This year, I introduced Brag Tags to my fourth graders. I love that they are motivating and encouraging my students to strive to reach behavior and academic goals. Not only have they exceeded my expectations with this upper elementary group, but I've learned so much as a teacher from using them!
Of course, I didn't expect ALL of my students to enjoy them, but so many of my students have surprised me. They have been a hit in my classroom! It wasn't until last week, when we started talking about character traits, that I've noticed how much more prepared my students were for this reading skill. They have connected our Character Brag Tags to our character trait lessons. When I was creating the character trait tags, I wanted them specifically to align to more difficult character traits. At the beginning of the year, I introduced each one. Boy did this room full of students look so confused as we talked about each one! They hadn't heard of or didn't know the meaning of the traits I had included in this set.
Now that we have discussed and described each character trait, the students are so interested in how they can earn them. Each week, I pass out the character tags to those students that have truly earned each one. I also, give an example on how this tag fits that student.
By simply adding this to our routine and classroom management, this has created a positive environment inside our classroom for the entire year. I love seeing my students light up as they receive their tags and wear it on their necklace. The connections they have between character traits has been an added bonus. They're successful in describing characters by not only their actions, but how they behave on a regular basis. They're able to be more descriptive and notice deeper tried and true traits that a character possesses.
Practice makes perfect when it comes to baseball.... and even grammar! Having routines in any classroom is very crucial. Foundations are built and set in motion at the beginning of each school year, so it just makes sense to have a routine when it comes to teaching grammar.
Each week, I start this routine off with an interactive PowerPoint. For example, my Relative Pronouns & Adverbs PowerPoint. This weekly process {pictured below} starts by breaking down this skill with a definition, followed by examples, and finally the practice problems.
Each PowerPoint comes with ten clickable questions with answers. The questions are always the highlight of each Monday! By the time we get to the last question, they are ready to keep answering more. This is where the rest of the grammar centers and activities come in.
To see my entire grammar week broken down, read my blog post here! To find all of my interactive PowerPoints like this one, click here. Last but not least, if you want to save the most on these products, check out my bundles here!
I love that you can use task cards in so many ways! Not just for whole group instruction, but even for differentiating with your students. In my classroom, I have used task cards for literacy centers, test prep, extra practice, pulling groups for reteaching, and so much more!
That's why I want to share my best-selling task cards, Helping Verb Task Cards, with you!
This set contains 24 task cards with a variety of questions. Ranging from finding and labeling helping and main verbs to building their own sentences using helping/main verbs.
If you're looking for other ways to use these cards, check out Rachel Lynette's 31 Terrific Ways to Use Task Cards with Your Students for even more ideas!
If you're looking for more helping verb resources, grab the BUNDLE that includes a week's worth of activities! This bundle includes a PowerPoint, Task Cards, Sort, Handout, and Quiz.
As a TpT author, my passion is making grammar products. I wanted to put together all of my bundles into one large growing bundle {Growing Grammar Bundle} so that teachers can have a multi-usable resource available for their classroom. I love these bundles specifically because they contain everything you need for a week's worth of activities on that grammar subject. Each bundle contains a PowerPoint, Sort, Task Cards, Handouts, and a Quiz. I use all of these items in my own classroom every week!
Pictured: Kinds of Sentences Sort
Here's a look at my weekly classroom schedule...
Monday: I introduce the grammar skill for the week with the PowerPoint. Each PPT gives a definition along with examples for the weekly skill. After all of the terms and samples are shown, there are ten interactive questions available. This is usually my students' favorite part! They are always excited to participate in this part! Every Monday always ends with *sigh* "Are there any more questions?!" Usually, ten are about all we have time for before we move on to centers where they will get more practice.
Tuesday - Thursday: As I mentioned before, I keep use some of the other items in weekly centers for them to practice on throughout the week. I usually put the Sort and Task Cards in two of my ELA weekly centers.
Wednesday: Wednesday night, I have students take home the handout to bring back on Thursday's. Then, I can check them and see who needs to be pulled into a small group to be retaught or given extra practice.
Friday: Quiz day! Each student takes a quiz on this skill for a grade.
The materials included for each skill is perfect variety for my students' needs. You can always buy each bundle separately by skill, but you save over 55% when you buy the Growing Grammar Bundle!
With a new school year coming up, I will be making more grammar bundles. As I add more to it, the price will begin to increase. Make sure you buy it now to save more!
