Learning Learning Learning

Our local union recently  held a workshop on the Common Core State Standards. The presenters were from the AFT. As we begin implementing the CCSS, as educators we need the latest information and resources to plan instruction.  It was a really good workshop and I felt as though I left there with knowledge I could bring back to my students.They are suppose to do more presentations on implementing CCSS in classroom this summer. If the AFT happens to present in your area it is definitely worth your time.  Readworks was one of the resources that was shared. If you haven't heard of ReadWorks.org, it is FREE and has over 1,000 non fiction passages. The passages are aligned to the CCSS and Lexile Leveled.

If you are not using this in your classroom, it is time to start. We are learning about rocks and minerals in science.  My partner teacher and I created a center activity based on the passage, Hard Rocks.

These are two of the questions  

The question cards are stacked in a deck. The reader pulls the card and reads the questions. The passages are in page protectors, so the students can underline the passage with dry erase markers.The job for this activity are question card reader, time keeper, materials manager, answer checker,substitute, group leader.

The borders are from Jen Jones Hello Literacy Crayon Doodle Border Set (Free). She has a lot of fabulous stuff in her store.  If you would like a set of the cards, follow me  and I'll them to you.

  

The Wolves Are Back --

Writing Writing Writing

Writing is on the mind of every fourth grade teacher in Louisiana. 

We are  days away from Phase 1 LEAP Testing  March 19, fourth grade students  will be tested on  writing and math constructed response items.  I don't teach ELA, but I sill want to help my students succeed in writing. We are studying the ecosystem system in science. I have the book The Wolves are Back, written by Jean Craighead George in my class library. It tells the story of how, over a century, wolves were persecuted in the United States and nearly became extinct. Gradually reintroduced, they are thriving again in the West, much to the benefit of the ecosystem. It has beautiful drawings and really captivated my students. I incorporated segments from a  documentary produced by National Wildlife Federation and Turner Original Productions  hosted by Matthew Fox and Discovery Education resources into my lesson really allowing my students to see the wolves of Yellowstone. My students used the Weekly Reader article to write informative text describing the impact of the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park.  My students had become so interested in the wolves and their plight, the writing assignment was greeted with enthusiasm. Of course they used details and evidence to support their writing which  is so important for LEAP.   I have added this writing item  to my store on Teachers Pay Teachers