Changes to a Self Sufficient Morning

I have recently implemented a few changes in classroom, mainly making it self sufficient. I have also begun using bell ringers in the morning, these are places in a certain location every morning, it is up to the student to get it in the morning when they get to school and follow the directions. These bell ringers are completely done by the students, this gives me a chance to get other things done in the morning. Students work on their bell ringer every day, then I ask that they get on the laptop to do either Newsela or Typing Club. Newsela is nonfictional texts that students can read at their reading level, then take a quiz on it. Typing Club is a website that teaches students how to type. Since we do alot of stuff on the laptops and we have no computer class I thought this would be a great way to get some technology into the classroom that allows us to use our time more efficiently by typing faster. Typing Club allows you to set up your class on their website and monitor students progress. The kids love it!

Newsela.com

typingclub.com

Some other changes I have implemented for a self sufficient classroom is through the use of jobs! I have added a few new jobs today to help me out in the morning. They are Reading Log checker, Bell Ringer Checker, and Sweeper. This is the first year I have asked students to read at home and have some sort of organization to it. We created reading logs that must be signed every night, the Reading Log Checker goes around in the morning to see if their reading log has been properly filled out with parent signature. Then I will check the weeks reading log Friday and enter it into the grade book. The second job I created this week, Bell Ringer Checker, goes around and checks the bell ringers and initials my name on it. I will then check these on Friday as well to be added to the grade book. I modeled both jobs the first two weeks of school so students knew what I expected. The last job is sweeper, I just got a new little vacuum that is adorable! I am having one student vacuum the class at the end of the day after everyone has picked up. We discussed how to properly take care of it and put it away.

I am feeling so much better about this year!

Helpful Resounces

newsela.com

Typingclub.com

frontrowed.com

gmail

edmodo.com

quill.org

great website that has a ton of resources for middle school reading

website I am using for a very low student

The social studies website I have been using for 6th grade. It is all online but can be printed.

curriculum for 5th and 6th grade ELA. FREE!!!

Medieval Feast

Today is our medieval feast! The kids helped decorate the classroom with hanging "tapestries" (table clothes) and a tower next to our door. The students are bringing historically accurate food for the feast, from ham and cheese, to sparkling grape juice and fruit. Earlier this week we learned about table manners of medieval Europe, what medieval Europeans ate as well as how they dressed. Some of the resources I used are posted below. The kids chose a king and queen as well as other, lesser roles, such as lords, ladies, princesses, and princes, we even have a few serfs. The students chose their roles. The roles they have chosen will determine where they sit at our feast, with the king and queen sitting directly in the middle. During the feast we will be using silver plates, cups and spoons (no forks!). We will also enjoy some medieval music by The Kings Singers who made music for the enjoyment of King Henry VIII.

Medieval Feasting: Hands on History

The Kings Singers

An Evening With the Tudors. A How-To

End of the Year Medieval Dinner Party

I would love love LOVE to throw a Medieval Dinner Party during the last week of school as a way to celebrate the year as well as end the unit on Europe in the Middle Ages with a bang.

I am currently brainstorming what I would like this party to look like.  I have found costume ideas, food, and a lesson on manners during the middle ages found on TPT. I have been thinking about maybe having games as well, that will depend on how long the dinner takes.

I would like to make this a sort of end of the year project, where students have to research how each social class lived, including how they dressed, where they lived, and what they ate. I was thinking of sectioning the students off into each social class, but we will see. I am so excited! I feel like my mind is going a mile a minute! I LOVE learning about the Middle Ages and I am so excited to share my love of it with my students. I want to make this something the kids will never forget!

Other useful resources:
Fonts to use for invitations.

Design your own crest. (for classroom decorations)

Some books to read as a class.

Coat of Arms; meaning of colors and symbols

Illuminated Letters

presentation of medieval art, music, and coat of arms

Types of Government Project

Before we start the economics project, I have decided to take a week and focus on types of government. I have placed the students into groups and have allowed them to choose their government type (if there was a dispute they paper, rock, scissored for it). I gave them a rubric and an overview on the first day, then they got to work brain storming. The projects they are coming up with are fantastic! One group is going to do a mock election for democracy. Another group is going to dress as a queen and princess to present monarchy.

Types of Government Project

Name______________________________________     Date_____

Members of Group_________________________________________________________________________

Type of Government _________________________

Overview

You will be placed in a group of 6 students to work on a project to further our understanding on different types of government. We have learned about four types; monarchy, dictatorship, democracy and theocracy. Each student in the group must participate in the project or their grade will be harmed. The rubric below states everything needed to get full credit. Everyday you will explain to me what your group worked on in order for me to give you participation points for that day. You must be sure to complete the daily progress sheet and turn it into the tray to get the credit.

Rubric

**** Bonus**** 3 extra points for dressing up

_____  /5 Include name of government.

_____  /5 Who rules in your type of government?

_____ /5  How do they get their authority?

____   /5  What are the limits on governmental authority and the rights of citizens?

____  /5   Give an example of your type of government.

____  /25 Points

** Bonus 3 points if you dress up**

Because this is a group project, and has a lot of independent work, I figured it would be a good idea to find a way to keep track of their progress each day. I decided to use a daily progress sheet for the students to fill out before the end of the class, this way I can see who is working and who isn't as well as what they have done and what they need to do.

Daily Progress    ***MUST TURN IN FOR PARTICIPATION CREDIT DAILY***

Name_______________________     Date__________

What did you do today?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What did your group members do today?_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What do you still need to do?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

I am so excited to see the end product!!!

Some of the students work.

Weo

I just discovered a wonderful online tool that I am very interested in using. I have not done much with it yet, but I wanted to save it for later. It seems fairly user friendly, and you are able to post assignments that will be automatically graded! You are also able to connect to other educators, which I find very useful and interesting. I am excited to play with it more and see if I can incorporate it into my classroom, I will probably end up choosing one of my classes to be the guinea pig for this website. I am currently looking into whether or not they have an app.

Weo


*** I could not find an app:( ***

End of the Year

                                                     


As the year is winding down, I have decided to do less tests and more projects. The 6th grade has already taken their end of the year test so we will be going more in depth in subjects they struggled with. One of those subjects is economics. I have found some really great resources to do some in depth projects to better understand the topic. This is an entire unit on economics, where they will choose their occupation, home, and vehicle. These choices will help students understand the benefits and consequences of our financial choices.  The link takes you to TPT page, where it is $8.00.
STEM Economy Simulation Unit
I also found some fun easy activity pages for students to do during down time. This link is also from TPT and it is $3.00.
Economics Activity Combo Pack

In 7th grade we are currently learning about Ancient China. I found a great resources that has everything you would need for a project on Ancient China. It includes the steps needed to be taken in order to be successful, key words that would help with research, as well as websites students could use to find the research.  This resources is FREE!
Ancient China Project
Another great resource from TPT, is an interactive notebook for Ancient China. Unfortunately its $4.50, but it has a lot of great interactive activities for the students to learn more in depth about the subject.
Ancient China Interactive Notebook

***Note***

Students loved the STEM Economy Simulation Unit! They said it was their favorite project of the year. Here are some pictures.