Rebecca Radicchi, ALT

Welcome

Welcome to my blog!  My name is Rebecca Radicchi.  I am an Area Lead Teacher for area 5.  My office is at Pickett's Mill Elementary School, but my team and I serve all schools (K-12) in our area.  My goal with this blog is to provide resources for teachers at the elementary level.  I know most teachers are on information overload, so I hope to create a "go to" place with compiled information. MY ALT team also has an area blog with K-12 resources. 

If you have ideas to share, I'd love to have you email them to me to post.  The more we share, the better we are.  Please also leave comments to let me know when you have found something that you plan to use. 

Number of visits to my blog:

Math Standards Changes

Please check the attached list of changes to math standards for every grade level.

Download Correlation of Revised Standards-k

Download Correlation of Revised Standard-1st

Download Correlation of Revised Standard-2nd

Download Correlation of Revised Standard-3rd

Download Correlation of Revised Standard-4th

Download Correlation of Revised Standard-5th

Thanks to ALT David Parker for sharing. 

Summer Reading @ Pickett's Mill

These brochures should go home in report card envelopes.  Please also post them on your blogs over the summer!  Projects or reading logs should go to the media center during the first week of school.  Hopefully these will encourage summer reading!

Download K Sail Into Summer Reading

Download 1st Grade Sail Into Summer Reading

Download 2nd Grade Sail Into Summer Reading

Download 3rd Grade Sail Into Summer Reading

Download 4th Grade Sail Into Summer Reading

Download 5th Grade Sail Into Summer Reading

7 Habits "I" Graph

 

End the year with a reflection on how students' practiced the 7 Habits. Try an "I" Graph.  Post the finished graph and discuss trends.

Download 7 Habits I Graph

Memorial Day Letters

Do you have an activity for Memorial Day planned for your students this week?  If not, consider having your students write letters to deployed soldiers.  I will be mailing four care packages to soldiers in Iraq and Afganistan just after post-planning.  If you'd like to have your students write cards/letters to be included, I'll happily include them in my boxes to mail.  You can email me or just place these in my mailbox.  Notes from home (especially from kids) DO make difference in the lives of soldiers.

2nd Grade SS Field Trip Resource: Hyde Farm

JoAnn Wood, Elementary SS Supervisor, just posted info. on a 2nd grade field trip opportunity at Hyde Farm in Cobb County. If a field trip can't be scheduled, this would be a great suggestion for parents.

Download Hyde-farm-1

SS Summer Courses for PLUs

JoAnn Wood, Elementary SS Supervisor, posted several summer courses for SS on her blog.  Check it out there, or download her flyer:

Download Summercourses09

Possible Sentences: 2-5 Lesson Activator or Summarizer

Possible Sentences

Purpose: To activate and evaluate student knowledge of a topic.

Description: Possible Sentences takes what students know of a topic and their familiarity with the English language sentence structure to activate prior knowledge of a topic.  After new information is introduced through the use of cognitive teaching strategies, possible sentences are re-evaluated for accuracy.

Procedure: 

1.     Generate a list of 10 words related to your lesson.  These words should represent concepts that are both familiar and unfamiliar to students.

2.     Have students create 5 possible sentences by using two words in each sentence until all words are gone.

3.     Teach your lesson on the topic.

4.     After the main instruction is over, have students go back and evaluate the accuracy of their possible sentences by placing a + (for correct), - (for incorrect), or a ? (for cannot determine) beside each sentence.

5.     For sentences marked incorrect, students should write a corrected sentence.  Sentences whose accuracy cannot be determined can be researched by utilizing outside resources.

Download Possible Sentences

Download Possible_Sentences

Walk Around Surveys

Keep this idea in mind for next year, or use as a review at the end of school.  Give students a curriculum topic and ask them to gather facts on the "Walk Around Survey" form.  Make sure students are gathering unique FACTS for each square.  This activity can be an lesson activator or a lesson summarizer.  Attached is a graphic organizer and a directions sheet.

Download Walk Around Survey

Download Walk_Around_Survey

Talking Drawings, K-5 Activation/Summarizer

 

 

Talking Drawings

Purpose: To activate and evaluate student knowledge of a topic.

