Sometimes kids make poor choices at school. When that happens, it’s often helpful to have them call home. Here’s what one teacher posted near her phone to help kids know what to say when calling their parents.
I thought it was such a smart Idea that I made one for you! Print it as a full sheet (or smaller if you prefer), laminate it and post it near your phone. You might want to also keep next to your phone a log where you can record details about each phone call you make/receive.
1. Suppose you had invented a time machine. Write a story about what you did with it.
2. Write to tell of a day when you were the teacher. What did you do?
3. Write a story about trading places with your favorite TV, movie, or rock star.
4. One day a spaceship lands on the playground of your school . . .
5. Your shoe must have a story to tell. Tell it.
6. Your class grew plants as a science project. One day you looked at your plant and saw
something really strange had grown there.
7. Write a story about what it would be like if you woke up one morning with wings.
8. On your birthday, a strange-looking lady came to you door and handed you a wrapped present. You rattled it. It made a noise. Write a story about this present.
9. Your teacher one day announced that your class was going on a wonderful field trip. Write a story about this field trip. In your story, you can have your class go anywhere you wish.
10. One day, as you were petting and talking to your friend’s dog, it answered back! Write a story about this.
11. Write a story about yourself as a hero. What did you do to become a hero? Tell your story.
12. As you walked down the hallway at school, you heard some strange music coming from the custodian’s closet. What was it? Write a story about it.
13. Tell a story about children who live in a world where there is no such thing as television, computers, or electronic games.
14. A distant relative bequeathed you a strange ring. As you put this ring on, you discover that it has strange powers. What does it look like? What does it do? Tell a story about this ring.
15. Tell a story about your ideal place to live. What would it be like to live here?
16. The teacher comes into the room and places a bag on her desk then leaves. The bag moves and wriggles. Write a story about what is in the paper bag.
17. Everyone has a day in his or her life that was extra special or dreams about what he or she would do on a special day. Write a story about a special day you have had or imagine you might have.
18. Every day you pass a door. It’s always closed and locked. One day, as you pass, you notice that the door is open. You step inside. Write a story about what was on the other side of that door.
19. Tell a story about what happened when you traveled on a wagon pulled by horses.
20. Tell a story about a day in which everything went wrong.
21. Imagine you could travel to the future and live there. Think of what you think the future would be like. How different would it be from today? Now, write a story about living in the future.
22. Imagine you could go to any place you wanted for as long as you wanted any time you wanted. What place would you visit? Think about what you would do there. Write a story about a visit to a really neat place.
23. Pretend that you lived in colonial times. Think about what your life would be like, how it would be different living more than 200 years ago. Now, write a story about a young person (or yourself) living in George Washington’s day.
24. Novels are fun to read because the action keeps you interested, and the characters almost become your friends. Think of a book you really liked. Imagine that you were a new character in this book {choose a book your class has read}. Write a story about what happened.
25. Imagine you woke up one morning and found that you had switched places with a dog or a cat. Think what it would be like. What would you do? Write a story of your day as a dog or a cat.
26. What if you had a personal genie who would grant your every wish? What would your life be like? Think of some of the details. Write a story about having a personal genie.
27. Imagine you had a car that would take you anywhere you wanted to go for one day. Think of where you went in that car and what you did. Write a story about that day.
28. Everyone has a favorite season of the year. What is your favorite season? What do you like to do? Write a story about your favorite season.
29. Imagine one morning there’s a knock at your front door. You open the door, and to your great surprise, you find an alien standing there. What do you do? What does it look like? Write
a story about your encounter with this alien.
30. On your way to school one morning you see a huge truck speeding down the road. Suddenly, the back door of the truck opens and a large, mysterious box falls off the back of the truck. It sits there in the road. What is in the box? What do you do? Write a story about this mysterious box.
31. One spring day a skunk wanders into your classroom. What are the results? Write a story about the skunk that visited school.
32. Imagine you had a time machine that you could take only to the past. Where would you choose to go? Think of what you would do there, what it would the like. Write a story of your adventure in the past.
33. One day you are sitting under a large tree. An acorn hits you on the head, and you look up. There, on the branch above you sits a squirrel, laughing at you. The squirrel then looks you square in the eye, begins to talk to you, and asks you to return its acorn. What would you do?
What would happen if you encountered a talking squirrel? Write a story about the experience.
34. Imagine a world where there was no money. What would people do? What would life be like? Write a story about living in a world without any money.
