Editor Lorin E. Klistoff, M.A. Managing Editor Karen Goldfluss, M.S. Ed. Editor-in-Chief Sharon Coan, M.S. Ed. Illustrators Kevin Barnes Howard Chaney Cover Artist Barb Lorseyedi Art Coordinator Kevin Barnes Art Director CJae Froshay Imaging James Edward Grace Product Manager Phil Garcia Publisher Mary D. Smith, M.S. Ed. Author Michelle Scavo Bonus Teacher Created Resources, Inc. 6421 Industry Way Westminster, CA 92683 www.teachercreated.com ISBN: 978-0-7439-3655-2 2002 Teacher Created Resources, Inc. Reprinted, 2009 Made in U.S.A. The classroom teacher may reproduce copies of materials in this book for classroom use only. The reproduction of any part for an entire school or school system is strictly prohibited. No part of this publication may be transmitted, stored, or recorded in any form without written permission from the publisher.
Introduction.......................... 3 Motivational Ideas..................... 4 Participation Ante................... 5 Squiggle Stories.................... 6 Squiggle Story Sample Drawing........ 7 Individual Mini Conferences.......... 8 Mini Conference Sheet............... 9 READ-0......................... 10 Game Board...................... 1 1 Nonfiction Book Log............... 12 Fiction Book Log.................. 13 Reading Goal..................... 14 Rewards......................... 15 Challenge Plan.................... 16 Sample Challenge Plan.............. 17 Certificates....................... 18 Award Certificate.................. 19 Summer Packet................... 20 Sample Summer Letter.............. 21 Goody Bags and Balloons........... 22 Sample Goody Bag Poem............ 23 Homework Buddy................. 24 Review Ideas......................... 25 Reminder Binder.................. 26 Reminder Binder Form.............. 27 Fortune Teller..................... 28 Math Review Games............... 30 Steal the Protractor................. 31 Vital Vocabulary................... 32 Question and Answer............... 33 Smart Sack....................... 34 Smart Sack Letter.................. 35 Roulette Review................... 36 Parent Involvement Ideas............... 37 The Bonus Brief Newsletter........ 38 The Bonus Brief................... 39 Friday Folders.................... 40 Weekly Comment & Reflection Form.. 41 Gathering the Pieces................ 42 Sample Parent Letter............... 43 Book- N-Bag-It Lunch.............. 44 Book- N-Bag-It Letter.............. 45 Open House Activities.............. 46 Self-Esteem Ideas..................... 47 Thankful Thoughts................. 48 Thankful Thoughts Letter............ 49 Table of Contents Name Pass....................... 50 Name Passes..................... 51 Valentines to Your Partner........... 52 Lines and Celebrations.............. 53 Bonus Ball....................... 54 Behavior Management Ideas............ 55 After-Work Reflection.............. 56 After-Work Reflection Form......... 57 Behavior Reflection................ 58 Behavior Reflection Form........... 59 Students vs. Teacher................ 60 Game Board and Pawns............. 61 Don t Say a Word.................. 62 Shh Tickets...................... 63 Secret Workers.................... 64 Classroom Management Ideas........... 65 Idea Box........................ 66 Passola and Portfolio............... 67 Parent/Teacher Conferences.......... 68 Pre-Conference Questionnaire........ 69 Student Questionnaire.............. 70 Student Self-Evaluation............. 71 Organization Role-Play............. 72 Role-Play Situation Cards........... 73 Appointment Times................ 74 Appointment Books................ 75 Sticks, Numbers, and Bins........... 76 Homework Families................ 77 Mobiles and Charts................ 78 Help! I Can t Find It!............. 79 Bulletin Boards................... 80 Geo-Genius...................... 81 A Clear Contract.................. 82 Student-Teacher Contract............ 83 Acronyms....................... 84 Learning Ideas....................... 85 Quote of the Day.................. 86 I Pledge... What?................. 87 Challenge Club................... 88 Challenge Club Form............... 89 Join the Class Work Force........... 90 Job Application Form............... 91 Curiosity Questions................ 92 The Word of the Week.............. 93 Poem of the Month................. 94 Cooperation Totem Pole............. 95 There s No I In Team!............. 96 #3655 Creative Classroom Ideas 2 Teacher Created Resources, Inc.
