Classroom Advent Calendar on the Cheap

As December approaches, many teachers are looking for ways to celebrate the Christmas holiday that keep both classroom discipline and budget in check. An advent calendar is one way to do that, provided you select affordable rewards and activities. Here is a way to incorporate a traditional holiday advent calendar into your current classroom routine, without breaking the bank.

First, use a classroom calendar with slightly larger squares, similar to the ones most elementary teachers already use. Those who teach older grades will still be able to incorporate this, it will just require a larger activity space. (Here’s a set of directions to make your own affordable classroom calendar.)

Second, find a source of smaller envelopes, such as the multi-packs of miniature gift cards from the craft or dollar store. Attach one envelope to each calendar day you will be in class during the month of December.

Third, come up with a list of affordable or free classroom rewards, prizes or activities. Make sure you have enough to cover each of the days where you will need envelopes. Some suggestions include holiday pencils, free paper passes, watching a movie in the class, five bonus points to add to a future quiz or test, a classroom popcorn party, erasers or a no homework night.

Write each of these items on the card that goes with the envelope. If you bought a pack of miniature gift cards at the craft store, you’re all set. If you folded your own decorative envelopes, then you’ll need to print off some cards or slips of paper to use.

Pull out the reward, prize or activity at whatever time of day works for you to reveal what’s inside. You might even want to schedule a different reveal time for various days, depending on what’s inside the envelope. For example, a night off from homework at the end of the day, an afternoon classroom movie that you let the students know about just before lunch, or new holiday pencils at the beginning of the day.

Have you tried a similar advent calendar activity in your classroom? What types of activities or gift card ideas did you use?

Related Readings: An Easy Holiday Advent Calendar for Two Dollars and 70 Affordable Advent Calendar Ideas.

Photo Credit: Campbelj45ca

Spelling Activities: Twenty-Seven Ways to Practice in Style

Spelling lists are a necessary part of our weekly routine. We all want our students to do well, but still need to spend time creating exciting lessons for the rest of the curriculum. So how do we keep the spelling activities familiar enough to allow for self direction, yet fresh enough that the students won’t balk at the idea of doing them? Here are twenty-seven tips for primary through high school to help get you started.

For starters, having a deep repertoire of practice activities is critical. You want the activities to feel familiar when the come again in the classroom, so students will be able to immediately get to work. However, you don’t want to repeat a certain activity too many times, or it will become boring for the children. Also (and this is just a personal opinion), it helps to have a fair number of the spelling practice activities take place while you are busy with small group instruction or circulating the room to reinforce on task behavior. It just sets things up for success from a classroom management perspective. Here are several that I’ve used at various grade levels over the years, and a couple that I ran across just recently.

Spelling memory.

Similar to definition match up for vocabulary instruction, you’ll need index cards for this as well. It’s great for sight word based spelling lists as well as harder to spell terms. Basically, two separate cards are needed for each word, as well as an initial copied list to check off found words from. Since students create their own master game list and word cards, this makes the age old traditional assignment of copying down each word 2-3 times meaningful and game – based as opposed to boring and tedious. My experience is that children up to at least fifth grade enjoy this activity.

A manuscript and cursive T-chart.

This one works well for grades where you’re transitioning from manuscript to cursive penmanship, or for ESL groups that are learning both versions of the new alphabet. Require name and date in the top right hand corner of the looseleaf page, and keep the top margin available to label each column of the T-chart. This way the students are responsible for their own lists, and get the initial practice of having to write each word twice. It’s an authentic activity as well, because taking home a spelling list is necessary for weeknight study activities. This technique also reinforces both spelling and penmanship without taking time away from other holistic lessons and activities.

Parts of speech sorting mats.

This can be used with story vocabulary spelling lists as well as sight words. Divide a sheet of looseleaf notebook paper into two columns, and then add lines to form four to six separate rows of two cells each. Label each section with a separate part of speech such as adjective, conjunction, verb, pronoun, etc. Have students create individual word cards by using cut apart sections of index cards and copying the words from the spelling list on the board. They will then practice sorting the word cards onto the various sections of the parts of speech mat. Using the dictionary and story the words are pulled from, the students will also need to copy a fresh list onto notebook paper, making notations as the parts of speech for each word. They can use it to check their answers. Have each student create their own set of materials, but work next to a partner so they can check each other’s work. If you’re not sure what a sorting mat should look like, check out some of the coupon sorting mats used by money saving mothers around the internet. It will give you a pretty good idea of how this spelling lesson should work. If you don’t want to take the time to have students create their own mats, use our multipurpose game board strategy and use this as a small group or buddy pairs center activity.

