Gladiator Style Classroom Management

The inspiration for this unique classroom management system came from my sons and the years of experience they have had playing battle games such as Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh. So, when I was faced with a particularly challenging set of behaviors in my Social Studies classroom AND we were about to study Ancient Rome, I decided to create my own interactive battle game using Gladiators.

Essentially the game is an incentive devise whereby positive student behaviors were rewarded with 'coins'. The behaviors I focused on were turning in homework, being prepared and participating in class. Once students had collected several Roman coins, they were given the option to purchase a part of their Gladiator (arms, legs, helmet, shield, sword, attack points, defense points and health points). The objective for the students was to build the most powerful Gladiator that they could for the Gladiator Games to be held at the end of the marking period.

There was no promise, however, that the most prepared student would be the winner of the battles because the game inherently had a strategy built in. The items they purchased all had different values that applied to the attack, defense or health of their Gladiator. Students were able to select what to 'buy' and purchase it through a fulfillment station. They would then fill in their order forms and put their coin(s) in an envelope.

A Brief Look At The Point System



An Attack Sequence



Materials

Gladiator "Parts"

Gladiator parts



Gladiator Point Values Gladiator Games Point Values





Gladiator Order Form Gladiator Order Form



Gladiator Attack Auto-Scoring (Excel) http://www.docstoc.com/docs/116220728/Gladiator-Attack-Auto-Scoring Gladiator Attack Auto-Scoring



Now THAT's Using your Smarticles!!

Blossoming with Appreciation

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy;
they are the charming gardeners
who make our souls blossom. -Marcel Proust

2012 and the Versatile Blogger Award!!

Today I received the Versatile Blogger Award...what a nice surprise! I am so grateful to have been recognized!!



Rules of this Award

Rule #1. Thank the person who nominated you with a link back to them.

Thank you very much to Ms. D from http://sixthgradesciencerocks.blogspot.com. for bestowing upon me the Versatile Blogger Award! After several years of plugging away at blogging, I was thrilled!!

Rule #2. Share 7 things about yourself

1. I would teach for free. I <3 <3 <3 my job!
2. I am a forward for 2 Ice Hockey teams
3. I have a dog named Eleanor Rigby
4. I get all of my best ideas while running
5. I read books on my iPad while taking bubble baths
6. If I'm going to eat chocolate it HAS to be Ghiradelli
7. In my next life, I'd like to be a Sommelier

Rule #3. Pass this on to 15 newly discovered blogs and let them know they've received an award!

Blogs I've nominated are:

http://tunstalltimes.blogspot.com/
http://cyber-kap.blogspot.com/
thebestofteacherspayteachers.blogspot.com/
http://www.teaching-tweens.blogspot.com/
http://www.mediaspecialistsguide.blogspot.com/
http://www.creatingandteaching.blogspot.com/
http://superlativesix.blogspot.com/
http://jessicaywinston.blogspot.com/
http://tekyteach.blogspot.com/
http://subhubonline.blogspot.com/


Blog Stalking

There is a WEALTH of information out there that people are sharing...go find what is yours for the taking! I'd like to say that for teachers, blog stalking is tantamount to release time....explore teacher blogs for a few hours and you will be blown away by all of the fabulous ideas, classroom management, projects, lessons, technology and organization tips that fellow teachers are sharing.

Tips for Blog Stalking

1. Try Pinterest. I've found dozens of fabulous bloggers this way
2. Don't just browse...follow!!! If I love a blog...I follow it. Bloggers are devoted, their blog is their craft. If you find one good post, they're guaranteed to have provided more or will provide more in the future.
3. Keep track of blogs that you follow through GoogleReader or Flipboard or your iOS device.
4. Don't superficially explore blogs. Previous blog entries have a tendency to get buried (especially with avid bloggers) Dig deep!! Explore older posts...they DON'T go stale.
5. Thank bloggers...provide feedback....leave a comment...be the charming gardener that makes OUR souls blossom!!

QR Codes - Classroom Implementation

Armed with my new i-pad (sans wifi access) I decided to convert some existing classroom materials into activities that can be introduced with QR Codes. My latest idea was to take a six +1 traits of writing rubric activity and update it with QR Codes.

Here is how it works.

#1. Students evaluate pieces of writing based on the Writing Trait of Ideas
#2. Students read the expectations on HOW to score a piece based on that trait.
#3. Students score each piece
#4. Students use a QR code reader (I used my i-pad....NO WIFI connection required) to reveal the actual score that the piece should earn.
#5. Scanning a second QR code reveals the rationale for the score.

Not too fancy schmancy, just a quick, clean and easy way to get off the ground with QR codes.

Download the free lesson here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/75257220

Creating QR Codes: http://qrcode.kaywa.com/
Free QR Code Reader on i-pad: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/qr-code-reader-and-scanner/id388175979?mt=8


On a scale of 1 - 10, I think this lesson is a:

Now THAT's using your smarticles!!!

Vocabulary Alpha Bingo

Word Study is so important! Please stop by scribd for my freebie of the week, a Vocabulary Bingo Board (with a twist).

