Worksheets Don’t Grow Dendrites: Strategy 7

Hi, Friends! This strategy is all about using manipulatives, experiments, labs, and models. We’re teaching at a time when assessment has been placed at the forefront of well, just about….everything. Often times, we rush too quickly to abstract paper and pencil tasks without allowing students adequate time to enjoy concrete experiences. By using hands-on objects that students can touch, manipulate, change, pull apart, put together to create…we help them to build a deeper understanding of concepts that will be easily remembered in order to apply the learning to real world situations.

How many students do you have that get frustrated or misbehave when a piece of paper is put in front of them or even flat out refuse to complete work? The frustration may not be with the work itself, but in being rushed to show it in a way that is uncomfortable…too soon. In the real world, no one takes away our support. No one insists that we “figure it out” and solve problems based on memory alone. We have calculators , fingers….tools and apps that we use to solve problems….all.the.time. So, why do we as teachers take away support from students because we feel they’ve grown dependent on it or have used it for too long?



Students understanding of mathematical ideas is broadened when they’re allowed to use concrete representations. In our classroom, when students visit work stations, manipulatives are provided as support. If students need them, they have assess to them. If they don’t, they’re not required to use them.



Before beginning independent work, examples of expected outcomes are projected to provide clarity…



…and a quick reference {example}. Using manipulatives can also provide game-like opportunities for learning.



In order to display our understanding of edges and vertices, students constructed models of 3-Dimensional figures using toothpicks and marshmallows. (I’m sure there were a few missing vertices, by the time this lesson was done!)



We could have read lots of books, colored pictures, looked at video clips....and we did, BUT none of those things could replace getting our hands dirty to plant real seeds.  Planting in our classroom is definitely an experiment because growing dendrites might be a talent, but growing plants is NOT! Ha!



When we compared living organisms to non-living objects last year, the kids couldn’t wait to get their hands on worms! Real…icky, slimy…wet, muddy worms! Yuck! Now, while I enjoyed watching them enjoying themselves….the gummy worms were more my speed! Lol! =)



Concrete experiences like this and labs also help ELLs when focusing on new vocabulary and concepts at the same time! There’s no doubt, every student in the room knew the difference between the living worm and the non-living gummy worm…not to mention, which one tasted better!



So, the next time you’re planning….think of  tactile ways to engage students in learning! Kids remember what they experience and DO!



I love my big take away or “aha” from this chapter. Provide students with the support they need for as long as THEY need it. It’s not up to me to decide it’s time to force them away from it. When a student is ready to show what they know independently, they’ll tell me they no longer need the aid or simply stop using it. Let them guide the learning. Let them touch, manipulate, feel, and experience as much learning as possible with their whole bodies. Paper and pencil tasks should be the very last step in learning….learning IS in the doing.

Allow students to use manipulatives, conduct experiments, build models and watch them flourish! Hands-on learning is FUN!

Stop by Mrs. Jump's Class to hop through the other posts about this chapter. Enjoy!

Got Chicks?

We do! This a quick post to share a quick FREEbie! Our beautiful baby chicks have hatched! The kids will be so excited to come back after a long weekend to meet out new little friends! Grab the freebie below to make your own observations about the chicks in your classroom! Don't you just love spring ?

Click the pic to use it for writing about YOUR chicks! Have a terrific Tuesday everyone! Follower 100...I know you're out there! See ya tomorrow {fingers crossed}!

funny story & a sneak peek

Ok, so my class and I begin our calendar routine by reading the morning message every day.  We’ve really grown as writers by this time of year, so now it also includes mistakes for proof reading.  I purposely make mistakes that they have to find and edit.  There is one thing that’s consistent about our daily message~the end line.  It always reads……Smile; you’re the best!

Well, as we were packing up today, one of my little firsties came over and said, “Mrs. Dwyer, can I tell you something?”.  She asked me to lean in close so she could whisper.  I began to get a little suspicious, but wanted to know what could possibly be so juicy that we had to suddenly start whispering.  Then, with full on deep dish dimples she blurted in a very low voice……… YOU’re the best too! We just don’t get to write you a message everyday!  She’s quite the little jokester, so I began to giggle just a little.

Would you believe she looked at me, {full on…hands on hips} and said, “Mrs. Dwyer, I’m serious!? You’re the best teacher I’ve ever had!”. I smiled and gave her a hug, a thank you….and whispered back, “It’ll be our  little secret that we’re BOTH the best”.  AND without skipping a beat…..she gave me a wink and said, “Mrs. Dwyer, it’s too late; I think everybody already knows!” Haahahahaaaha! I LOVE MY KIDS!  When I feel like I can’t make it another minute, they lift me up in so many ways!