Newspaper search.

It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of using things like newspapers and phone books as affordable classroom materials. Here’s a super cheap spelling activity students can work on using nothing but their own supplies and donated newspapers. Have students create a T-chart on a piece of notebook paper by drawing lines with their pencil. After recording name, date and assignment information in the top right corner, the spelling words need to be copied in order down the left hand side of the paper. Using their own scissors and glue sticks along with one new newspaper each, students will search for examples of each word to cut out and paste directly across from the corresponding hand written word in the next column. If a reasonable attempt has been made to find full examples of each word and some are still missing, students may resort to cutting out individual letters to assemble the remaining words letter by letter.

Three – column term / antonym / synonym charts.

You might need to have the class orient their notebook papers horizontally for this one, depending on the average length of the spelling words that week. Label the tops of the columns with the three categories mentioned, placing the terms category first. Then, assign research of antonyms and synonyms for each word, and have the students record them in the appropriate slot in the chart, on the same line as the corresponding term. For those occasions where there isn’t a synonym or antonym to be found, record a dash  (hyphen)  in the slot. This will make their overall charts look complete data wise, and yet let you know what could or could not be found.

Secret code.

Kids of all ages love to solve secret code puzzles. Why not work this in to your weekly spelling routine? Members of our curriculum web site, TheLessonMachine.Com, have this provided for them in all of our units anyway. For those who are just starting out however, you could always have the students create their own and have a partner solve them. Or, you could create one of your own and list each word in code on the board. Then work as a group or assign independent decoding of the spelling words as a sponge activity.

Pictionary or charades.

This doesn’t exactly work with every single word, but there are usually at least a few terms each week that are suitable. Establish a set of workable rules and use either one of these as a sponge activity for getting kids to line up, or to kill a few minutes while waiting for the art specialist to arrive.

Story retellings.

This only works if you are integrating your spelling words with your weekly classroom literature choice. Require a minimal number of terms to be used, and require students to rewrite the story to be told in their own voice. This gives you an integrated writing, spelling and reading assignment with only one project to grade.

Syllabication and accent breakdowns.

You can do this not only in written form, but also with oral and kinesthetic strategies. Integrate dictionary skills practice as well by looking up each word together as a group. Pronounce the words together as a class. I also like to pronounce the words in sections as well. For example, if it’s a five syllable word, say the word in its entirety, followed by the first two syllables only, then the first three, first four and the word in its entirety again. I say the word or sections of the word first and have the students repeat after me. This works REALLY well with ESL students. Still looking for the kinesthetic connection? As you say each syllable, touch a different joint, starting with your shoulder and working your way down one arm and up the next. Or, have them count out the syllables on their fingers. It’s a great way to work on syllable count in morning language, if you are the type to write up a simple paragraph using some words from the spelling list.

Prefix and suffix breakdowns.

You can work this one in as words come up certainly, but if you are looking to cover the concepts with a strong initial focus, it might be good to concoct a list on a week where you don’t necessarily have a separate story to read. (For example, when you  are allowing extra time to work on a science or social studies report.) That way, the vocabulary for that assignment will already be familiar to the students and you’ll have the open slot to create a prefix and suffix rich list for that week. Cover what the most common prefix and suffix combinations are and what they mean. Use this information to decode word meanings as a group and work in the concept of root words.

Word search puzzles.

These are again something we work in with all of our literature units as a way for teachers to have access to a meaningful sponge activity every week. However, they can also make a great DIY activity for the children. They can use quarter-inch or larger graph paper to create two copies each of their own word search puzzle. Place the words in the puzzle from all directions and then fill in other letters into the open squares randomly. Just make sure the second copy is the exact replica. (Or photocopy the original) One will have the answers highlighted in red (or another color) and the other will not. Glue each graph paper to opposite sides of a slightly larger piece of colored construction paper and slip into a sheet protector. Then, using grease pencils or water based overhead projector markers, they can swap with a buddy to each have a unique word search puzzle  that they can self check afterward.

