tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50987888814550116832024-03-28T23:29:03.389-04:00Mrs. Beattie's ClassroomI help overworked elementary teachers create engaging, differentiated classrooms without sacrificing their personal and family lives.Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-45678944509600422702023-07-22T19:25:00.005-04:002023-07-22T19:25:59.922-04:0010 Simple Reasons Guided Math is Perfect for Your Classroom<p>Guided math is an incredible structure that allows teachers to support the needs of ALL their students, but many shy away from using it. Most don't realize how easy it is to incorporate into their classrooms. Here are ten simple reasons why guided math is perfect for your classroom!</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FX2iiz4pIsPWlS9R5pbMSiF_YCeWRviUsldjHE_XESzUGUG7eHQUEBZf1qg6yD8GbyaRb8WKUrcRU2B7gE3KXvl2P0hLX_5a4HdiQ-5_CGO6X-fUbwNGbUmve5V8rVZJ2my2318pcPqPc-qAlA9uuigZUn6Bomv84Ry26M3OGLlwz0MTpTro23S2iS5I/s940/10%20Reasons%20Guided%20Math%20is%20Perfect%20for%20Your%20Classroom%20(c).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of guided math centers with text, "10 Simple Reasons Guided Math is Perfect for Your Classroom"" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-description="Guided math is an incredible structure that allows teachers to support the needs of ALL their students, but many teachers don't know how to get started with guided math in their classrooms. Here are ten simple reasons why guided math is perfect for your 2nd and 3rd-grade classroom! You'll learn where to find great hands-on math centers and easy-to-use differentiated math lessons, how to get started with small-group math instruction, how to assess guided math, and more in this post. #guidedmath" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglX1ndc_DoEPieMYo9TybpmjqkazV7itGrOGRbz56gfnsyTexobs2Vlxj4whPoXQe3wvXoV8jWQJbV7t75dNMGW69W3VKzgFpWfe_a-wCmxucl6tM8VSpj6QJLDly42LW2d-dlLPq6zxrJlQUnZrqqogkNcz78ge1IWscTK2f4DcRn84hYbp2xkjkjOe6s/w426-h640/10%20Reasons%20Guided%20Math%20is%20Perfect%20for%20Your%20Classroom%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2FX2iiz4pIsPWlS9R5pbMSiF_YCeWRviUsldjHE_XESzUGUG7eHQUEBZf1qg6yD8GbyaRb8WKUrcRU2B7gE3KXvl2P0hLX_5a4HdiQ-5_CGO6X-fUbwNGbUmve5V8rVZJ2my2318pcPqPc-qAlA9uuigZUn6Bomv84Ry26M3OGLlwz0MTpTro23S2iS5I/w640-h334/10%20Reasons%20Guided%20Math%20is%20Perfect%20for%20Your%20Classroom%20(c).png" title="10 Simple Reasons Guided Math is Perfect for Your Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Why Guided Math is Perfect for Your Classroom</b></h2><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>1. Guided math means personalized instruction.</b> When you teach with a guided math structure, you can better personalize your lessons. With a focus on small groups, you can tailor your lessons to meet the specific needs of each group of students in your care.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>2. Guided math elicits active engagement.</b> With small-group instruction, students are more actively engaged in the learning process, as they have more opportunities to participate and contribute to the group discussion. It is nearly impossible for students to fly below your radar in groups of five or six compared to twenty or twenty-two. Since they are most likely grouped with similar students, these children feel more safe sharing their thinking in smaller group situations.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>3. Guided math encourages increased collaboration.</b> Small-group instruction fosters collaboration and teamwork as students work together to solve problems and share their ideas. Students who may not connect in social situations or choose to work together during partner activities will be more likely to collaborate during small-group activities.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>4. Guided math creates opportunities for immediate feedback.</b> In small groups, students receive immediate feedback from both the teacher and their peers, which helps them to correct mistakes and reinforce their understanding. When working directly with only five or six students at a time, you can easily monitor what your students can (and cannot!) do, quickly intervene to correct misconceptions, and evaluate progress without spending a ton of time marking.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>5. Guided math facilitates enhanced communication.</b> Small-group instruction promotes communication and discussion among students, which enhances their critical thinking and reasoning skills. Having students talk through their process as they engage in learning is an excellent way for you to catch those misconceptions in understanding!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>6. Guided math means higher levels of participation. </b>With fewer students in a group, each student has more opportunities to participate in the learning process. This increases their motivation, engagement, and, ultimately, their level of participation. Students will participate when they feel safe to take risks, and a guided math structure provides that safe environment. Having fun, hands-on activities at various levels, like in my <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-Math-Centers-BUNDLE-for-Guided-Math-Groups-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%2010%20Simple%20Guided%20Math%20is%20Perfect&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" target="_blank">year-long Guided Math Centers bundle</a></b>, also engages even your most reluctant learners! Available in French <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FRENCH-Guided-Math-Centres-for-the-Year-Guided-Math-BUNDLE-2202143?