Wild, Wonderful Weather!

Kids love learning about weather! After all, it's something that impacts them every day…plus weather can be sooooo crazy! I've found some terrific weather sites, games and activities below that your kids will really enjoy. Many would make great centers/stations, and some are just plain fascinating to read!

This is a great four minute video to kick off your weather unit. It's called Bill Nye explains Seasons

This site has 12 links to weather games and simulations.  Kids can even learn cloud names through a game! For 3rd grade and up.

This amazing site is done by a meteorologist just for kids! It is FULL of great facts. This is one site kids can explore for a very long time!

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Fantastic! Lots of great information here!

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Wow!  This would be a great site to look through and make up a worksheet for kids to find answers at a center.

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Great site from NASA

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This is a great video about the difference between weather and climate! The first one is for lower elementary, the second is for upper. 

If you're teaching about weather you will probably need some weather task cards. Check out my resource below:

Task Cards

This resource is also available as a PowerPoint

And as a digital Boom Card

Super-Charge Your Math Program with Games!

Games are a proven method to reach and teach a kid's brain.  Why?  Because they are fun!  Any learning that is fun is less stressful.  Stress kills learning, fun supercharges learning.  Games promote the mind-body connection. That is what makes retention happen. It sparks a connection in neurons in the brain.  That helps with processing and retention.  It's a win-win!  S0...I thought it was a good time to hunt around the "Net" for some great math games that could be used in centers, or for any kind of cooperative learning. I found some great ones! Enjoy!!

Terrific games here!

This is a TERRIFIC game to practice multiplication facts! There are many other 3rd grade games on this page, this one is called "Space Race".

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This site has a list of 4th grade games that are really good. This one is called "Decention".  Students group fractions, decimals, and percents that go together.

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The fifth grade games here include this one called "Spaceboy" has students move around the board using coordinates!

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This site, from Khan academy offers free tutorial lessons for kids of all ages.  It's great!

If you like using games and task cards to help reinforce those important math facts, check out my resources below:

For division practice:

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For reinforcing decimals:

5 Simple Steps to Make Guided Reading Work Better!

Is that even possible? Yes it is!  Basically, there are 5 "shifts" that need to happen in every classroom. Fortunately, these shifts reflect the kind of teaching our students need in the 21st century. So how does that translante into our teaching? Below are the five shifts, and what they look like in the classroom.  (adapted from "Eye on Education" by Lauren Davis. For original article see: http://ped.state.nm.us/ped/ccdocuments/5thingsccss_davis.pdf)
Artwork from Ron Leishman Digital Toonage

1. Lead high-level, text based discussions: When students discuss a text as a group, start with questions grounded in the text. Opinions should come only after good text understanding. Teachers can start by discussing word choice, details and arguments given in the text. Make sure questions promote deeper thinking of the text.

Many students will need to learn how to be good participants in this type of discussion. Before starting any text discussion go over the following goals for student discussion:
      a. speak at least three times
      b. Agree or disagree with someone, but use details to support your view
      c. Ask a question
      d. Keep an open mind…changing your opinion can show a willingness to learn.

2. Focus on process, not just the content: The Common Core Standards stress the importance of student discovery. Of course they need content, but how students come to understanding is crucial. For example, students should not memorize a list of words and their meaning. Instead they should be given the opportunity to connect new vocabulary to their own lives. Use notebooks, blogs and opportunities in the classroom to incorporate new vocabulary organically.

When it comes to research, the Common Core stresses that students should have "extensive practice" in doing short purposeful research. As a result of repeated practice, students will understand the process of research and use it to become self-directed learners.

3. Create assignments for a real audience and with a real purpose: Students need experiences writing to real people with real concerns and ideas. The idea of "pretend you are writing to…" should be limited. For example, if there is a concern within the school (food, bell, recess etc.) discuss with students possible solutions, how to address the person being written too (you get more bees with honey than vinegar!), and how to construct a logical argument. These skills serve students as life-long skills, rather than simple writing assignments that do not have a real purpose.

4. Teach argument, not persuasion: The Common Core draws a distinction between persuasion and an argument. Persuasion appeals to the audience's self-interest, wants or emotions. An argument, on the other hand, uses logic and reason to support a view and change minds. It is also they type of writing needed in college. For example, instead of persuading the principal that students need a longer recess, they should construct an argument based on research that shows the effects of recess on students and their learning.

5. Increase text complexity: Research shows that our students have not had an opportunity to read enough complex texts. Don't rely just on the Lexiles or formulas you find. Use your own judgment. If you have a child that loves baseball, he or she will be willing to work through more complex text than on something he or she has no interest in. Look for balance. It shouldn't be so easy that it isn't challenging, or so hard that students give up.

Ok, That will make your guided reading lessons work better, but how about easier.  We all need at least a little "easy" to keep sane!  Check out these sites from my guided reading series. You will need to click on the picture once to pull up the pinterest repin, then click on the picture again to get to the site.

Still have questions?  Don't miss these great sites! Click on the picture.

Reading Rockets has answers to most all of your questions!

Reading Simplified helps guide you through the guided reading process.  This includes re-reading, word work and more!

This blog post  really does help you plan your guided reading!

This article from the NWEA is about how to close reading gaps with differentiation and scaffolding.

This short and sweet article from Scholastic is called, "5 steps for Success with Guided Reading"

This great article is perfect for new teachers!!