Description:  In this activity, students will activate prior knowledge by creating a graphic representation of a topic before the lesson.  After engaging in learning about that topic, students will re-evaluate their prior knowledge by drawing a second depiction of their topic.  They will then summarize what the different drawing say to them about what they learned.

Procedure:

1.     Ask students to close their eyes and think about topic X.  Using the Talking Drawings worksheet, have students draw a picture what they saw while they were thinking about topic X.

2.     Teach cognitive portion of your lesson.

3.     At the end of the lesson, ask students to elaborate upon their initial drawing by creating a new drawing that incorporates what they learned about topic X during the lesson.

4.     Have students share their before and after drawings with a partner.  Students should discuss the differences between the two depictions of topic X.

5.     Finally, have students respond in writing at the bottom of their Talking Drawings worksheet.  What do the two drawings tell them about what they learned during the lesson?

Taken from: http://its.guilford.k12.nc.us/act/strategies/talking_drawings.htm

 

Download Talking Drawings

Download Talking_Drawings

QRI Cheat Sheet

If you are at Pickett's Mill Elementary, teaching 3rd through 5th next year, you will be receiving a kit to accompany your new QRI manual.  Attached is an electronic copy of a "cheat sheet" that I made for the kit.

Download QRI Cheat Sheet

Neighborhood Explorers: Summer Outdoor Fun

Encourage your kids to spend some time this summer outside enjoying and learning from nature.  Have them sign up to be Neighboorhood Explorers.  This site is sponsored by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. 

Character Trait Challenge and Poetry Peace Map

Cooperative Group Activity: Download CharacterChallenge

Download Character-o-grams

Placemat for Reading Poetry: Download PoetryPeaceMap

Taken from the fabulous Laura Candler.

Social Studies GPS Aligned Childrens Book Lists

Download Gps-aligned-book-list-for-k-2-social-studies

Download Gps-aligned-book-list-for-3-5-social-studies

(Don't forget to click on the grade level tabs at the bottom of the Excel document.)

GA DOE April/May Social Studies newsletter: Download April-may-2009

Thanks to JoAnn Wood, Elementary Social Studies for these great resources from the GA DOE.

HOTS: End of the Year 7 Habits Dump and Clump

Higher Order Thinking Strategy

End of Year 7 Habits Dump and Clump:

Focus: Important People

Purpose: To provide a step by step process for organizing thinking and facilitating review of yearlong learning

Procedure:

1. Group students into small groups of 2- 4
2. "Dump"- Have students brainstorm a list of important people from the school year.  They should come up with at least 20 names.  Encourage kids to think about:
   -book characters
   -authors
   -guest speakers
   -historical figures
   -classroom volunteers (optional)
3. "Clump"- Using the "dump" name list, students should use the 7 Habits graphic organizer to group names on the list into categories based on the habit that he or she portrays.  
4. After students have grouped the names by habit, they should then write descriptive explanations of their choices.  They can choose one or two, or write an explanation for the list under one habit.  
5. Share out with whole group. 

Download Higher-order-thinking-strategy Famous People Dump and Clump

Graphic Organizer: Download 7 Habits End of the Year dump and clump

Compiled by Rebecca Radicchi
Source:
 

Rogers

, S., Ludington, J., & Graham, S. (1999). Motivation and learning. Evergreen, CO: Peak Learning Systems.

End of the Year Candy Awards Ideas

Whoopers Award: for the best storytelling. Milky Way Award: for the class daydreamer Mr. Goodbar Award: for the student who exhibits the good qualities of friendship Jolly Rancher Award: for the person always telling jokes Nestle Crunch Award: an alternative to pencil chewing Skor Award: for athletes in the class Dove Award: for the class peacmaker Symphony Award: for anyone musical Butterfinger Award: for the person who broke the most things accidentaly Bit-O-Honey Award: for someone very sweet Baby Ruth Award: for baseball-minded person Teddy Grahams Award: for the most huggable Almond Joy Award: for the person who is always happy Hershey's Kisses Award: for the class flirt