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%2010%20Simple%20Guided%20Math%20is%20Perfect&utm_campaign=French%20GM%20Centres%20Bundle" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-Math-Centers-BUNDLE-for-Guided-Math-Groups-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%2010%20Simple%20Guided%20Math%20is%20Perfect&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of guided math centers on a student desk with colorful supplies." border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="1683" data-pin-description="Guided math is an incredible structure that allows teachers to support the needs of ALL their students, but many teachers don't know how to get started with guided math in their classrooms. Here are ten simple reasons why guided math is perfect for your 2nd and 3rd-grade classroom! You'll learn where to find great hands-on math centers and easy-to-use differentiated math lessons, how to get started with small-group math instruction, how to assess guided math, and more in this post. #guidedmath" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglX1ndc_DoEPieMYo9TybpmjqkazV7itGrOGRbz56gfnsyTexobs2Vlxj4whPoXQe3wvXoV8jWQJbV7t75dNMGW69W3VKzgFpWfe_a-wCmxucl6tM8VSpj6QJLDly42LW2d-dlLPq6zxrJlQUnZrqqogkNcz78ge1IWscTK2f4DcRn84hYbp2xkjkjOe6s/w426-h640/10%20Reasons%20Guided%20Math%20is%20Perfect%20for%20Your%20Classroom%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfGsONCGSfnE-pqQksjzR_S815o_Ac2Hr5ETLM5eND4jGCTwH6z_GUWCTLY-tkGF_jeQtUFQTWRrh66e4fENIu-gz9TGc73X4wKVxWIXNmdFQeBq3eMsdEdplvkc54nNITnN8lKTjmlP5XPLwH10-H46uXUcnLKBJQefdb3bsrcDAXPFPuC440c703tjW/w640-h424/Bundle%20Mockup.png" title="10 Simple Reasons Guided Math is Perfect for Your Classroom" width="640" /></a></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><b>7. Guided math creates greater accountability.</b> Small-group instruction holds students more accountable for their learning, as they are expected to contribute to the group and participate actively in discussions. When students work in groups of only five or six, they cannot use common work-avoidance strategies to get out of contributing and completing assignments. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>8. Guided math allows for differentiated instruction.</b> In small groups, teachers can easily differentiate instruction, providing additional support for struggling students while challenging high-achieving students more effectively. My <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Lesson-Plan-BUNDLE-Year-Long-Guided-Math-Lesson-Plans-Ontario-Math-CCSS-3268576?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%2010%20Simple%20Guided%20Math%20is%20Perfect&utm_campaign=GM%20Lesson%20Bundle" target="_blank"><b>Differentiated Guided Math Lessons resources</b></a> are perfect for differentiating instruction, with multiple levels built right in! Available partially editable for French translation <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FRENCH-Lessons-for-Guided-Math-Year-Long-Bundle-Partially-Editable-5069394?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%2010%20Simple%20Guided%20Math%20is%20Perfect&utm_campaign=French%20GM%20Lesson%20Bundle" target="_blank">HERE</a></b>.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Lesson-Plan-BUNDLE-Year-Long-Guided-Math-Lesson-Plans-Ontario-Math-CCSS-3268576?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%2010%20Simple%20Guided%20Math%20is%20Perfect&utm_campaign=GM%20Lesson%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of differentiated guided math lessons with colorful student supplies." border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="1682" data-pin-description="Guided math is an incredible structure that allows teachers to support the needs of ALL their students, but many teachers don't know how to get started with guided math in their classrooms. Here are ten simple reasons why guided math is perfect for your 2nd and 3rd-grade classroom! You'll learn where to find great hands-on math centers and easy-to-use differentiated math lessons, how to get started with small-group math instruction, how to assess guided math, and more in this post. #guidedmath" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglX1ndc_DoEPieMYo9TybpmjqkazV7itGrOGRbz56gfnsyTexobs2Vlxj4whPoXQe3wvXoV8jWQJbV7t75dNMGW69W3VKzgFpWfe_a-wCmxucl6tM8VSpj6QJLDly42LW2d-dlLPq6zxrJlQUnZrqqogkNcz78ge1IWscTK2f4DcRn84hYbp2xkjkjOe6s/w426-h640/10%20Reasons%20Guided%20Math%20is%20Perfect%20for%20Your%20Classroom%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWRXKUk9cYV3Zwc5ODGpVfVNIbNC6e8FUOYMque1OfS_nOopstFm4cap45XVoR9VJtQLvM0b__Ds7A2kPgTrp6iovOosk28rCpYdoyH4pAhhO-QL-qyn4BSv0TDJHr4M0DPERsC-i7JaRjJ3ajCFbO8r5Wm5mb3kBBWS6WGKtTRhKJvMDY-Ln4J2JMei8i/w640-h426/Mockup%20for%20Preview%20(2).png" title="10 Simple Reasons Guided Math is Perfect for Your Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><b>9. Guided math develops increased confidence.</b> Small-group instruction helps students to feel more confident and secure in their math abilities, as they have more opportunities to practice and receive feedback in a supportive environment. These small-group situations are the perfect place to work on social-emotional learning skills during math groups!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>10. Guided math improves academic achievement.</b> Research has shown that small-group instruction can improve math academic achievement as students receive more individualized instruction and opportunities for active engagement and participation.