Daily Archives: November 20, 2017

Simple ways to help kids communicate their feelings!

This entry was posted in 1st Grade 2nd Grade CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT FREE LESSONS & PRICED LESSONS - The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs Kindergarten SPECIAL EDUCATION and tagged #behavior #feelings #emotions #selfregulation classroom management communication feelings scale kindergarten social skills TpT visual support vocabulary on by

5 simple ways to help kids communicate their feelings! #feelings #emotions #kids #socialskills #specialeducation #regulateemotions

When kids are comfortable with communicating their feelings, they often end up communicating what they most deeply need.  When their feelings are validated, the groundwork for self-regulation is being put into place.  And so, fitting emotional literacy naturally into a child’s life early simply makes good sense.

Here are 5 simple ways to help kids communicate their feelings:

 

1. Communicate feelings yourself (and encourage role-models to do so, too)!

Kids do what we do. They observe and experience how the adults and role models in their lives identify, accept and manage their own feelings and the emotions of others, and use what they have processed as a  basis for their own beliefs and practices.

Whenever we, the grown ups, can use language including “I feel, I felt, I remember feeling, etc.” we are making a deposit into the emotional language banks of the children in our presence.

Many people find discussing feelings and emotions difficult, and the toughest part can be starting the conversation. The good news is that the first conversations about feelings do not have to be personal!

 

2. Read stories!

Even in kindergarten, there are children who are already uncomfortable about discussing their own feelings.  I have yet to meet a little person who is not willing to hear a story or watch something on YouTube!

I have been developing the Dealing With Feelings stories since 2013, and frequently use them on my iPad when needed, providing students with a line-art copy to color. The characters in these stories model emotional literacy on a level that kids can relate to.

Dealing With Feelings Storybook lessons: Relatable characters model how they identify, accept and manage tricky feelings! Printable color and line-art, gender specific, growing series!

Dealing With Feelings Stories: I simply say, “Would you like to hear a story?” and allow the child to discover connections to the character as we read.

 

(We all know how motivated we are to discuss something we’re uncomfortable with!) Listening to a story is often calming!

There are so many amazing feelings / emotions books available today, that I have a Pinterest board dedicated to them. Check it out:

Many of these stories are also read-aloud on YouTube!

3. Provide pictures showing feelings / expressions!

A child who wants to communicate his or her feelings but does not have the vocabulary to say how he or she feels, can point to a picture s/he relates best to.

Picture dictionaries often have a page dedicated to feelings, which can be bookmarked with a sticky note. Years ago, I made a feelings bulletin board with my firsties from photographs, newspaper and magazine clippings.

Having posters in the classroom is most effective when done appropriately for the group you have. Keeping it simple with fewer posters for younger children is recommended to avoid overwhelming the kids, while lining up multiple posters in older classes can be be especially useful to students who are writing about feelings.

I like to display these half-page feelings flags where kids can point to them. The posters below are full-page size, but are also included as playing cards in the set.

I like to display half-page feelings flags where kids can point to them. The posters shown at the bottom are 8 1/2 x 11 pages, and are also included as playing cards in my visuals, tools and activities set.

 

Earlier in my teaching career, I used feelings pictures for individual students on a ring, but have found that (like visual schedules) in recent years, increasing numbers of students benefit from them being posted right on the wall (and the rings are easily misplaced)!

 

4. Feelings scales

Feelings scales can be used for an entire class or for individuals. In the photo below, the kids’ names are on clothes pegs, and the feelings scale has been printed on thick card paper and laminated.

 

Feelings scales like these make it easier for kids to communicate their emotions without saying a word. Students can answer "How are you feeling?' by simply pointing to a picture, or with the slide of a paperclip, button or placement of a clothes peg. #feelings #feelingsscale #emotions #selfregulation

Feelings scales like these make it easier for kids to communicate their emotions without saying a word. Students can answer  “How are you feeling?” by simply pointing to a picture, or with the slide of a paperclip, button or placement of a clothes peg. (The button slider pictured in the top middle doubles as a fidget toy!)

 

I’ve used feelings scales with individual students. They are especially helpful with kids whose frustration moves into raging anger quickly, and lose control.  With a feelings scale, a child can make it clear to themselves, and others, when they are becoming frustrated, so that measures can be put in place to prevent further escalation.

5. Work ‘feelings talk’ into daily routines

  • Have a star student? If that student is trying to share something with the class and is interrupted, how does it make him/her feel?
  • Discussing the calendar, an upcoming holiday? How many people feel excited about it?
  • Celebrating a child’s birthday? How does it feel to be the birthday child? Is it normal to feel jealous that it isn’t your own birthday? 
  • Getting close to outdoor time? Have an over-exaggerated, humorous gripe session about the most frustrating part of getting ready for home!

