Assess with Plickers


Have you heard of Plickers? Plickers is a free teacher created app that uses an internet connected mobile device and a student's unique Plicker card.  Teachers create questions.  Students use their Plicker card to select an answer and hold it up as the teacher scans the cards using an iPad or smartphone.  Data is reported and collected instantly!

Assessing with Plickers is a great alternative to traditional means of data collecting.

I used Plickers to create a formative assessment about American symbols.  The questions I asked my students were created to help inform my instruction.  We took this as a pre-test and will take it again at the conclusion of our unit.

Here is a sample.


What I like about it is that I can ask all or a group of my students questions.  Since their Plicker cards are unique, students are less apt to "copy" each other.  Students also love the fact that technology is incorporated.

To learn more about Plickers, this video was very helpful.

Teaching American symbols is one of my favorite units.  Read more about our writing and craft ideas from these previous posts.




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Calendar Makeover using #chalkboardbrights


If you're like me, something happens mid-year that makes you feel the need to change things in your classroom.  It may mean rearranging desks or redoing a bulletin board.  For me, it meant redoing my math area; in particular my calendar.


This chalkboard bright calendar from Teacher Created Resources is just what the area needed.  The calendar set is much larger than my previous one.  It also has a variety of pieces including holidays, special occasions like field trips and several blank ones for you to use.  

Over the years, I've tried many ways to keep the calendar numbers on.  I've tried cutting slits on the calendar and using paper clips, stapling numbers on or in sheer desperation writing the numbers like here.   Finally, I discovered a much more effective way of keeping the calendar numbers in place.


I use restickable dots which I cut in half and place on the calendar.  



The finished product gives this set a real polished look.  

I am definitely happy with this mid-year makeover and am sure that I will use it for the upcoming school year.  

Happy Teaching!     








Please note: I received the calendar set as well as other Teacher Created Resources products to use in my classroom. This did not influence my opinions or views of this product.
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