Recorded Reading and Classroom Chat

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

1. Recorded Reading

From Pamela Fuller, a third grade teacher at Meyer Elementary School in San Jose, California:

"Some of my parents do not have the time to ensure that their children read nightly so I send home a mini tape recorder Monday through Thursday. My students return it in the morning with 20 minutes of recorded reading. I play a little for the class, do a courtesy listen of the rest, rewind, and return them to each student for their nightly read."
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2. Classroom Chat

From Sharon, a third grade teacher at Lakenheath Elementary School in RAF Lakenheath, UK:

"At the end of the day, my students sit in a U-shape on the carpet in the front of the room. We take a few moments to talk about 'something good that happened today' and then 'something I/we need to work on for tomorrow'. Children who want to share flash their fingers in the air and share away. Some of the comments are about themselves and some are about what happened in the classroom during the day. Many of the insightful comments mention an activity, literature shared, or a good deed done by a classmate. Some of the comments about things we need to work on are directed to the group or an individual. All of the sharing is valid and really builds a sense of community and value. It's one of the favorite parts of our day."
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3. Question of the Week: Candy Free Holiday

From the NEA Today writers:

"February 14th is the day of love. How are you and your students going to celebrate Valentine's Day? Many schools have no candy policies. Please share your ideas on how to celebrate this holiday without chocolate."
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4. Smartboard Usage

Heard Last Week in the Works4Me Lounge:

"I would like to know how you are using Smartboards. Are you showing PowerPoint presentations? Are you going to websites? Are you showing movies with it? What is the best thing about having one?

"If you are a teacher who does not have a Smartboard and would like one, how would you plan to use it in the classroom?"
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