be able to share additional information as well.

Click HERE for a short video showing you how to create a new map, add a location, and book to your map.

Steps to create your own Read Aloud map:

1. Go to Google My Maps

2. Click Create A New Map and name it

3. Search the location (of the setting, subject's home town, etc)

4. Click Add to Map

5. View in Maps, look at images

5. Add an image of the book and some thoughts on the book if you want

6. Make connections to other books on your map

I do bookmark it so it is easy to find, but it also shows up in your Google Drive.

Here's to traveling the country with your read alouds this year! 

Happy Reading!

 

End of Year Reflections and Surveys

As the end of the year approaches, I love to reflect on the year and see what went well and how I can improve. I also like to survey parents and students to get their thoughts and feedback. I like to see all sides and angles from all stakeholders. Remember to look for trends as you review your results.

A few quotes I love about reflection:

Use your reflection and surveys to grow as an educator and better version of yourself!

Grab a copy of my parent survey here. Remember to make a copy and edit as you need.

The student survey is the most important to me. My job is to serve and love these students each and every day. If they are concerning responses, I will have individual conferences with the students before they leave my class. I also use this survey to make some changes for next year.

Make a copy of it here and make changes as needed.

The last week of school we spend time reflecting and reminiscing about the school year. And then students fill out this Reading and Writing Reflection. I love seeing how they see themselves as readers and writers. I left the slides white so students can customize the theme to represent themselves.

Grab a copy here!

I know you have done amazing things this year as a teacher! Reflect, grow, and CELEBRATE all you and your students have accomplished!

Digital Read Aloud Notebook

 

I have been thinking about our final chapter book read aloud for a while now. I wanted to end with the perfect book. I have been influenced by Colby Sharp, and my love of Barbra O'Connor. We will be reading Halfway to Harmony. I want students to think deeply and be able to keep track of their thoughts as I read to them. My campus just became a 1-1 campus, so I created a digital read aloud notebook for us to use. I am excited to introduce it to my students and love that they will have it forever in their Google drive. Hopefully, it will be a sweet reminder of the reading community we created this year.

Click here to make a copy of my reader's notebook! 

It can be edited and adapted for ANY read aloud or ANY book students are reading. 

The notebook includes:

1. Cover Page

2. ABC Boxes-

This graphic organizer will be used throughout the read aloud and foster deep comprehension. We will fill in as many boxes as we can with words (that start with each letter) that pertain to the story and explain the word. You want to encourage students to think about character traits, themes, important events, think deep and outside of the box:)

3. Character List- 

Here we will track the characters we meet throughout the story. Encourage students to think about the strengths and weaknesses of each character, their relationships with others, what motivates them. Also, have them write their feelings and how their thinking changes. 

4. Chapter Thoughts-

We always use Book, Head, Heart and Signposts to help us think deeply and guide our conversations. (You can read more about Book, Head, Heart here.)So on these pages, students will share their thoughts for each chapter. It will also serve as a way to remember what we read the day before. 

5. Final Thoughts-

The last section will be for when we finish reading the book. Students will share how they are feeling, what they loved, what they wanted more of, discuss if and why they would recommend the book to others and any other thoughts they have.

Throughout the read aloud, I will give students time to turn and talk, share with a partner, and share out with the class. I love the conversations that students prompt, and we are able to have together. 

The power of books is amazing and leaves everyone wanting one more chapter read!

Reading Spotlight

One day, my assistant principal did a walk through and left a note of praise and asked a question about independent reading. Her question made me do some reflective thinking and sparked in me our Reader's Spotlight. I wanted a way for students to share what they were reading, thinking, and writing about during independent reading in a quick and fun way. A couple of times each week, we come together for Reader's Spotlight. (Grab a copy of my template)

Students gather together in the front of the room with their book. I ask for volunteers who would like to come forward in to the Reader's Spotlight. They simply share the title of the book and 1 or 2 things off the slide. I brainstormed a list of a few things students could share about and have a question with each to help generate some ideass. You could definitely change this up. And of course, students can always share other thoughts as well. After the student shares, other students can ask any questions they have for the reader. 

Reader's Spotlight benefits include:

1. Communication- students must be able to articulate and clearly share their thoughts with their classmates and respond to questions that are asked

2. Synthesizing & Comprehension- students must combine all the information they are reading, share what is important, 

3. Excitement for Reading- all students hear about mulitple books, authors, genres and get excited about the books their peers are sharing

My students have absolutely loved Reader's Spotlight! I believe this is worth the 5-10 minutes we spend sharing at the end of reading workshop to help build our reading community.

How else do you highlight the books your students are reading during their independent reading time?

 

The Coffee Bean for Kids

 

I finally read Jon Gordon's The Coffee Bean over Spring Break and LOVED the simple yet profound message. I knew I HAD to share it with my students! I ordered it off of Amazon and shared it with them this week. I believe we have the power to choose to make each day great and love the analogy of the carrot, egg, and the coffee bean that Jon uses to describe the power to transform our situation.  One of my student's wrote a poem/song to help us remember The Coffee Bean Rules. Listen here! It's so cute!

After we read the book, students did a quick write. I loved their realizations and their honesty. 

I am going to be passing out Shout Outs to students who are being The Coffee Bean, and students can pass them out too! I already heard conversations in our classroom like, "Are you being the Coffee Bean?" and "What would the Coffee Bean do?"

I am going to print the shout outs 4 to a page. 

Grab a copy of this shout out and my slide deck here.

Have you read it? I highly recommend adding this book to your classroom library to help build and create POSITIVE change!

March Madness Book Battle

March Madness is right around the corner, and who doesn't like to fill out a bracket and root for the underdog. Let's take the fun of the Final Four and bring it to our classrooms!

 Well, it's also no secret that I'm always looking for fun ways to engage my readers and expose them to new books and authors. So last year when I saw different teachers/librarians creating bulletin boards with a book bracket, I knew I had to find a way to do it too. This could be easily adapted for any grade level and used with Connect/Virtual Learners!

I didn't have the wall space to create a bulletin board, so I create a Google Slide with our Book Battle Brackets. Click here to make a copy and put in your own books. 

You could set up your bracket in many ways, but I'll share what has worked for me:

ONE- I set up the bracket before and, starting with the Sweet 16.

8 books we have read before and loved and 8 books are new to us.

TWO- I read the "new" book from one bracket each day for 8 days. After I read it book, students vote on their favorite and the one that will move forward. This always leads to great discussions and some great quick writes. Mentimeter is a great to use for voting and allows your virtual learners to participate as well.

THREE- Once our Elite Eight our chosen, I'll reread the book we had previously read. Then, we will vote again and the winner will move forward.

FOUR- Repeat until your winner is chosen and tweet the authors of the books that are winning. Students love being able to connect with authors. 

FIVE- Pump it up, wear your favorite college team, enjoy new books, and have FUN!

The best part? We are all winners with this March Madness Book Battle!