astute hoot

Standardized Test Prep

April 5, 2012July 27, 2013By astutehoot

Standardized testing is now a major component of education. Yet, just the mention of a standardized test causes major anxiety for students, teachers and parents. Astute Hoot has the answer for this anxiety! Unlike other test prep units that focus on laborious drill and kill, our comprehensive test prep unit was specifically designed to alleviate angst, strengthen skills, promote self-awareness and build confidence.

In this unit, students meet Tina Turtle, Troubled Test Taker and Frankie, Fumbling Fox, both of whom struggle with major test taking anxiety. Each week, the students teach Tina and Frankie an important test taking skill or strategy; students help Tina and Frankie practice the strategy at a test prep center. Students can easily relate to the animals’ struggles and they feel empowered as they help these two troubled test takers.

This unit includes:
•Tina, Test Taking Turtle and accompanying poem
•Frankie, Fumbling Fox and accompanying poem
•Detailed instructions on creating Test Prep centers and folders
•10 test taking tips (on both individual pages and on one whole page)
•10 lesson plans to teach test taking tips
•5 test prep activities (with literature connections) to boost self-esteem and motivation
•Customizable parent letters
•Test prep award
•Several color pictures show test prep in action!

Check it out at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Standardized-Test-Prep-Unit

Easter Egg Fun

April 4, 2012July 27, 2013By astutehoot

Super fun way to practice basic skills; fill plastic eggs with letters, sight words, math facts, etc. and have your kiddos choose eggs from a bucket or find them around the house. When they open them up, they can practice the skill inside. You can even have them turn in the eggs for candy or pennies or other rewards.

Games That Teach: Part 4

February 28, 2012July 27, 2013By astutehoot

Use dice, playing cards and poker chips to practice number recognition, counting, and basic facts in a game-like format. This is great way to make math time fun, especially for kiddos (and maybe parents) with math anxiety.

Hazel’s Reading Roost Reading Strategy Unit

February 11, 2012July 27, 2013By astutehoot

Students are loving our decoding and comprehension strategy animals. It is amazing to see how engaged they are and great reading progress they are making. 🙂 They especially love the accompanying story Hazel Learns to Read and the adorable animal puppets. Students immediately connect to unique animals! Check out our store on teacherspayteachers.com for digital downloads.

Hazel’s Reading Roost Bulletin Board

December 14, 2011July 27, 2013By astutehoot

We are pleased to announce that Astute Hoot digital downloads and products are now available at:
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Astute-Hoot/%22%3e%3cimg

This colorful and engaging bulletin board introduces 10 research-based comprehension and decoding strategies to children. Each animal character represents a strategy such as Chunking Chipmunk, Visualizing Vulture, and Predicting Possum. Detailed explanations and directions are provided. Students LOVE to meet each new animal as they introduce their strategy.

Games That Teach: Part 3

December 8, 2011July 27, 2013By astutehoot

Use marshmallows, goldfish, M&Ms and other snacks to practice forming letters, words and numbers. Children can eat them after they practice. This a yummy way to learn!

Games That Teach: Part 2

December 2, 2011July 27, 2013By astutehoot

Use a Sharpie or sticker to put letters or numbers on the hoods of matchbox cars. Children can practice letter, sound and/or number recognition as they play. They can also practice lining them up in alphabetical or numerical order. This a great way to “trick” them into playing learning games. It worked for my boys! 🙂

Games That Teach: Part 1

October 23, 2011July 27, 2013By astutehoot

Turn Hopscotch into a fun learning game! Use chalk to draw a hopscotch and fill in the squares with a specific concept (numbers, shapes, letters, sight words, etc.). Kids will have so much fun jumping and moving while learning basic academic skills.

Reading with your kiddos at home…

August 7, 2011July 27, 2013By astutehoot

Parents, does this sound familiar: “I’m too tired to read,” “You read it to me mommy,” “I already read at school today.” Sometimes having kids practice their reading at home can turn into a chore or a fight, even when children are capable readers. I was experiencing this at home with my own son, and my students at school. This inspired me to collaborate with my partners and develop the “Hoo Can Read?” flashcards. This learning game makes reading time fun and eliminates all the anxieties and frustrations children have with reading. By providing choices, support, and taking turns reading, children begin to experience success, increase their confidence, and become motivated to read. It is truly amazing to me that now my son and my students who used to avoid reading, now BEG me to get the “owl” cards and read with them!

Like Astute Hoot!

June 27, 2011July 27, 2013By astutehoot

Help us to get the word out about Astute Hoot by clicking on the like button for the Astute Hoot Facebook page.

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