Using Google in the Classroom-A Series Today I am going to be starting a week-long series on how to use Google in the classroom. We were very fortunate this year and transitioned over to Google for our e-mail system. We got all of the perks that came along with Google, including Google Docs, Calendar, etc. I am my school's technology coordinator and I am a huge advocate for using technology in the classroom. Please understand that my district does not have a lot of money. We are in the same budget crisis as many public schools. The first post in my series is creating a library book checkout system using Google Forms. Once you are logged into your Google account, you will want to go to documents. On this page, you will create your form. In the first box "Question Title," I have Name and "Question Type" is Choose from List. On all Google Forms, you are only given sample question 1. Next, click "Add Item" again and add another text box. If you want to spice up your form, you can select a theme. Click here to see my sample form.
Small Steps for Differentiation: Tier It! | Beyond Traditional Math I’m still searching for ways to differentiate in small ways that take just a second or two. An activity that is tiered is something that is leveled differently. A true tiered activity means that there are two (or sometimes more) options that account for a different level of thinking. Not everything can be tiered, but some basic math skills can be tiered quite easily. Here is an example. I saw this post on Pinterest the other day for a primary classroom. This is an awesome activity for students that are just starting out with numbers and subtilizing. I think if we systematically think about what the next “level” of some of those basic math skills are, we can slowly incorporate the correct materials into our centers, our assignments and our games. Like this: Like Loading... Related Sometimes They Explain It Better Than You As much as my ego doesn't like to admit it, often times my student's explanations of math concepts and processes is WAY more effective than mine. In "education"
Teaching in Flip Flops Our Reader's Notebooks Today we had a 6th grade Language Arts teacher planning day. I was really excited about it, but I am bummed at the lack of things we actually got planned today altogether. I wish I could have just had a whole day to plan alone because I know I could have at least gotten a 6 weeks taken care of. I was actually excited to dive into the C-SCOPE materials because I have really struggled with not having a real scope and sequence to use this year. I know that I have blogged about our reader's notebooks a few other times, but I just love them. Sorry for the bad quality, they are from the phone. The Elementary Math Maniac: Common Core Standards for Telling Time: Grade 1 Have your first graders started working on time? I just introduced time to my first graders a week ago and they are already doing a great job! The Common Core standard for telling time can be found in the Measurement & Data section. CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.1.MD.B.3Tell and write time in hours and half-hours using analog and digital clocks. Introducing the Floor Clock (Time Mat) I have several Judy clocks and they are great for whole group instruction. . I start by laying the clock on the floor and asking kids what they notice. Next I put the hour hand on the clock or have one of the students do it. Next, I show them that sometimes the hour hand is right between two numbers. Next we attach the minute hand and use both hands to show what time to the hour and half an hour look like. Moving from Whole Group Practice to Independent or Partner Practice Over the next few days, I might use the Judy clock or the time mat again to model times or have students model times. Practicing at Math Stations
Darlin' in First... Paper Bag Books: A Simple Way to Teach Story Elements Have you ever made a paper bag book? I hadn't, but I'd seen them floating around pinterest and finally decided we had to try! One of our current favorite activities is creating books. There is no real plot yet in his stories... and if there is, it is really confusing and hard to follow. My goals as we created the book were to... have funbe creative togethermake a paper bag book (since I really wanted to try this)teach the basic story elements of conflict and resolution (in a simple way) These concepts seemed easy to introduce since I feel like we spend a lot of time each day talking about problems and how they could be resolved! Materials Needed for Paper Bag book:several paper bags (I think we used 3-4?) How to Make a Paper Bag Story Conflict/Resolution book: Fold the paper bags in half and then staple them together like a book (staple on the folded part). Conflict: Sneaky pirates stole the chocolate chips.Resolution: Pirate Andrew used kind words to get the chocolate chips back.
RS_94-f.pdf A Teeny Tiny Teacher