Scribd:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/74847241/Vocabulary-Bingo



My students continue to immerse themselves in vocabulary and it is working! Great words are appearing in their writing and in their everyday language. One way I've accomplished this is by creating as many quick vocabulary games as possible. This week's freebie features an effective Vocabulary Alpha Bingo game. Here is how it works:

#1. Students brainstorm as many synonyms to the featured vocabulary word that they can. They may also use a thesaurus to search for synonyms or a word related to a vocabulary word. For our purposes, the word was MELANCHOLY.

#2. Write each synonym in the appropriate column on the bingo board based on the first letter of the word. For example: If their word starts with “A”, they place it somewhere in the first column.

#3. Students continue searching for synonyms or related words until they have filled their board. It is okay if students have more than one word with that starts with the same letter!!


TECH CONNECT!!



#4. Use this interactive: http://www.classtools.net/education-games-php/fruit_machine and plug in every letter of the alphabet.

OR

I used ... a customizable random name generator to create this one!! http://bit.ly/rJAr5c

Click this link for http://primaryschoolict.com/random-name-selector/

#5. Spin. As each alphabet letter comes up, they can cross off their synonym.

Now THAT's using Your Smarticles!!

My First Linky Party

So today I first heard about "Linky Parties" or a "Blog Linky Party". These parties are defined as situations where the host encourages participants share a link on the hosts site and ALSO share that link on their own blog post, encouraging blog traffic in both directions.

My Fantastic Finds of the Week

Zooburst: This Web 2.0 Tool allows students to write and publish digital stories including speech bubbles that are mini-podcasts of students speaking the dialogue of the stories that THEY create! It also allows augmented reality via a webcam showing them reading their own story in 3D.

Pinterest: I'm still wrapping my head around this one, BUT, it did allow me to tap into a whole new network of educational blogs that I had not previously discovered through my PLN. Therefore, I'll designate it as a Social Networking device that features creativity. Members share images taken from the web that they like and share them. You can pin things and follow others that are pinning and categorizing things. I see it as a hybrid of Twitter and a bookmarking site such as del.icio.us.

Capzles: Create rich, multimedia timelines.

Enjoy these timely discoveries!! My daily discoveries are often Tweeted as well. I limit my tweets to links, tools and sites that I feel have educational value or applicability to the classroom. You can follow me @mrshoward118.

Lexicographer's Delight

The Dictionary. Often the mere suggestion of using the dictionary sends moans of discontent throughout a classroom of students. Many people may argue that the paper dictionary is going the way of the dinosaur with the ready accessibility of search engines, online dictionaries and apps, and I do not disagree. There are, however, many skills associated with the use of the dictionary that students need to obtain in order to MOST effectively utilize the tool available to them--whether it be in paper form or preferably, the online sources available to them.

The primary purpose of a dictionary is, of course, to find definitions of words. Students often overlook (or are not made aware of) the plethora of additional purposes of a dictionary including: aiding with spelling, identifying word origins (etymology), parts of speech, multiple meanings of words, pronunciations of words, syllable identification, hyphenation information, inflected forms, variants and idioms. There are also various types of entries including compound entries, prefixes/suffices/combining forms, abbreviations and at times geographical entries and biographical entries. Phew. VERY overwhelming and VERY powerful.

The new Common Core Standards mention dictionary 6 times, pronounciation 11 times and the word reference 19 times. Students need to know the value of the dictionary.

Below are suggestions to help support the use of a 'non' 21st century tool yet blending it with the skills of a 21st century classroom.

#1. The obvious...online dictionary. Dictionary.com, wordcentral.com, dictionary.reference.com, merriam-webster.com, LookWAYup, visuwords, or simply type "Define XXX" into your google search engine.

#2. Dictionary Webquests. A quick google search found these great options: Webquest #1, Webquest #2

#3. Combine the study of context clues with a create your own dictionary of made up words. Students can model their dictionary pages after popular online dictionaries or use a web 2.0 publishing tool such as glogster, voicethread, googledocs to share their dictionaries.

#4. Practice Pronunciation! Make pronunciation fun. Use an online dictionary and display the entries on the smartboard. Allow students to attempt to pronounce words and then reward their efforts by allowing them to click the speaker. Encourage pronunciation attempts by giving pairs of students a recordable .mp3 player (I use a SanDisk Sansa) Students LOVE hearing their voice recorded and will enjoy sharing their pronunciation attempts.

#5. October 16th is dictionary day. Education World provides several great lesson ideas in celebration of Noah Webster's birthday.

The dictionary is not going away. It is an abundant effective resource. So lexicographers delight, your treasured dictionary will not soon be replaced.

I had them ROLLING this time!

My latest classroom 'invention' is not as necessarily technology intense as it is simply useful and effective. It is a spin off of the game Left, Right, Center. The original game was introduced to me by family members and it kept a group of multi-aged cousins occupied for hours!