Payday Award: for someone who always forgets his lunch money Lifesavers Award: for the person who is always helping someone in need Laffy Taffy Award: or someone weet disposition Gummy Bears Award: for a very lovableho is always laughing Sweet Tarts Award: for having a sw child Spree Award: for someone who loves to shop Kit Kat Award: for the student always at the teacher's side Nutrageous Award: for an outstanding personality Ouch Bubble Gum Award: for the one who got hurt the most Three Musketeers Award: for the one always with the group Snickers Award: for having an outstanding sense of humor Zero Math Award: - for outstanding performance in Math Gummy Worms Award: for being the class wiggler

Printable version of list: Download End of Year Candy Awards

Printable certificares for each candy: Download Candy bar award certificates

Taken from Teaching Heart.

End of the Year Gift: Candy Bar with Personalized Wrapper

Here is an inexpensive idea for an end of the year student gift.  Create personalized candy bar wrappers.  With a little tweaking, the template below can be used.  Enjoy!

Download Candy bar wrapper

7 Habits Certificates

As you plan your end of the year award giving, remember these 7 Habits certificates from this post.  You can also find them by clicking on the 7 Habits link on the left side of this blog under "catergories". 

K & 1st Grade Memory Book

Download 1st grade memory book

If anyone has a version of a memory book that you have created for your grade level, I'd love to have a copy. 

End Of Year Student Reflection

At the end of each school year as a classroom teacher, I used to give the students a reflection/evaluation sheet.  We would have discussions about "looking in the rearview mirrow".  Attached was my last version.  I would now add to the "academic" section.

Download End of the Year Evaluation

CLASS Keys

 

assroom Analysis of State Standards

Download Class Keys Placemat

Take a look at this "placemat" with information regarding how teaching will be evaluated.

Guided Reading Tip: Know-Knew-Q

When good readers read, some of what they read is new information, some is information they already knew, and since a text never gives all the information, a reader will have questions after reading the text.

Procedure

:

To teach students this strategy, use a short passage and model

the process. Students practice the strategy with the next passage,

then talk in pairs about their results.

1. Students read a selection: a paragraph or section.

2. Students use margin notes or sticky notes to write:

One important thing they learned

One important thing they already knew

One important question

3. In pairs, students talk about what they have written. Each

pair can report out to the class.

4. Prompts for students to use:

I learned something new

I already knew that

I wonder about ….

I have a question about…

I’d like to know more about…

Download New_knew_q

Source: Linda Gambrel (2005) Presentation at Ohio Adult and

Continuing Education Conference, Columbus, OH.

Do You Have All Your Parts?

If you are like me, you spend time at the end of each year reflecting on how your teaching will be better next year.  As you think through your instruction, take a look at the GA DOE/GA Keys recommended Three Part Instruction Format. Think about your strengths, weaknesses and goals for next year.

Download Threepartlessonformatfromppt

Standards-Based Reporting

Remember to check the report card blog for updated revisions of the K, 1 & 2 report card, and for the draft of the 3rd grade version.  The "Briefings" state that a decision will be made at the May 28th board meeting. 

3rd Grade Info.

Download 3rdreportcard4-27-09-1

Download Third-grade-teacher-rubric-4-27-09

HOTS: Sum it Up

Higher Order Thinking Strategy:
Sum it Up

Brief Description: Summarizing is how we take larger selections of text and reduce them to their bare essentials: the gist, the key ideas, the main points that are worth noting and remembering. The strategy is designed to help students learn to be succinct in the summarization process.  Summing it up kicks up typical summaries by forcing students to truly ANALYZE and EVALUATE every word to get the most bang for their buck!

Intended Purpose: The purpose is to teach students how to strip away the extra verbiage and extraneous examples while summarizing information by forcing them to focus on the main ideas and the crucial details necessary for supporting them.

How To/Steps:

1. Have students imagine they are placing a classified ad or sending a text message, where every word used costs them money. Tell them each word costs 10 cents, and they have only $2.00 to spend, which means they have to write a summary that has no more than 20 words.

2. Students will read the entire selection (chapter, article, handout, primary source,etc.) and, as they read, they are directed to list the main ideas on paper.

