Dip Starter Pack 2021-2022

As highly requested following feedback on my "Dip Tips" blog post, I created this Dip Starter Pack to save probationary teachers lots of time, effort and money. I've just updated it for the 2021-2022 school year. I couldn't help myself when making it and went a bit overboard in buying shabby chic and bullet journal style clip art! You'll see that theme running through the pack! :)

Here's what's in the 170 page pack: 
(the preview picture below doesn't show everything! Scroll down to read the full contents.)

PLANNING RESOURCES:

• Example short-term (weekly) plans
• Example long-term (termly) plans
• Example cuntais míosúla
• 9 cover sheets for your planning and assessment folders
• Weekly planning checklists (3 sheets, one per term)
• Editable checklists and information sheets (e.g. homework record, information for substitute teachers, birthday record, etc.)
• Teacher calendar sheets (August 2021 - July 2022)
• Editable international Events Calendar (2021-2022)
• A PDF copy of my "Dip Tips" blog post

ASSESSMENT RESOURCES:

• Superhero-themed behaviour management tools including an editable token chart, token sheets, an editable behaviour record cover, goal-setting/reflection sheets, a behaviour frequency record with an example and instructions)
• Two Stars and a Wish self-assessment sheets
• Self-assessment display based on Marzano's Levels of Understanding
• Self-assessment sheet based on Marzano's Levels of Understanding

DISPLAY RESOURCES:

• Laethanta na Seachtaine display
• Dathanna display
• Prionta sa Timpeallacht (28 flashcards, 4 posters)
• Na h-Ábhair Scoile circular display
• Visual timetable pack (with editable cards)
• WALT and WILF signs (for sharing objectives and assessment criteria)

Many of these resources are available individually (paid/free) in my TPT store. The total of the paid resources is $18.50. This bundle allows you to save $6.50 as it's priced at $12 (that's roughly €10.60). The example weeklies, termlies and cuntais míosúla are not sold separately. Those are a bonus just for this bundle! So, in summary, for just over a tenner (not a massive investment!) you'll get 170 pages of example plans, planning and assessment templates and classroom displays. 

Here's a closer look at just some of the things that are inside. Click on the images if you'd like to purchase these separately! Many are suitable for non-dip-doing teachers too!

These calendar sheets (not just for dip teachers!):

These bullet-journal inspired, washi-tape filled checklists to help you keep track of your planning (and fulfill your pretty stationery needs!): 

These editable sheets for your teacher folder including a birthday tracker, editable information sheets for substitute teachers, lots of editable checklists that you could use for homework, phonics, spelling test records, recording specific objectives. (Again, not just for the dip!):

   

These pretty dip folder cover sheets (9 of them in total!). I also have editable versions in different styles for anybody not doing the dip:

These superhero-themed behaviour management tools for tackling individual children's behaviour. This pack includes a fully editable behaviour chart with editable tokens, a behaviour frequency record with an example and instructions and a cover sheet and goal-setting/reflection sheet to make a behaviour record book (FYI, my dip inspector loved seeing that record book!):

This prionta sa timpeallacht pack that contains 28 flashcards and 4 posters:

This dathanna display:

These visual timetable cards (includes editable cards):

 These circular chalkboard-style subject posters as Gaeilge:

This self-assessment chart based on Marzano's Levels of Understanding (with corresponding self-assessment sheets): Here's how it looked in my classroom in the past!

         

Editable Behaviour Management Tools

Hello there,

I hope you're surviving back to school season!

I've made some behaviour management tools, designed for one-on-one use with a child to tackle challenging behaviours by setting goals and reflecting on their behaviour. They are editable PowerPoint files so you can modify text, images, tables, etc. to suit your child's needs. 

There are a few different themes. Each set contains:

• instructions
• a behaviour frequency record
• an example of a completed behaviour frequency record
• 2 fully editable charts
• 2 editable token sheets
• a cover sheet and goal-setting/reflection sheet to make a personalised behaviour record book

Click on the images below to grab them from my TPT store for just $2 (roughly €1.70).

Do you Kahoot?

Hi there,

Do any of you out there use Kahoot? It's a great FREE site for creating multiple choice quizzes, polls and discussions. One of my friends, a secondary school language teacher, finds it very useful in her classroom for reinforcing new vocabulary.

