Universal Wi-Fi

Making responsible decisions is what I have tried to teach my students daily. 

http://teachpaperless.blogspot.com/2009/07/top-eleven-things-all-teachers-must.html

Choice Matters at All Ages

It would be great if all Middle Schools adopted this philosophy.  High Schools too! 

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/books/30reading.html?pagewanted=1&ref=education

Visuwords a site for teaching / supporting vocabulary

 Vocabulary seems to get discussed at many inservices.  This site supports vocabulary bursts using technology.  I used it today at an inservice.  I think it has potential in classrooms. 

http://www.visuwords.com/?word=cooperation

Ramblings from Deb Renner Smith: Procedures for Independent Reading

Procedures for Independent Reading

We know that children need to read a lot during independent reading.  As classrooms start up this Fall, how do we ensure that our students are actually reading during reading? 

I wrote a chapter about read aloud in True Stories. 

http://writingeverydayworks.wordpress.com/2009/03/28/read-alouds-matter/

Read Alouds:  Each day the teacher includes at least one read aloud.  This allows students to have exposure to great books.  One day the teacher reads a story called, Petunia, by Roger Duvoison.  Petunia a character who does not know the there are words in books or that books should be open.  At the conclusion of the book, she learns, “Now I understand.  It was not enough to carry wisdom under my wing.  I must put it in my mind and in my heart.  And to do that I must learn to read.”      http://writingeverydayworks.wordpress.com/2009/03/05/self-selected-reading-procedure-books/           http://writingeverydayworks.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/read-wisely-like-petunia/        

Another day the teacher might read a book such as Wolf!, by Becky Bloom.        This book is a wonderful example of reading fluently.  As the teacher decides what books to read aloud each day there are different teaching points:  variety of genres, a chapter book series that your students are ready for, a chapter from a chapter book so students will want to read the book, books that you just love, books with specific teaching points, mentor texts related to writing or other topics, an author study, or theme books.  By planning our read alouds and thinking about what books will be read to our students, we make sure that our children will be exposed books throughout the school year. 

Classrooms across America have been unpacked in August.  Teachers think about how to ensure easy access to books.  Many teachers buy or build lots of bookshelves, containers, and labels to organize their books. 

  

Teachers make sure that the students under the organization system in place so that the children can easily find the books they are interested in reading and return them to their proper spots. 

  Students are taught how to pick out a “Just Right” book.  I wear HOPE College t-shirts.  I HOPE you can pick a just-right right book.  http://writingeverydayworks.wordpress.com/2009/01/05/just-right-books/ 

Students need to stay in one special place while reading.  The no wandering rule must be reinforced.  http://writingeverydayworks.wordpress.com/2009/03/06/where-do-you-read/   

http://writingeverydayworks.wordpress.com/2008/10/16/just-right-books-awesome-lesson/

Writing Examples the Junie B. Way

Junie B. Jones book stories

http://www.amazon.com/Junie-Essential-Survival-School-Stepping/dp/0375838112/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1249954990&sr=8-1

http://becausethinkingmatters.blogspot.com/

After reading this book, I have not yet decided if I will read it aloud for writing ideas or read it aloud for enjoyment.  Have you decided yet?

Time Cover The Year You Were Born…

Want to know what was the big news story the week you were born? You can use Time Magazine’s cover search.  In Michigan it is recommended that the second graders learn about magazine articles.  I think one interesting method might be to introduce this concept to students (depending what covers are available the year and weeks they are born obviously). 

I was lucky enough to get a president!     

http://www.time.com/time/coversearch

Essays for Lucy Calkin’s Units of Study

Site that supports teachers searching for essays for Lucy’s Essay’s Unit

http://eolit.hrw.com/hlla/newmainlinks/writ.jsp

Stories and Rhymes for Kids to READ online

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/stories/

Making Words by Patricia Cunningham

    http://thedolphinlady.wordpress.com/2009/07/24/making-words/

Read Write Think “Making Words” lesson http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=150 

Making Words http://www.k111.k12.il.us/lafayette/FourBlocks/making_words.htm 

Printable Making Words Cards:  http://www.alltogetherwecan.com/2008/03/31/printable-making-words-cards/

Getting Ready for Writing Day 1

What will your students write about on day one?

What will you model on day one?

What will your mini-lesson be on day one?

What will you expect your students write on day one?

http://eledblog.com/content/learning-about-units-study-launching-writing-workshop

http://abeaver.wordpress.com/2006/08/01/valentine-for-ernest-mann-by-naomi-shihab-nye/