Happy New Year! I can’t believe 2018 is already here! I know this year will bring lots of amazing adventures for me and I wish the same for you!
This month’s free “treasure” is an editable template for Question Cards!
As teachers, we all have those tiny pockets of time between classes, before dismissal, or while standing in the hallways for a restroom/water break. Reading a book aloud is a good option to fill a bigger chunk of time, but sometimes you really do only have a few minutes or even seconds! I tried to use all of those precious minutes that might otherwise be wasted to review important topics and skills with my students.
In my classroom, I did this in a variety of ways. I had questions on popsicle sticks I would pull from (but who wants to make a new popsicle stick every single time you come up with a new question?!). Sometimes I would strictly review what had been taught that day (so there was usual a visual somewhere in the room to refer to). Other times, I would make up a question off the top of my head (but that can waste time too – trying to think of a question!).
I also tried to make the quick review engaging for the students. How? I would usually offer them some sort of reward for a correct answer. When I used “Star Bucks” (my classroom currency), correct answers would be rewarded with one Star Buck. When using Class Dojo, I might give a point for a correct response (this was clearly noted on Class Dojo so parents know this was a point for something other than a behavior). You don’t have to “give” the students anything – sometimes just getting the answer correct is reward enough – YOU know your students best, so do what works for YOU!
The idea behind these question cards is that you can add your own questions on them based on what you teach and what your students need to know. Print them out, keep them somewhere handy and convenient, and pull them out when you have a few minutes (or seconds) of downtime or transition time. They are editable, so print more as the year goes on and you have more topics and skills to review. Leave them for a substitute to use as well (with clear directions!) to ensure your students aren’t losing valuable minutes that could be made more instructional.
Make it exciting for the students! Pretend you are a game show host! Use a silly voice! Be Oprah! (You get a question, everyone gets a question!) Ultimately, have fun reviewing with your students and use those tiny bits of time that might otherwise be wasted!
If you’d like to try these with your child(ren) or classroom, download for free below!
Pin for later below (but don’t wait too long to download! It won’t be free forever!)
I cannot get the question cards to download.
Have you signed up to receive the password? Once you do, it will be emailed to you and you will enter the password to enter the Treasure Chest page. On that page there is a list of passwords for each resource. Enter it into the box under each resource. The download time will depend on your browser and connection.
Yes, I know the password and enter it and it says I cannot get it. 🙁
Oh, thanks for replying! Sometimes people ask questions or leave comments and you never hear from them again! I will check on this right now and see if I can replicate the issue. If you want to email me, I can send you the templates via email if that would help!
I entered the password and the download bar popped up right away asking me to open or save. If you’d like me to email you the template, just reply with your email address or email me at: ashleymagee@firstgradebrain.com