Academics with Hopscotch

This summer was my year of trying various types of instruction using academics with helping children use the outdoors in a structured way. This included using hopscotch. I found that hopscotch taught many academic skills including:

Math

Skip Counting by 1s, 5,s 10s, and 25s
Adding and Subtracting
Fractions, money, and math vocabulary

Language Arts
Spelling
Phonics, Vowels, Consonants and Vocabulary and of course teaching dolch words

Basically you can play hopscotch with going from 1 to 10 or rolling on the right answer such as what is 5 and 5 with is 10 on the hopscotch board. No matter the formation of hopscotch diagram and no matter what country that they originated from most games are played similar. Letters, words can be guessed and stepped on or practiced with going from place to place.

Non academic concepts also taught are learning how to wait your turn, taking chances and learning how to maneuver over different type of jumps, movements and rules are also taught with hopscotch. Learning to work together, explain rules and help others are also part of the hopscotch experience.

So if you are looking for a cheap way to teach academics try hopscotch.

For more ideas on hopscotch check out my Pinterest Page.

www.pinterest.com/cchapan/hopscotch/

Learning to Live Life as a Whole Brain Teacher

I recently had the opportunity to attend a conference on Whole Brain Teaching. I initially was not able to attend the conference but circumstances allowed me to and I am ever grateful for the opportunity. First of all it gets the students actively involved with learning, teaching and moving. It gets kids taking responsibility for their learning by repeating what the teacher has said and moving around with teaching other students what they have just learned.

It is a change for the teacher who used to lecture for hours. I remember as a teacher I would do lessons where I would talk, talk and more talk. This changes to me only instructing for small amounts of talking with students talking on task in between.

I have started it with my class. It is slow going but I am excited to see them as they mimic gestures, repeat information and teach it to each other.

I hope as time goes on and I read the book on Whole Brain teaching I can become a certified teacher. I believe knowing this method will not only impact me a teacher, help my students but I will be able to effect my school and district as well.

Websites I can't live without!

I love my adventure as a special education teacher. I kind of found the calling by accident but it has turned out the be one of biggest blessings in my life. But I had to totally change my teaching style and make my instruction not for my own comfort but the comfort of the staff and students I serviced in my classroom as well as stay close to the standards, curriculum and testing prep that were required by my district. I have always had the passion for the left behind learner or the quiet kid in the corner. And the child that no one understood. Here are some websites both paid and free I depend on for my instruction.



Education.com

www.education.com

They offer a free service and paid subscription with various worksheets for themes and skills. I really like them for the lower level learner where they can work on skills with fewer problems and colorful graphics on every worksheet. It allows you not download with a paid subscription a worksheet, book or theme easily.


Teachers Notebook

www.teachersnotebook.com

They have games and worksheets at every level. They have made lots of improvements and I utilize the material for both Social Studies and Science but also for the core subjects. I look forward to their free material delivered to my inbox every week.


Teachers Pay Teachers

www.teacherspayteachers.com

They are absoltulely my go to for both sheets and games. It is neat when you don't have to recreate the wheel and materials are available from decorating your classroom to academic materials. I love their clip art form cute graphics to colorful borders and frames. My only complaint would be that they deliver their material Sunday night and that makes it tough to print out the material to laminate Monday morning.


Special Ed. About com

http://specialed.about.com/

It is so rewarding to have a educator who has been in various classrooms and environments. He has great worksheets and ideas for both the primary and intermediate learner.


Learning AtoZ

This is one of the most valuable websites my school has gotten a subscription to. It has leveled books and worksheets for various topics across the curriculum. My only complaint it is not always user friendly but definitely wonderful knowing that you can use it for especially suppliments to my Science and Social Studies curriculum.


And I could not leave the discussion without highlighting my own personal website for fitness and personal interest Pinterest Pages.

Fit 4 Fun Fitness

http://worknotes.com/IL/Chicago/Fit4FunKidsFitness/index.aspx


Cchapan Pinterest

https://www.pinterest.com/cchapan/

Snowman Games

Snowman Games I have written several articles on winter holidays but I have never written anything about my love of the snowman. If you come to my house during the winter you will see my extensive collection of snowmen. Here are some ideas I have used in my classroom celebrating the snowman for a activity break or indoor recess. Toilet Paper Snowman Take a roll of toilet paper and wrap your student from bottom to the top. This works well for teaching focusing and getting those children who have trouble being still focus to stay still during the wrapping. I have also found it quiets the kids as well. For a variety you can add eyes nose and mouth and winter wear. Roll a Snowman Have a sheet and have the students roll the dice and draw the part of the snowman including the three balls, body parts and winter gear. This teaches directions and allows the kids to realize that not every snowman is created the same. Pick up Snow I have kids pick up objects such as soft balls, packing peanuts and drop them off in a bucket. This teaches direction and coordination as they use their hands, a spoon or another object to place the snow in the bucket. You can keep score by counting the balls in the bucket or have two teams working at the goal of putting all the balls into two buckets. Snowman listening games Play Simon says with snowman says or practice right and left with using body parts with snowman items such as stick hands, stocking hats or scarfs. Build a snowman Have a relay where they draw or put body parts to create a snowman. I have done this with both building a snowman on a board or using making a snowman on the floor with hoops, plastic pool noodles for arms and pictures for eyes and nose for making a snowman. Marshmallow or Foam Cup Snowman Build a snowman pyramid with marshmallows or foam cups and see what formation keeps them up the highest. You can decorate them with markers and the kids move the marshmallow because you can eat them later. This build coordination and teamwork. Snowman Bowling Use pins decorated as snowman. Snowman Pin ups Play a version of pin the snowman parts on the snowman you draw on the board or use colorform items to place the parts of the snowman on a window or sticky board. Also check out my Pinterest page for other ideas I have used or will next year for my Snowman Games. https://www.pinterest.com/cchapan/snowman-games/