tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74559229908725023312024-03-18T04:21:50.541-06:00Anne Gardner's Educational ResourcesAnne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-66658936395440534592020-07-31T21:01:00.029-06:002021-06-01T01:05:43.675-06:00Three Reasons to Visit "My Purchases" on TpT and Info on EASEL (the new TpT digital tool)<p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Hi Teaching Friends, </span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">As the Back to School Season approaches, I'd like to share three reasons to visit "My Purchases" within your TpT Account. </span></strong></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">To get to this section of your account, go to the TpT homepage, and click on your name (or account name). A drop-down menu will appear. "My Purchases" is one of the options in the middle column. </span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">1) Many teacher authors frequently update and enhanc</span></strong></span><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">e resources. </span></strong><span style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Enhancing text and graphics, adding an ink-saving black and white option, and setting resources up for use with the new TpT Digital Tool have been my main areas of focus for the past six months!</span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"> </p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kindergarten-Reading-Comprehension-Passages-Print-or-Utilize-TpT-Digital-Tool-865076" style="color: #67753b; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://d34k4bbddxuc58.cloudfront.net/annegardner4%40gmail.com%2F1596222188930-Your+Choice+2.jpg" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 450px;" /></a></span></strong></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;"><br /></strong></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;">Once you have purchased a resource, you will always have access to these revisions - at no additional charge. </strong></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Scrolling through the resources you have purchased, a <strong style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="color: #9365b8; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Newly Updated - Download for Free</span> </strong>message will appear below any resources which have been revised since you last downloaded them. </span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Download the current versions of those files to enjoy the latest additions and enhancements! </span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">2) By reviewing resources you have purchased, you can earn credits for use on future purchases. </span></strong></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Just below the title of each resource, you'll see either a note thanking you for reviewing the item, or a note inviting you to do so now. </span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">3) This is a great time to scroll through the resources you have purchased, and consider how they would best fit into your plans.</span></strong></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">Personally, I have purchased over 300 resources on TpT. I've decided to scroll through this list at least twice a year. Each time I do, I am reminded of resources which have not been top of mind, but could be very useful.</span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">**************************************************************************************</span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><strong style="font-family: verdana, geneva, sans-serif; font-style: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">A Quick Note About EASEL by TpT (the New TpT Digital Tool):</span></strong></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">If you use Google Classroom (which is free and easy to set up), you can assign activities directly to students using the new TpT Digital Tool. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit;"><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">This tool will work with any PDF resource in my shop. </strong><span style="font-style: inherit;">There is never an additional charge for using this tool.</span><strong style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"> </strong><span style="font-weight: inherit;">This applies to past and current purchases. </span></span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">You can access this tool directly through the resource page. </span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;">Click on the image below, to go to a FREE sample resource through which to check out this digital tool.</strong></span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;"> </strong></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kindergarten-Reading-Comprehension-Passages-Print-or-Utilize-TpT-Digital-Tool-865076" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="EASEL by TpT" border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="768" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYCUW5DT5zld_IJjd4ixKkyGHQ0MikMrBaYPFVTFMuviXzQ7-9GNdJ_lQLC8JkgvBCL2biAlw7k2NugMBdcfgiO98p0IEC7Cnw3z4GF_urN-KQZcApnyiM8ydVe2hi_IEZTtEoIW4BUoH/w320-h320/TpT+Digital+Tool+Sample+Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></strong></div><p></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;"> </strong></span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"> </p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">First, download this free resource to gain access to the digital tool. </span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="color: #9365b8; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;">Under Download Now, there will be a button for the TpT Digital Activity.</strong></span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">If you click this button, it will take you to the digital resource. </span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">I have added answer boxes. You can customize the activity by adding additional instructions, modifying or deleting the answer boxes I have inserted, and selecting which pages to assign to your students. </span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">A sample page from this activity is below. </span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"> </p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Kindergarten-Reading-Comprehension-Guided-Rdg-Level-C-Passages-Questions-865076?utm_source=NTF%20July&utm_campaign=NTF%20July&aref=tk8kumul" style="color: #67753b; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="860" src="https://d34k4bbddxuc58.cloudfront.net/annegardner4%40gmail.com%2F1596219216093-1596219216093.png" style="border: 0px none; margin-left: 5px; margin-right: 5px; vertical-align: bottom; width: 450px;" width="563" /></a> </span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;"><br /></strong></span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 24px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;">Interested in learning more about this tool?</strong></span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="font-weight: inherit;">Click </span><a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1YHalzXmJPIQPs-l3_6Nn-4Pv2wagommk8ifyfJpnq1M/edit#slide=id.g725d63b339_266_420" target="_blank"><b>here</b></a><span style="font-weight: inherit;"> or on the image below to access </span></span><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit;"><b>TpT's </b><strong style="font-style: inherit;">Getting Started Guide</strong><span style="font-weight: inherit;">. </span></span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1YHalzXmJPIQPs-l3_6Nn-4Pv2wagommk8ifyfJpnq1M/edit#slide=id.g725d63b339_266_420" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="546" data-original-width="939" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPUc_owDcUVHzJkmU2OPqozDL57XtKZ7FO4vga_W-bKodlCAU2NLDmSE2ouP7qSP3NIqymZEeN5jWvcbRSpKYFycM19QNOQcD_MiUIh9jMZnkzU1XllS7Ft9PyyZWWarQF5Ry0vWbSgYin/w640-h371/TpT+Digital+Guide+Image.png" width="640" /></a></div><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><br /><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><strong style="font-style: inherit;">If you decide to try this out, please let me know if you have any questions.</strong> </span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;">TpT is continually adding features to this tool. I am also learning how to set resources up to make them most useful. </span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-size: 18px; font-style: inherit;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="font-style: inherit;"><b>Wishing you all the best throughout these tricky and ever-changing times. </b></span></span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"><span face="verdana, geneva, sans-serif" style="color: #9365b8; font-size: 24px;">Anne Gardner</span></p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"> </p><p style="font-family: verdana, arial, geneva, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 1em; padding: 0px;"> </p>Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-32573920916044690242020-03-28T14:38:00.001-06:002020-04-03T09:58:57.352-06:00From Home Learning Packs to Online Lessons: Reaching Students During School Closings <br />
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Let’s </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">take a moment to applaud educators and families who are working tirelessly </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">to </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">help students stay connected and continue to learn throughout these tumultuous times. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Here are some emerging tips, suggestions, and ideas to support all those suddenly involved in distance learning.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "century gothic"; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">First and foremost, let’s make sure to get the message out. . .</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: x-large;"><b>Deciding How To Reach Students Isn't Always Easy!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">The digital divide is real, and it's affecting students now more than ever before. The following chart is designed to share some options, based upon availability of resources and technology, for connecting with students in this difficult time.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">With all forms of communication, adhere to school and district policies. Factors involving some forms of communication may vary related to the students' age.<br />
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For instance, to text a message to kindergarten students, a teacher would most likely send the message to parents or guardians, who would read it to their children. <br />
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For older students, there could be additional factors to consider. One possible solution: Copy all messages to a parent or guardian. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "century gothic";"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A "Recipe" For Home Learning Packs</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: large;">In the best of cases, home learning packs are not just about sending work to be completed.</span><br />
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Ideally, these packs are about staying connected, keeping kids engaged, offering activities, and sharing ideas. </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic";"> <br />
<br />Flexibility is the key word. </span></span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: large;">It's about doing what we can with what we have.</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: large;"> . .</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graphics Courtesy of <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Scrappin-Doodles">Scrappin Doodles</a></td></tr>
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<li><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: large;">To stay connected, consider offering a little glimpse into your personal life.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "century gothic";">Mention good memories from earlier in the year and things you miss about your students. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "century gothic";">Provide reading material. Books can be ideal. Engaging reading passages also work well. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "century gothic";">Consider activities, such as math games, that can be played repeatedly.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "century gothic";">Suggest activities using materials families are likely to have at home, such as coins.</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: large;"><b>Note:</b> Fair does not always mean equal, and not every home learning pack has to be the same. Have a child you doubt has ever owned a high-quality, hard-cover book? Pop a copy of a special book, just for him or her, in that "care package." (For a kindergartner, this might be <i>The Very Hungry Caterpillar</i>. For a second grader, perhaps a <i>Magic Tree House</i> book??) </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "century gothic";"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b style="font-family: "times new roman";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "century gothic";">A Tip for Creating A File Including Selected Pages From A Larger R</span></span><span style="font-family: "century gothic";">esource</span></b></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JnZfzUgh0hy8-I10mLIm5M_F5fnng3KwjXR0N9tiIqXWU6FAyxIH_b3kYhLhDq1K7Q5CElDj0peMyv76wSw4R5u5L6Xr5IfNhstuJMvp9KhsDVmmvIzOohQGpjnukW8ApKR3HMCMBmcZ/s1600/Select+Pages+Pink+Wide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1504" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9JnZfzUgh0hy8-I10mLIm5M_F5fnng3KwjXR0N9tiIqXWU6FAyxIH_b3kYhLhDq1K7Q5CElDj0peMyv76wSw4R5u5L6Xr5IfNhstuJMvp9KhsDVmmvIzOohQGpjnukW8ApKR3HMCMBmcZ/s640/Select+Pages+Pink+Wide.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "century gothic";">Using a PC and/or Windows Operating System:</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 21.3333px;">1) Open the resource.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 21.3333px;">2) Click Print and select the pages you would like to include.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 21.3333px;">3) Under Printer, click the drop-down menu, and select the option for Print to PDF. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 21.3333px;">4) Click Print. This will bring you to a prompt to name the new file. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 21.3333px;">5) Print to this file and your document will be ready to use. </span></span><br />
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<b style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: xx-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "century gothic";">Using a Mac:</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 21.3333px;">See the directions in <a href="https://differentiatedkindergarten.com/extracting-pdf-pages-and-converting-documents-for-distance-learning/">this post by Marsha McGuire</a> at Differentiated Kindergarten. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 16pt;">Now, for some emerging thoughts regarding web conferencing. . .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 24pt; font-weight: bold;">Video Conferencing: When It’s Available</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 24pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">In many ways, video conferencing is the next best thing to seeing students in person. It may be educators’ only chance to see their students’ faces and hear their voices. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">It’s </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">essential, however, to </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">be aware of privacy and security issues when using such a platform. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Why? Sadly, there have been cases of "intruders" finding the links to meetings, and showing up - very much uninvited and not with the best of intentions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Adhere to your school's policy regarding which, if any, platforms to use. Prepare to protect student privacy while web conferencing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">In response to school closings, some video conferencing platforms are now offering free upgrades to school accounts. </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;"> These accounts may offer enhanced security features. Ask your provider about this! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Note: Some platforms have recently released updates, focusing on both features and security. Make sure to download (or access) the latest version!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">On many platforms, the student does not need to set up an account. In these instances, the teacher is the sole account holder. This allows educators a much greater degree of control over the interactions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 15pt; font-weight: bold;">Treat your video conference as you would treat a public event.</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Family members may very well be watching so they can stay up-to-date with lessons and continue to support their child's learning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold;">Protect Your Meeting Links and Invitations</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Only provide the link to your meeting through a secure channel.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Communicate</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">to students and parents that it is important to keep these links secure. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Note: Do not use students’ full names.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Recommendation: Require a password to join each session.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">If your school uses a secure Learning Management System, consider posting the link or invitation to your web conference within this system. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 16pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 17pt; font-weight: bold;">Practice Using Account Settings and Security Options Before the Need Arises. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold;">Recommendation: Set up a meeting with one or more colleagues.</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;"> It can be great to see each other again!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">In this meeting, explore the security settings of the platform you are using, and consider </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">your stance on the following features and recommendations. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;"><b>Note:</b> Unless your web conferencing platform allows you to authorize more than one session administrator, the person who initiates this session may have to share his or her screen so all participants can view these features as they will appear during class meetings.</span></div>
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</span> <span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">Utilize a waiting room: </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">This is a virtual spot for participants to wait until you start the meeting. In the waiting room, post a "sponge" or “bell-ringer” activity to introduce the lesson.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Even in the virtual classroom, the educator is responsible for monitoring interactions. By using a waiting room, you can assure that students are not “in the room” without you.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">Know how to disable video and voice for an individual participant: </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Find this feature and practice using it ahead of time. Imagine the situations for which this could come in handy. . .</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">Know How to Quickly Remove a Participant:</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;"> Under settings or the control panel, there is likely an option to remove a participant. Find and practice using this feature. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">Consider Muting, Video, and Chat Permissions</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">One option: Start the meeting with everyone who joins muted, and with their video off. (Doing so can help minimize the risk of disruptions.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold;">Muting: </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">I recently heard, “The mute button can be a teacher's best friend."</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">At first, this statement bothered me. I loved the idea of being able to hear kids as they share thoughts, ask questions, etc. . .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">On further consideration, I see the benefits of thoughtfully using the mute feature. Students can not control the sound level within their homes. A student could be sitting right next to a crying baby, a loud vacuum cleaner, etc.</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">When all students are muted, except for when they are "called on," we avoid the potential embarrassment of muting a single child. We also minimize the likelihood of broadcasting conversations of family members who may be nearby.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Most platforms offer a "Raise Your Hand" feature. When a student clicks this button, you will see a raised hand (beside his or her picture if video is on). Much like calling on a student in class, the teacher can </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">unmute</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;"> this student, allowing him or her to share or respond.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold;">Video: </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Recommendation – Always offer students the option to participate without utilizing the video option.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">A student could simply feel camera shy, and be better able to focus knowing the camera is not upon him or her. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">It is possible that not all families want everyone in the class viewing the interior of their home. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Consider: Seek permission from parents to have their child utilize the video feature. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graphics Courtesy of<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Scrappin-Doodles"> Scrappin Doodles</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold;">Chats: </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Some web conferencing platforms have an option for private chats. Left open, this could be a bit like sending notes during class.</span></div>
