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R2L: Helping students expand their vocabularies
My students are struggling with vocabulary. What should I do for them?Here are some optional lesson extensions. Once students learned the process, I started doing vocabulary flooding every day before...
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R2L: Difficulties in remembering what was read
My students can’t seem to remember what they’ve read. How can I help them? Sometimes our students who struggle the post are not able to recall facts about what they are reading. Here is a fun...
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Rewards and Timing of super improver wall stars
This last year I implemented the super improver wall with great success. As students showed improvement, they received a star next to their name on the super improver wall. Here is a picture and more...
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R2L: Perfect HW Template video 1
Here is a short video that I created that demonstrates writing sentence summaries as part of the R2L reading process.I hope you enjoy this video:As a review from my previous post on homework:The...
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Back to school jitters
You would think that after 11 years of teaching I would be calm at the beginning of the school year. Not so. Even after 11 years in the classroom, I still get nervous. Maybe you do to?Here is what...
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Homework rubric
Instead of grading homework, I am planning on using a rubric this year. Clearly, I'll look to see how students are doing with the homework, but grading it doesn't make than much sense. Some students do...
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Lesson plans for Preparing Students for Testing
Why would I give you lesson plans from the beginning of the year to prepare students for testing? Because when you know what you want students to learn by the end of the year, it helps you plan to get...
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Using the Olympics to teach procedures
Around the first week of school is that time when you will be practicing procedures.Here are some ideas on how to make practicing procedures FUN!Olympic Visualization! Since the Olympics have just...
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Answering vocabulary questions! Strategies that work
When teaching students to answer vocabulary questions, they need to have a strategy! But before they can use the strategy, they need to know what type of question they are answering. The four main...
View ArticlePlanning your prep time
Of course you plan your lessons! I normally have mine planned out a week in advanced. But, do you plan your prep times?I never used to plan out my prep time. So often, the 20 minutes would go by, and I...
View ArticleWhole Brain Teaching - Stop Back Talk!
I wanted to share an inspirational post on how to stop backtalk. This is a recommendation from Whole Brain Teaching. If you don't know about this website, it is free and has really changed my teaching!...
View ArticleBest Practices Weekly: Using American Idol to boost reading fluency
I wanted to share an ingenious idea from Best Practices Weekly. If you don't know about this site, it is a wonderful free site. Every week or so, the author takes some research and presents it in ways...
View ArticleCommon Core Math Standards for ALL my students
This year I have started implementing the Common Core math standards for all of my students. It has been quite the challenge! I have some special education students in my 3rd grade group who had yet to...
View ArticleManaging Pencils
I am sure that if you know about pencils. Somehow, it seems like they dissapear faster than ice cream on a hot day! I don't know how, but it just happens that way! How do you solve the amazing...
View ArticleSentence frames for tutoring time
Why have one teacher in the classroom, when I can have 4 or 5? I use students for tutoring all of the time! Students make great tutors, especially the students who are just at benchmark. They know what...
View ArticleRenewing Ourselves
What do you listen to on your way to school?Do you listen to the radio, the news or a book on CD? How do you get ready for the day?I now have a "driving" playlist. I have about a 20 minute commute to...
View ArticleSentence Frames for Math Games
Have you ever listened to students talk during math games? This is what it often sounds like.Student 1: GruntsStudent 2: Oh Yah. 1, 2, 3 (moving ahead 3 spaces)Student 1: Sweet. (Moves ahead 2...
View ArticleTeaching Hot Tempered Children
You will find here links to the assignments you will need for this class.For the Ebook called The Agreement Bridge, here is how to find it:Open www.wholebrainteaching.com Sign up for a free...
View ArticleFirst Days of School: The Three C's of Class - Yes
It is that time to be getting ready for the school year! How are you going to get everyone's attention in school? Does your grade level or school have an expected routine?No matter what the routine,...
View ArticleThoughts Vs. Comments: Classroom Management
I have, over the years, done a lot of talking with my students about thoughts versus words. Students are going to have thoughts that are not appropriate to say out loud in the classroom. I let them...
View ArticleSentence Frames for Partner Reading
I love partner reading! It can be challenging to keep both students engaged at the same time. Too often one child is reading and the other child is tuning out.Then I had an Ahh! moment. Why not make...
View ArticleWhat is rigor?
Rigor isn’t throwing students in the deep end of the pool and hoping they don’t drown. Rigor is leading the development of each student so that they become incrementally stronger and stronger. -...
View ArticleRenewing Myself - Meditation Time
I pick up my students outside under the covered walkway at 8:25am. The principal makes announcements, I take attendance and bring them to my classroom at 8:30am. Now the day officially starts.Every...
View ArticleTime to reassess and organize
Happy New Year! Welcome back to the classroom. Now is a great time to rethink your classroom organization. I read an inspiring article at Edutopia about how to involve students in organizing your...
View ArticleAdvantages of Specializing
This last year and this year I have been "Platooning" with my students, sort of! I taught a blend last year and a straight third grade class this year, but have looped with my 2nd grade students. While...
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