Phenomenal Blogger and a Little Self Reflection

Math Coach's Corner is a must have blog for all teachers not just math teachers. If you do not follow her, I recommend that you begin. She is from the Houston area and has an immense amount of knowledge and to say the least she is phenomenal. As my amazing cohort says, "Donna is SPOT ON!". I could not say it any better!!! I would love to work with her.

Yesterday, she posted about Developing Fraction Number Sense. If you are in education, please go read her post. Especially, the part about WHAT DO WE DO. This part pertains to ALL subject areas and all of us in education. All of us need to look at these areas in ourselves and our practices with TRUE DEEP reflectiveness. Sadly, that is very difficult for us. Donna's most powerful statement was, "...it's essential that you understand the standards for your grade level. The standards for each grade level are perfectly aligned, like interlocking puzzle pieces, to develop deep understanding. If you don't teach your part, it's awfully hard to complete the puzzle." I know that is something I will be examining in myself because in the world of intervention I see it as one of our biggest issues in education. What happens when one person doesn't cover a concept to the true depth that is specified? How are students impacted? How long does the deficit exist?

I will get off my soapbox for today. Go read some great posts over at Math Coach's Corner and enjoy a beautiful afternoon with a swirl of self-reflection.

ALL STAAR Rehearsals for "STAAR -cessful" Students and Misc. STAAR Kick Off

If you have ever taught and helped grades who are held to standardized testing standards, you know the pressure for the students and the teachers. As I've listened to my sweet intervention kids since Spring Break, it has become my passion and mission to provide the best last minute possible lessons possible along with motivation and novelty. As much as testing is an academic race, it is also a stamina and emotional race. So the last 2 weeks before our BIG round of testing, we've transformed our room a little. It has become a Hollywood Theater with STAAR Rehearsals.

The last minute practice for reading has encountered some mind boggling skills. So we have began a 5 minute warm up activity. Each time they come for a visit, they have 5 minutes to do one of their poster activities. At the end of the week, we highlight and great answers and discuss the answers. The first day was filled with a few tears and anxiety. The days to follow were filled with excitement and knocking down the door to come in and try one.

Third Grade Gallery Walk Warm-Up (excuse the quick thrown together posters)

Fourth Grade Red Carpet Walk

The best part is that this simple little activity and decoration has been a blast for the kids, has created big smiles, created confidence and let them enjoy the last few days of practice.

Knock STAAR Out of the Park was the theme for our 5th graders before the big reading test. We had a baseball theme celebration with cookies and creating individualized STAAR trading cards.

Up this week is a small Reading Camp for Third and Fourth Grade for last minute practice along with the possibility of a Pep Rally. How do you motivate and encourage kids the last few weeks before standardized testing?

Fired Up About Writing

Whew!!! This post has been written in my mind for about 3 weeks, but time is flying so fast and life is crazy busy!

The week prior to the 4th Grade STAAR Writing test we hosted Camp Write Along in the afternoons. The 4th Grade STAAR Writing test is a huge to kids. We wanted to pump kids up in self -confidence while helping them tie up a few loose ends. We transformed their area to look like a camp.

We had the three cabins to rotate through each day along; there was the Composition Cabin, Revising and Editing Cabin, and Revision Cabin. Plus, each student had the opportunity to visit the Writing Conference Cabin for an individualized conference about their writing. Each cabin was filled with activities to fit each groups special needs. The kids LOVED it! The novelty eased the anxiety and gave them confidence. Even though we were tackling hard skills such as combining sentences and transition words in my cabin, the kids were so pumped up!

We ended the week with a celebration. We read the book Everybody Needs a Rock by Byrd Baylor. This book is wonderful and would also be great at the beginning of the year when establishing a classroom community. Then, we painted good luck rocks. This turned out to be a powerful activity. There were so serious when painting their special rock, Plus when they had their rocks on testing day, it was obvious the comfort the rock provided. We ended the celebration with a snack of S'more Cupcakes.

Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites ~ Chapter 3 Field Trips

As a classroom teacher field trips were one of my favorite events. After reading this chapter, I feel so much validation in my past experiences as well as the research that supports educational field trips.

When I taught Kindergarten, I was extremely fortunate that I always had administration that believed in field trips and encouraged them. Even though we lived in a rural community, we did not let that stop us. We visited our Firestation, the Christmas tree farm, a stick horse rodeo hosted by our local Ag department, a children's museum, and the zoo. I loved field trips days because I got to watch my children shine. All of the questioning, talking, and reading came to life. They would ask the best questions and have great conversations. The children felt great about themselves and I knew all of the hard work was paying off. When we returned and at the end of the year, I was always touched by how much those experiences meant to them.

In today's world, there are so many ways we can bring adventures to our kids. There are interactive online field trips, virtual tours, and countless resources online. We also utilized the areas and resources around the school, created scavenger hunts, and use digital and video resources.

After reading this chapter and going down memory lane, it makes me long for a field trip day. Don't forget to enjoy all the great ideas from Deedee Wills

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Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites Chapters 1 & 2 Book Study

I am so excited to be reading Marcia Tate's book Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites and participate in the discussions in this online book study. I am joining Kickin' It In Kindergarten to talk about Chapters 1 & 2.

I have the opportunity to provide intervention for students primarily 3-6. Therefore, I know my views of this book will have a different spin than when I was a classroom teacher. I only see groups of students for 30-45 minutes at a time. I can also not implement all of the things I want to because of time restrictions.

Whether in the classroom or providing intervention, I have always taught with lots of academic talking and justifying. I am always surprised that when I ask students to explain their answer or thinking, they begin to erase or think they are wrong. I have to train my kids that when I ask those questions, it doesn't mean they are wrong. I am also always surprised by the silence of students when I ask questions. My kids tell me lots of times I am not sure and what are my answer choices. I encourage my students to not be afraid to ask questions and to share. It is so exciting to see their eyes light up as they are able to explain to each other their thinking.

Right now, we are we knee deep in practicing for the upcoming STAAR test. I have began giving each student a task card for the skill we are working on. After they choose an answer, they switch cards with their partner and check their partners card. They have to to agree on the same answer and justify their thinking. It is music to my ears when I hear the language developing of children truly understanding and teaching their friends. It also helps me as a teacher know how to reteach and help students more specifically.

One thing as a classroom teacher that I was strong adamant about was literacy and math centers along with small group. Strong quality center opportunities are a must in education today.

Strategy 2 was about artwork. What I am able to do in intervention with art is extremely different from what I would do in the classroom.

We use lots of anchor charts and I have the students help me add images that help them. They also will draw one for themselves.I am also working towards training kids to draw what they visualize from their reading. This is very difficult for kids, but we continue to try and get better with practice. We use the Frayer Model some for vocabulary development. I need to use the strategy more. I need to make my slow down and know it is okay ---- sometimes less is more and can pay off in the end. That is easier said than done for me. If you have not read this book, I highly recommend it. It will give you many validations for all of the great things you are doing as well as think about ways to learn and grow as professional in your teaching.

Teachers are SUPERHEROES!