3 alternative ways to have fun with reading comprehension questions

 

Make test prep fun rather than stale and boring using one of the these three simple strategies. 

Scoot

1. Prepare the game by cutting out passages ahead of time. 
2. Provide Scoot answer document and assign students to start at different points around the room. Students should bring their passage around with them so they can look for supporting evidence to answer the questions. 
3. Give students 2-3 minutes at each station. When time is up, have students scoot to the next question. Be sure all students move at the same time. 
4. When students have been to all stations, review answers.

Pick the worst answer

1. Tell students you're going to be working on your passage a little differently. Provide students with the passage and questions. 
2. Explain that you aren't worried about the right answer. You want students to find the worst answer. Tell them that this is the answer that is the most ridiculous or clearly not true. 
3. Give students time to read the passage and begin selecting the worst answers. This can be done independently, in pairs, or in small groups. 
4. When students finish, bring the group together. Read through the passage, and have students take turns reading the questions aloud. 
5. Let students vote on which answer would be the worst to select. Have them defend their answer or try to persuade their peers to switch their choice.

Color coding

1. To prepare, select a color for each question in the passage. Try to make adjacent questions have a distinctively different color to make it easier to grade. 
2. Provide students with the passage. As a group, mark the passage questions with the color code you decided on. 
3. Have students work independently or in pairs to read the passage and answer each question using the appropriate color. Text evidence should be color coded to match the questions. 
4. When finished, have students partner up (or switch partners) and look over their passage to see how the color coding aligns. 

***BOUNS***

Use technology to get kids excited about practicing with Boom Cards. Boom cards are an interactive tool that self corrects while students work through each questions and passage! Click on the image to find out more.

Teaching Fractions in Third Grade

To teach fractions in third grade, I use a multi sensory approach. Kids need manipulative, games, and repetitions. Let me show you what I mean!

1.) My number 1 favorite manipulative in teaching fractions is the fraction tiles! I have them to place in templates and I have magnets for my board. When I teach fractions on a number line I use two things. A paint stick with number lines marked and clothes pins with fractions. Students get to move the paper clip where they think it should go when I call out fractions. 

2.) I LOVE using power point and google slides! It makes instruction quick and easy. Especially with a concept such as fractions that requires a lot of drawings. 

3.) Games in person or using technology are another great way to teach fractions! Partnering kids up to learn how to problem solve is a life skill as well as an accountability tool!

New Year Planning and Prep

 

We are in the last days before Christmas Break. How are you holding up? I'm sure you are more than ready for a well-deserved break. 

I love the holiday break, and often I just want to get on with it. Therefore, I do not plan before I go. Leaving me at least a workday over the vacation. When I do this, I start to think about all the things I haven't done and it can put a damper on my vacation. Does that happen to you??

Here is what I am learning!

 Be Intentional

Before going on break start to make an outline of the weekly outlook. Begin pulling copies for that week. Maybe even get someone to do your copies for you (such as a parent volunteer)

 Limit your work time

If you must work over break, set boundaries for yourself. Block out or ink in a date/time that you will work and stick to it. This year more than ever, we all need a break from all the thins school-related!

 Grade Smart

Grading is important because it is the feedback or conversation about growth between you and your students. However, there are easier ways to do it. Try these tips: Keep comments short, use volunteers to grade the easy stuff (homework, quizzes..etc), DON'T grade every assignment a student completes. Only the ones that will drive your instruction for the next things you need to accomplish.

Do you need some activities for planning and prep?

Non-Fiction Reading

All About the Winter Sports- These article pages were designed as a way for you to "hook" your students on the topic Winter Sports. You can display the article pages on your document camera as a whole group or print and display during small group instruction.

Real life photographs will enhance your students understanding of winter sports games. I've also provided sheets for students to write a summary.

Graphic Organizers- These graphic organizers and worksheets can be used however you wish! I tried to offer you many different options to help meet the needs of your diverse group. 

Are you looking for LOW PREP writing activities this month? January LOW PREP writing crafts are easy to incorporate into your January lessons plans. The work great if you are following common core standards for opinion writing. Nice and quick practice for your students that they will enjoy. You can display on a bulletin board or locker as well.

These winter STEM and Activities are LOW PREP and include: a crack the code puzzle (1-2, 2-3, and 4-5 version), writing craftivity (I like winter because...), graphing with winter objects, STEM challenges (Design and Igloo, Ice Cube Challenge, and Snowball Chute).

How about some Videos to help Aid in Learning about the New Year??

Boom Cards-The Perfect Resource

 

Have you heard the buzz about Boom Cards? Boom Cards are easy for kids to use and even easier for you to go digital with students. 

If you use boom cards in your classroom, I know your students will be asking to use them again! They are digital task cards that are self-correcting. They get to work on a skill and you get immediate feedback on how they are doing! 

Boom cards are used in a variety of ways. 

In the classroom they are used in centers or independent work times or for homework. 

In special education, they can be used as an interactive game between a SPED kid and a peer or for repetitive practice on a needed skill. 

SO.... What are boom Cards!

Let's get started! Go to wow.boomlearning.com and open up an account using your email and a passcode. Then you will be ready to go. It is that easy.

How Boom Works!

Students will have a task that they have to complete and they will simply choose the button, fill in number or letter, or drag and drop to answer their question. The best part is...IT IS SELF CHECKING! This means your students get immediate feedback! 

Struggling Students

Boom Cards are great for struggling students because they CAN come with the option to read to your student. This way your struggling readers or special needs students can do the problem at hand rather than read. 

Last your students will thank you! So many of my students beg to use boom cards. So do your students a favor and let them begin the journey of using Boom Cards!