Tried it Tuesday- Student Grading

Before I share what I tried last week, I need to give you an update. 

1st: We heard from Mc Donald's and we are receiving a check for $505 for Mc Teacher Night. That was for 3 HOURS of hanging out there!!! I say that is a success. We still have two grade levels participating in this, trust me, if you didn't think it was worth it, it IS!!!! Read about Mc Teacher Night  here. 

2nd: I wanted to include all the teachers in our jerseys from last week, and my principal sent these today! 

And now my Tried it Tuesday! (on Wednesday)

I spoke a little on this on Friday's post. Last week was the end of our second grading period. I had to take two grades and I just couldn't get it done for 128 students. So, I took the advice of several other bloggers and I had my students grade. 

First, they had to grade a classmates assignment. I had five students at a time grade five other students paper. The only down side was having one key for them to share. They did have to work  together, but it would have been easier with several keys. 

They were tough on the grading. Since we are in measurement, I am always on them about including the unit of measurement, adding the "square" for square units and the "cube" for volume. I take points off normally when they don't include it. They kept asking, "Is it wrong if it isn't labeled?" or "What if they wrote g for gallon and it was supposed to be p for pints." I love that they were paying attention, but they were nit picking. Am I that way? I also thought it comical when they got their papers back how they "checked" their papers and if there was the slightest mistake, they told me. I will definitely do this again. 

Second, students had to grade their own work. They had been assigned a study guide on Monday and it was due Thursday. They had a test on Friday. We had a lot to do so, I posted the "key" around the room and they had to check their work. 

They then had to come and tell me how m any they got wrong and I told them their grade. I know, you are thinking, they all got 100's right? Nope. They were so honest! 

I had a few that I know weren't. I just said, "A 100, really? That is great, I can't wait to celebrate your 100 on the test tomorrow." Then, I gave my best teacher look and they knew! 

I also will do this again. 

Sparking Motivation- Mc Teacher Night

Have you ever heard of Mc Teacher Night? 

It's a school fundraiser where teachers "work" at Mc Donald's and your school gets a portion of the proceeds from the sales during that time frame. 

Our school has done it two years in a row. We divide it up between grade levels. We have a designated night for 6th grade, one for 7th and one for 8th. We even make it a competition. 

Ours was last week. I was the order caller. It was a pretty easy job. 

We also offer students a free homework pass for attending. 

We had a great turn out. Not sure what we made money wise, but the kids loved it. 

It's a great way to motivate students and been out and about in the community. We are a small town, and we have a ton of staff that commutes. For parents to see those teachers working Mc Donald's was a big deal. 

Not sure if it is available in your area, but it is worth a look into. 

It is part of McDonalds Educates. 

Link up with Joann over at Head Over Heels for Teaching and get motivated!!!

Five for Friday- Nov 8th

It is finally Friday! 

It's a 3 day weekend for our students. We have staff development on Monday. I am so excited! 

My youngest turns 4 on Sunday. I am also excited about that. I am not one of those Moms who gets sad that their kids are growing up. He's the fourth...  the oldest, well he is 22 and still lives at home. I don't think he will ever leave. 

Tangent.... How about my 5 for Friday

ONE

Our 8th graders played their last home game this week. The coach came up with "Teacher Night". We wore a players jersey all day Tuesday and then went to the game and hung out on the sidelines during the game. They LOVED it. 

This was my player. He was actually one of my advisory kids two years ago. 

TWO

Mc Teacher Night

Ever heard of this? It's a fundraiser where teachers "work" at Mc Donalds and a portion of the sales goes to our school. I was the order caller when the food was prepared. 

Mc Donald's is fast paced and busy! I am glad I don't have to do that on a daily basis. One of the workers told me, "I am glad I don't teach middle school on a daily basis!" I thought it was fair. 

THREE

End of a grading period

Holy moly we are busy trying to get grades in and assignments completed. Parents are emailing me asking how their kid can improve their grade. Why wait until the end? How about doing the work when it is actually due? (Oops, different soap box)

This week, I enlisted my students to do some grading. I gave five kids at a time a paper that was not their own, had them grade it and write the number missed at the top. I wrote the grade and entered them in the grade book by the end of class. It was awesome! They even got their paper back before the end of class. It was a win, win! 

FOUR

This week my teaching partner created a real life formulas station for our students. She got real pictures of various shapes and students had to find the area or perimeter or sides of the shapes. They enjoyed the activity a lot. They especially liked the pizza and Doritos for some reason. 

FIVE

And then today, first thing, I had a student bring me this sweet note. She is not one of my advanced students. She is in my one regular class and she started off struggling quite a  bit. But she has made an effort and it is showing. I taped it to my closet door! 

