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Building relationships

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We have been talking about the move from good to great as a school.  We want to create a culture of greatness, where we all are on the same team.  So, I asked my eighth grade students "What makes a great student?" and "What makes a great teacher?"  After discussing their responses, each class reached consensus on what was most important, and these posters will hang in my class all year to remind us to be great for each other and with each other this school year.

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This is chaos

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In Gail's Home Base, the 8th grade students brainstormed ideas for what they wish they knew as incoming students. We wrote letters of advise to the new 7th graders in Dreama's Home Base and then shared these with the students. 8th graders loved talking with each other and reminiscing about starting last year. The 7th graders liked talking about the upcoming challenges of this year.

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I created a "Mrs. Hock by the Numbers" where I made this board to tell the students about myself.  I am asking them to create a "Me by the Numbers" sheet to use as their binder cover.  The activity asks you to describe yourself by linking numbers to  things you like or facts about you.  For example, I put "4 siblings" as one of my facts.  It is a way for me to share with my classes and for them to share with me.

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We did a few activities the first  few days of school to get to know our students better.  First they went on a People Search to find fellow classmates who certain interests & characteristics.  Then students shared 3 facts about themselves- 2 true and 1 false & we tried to figure out what was false, learning new info along the way.  Lastly we made silhouettes & wrote riddles.

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I had the students write down 2 truths about themselves and 1 lie.  Each student got up and shared their 3 facts.  Then as a class we had to hold up a 1, 2 or 3 to show which one we thought was the lie.  The students did a really great job masking the lie...we were stumped quite a few times and learned such great things about one another!

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We completed an activity where ALL of our students had to work together as a team to get through a small and large hule hoop. The students were not allowed to let go of the hands of the peers. They also worked hard to assure that each team mate succesfully made it through the hoop in a timely manner. The students really enjoyed this and cheered eachother on! It was great to see how they completed the activity the second time around (timed).

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We played a "Have you Ever?" Game where students got into a circle and asked questions based on random topics and at times

topics that I chose such as food, vacation places, outdoor activities, etc. that students have done. It worked great and students really

learned a lot about each other and via CFU (check for understanding) at the end of the lesson when asked "What is this activity a

great use for?" Many understood it was for rapport and getting to know each other. I would do this again

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I read the book, Tacky the Penguin, and we discussed how we are all unique individuals. Students then worked in pairs and interviewed each other about themselves and their families. Then they completed a venn diagram comparing and contrasting and contrasting themselves to their partner. Students got to know each other and work together!

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1. The First graders at Edgewood each made a Me Bag to share with their classmates. Each student had to put 5 things from home into a paper lunch sack. Students put pictures in the bag for anything too big for the bag, any food or anything alive!

2. I used a Mystery Name envelope to introduce each students' name to the wordwall (Thanks Mrs Duffy). The student have to ask questions and listen for answers to figure out the name inside the envelope. Once the name is revealed, the student sits on the Special Chair and the other students ask questions to find out anout their favorite things.

3. Dance Friday... With the kids in a circle, I put on one song and each student gets about 10 seconds to strut their stuff. I have a student pick a name out of our Name Bag and read it to the rest of the class. The student dances for about 10 seconds and we all cheer for them. The first student is usually very reserved but by the end the kids are really having fun.

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In order to get to know my children better, I send home a survey for the parents to fill out.  It gives me insightful information and ways to make connections to my students.  The parents love it.

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After reading the bucket book, each child brainstormed ways to be a bucket filler or a bucket dipper.

Then, we placed cards into the correct bucket filler/bucket dipper "buckets."  After each 2nd grader had a turn,

they had a chance to write how they were a bucket filler and a bucket dipper.

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On the first day, I asked each child what he/she wants to learn this year and posted in my pocket chart.

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We had our students use a simple 3-column chart to record nouns, verbs, and adjectives about their summer.  They then went to Tagxedo on computers to create a Wordle-like word web.  Students were then randomly paired up and exchanged their work.  I had each person take a turn to ask his/her partner about two words that they noticed first on the word web.  The webs are on display titled, "Snapshots of Summer"  with a photo of them we took the first day mounted on a camera punch-out from the dye cutter in the workroom.

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Team building in teams to create tall structures using playing cards.

Students could bend or rip cards but needed to use all 52 in structure.

Activity began as a contest, but turned into successful moments when

a structure was completed!!

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We have been talking about the move from good to great as a school.  We want to create a culture of greatness, where we all are on the same team.  So, I asked my eighth grade students "What makes a great student?" and "What makes a great teacher?"  After discussing their responses, each class reached consensus on what was most important, and these posters will hang in my class all year to remind us to be great for each other and with each other this school year.

