Simple Center Organization

Livening up my guided math rotations each month are NEVER a struggle during the holidays!  I like to keep about 10 center choices each month and save about FIVE of them for something seasonal and out of the ordinary.  Here is some fun tips for storing those seasonal choices to make some of your OLD centers NEW again!

I love using this Sterlite Photo container to organize 5-6 sets of task cards.  I will switch these out monthly, but my students are familiar with the location and procedure that remains the same.  The bins takes up such a small space that it is perfect if you have space limitations.

These are especially ideal if you wave centers with smaller pieces.  I know that they will not be lost or fall out of a basket if I have them contained in these nifty plastic containers! This set shown is from my December Math Mini Center Bundle for 2nd Grade

I also love grabbing any seasonal gift bag and throwing in a few centers or sets of task cards.  Games are somehow "cooler" in a bag!  Simply adding a unique touch adds some pizzazz during my guided math rotations!

Another advantage to using gift bags is that you can decide if you want the center to be a seatwork activity of a partner activity is a selected space in the room!  It is a great way to self-contain the activity.

How do you jazz up your centers?  Leave a comment!  I'd love to try something new!

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Differentiating Reading Goals in the Classroom

As teachers, we all want to promote lifelong reading.  That's a given.  How we DO that as teachers, grade levels, and schools tends to vary.

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Using Nearpod in a Digital 1:1 Classroom

Hi friends!  Teaching in a 1:1 school can be overwhelming with so many Web 2.0 tools to choose from!  This is a great one!

What is Nearpod? 

Think … PowerPoint with benefits.  Whatever you put together on Nearpod is sent directly to your students’ screens by entering a code.  YOU control moving forward.  What’s even better, it provides options for interactive elements that you could NEVER do in PowerPoint!

There are quite a few pre-made Nearpod lessons that are FREE and some for a small fee.  Trying out some of the free ones will be great inspiration.  Give a search and see what you find!

Once you create your account and are ready to get crackin’, you’ll want to go to the Create section and delete the two useless slides.  Not quite sure why they are there, but I always get rid of them.

You will be left with the “Add Slide” section and you are ready to roll. 

Once you click that button, you are provided with three options.

By clicking “Add Content”, you can either create a basic slide and type in your content OR you can insert a saved file, image, etc.  Lots of options are there for places you might be saving your files.

Adding activities is what REALLY sets this tool apart.

I really love giving my kids the chance to answer Open-Ended Questions.  Here’s a sample of how this might look. 

I like to create the questions in PowerPoint.  I typed up a question and added a screenshot from my teacher’s manual and slipped it right in.

While the students are responding, the screen that is displayed on your Promethean board will show answers in real-time.  I like to click on “Freeze” so that no one can see each other’s answers until I am ready for them to share.

It is great to quickly read through the responses and find the good points.  The kids really excited when I share their responses—both those that are good models or common misconceptions –with the class.  They can see the answers up close!

Creating quizzes is another great tool to do a quick formative assessment!  Type up a few questions and answers, click the correct choice, and you have a self-graded quiz!  Once all the answers are submitted (again, I will freeze the screen), I will quickly look through the responses on my computer to see who needs remediation.

If you are like me, creating PowerPoint presentations for teaching is not new.  In fact, you might have so many already created that the THOUGHT of redoing them doesn’t seem like a great idea.  Well, I’ve had a blast reusing those old presentations. 

It is super-simple!

1. Pull up your old presentation
2. Go to File: then Save As Pictures
3. Name your New File!

Once you are in Nearpod, just reinsert each of the slides as a picture to create an interactive presentation!  Now all you have to do is add a few activities to take the learning ever further!

I hope you’ll give this Web 2.0 tool a try!  I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface with this tool, but it is now one of my “keepers”.   

Want to try out 30 days of a GOLD membership?  Create your new account now using my Referral Code!  Click over to NEARPOD and enter: E7R1UK
Invite 7 more friends and you can have it, too!

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Using Padlet in the Classroom

This is the third year that our district has been implementing a Digital 1:1 with students.  Third graders here have laptops that they use in the classroom and take home each night.  Classroom management and a consistent routine are key features needed in all classrooms, but it is especially important when you add devices.

