Cooperative Learning with Task Cards #2

I will begin by saying.....I'm severely behind and my blog is suffering!  The sickness bug has hit me hard, two weeks tomorrow hard to be exact.  Fortunately it hasn't been the flu, but it has been enough to say I'm sick of being sick!  Sorry, I just realized I played the excuse card that my students try to use on a daily basis.

Now that I have pleaded my case, I have what I promised to share with you.  Another cooperative learning strategy that can be used with the ever so popular task cards.  This is by far one of my favorites.  There are so many ways that this strategy can be used and task cards is just one of them.

To sum up the strategy, each student begins with a card.  With hands up, students find a partner, quiz each other with the card in their hand, check answers, then switch cards.  The process continues until time is up.  You will find complete directions to the strategy below.

Here are other ways that I have used this strategy with my students.

Impromtu Review

Cutting Practice Test to Pieces

Valentine's Theme Cooperative Learning Strategies

If you are looking for task cards aligned to Common Core Math, you can find my 32 sets HERE in my TpT store. 

Do you have a favorite way to use task cards?

Amazing Things #2

If you missed last week's post about finding the AMAZING things as a teacher, I am encouraging not only myself but you also to look for those tiny things that we do that make our jobs as teachers truly AMAZING!

Also, last week's winner of the pin-it to win it is Shannon E.  Congratulations Shannon, check your e-mail! 

Cooperative Learning with Task Cards #1

With test prep season upon us, I am going to start a series of cooperative learning strategies that can be used with task cards.  Whether you have task cards that are multiple choice or simply question/answer format, the cooperative learning strategies can be used to keep your students actively engaged avoiding the monotony of simply answering questions.

Pick a Card is a strategy that I use quite often.  Directions for the strategy are below.

Today's post is one of six in the series.  I have decided to add in a little extra.  I recently finished an entire set of task cards aligned to the 4th grade Common Core Math.  There are a total of 31 sets, and if purchased individually they would be valued at $69.75.  Although these cards are aligned with 4th grade common core, depending on the need of your students, they can also be used with 3rd and 5th graders.  Throughout the series there will be a total of three opportunities for you to win a complete set of task cards.

Today is the beginning of the giveaways.  

Here is what you need to do in order to enter for a chance to win (to enter you will need a Pinterest account):

1.  Pin THIS post to a board of your choice and copy the link in Rafflecopter below.

2.  Go to my TpT store HERE, and pin at least one set of task cards to a board relevant to you and copy the link in Rafflecopter.  Please add a $ sign to the end of the description so that other Pinners will know it's a paid item. :-)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Within the next six weeks in addition to a weekly tip for using task cards, there will be two more chances to win a complete set of Task Cards for 4th Grade Common Core Math.  The only catch is that you will need to stop by every Wednesday to see if it's giveaway time.  :)

***Winners for this giveaway will be announced on Sunday, January 13***

Amazing Things #1

It’s the first Monday of the New Year, and if you are like me….it’s the first school day of the New Year.  Once again, if you are like me you need a dose of reminding what it’s all about.  As I was doing my annual clear-the-clutter, I came across something that put some warmth in my heart. 

About a year and a half ago, I sat down and made a list of things that I felt made my job AMAZING.  After finding it, I was quickly reminded of exactly where and whom I was with.  It was a snow day, and I was with my 3-year-old, who is now five!!!!  I was inspired by The Book of Awesome, and began writing down things that happened in my day-to-day life as a teacher that made what I do AMAZING.  To my surprise, I realized I had over 100 AMAZING things already written down.  I immediately began adding to my list.  I found that it was easy once I began looking and searching deep inside to find what truly makes my profession worth every moment.

Sometimes we need to look at the little things to keep us going.  At the end of the day when I look back those little things make it all worth it!

This New Year, I challenge you to look for the good in what you do.  There may be days when you feel it is impossible, but if I can find a list almost two years later and continue it like it was yesterday, I know you can too!

It’s a New Year!  Follow me in finding the AMAZING things that make what we do worth more than we can ever imagine was possible whether they be big or small, funny or tearful.  In the great scheme of things they are AMAZING!

It’s my first day back after a two week break, it’s my first Monday of 2013, and it’s the New Year.  Join me EVERY Monday to see what I find to be AMAZING, and I would love for you to share what it is you find to be AMAZING!

Christmas Bingo Freebie

This was a quick, and I mean quick, bingo game that I threw together for my students this morning. The only materials needed in order to play is a piece of paper and something to write with.

Students made their own board by drawing a 3x3 grid on their paper.  In each space, they chose a word from the SMART Board to write down.  They did not have a free space. They used their board multiple times.  Instead of placing markers on the space, they made a different symbol each time to represent each round.  A very easy impromptu game that they loved to play!

I made the file available for download in my store, Teacher Store 365.  In order to use the file you will need SMART Notebook.  The first slide was made using words from Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.  The second slide contains random words related to Christmas.

Many of you may have the privilege of being on break by now, but for those of you that have the privilege of still being with your students here is an extra activity to get you and your students in the holiday spirit!!

In Remembrance

Impromptu Review

Today I was in need of a quick filler activity.  We are ending a unit in Social Studies and had a little bit of extra time.  Today was one of those days, a typical Monday I should say, that I didn't have something extra hanging around.  So, I decided on a quick impromptu review with the whole class game Ask-n-Switch.

I gave each student an index card, and they wrote a question of their choice that related to our topic.  They were told to treat this as if they were writing a question that would be found on the test.  On the back of the index card they then wrote the answer to their question.

Before we started Ask-n-Switch, they traded cards with a partner to check that the question was relevant,could be understood, and that the answer was correct.  After the quick check, students stood to signal they were ready to go.

The index cards that contained their own questions and answers became our set of review cards.  The preparation took approximately 3-4 minutes.  In order to come up with a question, they had to reflect on their learning which required them to think deeper.  ALSO, we have a set of review cards that we can use again tomorrow!