Oh, friends. I am tired….and the children have not even arrived – ha! I have been a bad blogger and blog commenter, and I’m sorry. I have been better at the whole Blog Facebooking thing. Hopefully this weekend, I can get back into my groove. 🙂 In the meantime, here is a round-up of my week.
So, Kagan is HUGE in my district….like every instructional person (teachers, collaborators, etc) is Kagan trained. In June, they flew Tom (a Kagan trainer from Florida) to teach all of the new hires about Kagan, and it was AMAZING. From learning new chants and cheers to awesome ideas for getting my kids up and about, I’m pumped. So, this week I spent some time getting my room Kagan ready. My goal is to write more about Kagan this week, sharing some first-week resources 🙂 [Note – Kagan is all about cooperative learning – not group work – with frequent modeling, celebrations, community building, and brain breaks…sounds fun, right?]
Also, I added my Kagan labels to desks. Kagan is about providing structures that allow students to collaboratively learn. These structures hold every student accountable and eliminate ‘hogs’ and ‘logs’ in the learning process (Tom’s words…not mine). In my desk arrangement of 6, 1s&2s, 3s&4s, and 5s&6s are shoulder partners and 1s&6s, 2s&3s, 4s&5s are face partners (remember, I did a horseshoe shaped arrangement). Since it may take friends little while to remember what number they are or if they are an A or a B, I added to circles to make it easier. Plus, I do not want to spend the entire day hearing, “Am I an A or a B?” You can grab your own labels here from Google Docs. If you are looking for an editable file or colored circles to match your classroom, you may grab them here!
I made my Kagan team tubs this week, too, complete with extra pencils and pens (so students do not have to get out of their seats), think pad, post-its, and index cards for exit slips. Each week one of our classroom jobs – ‘Team Tubs Manager’ will be in charge of keeping these tubs stocked and in working order…one of the great things about 5th grade! You can grab the labels here in my Black, White, and a Hint of Yellow Organization Pack.
Open House was last night and it was positively lovely. I had about 16 of my 30 fifth graders show up (which I considered a victory for 5th grade), and they were great! It was so fun to see them gravitate towards our classroom library saying things like, “Oh, I’ve read this one. Do you have the next one?” or “I want to read this!” *Sweet victory* 🙂
As parents walked in, I had the above screen greeting them. Then, they traveled about the room completing different stations (community supplies sort, individual supplies sort, newsletter sign-up, and Scholastic Book Club sign-up). Since my 5th graders don’t go to library, I am going to push Scholastic Book Orders (something the 5th grade has not done for a while), so I set out this sign explaining the book orders to parents and asked they create an online account. I think 12 out of my 15 families set up accounts – woohoo! Parents were thrilled to hear about the Dollar Book each month.
Just in the nick of time for Open House I finished my hallway bulletin board for displaying work…an iPad themed board – each student has an iPad display space with a sheet protector! It’s nice and bright, and low upkeep – woohoo.
Lastly, did you hear friends?? The HUGE TPT sale is this Sunday and Monday – woohoo! I am super-duper pumped. I have four things already in my cart, and oodles more in my Wishlist. Plus, everything in my store will be 28% percent off. Now would be the perfect time to grab those Genre Posters or stock up on Primary Grammar Resources!
Join me for weekly classroom updates and free resources that are just-right for your guided math classroom!
Thank you so much for the freebies for Kagan. I got trained about two years ago, but it was only a half day session. We will have more training in the future. I wonder if we will get Tom in Florida!
Alison
Rockin' and Lovin' Learnin'
You're welcome! Tom is absolutely wonderful. We did the 3 day training, and it was fantastic…definitely my favorite training this summer. 🙂
We feel just like you…and we've hardly even worked in our rooms yet! Ugh, too many meetings and trainings! Hope you have a restful weekend!
🙂 Tamra and Sarah
First Grade Buddies
I am a Kagan Coach for our school district. I love it! I love the way you've identified your students in groups of 6 🙂 I am a HUGE fan of teambuilders and classbuilders!! Even when things get crazy and busy, they make a big difference. I also love the social skills aspect of Kagan.
My biggest advice would be to make sure that the structure you pick matches the students' level of knowledge. Some structures are better for review, while others are better for introducing topics, ect. There is a chart in the Kagan book that lists each structure and what they are best for. It wasn't until I was trained as a coach, did I really feel that I learned that componenet…it has made a big difference in my coaching and how I help teachers plan Kagan into their lessons.
