Spy and Try

I leave these cards, along with a baggy of Starburst candy, on my students' desks at Meet the Teacher! Like what you see? Follow "Spy and Try" for more random, usable, classroom resources!

Review cards covering assorted reading skills (specific to the 4th Grade Texas Reading TEKS). Great for morning review, vocabulary games, and STAAR test prep! Includes 16 cards. Like what you see? Follow "Spy and Try" for more random, usable, classroom resources!

Simple, colorful visual for different "growth mindset" character traits! Each trait includes an "I can" statement: curious, persistent, efficient, creative, flexible, optimistic. Like what you see? Follow "Spy and Try" for more random, useful, classroom resources!

I display these cards, and the books the students choose, in my class library using small display stands. Students write reviews, and explain why the book is a great read! I laminate the cards, and the students write on them with dry erase marker.

This PowerPoint is a review of basic map reading vocabulary (cardinal directions, intermediate directions, legend, scale, longitude, and latitude). I use this as a whole class review. Like what you see? Follow "Spy and Try" for more random, useful, classroom resources!

This is one of my favorite tools for teaching poetry! Using anchor chart paper, I display a new poem every week. Each morning, we visit the poem and discuss the elements of poetry, vocabulary, and making connections. On Friday, my students write a final stanza for the poem. Includes: "Poem of the Week" label, 5 poetry elements of poetry, and 3 poetry types Like what you see? Follow "Spy and Try" for more random, usable, classroom resources!

Simple, colorful visual for the different reading genres! Each genre includes a definition and book examples: autobiography, biography, fantasy, historical fiction, informational, mystery (adventure), poetry, realistic fiction, science fiction, and traditional literature. Like what you see? Follow "Spy and Try" for more random, useful, classroom resources!

Simple, colorful steps for the writing process! Each step includes a "big idea" and a list of instructions: prewrite, rough draft, revise, edit, and publish. Like what you see? Follow "Spy and Try" for more random, useful, classroom resources!

Presentation compares the different natural resources of Texas, N America, S America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. Like what you see? Follow "Spy and Try" for more random, usable, classroom resources!

Polk-dot posters describe and give examples of the different there/their/they're. Like what you see? Follow "Spy and Try" for more random, usable, classroom resources!

Colorful polka-dots organize the different parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, pronouns, adverbs, and prepositions), includes definitions and examples. Like what you see? Follow "Spy and Try" for more random, usable, classroom resources!

Simple, colorful labels for your class library! Genres include: adventurous, humorous, mysterious, friendship, informative, fairy tales, biographies, magazines, and animals. Like what you see? Follow "Spy and Try" for more random, useful, classroom resources!

Introduces the five oceans with facts and pictures (Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, Indian, and Southern). My students record the information in their interactive notebooks. Like what you see? Follow "Spy and Try" for more random, usable, classroom resources!

Simple prompts perfect for revising and editing with your 4th grade (or any grade!) students. Each prompt includes examples of 1-4 scored writing. Colorful organization helps students structure their ideas for a perfect 4/4 every time! I use the 1-4 examples to teach writing strategies, and address common mistakes I see my students making. Prompts include: Write about something that you look forward to doing.Write about a place you’d like to visit, and why you would like to go there.Write about

Bright polka-dot colored label! I use it to label my writing station buckets. Like what you see? Follow "Spy and Try" for more random, usable, classroom resources!

I print these tickets on red paper, and then staple them to the student's work when they earn a low grade (or I know they could improve). After they return their work, I correct it, and they can earn points back on the assignment! Like what you see? Follow "Spy and Try" for more random, usable, classroom resources!

This is my format for station rotations during workshop time. Students are in groups of 4-5, and participate at each station for 20 minutes. The signs are displayed on our "workshop" board, so that students understand workshop norms. Game on: students play the learning game with their team. Online: students complete the online assignment. Activity: students will complete the assigned activity with their team. Lesson: students will work in a small group with the teacher. Selfie time: students in

Classroom Hand Signals give students a tangible way to share their needs with you. Students simply raise their hand and using their fingers! I found these particularly helpful during testing, as my students could easily (and silently!) communicate their needs! I laminated mine, and hung them near my calendar, so the students can easily reference them. Signals are labeled and include Restroom, Drink, Tissue, Pencil, and Question. Like what you see? Follow "Spy and Try" for more random, usable, c

A simple way to introduce or review the basic parts of speech. Students describe what their super hero can do (verbs), has (nouns), and is (adjectives). The students are then able to decorate their superhero to reflect their lists. For example: My superhero can run, jump, fly, etc. My superhero has goggles, a cape, gloves, etc My superhero is silly, smart, brave, etc. Like what you see? Follow "Spy and Try" for more random, usable, classroom resources!

A short, simple review of basic multiplication word problems! I use this as a formative assessment at the end of my multiplication lesson, to see which students will need additional help mastering the concept. Like what you see? Follow "Spy and Try" for more random, useful, classroom resources!