CLEAN DESK INSPECTOR

One way I encouraged organization and neatness of desk area.  Taken from Copycat Press 1987.  It is out-of-print.  http://stores.ebay.com/Copycat-Store

SPECIFIC FORMATING

 Often you can take a worksheet and make it specifically for your class.  See the additions to the writing paper.

ABSENTEE BAGS

 What happens when you have a child that is absent or a child that is going on a trip and missing a few days of work?  I would have a student gather all of the textbooks/workbooks needed and add all the worksheets.  This would create a stack that could be unwieldy for young children.  To help, I purchased medium sized canvas bags from Hobby Lobby.  I found iron on clip art and wording that was appropriate for the bags.  Try to find colored clip art to save time from coloring it yourself.  You can also go online and find clip art to print onto iron on sheets.
Look on posting: http://okscribbler.blogspot.com/2010/09/absentee-sheets.html for the paper work I attached to the stack of worksheets.  I asked that ALL the work come back attached to the front sheet so I could check that everything had been completed. This ensured the student was prepared for the curriculum being presented in class when they returned.

MAJOR ADDRESS

This is a cute way to show your class how we fit into the Universe.  You might do it while you study The Solar System.  I posted it above the doorway so everyone could see it on the way out of the room.

BUILDING RESPONSIBLILITY

This list should be printed on bright cardstock and attached to the front of the HOMEWORK Folder

MY DO NOT FORGET LIST

1. Show my homework folder to my parents.

2.   Do my homework.  Have a parent check it.

3.   Pack my homework and all books in my backpack.

4.   Make my lunch or get lunch money.

5.   Pack a healthy snack everyday.

6.   Bring my library book to school on _____________.

7.   Have my Spanish done by _______________.

I AM BEING RESPONSIBLE.

HELPFUL FORMS

BEHAVIOR JOURNALING

Here are three different levels of Behavior Journaling.  Once the student has filled it out, make sure to put in their folder.  When report time comes you have the documentation ready to support the grades the student earned.

ABSENTEE SHEETS

Do you have trouble tracking what work a child needs to complete when they are absent?  I found this page attached to the pack of work was very helpful.  I asked that this sheet be returned with the packet of work, so that I could verify everything was completed.  At the beginning of the year, I sent the letter to the parents to help them understand how to help their child.
See sample of bags I used to transport the books and papers to and from.  This way, nothing gets lost!
http://okscribbler.blogspot.com/search/label/Absent

SECRETARY DAY CHAIN LETTER

Take this idea, write a class letter to your school secretary, put the letter into a chain format, and then present it on Secretary's Day. Each student can write one line.  Make sure the letter is left on the board or chart paper while the students are putting the chain together so it goes in order.

 

FRIENDSHIP FOLDERS

Each child needs to make a FRIENDSHIP FOLDER before starting the main project.  Fold a large construction paper in half.  Have students staple the sides with finger spaces between each staple.  Students choose a heart, glues it on their folder, and draw a face on it for them.  Write their name under the heart face.  Attach folders to the child's desk.

Encourage students to think good thoughts about their classmates.  These is something wonderful about everyone!  (Older students) Brainstorm and write phrases on the board or chart paper. Then ask each student to make a paper heart for everyone in the class.  Have a variety of hearts in several colors and sizes for students to choose from.  Give each student a paper that lists the name of each child.  Have the students write the name of a classmate on each heart and (younger students) glue a symbol which most reminds him of that person or is best demonstrated by that child or (older students) have them write one of the phrases off of the board.  Deposit the Valentines into the special Friendship Folders that are attached to each child's desk. To make sure that everyone gets a heart every day, have students start with the name below theirs on the name list and then continue in order. You can work on this project for several weeks. If done in a quiet reflective atmosphere, you will have a more meaningful Valentines Day - one which will have everyone going home with a folder full of good feelings.

CEREAL BOX BOOK REPORT

SCOUTING ACTIVITY - BRAVE LITTLE INDIAN

THE PUMPKIN SMASHER

Read THE PUMPKIN SMASHER by Anita Benarde to the class. Discuss story.  Hand out precut pumpkin - can be the size of a die cut or larger. Have students cut pumpkin into pieces (not too little), keeping track of how the pieces go back together!

Hand out black construction paper (9 x 12).  Students place pieces of pumpkin down where they belong - making sure to put 1/4" - 1/2" space between the pieces (can use ruler if it helps-MATH SKILLS), and glue.  It would be a great bulletin board with a poem beneath each pumpkin - Cinquain?

Put in Memory Book when done displaying.                                                                                

PRACTICAL PENMANSHIP

I sent these notes home as homework if students needed extra practice in handwriting.  Once we transitioned  from handwriting paper to white-lined paper-I taught the following rules listed below.

CIRCLES ARE ON THE LEFT! 
1.  Leave top margin blank - except for student number at top right corner.
2.  Numbers are in the left margin near the red line.
3.  Write as close to the red line on the left as possible.
4.  Try not to go past the red margin on the right.
5.  Capital and tall letters reach the top line.
6.  Midline letters fill 1/2 of the line space.

KEEPING PARENTS INFORMED

On the left is an ABSENTEE FORM that allows a teacher to list all the missed work for the day. Then attach all the worksheets in order to the form.  This makes it easy for the parents to help their young students with their missed work.  I ask that the form come back with all the worksheets attached, so I can verify that everything was completed.  I also encouraged missed work to be done in a day or two (unless very ill), so students would be ready for the following lessons they would receive when they returned.  On the right is the WEEKLY GRADE/BEHAVIOR sheet that is attached to all graded work sent home at the end of each week  When report time comes around, you just tally all behaviors for every student.  This shows you a clear picture of what each child has done in your classroom for a grading period.  So if one student talked incessantly and most of the other students rarely did, then that one student needed a behavior mark that lets the parents/student know what needs to improve.

SPELLING WORKSHEETS

Students love being organized.  Setting up papers neatly is very important so others can read them. Note the words Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How at the top of the SPELLING SENTENCE PAGE.  This will remind children to try to lengthen sentences, by answering those questions.  See SUPER SKELETAL SENTENCES http://okscribbler.blogspot.com/2009/02/super-sentence-teaching-parts-of-speech.html for another way to work on this concept.  Spelling 3 x's was always written out so the children could see and model the words correctly, which is important when you teach cursive.  Also on the Spelling 3 x's are some Spelling Rules that the word would follow.  These rules are talked about during the week.