What to do with those Extra Eggs???

Easter has passed, you've stuffed yourself with one too many chocolate bunnies and you have these plastic eggs laying all over your house and not a clue what to do with them.  You don't want to throw them away because you just bought them and they are perfectly good eggs, but do you really want them to take up storage space until next year (when let's be honest, I'll forget that I have them and buy new ones anyway).  What's a teacher to do!?

 

Here is what I did with mine and a list of other fabulous ideas to help you decide!

 

1. Test Prep Egg Hunt

 

The "Big Test" is coming up and I was thinking a fun way to review would be to have an egg hunt.  I found these super fun eggs at our local craft store!  I really liked the ones with faces and I put the harder questions inside those.  That way my kids would remember that these were those "thinker" questions (they were also worth more points).

 

 

I printed off different test prep questions and folded them into small squares that fit inside each egg. 

Helpful hint!  If you do this I recommend also putting the question number on the outside of the egg as well as inside on the question.  To do this without permanently changing your eggs, write the number with a sharpie on a piece of tape and place it on the egg.  When the hunt is over you can peel the tape off and use the eggs again for something else!

 

 

Because of the weather and playground equipment repairs we had our egg hunt in the media center.  You can easily do this in your classroom but it was nice to have a big open space where the students could work and not be on top of each other.

 

I gave each student an egg to hide.  They had to hide it in plain sight so everyone had a chance to find them all though.  Here are a couple of our superior hiding spots!

 

 

Even Arthur wanted in on the hunt!

 

My favorite!!!  Hanging with Harry ;o)

 

How good is this one!?  That egg blends right in with the ducks!

 

They worked in their Academic Games groups to move about the room and find the eggs and write down their answers on their answer sheet.  They had to answer the questions right there and place the egg back where they found it.  Really the only reason I did this was so that clean up was easier, haha, since everyone had to go back and pick up their egg they hid at the end.

 

 

This was a smashing success!  I'm pretty sure I could use these eggs at any time for an activity like this and my kids won't mind ;o)

 

2. Easter Egg Math

 

The Happy Teacher has a great freebie that allows you to use those extra eggs to practice math fluency facts!  Included is a recording sheet for students!  Addition is a little too easy for my kiddos but this is easily changeable to fit your classroom.  Click on the photo to grab your own copy!

 

 

3. 20 Plastic Egg Activities

 

Jenae from I Can Teach My Child has a list of 20 different activities to do at home or the classroom with those extra eggs.  My favorite is the synonyms and antonyms!

 

 

What do you do with your eggs???



Let the Academic Games Begin!

Our state testing is coming up next week and for the past couple weeks my students have been competing in the academic games!  Every year as we get closer to FCAT, the practice tests and drilling become so agonizing to the students that you can see their motivation dwindling and the slow downward slide begin, when what I really need is for them to be pumped for the next three weeks of testing!  So this year I had an idea...  A brilliant one, if I do say so myself ;o)  The Academic Games.

I introduced the academic games about a month ago to my class.  I told them that they would be competing in four categories: reading, math, science, and language arts.  The Magic Hat randomly picked our five groups and I explained the importance of working together.  You see, my class this year is very competitive as a whole and are not into the whole working as partners thing.  They would prefer to do it themselves, and this OCD-perfectionist gets that.  But some of my friends need help and just get it better when it comes from their peers (let's be honest, they need to know how to work with others to make it in this world, especially when they don't want to).  I explained that occasionally we would take scores from group work, partner work, and individual work.  So if one of your teammates if having trouble with author's purpose while you are in your group, you need to help them understand so when they are being scored as individuals they won't end up getting a low score for your team.  You haven't seen team work until you've seen my class after that light-bulb moment!

We created this bulletin board from chalkboard fabric to update our scores.  Yes... you read that right.  CHALK. BOARD. FABRIC.  My new best friend!  I will be posting all about it this week, so be on the lookout!  Here is a closer look at the board so you can see the writing.

 

We use a variety of materials for the academic games!  One that my kids love is the interactive game shows from Lakeshore Learning.  We have one for science, vocabulary, math, reading comprehension, and nonfiction.