35. There are times when we all wish, even for just a moment, that we could be someone else for a day. Who would you choose to be for that day? What would you do? Think of some details of your day. Now write a story about what your day was like as that person.
36. In a recent disaster, there were some kids who did some heroic things. Think what constitutes (makes) a hero. Imagine yourself as one. Now write a story in which you were a hero/heroine in a tough situation.
37. A little old lady gave you and a friend some magical glitter and told you to sprinkle it on your hair and something special would happen. What happened when you tried it? Write a story about this mysterious magical glitter.
38. One day you and your friends walked up to an old, seemingly abandoned house. You couldn’t see inside due to the dust and cobwebs on the windows. You decide to see if the door is locked. You try the knob, and it turns. The door creeks open as if it has not opened in years . . . What happens next? What do you find? What do you and your friend do? Write a story about entering that old, seemingly abandoned house.
39. Love comes in all forms. We can love our parents, a boyfriend or girlfriend, a favorite pet, a brother or sister, a place, even a thing. Thing about someone or something you love. Write a story about that person or thing that involves your feelings.
40. Imagine that your sense of smell was more highly developed than everyone else’s. What experiences might you have? How might your life change? What would you be able to smell? Write a story about a person with a very highly developed sense of smell.
41. Imagine yourself temporarily lost in a foreign country where you do not know the language. How do you manage to communicate? What might happen to you? Write a story about a day you might have spent lost in a foreign country without knowing the language.
42. Imagine a city project to have every school student do some hours of community service as a part of the required curriculum. What would you choose to do? What do you think it would be like? What people might you meet? What would you be doing to help? Write a story about your day of community service.
43. Sometimes family members or friends embarrass you when other people are around. Think of some times this has happened to you. Think of what could happen. Write a story about some embarrassing incident you might have had and how you coped with it.
44. Now and then you, without meaning to do so, break something that belongs to someone else. Think about what might be broken. Think about what might happen as a result. Now, write a story about accidentally breaking something that belonged to someone else and the story of what happened as a result.
45. One day your teacher must go home. Your teacher leaves, telling you that someone else will teach the class for the rest of the time. Who do you think will replace the teacher? What happens as a result? Write a story about a time your teacher had to go home, and someone
else took over the class.
46. Imagine you opened your own restaurant. Tell the name of your restaurant. Explain what the restaurant looks like, who works there, and what you serve.
47. Describe your favorite character from a book, a movie, or television.
48. Write a story titled, “My Journey on a Pirate Ship.” You and your friends can star in the story.
49. If you could have any animal for a pet, what would it be? Describe the pet and how you would take care of it.
50. Do you have any brothers or sisters? If you do, tell what they’re like. If not, tell whether or not you would like to have a brother or sister.
51. If you could have lunch with any famous person who would it be? What would you talk about with this person?
52. How old were you four years ago? Describe some things you can do now that you could not do then.
53. If you could be on any game show, what would it be? Describe what happens when you’re on the show.
54. Describe several ways a person your age can earn money.
55. If you could spend an afternoon with one member of your extended family, who would it be? Tell why you chose this person and tell what you do together.
56. Which superpower would you most like to have– invisibility, super strength, or the ability to fly? Describe what kids of things you would do with your powers.
57. Think of a time when you’ve won something. Tell what you won and how you won it.
58. Invent a new kind of sandwich. Describe what is on it and how you would make it.
59. Describe one thing you’re really good at.
60. Imagine you were twenty feet tall. Describe what life would be like. How would it be different from your life now?
You might have heard about the “Common Core” or seen the abbreviations “CCSS” being used in conversation and wondered what in the world all the commotion is. Well, here’s what you need to know about the Common Core State Standards (CCSS):
Educational standards help teachers ensure their students have the skills and knowledge they need to be successful by providing clear goals for student learning.
The Common Core State Standards Initiative is a state-led effort that established a single set of clear educational standards for kindergarten through 12th grade in English language arts and mathematics that states voluntarily adopt. The standards are designed to ensure that students graduating from high school are prepared to enter credit bearing entry courses in two or four year college programs or enter the workforce. The standards are clear and concise to ensure that parents, teachers, and students have a clear understanding of the expectations in reading, writing, speaking and listening, language and mathematics in school.
The nation’s governors and education commissioners, through their representative organizations the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) led the development of the Common Core State Standards and continue to lead the initiative. Teachers, parents, school administrators and experts from across the country together with state leaders provided input into the development of the standards.
