Holiday Writing Prompts- FREEBIE

Have you seen the ridiculously cute Christmas clipart that Krista Wallden from Creative Clips is offering for FREE in her store?

It's amazing, gorgeous and so cuuuuute!!

Just looking at it inspired me to create this quick freebie for you all to enjoy.

I'm also working on a fun new product for symmetry and the properties of 2D shapes…I'm hoping it'll be up in the next few days.

One week left till the holidays friends….we can do this!!

Remembrance Day Freebie

I think that Remembrance Day is one of the most important topics we have the opportunity to talk to our students about. 

So much of our life is possible because of the sacrifices of the past.

So much needs to be remembered so that the past will not be repeated.

Every year I dedicate a big chunk of time talking about the sacrifices made by the soldiers in our armed forces, the meaning of the poppy, reading picture books and watching videos. I want my students to understand how much they have to be thankful for because of those who dedicated their life to serving our country.

In the past my students have written letters to veterans thanking them for their service and have spent time talking with members of the armed forces to learn more about their careers.

To help with the reflections I want my students to participate in I have create a few worksheets/printables that can be used in any class for a variety of settings. 

Click on the image above to go to my TPT store and grab a copy. 

As we read through the publications sent to us by Veteran's Affairs my students took the time to create a thought page of all the words, ideas and questions that came to mind as they read. Each time we watched a video or read a picture book over the past few days they added more ideas to their thought page.

On Monday and Tuesday (Remembrance Day here in Canada) I will have my students complete a reflection that explains why they wear a poppy and a recipe for peace. I'm hoping that they are able to grasp the complex nature of this topic and understand the importance of giving thanks to our service men and women.

Looking to the future I am hoping that once again my class will be interested in writing letters to the veterans in order to fully express their thanks.

I'd love for you to head over to my TPT store and grab a copy if you think it would be useful in your class. 

Guided Math Posters and Planning (FREEBIES)

“Graphics by The Hazel Owl @ http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/The-Hazel-Owl”

One of my biggest goals for this coming school year is to have a solid Guided Math/ Math Workshop program in my class. Over the course of this year I have been doing a lot of reading, pinning and planning to get ready for this... and here we are, only three weeks away from the start of school!

I've posted a lot about my learning and my plans for my Math Workshop and you can find those posts starting here.

Below you can see the posters I have created for each of the 4 rotations/ centres/ stations (whatever you want to call them) that I will have in my class. I really liked the idea of using MATH as an acronym for my Math Workshop so I played around with it and this is what I came up with.

**On the Teacher Time page of the freebie it will say "Small group lessons that will be done with your teacher." instead of being customized like the one above for a teaching colleague of mine.**

Please click on any of the above images to be taken to my Teachers Pay Teachers store to grab this freebie for yourself. 

I am also in the process of planning out the first 20 days of my Math Workshop...and beyond. I have purchased Guided Math in Action by Dr. Nicki Newton as well as downloaded this AMAZING freebie from Mandy's Tips for Teachers. 

Another blog I recommend visiting is Tina's Teacher Treasures. Tina has some amazing products in her TPT store as well.   

I've also created a Workshop at a Glance template for both my Math and Literacy Workshops. I like to see where I'm going and where I've been as I plan my lessons and move forward through the year.

Click on the image below to grab your copy!

I hope you can make use of these freebies, either in your own classroom or in your planning. I am working on a weekly planning template for both my math and literacy workshop and plan to have those ready soon.

Chapter 5- Using Guided Math with Small Groups (FREEBIE)

How funny/ cute/ embarrassing is it to look back and see your own writing. I'm enjoying it, of course, but sometimes I think "Really? I wrote that? Hmmmm."

Each new chapter opens my eyes to new possibilities for my math program and I am especially happy to be ready it in conjunction with the Guiding Readers book study because my minds is continually working around the idea of guided teaching!  Look out, September. It's going to be awesome.

In other Guided Math Book Study news....Laney Sammons commented on my Chapter 3- Math Stretches post. 

Oh. My. Goodness. 

I just about fell out off my chair with excitement. 

Just like always, you will find my original thoughts about Guided Math in pink and italics at the bottom of this post.

I've decided to put all my current thoughts in one spot at the top of the post using the headings provided by Amanda from The Primary Gal. 

Such an interesting question!

I have noticed that in the last 2 years since I started using much of the guided math framework and strategies that not only are my students able to "get" the math we are studying more quickly, but that I am able to identify their greatest areas of need quickly.

Win-Win.

I almost never schedule math groups, and by that I mean my groupings are decided on the fly as I see the needs arise. As my students are working through a math problem solving task (where I do strategically partner or group students) I walk around the room taking anecdotal records and questioning/prompting my students. based on what I see/ hear I put a symbol on my student's work, make a note on my records or provide a coloured sticky note.

When I am ready to call groups I use the symbols/ notes/ sticky notes to group the students. 