Bridget
Literacy Without Worksheets
Thanks, Bridget. My classroom is way too small to make groups of 4 with 30 students – no way.
Also, do you have advice for what structures to start with? I was planning on doing quiz, quiz, trade with get to know you questions and then, rally robin with 'characteristics of a good teammate.' I would {love} any ideas you have. 🙂
I love quiz, quiz, trade and rally robin. Those are two great structures to start with!!!
I'm also a big fan of stand-up, hand-up, pair-up (when you want to give students a quick brain break) and mix-pair-share.
I also like all write round robin (it is like round robin, but everyone has their own paper and records what is said- making a list) and jot thoughts.
Find Someone Who is also a fun way to learn about classmates.
I'm not sure if they told you this in training, but I have found that having the steps to the structure on a PowerPoint for everyone to see helps so much!! When I'm introducing new structures, I always have students model the steps.
I would do a teambuilder every day the first week. They will take less than 5 minutes, but it will really help 🙂
Dream ice cream sundae (all write round robin)
Fun things to do after school (jot thoughts)
Three things you'd want on a deserted island (round robin)
Team Interview
Team Interview: I've always done it where students write down three questions that they would be willing to answer. Then all the questions get put in a stack.
Before each student starts, I give them about 30 seconds to organize the cards into the order they want to answer.
Then the student has 1 minute to answer as many questions as they can.
When I joined the Kagan Club they sent me a dvd with some of their basic structures with a few of them with their steps to project for students when learning them. Love it!
Darnee
Tales From Two 2nd Grade Classrooms
these are absolutely PERFECT! We went through Kagan training yesterday and was thinking about making these this weekend. You have done it for me!
AWESOME!!!
Elizabeth
Hodges Herald
I am so glad you find them helpful! If you need any tweaks made, please let me know. 🙂 brownbagteacher@gmail.com
WOW girl! You have not even started and you already rock!!!! Everything looks fabulous. That bulletin board is to die for.
I have never heard of Kagan…but sounds like a great thing.
Tania
My Second Sense
I love your bulletin board – it looks fantastic and lets your students know you are expecting their best work – love it.
Thank you! I really cannot wait to begin the year and see what awesome things my fifth grade friends can do. It's going to be wonderful. 🙂
-C
You student work board is great! I love the iPad template and wording you used. I wish I had that space… love what you did with it 🙂
Thank you so much. 🙂 I am a 1:1 classroom this year, and so I am loving the iPad theme. We are SO blessed at my school to have huge hallway bulletin boards – every single classroom!
Love your room! It looks so inviting and organized! That iPad bulletin board is fantastic!
Katy
firstgradekate.blogspot.com
Thank you, Katy. *Fingers crossed* it stays that way throughout the year. 🙂
Your room is so neat and organized. I love the Kagan labels and other fun labels. I'm warming up my laminator now. THANK YOU for sharing. You just saved me so much time.
Love those numbers! I was just going to make some this weekend for my desks. Yours are much better!
Thank you so much for the free team labels! These were on my "To Do" list and you have done them for me! 🙂 I took Kagan training a few years ago and Tom was my instructor as well. Fabulous training and information you will use everyday in your classroom!
Jess
I {Heart} Recess
I like the iExcellence display! It's a very creative way to display the kids work!!
Erin
The E-Z Class Follow on Bloglovin
Inspired display board! Any chance you could share the insert paper "Distinguished Work…………….."?
Hi, Science Girl! Thank you so much. 🙂 You can find the bulletin board display here – http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/iExcel-Bulletin-Board-Display-Showcasing-Student-Work-870331.
My best,
C
I would love to have the Distinguished Work papers also. I checked in your store hoping they would be for sale. No luck. Did you make them or get them somewhere else?
Thanks,
Jennifer
statonj@unioncity.k12.ms.us
Hi Jennifer! Thanks so much for the note. I just added the display today. Thank you for the motivation to do it. 🙂 If you want any specific iDevice colors included, please let me know! I am happy to make tweaks to teh clip art. 🙂 http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/iExcel-Bulletin-Board-Display-Showcasing-Student-Work-870331
Hi,
I love all of the Kagan ideas. I am going to buy the editable desk circles with colors, since I have table colors instead of numbers. I use classroom numbers for turning in papers and I don't want to confuse my firsties. So, I am going to put shapes and letters on the circles. I love the look and would like to use these for nameplates on their desks also. Do you have anything that matches that I could type names on and use as desk plates? Thanks so much!