If you need resources for your guided reading program, check out these resources by clicking on the cover!

Featuring: Force, Motion and Energy!

Force, motion and energy are science strands kids really enjoy! It takes a lot of hands-on activities and fun games and videos to bring it to life. Magnets, kinetic and potential energy, simple machines and so much more! To help with teaching this fun unit I have included some great online resources below. Enjoy!

This site has LOTS of game to help students learn about force and motion!

Lots of useful goodies here!

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Great catchy song on potential and kinetic energy

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These Bill Nye videos are great (of course) This one is on energy and is a full episode.

This 3 minute video from National Geographic is on renewable energy

This video on Newton's Laws of Motion is perfect for kids! Perfect for 4th graders!

           

If you would be interesting in taking a look at force and motion, as well as energy task card resources,  check out the links below.  On each product page are links the the same resources in other formats (PowerPoint and Digital Boom Cards)

Wild, Wonderful Worms!

Nothing gets a kid's attention like spending the day with earthworms! Honestly! They love it, and it's so easy to combine the Common Core into it. Kids learn a ton, and have fun all day doing it! If you would like to have your own "Wonderful Worm Day" here are some ideas:

1. Prepare your kids for the big day. Put up a sign announcing the date. Discuss with students that the worms will be guests, and must be treated with respect. Any student who does not treat a worm like a respected living thing must sit out, and watch only. Students who don't want to touch them don't have to. They can just watch worm behavior. I've done Wonderful Worm Day with my kids for years, and I can say that by the end of the day EVERY kid, even the most squeamish, have not only touched the worm, but have become friends with them.

2. Go to a local bait store for big night crawlers. It's easier to see their features. Also get aluminum tin pans with high sides, and cling wrap. Worms are escape artists, and I have come back from lunch more than once to see them scurrying down the table leg. Cling wrap keeps the air out, so make sure you open it at least once an hour to let new air in. Make sure you have a spray bottle of water. Worms need to be kept moist, but NOT wet. (think of all those worms on your driveway after a rain) I usually just walk around while the students are observing, and give a spray where needed.

3. Do observations of the earthworms. I get three or four worms for each groups of four to five students. Students can keep notes on worm behavior. First ask them to draw the worm in as much detail as possible. Discuss that each line, and feature should be in the drawing. Ask students which end they think is the head.  Next put a black piece of construction paper over 1/2 of the aluminum tin. Record what happens. Do worm research on the computer, then make a poster with a group.

4. At the end of the day, take the worms outside with students. Go to a nice grassy spot and sit the students in a circle. I usually have a circle of boys, and a circle of girls. Put the worms in the center on the grass. If you have a stop watch it's fun to time how long it takes the worms to burrow into the ground. If the ground isn't too hard it's pretty fast.

Take lots of pictures! It's a day your kids won't forget. My kids talked about it even on the last day of school as one of their favorite activities.

I've included some fun worm sites below as well as a freebie! Enjoy!

LOTS of great activities to do with kids and worms

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Everything you need to teach kids about worms can be found on this page, it's perfect!

This video is called, "Earthworm Facts for Kids".  It's a great way to start your unit!

Now about the Freebie!

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If you would like about everything you need to have your own worm day, with not only ideas from above, but much more, check out my resource below!

Click Here!

Spooky Adjectives

Tap into your students' love of "the creepy" to grab their attention for real learning!  Adjectives are so much fun to teach! It's the one time you can let kids go wild with descriptive words.  If you add a little bit of "spookiness" into the mix…you have a real winner!  I have included an adjective freebie and few adjective sites that I think are terrific. Enjoy!



This site is great! It gives kids lots of activities and games to describe Halloween creatures!

FUN!  What's better than BINGO...Halloween BINGO!

Print ten Halloween adjective worksheets...great for centers, group work and even homework! From Education.com.  Sign up for free.

Want a fun little story that's perfect for your 2nd or 3rd graders? It's called, "Hairy, Scary, Ordinary-What is an Adjective?

Freebie time!

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If you would like a spooky little adjective resource for Halloween, or anytime you're in for a scare, check out my resource below (the freebie comes from this resource)

Make Regrouping Super Simple!

Regrouping is one of those skills that can really drive kids crazy. They have to see what is happening visually, or they get lost. Making the whole process visual is the key. This is especially true when they borrow across 0s. Games give kids lots of practice in a fun way, and helps them reinforce these essential skills. Put play into learning, and you've got a winner!  Play makes it super simple!  I hope you enjoy the games and regrouping sites I find most helpful, plus a nice little dragon freebie!  

I LOVE Mr. Nussbaum, and this site is no exception! It's full of fun games and practice for regrouping!

Mr. Nussbaum's Regrouping Site

Sometimes learning something is best with a song.  Try these videos out.  It may be just what that one student needs who just doesn't get it any other way.

This one is a Lady GAGA redo...very catchy! Two digit subtraction with regrouping.

This song from NUMBERROCK will stick in your kid's head the rest of the day!  

Numberock

Two digit number regrouping game

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If your students are ready for a subtraction game with three digits, this one is really fun. They will need scratch paper.

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This post from What I Have Learned is terrific! 

Models and Strategies for two-digit addition and subtraction

How about a practice freebie?

If you are interested in a slam-dunk strategy for helping kids really understand regrouping, check out the link below. It's not only visual, it's hands-on!  The freebie is taken from the resource.