4. As a final reflection, students should “sum it up” in a sentence with no more than 20 words!

5.  The best way to make this a HOTS is to facilitate discussion and sharing.  Have kids EVALUATE and debate their choices.

References or Resources: http://www.readingquest.org/strat/summarize.html
and
Cobb County ’s Instruction Construction

HOTS: Two Word Strategy

Two Word Strategy
Purpose: The two word strategy is used to help students synthesize information.

Procedures:

1. Have your students read a thought provoking section.
2. After reading ask your students to be silent and then write only two words (not in a phrase) that reflect their thinking about the passage.
3. After selection their words, students turn to someone close and read their words, telling why they chose them and explaining how they relate to the story and/or their personal lives.
4. Create a class list of these words. As each word is added and the rationale for selection is shared, a richer understanding of the selection begins to surface.
5. Don't be afraid to ask kids to "kick it up a notch" if their words are too basic.  This does take practice and encouragement, but is well worth it. 

Taken from the Cobb County Strategy Bank

 

Download Higher-order-thinking-strategy Two Words

GYSTC Science Conference at KSU

Taken directly from Sally Creel's Elementary Science Blog:

We have a very exciting summer workshop opportunity for elementary and middle school science teachers! It’s the first annual GYSTC Science Conference at Kennesaw State University titled … Fun Learning for Serious Science Teachers! This conference will provide teachers with the opportunity to learn about the latest in science content, teaching strategy and research. It will provide innovative workshop presentations, hands on activities and two wonderful speakers … State Superintendent of Schools, Kathy Cox and retired K-8 DOE Science Specialist, Ms. Marlee Tierce. Teachers who complete the required sessions of attendance will receive 1 Professional Learning Unit credit.

 Download 2009_conference

For more information, vist the GSYTC website at www.gystc.org.

Thank you, Sally Creel, for the information.

Toe to Toe Geo (Congruent and Similar Triangles)

Try out this fun and active strategy for reviewing triangles.  I love the geometry review and the "Toe to Toe" strategy.  Thanks, yet again, to Laura Candler.

Download Toe2ToeGeo

Character Map

Make sure your students are thinking deeply about the book characters that they are reading about.  Try out this character map. 

Download Character Map

This is one of Laura Candler's latest (and always great) updates. 

Math Stations

Laura Candler just posted some (guided) math station resources. 
Check out her website for more info. 

Download Math activity log 

Download Math station log

Stamp Out Hunger: May 9th

On a completely non-education related note, will you help "Stamp Out Hunger" on May 9th? 
Consider placing a bag of food by your mailbox.  Click on the photo to learn more.

Download Stamp out hunger flyer

Poem

WHEN YOU THOUGHT I WASN'T LOOKING
Source Unknown
(Thanks to Dawn Rickeard for sharing!)



When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you hang my
first painting on the refrigerator, and I immediately
wanted to paint another one.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you feed a
stray cat, and I learned that it was good to be kind
to animals.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make my
favorite cake for me, and I learned that the little
things can be the special things in life.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you make a
meal and take it to a friend who was sick, and I
learned that we all have to help take care of each
other.


When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw you give of
your time and money to help people who had nothing,
and I learned that those who have something should
give to those who don't.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw you take care
of our house and everyone in it, and I learned we have
to take care of what we are given.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw how you
handled your responsibilities, even when you didn't
feel good, and I learned that I would have to be
responsible when I grow up.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw tears come
from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things
hurt, but it's all right to cry.


When you thought I wasn't looking I saw that you
cared, and I wanted to be everything that I could be.


When you thought I wasn't looking I learned most of
life's lessons that I need to know to be a good and
productive person when I grow up.
When you thought I wasn't looking I looked at you and
wanted to say,'Thanks for all the things I saw when
you thought I wasn't looking.'

Download WHEN YOU THOUGHT

Stone Mtn. Educator's Day

Complimentary Admission for Teachers & Principals! Educator’s Day at
Stone Mountain Park, Sunday May 3rd

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, Stone Mountain Park invites educators to learn about our educational offerings and enjoy the park – on us!  On Sunday, May 3^rd, all teachers and principals will receive a complimentary Adventure Pass, and an opportunity to purchase additional Adventure Passes at a discounted rate of $16 plus tax for all accompanying family members. 

