Whether they're completed on a piece of paper, a tablet, or a whiteboard, exit tickets are a powerful tool to use in your classroom. What are Exit Tickets? Exit tickets are formative assessments that provide information about your students' learning and understanding of a topic … [Read more...]
Simple and Easy Ways to Make Math Visual in the Upper-Elementary Classroom
Most educators know that engaging students in visual representations of math is extremely helpful for their learning. The big misconception is that visual math can't be implemented for higher levels of math, but that is not true. Most manipulatives like geometric solids, two-colored counters, … [Read more...]
Writing Narrative Endings
I have to be honest. Teaching writing is tough. Each year, I set out to build a community of writers, and it is no easy task. One of the toughest things for my students is writing endings. They always start out with catchy beginnings only to get bogged down and just stop at the end. How many … [Read more...]
3rd Grade English Language Arts Assessments and Teaching Notes
It's a miracle!!!! My 3rd Grade English Language Arts Assessments and Teaching Notes are DONE! Six months later, I have produced another 400+ page whopper! PFEW! Can I just be real with you all for a moment. I embarked on this ELA assessment journey back in September 2012. In a year and a half, I … [Read more...]
Talking to Parents About the Common Core Standards
Many of you fabulous teachers have parent/teacher conferences coming up, and this is a great time to make some very important connections with parents. A question I receive quite often is, "How do you explain the Common Core Standards to parents?" That's such a great question! Let's face it, reading … [Read more...]
Walking Through Standards Based Grading: Part 3 and a Teacher Data Tracking Tool
I am back for part 3 of this standards based grading adventure (click here to read part 1 and click here to read part 2). Not only am I back to share the "HOW?" of standards based grading, but I'm also here to share with you an incredible reporting tool I created that I am so excited about! Let's … [Read more...]
4th Grade English Language Arts/ Literacy Assessments and Teaching Notes
I am back with a product update! 4th Grade ELA Assessments are posted! I am so excited! CLICK HERE or the button below to check out a closer and more detailed preview! I've decided to create a 30+ page preview so that you can really see what is in this assessment. Below are a few … [Read more...]
Walking Through Standards Based Grading: Part 2
I'm back for part 2 of this standards based grading journey! For those of you interested in the what or part 1 of this blog series, click HERE to check it out and click HERE to read part 3. Thank you to all of my fabulous readers for your insight and comments. It means so much! I do hope these … [Read more...]
Walking Through Standards Based Grading: Part 1
It has been my goal to really dig deep into the nitty-gritty of Standards based grading. I use it in my classroom, but not nearly to its fullest potential. The idea of standards based grading aligns PERFECTLY with my Student Data Tracking Binders (click HERE to read up on these) and my Standards … [Read more...]
Teaching and Assessing English Language Arts in the Classroom Using Social Studies Content
This week, we covered 5.RL.7, which reads: Analyze how visual and multimedia elements contribute to the meaning, tone, or beauty of a text (e.g., graphic novel, multimedia presentation of fiction, folktale, myth, or poem). ***[Note: The first time I read this, I was like, "ummm, what?!"] Thank … [Read more...]
