Ultimate Sharing 2.0 and New Teach/OK Claps

Sigh - this is me during Sharing time these days:

If I have to hear one more child say: "This is my bear.  It is special" - there is going to be issues!!  Dun dun duh!!  Ultimate Sharing 2.0 to the rescue!!

For those of you that haven't read my first post on Ultimate Sharing - you can click here.  For those of you that have - time for version 2.0!!!  I teach Grade 2 as well as Grade 1 so I needed a way to spice up their Sharing at the end of the day.  Critical thinking has been on my mind lately so I decided that a perfect time to squeeze it in would be during Sharing.  Here is what I came up with to paste into my students Sharing books.

Now that the year is progressing, Grade 2 students have the opportunity to earn stars for the class to earn an educational game or activity when the class earns 100 stars. 

1 * Sharing – Neat, written description (at least 3 sentences that include adjectives and adverbs) of Sharing object, in complete sentences, including “because”.

2 * Sharing - Neat, written description (at least 3 sentences that include adjectives and adverbs) of 2 sharing objects describing the similarities and differences between the two objects. 

3 * Neat, written description (at least 3 sentences that include adjectives and adverbs) of 2 sharing objects describing the similarities and differences between the two objects, as well as connecting it to some other object they have already shared, a concept they have learned in class, or to an event, person, or book. 

As a reward we decided that having a dance party would be amazing and I may or may not have said they could dance on their desks for a little, small, very tiny amount of time.  Hey - it is called Daily Physical Activity people and it is in the curriculum!!!  Apparently this is very exciting for the kids!!  Probably about the same as crawling underneath their desks - lol!!   Voila - Ultimate Sharing 2.0!!

Here is Ultimate Sharing 1.0 wording just in case you don't have it!!

Now that the year is progressing, students have the opportunity to earn stars for the class to earn an educational game or activity at the end of the week. 

1 * Sharing – Neat, written description of Sharing object, in complete sentences.

2 * Sharing – Neat, written description of Sharing object, in complete sentences, including “because”.

3 * Sharing - Neat, written description of Sharing object, in complete sentences, including “because” and a Sloppy Copy or rough draft.

YES!  This makes Sharing time so much more enjoyable and educational!!  Double bonus!!!  Already today Sharing was SO much better!!

P.S.  I have some new Teach/OK! versions:

The Baby Clap: Use one finger on each finger to clap.  Use a baby voice to say Teach.

The Sticky Fingers Clap:  Clap hands together and pull them apart very slowly like they are covered in honey.  Look at them disgustedly as you say Teach.

The Sumo Wrestler Clap: Stamp the floor and slam your hands together for the clap.  Use a loud, booming voice to say Teach.

The Begging for Mercy Clap: Clasp your hands together and shake them on an angle towards the ceiling while using a pleading voice to say Teach.

Fresh Class/Yes! Ideas, Teach/OK! Ideas and Einstein's Triangles - the next generation of Critical Thinking - WBT Style!!

My class has been on fire with new ideas for Class/Yes! and Teach/OK!  I was starting to get a little ho-hum about our Snowball Class.  They suggested Frozen Class! and they say Frozen Yes! and freeze like an ice berg!!  LOVE!  Also, they came up with SSssssss Hot Chocolate Class! and they say Ssssssss Hot Chocolate!

Also, I was finding that the Teach/OK was producing some less than stellar Oh YEAHS!  So I just changed up the clap - now we are doing marshmallow claps and sliding claps - imagine the possibilities!!

Last, but certainly not least Einstein triangles have been Mr. Biffle's newest critical thinking technique to be introduced into the WBT umbrella!!  I am pumped because I know it is the big catch word these days in the most districts around here!  So this is how it works:

During the 5 Step Lesson Plan:

Students repeat the concept definition 2X rather than over and over again in the very beginning of the lesson.  After they have repeated it they move on to the second part of the triangle.

Students compare and contrast the new concept with other concepts they have already learned.  Gestures are included while they discuss these similarities and differences.

Third, students make connections between the new concept at other concepts, their life, or the world.  Gestures are used!

This innovative idea is easy to use and covers any critical thinking objectives.  Students are taught to use the Elite Eight words to help them discuss critically:

 

Click on the picture for extensive information on this new innovative method!!!

 

Happy Whole Brain Teaching!!!