 

The items pictured in this post are a part of:

 

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Best wishes to all of you, your families and students!

Ida Mae

a.k.a. That Fun Reading Teacher

Related:

Do you remember feeling motivated by being told what to do when you were a child? How did you feel about listening to stories? #feelings #education #stories

 

 

 

Sentences – Grammar Circles for easy and effective grammar

This entry was posted in 10th Grade 11th Grade 12th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade 9th Grade FEATURED AUTHORS FREE LESSONS & PRICED LESSONS - The Best of Teacher Entrepreneurs HOME LANGUAGE ARTS LESSONS MISC. LESSONS and tagged activities English Language Arts grammar No Prep Printables worksheets on by

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sentences-Grammar-Circles-for-easy-and-effective-grammar-2110090

 

Sentences – Grammar Circles for easy and effective grammar

 

Product Description

Teach grammar in a creative and meaningful way. No more boring grammar. grammar

Simplify your life and make grammar fun and effective.

One of the biggest challenges I had in my English classes was how to fit in grammar with everything else I had to teach. I would give students grammar pages, and then we would correct them together. It was tedious, and it took forever! What’s more is that students were not learning the way I wanted them to. They wouldn’t apply what they had learned from the grammar pages and activities.

I found a solution!

Grammar Circles. Grammar Circles are very similar to literature circles in the sense that students are teaching one another grammar. It is a fun and functional way to teach and learn grammar. Although this may be done individually, it can also be completed as a group where students, through a specific process outlined in the package, teach one another grammar. They also correct the work together, so the teacher has very little to do.

The package includes:

1) A Student Packet – which contains the Literature Circle directions, the notes, directions, and activities, and a “Mark Calculation” page to keep track of their marks. (16 pages)
Activities included focus on:
-the logistics of the sentence (the basic parts)
-the prepositional phrase
-the adjective phrase
-the adverb phrase
-the verbal phrase
-the appositive phrase
-the independent and subordinate clauses
-subjects and predicates
-fragments
-run-on sentences
-types of sentences

2) A teacher Guide with easy to follow instructions on how to organize the Grammar Circles.

3) The Answer Key – devised to allow students to correct their work and learn from one another.

For those who are from Ontario, Canada – this unit adheres to the Grade 9 English Curriculum (academic). The unit can be taught in any grade to about sentences.

(27 pages total for this unit)

You may also be interested in:
Parts of Speech Grammar Circles (Superhero Themed)

Super Hero Themed Parts of Speech Posters (FREE)

It’s teaching made easy!

Total Pages
27 pages
Answer Key
Included
Teaching Duration
N/A

FREE MISC. LESSON – “Holiday Postcard Gift Cards and Notes FREE”

This entry was posted in 3rd Grade 4th Grade 5th Grade 6th Grade Christmas MISC. LESSONS and tagged free on by (updated on )

by Ruth S.

3rd – 6th Grade

 

 

Holiday Postcard Gift Cards and Notes

Add a special touch to the meaning of the holidays by having your kids or family members write holiday postcards to friends and other family members. Each postcard has a matching gift tag and special note paper.
Special notes can be written by your kids anonymously to their classmates and displayed in your classroom.
Black and white templates are included for each of these.

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If teammates, coworkers or a school or a school district would like to use my resources, there is a multiple user license that is available at a reduced price.

All rights reserved by author. Ruth S.
This resource has a single user license and is to be used only by the purchaser. Permission to copy, for single classroom use only.
Electronic distribution limited to single classroom use only.
Not for public display on school websites, blogs or other websites. Not to be shared at teacher workshops or conventions

Copyright © Ruth S. This product is to be used by the purchaser only. Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)

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The following are just some of the resources I offer on Teachers Pay Teachers. To find more, look for CUSTOM CATEGORIES on my store pages and select a subject.
My ready to print resources save teachers time!

OTHER RESOURCES YOU MIGHT LIKE

HOLIDAYS AND SEASONAL PRODUCTS
Autumn and Fall Writing Papers
Autumn ELA Student Worksheets
Halloween Task Cards and Writing Activities
Thanksgiving Activity Five Kernels of Corn A true story about the Pilgrims starving time when they had only fiver kernels of corn to eat each day.
Thanksgiving Word Art Poster FREE!
Veterans Day An inspiring project that’s loved by students, parents and teachers!
Christmas and Holiday Language Art Activities
North Pole Headline News Students have fun writing news articles about the North Pole. Examples of headlines are: Santa Loses His Cell Phone, Santa Buys an iPad, Rudolph’s Nose Turns Blue and many more! Fun!
North Pole Prepositions FREE! Fun!! You’ll love your students’ illustrations of the sentences with prepositions!
New Year Resolutions Mine My Town My Country The World School is included in this packet. Students think “out of the box” to write the resolutions.
Langston Hughes Dreams FREE! A fantastic resource to encourage your students to follow their dreams. Use during Black History Month, to celebrate Martin Luther King’s birthday or add it to your poetry unit!
St.Patricks Day Legend of Irish Leprechauns Worksheets
Ireland Mini Report for St. Patricks Day FREE!
Valentine’s Day Fun Cards
Valentine’s Day Fun Alphabet Cards FREE!