So if I see a group of students starting to do their 3-digit addition in the hundreds column (ouch, hurts my teacher's heart...poor little muffins) they will all get a blue star on their page. When I call the blue star group to the carpet we can work more with base ten blocks, place value and specific regrouping while adding so they can improve and grow as mathematicians. 

The one thing I find with this method is that I need to be super aware of what my students are doing during their problem solving tasks. 

This is where strategic partnering and grouping is a must and I need to be constantly circulating and talking to my students.

The teacher also need to be on top of the curriculum they are teaching and be as knowledgable of the possible misconceptions that may arise during student work as well opportunities to challenge students who are already well on their way to mastery.

I can't say that I never plan my math groups either- that would be a lie. 

But with my teaching style and in my experience of using problem based learning and math huddles, grouping students based on what I see during a math task is working for me!

See above!! 

I also really enjoy doing diagnostic tasks with my students- talking pictures (see here,  here and here), quick pencil paper tasks, word splashes, group problem solving, etc.

This is a great way to gain data on what students can do on paper for a particular math concept. 

I also enjoy having a class discussion and creating an anchor chart (this is a literacy example but you get the idea) on what we know before starting the unit and then adding to it as we grow. 

I'd love to know more about how you group your students for guided math!

My Standout Moments:

- I love this quote from page 133;
" When kids are given time to puzzle through something that's challenging (with just enough support from their teachers to be successful), they're not only learning about the task at hand, they're learning about who they are and how they go about figuring things out. They're developing those can-do, let-me-have-at-it attitudes that we want so much for them."

Advantages of Small Groups:

- focused lessons
- easy to manage materials
- conversation is open and flowing
- student efforts are monitored in a timely manner
- teachers have the opportunity to recognize the learning styles of their students and can adjust their teaching
- frequency of meeting and length of meeting can vary according to student needs
- planning is customized (differentiated)
- communication becomes an integral part of instruction and learning (explicit teaching, modelling, questioning, listening)
- the social nature of learning is respected and supported
- continuing ongoing assessment (anecdotals)

Challenges:

- some things need to be taught to everyone
- planning can feel overwhelming
- keeping the rest of the class engaged in meaningful work...how to do it?
- each student receives less direct instruction (!)
- expectations, routines, procedures need to be modelled and practiced, practiced, practiced

When to teach using small groups:

- differentiation (ESL/ELL, Special Needs, Gifted)
- mathematical "hot spots" (concepts students struggle with year after year)
- manipulatives
- formative assessment tasks/activities
- mathematical process standards

Forming Small Groups:

- there are many different ways to form small groups, but for me the most important thing to remember is that groups should flexible and based on student achievement
- this is where formative assessment, observations and anecdotals become very important

As I was reading through this chapter I wanted to create a lesson plan template for my future guided math lessons. As with anything, I won't know if I actually like this template until I start using it but at least it is a start. Plus, it's a freebie here for you! Just click on the image below to get your copy. (The font used is from Sugar Frog Fonts- Chaney)

I am thinking that I would like to add a spot for a Must Do, similar to what Lori Jamison Rob does for guided reading...something in their Math Journal, a problem to solve, etc. 

Thoughts??

A Class*y Collaboration Blog Hop

I'm very happy to be participating in the Class*y Collaboration Blog Hop with my fellow Class*y bloggers.

Thanks to Sidney from Teaching is a Gift for sending everyone over to me!

Credit: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bubbly-Borders-And-More

My freebie is a sample of my newest set of Sunshine Notes...perfect for the warm summer weather and just added to my TPT store!

What better way to send home some sunshine to end off the year?

Included in this freebie are:

- 4 Sunshine Notes with encouraging praise for your students

If you head on over to my TPT store you'll find the full set of Summer Sunshine Note with 24 cards. Each card has room to write your own personalized note as well and a cute summer graphic and a note of praise.

Also included in this set are 8 blank cards to use anyway you want to.

Click on any of the pictures to grab your freebie.

Don't forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway below...we've got some great prizes!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spreading a little sunshine...and a freebie.

I'm blogging over at A Class*y Collaboration today and my post is all about my newest TPT product!

Here are some sneak peeks to tempt you to visit me over at A Class*y Collaboration.

There's also a link to a FREEBIE!

Curious?

Well then...head on over!

Day of Pink- Let's Unite Against Bullying

April 9th is International Day of Pink. As educators we deal with bullying everyday. We see it. We discuss it. We know it's happening. And yet, it's not stopping.

What is the Day of Pink?

April 9th marks the International Day of Pink. It is a day where communities across the country, and across the world, can unite in celebrating diversity and raising awareness to stop homophobic, transphobic & all forms of bullying. 

The International Day of Pink was started in Nova Scotia when 2 straight high school students saw a gay student wearing a pink shirt being bullied. The 2 students intervened, but wanted to do more to prevent homophobic & transphobic bulling. They decided to purchase pink shirts, and a few days later got everyone at school to arrive  wearing pink, standing in solidarity. The result was that an entire school stopped homophobic & transphobic bullying. 

