Primary School
- First Day of Kindergarten Activity
- Primary Classroom Morning Meeting
- Elementary China Unit Lessons
- Teach Primary Students to Write
- Elementary Reading Strategies
- First Day of School Bulletin Board
- Teach Kids Relaxation Strategies
- Plan a Primary School Field Trip
- Kids 4th of July Book and Activity
- Create a Reading Learning Center
First Day of Kindergarten Activity
Posted by
Megan Sheakoski
Megan Sheakoski
During Kindergarten Orientation send home a poem for students to read the night before the first day of school with magic confetti to put under their pillow.
There aren’t many events more exciting and nerve-racking than getting ready for the first day of Kindergarten. The teachers busily prepare their lessons and bulletin boards and parents hurriedly go back-to-school shopping as the kids bounce off the walls full of nervous energy.
One Kindergarten teacher in Jacksonville, FL has found a way to turn the anticipation into her first lesson of the year, a lesson that takes place before school even begins. Mrs. Hope Teper types up a Night Before School poem (Author Unknown) and attaches it to plastic bags full of confetti. She then passes out the poem during Kindergarten Orientation to all of her incoming students to read the night before the first day of school.
Mrs. Teper’s students read the poem with their parents at bedtime. The poem talks about how it may be hard to fall asleep the night before school starts and offers a way to help. It tells how the teacher has made magic confetti for the students and explains that, “The confetti will help you sleep through the night and you will awake in the morning feeling fresh and bright.”
It concludes with a message from the teacher saying, “I’ll sprinkle confetti under my pillow, too. And remember I just can’t wait to see you!” The poem and magic confetti help calm any fears the incoming students may have by telling them how excited their teacher is to meet them. Mrs. Teper has found a great way to start off the Kindergarten school year!
One Kindergarten teacher in Jacksonville, FL has found a way to turn the anticipation into her first lesson of the year, a lesson that takes place before school even begins. Mrs. Hope Teper types up a Night Before School poem (Author Unknown) and attaches it to plastic bags full of confetti. She then passes out the poem during Kindergarten Orientation to all of her incoming students to read the night before the first day of school.
Mrs. Teper’s students read the poem with their parents at bedtime. The poem talks about how it may be hard to fall asleep the night before school starts and offers a way to help. It tells how the teacher has made magic confetti for the students and explains that, “The confetti will help you sleep through the night and you will awake in the morning feeling fresh and bright.”
It concludes with a message from the teacher saying, “I’ll sprinkle confetti under my pillow, too. And remember I just can’t wait to see you!” The poem and magic confetti help calm any fears the incoming students may have by telling them how excited their teacher is to meet them. Mrs. Teper has found a great way to start off the Kindergarten school year!
Primary Classroom Morning Meeting
Posted by
Megan Sheakoski
Megan Sheakoski
Primary teachers teach reading, writing, and math mini-lessons during a Morning Meeting using a calendar bulletin board, a Morning Message, songs, and review games.
Start your day off with a morning meeting and get your primary students ready to learn from the moment they walk into the classroom.
A Morning Meeting is a 15 minute time period at the beginning of the day where the teacher introduces the day’s events to the students using reading, writing, and math mini-lessons. It is a lively, student-centered exchange that gets the students interacting with each other and the subject matter by playing games, answering questions, and singing songs.
The teacher begins the meeting by reviewing calendar skills. The class goes over the current day, week, and month and the day’s weather. This information is added to a classroom calendar bulletin board.
After the calendar is complete the class reads the Morning Message together. The Morning Message is a letter to the class from the teacher explaining some of the day’s events. The letter is written on large chart paper and hung near the calendar. The teacher can use the letter as a tool to practice language arts skills. For example, the teacher can model how to use different types of punctuation or adjectives.
After the Morning Message the teacher sings songs with the class to help them learn concepts such as the days of the week or the times tables. The teacher also leads the class in fun games such as, “I spy the letter ___” on the Word Wall or the spelling game Sparkle.
Student motivation is increased by beginning the day with a Morning Meeting. They are immediately engaged in learning in a fun and interactive way. Use the Morning Meeting with your elementary class this year and watch their learning grow!
A Morning Meeting is a 15 minute time period at the beginning of the day where the teacher introduces the day’s events to the students using reading, writing, and math mini-lessons. It is a lively, student-centered exchange that gets the students interacting with each other and the subject matter by playing games, answering questions, and singing songs.