Rhyming matrix.

Students can either create one on notebook paper or in their journals using a pencil or create one on the computer using the insertion of a table with multiple rows and columns. In the first column on the left hand side, list the spelling words placing one term in each table cell. Several cells will be to the right of it for adding rhyming words that correspond with that particular word. I would shoot for a minimum of five rhyming words for each spelling term, but do what you think meets the needs of your class. This creates an impressive looking final chart that is more grown up in appearance than your basic rhyming list, and also gives the students practice with charts and tables.

ABC order.

An oldie? Yes. But valid, nonetheless. Being able to alphabetize data is a skill we need into adulthood. Granted, if you have older students you’ll want to have them alphabetize the list in addition to another activity, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to work it in.

Incorporate alliteration.

Assign spelling sentences for each word where every word in the sentence starts with the same letter as the spelling word. (Or at least as many as possible.)

Word form wackiness.

See how many forms of each spelling word you and your students can come up with as a group. (past and future tenses, suffix or prefix additions, etc.)

In the Bag.

I’ve mentioned this game before as being popular with nearly every grade. It requires nothing but basic information on word strips, cut paper or index cards stuffed in a paper sack for on the fly review games. Here’s a link to a full article on how to set one up.

Direction cards for line up order.

Basically, you call on one student at a time to complete a particular spelling task before they are allowed to line up for recess. If you have more students than words, it’s no big deal. Just start through the list again. Some examples: spell a word while standing on one foot, spell a certain word backwards, sign language spelling, spell and use in a sentence, etc.

Body Boggle.

This full body floor game is great for competing in teams of two for larger words, or one student against the other for shorter words. Use for indoor recess, or a center activity.

Anagrams and palindromes.

Children in intermediate grades and above have fun spelling a different word with letters from a particular vocabulary term (anagram) or noticing that a word is spelled the same forward and backward (palindrome). Incorporate these ideas as appropriate.

Stencils and stamps.

For younger children or any learner needing an extra kinesthetic element to spelling instruction, have stencils and alphabet stamps available for students to create each spelling word letter by letter on its own index card. Then they can punch a hole in the top left corner of each card and thread them on a book ring to take home for extra practice.

Rainbow writing.

This is a definite hit with first and second graders. Using larger lined index cards or sections of sentence strips, have the students copy their spelling words one at a time in pencil using their best penmanship. The larger handwriting makes this a perfect time to incorporate rainbow lettering. After each word has been written, have the children take a word at a time and copy over it using a different color crayon. Then another, and another until they have four-six colors copied over the original lettering. The colors should overlap creating a rainbow effect. Primary children love rainbows, so this is a fantastic way to get the age old “write your spelling words x number of times” assignment to have meaning for them. It’s also a great science integration if you happen to be covering rainbows, crystals and light bending concepts.

DIY bingo.

Use extra large graph paper with squares that are 13 inches in width. Have each student place a different spelling word in a random square (allowing some to actually be in straight or diagonal lines) until each word has been use. Then have them fill in the extra squares with random words. Then they can switch with a partner, and using dried lima beans as game pieces you call out the words until someone has a straight line of covered terms for “Bingo”.

Morse code.

Work in a nearly lost art by assigning conversions of the spelling words into this form of code. Then have them switch lists to decode back to the original words.

Sidewalk chalk.

Take the kids out for recess a few minutes early and let them practice spelling words using sidewalk chalk and a checklist. Collect the chalk in a bucket afterwards and let the children keep the lists in their pockets. This way they’ll make it home for study time.

Dry erase markers on sliding glass doors or windows.

The writing can be removed with spray cleaner and the activity as a whole has a fair bit of fun factor. Great for home schooling or resource rooms.

Self selected spelling study.

I can’t take credit for this one. Although I think it’s super cool. Here’s a chart a teacher put together of various ways he’ll allow the children to work on their spelling homework. Rather impressive, in my opinion.

Spelling aerobics.

Again, not my idea but a great one regardless. Here’s a link to some ideas on how to try this out in your classroom.

As you can see, there are more than enough ideas here to keep things fresh throughout each grading quarter, no matter what grade level you teach. Several of these activities could also be incorporated into a bulletin board learning center for older students. However you decide to incorporate them, your spelling activities will be seamlessly integrated into your overall classroom routine.

