Poetry Stations Made Simple

It has been quite awhile since my last post.  I really hope with summer around the corner, I'll be able to dedicate more time to my blog.  Over the last month, I've done some reflecting on what isn't working quite as well as I'd like in my classroom.

This was an easy choice for me.  I knew right away it was my Poetry Station.  My students are given a poem for the week, which they cut out and glue in their journal.  On the opposite page, they make connections to the poem and then illustrate under their writing.   This year, my students have been avoiding this station like the plague.  By the end of the week, my poem file would remain full of unused poems.   I became determined to find a way to get my class more excited about poetry.

I decided to start by thumbing through the collection of poems I've been using over the years.  One thing I noticed was that even though they were supposed to be kid friendly, perhaps they weren't as kid friendly as I thought.  I started to draw the conclusion that maybe my students were reluctant to write about the poems, because they were having trouble understanding or making personal connections to the poems I had chosen.  I decided to test this out by writing an original kid friendly poem that went along with the theme of the story we were reading for the week.  I created a simple template that still had space for them to make a personal connection, but also focused on a few grammar concepts.  I slipped it in as their new station and waited to see how they responded.  I couldn't believe how well it went.  They absolutely LOVED the new format and really seemed to enjoy the simple poems.  I've gone from the poetry station being the least popular station to some even wanting to get it done during recess.  I have continued this for about a month now and my poetry station is definitely a new class favorite!

Here is a peek at a couple of our poems:

I've been feverishly writing poems over the last month and have a current total of 14.  There are numerous topics available to choose from that will most likely connect well to many of the stories you are reading in your own classrooms.  This resource will continue to grow. I have plans to at least double the current size. Right now, you can get it at its lowest price.  I will increase the price as new poems are added.

I'd love to give it away to one lucky teacher tomorrow evening.  Simply leave your e-mail for a chance to win. (Giveaway has ended)

 

Math Pocket Station Signs FREEBIE

I have had math stations on my mind all summer!  Here is my predicament when it comes to math stations---TIME!  By the time I finish everything I need to do during my math block, there is never enough time. 

This is my daily routine:
I always start with Math POD's.  This is my spiraling activity.  I created a page last year that's 2 sided, and I couldn't be happier with how it worked out with my second graders.  Stay tuned....I will post about that next time.  After POD's we move onto Problem Solving.  Then, I teach my lesson for the day, and then there is a follow up activity or assignment.

The only place, I seem to have a gap is during the follow up activity.  They generally finish completing their tasks at different times.  I began thinking that perhaps I could work in some station time while students are finishing their independent work.  I only plan to have them go to one station each day.  Each station will have several activities for them to choose from.  I know most teachers have their students rotate through stations, but I'm going to try the one station and see how it goes. 

I decided to go with the pocket theme.  I really wanted it to be different from my literacy stations.   I also wanted it to sound catchy.  I can just hear myself, what is your pocket for today? 

The idea for using the word MATH as an acronym came from the fabulous Clutter-Free Classroom.  I love her board and acronym.  If you haven't seen it, check it out here.  I would have loved to use her board, but I just knew that I didn't have time for them to rotate though several stations daily.

Then, when I saw the idea below at the adorable blog, Sprinkles to Kindergarten, I knew it was the perfect solution to my problem.  Please check out all of her great tips.  I love that she lets her students pick their station each morning.  I will definitely do the same thing.  I also love that she has boys on one side and girls on the other, so that you don't have a group of all girls or boys.  Great idea!

I decided to go with the acronym MATH instead of NUMBER.  I have soooo many literacy stations, I really wanted to keep math stations simple.  But, there will be plenty for students to do in each of the pockets.  If you like the NUMBER acronym in the pic above, you can get it as a freebie at her blog.  Just click the image above.

After merging the two great ideas from my fellow bloggers, this is what I came up with.

My plan is to use the red clothespins, you see in the image above.  I am going to write their numbers on them, so I don't have to get a new set every year.  They will place their clothespins in one of the grey spots on the pocket.  There are enough spots for 6 students to go to each station.

But, I also like the idea of using numbered magnets and hanging it on my front magnetic dry erase board (see below).  I am torn, I'll have to see which idea works out better.

The magnets fit perfectly in the grey dots where the clothespins go.

Here are the 4 Pockets:

M- Math Facts

This is self explanatory, it will be all about practicing those math facts.

A- A Flashback

All the activities in this station will review concepts we have already covered.  I always have extra activities that I never got around to in class, now they will be a perfect addition to this station.

T- Teach Time

Either Teacher Time or Buddy Time

H- Hands-On

Anything that involves students exploring and actively engaged with their math tools.

In order to keep up with who I am meeting with daily, I will use the printable below.   I'm going to select which 6 students will work with me before they arrive in the morning.  I decided to go with Teach Time instead of TEACHER, because I wanted to have the option of it being a buddy time, also.  I may choose 3 students that really understand a concept well, to buddy with 3 students that are struggling with a particular concept.  Most of the time students will be working with me, but I wanted to have options. 

This resource also includes the pages below that I will attach to file folders, so students know what their choices are in a particular station.  Even though they aren't rotating daily, I plan on having more than enough activities to keep them engaged. 

 

I plan to laminate each file folder with the pages above blank, so I can use a sharpie to write in the activities, Then, if I want to change something, I can easily erase it and make any additions or changes for the week.

This resource is a FREEBIE.  If there is a station activity that you love, I'd love to hear your ideas.