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Wondering How to Get Started?</h2><div>With all these fantastic reasons to incorporate guided math into your classroom, how do you get started? Here are my top must-haves for your program:</div><div><br /></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>A clear structure for students to follow.</li><li>Differentiated lessons for your small groups.</li><li>Independent activities for the other students to engage with while you're teaching.</li></ol><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-and-Guided-Math-Lessons-Full-Year-Guided-Math-Bundle-5848529?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%2010%20Simple%20Guided%20Math%20is%20Perfect&utm_campaign=GM%20Mega%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Cover images of guided math resources in English." border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="1540" data-pin-description="Guided math is an incredible structure that allows teachers to support the needs of ALL their students, but many teachers don't know how to get started with guided math in their classrooms. Here are ten simple reasons why guided math is perfect for your 2nd and 3rd-grade classroom! You'll learn where to find great hands-on math centers and easy-to-use differentiated math lessons, how to get started with small-group math instruction, how to assess guided math, and more in this post. #guidedmath" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglX1ndc_DoEPieMYo9TybpmjqkazV7itGrOGRbz56gfnsyTexobs2Vlxj4whPoXQe3wvXoV8jWQJbV7t75dNMGW69W3VKzgFpWfe_a-wCmxucl6tM8VSpj6QJLDly42LW2d-dlLPq6zxrJlQUnZrqqogkNcz78ge1IWscTK2f4DcRn84hYbp2xkjkjOe6s/w426-h640/10%20Reasons%20Guided%20Math%20is%20Perfect%20for%20Your%20Classroom%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiC5dZm5WkpAdSxPpSMawq7wvU7TiFfl5wNC-PkFmyJBpCqp0OrbI993mGC4gn1jr1V5an7gixtcsVt6-_2jO7gOr4sZaxu5U4cLh1SJZwdN86XhO3h6FIHhjA3ocfWXN8jcf5Uj8_Z_wmyvMnTZ190YnyMm70yXAwSfZmG-iz4Fdz_IGDioHDIv-0CgyC/w640-h202/English%20Resources.png" title="10 Simple Reasons Guided Math is Perfect for Your Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>These resources are also available in French!<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centres-and-Lessons-Full-Year-Math-Bundle-Partially-Editable-7035628?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%2010%20Simple%20Guided%20Math%20is%20Perfect&utm_campaign=French%20GM%20Mega%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Cover images of guided math resources in French." border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="1540" data-pin-description="Guided math is an incredible structure that allows teachers to support the needs of ALL their students, but many teachers don't know how to get started with guided math in their classrooms. Here are ten simple reasons why guided math is perfect for your 2nd and 3rd-grade classroom! You'll learn where to find great hands-on math centers and easy-to-use differentiated math lessons, how to get started with small-group math instruction, how to assess guided math, and more in this post. #guidedmath" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglX1ndc_DoEPieMYo9TybpmjqkazV7itGrOGRbz56gfnsyTexobs2Vlxj4whPoXQe3wvXoV8jWQJbV7t75dNMGW69W3VKzgFpWfe_a-wCmxucl6tM8VSpj6QJLDly42LW2d-dlLPq6zxrJlQUnZrqqogkNcz78ge1IWscTK2f4DcRn84hYbp2xkjkjOe6s/w426-h640/10%20Reasons%20Guided%20Math%20is%20Perfect%20for%20Your%20Classroom%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwCbm67dBSCqG5Rw93jQ4A1HC8HYe50uPqWzN7b6PLpIPzRI30G6xpSgkQnz-ELSWwAG3Z6EqXmkc4es7xH5l9qpzcKjw_xABcGawr2Rcgqz43GYIhDRxwQuzu1x-lH7RCDCHaZSB6XGDTxbsa_z0KADmrWO301XMVQQMjh9CPRTIY980uxn4q_eANUKl/w400-h126/French%20Resources.png" title="10 Simple Reasons Guided Math is Perfect for Your Classroom" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Don't leave without <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Sellers-Im-Following/Add/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom" target="_blank">following my TPT store</a></b> and grabbing your <b><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/guidedmathstarterkit" target="_blank">FREE Guided Math Quick-Start Guide</a></b>! It will show you how to organize your guided math program, help you establish math groups, and give you tips about assessment! It includes hands-on guided math centers and a sample guided math lesson for your English or French math class!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/guidedmathstarterkit" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of Guided Math Quick-Start Guide free offer." border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="1390" data-pin-description="Guided math is an incredible structure that allows teachers to support the needs of ALL their students, but many teachers don't know how to get started with guided math in their classrooms. Here are ten simple reasons why guided math is perfect for your 2nd and 3rd-grade classroom! You'll learn where to find great hands-on math centers and easy-to-use differentiated math lessons, how to get started with small-group math instruction, how to assess guided math, and more in this post. #guidedmath" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglX1ndc_DoEPieMYo9TybpmjqkazV7itGrOGRbz56gfnsyTexobs2Vlxj4whPoXQe3wvXoV8jWQJbV7t75dNMGW69W3VKzgFpWfe_a-wCmxucl6tM8VSpj6QJLDly42LW2d-dlLPq6zxrJlQUnZrqqogkNcz78ge1IWscTK2f4DcRn84hYbp2xkjkjOe6s/w426-h640/10%20Reasons%20Guided%20Math%20is%20Perfect%20for%20Your%20Classroom%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS71rYW2SD1MGjwhNTLwHxxP9CtFHi10QF5uo-Ot3tQ1HAKyuvvSI44FiqArkbu5eMUUA9Mku9UY5hjA0_exLMAkzswDL0bQcNzwMDmmnuQ2n1aYwSvB0hV_6yRahjBLT7ULzpNSaFT3bL1ocR4zkR8sudipmlpggbAwaNPjfHRQZPyfgm5qHjRTErHV7J/w640-h338/Guided%20Math%20Freebie%20(c).png" title="10 Simple Reasons Guided Math is Perfect for Your Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>You might also be interested in the ideas and resources I've shared in this post:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2022/07/small-group-instruction.