Photo Credit: Got Plaid?

Three Easy Ways to Provide Tactile Instruction for Parts of Speech

Let’s face it. Grammar is far from the most exciting subject matter out there. Providing instruction for it can be a bit like pulling teeth without  Novocaine.   Here are three simple ways to make it hands on for students in early primary through intermediate grade levels.

First, get yourself some bingo chips, dried beans or other game piece. When reading through classroom trade books together as a group, work in an extra vocabulary activity one day by having students place game pieces or chips on the first noun on a particular page, second verb, third adjective, etc. This is great for reinforcing listening skills, as well as sight words from the story.

Second, have each student fold a piece of looseleaf paper in half vertically. Then direct them to fold their paper rectangles into thirds horizontally and unfold. Each learner should then outline the folds in pencil, and label the top of each section with the part of speech you assign it through a modeled example on the chalkboard at the front of the room. Distribute donated newspapers to class members, along with glue sticks and student scissors. The project? To cut out a minimum number of word examples for each part of speech category assigned. For example, eight nouns, eleven verbs, seven adjectives, etc.  This activity makes for a great self directed lesson with fun music playing in the background. Need to get caught up on grading or do some intensive prep work for a massive science experiment later in the afternoon? This project will buy you some time and get those grammar skills covered at the same time.

Third, make a sorting mat. You know those coupon mats all the money saving mothers out there are using? Make one for parts of speech. Or, you could just write the parts of speech in removable ink on the laminated sections of your multipurpose game boards. Either way, have a game board ready and use the student sets of vocabulary index cards from the weekly story words to place the terms in the proper parts of speech categories. This can work out to be really low prep if your classroom management system promotes binders or two-pocket folder “offices” where children can store their own sorting mats and weekly vocabulary cards. If that’s the case, make it a quick sponge activity before lining up for recess. After you verify a student got it right, he or she can put their materials away, push in their chair and line up at the door.

As you can see, none of these ideas are expensive which makes them achievable within any classroom budget. If you are looking to get back to basics on the cheap, these ideas might just be what you are looking for.

Photo Credit: Scott Ableman

Art on the Cheap: Torn Paper Mosaics

Teaching in an extreme situation where you are short on everything, including scissors? Here’s a lesson idea I got years ago from a frugal art colleague in Micronesia. Bonus? It’s one of those great lessons that can be used from early primary through high school.

The project? Torn paper mosaics. The flexibility? Nearly endless. Useful for covering nearly every topic through art integration, this lesson basically requires copy paper, glue sticks, pencils and colored scraps of paper. Yes, that’s all.

· Basically, you select a topic (pumpkins, multi-cultural landscape elements, modern art shapes, etc.) and make sure your colors of paper scraps fit with the assignment.

· Students lightly sketch outlines for elements in the mosaic picture.

· Colored bits of paper are torn and glued to form the elements of the picture, leaving slight spaces in between to represent the grout. Filling in all areas, including the sky as a background, really adds drama and zip to the student pieces.

To easily modify the lesson for various grade levels, simply adjust the detail and size of the mosaic assignments. Voila! A dirt cheap art project for all topics and grade levels. We’ve got your back.

Photo Credit: Chris Robinson 1945

Shoestring Teaching: The Multipurpose Game Board

Need a get-the-job-done, dirt cheap option for reviewing content in the classroom? These multipurpose game boards always did it for me. Read on to find out how to make them.

•Take an extra large piece of oak-tag or other strong paperboard similar to a file folder, and visually divide it into 3-5 inch squares using a ruler and a permanent marker.
•Next, laminate the piece.
•You will need a writing tool that you can clean off from the laminated surface such as an overhead marker or a grease pencil.
•You will also need a flat rubber ring at least 3-4 inches across, such as a rubber ring for a canning jar or an automotive part.

