Pretend Planes and Paper Piles

Works4Me presents weekly practical classroom tips from real experts -- your colleagues!

1. Plane to Mexico

From Diane Sharpe and Liane Jennings, first grade teachers at Jefferson Elementary School in Jefferson City, Tennessee:

"My first graders are taking an imaginary trip to Mexico. Yesterday we made suitcases from file folders and decorated the front with the Mexican flag. Today we will get our boarding passes and board the plane. While on the plane, we will watch a video about Mexico. Other activities for the week include making a serape, learning color words and frequently spoken phrases in Spanish, and making and eating tacos."
» Comment on This Tip
» More Holiday Tips

2. Keeping Up with Paper Piles

From Diane Postman, an ECSE teacher at Abingdon Elementary School in Gloucester, Virginia:

"You may have heard the adage, 'Never handle a piece of paper more than once.' My advice is to live by that adage. If you get a note from a parent, write back that day. If you get a form to fill out in your mailbox, do it and turn it in to the office. The point is, by putting off these tasks, you are increasing your to do pile which can bury you after awhile. By keeping up, you keep your head above water. Try it."
» Comment on This Tip
» More Organizing Tips

3. Question of the Week: Reading Fluency and Comprehension

From the Works4Me Worker Bees:

"Reading fluency and comprehension go hand in hand. Without reading fluency, comprehension is difficult. What are your tips on how to get students reading fluently? How do you improve your students? ability to understand written text?"
» Submit Your Tip
» View Replies & Post Your Tip

4. Pen Pals

Heard Last Week in the Works4Me Lounge from Beth Jones:

"I am interested in finding another 6th grade class from a different area of the U.S. for my kids to write to. They have limited experience outside of their neighborhood, and I'm looking to give them a connection to students from another area. I have 28 students, and most are Hispanic. Reply if you are interested."
» Comment on This Tip
» More Writing Tips

Works4Me Resources

E-mail Newsletter: sign-up to receive free tips weekly

Previous Newsletters: recently published tips

Tips Library: browse hundreds of archived tips

Discussion Board: ask questions and share tips with other teachers