We Have Winners!!

First, thank you to all those who entered for a chance to win in my 1,000 Facebook Fans Giveaway!  We had a total of 293 entries!!  I used True Random Number Generator to determine the 15 lucky winners!  An e-mail has been sent to all 15 winners with their attached winnings! 

Congratulations!

Also, thanks to all who contributed products to help me celebrate a huge milestone!

Valentine's Theme Cooperative Learning Strategies

Kids are always excited about the upcoming holidays, and as teachers we look for ways to incorporate holidays into our curriculum. Here are a few ways to incorporate Valentine's Day, the curriculum, and cooperative learning. To find directions for the strategies listed below, visit these links within my blog.

  

Cooperative learning possibilities for the holidays are endless!

1,000 Facebook Fans Giveaway!

It's hard to believe, but Cooperative Learning 365 has surpassed 1,000 Facebook fans.  I am flattered, appreciative, overjoyed, and I want to give back to you!  I have some amazing blogging buddies that have been gracious enough to help out with an UNBELIEVABLE giveaway!

Lorraine at Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies, just had a raffle and I love the way it was done!  So, thanks Lorraine for the idea :)!

There will be a total of 14 winners!  The contest starts NOW and will end midnight Friday, January 27.  Random number generator will be used to select the winning entries on Saturday, January 28.  The first name drawn will win the first item on the list, the second name drawn will win the second item, and so on.  There are only two things that you need to do to enter.  Fill out the form below and become a Facebook fan, if you aren't already. One entry per person please!

Here's what's up for grabs: 

Polygon Explorations + Smartboard, Laura Candler, Laura Candler's Teaching Resources 

Reading Rodeo, Carolyn Wilhelm, Wise Owl Factory 

ABC Order Emergency Sub Day, Carolyn Wilhelm, Wise Owl Factory 

Short Vowel Sounds Literacy Center Acivities, Lidia Barbosa, Kids Reading Activities 

Simple Steps to Sentence Sense, Charlene Tess, Simple Steps to Sentence Sense 

Winter Wonderland (Centers for Math and Literacy), Rebecca Sutton, Teaching First 

Just Add Paper Emergency Substitute Plans (Grade 3), Rachel Friedrich, Sub Hub 

Just Add Paper Emergency Substitute Plans (Grade 4), Rachel Friedrich, Sub Hub 

Just Add Paper Emergency Substitute Plans (Grade 5), Rachel Friedrich, Sub Hub

Smartboard Fraction Action, Denise Boehm, Sunny Days in Second Grade 

Friendship Writing Center, Erin Wing, Small Types 

Write at Home, Erin Wing, Small Types 

American Government:  Local, State, & National, Mary Lirette, Mrs. Lirette's Learning Detectives 

Substitute Folder, Crystal Radke, Kreative in Kinder

Contraction Action, April McNair, A Modern Teacher

Thank you to all those who have contributed to this giveaway!  You are truly wonderful!

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Contest is Closed

I Have...Who Has.. Valentine's

The month of January is flying by, it's unbelievable, and that means Valentine's Day is around the corner. I'm personally not a huge fan of Valentine's Day, never have been.  Is that normal for a girl?  I'm like the girl in the movie Valentine's Day that throws an I Hate Valentine's Day party every year.  I can't explain it, but I've never cared for it.  I have the sweetest husband ever, so that isn't the reason.  My husband and I actually have an unspoken deal.  We don't buy each other gifts, ever.  Not for Christmas, not for Birthdays, and certainly not for Valentine's Day.  We love each other and that is enough <3!

So where am I going with all of this?  I realize that I'm not the typical female when it comes to Valentine's Day and many people L-O-V-E this day, so I made a set of I have...Who has... cards as my gift to you!  The third and last classroom party for the year is coming up and this game is loved by many, so why not share the love?

You can download this HERE freebie in my TpT store!

