The Ultimate Battle: Bieber vs. Skywalker

This time of year gets hectic.  The regular behavior management ideas that were working perfectly, no longer do the job.  They *kinda* work, but the kiddos aren't excited about them.


I like to find celebrities/topics that my students are obsessed with and make a behavior management tool out of it!

Enter:  Bieber and Skywalker:

Or perhaps you like the more "kid-friendly" pictures of these two. How adorbs:

Most  of the girls are OB.SESS.ED with Justin Bieber {I call him "the biebs"} and the boys love them some Luke Skywalker.  Here's how the management works. You need to show the students the picture of Beiber and Skywalker.  Tell them that need to choose a team.  Do they want to be on Team Bieber or Team Skywalker {it's not a boys vs. girls thing on purpose, but it might turn out that way}?  They use a tag to show their love for whichever celebrity they chose {it's for me to keep track of who is on what team}. They attach that to their desk:

When I *catch* someone from Team Bieber or Team Skywalker on task, I will give them a point.  If they misbehave, they lose a point {I usually don't take points away, but at the end of the year...it works}.

It looks as if Team Skywalker might walk away with a victory!!!

Whichever  team has the most points at the end of the day {or the end of the week} gets a prize. I like to keep it simple, ya'll.  So, if Team Bieber wins, we listen to a Justin Bieber song {an age-appropriate one for sure} as we clean up that day. This throws them in a fit of excitement and dancing. It'll bring you back to the time of *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys.  If Team Skywalker wins, we listen to the Star Wars Theme and let me tell you.....there will be loads of pretend light-sabers {which I totally thought they were called light-savers} and only thismuch dancing.

I know what you are thinking. This TEACHER IS CRRRRAAZZZZYYY.

And. You. Are. Correct.

You can download this 

behavior management freebie {here}. 

I cannot provide the "real" pictures of Biebs and Luke, but you can google those images easily.

 I did provide everything else for you!  

So, tell me..... are you on 

Team Bieber or  Team Skywalker?

Spelling

I've had tons of question how I grade my spelling test based on my post from {here}.

My 1st grade team has manipulated our spelling lists SO much in the past few years. We don't use a particular spelling program, we've made up our own based on the common core.  There are 3 different spelling lists {modified, regular, and advanced} and they all pertain to one specific spelling rule.


Modified spelling test:

Each of the words is worth one point {score at the top left corner}.  Each word in the sentence is worth one point, each punctuation mark one point, and the capital at the beginning of the sentence is one point {score in the top right corner}.
This kiddo did great on her modified word list {only 8 words and 2 sentence}.  She missed the word "doe" because she spelled it "boe".  I mark this wrong starting in January {I give them some time to adjust to first grade before I throw that in}.  Then, she missed "goes" and "road" in her sentences for a total of 12 out of 15 points.




Regular spelling test:

This is the regular list.  12 words and 3 sentences.  She did really good! :)  No reversals, she remembered her punctuation, and she spelled all of the words right and met her spelling goal for the week.


Advanced spelling test:

This advanced list is tricky! They kiddos really have to learn the rule and study hard. They love to be challenged.  I like to keep the sentences the same so that I know they can also spell the regular words, too. Once again, there is a reversal of the "b".  If the reversal changes the word, I mark it wrong. But, if it for instance, was a letter "h" that was backwards, it wouldn't be wrong. I still knew it was an "h" and it didn't change the way I read the word.  Capeesh {is that how you spell that}?


How on earth do I give three spelling tests?  I give the advanced spelling test while the other students do their journals in the morning {or seat work, whatever you call it}.  Then, when the spelling test time comes, the advanced list kids work on their journal.  You could also have a parent come in every Friday and take the advanced or modified list kiddos in the hall and give their test to them.

During regular spelling time, I give the regular spelling test.  I have the modified kiddos at my desk with me so I can watch them and *cough*, help them out a smidgen. :)  They know they stop on #8 word and #2 sentence. They get to draw a picture on the back when they finish! I'm the nicest teacher.
I've also done it where the modified and regular spelling list kiddos are at their seats and I give the advanced kiddos their words in between saying the regular spelling list. WHEW! That sounds intense, but it's really not, if it's managed correctly and the students know their expectations.  So, we do a lot of procedure practice.

On Monday's, I introduce the spelling words and have the kiddos practice on this sheet {I introduce the regular word list because that's where most of the students will be}. I send home their spelling list in their homework folder on Monday. They HAVE to practice at home too! When I introduce on Monday, I find that is helps them with the format if we practice on a sheet that looks like the spelling test:

All throughout the week we go over the spelling rule, play games, review, work in centers, and practice in the hall with parents.

I've LOVED how the Spelling Club has gone in my classroom!  LOOK!  All of the students have been awarded a SUPER SPELLER!!  We love wearing our slippers during the spelling test on Fridays! I make a personalized goal with each of the students each week. It takes some time, but it's so worth it!

Fore more spelling ideas, games and free download; click {here}.

If you'd like to download my spelling practice sheets and 6 other testing sheets, click {here}.

I also use these for practice:



So, this leaves me with a few questions:
1. What spelling program do you use?
2. Do you like what you are doing?

Oh, Tax Day!

In honor of Tax Day {April 15th} tomorrow {which I did google and apparently if it falls on a Sunday, then it is actually the next business day...but who's really keeping track?!}, we're GIVING YOU A TAX BREAK! :)

Thanks, Hadar, for the cute idea!

Head over to Natalie's TpT store April 15th for a "tax break".

Head over to Rachelle's TpT store April 15th for a "tax break"

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Also, there are some pretty sweet giveaways going on that I'm involved in!

Head over to Miss Nelson's blog to enter to win my "Being a Guided Reading Wizard" packet  AND  Lesson Plan SOS's "Guided Reading Activities with Pizzaz" resource {which I own, which I LOVE}.

Then we have a whole lotta teddy bear love going on at...

If you head over to Busy Bees, you have a chance to win Erica's Bear Packets, my Bear Unit, and Busy Bees' Teddy Bear Unit

This Year Was Out of This World!

IWell, I'm still in school until July 2nd (year round), but I know some of my cute friends around the country are counting down their last days! I hope this one can help you.  It's a fun one, for sure.  Who doesn't want to have a MOON balloon countdown in their classroom?!?!

I've made a packet that is full of end of the year fun!  This alien/space themed packet has lots of fun activities for you and your kiddos to take a walk down memory lane and then get ready for the next year!

Included in this packet:

* This grade was out of this world {writing}

*My teacher is a star {writing}

*Blast off to ___ grade! {writing}

*Blast off to ___ grade questionnaire {writing}

*Blast off craft

*Alien headband craft

*Was this year over the moon? {survey and graph}

* I spy a moon pie! {spelling and/or sight word practice}

*Moon Pie, Moon Walk {poetry walk}

*Moon Pie taste test {graphing}

*Stars bubble map

*Stars informational writing

*Moon bubble map

*Moon informational writing

*Pop the Moon Balloon with memory book


My favorite activity: