Helping Students LOVE Poetry

I love teaching poetry!  It's my favorite time of the year and one that all students experience success... even the boys who tend to have a less than positive attitude before the unit begins.

Poetry should be fun for students and it's our job as teachers to help students love the sound of written language.  We model our passion through our lessons, memories from our childhood, and our enthusiasm.  I remember my dad reciting Lewis Carroll's "The Walrus and the Carpenter" word for word...the whole thing!  I was amazed and it soon became a poem I could recite and fall in love with as well.  My students were amazed that I, too, could recite much of the poem from memory.

Here are some tips to get you started teaching poetry in your classroom!

Tip #1: Start by reading your own favorite poem to students.  It helps them see that you enjoy poetry, and that they, too, can enjoy poetry.  If you don't have a favorite, Shel Silverstein is great poet to begin with, because 4th graders love the humor and can relate to the poems.  Make sure to read the poem with great intonation and emotion.  It will really hook them.  When you've finished reading the poem,  talk about the mood, the speaker in the poem, the setting and the problem in the poem.  Then you can challenge students to find the figurative language.  Once you've done all of this, re-read the poem so your students can see the poem from a whole new perspective.

Tip #2: Introduce a new poem each day for the first week of poetry unit to get the kids hooked!  Make sure to choose poems that are different in style and by a variety of poets so that kids can find one the speaks to them the most.
Not sure which poems to read? Here is a list of some of my favorite poems:
   "Sick" by Shel Silverstein
   "Sarah Cynthia Silvia Stout" by Shel Silverstein
   "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein
   "Paul Revere's Ride" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
   "The Walrus and the Carpenter" by Lewis Carroll
   "Sneezles" by A.A. Milne

and don't forget to use nursery rhyme classics to listen to the rhyme scheme and rhythm!
   "The Owl and the Pussycat" by Edward Lear
   "Wynken, Blyken, and Nod" by Eugene Field
   "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" by Jane Taylor

Tip #3: Introduce different forms of poems.  This allows you to teach about the rules of poetry.  For example: Haikus have a very specific 5, 7, 5 syllable rule that must be followed, while other poems simply use rhyming words, while others have no form at all.  Challenge students to find the rule that is followed within each poem.

Tip #4: Introduce the vocabulary of poetry.  This will really help students understand what they are reading and learning about.  Try using an interactive notebook to engage kids even more.  If you are searching for something to get you started, check out this interactive notebook of figurative language. Students also love reference posters that are posted on a word wall for easy reference.  Last but not least, let students play a game to learn the vocabulary of poetry.  Students don''t even realize how much they are learning when they see how fun Cootie Catcher Vocab is!!

Tip #5: Let students try their hand at writing poetry!  I know it sounds crazy, but you will be surprised.  Give students the reins, and let them write about whatever interests them.  I think you will be surprised at how much students take ownership of writing poems, and find their own style, even the boys!  Not sure where to start?  This 6 week poetry unit gives you all that you need to introduce poetry writing, guidelines, templates, poetry outlines, templates, and so much more!

Tip #6: Let students make their very own book of poems!  Take all of the poems they have written, and compile them into their very own poetry book.  Let students design their own book cover, or give them a template to color in.  Challenge students to write an about the author page (who knew you could sneak in a little teaching about autobiographies too).  At the end of the unit, have students share their poetry book with family and friends, and have them write comments in the students poetry book!  The feedback will encourage them that their written thoughts have power and value.  My daughter was in my 4/5 blend class and still has the poetry book she wrote. It's a real keepsake that shows her interests at the time.

Tip #7: Once students have listened to you read poetry aloud, read poetry, and tried their hand at writing poetry, they are armed with the skills necessary to dig even deeper and begin analyzing poetry.  Poetry centers work great for poetry analysis.  At each center, give students task cards to complete to guide and challenge their learning. With structure and teaching the elements of poetry, students will soon enjoy the detective work needed to understand the deeper meanings of some poems.  There are nine poems on the CCSS-ELA Exempla list for 4th and 5th graders, which is a great place to start your poetry analysis.  Remember, part of analyzing poetry is learning about the poet and his/her life and learning about the time period.  If you're not sure where to start, here is a great Task Card Bundle.

Love poetry!

Use Math Vocabuylary Interactive Notebook Flaps to Help Improve Math Skills

 I can't resist telling you about a neat interactive math window flap math vocabulary product.  It's for 4th grade and includes 280 vocabulary words all organized and color coded (of course!).  

Included are the word, the definition and space for students to draw and write an example that shows they know the word meaning.  

It's designed to be fast to cut and glue into student notebooks. Take a peek at one of the pages and see what you think.  

For more capable students, you can choose not to use the pre-printed definitions and have students write their own definitions.  

Personally, I want students to know the exact meaning.  I'm most interested in how students can show understanding of the word by writing or drawing an example.  

Click HERE to see the Flap Book in my TpT store.

Enjoy teaching the language of math!

Mastery Club is Now Updated and BETTER Than Ever!

It's finally finished!  I'm SOOOO excited to announce that the newly updated Mastery Club just got uploaded to TpT and I love the new look.  Previous purchasers can go to their "My Purchases" area and download the new materials free.

If you've never heard of Mastery Club, you're missing out!  I developed this program when I began my teaching career to challenge my 4th, 5th, and 6th graders to learn something new.  I never wanted to hear, "I'm bored," so I developed Mastery Club.  I also taught blended classes, which gave an even greater challenge, trying to find independent activities that allowed me to work on grade level content.  If you've taught a blend, you know what I'm talking about!

Students self-direct their learning, choosing which challenges they'd like to master.  When they're ready, they get the recording worksheet and take the challenge test and if they earn 100%, they become a "1-Star Member." When a student has earned 16 challenges, he or she becomes a member of the Mastery Club Hall of Fame.  At the end of the year, I add the new names to the Hall of Fame wall.  I've had students come back to visit and check out the Hall of Fame poster to see where they rank now!  Love it!

This program is super simple to set up and it runs all year.  Mastery Club is one of the best things I have created and teachers, students and parents love it!   You can see Mastery Club on my classroom website.

Here's a link to my TpT Mastery Club page where you can see visuals and more details about this great challenge program.

Here's a few photos of the updates!  Lots of new materials added to make this program even better.

Teachers who use Mastery Club are allowed to change the name to fit their needs and thousands of teachers are making a difference with their students with Mastery Club. 

Here's a link to check out the FREE Mastery Club questions!  Enjoy!

Coming Soon! A Major Update to Mastery Club!

I'm super excited to announce that my popular Mastery Club program is being updated with a fresh new look and feel that you and your students are going to love!  

Mastery Club challenges ALL learners to learn something new.  It's student-directed and motivating for students and families love it.  It's EASY for the teacher to manage and runs in the background of your class all year.  Click here to read a previous blog post about the great program!  (But remember, the program is being updated as you read this!)

Click here to see Mastery Club on my TpT page.

Get the Challenges FREE

See photos of Mastery Club in my fourth grade classroom (the old version)

Be looking next week for the update and if you've purchased Mastery Club in the past, be sure to go to your TpT My Purchases" area and download the newly updated set!

Teach Character Education the Easy Way

In my 33+ years teaching middle grades and middle school math, I've learned a thing or two about how to focus on teaching and not spend time dealing with poor behaviors.  Yes! It can be done!  You have to devote time early in the year connecting and getting to know each and every student.  Take the time to teach students how to treat each other, how to treat you, and the classroom materials.  If you don't do this right, you will likely struggle all year managing poor behaviors and that is not good for students or you!  If you teach them what good character looks and sounds like, your students will show mutual respect for you and each other.  Sound good?  It can be done.

 

See it on TPT

Blast from the past!  One thing I do is post the key vocabulary words that help me teach good character where it's in student's view.  I usually focus on 18-20 traits for my wall display.  Note:  I post the posters alphabetically so I can do some indirect teaching of alphabetizing, too.    Here are some old photos from my classroom character traits wall.  It's where it all began. 