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of student using guided math resources with text, "How to get started with small-group instruction."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" height="209" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEEmGdNeb9GJpyfIsRd5b8VIAEgcCQPKKRLYcbzYJr-0id5KdRg6HG8rUYUzKpZxJ7tHj1U8OP4eobL9sIfvh3n850L4vFM_Zcpre8eWIIaIELsaBXv0wTn5yPnjT7FjuPH66Ry1KXXWgKye0gtN6ryAS-fx-rqNI_S6EEk3I7riXLkYpl456VnhWMsJc/w400-h209/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%20Header.png" title="10 Simple Reasons Guided Math is Perfect for Your Classroom" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Don't forget to pin this on Pinterest:</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ndajWjWj-dRhS2gdOCil_svuJDwe9I7EvAXRP6fl1SMY06wIhQvUvdL-cHyvpDO_U3QFvsTtCidoNF5aNPr6kh1aeNQhTW0ND-GYcdAm3XlxH2PINySYV0W03s5kYCpQCaX8QJp01RToHjr9q7FtNHhrBc_BgxPW2_koAisVxpEq6mtULNspLZi-Iv4a/s1500/10%20Reasons%20Guided%20Math%20is%20Perfect%20for%20Your%20Classroom%20Pin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of guided math centers with text, "10 Simple Reasons Guided Math is Perfect for Your Classroom"" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" data-pin-description="Guided math is an incredible structure that allows teachers to support the needs of ALL their students, but many teachers don't know how to get started with guided math in their classrooms. Here are ten simple reasons why guided math is perfect for your 2nd and 3rd-grade classroom! You'll learn where to find great hands-on math centers and easy-to-use differentiated math lessons, how to get started with small-group math instruction, how to assess guided math, and more in this post. #guidedmath" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ndajWjWj-dRhS2gdOCil_svuJDwe9I7EvAXRP6fl1SMY06wIhQvUvdL-cHyvpDO_U3QFvsTtCidoNF5aNPr6kh1aeNQhTW0ND-GYcdAm3XlxH2PINySYV0W03s5kYCpQCaX8QJp01RToHjr9q7FtNHhrBc_BgxPW2_koAisVxpEq6mtULNspLZi-Iv4a/w426-h640/10%20Reasons%20Guided%20Math%20is%20Perfect%20for%20Your%20Classroom%20Pin.png" title="10 Simple Reasons Guided Math is Perfect for Your Classroom" width="426" /></a></div><br />Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-76537926348375877102023-03-04T16:20:00.000-05:002023-03-04T16:20:32.030-05:005 Benefits of Online Math Games in the Classroom<p>Engaging students in the classroom is harder than ever. I sometimes feel like I should have a degree in Drama to be effective in front of my class! With the advancement of technology, online math games have become a popular tool to engage our students and supplement traditional classroom learning. </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Digital-291053?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Online%20Game%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Digital%20Category" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of math game on iPad with text, "5 Benefits of Online Math Games in the Classroom"" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-description="Transform your elementary classroom into a fun and engaging math playground with these exciting online math games and digital resources! Whether you're teaching addition, subtraction, or something else, your students will love the interactive activities that will improve their math skills while having fun. Say goodbye to boring worksheets and hello to the future of math education. Discover how you can enhance your classroom with digital tools, and watch your students' enthusiasm for math grow!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsQCbPYHdHbwQ2nnfhW3hs63d6QBZRG03PP0sLxv-i_4kYVRWgwmiis_ULvJ5tIvq74gyTh_O_ieq4sbWZy860deOcEB4Rsjk--ZARUjvCDwhztpw35gmJxOqX0_7cHvKmHrdyM6lY5ByVX_CQvV9_5zHnyFQ0CnR-JkPLepwXwr2zvusYxIKWNzUyg/w426-h640/Pin%20(1).png" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzc0_8Mml36EwAWTD25N6A3MShvLouZq36u-kKfTm2GnQnVkNlR_Ng907FkhWr-QK_pmeZ15xh4wPM42Fb3I8oRKzAJJfytMOJrKRhHeZIjuRG04_WNeb_NHp8Fp85VNYjNTsF3Ul81TPSdGAqsbtlmRGZCVnevx2uTXZhs7m6i-b6rZsh-EWy6MHupA/w640-h335/5%20Benefits%20of%20Online%20Math%20Games.png" title="5 Benefits of Online Math Games in the Classroom" width="640" /></a><span><a name='more'></a></span></div><br />As we get nearer to spring break, I'm exploring the benefits of using online math games to keep my students engaged and learning. <div><br /></div><div>Here are some of the benefits of online math games that I'm finding:<p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">Engagement: </h2><p>Online math games are designed to be interactive and engaging, making them more appealing to students than traditional pen-and-paper methods. By making learning fun, students are more likely to be motivated and stay focused for extended periods.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpBnRSAf1a5GCg-M1QV5GO6yS90qCUJnn9Z9zkNeKoA6I00DENgMsByYr2ZbnGF1JCXcZDKl6RlinHPhZxSGfxnEeNKeyw_aqpWb3mIytjPljBqlrvdob1lfJ1igq63tEeqgqptLsvqVeNDf5w1Kk-w6C7xkj6tvBiW9kvuOy1iT-1b8ffn5oQ2aeeg/s1688/Mockup%202.