Tried It Tuesday- Reality Is Setting In

It's Tuesday, time to link up with Holly at Fourth Grade Flipper. 

As I was thinking about what I wanted to share, I thought, "I am so swamped and overloaded, I feel like we aren't doing anything good enough that I can share." 

But, I really want to share, so I kept thinking. 

Last night I read a post from someone about their interactive notebooks. The comment that stuck in my head was, "I don't know if I am doing this right..." 

I am under the belief that there is no right or wrong way to use interactive notebooks. Having kids involved in their learning process is what it should be. 

Sometimes we make these great foldables 

and some times we do this: (page 47)

It's called reality. They were good problems though. 

I wanted to make this cute foldable for the metric system. 

Then I realized my son had a doctor's appt and I had to be absent for half a day. So this is what we made.

It may not be all fancy, but it is working. My students are using their notes for their work. They look in their notebooks when they are working. They ask to take their binders home to help with their homework. 

(BTW, I don't allow this. I have all my notes on my website. I am way too possessive to let them take them home and chance not returning them) 

I guess I am just trying to say, do what works for you and your kids. 

I TRY to make cool foldables. Sometimes we just get colorful notes. 

The Best Compliment Ever

 I had a student come up to me on Wednesday and say, "Math class always go by so fast." I asked him if that was a good thing and he said, "Yes, my other classes drag on".  I LOVE IT!!! 

Then the next day, the sweetest little girl in my 8th period said, "Mrs. Hodges, you make Math fun." 

YEA!!! That's what I want to do for my kiddos!!! 

I will be honest, times are tough round here. Blogging and teaching right now are keeping me from jumping off a cliff. I really needed to hear that this week. 

Currently- November

Life was too busy last month for this most loved linky party with Farley. I am making time this month, I mean,I do have an extra hour tonight, right? 

I am hoping to try this bread when we are on break! It looks so yummy! 

http://www.sunnysideupsd.com/2011/09/pull-apart-cinnamon-sugar-pumpkin-bread/

FRIDAY!!!!!!

Five for Friday! 

It's FRIDAY!!!! 

It's also November 1st!!!! 

October seriously flew by for me. I knew it would. My family had a five day vacation smack in the middle. It was a nice break, but made a normally long month, short. 

With a holiday this month and next, 2013 will be over before we know it!!! 

I procrastinated preparing for this week. I think it has to do with all the rain we have had lately. It just makes me lazy. I love rain though and we really need it. 

ONE 

So, Sunday night, I am searching through my files and can't find something I need from a blogger. I instantly email her and she very quickly responds and viola! I am ready for the week!! 

I have mentioned before, but I bought a store this summer from Danielle at Live Love Math and it has been wonderful!!! 

This week we used her Area for Composite Figures stations. Wow! My students were blown away. 

I won't let them use the phrase, "this is hard" in my class. I make them say "it's challenging", and boy was it. 

It was more than helpful in finding area, it was great computation practice and placing decimals when multiplying. So many teachable moments. 

TWO

We had hat day. (Put a cap on drugs). Gotta say, love these days!!! 

THREE

Thursday was Halloween and a TWO hour delay! 

Thanks to the rain we badly need, we had flash floods and had a two hour delay, on Halloween!!! Like that day needs anymore distractions!!!! 

My son's school did a cool thing for Halloween. Instead of allowing kids to dress up and a do a glorified "storybook character parade," they had a Halloween science vocabulary parade.  

See last year my son was a power ranger and I searched like mad for a power ranger book so he could wear his costume, that is not a storybook character. 

This year though, we had to choose a science vocabulary word and make a costume. 

Yes, it was a project for mom and dad! 

My 2nd grader said, "Can I watch you do my project?" 

We spent about 30 minutes in Hobby Lobby brainstorming and buying stuff. The idea was for my son to be precipitation and have beads hanging down the hat to represent rain. 

After several attempts and a little frustration on my husbands part (downside of being a perfectionist and a procrastinator), we have a wonderful Cumulus Cloud! 

Note: Cumulus was spelled wrong on the vocabulary sheet sent home from my son's school, so his shirt is spelled wrong. Bummer. I didn't even think to double check it. My son loves his shirt, but he is not wearing it in public misspelled! 

FOUR

My 6th graders completed a Halloween themed activity. It was crazy sock day. Students were allowed to dress up too. I didn't this year. I wish I had, but things are just too crazy around here. 

Click the picture for the FREEBIE. 

FIVE

Trick or treating of course with these two precious boys!