Dictated Sentences - 5 Steps for Using Them Effectively

Dictated sentences may seem "old school" but we're here to tell you - they BELONG in your primary classroom.  Dictation is the process of writing down what someone else says, and in a classroom that means you are giving your students the opportunity to concentrate on the critical elements of constructing a sentence.  Otherwise, students have to think creatively (come up with a sentence) and critically (write it correctly), and many just aren't quite ready for that.

There are SO many benefits to using dictated sentences in your classroom, but that's another discussion.  Today, we just want to get YOU prepared to use dictated sentences effectively in your classroom.

You can use dictated sentences daily, weekly, monthly, or any number of other ways - make it work for you and your students.  Just like all other routines you establish in your classroom, you have to positively practice it.  Set the students up for success, and make the process predictable.  

We typically use dictated sentences weekly.  However, with some of our reading groups we practice dictated sentences more often.  That's the beauty of dictated sentences - they're quick and flexible.  Here's the routine we use and have seen a lot of success with:

1. Listen to the sentence.  The teacher says the sentence and students listen.

2. Say the sentence with me.  Students repeat the sentence with the teacher and mimic the inflection and expression used when saying the sentence.

3. Say the sentence and count the words.  Students slow down and say the sentence again, this time counting each word on their fingers as it is said.

4. Write the sentence.  Students silently repeat the sentence as often as needed to record the sentence accurately.

5. Check your work.  Students self-assess using the 5 Star Sentence rubric we use in our classroom.  (Click here for a free version to use in your classroom.)

The best part?  You can do this with students virtually or in person.  When we went virtual in March 2020, we made sure to continue this routine with our students daily (if you don't use it, you lose it, right?).  Kaysin is the 1st grade virtual teacher for 2020-2021, and she uses dictated sentences frequently (at least weekly), and Robyn still establishes the routine in her  traditional 1st grade classroom.

If you are looking for an easy way to begin incorporating dictated sentences in your classroom, click on the picture above.  We have recorded 50 sentences for you to send to your students.  We've planned out sentences, crafted recording sheets, and made the ultimate no prep guide for you.  

How do you think you'll start using dictated sentences in your classroom?  We'd love to hear from you!

-Kaysin & Robyn

GETTING BACK INTO THE ROUTINE

On a normal year, coming back to school after a break can be TOUGH. This year - add Covid, switching back and forth from in-person to distance learning, quarantining, and an extended holiday break, it’s almost impossible to get back into the routine, especially for kids.

Here are FIVE ways to get you and your students back into a routine:

1. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.  Practice literally everything - even when it seems silly, we promise it is worth your time.  I don’t know about you, but we have been out of school for 2.5 months and we have all gotten 1 or 2 new students. Practicing now will save you time and sanity later.  

Thanks @lettersfrom4th for this amazing idea!  (She recommended going over each item throughout the week. Each time you mention it in class or review the expectations or rules, put a tally mark. After 5 tallies, check that item off!) GENUIS!! Check her out at - www.lettersfrom4thgrade.com.

2. Prepare extras of everything {for the inevitable new student}. Prepare school supplies, copies, folders, and FUN! Before jumping right back into the curriculum with full force, be sure to sprinkle in some fun here and there. Believe me, we’ve been there -- not having folders and supplies ready for the new kid stresses you and the kids out. So always be prepared.

Click these images to check out this easy, FUN Snowman Directed Drawing!

Grab this FREEBIE directed drawing activity for something FUN to do or as a brain break for you kiddos!  Click HERE to grab our Directed Drawing BUNDLE.

3. Plan for student-driven down time.  Students will be tired, restless, and hard to motivate. So… find things they enjoy, take the time to share, and allow your students and yourself to slowly transition back into school-mode. Things are going to take longer than they should, so prepare for that when writing your plans for the weeks ahead.

Use journal prompts or random, silly questions for morning meeting time to get your students talking to you and talking to one another. You can learn SO much from reading your students' journals. Grab this PowerPoint with 100 silly questions and journal prompts by clicking on the image.

4. Celebrate the small stuff. Over-praise the students. Use peer-modeling to remind students of simple procedures they may have forgotten. Let students know you’re impressed that they remember their lunch number, or how to sign into their technology, or EVEN writing their name on their paper. Letting students know they are remember expectations can ease nerves and can help them take pride in their work.

5. Be easy on yourself.  It’s going to be hard - getting up, making lunch, writing plans, and wearing normal clothes!  We say it all the time - Don’t sweat the small stuff. 

As always,  Keep Flockin’ it!

FlockStar Teachers

{Kaysin & Robyn}

7 Ways to Make Virtual Learning Fun

Virtual learning can be fun.  Read that again.  We’re serious… it can be fun.  It is definitely weird (see post here), but with the right resources, interacting with your students on Teams, or Zoom, or Google Meet, or whatever platform with the intention of having fun can be done.

Here are 7 ways we’ve had fun with our students.

1. Scavenger Hunts - these are SO fun.  Our kids fly out of the screen and zoom (no pun intended) back as fast as they can and always have the biggest smiles on their faces.  We’ve done rhyming scavenger hunts, themed ones, and just random off-the-cuff scavenger hunts.  They are all loved equally.  Our favorite part?  Seeing the kids’ pride in whatever item they’ve collected.  Think of it as show and tell speed dating.  It’s the best.

   Here's an example of one of the things we've asked our kiddos to find. Click the picture to see more scavenger hunt ideas!

2. Would You Rather - this game will help you get to know your students AND have fun with them.  It is so fun to see how your kids reason through their choices.  Again, we’ve played themed versions and just random questions; both are full of laughter and critical thinking (and some strong opinions).  If you want to turn this into more of an academic activity, you could totally use the options as writing prompts.  Boom!

   
   
   

3. Beat the Teacher - kids can be super competitive, and that can be a lot of fun when it’s directed at YOU. So, what we’ve done is create random trivia questions for our kids to answer.  If they answer a question correctly, they get a point.  If we stump them or they answer incorrectly WE get a point.  During virtual learning, if you need to spice it up even more, put small - or BIG stickers (see picture below) on your face when your students answer correctly - in our experience, this makes the whole family laugh, so expect to see siblings and grown ups; it is totally worth it.

   
   

4. Read My Lips - a virtual lip reading game.  Ugh… we’ve said “You’re muted,” a million times this year.  So we thought… Let’s make it a game.  With this game you intentionally mute yourself and say a silly phrase.  Then, your students have to guess what you’re saying.  Oh my lanta - the laughter is contagious!

   
   
   

5. Directed Drawings - we do these a lot during Fun Friday time.  The kids are always very focused and attentive to their artwork and LOVE sharing their final product at the end of the meeting.  We’ve started sharing photos on our Class Dojo story, too, which is just another way to let our kids shine.

   
   
   
   

6. Categories (Scattergories) - This game is timeless and FUN for everyone.  Your kids will beg you to keep playing. Added bonus with this game - it can help develop vocabulary and critical thinking skills. They won’t even realize they are learning with this fun game where students try to compete with other students (and maybe even the teacher) to come up with words that are different than everyone else!
   

   
   
   

7. Random Silly Questions for Kids - This is a good discussion starter.  It is hard to get to know your students while teaching virtually, but asking them random questions is a great way to get to know them.  This allows students to use critical thinking skills and start making claims.  With silly questions like, “If the sky could rain food, what kind of food would you want it to be?”, everyone is going to have so much fun.

   
   
   

If you're interested in any of these games or activities, click on the pictures to find them in our TPT store. You can click HERE for the bundle.

What are some ways YOU are making virtual learning fun and engaging?  Let us know!