Participation Ante Motivational Ideas Are students not participating enough? Are the same students always participating while others just sit? Try a tally device to make the teacher and students aware of how often they are participating in wholeclass activities and/or discussions. For each activity, place three of anything on each student s desk right in front for easy access and visibility. Sticky notes are good, because they aren t interesting enough for students to want to play with them, they stay in one place, and they don t end up on the floor. Every time a child participates in the activity, take one sticky note off his or her desk. Students left with sticky notes are quickly aware of how little they are involved. A fun way of introducing the activity is to put the notes on each desk, but do not tell students what they are for. Just say you will be removing them, and that it is a good thing to have them removed. It is up to them to figure out why they are being removed. Students will soon figure it out. Once they understand the concept, the teacher can start over with another subject area. This is a really helpful way for a teacher to pinpoint those students who avoid participation. The teacher will also be able to see a pattern one student may always participate in reading, but rarely during math. This can be valuable information. Teacher Created Resources, Inc. 5 #3655 Creative Classroom Ideas
Motivational Ideas Squiggle Stories Ideas to Stimulate Writers Are students running out of ideas to write creative stories? Squiggle pictures give students just enough motivation to get them excited about writing again. Follow the instructions below. 1. On large pieces of white construction paper, use a thick marker to draw a random squiggle on each piece. Make each squiggle out of the same color marker so it is identifiable on each piece. 2. Give each student a paper. Then each student turns his or her paper as needed until he or she can see a shape or object come through. 3. Each student then adds to the squiggle to form the picture he or she sees. 4. After the picture is complete, each student writes a story about the picture. Or, he or she can incorporate the picture in some part of his or her story. Maybe the squiggle picture is a sailboat, so the story can be about an exploring adventure on this man-made sailboat. 5. Display pictures with the story so other students can read and enjoy! Tip: Instead of creating an object, have the students create a newly discovered animal or insect out of the squiggle. (See sample on page 7.) Once they have drawn this new creature or species, they can write an expository paper about the creature. The teacher can make up a pretend class encyclopedia where these entries will go. These creative papers will now turn into a report which tells the habitat of the creature, what it eats, looks like, how it catches its food, etc. It is a way to practice a formal writing style while using creativity too! Ideas to Stimulate Artists Want to stimulate some artists? How about getting students to pay attention to detail? Have them illustrate a chapter of a book the teacher reads aloud to the class. Follow the instructions below. 1. The teacher can pick two students to sit in the back of the room away from each other. 2. As the teacher reads the chapter aloud, they draw a picture of an interesting event. 3. At the end of the chapter, illustrators share the drawings with the class. 4. Each day the teacher picks two new students to illustrate what has been read. 5. After the story is complete, the teacher can compile all the drawings in a class book. If desired, let students sign their artwork. Tips: Variations include having the whole class illustrate at the same time. Small groups can also be formed with one member of each group illustrating a chapter a day. Then the small group can share their completed book of drawings when the whole story is finished. For variation, students can paint with watercolors rather than draw. #3655 Creative Classroom Ideas 6 Teacher Created Resources, Inc.
Squiggle Story Sample Drawing The Geed Bird Motivational Ideas The Geed Bird is a very tall and unusual creature. The Geed Bird has enormous eyes and extremely good distance vision. The legs are skinny and hold most of the weight of the bird. The Geed Bird lives mostly in warm climates and loves to eat large insects, such as crickets. Teacher Created Resources, Inc. 7 #3655 Creative Classroom Ideas
Motivational Ideas Individual Mini Conferences It never fails, once that report card comes out there are always those few students who question the marks they receive in one area or another. Inevitably, if a student has a question, parents will too. A great way to avoid any surprises is to hold individual conferences with students at least twice a year. If the teacher can, every quarter would be ideal. These mini conferences give the teacher a chance to praise each student and let them know the areas the teacher feels they need help with. In addition, it is a wonderful time for students to tell the teacher how they are feeling about school, friends, or whatever is on their mind. Mini conferences stop problems in all areas before they get too lar ge. Students like to have one-on-one time with their teacher. They also like to feel they are heard and understood. Mini conferences really help establish a strong relationship between the teacher and student. Pick a time of day when students are independently working or reading. Have a notebook in hand to make notes or use the Mini Conference Sheet located on page 9. If a child mentions a particular concern, jot it down for future reference. It is also wise to write down what the teacher mentioned to the child so the teacher can have a reminder of what was discussed. When report cards are given out, the mini conference should help clarify any questions the student has about the report card, keeping surprises minimal. Since the teacher has met with each student, students can now explain to their parents any questions they have about the report card as well. It is also a good thing for the teacher to let the parents know that he or she has spoken to their child already about a particular issue that may appear on the report card. Individual Mini Conferences #3655 Creative Classroom Ideas 8 Teacher Created Resources, Inc.