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of math game on computer screen." border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1688" data-pin-description="Transform your elementary classroom into a fun and engaging math playground with these exciting online math games and digital resources! Whether you're teaching addition, subtraction, or something else, your students will love the interactive activities that will improve their math skills while having fun. Say goodbye to boring worksheets and hello to the future of math education. Discover how you can enhance your classroom with digital tools, and watch your students' enthusiasm for math grow!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsQCbPYHdHbwQ2nnfhW3hs63d6QBZRG03PP0sLxv-i_4kYVRWgwmiis_ULvJ5tIvq74gyTh_O_ieq4sbWZy860deOcEB4Rsjk--ZARUjvCDwhztpw35gmJxOqX0_7cHvKmHrdyM6lY5ByVX_CQvV9_5zHnyFQ0CnR-JkPLepwXwr2zvusYxIKWNzUyg/w426-h640/Pin%20(1).png" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpBnRSAf1a5GCg-M1QV5GO6yS90qCUJnn9Z9zkNeKoA6I00DENgMsByYr2ZbnGF1JCXcZDKl6RlinHPhZxSGfxnEeNKeyw_aqpWb3mIytjPljBqlrvdob1lfJ1igq63tEeqgqptLsvqVeNDf5w1Kk-w6C7xkj6tvBiW9kvuOy1iT-1b8ffn5oQ2aeeg/w640-h426/Mockup%202.png" title="5 Benefits of Online Math Games in the Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Personalization: </h2><p>Online math games can be tailored to each student's individual needs and skill level. This personalization allows students to learn at their own pace and provides a more customized learning experience.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkBE5vaUD0f2GBD6WQJwJ32vTUxJch-uRiUQYmqupaJawApCYW4XPE6eGJMIypmpqvxH3KvFvOcjvop6DKyj6SdgipV79-7wnseIMLws0MkFm-MaMI-WU-sooa6yzFPMa9AxRdyfbaxFvAiBN7B1AAo5xsTzfNUw9BwHGIU5HrQ-asBHukY4BhESv3Q/s1688/Mockup%204.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of math game on iPad with school supplies" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1688" data-pin-description="Transform your elementary classroom into a fun and engaging math playground with these exciting online math games and digital resources! Whether you're teaching addition, subtraction, or something else, your students will love the interactive activities that will improve their math skills while having fun. Say goodbye to boring worksheets and hello to the future of math education. Discover how you can enhance your classroom with digital tools, and watch your students' enthusiasm for math grow!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsQCbPYHdHbwQ2nnfhW3hs63d6QBZRG03PP0sLxv-i_4kYVRWgwmiis_ULvJ5tIvq74gyTh_O_ieq4sbWZy860deOcEB4Rsjk--ZARUjvCDwhztpw35gmJxOqX0_7cHvKmHrdyM6lY5ByVX_CQvV9_5zHnyFQ0CnR-JkPLepwXwr2zvusYxIKWNzUyg/w426-h640/Pin%20(1).png" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRkBE5vaUD0f2GBD6WQJwJ32vTUxJch-uRiUQYmqupaJawApCYW4XPE6eGJMIypmpqvxH3KvFvOcjvop6DKyj6SdgipV79-7wnseIMLws0MkFm-MaMI-WU-sooa6yzFPMa9AxRdyfbaxFvAiBN7B1AAo5xsTzfNUw9BwHGIU5HrQ-asBHukY4BhESv3Q/w640-h426/Mockup%204.png" title="5 Benefits of Online Math Games in the Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Immediate feedback: </h2><p>Online math games provide immediate feedback, which is crucial for students to learn from their mistakes and improve their skills. This feedback helps students understand where they went wrong and how they can improve, leading to better retention of the material.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cXybsviEHZiGenWCxAQno8roJB-VIfa1B-9tarZRBob_IMDwNyfDzs8zEhMvK6kLKT2BbE7X2rk6oF8CbDr-7o9GeT_uzdpCza8Klu3pk4dDIOukY2gWJGCjMvHfI-qz1QHqadxgXc5L3Zj0pVuR6UmeUt-G7RLCAFbbvcKPPGFflNg-UC4zsJOS7Q/s1688/Mockup%203.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of math game on computer screen" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1688" data-pin-description="Transform your elementary classroom into a fun and engaging math playground with these exciting online math games and digital resources! Whether you're teaching addition, subtraction, or something else, your students will love the interactive activities that will improve their math skills while having fun. Say goodbye to boring worksheets and hello to the future of math education. Discover how you can enhance your classroom with digital tools, and watch your students' enthusiasm for math grow!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsQCbPYHdHbwQ2nnfhW3hs63d6QBZRG03PP0sLxv-i_4kYVRWgwmiis_ULvJ5tIvq74gyTh_O_ieq4sbWZy860deOcEB4Rsjk--ZARUjvCDwhztpw35gmJxOqX0_7cHvKmHrdyM6lY5ByVX_CQvV9_5zHnyFQ0CnR-JkPLepwXwr2zvusYxIKWNzUyg/w426-h640/Pin%20(1).png" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8cXybsviEHZiGenWCxAQno8roJB-VIfa1B-9tarZRBob_IMDwNyfDzs8zEhMvK6kLKT2BbE7X2rk6oF8CbDr-7o9GeT_uzdpCza8Klu3pk4dDIOukY2gWJGCjMvHfI-qz1QHqadxgXc5L3Zj0pVuR6UmeUt-G7RLCAFbbvcKPPGFflNg-UC4zsJOS7Q/w640-h426/Mockup%203.png" title="5 Benefits of Online Math Games in the Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Accessibility: </h2><p>Online math games are accessible anytime, anywhere, making them a convenient tool for students to use both in and out of the classroom. Students can access these games on a computer, tablet, or mobile device, making them a flexible option for busy families.</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbKQ_uLdrxmBYmsNbNrTA3gWSJ7HfTpocl5rOXyrUdHgSuDL_LYlAi1z1RZXZ8BPNOGQqiEXch3Oq8abnMQXJzHcZHyPLjR_40tyYx74GY-o0_V40rMX19UOp3l5qYoN3Pu0pRQmX1zR05Xcqpr0lt11jJ7QM9y2M1PMqsAKkn0a_6D8zG6xuuXeK2g/s1688/Mockup%201.