I use two tools on a regular basis that have proven to be tried and true for me!

First of all, I use Symbaloo Edu to organize all of the websites for my students.  Don't know about that one?  Pop over to my blogpost during a Tricks & Treats Bloghop at 3rd Grade Pad to read how I use it.

Secondly, I use Padlet WITH my Symbaloo.

What is Padlet?

Padlet is a Web 2.0 tool that allows the user to create a space, much like a bulletin board, to stick website links, pdf & word files, and there is a web camera option (that I've never used!).  It is a perfect tool to share a variety of sources in one cohesive location.

Before I show you how to make one, let me share the ways Padlet is used in my classroom, keeping in mind that my goal is to share links and files in one location for my students.

Weekly Reading Padlet

If you will notice in the screenshot above, I have a button that is labeled Reading Street with the name of the Unit and Week of study. This is a quick link to get to my Padlet page.

As you can see on this Padlet, I have my Spelling HW for the week, a copy of the heading for the Spelling Sort homework, Grammar homework for Monday and Wednesday, Family Times Newsletter, and the Unit Spelling List.  My parents quickly appreciate the routine in format.  Students are able to work ahead on their homework and see the week in one location.  This is a paper AND a time saver for me.  My kids do homework in folders, so there are no worksheets to print.  If you will recall from my Symbaloo post, a whole year of tabs of these Padlets are waiting for the school year.  I created them each week LAST year.  I am reusing them each week THIS year.  I may change it up a bit, but I have the bones ready to build!

Final Project Padlet
I also create Padlets for my kids to submit their final projects.  These start as a blank slate for kids to submit their work when they are ready.  For example, last year my kids created PowerPoints of American Symbols.

Rather than save them on a thumb drive, line up at my computer to submit them (which I've done....NIGHTMARE and a time suck!), kids add a tab on the Padlet themselves.  This would also work with the all important writing that we want our kids to do!!!  The beauty is that:
1.  The projects are in one location and can present to the class on the Promethian board.
2.  Kids can look at each other's projects outside of class.
3.  I can sit at my computer to grade with my rubric.  No paper to take home!!

Once we are done with the projects, I can remove the Padlet link.

Learning Pad
I have one blank Padlet that I leave available to my kids.  I use the blank one for Exit Slips.  Sometimes, I just don't want to spend the time preparing formative assessments.  I can display a task card from the topic we are teaching on my Document Camera.  Students will answer on the Learning Pad.

They will:

1. Create a spot
2. Enter their class number in the top portion
3. Enter their final answer in the bottom portion.  (Oh!  Lightbulb going off!  They could take a picture of their white board work and submit that!!)

I have also used my learning pad as a place for kids to submit their stories or creations to share with their classmates.  Last year, I had a student share a 500 slide PowerPoint that she created.  She was dabbling with the idea of tapping on the next slide quickly to create motion.  I would have never known of her interest if I hadn't given them this creative spot.  She started teaching other kids how to create them on our inside recess days after that!

My Learning Pad has also been a place where I can leave videos from Educreations for my kids.  Sometimes I teach something that I KNOW they are going to be a little fuzzy about when they get home.  This gives a "taste" of me at home, and parents can give the added support in knowing how "Mrs. Watson" does it!  Below is a screenshot from the fall.  And look what I found?   A message from one of my babies from last year who moved away!  How sweet is that!

Themed Padlets
Sometimes we have a short unit when I want all the materials my kids will need in one place.

We always do a Bird Research project to prepare for one of our field trips.  This particular year, we decided to narrow the choices to Alabama birds.  They began with one of the sites listed.  Extra sites were also on the page.  By putting the pre-approved sites on the Padlet, it saved class research time.  (And wasted time popping from site to site and not getting very much done).  It really helps to keep the kids focused on the task.  There is also a document that they can use to ensure that they are following the rubric.  

I also created a collection of Math Games for my kids.

My rule for getting free time for "math games" is that it HAS to come from my page.  It makes it pretty easy to let my kids have 5-10 minutes of free time, if I know that I have set the parameters.