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During the first three days of school I read a story aloud and we graphed information

related to the story.  On the first day, I read My Teacher Sleeps in School  and they graphed their first

grade teachers.  On the second day, I read The Relatives Came  and they graphed how many people live in

their house.  On the third day, I read The Pain and the Great One  and we completed a Venn Diagram about our

siblings.  We were able to learn a lot about each other as we shared,  graphed, and laughed together! :-)

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We had fun drinking away the "Jitters" with our magic Jitter Juice after reading The First Day Jitters. Then we played personalized concentration. The children drew  4 pictures x 2 of their favorite things on index cards. They played matching concentration and shared in more detail about themselves with their partner. Each child then introduced something about their partner to the class. It was an enjoyable way to meet your classmates!

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On the first day of school, I gave all children a paper lunch bag. They were to decorate it, and then go home that evening and find something important to them to put in the bag. They placed it in their unique bag and brought it to school the next day to share. What cool and interesting things they brought! Some brought trophies, family pictures, soccer jerseys, special trinkets, etc. They loved sharing, and we learned a lot about each other.

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I had the students practice lining up at the door in a certain order WITHOUT talking.  They could use their hands to communicate.  For example, I asked them to line up by birthday.  I told them January would be at the beginning of the line.  All 27 put themselves in the correct order by holding up fingers to communicate.  We started timing some, which they really enjoyed.  They worked well together!

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As a large group, the children helped me to create a web about myself by asking questions about me.  The ideas were recorded on the SMARTboard.  We then generated a list of questions students may want to ask their classmates to learn more about them.  Children worked in pairs, interviewing one another & recording their responses to questions on a web graphic organizer.  Finally, the children shared what they learned abut their partner with the rest of the class.

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It took a while but the students worked together and almost got it all put together.  After 20 minutes we stopped and discussed our strategies.  It was a fun activity!

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In homebase students were asked to write down a question they wanted answered in the group.  The question could not have a "Yes" or "No" answer.  The question could not be designed to make anyone feel uncomfortable.  They then crumpled the paper into a ball.  We had a 20second snowball fight with our questions.  When time was called students unwrapped the question they were holding and we took turns answering them.

Some of the questions the students asked included: "If you were given $100,000 to give away everything you own, would you do it and why?" or "Where is the farthest you have been from home and what did you see there?"  "Do you have any special talents? Can you show us?"

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I pass out a Get to Know Your Teacher sheet. It has twenty five questions that the students have either learned about

me in the first day or that they can guess - like favorite color. I then collect the sheets and read the answers aloud to the

class and then tell them the real answer - some of the guesses are hilarious and we all have a great time!

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The students used Play-Doh do create something that represents them.  They informally presented it to the class, including an explanation about why they created what they did.

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I had my students participate in the marshmallow challenge. All you need is 20 spaghetti noodles, tape,mini marshmallows and 1 big marshmallow. In groups of 4-5 students work together to build the tallest free standing tower in 18 minutes with the entire Big marshmallow on top. It was a great way for me to walk around and see who my leaders were and who simply followed their group. After the 18 minutes we measured them to see who had the tallest. We then discussed as a group what worked well when working together and what they think they should change when working in groups in the future. If you google the marshmallow challenge-TEd it has an interesting take on who usually will build the tallest, check it out you may be surprised, my tallest group was 21.5 in. I was pretty impressed and excited to start more science experimentation, this could also work nicely when teaching the scientific method.

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On first day of school students took a quiz about Ms. Leonard !

They were given questions on the smartboard and had 4 choices (A,B,C,D).

Each corner of the room was labeled with one letter (A,B,C,D).

Students then went to the corner of the room that they thought was

the correct answer. It was so fun to see students moving around, talking to one

another, and giggling and cheering when they found out more information

about Ms. Leonard. Great way for students to get to know their teacher in a fun

and active way!

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First grade rang in the New Year with a New Year Party.

After counting down from 10, the students blew horns and

noise makers. They had fun!

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When the students walked into classon the first day

of school, I had them go straight to their pod.  I gave each

group 1 hoola hoop, had them hold hands, and told them they needed

to get the hoola hope around all of their bodies without letting go of

each other.  Then we joined groups until we had everyone in class doing it.

What a great way to begin "team work" and "problem solving" while meeting your

classmates and teacher in the first 72.