The message was clear: anyone can bully, any can be victimized by bullying, but together we can stop it.

Each year on the second Wednesday of April, millions of people wear pink to remember that positive actions make a difference. And that the change starts with each one of us. 

~ from DayofPink.org

This April 9th my school board will be participating in the Day of Pink as a day to promote awareness of bullying and to raise awareness against homophobic and transphobic bullying specifically. We have participated in the past years but again this year we are specifically talking about homophobic and transphobic bullying. 

I am so proud.

Regardless of your beliefs and faith, I hope that you too believe that no child deserves to be bullied for who they are. The Day of Pink is a way we can all come together to keep our children safe. 

Take some time on April 9th to talk to your students, your children, your co-workers, everyone you know about bullying and how it hurts. Let's keep our children safe. Talk about this!! It's scary and unfamiliar, yes....but losing even one child to bullying is scarier.

My school has pledged to wear PINK on April 9th.  Anything to show that you care for the children who deal with bullying everyday.

Last year I talked about this with my class and we had an open and serious discussion about how bullying hurts, specifically homophobic and transphobic   Together we are going to pledge to stop bullying and accept everyone for who they are.

If you would like to take a pledge along with us then click on the image below to pick up the pledge/reflection form I created for my class.

The font used is Mr. and Mrs. Popsicle from Kevin and Amanda fonts. 

Making Predictions (Freebie)

I really enjoy teaching students about making predictions. I have seen how excited that students get when they are making predictions and thinking about a book they are about to read. I also know that making predictions is an important first step  for students to use their schema on a more regular basis and to infer about stories and characters.

In the past I have used a strategy that involves making predictions using vocabulary words and narrative text structure. 

The way it works is simple. As you read through the text you will need to pull out important words (about 10-15 words) from three different categories: characters, setting, and plot. It's important to make sure that it isn't super obvious which category words belong in because the discussion that happens between the students is very valuable. 

Here's a few pictures of my students from last year at work.

Here's a freebie so you can try it in your own class.

Enjoy!!

And for my non-Canadian friends, here are some facts about my great country! Happy Friday!

Math Workshop Series....continues with a FREEBIE!

I don't know about you all but I am really enjoying this series on Math Workshop! 

I do hope you are enjoying it....not bored yet? 

I have started to look into my Reader's and Writer's Workshops and plan to do a series on each of those as well. So if math isn't your cup of tea, stay tuned!

Math Workshop Series- Part 1

Math Workshop Series- Part 2

Math Workshop Series- Part 3

Math Workshop Series- Part 4a

Math Workshop Series- Part 4b

Throughout this whole process I have been taking an online class through one of the Teacher's Colleges here in Ontario on Teaching Math to Primary and Junior students. As part of the course I have been conducting an independent research project on differentiated learning in math, open-ended questions and parallel task, writing in the math class and connecting math to real life....so I still have so many ideas for posts in this series! 

I have also been putting together a series of lessons using the three-part lesson plan. I have used the three-part lesson quite often in my math class and thoroughly enjoy the process with my students.

I wanted to put together a simple template that can be adapted to any state or provincial curriculum so that all of you can try the three-part lesson in your own classes. There are many templates out there on the web but most are very cumbersome, cluttered and not what every day teachers with little time on their hands would use. 

At least, not me!

I hope that this template will inspire some of you to try the three-part lesson in your own class, or for those of you that are already using this teaching strategy the template will be a useful tool in your planning. 

Click on any of the images below to grab this freebie.

While you're over visiting my TPT shop (so fun to say!) I'd love for you to check out my Number Sense and Numeration Pack. This is a set of 24 cards that can be used as exit slips, task cards, math journal prompts or math stretches.

They are completely customizable to your students...meaning that the basic math question is there but I have left the numbers out so that you can decide which numbers will work best for your students. Differentiation made easy!

Thanks for visiting today! 

A Sweet Linky Party...full of Freebies!

I have a quick little freebie for you to use with your students for Valentine's Day. It's just a simple word sort but your could definitely extend it with your class...add more words, use the words to write a poem/story, change the words to other parts of speech. So many ideas!

Hope you like and that you head over to A Class*y Collaboration on February 1st to grab more freebies and link up your own. 

(The linky will be open all month!)

One more freebie...

I know that the Halloween Blog Hop over at A Class*y Collaboration is still going on and I hope that you have been able to pick up a bunch of great freebies!

Even though it's not my day for a freebie on the blog hop, I still have something for you. It could be used for a Halloween activity or just a procedural writing lesson. It would go well with my first freebie for the blog hop- click here to see the post if you missed it. 

Your students will need to draw a simple monster and then write a procedure to explain how to draw their monster. Once this has been completed it's very fun to switch the procedures with a classmate and follow the steps to re-create the monster drawing!

Students love checking to see if their monsters match up and it makes for a very fun bulletin board as well. 

Included in this freebie is a graphic organizer and a success criteria check list. 

Enjoy!