 

My new set of character traits posters is so much nicer.  The new set of character trait posters that I just posted today to TpT has 169 traits and is a growing set.  The set also includes several bulletin board titles. It's also in PDF format for easy printing.  

Some years our school chose to use a monthly character education focus.  No problem, I can do that but I'm also going to focus on it daily without directly teaching!   When students are showing good character, I point to the poster displayed on the wall and make simple comment about the trait.  Sometimes I'd say this quietly to the child and sometimes I'd say it out loud, depending on if it was something the class was working on.

I also run a Special Student of the Week program where each child gets to the be "Star" for the week.  My motivation is simple with this amazing program.   You can read more about in on this blog post.
#1:  That way I don't have to change a job chart every week!  I have the special person do EVERYTHING that needs doing all week long.  It's awesome!
#2:  On the last school day, the special person gets interviewed by classmates.  Then, classmates focus on character traits and write (at least) two compliment sentences.  Students scan the wall looking for words that describe the person and give examples of how the student shows that trait.
#3:  Everyone likes to be recognized and noticed as important.  The combination of focusing on great character and strengths of the student make it a win-win.

Another program I use and can't do without is the Wise Owl Student of the Month program.  I created this program to also focus on character traits.  The Wise Owl program was my dad's idea.  He's got great ideas!  (See his Scottish Heritage website here).  In Scotland as a young boy, my dad was recognized in school as the Wise Owl Student of the Month and it made a big difference for him. He bought a beautiful wooden owl hand carved in Mexico and brought it home and it became my first owl.  The wise owl award I gave out focused on 12 character traits.  This program changed behavior like no other I've used.  Students wanted to earn this award and worked so hard to have the recognition.  

Student of the Month Wise Owl Award Student of the Month Recognition Program

The Wise Owl Trophy by Mrs. Renz Class

What do you do that helps build good character?  Leave a comment to share what works with other teachers.  Thank you!

Empower Students to Take Charge of their Learning

Having students take charge of their learning is the goal of every teacher.  Encouraging students is important.  Everyone needs that encourager in his or her life.

Encourage students to set goals.  It only takes a moment to recognize students when they achieve their goals but it's important to do.  Ultimately, we want students to be intrinsically motivated. Young learners want to know that you notice them.  It means the world to students when you notice the and the hard work they've put forth.  It's the little things!  Just whisper kind and encouraging words for the effort being put forth.

Put students in charge of tracking their progress towards their learning.  Give them the tools and assist them with data tracking.  Use graph paper and a few colored pencils.  It's easy to see growth using two different colors graphed side by side.  If you have students keep their own data notebooks, these graphs are easy and ready to use.   Notice the pride when students figure out how much they've learned.  If students need to re-learn a concept, just graph the new score on top of the old bar graph column (see column 3.OA.D.8 PostTest score).  You can have students draw a horizontal line on the mastery level.

3rd Grade Math Data Tracker Flip Book     4th Grade Math Data Tracker Flip Book

3rd Grade Data Tracking Bundled Set      4th Grade Data Tracking Bundled Set

Learning is hard work!  Celebrate success and improvement with your students.

There's nothing better than to have students lead their own conferences.  It's powerful to hear students tell their family members what they're good at and what they need to get better at.  More on that another time.  :)

Why We Have to Teach Math Vocabulary

Do you have any idea how many words students in grades 3, 4, and 5 have to learn? You'll be mind-boggled to learn that there are over 500 words!  😳

Don't take it for granted that students will remember and apply these words without direct teaching. Students need to work with and use the words in their daily language and math journals.  Teach the language of math and use it in conversation whenever possible.

Having a math vocabulary word wall is an absolute must.  I suggest setting it up alphabetically, like a dictionary so students can find words quickly with no time wasted.

Model using the word wall charts.  

When students need a word, simply turn your body toward the word wall, and bob your head as if you're trying to locate just the right poster.  Then wait a few seconds and soon all students know the meaning.  Students will watch how you find the posters and they will do the same.  You won't have to say a word!  Students will refer to the math word wall ALL the time.  As a teacher, all you have to say is . . .  "Wait, the answer's up there on the wall!"

