Songs!

When I started student teaching, I was in a first grade classroom. I remember so clearly the master teacher sitting at the front of the room, puppet on his hand, singing a nursery rhyme. At that moment, I thought, I can never be that 'sing-songy' teacher. Now, eleven years later, my class is singing almost everyday. There is so much value in putting educational content to a catchy tune to help students remember what they are learning. I can name (sing) all fifty states in alphabetical order because of fifth grade. :)

This year I have made it my mission to incorporate more music in my lessons, and what better way to do so than with pop music. We have sung about place value, rounding, regrouping, helping verbs, and prepositions. There are many more songs to come! Because my class enjoys them so much, I wanted to share with any teachers that might find them useful. If you have any questions about the songs, please leave a comment. Hope you like them!

Place Value Song

To the tune of Happy

It might seem crazy what I’m about to say

I’m good at math; teacher take a break.

Listen to my song - it’ll help you.

Just move to the left for place value.

You start with ones

Move it to the left and then you get to the tens

Move to the left and you’re at hundreds and then thousands

Move it to left ten thousands, hundred thousands, millions

Move it to the left, that’s all you have to do to learn place value.

I can write in standard form.

I can write in expanded form.

I can even find the value.

I think of money, it’s so easy to do.

Here’s why.

You start with ones

Move it to the left and then you get to the tens

Move to the left and you’re at hundreds and then thousands

Move it to left ten thousands, hundred thousands, millions

Move it to the left, that’s all you have to do to learn place value.

Ones

Tens

Hundreds

Thousands

Ten thousands

Hundred thousands

Millions

Rounding Song

To the tune of Shake It Off

I can learn to round

Numbers up and down

I can estimate, mmm-mmm

I can estimate, mmm-mmm

First I find the place

I’m not rounding in a race

So I take my time, mmm-mmm

Yes, I take my time, mmm-mmm

Once I find the place

I look next door, to the right

And I sing these words, in my mind

In my mind

So I can get the problem right

If it’s five or bigger, add one more more more

Five or bigger, add one more more more

Fill the zeroes in after to the right right right

Round it up, round it up.

If it’s four or less, let it rest rest rest

Four or less, let it rest rest rest

Fill the zeroes after to the right right right

Round it down, round it down.

I Regroup

To the tune of Let It Go

The subtraction problems look hard today...

The bottom number is too big

I can't subtract easily,

and it looks like I'm gonna fail

I have to remember what I learned with in math class

Where's my math journal? Maybe it can help me...

I do not have enough ones to subtract the bottom from the top

So I have to look at the tens

and now I know....

I regroup, I regroup

Just trade one ten for ten ones

I regroup, I regroup

trade one hundred for ten tens

Now I know how to solve the problem

I just regroup

one thousand for ten hundreds.

Helping Verbs
To the tune of Rude (specific to Easy Grammar curriculum, but can be modified :))

Monday morning, jumped out of bed

Put on my uniform

Got in my mom's car, raced like a jet

All the way to school

Today is the test

On all kinds of verbs

Like action and helping

But  the helping verbs are easy to forget

Am, is, are, was, and were

Be, being, been

Have, has, had

Do, does, did

May, might, and must

Can and could

Will, would, Shall, should

Those are the helping verbs

They help the main verb

I have to look for them

So I can underline them twice

Underline twice

Look in the sentence

Underline twice

I don't wanna miss it

Underline twice

  

All of the helping verbs

It's all part of the verb phrase

New Year, Same Fun! Part 2

Another activity I love to do at the beginning of the year is a multiple intelligence assessment. The tests are great for me to gain insight on the types of learners I have in the classroom, but they also help build our classroom community as the students learn more about themselves, their classmates, and how they can help each other throughout the year.

I use Laura Candler's Multiple Intelligence test found here. The students graph their answers on this worksheet, which is free at my TPT store.

I usually have these up for Back to School Night, and the parents enjoy looking at them. Some are surprised by their children's strengths!

Graphs on display...I forgot to take a picture of them before I sent them home!

New Year, Same Fun! Part 1

 The first week of school always means my favorite activity - Save Fred. I found the idea on Pinterest and have seen it done a few ways. I showed this Prezi, and the students filled out this freebie worksheet from Fearless 5th Grade.

The students LOVE this activity. I mean, they talk about it for the rest of the year. It's almost hard doing it the first week of school because it sets the bar really high. ;) Not only is this fun, but it gives me a ton of information about the kids early on. I quickly see who the leaders are, who the team players are, who the critical thinkers are, etc. If you've never tried it, try it this year!

Compliment Chain Celebration

I found this great idea on Pinterest. I added a Compliment Chain to my room decor to encourage my students to be on their best behavior when I'm not around. They can earn compliments from specialty teachers, substitutes, and other teachers around campus. They love it!

When the chain hit the floor, we were all very excited. It took us a bit longer than I had anticipated, which made it all the more special. We brainstormed ideas for a party, and one idea stuck with me: a scavenger hunt.

I divided the students into eight groups and had eight different clues that would lead them to various people around campus. At the last stop for each group, they would get an item of some sort. I got cherries, chocolate syrup, sprinkles, whipped cream, bowls, etc. for the groups. Not only did they have a blast following the clues around the school, but they were beyond excited to get the fixins for ice cream sundaes.

This is definitely a tradition I will continue next year!

On a side note, the whole process of ordering the clues, numbering the groups, and making sure each group went to all eight stops before getting the final treat was a bit challenging. Post any comments/questions here and I can give tips! :)