 

Literature Response

I am so glad summer is finally here. Yay!
I thought before I get totally in summer mode, I would share a couple of things we worked on at the very end of the year.  I decided to create new response forms for both fiction and nonfiction.  I tried it out with my kiddos at the end of the year, and they really liked the new format.  You'll notice the spot for a fluency check.  I like to have my students time each other as quick fluency checks on their library books.  I also do  fluency spot checks to make sure they are checking out "just right" books.  I keep it simple, they time each other for a min. and write down their fluency.  You can get the Book Bonanza in my TPT store by clicking HERE. 

I also created a mini literacy unit to go along with the Big Al by Andrew Clements.  I absolutely love this book and thought it would be fun unit for the beginning of the year.  It has a heart warming message about friendship, so it would actually work well any time during the school year.  I had a smaller group of second graders at the very end of the year for our extended year program, and we had a great time with Big Al.  Here are a few pics of their work.

Click HERE to head to my TPT store.

You can get all the activities above by heading over to my TPT store.  Of course, I had to end with a FREEBIE.  So, this is a little activity to use along with all those extra Scholastic flyers you might have lying around.  I like to use it in a balanced literacy station.  Click on the image below to grab your freebie.

Station Sign

 This is my first time joining up with 4th Grade Frolics for her Monday Made It.  I decided it was time to make a new station sign to go above my pocket chart.

I know it's called Monday Made-It but, I actually almost didn't make it.  It's almost Tuesday-yikes!  There are so many things on Pinterest that I've been meaning to make, but finding the time to start a project is another matter.  My days are usually filled playing with my toddler- and there truly is nothing I'd rather be doing.  My evenings can be summed up with this E-Card...

...actually Greysen is usually snoring on my lap and yep, I'm still watching Dora Dora.

I came across this welcome banner on Pinterest.  It doesn't link to a site, must have been uploaded by the user.  I've seen other variations as well, but this one was my inspiration.

I thought I could use the idea to make a station sign for my classroom.  I don't have a theme in my classroom.  I really do love themes, but I am so fickle, and change my mind every other day.  I once tried frogs, and that lasted all of 2 days.  Luckily, there was a kinder teacher looking for none other than frogs.   I suppose my theme is more along the lines of rainbow, not actual rainbows, but colors galore.  Maybe I should call it Color Splash!  So, I was determined to make a colorful sign to go above my station pocket chart.  This is what I came up with.

  If you are crazy about colors too, you can get a copy by clicking below :)

 

Word Builder

I had intended to create this earlier in the school year, but didn't get around to it until just now.  I wanted an additional phonemic awareness activity for my station block, something that really encompassed a variety of skills in one.  This is what I came up with.   It reinforces chunking, syllables, word building, and spelling.  I'm hoping it will also help my struggling readers become better at chunking unfamiliar words.

Click the image below to get the FREEBIE.

 

Word Building

This is one of my favorite stations.  It really reinforces spelling, phonemic awareness, and vocabulary.  My students use grid paper to write their spelling words going down.  They use the letters in their spelling words to form new words going across.  This is similar to doing an acrostic, but with spelling words.  When they get stuck on a letter, then they can read around the room for additional words or even use their library book or the story of the week.  They love to use words that connect to whatever we have been learning.  I've really noticed a difference in their spelling since adding this station. 

Story Snapshot

I decided to create a Story Snapshot pocket chart as a visual reminder for students of the key elements of the stories we're reading in class.  I have incorporated the Ice-Cream Scoop Skills/Strategies that I posted a picture of earlier.  I ran off an extra set to use in my pocket chart. I think it's so important to make connections as much as possible.The genre signs are the same signs I have hanging from my genre tree in my Book Nook.  I LOVE them.  They are so bright and colorful.  I purchased them from Really Good Stuff.  The images on the Theme signs I found on-line a long time ago and I'm still trying to locate the site because her posters are great.  I will add a link if I happen to come across it. The themes included are- Be a Good Friend, Be Yourself, Kindness, Responsibility, Sharing, Teamwork, and Try New Things. At the bottom of the chart is my Making Words Station.  I try to choose a word that connects to the story of the week.  Each week I change out the letters and they use the form below.

 

 

 

Click the image above to get the FREEBIE. 

 

Wiggle Words

I must have vocabulary on my mind today. I'm always looking for ways for my students to make connections, so I created this Wiggle Words Station. For each of their vocabulary words they do the following: (1) Write the word on the mouth (2) Write the definition (3) T-T: Make a connection to the text. How is the word used in the story? (4) T-S: Make a connection to their own lives. (5) Illustrate
I usually run it 2-sided because we generally have 6 vocabulary words that go along with our story of the week in Reading.  The vocabulary words used in the example below are from the book, Arthur Writes a Story by Marc Brown.
 *** This handout is available at my teacher store. You can click on the image to head to my teacher store. 

Vocabulary Voyage

My students use this form in stations to practice their vocabulary words. We call it our Vocabulary Voyage station. I usually run it off and keep it in our station crate.  Each week they use the same form, but with different words. 

Click on the image below to get a copy of this printable.

Character Map

I created this character map that I use during stations.  I copy the Character Traits on the back and have them highlight the traits that describe the character.  Then, they write them on the front of the page in the Character Traits section.  They draw an illustration of the character in the middle of the page.  I love it because I can use it during stations for the story of the week, whole group, or they can even complete it independently using the main character from their AR book.

Click on the image below for a copy of this printable