New Changes in the World of Teaching

As with most professions, change is inevitable. . . it is good. . . but sometimes difficult. There are questions, statements, naysayers, and antagonists. With change comes confusion, apprehension, excitement, and enthusiasm. While teachers delve into the new Common Core standards, I am hoping to blog about changes and how teachers can move into this new time with excitement, exploring the neat resources that are available to them.

I have to admit I'm more of a resource finder than a maker. I try to search for items before I create them, for the simple sense that it does no good to spend time on creating something that is already easily accessible. However, teachers and creators need the utmost credit and appreciation for their work, especially when they are so generous to share it. I will be providing links and resources throughout this semster and will try my best to give credit where credit is due.

Today, I would suggest checking out the new ELA Common Core Standards. As a reading specialist, those are the standards I have focused on the most, whereas my current audience does have a stronger foothold on the new math standards, so reading is where I will focus.

Instructional Coaching. . . The beginning of Blog Posts

This is hopefully the beginning of some blog posts that I do to reinforce my learning about instructional coaching. I am currently at the Jim Knight Conference for Instructional Coaching and it has been a full day of GREAT information! To start with, I will like you to his blog to give you some insights and resources directly from the source: I would HIGHLY recommend reading or following his blog as a professional resource.

I think sometimes teachers view coaches from a fearful perspective, but we are trying to overcome that negative vibe and show that we are actually very helpful in many aspects of teacher and school development.

So, check out Jim Knight's blog! Its a great one! :)

Teachers Pay Teachers

Have you ever thought, "Why in the world am I making this? Don't you think someone might have already made this?" Well, you may save yourself a LOT of time by checking out TeachersPayTeachers. I don't actually sell items on there, but they do have a plethora of FREE items and downloads. (Just make sure to thank the kind teachers that you borrow from.) You know what they say: Time is Money- well if you are a creative individual and want to support your teaching addiction, think about putting some of your items up for payment.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/

Winding Down

As we wind down the school year, it is such a bittersweet time. I'm thrilled to get to spend some catch-up time with my family. I also have started to realize how short summer-time is with how full it is getting with sports, swimming, and conferences/work. What types of activities do you do in the summer with your kids to keep them active and learning?

Here is a neat LiveBinder that has a Virtual Summer Camp. I have REALLY enjoyed Twitter and the resources shared on there. Please make sure to check out the links I've posted there also. I try to post there more often than here. Soon, though I'll get caught up on this blog. Happy end of the year! :)

New Website- First Grade

http://anotherdayinfirstgrade.blogspot.com/

I came upon this website from some of my "friends" on Twitter. I have to say, it is very appealing, informative and useful. I hope she'll continue to update and share what she's doing in the classroom. It is a motivation and inspiration.

Website Wednesday- Twitter

I just started using Twitter more lately as a professional development tool. I have found some very thoughtful insights from other educators as well as some great links for teacher tools and resources. On the right hand side of this blog, you can follow me on Twitter, even if you don't join! I try to post things that I think would be most useful to myself and those around me that follow. If you haven't given Twitter a try, I would highly recommend it! Just in the week that I've tried using it more, I have loved it.  

Monday Professional Development

Today, I presented at our building professional development. I am so privelged to work with amazing, talented coworkers. I presented about some conferences that I've been to as well as the technology that I've been using to enhance my professional career. I am getting better at Twitter (see side bar) and am hoping to continue working on this site more. Thanks for hanging with me while I took a break. I'd love your comments, opinions, and sharing of what you are doing as an educator. Here is the link to my presentation today. I've been so fortunate to attend the conferences and learn with an open mind. The presenters were great.

Here is the link to the CPSI conference summaries.

Break

I'll return. . . . I promise! Right now, I am trying to focus on my masters degree program and finish it up. Hang in there. Email me if you want/need resources! schance@hotmail.com

Website Wednesday- WordSift

WordSift is a new wonder for me. I came across it after a recommendation by a friend. I like how it helps to visualize text and also helps to break it down. I am thinking that some of what I posted in it could have been organized better, but its still pretty interesting to use. Why don't you go try it? :)

Monday Must-Read: Harry Potter

I don't think I even needed to post that this book is a MUST READ, especially for reluctant readers. If they listen to it via audiobook, it might get them hooked on reading. I read these books when they first came out, several years ago and since then, my husband (who proclaims to not be a reader) has read them several times. Soon, my sons will read them too. Do I watch the movies???? Nope! I prefer the mind-movie that comes when I read the book. So, if you haven't read this book or the series, I would highly recommend it!

Website Wednesday- Mensa for Kids

Somehow this post did not publish last Wednesday when I had it scheduled. :( With how busy I've been with classes and work, I have tried to maintain posting on the weekend but schedule them throughout the week.