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</span> <span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Recommendation: Unless you are using this feature for a specific purpose, consider turning it off.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold;">Screen sharing:</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;"> Most platforms have an option to allow only the host to screen share. Consider whether, or not, this is the best option for a particular session. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">If you will be enabling students to share their screen, look for a question (within settings) such as: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">W</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">ho can start sharing when someone else is screen sharing? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Recommendation: Set this to Host Only</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold;">Note:</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;"> Be open with your students about the features you have selected. Focus on the fact that, like in the classroom, you want to create a safe and welcoming environment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">Recording Lessons for Students to View Later </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Recommendation: S</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">elect the option that allows only the teacher to record the meeting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">In an effort to make lessons available to students, there is a natural </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">tendency to want to record sessions and share these recordings with </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">the class. It’s important, however, to consider issues of student privacy </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">in regards to this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold;">Emerging Best Practice: </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Record and share only what you, your school district, each of your students, and their </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">families would be comfortable having posted </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">publicly (keeping student privacy policies in mind). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Avoid recording question and answer sessions. If a student were to answer </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">a question incorrectly, a recording could lead to embarrassment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">There is a fine line between a discussion involving questions and an informal assessment. Sharing video of </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">an assessment would violate numerous policies. </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">When in doubt, err on the side of caution.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">It can, absolutely, be beneficial to record and share segments of your </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">teaching. However, it may be best to avoid recording portions of the </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">lesson which include students' faces and voices.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sharing Screenshots of a Web Conference</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">A screenshot of a group of students in a video conference can be beyond </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">adorable. But, the current recommendation is to avoid sharing these </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">photos. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">As with any guideline, there may be exceptions, based on </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">permission from each family, as well as the school district. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hope For The Best, Prepare for the Worst: </span></span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: x-large; font-weight: 700;">Virtual Fire Drills</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: x-large; font-weight: 700;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP5nz0rJ1zt_bfMLe_uXIcbCIfuO2YjulQ9-ceXC32v4pUmrcWL28dNd8LeN50GyAy6alG1Yt_w8EJBFN9JZKqnA_YFEdaWDzGTFzG4Hp3YWyn6Bz825BB3uX5XiVcRQokg65Byu7hqYh/s1600/Virtual+Fire+Drill+Image+with+Logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="787" data-original-width="1504" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP5nz0rJ1zt_bfMLe_uXIcbCIfuO2YjulQ9-ceXC32v4pUmrcWL28dNd8LeN50GyAy6alG1Yt_w8EJBFN9JZKqnA_YFEdaWDzGTFzG4Hp3YWyn6Bz825BB3uX5XiVcRQokg65Byu7hqYh/s640/Virtual+Fire+Drill+Image+with+Logo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graphics Courtesy of <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Scrappin-Doodles">Scrappin Doodles</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Even when teachers are adept at using security settings, there is a slim </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">chance that an uninvited participant (a troll) could find a way to hack into </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">a video conference. </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Here’s one thought. . .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold;">Practice a Virtual </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold;">Fire Drill</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 16pt; font-weight: bold;">. </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18.6667px;">Keep it light and non-threatening. Perhaps mention how this really is school, so we'll still have Fire Drills. (Certainly wouldn't want to stress kids!) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;"><br />Teach your students, if you see an unannounced stranger enter the </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">room, exit the meeting immediately.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic";"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Instruct students to i</span></span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18.6667px;">nform a trusted adult. In this case, have students tell their parent or guardian that this is a Virtual Fire Drill, for practice purposes only. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18.6667px;">Tip</b><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18.6667px;">: Let families know ahead of time that you will be holding Virtual Fire Drills.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Have students practice several times, in a </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">fashion similar to practicing a fire drill in a traditional setting. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">With security precautions in place, it is unlikely that an event such as this </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">will occur during your class meeting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">However, students will be online in a wide variety of situations (beyond </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">online education).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Teaching them now, in a supervised setting, what to do when an issue </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">arises could help them prepare for other situations they may encounter </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">in the future.</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">As educators, we need support from one another, now more than ever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">It can be very helpful to meet with colleagues to discuss and explore security settings for the platform you will be using.</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<b style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Bonus:</b><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;"> While you are chatting, perhaps take another look at options for dividing tasks. For instance:</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Could one teacher develop an online math lesson while another focuses on the ELA lesson and a third teacher prepares home learning packs for those students who will not be participating online?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: x-large; font-weight: bold;">A Final Thought, Regarding Equity:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Though educators are doing their best, not all students will have </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">equitable experiences throughout these schools closings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Consider whether plans could be put in place so that - after these </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">closings - extra support can be provided to those students who were not </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">fully able to access remote learning opportunities.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Thanks for reading! Stay well and best wishes throughout this tumultuous </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">time.</span><br />
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</span> <span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">P.S. - Here are a couple FREE resources for our youngest learners:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Sink-or-Float-Science-Experiments-Ideal-for-Use-During-School-Closures-5318684" style="font-size: 14pt;"><img alt="FREE Sink or Float Science Experiments: Ideal for Use During School Closures" height="320" src="https://ecdn.teacherspayteachers.com/thumbitem/Sink-or-Float-Science-Experiments-Home-Connection-for-Use-During-School-Closure-5318684-1585309720/original-5318684-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Home-Learning-Simple-Text-Messages-for-Kindergarten-Math-5331004"><img alt="Home Learning: Simple Text Messages for Kindergarten Math" src="https://ecdn.teacherspayteachers.com/thumbitem/Home-Learning-Simple-Text-Messages-for-Kindergarten-Math-5331004-1584309988/original-5331004-1.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-21482340659145709522020-03-23T11:05:00.001-06:002020-04-03T10:03:32.803-06:00Create A File with Selected Pages from a Resource<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Need to create a file including selected pages from a larger resource? </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Using a PC and/or Windows Operating System:</span></b><br />
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1) Open the resource.<br />
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2) Click <b>Print</b> and select the pages you would like to include.<br />
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3) Under <b>Printer</b>, click the drop-down menu, and select the option for <b>Print to PDF</b>.<br />
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The option that shows up for me is "Microsoft Print to PDF." The wording is slightly different on various computer systems. </div>
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4) Click <b>Print</b>. This will bring you to a prompt to name the file. </div>
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5) Print to this file and your document will be ready to use.</div>
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See the directions in <b><a href="https://differentiatedkindergarten.com/extracting-pdf-pages-and-converting-documents-for-distance-learning/">this post by Marsha McGuire</a> </b> at Differentiated Kindergarten. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Need to combine a series of PDFs into a packet? </span></b></div>
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1) Search Merge PDF Free. There are several programs avaiable. </div>
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2) Select and upload the files you would like to combine. These can include a cover sheet, an introductory letter, etc. You can drag and drop files to change the order. </div>
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3) Click <b>Download</b>. </div>
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4) Open the merged file. Right click and select <b>Rename</b>. Type in the name for your new file, and it's set to go. </div>
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Best wishes throughout this tumultuous time! Please reach out to me at <a href="mailto:Annegardner4@gmail.com">Annegardner4@gmail.com</a> if I can be of any help. </div>
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P.S. - Here's a <b>FREE </b>set of <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Alphabet-Chart-with-Pictures-and-More-ABC-Charts-Long-and-Short-Vowel-Charts-1030994">Alphabet and Phonics Charts</a> that may be useful for Kindergarten and First Grade students.</div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Alphabet-Chart-with-Pictures-and-More-ABC-Charts-Long-and-Short-Vowel-Charts-1030994"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="350" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhei9eZH7231GL8hTXULzVUn_QlkckvOSS6roeidONtcqu6U1l8QlpuAUDUqBu1KVdCk3N9YA6wQVMOF-aNkcBDxOD6eh4wCJPoeoihfFxFJrF59CwJy6f19fJNdZvcBTOFcxT7HQpLeng6/s320/Alphabet+Charts+Cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-28791981260686297022020-03-04T08:38:00.000-07:002020-03-04T08:49:37.460-07:00More Time for Recess ≠ Reducing Instructional Time<span style="font-size: medium;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Teachers know. . . Recess can support students' physical health, social skills, and ability to focus and learn. </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Two thirds of our children don't get enough exercise every week. This lack of activity contributes to a myriad of behavioral, health and academic problems.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Yv8KkOjcP2IWYoZfay3aGcd26PYQ3nCuQO-BorVuMCDiR71aiooylCXUCEJMV9wqkRRzifrXdnNq1yaSma4EthQoPxEKw-xPW891F9A0SCpyzRN0wJOFfuhsgwKMPAAD6ylKcY3uu8Dd/s1600/snowman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Yv8KkOjcP2IWYoZfay3aGcd26PYQ3nCuQO-BorVuMCDiR71aiooylCXUCEJMV9wqkRRzifrXdnNq1yaSma4EthQoPxEKw-xPW891F9A0SCpyzRN0wJOFfuhsgwKMPAAD6ylKcY3uu8Dd/s1600/snowman.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In many districts, schedules are determined - in large part - by administrators. Often, time allocated for recess is sorely lacking. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>What will it take to bring a sufficient amount of recess back?</b></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_DX5HmeIUumW_o84b3zTula5-9WnRVvMu351dUzNkZr-UjXDMgEMsFx68kCHaWBWg4NYD_bwNG3CC6WTWQIjVts8l7tTMiOg1IL2XXQ89_d5F7LG0eT1rbXowP5big4df-R1u-USvE5b/s1600/Recess+with+Sand.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="384" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU_DX5HmeIUumW_o84b3zTula5-9WnRVvMu351dUzNkZr-UjXDMgEMsFx68kCHaWBWg4NYD_bwNG3CC6WTWQIjVts8l7tTMiOg1IL2XXQ89_d5F7LG0eT1rbXowP5big4df-R1u-USvE5b/s400/Recess+with+Sand.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Could this work in your school - or does it spark other ideas that might work? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Focus on the amount of time, per child, that is available for recess. This can be a very different mindset than scheduling by class.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">While teachers conduct small group lessons, could it be beneficial for paraprofessionals to take some of the other kids out for recess (instead of supervising independent work)? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">The teacher would have a smaller group to supervise while working with reading and/or math groups.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">If there is not currently a paraprofessional available, is it time to ask administrators to re-consider use of staff? </span><span style="font-size: large;">The health and well-being of our students could depend on it!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">In this scenario, a paraprofessional might take one half of the students in each of two classes out for recess, then return to take the other half. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Some possible benefits:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">No direct instructional time would be lost. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">It could be easier for the students in the classroom to focus (as there would be less distractions). </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Kids might be able to see friends from other classrooms. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: inherit;">Would this have to be the only recess? </b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Absolutely not! Since instructional time would not be lost, the "other block" of recess could still take place. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Before schedules are set for next year, let's brainstorm ways to increase recess for our students. If we can provide viable options, without significant cost or reduction to instructional time, I believe most administrators will buy in. </span><br />
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<b style="font-size: x-large;">Notes:</b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">1) As with most educational issues, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. This won't work in every school. (But, could it spark other ideas that might?)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">2) To protect student privacy, the images included in this post are not taken on school playgrounds. They are pictures from my own camera roll, taken long ago. Feel free to pin or use them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">3) I would love to hear your thoughts for increasing recess time for kids. By sharing your ideas below, you might help teachers and students in another location. . . </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks for stopping by and taking time to read this post!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sincerely, Anne Gardner (NBCT, Literacy)</span>Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-62586694807297867282020-01-30T15:50:00.000-07:002020-01-30T17:33:44.209-07:00What Reading Levels ARE For and What They're NOT For<span style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Sharing reading levels with parents has become a controversial issue.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">My personal belief is that this is valuable information, as it can help parents select books their child will be most likely to experience success with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">As a parent, I always wanted access to any information that could be relevant to how I could support my child's learning!</span><br />
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<span style="font-style: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">This <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Parent-Handout-What-Guided-Reading-Levels-ARE-For-and-What-Theyre-NOT-For-5203714" style="color: #67753b;" target="_blank">FREE Parent Handout</a> clarifies what reading levels are, how they ARE meant to be used, and how they ARE NOT meant to be used.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">After sharing such information with parents, I believe it's best to provide their child's reading level each time it is assessed. </span></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Parent-Handout-What-Guided-Reading-Levels-ARE-For-and-What-Theyre-NOT-For-5203714"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQhRPSCIcvmrDl73uaCyhUBQ27KQ1xkgkT8HwgyPAVDq95aquQkhL_fx7OkOBRdETkeenou4mmv4jzIvY_WfVoDJZk-IVITRfdukvHBsbpoFMlvaAu6i6iUCT3ukrwstJhyphenhyphenV-E7wukka4N/s640/level.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I hope you find this parent letter useful. I'd love to hear your thoughts on sharing reading levels with parents, if you'd care to comment!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks, Anne Gardner (National Board Certified in Literacy)</span><br />
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Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-91038962089305982822020-01-26T18:25:00.003-07:002020-02-27T10:33:37.412-07:00Ten Tiny Teaching Tips To Try Today<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">From the minute the kids arrive, to the time you get home at night, we've got some <b>Tiny Teaching Tips That Can Make a BIG Difference!</b> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCwFcO2T-u5oMUgdZmbSv0RaaIMwi6YfytUJUVZkYSOXH5oYNctsL_t8IvqvsO-ekA0KLNpWr73BFSuIoLfcw49Idst0-X2IbjY-6NF07NdHb6-JxdKev-ZJNQWd7peuL6cQxLyGFcNRm/s1600/Ten+Tips+Image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="655" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCwFcO2T-u5oMUgdZmbSv0RaaIMwi6YfytUJUVZkYSOXH5oYNctsL_t8IvqvsO-ekA0KLNpWr73BFSuIoLfcw49Idst0-X2IbjY-6NF07NdHb6-JxdKev-ZJNQWd7peuL6cQxLyGFcNRm/s640/Ten+Tips+Image.png" width="436" /></a></div>
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</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Help your kids feel seen, from the moment they enter the classroom in the morning!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjq23coh4DJz29q1FZxzoj9PQ5HCDJNxXsFrlkGuKk_YuIMBpQQMCrP3MmFCr0UqCEz4wMtsKrVGYh-DR6byuYKb-iTwGi1TQXIhExAp8VtV1R4pgTDusEBhvt4B6SoqFJblT6zbDYrxW/s1600/KG3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjq23coh4DJz29q1FZxzoj9PQ5HCDJNxXsFrlkGuKk_YuIMBpQQMCrP3MmFCr0UqCEz4wMtsKrVGYh-DR6byuYKb-iTwGi1TQXIhExAp8VtV1R4pgTDusEBhvt4B6SoqFJblT6zbDYrxW/s640/KG3.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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1. <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>Use Photos and Binder Clips to Make Movable Pieces! </b></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">These can be used as kids sign in (attendance), or even to select their lunch choices. They are also handy to show whether someone is in the restroom or for playing pieces for board games. Another thought. . . Personalize magnets, like <a href="https://kadeenteaches.com/blog/">Kadeen</a> does, and use them to display center rotations. The possibilities are virtually endless! </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Tips: If you don't have binder clips, send an email out to your fellow teachers to see if anyone has a box they can donate to you. There seem to be A LOT of these in school closets. Need photos? Ask parents to send one in. Then, just snap pictures of the kids who don't bring one. </span></div>
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2. <b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Project Digital Images</span></b>:<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Many of us now have a way to project digital images. Ask parents to email you a digital copy of a couple favorite pictures to share. In the morning, have one on display! Pop another picture up after lunch or as kids get ready for the buses. Better yet, create a slide show that can run during these transition times! </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Note: Take pictures of those kids whose families don't send them in. (These may be the kids who most need help building a collection of photos!)</span></div>
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3. <b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Help Kids Feel Seen in Math Class:</span></b> <span style="font-size: x-large;">When working with word problems, include students' names, along with their favorite topics. It can make the task so much more meaningful.</span><br />
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4.<b> <span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Have Some Pencil Top Erasers in Your Closet?</span></b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span>I love how <a href="http://laughandlearnwithsillysam.blogspot.com/">Karen Wasdin</a>, from <a href="http://laughandlearnwithsillysam.blogspot.com/">Laugh and Learn with Silly Sam</a>, uses these for number line addition and subtraction!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">From Karen: </span>I give these little smiley erasers to my students for Addition and Subtraction Number Line Jumping practice. They stand up and stay securely on each number spot as students record their answers. I use them throughout the year as a little gift or treat. Like in a Valentine's Card! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Karen offers tips on Number Line Addition and Subtraction, as well as FREE Number Lines to 20 <span style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Number-LINE-JUMPER-FREEBIE-LJ-the-NUMBER-LINE-JUMPER-863102">here</a>!</span> </span></div>