Your students can then access your quiz using a computer/mobile device (no sign in required - they just create a temporary username and put in a code that you generate just before playing). You can then display the questions on your interactive whiteboard/smart TV and the children respond on their device. The teacher's (and shared) display shows (anonymously) how many people got it right. Afterwards, a teacher can download the results and have a record of this assessment, be it formative or summative.

You can access the (millions) of readily created Kahoot!s or you can invent your own. A great assessment tool could be to ask your students to create their own Kahoot!s.

Here are some examples of ready-made Kahoot!s:
Gaeilge (Torthaí)
Multiplication facts (x9s)
Brian teasers
Famous landmarks
Food groups

Reflection area resources (self-assessment and peer assessment)

If your have been following this blog over the summer, you probably know that I have been, ever so slowly, building up a bank of resources to make a reflection area in my classroom. I definitely feel the children in my class could have been given many more opportunities for written self-reflection. I thought dedicating a section of my room to this would promote this aspect of assessment.

I have already shared some of the resources for the reflection area on my blog (including the FREE peer assessment sheet.) 

I've gone about making the rest of the resources that I'll be using in my reflection corner. I've uploaded them to my TPT store so that you can purchase them if you like. Two of these sheets are directly related to IB schools as my school follows the PYP. However, the other four sheets and headers could be useful to teachers in any school setting.

The pack contains:

• "Reflection Area" heading (A4)
• "Reflection Corner" heading (A4)
• Mini headings for each sheet (blue)
• Mini headings for each sheet (multicolored)
• and the following assessment sheets in A5 size (2 on each A4 page):
• Peer assessment
• Collaborative group reflection
• How Well Do You Understand? (self-assessment - colour)
• How Well Do You Understand? (self-assessment - black and white)
• Two Stars and a Wish (with lines, colour)
• Two Stars and a Wish (with lines, black and white)
• Two Stars and a Wish (without lines, colour)
• Two Stars and a Wish (without lines, black and white)
• Learner Profile Aims
• Attitude Goals

All of these items are available for sale individually in my store. Just use the filters to select "assessment" and you should find them easily.

Click on the image above to view the pack in my TPT store.

Stand by for photos of the finished assessment corner when I get free reign on my classroom next week!

Learner Profile and IB PYP Attitudes goal-setting and reflection

This one is for the IB PYP teachers out there! As mentioned here before, I'm working on a reflection area for my classroom. This year I'd like my children to keep written reflections on how much they demonstrate the attitudes and learner profile attributes. The sheet contains the PYP action cycle vocabulary, "choose," "act" and "reflect." 

The idea is that the children will choose a learner profile attribute/attitude on Monday, act on it during the week and then reflect on their action on Friday. It could also be used monthly or per unit.

I've created two different sheets, both in A4 and A5. They can be bought individually in my TPT store or you can save $1 by buying them together in this pack.

Self-assessment: Two Stars and a Wish

One of my favourite methods of self-assessment is the "two stars and a wish" tool. The students reflect on their learning by writing two things that they have learned (stars) and one thing that they would like to know/be able to do (wish). It works well for younger and older children and provides interesting feedback for the teacher.


This is on sale in my Teachers Pay Teachers store for $1.50 (about €1.10). 

There are various combinations of each of the following:
*Black and white or colour
*A4 or A5
*Lined boxes or unlined boxes

FREEBIE Friday: Peer-assessment sheet

It's the weekend! Want a freebie?

I've been working on some resources to create a reflection area in my classroom. I've decided to share this peer-assessment sheet with you. The file contains two versions - A4 and A5. 

This can be used at the end of paired-work or after a group task. The children can reflect on their partner noting if they:
-listened to them
-shared their ideas
-was helpful
-took turns
There is also space for them to reflect on how they could improve when working together.

You can download this freebie by clicking here or on the image above. This freebie is also available in my TPT store.
(If you don't already have membership on TPT, you'll need to register. Don't worry, it's free of charge, no strings attached!)

I'll add some more assessment tools in the coming weeks, including a mega-pack containing all of them! Stand by for that!

This post is part of Teaching Blog Addict's "Freebie Friday" collection. Click on the link below to view the rest of today's freebies!

Quick and easy self-assessment in the classroom

One of my aims for this coming school year is to provide more opportunities for the children to reflect on their learning and assess themselves. I'm working on creating a reflection area in the classroom.





This is the first item I have made for it. These are self-assessment posters. I'm going to staple the oval posters on a wide ribbon under the heading to create a hanging display. They would also work nicely on a bulletin board.



