Diana Salmon had just been nominated "Teacher of the Year." She was feeling good, and looking forward to a summer of fun with her two little girls. However, it was not to be.
On June 30, 2014, Diana was unpacking groceries from the trunk of her car. Suddenly, she was struck from behind by another car. As a result of the accident, her left leg had to be amputated above the knee. The loss of her leg did not prevent her from returning to her classroom, which she did after only eight weeks of therapy, with the support of one crutch.
Diana Salmon in the Hospital
TpT teacher-authors came together to help Diana by creating many different bundles of awesome classroom resources for various age ranges and subject levels at tremendous bargain prices. All proceeds from the sales of these bundles will go directly to help procure a bionic leg for Diana, so that she may return to her normal activities, as much as possible.
I love educational conferences! I am a member of a cooperative group of TpT author sellers, led by Michele Martin-Luck, who participate in conferences across the country!
The latest conference is occurring today, and for the next couple days, in North Carolina!
Today I'm linking up with Techie Turtle Teacher to bring you this fun video to help you teach graphing. Anything that can make graphing more interesting or fun for my students gets a thumbs-up from me!
Here's the quote from PBS to introduce the video: "In this video segment from Cyberchase, Harry and Bianca have new jobs at a movie theater concession stand. They compete with each other to see who can sell the most snacks, and they report their sales using bar graphs. When their graphs are compared, it appears that Harry has sold more, but Bianca is not so sure, so she takes a closer look at the scale of each graph."
Are your students stressed out about testing? Are you? As an
elementary school teacher, I have seen students who get so stressed out by the
fear of testing that they “freeze up” and have trouble remembering everything
they learned during the past year in the classroom. They know the material, and
I know they know it, but they are so stressed out by the idea of high-stakes
testing that they are temporarily unable to perform well.
In order to relax students, there are several techniques you
can use. Depending on your school environment and access to materials, you can
try some or all of these techniques in your own classroom.
I’ll start with some of the long-range techniques I use to
get my students to focus.
Medicine Balls
I love these. I started out with just four of my own, but
allowed my students to bring in their own from home. Students sit on these
instead of their chairs. They are softer and more comfortable than regular hard
student chairs, and they help develop core strength in students.
Have Students Bring Their Own Medicine Balls for Seating
They are FABULOUS for students with ADHD, and all my
students absolutely love them. I no longer have problems with students rocking
in their chairs and flipping out of their seats. The medicine balls allow
movement, but without the danger.Plus,
muscles that are allowed to move become more relaxed.
These are great for those kinesthetic learners, too. You
know the ones who are always tapping a pencil or clicking a pen and driving
everyone crazy with the noise? You tell them to stop, but they start up again
after a few minutes. It’s because kids NEED to move! Give them a medicine ball
and they will channel that extra energy into quiet movement.
Regular Physical
Activity
Don’t cancel P.E. because of all the material you need to
cover before the test. You think that there just isn’t time to teach it all, so
you look for things to cut from your schedule. You think that you can then add
those found minutes you took from P.E. and add them to you teaching time. Big
mistake! All you’ll get are more behavior problems in your classroom, and less
focus from your students. Physical activity stimulates blood flow, which sends
more oxygen to the brain, and helps students to think more clearly.
Hopscotch and Jumprope Are Excellent Outdoor Activities
Instead, add brain
breaks to your daily schedule. Two to three minutes of physical activity
inside your classroom every hour or so will wake students up, increase blood
flow and oxygen levels, and help students stay alert for that fabulous lesson
you have planned for them.
Brain breaks can be as simple as a few minutes of jumping
jacks, Simon says, or dancing to disco music. The Internet is full of ideas for
brain breaks. Try some!
Testing Environment
Get kids used to taking tests in a quiet, structured
environment in a low-stress way. Before my students take regular classroom
tests in math, science, English, or anything else, I have a series of things I
have them do to relax.
