Spelling Scatter and Peaceful Music

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

1. Spelling Scatter Graphs

From Curtis Stuart, a third grade ESL teacher:

"At the beginning of the year, I give my students a list all of the words they will need to know how to spell. They each have a folder with the list and a graph of the words in a sheet protector. I select ten words each week and hang them in different locations around the room. Everyday we go around the room, say and spell the words. On Thursdays, I pull the words down and give them a test. I say the word, where it was and use it in a sentence. Their spelling has improved greatly. On Fridays, I give sticker tests. I have a jar with the year's spelling words written on Popsicle sticks. I pull 10 sticks randomly and ask them to spell them. Some words they've had, others they have not. I graph these sticker tests rather than grade them. I mark the ones they have correct and write the number at the top of their papers. On the wall is a scatter graph where they put a small sticker by the number they have correct. They highlight those correct words on their yearly spelling list and graph in their own folder. They see how many words they have learned by the highlighting and their progress from their own graphs. From the scatter graph, I add the total number of words correct that week and put them on a plot graph on the wall. The class can see how their group is doing and realize if that if someone is absent during the sticker test, the graph may go down. The sticker test process should not take more than ten minutes once they are trained. I have some very limited prior education students, and they love the sticker test. The graphs are also handy to show parents during conferences. Some of our SPED teachers use this graphing method for all subjects in middle and high school."
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2. Musical Breaks

From Karla M. Keller, a teacher in Minnesota:

"All year long, I play music during breaks. When the song is finished, the class is back in their seats and ready to listen. During October I play Halloween type songs. Now I am using various holiday songs. The students don't even notice that I play softer acoustic songs when they need to be calm. I always find a time to play something fun for a dance break such as Jingle Bell Rock. During writing block, I have soft music in the background which makes for a peaceful afternoon. This year I have students from the Middle East so I include some music from their country that I downloaded from the Internet."
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3. Keeping the Peace before the Holidays

From Jason Circle,an industrial technology and broadcasting teacher at Ottawa middle school:

"During the holidays, I drink more eggnog so that I don't notice bad behavior as much. Seriously, I work hard to utilize creative, cross-curricular activities that are hands-on and involve teamwork, problem solving, writing, illustrating, and fun. It is a great time to team teach with someone from a different discipline for a few days."
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4. Question of the Week: Creative Gifts

From the Worker Bees:

"What gifts are your students making this year? Do you have ideas to share for making inexpensive creative projects this holiday season?"
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5. Disrespectful Students

Heard Last Week in the Works4Me Lounge:

"I am dealing with a couple of very angry second graders that are defiant and disrespectful to me and others. I need some fresh ideas to help me deal with these behaviors and still teach."
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