It's getting close to that time of year again! Parent Teacher Conferences require that a lot of information be presented in a short amount of time. Having a form to condense all that information into a format that is easy to follow and allows you to cover all the information you need in one meeting is essential!
I tried many formats for PT Conferences over the years and gradually figured out what works best for me and the flow of the time we were given per student. Don't worry! You will find your rhythm too. If you are looking for some forms to organize your time, keep reading!
I start my conferences with a Student Reflection. Personally, I like having my students attend the conferences and talk through this first form together. It helps set the tone of the meeting, and allows everyone to settle down nerves about possible issues! Students talk about what subjects they feel they are excelling in and which ones they do not feel as confident in.
I find it interesting to then compare that form with my assessment of how the student is doing in class. First up, I cover classroom skills. Here I focus on group work, independent work, homework, and behavior skills.
There are two options for the classroom skills page. One has the checklist of skills and the categories of Excellent, Satisfactory, and Struggling with a Notes section at the bottom. The other has the same checklist but with a notes line per skill. I personally use the first one.
The next page option focuses on areas that help is needed in. Here is where you can jot down what subjects need more support in and reasons why.
I end with the grades page and compare the grades to the student reflection. Sometimes the student's feelings match their grades, other times the student is pleasantly surprised that a subject that is challenging does not necessarily mean a low grade. Other times, students feel confident in everything and need a gentle reminder of areas they are struggling in.
If you use a digital gradebook, you can print and attach the grades over the grade section and use the note section to attach information on standardized testing.
That's all for this set. This format has worked well for me to cover what needs to be said in the short 20 minutes that I have. If you are interested, head on over to my store to check this resource out. Best of luck in conference season! Don't forget to pamper yourself a little too. You deserve it!
Geography is the original subject that makes pirate theming easy. Why not learn about maps, geography terms, and compass skills in a pirate setting? It sure captured my student's interest right off the bat! I already worked on map skills with my Pirate Geography Worksheet set, but I wanted to look closer at compasses and intermediate directions.
Pirate Compass Clue Activity has a treasure map of the open sea with islands that a ship needs to navigate through to get to the final island with the treasure chest. Each island has a different pirate item that is used to help create the direction clues using intermediate directions that will navigate the pirate ship on the correct path to the treasure.
The activity starts with identifying and practicing intermediate directions on a compass.
A teacher example with a path already created and direction clues is then used to model how to complete the activity. Useful, right? I started to hate using the first few problems of assignments to model how to complete activities, so I'm in love with the idea of having a separate teacher example!
For a bit of differentiation, there is a blank map for students to create their own path and direction clues or if that is too open ended for some of your struggling students, there is a map with a created path that is different from the teacher's example so they can focus in on writing the direction clues.
Or you can use the student path map for independent practice and use the blank map for an assessment grade or vice versa!
Interested? Head on over to my store, Morsel Tidbits, to learn more or to find more pirate themed goodies!
It's pumpkin season! While I'm not all things pumpkin spice, I certainly have a few baked favorites! I also love going to pumpkin patches and corn mazes, especially now that I have a daughter who loves to be outside. Oh, did I mention food?! Fall is seriously a delicious season for food items. I'm getting hungry just thinking about pumpkin muffins , pumpkin loafs, and all drinks that are cinnamon forward! Anyways, this post is not about food or corn mazes. It is about my new fall-themed resource, Pumpkin Patch Match!
I fell in love with a Halloween set of pumpkin clipart. I used some of the pumpkins in October's Student Monthly Planner, but I wanted to use them again for an activity. I feel like I always need more resources to continue the essential practice of multiplication facts. So, a center game featuring the adorable pumpkin clipart made it's debut.
Pumpkin Patch Match is similar in feel to dominoes. You match up equations with arrays, answers, or even other equations with the same total amount in horizontal lines. To move the patch up vertically, a match in equations sharing a same factor is connected using a bug game piece.
The end game board will have pumpkin pieces stretching in neat rows and columns to create a whole patch. The game will need space to grow, so the floor is the best place to play the game. You can use the game pieces multiple ways. Go ahead and use the set as matching practice independently for a student who needs a bit more practice, or play Nertz with a partner and stack the game cards in piles of matching pieces.
Want to use the game during your lesson on multiplication with arrays? Use the larger teacher board pieces to model on the whiteboard how to play the game.
The game is available in color or blackline. I recommend laminating for longevity if using as a center.
Do you ever find center activities that you love and then wonder if it was helpful or not? I usually lead small groups myself when it is center time. While I do the teacher room sweep occasionally, I'd rather have a bit more information on how a game center is going. To this end, Pumpkin Patch Match includes a quick check for understanding for students to complete after playing the game. Whether completing right after the game independently or waiting until the whole class has cycled through the game, the Game Board Practice sheet can provide you with a grade or just a quick check to make sure learning is occurring.
