by California Casualty | Educators |
I enjoy teaching out of our math textbooks and using the nifty manipulatives, cross-curricular centers, leveled readers, and other integrated activities which come with our math series. However, sometimes, it’s nice to shake things up a bit and jump on the computers or tablets for a little online math fun. My favorite websites are those that my students and I can use without any preparation or hassle, and they must be FREE. You can start using any of these 7 math websites in your classroom immediately!
ProdigyGame – Free, self-paced math games for grades 1-8 with free account membership. There is even a free app for computers and tablets!
SheppardSoftware – Free kids math games. Topics include addition, subtraction, multiplication, fractions, money, algebra, and place value.
CoolMath4Kids – Free math games for kids and teacher. Lessons, games, quizzes, and brain teasers for grades K-6.
KhanAcademy – Educator-created videos, lectures, and practice for math concepts at all grade levels.
MrNussbaum – Games, workshops, practice modules, skill and drill, and printables.
LearnZillion – Instructional videos, lessons, and practice. Teachers can assign lessons without needing student accounts. Common core standards Kindergarten through 8th grade.
National Library of Virtual Manipulatives – A digital library featuring manipulatives and activities for all grade levels.
by California Casualty | Educators |
Formative assessment is meant to monitor student learning and provide teachers information to help guide instruction during a lesson or unit. It can help teachers target areas of weakness, identify strengths, and differentiate. Using appropriate formative assessment strategies can help improve instruction and student achievement. It doesn’t have to be time consuming. These no-prep formative assessment methods can save you time while informing your instruction.
Four Corners: Students will choose a corner based on their level of expertise of a given subject. Once students are in their chosen corners, allow them to discuss their progress with others. Questions may be prompted by the teacher. Corner One will pair with Corner Three and Corner Two will pair with Corner Four for peer scaffolding.
So What? Journal: Identify the main idea of the lesson. Why is it important? State 2–3 reasons these concepts are important.
Misconception Check: Present students with common or predictable misconceptions about a particular concept or process. Ask students to agree or disagree and explain why. Can also be presented in the form of a multiple-choice or true-false quiz.
Inside-Outside Circle: Students will form one inner and outer circle. The inside and outside circles face each other. Within each pair, students will quiz each other with questions they have written. The outside circle moves to create new pairs. Repeat.
Triangular Prism: Have students provide feedback about their learning by displaying a card with the color that corresponds to their level of understanding (red, yellow, green).
Decisions, Decisions: Give students a question, prompt, or problem to solve. Provide time to respond independently. Then have students move to a side of the room that corresponds to their response. Each side will share out their reasoning. Allow students to change sides after the discussion.
Sketch: Visually represent new knowledge. Challenge students to use a drawing rather than words to show understanding of a concept. This is the perfect exercise for those kids who have difficulty speaking out in class.
Whip Around: Pose a question or a task and have students individually respond on a scrap piece of paper, listing at least 3 thoughts/responses/statements. When finished responding, all students will stand. Then randomly call on a student to share one of his/her ideas. Have students check off any items that are said by another student (or themselves) and sit down when all of their items have been shared with the group. Allows general understanding or gaps to be revealed among the whole group.
Letter: Explain the concept or lesson in a letter to a friend (also a great way to practice letter writing).
Cubing: Display 6 questions from the lesson. Have students in groups of 4. Give each group one die. Each student will roll the die and answer the question with the corresponding number. If a number is rolled more than once, the student may elaborate on the previous response or roll again. Responses may be written or shared orally.
3-2-1: Have students write a response to teacher generated questions. Teacher questions may vary according to the particular concept/ process: 3 things you found out 2 interesting things 1 question you still have OR 3 key words 2 new ideas 1 thought to think about.
Quickwrite: Without stopping, write what most confuses you. Visit with students individually or have a class discussion to help clarify confusions.
What no-prep formative assessment strategies do you use in your classroom?
by California Casualty | Educators |
Looking for some harmless jokes to play on your students in observance of April Fool’s Day? Look no further! I’ve compiled a list of innocent tricks teachers of all grade levels can pull off, because sometimes a good prank is just necessary.
- List all the students names on the board, and put random information next to each name – dates of no significance, random letters of the alphabet (excluding A-F), compass directions, etc. Do not explain the list. If they ask you what it is, say, “I’ll explain after lunch.”
- Put tape over the pencil sharpener hole.
- Act like there’s a joke coming (mention the date, look at the clock a lot, suddenly stare at the door). Then don’t play one.
From Squarehead Teachers:
- Switch classrooms for the day. When kids come in the door, it’s not their regular teacher they’ll see.
- Re-arrange every kid’s desk or table in the room.
- Announce that the fabulous field trip planned for today was cancelled because nobody brought in their permission slips on time.
- Ask everyone to turn in their homework that was due TODAY and is worth 90% of their grade for this 9 weeks.
- Tell your class that lunch is cancelled because the cafeteria ran out of food but everyone else at the school got to eat.
- Send several kids to the principal’s office for no reason. (Maybe warn the principal ahead of time.)
- Assign the kids new seats and then re-assign again several times during the day.
- Wear a Halloween costume and tell all the children they won’t get any candy this year because they didn’t dress up.
- Tell your students you’re all going on a field trip to someplace fun at the end of the day – When it gets to be almost the end of the day, tell them that the ‘fun’ place is actually their homes! Zing!