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of math game on iPad with school supplies" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1688" data-pin-description="Transform your elementary classroom into a fun and engaging math playground with these exciting online math games and digital resources! Whether you're teaching addition, subtraction, or something else, your students will love the interactive activities that will improve their math skills while having fun. Say goodbye to boring worksheets and hello to the future of math education. Discover how you can enhance your classroom with digital tools, and watch your students' enthusiasm for math grow!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsQCbPYHdHbwQ2nnfhW3hs63d6QBZRG03PP0sLxv-i_4kYVRWgwmiis_ULvJ5tIvq74gyTh_O_ieq4sbWZy860deOcEB4Rsjk--ZARUjvCDwhztpw35gmJxOqX0_7cHvKmHrdyM6lY5ByVX_CQvV9_5zHnyFQ0CnR-JkPLepwXwr2zvusYxIKWNzUyg/w426-h640/Pin%20(1).png" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbKQ_uLdrxmBYmsNbNrTA3gWSJ7HfTpocl5rOXyrUdHgSuDL_LYlAi1z1RZXZ8BPNOGQqiEXch3Oq8abnMQXJzHcZHyPLjR_40tyYx74GY-o0_V40rMX19UOp3l5qYoN3Pu0pRQmX1zR05Xcqpr0lt11jJ7QM9y2M1PMqsAKkn0a_6D8zG6xuuXeK2g/w640-h426/Mockup%201.png" title="5 Benefits of Online Math Games in the Classroom" width="640" /></a></div></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;">Reinforcement: </h2><div>Online math games can reinforce classroom learning, providing students with additional opportunities to practice and apply the concepts they have learned in the classroom. This reinforcement helps students build confidence in their math skills and achieve better results.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdbiQuEG7Mxip_xvi8pNfoHkM-eAlPElAAkjyVcGngPPYOEIXmYIL-H92a_C6aEKpuAGDLdiP9W1wjjq9g-9C4aGZexqrrVcrqeNR_aXXCF2tKatKB6qvFpAtRsgEHZqiPygOmlw8CobnXb0o9U3IFNyI1dy0nfYDjQLoei-9T4qzIfxI2Kt6SMaeLw/s1688/Mockup%205.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of math game on laptop with school supplies" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1688" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwsQCbPYHdHbwQ2nnfhW3hs63d6QBZRG03PP0sLxv-i_4kYVRWgwmiis_ULvJ5tIvq74gyTh_O_ieq4sbWZy860deOcEB4Rsjk--ZARUjvCDwhztpw35gmJxOqX0_7cHvKmHrdyM6lY5ByVX_CQvV9_5zHnyFQ0CnR-JkPLepwXwr2zvusYxIKWNzUyg/w426-h640/Pin%20(1).png" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdbiQuEG7Mxip_xvi8pNfoHkM-eAlPElAAkjyVcGngPPYOEIXmYIL-H92a_C6aEKpuAGDLdiP9W1wjjq9g-9C4aGZexqrrVcrqeNR_aXXCF2tKatKB6qvFpAtRsgEHZqiPygOmlw8CobnXb0o9U3IFNyI1dy0nfYDjQLoei-9T4qzIfxI2Kt6SMaeLw/w640-h426/Mockup%205.png" title="5 Benefits of Online Math Games in the Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Online math games provide numerous benefits for elementary school students. They offer an engaging, personalized, and convenient way for students to learn and reinforce math concepts. I encourage you to explore the world of online math games and discover how they can benefit your child's learning.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>A few of our favorite sites are linked below.</b> (I am not affiliated with these; I only share what has worked in my classroom this year. Please be sure to preview these before sharing them with students. Some sites contain advertising.) </div><div><br /></div><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b><a href="https://www.mathplayground.com/math-games.html" target="_blank">Math Playground</a></b></li><li><b><a href="https://pbskids.org/games/math" target="_blank">PBS Kids</a></b></li><li><b><a href="https://www.tvokids.com/school-age/games" target="_blank">TVO Kids</a></b> (games for many topics)</li><li><b><a href="https://www.coolmathgames.com/" target="_blank">Cool Math Games</a></b></li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/selinmath" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Offer of free SEL in Math resources" border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="1417" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3nBjq_41DguXF3H1_OfLtMUjXUw9wpq3dL8IVGLmg0WX-JXzHwRVq5KDox046vDPkX1B96Im14qjW71BDNNOHW4l0z2DPip_57Q2mH39mVGZkQKpUlutO6-_4nzf2xJM4MoD6Z38FsHMP5ut_Wn-VBHuJ_A_Ms1HQXB7G0tCljbMzKw-1fdwQrPL6mQ/w640-h341/How%20to%20Spark%20Social-Emotional%20Learning%20Math%20Offer.png" title="5 Benefits of Online Math Games in the Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><h2>Digital Alternatives to Online Games</h2><div>Sometimes we want to give our students access to tech and digital activities. Still, restrictions in individual districts mean they don't have access to sites like these. Fabulous alternatives to online games are resources made with Google Slides!</div><div><br /></div><div>I have created many already and am always open to suggestions for additional topics! Take a look at all of my digital math resources by clicking the images below, and be sure to <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Sellers-Im-Following/Add/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom" target="_blank">follow my TPT store</a></b> to be the first to know about new resources!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Digital-291053?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Online%20Game%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Digital%20Category" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of digital math game on an iPad with school supplies" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1688" height="426" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qTFgZHxRPmso_BCdgNGsfcHcBABPKJ3i0ydPdZdmcR_-Bi2JpvfCS_tdZ-8JgtSRkhk8w4KYSrC0WLv3141Z0mTW-uf3cf8B6R28fz_vsWc7_QuV2FEzApE2NO33dgeRBP-GynptNv-d38ppxpPh--V3LVRq_alpviVHdv-ntDRBLzRj1aL3SMDrDw/w640-h426/Mockup%206.png" title="5 Benefits of Online Math Games in the Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digital-Math-Centers-BUNDLE-Google-Slides-and-PPT-Digital-Math-Activities-5529251?