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5. <b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Turn Flashcards into FUN Learning Tools! </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Flashcards sometimes get a bad rap. But, <a href="https://commoncoreconnectionusa.blogspot.com/2013/01/with-new-emphasis-on-fluency-with-math.html">this blog post</a> features simple and <span style="background-color: #ffebb2; color: #1a1a1a;">engaging ways for students to develop fluency with math facts while actively using flash cards.</span></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box; color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>6. <span style="font-size: x-large;">Build Stamina for Writing!</span></b><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Working with clothespins is one of the best ways to help kids build fine motor skills and strengthen those little hands! (The Dollar Store usually has bags of 50 clothespins for $1!) </span><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Use clothespins for building shapes. Get the free shape cards <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JLbdH3azH2qp7JGEhyMhnh-P_v-nTvhG/view?usp=sharing">here</a>.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://commoncoreconnectionusa.blogspot.com/2015/07/clothespin-shapes-how-fun.html"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE3lP_HkADBwc02BOJeJaJe9-M3NXMia-cWwWX1zCdYO6Dry6ycsKcqR2R4SRxFlgjvBhRdZEp77bhEn8HFYqd_IAnZ59luXhEDdNCQ9O2eaOh4N2m9qrlALJe1lT_z2JgkNT2qZv2Bj7/s400/small+square+with+words.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://commoncoreconnectionusa.blogspot.com/2015/07/clothespin-shapes-how-fun.html">Shape Building</a></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://commoncoreconnectionusa.blogspot.com/2015/07/clothespin-shapes-how-fun.html"><img height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gVAyBIRZbnXWH6PCCGXC-zKYKd-2inMGuOqvtGOL0BzV4YaC2KRlttQem8evoQMzlRnD9aTAIzo6oMsq9t8OgRQvzKCRUtf4AR20peoPd-DJYEbYmtU34fUtk5PlHEpZuI3Ev9t2uIKF/s400/IMG_2416.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://commoncoreconnectionusa.blogspot.com/2013/02/building-fact-families-awhile-back-i.html">Building Number Facts or Facts Families</a></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Want to use clothespins for an ELA center? Write letters instead of numbers so kids can build sight words!</span><br />
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<span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "josefin sans"; font-size: medium;">7.</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">Who </span><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">Doesn't Love </span><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">a </span><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">Scavenger Hunt</span><span style="color: black; font-weight: bold; text-align: left;">?</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;"> I really want my kids to "see" how word study connects to reading favorite </span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">books</span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">. Here's a simple way to help kids understand those </span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">connections</span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; text-align: left;">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">This girl went on a scavenger hunt to find words with a long vowel/silent e. Next, she</span><span style="text-align: left;"> read the page she had selected, stressing the highlighted words. </span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Want to add in a little writing? Have kids list the words they find. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>Tip:</b> These bingo chips are helpful in SO many ways! They are like tiny little treasures. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">One boy was feeling intimidated on the playground and was nervous about approaching an adult (which made it worse). Bingo chips to the rescue! I gave him a red bingo chip to keep in his pocket. If he was having a problem, he could hand the bingo chip to one of the adults. Then, they'd know to step away with him, give him their full attention, and work through the issue together. Once he knew what to do, things didn't bother him so much!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: "josefin sans"; font-size: 20px;">8.</span><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="font-family: "josefin sans";"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://kadeenteaches.com/2017/04/03/ten-back-to-school-ideas-to-try-this/">Tattle Trash</a> - A</span><span style="color: black;"> Tip from </span><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://kadeenteaches.com/blog/">Kadeen</a></span><span style="color: black;">:</span></span></b></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">In a friend’s classroom, I saw this little trash can. I thought it was the cutest thing ever. Instead of tattling to her about the more insignificant things throughout the day, students write the issue down on a piece of paper and throw it in the bin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Make sure kids write their name on their paper, so when you look it over, you'll know who it is from.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "questrial" , sans-serif;">9. </span><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Try Calming Music!</span></b> <span style="font-family: inherit;">From <a href="https://kadeenteaches.com/">Kadeen</a>: When it’s getting a bit loud, I love to put on some calming music to get everyone’s mind relaxed and settled. It could be the sound of raindrops or soft jazz music. Sometimes this makes kids a bit sleepy, but it’s a great alternative to me continually telling the whole class we are getting louder. I use this even during small group time. It’s so soft that it doesn’t get distracting and kids have told me that it helps them focus and concentrate. (You can see more teaching tips at <a href="https://kadeenteaches.com/">Kadeen's blog</a>.)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Speaking of calming music, I love this video - and it's a great review of 3D shapes! It features images of dancing people created from 3D blocks. Kids absolutely love to watch and chorally whisper the name of each shape as it appears while the people are being composed. </span><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m3ZgD58kiTI" width="560"></iframe><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">For a quick brain break, kids can join in the calming dance movements of their favorite character. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Finally, the blocks are sorted by shape. We quickly point at each set and name the shape once again. So simple and relaxing. A great combination!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt; text-transform: uppercase;">10.</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: black; text-transform: uppercase;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Communication Logs</b>:</span> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;">A tip from </span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://kadeenteaches.com/blog/">Kadeen</a> -</span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"> Use communication logs in homework folders to keep track of your communication with parents. Parents send me quick little notes. I send them back quick little notes and reminders. Place a few sheets in each child’s folder and get the communication started right away. You will have a trail of your communication with parents. You can get the log for free <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Communication-Log-for-ParentsTeachersStudent-Take-Home-Folders-Freebie-1948287">here</a>. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: inherit; font-size: 18pt;"></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Communication-Log-for-ParentsTeachersStudent-Take-Home-Folders-Freebie-1948287"><img height="400" src="https://kadeenteaches.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/hjvhmb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><b>And A Parting Thought</b></span><span style="font-size: large;">. . . </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">When it's finally time to put your feet up, consider one of these <a href="https://www.growinggradebygrade.com/2017/11/movies-that-will-inspire-teachers.html">Movies That Will Inspire Teachers</a>. Pat, from <a href="https://www.growinggradebygrade.com/">Growing Grade By Grade</a>, offers a list of 35 recommendations. </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.growinggradebygrade.com/2017/11/movies-that-will-inspire-teachers.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAp_PEemfnTCPcs8WH95H95K98ZybjRWH3kEqYrn4APWUQF1zHI_8T-cp0LC_WuTh3QGDiBPmAo5lW98I0huYeB4RDEsssGbITg8JBGlxxXy8AXYSvnihLc3LjZQurZ0xi_ms1NB4Mf4Yq/s640/Movies+That+Will+Inspire+Teachers+Pic.jpg" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Here are just a few to get started: </span><br />
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<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Kindergarten Cop</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Freedom Writers</span></li>
<li style="box-sizing: border-box; list-style: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 5px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">The Miracle Worker</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Now that's a task I could handle at night. . . If I could just stay awake! </span></div>
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<br />Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-66378306248195502382020-01-25T11:50:00.002-07:002020-01-25T16:54:29.433-07:00Factors to Consider in Regards to Retention & Editable Parent Information Forms and Letters<span style="font-family: inherit;">I just read a Facebook post from a teacher stating: "This is the toughest time of year for Kindergarten teachers at our school. . .We have to meet with parents of students that may be retained in Kindergarten. . ."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">She was seeking feedback to the following questions. I shared my thoughts on that post and decided to also share them here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;"><b>Please Note</b>: This post does not advocate either for or against retention. It is designed solely to help teachers and parents through the process when retention is being considered. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span><b style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">What Is A Successful Retention? </b><br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/What-Is-A-Successful-Retention-How-Should-I-Talk-To-My-Child-About-Retention-5193079" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg57IThKhKEDzD6pSNulRNElrJvUFstcRnMf_BIH9Dzd1Wbz7C1rJiQ6Hs1uJRdlExsLQHv3GPUYZSjBw4GTBDmzq2cumKImgzPsNmYWK8eV-eQX-TkMc1W17aACtLejdW9RhmmNvA96ag5/s400/Slide17.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> A successful retention is one which gives the student time to mature and/or develop the academic skills needed for future success. This sheet is designed to help parents put retention into perspective.<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> A change of plans in not necessarily a bad thing. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Taking time to </span><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">re-calibrate</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> before moving forward can lead to greater success in the long-run.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;"> This Parent Information Sheet is offered, for FREE, at my TpT Shop. You can download it by clicking <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/What-Is-A-Successful-Retention-How-Should-I-Talk-To-My-Child-About-Retention-5193079">here</a>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span><b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Do you have to begin this process, actually using the word retention, this early?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I think it's only fair to touch base with parents early on. It gives them the opportunity to think it over and prepare, and the chance to work with their child on areas of need if they feel being promoted to the next grade level is the best option for their child. (Working with their child on areas of need is more applicable in cases where academic skills are a driving factor. If maturity/general youngness is more the issue, that is a different situation.)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">How do you determine which students may be retained?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">In considering the best grade level placement for the following year, I believe it's essential to look at the whole child. </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Academics are a consideration. My school kept benchmark assessment results, so we could see how each child was progressing in relation to their peers and also in relation to grade level goals.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Your observations and notes are also essential! Does the child act young in comparison to the class?A</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">lso consider health issues - and whether an issue is likely to resolve - or whether there is a need to plan for the long-run. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Please - Don't use being </span>physically<span style="font-family: inherit;"> small as a consideration</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">. . . Some kids will be 5 feet tall or under when they graduate from high school. It's not a matter of size!</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">What is the average number of students retained each year in your school?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></b>I have seen this vary through the years. There was a time at which retention was not an option at the school in which I taught. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now, a number of states have mandated third grade retention for students who aren't reading on grade level.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is an individual decision, and truly should be treated as such. Focusing on the best interests of that particular child is always more important than considering the current trend, or where the pendulum is within its constant swing.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">How do you tell parents, especially this early on?</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">First of all, I hope parents have already heard some of your concerns prior to this discussion.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>As for how I approach the subject, I was lucky</b>. . . </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I had waited a year before sending both of my own kids to school. They are grown now, and doing very well. So - I can tell parents the reasons I waited (related to time to mature, not rushing childhood, and letting them enjoy being young and carefree). In our family, that definitely included playing in the mud, getting out in nature, long bike rides, enjoying stories each day, and lots of unstructured time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For the younger kids, I often mention to parents that - if the child continues with the current class and decides to go to college - he or she may well be living in a dorm at the age of seventeen.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>It's essential to stress that this decision is, in no way, related to intelligence. </b>Many of the kids who end up at the top of their class are actually among the older.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Over the years, I worked with a number of parents who struggled to make this decision - but, years later, were thrilled that they had given their child the "gift of time." I approached a couple of these parents, and asked if they would be willing to chat with other parents in the process of making this decision. They were - and it was immensely helpful! (I'd highly recommend considering this.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Always keep the focus on the fact that you want to work together, as a team, to do what's best for the child in the long-run. I have been known to start many sentences with, "If this was my son, I would consider. . . "</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Talking With A Child About Retention: </span></b><br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/What-Is-A-Successful-Retention-How-Should-I-Talk-To-My-Child-About-Retention-5193079" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUDi5A3baR0aSrE1VF5PfMFv6_tOaHjUH8rjpLqqqG8dvHMD5RJwZ0cagiW19xopvj0mJNs7BZ19Z3YIFUPOgOGCQy1TTcnpjCvKxugCGmPSFsOdzi7bF57EQuPO00Trjwy9Blu0283yJ/s400/Slide18.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #222222;"> It can be very difficult for a parent to talk to their son or daughter about retention. </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;">How a student responds to the news of retention can depend, in large part, on how the topic is presented to him or her. So, helping parents prepare for this conversation is important.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: inherit;"> It is always best if the child can ‘buy into’ the plan, realizing that everyone has his or her best interests in mind. Even young students know when they are struggling in school. If retention is presented with sensitivity, the child may actually be relieved to have the time to learn and grow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This Parent Information Sheet is available, for FREE, at my Teachers pay Teachers shop. You can find it by clicking <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/What-Is-A-Successful-Retention-How-Should-I-Talk-To-My-Child-About-Retention-5193079">here</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>I started out by creating the two parent information sheets shown above. But, this project soon seemed to take on a life of its own. I have since created a larger resource including the following resources:</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Twelve Factors to Consider in Regards to Retention</span></b><span style="font-size: large;"> - This is a form for teachers, parents and child-study teams to use while considering retention. Over the years, I've found that using this form helps assure that all the important factors are discussed.</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Six Templates for Parent Letters for Use Throughout the Year</span> </b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">- These fully editable templates are set up to </span><span style="font-size: large;">systematically</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> introduce and provide documentation regarding any concerns, starting early in the year. The letters in this series gradually introduce the possibility of retention, and continue through the notification of recommendation for either retention or promotion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">This resource is now offered as an Editable PowerPoint, and is available for purchase <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Factors-to-Consider-in-Regards-to-Retention-Letters-to-Parents-Fully-Editable-644148">here</a>.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Factors-to-Consider-in-Regards-to-Retention-Letters-to-Parents-Fully-Editable-644148"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLnVaprCdriLwRHiEiOT3RX1_6dq6E9TeAqyPa4zGZy_ugYMlg2L0QEoTpAgSKHtNQLJt1yVXfuXBkDfHsZZ-M4_ixdBqA87medlH4yEGtTaEiZYZ3JapKVApv5uFK333BqAkBlpDB32j3/s1600/retention+collage.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>Funny Story: </b>Years later, when my son was entering 8th grade, he randomly said, "If you didn't wait a year to send me to school, I'd be going into high school now." With fear in my heart, I asked if he wished he was going into high school that year. His answer was a resounding no. Whew! </span><br />
<br />Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-61953185172041710132020-01-23T08:30:00.000-07:002020-01-23T08:51:24.165-07:00Oh Fiddlesticks! Fun to Say, Fun to Play, and a Fabulous Learning Tool!I was just reading about <a href="https://togetherwearesmarter.com/the-best-quick-and-easy-review-game-for-any-subject/">Fiddlesticks</a> in Mary Najar's blog, <a href="https://togetherwearesmarter.com/">Together We Are Smarter</a>. It really caught my eye. . . Just saying Fiddlesticks is fun, and the game is so much better. I was thrilled when Mary offered to share it here. So, here's Mary. . .<br />
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<img alt="Fiddlesticks Featured Photo" src="https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Featured-Photo-Fiddlesticks.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;">Fiddlesticks: A Quick and Easy Review Game for Any Subject!</span></h1>
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<span style="color: #464646; font-family: "poppins" , "poppins" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Are you looking for a versatile game that can be used for review in any content area? Math, reading, science, social studies…Fiddlesticks is a game changer! I currently use it with my 1st grade and 6th grade RTI groups and they LOVE it equally!</span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-family: "poppins" , "poppins" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Games</span><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "poppins" , "poppins" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> are my go to activity to help students learn. I stumbled upon Fiddlesticks by chance several years ago while preparing a demo lesson for a job interview. I needed a simple, engaging game that could be played in a matter of minutes. Fiddlesticks to the rescue! I got the job and have continued to play Fiddlesticks in my classroom ever since. </span><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "poppins" , "poppins" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Fiddlesticks Game" height="400" src="https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-14-59-PM-768x1024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "poppins" , "poppins" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Sight Word Fiddlesticks for My First Grade Response to Intervention (RtI) Group.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "poppins" , "poppins" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial";"><b>Ready To Play?</b> </span>This is the best part! You only have to explain the rules one time and your class can play all year long!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Materials</span></div>
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<li>30-50 <span style="color: black;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; transition-duration: 0.1s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: linear;">popsicle craft sticks</span></span> or <span style="color: black;"><span style="box-sizing: inherit; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; transition-duration: 0.1s; transition-property: all; transition-timing-function: linear;">tongue depressors</span></span></li>
<li>1 plastic cup</li>
<li>1 permanent marker</li>
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That’s it!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Preparation</span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">Write the content</span> you want students to practice <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">on the craft sticks</span> (ex. multiplication facts, sight words, vocabulary words…). Keep reading for game ideas to use in your classroom today!</div>
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Select several <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">craft sticks</span>. Color the <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">bottom half inch</span> of the craft sticks with a permanent marker. This is the Fiddlestick. I use a ratio of 1:15, one Fiddlesticks craft stick to 15 content sticks.</div>
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*Tip – I buy a large box of colored tongue depressors. I use one color for each game but will often mix the game sets. For example, when working on multiplication, the red sticks might be for facts 0-5, green for 6-7, and blue for 8-9. I can differentiate for students who are struggling or who need an extra challenge and it is easy to put the original sets back together. </div>
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<figure class="aligncenter is-resized" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; clear: both; display: table; margin: 1em auto;"><img alt="Colored craft sticks and tongue depressors" class="wp-image-494 lazyloaded" data-lazy-sizes="(max-width: 239px) 100vw, 239px" data-lazy-src="https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-23-40-PM-1-239x300.jpg" data-lazy-srcset="https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-23-40-PM-1-239x300.jpg 239w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-23-40-PM-1-814x1024.jpg 814w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-23-40-PM-1-768x966.jpg 768w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-23-40-PM-1-1221x1536.jpg 1221w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-23-40-PM-1-1628x2048.jpg 1628w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-23-40-PM-1-300x377.jpg 300w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-23-40-PM-1-850x1069.jpg 850w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-23-40-PM-1-scaled.jpg 2035w" data-was-processed="true" height="400" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 239px) 100vw, 239px" src="https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-23-40-PM-1-239x300.jpg" srcset="https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-23-40-PM-1-239x300.jpg 239w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-23-40-PM-1-814x1024.jpg 814w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-23-40-PM-1-768x966.jpg 768w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-23-40-PM-1-1221x1536.jpg 1221w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-23-40-PM-1-1628x2048.jpg 1628w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-23-40-PM-1-300x377.jpg 300w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-23-40-PM-1-850x1069.jpg 850w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-23-40-PM-1-scaled.jpg 2035w" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="318" /><figcaption style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; caption-side: bottom; display: table-caption; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: 0.5em;">Colored tongue depressors are larger and can be easier to add content to. Craft sticks are smaller, but work well for some content. </figcaption></figure></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">How to Play</span></div>
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1. Place content and Fiddlestick sticks in a cup. The cup needs to be tall enough so students can’t see the bottom of the sticks in the cup. </div>
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2. Have between two and six students sit in a circle.</div>
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3. Students take turns pulling one stick from the cup.</div>
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<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit;">If a content stick is pulled, the student answers the question. If they answer it correctly, they get to keep the stick. If they answer it incorrectly, they must place the stick back in the cup. (If you prefer, you could modify this so they pick someone in the group to help them learn the information, then keep the stick.) </li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit;">If a Fiddlestick is pulled, they say, “Oh, Fiddlesticks,” and put all their sticks back into the cup (the Fiddlestick and all of the content sticks they have collected). Note: If you have students who struggle with this, you could modify the game and have them put just two sticks back in the cup.</li>
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4. At the end of the game, the person with the most sticks is the winner. There are several ways to end the game.</div>
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<li><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "poppins" , "poppins" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Set a timer. Play stops when the timer goes off and students count their sticks.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "poppins" , "poppins" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Set a number of sticks as the winner. Before play starts, determine a number of sticks that must be reached. The first person to reach that number is the winner.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #464646; font-family: "poppins" , "poppins" , "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">Play until only Fiddlesticks remain in the cup. Warning – This can make for a very long game!</span></li>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Fiddlesticks sight word game" class="wp-image-495 lazyloaded" data-lazy-sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" data-lazy-src="https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-20-53-PM-1-768x1024.jpg" data-lazy-srcset="https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-20-53-PM-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-20-53-PM-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-20-53-PM-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-20-53-PM-1-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-20-53-PM-1-300x400.jpg 300w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-20-53-PM-1-850x1133.jpg 850w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-20-53-PM-1-scaled.jpg 1920w" data-was-processed="true" height="400" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px" src="https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-20-53-PM-1-768x1024.jpg" srcset="https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-20-53-PM-1-768x1024.jpg 768w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-20-53-PM-1-225x300.jpg 225w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-20-53-PM-1-1152x1536.jpg 1152w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-20-53-PM-1-1536x2048.jpg 1536w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-20-53-PM-1-300x400.jpg 300w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-20-53-PM-1-850x1133.jpg 850w, https://togetherwearesmarter.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Photo-Jan-15-4-20-53-PM-1-scaled.jpg 1920w" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="299" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #464646; font-size: 16px;">Mixing sets together allows me to differentiate for individual learners/groups. Separating the sticks for the next group is easy when you use color-coded tongue depressors! These often come in boxes with up to six colors. If you already have a box of tongue depressors that are all one color, you can color-code them by writing with various permanent markers. </span></td></tr>
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Ideas for Your Classroom</h2>
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Fiddlesticks is an easy review game for <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">math and reading centers, test prep,</span> and <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">reviews</span>. I even use it as an <span style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit; font-weight: 700;">informal assessment</span>. Play the game with a few students and it is easy to identify who has mastered the content and who needs support.</div>
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Fiddlesticks Works Well For:</h2>
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<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit;">Basic Fact Practice: Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, and Division (Math)</li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit;">Identifying Multiples, Least Common Denominator, and Greatest Common Factors (Math)</li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit;">Comparing Numbers and Fractions – Pull two sticks and student keeps both sticks if they identify the greater number (Math)</li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit;">Letter/Sound Identification (Reading)</li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit;">Identify Rhyming Words (Reading)</li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit;">Sight Words (Reading)</li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit;">Vocabulary (Reading, Science, Social Studies)</li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit;">Prefix/Suffix/Root Words (Reading)</li>
<li style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: inherit;">States/Capitals (Social Studies)</li>
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I would love to hear how you use games in your classroom. Leave me a comment below and let’s connect!</div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">From Anne. . . I love this game for so many reasons! It's easy to set up, fun to play, and can be used throughout the year. I think that's one of the marks of a truly great learning center (or station). You can change content without missing a beat explaining the directions. For a center, I might include an answer sheet as applicable, or provide an alternative (such as a calculator or addition/multiplication chart for checking math facts.) </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;">Thanks so much for generously sharing, <a href="https://togetherwearesmarter.com/">Mary</a>! </span></div>
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Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-81022780528178931262020-01-22T08:29:00.000-07:002020-01-22T08:51:20.946-07:00Snowflake Math for Addition, Subtraction and More!Up here in the Great White North, the weather truly is frightful. . . <br />
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So, I'm thrilled that <a href="https://primaryinspiration.blogspot.com/">Linda Nelson</a> has been kind enough to share this collection of <a href="https://primaryinspiration.blogspot.com/2015/12/i-teach-first-linky-snowflake-math.html">Snowflake Math Activities</a> that kids just love. . .<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcAsZtajgbuJd6F_WMqM_a9GR8zHqUGMGHojFlZNPLhq0mPMluPDQzRAEkdYVSgdjvReznxnkkqk5uGsBIE5C3iTzQG6gRHj7a_Q6o9C1V93f8UqTrCW7XOIp1g3dPYbL7q7KRZhy_4CX/s1600/Snowflake+Math+for+Anne%2527s+Blog.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="441" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcAsZtajgbuJd6F_WMqM_a9GR8zHqUGMGHojFlZNPLhq0mPMluPDQzRAEkdYVSgdjvReznxnkkqk5uGsBIE5C3iTzQG6gRHj7a_Q6o9C1V93f8UqTrCW7XOIp1g3dPYbL7q7KRZhy_4CX/s640/Snowflake+Math+for+Anne%2527s+Blog.JPG" width="424" /></a></div>
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<b>From Linda: </b>Connecting snow with learning is definitely a win-win situation. When I saw these foam snowflakes at the dollar store, my brain started whirling like the snowflakes in a snow globe!<br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3DpYzv-BKsZQz0Uqgld09hrXf5kgFwqMKJpHItwVkGiFRtWmBOkCoOHxQsR5Z1R3vlb9jGdW0mGTIUA0_ymTKRrUqOtWCPXazzJp5D8hyVhFgQLBC3e6-3yvBba9xoUmQVr3cAYvOu0/s1600/Snowflake+Package.JPG" /></div>
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If you don't happen to be going by a Dollar Store (that has these in stock), here's a full-page <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/17WP51Nqmk_VNiPxC4IK6b4TTPk3AiQCE/view?usp=sharing">snowflake outline</a> to download and print instead. If you have blue cardstock, it will look A LOT like the Dollar Store version. (This also works well printed on white.)<br />
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*We've just added a template for a blank die, snowflakes with the numbers filled in, and ten frame counting dice to <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/17WP51Nqmk_VNiPxC4IK6b4TTPk3AiQCE/view?usp=sharing">this download</a>!<br />
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/17WP51Nqmk_VNiPxC4IK6b4TTPk3AiQCE/view?usp=sharing"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCDke5a1cQ_gNQOqZx6vhUE6iQSg8B6iE_1HHbVCmN-w1ag3sC_p4ldL9p4QFuLbM44EtFOwe6iunXOJ5eUB1qFassytfhVfUF1LQlS_Jfdh9jeWiVYrurIptD3tTWmqO_l8t379dfbuy/s400/Snowflake+games+collage.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The six sides of these snowflakes are perfect for lots of math games! </span></b><br />
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<b>Addition and Subtraction Game: </b>For this addition and subtraction activity, you'll need a snowflake for each player plus some dominoes to share. The game works well with two players, but if you have enough dominoes, it would be good for a small group activity, too. I used a Sharpie to label each of the points one through six, and then put a zero in the center.<br />
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<b>To Play:</b> Scatter all the dominoes face down between the players. Take turns turning over one domino. Add or subtract the numbers on it to make one of the numbers on the snowflake. If you can make one of the numbers, put the domino on that branch of your snowflake. If there's already a domino on that number, put the domino to the side and it's on to the other player's turn. The exception is zero. Whenever a player subtracts to make zero, he or she puts that domino on the zero, continuing to add to the stack whenever a sum or difference of zero is made.<br />
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<img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOxIVjpgvHEWmOJynXmz0AXewKMya694MyAPxYqdGNnq1Gc3GRNWxPeB3nuGEo9eoyhxsyt7TA9cqBlfm2AMWIOS_6Qg9xc8GdilKTxNHIIKPKfa2I52nVNSdcrn2Z5D5msQh4tRA2Yoc/s400/Snowflake+Addition+hand.JPG" width="377" /></div>
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In this picture, my granddaughter, who is becoming quite a practiced hand model<span style="font-size: x-large;">☺</span>, has used 6-1 to cover five, 4+0 to cover four (might also have been 4-0), and 5-3 to cover two.<br />
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<b>There are two ways to win</b>: Be the first player to cover all the numbers around the tips of the snowflake <b>OR</b> stack three dominoes on zero. I love games with two ways to win, as they open up so many more possibilities for strategic thinking!<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">This game can easily be modified to meet your students' needs!</span></b><br />
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* <b>Developing Number Sense</b>: For the youngest learners (who are working on developing number sense), use dice instead of dominoes and get some quick practice in subitizing. Just leave the zero out of the center and roll one die. When they are confident with numbers through six, use a ten sided die, change the numbers on the snowflake, and keep on playing. (A great big foam die adds extra fun to this version or you can use the die labelled 5 - 10 in the download!)<br />
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* <b>The Tricky Teens</b>: For students learning numbers 11 - 20, use the dice in <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/17WP51Nqmk_VNiPxC4IK6b4TTPk3AiQCE/view?usp=sharing">this download</a> instead of dominoes. Kids practice counting items within ten frames as they play.<br />
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* <b>Addition Within Five:</b> Sort through your dominoes to turn this into an addition game. Look for dominoes that total five or less for this version. (Have your students do the sorting to fit even more math practice into this activity!) Now they'll use addition to find sums within five.<br />
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* <b>Subtraction Within Five</b>: For subtraction using dice, roll two dice and subtract. For this version, label only the tips of the snowflake, using the numbers zero through five.<br />
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*<b> Doubles for Addition:</b> Working on the addition doubles strategy? Label your branches 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 (or print the one in <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/17WP51Nqmk_VNiPxC4IK6b4TTPk3AiQCE/view?usp=sharing">this download</a>). Roll one die, double the number, and cover it.<br />
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<b>Keep the snowy math learning going with this free set of <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-8-Winter-Math-Games-for-First-Grade-4149948">Eight Winter Math Games for First Grade</a>! </b>Each game is just one page, with no cards to prepare or to lose. Click <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-8-Winter-Math-Games-for-First-Grade-4149948">here</a> or on the picture below to get this set free at my TpT store!<br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">From Anne: My good friend, <a href="https://primaryinspiration.blogspot.com/">Linda</a>, truly has a gift for developing no prep math games. These offer the academic rigor teachers need, and each one features a special twist that kids just LOVE! </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-8-Winter-Math-Games-for-First-Grade-4149948"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="663" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiie64PnxTVYoGi7Az4E6LIOGgdJxaiUPqh_-kyft7HWJMNn_g8YbauibQU-6FQvm-eNmRWwnZHhSpmpUD9PQet-OXsX6la4j7G2HZZ8RJweiUbBU32erbtICWQnHZuNGZlQvoaa_q94Q23/s640/Winter+Games+1+Anne.JPG" width="636" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Thanks so much for sharing, <a href="https://primaryinspiration.blogspot.com/">Linda</a>!</span></div>
Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-87910238342112297132020-01-21T14:07:00.001-07:002020-01-21T16:02:09.943-07:00✿ A Growing Bulletin Board - How fun! ✿ <div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;">
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">Here in the Great White North, many of us have been
feeling a need to see some more green.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 6pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
It sounds like there's a good reason we crave the presence of plants.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have found, "One secret weapon
to help prevent having to deal with the common cold or flu may not be in your
medicine cabinet, but on your windowsill." It's plants to the
rescue! </span></div>
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Luckily, </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18pt;"><a href="http://enjoy-teaching.com/">Brenda </a></span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18pt;"><a href="http://enjoy-teaching.com/">Kovich</a></span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18pt;"> is here to share this fabulous </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18pt;"><a href="https://enjoy-teaching.com/plants-bulletin-board-ideas/">Growing Bulletin
Board</a></span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: x-large;">Of all the plant displays I have seen, I think this is my favorite because. . .</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">Since </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">it’s on a bulletin board, not on the window, these plants grow well even in </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">the </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">deep of winter. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">Since </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">one seed is planted each day, kids can truly see the day to day growth of these plants.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">If </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">you will be teaching a plant unit later in the year, setting this bulletin board up now will assure that <b>all</b> your students have background knowledge when you teach your formal unit.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18pt;">It’s</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 18pt;"> inexpensive and eye-catching!</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic";"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Brenda has kindly shared the following directions.</span></span><br />
<b style="font-family: "Century Gothic";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></b><b style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Materials Needed:</b><b style="font-family: "century gothic";"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-special-format: bullet;"> • </span></span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">12-16 sandwich bags with flaps, not zippers</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-special-format: bullet;"> • </span></span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">paper towels</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-special-format: bullet;"> • </span></span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">dried beans</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; text-indent: -29.76px;">*</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.31in;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: xx-small;"> </span><b style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Directions:</b><b style="font-family: "century gothic";"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> 1. </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Staple the bags to bulletin board.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> 2. </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Fold paper towels and place inside bags.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> 3. </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Starting in the upper left-hand corner, label the bags (Day 1, Day 2, etc.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> 4. </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Starting in the lower right-hand corner, moisten one paper towel per day. Add three bean seeds to the front of the towel so they can be viewed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"> 5. </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Watch them grow!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><b style="font-family: "Century Gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">How to Prevent Rotting: </b><b style="font-family: "century gothic";"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-special-format: bullet;"> • </span></span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Staple sandwich bags so the tops remain slightly open. This allows air to circulate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-special-format: bullet;"> • </span></span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">Keep paper towel damp at all times, but do not allow water to stand in the bottom of the baggie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; mso-special-format: bullet;"> • </span></span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt;">When you see dots of mold, change to a fresh paper towel.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic";"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span><b style="font-family: "century gothic"; text-indent: -0.31in;">How to Germinate Seeds:</b><b style="font-family: "century gothic"; text-indent: -0.31in;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.6667px; text-indent: -29.76px;">• </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.31in;">If seeds are not germinating (or growing), the paper towel is too dry. Add more water. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.6667px; text-indent: -29.76px;">• </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.31in;">If paper towel dries completely, seeds will usually continue to grow. Just add more water. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; text-indent: -0.31in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 18.6667px; text-indent: -29.76px;">• </span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: -0.31in;">To keep seeds growing on consecutive days, pack two baggies, two paper towels and six beans for the weekend. Start one set on Saturday and another on Sunday. Transfer to bulletin board on Monday.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.31in;"> </span> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial"; text-indent: -0.31in;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "century gothic"; text-indent: -0.31in;"><span style="text-indent: -0.31in;">*Any dried beans that are normally used for cooking will work.</span></span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; text-indent: -0.31in;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; text-indent: -0.31in;">Thanks so much for sharing, </span><a href="https://enjoy-teaching.com/" style="font-family: "century gothic"; text-indent: -0.31in;">Brenda</a><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; text-indent: -0.31in;">!</span><span style="font-family: "century gothic"; text-indent: -0.31in;"> </span></span></div>