The Adventure Pass includes admission to all of Stone Mountain Park’s attractions except Ride the Ducks.

Educators will start their park visit at the 6^th annual Georgia Frontier Days Festival at the Antebellum Plantation, where they will experience hundreds of years of  Georgia history along with a sampling of the many educational programs we offer throughout the school year.  Make sure you visit the School House in the Plantation and register for the free prize drawings!

Complimentary passes and discounted tickets can only be purchased at the ticket tent located at Georgia Frontier Days at the Antebellum Plantation.  Educators must present some form of educator identification to receive complimentary and discounted passes.

Scholastic Warehouse Sale, 5/13-5/22

It's Our Biggest Book Sale of the Year!

Save up to 80% off books and more at Scholastic Book Fairs BIG Event Warehouse Sale. Build home and school libraries – stock up for summer reading!

•	Save up to 80% off the cover price on thousands of titles
•	Hundreds of items for $1 or less
•	Receive a coupon for $10 off a purchase of $60-$100 or $15 off a purchase greater than $100 when you pre-register online (enter source code: EMAIL)
With over 200 locations, there's a sale near you. You don't want to miss the Big Event – go online to sign up now!

Download Scholastic book fair flyer

Kennesaw Store Information:

Scholastic Book Fairs
3600 Cobb International Blvd
Suite 100
Kennesaw, GA 30152
(800) 241-1448

Wed., 5/13/2009 - Fri., 5/22/2009
Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: Closed

VIPing in Guided Reading

 

Have you ever tried the VIP strategy in guided reading groups?

 

 

Very Important Points (VIP)
Purpose: The purpose of this strategy is to support readers in their efforts to navigate through the text reflection on key points or ideas, making connections, and clarifying understanding.

Procedures:

1. Provide each student with a sticky notes cut into stripes.
2. As the children read have them mark the text to indicate very important points. These important points can consist of points of interest, confusion, or a place where the student remembered a connection.
3. At the end of the reading have the students meet in pairs of a small group and discuss the VIP's they selected.
4. For a higher level activity you can have them come to a consensus about the VIP's for a particular section.

Materials needed: Sticky notes cut into stripes for each student.

Three Part Lesson Format

Do your lessons fit the researched Three Part Lesson Format?  Take a look at the suggested elements, and reflect on ways to improve the effectiveness of your lessons.

Download Three Part Lesson

Thanks to ALT Bonnie Bohannon for sharing. 

HOTS: Bloom Ball

 

Have your students (individually or in cooperative groups) create a Bloom Ball.  Bloom Balls are created by piecing together 12 circles.  Each circle represents another piece of information students develop and that helps them organize their background information and broaden their knowledge.  Use all the levels of Bloom's Taxonomy to create tasks for each side of the ball.  These can be modified for primary or intermediate. 

Use websites like this to help you develop tasks for each level. 

Primary Modification: Include more illustrations and have kids defend their choices in words or in writing on a side of the ball.  Don’t be afraid to have kids pick a book “symbol” and have them illustrate.  High expectations!

 

Template

Example of Directions: Download BloomBallDirections

The Bloom Ball idea was taken from West Virginia Department of Education.

HOTS Download: Download Higher-order-thinking-strategy Bloom Ball

 

Readers Theater Scripts

Readers theater would be a great post-testing activity.  Get students up and activity, but maintain academic engagement.  Try out Scripts for Schools . Thanks to ALT Becky Goldsboro for the link.

Two other sites for scripts that I use are:

The Reading Lady

Timeless Teacher Stuff

Cool Waters Workshop (PLU Opportunity)

Thanks to Brenda Cole from Pickett's Mill Elementary for passing along this email and information. 

Flyer: Download Cool waters 09

Hello teachers,

Please see the attached flyer regarding our 2 PLU workshop, Cool Waters, in June.  Participants will receive 3 curriculums (Project WET, Urban Watershed, and Healthy Water Healthy People) as well as Adopt-A-Stream monitoring training.  We hope you can join us!  Please call 770-794-5227 for more information.