Setting Up Your Padlet

It is pretty straight forward setting up your Padlet page.  However, you can view this video to view a quick tutorial!

That's it for me!  I'd love to hear how YOU use Padlet in the classroom!  Comments make me smile!

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Reading Interactive Notebooks Supporting Reading Street

Summer is here!  And time to kick off the first weekly Monday Made It!

4th Grade Frolics

  My first and biggest MMI has been a very long project.  In fact, it's been in the works for 13 years.  Yep, my baby boy graduated from high school!  I'm so proud of his accomplishment, and the future he holds in his hands.  So much fear in sending your child off to college--are they ready, should they stay home the first year.  These are all things I can't know, but I do know that our successes and failures happen for a reason.  I wish him well in the fall when he ventures across the state line to attend Mississippi State University

I've been doing versions of Math Interactive Notebooks for the last several years.  They've progressed from simple post-it notes to these elaborate flap pages.  My kids LOVE the chance to get out their scissors and glue, as we work together to establish meaning and a resource for our learning.  I have really done very little with them in reading and really want to change that!  My Math INB are usually done in spiral notebooks, but I really like composition notebooks, too.  The covers are much more durable.  Plus, kids are less likely to rip pages out for other things!

Now that you have 100 blank pages, with all the skills and such to fill them, how do you keep it all organized?  I've given this a lot of thought, and here is my plan for next school year.  Reading Street is broken up into 6 units with 5 weeks embedded in each one.  I've decided that I will focus on 2 skills a week and the Selection Vocabulary OR Amazing Words.  I'm still up in the air about this, so for blogging purposes, I'm including the selection vocab.

First, the kids will need to set up the Table of Contents.

I used the red guidelines as the natural dividers for the sections.  I have "Unit", "Table of Contents", "Pg".  So, for  Unit 1 Week 1, they will label "1.1" and a line for whatever skills to be covered.  Of course, these skills would be introduced on different days, but you can see how it will be referenced.  

Next, skip over three pages (planning a page front to back for the 6 units)

I always have my kids cut the "perimeters" first before we ever get going in our Math INB.  Perfect time to introduce this word to their Academic Vocabulary. All the cutting and chit chat will get out of their system, and we can focus on the task at hand all at once.  I know some shy away from INBs for this reason.   Trust me, if you establish a routine, it goes quickly and they start to anticipate what to do. 

The biggest hurdle is getting them to only glue the strip and not the WHOLE page!  Having a finished product displayed on your Elmo helps.  That said, once you train them to the procedure, it will go super quick.  Cut the flaps once it is glued down will help keep the paper more manageable.  If you cut the flaps THEN glue, it's harder to glue the strip down straight.  

Sorry this is sideways- I guess my camera didn't flip with me.  But as you can see, you are ready to record.  You have 2 places to record, it is really up to you.  We will likely define the terms to go with the text book on one side.  Then on the lined parts, students will need to find examples from their reading.  In this case, it could be the literature from Unit 1 Week 1, and I would expect that when we revisit this skill, they can cite from their own reading.  Or you may differentiate how you approach this and do as your small group lesson.  

I set up the Vocabulary Skill Page a little differently because of the skill.

Gluing happens in the middle strip.

We will likely do examples as part of the whole group or small group lesson.  The INB part might be done together or part of the Word Work assignment.  My example shows the homonym in the center and an illustration on the outside.

 The inside includes a meaningful sentence and another illustration that goes with that sentence.

To set up the Selection Vocabulary/Amazing Words section, flip to the VERY middle of the book to start the vocabulary section.  We will use both sides each week in a two-page spread.

 I have the kids cut one perimeter, then cut in half.  Like with the other flap books, glue the strips first and cut the flaps after.

We used to do a version of this on a single sheet of paper each week. Folded, quartered, and using one  box for each word.  It was very meaningful, but what to do with it after the week is over?  I had trouble saving and filing them, so this was a great solution.  I use this for Word Work each week, too. Definition on the front, illustration and sentence on the inside.  As the year progresses, we add synonyms and antonyms.  Finding synonyms/antonyms for these words is SUCH a challenge sometimes, but it becomes a puzzle once they know that some words don't have clear cut choices to be found in the dictionary. I really need them to think deeper about vocabulary!

  So, using only 2 full sheets a week for the INBs (one for the vocabulary and half each for the other skills), I have three meaningful activities as part of our routine.  Minimal prep-Maximum impact.

To go with this first unit, I've put together a task card set that is great to pull out during this and anytime during the year

Click here to see in my TpT store

I love making and USING task cards with my kids.  They are a great way to check for understanding at the beginning of a topic and for assessments, too.  I've chosen 12 homonyms that are used twice.  On the answer document, the students choose either "A" or "B".  

That part is pretty sample, but the kids need to choose a word or phrase that was the clue to help them choose.  Citing words from the text and finding context clues is an important skill.  

1/2

I say HALF because I'm not quite done, but I am pretty excited about updating my Reading Focus Wall this summer.  I've put together a collection of posters for the first week of Unit 1 and plan to make them for the YEAR!  Hope to stay focused on that one!  Here's a sneak peak!

I haven't quite decided if I want to bundle them as Reading Street or as Skill and Strategy posters. My Interactive Notebook Pages will be available then, too! If you'll follow my store on TpT, you'll see them as soon as they are up though!!

My TPT Store

That's me for this week!  I even spent some time at the pool! But laundry......... that's another matter!

Hope you'll check back on Thursday each week this summer and read all the responses from The Primary Gal's book Study of Guided Math!  I'm half-way thru the chapter 2 prepping for my blog post.

Hope y'all have a great week!

Debbi

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Using Literature Circles Booklets (+Freebie!)

I've read about them, talked with teachers who love doing them (older kids though), but I haven't taken the leap to TRY them.  I've been reading The Book Whisperer, and I love so much of what she has to say.  I love the joy she gets from reading.  I was certainly the Reluctant Reader as a kid.  I was a good reader, great vocabulary, but I never FINISHED books.  Encyclopedia Brown was my best friend.  I could read half of the book and return in on "library day" feeling satisfied that I had read most of it with no urge to finish.  How SAD is that!  I truly did not enjoy reading until college.  Summers were spent at the used book store buying all of the Flowers in the Attic series and devouring them.  Not literature, for sure, but I enjoyed the escape and the freedom to read what I wanted for a change!

Since beginning the Book Whisperer, I grew to appreciate the talks that I often have with my kids when they read a book or are trying to find a book.  What was missing was the dialogue they could have with each other.  Back to that voice in the back of my head that wanted to try Lit Circles with my kids.  I have an amazing group of readers this year.  We are focusing school-wide to broaden our genre reading which has really lent itself to the talks I've had with my kids.

I knew before we tried Lit Circles, I had to choose a read-aloud that was more than funny or entertaining.  I went with The Miraculous Journey of Edward Toulane.  Wow.....
What a great read!  I sat at my desk reading aloud with tears coming down my face, my voice quivering, and a silent classroom hanging on every word.  We had wonderful class talks about Edward.  Great book to see a character change.  I highly recommend and will read this book much earlier in the year next year!

After these book talks, I am ready to cut them loose to talk with each other.  I don't know how this will go.  I'm making it up as I go along.  We'll learn this together, but I have to try it out before I can improve it!  Promise to keep you posted on our progress...hopefully!

I teetered back and forth on how I wanted them to document their roles and decided on personal logbooks.  That way, they have their own keepsake of their journey.  I'm putting my attempt on TPT as a Freebie.  I'd love for you to try it out and give me your feedback!  I'd love it if you would Pretty Please follow my TPT store in return.  I'd love to share future updates to the packet with you, and let you know when I make other items that might work for you!

Here is the simple way I decided to put these together without the kids pulling out their scissors.

Step One:

Made 12 sets that were collated on the copier

Step Two:

Stapled the upper edge for each booklet

Step Three:

Trimmed the outer sides

Step Four:

Cut the two booklets along the center line

Step Five:

Done!

Bonus:

Added a few extra pages for the Summarizer in case they need more than one page.  I put that page in the back of the booklet....just in case.

And..........Finally!!!

None of these on the floor!  Yeah!

Click on the image below to grab your OWN copy!  Let me know if you LOVE it!

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