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Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-25558990564735929382020-01-19T09:35:00.000-07:002020-01-19T13:37:48.206-07:00Help Students Start the Day Strong with a Soft Landing!<span style="color: #585858; font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">We never know how our students' days have started before they enter the classroom. A Soft Landing may be exactly what many of them need to prepare to be their best all day long!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #585858; font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Hilary, from </span><a href="https://www.theprimaryplanet.com/" style="font-family: ubuntu, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The Primary Planet</a><span style="color: #585858; font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">, was kind enough to share a variety of options that can help get the day off to a super start, both for students and for teachers.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #585858; font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Here's a whole collection of ideas from Hilary! (They brought back some great memories that I just had to share. I added some thoughts in</span><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span style="color: #0b5394;"><span style="font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">blue</span><span style="font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">.</span></span><span style="color: #585858; font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">) </span><br />
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<b style="color: #585858; font-family: ubuntu, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">From Hilary . . . </b><br />
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<span style="color: #585858; font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Ahhh...the first 20 minutes of school after you have happily greeted all of your darling cherubs... We want them to be busy, independent, productive, and calm. I want the </span><span style="color: #585858; font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">morning</span><span style="color: #585858; font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> to help set the tone for the day.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #585858; font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I don't know how you feel, but as a teacher, I really don't want morning work that I have to grade later. Here are some options </span><span style="color: #585858; font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">that don't involve worksheets or a whole lot of planning!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #585858; font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">My kiddos have a procedure they follow when they come into the room every day. They turn in any notes for me, make sure that they have 2 sharp pencils, choose a partner, use the restroom and get a drink, then start on their morning work! Here are some things that I like to do in my classroom during the first 20 minutes of class when I am trying to sort through notes, take attendance, and get ready to start our day.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #fd7341; font-family: "cherry cream soda"; font-size: 31px;"><b>My Favorite Morning Work Activity: Read!</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #585858; font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I love using that time in the morning when the kiddos come in to have them read to themselves or with a partner. My kiddos can read out of their book boxes, choose new books, or read from our "theme" bookshelf. They can choose a fun spot in the room to read and share books. This is also one of my students' favorite morning work activities.</span><span style="color: #585858; font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">This reminds me of some of my favorite mornings in the classroom. I'd spread out a collection of books that kids had read in small groups over the last few months. Often, little eyes would light up as they saw some of their favorites. I loved seeing kids realize how they'd grown as readers as they flew through books that were challenging a few short months ago. </span><br />
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</span> <span style="color: #585858; font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Sometimes I pair morning reading time with:</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: #585858; font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I have a few kiddos who would spend all of Reading Workshop shopping for books if that was a choice. Having the kiddos bookshop when they first come into class is an activity that my students really enjoy! This also helps me make sure they have books to read during Reading Workshop. They love to shop with a buddy as well, which gets them talking about books!</span></div>
<span style="color: #fd7341; font-family: "cherry cream soda"; font-size: 27px;">Book Shopping Challenges</span><span style="color: #fd7341; font-family: "cherry cream soda"; font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #585858; font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">I occasionally do Book Shopping Challenges as well! Sometimes when the kiddos come in, I have a book shopping challenge on the board! They love showing me something new that they discovered in our classroom library. . .</span><br />
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My kiddos LOVE Morning Mini-Missions. This does include making a few copies, but it gets your kiddos out of their seats and working together! There are all sorts of mini-mission tasks such as: </div>
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<li>Collecting data and graphing the information</li>
<li>Finding out your friends' favorite colors</li>
<li>Writing or telling a story, with group members adding one sentence at a time</li>
<li>Brainstorming the perfect play date</li>
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These activities have the kiddos up and interacting with one another. They are perfect for creating and keeping a sense of collaboration and classroom community among your students! </div>
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Story Telling and Writing Centers</h3>
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The Story Telling Center in my room is one of the kiddos' favorite spots! They love to use all kinds of manipulatives to tell stories and their imaginations just run WILD. . .</div>
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This is my favorite place to spend time with the kiddos if I am not pulling small groups or working with students one on one. We have so much fun telling stories! What do I have in my storytelling center? Some great plastic toy sets - a jungle animal set, an ocean animal set, and a dinosaur set. These are just plastic animals that the kiddos can move around, play with and use to tell different stories about the animals!</div>
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I also have Story Cubes. There are all kinds of ways that these can be used to help the kiddos tell stories!</div>
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Finger puppets are also very popular in my storytelling center. I have some very dramatic minded kiddos this year who LOVE to perform. They really enjoy making up stories for the finger puppets to act out!</div>
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My students really enjoy writing their own scripts for the finger puppets or for each other to do their own skits and Reader's Theatre! They can write their own original script or write a script based on a favorite book. I have a scriptwriting freebie for you! You can download it <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Script-Writing-Freebie-4467934?utm_source=Primary%20Planet%20Blog&utm_campaign=Morning%20Work%20Ideas%20Script%20Writing%20Freebie%20Link%20HERE" style="color: #538515; outline: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">HERE</a>, or save it for later by pinning the image.</div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394;">When one of those little sweeties is celebrating a birthday, I love to "hold the presses" on everything else and have each of his/her classmates make a page for a Birthday Book. Kids can draw or write, expressing good wishes in whatever way works best for them. These Birthday Books often become treasured keepsakes. </span><span style="color: #585858;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/Script-Writing-Freebie-4467934" style="font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><img alt="8 Morning Works Ideas (Part 2) for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade that don't involve worksheets! These fun morning work routines will help you set the tone for your day! You will also find ideas for morning work tubs, free activities, and even some paperless bell ringer choices! Most ideas are little to no prep! Morning Work ideas for Reading, Writing, Math, Book Shopping, and Computers! Don't forget to save and grab your freebies! #morningwork #teachers #primaryplanet" border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="864" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAVOelBHiTmxTv327ZKRFujqguvCVk7r8RqEVf_IYKVf5lt599IQeuUSwfhkgrBUphGpILRpTDHzElkppC2gbi5g682HHn-wccxNhG3OFPVmTl8VTqQNb2kSJ4IMqr_ButIpJYVWTnfYB_/s400/Pinterest+Template+Script+writing+freebie+3.png" style="border: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative;" title="8 Morning Works Ideas (Part 2) for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade that don't involve worksheets! These fun morning work routines will help you set the tone for your day! You will also find ideas for morning work tubs, free activities, and even some paperless bell ringer choices! Most ideas are little to no prep! Morning Work ideas for Reading, Writing, Math, Book Shopping, and Computers! Don't forget to save and grab your freebies! #morningwork #teachers #primaryplanet" width="240" /></a></div>
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Journals </h3>
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A journal could be a notebook, binder, or, just a few pages stapled together! You could let them free write, or put a journal writing prompt on the board. You could also have them write about a book they are reading! I really like to use short but sweet Weekly Writing Journals with topics that are quick to write about and really fun to share!</div>
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Pick a Prompts </h3>
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Another morning work writing idea that my students LOVE is using Pick a Prompts! Haven't heard of Pick A Prompts? You can find a blog post that I did about them <a href="https://www.theprimaryplanet.com/2014/07/what-in-world.html" style="color: #538515; outline: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;" target="_blank">HERE</a>! There are a myriad of ways to use Pick a Prompts, but the easiest by far is just to make a class set of copies and leave them out for your students to pick from when they come in. They choose a character, a setting, and a plot point, then write the story! I always let my students use as many items as they would like and color the ones they choose to put in their story. Short on copies? Print two per page, laminate, and keep these in your writing center. This is also a good way to provide some variety! Want to check them out, or better yet, try them out? You can click the picture to get some for yourself for <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pick-A-Prompt-Writing-Prompts-with-Pictures-Picture-Writing-Prompts-FREE-1397661">FREE</a>!</div>
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Talk to Your Friends!</h2>
Sometimes the kiddos come in with a story to tell or something that they desperately want to share. I am not a fan of Show and Tell, or Show and Share, so I try to give them time to just come in and talk to one another. </div>
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Sometimes I put a topic on the board (it usually goes with whatever topic we are going to talk about during morning meeting). The social-emotional impact of just talking to one another is huge! I also love to go and join in the conversations. It is a great way to get to know my kiddos! </div>
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This choice is perfect for those days when you have limited time for morning work. I also love this choice on field trip days as the kiddos are so hyped up anyway, all they want to do is talk about the field trip! Also, parent chaperones are often in class to join in the conversations. This one is the <b>ultimate easy morning work choice</b>!<br />
<span style="color: #0b5394;">When adults get to work, we often want to start the day by touching base with our people. Kids often need this too. . .</span></div>
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Math Activities and More</h2>
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<span style="color: #585858;">Why not have your kiddos practice their math skills first thing in the </span><b style="color: #585858;">morning</b><span style="color: #585858;">? Any type of math game works during this time! </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">This is a perfect time to fit in games that reinforce skills they've learned over the last few months. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: 16px;">Morning work tubs are a favorite. Many of you already have a ton of centers set up, why not use some of them for morning work? Any center that the kiddos already know how to use works well as morning work. I call my center time (or academic choice time) Jedi Academy to go with my Star Wars themed classroom. If I put Jedi Academy on the board for morning work, they know that they can use any of the "centers" that we have for that time. Here are some of the favorites in my classroom:</span></div>
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Pattern Block Puzzles</h3>
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<span style="color: #585858;">These are fun puzzles that the kiddos use pattern blocks to solve! They build and record the blocks they use to make the picture. Then, they try to make the same item with more pattern blocks and fewer pattern blocks! They LOVE it! Want to try it? Click the pic to get your </span><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pattern-Block-Puzzles-Freebie-4369757?utm_source=Primary%20Planet%20Blog&utm_campaign=Morning%20Work%20Ideas%202%20Pattern%20Block%20Freebie">freebie</a>!</div>
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Play Dough Mats</h3>
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Students LOVE play dough! Play dough mats for STEM/STEAM are perfect morning work activities! The kiddos just need a mat and some play dough! The mats feature challenges your students complete to create solutions to problems using play dough! They LOVE it! </div>
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Math Manipulatives </h3>
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Kids need time to explore math manipulatives so they can focus on the lessons when using them later on. I have all mine in easy to move tubs, so I can just set them out and let the kiddos take them and find a spot in the room to use them! The kiddos LOVE Polydrons, Pattern Blocks, inch tiles, snap cubes, base ten blocks, linker cubes, tangrams, creative kids flakes, and geoboards!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwPENWLXedyjPBXf9uvReJhyphenhyphenT0ZEwzuJ_JnyZhSa6jMbGdLliHW4QoDKRuigMGCdNJuSfAv8x6iVhEqVq6swN3WLiqMTdBipBEEMbgAP5rr8FYiCUJub9N2KfRkAO5y1UkKfXpyZsjDsA/s1600/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="color: #538515; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; max-width: calc(770px); outline: none; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.2s ease 0s;"><img alt="8 Morning Works Ideas (Part 2) for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade that don't involve worksheets! These fun morning work routines will help you set the tone for your day! You will also find ideas for morning work tubs, free activities, and even some paperless bell ringer choices! Most ideas are little to no prep! Morning Work ideas for Reading, Writing, Math, Book Shopping, and Computers! Don't forget to save and grab your freebies! #morningwork #teachers #primaryplanet" border="0" data-original-height="1013" data-original-width="895" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwPENWLXedyjPBXf9uvReJhyphenhyphenT0ZEwzuJ_JnyZhSa6jMbGdLliHW4QoDKRuigMGCdNJuSfAv8x6iVhEqVq6swN3WLiqMTdBipBEEMbgAP5rr8FYiCUJub9N2KfRkAO5y1UkKfXpyZsjDsA/s400/Picture1.png" style="border: none; height: auto; max-width: 100%; position: relative;" title="8 Morning Works Ideas (Part 2) for 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade that don't involve worksheets! These fun morning work routines will help you set the tone for your day! You will also find ideas for morning work tubs, free activities, and even some paperless bell ringer choices! Most ideas are little to no prep! Morning Work ideas for Reading, Writing, Math, Book Shopping, and Computers! Don't forget to save and grab your freebies! #morningwork #teachers #primaryplanet" width="353" /></a></div>
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We are a 1:1 with devices school, so the kiddos bring their Chromebooks to school every day! This can be both a blessing and a curse. There are numerous great learning things that the kiddos can do on their computers, but sometimes monitoring them can be a challenge. We recently as a school corporation got Go Guardian, which lets me monitor everyone's screen and history at once. I am not affiliated in any way with Go Guardian, but I am very happy with the service they provide!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "ubuntu" , sans-serif;">Here are some of the sites that I have my kiddos use for morning work.</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #444444;">Free Reading Sites:</span></div>
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<li style="list-style: disc !important; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all;">EPIC!</span><span style="color: #444444;"> (this site really is EPIC and free for educators! Tons of online books and goodies!)</span></span></li>
<li style="list-style: disc !important; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all;">Storyline Online</span><span style="color: #444444;"> (books read by celebrities)</span></span></li>
<li style="list-style: disc !important; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all;">Storytime from Space</span> </span><span style="color: #444444;">(Real astronauts reading stories while they are in space on the International Space Station!)</span></li>
<li style="list-style: disc !important; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all;">Just Books Read Aloud</span> </span></li>
<li style="list-style: disc !important; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all;">Into the Book</span> (great for practicing reading strategies)</span></li>
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<span style="color: #444444;">Free Math Sites:</span></div>
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<li style="list-style: disc !important; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: #444444;"><span style="outline-color: initial; outline-width: initial; transition-duration: 0.2s; transition-property: all;">Prodigy</span> (My kiddos go crazy for this fun math game. I frequently give them Prodigy time as a reward!)</span></li>
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If you have other sites that you LOVE for Reading, Math, or other educational pursuits, I would love to hear about them! Drop me a comment and I will add them to my post!</div>
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Thanks so much for stopping by and reading this post.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Phew! That was a lot of info in one post! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Please pin the following image if you'd like to refer back to this post. I appreciate your shares!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><b>Much like the greatest journey begins with a single step, a great day can sometimes begin with one Soft Landing. I truly love these ideas - Thanks for sharing, Hilary!</b></span></div>
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<br style="background-color: white; color: #585858; font-family: Ubuntu, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;" />Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-7311879923776423642020-01-18T07:20:00.000-07:002020-01-19T11:21:41.680-07:00♥ Books that Encourage Children to Be Themselves! ♥<span style="color: #78736b; font-family: "questrial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 1px;">Rachael, from </span><a href="https://literacywiththelittles.com/" style="font-family: questrial, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 1px;">Literacy with the Littles</a><span style="color: #78736b; font-family: "questrial" , sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 1px;">, is here to share some of her favorite books that encourage children to be comfortable with their true selves. Rachael is a first grade teacher who is now enjoying some time at home with her twin daughters and her son. These are books she would recommend both for parents and for primary teachers. Thanks, Rachael!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><b>BOOKS That ENCOURAGE CHILDREN TO BE THEMSELVES</b></span></div>
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<b>From Rachael:</b> My oldest starts Kindergarten this year. I am so excited for him to learn, grow, and make new friends. He has the sweetest heart and I want more than anything for him to stay true to himself and not change who he is because of others around him. I don’t want him to change based on what his classmates think is “cool.” So that is the inspiration behind why I chose to share some of my absolute favorite books that encourage children to be themselves. So that we, as teachers and parents, can use these stories to show children that they are special, exactly as they are.</div>
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1. “A BAD CASE OF THE STRIPES” WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY: DAVID SHANNON</h3>