Congratulations! Now you have a reusable game board for reviewing various classroom concepts. And that’s not all! You can also integrate basic math skills at the same time. Here’s how it works:

•Using your washable writing tool, carefully record questions from language arts, science, social studies, etc, into each empty square, making sure you have the answers on hand for cross reference.
•You will also need to record a point value for each square in the corner(s).
•This is where the math integration comes in. Early primary grade educators may only wish to have 1-2 points per square, where other grades may select higher point values to integrate column addition. Advanced classes may even include a small math problem in each corner in addition to the other question to force students to solve what the point value is before adding it to their point totals.
•For each turn, have a student toss the rubber ring randomly onto the game board. The rubber material provides a natural “cling” against the laminating film, helping it to grip the board when landing rather than continuing to slide.
•If the ring falls on one square only, students have a chance to answer only that question, and therefore earn points for that square only. If the ring lands where it overlaps two or more squares, then learners are allowed to attempt to answer all of the questions within the ring’s circumference.
•This would mean of course that they were also allowed to tally any and all points from correctly answered questions. As the educator, you decide if you want each student to tally each point score as a group activity, or to simply record the team or individual points on the board, solving the math together orally.

Still not inexpensive enough for you? No problem. You can either shrink or enlarge the size of this game board and still save money. To make a smaller version, use a piece of photocopy paper with the grid, questions and point values printed on it from the computer (small font). Slide this paper into a clear sheet protector and use a smaller rubber ring. For a larger version, use a large, flat piece of discarded cardboard from a large box. Draw on the grid lines with a yard / meter stick and a permanent marker. Then, cover with clear contact paper.

The rest of the directions are the same as for the original game board. However, for the extra large version you may want to explore larger ring options, such as a ring-toss game pieces or homemade bean bags.

So there you have it, readers. One game board with unlimited content review and introduction options. Simple. Cheap. Effective. Bonus? Kids dig it.

Photo Credit: Justin

Middle East Henna Activity

Need a cultural heritage activity that’s big on style and short on cash outlay? Here’s a slamming alternative to traditional face painting booths that’s not only more culturally diverse, but cheaper as well.

Using simple henna patterns and inexpensive eyeliner and eyebrow pencils, have your students draw temporary designs on themselves using the easily washed off makeup pencils instead of the semi permanent henna. This is a great center activity, open house activity during international day celebrations, or an alternative booth to face painting at the school carnival. You can find some fun henna patterns for no charge using this link.

This really is fun for all ages, and an unexpected twist. If you want your boss and room parents to think you’re a true rock star, try this out. Really.

Photo Credit: Hiral Henna

Shoestring Teaching: It’s in the Bag!

Need a simple cheap review strategy that can take you from day one to year end ? Would you love it even more if it truly could be used from early primary grades through high school? I’ve got your back. With this article, I’ll show how you can review any concept, any time using only a paper grocery sack and some index cards. Is that cheap, or what?

Here’s what you do: Label the outside of the sack with the game title “In the Bag”. Using the index cards and writing tool, record various questions from material covered thus far such as quotes from known literary characters, plots for book titles, glossary definitions, math problems or even spelling words.

Next, put them all in the bag and shake. The next time you have a few minutes between classes or dismissal time and need a sponge activity, call on a student to come up and select a card from the bag. This person will get to read the question and call on the person who will be required to answer. For example, if you use spelling words the person called can be expected to both spell the word and use it in a sentence. Or, if it’s a famous quote from history, it can be a matter of reading the card without giving the class the answer.

Still not cheap and easy enough? Check out these additional time and money saving hacks: Take the word cards down from your weekly spelling lists and put them directly in the bag, skipping the additional writing requirement. Don’t want to have to worry about 3-4 separate review games in the elementary or middle school grades? Put all of the various topic cards in together and make it a multi-subject review every time you play.

For educators working under extreme conditions where even index cards are a major budgetary indulgence, this can also be accomplished with donated scrap paper cut into squares. Whatever you have to do to get the job done, right?

With this strategy, you should be able to meet your review goals easily, regardless of the financial parameters of your school or home teaching budget. Happy teaching!

Photo Credit: Tanakawho

Words of the Week Part One

Vocabulary building ideas are always a challenge. One simple way to make sure you are doing a bit extra is to consistently incorporate a word of the week. Read on to findstrategies for trying this out, and an extensive start up list for those raring to go.

First of all, if you want to make sure you stick with it, I recommend having a list ready in advance. Second, while you’ll be looking up the word in the dictionary with the students, have a simplified definition ready to post in class. This will make it a more user friendly activity for ESL students, and those needing light to moderate modification in the classroom.

