Help Please!

Alright, it is time I graduate to the next level of blogging.  I REALLY need a blog button and signature for the bottom of my posts. 

I have tried reading posts on how to make these and a) I do not understand the directions and/or b) I do not have time to sit down for hours on end at my computer trying to figure this out.

So, I am asking (actually begging) for someone to either make me a blog button and siguature or tell me who can.  I am willing to pay (giftcard) for your services.  I just really need some help.

Thank you in advance...I really need your help.

Moving Monday...Community Builder Activity

Welcome to week 3 of Moving Monday!

This week I have decided to highlight a community building activity.  Students have been in school for a couple of weeks now and they are beginning to feel more comfortable in their new classroom, with their peers, and with their teacher.  Most teachers do not continue to do community building activities beyond the first week of school, but as students become more comfortable with each other these activities can again be beneficial for the classroom community.

This week's activity is a play off of the old "Telephone" game we all played when we were younger.  Students pass compliments to each other while playing a familiar game.

Let me know how it works in your classroom and with your learners!

Pass the Compliment

From: Udvari-Solner, A. & Kluth, P. (2007). Joyful learning. Active & collaborative learning in the inclusive classroom. Corwin Press. See www.paulakluth.com for related content & ideas.

First Field Trip

It was another crazy, crazy week but on Friday, the 4th grade went on their first field trip of the school year.

We walked to a local park and History House near school to partake in some trader activities.  The students were able to see people dressed in traditional clothing, how guns were loaded and shot, how to pan for gold, make soap, make candles, and how people lived.

This was a great field trip (especially since it was free) and the students really learned a lot while being able to do hands-on activities.  The students are going to have a lot of background knowledge in the spring now when this is discussed during social studies.



Here the students are learning about the old guns.




 

The gold miners' camp with animal skins.

Panning for gold.

Working hard to find the gold and put it in the container.

Sifting through the stones.

The miners' camp again.

Time to learn about making candles.

And how to make soap.

The students also were able to do a craft.

What the finished products could look like.

I love field trips...I feel it gives the students amazing experiences to connect to their learning.  Even with increased pressure on test scores and standards, it is nice to get as many of these experiences as possible throughout the school year.  So, thank you to the individuals who organized this great activity!

Halloween Giveaway

I had to repost this amazing giveaway for one of my favorite holidays...Halloween!

What the Teacher Wants and Lesson Plan SOS are having an amazing giveaway for 5 people.  They are giving away all of their lessons for Halloween.  Hop on over to their blogs and check it out!



Moving Monday...Popcorn!

Welcome to week 2 of Moving Monday!

This week I am introducing Popcorn another active learning strategy from Joyful Learning.  This activity has endless possibilities and can be modified numerous ways to fit your classroom, learners, and preferences.

This activity, as described in Joyful Learning, "...is controlled chaos at its best."  Students fly around the classroom during transition times in random directions just as popcorn does.  "This activity is useful for the times when you want students to share information, teach and learn from each other, and get ideas or opinions from more than one person in a very short amount of time."

Please enjoy this activity and come back to let me know how it went in your classroom and how you modified it for your learners.

Popcorn



Enjoy!

From: Udvari-Solner, A. & Kluth, P. (2007). Joyful learning. Active & collaborative learning in the inclusive classroom. Corwin Press. See www.paulakluth.com for related content & ideas.

Student Behavior Log

It is official, my favorite time of the year is here.  Cool temperatures, football on the TV, and my wonderful husband is making chili for supper!  So, this will be short and sweet...

Since I am a special education teacher I spend a quite a bit of time on behavior and behavior management.  In addition, part of the research I am doing this year focuses on behavior so I made a different behavior chart to use this school year to help me keep track of the behaviors my students are displaying throughout the school day and the consequences to their behaviors.

Please feel free to use this chart...Student Behavior Log

Question...

We are about to finish our second week of school (our first FULL week) and life is crazy! 

I have a question for special education teachers out there and/or general education teachers...

I would like to know how other special education teachers maintain continuous communication with the teachers that they work with and with parents?  I just have not found a system that I like yet to make sure everyone is always on the same page. 

I am working with less teachers this year than I have in the past so it is somewhat easier to constantly check-in with these teachers but I guess I am wondering what kind of systems (that have worked) that other people are using out there.

As far as with the parents...my students are mostly 4th graders so they need to begin to be accountable for themselves and be able to bring things back and forth to school but there is not always that follow through with home to school.  How do you maintain communication with parents, make sure the students are organized, and not have to run around like a chicken with your head cut off at the end of the school day writing in every student's agenda or home-school notebook.

I am open to any suggestions...just wondering what everyone else does.  Communication is one of the most important aspects of my day to day job and I feel it needs to be improved...