Here's some links that show my OLD (embarrassing!) math word wall posters before I added color and upped my game!   Photo #1    Photo #2    Photo #3     The new posters are MUCH nicer and are designed to match with any classroom decor.

I recently finished creating a set of math words dealing with financial literacy.  Every word was researched, then I wrote definitions in kid friendly language and added a visual.  The posters are designed to be read from across the room.    This set was created by taking all of the words that 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders needed to know PLUS all of the financial literacy words and added them to this MEGA set of 554 math vocabulary posters!   This set is NOT tagged for Common Core, but best of all, the Common Core words ARE included in the set (and lots more).

3rd Grade Math Word Wall Set & More

4th Grade Math Word Wall Poster Set & More

5th Grade Math Word Wall Posters

Financial  Literacy Posters

MEGA Set of 3rd, 4th & 5th Plus Financial Literacy Posters

Enjoy and teach the language of math!

Teach Financial Literacy!

Students won't have to ask you when they're ever going to use this if you teach real world math skills.  One of the best ways to connect learning with real life is to have students be immersed in using the skills in your class. Integrate the real world into your curriculum.

If you don't already, consider using a classroom economy.  It will all year with your grades 3, 4, and 5 students and you can teach all kinds of math and real life skills.  Students can earn checking and savings account privileges, and earn classroom cash for doing their job as a student.  Students earn money then pay this classroom bills. They can rent their cubby, locker, desk, chair, pay a classroom library fee, and they also pay their income taxes on April 15th!  Doing this, your students will really understand the pain of paying their taxes because they've lived in your classroom.

Students can also learn about supply and demand as they participate in auctions you hold throughout the year.  These are important to teach lessons in spending vs. saving.  These life lessons can be learned without you even saying a word. Student will get it because they've LIVED it!

In the beginning of school year, have your students learn about balancing a check ledger.  Yes, 4th graders can do this!  They will think it's pretty cool and if they can prove they can successfully add and subtract decimals to balance the check ledger, allow them to earn their own check book.  Boy, talk about motivation!  Just pass out the first real looking check book and you have your class hooked!  By teaching about decimals, you're secretly checking student understanding of subtracting and place value concepts.  You can accomplish two things:  You check student understanding of decimal adding and subtracting and see how students persevere (or not). This lets you know who to cheer on and which students you can encourage to soar.

*Teacher Tip:  Ask your local bank to see if they will donate real looking checkbooks!  Many banks are committed to community service and will gladly help you put student checks into your students' hands.  Our local Bank of America donated these sample checks and plastic checkbook covers to our 4th grade classroom.

Students pay fines and buy items with their checking accounts (or they can use cash) - it's their choice.

Classroom bankers must show competency with decimals because they handle all classroom transactions once they are "hired."  Let any willing and eager student take the banker test at the beginning of the year, and have your top two highest scoring students earn the job of bank president and vice president.  If a student doesn't pass the banker test on the first go-round, allow them to have another chance to take the test.  Students will be so motivated to get a job as a classroom banker, that they will work extra to make sure they pass the test.  You'll be surprised by the motivation that you get out of students of ALL abilities.  Some of my students even studied on their own at home to get their job!!   

I think it's motivating for students to be paid weekly.  The more they interact with and handle money transactions, the better because they're doing more math!  Your banker workers should earn a salary and be paid by the bank president and bank vice-president (they share the job or ask bank managers to help out).  My student bankers sat at the classroom bank and used it as their desk on the day(s) they were on duty.  I found this old desk that was being discarded, took it home, and painted it during the summer.  Students LOVED it.  They told me the slot should be made into an ATM so I stenciled the words ATM on later.  

And now for the secret recipe:  Release the control and you will be in more control!  Let your students run everything about your classroom economy.  They can do it!  You will love not having to manage this program and students will be more than willing to do the work so why not let them?  

