Curls and a Smile: February 2014

I am so excited and absolutely thrilled to be a part of this awesome blog hop! There are so many amazing bloggers with great ideas that will definitely make life in the classroom much smoother!

I taught in the primary grades for many years and have made the big jump to fourth grade this year. Like with anything new, there has been a HUGE learning curve for me! A different age group, a new curriculum, a new team and state testing are all but a few of the changes that have occurred this year! So I decided early on that there had to be away for me to use some on my best practices that I used in the primary grades and develop that in fourth grade.

Here is what this little primary teacher brought with her to the big kid side of the hall:

1. Music and movement

I realized pretty quickly that the big kids were still...well...kids. Incorporating music whenever possible makes class fun, helps to review the concept in a new and appealing way and lets them get some energy out (in a positive way)! My students are so talented that they will write their own songs (parodies of popular hits) and share them with the class! Talk about higher level and critical thinking!

2. Stations

As I came over to intermediate side of the school, I really wondered what this would look like and how it would work. I had all my stations assigned using Daily 5 in the primary grades and I really wasn't sure if it would translate when moving to an upper grade. Not to mention, I was departmentalized and only taught reading (and now teach all subjects to my kiddos). But, I am happy to report that with a few tweaks and changes, it is working! Whatever system you chose, do what works for you....but make sure you do it! Small group instruction time is critical and will definitely be worth every minute of effort that you but into your stations....and more importantly into your students.

3. Conversation is a must.

One thing that I learned really early in fourth grade was that they love to talk. Love, love, love it. So, why not use that to my advantage? I was a primary ELL and GT teacher for years and in my classroom used the art of conversation to build language, listening and speaking skills with my little ones. With my older students, I am able to continue to work on those skills and so much more. Through their conversations, they create meaning and understanding. They are able to reason, explain and justify their responses. It is absolutely amazing the conversations they will have when they are given the liberate to make connections, speak freely and represent their view of the concept. It is amazing.

4. Read Aloud

Yes, I have a big carpet in my big kid room and yes, we all sit on it and I read to them. They are not to old to be read to and really do enjoy a good read aloud. So much modeling, thinking and conversation comes from read alouds in the primary grades and I am happy to report that it is alive and well in this fourth grade classroom! I have always loved the connection between reading and writing. It is essential and using mentor texts to model great thinking and amazing writing are a prefect place to start.

There are so many more things that I will continue to share as I navigate the world of intermediate elementary! This has been such a wonderful experience and as I go into the spring and experience state testing and other benchmarks along the way, I know that this little blog is where I will be sharing my thoughts.

For all my new friends, thank you so much for stopping by on this AWESOME hop and for all my sweet friends that have joined me on this ride...thank you!

Next on the the Bright Ideas Blog Hop is Jennifer of Luckey Frog's Lilly Pad! She has a great post about getting students moving while they learn....don't miss it!

You can also check out our Big Ideas Pinterest board full of tons of great ideas! Happy blogging!

More Bright Ideas for Lower Grades:

