ALL GRADE LEVELS - Check out the Smarter Balanced Practice Test

https://sbacpt.tds.airast.org/student/

Use either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox to open this document.  To log in to the Practice Test, simply select SIGN IN and then select the grade level assessment you would like to preview. When the first screen pops up, you do not need to type in your first name, state-SSID, or session ID.  Just click on SIGN IN.  

to prepare our students for the new assessment.

Thank you for taking time to preview the new assessment.

Adding and Subtracting Fractions With Unlike Denominators MADE EASY!

Connie Hunt, math specialist at Summit, came barreling down the hall (ok, she just had her knee replaced, so barreling may be a slight exaggeration) to show us her new-found "trick" for helping students who continue to struggle with adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators.  Check out this video and prepare to be amazed!

OK...I know what some of you are thinking.  And, you're right.  It's imperative for students to UNDERSTAND the concept and not just solve the problem.  But what about those students who can't get past the fact that they "can't do it"?  Maybe giving them a little trick to get the answer will help them build enough confidence so that they will attempt to hear you out as you explain WHY it works or WHY they need to know how to do this anyway.  It might be worth a try.  At any rate, put this little lovely in your toolbox and save it for when you need it! :-)

Don't forget to share what YOU'VE found or done so that we can pass it on.  Thanks for sharing this idea, Connie! :-)

Thanksgiving

Looking for some meat and potatoes in your Thanksgiving lessons?  Here are a few ideas you might add to your plate!

The link below will take you to 5 fun Thanksgiving Writing Prompts!

A quick search of ReadWorks.org revealed Thanksgiving activities for several grade levels including paired text lessons, creating an outline from research, character and relationship changes, and MORE!  Click HERE for the search results, or create a search of your own!

Want to bring a little hands-on learning into your Thanksgiving lesson?  The Growing in Pre-K blog has an amazing post about growing Indian Corn and making butter.

Did someone say FIELD TRIP?  Scholastic has a virtual field trip that includes stepping aboard an exact replica of the Mayflower, a behind-the-scenes look at the life of Pilgrims, the day-to-day life of the Wampanoag people, or you might even choose from 12 Reader's Theater ideas.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Content Area Interactive Notebooks

Reading isn't the only place where interactive notebooks can be used.  Check out the following examples of how interactive notebooks have been used in math and science!

Math Notebooks

Click on the icon below to scroll through one teacher's powerpoint presentation that explains to her students how she uses interactive notebooks.

The authors of the Tales of Frogs & Cupcakes blog have done a great job explaining how they set up and use math AND science notebooks. This blog post has lots of pictures and examples, making it easy to understand.  There are some links to their TPT page, but you don't have to buy their ideas.  You can modify them to work for you!

You've heard us talk about this blog before.  It's A-MA-ZING!  There are tons of posts about math journals.  Do yourself a favor and just click on "Math Journals" OR "Math Journal Sundays"under  LABELS on the right hand side of the blog.  

Science Notebooks

If you've been around the blog, you're no stranger to this little gem, either.  Seriously, these people must be WAY better at managing their time than I am.  ;-)

 

Sonya Trent and Shelly Newton were very excited to tell us about one of the presentations they attended at Star Summit.  It was about interactive notebooking and they shared a strategy called "left side/right side".  We did some searching and found an example similar to what was shared with them.  This one is a science example, but could be used for any interactive notebook.

  

Check out this blog that was shared with us.  The author is a self-proclaimed control-freak and she has posts for science, math, AND social studies.  Click on the icon to go to a post for a notebook/journal linky party.  What's a linky party, you ask?  Go check it out.  We're about to take blog-stalking to a whole new level.

