Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Pins for the Win: Math Edition

I am a 6th grade teacher, but it's important to know that I pin math concepts, anchor charts, activities, etc that are not just 6th grade level. Is every child in my class working at grade level? No. And in my mind, that's OK, as long as I am supporting those working below level to help them meet standard, and as long as I am enriching and challenging those above level to keep going and going. That's my take on it. So without further ado, here are some awesome math pins that I have collected over the last year or so (again, some I have used, and others I have intention of using!)

I DO use this method. It takes so much mystery out of ordering fractions and saves time (instead of finding common denominators, multiplying top and bottom, blah blah blah. I also love how organized and clear this math notebook is. It inspired me to keep several different colored pens near my teaching station when I am modeling in my math notebook. http://pinterest.com/pin/234327986834679733/


There are parts of this pin I have used, and parts that I want to use. My students and I will include several representations of a concept in our math notebooks. We usually show the concept in words and math (shown above) but also pictorially if possible. I like how it touches on several learning styles. This coming year, I would like to experiment with the "interactive" notebook, as shown above with the flaps. I worry it will be more of a distraction/management piece than helpful! http://pinterest.com/pin/234327986834663435/


I LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea of this anchor chart. Would you believe it if I told you that over half of the points my students miss are not caused by an inability to perform the operation, but by SILLY MISTAKES. If anything, this anchor chart serves as a reminder to go back and check work!! I will definitely be using this in my room this year. http://pinterest.com/pin/234327986834555714/

Oh division man, you crack me up. No, I have never used division man, but I do use the mnemonic DMSB: dad, mom, sister, brother. You'd be surprised at how many of my 6th graders struggle with long division, and there are times that we see this skill in our 6th grade curriculum (especially with decimals, which trips them up even more!). I am entertaining the idea of inviting division man into the classroom this year, it'll depend on how "cool" my students are. Although, I do a lot of things that they don't think are very "cool"...and I just get the standard, "Ms.Carlyle, that is not cool." haha http://pinterest.com/pin/234327986832588185/
I'd by lying if I said I could always remember these rules....so how can I expect my 6th graders to? I LOVE this graphic. We don't specifically cover these skills and concepts in the 6th grade curriculum, but there are definitely times when we come across a word problem involving this type of conversion (which is assumed to be background knowledge) and my kids are stumped! I absolutely LOVE this graphic, and think it belongs on every general ed or math classroom wall.http://pinterest.com/pin/234327986832540721/
I chose to share this pin because it showcases something I currently do, and something I'd like to do. Each day my students and I write down our learning target for that lesson. It goes at the very top of the page of our notes and classwork that day. At the end of the lesson, we have a quick discussion on if we feel great, so-so, or not great at all about meeting our goal. I use that as a very informal assessment on how my students are doing (along with many other things). As I mentioned earlier, I would like our math notebooks to be more interactive, as this one above is. That can be as easy as cutting out shapes and gluing them in. http://pinterest.com/pin/234327986832301587/
Finally, this is something I have seen in primary classrooms and intermediate both. It goes back to that phenomenon where students KNOW the skill, but they make a silly mistake. Often times, that silly mistake involves performing the wrong basic operation. There are so many words and phrases to signify each operation (add, subtract, multiply, and divide), so this anchor chart is a great reference to support students who are unsure of their first step, or to reassure them if they think they know the correct operation. http://pinterest.com/pin/234327986832270944/


That's it for math pins today! There are definitely more to be found on my "Teacher, Teacher" board and I am literally pinning more and more every day!! I wish I could get paid for pinning...it has to be some kind of professional development right? Be on the look out for my Pins for the Win writing, art, organization, and management editions!

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Pins for the Win: Reading Edition

Let me just start out by giving you access to my Teaching Pinterest board: http://pinterest.com/brookster29/teacher-teacher/

OK, now that that's out of the way, I'd like to take some time to share with you my faaaavorite READING teaching pins that I have collected over the last year or so. Some I have used, most I haven't...but I promise I have every intention to (that's what they all say, right?).  Be on the look out for my favorite writing, math, management, organization, and art pins!

