Challenge : Talk about Homework. Do you give it? Why or why not? What types of HW do you give? How do you balance it with other demands?
I give homework when there is a new "concept" introduced that needs practice that I may not have time for in class or it is something they SHOULD already have but need a refresher. Otherwise, I give a reading log and vocabulary on the regular. I don't consistently check it I tend to feel like it will help them if they do it and if they don't they will see it again. The reading log I check after multiple weeks at a time just because it is easier than trying to check it daily. I will occasionally assign a project/paper throughout the year, typically three of them.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Day 11 - Blogging Challenge
Challenge : What's a website that you cannot live without? Tell about your favorite features and how you use it in your teaching & learning.
Another website that I'm happy to have in my life this year is ReadTheory.org, it allows students to have a placement test to determine the level and they get points. I use those points as extra credit opportunities for my students and they are always so excited when they move up a level. It has analogies, sentence completion and reading comprehension and typically no more than 8 questions. I really have enjoyed the enthusiasm my students have for this site.
Another website that I'm happy to have in my life this year is ReadTheory.org, it allows students to have a placement test to determine the level and they get points. I use those points as extra credit opportunities for my students and they are always so excited when they move up a level. It has analogies, sentence completion and reading comprehension and typically no more than 8 questions. I really have enjoyed the enthusiasm my students have for this site.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Day 10 - Blogging Challenge
Challenge : Share ideas that your classroom uses for brain breaks and/or indoor recess.
My students do zumba for their brain break, or vocabulary relays. They enjoy it and it does get them refocused and the "sillies" out. Once they get past assuming everyone is looking at them they really enjoy it.
My students do zumba for their brain break, or vocabulary relays. They enjoy it and it does get them refocused and the "sillies" out. Once they get past assuming everyone is looking at them they really enjoy it.
Monday, January 27, 2014
Day 9 - Blogging Challenge
Challenge - Share a topic/idea from class this week. What's one thing you did with students this week that you will (or will not) do again? Why?
TODAY I did comprehension strategy prediction practice using Thinking Maps... talk about a phenomenal lesson!!! My students were engaged having them use color was definitely beneficial and they got it. This will be a continued practice from now until the end of the year. I am EXCITED to see my students progress in the right direction and continue to enjoy the Thinking Maps.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Day 8 - Blogging Challenge
Challenge : Tell about a professional read (book, article, blog post) that has had an impact on you. Why/How?
I recently read The Energy Bus and The No Complaining Rule for Leadership Academy which is a program with in my school district. This has had a tremendous impact on me in many ways. After reading that I make it a point to find the positive in things, and to try to be positive for my peers. I believe wholeheartedly that if you think positively then you will be surrounded by nothing but great things. This has allowed me to smile more and be much more content with life even when things don't go my way.
I recently read The Energy Bus and The No Complaining Rule for Leadership Academy which is a program with in my school district. This has had a tremendous impact on me in many ways. After reading that I make it a point to find the positive in things, and to try to be positive for my peers. I believe wholeheartedly that if you think positively then you will be surrounded by nothing but great things. This has allowed me to smile more and be much more content with life even when things don't go my way.
Day 7 - Blogging Challenge
Challenge : Share a classroom management tip. What is one thing that you do that works for you? How could it be adapted to others?
At the beginning of the school year we discuss what it means to be a family. How being a family doesn't mean that you will always get along but you still live together and you work out your problems. We talk about how every person in the room deserves the same amount of respect and we do a LOT of role play. The main thing we talk about is how we learn to love and trust each other especially me and that anything that we talk about will stay with me unless I'm concerned about their safety. The big thing is the THRESHOLD! I tell my students (remember I teach SIXTH graders) that whatever attitude, anger, meanness that they feel BEFORE my class must stay outside the threshold. I do role play where I'm angry but when I walk in my room TADA the anger is gone. So all year long when something happens or they start being mean I say threshold and my students will remind each other that they can't bring that into my room. I RARELY have issues during my class time and my children really do trust me. I think that any teacher can implement this in their classroom if they have a conversation... telling them they can't do this and giving this long list of rules doesn't work. I have learned using examples (such as being a family) works much better for children. I've done this even when I taught elementary school and must truly say that I rarely have to write up children and I rarely have conflict between children in my room. It isn't NONEXISTENT but it definitely is rare!
At the beginning of the school year we discuss what it means to be a family. How being a family doesn't mean that you will always get along but you still live together and you work out your problems. We talk about how every person in the room deserves the same amount of respect and we do a LOT of role play. The main thing we talk about is how we learn to love and trust each other especially me and that anything that we talk about will stay with me unless I'm concerned about their safety. The big thing is the THRESHOLD! I tell my students (remember I teach SIXTH graders) that whatever attitude, anger, meanness that they feel BEFORE my class must stay outside the threshold. I do role play where I'm angry but when I walk in my room TADA the anger is gone. So all year long when something happens or they start being mean I say threshold and my students will remind each other that they can't bring that into my room. I RARELY have issues during my class time and my children really do trust me. I think that any teacher can implement this in their classroom if they have a conversation... telling them they can't do this and giving this long list of rules doesn't work. I have learned using examples (such as being a family) works much better for children. I've done this even when I taught elementary school and must truly say that I rarely have to write up children and I rarely have conflict between children in my room. It isn't NONEXISTENT but it definitely is rare!
