We don't celebrate Halloween at my school, but we DO like to have a little fun. There are so many cute monster books out there--so I like to do some "monster work" in the fall! I haven't had any monster MATH until now! Monster Math with a Purpose What was my goal? To get students thinking deeply about math and recognizing that they can use patterns, guess and check, and other strategies to ... Read the Post
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Stellaluna: Combining Fiction and Informational Texts
One thing is for certain--teachers do not have enough time to teach every standard, especially the way we truly want to. When possible, we need to "double dip" and create lessons that tackle multiple targets! One way I do that is with a few lessons related to research, informational texts, and the book Stellaluna. Fiction and Nonfiction Together? Yup! In the fall, we talk both about ... Read the Post
Opinion Writing Flipbook: Using a Graphic Organizer
Opinion writing can be a really fun way for students to express themselves. Learning how to state a claim, or "thesis" is a hugely important writing concept that can be practiced in a ton of ways. Whether you write reading responses where students comment on a text and then provide text evidence or write a true opinion essay, this idea of "proving" your point is a key part of our curriculum. Check ... Read the Post
8 Reasons to Use Fish in a Tree as a Mentor Text
If you aren't familiar with the book Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, I am here to encourage you to CHECK IT OUT! I've tried to highlight some of the reasons I use this book every year as a read aloud, mentor text. I hope you find this information helpful! 1. A Foundation Text What I love about Fish in a Tree is that by using it early in the year, I find myself referring to it ALL ... Read the Post
Growth Mindset: Everything You Need to Know!
So, it's time for some more real talk about growth mindset. Educators talk about it all the time. We put up bulletin boards and read books and tell our students to have a "growth mindset" when things get tough. But what does it all mean? What more should we be thinking about? Check out some more musings about mindset below--and then check out the other blog posts I've linked for even ... Read the Post
Back to School Student Surveys
Getting to know our students is such a huge part of those first weeks of "back to school"...and the thought of doing it virtually only adds to the anxiety of a new year. Whether you are returning to in-person instruction, virtual, or blended, it's essential to find ways to get to know about your students and to connect with them, and student surveys are one way to do just that. Social-Emotional ... Read the Post
Place Value: Everything You Need to Know!
It's a round-up of place value blog posts to get you excited about teaching this essential concept! Many teachers start the year working on place value concepts, but it's truly a topic that we cycle through all year long in increasing sophistication! Remember, place value is a complex topic that develops as a progression from the very first days in school (or earlier!) to much more advanced ... Read the Post
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