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I put the students into groups of 4-5.  Each group had a white board and they had to write down traits/interests they all have in common.  One student would give an idea such as "I like soccer" and if everyone agreed they could put it on their white board.  Then we shared what they had in common.  Then we talked about what makes us unique and they wrote down traits/interests that are unique about each of them and shared them with the whole class. They really seemed to enjoy it and it encouraged everyone to participate!

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On the first day of school each student received a puzzle

piece to decorate.  It had to include their name, their hobbies,

their strengths, their goals for 4th grade, and career choice.  After

they finshed, they shared one thing on their puzzle piece.

Today (day 2), we took the pieces in the gym and the students had to

put the puzzle together as a team.  We didn't give them any help!  It was

pretty awesome to watch them work together and listen to them problem

solve.  They got close to putting it all together -- we will finish

tomorrow.

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In art class, 1st through 6th graders are studying how art

communicates stories and ideas.

Each child traced their hand and forearm on heavy paper and then

cut that out. Using magazines,

specialty papers and other collage materials they are telling the story of who they are
on the hand/arm cut out. Every bit of the cut out must be covered with colors,
textures and images…like it is their skin. As they are working on these I will
be asking each child about something on their collage as a way for me to get to
know them and they will also be able to ask me about the things on my collage. When
these are complete they will get with a partner and explain the personal meaning
of each thing they added.

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We put students in partners and they had to interview each other and report back to the class the information that they found.  There were questions given to them to start out with (such as name, birthday, who they live with, favorite memory from last school year, what are they looking forward to about 5th grade, etc) and some space for their own questions.  After all students were interviewed, we sat in a circle and had each person report on their classmate.  Students made great connections and learned something about not only the classmate they interviewed, but also all their classmates!

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Students are bringing in "ME BAGS" to share with the class (5 small items that fit inside a paper lunch bag).

They got to know me through a book I made called the ABC's of Mrs. LaCrosse--the first letter, A, is for ALL my

wonderful students (with their names all around the page).     :)

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I give my students a fun 10 question quiz about me to take on the first day of school. We go over the answers and see who scored the highest. Then, I have each student write a quiz about him or herself for me to take, Of course I know very little about them and do terrible on it. They love grading them and handing them back to me with my score. They learn a lot about me from my quiz and I learn a lot about all of them from their quizzes.

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Today we did an activity related to Dr. Schmidts message of working together for all to succeed. The room was set up for a game of musical chairs. As I stood in the middle of the circle I explained how to play....

Whoever is standing in the middle shares a personality trait they possess that is a positive influence on the learning environment, contributes to everyone succeeding or is beneficial for collaborating. Anyone who feels they also have that trait gets up and moves seats. The person left without a seat is the next one to stand in the middle and share a trait.

There are two rules:

1) You can't sit back down in the seat you were just in

2) Be safe with your movements

We had a lot of fun together and I learned a lot about how my students see themselves as learners and team players.

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On the first day we all sat in a circle and played

the name game. We introduced ourselves "My name is

..... and I like ...." Each person had to introduce themselves

and every person before them. I always go last, so I learn my

students' names in 20 minutes!

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We did an activity today called Share Something. The students had a small cup of m&m's. For each color they shared something different about themselves. For example, share something you do well or share something you can't live without. The students shared with their table partner. As we went through the colors I shared as well. It was a great way to start conversations about what they are interested in!

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The students and I played human BINGO. Everyone moved around the room, introducing themselves to each other first, and then we proceeded to question to

one another using the statements in the 25 sqaures until we could get enough signatures for a BINGO. Great way for students to learn each other's names and to learn something new about each other

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Maggie Nickels & Doug Dvorak / Significant 72

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Maggie Nickels & Doug Dvorak / Significant 72

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Objective:  To work together with others to reach a group goal.

Group Size:  6-30 (We actually did it with 62!)

Materials:  Open space, beach ball, envelope or small container, numbers x

Place numbers 1- 8 into an envelope or small container.  Divide the group into teams with one team on each side of lined cones.  (We couldn't do a real volleyball net). Prior to each serve select a number from the envelope. This number indicates the number of times the BEACH BALL must be hit by members of a team on its side before the ball is returned to the other side of the net.  For example, if the number 5 is chosen, each team must hit the ball exactly 5 times before returning it to the other team. If the ball is hit more or less than 5 times then the other team gains the serve or earns a point.  Prior to each serve draw a new number and play until one team reaches 15.

Discussion Prompts:  Did you have to use more or less teamwork for this game than in a regular volleyball game?  What did your team have to do in order to be successful at this activity.  Why is teamwork important?  What happens if an individual on your team doesn't use teamwork?  What are some qualities of a good team?  How does this activity apply to the class and school?