The Story Board

The story board is another VERY popular choice in our jungle when it comes to picking products to demonstrate our learning.  Sometimes it is a story board and sometimes we do cartoon strips depending on what we need to communicate.  Either way-there are a load of things you can do and the products can be as different as the little monkeys in your jungle!

On my beginning of the year think-tac-toe, (here) I listed the story board as a product choice.  In this instance, students would select or make an appropriate template to summarize the story.  They are crazy about these templates at www.donnayoung.org.  This takes some careful planning because if you only have four or five boxes, you have to think about what needs to go in them.  In an assignment such as this one, I usually encourage them not to include the solution or resolution so they don't ruin it for their classmates.  The big idea is to get them to read the book, after all!

 

There are all sorts of electronic templates out there, too.  This site happens to be my favorite. The only drawback is that you can't save unfinished comix.  You either have to print or forward via email.  I have my students send them to my school email address and then I print a copy for them to keep.  Another nice thing about the email option is that I can forward the link on to their families for at home viewing!

Here's a sample I created using a set of our vocabulary words:  slumped, soggy, capable, strands, gigantic, credit and luminous.  Some of my monkeys that struggle with coming up with creative ways to use the words will sometimes just dialogue about the definition of the words.  I also modify this assignment by selecting 2 or 3 words that have to be included in the finished product.

Other Uses for Storyboards and Comic Strips:

• Spelling Words
• Character, Setting, Problem and Solution
• Summarizing Plots
• Alternate Endings
• Inference    
• Sequencing
• Re-telling  

We Interupt This Blog

...to have a panic attack!  OMGosh!  I stopped in at school to take a peek at my room.  Let me preface this by saying that I have been on emergency sick leave since last March and I was getting a little itchy to get back in and get to work......

It's just that....

I kind of forgot......







Ummm.....

How much work there is to do!  Yikes!  Stay posted for some of my new ideas!  I'm excited!

The Book Report Brochure

We are big into brochures in our classroom.  The kiddos beg to create them!  Sometimes we create them on the computer (The Spunky Monkeys are lucky enough to have 1:1 laptops in our classroom) in Publisher and sometimes we create them the good old fashioned way with construction paper and art supplies.

Since one of the first choices on my Back to School Think-Tac-Toe is a brochure book report, I thought I would share my example.  You can differentiate the heck out of this thing!  I actually provide the Monkeys with a list of options they have if they want to make a brochure.  The "must do" list on a book report brochure include: the tile, author, illustrations and connections.  After that, they can mix and match any other of the following:

• Character descriptions
• Top 5 List (Top Five Things I Loved About This Book)
• Compare/Contrast with characters....they can compare the characters to each other or to themselves
• Plot Summary
• Setting Description
• Setting Compare/Contrast
• Timeline of significant Events or Plot Curve
• Other books by the same author-TOTALLY motivating if kiddos know they can read more books by an author they have grown to love!

Book Report Brochure Book Report Brochure

Click on either page to download the pdf copy of my brochure.  Click on the link below if you would like to download a blank template to make your own!
Blank Book Report Template

Think -Tac -Toes: You Have a Choice and a Voice!

I don't know about you, but we are faced with loads and loads of data collection beginning the first week of school. it is a double edged sword because it is obviously really important that we ascertain where our students are academically, but it is also a huge bummer to come back to school and take a bunch of boring tests!

Time is of the utmost essence, and the first week of school is almost as busy as the last.  My co-teachers and I came up with a way to keep everybody engaged, enthused and BUSY (in a productive way) while we get everybody settled, assessed and into the school routine.  We use a Back to School "Think Tac Toe".

We have found this format has been HUGE in engaging our students.  They love to have a choice in what they do.  Our need to interrupt student conferences, reading groups, etc. has dwindled down to nothing.  My Think-Tac-Toes are designed with a purpose, but that purpose can be varied (depending on your goals).  This one is designed with some differentiation in mind regarding work styles, interests and developmental levels (keeping in mind this is a group of fourth and fifth grades who work cooperatively.)

Below you will find the Think-Tac-Toe I created for the beginning of this year.  It's going to take some explaining- and if you want to use it...I will include all of the templates you'll need.  It will just take me a day to get them all polished up and pretty.  Have a "look see" and see what you think!  I'll be back tomorrow with some more ideas and the rest of the templates!

 

Back to School Tic Tac Toe

Welcome to the Jungle

As a veteran teacher with degrees in both elementary education and journalism, you might think a blog would be the perfect place for me to satisfy both of my passions: writing AND teaching. I'll have to admit that as secretly excited as I am to begin this blog, I had some serious writer's block and anxiety about beginning one. Where do I begin? How do I organize this thing? What if nobody reads it? (or worse yet-what if somebody does?!)

I think my fears have been mostly put to rest after spending a considerable amount of time reading and learning from the wonderful teacher blogging community.  Everybody is so friendly and the sharing and collaboration is amazing!

How will I contribute?  What will I post about?  I hope to share my perspective while co-teaching fourth and fifth grade-an exchange of ideas and strategies that make learning fun.  (for both the teachers and the students)  Most of what I post will pertain to the age group I teach, but should also have application at almost any grade level.  I always say that education is a constant recycling and revamping of ideas.  Everything I have learned has been inspired by the great teaching around me and the talented teachers I know-I just put my twist on it. 

I can't wait to get started!  Welcome to the Jungle!