How young is too young to start using facts in discussions? The new Common Core States Standards (CCSS) uses arguments and facts for all grades K and above. At first glance that appears to be a typo, but it isn’t. The new standards suggest that the change is needed to help students process more clearly.… Read More »
ABC books bridge all grades. They present everything that’s great about children’s books: a single storyline or theme a predictable format (A-Z) a consistent text (wordless, simple words, phrases or sentences) illustrations that enhance the words multiple choice in topics (animals to science and math to poetry). When students write their own, they experience success… Read More »
The new Common Core States Standards (CCSS) uses a variety of genre in it efforts to engage students and help them read and think. As you introduce the word ‘genre’ and the various types of genre, consider creating a class chart of the characteristics of the various genre.In doing so, you will also be working… Read More »
Any time is graph time. Creating a graph center at school or at home on the refrigerator is a simple way keep kids thinking. Use a variety of graphs: 1. bar graphs (vertical and horizontal) 2. pie charts 3. picto graphs 4. line graphs 5. area graphs Use them around the year graphing everything from… Read More »
Individual student practice in the past have used up trees worth of paper. As our ideas of ‘practice’ grow and change, a variety of substitutes formats are available. Here are the pros and cons of several alternatives. 1. Individual dry erase boards work well for practice and review. Students record their ideas, adjust with a… Read More »
New materials, manipulatives, books, globes and much more are fun to share with students. So, save yourself time and frustration and spend your first minutes with free exploration. Let the students investigate the materials on their own for several minutes before you try to use them. Why? Curiosity. Until student time for exploration is allowed,… Read More »
Word play is fun and it stretches the brain to see words and letters in different ways. Anagrams are one kind of word play to excite learners. Try these words, with rearranged letters back-to-front, as new words: on becomes no and spot becomes tops or pots Try these with your students: dare teas stale slap pear … Read More »
Working on vocabulary skills we need to be relevant and create interesting activities. Consider using the following ideas with older students. 1. Reader’s Digest Word Power – It gives you the word, choices of meaning and then the correct meaning on the next page. 2. Text books – Create multiple possible meanings (like Reader’s Digest)… Read More »