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I read this to my class EVERY year, and for good reason. This book always leads to wonderful discussions about the importance of being yourself. Here is a little snip-it about this must have book. Camila Cream loved lima beans. But she didn’t want to eat them because the other kids didn’t seem to like them. She was very concerned about what everyone else thought of her. On the first day of school she breaks out in a case of the stripes and throughout the book they seem to just get worse. By the end she learns that being herself might just be the cure that she was looking for.<br />
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2. “ELMER” WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY DAVID MCKEE</h3>
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Elmer is an elephant, but not an ordinary elephant. Elmer is a patchwork of rainbow colors, but he longs to be a normal elephant color. But when he gets the chance to look ordinary, he finds out it may not be all that it was cracked up to be. So with the help of his friends along the way, he learns to love being exactly the way he is.</div>
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After reading this story to my class, I loved to discuss how Elmer felt and what he learned. After our discussion it was so much fun to let the students create their own elephants that represented them. I loved the variety of patterns, colors, and designs the kids chose. You can extend on the craft by having them write about what makes them each unique and special.<br />
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<span style="color: #6d6e71; font-family: "fjalla one" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; text-transform: uppercase;">3. “STEPHANIE’S PONYTAIL” WRITTEN BY: ROBERT MUNSCH ILLUSTRATED BY: MICHAEL MARTCHENKO</span></div>
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This book teaches a few messages. To be true to yourself, and not to do something just because others are doing it. Stephanie tries throughout the story to be unique by having her mom do a different style of ponytail each day. When she goes to school the other kids tease her, but she states with confidence that “she likes it!” But the next day, they all copy her style. Stephanie tries to tell them to stop copying her, but it doesn't work. By the end she finds a way to show them all that it is pretty silly to just do something that another is doing without thinking about it. I don’t want to spoil the ending, but it is sure to bring a few laughs.<br />
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4. “THE STORY OF FERDINAND” WRITTEN BY: MUNRO LEAF ILLUSTRATED BY: ROBERT LAWSON</h3>
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Every time I have read this book to a class, they have been still, silent, and completely captivated by the story. Ferdinand is a bull, but he is different from the other bulls in Madrid. He doesn’t want to fight. He just wants to sit and smell the flowers. The story gets intense when Ferdinand gets stung by a bee and the bull fighters choose him to go against the Matador. Will he fight? Or will he remain true to himself?<br />
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5. “THELMA THE UNICORN” WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY: AARON BLABEY</h3>
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This book is the perfect way to reach the hearts of all of the little unicorn lovers in your class. Thelma was not a unicorn. But after a little mishap with paint and glitter, others start to believe that she is. At first she loved the attention and fame, but as time went on, she realized she missed her true friend. By the end she realizes that she just wants to be herself.<br />
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6. “YOU ARE SPECIAL” WRITTEN BY: MAX LUCADO ILLUSTRATED BY: SERGIO MARTINEZ</h3>
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The Wemmicks were wooden people carved by Eli. Every day the Wemmicks went around putting stickers on each other. The talented and pretty Wemmicks got gold stars. But Punchinello kept getting gray dots despite his efforts to try to get stars. One day he met a Wemmick that the stickers just fell off of. He was curious how she was able to keep them from sticking and he learns just how special he is as he searched for that answer. I love reading this one to my own little ones. Such a wonderful way to remind them how truly special they are and to not let others label or define them.<br />
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7. “WE’RE ALL WONDERS” WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY: R.J. PALACIO</h3>
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If you have seen the movie, or read the novel, then you know how easy it is to love Auggie. This picture book is a wonderful way to share the same amazing message with younger audiences. Auggie is a an ordinary boy, but looks different than ordinary. He deals with bullies and people treating him differently. I love that the book sends the message that if people would change the way they see, they would see that we are all wonders.<br />
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8. “NOT QUITE NARWHAL” WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY JESSIE SIMA</h3>
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This story is about Kelp. Kelp was quite different from the other narwhals. But he didn’t seem to mind, and neither did they. But he later discovers that he is actually a unicorn. He loves fitting in with all of the unicorns, but misses his friends under the sea. He finds a way to celebrate who he is and doesn’t leave anyone out. This story has darling illustrations and all of the creatures are kind, positive, and welcoming.<br />
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9. “CHRYSANTHEMUM” WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY: KEVIN HENKES</h3>
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Kevin Henkes writes so many wonderful children’s books. But this one may just be my favorite. Chrysanthemum grows and has wonderful confidence. Her parents remind her often how perfect she is. Chrysanthemum loved her name. Then when it was time for her to start school, the other children tease her about her name. Suddenly, she didn’t like her name anymore and her confidence dwindled. But one amazing teacher helps change how she and the other kids view her unique name. You will love reading this story and finding out how Chrysanthemum feels about herself and her name by the end of this sweet story. I love that this book teaches children to love themselves and the things that make them unique. It also shows them the impact they can have on others if they say unkind things.<br />
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10. “GIRAFFES CAN’T DANCE” WRITTEN BY: GILES ANDREAE ILLUSTRATED BY: GUY PARKER-REES</h3>
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This is a book that really shows how you can find your strengths by embracing your differences. Gerald the Giraffe feels sad at the jungle dance. He feels like everyone else can dance, and he dances bad. The other animals didn’t help, by confirming his fears and teasing him for being clumsy. But as Gerald left the dance, he met a cricket that told him he may just need to dance to a different song. You will have to read to see how that new song helped Gerald turn his differences into a strength the other animals soon admired.<br />
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11. “NERDY BIRDY” WRITTEN BY: AARON REYNOLDS ILLUSTRATED BY: MATT DAVIES</h3>
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This book uses a sweet, nerdy bird to show the effects of being too cool, leaving others out, and treating others badly. Nerdy Birdy is different from the other birds. He feels alone, and left out from the “cool birds” until he meets another nerdy bird. They bond and he makes a flock of nerdy friends. But in the end, a vulture tries to join the crowd. His nerdy flock doesn’t welcome her with open arms. How will Nerdy Birdy treat the new bird? Check this one out to find out how Nerdy Birdy acted when the tables turned at the end of the book.<br />
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12. “I LIKE MYSELF” WRITTEN BY: KAREN BEUMONT ILLUSTRATED BY: DAVID CATROW</h3>
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“I Like Myself” has a very straightforward message with a silly spin that is great for younger audiences. I love how it shows that you should love all of the things that make you, you!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Okay, I know… I said 12 books. But I had to add this cute book. Let’s just consider it a bonus. . .</span></b></div>
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13. “BEING SMALL” WRITTEN BY: LORI ORLINSKY ILLUSTRATED BY: VANESSA ALEXANDRE</h3>
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We recently got a copy of this book from the author, Lori Orlinsky, and my kids love it! This sweet book is a wonderful reminder to look at the positives in all of your differences. It is about a young girl who doesn’t want to go to school because she is smaller than the other kids. Her mother comforts her by pointing out all of the perks of being on the shorter side. This is a great book for any little one that is feeling “too small” to do what their peers are doing. It is also a great conversation starter for any child to discuss focusing on the positive and embracing our wonderful differences. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Let’s help our little ones embrace all of their unique qualities. Let’s show them to embrace differences, feel confident, and show empathy. Let’s show them that kindness is truly powerful, and that they are absolutely amazing just the way they are!</span></b></div>
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Do you have another favorite picture book that helps encourage children to be themselves? Please share in the comments. I would love to check them out.</div>
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Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-80704757910635950032019-07-23T09:00:00.004-06:002020-01-14T15:52:50.983-07:00Guided Reading Group Host or Hostess - The Ideal Intervention? <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A<span style="font-family: inherit;">s a classroom teacher, do you have a child who is reading a couple levels below the expectation? Do they work hard, but never quite seem to catch up? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Would you like to implement a 1:1 (or even small group) intervention for him or her - but find there just aren't enough minutes in the day? Or are you already implementing this intervention, but finding that it is still not enough? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1) Keep that student in his/her own guided reading group. Continue to carefully select text at just the right level and provide solid instruction, as you do for each of your little sweeties. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2) Look carefully at what this child is doing during the time he or she is not in your guided reading group. Consider an alternative to one of the reading rotations:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Invite that child to be your Guided Reading Host or Hostess!</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Have your Host or Hostess join a group one or two levels above his/her instructional reading level (as a helper and a guest). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Guided Reading Host can hand out the books and supplies for you. He/she will hear your book introduction and experience any word work activities you share with the group. The Host or Hostess gains exposure to any vocabulary you discuss with the group. Then the Host or Hostess simply chooses a partner to sit with. As the group member reads, the Guided Reading Host (or Hostess) silently follows along.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Surprisingly, they often offer help or pop in with the correct word when their partner is stuck! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">What is happening? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">They are experiencing on-level instruction, free of stress. Many students learn best when they can relax and enjoy. T</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">hey take pride in their genuine role as your helper. Participating as a Host or Hostess helps this reader build confidence and develop a special relationship with you. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">From my experience, it's both a joy and a huge academic boost for the child </span>involved<span style="font-family: inherit;">. In all honesty, </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">my students sometimes gained more from simply helping me host another group than they did from the quick interventions I could fit into the day. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As the group wraps up, the Host or Hostess can collect materials and put them away, helping prepare the area for the next group. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">** Note - This is never in place of their own leveled group. It is in addition to it! **</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">If you try this idea, would you be so kind as to share your experience? </span>Just choose a student to help you host groups. Record his/her reading level prior to becoming a host or hostess and after a period of time. Compare the growth with the average growth of the readers in your room. Help teachers take back research by sharing your results! (To do so, just email me at Annegardner4@gmail.com.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>P.S.</b> - This routine works as well for students with impulse control/behavior issues as it does for students who need a little extra boost with reading. In this case, have your Host or Hostess go and gently give reminders to other students to stay on task and/or to keep the noise level down. You might even consider having him/her observe and take notes regarding students who are staying on task. What we teach, we learn. It's </span>likely<span style="font-family: inherit;"> that your slightly behavior-challenged student(s) will internalize the behaviors they have the opportunity to help others learn. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanks so much for stopping by! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">:) <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Anne-Gardner-1116"><span style="color: magenta;">Anne Gardner</span></a> (NBCT, Literacy)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Graphics by <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Tiny-Graphics-Shack">Tiny Graphics Shack</a>. </span></div>
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</span>Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-41006587346411616022019-07-07T19:27:00.001-06:002020-01-21T15:55:51.701-07:00Growth Mindset and Daily News<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Recognize Positive Character Traits and Teach Growth Mindset with Daily News</span></h2><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Would you like a powerful no-prep way to start the day? What if it supported multiple ELA standards and also encouraged positive character traits as well as growth mindset? <p>What kid doesn't want to be a super hero? Help them see positive character traits and growth mindset as superpowers!</p></p>Here's a really simple way to start. . . Introduce one of these posters designed to encourage positive character traits and growth mindset. Give students a moment to turn and talk about what this means to them. Some days, challenge them to think of a way they can display the trait. Other times, ask them to think of a time they noticed a classmate displaying the trait. </div></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY81nsmAjePo94RZR-W-xoJNMgNbsUJbKJkJMnTQJ6aOWfjF_9QRFzOodbuk-yR82ctZI7f3bdOtSBec2nJPYGTp_cuf0EJvTG1vPHsjCPi3A4HRNNuuLHjXk9xqgAnQ-gLvfEluVrZKSN/s640/Super+Kids+Growth+Mindset+Poster+Set.jpg" width="364" /></div></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">Write, using Interactive Writing, with the class about ways students can show these traits. As you write, reinforce the concept of using complete sentences, with a capital letter at the beginning and punctuation at the end. Take time to model stretching words to hear the sounds. Chant the spelling of sight words the group is learning.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">There are many ways to manage this. I always like the craft sticks with kids' names. After kids have had a chance to turn and talk, you could pull a couple sticks. Or - if you hear something during turn and talk that you'd really like to highlight, call on that child to share! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">When you're done, you'll have some authentic text to use for shared reading with the group. Some kids will read along throughout the text. Others may just be excited to recognize their own name in print.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Want to help parents understand some of your social-emotional goals? Print this sheet out, perhaps at the end of the week - and send it home! In doing this, the entire class grows to see themselves as collective authors. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's a sample of what a page of daily news might look like:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">The posters, which are available in my TpT shop, include 18 topics to get started. <span style="font-family: inherit;">You can find the Kindness Counts posters </span><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kindness-Counts-Superhero-Posters-Free-2728357" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> and the Growth Mindset version </span><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Growth-Mindset-Posters-Superhero-Theme-Free-Classroom-Decor-2074575" style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In writing this daily news, there are so many ELA standards that can be addressed. Here are just a few examples: </span></div><div><ul><li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose informative/explanatory texts in which they name what they are writing about and supply some information about the topic. (<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.K.2)</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Participate in collaborative conversations with diverse partners about <span style="font-style: italic;">kindergarten topics and texts</span> with peers and adults in small and larger groups. (<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.1) </span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Speak audibly and express thoughts, feelings, and ideas clearly. (<span style="text-transform: uppercase;">CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.K.6)</span></span></li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;">Want to carry the learning a bit further? These daily news charts can be the foundation of an amazing class memory book! As you create these with your class, add them to a simple 3 ring binder. I'm guessing this will quickly become a favorite.<br />
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If you ask for supplies, consider asking for a 1 inch binder with a clear pocket on the front. As you approach the end of the year, three hole punch these and place them in the binder. Give kids blank sheets as well, and have them add more examples of ways they display these traits and/or see their classmates display these traits. These can easily become an amazing memory book!<br />
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Wishing you a wonderful year!</div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><div style="text-align: left;">Anne Gardner (NBCT, Literacy)</div></div><div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; word-break: normal;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br />
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Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-61307925772607931702019-06-15T19:54:00.000-06:002019-06-15T21:27:14.686-06:00Helping Kids Make Connections while Learning the First 100 Fry Words<div style="text-align: left;">
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I think we'd all agree, learning high frequency words is essential for beginning readers. I think we'd also agree, developing decoding skills is a very high priority. </div>
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I'm here to say. . . I really believe that it's best for kids if they are not kept separate! </div>
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The Fry words are commonly used as high frequency words. I'm thankful to have this list. It's great to know which words occur most frequently in print. But, these word lists were not designed as an instructional sequence. When these words are introduced in order (by frequency within text), it takes away our opportunity to show kids the connections among words. Reading is all about making connections - and there are so many connections that can be made as kids learn these important words! </div>
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I've been playing with various ways to organize these words in a way which can help kids develop phonics skills - and understand the relationships among these words - while also focusing on high frequency words. </div>
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Do you have a moment to take a look? </div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/First-100-Fry-Words-Organized-to-Help-Students-Make-Connections-Among-Words-4631696"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1104" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEub2eIJEnGPmzlCxL0Sm4iva6VxFwb4I78_B0ARkrd26SaPlOayrhg-KxE56F-yCJEs4ug0YKXkvIXwWgA4Mmf0bNoLcDxKlu18VQ4si08USsEiG4lYJSfOg5UMVA2IeTp21oXTdzbVsi/s640/Slide1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The first page of this file includes only short vowel words which are on the 1st 100 Fry word list. I'd recommend starting with these basic short vowel words. (There are digraphs included and a few consonant blends. Those are words to provide a bit more support with.) </div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/First-100-Fry-Words-Organized-to-Help-Students-Make-Connections-Among-Words-4631696"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1104" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXAxn0PECRCUYEYvbr81iehUjDtxEZqg10jjWqLxGk9CV74zJT1VejquaKbzX_FJG-Yeqwhkb7dd8AUzuXuTRQrY1oTh4kESFNvxWqSt1GxMDM_6Qv1mQetLF0hcol6bO5_HJ69bSN5g9/s640/Slide2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The second page is a bit unique. It includes all the short vowel words with phonetic spellings - and also irregularly spelled words with the vowel sound. I recommend introducing this page after kids have become comfortable reading the first set, which included only short vowel words with standard spelling. </div>