Please feel free to pass this on to any teachers who might be interested!

Vicki Culbreth

Environmental Programs Specialist

Cobb

County

Water System

(P) 770.528.1482

(F) 770.528.1483

www.cobbstreams.org

Test Strategy PowerPoints

Download Testing Strategies (What Good Test-Takers Do)

Download Test-strategies Taken from here.

Download Test-Taking Strategies Taken from here.

Download Test%20taking%20PPT Taken from here.

HOTS: The Important Thing

 

Higher Order Thinking Strategy:
The Important Thing

When to use:  Use “The Important Thing” when you want students to review factual content, discriminate between main idea and details, and think about the “big picture” or “enduring understanding” of their learning.

 

How to use:

After teaching a topic or reading a passage, provide students with the basic format.  You can shape the directions to fit the focus of your lesson.  An example of variation is to change from the main ideas to the moral learned in the story.

 

How to evaluate:

Consider whether the students targeted details and then locate the main idea (as the Important Thing) or did the students just list another detail as the important thing. 

 

Connection:

Read The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown

 

 

Format:

The Important Thing…

 

The important thing about ____________ is ________________.

 

Another detail

Another detail

Another detail

 

But the important thing about ____________ is ________________.

 

 

 

Example:

The Important Thing…

 

The important thing about rivers is that they are very useful to people.

Rivers are useful as a source of water for daily life.

They are also used as a way to travel.

Rivers provide fish for people to eat.

The important thing about rivers is that they are a major resource for people.

 

Printable Copy:

Download Higher-order-thinking-strategy The Important Thing

Password Review Game

Review unit vocabulary, or yearlong vocabulary for the CRCT, by playing Password.  Here is an example and directions from Laura Candler.  You can choose the words, or have the kids review the terms as an added review.

Download PasswordDirections

Download PasswordWordsBlank

Upper Elementary Science Terms: Download PasswordWords

Testing Motivators (Teacher and Parent)

Print these off and tape the designated candy to them, or write the text on the board/Smart Board and place candy on desks as a motivating treat.  Show them that you acknowledge that they are working hard. 

Download Crct starburst

Download Crct twix

Download Crct hershey's kiss

Download Crct tootsie roll

Download Crct smartie

 

Encourage your students with a note each morning.  Send this home with parents to have them write 5 brief notes. If you are concerned that all won't be returned, have students fill them out.  Try to write one of the notes yourself.

Download Testing Notes

Give Your Students Some Power

12 Power Words

Larry Bell suggests that kids need to know 12 Power Words in order to be successful on standardized tests.  Do your students know them?

PowerPoint: Download Twelve_words 

My understanding is that this was created by Sherri Hill (former ILT, now principal at Pitner Elementary).

Know Your Brain Research

Information from Brain Research & Brain Compatible Learning

Fact:According the researchers Renate & Geoffrey Caine, children who learn from flashcards learn it better when the cards are round. The circular design is least destractive. This has been confirmed in the classroom environment.

Application: If your students need to memorize material, use circular flashcards. Use the circle when you want students to focus and concentrate on the content of the circle.

Fact:According to researchers Marlin Languis, Tobie Sanders and Steven Tipps, physical movement ties in both hemispheres of the brain and makes it easier to pass information between both hemispheres. Younger children learn better while moving around while learning.

Application: Allow your students to stand at their table or move around the room between learning centers. Use drama as a way to teach.  Let kids do some quick exercises or dances to give their brains a boost.

Fact: According to researcher Pat Wolf, the average human brain has about seven memory "spaces." From about the age of three, a space is added each year. If a student learns while stressed, they will develop these spaces slower. Initially, students can learn only one dimension at a time. For example, a blue "A" and red "A" can't be the same letter to them. A taller glass can hold more, even if it can hold more volume than a short, wide glass.

Application:Give younger children manipulatives that enable them to sort, classify, and solve problems. Geometric shapes and colors can be used to hasten this development.

Fact: Pat Wolf says that the brain in all ages loses interest in something after 18 seconds. The brain will then either drop the input or retain it. Visual, auditory, and tactile stimulation is retained or dropped in less than a second!