To play the game you start with three chips and three dice. Each player rolls 1, 2 or 3 dice depending on how many chips they have. If an "L" comes up, you pass chip to the left. If an "R" comes up, you pass your chip to the right. If a "C" comes up, the chip goes into the center. If you are fortunate enough to roll a "DOT" you do not have to do anything. The winner of the game is the last person with any remaining chips.

The advantage of this game is that it can be played with 3 or more players AND no player is ever truly 'out' in the game...there is ALWAYS a chance that chips will get passed your way.

In the case of my classroom, I modified this game a bit and called it S.L.R.C. (We lovingly call it Slurk) The only difference in my classroom is that if you roll a "DOT", you have to spell a word from your spelling list. If you spell it correctly, you keep your chip if not, you must place it in the center.

Instead of purchasing several sets of L.R.C., I use two standard dice per group and give them this rule sheet:

Left Right Center

Other ways to modify the game:

(1) Use individually wrapped pieces of candy instead of chips!!
(2) Play a whole group game with an interactive wipe board using virtual dice
(3) Instead of using spelling words...ask test review questions.
(4) Use the Virtual Dice app on your i-pod touch or i-pad.

Where's George?

My first one came with a tiny red stamp, inked around the letter "A" next to George's head. I squinted at the slightly smeared, diminutive letters trying to make them out. "Track this Bill" they commanded. The URL for wheresgeorge.com teased me to check it out. My discovery was a bill that had been registered at a tracking site for United States Currency called Where's George.

The objective of this site is as simple as it sounds... to track where a U.S. Dollar Bill has been. A veritable answer to mother's age old chastisement "don't put that money in your mouth...you don't know where it's been!"

On every U.S. dollar bill in circulation is a 10- or 11-digit serial code that is unique to that bill. When you go to Where's George, you enter the bill's denomination ($1, $5, $10, etc.), bill series, the serial number, zip code and whether you have possession of the bill at that moment. The result is a record of travel for that specific bill.

The Where's George site has a registry of most active bills that will take you to a Bill Tracking Report. The Tracking Report shows Entry Time, Location, Travel Time, Distance, Average Speed, etc. of the bill. The page also has a dynamic Google Map associated with it that shows geographically the location of each logged point.

As a Social Studies teacher I felt this might be a GREAT, interesting and interactive activity for my students. I could instantly see the connection between this site and the Five Themes of Geography: Location, Place, Region, Movement, Human/Environment Interaction and how excited my students would be to make a real world connection with something as common and everyday as the U.S. Dollar.

A wonderful beginning of the year activity for students might be to have the students 'set a bill loose' into the system and see where it travels throughout the year. (Similar to Flat Stanley) Each student can bring in a dollar, register it on wheresgeorge.com and stamp it with a stamper. Another option is to gather bills that are already in the system and see where they've been AS WELL AS where they go when you spend them. After the bills have been logged, spend them on a class Bon Voyage Party and send them on their way!!

Digital Class Book of Poetry

Our recent class efforts involved the writing of poetry!! Inspired by the work of Jack Prelutsky's book, Scranimals, my students were encouraged to create a creature that blends an animal with a plant or any other item.

Students were given this assignment sheet to assist them in their task: http://www.docstoc.com/docs/79948458/Scranimals-Assignment-sheet

The resulting project, poems and images were quite wonderful and my initial objective was to create a class book. Instead, I went virtual and created a Voicethread. If you are unfamiliar with Voicethread, it is a collaborative slide show that allows people to share images and comment on the images. The student's drawings were uploaded into Voicethread and each student then recorded themselves reading the poem that they wrote.



Once the virtual collection was created, I embedded the voicethread on my educational website to share with students, parents and colleagues.

Painting is silent poetry, and poetry is painting that speaks. -Plutarch

Read more: Brainyquote.com

Video Sequencing

A Camera Has the Eye of a Poet

Videos tell a story, capture interest and create a world within themselves. In my classroom, I strive to take students OUT of their textbooks and to create authentic/interactive experiences supported through technology. Teaching English Language Arts and maintaining this philosophy can be a challenge.

Most recently, my objective was to support student understanding of the sequence and flow to stories as well as to assist them with their ability to recall these sequences. To do this I used the following video clip about the events that take place between a wolf and a pig. It was created using stop motion animation and has no narrative or dialog.

http://youtu.be/rmkLlVzUBn4


Students were asked to do the following:

#1. Watch the video about the wolf and the pig
#2. While watching, complete 8 sentence strips about events that take place in the video.
#3. Re-watch the video
#4. Exchange sentence strips with a partner and have them re-order them

Because the video is unique, my students gladly watched (and re-watched) the video. It was also quite memorable and the quality of work on the sentence strips was good. I also noted that the dialog between students during the exchange was very beneficial and they worked cooperatively to accomplish the task.

One OTHER benefit of this activity was the fact that there is NO narrative in the video. This worked wonderfully in my classroom as I had multiple stations taking place in the room and the music instead of dialog kept the room quieter and made it easier for the groups to watch the video.

Please see this google doc for other inspirational videos and lesson ideas: