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!