2 products
Teach Me About ME! - A Guided Family Member Interview
This product came as a result of my first year teaching 5th grade. I found that my 5th graders had difficulty with friendships and social skills in general. Can’t we say this about MANY kids, no matter what their age, abilities, ethnicity, or gender?
Around the Thanksgiving holidays, I knew something had to be done. Over the Thanksgiving break I sent this home for homework. Since I knew they would be with their family (hopefully) and possibly be around family members they do not see very often. I pictured students connecting with their family members asking these questions and finding out more about themselves and hopefully they would bring this insight back with them after the break. I’m not sure this assignment changed the world, but when I read over their interviews it warmed my heart and helped change my classroom.
I found this assignment had 3 major benefits:
Allowed for honest conversations between families that may not have existed otherwise.
Students became more aware of their own strengths and weaknesses.
I gained insight into the relationships students have with their family member’s based on the response, as well as insight into how students feel about themselves.
Upon completion of this assignment, you can use this as a more in-depth goal-setting tool. Also, this could be used as a conversation tool to help students connect with their peers and improve relationships in the classroom.
🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.
Please keep in mind this assignment does not have to be completed over a break, it could be completed at any point you feel your students need it.
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Email: help@theliteracyloft.com
Ways We Can Talk in a Respectful Way-Sentence Stems Poster
Thank you so much for purchasing this product! This came as a result of many moments of whining, arguing, and attitude in my classroom. So believe me when I say this product has been kid-tested!
I used this to help coach students when I heard whining, arguing, attitude or just overall disrespect. I remember and love the classic NO WHINING poster, with the slash through and all! However, children need to know what to say instead. Some children have the natural ability to communicate appropriately. MANY children do not. As our classrooms become more and more diverse (both culturally and academically) we need to teach our students those social skills and exactly HOW to communicate with one another. I hope this product is a small stepping stone to help you and your students achieve better relationships. Of course, this product does not suffice in isolation. In my classroom, I introduced it during a class meeting. My students knew it was necessary, based on current events in our classroom. They appreciated the support in helping them to be kinder to one another.
I modeled how to use the stems and referred to them continuously when I heard them speaking negatively to one another. I ask, “How could you say that in a different way?” I hope you find this to be a useful tool! If you would ever like this product in a different version or have a request, please email me: help@theliteracyloft.com. As always, I appreciate any feedback! :)
🛑 Are you a member of the TLL Membership? These materials are already included. If you are not a member, click here to learn more. The TLL Membership gives you an all-access pass to hundreds of ELA resources for teachers in Grades 3-5.
Let’s connect!
The Literacy Loft Blog
The Literacy Loft on Instagram
