Homework

AH, the much debated issue. Should teachers give homework? How much homework should be given? Should homework be graded? 

My school has a policy that states that students in fourth grade should do spelling homework, work on a Bible memory passage, and study for upcoming tests. 

I decided to give as little homework as possible to my students, keeping in mind that families are busy in the evenings and I would not be at their house to help them. However, that extra study time and opportunity for parents to partner in the child's education is very beneficial. I do not "grade" the homework, but I do give a completion grade for each activity. Homework is never assigned on the weekend.  If a student does not finish their classwork due to playing around or not using time wisely, it is sent home to complete.

Each week, my class learns a new Bible verse that correlates with our Bible curriculum (which I love, by the way). We use ASCI Purposeful Design and study a new doctrine each week, such as the Trinity, Salvation, etc. For homework on Monday-Wednesday, students practice writing their verse in cursive (yes, we still teach that). On Thursday night, students must quote their verse to a parent and return a signed verse slip or note in their assignment book.  

Every Monday-Thursday evening, my students complete a spelling activity. I do not tell them what they must do, but they choose from a list of activities and study in a way that they learn best. Many of my students do various activities throughout the week and then do the "practice test" activity on Thursday night (the day before the test).

Here is my list of spelling activity options- 
 

• Typing - Type each word 3 times on a computer. Print it out.

• ABC Order - Write words in alphabetical order.

• Story - Write a story that makes sense using all of your words.

• Neat Words - Write your words neatly 5 times each.

• Sentences - Write sentences using each word.

• Silly Sentences – write silly sentences using each word. (My pony wears a hat to lunch.)

• Picture Words - Draw a picture and write your words in the picture.

• Goofy Letters – Write each spelling word normal and write it with “goofy letters”

• Puzzle - Make a word search puzzle using Puzzlemaker.com. Print it out and solve it.

• Poem - Write a poem using each word.

• Practice Test - Take a practice test and have your parent sign it.

• Reversed Words - Write each word in ABC order backwards.

• Rainbow Words – Write each word in three times in three different colors.

• Backwards Words - Write each word forwards, then backwards. (smile , elims)

• Ransom Words - Cut out letters from a magazine or newspaper and glue them on paper.

• Pyramid Words – write your words adding one letter at a time. The result will be a pyramid shape of words.

• X Words – Write two words having one common letter so they criss-cross.

• Spelling City – Take a test on SpellingCity.com and print out the results.

• Bubble Letters – Write and then color in your spelling words using bubble letters. 

 

Ransom Note

Procedures Save the Day...and My Sanity....

One of the best pieces of advice that I received prior to teaching was to spend a great deal of time at the beginning of the school year developing and practicing classroom procedures. Here are a few of the procedures that I use in my classroom that work very well.

Entering the room

Come in and put your backpack on your chair. Unpack. Turn in any homework papers on the small desk beside Miss Stuttler's desk. Make sure that you have pencils sharpened and notebook paper in a folder. Put your backpack and other belongings in your locker. Return to your desk and look at the board for morning work instructions. You may have work on your desk to get started on. There is to be no talking during this time. If you have any money or permission forms, hold onto them until the teacher calls your name for attendance/lunch orders.

Using the Restroom

Only one student is allowed to be out of the room at a time. You must ask for permission before leaving and you must have a hall pass. Make sure you flush and wash your hands! If you make a mess, clean it up. If the restroom needs attention, tell the teacher immediately. 

Fire Drill

When you hear the alarm, stop what you are doing, leave everything, and quietly walk directly to the door. We will exit the middle stairwell that leads to the playground and walk to the right towards the parking lot. NOTE- THIS ONE REQUIRED RE-TEACHING WHEN WE DECIDED THAT IT WAS A GREAT IDEA TO RUN OUT OF THE ROOM SCREAMING "FIRE, FIRE!"

After a few times of practicing and a fire safety poster on the classroom door, we no longer have this problem.

