Math Practices

Students will love these bookmarks not only to keep place of their work on their journals but also to help them learn the 8 math practices in kids' friendly language.Check out my store at Teachers Pay Teachers for the Math Practices Posters and other Common Core Materials.

Happy Teaching!

Beginning of the Year Freebies

As we start a new school year I wanted to share with you a couple of things I have been working on. The first is a set of labels for Classroom Journals. I use classroom journals intensively, I think they're not only a great and fun teaching tool, but they're also crucial for informal and "on the spot" students' assessment.

Frames for ELLs Participation

English language learners need explicit and structured routines to facilitate participation in classroom discussion. Dr. Kate Kinsella from the Center for Teacher Efficacy, San Francisco State University, recommends setting up students' participation through her Productive Partners framework. I have use it routinely in my classroom and my students simply love it, and what's more important, everyone participates.

It is also important to teach students how to agree o disagree with their classmates, this provides a safe environment where all opinions are respected and all contributions are considered valuable.

Click on the pictures below if you would like to download a copy.

Guided Reading

Using worksheets for Guided Reading

If you're already planning for the next school year, these worksheets could be useful to set reading objectives right from the start. At the beginning, I use this worksheet during guided reading for fiction stories and this one for nonfiction books or articles. I recommend to use them in small groups, but it could also be used as a whole class if you have available  Either helps students to practice their decoding and fluency skills, and set their minds into reading comprehension. A few sessions of doing this activity together helps the teacher to set reading goals for each group as well as individual learners. As they familiarize themselves  with the worksheet and read more independently they become an independent activity.

Project Based Learning

Project Based Learning is one of the concepts that are in vogue in education, yet it’s not new. In fact we can trace Project Based Learning (PBL) as far to Aristotle and Confucius who strongly believed that learning should be done by doing.  PBL starts with a question or inquest and as students attempt to find answers and solutions, they apply learned and new concepts and skills that deepen their understanding of the topic. PBL connects life with school making learning meaningful. PBL engages students to use problem solving strategies, apply higher order thinking skills, and develop critical thinking. PBL aligns with common core standards as it supports the development of college and work readiness skills, learning is focused and coherent and rigorous content is explored through high-order skills. As the learner solves the inquiry, he grasps meaning of new information received, interprets, and translates it to other experiences. It works across subject matter as reading, writing, drawing, math, etc. are used to answer the questions(s). PBL can be used with different sub-groups including students with special needs, English language learners, etc. What’s more, PBL works wonderfully in a technological integrated or flipped classroom as it allows for students to use technology as a tool for exploring, analyzing, and communicating their options and findings.

PBL can be used in any grade level, for almost any topic. Watch below this wonderful vimeo of a teacher using it in a Pre-K classroom with English language learners making teaching and learning FUNdamental!

Project-Based Learning in a Digitial Age: All About Me Pre-K from Title IID - Queens, NYCDOE! on Vimeo.

Technology in the Classroom

Most teachers have been using technology in the classroom for a while now. Whether we use it to create, enhance, or expand our teaching, technology is a component of our daily interaction with learners. However using computers, iPads, iPhones, or iPods, tablets, or others to plan or deliver our lessons is just a component of our teaching. Learners in the XXI century need for teachers to purposely integrate technology in the delivery of instruction. The poster, by Teachbytes, gives a detailed explanation of what it means to use technology vs. integrating technology. Food for thought!

To All AMAZING Teachers