FutureMe is a neat idea! Students can write letters to their future self and have them delivered on the date chosen. #elemchat #spedchat Letters can be made public or private.  Educational Applications: I would have the letters delivered to the teacher’s e-mail for ease and safety. I would also make them private. Great “Back to School” activity. Students can write letters at the beginning of the school year and have them delivered at the end of the school year. Have students include goals they would like to achieve. Have students write monthly or quarterly letters including goals and achievements. Letters can be motivational and inspirational. Students may or may not want to share their letters with classmates. Let it be their choice. Students can write a letter about a problem they are facing. When the letter is delivered in the future have them assess the problem. Is it still a problem? Has the problem been resolved? How was the problem resolved? Was it a big or small problem? etc. Write a group letter as a class using it as a time capsule. I’ll have to remember to re-post FutureMe at the beginning of the next school year. I really think this is great. Added to Write On! for Kids You may also like…  Letter Writing Resources  Readers/Writers Workshops, Centers, and Resources
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FutureMe is a neat idea!

Students can write letters to their future self and have them delivered on the date chosen.

#elemchat #spedchat

Letters can be made public or private. 

Educational Applications: I would have the letters delivered to the teacher’s e-mail for ease and safety. I would also make them private.

  • Great “Back to School” activity. Students can write letters at the beginning of the school year and have them delivered at the end of the school year. Have students include goals they would like to achieve.
  • Have students write monthly or quarterly letters including goals and achievements. Letters can be motivational and inspirational.
  • Students may or may not want to share their letters with classmates. Let it be their choice.
  • Students can write a letter about a problem they are facing. When the letter is delivered in the future have them assess the problem. Is it still a problem? Has the problem been resolved? How was the problem resolved? Was it a big or small problem? etc.
  • Write a group letter as a class using it as a time capsule.

I’ll have to remember to re-post FutureMe at the beginning of the next school year. I really think this is great.

Added to Write On! for Kids

You may also like…

 Letter Writing Resources

Word Chants with a twist….or an Aaarrrgh! #elemchat #spedchat #wordchants #freebies What a fab idea this is! Word chants are becoming so popular and I Love 2 Teach has created these awesome cards to make chants even more fun. Each card gives a unique way in which the chant should be done. Such as… Sing each word like an opera singer. Read each word like a robot with a computerized voice. Read each word as you pose like a statue. You get the idea. Check out I Love 2 Teach for more info and the freebie. !6 cards in all! Update: Don’t miss…32 Classroom Cheers. Simply fantastic! (FREE!) Visit my new site KB…Konnected Kids. 100+ free educational enrichment sites. Just launched 6-23-12.
Pop-upView Separately

Word Chants with a twist….or an Aaarrrgh!

#elemchat #spedchat #wordchants #freebies

What a fab idea this is! Word chants are becoming so popular and I Love 2 Teach has created these awesome cards to make chants even more fun. Each card gives a unique way in which the chant should be done.

Such as…

  • Sing each word like an opera singer.
  • Read each word like a robot with a computerized voice.
  • Read each word as you pose like a statue.

You get the idea. Check out I Love 2 Teach for more info and the freebie. !6 cards in all!

Update: Don’t miss…32 Classroom Cheers. Simply fantastic! (FREE!)

Visit my new site KB…Konnected Kids. 100+ free educational enrichment sites. Just launched 6-23-12.

A Fun Way to Start the New School Year

                        

I remember reading “The Marshmallow Challenge” posted by Teach Kids Art in June of this year.  It was used as an end of the year activity to encourage “creativity, problem solving and teamwork…skills that are essential for becoming an innovator in today’s rapidly changing world.”  I thought this would also be a great activity to start out the new school year.  Students work in small groups and are given the following supplies:  1 marshmallow, 1 yard of masking tape, 1 yard of string, and 20 sticks of spaghetti to create a free standing structure with the marshmallow on top.  They are given 18 minutes to complete the challenge. The winning group earns a standing ovation.              

I also checked out The Marshmallow Challenge webpage to view the video and find out more about it.  You should too.  According to Tom Wujec surprising lessons emerge when you discuss each groups outcome.   This challenge has been done in board rooms as well a kindergarten classrooms and everyone seems to have fun as well as learn some important lessons.  Just the right “kick off” for my art classes. Besides…their behavior will be great because of a marshmallow treat at the end. I’m looking forward to the fun we will all have during the challenge.  I think I will use my microphone to voice the play by play.  I will also use the “flipvideo” to capture the groups at work.