Reading
Non-Fiction Response
Non-Fiction Response sheet http://pinterest.com/pin/234327986833778176/
67 books to read to your kids before they turn 10
This link gives a list of books every child should read (or have read to them) by 10 years old http://pinterest.com/pin/234327986832765677/
Great for D5/CAFE board too!!
Questioning Anchor Chart: http://pinterest.com/pin/234327986833043914/
Do your students need extra support and practice with fiction or non-fiction comprehension?This product was created for students who take home ...
List of comprehension questions to make cards out of. Students can do this independently both at home and school. http://pinterest.com/pin/234327986832507344/
Text Features Printable
I'm always looking for examples when introducing text features, especially in non-fiction  http://pinterest.com/pin/234327986832419232/
For introducing a new story...Have them fill it in as they read.
Introducing a new story worksheet http://pinterest.com/pin/234327986834630191/







Thursday, July 18, 2013

Goal #2: Student Bloggers

Last week when I was researching blogs created by teachers and blogs created for teachers, I stumbled upon the idea of using blogs in the classroom in a different way.
Let the kids blog!
I instantly knew this was something I wanted to do with my 6th graders. I think 6th grade is the perfect age for this because they are incredibly digitally savvy, are obsessed with social networking, and are often just plain sick of writing....with paper and pencil, that is.
I immediately began researching websites that I could use to allow my students to have a blog in a safe and secure environment....that I could control :) I decided I really liked the looks of the website
Kid blog reminded me of other teacher-led websites that I have used like IXL and That Quiz. I think it is really important when kids are using the web, that the teacher has some control over the sites they are on, and MOST importantly, has a way to track their work and progress.
So, how do I see this being used in my classroom? My kids write A LOT! They write about their reading, they write about their math, they write about their lives, they write stories and essays....they are writing, writing, writing, every day! Throughout the year, their complaints about writing increase, and really, can I blame them? I think incorporating a blog will give them a new, exciting, and fresh way to share their thinking. I am also hoping that this will provide a platform for students to discuss their classmates thinking and have meaningful and engaging discussions (much like the ones I have with my classmates during my masters work).
I'm going to do more exploring on KidBlog this summer and fine-tune exactly how I see it incorporated into my English Language Arts curriculum. I will keep you updated on how it goes!! 

Monday, July 15, 2013

School's Out for Summer!....Except for Summer School....

I wanted to take some time to share about an awesome program that I have the opportunity to be apart of at my school. During the school year I tutor for the C-21 program. This is an after school program that focuses on students who qualify for free and reduce lunch. C-21 is funded by the Washington Alliance for Better Schools and there are about 10 schools in my district who are apart of this enriching experience.Basically, it is a grant that funds after school tutoring with a focus on reading and math interventions for grades 3-6.

During the summer, we have the opportunity to work with these kiddos on their reading and math interventions for 4 weeks. We call it "summer school" although this is not what you typically would think of as summer school, where students did not meet the needed requirements during the school year and needed to make up the time. The four weeks I get to spend with these kiddos is really beneficial to both them and me. It's a time for us to be more casual, get to know each other, have fun, and get learning done. These kids are bored out of their minds at home throughout the summer and they literally show up earlier and earlier each day to start our sessions!

Here is an example of what my half-day schedule looks like and the goals that I have focused on with my kiddos (per their next year's teacher's request).

9:00-9:45 Ms. Carlyle Planning
9:45-11:10 5th Grade Reading
11:10-11:20 Recess! (It wouldn't be school without a little recess!)
11:20-12:05 3rd Grade Math (3rd graders are a stretch for me, but they keep me on my toes!)
12:05-12:50 4th Grade Math
12:50-1:15 Lunch (provided by the free lunch program) and recess :)

5th Grade Reading Goals
-Independent reading stamina (20 minutes)
-Comprehension Skills (summarizing, identifying literary elements, questioning)

To reach our goals, we spend time with me doing a read aloud (My Teacher is an Alien by Bruce Coville). Then my students complete 20 minutes of independent reading with their "just right" novels. When finished I ask 3 comprehension questions that relate to the previously mentioned reading skills, the students write their answers in a reading journal where we also keep track of the minutes they read to help them complete the principal's summer reading challenge. I model how to answer the questions based on My Teacher is an Alien, and they write based on the story they are reading. Finally, we finish up our time reading The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary. We do this as a group read, where I will read a few paragraphs, then ask for volunteers or select a specific student to read to the group. We write a one paragraph summary each day on that reading as well.