The teacher begins the meeting by reviewing calendar skills. The class goes over the current day, week, and month and the day’s weather. This information is added to a classroom calendar bulletin board.
After the calendar is complete the class reads the Morning Message together. The Morning Message is a letter to the class from the teacher explaining some of the day’s events. The letter is written on large chart paper and hung near the calendar. The teacher can use the letter as a tool to practice language arts skills. For example, the teacher can model how to use different types of punctuation or adjectives.
After the Morning Message the teacher sings songs with the class to help them learn concepts such as the days of the week or the times tables. The teacher also leads the class in fun games such as, “I spy the letter ___” on the Word Wall or the spelling game Sparkle.
Student motivation is increased by beginning the day with a Morning Meeting. They are immediately engaged in learning in a fun and interactive way. Use the Morning Meeting with your elementary class this year and watch their learning grow!
Posted by
Megan Sheakoski
Megan Sheakoski
Teachers can use the Olympics to motivate primary students to learn about Chinese clothing, food, schools, recipes, food, sports and games.
Everyone has Summer Olympic fever this week! From the Opening Ceremonies to the swimming finals the whole world has been glued to their TV sets watching to see what will happen next. Bring this excitement into your classroom with lessons based on the Olympics.
Lessons about China and its people have never been more relevant. Students see China every day on television and are naturally curious about it. Use the Olympics as motivation to study the Chinese people and their country.
Elementary students learn best when they can relate to what they are studying. Topics such as clothing, food, school, sports, and games peak their interest and demonstrate how alike kids are around the world. Encourage students to compare and contrast their lives with the lives of Chinese students.
Present the information about China to students in a variety of ways to make learning fun. Have them use the internet to research Chinese recipes and games, watch movies and read books about kids in China, and play Chinese games. For the unit’s culminating activity the class can have a China party or write to pen pals in China.
The Summer Olympic Games provide the perfect opportunity to teach primary students about kids in China. Students see China on television everyday during the Olympics and are motivated to learn more about the country and its people. Learning about Chinese clothing, food, school, sports and games gives kids a greater understanding of and appreciation for different cultures.
Lessons about China and its people have never been more relevant. Students see China every day on television and are naturally curious about it. Use the Olympics as motivation to study the Chinese people and their country.
Elementary students learn best when they can relate to what they are studying. Topics such as clothing, food, school, sports, and games peak their interest and demonstrate how alike kids are around the world. Encourage students to compare and contrast their lives with the lives of Chinese students.
Present the information about China to students in a variety of ways to make learning fun. Have them use the internet to research Chinese recipes and games, watch movies and read books about kids in China, and play Chinese games. For the unit’s culminating activity the class can have a China party or write to pen pals in China.
The Summer Olympic Games provide the perfect opportunity to teach primary students about kids in China. Students see China on television everyday during the Olympics and are motivated to learn more about the country and its people. Learning about Chinese clothing, food, school, sports and games gives kids a greater understanding of and appreciation for different cultures.
Teach Primary Students to Write
Posted by
Megan Sheakoski
Megan Sheakoski
Primary students can use the steps of the writing process to write complete paragraphs and class how to books during a Writer's Workshop.
No one is more excited to write a story or create a book than elementary students. They can’t wait to compose something and share it with others. Teachers can use this excitement as motivation for a variety of language arts lessons during a Writer’s Workshop.
A Writer’s Workshop is a teaching model during which students create stories, poems, paragraphs, and reports by going through the writing process. They go through the steps of prewriting, writing, revising and editing, and publishing at their own speed with the help of their teacher and peers. Instruction is planned to meet student needs in the context of their work, not because it is the next lesson in the English book.
The teacher uses mini-lessons to instruct the whole class, small groups, or individuals. For example, she may use the Sandwich Paragraph Writing Strategy to teach all students how to write a complete paragraph. Then after the lesson the students write a paragraph during the Writer’s Workshop. Then if a teacher finds that one or more of the students are having trouble writing a closing sentence she can re-teach closing sentences to just that group.
Another way to use the Writer’s Workshop is to have the class work together to create a How-To Book. The teacher can choose an encompassing topic, like making Thanksgiving dinner, and have the students write how to do one component of the topic such as decorating the table. During Writer’s Workshop the students work together to revise and edit each other’s work and then publish their writing as a class book.
The Writer’s Workshop approach allows students to develop writing skills at their own pace with individualized instruction from the teacher.
