KCM Conference 2013

One day in and one more to go!  Fun!  Fun!  Super great speakers!  Speakers with long lists of credentials.  Speakers with great ideas for the classroom.  Speakers really committed to improving math instruction.

Some of my favorite quotes or ideas...
 
No more naked numbers!  The process behind the problems is necessary, too!

Hopscotch math...as the students enter the room...an entrance or an exit slip to practice a skill

High Five Wall...slap the wall, counting by 5's up the wall...again, as an entrance or exit slip

Lots of interest in the SNAP training

Math word wall...perhaps on the windows with window markers

The ABC's:  Always be conversing, always be connecting, always build competence

Easter Eggs-numbers on the two parts, combine to make given totals or find sums, beans in the eggs to check, some eggs have 3 parts...can make CVC words...or put the vowels inside the eggs

Lots of talk of professional noticing

There were tons and tons of resources and activities.  Now...one more day, then I'm off to apply some great practices!  Great activities!

Genius Ladder

I really liked the Genius Ladder.  I liked the practice it provided.  I liked the resulting practice with spicy sentences!  We didn't get to extenders in writing, but students naturally extended the sentences at times anyway.  I have decided to shake things up a little; I am starting our mornings with writing in our journals.  I want to provide more time to write.  I hope Genius ladder continues to show itself to be a worthy addition to great writing!

Practice Cards

I've talked about the Guff Counter.  Now for the practice cards.

The practice cards are for individuals.  If a student is struggling with rule number 3 (raise your hand for permission to leave your seat), I slide a practice card for that rule into their pocket.  At recess, for two minutes, that student says, "Rule number 3, raise your hand for permission to leave your seat."  The practice should be as closely related to the behavior as possible.  For instance, as the student repeats rule 3, they stand, then sit, repeating the rule.    

So far, so good.  

Guff Counter

The Guff Counter has proved effective.  The class assists in removing positive recognition for negative behavior by holding up a hand toward the student and saying, "Stop it."  Losing positive recognition is the first step in modifying behavior.

Enough of the technical talk.  The Guff Counter works and will be used sparingly.  It will be another trick I can pull out of the hat.  I mean crown!

Newbies fromWBT

I watched a webinar with Chris Biffle on using 'because.' After watching this, I downloaded Seminar 4 Writing from the WBT website.  I'm taking several things from it into the classroom.

One thing I really liked was how the students would be proofreading their work.  I think I can use this idea for their data binders.  I'll put a list for proofreading into their data binders; as they check their work, they put a paperclip on the list next to what they are checking.  It should help them to focus on one rule at a time, instead of trying to check the entire paper for multiple errors simultaneously.  

The ebook also encouraged lots of oral writing, practicing with a buddy.  I am excited try this out, increasing the oral writing to include different nouns, verbs, and adjectives.  

The Guff Counter is new for me, too.  As I read over the forum discussions on www.wholebrainteacing.com I linked over  to the Guff Counter...http://www.wholebrainteaching.com/index.php/whole-brain-teching/levels/level-3-the-guff-counter.html, I got excited to add this to the Scoreboard procedures.  I'll let you know how this goes!

My MD Muscle Walk page

My brother is currently battling ALS.  The MD foundation has been super in providing an ALS clinic in Nashville he has attended.  I have registered in the Music City Muscle Walk to be held next month.

Check out my link above, if you are interested.  Thanks so much!

AwEsOmE!!!

Let's be awesome!  Thanks, Erica, from Erica Boherer's First Grade, for passing on this link to us!  I'm adding it to mine, because I liked it that much!

I couldn't mention AWESOME here, though, without mentioning what an awesome God we have!  My prayer is that I can take advantage of the awesome opportunities I have to share with children and foster their "awesomeness"!

Have an awesome Saturday!