Prefix/Suffix Song K-5

Knowing how to add onto the "front" or "back" of a word, or decode by referencing the base word, is a major phonemic principal. It's a building block for spelling, accuracy, fluency, comprehension, and more. This concept alone can lead to a dramatic jump in a student's performance when this clicks. Here's my song for it: Prefix in the front, Clap Clap, Suffix in the back, Clap Clap, Changes what, Clap Clap, The base word means, Clap Clap.

The Cupcake Test Math K-3

When teaching regrouping in subtraction, students had a difficult time knowing when to regroup. So, since handing out cupcakes for a birthday was something every student could identify with, and you can't give away more cupcakes than you brought, I made up the Cupcake Test. We would look at the ones place, see if it would pass the test. A student would say "If I had 2 cupcakes, could I give 3 away? No! Doesn't pass the Cupcake Test. Time to regroup. Now if I had 12 cupcakes, could I give 3 away? Yes." Besides that, I would always personify the algorithm as I described it. I'd say neighbor, Mr. 3, and have the letters talk to one another. Everyone connects better to a story.

William Tell Rock Song 2-5th

When teaching the three types of rock, sing this song!

To the tune of the William Tell Overture
Here's a reminder of the tune... though, be warned, it doesn't match up perfectly.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7O91GDWGPU

It's a rock, It's a rock, It's a rock, rock rock
It's a rock, It's a rock, It's a rock, rock rock
It's a rock, It's a rock, It's a rock, rock rock
It's a ROOOOCK It's a rock, rock, rock
Igneous, and Sedimentary, Metamorphic rock ::clap, clap::
Igneous, and Sedimentary, Metamorphic rock ::clap, clap::
Rock rock rock rock  ::clap, clap::
Rock rock rock rock
rock
rock
rock
roooooock        (repeat until tired of it...lol)

Don't Let the Paper Win

So, you always have a child who melts, a lot, under pressure.  I would use "It's time to get tough" as a call to action to keep trying, batten down the hatches, and not turn into "mushy marshmallows."

But "Don't let the paper win" was a suggestion from a student whose mother used it as encouragement when homework got challenging.  It really gives students a brand new mindset and greater strength in the tough times.

After all, it's only a little paper!

Syll-A-Ball Meme Game K-3

Take a beach ball, blown up, and write words on it with a permanent marker.  The younger they are, the bigger you should write so that you can help from a distance.  Fill up all the space on the ball with words!  Any direction writing will work.  Now that takes a few minutes to do, but you only have to do it once!

You have made a Syll-A-Ball!  Play like silent ball.  The child who catches it looks where their thumb landed, says the word and how many syllables.  They they pass it to someone else.  Teach what a syllable is, play the game, and never have to teach a formal lesson again!  

The game easily identifies someone who needs reteaching!  When there is a mistake, I explain that word and reteach for a minute.  Then, that student needs to get one right to stay in the game.  I either make them toss to themselves or they can pick a word they want (quickly).  Second graders LOVE it.

Tens and Ones Meme

So, I used this song for two years and second graders love it!  Sing it with base ten block lessons!

Tens and Ones Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATgnG0M3S3Q

Large Base Ten Blocks
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_tNAq2ujRg

Now that you've seen that you know www.teachertipster.com is the best!  Mr. Smith is a first grade teacher from Colorado, but some of his ideas are terrific for many different ages!  His video blog is hysterical!  Worth following, big time.

Subject and Predicate Meme

This rhyme helps students find the subject and predicate in a sentence.  A tip from Mrs. Starkey! <3

"The subject is the who and the predicate is the do."

Days In a Month Meme

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-way-to-remember-the-days-in-each-month/

Ingenious!  Didn't find out about this until I was 28!  Totally a meme... you'll never forget that ever now! Right?

Birthday and Perimeter Teachmeme

Another example of a teachmeme was when it was my birthday on a Friday this past year.  I hung up streamers all around the  "perimeter" of the room.  Needless to say, I never had to teach what perimeter was ever again.  When it came up at times later in the year they would say, "Like at your birthday party?"

What is a teachmeme?

Teachmeme!  It's when you did something once and it's so powerful, you don't need to teach it again.

A meme is an idea or image that acts as a unit for carrying cultural ideas, symbols or practices.

Teachmemes? I feel they are seldom passed into a larger "teaching culture" One school can be like a bubble.  Maybe they haven't even made it out of your room, but they are great!  It could be images, sayings, songs, anything at all, that leads to learning.  Like BAM, the students get it instantly.  Some small trick that captures a concept in an instant.

Why not document these gems and share with everyone?  

Here's my first example.  I did this dance and my second graders will NEVER forget what a parallel line is ever again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVb6wpNRz9c