Contractions can be a tricky concept to learn. They can be fun to learn with a game though!Teach kids contractions quickly with this fun, free printable contraction dominoes game. This is great for 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade students. You can play with just one color at a time or all at once for a big, challenging game for more players. Work cooperatively to make tracks or play as a game by passing out all the dominos and then taking turns one at a time adding a tile until one player is out.
September 3 was the first day back for my students. I finished the room late Monday. Well, almost had it finished. I think there are a few t...
A strong understanding of how the pieces of a plot fit together is integral to developing students as both readers and writers. Once students become fluent in the elements of the plot, they will begin to recognize them in the books they are reading and create them in their own narrative stories. Furthermore, your class will have a common vocabulary on which to rely during discussions, author's chair, critiques, direct instruction, and more. This resource contains: • 12 Vocabulary Cards • 5 printables that can be used as classwork and/or homework • 1 Quiz • Answer Keys for all assignements How To Use This Resource ★ Print, cut, and laminate vocabulary cards, and place on a ring for quick review. ★ Print all vocabulary cards in one sheet for students to hole punch and put into binders. ★ Print and cut vocabulary cards to paste into interactive notebooks or journals. ★ Worksheets can be used as classwork or homework. ★ If given once a day, these resources will last for 1 week of instructional time. ★ Give quiz at the end of the week in order to gather data on student learning. ☆☆This resources is part of the Literary Elements Series. Please see the other resources in this series here. (More will be added soon). ☆☆ ConflictSensory Imagery
These book recommendations come from a 5th grade boy and are perfect for 5th graders. Make sure to check them out!
An educational blog
I have already shared Elijah's 7th grade reading list and 6th grade reading list. I want to share more–especially for those of you who have kids who read like crazy-cakes, so here is his 5th grade list (from 2012-2013). I am sure I have missed some of his selections because it is impossible for me to …
Foster a culture of critical and creative thinking strategies in your teaching and learning with this guide.
I don't know if you have heard of Thinking Maps. They are graphic organizers, but so much more. They transcend disciplines more than I thoug...
This moon phase board was fairly easy to make. After making a run to the Dollar Tree and rummaging through our science storeroom to collect...
We recently finished up our unit on subtraction and I wanted to share with you a few activities and things that we worked on. I teach second grade and our goal is for students to be able to subtract 2 and 3-digit numbers with and without regrouping. We also use CGI (Cognitively Guided Instruction) at our school so there is more than one strategy that can lead you to the correct answer. Below is the anchor chart that we created as a class. We worked on a different strategy each day. Day 1 was place value. I started off with a story problem and then had a student share who had used that strategy. Then, we added it to the chart and practiced whole group and small group. This continued until each strategy was added. After practicing and trying each strategy, students were able to pick the strategy that works best for them. I use a lot of small group instruction now during math and we have math rotations 3-4 times a week. Here one of my groups is working on a 3-digit subtraction problem. As you can see, everyone is solving it in a way that works for them! Also during rotations we have game time. I introduced Subtraction Memory first. Subtraction Memory is a game that focuses on 2-digit subtraction. There are two versions. One version doesn't have regrouping and the second version has problems with and without regrouping for differentiation. It can be found in my TPT store...here... As the week continued I changed the game up. Later in the week students worked on Subtraction True/False Sort. This activity is also differentiated to help all learners. Version 1 has 10 problems to sort and the problems are a little simpler. Version 2 has 20 problems to sort and they have more difficulty. This is a great activity for students to practice the different strategies and work together to see if the problem is true or false. This can also be found in my TPT store...here... Check back later this week for another round of math ideas - this time for Properties of Addition and it will include a FREEBIE!
'4B' was the code our school secretary used to easily identify our class back when I taught 4th grade. 4 = 4th grade. B = Bongers. I later went on to teach Language Arts at a middle school, so this blog documents the learning we did in reading and writing each day, in addition to many posts from when I taught fourth grade. I figured keeping it all in one place was better than having two separate blogs. One more thing: please feel free to PIN anything you see!