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Online%20Game%20Post&utm_campaign=Digital%20Math%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Cover of Digital Math resource bundle" border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJxMip-FQEM4KArUCnLstFLdUiXZU6ZCiGUOG89lqjeDv1IP4QdfM8o0ikAQ3XlCXhlGhIWmSTdQH3XZq_hyr_d_8gWPXpWQUaKzHFXyviNkVG83VOqUpM_xO1-Vj6YQXZqCZ9zSMTiQIWnzReRR5EhkzJ12gW8rERCMbGFcdP3eZfAKHQzzcZyosRpQ/w320-h320/Digital%20Math%20Bundle%20C.png" title="5 Benefits of Online Math Games in the Classroom" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If you're looking for fun ways to engage students in math without technology, give centers a try! They are hands-on, and kids love them! You can read more about my math centers in this blog post, or click the resource cover below to take a closer look on TPT!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2021/08/how-to-set-up-effective-math-centers.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of place value centers with text, "How to Set Up Math Centers Quickly and Easily"" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" height="334" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-b1uBg7Blg2n-q_Um6Vk9Qd4rt85biHIuxoSyPCwD6lqvNXfgkiXm1nWAqDGfNuSOEUmCk0o1_9RZRpoNeaFVme43WaIM-TfXreB_s8bUWQzNEZzlRrCpaTIZPpW3V9YCcmJ7ZVCNb8w01caORvkrDC6EsvPb4DrGuy5aN5jbonLaDK2bYBIoKRB3GA/w640-h334/Header.png" title="5 Benefits of Online Math Games in the Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-Math-Centers-BUNDLE-for-Guided-Math-Groups-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Online%20Game%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Cover of year-long Guided Math Centers bundle" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj86eaBvwlbsNQRTxSZxVloaec83xwZlJTFyfTp5w_f07hhtZ63ep45JI7_HQyk4686q1xOMjv3bYD6aeb1ZvJt5CtO0iPMdjIfacDzpceipQrpXPPeIDL0hY7anhWmURH4k6MmkJMqfKHYGYAMo-3G2nyAtnSodTwUXUVjtueiwLwtbmYVtD7TBAYV8w/w320-h320/Thumb1.png" title="5 Benefits of Online Math Games in the Classroom" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0C_lmselrtacmFvr5t2ccIxJbYC9edY5QCayZhl7sMi07S9Cu0GA455KJydOTQgQDyEkH6obuzoojzbVdUNCX0Gjl8fLaSFcefenUhoSJ1Hxu_qBf5fmPoPP6VXVKkeZrFyQj7OuGgFPU-4DRjMw3lNp037XFZ_d3JBihxiplmLpPDjIyigf2Ke1PYQ/s1500/Pin%20(1).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of math game on iPad with school supplies and text, "5 Benefits of Online Math Games"" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" data-pin-description="Transform your elementary classroom into a fun and engaging math playground with these exciting online math games and digital resources! Whether you're teaching addition, subtraction, or something else, your students will love the interactive activities that will improve their math skills while having fun. Say goodbye to boring worksheets and hello to the future of math education. Discover how you can enhance your classroom with digital tools, and watch your students' enthusiasm for math grow!" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0C_lmselrtacmFvr5t2ccIxJbYC9edY5QCayZhl7sMi07S9Cu0GA455KJydOTQgQDyEkH6obuzoojzbVdUNCX0Gjl8fLaSFcefenUhoSJ1Hxu_qBf5fmPoPP6VXVKkeZrFyQj7OuGgFPU-4DRjMw3lNp037XFZ_d3JBihxiplmLpPDjIyigf2Ke1PYQ/w426-h640/Pin%20(1).png" title="5 Benefits of Online Math Games in the Classroom" width="426" /></a></div></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-14827566102613193992022-10-02T05:00:00.001-04:002022-10-02T05:00:00.161-04:004 Reasons to Use Personal Student Dictionaries in the Classroom<div style="text-align: left;">Personal student dictionaries, or word books, are of great value in Grade 1-6 classrooms. When made a priority, these easy-to-use tools will help you grow your students' skills while you differentiate with ease. Read on for 4 reasons to use personal student dictionaries in your classroom.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Printable-Dictionary-Personal-Student-Dictionary-Lower-Upper-Sight-Words-7147686?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Reasons%20to%20Use%20Personal%20Dictionaries&utm_campaign=Printable%20Dictionary%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of personal student dictionaries with text, "4 Reasons to Use Personal Student Dictionaries in the Classroom"" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IE5yyyPWilVi4ouQmFJVbsVS5d0T3wZhRUNg-ijiXvcMDU5xFHPGHN4nUOazG1X7E-eFgVK2hyNhByuAG5aqZwHpEo65h7Z_sOf1OhDeXkKAONcI78_qG61Wj2-yYRR8gVyqwaqFaMZkxcdjympkbOyzOOuB6KvBGfffk5FmA49xRnJLIp_1J76VyQ/w426-h640/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="Personal student dictionaries, or word books, are of great value in 1st to 6th-grade classrooms. Having a bank of sight words and commonly used words available and a place for students to record personally-relevant words is more meaningful than a word wall. Personal dictionaries can meet the needs of all students where a word wall may not. Take a look at 4 reasons for using personal student dictionaries in your classroom, and grab a free resource in this post!" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1dTVa7CdXfWy6vkK6VWXtLnnGKOZFM0PYhcwsK5HMVlq2XHCVGDo9cbEVfKT5-OVePvkYjNSpyPIyqkbg_yRJlIRVSCoQfgRZfdRRPbizqfPEvN3i_z_yLcZ7d7XbJe140vxoKLlXOAu_0f5w8vCReNfENfp_2kK-P07zuRHde_dWNZHoeF9xzNa8Jg/w640-h334/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom%20Header.png" title="4 Reasons to Use Personal Student Dictionaries in the Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Student Dictionaries Encourage Independence</h1><div>One of the top reasons I love using <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Printable-Dictionary-Personal-Student-Dictionary-Lower-Upper-Sight-Words-7147686?