Introducing the WOW Binder! It's WOW. I can't take credit for it, I didn't invent it, but whoever did is a genius. There are many variations of a take home folder/binder out there, but this is by far my favorite. Let me introduce you to...THE WOW BINDER! WOW= We Organize Work. Start with a 1.5'' white binder. When you open the WOW binder, the first thing you will see is the directions page. On the backside of the directions page, I have a nine weeks skills checklist. The front inside cover of the binder holds our weekly newsletter. After the directions page and skills checklist, there is a zippered pencil pouch (see through). Next is the parent communication notebook. This is a terrible picture, but next in the binder are 5 pocket dividers. Here is a reading log! To end our tour, the last item in the WOW binder is The Reading Briefcase. So, that's the WOW binder!
What makes an interactive whiteboard interactive? I was recently asked by a principal how he could tell during classroom visits if a teacher was using the Smartboard "effectively." A pretty good question. While popular (2007, 2010, interactive white boards (IWBs) are controversial even (or especially) among technology enthusiasts. The major complaint is that the use of these devices reinforces the "sage on the stage" teaching methodology. "The IWB is little more than a fancy overhead projector and its touch sensitive screen is only used to save the teacher a couple steps back to the computer to change a slide." seems to be sentiment in the constructivist camp of techno-pundits. But many advocates of this technology (myself included), see IWBs as genuine means of bringing more interactivity, more student-focus into classrooms of traditional teachers. What we don't want to forget is that someone who is coaching a teacher is not really looking for "good technology use" but for just good educational practices.
Unique Teaching Resources: Lesson Plans, Book Report Projects, Bulletin Board Displays April 2010 A hectic week in the heat, an early morning flight, and the tail end of a tummy bug (and OK, I admit it, a dose of Infant Tylenol) resulted in the best case scenerio for us (and the bazillion and one other passengers on Southwest Flight 174)...sleeping babies. As in, out cold for 2.5 hours of a 2.75 hour flight. It was the traveling twin mama jackpot. While I was not able to enjoy a magazine or even an itty-bitty pouch of peanuts, I did enjoy some wonderful, quiet cuddle time. Given the alternative possibility of 2.75 hours of screaming babies, poopy diapers at 30,000 feet and/or angry seatmates, I was thrilled. I used that time to just sit and think. I started to think about school and the fact that the year would start winding down. I started to realize that there was only 8-9 weeks left until summer vacation. And then the realization hit. There is so much that needs to happen in those 8-9 weeks. So I thought today would be a good day to blog about pacing yourself. 1. 2. 3. 3. 4.
10 Ways to be a Terrible Teacher Teaching is a noble calling. That is why when a teacher doesn't behave nobly it breaks trust and we get upset. I have to admit that I've had days as a "TT" (Terrible Teacher.) If we're honest with ourselves, we all have. So, today, I'll share a few of the things I think make a teacher terrible. Stop and Be Excellent Some of you will be shocked that I've taken my positive tone out of this post. Sometimes knowing what to do means we also know what NOT to do. 10- The teacher is always on their cell phone. 9 - The teacher is always on the computer or not paying attention. I knew a teacher who used to sew on her sewing machine during class. 8- The teacher is always losing his/her temper or is predictably dramatic. The predictably dramatic could be when you get soooooooo mad you jump on your desk. 7- The Teacher shares private student information publicly NEVER call grades out loud - even for the top students. Let me tell you something. 2- The Teacher whose words mean nothing.