Happy notebooking! :-)

Introduction to Guided Math

Guided math provides a structure to differentiate instruction by:

• creating flexible small groups 
• creating activities for various learning styles
• providing immediate feedback
• giving students the opportunity to talk with peers, ask questions, and justify their thinking
• giving the teacher the opportunity to reteach, reinforce, and expand strategies and skills
• scaffolding lessons for learners
• building student confidence 

Just like when you begin reading and writing workshop, setting up EXPECTATIONS at the beginning is crucial.  Teach, model, model, model, and practice, practice, practice! ;-)

Guided math is designed similarly to reading and writing workshop:

• 10-15 minute mini-lesson
• Small group work
• Students go through rotations, including a station with the teacher
• 10 minute closing/sharing

Of course, if you're interested in trying guided math, you should take time to read about it and find out what management works for you.  Try some of the strategies and structures for yourself!

Recommended Reading:

Guided Math by Laney Sammons

Guided Math in Action by Dr. Nicki Newton

Blogs to Check Out:

Standards-Based Grading, What's All the Buzz About?

Making the Case for Standards-Based Grading

Click on the link below to read this interesting article:

http://essentialeducator.org/?p=3415

One quick and interesting page to ponder:  

Thomas Guskey has posted this table which shows grades for various students based on different grade calculations:

Skip Counting Songs

Check out Relyn Lawson's third graders singing skip counting songs to help them with their multiplication!

Multiplying Threes!

Multiplying Fours!

Multiplying Sixes!

Multiplying Sevens!

Thanks for sharing, Relyn! :-)

Send us your learning artifacts, too.  They might just end up on the blog! :-)

Honoring Veterans

Veterans Day is November 11th. It is a day we honor living and fallen service members.  Below you will find resources you can use in the classroom to help your students understand the history and significance of Veterans Day.  Thank you to all who have served!

Videos

Veterans Day - History and Meaning (appropriate for grades 1-5)




History of the Holidays:  History of Veterans Day (appropriate for upper grades)




Unplugged:  Guarding The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
(not Veterans Day specific, but high interest for students)

Literature

America's White Table by Margot Theis Raven

The White Table is set in many mess halls as a symbol for and remembrance to service members fallen, missing, or held captive in the line of duty. Solitary and solemn, it is the table where no one will ever sit. As a special gift to her Uncle John, Katie and her sisters are asked to help set the white table for dinner. As their mother explains the significance of each item placed on the table Katie comes to understand and appreciate the depth of sacrifice that her uncle, and each member of the Armed Forces and their families, may be called to give. It was just a little white table... but it felt as big as America when we helped Mama put each item on it and she told us why it was so important. "We use a Small Table, girls," she explained first, "to show one soldier's lonely battle against many. We cover it with a White Cloth to honor a soldier's pure heart when he answers his country's call to duty." "We place a Lemon Slice and Grains of Salt on a plate to show a captive soldier's bitter fate and the tears of families waiting for loved ones to return," she continued."We push an Empty Chair to the table for the missing soldiers who are not here..."

The Wall by Eve Bunting

A young boy and his father visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington to look for the boy's grandfather's name among those who were killed in the conflict. This is a sensitive and moving picture book that can be used to generate discussions about our war heroes. 

H is for Honor by Devin Scillian

Written by the son of a career officer, this book explores the branches of the Armed Services and speaks from the heart about the honor, privileges and sacrifices of military families everywhere. Children will discover why drill sergeants have to be so tough, what it means to be patriotic and why we need Special Forces such as the Navy SEALS, the Green Berets and the Army Rangers. H is for Honor also explains why the annual Army/Navy football game is more than just a game, how much letters from home mean to soldiers, how often military families have to move and what life on base is like. With an underlying message of courage and commitment that every child can relate to, the book will be especially meaningful to those whose parents, siblings or other relatives serve in the Armed Forces.

Other Resources

The US Department of Veterans Affairs has resources available for teachers and students including a teacher's guide, history, and information about Take a Vet to School Day.

Scroll down to the bottom of this LINK.

Check out VA KIDS for student activities and teacher resources.

NEA has posted lesson plans, activities, and resources as well. Click HERE!

TeacherVision has art activities, printables, lesson plans, reading and language arts resources, music activities, social studies and history resources, and MORE. 

Thank you for your service, Veterans!