ALL TIME FAVORITES
Book Report Trifold Use with any book or story.

Bloom Ball Reports Use with any fiction, nonfiction or subject. Based on the latest Bloom Taxonomy verbiage. These reports encourage higher-level thinking and make colorful year round classroom displays! For 5th grade and up. Middle and high school teachers tell me they’re using them too!

Design a Game Book Report An amazing book report. Students create games based on stories they’ve read. All time favorite activity of students, their parents and teachers.
Encourages students to read different genre. Have a Game Day!

My fantasy literature guide is a fairly recent resource and I’m loving teachers’ comments! Use with any fantasy book or story!
Fantasy Essentials Literature Unit Use with any fantasy book or story.

Teacher comments
– Outstanding! Starting an interactive read aloud with fantasy soon. So many great things to choose from as we delve deep into the genre. Thank you!!
– Fabulous! The worksheets provide an exhaustive analysis of fantasy stories and many different perspectives on writing and structure!

Frindle Literature Guide 87 pages. This story raises the issue of “free speech” in the classroom. Does free speech include disrupting the teacher by using the word “frindle” instead of the word, pen? Have students read the informational background article about the Bill of Rights, specifically about freedom of speech and freedom of the press prior to reading the story.

Figurative Language Chart and Student Worksheets A very handy reference chart with examples of figurative language as well as other activities. Students use their copies of the chart as they work on written assignments in class. . A VERY popular resource all teachers must have!

Movie Review for Students Do your students take videos you show in class, seriously? Use the activities in this packet to keep your students focused as they watch videos in class. Add these sheets to your sub folder!

Nonfiction Bingo A great way for students to become very familiar with nonfiction features.

Novel Response Cards This is one of my VERY popular resources that teachers and students love. Read their comments. Laminate the cards for future use

Number the Stars 19 Page Packet This is now a 70 page packet. An informational article about World War II for pre reading, activities, was added with questions and answers. Also included are maps of Europe and Denmark with questions and answers.

Poetry Task Cards Even your reluctant students will join in the fun! Each card has a definition and sample poem.

Similes Metaphors and More Use with any book or story! Examples and definitions are given on each page.

BOOK REPORTS AND OTHER REPORTS
Book Report Trifold Use With Any Novel Use the pages year to year with any fiction book or story.. Students will be motivated to work for the extra bonus points that are offered! A note to parents is also included with all the instructions about the report and a slip to send back to you. Complete instructions are included.

Design a Game Book Report An amazing book report. Students create games based on stories they’ve read. All time favorite activity with my students and their parents! Be sure to have a game day!

Bloom Ball Reports Inspires students to “think out of the box” to create reports for any subject, book, or story. Based on the latest verbiage of Bloom’s Taxonomy. Students, teachers and parents LOVE these reports!

Book Report Trifold Use With Any Novel Use the pages year to year with any fiction book or story.. Students will be motivated to work for the extra bonus points that are offered! A note to parents is also included with all the instructions about the report and a slip to send back to you. Complete instructions are included.

Design a Game Book Report An amazing book report. Students create games based on stories they’ve read. All time favorite activity with my students and their parents! Be sure to have a game day!

Bloom Ball Reports Inspires students to “think out of the box” to create reports for any subject, book, or story. Based on the latest verbiage of Bloom’s Taxonomy. Students, teachers and parents LOVE these reports!

COMMON CORE
The following resources can be used with any book or story!
Common Core ELA Informational Text Posters
Common Core Figurative Language
Common Core Reading Themes
Common Core Reading Standards Main Idea
Common Core Setting Comparisons
Common Core Foundational Skills Task Cards Great informal assessment to determine who needs review or who has achieved mastery. Use year to year
Common Core Character Comparisons
Common Core Problems and Solutions

NONFICTION
Close Reading Informational Text Polar Bears This is the perfect informational text, no prep resource, to connect English Language arts with social studies and science! The article about polar bears’ lives in the arctic regions of Earth and how they survive, will inspire your students to research these beautiful animals on their own. Creative activities! Questions and answers are included.
Nonfiction Bingo A great way for students to become very familiar with nonfiction features.
Nonfiction Detective Task Cards
Nonfiction Find It and Check It This packet helps to reinforce nonfiction text.
Common Core Informational Text Article (Cheetah) FREE!

