Caddo Fed After Hours

Tuesday Teacher Tip

The first few days of the school year typically center around gathering personal information from students; overview of course outline; and discussion of the teacher’s expectations. After a few days of “DO THIS, DO THAT”….I decide to give my STUDENTS a chance to voice THEIR opinion on what THEIR EXPECTATIONS are of a GOOD TEACHER. The students are given a half sheet of paper that has the following 2 questions on it (of course with room for answering). Question 1: Now that I’ve told you my expectations of a good student, what are YOUR expectations of a good teacher? Question 2: Tell me about the BEST teacher you’ve ever had…what made that person such a good teacher?

The student responses are great to read….and if the student’s “BEST” teacher happens to be on our staff (as they commonly do)…I place a copy of the activity in that teacher’s box….IT serves as a great “pat on the back”…letting the teacher know that he/she DID make a difference. Of course, any teacher enjoys hearing that their hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Tammy Braggs

Northwood High

Caught Being Good
 
This catchy chant promotes community within the classroom and helps refocus the class for the next task at hand.  To establish a beat, clap your hands or snap your fingers.  Students join in and then begin the chant on your cue.  Students enjoy sharing the good deeds of their classmates and love to hear their own name called for being good, too.  Don’t be surprised if YOUR name is called for being good!!!

 
Chant:
 
Hey, class!  What do you say?
Who have you caught being good today?
 
Hey, [student's name]! What do you say?
Who have you caught being good today?
 
 
Allison Boyett
Arthur Circle Elem.
Discoveries Gr.1-5

I am a kindergarten teacher at University Elementary.  As you know, kindergarten has to be very much hands on and lots of movement.  One of the most challenging parts of our job is motivating children to learn their “popcorn words”.  We play the “Swat Game”! What I have done to make it more exciting is to put the words on colored index cards and laminate them.  I place the cards on the board or on the floor and I give two children a fly swatter.  When a word is called, the first person to actually swat the word wins. 

This can be used with many other things.  For example: Vocabulary – teacher could give a definition and the students find the word that matches.  Math – place number to addition, subtraction, multiplication and division and call out the problem and they swat the answer.  My children absolutely love the game and play it in choice center time.

I have seen a big increase in the words they are learning.

Colleen Smith

University Elementary

 1.  Some test questions may read this way:  Which of the following answers is not a possible answer? First try scratching out the answer that would be considered correct and the answer that does not fit should be left standing alone.

2.  While testing, look for key words, bold print and italics; they usually give hints at helping you to achieve the correct answer.

Greg Carter
Walnut Hill Elementary/Middle School

This is a motivational idea we use for testing our 3^rd – 5^th graders.  For this week only, they wear certain attire to school to motivate them to do well on the test.

We tell them “Next week is Test Prep Week so Don’t forget to wear?..

1.  Monday – Your favorite hat -  it is “Hats off to Great Test Scores!”

2.  Tuesday – Camouflage – because “We’re Hunting for Good Test Scores!”

3.  Wednesday – Your favorite team jersey/shirt – because “Good Scores Take a Team Effort”

4.  Thursday – Wind suit – because “We’re Blowing the Top Off the Test!”

5.   Friday – Crazy Socks – “Sock It to Treat Test Scores!” 

Everyone, teacher and students love doing this.

Rebecca Watson

Southern Hills Elementary

Teacher Tip

As I started to notice my students feeling overwhelmed or overburdened when given a new set of weekly vocabulary words, we made a slight adjustment to how the words were distributed.  Instead of having a list of 20+ words given to my class and routine exercises, we use what I call a ”four accomplishments a day” method. 

Four new words are introduced daily and the student can write or type the correct spelling of the word, what they think it means, the actual definition, and state what it means in their own words after learning the true definition.  This is done to encourage higher level thinking skills within the classroom. 

Enjoy,

Billy Cloutet

 Donnie Bickham Middle School- Special Programs

Teacher Tip Template 

                                                          Tuesday Teacher Tip

I also use a reward system for the entire class in order to encourage staying on task; class participation and cleaning up properly at the end of class. 

Each class has a palette on the bulletin board with 6 blank spaces.  I make color splats for the palette with construction paper and attach them with Velcro.  When the palette is full, the Artist of the Week gets to spin the prize wheel for the entire class.  My prizes are bonus points, “free art” day, ice cream party and “sit anywhere” day.

When we have been having trouble cleaning up properly or staying on task, I will explain why the class is not earning a color that day and ask them if they think they can earn a color tomorrow. 

This idea can be adjusted for any subject.  It is the best classroom management tool I have and I love it!!

Erin Wilson

Caddo Middle Magnet

6th - 8th Grade Art

Tuesday Teacher Tip

I teach 4th grade special education at Oil City Elementary School. 

I use a card system in my room.  If a student follows all of the class rules their card remains green.  If your card remains green, you receive a Tiger Ticket at the end of the day (because we are the Tigers).  The ticket has a picture of a tiger on it.  The Tiger Ticket is used to purchase items in the Tiger Store at the end of every Friday.  Items in the store range from 1 ticket to 80 tickets!  I save toys from Happy Meals, stickers, candy, and anything I find that’s inexpensive.  The students are responsible for their tickets and have to decide if they will spend their tickets or save them for something big.  This integrates economics in a fun way.  The students love it so far, and it promotes consistent, good behavior. 

Emily Gulett

4th grade

Oil City Elementary 

Tuesday Teacher Tip

To reward positive behavior, I implement a game we play every two weeks.  It is called “TICKET TIME”.  The students ABSOLUTELY love it!  After two week, if no student has been written up for ANY infraction, dress code, tardy, etc.) then the student gets to participate in TICKE TIME.  I use a double roll of tickets.  I place the tickets in two jars; the students draw from one jar and I draw the matching ticket from the other jar.  If I draw the ticket a student has, then he/she can come and pick a prize from a buffet of prizes!!  I usually have three to five gifts ranging from …bonus points, homework pass, STAR Points (SWBS), candy, food, flash drives, restaurant gift certificates, etc.  It is a very inexpensive way to reward positive behavior.  Restaurants within the community are great participants when told the reason for the game.  Also, flash drives can be bought at Wal-Mart for $5.00.  We do it on Friday at the end of the hour and they cannot wait.  It really helps motivate those who have been written up to behave for the next drawing, especially when money is the prize. 

Yes, even high school students can be motivated!!!

I teach Pre-K at Hillsdale Elementary.  One of the skills we teach in Pre-K are position words.  These words are: next to, in, over, on, through, under, etc.  I use wooden napkin rings found at a garage sale, and small figures.

Each child gets a wooden ring and a small figure.  As I tell the students what to do with the figure, they show what the position word means by demonstrating the word using the ring and the figure.  This is a hands-on activity and enjoyed by all the students.  (This skill is best taught in a small group of 10). 

Becky Gardner
Hillsdale Elementary