When students need to know words related to financial literacy, be sure to help them learn by posting definitions and visuals on your math word wall.  The language of math needs to be taught methodically, just as reading vocabulary needs to be taught.   You will find that students refer to your word wall all throughout the day.

Use the words in everyday conversation where you can.  Connect with the words when you see them in movies, videos, magazines, newspaper, and through current events.

Students easily can reference these posters that are also included as PowerPoint slides so you can rearrange the PPT slides and teach the words when you need them.  Students need to see a visual and example to help the concepts "stick."

Classroom Economy Materials: Click HERE.  

Students love typing and printing these editable checks.  Your bankers can easily type student names and the amount earned, then print and cut the check apart.  See them on my TpT site: Editable PDF checks, click HERE.

Teach math through everyday life and you won't have to hear, "When are we ever going to use this?"

Challenge Your Students with Mastery Club! It's EASY and Fun!

Mastery Club has a New Home on the Web! 

Mastery Club has a New Home on the Web! 

The Scenario:  You're in the middle of a guided reading group.  You're on a roll, students are with you.  Your group is focused.  Suddenly you feel a tap on your shoulder and one of your sweet students says, "I'm finished.  What do I do now?"  Argh, just what you don't want to hear!

You want to find a fast finisher activity that students understand and can do independently without needing you and you don't have tons of time week after week to prepare all of the fast finisher activities.

If this is something you don't want to deal, make your life easier by using Mastery Club!  It's easy to set up, and once you do, you can use it year after year with no additional prep!

In my fourth grade classroom, my goal was to help students become independent learners.  I leaned early on in my career that giving by students choices, I get more in return; sometimes WAY more than I expected.  I always want students to know what to do when they were finished.  Enter the idea of Mastery Club.

You want to challenge your students to learn new things and you're tired of students saying, "I'm finished.  Now what do I do?" or worse yet, "I'm bored."  Oh boy!  Those are NOT the words you NEVER want to hear!  

Mastery Club consists of a list of challenges to learn something new.  There are 86 challenge questions broken down into five main topic areas:  Social Studies, Science and Health, Language Arts and Linguistics, Math, and a Miscellaneous category.  Students use my website, Mrs. Renz.net, to access the links to research each challenge, or they can do research on their own.  Of course, books and other resources can be used for conducting research.  That's how we did it in the old days!  😉 When a student is ready to take the test, s/he simply goes to the storage crate, finds the corresponding answer recording sheet, sits at a special table that you designate and takes the test.  When s/he is finished, they turn it into a special Mastery Club turn in spot.  That's it!  You (or a parent volunteer) use the answer keys or web links to check the answers and if the student got 100%, the challenge was passed and the student officially became a "1 star" member of Mastery Club.  Easy!

Excuse this (really old) photo of the Mastery Club challenge question area.  

It's all about choice!  Students love choices and you will love it even more because students learn about what interests them.  You're not telling them what to do.  Students choose the topics that interest them and learn about the topics in the order they choose.  If you give choices to students, when you need students them to do what you ask, they won't mind because it's been a give and take and this time it's your turn.   

The plastic crate (in the photo below) shows the file folders that holds the student recording worksheets and a binder that keeps the answer keys.   In the set I made for TpT, there are even file folder labels to simply print and attach to the folders.  Set up is easy! 

Once a student has earned at least one challenge, s/he becomes a "1-Star Member."  Teachers simply record the challenge number earned on the grade book sheet included in the set.

Students keep earning and try to do as many challenges as they can before the end of the school  year. You can choose a date for the challenge to end so it allows you time to get the certificates ready.  If you're really lucky, you can maybe ask a parent volunteer to copy and paste the challenges onto the certificate for each student. It makes the certificates that much more special to be personalized.

I can't say enough about how much my fourth, fifth, and sixth graders loved this program!  Many times a student would come back to say hi and would go right to the Wall of Fame to see where their name was in relation to the new names that were added.  Awesome!

Don't let students say they're bored in your classroom!  What do you do for your fast finishers?

Mastery Club has a new home on the web! http://mrsrenz.com/mastery-club-links