Lining Up

Wait until you or your pod/row is called, then quietly stand up, push in your chair, and line up facing forward. Bring all the necessary items you may need with you.

Ending the Day

Clear off your desk, place papers to go home in your homework folder and wait to be called. Once you are called then gather your belongings, quietly sit in your chair, and wait to be lined up. If you have an assigned job, such as sweeping the floor, do that job before sitting down.

Classroom Jobs

Classroom jobs are posted on a bulletin board. These will be changed weekly. Every student will have an opportunity to do every job at least once. The teacher may add a job or ask a student to help a classmate complete their assigned job at times. Such as the line leader may hold the dust pan for the Super Sweeper.

Getting out of seat

Students may not get out of their seat unless they are given permission. If a student needs to throw something away, they should wait until an appropriate time (during the lesson is not an appropriate time).

Classroom visitors

When there is a visitor in the classroom, students should remain in their seats and should not be talking. 

Signals for attention- MY STUDENTS LOVE THESE! Other classes and parents usually turn and look at us like we are crazy...I think we may be. : )

Teacher- Mac and Cheese                    Teacher: Avengers!                   Teacher: Hocus Pocus

Class- Everybody freeze!                      Class: Assemble                    Class: Everybody Focus

 

Asking questions

Students should always raise their hand to answer questions, unless the teacher begins by saying “Class” and then everyone may answer all at once.This procedure has been such a life saver and eliminated a lot of blurting out and confusion about who was to answer.

Superhero Clip Chart

One of the most important aspects of classroom management is having a discipline system. I decided to use a clip chart in my classroom. I know there are a lot of debates about whether or not to use this technique and what age it is appropriate. However, I have found that this technique has worked and been beneficial for my particular group of students. 

This chart so easy to make!
Step 1- Type and print the labels and clip art from computer (using a superhero font).
(Superhero Status, Sidekick, Soaring, Ready to Fly, Warning, Danger Zone, and Kyptonite) 

Step 2- Cut them out and glue onto the appropriate color construction paper or cardstock.
Superhero Status (PURPLE), Sidekick (LIGHT BLUE), Soaring (DARK BLUE), Ready to Fly (GREEN), Warning (YELLOW), Danger Zone (ORANGE), and Kyptonite(RED)

Step 3- Laminate each sign. I love laminating because it allows you to reuse visuals/supplies over and over! This chart is used daily, so it needed to be durable. 

Step 4- Attach the signs together using a long piece of wide ribbon or durable paper and duct tape (The second option was what I chose)

Step 5- Write each student's name on a clothespin and clip to the "Ready to Fly" section. I chose the put the boys on the left side and the girls on the right side. No particular reason, it just kept them from being all on one side. 


How this chart is used in my classroom
Students in my classroom earn/lose points for their behavior. I focus more on the positive behavior and that tends to eliminate much of the negative behavior. I keep a notebook in my desk drawer and record the points at the end of each day.

Superhero Status- Four points

Sidekick-Three points

Soaring- Two points

Ready to Fly- All students start here at the beginning of each day. One point

Warning- Student must fill out a Think Sheet./ -1 point

Danger Zone- Student must fill out another Think Sheet (THIS WILL BE SENT HOME) and conference with teacher. -2 points

Kryptonite- Student must fill out another Think Sheet (THIS WILL BE SENT HOME), conference with teacher, and Behavior Slip -3 points

When students reach 20 points, they will receive a coupon. Coupons may be used immediately or saved and used at any point throughout the school year.  Coupon examples are receiving a no homework pass, choosing an item out of the prize box, sitting in the special chair for the day, and many other fun rewards.

At the end of the month, the top three students with the most points will receive special prizes. 

When a student lands on Warning or below, they must stop and fill out a "Think Sheet"

 It looks something like this:

Name:

Date:

Time:

Student must write at least one complete sentence for each of the following.

What I Did-  

What I Should Have Done-

What I Will Do Next Time-

I also have a box for teacher comments at the bottom.

 Any time that a student fills out two think sheets in one day, they must go home for a parent to sign.

