Test-taking has been a big theme on here the last few weeks, but I feel that managing skills to make it through a test are crucial for students. The fact is, the tests will be administered no matter what; why not help them do their best?!?
So. alas, why not put their future in the palm of their hands? Or hand, actually. During this lesson I have my students think about a phone app they could invent that could help them do their best on a test. Obviously, there are rules that the app cannot give them the answers, or in any way shape or form help them cheat or take the test for them. If you are looking for how to begin the unit, please check out my other posts about Test-Taking Skills. I used the same power point and skills template, just a different theme. Students will need to select a skill they would like to improve on, and then I let them design the app from there. Depending on how much time you have with your students, you can go as brief or as thorough as you want. I only have about 25 minutes with my students a week, so we make whatever work! When they have chosen the skill, give them a blank piece of paper and have them design the app logo, which will be represented on the "phone screen". The phone screen is really poser paper I have chosen and drawn an image of an iPhone on it. When they have designed their app, have them glue their app onto the phone, and there you have a quick test-taking skills reference right there for them to see! You can hang it in their classroom or in the hallway for all students to use and reflect on before they take a test. Check out the test-taking iPhone my students made!
0 Comments
Happy Friday!
The last few weeks have been insanely busy, and with that in a school setting a little unrest tends to follow. I found this quote today from Extramadness and I decided to write it down on a sticky note and place it on my desk for the rest of the school year. As educators, we can sometimes forget how the tone of our voice can affect a student, or even our co-workers. The last few months of school I am going to work my hardest to make sure I really take the time and dig deep for compassion, even when I feel like I may not have any left! Books are one of my top resources I use to bring character education to life for my students. Also, as an avid reader, I feel like it also helps pass along a love of reading onto my students. One of my favorite phrases to hear is when a student asks if we are going to read a book in counseling today.
But if you are also like me, some days you look through your classroom library and come up empty with a book that delivers the exact message you are needing to teach on that day. Whether it be a social skill, a tough lesson, or just something different from your regular go-to's, I feel like I have found a great tool to assist you with these sort of days: Storybird. Storybird is a quick, interactive website where you can build your own story books with any message you need! I stumbled across this website a few years back, and I have been in love with it every since. Check out some of my favorite features below: Perks 1. Educator-friendly. The website is set up to cater to educators; you can build classrooms where students can write their own stories, put in their own illustrations. 2. Quick and simple. As a counselor, these are my two magic words that get me, besides free (see #3). I have created a story in less than thirty minutes, but you can also take your time and create some masterpieces. 3. Free! Once again, one of my favorite words as an educator! 4. Different layouts. You can choose from three different layouts: picture books, chapter books, or poems. If you teach many different age groups, this may come in handy for you. So, how can you use this? Oh the possibilities! I generally use it to create my own stories and share with the students. They love it! However, there are times after I have introduced a concept, we use the skills we have learned to write a story together as a class to re-teach the skills. For example, we wrote a story about a third grade student who was nervous about the state test and went through all the different test-taking skills he could use to prepare for the test. We have also written stories about how to solve conflicts. Drawbacks 1. Illustrations. I have personally not had good luck finding illustrations that really speak to the different stories I have written. They may be a personal drawback, but one I thought I would list. 2. Creation page. Sometimes it is difficult to place the images and your text boxes precisely where you want them on the page. Maybe I just need more practice with this finesse, but it was an issue when I first started using it. Practice does make perfect though! 3. Searching for published works. There are many published works on the website, it is just very hard to search to narrow down the certain topic you may be looking for. However, there may just not be many school counseling-related stories either! Good luck writing stories with your students! I hope you are able to build more connections through this valuable tool. How do you use Storybird?? I would love to know! Please comment below.
Happy Monday everyone! I hope your weekend was well. As the end of the school year is winding down, we all start to think about next school year. My administrator approached me about the idea of starting Leader in Me in our school building. This was an easy answer for me since I already implement the 7 Habits within my school counseling classroom.
So, what is Leader in Me? Great question! I do not feel confident in myself to explain it to its fullest potential, so let me recommend the book HERE. Also, here is my Pinterest board where I have collected some of my favorite resources for implementing the 7 Habits in my classroom.
I would love to hear your thoughts on how you implement A Leader in Me your school!
Please comment below if you have any thoughts or feedback for a school just starting A Leader in Me! Happy Monday! While the rest of my students in 3rd and up are busy preparing themselves for test, in Kindergarten we are busy building some self-esteem! One of my all-time favorite books and lessons is with the book Cupcake by Charise Mericle Harper. This sweet book will warm the hearts of your students, and really help them think about what makes them special. Also, the humor between cupcake and candle will allow them to get their giggles out. After we read the book, I have them complete the following worksheet. The results I get with this worksheet always astound me, and I usually hang them up in the hallway. I also let the students decorate the cupcakes how they want to express their individuality. Happy baking!!
|
Archives
July 2017
|