As I find an increasing need to challenge my son, I also have been enjoying doing this fun activities and games with him. I'll have to admit that he does beat me sometimes. I don't think that means anything really. :)

 

http://www.mensaforkids.org/

Monday Must Read: Diary of a Wimpy Kid

I will just say upfront- I have not read these books. . . yet! They seem to always be unavailable when I get a spare second to read "for fun." However, I have noticed how motivating they are for readers since they have humor, graphics, and "kid-talk." My son loves them and actually wanted to have a diary too. However, I don't know if you have searched lately for a diary for a 2nd grade boy, but there really isn't much on the market. (Hint, hint, Scholastic!!!)

Let me know if you've read these books or how you might use them in your classroom! :) I am hoping that once I'm done with my masters program I will have a tad more time to add some classroom activities or links to use with these "must-reads." Until then, just enjoy some great kid literature.

Tuesday Teacher Text- Reading Essentials

Since I did a review of each chapter for Regie Routman's book- "Writing Essentials," I thought I should also recommend her book- "Reading Essentials." It is an excellent book about how to put fun back into teaching and how to make reading a more motivating subject for the students AND teacher. I am going to try to post review on Tuesdays of Teacher Professional Literature that I have read and would definitely recommend if you're a book-nerd like I am! :)

Monday Must Read: How to Steal a Dog

I read this book awhile back with Zachary. It is another cute, although sad book. It is about a girl that wants to steal a dog to get a reward so she can have money. Her family is homeless and she tries to be creative to find ways to get a little bit of money. I have an emotional connection with this book because it was the first book I've read with Zachary that he actually had empathy for other people. He had no idea that there were homeless people or that sometimes kids do have to live in cars or hotels.

Inservice Reaction

A few days ago, I attended a professional development with a speaker/researcher from the University of Oregon. Dr. Zhao has written a book about the "gap" that we are always fussing about as the United States between other countries and ourselves. I would definitely recommend reading some of the articles on his website: http://zhaolearning.com/ as well as looking at the presentation handouts.

While some have been skeptical about his viewpoints, I found his presentation very uplifting and encouraging. As Americans, we are doing so many things "right" and a lot of the pressure for performance comes from a public that doesn't always understand the goings-on of schools. While Zhao has a firm stance on his position about standardized tests and how inappropriate he believes they are, I certainly think that he is not alone in his belief. However, we must form some sort of measures for achievement and assessments. We must use data to drive our instruction and improve our performance. While standardized testing may not be the only answer, it is what we currently have.

Dr. Zhao's presentation left me thinking about my beliefs and positions as a mother and as a teacher. While we certainly want high test scores, we also must ask ourselves, what those mean. On one of his slides, there was a quote by an old philosopher that said something like, "What is knowledge worth?" If a child gets an 80% on their standardized math test, what does that tell us in particular to their future knowledge? What is that knowledge worth? Our children today are born to a day where careers they will have might not even be created yet! Raising and teaching children is challenging and we must put the children first. Thankfully, we don't use test scores to determine future careers like other countries have been known to.

I don't want to suggest that I agree with EVERYTHING that Dr. Zhao presented. As an educator and a thinker, I like to ponder and analyze the content and see what relates to me and what makes the most sense in the position I'm in. I do think that he makes some important thinking points however. As teachers, we must continue to think, learn, and become better for our students.

Website Wednesday- Free Reading

As a teacher passionate about reading, I have to pass this website along for you. This is a great resource to also share with parents that are trying to help their child with reading.

http://www.freereading.net/

Website Wednesday- Education World

I realize I have taken a little bit of an absense from this blog. I've been home on a few sick days. :( One website that I'd love to share is Education World. It has a plethora of wonderful of tools and resources for teachers. I can't say enough great things about it. Maybe you can add some comments of how you'd used it or what you like about it????? 

http://www.educationworld.com/

Website Wednesday- Best on the Web

This is a website that I currently just found while I was researching some websites on differentiated instruction. By the way, last Wednesday, I introduced Livebinders.com to you and if you'd like to link to my differentiated instruction binder, by all means, please do! I scoured the web searching for helpful links to help classroom teachers.

http://connections.smsd.org/nieman/best.htm

How I use Technology in Language Arts

I guess I flubbed the glog assignment. However, I have a very understanding teacher that gave me a second opportunity to fix it.

Monday Memo- Read "We Can't All be Rattlesnakes"

Zachary and I just finished reading this book:

It is adorably cute. Our family has a healthy respect for snakes. My mom was bit by a rattlesnake when she was younger so we have learned the mighty power of them and to be respectful of them in their environment. This book is written from a snake's point of view. I've never read a book from that point of view before, so it was comical and cute. Its a fun and quick read.