A Writer’s Workshop is a teaching model during which students create stories, poems, paragraphs, and reports by going through the writing process. They go through the steps of prewriting, writing, revising and editing, and publishing at their own speed with the help of their teacher and peers. Instruction is planned to meet student needs in the context of their work, not because it is the next lesson in the English book.
The teacher uses mini-lessons to instruct the whole class, small groups, or individuals. For example, she may use the Sandwich Paragraph Writing Strategy to teach all students how to write a complete paragraph. Then after the lesson the students write a paragraph during the Writer’s Workshop. Then if a teacher finds that one or more of the students are having trouble writing a closing sentence she can re-teach closing sentences to just that group.
Another way to use the Writer’s Workshop is to have the class work together to create a How-To Book. The teacher can choose an encompassing topic, like making Thanksgiving dinner, and have the students write how to do one component of the topic such as decorating the table. During Writer’s Workshop the students work together to revise and edit each other’s work and then publish their writing as a class book.
The Writer’s Workshop approach allows students to develop writing skills at their own pace with individualized instruction from the teacher.
Posted by
Megan Sheakoski
Megan Sheakoski
Primary teachers can the Language Experience Approach, the Word Splash vocabulary strategy, and Reciprocal Teaching to help students understand what they read.
The days of following the lessons in the Teacher’s Book and hoping for the best are long gone. Students need explicit instruction of the strategies that good readers use to make sense of what they read. Teachers need to be aware of the reading needs of their students and teach them the specific skills they require to be more successful. Primary teachers can use a variety of strategies to teach reading skills.
The Language Experience Approach Reading Strategy
The LEA reading strategy is used by teachers to help students learn to read better using their own words. After a shared experience students dictate what happened to the teacher who records it word for word into a story. This story becomes the basis for a variety of reading lessons.
The Word Splash Vocabulary Strategy
When students don’t understand the vocabulary in a story or textbook they aren’t able to comprehend the author’s message. Teachers use a Word Splash to teach difficult vocabulary words to the students before, during and after they read.
The Reciprocal Teaching Reading Strategy
Reciprocal Teaching is a four part strategy that increases multiple reading skills at once. The clarifying part of the strategy makes sure that student have a way to figure out unknown words by breaking them into chunks they can manage. Predicting helps students to comprehend material by teaching them to look for clues from the author and interact with the text. Questioning and summarizing are also taught to ensure understanding and to aid in recall and retention of the information.
Teachers need to teach elementary students reading strategies that increase their ability to read effectively. The Language Experience Approach, the Word Splash, and the Reciprocal Teaching strategy teach students how to decode and comprehend text while learning new vocabulary words to become better readers.
The Language Experience Approach Reading Strategy
The LEA reading strategy is used by teachers to help students learn to read better using their own words. After a shared experience students dictate what happened to the teacher who records it word for word into a story. This story becomes the basis for a variety of reading lessons.
The Word Splash Vocabulary Strategy
When students don’t understand the vocabulary in a story or textbook they aren’t able to comprehend the author’s message. Teachers use a Word Splash to teach difficult vocabulary words to the students before, during and after they read.
The Reciprocal Teaching Reading Strategy
Reciprocal Teaching is a four part strategy that increases multiple reading skills at once. The clarifying part of the strategy makes sure that student have a way to figure out unknown words by breaking them into chunks they can manage. Predicting helps students to comprehend material by teaching them to look for clues from the author and interact with the text. Questioning and summarizing are also taught to ensure understanding and to aid in recall and retention of the information.
Teachers need to teach elementary students reading strategies that increase their ability to read effectively. The Language Experience Approach, the Word Splash, and the Reciprocal Teaching strategy teach students how to decode and comprehend text while learning new vocabulary words to become better readers.
First Day of School Bulletin Board
Posted by
Megan Sheakoski
Megan Sheakoski
Primary school teachers can use student handprints to create a fun beginning of the school year bulletin board for their classroom.
Ever walk down the hallways of your school the first week and think, “Wow! Everyone else has great ideas for their bulletin boards. Why can’t mine be more exciting?” This year create a High Fives from Our Class bulletin board with your students on the first day of school.
Bulletin Board Preparation
Before the kids arrive cover a bulletin board or large wall area with craft paper and add a decorative border. Cut out squares of different colored cardstock and gather markers or colored pencils. Trace and cut out the letters for the title of the bulletin board, High Fives from Our Class, and staple them to the craft paper.
Create the Bulletin Board
On the first day of school have each student trace his hands on a square of cardstock. Across the palm of the hands have them write their names. Then have the students list five things about themselves on the fingers and thumb. For younger students give them questions to answer such as, “What is you favorite color or school subject?” Display each hand on the bulletin board.
