I can’t lie. It’s been a challenging year so far. Tech Decks are back with a vengeance. Kids are ripping soap dispensers off the bathroom walls (thanks, TikTok). There’s also a lovely new game called foot tag where the objective is to step on the other person’s shoes.URGH! Those are just some of the highlights of the year so far! Gotta love middle school! Despite a rough start, kids do seem to be settling down a bit, and I am actually starting to look forward to going to school each day again!
One of my favorite teachers on social media is Laura Randazzo. Not only is she brilliant, she is adorable and hilarious. I have followed her for years, and over the summer I decided to adopt one of her practices which has worked beautifully--table groups! I decided to use dogs as my theme--I mean, who doesn’t love dogs? I decided on nine dog breeds, found a picture of each one, and laminator to work. Then I used packing tape to attach the pictures to each table.
I keep students in the same group for three weeks or so. During those three weeks, each group competes for points. They get points for participating in discussions, leaving their table area clean, and being ready to work when the bell rings. I have also given points for winning games, including my all time favorite, building a tower out of twenty pieces of paper and nothing else! Additionally, they get points for taking a picture of one of our words of the week in a book they are reading and posting it in Google Classroom for the entire class to see. These, of course, are just some of the ways points can be earned, but you get the idea.
Once the three weeks are over, I announce the winning group. I give the winners a choice of treats from my treat basket and a hydro flask sticker. They love the stickers and spend about ten minutes trying to decide which one they want! However, the reward they love most is getting to choose one person they want at their table for the next three weeks, as well as the particular table they want to sit at! Each time students move to a new table, I do some kind of fun game or getting to know you activity: Jenga, Taco, Goat, Cheese, Pizza ( you MUST get this game), and Would you Rather are just three of the games I’ve used so far.
What I love most about table groups is that they build a sense of community and camaraderie. Sometimes students beg, “Please don’t make us change seats.I love my table group.” I know many friends have been made in my classes, and that makes me happy. Mission accomplished!
The seventh-graders are so lucky! They get an entire year in person with you! There is a dearth of people like you, and, it seems, a plethora of tech decks! Every class, those rapscallions (as you know) start clattering a superfluity of those cantankerous toys onto the tops of tables. Kids like this have always piqued my curiosity. Why can't they learn to emulate their vivacious and tenacious teacher!? Unfortunately, nowadays, there's always trepidation of the next bad incident that will happen at school. There are also those unblocked games that coerce kids into playing. Hopefully, with the copious amount of joy in your classroom-cache of happiness, you will make our entire school better!
ReplyDeleteI know EXACTLY who this is, and you are the BEST! I am thrilled that you have retained ALL of the Words of the Week! :) Students like YOU are what keep me going. :)
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