Once you’ve looked up the word as a group and read the dictionary definition aloud together, paraphrase out loud and record the definition where all students can see it. Be sure to encourage the word’s use and re-use throughout the week. Some ideas:

•Student recording of the word and user-friendly definition in journals.
•Brainstorming various sentences as a group, all of which use the word correctly.
•Incorporate the word into your daily morning language activities.
•Require its use in a creative writing assignment.
•If you assign spelling word sentences as homework, tack the word of the week on to the end of the list.

Need some awesome word lists to get started with? I’ve got your back. Here are a few starting with letters A through C.

For the letter A:

Abdominous, abapical, abattoir, abecedarian, abnegation, abjure, abrogate, acaulescent, accretion, acrimony, acrasia, acumen, adjutant, allocution.

For the letter B:

Baculiform, balneology, balustrade, bantling, barcarole, basipetal, bastion, bauble, beatific, becalm, bedlamite, beleaguer, bemire.

And last but not least, for the letter C:

Caterwaul, caudal, catharsis, causerie, caustic, caveat, cavil, censorious, centenarian, centesis, charlatan, chimerical, choler, claque.

I’ll post more at a later date. These lists should get you rolling in style. I’m sure this goes without saying, but those of you out there with super fantastic ideas for incorporating words of the week? Share the love!

Flickr Photo Credit: Desi Italy

Cooking in the Classroom: Three Simple Recipes

Primary level instructors tend to work this in for thematic purposes. However, even older students can enjoy an unexpected treat occasionally. Whatever your reasons for wanting to whip something up at school, here are three simple recipes to get you started.

Ice Cream in a Bag.

Is this a cool idea, or what? I found the recipe in Mary Webber’s The Frugal Family Kitchen Book. For ingredients, you’ll need:

¼ cup whole milk or any kind of cream
1 tsp sugar
¼ tsp vanilla or a ½ tsp chocolate syrup
crushed ice
rock salt
zipper top baggies, small and large
newspaper

Here’s what you do: Put the milk or cream, along with the sugar and vanilla into the small baggie and seal. Place this one inside the larger baggie and fill it about half full with crushed ice. Then add about a half a cup of rock salt per large bag and seal. Wrap each in newspaper and shake. If there are several small portions in the large baggie, you can have them take turns. Or you can go with individual sets and let them each have fun. You should have ice cream in about 5-10 minutes. Fun!

Coconut Candy

The Chamoru teachers on Guam always used to do this. After tasting it, I quickly learned how!
Once you have husked the larger outer shell off the coconut and cut the smaller inner nut in half (draining the milk out first). Take each half and scrape the inside completely using a coconut grating blade with a bowl underneath.
Then, using a square electric frying pan and a wooden spoon, turn the heat to a fairly high degree and add a pound or two of plain white sugar, stirring until it caramelizes to a golden color but is not scorched. Add enough grated coconut so the caramelized sugar coats it completely and has lots of extra “gooeyness” to it. Continue to stir in the pan until the coconut has become soft. Let cool to a safe temperature and let students taste some on a spoon. You can keep repeating this for as large a batch as you desire. Children and adults alike will love it.

Apple Sauce

This is a simple idea that does not require a lot of extra equipment and mess in the classroom. It also fits in great with a primary grade level apple theme, or for a simple harvest treat. Core a number of apples and place them in a slow cooker in your classroom set to low. Add a bit of water to the bottom and sprinkle in some cinnamon. Let it cook for most of the day. Towards the end while there is still time to enjoy a treat with the children, place a food mill in a large bowl and dump the contents of the slow cooker into the food mill. Use the mill to squeeze the sauce out and leave the peelings inside. Remove the food mill and stir the applesauce, adding more spice if desired. Serve to students in small paper cups with plastic spoons after the mixture has cooled to a safe temperature. Wash preparatory items in the classroom sink, or under the outdoor faucet, whichever is available.

There you have it, fellow educators. Three simple recipes to try out in the classroom. Have another one to share?Feel free to contributein the comment section below.

Flickr Photo Credit: Pink Hats, Red Shoes

This post was submitted to the August 26, 2009 edition of Wanderfood Wednesday, in honor of those international teachers who need to keep things interesting without shipping boatloads of resource materials from one country to the next.