Effective Teaching

Only 1 day into a 4-day workshop and I've already learned so much.  I signed up for this workshop blindly...content unknown!

To my surprise, it's a professional development opportunity that is relevant to my instruction. 

The focus is on creating "outcomes", or objectives, and teaching ONLY to those outcomes.  I have learned that so much of what I teach is actually unnecessary.

I am on a mission to "cut the fat" so to speak, and design more purposeful lessons that will ultimately help with time management. 

I'm going to begin with organization...of course. I'm teaching math this year (after a 1-year absence) and I need to get organized and PLAN AHEAD! Last year, I taught science and ELA, this year it's science and math. I'm feeling energized and ready to take on the challenge.  And a challenge it will be...

Two years ago, we used a math series in fifth grade as our main resource.  Then, last year, we were given a directive to only use the NYS Math Modules as our resource for instruction. This upcoming school year is going to be "module-based", but we can integrate some other resources when appropriate.

I'm going to be spending a good portion of my summer searching, creating, designing, making, and many other "ings". Basically, I will be busy!  

None of the above "ings" can happen effectively without a good plan. I am currently designing an instructional math binder for each unit of study which will include the modules and other various materials (my "ings"). 

I'm looking forward to a great year...more to come!

Cheers!

Happy Goals

Good Morning...
I have been off on a bit of a hiatus.  My new year's resolution was to be more consistent and write more blog posts. So, of course, I wrote less.  It's kind of like saving money for me.  When I say I'm going to try really hard and stick to a budget, I actually spend more! I think it's a reverse-psychology kind of thing.

Needless to say, I have a lot of catching up to do. A lot of wonderful, and not so wonderful, things have happened so far in 2014.  

This summer I will be sharing some success stories and some learning experiences.  

Reverse psychology aside, I do like to set happy goals. These are personal goals that take care of my self-happiness. I'm going to revitalize myself in many ways this summer. My list of goals (in no particular order) is listed below.

• read at least one adult novel
• go to the movies once a week...love movies!
• spend one hour a day on school work 
• catch up on previous blog posts
• organize something in each room of the house
• organize something in each area of the classroom
• create new blog posts
• walk two miles each day
• ride my bike after dinner just for fun
• Go out to a quiet dinner twice a month with hubs
• catch up with old friends
• play cards, board games, or outside sports with my kids

Create a list of goals. Display the goals where you will see them each day. I like to write them on my phone and screen shot it. Then, I can make the goal list my screen saver. You are reminded every time you turn on your phone and it's private. I don't like displaying things on the fridge where everyone has a comment or suggestion. These are my personal goals and only have to do with me and my happiness.

Create your own happy goals.

Cheers!

File Box Lids

I have tray upon tray where students are to hand in assignments.  Sometimes I run out of space for the many pieces of paper that are all over the classroom. I like all paper having a home! 

I just bought a new tray to hold paper on my desk at home goods...love...and can't wait to set up my new desk arrangement. 

Okay, back on topic...I don't know if this happens to everyone out there, but I never know what to do with the file box lids.  I use the boxes for hanging files and then, the lids don't fit anymore. Actually, I wouldn't want them on even if they did fit. What a pain to lift the lid and set it somewhere each time I needed to grab a folder.

So, to adhere to my "every piece of paper needs a home" motto, I have decided to re-purpose those lids and use them for my weekly Science in the News activity.

The lids were from two file boxes that I had purchased at Staples.  I love the clean, decorative, black and white theme. They held the news magazines perfectly!

So, all that the actual "re-purpose" took was some scrapbook paper.  I found a pattern that would make a good background to lay underneath the magazines. It makes the lids look as if they are actually paper trays.

The last step was to label the lids/paper trays.  I just used a sentence strip dressed up with some washi tape.  And now I'm all set. I adhered the sentence strip with sticky back so I can change the labels as needed.

I'm having a great time organizing with other lids that I have found stacked away in a cupboard. The options are limitless. The added benefit is that these stack so well, I can pick this up with a moment's notice and tuck them away on a shelf.

Cheers!

Stay Positive!

Students and teachers are gearing up for Common Core Assessments next month. It has been a long, often tough, road this school year. Here in New York State we have embarked upon "state modules" to assist in Common Core instruction. The modules are a far cry from the traditional format in which we used to teach.

Some good has come out of such radical change. Students and teachers are opening their minds to a new way of thinking. As with all change, attitude plays a vital role. I'm trying portray a positive attitude for my students.  

In an effort to keep the inspiration alive, I've tried to incorporate encouraging messages throughout the classroom. 

Below is the newest installment of "stay positive". Each student will receive an inspirational pencil to begin the Common Core Assessment each day.  