I think what started that little conversation was our classroom phone.  It was ringing off the hook today! Every time I opened my mouth, it rang again…so much so, another of my little geniuses proudly announced to the class that we MUST be famous! LOL, kids….I love ‘em!

Well, that was my full on giggle for the day! Being the very visual person that I am, I thought I’d share a few pics of our little “home away from home”.  These are close-ups of the parts of our room that we use during my favorite part of the day ~work stations! I LOVE peeking into other classrooms.  There are also a few shots of the “What am I?” projects that I had posted about previously….(and our plants are STILL alive)! 

                 

                               

Did I mention that we’re hatching baby chicks?  Here’s a pic of my little sonshine looking at the first of the little hatchlings from last year!  Can’t wait to meet the newbies!   They should arrive in about a week or so!

…..the long forgotten Cat in the Hat drawings….better late than NEVER! So, sweet!

     

  

…and last, but not least, the What am I? riddles.

 

                   

I hope you enjoyed the sneak peek and have a terrific Tuesday! Night, night bloggy buddies! I’ve got to get some rest. It takes lots of energy to spend the day in the midst of celebrities! Pinkies up! :-)

Congrats & a quick freebie

I really appreciate your stopping by and leaving a comment.  What is it about them?  They make my heart sing!  Thanks, again and I hope your kiddos enjoy the activities!

We spent most of last week discovering all that happens during a butterfly’s life cycle.  We have a good time in math, but reading is my passion, so you’ll probably find that most of my posts will relate in some way to what we’re doing to build better readers in our classroom. Our story this week was realistic fiction, so we made several extensions by learning about other bugga buggas as well.

If you’ve got Dr. Jean’s Kiss Your Brain CD, there’s a hoppin’ tune on there called Insect’s Body that will get your firsties up, movin’ and learning the parts of insect in a snap! We found ourselves humming to the tune long after the song was over!  We use Houghton Mifflin’s Journeys Reading series in our district and I LOVE IT! It has so many working pieces that are wonderfully aligned to help all little readers grow.  The leveled readers are especially nice because they easily lend themselves to making lots of text-to-connections AND connections to science and social studies.  It is also a heavily researched series with the development of the leveled readers guided by Irene Fountas. (Notice the last name?) I could go on and on about it for days….I just love it! With all of the authentic literature built into it, using it for balanced literacy is super easy!  Did I say how much I love it?  Anywho……on to the point……

Below is a pic of a little investigation that we did during small group this week.  We completed the “What am I?” riddle page after completing guided reading and saved the “I am a_____!” page for completion later in the day during science.  The completed pages were stapled together as a riddle to “lift the flap” and see if your guess was correct after reading the written clues.  The kids were really intent on making good illustrations and did a great job! You’ve gotta love a 2 for 1 lesson! Click here to grab your copy!

                      

Clipart courtesy of DJ Inkers.

Well, I’ve got to run because my daughter’s hair beckons.  She’s got quite the thick mane so it takes some time to wash and primp to get all of her girliness up to par.  I hope you all had a great week.  Enjoy what’s left of your weekend…someone seems to have put them on fast forward as we get close to wrapping up the school year! 

We’ll be heading into the lonnnnnnngest month of the school year come Monday!  Must….keep….going!  Does April seem especially long to anyone else or is it just me? PLEASE keep the ideas flowing bloggy buddies! Thank you to my 82 new friends! My goal is to reach 100 followers before the last day of school…..so, if you like what you’ve seen so far, share with a friend!   The more the merrier….have a great night and a super “SONday”!

Blooming, Buggy, Spring Stations...

OK, so I know that I am supposed to be on spring break......BUT who could resist taking just a little time to catch up and prep to go back READY?  Those that know me well, know that once I get an idea stuck in my head, I don't function well until its O-U-T, out!!!  With that being said, I just uploaded a new set of literacy work station activities that my little firsties and I will be digging into once we return to school.  It includes a set of 9 graphic organizers that will be perfect to use with The Tiny Seed and The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle or any other circular/life cycle story.  Check out the preview below! 

Now that that's completed, my kiddos and I will be off to have a little fun.  The Lorax beckons AGAIN! They enjoyed it so much the first time, we're going with the cutest little neighbor ever to see it again tomorrow. 

I was so happy to see that my little newbie blog grew a little today too!  Thank YOU for choosing to take this "ONEderful" journey with me!  First grade is truly the best! Thanks, again! Have a great night all...rest well and blessings to you!