We also use past FCAT passages, homework, ReadWorks passages, task cards and more.  On Monday they will have an "Egg-tastic Test-Prep" hunt for a last minute review of all the concepts!  I will do just about anything to get them motivated and keep them that way for this test that lasts three weeks this year?!

As in any type of competition there are awards to be won based on where you finished in your event.  I cut out these circles from sparkly scrapbook paper I found at Michael's and attached the awards list that they could choose from.  Nothing was over the top or something I would drop a lot of money on and the kids were okay with that.  They loved the list of prizes and are already gearing up for what they want to choose!  It's also nice because each person can pick what they want, it doesn't have to be a whole team agreement.

 

To say this was a motivational success is putting it lightly.  Not only are my kids still motivated after a month to take the FCAT, their scores lately are phenomenal!  I will without a doubt be doing this every year from here on out and HIGHLY recommend it or something like it for your class if you have state testing coming up.  That is why I am linking this up with one of my BBB's Joanne from Head Over Heels For Teaching for her Spark Student Motivation Saturday!

 



How do you motivate your students for the big test???

Happy weekend y'all!

Tried It Tuesday - Acrostic Poems with a Twist

Today I'm linking up with Holly from Fourth Grade Flippers for Tried It Tuesday!  I promise the posts about testing will end soon but it's going on for two weeks and I'm just trying to incorporate as many "fun" (or at least different) things to do with it as possible.  I snagged this idea from Heather at Working 4 the Classroom.  This was one of my infamous 1 A.M. finds that I HAD to try the next day so forgive the not so overly creative but I really liked how they turned out.  What did we make you might be asking???

Acrostic Poems for testing strategies using our names!!!  Since it is National Poetry Month and we did have the big test coming up, this was the perfect culmination :o)  I really like how Heather's turned out and maybe next year I will be more prepared to decorate ours a little more fancy like, but I couldn't have asked for more from my kiddos.  They had so much fun trying to come up with different strategies that fit for the letters of their name.

First we brainstormed different testing strategies by doing an AllWrite Round Robin with our table groups.  The strategies didn't have to begin with their name, it just had to be something that would help them on the test.  The first student wrote down what their strategy was and then the next student clockwise wrote down their strategy and this continued until the time was up.  Everyone put their idea in the center so it was visible and no one would repeat.  At the end of the time every group had about 15-20 different strategies.

Then they began to brainstorm for their name by rewriting those ideas their group came up with into sentences.  Once they were done I showed them my example and gave them construction paper, markers, and a few simple rules: your name had to be fun and colorful - get creative! and it had to take up the whole page.  This is what they came up with!

 

We hung them up outside in our hallway so they could see them every morning before testing and so the third graders who share our hallway with us would get some good ideas they might not have thought of.  I hope you enjoyed the idea and don't forget to head over to Holly's blog for other great ideas from some amazing bloggers!

The Testing Fairy is Here - Pin It and You Win It!

On April's Monthly Market I talked about the Testing Fairy and how she visits our class every year for our state standardized test.  The kids just love her!  Well she is visiting our class tomorrow and I can't wait to see the kid's reaction!

In honor of testing starting on Monday and teachers everywhere who have been working ridiculously hard all year long and MIGHT be stressing out a little... I am giving away my Testing Fairy packet for free to all who Pin It from now until Friday (April 12th, 2013) at midnight.  All you have to do is Pin It from this post or my TPT store and leave the web address of your pin and email address in the comment box and I will send it to you!  Here is just a sneak peek:

I would also love some feedback on what you think!  Good luck to everyone on their state tests!  REMEMBER: This is NOT what it is all about, no matter what anyone tells you.  You are all amazing teachers and your kids are lucky to have you!

***  UPDATE: The deadline for this freebie has expired but if you would like a copy of it, head on over to my TPT store and grab yourself a copy! ***

Monthly Market - My first linky party!!!