3rd Grade Math Goals
-Master addition facts
-Master subtraction fact
-Multiple digit addition and subtraction with regrouping
-Using clocks and calendars

4th Grade Math Goals
-Master multiplication facts (0-10)
-Master division facts (0-10)
-Multi digit multiplication
-Area and perimeter of quadrilaterals

For the math goals, many of the students have had the basics in these areas during the school year. I focus on one skill each week. I do direct instruction of the skill at the beginning of each day, then we do skill practice with worksheets or whiteboards. I adore the website Super Teacher Worksheets. I swear I am not a teacher that is ALWAYS handing out worksheets, but this website has a lot of great resources (puzzles, games, basic practice problems, challenge problems, etc) based on any elementary math skill!

Monday, July 8, 2013

Goal #1: Be a blogging teacher!

I have to confess something....

When I interviewed for my position at my current school, I had all these grandiose ideas that I spouted out about the many benefits of teacher blogs. I told my principal about awesome examples of blogs I had seen (from random teaching blogs I had come across on the internet AND blogs created by personal friends and colleagues) and how I was going to incorporate all these amazing ideas into a blog of my own that would benefit my students and their families.

Well, I got the job (hopefully not JUST because of my blogging ideas).... and September came, then October, then before I knew it, it was Christmas.....and that amazing blog that I dreamt up never happened. To cut myself some slack, I was teaching a new grade in a new school and with everything that came along with my new responsibilities, I just never found the time or energy to create a class blog.

This year will be different!
That leads me to goal number one (out of many technology-related goals that I have set [and will blog about!] for myself and my classroom this upcoming year), which is inspired by the Web 2.0 class that I am taking this term at Lesley University. I want to find the most effective way to create and utilize a classroom blog for the upcoming school year. So the idea and intention are there, now the real work begins. I imagine the most important thing I need to do is determine a purpose for my blog. So far, this is what I have:
1) Provide effective communication about classroom assignments and expectation to families.
2) Provide a resource for my students when working on any given assignment in class.
3) Document the happenings of Ms. Carlyle's class for students, their families, and other staff members.
My next step is going to be spending quite a bit of time reading classroom blogs (particularly 6th grade) and decide what I think will work best for my students and me. I'm going to start out combing through one of my greatest inspirations (both the blog and the person) which is a classroom blog written by Stephanie Tjaden at Emerald Park Elementary in Kent, WA. (You can find her blog here).I have a feeling I will also get suggestions for blogs to look at through my peers at Lesley University and where else but Pinterest! So for now faithful readers (all two of you... Hi Grandma!), I am off to find what makes a good classroom blog!

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Let's play a game of "Catch Up!"

I love the idea of blogging. I was a HUGE journal/diary fan when I was younger, and even tried my hand and writing a few short stories here and there. Unfortunately, most of the writing I do now-a-days has to do with school (my education) and work (teaching at a school). This blog was meant to be the lighthearted side of my professional self- sharing anecdotes, stories, and funny or heartwarming happenings from my days at school (work). I started this blog 3 years ago when I first began my professional career as a teacher, and as you can easily see, it has been quite neglected ever since. The situation with my personal blog is similar. I tend to ignore it until I have something notable to write about; some sort of inspiration.

Well I have stumbled upon inspiration for my teaching blog. Web 2.0 for Educators! I have been enrolled in this class through Lesley University for a week and already my mind is filled to the brim with ideas for the my classroom this fall. I think this blog will give me an excellent platform to lay out my ideas and organize them somewhere other than my jumbled head. I'm going to stew on these ideas a bit more, read a bit more, and think a bit more......and I'm hoping my next post will be a place for me to lay them all out!