Jingle
Bell Club (Kitty Allen)
Kids get to
sign their name as members of the “Jingle Bell Club” when they learn to tie
their shoes. They also get a
jingle bell on a ribbon to tie on their shoe laces.
Expert
Chart (Karen Stone)
Every
student can see themselves as an “expert” with this idea. Make a poster with areas of expertise,
such as cutting, writing numerals, writing letters, spelling, tying shoes, etc. Children get to sign their name and put
their picture on the poster where they feel they are an expert. Students must consult at least “3
experts” before asking the teacher.
Table
Captain (Jennifer Hill)
At each
table there are four children, each with a nametag. On each tag is a red, blue, green, or yellow circle
sticker. Each week choose a
different color sticker to be “table captain.”
*Colored
stickers can be used for other transition activities. For example, “Yellow stickers go to the art center.”
Envelope
Assessment (Cowan Elementary)
Laminate
envelopes and then cut them in half.
Children can write on the laminated envelope with a dry erase
marker. This can be used for
formative assessment.
Pony
Beads (Vonda Stamm)
Place 10
pony beads on a string (5 of each color).
Use for number identification, addition, counting, etc. If the teacher calls out a math fact
they can hold up the answer and hide the beads they don’t want to show in their
fist.
*Students
could also use these with a partner.
For example, one student shows a number of beads and the partner tells
the number.
Hint! I tied a black bead on both ends of the
string so the beads wouldn’t fall off.
Smart
Beads
You can use
costume jewelry or play beads for this activity. If students answer questions correctly they get a “smart
bead.”
Beat the
Teacher (Cynthia Leonard)
The teacher
slowly writes a numeral (letter, word) on the document camera. The students try to guess the numeral
before the teacher finishes writing.
Sight
Words and Sign Language (Kris
Buss)
Teach sight
words by using sign language. Put
a picture of the sign on the back of every sight word. Use this for every word you teach. By having the signs on the back of the
cards, the parents can use these at home to help their children learn.
Ms.____Says! (Sara Hunt)
Use
vocabulary words and motions as you play a game similar to “Simon Says.”
(Teacher’s
name) says, “Larva,” the children squirm like a worm.
If the
teacher just says, “Larva,” and the children squirm then they are out of the
game and must sit down.
This is why I
LOVE what I do! Thank you Donna
Calhoun!
Dr.
Jean, I attended your “No More Worksheets” in Lexington
Wednesday. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed
the day.
We
have already used many of your ideas. I really liked the
attention
grabber, “How does my teacher feel about me?”
I
created a chart with the students’ response, “I’m as special
as
special can be because my teacher believes in me!” They all
signed their names on the chart and I hung it in the hall We
used the envelope
cut into a bracelet for an exit slip today in phonics.