Alright y'all, please be patient with me as this is all new territory for me but I am hosting my very first linky party!  Monthly Market came to me at one in the morning while I was debating lesson plans and what not.  After talking to a few different blogging buddies about what they do for certain times of the year I thought, "Oh man, this is good stuff!  I need to write this down."  But it would have been too much writing and trying to remember who said what and where to find it so I thought, "Well, a linky would solve all those problems for me and a whole lot of other people!"  Just like at a Flea Market (LOVE!) or the Farmer's Market where you go to look for hidden gems and get good ideas or trade for other products, you will do the same here!

Every month I will post 2-3 theme units for the month and I would love for y'all to link up your ideas for what activities you do for those units.  It doesn't matter what grade or subject or even if you haven't done it yet but found it on Pinterest and plan on doing it, we want to know!  If you only have an idea for one of the units, that's fine too!  I'm pretty easy going here :o)

April's Monthly Market is all about poetry, testing, and weather!

Poetry:
One of my favs!  Two years ago was probably the most fun poetry project my kids had ever done.  Sadly, it wasn't a possibility at my new school with so little computers at school and home but this year we have a laptop cart so things are looking up!  After learning about six different types of poems and writing examples I assigned my students a Poetry Anthology Project through Glogster.  If you've never heard of Glogster, it is like an interactive poster you create on the computer.  Any who, the kids picked one topic and had to choose three different poems to write about that topic.  Once the writing was complete then they got to create their Glogster and design it with pictures, backgrounds, videos, animations, etc.  My favorite one was a girl who did middle school and her three poems were based on the cliques: jock, nerd, and outcast.  It was amazing!  I wish I still had them but you'll have to take my word for it.  Here is a copy of the directions I gave them if you want to give it a shot!

Testing:
My class has the FCAT Fairy and the FCAT Fairy sends a package to the teacher the day before with instructions and a poem for the students.  I usually leave it outside the door and they find it when we get back from specials.  I always pick them up a minute or so late that day and say, "I'm SO sorry I'm late. I was in a meeting the whole time?!"  This way they don't get overly suspicious, lol.  We all read aloud the letter inside and the kids get really pumped to know the FCAT Fairy will be visiting them everyday.  She leaves us magic dust to sprinkle on their heads when they walk in the door (5th grade boys still love this!), a fairy hat for me to wear, a magic wand and directions of how we can earn her treat every night.  At the end of the day they have to leave a note for her on their desk that tells her something they did well on that day's test that they are proud of, it's usually some sort of testing strategy.  Now in fifth grade our testing lasts two weeks so we do whatever we can to get through it y'all!  The kids love her!

Here are some sample cards of what we put with their candy.  I also ask parents to write them a note for the first morning and I put it on their desk.  They are always so thrilled with this surprise!  The I write them a note every morning after that to encourage them.  Again, this is a long two weeks so whatever works!

Usually after the test we do One Hour Mysteries.  It is really interesting to watch the kids in detective mode and using their logic and reasoning skills to solve the crime.  Definitely a book worth buying!

I know, usually only the intermediate grades have to deal with testing but I know that our primary grades are a huge support system to us that week!  We get a buddy class and they pamper my kids with support posters and candy and homemade cards and my kids feel like kings and queens.  They also do an FCAT Parade the day before!  It's so stinkin' cute!!!!  They make their posters and signs and musical instruments and all form a big line.  The front office puts parade music over the intercom and the intermediate kids stand outside our classroom while K-2 march along and sing.


Now I do not have anything for weather as I have never taught science :o( but that's okay!  I do still have my science drawer in my file cabinet though (because you never know what's going to happen) and I would love to get some good ideas or TPT things to fill it!

I do however have a Writing Prompt Calendar for the month of April and I will send it free to the first five people to link up!  Click on the image below to get your copy!

Thank you so much for reading ALL THAT.  I know it was a lot and y'all are troopers.  Link up below and tell us all what great ideas you have in your file cabinet!  Please be sure to grab the button above and link back here so others can link up as well.  Don't forget to comment on the person before you and after you as well!  Everyone enjoys some bloggy lovin ;o)