Creekside Intermediate Chris Rafalik Nicky Clemmer Brookside Intermediate Michelle Hammonds Sean Gravely

Philosophy  We are teachers  We want you to leave with one good idea  We don’t want to load you up with papers that you will have to figure out how to file when you get back

Table Top Tutors When you go to TGIFridays, what do you while waiting for your food to arrive?

Table Top Tutor We thought why not take advantage of the same thing. When bored in our class, lets give them something educational to look at.

Examples

Table Top Tutor  Make them colorful  Lots of graphics  Short phrases  Cool fonts  Have fun!!! Don’t be afraid to be silly.

Table Top Tutor  Where to get them? Search for 6 Panel Sign Holder

Make Up Tests We had to our asks ourselves, why do we give tests?

Makeup Tests  You must complete the test review to be eligible for the make up test  Anyone can take the make up test, regardless of what score you got on the original test  You can make a 100 on the make up test  An exact copy of the makeup test is available to study from  You can take the make up test as many times as you want until you get a 100  The makeup test is available for two weeks and must be taken before or after school

Open Notebook Quizzes

The thought is, the more often we can bring up a topic, the fresher it will be in their memory. But in 8 th grade, how can we keep reviewing 7 th grade but still have time to teach 8 th grade?

Open Notebook Quiz  Only five questions  Can miss the first one and still get a 100  Covers anything in their notebook from the entire year We keep files of papers and notes for new students or those who lost them

Open Notebook Quiz Items always in our student’s notebooks  8 th Grade TEKS  7 th Grade TEKS Expanded with extra notes  Formula chart  Class syllabus  Safety Rules

On Every Table To make sure that students have access to information from 6 th, 7 th, and 8 th grade. On every table, for every student we have a fold filled with the glossary for 6 th, 7 th, and 8 th grade and a formula chart.

On the Board  Large copy of TEKS for that quarter on the board.  Review and check off with students as you complete.

The Rotation  2 weeks leading up to TAKS test is our big review push  Will be different for everyone  Need support and buy-in from rest of science department and Principal

The Rotation

Our topics were chosen based on our needs. Chemistry Simple Machines Measuring & Reading Graphs Pollution & Contour Maps Moon Phases & Seasons Weather/Oceans/Specific Heat Genetics Erosion/Weathering Ecosystems

The Day Before TAKS Two Options We Have Used  Survivor TAKS  The Blitz

Survivor TAKS

The Blitz  80 lowest students  ½ day review  14 stations in the commons  Run by Pre-AP volunteers  Hands on – lots of manipulatives