Written Directions...Tricks Anyone?! Freebie, & Wednesday's Pinterest Pick of the Week

I'm constantly amazed at the cleverness and talent of teachers out here in blog-world, so I'm going to pick your brain.  I have such a handful of students this year who are constantly neglecting written directions.  When it says to circle the word, they underline it.  When it says to draw a picture AND write a number sentence they interpret this as: "Draw a picture OR write a number sentence." 

Don't get me wrong. I. Have. Tried. It. All.  We read aloud together first.  We dissect the directions. When the directions say "underline"....we underline the word underline.  We highlight.  I model, model, model.  I remind. They use whole brain "mirror and teach" to remind each other.  Once, I stood up on a chair and sang the directions to them in an opera voice thinking that might get their attention.  (It didn't.)  

So my question tonight is, does anyone out there have any clever little tricks to this that has or is working for you?  Leave your tip or trick and then grab this St. Patrick's Day problem solving math freebie from my newest math pack on TPT. :) 

Now for Wednesday's Pinterest Pick of the Week!

If you know me well, you know I love science experiments!  I found this neat little experiment on Pinterest to share with you tonight.  Fill a cup with water and put shaving cream on top to act as a cloud.  Explain to students that when clouds get really heavy with water, it starts to rain.  Add some blue food coloring drops to the top of the shaving cream and watch it start to rain!  What a great addition to your weather unit.  I already did my weather unit but can't wait to add this to it next year! 

Rain Cloud Experiment

I'm off to catch an episode of Four Weddings that I recorded last week and head to bed!

Happy Learning!