I figure it can't hurt. :)

Cheers!

Close Read or Reading Closely

Close reading has become a staple in reading instruction throughout New York's public schools...most likely even across the entire country.

I have been using this reading technique for the past two years. It involves digging deep into a passage and annotating the text.  

Although, I find this reading tool to be valuable, there are some drawbacks.  In a typical close reading lesson, students are asked to read the entire passage once independently.  Then, a teacher reads the entire text aloud, and finally the students read the passage independently again with a pencil.  The pencil is used to annotate portions of the text.  My findings are that this is a LONG process.  

Overkill = resistant, bored, disengaged children

The current close reading procedure doesn't lend itself to a timed, state assessment. The students need ample time to read and answer questions and to write an essay. So, why bother teaching a reading strategy that has limitations? 

Merging the close read with a timed reading assessment was my goal.  Basically, I needed to shed some time off of the practice of close reading, but still adhere its core structure.

The teacher reading the text out loud would certainly be removed.  The passages on the state assessments are not read aloud.  So, I was now down to two independent reads by the student. There also needs to be less annotating. The best bet for a timed test is to "label" or provide a title for each section/paragraph in an article. This technique makes it much easier when looking back to the text for specific information. If the paragraph is labeled, the students don't have to re-read the entire selection in an effort to find one supporting piece of evidence. 

The answer was simple, a "quick" close read. 

My class has been following this procedure for several months and it has been extremely beneficial. They are even using it on their own for other tasks.  It has become so internalized, that students are now using post-it notes to label textbook passages. 

I am planning on introducing more difficult text each week to assess how the quick close read will impact students when there is greater frustration.

Like most educational strategies, the close read must evolve.  Welcome to 21st century skills.

Cheers!

Informational Writing

Informational writing can be a bit of a challenge with upper elementary students.  We have been researching planets in science class.  The research was guided through a student planning packet. Click to get the freebie!

The students first looked through pre-selected planet books from the library for information. Then, they researched websites on wireless laptops (I took pics and can't find where I stored them...ugh) to complete the planning packet.

The funny part of this project was that the science aspect was quite painless. The students found the information with ease. With very little prompts from me, they used search engines and clicked away!  

The writing portion was another story entirely!  What's with topic sentences these days?  Who is teaching our children to write, "Now I'm going to tell you some facts about the planet Venus".  My head almost spun off when I noticed the majority of each of three classes writing this same somewhat exact sentence. 

Time to backpedal. Gather some writing lessons and inject into science class! That was my mission. I dug out this, season friendly, topic sentence activity. Students work in pairs to read a paragraph about the groundhog. Then, they pull 6 possible topic sentences out of an envelope.  They choose the 3 sentences that would make good topic sentences and write them on a worksheet. They place the "bad" topic sentences back into the envelope.

After the topic sentence practice...we moved on to details, details, details!  Most of the students like to finish their work (for that I'm thankful), but finished doesn't always mean good!  Many of them answered the bullets with correct information, but lacked any details to enhance each statement. They were writing something like this...
     Pluto is a dwarf planet. Pluto is the farthest planet from the sun.  Pluto is a small planet.  Someone kill me now! 
This anchor poster was a must!

We worked on writing a detail under each fact and not starting all of the sentences with the same word.  

I guess I was naive to think they were coming from 4th grade with these skills in tact.  

After much work (and modifications), we are almost finished...about 1/3 of the students have printed a final copy. 

What started off as a science research project, has now turned into a full-spectrum expository essay.

On to the next topic...

Cheers!

Receipt Keepers

Keeping receipts organized is a must! I have to admit, I've tried so many systems, and I have never found a winner...until now!

I came up with an idea to use coupon keepers, tabbed sorters, or whatever you want to call them, to begin storing my monthly receipts.

The "receipt keepers" as I now refer to them, were purchased at Dollar Tree. That store is the best...look on line if you don't have one in your area. I found three bright colors that had 4 tabs each...3x4=12 months. I know, I'm a mathematical genius!  

These containers are slightly larger than the types I've seen before. The extended length was a huge plus since many receipts are long and/or quite ginormous lately.  

I used some washi tape and my awesome, new, label maker to decorate and label each keeper.

Then, inside of each was four, semi-circle tabs with matching white, adhesive labels.  Again, I used the DYMO label maker to print out each month.  

The blue keeper is already full.  This keeper will prove mighty useful at tax time.  There are loads of school receipts that are tax-deductible.  

This project was so easy to complete. The best part is...I'm already using this system on a daily basis. I house the receipt keepers in a drawer right next to my desk. It's so easy to just empty the receipts from my purse and toss them into the monthly slot. 

There's hope that this one's a "keeper"! 

Cheers!