This is my favorite quote! It is posted on a window in the library and Creekside Middle School. I'm so glad to see that others are promoting reading with these special words. The Guided Language Acquisition Design, so cutely acronym-ed GLAD, jam-packed my brain with classroom strategies for two entire days (October 1st and 2nd). I really took so much away from this training. These two days stood as an overview of the model, but I will be returning to Creekside Middle School (Woodstock, IL) next month for four additional days where I will be given the opportunity to see these strategies play out in the classroom. As a new teacher, I feel like a little sea sponge. I just want to soak up as much knowledge as I can. I am continually reflecting and evaluating my performance as a new teacher, so the more strategies that are made available to me, the more prepared I feel. After the first half of Quarter 1 comes to an end, and after much reflection on my beginning units, I feel ready now to jump in even more forcefully than ever. My Strategic Literacy class could have been much better planned, and I'm sort of kicking myself in the behind for not being better prepared; but I'm all-the-more motivated and encouraged to plan an out-of-this-world unit on the disastrous happenings of the Titanic. The bilingual department of District 205 sent me to the GLAD training, so initially I thought it was geared strictly for my ESL classes, but after learning about the many different strategies, I can (and will!) absolutely use what I've learned in my Literacy classes as well. The walls of the training room were plastered with TONS of example posters. I took ovre 75 photographs. I've included some of my favorites. This is an Inquiry Chart. It's similar to the KWL chart, except that there is no 'L' (which I enjoy, because how often to do really go back and fill in the 'L' column of the chart after we've finished the assignment?). In the left hand column, students are asked to write about what they already know about a topic. In the right hand column, students are asked to write about what they want to know about a topic. You can see the different colored markers. What's nice about this chart is that it will go up on the wall and stay there through the entirety of the unit. You will notice the orange marker. After students have learned more about the topic, the teacher can go in later with a different colored marker and add additional or new ideas (the 'L' comes into play here). This pictorial input chart is also really neat. Do you see how well-drawn this is?! One of the trainers began with a blank poster and made this! This chart is used as a great visual, especially for ESL students. Rather than simply lecturing at students, you can involve them with the learning by asking them to contribute to the picture, repeat what you write after you say it out loud, and add realistic pictures right on top of what you've drawn. I will have MUCH more to report after I begin implementing many of these strategies into my lessons this week.
We are beginning our study of life science this week. Segueing from physical science, I introduced the concept of cells being the building blocks of life, similar to atoms being the basic chemical make up of everything. We talked about how cells are basically little bodies in and of themselves and how they need the same 4 things that all multicellular organisms need: food, water, gas exchange, and waste disposal. From there, things got *really* dry and boring....so I thought a little BrainPOP could remedy the situation. We began with a movie on cells themselves. This mentioned that there were two basic types of cells (animal and plant) and that they did some different, but basically the same, things. The second video was on cell specialization. That laid out the differences a bit more. I then gave the kids a piece of white paper, which we folded in half, cut a little space off the top, and slits in the open side to form 8 doors. On each of the doors, the students drew one of the different types of cells we looked at. On the inside, they identified the cell and wrote a teeny bit about its function. And that is it! I just wanted them to get a little bit of reference for the idea that cells don't all look the same or have the same function, but ARE alive and ARE similar when it comes to basic needs. I plan to keep these and pull them out when we study the body systems, as all the cells are the same as those systems we will be studying. It should become a handy reference for the kids during this unit....or at least that is the hope. Do you have some really fun activity you do for a life science unit about the way living organisms function? I would love to hear about it. I am coming up empty right about now (my brain is on overload!) The only thing I do have is a "create an animal cell/plant cell" project...but I want something else! Anyone have anything???
Rounding is one of the worst things in the world to teach, right? It is classic every time. Mention rounding…kids sigh, teachers tense up and everyone’s brains feel muddled. It is HAR…
5th grade team spirit! Shirt details: The unisex soft-style t-shirt puts a new spin on casual comfort. Made from very soft materials, this tee is 100% cotton for solid colors. Heather colors and sports grey include polyester. The shoulders have twill tape for improved durability. There are no side seams. The collar is made with ribbed knitting to prevent curling damage. .: Made with 100% ring-spun cotton, a lightweight fabric (4.5 oz/yd² (153 g/m²)), this unisex t-shirt feels like a bliss to wear all year round. .: The classic fit with the crew neckline deliver a clean, versatile style that can match any occasion, whether it's formal or semi-formal. .: All shirts feature a pearlized, tear-away label for total wearing comfort. .: Made using ethically grown and harvested US cotton. Gildan is also a proud member of the US Cotton Trust Protocol ensuring ethical and sustainable means of production. This blank tee is certified by Oeko-Tex for safety and quality assurance. .: Fabric blends: Heather colors - 35% ring-spun cotton, 65% polyester; Sport Grey and Antique colors - 90% cotton, 10% polyester, Graphite Heather - 50% ring-spun cotton, 50% polyester
All you need is paper, tape and scissors to make this easy paper Christmas ornament craft. You can also incorporate math skills to make it a learning activity.
I love when the hostess cooks. I have such big ears, I hear everything and know.
When I look back to my first experience teaching five paragraph essays to fifth graders, I can remember how terribly unprepared I felt. I knew that the five paragraph essay format was what my students needed
FREE Christmas Spelling Pages
With the bloom of school's first weeks fading, it may be time to refresh your systems for maintaining positive behavior. Rita Platt has 10 resource-rich tips.
Want to get started with class podcast projects? Good for you! Get inspired with this creative list of options for your high school English students.
Minute to Win It games for any Halloween party or school activity. Plus FREE halloween party printables and invitations
Summer reading list for 5th graders; recommended books for 10-11 year olds, including a variety of genres, interests and topics.
Teaching plot elements to upper elementary students? Use a picture book to engage your students! Read it aloud, and then create a plot diagram!
Fun and free Fall Theme with more than a weeks worth of math, science, art, & literacy activities for kids of all ages!