LITERATURE GUIDES AND BOOK ACTIVITIES
Al Capone Does My Shirts
A Wrinkle in Time Literary Activities
A Wrinkle in Time Whole Book Assessment and Extension Activities
Bridge to Terabithia Student Worksheets
Brians Winter Student Worksheets Gary Paulsen’s survival books keep students on the edges of their seats!
Chasing Vermeer 65 Comprehension Activities Task cards
Chocolate Fever by Robert Kimmel Smith
Dogsong by Gary Paulsen
Fairy Tales Worksheet PacketFun! Imagine Cinderella’s glass slipper is a sneaker and she arrives to the ball in a limo. Students love these activities!
Freak the Mighty Themes
Frindle Literature Guide 87 pages. Includes an informational article about the Bill of Rights and Freedom of Speech with questions and answers. Is freedom of speech different in the classroom than what is says in the Constitution?
From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler Activities
Gullivers Travels
Hatchet Student Worksheets
Holes by Louis Sachar Student Worksheets
Hoot Student Worksheets
Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O’Dell
Lord of the Flies
Love that Dog,Test
Maniac Magee 32 Page Packet
Maniac Magee Task Cards
Maniac Magee Bullying
Maniac Magee Vocabulary
Maniac Magee Fortunate and Unfortunate Events If you purchased my Maniac Magee packet, please do no purchase this. It is in the packet.
Moby Dick
The Kite Runner
The Tiger Rising Activities
Where the Red Fern Grows Activities
Woodsong Packet

VOCABULARY DETECTIVES
Who doesn’t love a contest? You’ll notice that even your most reluctant readers will join in this weekly fun! See the links for more details.
Vocabulary Detectives Task Cards 4 Pronouns, Proper Nouns, Conjunctions
Vocabulary Detectives Task Cards 5 Similes, Metaphors, Personification
Vocabulary Detective Task Cards 6 Common Proper Nouns and Contractions

GRAMMAR AND SPELLING
Parts of Speech Animal Theme Posters Laminate for future use!
Subject and Predicate Activities
Irregular Past and Participle Forms of Verbs
Adjective Adverb Game Common Core Supplement
Adjective Adverb Task Cards
Common and Proper Nouns Practice for the Common Core
Spelling Activities To Use with Any Spelling List
How to Spell Plural Nouns FREE!
Common Proper Nouns Game

Scoot Games Get your students moving! Great way to informally assess your students and they don’t even know it because they’re having FUN! Play a game with them and they’ll be surprised teachers also love to have fun!
Scoot Fun! Adjectives
Scoot Fun! Nouns
Scoot Fun! Nouns Verbs Adjectives Adverbs
Scoot Fun! Prepositions
Scoot Fun! Subjects Predicates
Scoot Fun! Verbs

READING AND WRITING
Making Connections Packet
Sequence Packet
Reading Response Cards Packet
Facts or Opinions You Decide
Idioms are Fun Packet Have a frog in your throat? Students don’t seem to know what common idioms mean. They’ll have fun discussing the literal and true meanings of them.
Writing and Journal Prompt Task Cards Topics students relate to!!
Fairy Tales Worksheet PacketFun! Imagine Cinderella’s glass slipper is a sneaker and she arrives to the ball in a limo. Students love these activities!
Literary Packet Generic Worksheets High School or College
Movie Review for StudentsKeep your students focused as they watch videos in class. Add these sheets to your sub folder!
Creative Writing 48 task Cards
Education Quotation Posters Student Activity FREE! Inspire your students to think about education and learning by displaying these 8 1/2 inch by 11 inch posters year round. A perfect monthly writing activity. Students discuss the meanings of the quotations and write their interpretations.

SOCIAL STUDIES, MATH AND SCIENCE
Color the States
United States Reports Travel Agent Edition Students role play as travel agents as they research the U.S states.
You Decide Articles of Confederation or the Constitution
Climate and Weather Match up Card Games
Geography Flash Cards
Moon Exploration Activities Students create a moon exploration time line. Math is integrated.
Isaac Newton Laws of Motion Activities students relate to!
Inventors Research Project Extensive list of inventors. accompanies this research project!
Rockin Math Addition Subtraction Multiplication Division
Cool Cells Flash Cards

SNOWBALLS
These activities can be hands on cut and paste activities or students can write their answers on the snowballs.
Snowball Antonyms
Snowball Synonyms
Snowball Math Addition Subtraction
Snowball Math Multiplication and Division

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Behavior Reinforcing Student Responsibility
Behavior Forms for Teachers

Thanks for stopping by!

Ruth

 

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