Friday FREEBIE- 1st of 2014

To follow through with  my New Year's Blogging Resolution, I have a FREEBIE for you! I haven't linked up for a while at TBA, but I am today. Starting out the right way for the first Friday of 2014.

Do you celebrate the 100th day of school? 17 years in elementary school, I did! It was one of my favorite days. 

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Middle School is so different. Last year though, I had to do something. I tried a project. It was an at home project. Students were given 100 problems to solve. They were given an entire six weeks to complete it. 

There were a lot of positive to it. The students had seen all the problems before. They were from previous tests they had taken. I even had a section of vocabulary. 

It was a lot and the projects weren't very nice when they were returned. Then, they really needed to be graded. I was not going to grade 100 problems for all 100+ students I had. 

I made a key, copied it and students graded each others projects. That worked. I will do that again. 

This year, my team does not want to do it, I do.  We are required to do the same if we teach the same prep. I am the only advanced teacher for 6th grade though. I teach only one section of regular 6th grade math. So, I adapted it for my advanced classes only. Parents of advanced students want this kind of thing!  

So, here's a new version:

100th Day Project 

I am excited because its ready early! They are getting it when they return on Tuesday. I made one huge change to manage the procrastinators. They have a mid way checkpoint where 50 problems have to be completed. I am giving a grade for it as well. Yes, my students will still have regular homework this six weeks. This project is a test grade. I know my kids, they can do this! 

There are a ton of skills included. We taught a lot of skills the first semester. The project includes, fractions, GCF, LCM, prime factorization, ratios, measurement conversions, percents, decimals, computation, and many word problems. 

I also created a new activity for our upcoming Algebraic Expressions unit. I am excited about this as well because it gives several options to how you use it in your class. You can choose task cards, a game board, matching cards, go fish, and even a worksheet. It's my first product of 2014. 

Algebraic Expressions Match 

and.... don't forget about Holly and Joanne's great giveaway going on. It's Day 2, new day, new prize and another opportunity to enter for their grand prizes! 

Happy Friday!

The 100th Day of School

Today was the 100th Day of School! I love this day. So many years in elementary will do that to ya. Middle schoolers, don't care.

My first grader did! Here's his 100 day shirt. It was a home project we had to do. It was so fun! (Of course, I love this kind of stuff though) He's got a goofy smile, but I just want to eat him up!

This was the project my students had to turn in today. It was 100 problems. They have had a month to complete them. It is a major grade.

Click on the picture for a copy



They were less than thrilled by this project. They thought it was hard. I offered tutoring twice a week to help. We had a few days in class for them to work on it. I had about 30 kids NOT turn it in. I teach 110 regular ed kids. It's only a 72% turn in rate. I was making phone calls like crazy. I was making kids calls their parents. They have been assigned Saturday School. I have a list of kids to be called by our translator. Their parents only speak Spanish. I was really feeling down about this today. The students had seen all these problems before. I copy and pasted them from tests, reviews and activities we did.

I even offered 10 extra points for early turn ins. I had about 10 students take me up on that.

I stand by the project though. It was a good, mathematical project. I will do it again. I refuse to be discouraged by this.

I am curious, does anyone else have these issues? If so, what do you do to motivate your students to turn work in.

100th day of school - Middle School

I am linking up with TBA for some 100th Day of School planning.

                                                             



Since it's Friday, I am also linking to Friday Freebies!

As an elementary teacher the 100th day of school was one of my most favorite days. We did all things 100... We did 100 day rotations, it was just plain fun.

Well, middle school is MUCH different. We are in full "get ready for the state test mode". But, I really want to do something fun this year. So, I decided to make it a project. Plus, I decided to make it a review. I created 100 problems for them to complete and use as a review of all topics we have taught up to this point.

This is an independent project and students will completely at home. They have four weeks to complete and it is due on the 100th day of school!

Time will tell how we'll they do and how this will turn out. I will keep you posted!

For now, maybe you can use it, or make your own 100 problem project. Enjoy!

This is PDF file. I created it in Publisher and couldn't attach it to Scribd. Please leave me your email and I will gladly send it to you.