Magic Scrap

I definitely didn't invent this, and you've all probably heard of it already.

If not, keep reading.

Right before the end of the day, our floor is always a mess! The perfect solution...

MAGIC SCRAP!

Look around the room and find one or two pieces of paper (or a crayon, or a pencil...), laying on the ground. Call out, "Magic scrap!" Your students will immediately drop to the floor and begin picking everything up. Whoever finds the magic piece gets a small prize.

It's the best way to get your floor clean in seconds!

Management Monday!

Have you ever had your students in line at the end of the day and you look up desperately at the clock.  Oh no, still 5 minutes until the bell rings.  To anyone BUT a teacher, 5 minutes seems so short.  When I first started teaching, I would let my students just stand in line and talk to each other  (which was not great management on my part, but hey, I was just trying to stay afloat).  Now, I am more productive.  We go over our doubles facts rhymes (<---Click here for that download) from Halloween that my kids STILL love or we do our "Good-bye Rhymes". I got the "Good-bye Rhymes" idea from The First Grade Parade. I needed mine to be a little bigger so I could hold them up for my students to read.  So, I made bigger cards and I bound them together in a book. We flip through as many rhymes as we can before the bell rings. They are so CUTE. I added a few of my own and ta-da....I have a management strategy for lining up! Thanks Cara!

Click HERE for the download. Here is an example of a few:

{*Parents: print these off and practice them at home. Make movements up for each or make paper plate masks to use as costumes to act out each one}

Just something cute

I love to do fun, different ways to say THANK YOU in my classroom.

• For instance, instead of telling our room mom just a plain thank you, we tell her like Elvis.  Yes, you heard me right....ELVIS, the King, the hip shaker, the legend.  We all put our rock star hands up and we strum our imaginary guitar while we say, just like Elvis, "Thank you, thank you very much!"  The kids think it's hilarious and most have NO idea who this Elvis guy is. 

• We also say thank you by giving the "Seal of approval".  When they hear me say "Let's give the seal of approval", my students flap their arms like a seal and say "arr, arr, arr".

•  How do you think a pirate shows his/her appreciation?  "Yaaaaaaaaar GRRRRReat!" (while making a hook with their finger)
 

• We also give a "round of applause" by clapping in a circle.  

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My Word Helpers

I know there are a lot of variations of tricky-word word helpers and these are the ones that I like the most!  They work great especially if you can find a stuffed animal (or Beanie Baby) that goes with each one.  I hang them right next to my guided reading table.

Using decoding strategies while helping your students become independent readers is very important! I like to link the decoding strategies with an animal to help my students remember them.

Animal Decoding Strategies:-Fly Eye (use the picture for clues)
-Lips Fish (get your lips ready for the word)
-Stretchy Snake (stretch the word and put it back together)
-Chunky Monkey (find a chunk you know in the word)
-Flippy Dolphin (flip the vowel sound)
-Skippy Kangaroo (skip the word, finish the sentence and come back to the word)
-Asking Alligator (ask someone for help)

Included:
Posters {color and B/W}

Bookmarks

Reading Sticks

Pennant Banner (see below)

"Word Helper" letters for bulletin board

I also made the posters into pennant banners! It turned out cute and I hope you like it! 

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If you want the posters ONLY, but also want lots of mini-lesson ideas. These packs are just it! 

(please note that only the posters are included with these- the bookmarks, sticks, banner, and bulletin board words are only exclusive to the pack that is posted above (Animal Word Helpers)

Teach 2nd Grade?
{Get your mini-lessons pack here}