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<li style="text-align: left;">Under short a, I've added the word have (even though there's a silent e.) </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Under short e, I've included words with the short e sound: been, said and many. This a great time to introduce the idea that letter sounds are very helpful for reading words, but there are some exceptions to every rule. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Under short i, the words which, into and little are added. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">The short o words remain the same!</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Under short u, I've added another column - words with the schwa sound. Once kids learn to use the short u sound (with the umbrella at the top as a key), it's much easier for them to remember the vowel sound and read these words. </li>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/First-100-Fry-Words-Organized-to-Help-Students-Make-Connections-Among-Words-4631696"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1104" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4vZZWxe5oRD-Ncg3f9-kYsQRUee8hFAeXukQieBDLf3S6H108tcve60dOzm0VT971igP2R5ZDnx8clwxFRW-cuf4TGC46jq0ICgdahfY87vjJxcZHfsn5e6dk6lFoDzNS8Nud4wYiEWmy/s640/Slide3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The third page, with long vowel sounds, includes just a few words that need some extra explanation. They, there and their are included under long a - according to their vowel sound. You and your are included under long u. (This could be debated, but I find that kids pick up on it quickly!)</div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/First-100-Fry-Words-Organized-to-Help-Students-Make-Connections-Among-Words-4631696"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1104" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8opvcYhtcoErKrCaQZ3IBb2E-Ka99f9KQwzFsXN46-W__Xysvl40MzD6nI_yEHtbsK2d92j4_SpTEp-VMu2d5qALysYPjZ3c-AnDs9kGjskXxsKfGrg9QbYG6n-KdPwhSuwEGq44E-UqX/s640/Slide4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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The fourth, and final page, was a lot of fun to create. My goal was to give kids supports that would help them read these words (once they have been introduced). So - I went with sets of rhyming words whenever possible - with a key word at the top. The few words left are grouped by vowel sound (first, her and were) or by concept (number words: one, two). </div>
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There are definitely other ways these words could be arranged. To me, the important thing is that we arrange them in a way (any way) which helps kids make connections. </div>
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These word charts are available, for free, at my Teachers pay Teachers shop. Click <span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/First-100-Fry-Words-Organized-to-Help-Students-Make-Connections-Among-Words-4631696" style="background-color: yellow;">here</a> </span>or on any of the pictures to download the set. </div>
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Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a look! I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. </div>
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:) Anne Gardner (NBCT, Literacy)</div>
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<br />Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-69352953836032048472019-01-27T16:39:00.000-07:002019-07-07T12:42:07.394-06:00Guided Reading (RtI) Lesson - Level C<div style="text-align: left;">
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One thing I've always enjoyed, but didn't often get to do, was to watch other teachers present lessons. I just came across this guided reading video. So - I decided to share it in hopes that it might be a conversation starter. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyQHJVvshQZF7Yu9eJojhD09n4PsXFXq-NzW01I_-GR9hB2H7C-rbuSZ4XFsh-uy4sMI39ivxus-C3UnqiEbQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">I think these kids are just great and I hope you enjoy watching them read, build words and talk about books! (Sorry the resolution isn't better. I had to compress it three times to get it small enough to load here.)</span></div>
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This is a 20 minute guided reading lesson. Watching the video, I thought of ten questions (below) that I'd consider while evaluating this lesson. If you'd like a copy of these questions, click <span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: magenta;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1x9I9pkqyquauj8BJ9REaWuFboxbCh6pb/view?usp=sharing"><span style="color: magenta;">here</span></a>.</span></span></div>
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If you have other ideas for questions to ask ourselves as we complete lessons, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment below.</div>
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If anyone else wants to join in and share a lesson, just let me know. I would be happy to add your video here! (Imagine having a collection of videos to watch? As much as I have an aversion to seeing myself on film, it seems worth sharing a lesson with all my cyberfriends.) </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbR52lBNZS2oXSpDHoHmCCo-VR1Gj48UysMt0cksbcCIbHQbgMYBhxfQR5vuv2NfvwrENdAG-AjYJiocEJRujEnZ58rKPSeT6CNS0bqlk3cRmKVpsg8NUKf9h1_p1RrmW2ke1sVHe7joAI/s1600/guided+reading+questions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbR52lBNZS2oXSpDHoHmCCo-VR1Gj48UysMt0cksbcCIbHQbgMYBhxfQR5vuv2NfvwrENdAG-AjYJiocEJRujEnZ58rKPSeT6CNS0bqlk3cRmKVpsg8NUKf9h1_p1RrmW2ke1sVHe7joAI/s640/guided+reading+questions.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Thanks for stopping by and taking a look! :) Anne Gardner</div>
Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-55018076774145959852016-08-14T17:34:00.001-06:002021-02-01T16:19:18.334-07:00Dots and Boxes!<div style="direction: ltr; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left; unicode-bidi: embed; vertical-align: baseline;">
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Do you remember using dot paper as a kid? It was
always one of my favorite things! My grandmother used to carefully draw the dots by hand. Times sure have changed, but I find my primary students are just as enamored with activities using dot paper as I was. </span><br />
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">Dot paper and a die are great tools to help kids develop number sense. A student can roll a die, draw a shape around that many dots and write the number in the shape. (Kids can play with a partner or on their own. A wipe-off plastic sleeve is handy for this activity.) </span><br />
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2bNrNfwETUgN2MyazZZTG1XQkk"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Y9K90C5cwbYAJxEU6N0L6LrGzK_gTfVsL5bs9rUmD5IodooNffxcelCXqacLZEfBxq2oUVMvAs2dGA0VPtHbN2MJJw9xcgTqLKmlh8EIIFR9DBEz_g0oiXrp98edQ3YI4IE9ryKo0Bc0/s320/dots+with+one+die.png" width="265" /></a></div>
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<span face=""verdana" , sans-serif">The next step ~ Offer either a ten-sided die or two dice to roll. When using two dice, it's easy to differentiate by deciding whether each student is best served by writing just the number or an equation inside the shape. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYXvIgma9SJ_uKkg9TaS84ZbhoqjhSRMBiomb6sFoyydYLJJMVWpYrQaTVGtE30D34y0kC0YWA9VH1yj6pEGA2lfkhkzQZ55gSBfO6HTMsdqZozPPJ1yMIO9GsVIqpMsvMlxk_mmaS3S4/s1600/dots+with+two+dice.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYXvIgma9SJ_uKkg9TaS84ZbhoqjhSRMBiomb6sFoyydYLJJMVWpYrQaTVGtE30D34y0kC0YWA9VH1yj6pEGA2lfkhkzQZ55gSBfO6HTMsdqZozPPJ1yMIO9GsVIqpMsvMlxk_mmaS3S4/s320/dots+with+two+dice.png" width="278" /></a></div>
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this simple counting and number writing game. The first person
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The second person draws a shape around two dots and writes the number two, . . . The only rule is that a player may not cross
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Early in the year, I like to show kids how to play the classic Dots and Boxes game. Kids take turns connecting two dots, either vertically or horizontally. Players write their initial in each box they complete. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1WzLlpOIjlKGW3qyon72ctmaV-rsy4uwSXBBOihVR8IhZYTzFr6mTWaif-gTeHEGU_r_ALPjd-ovZsI3FguZJazypOCfd0FROT_mjvIubPT5POeRXC6EgqCV3yF_ZVg3nZOG395oXjja/s1600/classic+dots+and+boxes.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1WzLlpOIjlKGW3qyon72ctmaV-rsy4uwSXBBOihVR8IhZYTzFr6mTWaif-gTeHEGU_r_ALPjd-ovZsI3FguZJazypOCfd0FROT_mjvIubPT5POeRXC6EgqCV3yF_ZVg3nZOG395oXjja/s320/classic+dots+and+boxes.png" width="270" /></a></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Later in the year, I put sight words inside the boxes. When a student completes a box, he/she reads, traces and writes the sight word. You can add your own words to dot paper. (To try a sample of this game and also download simple dot paper, click <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2bNrNfwETUgN2MyazZZTG1XQkk"><span style="color: magenta;">here</span></a>.) </span></div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B2bNrNfwETUgN2MyazZZTG1XQkk"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0ZnYGQvAI7GxL62r9mYpdPQdYCOdTm3BjaX8tiD4WNspRC-f1rUCpfZNkiCHYwE5jI77V4PGWGJc6kmLp3LVDOocC-7KiCa_2tX5FCpXIqRksqIRup-604DHFitWPeMII0ExqPgZkuPX/s320/fry+box.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">I always felt like I was missing a piece - kids just love these games so much that there must be a way to add more . . . </span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Then I met <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Primary-Inspiration-By-Linda-Nelson"><span style="color: magenta;">Linda Nelson of Primary Inspiration</span></a>. Linda shared her <span style="color: magenta;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-into-Summer-Partner-Math-Games-2480372"><span style="color: magenta;">Spring into Summer</span></a> </span>math games with me. I was AMAZED! This set includes 30 unique games and every one involves a creative twist that makes it especially engaging. These are games that students beg to play, even during inside recess. As they play, they practice essential math skills while also learning to plan ahead and use a variety of strategies. What a combination! </span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Since I just love Dots and Boxes games, Linda's <b><i>Fireflies</i></b> game really jumped out at me! Linda had put numbers inside the dots. Brilliant! It was the exact twist I had been looking for. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdN0zlLiPwe9W4cKvP-GqETlSUkx8vqhxcgfn309xZYIQPa26PFE4eOOiXpmlXAOUSyyOa4KIW3D93lT-HMSEfv1jUTMaYBUgyX91_HM5Xo_iszunLXDCC-Por0en1tNiXP_oD1W98sEH/s1600/Fireflies.PNG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBdN0zlLiPwe9W4cKvP-GqETlSUkx8vqhxcgfn309xZYIQPa26PFE4eOOiXpmlXAOUSyyOa4KIW3D93lT-HMSEfv1jUTMaYBUgyX91_HM5Xo_iszunLXDCC-Por0en1tNiXP_oD1W98sEH/s400/Fireflies.PNG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">If you're looking for fun and engaging games and activities, I highly recommend exploring <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Primary-Inspiration-By-Linda-Nelson"><span style="color: magenta;">Primary Inspiration by Linda Nelson</span></a>. She puts such a fun twist on rock-solid content!</span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Here are just a few of her fabulous free games and activities: </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/K-2-Math-Games-Thumbs-Up-or-Thumbs-Down-1345756" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9l8D1Dn8aD0Xtr7mhq7UZhCzeIbT7Dnrk6ffLDYW29axqa3_xucgciRBiy6_QdtlGkWMxNzGdx7Wf98Ja9G6fRWy4dYpX-mWMQ9MTG1Tdu-FNLF4IuqqqTZG5BEah4zQB1ddH2kAc2pL/s320/Linda+true+of+false+game.jpg" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">I played these games just for fun (repeatedly) </span></span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">as soon as I downloaded the file!</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Wall-Game-Spiderweb-162095" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2c0mKsIdjiTN6fK_qYOjWI3lplZF2fCrH00FT3pDCxJNbMg3lMbg6InYFJZ1N9ELZ91bNNY8yNHAJfPjUz6puNkAjStbuIsn0GVYI1Hzbj72j2O_gAVyfHHl1qVvs3_e9fRR658qxlCqu/s320/Linda+Spider+Web+game.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><b>Another</b> fun twist on a Dots and Boxes game!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Partner-Games-for-Your-Class-Word-Wall-150781" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvnJjQihge3oehje4FtBzZ7zTLShsMvDMn3wNHAqNoMKCwdONMueh7twQZ_a4cOIxMt_EgRb6q9VwEdI_5pGc1hvp3HUE80nJGqhPi9-FQYZ8kw2GXAd2DDqdL8xHYLm5fsarcCrWlLji-/s320/Linda+Word+Wall+Partner+Games.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: small;">So versatile and kids love them!</span></td></tr>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">Thanks so much for stopping by! I'd love to hear about your experiences with any of these activities or other variations on dots activities. </span></div>
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<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif">:) Anne Gardner </span></div>
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Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-14685765521084631072015-12-28T11:36:00.001-07:002016-08-14T13:13:41.349-06:00Pick Up Sticks with Straws ~ How fun! <br />
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I'd like to share a game my kids have always loved - Pick Up Sticks with Straws. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5deAQ9BAoLI9Y8CjTJs6GS3QRsu166ksmrkH84amW7TAt94btX6WH03S_BTkoj3gR5xU58Kc8F1V8KKjRLxQMzEUKVHu3EiaZ4-EtNwATb4g1fpq2BjgCNQVKErBElKUmI0LA48m7luot/s1600/Slide5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5deAQ9BAoLI9Y8CjTJs6GS3QRsu166ksmrkH84amW7TAt94btX6WH03S_BTkoj3gR5xU58Kc8F1V8KKjRLxQMzEUKVHu3EiaZ4-EtNwATb4g1fpq2BjgCNQVKErBElKUmI0LA48m7luot/s400/Slide5.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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To play, just pick up a box of straws. These were 99 cents at Price Chopper. Cut the straws into sections. I used a ruler and cut pieces of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 inches long. </div>
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Then, play just like the traditional game of Pick Up Sticks. One player holds the sticks vertically in his or hand with the bottom of each straw touching the table (or floor). The straws scatter as they are released. Players take turns trying to pick up a straw without moving any other straw. If any other straw moves, that straw is returned to the pile. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbUxzvBkKy4UDZu5SASjeKdPrjc-JVEcSY77lu-xOWJkuN-Mzcxh0aMlqlQKSvvUomjNveHkO68Ds4VebOKCd7wBH1Yp1YG0L8R4h6Nns46x896tD_Q0rUJi8oa7cuwjKU5x7vgzHQvLr/s1600/Slide4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbUxzvBkKy4UDZu5SASjeKdPrjc-JVEcSY77lu-xOWJkuN-Mzcxh0aMlqlQKSvvUomjNveHkO68Ds4VebOKCd7wBH1Yp1YG0L8R4h6Nns46x896tD_Q0rUJi8oa7cuwjKU5x7vgzHQvLr/s400/Slide4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I love to use this game for measurement and estimation! Players can be challenged to pick a straw and then estimate its length. Either nonstandard units (such as paper clips) or standard units (such as inches can be used). If the player estimates within one unit of the actual length, he/she keeps the straw. If not, the straw is put back into the pile and play continues. Variations include playing until all straws have been picked, or playing until a player's straws can form a straight line from one end of the table to the other. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLeUmA_BlWIEDhALPPo2BK_JkLeu1MZ4IQ4fsaLlUanqS-JiYQZIuNEBR7o54nBjZqZg0vRNxuGBeh4SA-UZB-1KBWexZKv3kK_CCIMLre7EskopZw4i9UjBeT6mJx2F8Jo9VvEcyka6j/s1600/Slide2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLeUmA_BlWIEDhALPPo2BK_JkLeu1MZ4IQ4fsaLlUanqS-JiYQZIuNEBR7o54nBjZqZg0vRNxuGBeh4SA-UZB-1KBWexZKv3kK_CCIMLre7EskopZw4i9UjBeT6mJx2F8Jo9VvEcyka6j/s320/Slide2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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Looking for a quicker game? One player can hold a collection of straws of a variety of lengths. Straws up to five inches long generally work best for this. The player conceals the bottom of the straws within their hands and let's the top show. The other players take turns picking a straw. Options include:</div>
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<li style="text-align: left;">Pick one straw each. Player with the longest straw wins, if he/she can tell how long the straw is. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Pick several straws each. Players measure their straws and add the length. Player with the greatest length wins. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Pick two straws each.Player with total length closest to 5 units wins. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Pick two straws each. Find the difference between the lengths of the two straws. The player with the greatest difference wins.</li>
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Kids often have so much fun with these games that they don't even realize they are practicing important math skills. </div>
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Do you have favorite, easy to make, inexpensive math games? If so, I'd love to hear about them!</div>
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Thanks for stopping by! :) Anne Gardner</div>
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Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-91877185775959178922015-08-30T11:58:00.004-06:002020-08-14T20:31:21.149-06:00Reading Comprehension Passages and iPad Apps by Guided Reading Level<br />
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<span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 18pt;">Hi, </span><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 18pt;">Thanks so much for stopping by!</span><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 18pt;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 18pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 18pt;">As my sons were growing up, I started writing stories about the topics they were most interested in. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 18pt;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 18pt;">For the past six years, I’ve been turning these into </span><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 24px;">a series of <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Common-Core-Connection"><span style="color: magenta;">Leveled Reading Comprehension Passages</span></a> with text-based questions. These passages are currently available for Guided Reading Levels C - T. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: calibri;"><span style="font-size: 24px;"><br /></span></span>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Common-Core-Connection"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHCerxLdPRtF9xLME2vWa_tWWIMBwJ4wgbn3SIG1KlRk-IPpugjhU7bvEcFsK9UaULMV3kp52XkcnWlTe4wNAhc5gVHuc7PMxgEVpPAdKXYrGOdqglPdUG58XLPrsdgFjpqH6TnKCVv-qM/s640/reading+passages.jpg" width="494" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 24px;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 24px;">If you'd like to see teachers' feedback on the reading comprehension passages (paper version), click </span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: calibri; font-size: 24px;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ultimate-Reading-Comprehension-Bundle-Guided-Reading-Levels-C-L-1037723"><span style="color: magenta;">here</span></a>.</span><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 24px;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 24px;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-large;"><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; min-height: 1.3em; padding: 0px;">These Reading Comprehension Passages and Questions are designed to help students learn to read carefully and to find evidence to support their answers to text-based questions.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; min-height: 1.3em; padding: 0px;"></p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; min-height: 1.3em; padding: 0px;"><span style="color: black;">For online learning, using the new TpT Digital Tool, these reading passages and questions can be assigned through Google Classroom.</span></p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; min-height: 1.3em; padding: 0px;"></p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; min-height: 1.3em; padding: 0px;">The increasing complexity of these passages helps make differentiation efficient and effective. These passages are ideal for use during small group instruction, intervention lessons, close reading lessons, fluency work, as assessments, as homework or as morning work.</p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; min-height: 1.3em; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-repeat: no-repeat; border-style: solid; border-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #222222; line-height: 1.3; margin: 0px; min-height: 1.3em; padding: 0px;">:) Anne Gardner</p></span></div>
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Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com37tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-37184626175490912792015-07-19T10:40:00.001-06:002015-07-19T10:54:06.261-06:00Clothespin Shapes ~ How fun!<br />
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Ever notice how satisfying it is to work with wood? My kids love anything that uses clothespins. I stopped by the Dollar Tree last night and they had lots of bags for $1. Irresistible!</div>
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I made these little clothespin shapes and wanted to share them. </div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2bNrNfwETUgWkk2OFU5VUlzR1E/view?usp=sharing"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNE3lP_HkADBwc02BOJeJaJe9-M3NXMia-cWwWX1zCdYO6Dry6ycsKcqR2R4SRxFlgjvBhRdZEp77bhEn8HFYqd_IAnZ59luXhEDdNCQ9O2eaOh4N2m9qrlALJe1lT_z2JgkNT2qZv2Bj7/s640/small+square+with+words.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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My son and I had fun building shapes. </div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2bNrNfwETUgWkk2OFU5VUlzR1E/view?usp=sharing"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3vRBo3m_AEG_BtVuDl0x02DR7VCstN51pO6Xyu4XgxeyB4lGMoqyO9iHpokgJzHbkihTz00NrruUziKDO2gMirFc4I1AYyzh5cu1VpJtC9wdezAfiwrsPANKIYQwZqn1KFumUTkh_VsW/s320/square+numbers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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But, it seemed like something was missing. So, I created these simple shape cards that students can build around. (The file is not in color. These are printed on colored cardstock.)</div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2bNrNfwETUgWkk2OFU5VUlzR1E/view?usp=sharing"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStx8_oKBk-48xyr4RFX2jE2zRXwU46y5yl3X2HT_88_W0rtUVHkv5zwKPBS34K9e89f9KDBQseFYoURn7YA91odINBxIdWkBm0yrwnEXyLTBew7Lcvhd4QDLeZQ95MoGSsRIepSA3MOiu/s320/rectangle+with+words.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2bNrNfwETUgWkk2OFU5VUlzR1E/view?usp=sharing"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguM-sob7fINByU87lZY7webEbIFvzK0g3AoA6BpYOs95GN9yXBKQOPVZOQjIvwxTEOmJdKgDyOSiaDRsnQRPtOTrtjcCh_b3_qzfyz_X30ZylpjQzcAHb0jd09pdEPL00KegC4vTh3H6HV/s320/triangle+with+words.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2bNrNfwETUgWkk2OFU5VUlzR1E/view?usp=sharing"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLAbkqwEctYHzp-voVccUKJiPiHsV3BMXIsnpfegghJUB1kMH8PzUGgH6GJ9Aakh2hGYmJrdAeTWaOc4Z-3Aykr-tTm8O2x22OmFFTQ8QxUyYm7wF6P6zUfOgNJOxQO66A_aiuJVS-vhUQ/s320/hexagon+with+words.jpg" width="295" /></a></div>
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To download a copy of these shape cards, just click <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2bNrNfwETUgWkk2OFU5VUlzR1E/view?usp=sharing"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">here</span></a> or on any of the pictures. If you have any trouble getting the file to download, email me at Annegardner4@gmail.com and I'll be happy to send the file right out to you. </div>
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** Getting the last clothespin into a shape is a little like closing the last side of a box . . . </div>
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Thanks for stopping by!</div>
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:) Anne</div>