Friday, January 24, 2014
Day 6 - Blogging Challenge
Challenge : What is ONE thing you wish you were better at? Just one! Why? What could you do about it?
One thing I wish I was better at is vocabulary instruction. I have tried many different things and I find it hard to be consistent with it. I also don't like for it to be a memorization task instead I want them to LEARN the words. I haven't been able to find something that really works for me with vocabulary yet. I am constantly reading articles and books on vocabulary instruction to help me figure out a way to make it work for me and my students.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Day 5 - Blogging Challenge
Challenge : Give a tip for assessment. What is an example of an assessment you give? Share any tips for designing/giving/grading assessments.
Tip : Require them to JUSTIFY their answer. I've given several assessments from Readworks.org and even on our benchmarks. I require my students to defend their answers. They have to explain to me why they have chosen their answer. When they do this and take it seriously more often then not they come to the correct answer. It allows them to truly think about their answer and I will often give partial credit if they truly have justified their answer even if it is wrong.
Tip : Require them to JUSTIFY their answer. I've given several assessments from Readworks.org and even on our benchmarks. I require my students to defend their answers. They have to explain to me why they have chosen their answer. When they do this and take it seriously more often then not they come to the correct answer. It allows them to truly think about their answer and I will often give partial credit if they truly have justified their answer even if it is wrong.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Day 4 - Blogging Challenge
Challenge - Share a topic/idea from class this week. What's one thing you did with students this week that you will (or will not) do again? Why?
Well, last week we started word parts, this is my 4th attempt at doing word parts. I think that I liked the idea of the students having to discover what the word part is by identifying words they already know that use that word part. However, after doing that I was stuck!!! AGAIN -- finding activities to do with the word parts have become more stressful. I'm not really sure what to do to allow genuine discovery of the meanings and enhancement of them. Maybe it will come to me as I continue to do research and read about this concept. However right now I'm at a stand still. GRRRRRRRR.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Day 3 - Blogging Challenge
Challenge: What is a website that you cannot live without? Tell about your favorite features and how you use it in your teaching and learning.
NEWSELA.COM - This website has current events articles that students can read, some of them have quizzes already created, no quiz is more than 4 questions. The AWESOME thing about it is even the ones that don't have quizzes have where they will change the wording based on Lexile scores. The text is still the same reading material but you can change it and make it easier or more difficult depending on what your students can handle. I have occasionally pulled articles that don't have quizzes and used it for small group or skill based activities at varying levels during instruction.
NEWSELA.COM - This website has current events articles that students can read, some of them have quizzes already created, no quiz is more than 4 questions. The AWESOME thing about it is even the ones that don't have quizzes have where they will change the wording based on Lexile scores. The text is still the same reading material but you can change it and make it easier or more difficult depending on what your students can handle. I have occasionally pulled articles that don't have quizzes and used it for small group or skill based activities at varying levels during instruction.
Day 2 - Blogging Challenge
Challenge: Share an organizational tip from your classroom. What is one thing that you do that works for you?
BASKETS! BASKETS! BASKETS! EVERYWHERE!!!!! There are Dollar Tree bins and baskets all over my classroom. Most with labels, some without -- however students are able to put things away when I'm not here and I'm able to know where I've sat things when I get too busy to know my own name. This works well for students to hand in work, it helps to organize all those teacher made games/materials that we have to create when we need something to help with instruction. The great thing is they come in varying colors, shapes and sizes and can accommodate almost anyone. WONDERFUL TOOLS.
BASKETS! BASKETS! BASKETS! EVERYWHERE!!!!! There are Dollar Tree bins and baskets all over my classroom. Most with labels, some without -- however students are able to put things away when I'm not here and I'm able to know where I've sat things when I get too busy to know my own name. This works well for students to hand in work, it helps to organize all those teacher made games/materials that we have to create when we need something to help with instruction. The great thing is they come in varying colors, shapes and sizes and can accommodate almost anyone. WONDERFUL TOOLS.
Day 1 - Blogging Challenge
Challenge : Tell about a favorite book to share or teach. Provide at least one example of an extension or cross curricular lesson.
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key -- this story is perfect for our children. So many of our children are like Joey, they try to do right have things going on at home and at school and they too sometimes feel "wired." As we go through this story we discuss choices and how Joey Pigza could have made better decisions and sometimes worse decisions. As an extension activity we often rewrite a "mini" book about Joey Pigza as if our students were him and they write about a challenge that they have had. The "catch" NO ONE puts their name on their and we mix the stories up and a classmates read about the struggles that some of their peers have to experience. This is great at any point in the school year because it helps students and teachers see through the eyes of each other in a safe environment.
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key -- this story is perfect for our children. So many of our children are like Joey, they try to do right have things going on at home and at school and they too sometimes feel "wired." As we go through this story we discuss choices and how Joey Pigza could have made better decisions and sometimes worse decisions. As an extension activity we often rewrite a "mini" book about Joey Pigza as if our students were him and they write about a challenge that they have had. The "catch" NO ONE puts their name on their and we mix the stories up and a classmates read about the struggles that some of their peers have to experience. This is great at any point in the school year because it helps students and teachers see through the eyes of each other in a safe environment.
20-Day Blogging Challenge!
I will be participating in a blogging challenge that I started on Sunday on Paper and will be transferring it over to here! Feel free to join me at any time, I will post my first three days. Below is the calendar of challenges!
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