Another Go Green Strategy

Do you have a set of flashcards laying around?  Maybe a set of play money or mini Judy clocks?  How about a set of reading response cards?  Ask 'n' Switch is a great strategy to use with these items.  Simply whip out a set, and you instantly have an activity for reviewing or closure of a lesson. 

We always have scratch paper available from our recycle box.  Have students make their own card to quiz each other.  For example, in Social Studies we study Missouri History.  After studying the regions of our state, I had my students write one fact from any region they chose.  On the backside, they wrote the region associated with the fact.  We created an instant set of Ask 'n' Switch cards, learning was differentiated, and a fun interactive activity was put into motion.

I love this strategy!  It is definitely one of my favorites!  What other ways could you use this in your classroom?

Love to Joplin Linky Party

As a fellow Missouri teacher, I want to share in the giving!  May 22, 2011 is still fresh in my mind even though we are 70 miles east of Joplin.  I have pictures of the sky that I took from my front porch  after the tornado, and I didn't even know the true devastation that was left so close to home. 

Even though I wasn't personally impacted, watching Extreme Makeover this evening brought tears to my eyes.  The people of Joplin have endured so much, yet they find the courage and compassion to march on and help each other.  It is absolutely amazing!

Erica, a Joplin kindergarten teacher, is looking for support for their teachers and she wrote this:

I teach in Joplin, which made worldwide news last May when our town was cut in half by an F5 tornado. Many of our elementary schools were destroyed or damaged, and as teachers, we have had a roller coaster year. I came from a meeting yesterday where many are struggling with the weight of all we are dealing with. My request is this: would you be willing to donate a created pack of your choosing to give away at a drawing at our upcoming district Kindergarten grade level meeting? The meeting is Monday and I am sorry for the short notice but I did not realize until the meeting how down everyone is feeling. 

Do you want to help spread the love?  Head on over to Mrs. Wills Kindergarten to help out!

Number Sentence Card Pack

I have just completed a cooperative learning card pack for number sentences.  The pack is aligned to Common Core Standards and a list is provided.  There are two versions of the set that can be used in many ways.  There are three cooperative learning strategies provided with detailed directions. 

The card pack is available to purchase in my TpT store.

Fact or Fiction

This may be a familiar cooperative learning strategy for some of you, with many ways to use.  After giving students a task, they write two correct answers and one incorrect.  Not only do students have to come up with correct answers, but they are using higher level thinking when coming up with an answer that is incorrect.

This is a fun strategy for my students.  They love to stump each other and equally love it when their teammate is unable to stump them!

 

Have you used Fact or Fiction?  What other ways could you use it?

Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr.

I have a freebie in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.  Students work cooperatively with classmates using Write 'n' Pass and Find a Buddy Who.  These activities can be completed after reading a book or watching a movie about Martin Luther King, Jr..

You can download this freebie HERE from my TpT store!

Four Corners

Yesterday, I introduced the Four Corners strategy.  Not only can it be considered paperless, but it is a great strategy to get your students moving.  Today, I have a few suggestions on ways to use Four Corners.  Like all strategies there are so many ways to use it! 

No worksheets needed for this activity!

Go Green with Cooperative Learning!

I am beginning a Go Green series.  By going green I will share ways to use cooperative learning in the classroom by cutting back on copies that you make and/or eliminating paper altogether.  There are so many ways to go green, and I can’t wait to share!

Multiples have been on my mind lately.  This is something that my students should know, but it so important that I want to reinforce.  Today I had a few extra minutes, so we did Four Corners.  Before I told them what we were doing, I wrote four numbers on the board (3,5,6, and 10).  Then, they were to pick a number and write it on a sticky note.  I then appointed each number a corner of the room in which they were to locate to.  Once they were in their corner, they found a partner and said the first ten multiples of their number in a popcorn fashion. 

This was a last minute idea with no preparation needed, and my students reviewed their multiples!  Easy, effective, and energizing!