We Have Gone Bananas!

On Wednesday the class enjoyed a movie and popcorn for the last hour of our day for our Banana Bingo party.  Parents, you may be wondering what your children are talking about when they say we finally got a banana bingo!  "Banana" is our secret code word for "let's quietly head back to our seats and be ready for directions from Mrs. Howard."  We use the code word "banana" for many transitions in our classroom.  In a primary classroom we are often on the move from the rug to our seats or the students are scattered in self-chosen spots throughout the classroom and we need to quickly and quietly get back to our seats.  When they hear "banana," they know exactly what to do!  After this direction is followed, I quickly add a tally mark to the board and we move on!  Once we have accumulated 5 tally marks, we draw out a number and add a banana to that number on our banana bingo board.  It is very exciting when we get to add to our bingo board!  Once we get a bingo which equals 5 in a row, we celebrate as a class!  (I actually came up with the word "banana" from one of our favorite series:  Piggie and Elephant "We Are in a Book."

There is one more part to our banana system and that is "banana split."  This code word is used when the students are already at their desks and they may be working in small groups, and I need everyone's attention quickly.  When they hear "banana split" the class knows they all need to turn their voices off and give me their attention immediately or... oh no... a tally mark may be erased!  I love our "banana" system because it really motivates the students to work together as a team.  Everyone has to do their job, and it keeps our classroom atmosphere very positive!