Open House

The day finally arrived when I would meet the students whose names I had written down for weeks. I had imagined what each one would look like and what their personality would be as I prayed for them quite often throughout my day.

My school has an open house a few days before the first day for parents to fill out paperwork and students to meet their new teachers! I did not know what to expect, but came up with a few ideas to help the evening flow smoothly.

At each student's desk, I included a welcome letter, a brief survey, and a couple of treats (to match the superhero theme, of course).

For the parents, I distributed a letter about my background, excitement about this school year, and a few items they needed to know. I also asked them to fill out a contact information sheet and information about their child's strengths/weaknesses/anything else that I would want/need to know.

As students entered, I let them choose where they wanted to sit for the first day of school (this helped them with the transition and helped me figure out which students that I should/should not place together when I made the first official seating arrangement). Many of my students brought their school supplies. I had a pile for each item brought, such as tissues, wipes, dry erase markers, etc. If I could go back in time, I would have labels for each item. Having students bring these supplies has many benefits. One of which, is that it saves a great deal of time on the first day of school. Another benefit is that I could organize those supplies and not trip over them when teaching on the first day of school!

What a great night it was to put a face to each of those names and chat with the parents anxiously awaiting to send their children to 4th grade. We talked about some of the exciting things their children would be learning!

Finally, the day was over and I was ready for bed!

Greetings!

Greetings followers!!

My name is Ms. Stuttler and I am a first year teacher. This year, I have the privilege of teaching an awesome group of fourth graders. I have wanted to start a blog to share teaching ideas and lessons learned for quite some time. Stay tuned for more posts!!

I'll start with the beginning of the school year…

I still remember the first time that I stepped foot into my classroom. The walls were empty, bookshelves and cabinets full of old papers, bookshelves falling apart, creaky floorboards, filthy window sills, and I almost started sweating instantly because it was so hot (the school does not have A/C). But, to me, it was the best room that I have ever seen in my entire life. This was my new home. I could instantly imagine this room being filled with color, excitement, and learning! 

Thankfully, my Pinterest boards were already full of decorating themes. After much deliberation, I decided upon a superhero theme.

Door Decoration- 

"WE LEARN 
WHAT'S YOUR SUPERPOWER?"






Ceiling decorations

I went to Party City and found paper lanterns on sale! They also had colorful masks on sale as well! These hanging decorations added an extra superhero feel to the room.

 Classroom library- Little did I know, this would become the favorite spot for my students. Since this picture, my little library has grown and transformed- more pictures to come! My students love to go to our library and read!

Daily Bugle Homework board- The Spiderman was made by printing a Spiderman template onto an overhead transparency and then tracing on red poster board with a black Sharpie. My original plan was to trace it on white boaster board and then color it red. An older, wiser teacher suggested the red poster board to save some effort. : )

News Flash! This bulletin board is used to display weekly newsletters, articles from the local newspaper that feature my students and/or our school, and almost anything else that my students deem "news worthy". The girls planned "Workout Wednesday" during the months of September and October and displayed their flyer on this board. Another student printed pictures from her birthday celebration at school and brought them for our board.

Wall- I teach at a Christian school and try to find ways to display verses and biblical messages quite often. I found this verse and thought that it fit quite well with our theme.
Job Board- "Looks Like A Job For..." I feel that is is necessary to give students roles in the classroom. Each student in my class has a weekly job. I found some great editable name templates on teacherspayteachers.com and used them for the titles of jobs. I stapled the job titles and placed velcro strips beside each one so that each child's name circle could be easily switched each week.
The jobs on the board include: Line leader, Super Prayer, White board cleaner, Chalkboard cleaner, Trash Destroyer, Super Helper, Desk Wiper, Super Sweeper, Sign Keeper, Librarian, and Lunch Card Distributor.

The seating arrangement at the start of the school year was pod groups. Since then, we have had many different arrangements. I found that switching this up every few weeks really helped this group of students.I will post more of the arrangements as separate posts in the coming days.