The High Fives from Our Class bulletin board encourages primary students to learn about each other while introducing themselves to the teacher. Creating the bulletin board allows teachers to informally assess student skills in a non-threatening manner and is a great way to add personality and color to the classroom environment.
Bulletin Board Preparation
Before the kids arrive cover a bulletin board or large wall area with craft paper and add a decorative border. Cut out squares of different colored cardstock and gather markers or colored pencils. Trace and cut out the letters for the title of the bulletin board, High Fives from Our Class, and staple them to the craft paper.
Create the Bulletin Board
On the first day of school have each student trace his hands on a square of cardstock. Across the palm of the hands have them write their names. Then have the students list five things about themselves on the fingers and thumb. For younger students give them questions to answer such as, “What is you favorite color or school subject?” Display each hand on the bulletin board.
The High Fives from Our Class bulletin board encourages primary students to learn about each other while introducing themselves to the teacher. Creating the bulletin board allows teachers to informally assess student skills in a non-threatening manner and is a great way to add personality and color to the classroom environment.
Teach Kids Relaxation Strategies
Posted by
Megan Sheakoski
Megan Sheakoski
Prevent behavior problems by teaching primary students to calm down using sand, stress balls, music, drawings, and feelings journals.
Did you ever just look around the classroom and know that is was going to be a long day? A couple cranky kids can cause the mood of the whole class to spiral downward and result in discipline problems. Instead of waiting for the behavior issues to surface teach your students to visit the Classroom Spa or Cool Down Corner to relax and calm down.
Choose a place in your classroom for the Cool Down Corner that is separated from the main teaching area. Place a small table or desk and a comfortable chair in the Cool Down Corner along with some relaxation tools.
At the beginning of the school year explain why and when the students should go to the Cool Down Corner and what they need to do while there. Prompt them to use the Spa and encourage them to ask to go there when they feel frustrated.
What Students Do in a Cool Down Corner
Choose a place in your classroom for the Cool Down Corner that is separated from the main teaching area. Place a small table or desk and a comfortable chair in the Cool Down Corner along with some relaxation tools.
At the beginning of the school year explain why and when the students should go to the Cool Down Corner and what they need to do while there. Prompt them to use the Spa and encourage them to ask to go there when they feel frustrated.
What Students Do in a Cool Down Corner
- Play with sand. Show students how to run the sand over their hands to relax.
- Squeeze stress balls to calm down when they are feeling angry.
- Listen to soothing music while taking deep breaths to settle down.
- Use crayons to draw a picture of what is bothering them.
- Write their problem in a feelings journal to share with the teacher.
Plan a Primary School Field Trip
Posted by
Megan Sheakoski
Megan Sheakoski
A successful elementary school field trip requires looking at the curriculum and budget, contacting venues and volunteers, and setting an agenda for the day.
Planning a field trip for your primary school students doesn’t have to be stressful if you start early and stay organized.
Look at Curriculum and Brainstorm Field Trip Ideas
Make a list of potential places in your area that are age appropriate for your students. Choose an educational outing that complements a topic that the students will be studying.
Determine Field Trip Budget and Fundraising Needs
Talk to your principal or fellow teachers to find out if there is field trip money set aside in the school budget. If not, or if that will not cover your planned trip, make arrangements to hold fundraisers to cover the cost.
Contact Field Trip Venues
Once you have chosen a field trip and arranged to pay for it, you need to call the place and set up a time to go. For an enhanced experience go on the field trip after the students have already studied the complemetary topic.
Plan an Agenda for the Field Trip
Create a timeline for the day of the field trip. Make sure to include travel time, bathroom breaks, and time for lunch or snacks.
Ask for Field Trip Volunteers and Chaperones
As close to the beginning of the school year as possible enlist adult help for the trip. Depending on school policy your helpers can be other faculty or staff members, classroom parents, or older students.
Send Home Field Trip Permission Slips
Follow the guidelines of your building for obtaining permission in writing to take the students off campus. Include a medical release form for treating students in the case of an emergency and distributing medication.
The day of the field trip it is helpful to have all the students dress in the same bright colored T-shirts so they are easy to spot and to specify a meeting place for any who gets separated from the group.
Look at Curriculum and Brainstorm Field Trip Ideas
Make a list of potential places in your area that are age appropriate for your students. Choose an educational outing that complements a topic that the students will be studying.