Application: Have a great introduction that captures students' attention. Use exciting and attention-grabbing visuals. This is especially important in a world of video games and text messaging.

Fact: When the brain hears music, neural circuits are strengthened- especially in the area of mathematics.

Application: Here's your permission to have soft music on while students work.

Fact: Rote memorization is not retained or transferable unless it is immediately associated with an experience. Sylwester says that activities that draw out emotions, role playing, and cooperative learning help prompt students to recall information.

Application: If students need to memorize something, have them do it in groups, while role playing, or in engaging activities.

Taken from here.

HOTS: RAFTS

Download printable strategy: Download Higher-order-thinking-strategy RAFTS

RAFT is a strategy that integrates reading and writing in a challenging and fun way. This strategy asks the student to take what they have read, and produce a new product that demonstrates the depth of their own understanding. The format is flexible and allows many opportunities for student creativity… the meaning behind the RAFT acronym is:

R: Role  What is the Writer's Role?

A: Audience Who will be reading the writing?

F: Format What is the best way to present the writing?

T: Topic Who or what is the subject of the writing?

S: Strong Verb What is the purpose of the writing?

How Can I Do It?

Step one: Explain to the students how all writers have to consider various aspects before every writing assignment including role, audience, format, and topic. Tell them that they are going to structure their writing around these elements. (It may be helpful to display the elements on chart paper or a bulletin board for future reference).

Step two: Display a completed RAFTs example on the overhead, and discuss the key elements as a class.

Step three: Then, demonstrate, model, and "think aloud" another sample RAFTs exercise with the aid of the class. Brainstorm additional topic ideas, and write down the suggestions listing roles, audiences, formats, and strong verbs associated with each topic.

Step four: Assign students to small, heterogeneous groups of four or five or pairs and have them "put their heads together" to write about a chosen topic with one RAFTs assignment between them.

Step five: Circulate among the groups to provide assistance as needed. Then have the groups share their completed assignments with the class.

Step six: After students become more proficient in developing this style of writing, have them generate RAFTs assignments of their own based on current topics studied in class.

Examples: Download Raft examples

Science RAFT: Download RAFTs for Science

Language Arts RAFT: Download RAFTsforLA

RAFT Template: Download RAFT Assignment Template

Examples by Content Area: Download RAFT examples by content area

RAFT Reading Strategy: Download Raft reading strategy

Revised K, 1 & 2 Teacher Rubrics and Report Cards

The following information was taken directly from the CCSD Report Card Blog:

The primary report card committees have met and worked on many revisions to the K-2 teacher rubrics and report cards.  Suggestions and feedback from teachers, administrators, board members, and parents were considered by the committee members.  The biggest changes were:

1. Consolidation of several standards/elements across subject areas
2. Fewer grayed out areas each nine weeks
3. Move to more global or general statements on the report card accompanied by more detailed and specific language on the teacher rubrics
4. More space for comments
5. Addition of a 3+ to the report card.  A 3+ is defined as "Exceeds Standards - In addition to a 3, makes applications and inferences beyond expectations."

K: Download Kindergarten-teacher-rubric-3-19-09

1st: Download 1st-grade-teacher-rubric-3-17-09

Download 1streportcard3-25-09-1

2nd: Download 2nd-teacher-rubric-3-24-09

Download 2nd-teacher-rubric-3-24-09

 

 

 

Play Taboo with Vocabulary or Key Unit Terms

Play Taboo as a review game, all you need is index cards.  Learn how here:

Download Taboovocabularydevelopment

Earth Day Resources

If you have Smart Board technology in your classroom, download these notebooks from Scholastic:  

Download Earth day notebook

Download Natural resources notebook

Download Recycling notebook

Get ideas for "Earth Week" on the Green Teacher.  Focus on a different element (water, air, etc.) each day.

Thanks to 3rd grade teacher, Cathy Ewers, for the tip!

Teacher Tuesdays

Thanks to ALT David Parker for passing along this information. 

Have you jigsawed lately?

If you are like me, sometimes you are looking so hard for new strategies, that you forget the "oldies, but goodies".  I just ran across written directions for "jigsawing" information and thought I would share. 

Download Jigsaw