21st Century Classrooms vs 20th Century Classrooms

I know there is much debate over Common Core.  I'm not here to discuss the details behind CCSS and the politics.  All I know is that our world is not the same as it was when I went to school.  As a matter of fact, it is rapidly changing daily.  Are our students prepared for these changes? Are our classrooms preparing students to be successful in the 21st century?  What are the 21st Century skills that our students need to be successful today? Click the link to see a list of 21st Century Skills.

Now click here to see a comparison of 20th Century Classrooms vs 21st Century Classrooms.  Which one are you? 

Comment below and let me know.  What are you doing to transition your classroom into the 21st Century? What do you need to make it possible? 

Test Incentives and a little before test FUN!

This week begins our state testing.  To get the kids pumped up and ready we had a pep rally for them last Friday.  We only have two third grades and two fourth grades this year so we were able to have some real fun!  All of our 3rd and 4th grade classes were assigned a color to represent their "team".  Each class from K-2 was then assigned one of our rooms to be part of our team for the pep rally.  Each team designed pennants that we hung up along our hallways and each third/fourth grade teacher made a sign for their team.  Our signs reflected our theme for the pep rally.  My theme was that we are going to light up the test!  We entered the gymnasium one at a time running through streamers to Katy Perry's Firework song.  Other songs heard were Eye of the Tiger, and We will Rock YOU.  Here's my sign:

I made for this week Test Incentives to pass out each day of the test.  I found the idea on Pinterest but I didn't want to use construction paper.  I decided just make them using the computer.  Click on the first picture below if you would like your own copy of them.  I was so excited to find on my desk when I came in this morning something similar from my second grade team.  The second grade teacher left a bag of candy for each day of the test with the following:

You were "Mint" to succeed---starlight mints

"CHEW" up the test---chewing gum

You are BURSTING with Knowledge--starbursts

Don't be an AIRHEAD show what you know--Air head taffy

Mine are similar to those.  They are:

Smarties Candy

Blowpops

Hershey Kisses

Starbursts

Gummy Fish or Goldfish Crackers