Writing a book report is only one way of sharing information about what you read. Here are a few more ideas to start your brainstorming. Make a paper doll of the main character and explain your selection of clothing and accessories. Create a paper cube. Star with a flat piece of paper and cut it… Read More »
Close reading is engaged reading. It’s the opposite of read-as-fast-as-you-can. It encourages readers to read for deeper meaning and requires taking time to understand what is read. Here are a few tips to focus your thinking about close reading: Practice close reading yourself. As you read ask why questions and open-ended questions to move beyond… Read More »
Show and Tell is more than talking about your weekend or the new puppy, especially with older students. It’s an early step in scaffolding (early steps in breaking down learning into chunks). It involves talking, looking at vocabulary and information as well as previewing text. So how does Show and Tell fit in? Learning by… Read More »
The Search-Institute.org writes interesting articles for educators and families. Their article on February 3, 2016 addressed ways to support students as they take on m. Here are a few of their comments with my suggestions added onto each item: “Play with” the problem. Brainstorm, manipulate the facts, build models, step outside the proverbial box before… Read More »
Remember them? Venn diagrams are still an effective way to compare and contrast information. The two overlapping circles you create set up 3 areas to record your information. For example, think of apples and oranges. Use the far left section of the circle to represent distinct apple characteristics, the far right to represent distinct… Read More »
Education Week published an article on parent-teacher conferences (9-30-15) entitled Parent-Conferences Get a Makeover and written by Sarah D. Sparks. In the article she shares how districts have changed their format to academic parent-teacher teams (APTT). The idea is to create meetings where parents and teachers meet and share what they know about the… Read More »
Learning takes many forms. Each of us have favorite ways of taking in information. The following 3 are common for many students. To reach them, you will need to vary the way you present information so you incorporate more than one way to learn during each activity. Verbal-Linguistic Learners These learners take in information through language. They… Read More »
Finished! My Educating America Workbook (for teachers wanting to consider inviting adult assistants into their classrooms) is now ready. Next up: determining how to share the workbook ideas in a meaningful way. The workbook contents include: Things to consider before you invite adult into your classrooms Tasks to turn over to assistants Organizational meetings Planning and evaluation… Read More »
Cloud clusters. Web organizers. Both are great ways to help students get organized. For that matter, they are great ways to get me organized! Test out these organizers before you use them with students. All start out on a single piece of paper. Their intent is similar: to organize ideas and information. Their appeal varies by… Read More »
It’s the time of year to buy school supplies and clothes to fit your growing child, right? It’s also time to organize your child to take on the responsibility for the school-to-home-to-school information, books and such. I hope you have a school place near the door that your child uses to leave for school. If… Read More »