My husband is reviewing math concepts to prepare him for a test at work. Lots of these concepts are things he hasn’t used since high school (or way before that!)… like exponents, dividing fractions and algebraic equations. In our review of these topics, I found a great website that has really clear reviews for math concepts. For example, we typed in “dividing fractions” and it brought up this great refresher that only took a few seconds to learn from:
It also had a little moving picture to show what you do. This is a great site for anyone who needs a quick refresher for math (like when your kids ask you for help and you can’t for the life of you remember what to do!). 🙂
I recently learned about an awesome Dr. Seuss-inspired field day planned and organized by Patti, an elementary school PE teacher. Here is one of her 21 stations:
Station 16
Title: GO DOG. GO!
Skills: GROSS MOTOR, AGILITY, CARDIO FITNESS
Description: K-1ST GRADE: TAG AND DROP TAG
2ND-5TH GRADES: FASTEST TAG IN THE WEST
(IF A 2ND GRADE CLASS SAYS THEY DON’T KNOW HOW TO PLAY FASTEST TAG IN THE WEST YOU CAN HAVE THEM PLAY TAG AND DROP TAG.)
FASTEST TAG IN THE WEST- EVERYONE IS IT
TAG AND DROP TAG- GIVE 4 STUDENTS BEAN BAGS TO TAG WITH.
TAG AND DROP TAG K-2
WHEN A STUDENT WITH A BEAN BAG TAGS ANOTHER STUDENT THEY DROP THE BEAN BAG. THE STUDENT WHO WAS TAGGED PICKS UP THE BEAN BAG AND BECOMES IT.
FASTEST TAG IN THE WEST 2-5 (IF 2 SAYS THEY KNOW HOW TO PLAY THEY CAN. IF NOT HAVE THEM PLAY TAG AND DROP TAG) EVERY ONE IS IT WHEN STUDENTS GET TAGGED THEY GO DOWN ON 1 KNEE AND WATCH THE PERSON WHO TAGGED THEM WHEN THAT PERSON GETS TAGGED THEY CAN GET UP AND THEY ARE BACK IN THE GAME IF BOTH STUDENT TAG AT THE SAME TIME THEY ROCK PAPER SCISSORS TO SEE WHO GOES DOWN. PLAY UNTIL TIME TO GO IF EVERY ONE HAS BEEN DOWN FOR A WHILE AND YOU HAVE 3 OR 4 OF THE SAME STUDENTS STILL UP YOU CAN CALL EVERY ONE UP AND THEY ALL JOIN BACK IN.
Don’t we just love standardized testing…
I recently learned about an awesome Dr. Seuss-inspired field day planned and organized by Patti, an elementary school PE teacher. Here is one of her 21 stations:
Station 15
Title: GERTRUDE MCFUZZ
Skills: EYE/HAND COORDINATION, GROSS MOTOR
Description: DIVIDE CLASS INTO 6 TEAMS EACH TEAM LINES UP BEHIND THE LINE. 1ST PERSON USING A UNDER HAND SWING MUST HIT GERTRUDE MCFUZZ (BIRDIE WITH STREAMERS) WITH THE TENNIS RACKETS AND LAND HER IN A TREE (HULA HOOPS). TEAMS KEEP TRACK OF HOW MANY GERTUDES THEY CAN GET IN THE TREE. KEEP GOING UNTIL TIME IS UP (PLEASE MAKE SURE HITS ARE ONLY DONE UNDER HAND AND THAT STUDENTS ARE BEING SAFE WITH THE RACKETS.
I recently learned about an awesome Dr. Seuss-inspired field day planned and organized by Patti, an elementary school PE teacher. Here is one of her 21 stations:
Station 14
Title: Horton Hatches the Egg
Skills: Balance, gross motor, fine motor, hand/eye coordination
Description: Divide class into 4 to 6 teams
Pre-K and K can use scoops
1-5th can use paddles
On go, Horton (students) carry a plastic egg on their paddle. Go around the cones over the hurdles across the logs around the cone and back and passes the paddle and egg to next team member. If their egg drops they must stop and pick it up and start from where they stopped they continue until time is up see how many trips their team can make.
Sometimes teachers don’t get the desks they’d like. Some teachers prefer tables, others like storage space down the side of the desk, etc. But what happens when you don’t get what you’d like? You just have to make it work. Here’s what one teacher did when she changed schools and ended up with only tables… no storage at all!
Each table has a crate that holds everyone’s folders (color coded by subject). All the supplies (scissors, crayons, etc.) are in different tubs at the back of the room. Backpacks go on chairs, so the kids don’t need cubbies or anything. Things go straight into the backpacks, or they are filed away into these crates. There’s also a crate coordinator, the person at the table who makes sure all the folders are organized and brings the crate to the front and to the table as directed by the teacher.
This teacher told me it’s not ideal obviously, but after practicing routines associated with the crates, it’s a very do-able system now.
Squarehead Teachers 