Student learning is no accident!
If teaching fifth and sixth graders has taught me anything, it’s that fractions and decimals can be ABSTRACT and TRICKY… and that kids have to be developmentally ready to perform operations on them. The good news is- the standards aren’t encouraging us to get kids to add, subtract, multiply and divide 5/32 and 16/71! We make equivalent fractions as a… Read More
Class Discussion Norms (In my class, these become our Community Norms and replace any “rules”) Equity of Voice: Monitor your airtime. As a group member you are responsible to be a speaker AND a listener. You are also responsible to invite others to speak. Equal(ish) airtime is the goal. Our community values all voices. Active Listening : Eye contact, nodding, being… Read More
Current Events. It’s been done to death. And I get that. What I’m going to share with you is not really about current events. The context just happens to be Current Events- but it could be anything… (so insert your own context!) It’s about academic discussions- conversation. Do kids really know what that is these days? Chances are they do… Read More
Using Sentence Stems and Explicit Instruction for Classroom Discussions Teaching discussion skills can be daunting! You know you want productive, positive discussions… but how do you get there? Here’s some of what works for me! Body Language & Politeness Matter Eye Contact: looking directly at the speaker lets them know they have your attention Inviting Posture: Facing your body toward… Read More
I used to cringe watching students stuff papers into their folders to be lost in the locker abyss… after I had spent so much time thoughtfully providing feedback on their work!! I spend so much time writing thoughtful questions about their math thinking and comments aimed at pushing their scientific curiosity… It was killing me to know that none of… Read More
We have moved on to subtraction with renaming (2.NBT.7). You might call this regrouping… but really- if we think literally about what’s happening- we’re also giving the values new names! 50+10 is a different name for 60. So, renaming, regrouping… you know what we’re doing! What’s Working I’ve been doing a lot of this work with students in small groups…. Read More
It's that time again!! Dollar Deals- my FAVORITE sales of the year. Twice a year my favorite teacher authors get together and throw this incredible sale. Search #fireworks2020 on TPT July 3-4 to find AMAZING resources marked down to just one dollar. ONE DOLLAR!?!?!?
www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:%23Fireworks2020
Hi friends! This article from NPR showed up in my inbox from a friend this morning. I loved reading the whole thing- but I especially appreciated reading the way the childcare providers are using rubber stamps to help encourage really good hand washing!
What Parents Can Learn From Child Care Centers That Stayed Open During Lockdowns
www.npr.org
The Y, and New York City's Department of Education, have been caring for tens of thousands of children during the pandemic. Neither has had reports of coronavirus clusters or outbreaks.😳I’m hearing a whole lot of talk about rules and guidelines handed to schools.
😳Lots of smart people who have no experience working in schools seem to have big ideas about how schools should operate.
🤔I wonder if any of these people will think to ask people who actually WORK in schools to weigh in. THAT would really impress me!
#teachertruth #teacherquotes #pandemicthoughts #writesolutions #tptfs #igconnect4edu #iteachtoo #teachersofinsta #teachersofthegram #tpt #ntchat #distancelearning #reopeningschools
Teachers' Workload is Bigger Than Ever Before and It's Taking a Toll
www.boredteachers.com
Contrary to popular belief, we aren’t logging out of Zoom, closing our laptops, and immediately grabbing a margarita to spend the rest of the day poolside.