"You're off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So...get on your way! ~ Dr. Seuss

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

WALKING PUNCTUATION...and a Plan to Prove We Are NOT robots

Are you tired of having to prove that you are a human being every time you want to leave a comment? Want to prevent others from that feeling when they visit your blog?   Well, last night, I learned how to change the settings on my blog so that you do not have to type in any letters or numbers.  So, I'm going to share it and maybe we can make posting comments just a little bit easier.
1. Go to your dashboard.
2. Click on settings.
3. Click on posts and comments.
4. Scroll down to "Show Word Verification" and set it to NO.
5. Save the settings (don't forget this part, like I did three times!)
6. Voila...your blog is now comment-poster friendly.
            
                                               ***JUST SAY NO TO ROBOTS***

Now, on to the real reason for this post...

I am very excited to share this activity with you.  One of my colleagues, Kim Murphey, demonstrated this with her third grade class this year. I began using it with my second grade Intensive Reading class and they LOVED it.  It is called "Walking Punctuation" and it is a way to get kids moving and reading at the same time.  The directions and motions can be adapted to what works best for you.  The most important parts of this activity are the echo-read and the repeated reading being done audibly.( I did have to practice reading aloud in a quiet voice a few times...my little ones didn't always realize how loudly they were reading.) When the students are reading aloud, you are able to walk around and listen in to do quick checks.  I've created some posters that can be displayed around the room or put up on a document camera.  If you would like a copy, please visit my TPT store and download them for FREE.  I hope you fnd this useful.
Have a Terrific Tuesday!


Directions

Select a passage.

Provide each student with a copy.

First, Echo-Read passage with students.

Then, students stand up and walk around the room while reading the passage aloud.  When they come to a punctuation mark, they make the corresponding motion. Once a student finishes the passage, he\she sits down on the floor and rereads passage silently.


Motions

Period: stop walking, put feet together with a little “stomp”

Comma: rock forward on one foot and back on the other foot

Question Mark: stop walking and raise hand in the air (like you have a question)

Exclamation Mark: stop, then jump up and down


Posted by Amy G. at
Labels: FLUENCY, LEARNING THROUGH MOVEMENT

15 comments:

  1. The Meek MooseJuly 17, 2012 at 7:29 AM

    I LOVE LOVE LOVE the walking punctuation idea! How totally perfect for getting to those kinesthetic learners and engaging everybody at the same time. It makes me think of a Conga line...
    ~Heather
    http://themeekmoose.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Meek MooseJuly 17, 2012 at 7:31 AM

    Second comment, I know, but as soon as I clicked publish I thought of something. How perfect would this be to start using their writing as the passage after they've learned the motions! That would definitely clear up those folks who never put a period, wouldn't it?
    ~Heather

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  3. Amy GroutJuly 17, 2012 at 10:22 AM

    I never thought of using it with their writing...but I can see a child having to walk non-stop through his/her entire piece because there are no punctuation mark..maybe it would help them. Great idea!

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  4. amyJuly 17, 2012 at 11:34 AM

    Oh my heck! That is super cuter!
    Amy
    Where Seconds Count

    ReplyDelete
  5. Mrs.SlocumJuly 17, 2012 at 2:54 PM

    I love this idea. I've been having my kids make gestures at punctuation marks for a while, but getting them moving too is great!

    Mrs. Slocum
    Teacher's Don't Steal, They Share!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Amy GroutJuly 17, 2012 at 3:37 PM

    I wish I could take full credit...but the idea was Kim Murphey, a co-worker. I am going to be posting soon about another activity called "Bus Stop", which is a super fun way to get students using vocabulary in coversations,also by Kim. She probably needs to start her own blog. LOL

    ReplyDelete
  7. Super Teacher TacticsJuly 17, 2012 at 10:14 PM

    Wonderful! I am definitly going to try this out this year! THanks for visiting my blog. Love your blog!

    ~Dawn

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kelly B aka Queen Bee!July 18, 2012 at 2:11 PM

    So neat! I am going to have to use this next year! Thanks for sharing and having the giveaway!

    [email protected]

    ReplyDelete
  9. Amy GroutJuly 18, 2012 at 11:14 PM

    Hi Dawn and Kelly,
    Thanks for following...I hope to gain a lot of new ideas from blogging this year.
    Amy

    ReplyDelete
  10. Keys4EducationJuly 18, 2012 at 11:28 PM

    I am a new follower! Thank you for the wonderful resources! :o)

    Jennifer
    jennkeys @ gmail . com

    ReplyDelete
  11. ElizabethJuly 18, 2012 at 11:34 PM

    I'm your newest follower!

    Elizabeth L.
    The First Grade Jungle Room

    ReplyDelete
  12. Amy GroutJuly 19, 2012 at 10:33 PM

    Welcome Jennifer and Elizabeth. I look forward to getting lots of new ideas from this wonderful community of eduators.
    Amy

    ReplyDelete
  13. YearntoLearnJuly 20, 2012 at 2:22 PM

    Very cute idea. Thanks for sharing.


    Yearn to Learn Blog

    ReplyDelete
  14. KellyJuly 20, 2012 at 8:14 PM

    I'm following from the hop and totally love this idea! Definitely going to be using next year!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Amy GroutJuly 20, 2012 at 10:32 PM

    Isn't the Blog hop great? I found so many new blogs from it. I love finding new blogs. :)

    ReplyDelete
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