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Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-26150224084778936212015-07-02T18:14:00.000-06:002015-07-03T06:10:56.008-06:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsequ6b-fpeboEf84IvTFa7d853ik5fyfCisWV7wUlLcISKx03_ZaGMIU07AFGQXsojQnQB-HfjOpDsIC4s7x3pGqbBtkD-b1vFe2VMfbE_QnC3ILWlQF87WJdeeGuaM-JFDQViBjSkOfg/s1600/pencils.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsequ6b-fpeboEf84IvTFa7d853ik5fyfCisWV7wUlLcISKx03_ZaGMIU07AFGQXsojQnQB-HfjOpDsIC4s7x3pGqbBtkD-b1vFe2VMfbE_QnC3ILWlQF87WJdeeGuaM-JFDQViBjSkOfg/s640/pencils.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Which pencil is best? </span></b></div>
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All of these contraptions have been highly recommended for various reasons over the years. </div>
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Personally, I am blessed with horrific fine motor skills. For many years, I thought this was a curse. (I started teaching back in the days when teachers were expected to write on a chalkboard on a regular basis . . . )</div>
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Technology has been my friend. It's so much easier being able to project work onto a screen! </div>
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I have grown to appreciate my tendency toward weak fine motor skills as this has helped me understand the plight of students who really struggle with handwriting. This often starts with basic letter formation - but continues throughout school as students are expected to write compositions of increasing length. </div>
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So, here's my answer to the age-old question ~ Which pencil is best?</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">The one the writer is most comfortable using!</span></b></div>
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Giving students the opportunity to experiment with and choose between a variety of writing tools can really help enhance their ability to stay focused on writing tasks (for a variety of reasons). Just for fun, here are some thoughts on some of the contraptions shown above: </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUfqVkMo5IbMaeB_XTklR2sBcAX8hyphenhyphenW68WgbOYidPZExm1D2EY9Jvbi0v7t1FaWoQCW-gPFAMZn7BWAVnJJ0LBgVQcCVdNnNT9H_3zlS2Lfl9PGWYyTAwDl1eKt-yzuSy7-ItnnlB4Yjf/s1600/golf+pencil+and+triangular+grip+pencil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUfqVkMo5IbMaeB_XTklR2sBcAX8hyphenhyphenW68WgbOYidPZExm1D2EY9Jvbi0v7t1FaWoQCW-gPFAMZn7BWAVnJJ0LBgVQcCVdNnNT9H_3zlS2Lfl9PGWYyTAwDl1eKt-yzuSy7-ItnnlB4Yjf/s400/golf+pencil+and+triangular+grip+pencil.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Recently, there's been lots of discussion about how small pencils (such as golf pencils) are better suited to little hands. I've found it true that using small pencils deters students from using a "fist grip." There just isn't enough to hold onto . . . They are the pencil of choice for some students. I have also found that some students are more comfortable with a large pencil, particularly when a triangular grip is added. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUHG5M2G6CzOzr99Vm57DE8XbZMb-hB3AhOQ-XvCTqIoPEmk0N6s1z_3T616OcdtlTHHXedC8x12z_1MIjoDrOu1P7BeyqWDpZBcuqcwgWWEmUhTxgjKM-fkBXOi2bCkAWxm31hODE8ne/s1600/wingnut+fidget.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUHG5M2G6CzOzr99Vm57DE8XbZMb-hB3AhOQ-XvCTqIoPEmk0N6s1z_3T616OcdtlTHHXedC8x12z_1MIjoDrOu1P7BeyqWDpZBcuqcwgWWEmUhTxgjKM-fkBXOi2bCkAWxm31hODE8ne/s400/wingnut+fidget.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Other students prefer the use of a weighted pencil. For kids who also need a fidget tool, I love the wingnut pencil. Kids can earn washers, spacers and wingnuts as prizes. To collect hardware, I searched through our garage. You can also go to a hardware store with a pencil in hand. (You may end up with some small pencil shavings the first time the wingnuts are used.)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-ZmSmvQwUy7u1IDTlUBJAgxrbwQYthbr21iYnj4kD_zq10MI0UAi1UwUv4qsKPi3zCHEk1AsQ0JCxoI06ErWkOEfXonmQOXC7Hk_3M9oPIVi4wLpCRB5iMcd1FsD7DaQYWiJCROn_red/s1600/pencil+collection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-ZmSmvQwUy7u1IDTlUBJAgxrbwQYthbr21iYnj4kD_zq10MI0UAi1UwUv4qsKPi3zCHEk1AsQ0JCxoI06ErWkOEfXonmQOXC7Hk_3M9oPIVi4wLpCRB5iMcd1FsD7DaQYWiJCROn_red/s320/pencil+collection.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The second pencil down in this picture has a pipe cleaner (or stem) wrapped around it. It can be kept in place using a rubber band above and/or below as needed. Many kids love this texture - and it's also a comfortable pencil grip for some. This one happens to be wrapped around a mechanical pencil. </div>
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The 4th picture from the top was a fidget pencil I purchased many years ago for a couple dollars. It is visually appealing, but the wingnut moves so easily that I find kids wildly spinning it instead of truly using up extra (fidgety) energy. </div>
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The bottom pencil is one of my favorites. It's a golf whiffle ball on a regular size pencil. (I had to use the file from my fingernail clippers to slightly enlarge the holes.) If I have to write for hours, this is my tool of choice. A number of students, over the years, have found that their hands do not tire as easily using this "contraption." </div>
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Thanks so much for stopping by! If you have a favorite writing tool, I'd love to hear about it!</div>
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:) Anne</div>
Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com204tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-910297085219208452015-04-19T18:19:00.003-06:002015-04-19T18:26:22.230-06:00Celery Roses ~ A Simple but Elegant Project for Mother's Day (or any special occasion)<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mother's Day and Grandparent's Day are quickly approaching. In school, I was always the kid who struggled to make an art project look the way I wanted it to. ~As a teacher, I continue to struggle with displays and lovely little touches. </span></div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2bNrNfwETUgZkZHZG5aVTJWRXM/view?usp=sharing"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLAf8g4Kns3yNtckVA-MMjoaQKzEtc2q-tr5ox0MOqNVZ2NMRngJlDv0dcnORHuKY0Uq97m3MTSaRquaG4NoOTDycICiweOMbTrgJP0YNJsu6KOgFjBoWxa_wpw3g49IrlQ5Vq98zA7vI/s1600/Slide1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, I was very excited when I saw a celery rose on Pinterst. My inspiration came from Laureen Cracknell. She had a lovely, intricate project including some roses printed from celery. (Click <a href="http://maureencracknellhandmade.blogspot.jp/2011/01/is-it-february-yet.html"><span style="color: magenta;">here</span></a> to see her blog post.) I wanted to simplify this idea for busy teachers, so I am providing a template for a vase and flower stems. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This project required one stalk of celery. Just cut the celery into short pieces and use a rubber band to hold them together. </span></div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2bNrNfwETUgZkZHZG5aVTJWRXM/view?usp=sharing"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppi5LV83RAl6N_W3MvkfxV0RZYqvkLbILA-21c904S4JuGtQXxBop_tMNxO8OYFGlzaDlTobkMWNQrzsK8QWNsJ0hk8_NdENL2VTZMOw03VOsR01m72U269rNVo_DESP7qTHmHOOQv9us/s1600/celery+bundle.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Print the page with the vase and stem. Kids can color the stems and decorate the vase as they'd like. Then, they can stamp away to create a bouquet of roses for their mother or any important person in their life. </span></div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2bNrNfwETUgZkZHZG5aVTJWRXM/view?usp=sharing"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2VU4qeE7XMAPbw7q4mZzlZLkx1gmGFQU0uFjmXYb1paE-rZkPQlElBuwDsSiy0OCIPti82-TfrVlZ8FH4_Ha4t5mOSTVoAj3PuuqNWOA00FLvH5lVufKaYjcNJi5us7rtW8qll31y4HlH/s1600/Slide2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For the inside of the card, I'm including a couple templates that kids can use to write a special note. </span></div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2bNrNfwETUgZkZHZG5aVTJWRXM/view?usp=sharing"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig3vXcExAhmoHBOtzOM62KViVpmULvMPGnTzwbQWVR20UyGgSNK7HZ5kPO7IbgdULJ5dL9a6Po2qpypt-R8j2Dyo4CXvVl7uM5DLBYWAg9zS9Xh18kZhal9YXt09P5uN9J-HcbrZAC4f96/s1600/Slide7.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">To download the pages shown, click </span><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2bNrNfwETUgZkZHZG5aVTJWRXM/view?usp=sharing"><span style="color: magenta;">here</span></a> </span><span style="font-size: large;">or on any of the pictures. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">** Bonus: Now I'm motivated to eat the rest of the celery . . . </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks so much for stopping by! :) Anne Gardner </span></div>
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<br />Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-88281690549682447342014-12-30T09:52:00.002-07:002020-01-15T17:47:51.571-07:00Beaded Number Rods<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday, I went to the dollar store and spent $2 on a pack of beads and some stems. (I'm giving away my age, but we used to call these pipe cleaners when I was in school. This set is shorter than the ones I remember from long ago.) </div>
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This morning, I had time to just play with these. Here are some of the ideas I came up with:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwaqrQtHUhPwAkictU-ebsOwBAemrG4huo4Fiw5giHbq2xoyFQcFBAbvYvkwq7gIj1UbFn77geL9fiiObJJR38PvmH1OVmkZIbDsMENWY23jIKSPO9bCWo46VQAVyL3nM3vrZuUywS11h/s1600/Slide3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwaqrQtHUhPwAkictU-ebsOwBAemrG4huo4Fiw5giHbq2xoyFQcFBAbvYvkwq7gIj1UbFn77geL9fiiObJJR38PvmH1OVmkZIbDsMENWY23jIKSPO9bCWo46VQAVyL3nM3vrZuUywS11h/s1600/Slide3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Simply creating number sticks was fun. What a great way for kids to learn to compare numbers. After building a staircase with number rods, I'd also have them build a staircase with unifix and talk about how the two sets are similar. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkckVnk9ZJIOtZgr1Zqw_VLainL735OYTV-MqGXf52mgQ6zX1QolINkrXNHl4Wlu7UFLb0Uu7k_4KHMb3LMs5NNToyDhW0cUny0BU_pNQqOcdblojfs2X4m1koPyjBk16-0SPrOwwi9nx/s1600/Slide2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVkckVnk9ZJIOtZgr1Zqw_VLainL735OYTV-MqGXf52mgQ6zX1QolINkrXNHl4Wlu7UFLb0Uu7k_4KHMb3LMs5NNToyDhW0cUny0BU_pNQqOcdblojfs2X4m1koPyjBk16-0SPrOwwi9nx/s1600/Slide2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Once kids have had time to explore the materials, it's time to add in symbols. I made this set of number toppers and taped them onto the beaded rods. </div>
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I'm thinking of having kids sequence these. They would also work well for a number of games. Here are some that came to my mind right away:</div>
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1) Remove the beads. Have kids put the beads back onto the number rods. (When you want the beads to stay on easily, just fold the bottom of the stem over.) </div>
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2) Partners work together to put the number rods in order. One partner closes his/her eyes while the other removes a number rod. The partner has to see how quickly he/she can figure out which rod is missing. (A slight variation - Instead of taking a rod away, the first child switches the order of two rods. The second child has to quickly put them back in order.)</div>
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3) Take one rod at a time. Flip it, so there is just a blank white card as the child sees the back of the number topper. He/she says, as quickly as possible, how many beads are on the rod. Flip the card back over for a self-checking activity. </div>
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I love any material that helps kids really visualize and understand addition and subtraction. So - I got out some flashcards and started playing with these beaded number rods. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_DhtMCOJSi0orMKWDMtrM8rnoeS4WPTCmGsxWmtM4Uws27W0oGRqgLVRF4Z9iLJ_ghVLfAhEQFrcTsdiuYBV6_08ilXJjE_rLgUxHwZpCr_peW4Qt1XiCwAwRw7ETVx2ozmiPSvksjtJ/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_DhtMCOJSi0orMKWDMtrM8rnoeS4WPTCmGsxWmtM4Uws27W0oGRqgLVRF4Z9iLJ_ghVLfAhEQFrcTsdiuYBV6_08ilXJjE_rLgUxHwZpCr_peW4Qt1XiCwAwRw7ETVx2ozmiPSvksjtJ/s1600/Slide1.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqLlIyexf0xfXmk0rpg_OA8Z4_aBqL95GTA47mBqt84Ln6jbQTDdHYkkxLWcPg8YTmmlbFHpufnxayaYKdl38ZOODhyphenhyphenCTY1Lx9eqrpsV6ahHrycZ7nBssRIXNtQwW9et4KcDHOU8gDPg2/s1600/Slide2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqLlIyexf0xfXmk0rpg_OA8Z4_aBqL95GTA47mBqt84Ln6jbQTDdHYkkxLWcPg8YTmmlbFHpufnxayaYKdl38ZOODhyphenhyphenCTY1Lx9eqrpsV6ahHrycZ7nBssRIXNtQwW9et4KcDHOU8gDPg2/s1600/Slide2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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For addition, I answered the problem mentally and then took the number stick that matched my answer. I really liked "proving it" using the number stick - and I'm thinking kids will too. </div>
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These worked really well for subtraction. I just took the stick showing the total and subtracted by sliding the beads down the rod. I found this quick, easy and visually appealing.</div>
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I find that many kids really struggle with the concept of numbers in the teens. So - I started playing with these to see how they'd work with numbers through 20. </div>
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First, I just added another stem and created rods for numbers in the teens. It didn't seem like that would help kids visual these numbers. </div>
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Then, I tried folding between the group of ten and the additional ones. I started to feel like this would be a way kids could visual numbers in the teens.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNLlTSz8O0ZGCsOxK435MIJivuBaXR98tEB8dyi-dVtdbolNJFw0Ro-z-zIY8oibXoFi_7JToR9eLDwjHCAlmrpsRow-hGgMR7WAD3qd9toiqppgcd2wYI7giHGJqYkmdKwsTdp-M_o30/s1600/number+rod+with+teen+card.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNLlTSz8O0ZGCsOxK435MIJivuBaXR98tEB8dyi-dVtdbolNJFw0Ro-z-zIY8oibXoFi_7JToR9eLDwjHCAlmrpsRow-hGgMR7WAD3qd9toiqppgcd2wYI7giHGJqYkmdKwsTdp-M_o30/s1600/number+rod+with+teen+card.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Just for fun, I made some larger toppers. This struck me as a visual that would really help kids understand numbers in the teens! </div>
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Some ideas for working with these would be:</div>
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1) Have kids sequence numbers 10 - 19. </div>
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2) Teach kids to verbalize, "I see 18. 18 is one ten and eight more ones. </div>
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Rekenreks are all the rage! I messed around a bit with making a rekenrek that kids could build for themselves. Here's what I came up with:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMmqEQrarspr-cMrL3OXr3-Prq-5SZ8_tAiQq8I0YJUjlcp3_Xmz0u2BspdtbsaqJHUa4TI_11RDEnAA4oXygGhNRghsKo-pxaRFW8lSsE-WCOFgB9grAd6tmLW28jDUo92FJb9qmfe6h/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMmqEQrarspr-cMrL3OXr3-Prq-5SZ8_tAiQq8I0YJUjlcp3_Xmz0u2BspdtbsaqJHUa4TI_11RDEnAA4oXygGhNRghsKo-pxaRFW8lSsE-WCOFgB9grAd6tmLW28jDUo92FJb9qmfe6h/s1600/Slide1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Just attaching two number rods to q-tips was a quick and simple way to create a rekenrek. I really like that the beads stay in place when I pick them up. (With many of the commercial rekenreks, the beads slide as soon as the rekenrek is tilted.) The q-tips worked well because the stems did not easily slide over the ends and they are something I usually have on hand. But, I didn't really like the look. So, I went digging through my kids' old toys. </div>
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I found a bin of building toys - and there were plenty of stems that gave these a nice sturdy feel. </div>
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If you'd like to print out the number toppers I used, you can download them by clicking <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2bNrNfwETUgWlFwa0UxTVZZalk/view?usp=sharing"><span style="color: magenta;">here</span></a>. </span></div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2bNrNfwETUgWlFwa0UxTVZZalk/view?usp=sharing"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYiODOInN7ixnYXC30JVKt54yqnRm3cmxmbPLqNJECKXjAhsTGoYbNXV4XGaFnbfFFCYBAwYEk4T2nf0HwqHVqTnVnkfdhTvSb9lgYtOWV4cwJq-hz6Lf9DvBKl_yMHNKzf9ZLezpR3Q9_/s1600/Slide1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2bNrNfwETUgWlFwa0UxTVZZalk/view?usp=sharing"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ_C4C6iBXMQJCo7V2A6XCbzpV6gNUR5mFWTPa_cwv_j7giQ0eBkX5_4OoG_cqVYUywdYniyq0sC4UK8V4jzDR-eUqM5x2h1tpU8JyHh0AvJZacd1ATQ7CrTou1WGOb1OLlnAmK86ZPZeN/s1600/Slide2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The flashcards pictured here are available at my Teachers pay Teachers shop. Click <span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Addition-within-Ten-Flashcards-1619315"><span style="color: magenta;">here</span></a> </span>for addition cards and <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Subtraction-within-Ten-Flashcards-1619383"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">here </span></a>for subtraction cards. </div>
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It's been fun playing with beads and stems today. I hope that someone else will find some inspiration in these ideas. If so, I'd love to hear about it!</div>
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Thanks for stopping by, :) Anne</div>
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<br />Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-7508419571048729672014-11-30T15:37:00.000-07:002016-11-10T19:04:04.937-07:00Adding a little "extra magic" to Christmas read alouds<div>
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What an exciting time of year! One of my favorite parts about the season is sharing favorite holiday books with kids. </div>
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Here's a simple idea that makes it even more fun . . . </div>
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Collect your favorite holiday books and wrap them up. I like to use recycled wrapping paper or place them in reusable gift bags. </div>
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When it's time for a read aloud, let a child pick a "present" to open.</div>
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To add a little more fun, have the books magically appear and act surprised when you and the kids find them. </div>
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If I especially want to read a certain book, I will have it "appear" on the easel - fully wrapped and ready to open and read. </div>
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I hope your kids enjoy this simple idea if you decide to give it a try. Happy Holidays!</div>
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:) Anne<br />
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#ResourcesThatGive</div>
Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7455922990872502331.post-22512845100603147882014-11-29T08:20:00.002-07:002014-11-29T08:25:35.988-07:00Comparing Numbers in Kindergarten<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thanks for stopping by! I'd like to welcome my very first guest blogger, Susan, from <a href="http://teachingdoodles.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Teaching Doodles</span></a>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvMooudbUc0TloJWx689t5mZdcN6X1pYXQEOOYMBtoVe0zRZmj6B0JDDogmVvnb1B-M6J4OWoH6opI-rhiqKP-x3Jy6sB5rv_vVoHsn3uhqvrO-_PqX4uU8Jj0JtV-9O18L3f4I-rcm8s/s1600/Guest+Blog+Post.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvMooudbUc0TloJWx689t5mZdcN6X1pYXQEOOYMBtoVe0zRZmj6B0JDDogmVvnb1B-M6J4OWoH6opI-rhiqKP-x3Jy6sB5rv_vVoHsn3uhqvrO-_PqX4uU8Jj0JtV-9O18L3f4I-rcm8s/s1600/Guest+Blog+Post.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">Marhaba ~ </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">Welcome from the United Arab Emirates!</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">I’m Susan from <a href="http://teachingdoodles.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">Teaching Doodles</span></a>.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">I am super excited to share
with you an interactive math activity I used recently with my kindergarten
students. Although we do not use the
Common Core over here, this activity still connects to Counting and Cardinality
for kindergarten – comparing numbers K.CC.C.6.
I found this idea on Pinterest and modified it for a whole class
lesson. See the original pin </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/291256300876085051/">here</a></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">Provide each of your kiddos with a sorting mat. The ones we used were simply a 3 x 2 table. Feel free to use a larger or smaller table based
on your class needs. You can see a
sample of the mats we used in the
pictures below. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nDNusjeieBgw4Y6m31qGB2PMzJ96ej8sV2u_Q5MRNGhOtW4cFVnbRUSx0cp7jIXlOtwFXWeXakyOUq_8TVaQ4rkzYI3l82D3Be6-afe9SATi7cJBVLLZIZzMrUQxdlCyQ7hScDUwPFZE/s1600/mats+on+rug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6nDNusjeieBgw4Y6m31qGB2PMzJ96ej8sV2u_Q5MRNGhOtW4cFVnbRUSx0cp7jIXlOtwFXWeXakyOUq_8TVaQ4rkzYI3l82D3Be6-afe9SATi7cJBVLLZIZzMrUQxdlCyQ7hScDUwPFZE/s1600/mats+on+rug.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">Next, each student gets 8 counters (4 of one color and
4 of another). We used 4 blue and 4
yellow but use whatever color you like.
I put the same number and color of counters into a small drawstring bag.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">If
you're lucky enough to have an interactive whiteboard, create the same table on
your board. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">Now we’re ready to play!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">1.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">Draw a counter from
the bag. Students place the same color
on their mat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">2.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">Draw another
counter. Students will place on their
mat. Repeat drawing counters until the
mat is full.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">3. Students rearrange their counters so one color is on
top and one is on the bottom. (I found
this difficult for my class to do. The second time we sorted the colors as we
played).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;">4. Hold a class discussion to find out greater than,
less than, and equal to by counting or matching the counters. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0px;">I hope your class enjoys this quick and easy activity! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0px;">Stop by my blog, </span><a href="http://teachingdoodles.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;">Teaching Doodles</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0px;">, and let me know if you try it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt; text-indent: 0px;">I'd love to hear your feedback!</span></div>
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<a href="http://teachingdoodles.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qfTCDlu-POnv8OY8LtXG7_entimTtYsrKUfet1MPJThHc2PNbkQ4m6v69uRZ-AOJwR5W5gLcmbDGMm1z_AOQ7kbXJxfH3E1FdQmt0hzVpL7Yms6y2yqEit689cZ_Pbcgte6HkkPPYYwx/s1600/Teaching+Doodles.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
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Anne Gardnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09718511118100600189noreply@blogger.com1