I chose 4 levels based on Marzano's Levels of Understanding:

4. I'm an expert! (I can help another person.)
3. I understand! (I don't need help!)
2. I kind of understand (but I need some help.)
1. I don't understand (I need help!)



I have also made two pupil self-assessment sheets based on the posters - one in colour and one in black and white for easy photocopying.



The posters and self-assessment sheets are available to download from my Teachers Pay Teachers store for $2.50. 

Self-assessment for fluency - free posters and reflection sheet

At the moment, I'm building a bank of self-assessment resources to create a reflection corner in my classroom. I came across this on Pinterest. It's a free set of posters and a self-assessment reflection sheet. The posters are very simple and are written in clear language. Thank you to Rachelle at What the Teacher Wants for creating it! She has also suggested an action to help to teach and remember these concepts. Click on the image to view the original post and download this freebie!


Now, there's one ready to go printable sorted - off you go!

Healthy teeth and bones assessment sheet

Bone clipart source

My class is exploring a "healthy body, healthy mind" unit this side of the mid-term. Last week we covered teeth and this week we were looking at the skeleton. I'm going to do a quick assessment tomorrow to see how much they know about keeping their teeth and bones healthy.

Click here to view/download that assessment sheet.

Report writing self-assessment rubric

I've been terrible for updating this blog lately. Very busy last few weeks! Here's a report writing self-assessment rubric that I used recently. Click here to download.

Titanic Letter Writing Rubric FREEBIE

We're doing another class book (where each pupil writes a page) called "Letters from the Titanic." This week has been heavily Titanic-themed so this gives them an opportunity to show off their knowledge.

I've pitched them with the scenario that they are passengers on board the Titanic who overheard the captain and ship designer saying that the boat has just hit an iceberg and will crash in less than two hours. They must write a letter to a loved one, telling them about the voyage and explaining their feelings. They will then put it in a bottle and send it out into the Atlantic Ocean.


Click on the image below to download the self-assessment rubric that the children will be using to assist them in editing their letters.


Just a quick note to anybody downloading this - the total line should read (/18) not (~/15). Apologies!

Free reading (self and peer) assessment sheet

Happy World Book Week! 

To celebrate, grab this free self- and peer-assessment sheet for some reading skills. Just click on the image below to view/download from Google Docs.

Animal Kingdom self-assessment freebie

The children in my class have been studying the classification of animals in the animal kingdom. They completed projects (a week of SESE homework) in scrapbooks. This week, some of the children made oral presentations based on their projects. I then gave out assessment sheets where the children filled in information based on one of the presentations they had been listening to. There was also a self-assessment (traffic lights system) piece at the end. I created two differentiated assessment sheets. 


To download these, click on the image above.

Peer assessment rubric: Procedural writing

I have been working on procedural writing with my class for the last few weeks using the following topics:

• How to play maths games on www.mangahigh.com
• How to make a sandwich/hot chocolate
• How to make something (arts and crafts) from recycled materials
• Recipes (sweet, savoury, imaginative and disgusting)
• Magic Tricks (They LOVED this one!)

This week I'm going to do "How to make a St. Bridget's Day cross" and "How to play Stuck in the Mud." Other ideas for this type of writing are science experiments, make up a new game and accompany with instructions and photographs/illustrations (this last one is great for groupwork)...


Here's a peer-assessment rubric that I have created so that pairs can evaluate one another's procedural writing pieces. Just click on the image below to view/download in Google Docs.

There are some more great free procedural writing resources at worksheetplace.com. It's definitely worth checking those out! I particularly like the transitional words list for senior classes. You could use this as part of a rubric and set it out at the start of the class - "Make sure you use at least four phrases from the transitional words list."

Free Letter-writing rubric

I'm going to try using a rubric for self-assessment in English this week. I'm using it for a letter-writing lesson. Here's one I made for their first attempt. I'm hoping it's simple enough to explain easily. I hope that the children will enjoy giving themselves a concrete number score more than the usual "happy face/ neutral face / sad face" self-assessment sheets.

If you'd like to download this, click on the image below to download it from Google Docs.

Also, I'm delighted to have been nominated in the category of "best teacher blog 2011" in the Edublog Awards. Click here if you'd like to vote for me!

3-2-1 assessment strategy (FREE!)

Here's an assessment tool that I often use for English and the S.E.S.E. subjects. Click on the image below to download it as a PDF in Google Docs.