Blog – Page 13 – Core Inspiration

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Collaborate With Clock Partners – Classroom Management Freebie

Collaboration. Conversation. Presentation. Incorporating these essential elements of the Common Core is a breeze if you follow these two simple steps. 1) Stop thinking of these as standards that should be addressed independently. 2) Start thinking of these as tools that students must utilize to achieve mastery in the content areas. During each lesson and learning activity in the classroom, we should provide tools for students to collaborate productively, have meaningful two-way conversations (two-way being the key word), and present their thinking in a way that is clear and powerful. One of the best ways to begin building these skills is to incorporate partner talk in each and every learning activity. Often times, teachers’ default partnering strategy is to have students talk to the person sitting closest to them. This may be quick and easy but it also limits students’ learning horizons as they are hearing from the same person

Building A Community for Respect and Learning

During our transition to Common Core, I catch myself worrying a lot. Luckily, it’s the kind of worrying that does a body good (you may be thinking that doesn’t exist…but I think it does). That’s because each worry I have leads to a problem solving session…which leads to new and exciting ideas about teaching…which lead to amazing new projects that challenge me and keep me loving my job. One “healthy” worry I just can’t shake is how to best develop my third graders’ brain stamina and develop their perseverance when solving complex, multi-step problems. My colleagues and I talk about this constantly. Yes, we have always focused on these elements of learning but never have we done it to the degree called for by the Common Core Standards. As I mulled this worry over in my mind during the summer, I realized this challenge could not be mastered with a

Getting To Know My New Class

Everyone feels a little jittery and nervous during the first few days of school. The best cure..let the kiddos focus on what they know! And what topic are they more comfortable and well-educated on than themselves!? That’s why I love loading them up with fun-filled all about me activities during the first week of school. Not only does it ease those jitters, it helps me get a first glimpse of their interests, likes, hopes and dreams so I can start building a strong foundation for class-building and strong student-teacher bonds. My favorite activities can be found in my All About Me Back To School Activity Pack. Here’s a peek at one of the activities included in the pack – the All About Me Survey. I have formatted this survey so it includes a variety of multiple choice, short answer, and fill-in-the-blank questions. I also incorporated a few questions that simply

Core Inspiration Classroom Portable Tour: A Garden-Themed Classroom Design

I put the finishing touches on my classroom seconds before my new third graders arrived on Wednesday morning. One of my favorite moments of the year is seeing their nervous and excited eyes take in the scene of their new third grade world. Here is a peek at what they saw on their first day. One of the focal points of my classroom is our library. It is ready to use on the first day of school. Even though the students aren’t perfectly trained on how to keep the library organized, I let them check out books immediately. I value easy access to books far more than a perfectly-organized library. How can I resist letting them get their hands on a book when they are chomping at the bit?! Since we spend a great deal of time in the library for read alouds, class meetings and classbuilding activities; it is also

Back To School Blog Hop and Giveaway

Right around this time each summer, I start to feel antsy and excited for the first day of school. (I literally have those little bursts of excitement that make me want to squeak out loud). As I set up my classroom, my mind starts to wonder who will be in my class, what the first day will be like and what the most memorable part of the upcoming year will be (hoping it will be a moment of hilarity). I find that my antsy feelings are eased a bit when I write out my plans for the first week back. Planning for the first week can be a bit daunting if you don’t have an organized plan of attack. I like to consider myself a bit of an organization pro 😉 so I am excited to share my super-systematic-organized-first-week-of-school-planning approach! Here it comes… I always, always, always save my plan book from

Back To School Features Coming Soon :)

This blog is currently under construction. To receive an update when it goes live, subscribe at my Facebook page. Features coming soon: Teaching Lessons and Freebies Classroom Design Tutorial Back To School Essentials Thank you for your patience as my blog is being designed.

Latest from the Blog

Collaborate With Clock Partners – Classroom Management Freebie

Building A Community for Respect and Learning

Getting To Know My New Class

Core Inspiration Classroom Portable Tour: A Garden-Themed Classroom Design

Back To School Blog Hop and Giveaway

Back To School Features Coming Soon :)

Collaborate With Clock Partners – Classroom Management Freebie

Building A Community for Respect and Learning

Getting To Know My New Class

Core Inspiration Classroom Portable Tour: A Garden-Themed Classroom Design

Back To School Blog Hop and Giveaway

Back To School Features Coming Soon :)

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