Placement Tests Step 1: Giving the Reading Placement Assessments (Grades K - Middle School) If you are uncertain which assessment to administer, use this guideline: If your student will be: 5 years old this fall, give the Basic Phonics Assessment. 6 years old this fall, give the Advanced Phonics Assessment. 7 years old this fall, give Reading Assessment 1. 8 years old this fall, give Reading Assessment 2 Part A and Part B. 9 years old this fall, give Reading Assessment 3 Part A and Part B. 10 years old this fall, give Reading Assessment 4 Part A and Part B. 11 years old this fall, give Reading Assessment 5 Part A and Part B. 12 years old or higher this fall, give Reading Assessment 6. NOTE: Placement test guidelines were updated and new tests were added/replaced on April 6, 2005. If you downloaded and administered a test just prior to that date, you may want to re-administer the tests, following the new guidelines and taking the updated tests. Reading Placement Tests Language Skills Placement Tests
CRCSD - Action Research PDSA - Overview Learn more about quality and continuous improvement... read the blog! Another component of the continuous improvement classroom is the utilization of the Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycle (also called Action Research). PDSA is a systematic, data driven 7 step process. -Define The System: What system do I want to improve? The PDSA cycle can be used to improve processes at the District, school, classroom and individual student level.
20 Ways to Create a Healthy Faculty Environment In honor of Edutopia's 20th anniversary, we're producing a series of Top 20 lists, from the practical to the sublime. When a classroom "works" it is a powerful place to be. While the students ultimately make these moments, talented educators need to set the stage for success. The same can be said of harmonious faculty and staff relations. A building full of talented people does not guarantee a comfortable place to grow as an educator. In honor of Edutopia's 20th anniversary, here are 20 ways to cultivate a healthy faculty environment: Faculty Meetings 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Faculty Lounge 6. 7. 8. Professional Respect 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. Information Technology 14. 15. 16. Beyond Campus 17. 18. 19. 20. What tips do you have for creating a safe place to learn and teach?
My teaching manifesto for 2013 Manifestos are big around the web at the moment. I'm not adverse to jumping on a bandwagon, so I've written my own. Here is my personal teaching manifesto for 2013: What about you? Do you have any resolutions for the new year? Twenty Tidbits for New Teachers In no way, do I want to add to the burden of the already-filled-to-the-brim, new teacher stress bucket. I do however, want to share just 20 tidbits which I hope will help ease new teachers into a fun, successful school year. Some of these will be in the form of social media tools, which I think are awesome, and wish I had had as a newbie. And each little tidbit is linked to a resource which I hope you will find supportive. 1. Seek Your Passion! As a new teacher this may be the farthest thing from your mind. 2. We all hear this term so often around the web... but what does it mean? 3. As you begin your first year, building relationships with grade-level buddies and others at your school site is critical to your success. 4. How you begin to communicate with your student's and families, is truly a reflection of your commitment to them as their teacher. 5. When I was a new teacher, I sadly taught in isolation. 6. I believe strongly in the power of mentoring. 7. 8. You know it all... right?
Building A Better Mousetrap: The Rubric Debate Building A Better Mousetrap: The Rubric Debate by Madeline Marcotte The origin of the term “rubric” (roo´ brik) gives us our first clue as to why educators often argue over the use of this assessment tool. Because the headings, titles, and sections of early books were often printed in red and, in prayer books, the directions for conducting religious services were also printed in red, “rubric,” which comes from the Latin for “red” or “reddish,” has evolved to mean “an established custom or rule of procedure.” (Online dictionary) The term was adopted by educators in the 1980s to refer to a set of standards and/or directions for assessing student outcomes and guiding student learning. Well known in elementary and secondary schools as crucial to state-mandated student performance assessment, rubrics are now used similarly by post-secondary educators in all disciplines to assess outcomes in learning situations that require critical thinking and are multidimensional. It’s the design Rubrics 101
Free Printable Reading Activities To Improve Reading Skills Teaching The Basic Code Establishing The Alphabetic Principle The information and reading activities on this page are designed for young children just learning to read or older children who are struggling with learning to read.<br> This page deals with basic code, the forty-two sounds in the English language and their most probable spellings. As mentioned on the Teaching Reading page, by basic code we mean when the letters of the alphabet are used individually to represent the sounds in a word. All letters and sounds have a one-to-one sound correspondence. Kids need to learn the basic alphabetic code first before moving on to the more difficult advanced code. The following words contain only basic code: run, hat, stop, dog, milk, lost In comparison, these words contain advanced code: boat, cow, great, shop By practicing the basic code we help children accomplish some critical learning objectives essential to establishing reading fluency. Words are made up of sounds. Environmental Print