In need of free April Fool’s Day lesson plans and resources? Check out these links:
by California Casualty | Educators |
The National Education Association’s Read Across America Day is celebrated annually on March 2, Dr. Seuss’s Birthday. Schools, libraries, and communities encourage students to read using children’s author Dr. Seuss as inspiration.
Each year, my elementary school building hosts a day-long celebration. A schoolwide read-a-thon kicks off the day. Throughout the day, students visit stations featuring a different Dr. Seuss book and accompanying activity. Faculty and staff prepare and lead the activities while parent volunteers help guide students around to the different stations. Many times, the day culminates with a viewing of a Dr. Seuss themed movie, like “Horton Hears a Who” or “The Cat in the Hat,” complete with popcorn and drinks.
Looking for lesson ideas and other Seuss resources for your March 2nd celebration? My favorite go-to spot for everything Seuss is Seussville.com. Seussville.com offers a variety of free lessons and activities. Geared toward primary and upper elementary, the Read Across America Classroom Activity Guide contains 5 activities, each based on a beloved Dr. Seuss book. The Battle of the Books allows teachers to create their own bracket-style competition or tournament. You can even print Read Across America bookmarks. Check out Seussville.com for many more lessons plans, printables, activities, and projects.
Scholastic.com has collection of Dr. Seuss author study articles, activities, lesson plans, and unit plans. Find Dr. Seuss unit activities, lessons, and printables at A to Z Teacher Stuff. Discover many lesson plans, craft ideas, printables, and teaching idea at Apples4theTeacher. Explore reading and Seuss-themed resources at Edutopia.com.
It’s time to start planning your Read Across America celebration! Your district, school, or class can take the Read Across Pledge here and share your plans for March 2nd.
by California Casualty | Educators |
According to Money magazine, teachers spend an average of $500 per year on school supplies for their classrooms. Teachers are also spending their hard-earned money on other items for students like clothing, food, bus fare, etc. If this rings true for you, then you might benefit from these educator discounts. Happy saving!
Auto and Home
GM Educator Discount – Finance, Cash Allowance, and Lease Specials for Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC vehicles
Arts and Crafts
Jo-Ann – Save 15% on every purchase with Jo-Ann Teacher Rewards Discount Card
Michaels – 15% entire purchase every day
Books
Barnes & Noble – 20% off all purchases for classroom use, Up to 25% off during Educator Appreciation Days
Half-Price Books – 10% off year round
Book Warehouse – 15% off year round
Organization
The Container Store – The Organized Teacher discount program offers educators special discounts throughout the year
Clothing
Ann Taylor Loft – Loft Loves Teachers program gets educators 15% off full-price purchases every day
Aerosoles – bring a teacher ID and save 15% on items priced $39.99 and up
New York and Co. – Educators save 15% on full-priced items purchased in-store. Simply show your school ID at the register
J. Crew – 15% off in-store purchase with school ID
Madewell – 15% off in-store purchase with school ID
Eddie Bauer – 10% off in-store purchase with school ID
Talbots – 15% any full-price, in-store purchase with school ID
Banana Republic – 15% any full-price, in-store purchase with school ID
Easy Spirit – 15% any full-price, in-store purchase with school ID
Kate Spade – 15% any in-store purchase with school ID
Supplies
Office Depot/Office Max – Rewards+ program offers 10% back and exclusive weekly member discounts
Staples – with Teacher Rewards, get up to 5% back in rewards, plus enrolled teachers get 10% back in rewards on teaching and art supplies
Lakeshore Learning – Teacher’s Club Members receive 15% off many in-store items and special offers every month
by California Casualty | Educators |
What is Random Acts of Kindness Week?
Random Acts of Kindness Week is a time when people are challenged to be kind to another for no reason other than to be thoughtful. The hope is that a person on the receiving end of an act of kindness will turn around and be the giver of an act of kindness. This perpetual chain of kindness is celebrated by individuals, groups, businesses, and schools.
Random Acts of Kindness Day originated in New Zealand. In the United States, Random Acts of Kindness Week is observed February 12th through 18th and National Random Act of Kindness Day is February 17th. When posting about kinds acts on Social Media, use #RandomActsOfKindnessDay or #RAK.
Health Benefits of Being Kind
People who are kind:
- have less stress
- age more slowly
- have lower blood pressure
- are happier
- have more energy
- have better relationships
Resources for Educators
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation provides a number of RAK resources for educators on its website. From Kindness Projects to games to posters, this site is a comprehensive guide to everything RAK. For schoolwide ideas, check out 13 Free Ways To Create a School Culture of Kindness and 10 Kindness Week Ideas For Schools.
Kindness.org offers a variety of “kindness initiatives” to join, carry out, and share with others. This is great way for students, and adults, to become involved in the movement.
Videos for Students
Color Your World With Kindness by A Better World
How Good Spreads by Kid President + Glad To Give
All About Kindness song (Primary/Elementary) by Harry Kindergarten Music
Kindness Matters by The Great Kindness Challenge
Kindness Quotes
“We need more kindness, more compassion, more joy, more laughter. I definitely want to
contribute to that.” – Ellen DeGeneres
“Kindness is a language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see.” – Mark Twain
“Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that
one day someone might do the same for you.” – Princess Diana
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop
