Growth Mindset is defined as the perceived ability to grow and change through dedication and hard work. The intent: to encourage students as well as adults that it is possible to learn more and become smarter through perseverance on tasks. It refutes the notion that intelligence is set (a fixed mindset) and sees challenges and… Read More »
Writing is a year-long activity, but by now students should be involved in making and hearing evaluations of their and others work. It’s important to encourage student writers of all ages to share their work and take feedback from peers as well as adults. There are numerous ways to share written work. Formally the writing… Read More »
Anxiety and stress can shut down thinking for young kids, teens and adults. Positive thinking and a few simple tricks help restore emotional, physiological and metacognition (brain) balance. Here are a few ideas to try. Build-up positives. ONE EXAMPLE: Observe the weather. Think of a time when something fun, funny or positive happened during similar… Read More »
Anxiety and stress can shut down thinking for young kids, teens and adults. Positive thinking and a few simple tricks help restore emotional, physiological and metacognition (brain) balance. Here are a few ideas to try. Step away from engaging in activities that build up your stress levels. Listen to music that relaxes your brain.It fills… Read More »
What can each of us to ensure a great tomorrow? Here are a few thoughts. Follow a simple, peace-filled routine. Get a good night’s sleep. Begin each day with positive thoughts and ample time to start the day with a clear plan. Eat a nutritious breakfast and prep a healthy snack for later during your… Read More »
It’s important to help students understand that thoughtful word choice makes their writing stronger and more clear. Create a mini lesson. Share samples of good and less successful writings. Ask students: Do the writer’s words describe the main characters so we can almost see them? Do the verbs show specific actions? (race instead of went… Read More »
Create a poster like the hand to the right as a quick reminder of a short Writing Process: Rough Draft (first collecting and organizing of your ideas) This will include your characters, setting, problem and solution. Primary Format Use a folder paper to create 4 squares on one side and 4 on the other as… Read More »
Writing skills are needed across all grade levels and usually follows these six steps with an ever-escalating expectation that students will become more detail while also becoming more independent. Starred items may have a variety of “looks” depending on student ages and class goals. 1. Pre-Write Capture your ideas in an outline or sequential listing… Read More »
Close Reading is defined as thoughtful, critical analysis of a text to focus on and look at significant information to develop a deep, precise understanding. Close reading requires spending extra time on text. After two initial read-throughs, a third reading is needed to analyze and evaluate the text. Obviously not every text needs to be… Read More »
Close Reading is defined as thoughtful, critical analysis of a text to focus on and look at significant information to develop a deep, precise understanding. So, how do we engage students to encourage close reading? First, explain that some texts deserve extra considerations. That means we will read and reread them to uncover information. Our… Read More »