Determine Field Trip Budget and Fundraising Needs
Talk to your principal or fellow teachers to find out if there is field trip money set aside in the school budget. If not, or if that will not cover your planned trip, make arrangements to hold fundraisers to cover the cost.
Contact Field Trip Venues
Once you have chosen a field trip and arranged to pay for it, you need to call the place and set up a time to go. For an enhanced experience go on the field trip after the students have already studied the complemetary topic.
Plan an Agenda for the Field Trip
Create a timeline for the day of the field trip. Make sure to include travel time, bathroom breaks, and time for lunch or snacks.
Ask for Field Trip Volunteers and Chaperones
As close to the beginning of the school year as possible enlist adult help for the trip. Depending on school policy your helpers can be other faculty or staff members, classroom parents, or older students.
Send Home Field Trip Permission Slips
Follow the guidelines of your building for obtaining permission in writing to take the students off campus. Include a medical release form for treating students in the case of an emergency and distributing medication.
The day of the field trip it is helpful to have all the students dress in the same bright colored T-shirts so they are easy to spot and to specify a meeting place for any who gets separated from the group.
Kids 4th of July Book and Activity
Posted by
Megan Sheakoski
Megan Sheakoski
A children's summer craft idea based on a Fourth of July picture storybook. Teach kids about America's birthday while having fun as a family.
Get your primary school age kids excited about America’s Independence Day with an educational activity they can do at home. Use Harriet Ziefert’s Hats Off for the Fourth of July (Viking, 2000) as the basis for a family craft and parade.
What You’ll Need
What You’ll Need
- Hats Off for the Fourth of July by Harriet Ziefert
- Strips of cardstock
- Construction Paper
- Markers
- Other art supplies
- Before you read the book flip through the pages and look at the pictures. Ask your children to tell you what they think will happen in the story.
- Read Hats Off for the Fourth of July and talk about what happened in the story. Check to see if the kids’ prediction were correct.
- Ask them to list the different things that went by in the parade. Reread the book and to complete the list.
- Discuss the title and then tell the kids they are going to get to make their favorite hat from the story.
- Use the cardstock strip as the hat’s foundation. Staple the strip so that it becomes a band that fits each child’s head.
- Cover the band with construction paper to create a motorcycle helmet, a Little League hat, a cowboy hat, or whatever hat they have chosen. The kids can then decorate the hat using art supplies you already have at home.
- When all the hats are finished have everyone march around the house for a family parade.
Create a Reading Learning Center
Posted by
Megan Sheakoski
Megan Sheakoski
Tips on how parents can set up a reading and writing center at home that kids can use while on summer vacation to make reading and writing fun.
When children are little all they want to do is be read to and look at their favorite books. By the time elementary school hits those days are long gone for many kids- especially in the summertime. Encourage reading and writing by creating a learning center in your home filled with books and art supplies that the kids can use to make their own books, construct their favorite characters, illustrate their poetry, and much more.
The Reading Center Space
Your home learning center doesn’t need to be anything elaborate. It can simply be a small, rolling storage cart next to a bookshelf or a small table in the corner of the room. Find an area that will work for you and your family and decorate and label it. Make the center inviting so the kids will be excited about using it.
The Materials for a Reading Center
Start with some books, different types of paper, pencils and crayons. Depending on what kinds of art supplies your kids enjoy using you can add items such as a hole puncher, glitter, fabric pieces, popsicle sticks, and yarn. Change the books that are in the center frequently so that the kids don’t get bored.
The Rules for a Reading Learning Center
Just like any other area of the house the reading center needs to have procedures that the kids will follow when they use it. Choose whatever rules will work best for you children that address issues such as when the center can be used, how it needs to be left when they are done, and what activities require adult supervision.
The Reading Center Space
Your home learning center doesn’t need to be anything elaborate. It can simply be a small, rolling storage cart next to a bookshelf or a small table in the corner of the room. Find an area that will work for you and your family and decorate and label it. Make the center inviting so the kids will be excited about using it.
The Materials for a Reading Center
Start with some books, different types of paper, pencils and crayons. Depending on what kinds of art supplies your kids enjoy using you can add items such as a hole puncher, glitter, fabric pieces, popsicle sticks, and yarn. Change the books that are in the center frequently so that the kids don’t get bored.
The Rules for a Reading Learning Center
Just like any other area of the house the reading center needs to have procedures that the kids will follow when they use it. Choose whatever rules will work best for you children that address issues such as when the center can be used, how it needs to be left when they are done, and what activities require adult supervision.