Is it Friday yet?
Oh goodness.
I shouldn’t even say that.
But really, this weekend’s volleyball tournament KICKED my bootay! We got home at 10:30pm last night after coaching for 12 hours and 3 hours in the car, yuck! Add into it that tomorrow is our Reading OAA (standardized test) I am one big ball of stress!
So are the kiddos.
We’ve been using my ELA Test Prep pack to practice our skills and talk about strategies, which has been interactive, but we needed something exciting for today!
So guess what we did today? HAD FUN! That’s right, we HAD FUN with test prep!!!! Here was what my kiddos saw when they walked to my room this morning…
We decked out our doorways with Grizzly colors to get us pumped for the OAA! I {LOVE} my impulsive kiddo in the bottom picture, he’s totally in the spirit!
We then took our kiddos (all 56 4th graders) down to the gym. To get them ready for our sports themed prep, We read the book TEAMMATES aloud to them. (My AMAZING teaching partner read most because my voice is shot after this weekend!)
If you haven’t read this book to your kiddos, you totally should. It is wonderful for Social Studies because it integrates with Civil Rights and what was going on in the world at the time. My kids made SO many connections to our Civil Rights movement unit! They completed the graphic organizer as we were reading that covers: main idea, theme, character descriptions and comparisons, point of view, problem and solution, and summary. You can pick up this graphic organizer for FREE here. Please leave me some love if you get to use it π
Next, we geared up for our active OAA prep! We played DODGEBALL!!
When students got out, they had to answer either a Reading or Math Common Core question to get back in! If they got it wrong, they went back to the end of the line. It was rapid fire for us teachers, let me tell ya! They were SO into it and got A LOT of much needed stress out. We are going to do the same with kickball on Wednesday before the Math OAA Thursday. (For a run to count they have to answer a question right.)
Then we made little “STAR” post-it notes of encouragement for me to shuffle and put on the kiddos desk tomorrow morning along with their parents letter!
They made some wonderful STAR notes!
Last, I wrote out a blank banner with “Do Our BEST On The Test” and let kiddos write strategies, advice, and encouragement. It is HILARIOUS! I will hang it outside our rooms tomorrow so they see it when they walk in!
We feel READY for the test… BRING IT ON! π
On a totally different topic, my co-workers CONSTANTLY tell me I should share what I wear to school each day on my blog (I have a slight obsession with clothes) so I saw a linky for it and thought that I better link up! Here’s today’s outfit (I’ll try and do this more, I swear!)
What great ideas to get your kiddos motivated! I now teach first grade, but was a fourth grade teacher for 8 years. One of my favorite activities was our SOL Pep Rally just before our state standardized testing. Hope your kids do well!
Sarah
Learning is for Superstars
Learning is for Superstars is on Facebook
I loooove that striped button down!! I want it! π
Jivey
ideas by jivey
Follow Me On Facebook! π
Wow! A totally fun filled post!! I love the book Teammates! Thank you for linking it up and you look totally adorable!! It looks like your test prep pep rally was a hit and it sounds super fun! :O)
Thanks for linking up!
Amanda
Collaboration Cuties
I love your outfit! Red pants and stripes are a favorite of mine π π
Thanks for linking up!!
Brittany
Closing the Gap… in a Cute Outfit!
ADORABLE outfit girl, I'm so glad you found our linky π I have that same obsession, aren't clothes just so much fun? Can't wait to see your other stylish pics. Thanks for linking up!
Hugs,
Khrys
Keepin' It Kool In Kinderland
Love your outfit! That is so fun that you have a little party for them for their test. I'm sure that gets them motivated π
I'm your newest follower!
Elizabeth
Kickinβ it in Kindergarten
It was a huge hit! Thank you π
haha thank you! I love anything striped! It is such a terrible addiction π
Thank you!! The book is wonderful π The pep rally was a huge hit for the teachers and students π
Sounds like we have two of the same favorites, although stripes are my biggest weakness! Love the linky party π
Thank you!! I'm so glad I found it, too! Finally my obsessions can be blogged about together π
Thank you!! It certainly does get them motivated and a little pre-test stress out! So glad to have you following :):)
Love your outfit! I need to head to New York & Co. and get me some of those pants. They are fab. I want some colored pants in my wardrobe. Can't wait to see what other pics you post of your outfits!!! I am your newest follower. Found you through the linky.
Mrs. Pauleyβs Kindergarten