Broken Crayons

Take broken crayons with the paper removed and put them into muffin tins. Put them into the oven on about 250 degrees and you have wonderful new crayons. You can mix different shades of blue for water, oranges, yellows and reds for sun and volcanoes. There are many different things you can do with the crayons.

Musical Transition

Musical Transitions
Submitted by: Karlana Jester, Pre-K teacher
When it is time for my class to transition from one activity to another, I play music to motivate them to clean up quickly. I try to pick music that is upbeat and very catchy. After the children are done cleaning up the activity at hand, I usually let the music play a little bit longer so the children can dance out any extra activity they may. This way, I can have their undivided attention once we settle back done at the tables for another activity.

Working with ADHD Students

Give him or her Playdough or silly putty to play with while you are giving instructions, reading out loud, etc. Or, let them draw or color. This may sound like letting him off the hook, but I have found that many AD/HD people focus better and absorb more of what they hear when they have something to do.

I'm Watching Someone!!!

Right before my class leaves for an assembly or a field trip, I tell my students that I am going to be watching 2 students in particular to see how their behavior is. I do not tell them who those 2 students I have chosen will be. I tell them that if these 2 students are behaving well and doing what they are supposed to, the entire class will be given a special treat on our return back to the classroom (10 minutes extra recess, free reading time, a math game, etc.) This really helps ALL of my student behave because no one knows who I am going to have my eye on! If the result is a positive one, I let everyone know at the end who was responsible for the class privilege. High "fives' go up everywhere! If the result is negative, I do not mention the names but let my students know that we will try again the next time.

Submitted by: I Love That Teaching Idea! Staff
From: SLC, Utah
Date Submitted: August 23, 2001

Dismissal Song

I use a song to dismiss my students. I constantly have music playing in my classroom and the students know the cue to clean up for dismissal. This takes a lot of practice, but is quite impressive when the students can do it. I use a Raffi CD and play Day-O. In this time, the students should pack up their backpacks, stack their chairs, pick up the floor surrounding their area, then be seated quietly on the rug. In the meantime, team leaders are sharpening pencils for the next day and two other students are cleaning tables. It takes a LOT of practice, but when the routine is set, the students can get all accomplished by the end of the song. As students gather to the carpet, I play a word game or something with them and then we reflect on our day before we are dismissed--everyone shares a little.

Grade Level(s): 1-2
Submitted by: J. Brady
http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/pages/4111.shtml

HOME VOLUNTEER PACKETS

Many parents want to help, but are unable to come to the school during the day. At the beginning of the year, I ask for 5 "Home Volunteers." ** I prepare a 5 large clasped envelopes with teacher name, classroom number, and the words HOME VOLUNTEER written on each. I write the name of each of the days of the week (Mon- Friday), one day on each envelope. I also write the volunteer's family name on the envelope. I then laminate the envelope so it will last the full year. ** The day of the week on the envelope is the day of the week the parent can expect the volunteer packet to come home with their child. This helps the parent to know when to look for it, and gives them the opportunity to pick the best volunteer night of the week. ** Some of the ideas for using the packets could be: 1) placing stickers on papers--include stickers, 2) homework pages to compile--include stapler, 3) things to cut out, 4) things to put together, 5) phone calls to make, 6)letters/notes to mail and send, etc. ** If you don't have anything to send home that night, send the envelope with a thank you note and candy bar included! My parents have loved helping at home, and students enjoy seeing their parent(s) helping!

Match Maker

Supply students with half of a sentence strip with the first part of a compound word.(i.e. one student gets the word "star" and the other student gets the word "fish") Then have the whole class stand and the students have to locate their mate. Once they have found their partner with the other half of the compound word, have students recite what word they created when they found each other!

Submitted by: Ta'Nitra Robinson
From: Houston, TX
Date Submitted: April 24, 2003