TRAIT MASTER

I used the following "questionnaire" in a Six Trait training this past week. Teachers had a wonderful time trying to figure out the correct trait. Some of the questions could fit more than one trait. I think this would be an appropriate activity for 4th grade students and higher to try. It could open your lesson to a lot of conversations with your students.

 **adapted from the Northwest Institute--Download here page 1

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DESK WRITING

This is kindergarten artwork. 

We gave all the students dry erase markers and let them illustrate their vocabulary word of the week right on their desk!!! The word of the week was CHEERFUL and they illustrated things that made them cheerful. The desks erased nicely with small foam erasers. After they were finished we told them NOT to do this at home because these are special markers that will erase. Students had an absolute BLAST!Pin It

I Know My Class Survey

I KNOW MY CLASS SURVEY

I attended a national conference a few years back and listened to a speaker that really spoke to me! During his speech he talked about REALLY getting to know your students...not just teaching them, but really getting to know them. He spoke about giving classroom surveys to students so that a teacher could reflect on their teaching practices etc. He also talked about getting to know your students' PASSIONS. As I thought about this, going through my class list, I realized that I really didn't know what a lot of my students liked to do for fun outside of school. I was really excited to share this with the group of people that came to the conference with me. As we sat at lunch that day I told everyone that I was going to do a survey with my students and find out what they really thought of my class....An anonymous survey! One of the teachers I was sitting with immediately replied, "I don't want to do that!" I said "WHY?" and her reply was that she didn't want to know. Well I decided that I DID want to know.

SOOO the SURVEY has been given. I tried to keep the survey specific to my classroom and writing. I have given the survey to all 3rd and 4th grade students. (about 100 students) A trend has emerged! One thing I noticed was for the most part students were very positive. I also noticed that when students were asked the question- Does my family think I am a good writer?, if they answered NO!, they also answered the question Do you think you are a good writer? with the answer NO! WOW! How enlightening.

As educators we DO have a huge impact on the students we teach, but as the survey showed, in many cases what the parent thought of the students accomplishments became their reality. I also intend to use the information to reflect on my teaching practices and make my classroom a BETTER place for students to learn and accomplish their goals and dreams.

**Something to keep in mind** The speaker that I listened to also said that you can NEVER have 100% satisfation on your survey. He stated that if you walked into a room of 100 people, 3 people won't like you and they haven't even met you.

I have also given my students the task of writing a paper called MY PASSIONS! They are excited to write about the things they love and share it with me. I'm excited too! I have already found some shoppers, campers, barrel racers, swimmers and turtle lovers! GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY SURVEYING!

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READING GLASSES

CHECK THIS OUT! I saw this in a first grade teacher's classroom and it the COOLEST thing ever! READING GLASSES!!! OMGoodness sooo cute. She found all these used old glasses at an auction, popped out the glass lenses, and now all the kids can wear glasses when they do their hard work. Look how studious the students look! They are so smart! And with those reading glasses on, well they can READ and WRITE just about anything! THE STUDENTS LOVE WEARING THEM!

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STICKY NOTE HAMBURGER

Okay....Everyone knows me as the hamburger lady! I LOVE to teach 5 paragraphs using the HAMBURGER organizer. I came up with this idea as a review. (and  to engage the kids with a FUN activity) The kids use sticky notes to put on each layer of the HAMBURGER so they KNOW what each part needs to contain.

TOP BUN/INTRO- They must write 3 things on their sticky note that the top bun/intro MUST contain--A HOOK, at least one DETAIL, and a THESIS statement. Then they come put their sticky note on the top bun.

The 3 middle parts- LETTUCE, TOMATO and MEAT are their 3 BIG ideas- They must write 2 things on their sticky notes that MUST be contained in each of these paragraphs--A TOPIC SENTENCE, at least 3 DETAILS, and RAZZLE DAZZLE word choice. They will do this for all 3 parts!


BOTTOM BUN/Conclusion asks what should this part do? On their sticky note they should put something like--WRAPS everything up like a BIG burrito! OLE'

After the lesson I serve SpongeBob gummy Crabby Patties. They look just like our giant hamburger and they're delish!

Enjoy the FUN and maybe get a hat like mine so when you teach the lesson you get to see the students' pearly whites shine BIG!

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