1. Using Hallway Time Wisely	2. Adding In Movement	3. Three Steps to Increased Student Engagement	4. Partner Talk Tips
5. Singapore Math	6. Start a Kindness Revolution	7. Easy No Sew Chair Pockets	8. Managing Your Turn-In Tray
9. Valentine's Day Door for Craft-Phobic Teachers	10. Tips from the Trenches	11. Fluency Tips and Tricks	12. Fishies Can't Write ~ Writing with Class Mascots
13. Goodbye Carpet Squares!	14. Science Centers from Dollar Store Finds	15. Interrupter Stopper! Classroom Management	16. Color Coding Text Evidence
17. School-year Resolutions!	18. Student Leaving the Classroom Board	19. Unique Art Ideas	20. Brain Breaks for Winter
21. Gallery Walk	22. Dice and card games	23. Reading Instruction with Readworks	24. Blurt Chart + Minute to Win It
25. Class/Student Supplies	26. Learning CAN come from Creative Hands	27. DIY Privacy Screens	28. Whole Brain Teaching The BIG 7
29. Celebrate Writing	30. Tap Light Ideas	31. Adapting activities	32. Organizing Student Data
33. Cooperative Learning	34. Edible Science	35. Don't Rip Your Hair Out - Classroom Management	36. Bright Ideas for iPads in Elementary
37. Simple 5 Minute Game	38. In case of emergency	39. A Differentiated Kindergarten Bright Idea	40. The Many Uses of Mini-Desks!
41. Classroom Management & Brain Break Ideas!	42. Pinterest for Smooth Transitions	43. Word Making Fun	44. Technology in the Classroom
45. Keep 'Em Learning in the Hall!	46. Teacher's Technology Station	47. Building Reading Stamina in Kindergarten	48. Don't Waste a Second!
49. Managing Computer Time	50. A Classroom Bank	51. Classroom Management...When all else fails....	52. Using Sentence Frames To Help Students Write
53. Data Notebooks in Kindergraten	54. Making Every Minute Count with Math Facts	55. Help from DonorsChoose	56. Save Time With Labels
57. good behavior... no matter where you are!	58. All About Fidgets!	59. Math Journal Fun!	60. GINORMOUS TUB Organization
61. Magic e sort	62. Keeping Kinders Organized	63. Building Vocabulary	64. Scientist Lab Coats in 3 Easy Steps
65. A Solution To Copycats	66. High Fliers	67. Teacher Heaven	68. Easily Distracted Students
69. Colorful Center Creation Idea	70. Whole Brain Teaching: Super Improver Wall	71. Twitter, Tweets & Graffiti	72. Best Toolbox E V E R!
73. Dollar Store Items in the Classroom	74. Organizing Supplies	75. Early Number Ideas Using Feet	76. Interactive Word Wall
77. Small Group Writing Conferences	78. Kidblog in the Classroom	79. Visual Spelling Practice	80. A TOUCH of Technology during Daily 5
81. Offering Choice in the Classroom	82. Accountable Talk	83. Displaying Student Work	84. Portfolio Writing
85. Ten Tips For Helping Learning Stick	86. Why didn't I think of that! {organization}	87. Creating with Classroom Materials	88. Writing mini-rubrics
89. Literacy Studio	90. Attention Getting Signals	91. Organizing Games in the Classroom	92. Making word work independent!
93. Coin Counting Fluency	94. Reusing Containers for Learning	95. Get Kids Moving- AND Learning!	96. Groundhogs and Shadows
97. Think Math	98. Engage Students Outdoors with Authentic Writing	99. Organizing Classroom School Supplies	100. An Adaptable Learning Game
101. Communicating with Gen Ed Teachers	102. Classroom Organization

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More Bright Ideas for Upper Grades:

1. Critical and Creative Thinking in Minutes A Day!	2. Get great discussions going in your room!	3. Organizing Lesson Plans	4. Indoor Recess: Try Mum Ball?
5. 7-Up! Introducing New Vocabulary	6. Math Manipulatives on a Budget	7. Secret Student (Even for Big Kids)	8. Displaying Mentor Texts
9. Just Add Kids and Questions- Quick Review Game	10. Classroom Organization: Colored Pencils	11. Save Your Old Cords	12. Making Meaningful Connections
13. The BIG Move (From Primary to Intermediate)	14. Planning with Pinterest	15. Making the Most of Classroom Jobs	16. Igniting a Passion for Learning in Kids!
17. Building Fluency	18. Ideas to Maximize Learning in the Classroom	19. Ten Tips for Making Learning Stick	20. Room Organization
21. Special Delivery Book Bags	22. Using WebQuests	23. Attention Getting Signals	24. Organization in a Departmentalized Classroom
25. Mixing Guided Reading and Literature Circles	26. Student Response Cards & Organization	27. $2 Versatile Valentine's Center	28. Make Grading a Little Easier
29. Stress Relievers for a Bright Teacher!!