Math: Differentiating Instruction with Menus

A few summers ago I wrote about how I use 

Laurie E. Westphal's 

Differentiating Instruction with Menus books 

in my classroom.

Read about that here. 

At the time, I didn't have any pictures of samples

from my classroom.  

I am back to share again...with pictures this time.

I love bein' able to present my kids with menus 

and lettin' them explore their own creativity.

The menu I chose for my students was 

Money Tic-Tac-Toe

(you can see a sample of this menu by clickin'

on the link above and lookin' inside

the book)

Below are some samples from the Money menu:

The first pictures you will see are from this option...

 This 3D model features so many fantastic

items that were able to fit in the budget to

outfit a very comfortable Teachers' Lounge.

Included: a Coke machine, a microwave, a massage chair,

a flat-screen T.V., and a supply of tasty lunch food.

I want to go in there...RIGHT.NOW!

The second room has calmin' pictures to soothe your soul 

while you get a relaxin' massage.  Refreshin' drinks are

provided after massages.

This model features beds in the Teachers' Lounge.  

YES...this made my nappin' heart HAPPY!

This makes me want to catch some ZZzzzz's.

This model also features a Coke machine, seatin' for relaxation

and a large supply of FOOD!

Total cost:  $12,998.85

I hope my school wins the lottery because I would

spend all my free time in here!

Here is the full model.

This student designed his lounge with his favorite teacher in mind.

I am "Rosie" and I am a Miami Hurricanes fan.

This lounge would be paradise for me.

His grand total came to $3,763.

I don't know who is payin' for the new lounge, but

I'm all in!

This student designed a game based on spending and saving money.

Notice her actual bank of money that is included?

Brilliant!

So creative!

Here is another game that speaks to my belly.

Sushi Frenzy!

The key with all the different sushi rolls 

cracks me up!

This game was designed from one of the tic-tac-toe

activities which included designin' a television

show where contestants win money by answerin'

questions correctly.

Correct answers double the money.

Where do I sign up to be a participant?

I absolutely love usin' menus in my class...

not just in Math!

These activities make the content meaningful

to them and that is so very important to me.

Learnin' CAN be fun!

I bet your kiddos would love them too.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Collaboration....Workshop Wednesday

Oh my goodness...only two more days after today until I am free...

and the kids are free from me!

It needs to HURRY UP already...no really...it does.

I'm linkin' up with my super duper awesome friend

Jivey from Ideas by Jivey for 

Workshop Wednesday.

Today's Topic: Collaboration
*I'm sorry I don't have pictures...I had to leave
school suddenly this mornin'.
Jerm's dad is in the hospital in Dothan
and I'm passin' time in the waitin' room.
(I'm thankful for free wi-fi)
I'm not a good waiter...so, I am armed with
Macbook, iPad mini, iPhone and
chargers for all of them!

Back to collaboration:

Oh man...this is one of my FAVORITE things

to do and talk about.

You've heard me say a million times that I 

live in a pod settin'.

Several years ago, I was movin' from 1st grade

to 3rd grade.  I did not want to move classrooms

even though I would be next door to a Kindergarten class.

A colleague told me it was inappropriate to have a testin'.

grade next door to a little kid class.

I looked at her like she was CRAZY.  

I think I might have even told her as much.

This made NO sense to me.

Why would someone:

#1: Tell ME what to do?

(I'm bossy...bossy doesn't work on me)

#2: Put boundaries on a class?

I'm not an "inside the box" type of thinker.

I am goin' to push the limits as much as possible.

So...knowin' that...I'm sure you can imagine

what my brain was doin' thinkin' about bein' a

3rd grade teacher next door to a K class.

*We could have readin' buddies. (Win-win for both groups)

*We could be fire drill buddies. (Big kids wouldn't have time

to talk because they would be worryin' about lil' buddy)

*My kids could run stations for K as a reward. (Teaches

responsibility and supports positive behavior)
*K kids could have someone to look up to (role-models)

I didn't get my way though and I had to divorce my pod

and move to another pod.  

I was NOT happy.

Luckily, my best friend was in the divorce with me 

and we actually got to move
together to a new pod. 

We liked our old home...it was a hard move.

Since then...our grade levels have changed a few times.

The bestie went back to little kids 

and I went to even bigger kids.

We have proven EVERYONE wrong.

You absolutely CAN have big kids next door to little kids.

We had a 1st and 5th grade class with the accordion wall open

a majority of the time.  

The 1st graders and 5th graders fell in LOVE with one another.

Everyone snot-sobbed when the big kids graduated 5th 

grade and moved on to middle school.
The kids learned so much from one another
and more importantly...we were able to model
for them all the time what it was like to work with a friend.
As they say...two heads are better than one.

Here's my chance to brag on someone else...they
aren't bloggers and they haven't made products,
but they have made a difference...in me!
I would not be the teacher I am today without
my bestie and podmates.
We are all different.  

That's the beauty of it.
We can share an idea and they can piggy-back,
branch off of it, or shoot it down altogether.
We think together, we discuss, we collaborate.
Collaboration helps creativity.
I'm convinced.

Some of the best teachin' moments I have had, have occured

through collaboration.

Collaboration with teachers, collaboration with classes,

collaboration with students, and collaboration with parents.

My kids sit at tables...yep, even in 5th grade.
Why?

Because we are 21st Century Learners
(my bestie wrote this list for our class websites
and posted them for us)

*Students are workin' in teams
*Workin' collaboratively to realize products created by a team
often can be better than those made independently
*Simulatin' today's workplace with a balance of
teamwork and self-reliance
*By workin' together, students are contributin' members
of a group yet recognize their own individual
strengths and talents
*Solvin' problems by participatin' in group discussions
respectfully, acknowledgin' others and their thoughts
and comments
*Sharin' a workspace to promote teamwork, problem solvin',
and social skill development
*Learnin' to use technology and resource skills together
to become critical thinkers and learners

Pretty much the only time kids aren't collaboratin' in my room...
durin' testin' and silent readin'

That's it.
I'm a believer of collaboration.
I don't think anyone could ever get me to shift my thoughts on this.

Happy Wednesday, friends!

QR Code Adventure: Mammals...Tried it Tuesday

It's Tuesday, but I actually wrote this on Sunday.

I surprised myself and got a jump start.

It's time to link up with my sweet friend Holly from

Fourth Grade Flipper for Tried it Tuesday.

Tried it Awesomeness: QR Code Adventure: Mammals

Do you know my other friend Matt from

Digital: Divide and Conquer?

He's awesomeness and probably 

one of the most creative and innovative people

that I've never actually met in person.

His wife and girls are lucky to have 

him around all the time because 

he is full of all kinds of knowledge.

I learn so many things from readin' his blog

and he never disappoints in the humor department.

Matt knows how to make learnin' fun and 

just about always incorporates technology

into his lessons and products.

Do your students love learnin' about mammals?

Mine definitely do.

My rockstars tried Matt's QR Code Adventures-Mammals.

I started out this activity whole group, so the students would 

know what to expect when we use these again in

small groups or individually.

 I gave each child their own card with a QR code and 

their correspondin' class number.

Every one that had a phone or device that day with a QR code scanner

on them placed the device on my table to share.

We then split up into five groups.

The groups worked together to scan the QR code and 

watch the video or read the text.

 Then the boys and girls worked together to complete some 

question cards from the video or text that they encountered

with their QR codes.

Here's the description for QR Code Adventure: Mammals

QR Code Adventure: Mammals combines

technology, science, reading, writing

with analyzing and comprehending to create

an interactive lesson kids won't forget!

There are 30 QR codes that send students all over the

internet bringing back facts, articles, videos,

and live video streams of MAMMALS

from around the world.

Students will learn about and see lemurs, leopards, 

little bear cubs, and elephants crashing a pool party,

just to name a few.

The idea is for students to analyze what they are seeing,

reading, and hearing.  Then deconstruct, ask questions,

look for answers, and expand their ability to ask questions,

analyze, evaluate, and create.

There are over 25 questions for students to answer that are

based off of Common Core expectations.

Each question is on a half-sheet of regular sized paper for

easier printing (the same question is on a paper twice).

Questions are labeled TEXT or VIDEO.

These QR codes are also great for class discussion

and/or simple opportunities for students to take brain breaks.

You should definitely check this out!

Also...
my friend Courtney from Polka Dot Lesson Plans
is celebratin' her Blogiversary.

She is givin' away an Erin Condren $50 Gift Card.
Be sure to check it out here.

I just realized this is my 102nd published post!
Neat stuff!

Happy Tuesday friends!

Buddyin' Up & a Currently....

It's Saturday, which means it's time to link up with 

my super sweet friend, Joanne,

from Head Over Heels for Teaching

 for Spark Student Motivation Saturdays.

I live in a pod settin'.

My very best friend in the whole wide world

teaches next door to me.

 She teaches 3rd and I teach 5th.

We have an accordion wall that separates our class.

It is never fully closed all the way.

We suffer from separation anxiety.

We buddy up almost every day for a quick activity.

This week we buddied up for a speakin' & listenin' activity

which then turned into a buddy writin' activity.

 3rd Grade buddies read their question card

to their 5th Grade buddy.

After readin', they discussed their answers

with one another.

Then they began writin' their responses together.

The 3rd Graders look up to the 5th Graders...

BIG time!

We have many discussions about bein' wonderful

role-models for their buddies.

I believe buddyin' up is SO beneficial

for both groups of students.

I definitely know they each take away

somethin' positive from their experiences

with one another. 

When one or the other does somethin' 

spectacular, you might hear one of us say,
"Go show your buddy!"
When they are gone to special area,
we use their computers or spread out in their classroom.
Vice versa.
There really are no boundaries.
It's amazin' even what the "little" kids
often teach my "big" kids.

Overall, partnerin' between students

creates an essential motivation component

of our learnin' environment.

Some examples of our buddy partnerin' up:

  

 If the leprechaun was your teacher, what would 

he/she teach you?

If you found a pot of gold, what would you spend the gold on?

Spring Question Cards by Double Trouble

These are still on sale until 3/2.

 Happy St. Patrick's Day Questions

 Happy Spring Questions

Happy Easter Questions

I've also decided to link up with Farley from Oh' Boy 4th Grade

for March's Currently:

Listenin': To my stomach grumble.  I'm pretty sure it's

past my feedin' time.

Lovin': That I got to sleep in this mornin'.  This will keep me from 

havin' to nap today!

Thinkin': I am attendin' a weddin' at the end of March in Georgia.

I seriously need to get on bookin' the room. 

Maybe the area won't be as busy as ours with Spring Break. 

Wantin': I NEED an unlimited life-time gift card to Jane.com.

I'm assumin' it's not always a good thing when you get a package

in the mail...every.single.day.

I can't stop.

Needin': I need an extra weekend day...every week.

Do you know how productive I could be with a three day weekend?

I would be Super Ali.

???:  Diet Coke, lightning, butterflies

I have given you three possible answers...now you have

to guess the correct question.

Be sure to leave bloggy love for others.

Happy Saturday friends!

Thursday Throwdown...get up, stand up...

I'm linkin' up with my fellow Saints lover and buddy, Erin, from I'm Lovin' Lit for Thursday Throwdown,

Today's topic is ways to make learnin' more interactive. 

What I do might not work for everyone, but it works for my Rockstars...

I try to get them up and movin' around as much as possible. 

In my class we collaborate ALL DAY.

The only time my students aren't workin' together is if they are silent readin'

or takin' an assessment.

Other than that, they are encouraged to work together.

That might be in pairs.

That might be in groups.

Whatever they choose, unless I choose for them.

They sit at tables..yes, even in 5th grade.

We do not have desks in our class.

They do not have assigned seats, but they do have assigned groups.

These groups are flexible and change often.

It's not uncommon for me to say..."Pair up"

and within seconds my kids are scurryin' around findin' a partner.

They don't ask questions...they just do it and wait for me to tell them what's about to happen.

I love that they know what to do.

They are used to gettin' up, standin' up, and movin' around!

Here are just a few examples of some of the things we might do in our class.

CRISS or Reading Strategies:

Think-Pair-Share

 3-2-1 Verbally

Read and Say Something

Free-Form Mapping

I integrate technology in as much stuff as possible. 

My class participates in B.Y.O.D.

They are allowed to use devices to type, research, read, etc...

however they see fit. 

They appreciate this privilege.

They are engaged.

They do not break the tech rules...EVER

because they know the techy stuff would disappear.

It's that simple.

Again, these are things that work in my classroom.

Things change daily.  

We are always doin' somethin' different to mix things up a little.

It really does keep them excited when I make learnin' interactive.

I've said this before. 

I don't care if my kids are sittin', standin', layin' down, or hangin' from the ceiling...

as long as they are engaged and learnin'...I'm okay with it.

It took a lot for me to let go of that control, BUT

I'm so glad I did.

It just makes our days run so smoothly.

My next door neighbors might not love my approach because we get loud...a lot.

The only thing I can do is continue to ask forgiveness.

Did you know that my super-duper sweet friends

Joanne from Head Over Heels for Teaching and 

Holly from Fourth Grade Flipper

 are havin' a 1,000 follower giveaway? 

 It starts today and runs through January 12th.  

Every. Single. Day. they will have a new drawin' for some fabulous prizes.

There will also be prizes from other bloggers that you may already follow 

or definitely want to start followin'.  