So grab yourself a pumpkin spice latte, or a pumpkin nut cookie (my favorite), and enjoy the fall season! I'll just sign off with my favorite pumpkin spice meme so far, courtesy of (reposted is more likely) by Body Conscious.
Imagine my disappointment this year when I found out Krispy Kreme was not planning to have their doughnut give away for pirate-dressed enthusiasts! Yep, one of those enthusiasts is me. I was planning all sorts of costume fun that day. No worries! I still got to have fun in my costume for filming in character for my new freebie in honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day. Watch the video to learn more!
Sorry for the narrow view. I filmed for the first time on my phone. Live and learn!
To download the freebie, head on over to my store. If anyone dresses up for International Talk Like a Pirate Day, I'd love to see your outfits! I have other plans simmering for costume fun that day. (I honestly enjoy this day way more than Halloween, but then any dress up day is a favorite day!)
It's a little later in the season to be posting my Student Monthly Planners since school has already started for so many, but I can't help it when I get the desire to create a new resource. I've learned to just go with it when an idea has me in its clutches; same thing for housework, or cleaning my classroom. It's too bad that particular desire doesn't hit as often as it should. 😅
When I taught 5th grade, agendas were already in use. I got hooked on the usefulness of agendas. When I moved to 3rd grade though, planners were not provided! We did eventually get some, but even then students lose them or lose interest in the same old, same old. What I used my agendas for were mainly assignment due dates, spelling lists, and useful storage space for log ins and passwords for the many different websites that we use regularly.
Why create my own planners then? Pretty much the same reason you might have for creating anything of your own: preference, class needs, and fun clipart!
Before jumping into the breakdown of the planners, if you want a quick overview of the planner, check out the preview video right now. It's also embedded below at the end of the post if you'd like to read first. Choices! Choices!
So, what is in the planners? The inside of the cover features a class and school news section. Great for written reminders for class parties, lunch fund reminders, PTA events, etc. Options are labeled for useful section like websites, Events, Requests, and News or a blank option is available as well.
The inside pages are dedicated to each week with the standard space to write assignment due dates. Along the top is an At a Glance section for a quick check of what the homework is for that week before looking below for details. Planners have prelabeled sections or blank ones to be filled out as the week dictates.
One feature I'm loving is the Add On Booklet section. Yes, there's space for your standard spelling list, either lined or blank, but now that space can hold a lot more information without cluttering up the rest of the page. Stack as many add on pages as needed to create a booklet. Options for the booklet are the aforementioned spelling lists, two options for reading logs, blank math facts page, multiplication fact pages for facts 1-12, teacher notes, and regular notes. If you print your spelling lists like I do; you can cut and glue directly to the blank spelling list page or on the Add On Booklet Space.
I'm open to ideas for more note pages. If there is a specific label or page that you are dying to have, I might just be able to help you out!
The last page differs depending on if the month has 4 or 5 weeks. For the 4 week months, the last page consists of a teacher/parent communication page on the inside and on the outside, a doodle space. Attach notes that need signatures and check for quick parent messages there. Don't forget to date each response in case the planner does not make it to parent eyes as quickly as expected from all adults included. (Also, no need to worry about Kayla's feelings about her info being shared. She's not real! 😉)
The months that have 5 weeks end with the parent and teacher page. You are certainly welcome to switch that up to whatever you need though.
Each week and month features different clipart relating to the month, so seasons and holidays feature frequently. The clipart is easy to color for students to make the planners their own or not if coloring is not their thing. You could have planner coloring contests to encourage neat presentation style and award special deluxe planner stickers as rewards.
Oh yes, stickers! I know stickers can be overused, but make certain ones special and they become badges of honor. Also, using certain stickers to emphasize due dates or stepping stones of projects can help the project stand out on the page and give a sense of working towards a goal. Sticker charts in planner form. You know how fun adult planners can be with all the gel pens, stickers, and colors right? Those can all be great incentives to using a planner efficiently or rewards for positive behavior. In a similar way, play with color coding certain homework types or projects. Again, with the idea of keeping the important things easy to spot on a page of text.
Need a closer look at the planners? I have two great ways to do that. First, watch the video preview below. Just remember more add ons have been added for planner efficiently and possibly more in the future. If you do buy, don't forget to check back before the beginning of the school year to download the new current calendar set.
Second, the month of September is a freebie! Download it and try it out! If September has passed, you can still get an idea of how the planner is set up.