Once all my students are seated and ready for the test
(bathroom and water breaks have been taken, pencils and scratch paper are
ready, and everyone is focused on me) I lead them through a short series of
deep breathing exercises. I point out to them that studies have shown that when
kids are stressed, they tend to hold their breath.
Remember Those Sharpened #2 Pencils!
For example, Johnny is taking a test. He doesn’t know the
answer to question number 17. Rather than working through the strategies you
have taught him to find the correct answer, he starts to panic. Without
realizing he is doing it, he tenses up. He holds his breath or severely
restricts his breathing. This starves the brain of oxygen, and makes it even
more unlikely that he will be able to find the answer. This leads to even more
panic, and sets in motion a cycle that is difficult for the student to break.
This is when students try to ask for help from their teachers (forbidden on high-stakes
tests) or even begin to cry.
Students of All Ages Get Stressed During Testing
Relaxation Techniques
To help my students break this cycle I teach them relaxation
techniques as they take tests throughout the year. The first of these is deep
breathing. As students are about to take a test, I have them take several deep,
cleansing breaths. Then I have them repeat after me, “I’m good enough, I’m
smart enough, and my goodness, people like me!”
This always makes them smile, which further reduces test
anxiety. Then I remind them to use the deep
breathing techniques and repeat this phrase to themselves whenever they
start to panic during the test. After several months of doing this together as
a class, it becomes a habit for most students by the time the state tests roll
around.
I also incorporate some simple yoga stretches students can do while sitting in their chairs. One
that works well for high-stakes testing (when students aren’t allowed to turn
their heads from side to side) is this one. Have students grab underneath their
upper legs while they stretch their upper bodies upward. Then have them slowly
touch their chins to their chests. Each movement should be held for about five
seconds.
I usually play classical
music (such as anything by Mozart) whenever students are working
independently in my classroom, but this is not allowed during state testing. It
helps calm students, while stimulating thinking, especially in math and
science.
Visualization
Something that helps create the same feeling of peace and
gentle mental stimulation for students as music does, but without breaking
testing protocols is using visualization. This is another technique that
improves with practice, so I teach and use this with my students throughout the
year.
Have students close their eyes. (I always get some giggling
from my boys when I first start teaching this technique, but the more I train
my class, the better they act.) Start by describing a scene in detail. It could
be a walk through a forest, or a day at the beach. The key to making this
technique useful lies in your descriptions. Add as many sensory details as you
can possibly think of, and do it in a low, soothing voice.
Visualize a Calm, Peaceful Place
Ask students to imagine a movie playing in their minds as
you describe the scene to them. Continue this slowly for 30 seconds or so the
first time, eventually building up to a minute or two over a few months as you
practice this with your class. Eventually, you want them to choose their own
“relaxing place” within their minds, so that they can go back to it whenever
they feel the need.
These are just a few of the relaxation techniques I use with
my students. What are some of the ones you have found successful for helping
your own students? I hope you will share with us by leaving a comment below
with your own tips.
Thank you for reading my blog. “See” you next time!
I am so fortunate to be one of the TpT sellers represented by Michele Martin-Luck at conferences around the country! The SCMSA conference at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina is being held this weekend. Michele posted some pictures on our private FB page, and I wanted to share them with you! :)
Our TpT Conference Booth
Here's a slightly removed angle to show the size and location of our booth.
Up Front and Center!
Michele was really excited to find that our booth was at the front of the area. Yeah!
Before the Conference Began
Here's another photo. I am ridiculously excited about this! :D
Right-hand Side of the Sellers Display
You can see some of the sellers' display books in this photo, plus our coupon books (including all of our stores' information) are shown at the top.
My Display Book Is Located on the Upper Right
Although it's difficult to see in these photos, Michele has also placed "goody bags" with our stores' business cards and freebies in back of the display. These are handed out to conference attendees on a first-come, first-served basis.
To celebrate this conference display, all the sellers you see represented here have their TpT stores on sale this weekend. Everything in my own TpT store Carol's Garden will be 10% from March 6th through midnight on the 8th.
Thanks for reading my post! Have a wonderful week!
Until next time!