What are you waitin' for?  

Get over there now.  

Click on the picture or on the links to their blogs.

Differentiatin' Instruction with Menus & a $20 Amazon Gift Card

I know everyone probably already differentiates instruction and has their own way of doin' things, but I wanted to share some books that were shared with me this past year from my District's Gifted Coordinator (she is so sweet).  She was kind enough to send me the Math version of this book in the courier in hopes that I might be able to use it in my classroom, so I did.

Since I loop almost every year, I am constantly lookin' for new ideas because I can't use a lot of the same activities two years in a row(which I probably wouldn't do even if I did stay in the same grade level).  Let's face it, sometimes my brain gets fried and I have a hard time comin' up with and creatin' fresh ideas every second of every day.  I'm always up for tryin' new resources anyways.

I got onto my trusty friend, Amazon, and searched for the book.  Since I never do anything half way...I went ahead and bought the book in each subject area...it's a sickness I tell you.  These particular books are Advanced Level Menus Grades 3-5.  Laurie Westphal has also written them for K-2, 6-8, Algebra I/II, & in menus in the Inclusive Classroom.   If you would like to read the descriptions, click on the picture or on the author's name.

I have not tried everything in these books, but I do plan on usin' many of them.  I've grabbed a couple of the activities from each book and would like to share one of the activities that my kids really enjoyed this year.

I was absent on the day that my students were presented with this particular math menu, so I couldn't wait to get back to school to see what they had been up to.  There were a total of 8 activities to choose from.  Just about every student in my class chose this one.  It just amazes me how very different each and every student is and how their brain works.  On this particular activity though, several of them had the SAME thought.  I busted out laughin' when I looked at their models because every child made sure that they added a DIET COKE machine(for free) for my best friend & I.  They know us so very well!  It was so neat to see what kinds of things they believed the teachers needed.  A manicurist, a massage therapist, a chocolate fountain, a bed for naps, a comfy chair to sit in...the list goes on!

I wish I had pictures of the finished products, but I had to get a new phone and lost all of my pictures.  *Sad face*
 I am in no way affiliated with this author, book, or publishing company.  Just wanted to share my opinions because I have really enjoyed these books.

Have you entered yourself for the opportunity to win the $20 Amazon Gift Card that Miss Nelson and I are givin' away?   Read about it below:


Miss Nelson makes the coolest Behavior Beads and she let ME (yes, me...I was shocked too) design some SPECIAL EDITION Rockin' Behavior Beads!

Are you scratchin' your head and askin'...what in the world is a Behavior Bead?  Yeah, I figured...

Behavior Beads are a MUST in the classroom!!! Students LOVE earnin' and collectin' these colorful tags/beads. If you want to call attention to your students for varieties of reasons such as rockin' behavior, celebratin' birthdays, masterin' sight words, makin' a discovery, rockin' with responsibility, or when their brain is singin', then these are the perfect incentives. I’ve decided to make some simple rockin' “behavior beads” for students to earn and collect. This set of “Rockin' Behavior Beads” is to give to your kiddos for meetin' their math goals, the ROCK STAR. There are several ways to use them. You can print on cardstock and laminate them to attach to some kind of necklace or key chain for your little rock stars to wear all day. (Since this is a SPECIAL EDITION item, they come as is, without custom designin').

Here is the official list of Rockin' Behavior Beads:
~ Rockin' Behavior
~ Reading Star
~ Math Star
~ Studied like a Star
~ V.I.P. (Very Important Participant)
~ Drummin' up to Read!
~ Keyed up for Success
~ Boys Rock
~ Girls Rule
~ iRock
~My Teacher thinks I'm a Rockstar
~My Brain is Singin'
~Peace, Love, & Learnin'
~Rockin' with Responsibility
~I Made a DISCovery
~Rocked the Test

Ta Da! 

 

 Want to get your very own Rockin' Behavior Beads?  Go HERE.  

They are on sale today...for a short time! You know you want them!

Click HERE or on the picture to get some of Miss Nelson's Original Behavior Beads.

If you read to the bottom of this post, you are AWESOME because we MADE something else...a RAFFLECOPTER with a chance to win a $20 AMAZON GIFT CARD.  I know, I know...it's such excitin' stuff.  Hold it together enough to read what happens next.  This will end on Saturday, but you can come back EVERY SINGLE DAY to enter to win.  Miss Nelson will reveal the winner on her Saturday Snapshots link-up this comin' Saturday, July 27th.  Keep scrollin'...

a Rafflecopter giveaway