High standards that are consistent across states provide teachers, parents, and students with a set of clear expectations that are aligned to the expectations in college and careers. The standards promote equity by ensuring all students, no matter where they live, are well prepared with the skills and knowledge necessary to collaborate and compete with their peers in the United States and abroad.. Unlike previous state standards, which were unique to every state in the country, the Common Core State Standards enable collaboration between states on a range of tools and policies, including:
Who was involved in the Common Core State Standards Initiative?
States across the country collaborated with teachers, researchers, and leading experts to design and develop the Common Core State Standards. Each state independently made the decision to adopt the Common Core State Standards, beginning in 2010. The federal government was NOTinvolved in the development of the standards. Local teachers, principals, and superintendents lead the implementation of the Common Core.
The Common Core State Standards are a clear set of shared goals and expectations for the knowledge and skills students need in English language arts and mathematics at each grade level to ultimately be prepared to graduate college and career ready. The standards establish what students need to learn, but they do not dictate how teachers should teach. Teachers will continue to devise lesson plans and tailor instruction to the individual needs of the students in their classrooms.
The Common Core State Standards were written by building on the best and highest state standards in existence in the U.S., examining the expectations of other high performing countries around the world, and careful study of the research and literature available on what students need to know and be able to do to be successful in college and careers. No state in the country was asked to lower their expectations for their students in adopting the Common Core. The standards are evidence-based, aligned with college and work expectations, include rigorous content and skills, and are informed by other top performing countries. They were developed in consultation with teachers and parents from across the country so they are also realistic and practical for the classroom.
Yes. States that adopted the Common Core State Standards are currently collaborating to develop common assessments that will be aligned to the standards and replace existing end of year state assessments. These assessments will be available in the 2014-2015 school year.
Authors: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers
Title: Common Core State Standards (insert specific content area if you are using only one)
Publisher: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers, Washington D.C.
Copyright Date: 2010
Source (more detailed information on the CCSS): Common Core State Standards FAQ page
Many teachers have to touch on the topic of recycling sometime throughout the year (most talk about it on Earth Day). A fellow teacher requested that I make some word strips of the 3 R’s of Recycling for her to use in their Earth Day discussion and then to put on their science bulletin board. I’d recommend laminating them if you’ll be using them multiple years. Here they are (formatted to fit on a regular letter-size sheet of paper):
Dealing with “no name papers” has always been a test of patience for me. I mean, how hard is it to write your NAME on a paper!? (Ok, I’m off my soap box now.) Here’s one idea I saw that takes care of this problem. The teacher simply puts no name papers in this tray and empties it (into the recycle) after school on Friday. This way, kids have a few days to retrieve papers, but they don’t sit around forever in her room.
I think I would add this feature to the system: Make a stamp that says “return to sender” or something else distinct that would indicate that it was received without a name. Then when kids write their name on it and resubmit it, they get a small point deduction, but can still get some credit for it. I know stamping no-name papers is an extra step for the teacher, so just make the judgement call for your own classroom.
If you’ve never read the kids book Because a Little Bug Went Ka-Choo (by Rosetta Stone), you’re missing out! It’s adorable! Click here for a short animated video of the book. There are tons of activity possibilities to go along with this book, but here’s my favorite…
Have kids write their own silly story just like it! This third grade teacher had her students write each event in the story on a different color and glue it to black paper. The projects look great and the kids absolutely LOVED reading their silly story to their peers! For younger kids, I’d recommend creating a shared writing (whole class story) in the style of this book. You might also consider having kids illustrate their story in boxes on a page (like comics). Fun, fun, fun… all because a little bug went ka-choo!
It’s hard to keep kids motivates at the end of the year. Sometimes it’s good to have an activity that will give everyone a quick break. Here’s a bulletin board idea that will do just that. Click here to see my Back To school Bus and Just Keep Truckin’ posts (similar bulletin board ideas). First, have the students make their car (directions on the printable itself and also below).
Click here for the free printable PDF: Full Throttle Bulletin Board
Decorate your car according to these directions:
Once all the students finish, have each student present their car to the rest of the class. If your class is large, limit each student to 1 minute to share or allow students to only share their car with those near them. Then put each car up on a bulletin board and call it something clever (“Full Throttle to the Finish”, “Travelling Down the Road to Success”, or something…).
Squarehead Teachers 