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Reasons%20to%20Use%20Personal%20Dictionaries&utm_campaign=Printable%20Dictionary%20Bundle" target="_blank">personal student dictionaries</a></b> in my classroom is to improve my students' independence.</div><div><br /></div><div>Before I added this tool, I spent a good deal of the writing block moving from desk to desk, helping students spell words they really should have been able to manage on their own. Our <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2021/08/why-i-stopped-building-word-wall.html" target="_blank">word wall wasn't meeting the needs of all of my students</a></b>, and this took away from the time I had to conference with students about their work.</div><div><br /></div><div>After providing my students with a word book of their own, I have two directives during writing, depending on the stage of my students' writing process.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>If they are drafting, I tell them to "GUM it" when they don't know how to spell a word. GUM is an acronym for Guess, Underline, and Move on. I explain that it isn't essential to get the spelling correct in a first draft, but it is important to use an approximation that will allow the writer to know the intent during the editing stage.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If students are working on their final writing draft, I direct them to their personal dictionary and the "right there" words around the classroom, such as the anchor charts we've created and used together. </div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Printable-Dictionary-Personal-Student-Dictionary-Lower-Upper-Sight-Words-7147686?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Reasons%20to%20Use%20Personal%20Dictionaries&utm_campaign=Printable%20Dictionary%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of two student word collections with school supplies on a desk." border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1125" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IE5yyyPWilVi4ouQmFJVbsVS5d0T3wZhRUNg-ijiXvcMDU5xFHPGHN4nUOazG1X7E-eFgVK2hyNhByuAG5aqZwHpEo65h7Z_sOf1OhDeXkKAONcI78_qG61Wj2-yYRR8gVyqwaqFaMZkxcdjympkbOyzOOuB6KvBGfffk5FmA49xRnJLIp_1J76VyQ/w426-h640/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="Personal student dictionaries, or word books, are of great value in 1st to 6th-grade classrooms. Having a bank of sight words and commonly used words available and a place for students to record personally-relevant words is more meaningful than a word wall. Personal dictionaries can meet the needs of all students where a word wall may not. Take a look at 4 reasons for using personal student dictionaries in your classroom, and grab a free resource in this post!" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09Msxk7K4vCMj7xuGBSMFYFch2bb6ejtf3YQ5NSdh4IjOkS7CXeLbr5PJGN1vbkOZxZUXoxBEawTpwYksvK0QPdnwu5rRwX_yiR7Onq5-HcS_Q2tw2K0tAxcxJwbDX3w3A2XyYhXB-yOLfUw6eNhxFddZPygAepfA-aougT6LmkVR3yaPjPRC7YILmA/w400-h400/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom%20(2).png" title="4 Reasons to Use Personal Student Dictionaries in the Classroom" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>If the word they require isn't in the dictionary or available environmentally, this is an excellent opportunity to encourage students to remember the spelling skills and patterns they've learned. You can introduce a <b><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/spellingdictionarypage" target="_blank">"Have a Go" page</a></b> where they try spelling the unknown word independently and get some support before you give them the correct final spelling.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/spellingdictionarypage" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of free Spelling "Have a Go" Page" border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="958" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IE5yyyPWilVi4ouQmFJVbsVS5d0T3wZhRUNg-ijiXvcMDU5xFHPGHN4nUOazG1X7E-eFgVK2hyNhByuAG5aqZwHpEo65h7Z_sOf1OhDeXkKAONcI78_qG61Wj2-yYRR8gVyqwaqFaMZkxcdjympkbOyzOOuB6KvBGfffk5FmA49xRnJLIp_1J76VyQ/w426-h640/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="Personal student dictionaries, or word books, are of great value in 1st to 6th-grade classrooms. Having a bank of sight words and commonly used words available and a place for students to record personally-relevant words is more meaningful than a word wall. Personal dictionaries can meet the needs of all students where a word wall may not. Take a look at 4 reasons for using personal student dictionaries in your classroom, and grab a free resource in this post!" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHtwWe6L7a23TjMujpmOv-fNHdEmNl-6SlGf-LP46ITXeidr3JzQZrj4SYQIjvQDNutrTMornbJFLnCpHTJH1s3u0dk5F0Zxkkf4bPl3AjA1eQOANN-SCawFQQArpt-bEMabLbf8H_S0WSXDim2aX_6lgJep7nApVaXbezpzYXJEC4oIDlS0hq9Pbnw/w548-h640/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom%20(1).png" title="4 Reasons to Use Personal Student Dictionaries in the Classroom" width="548" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Grab a FREE "Have a Go" dictionary here:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/spellingdictionarypage" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Offer for free Spelling "Have a Go" page" border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="1377" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IE5yyyPWilVi4ouQmFJVbsVS5d0T3wZhRUNg-ijiXvcMDU5xFHPGHN4nUOazG1X7E-eFgVK2hyNhByuAG5aqZwHpEo65h7Z_sOf1OhDeXkKAONcI78_qG61Wj2-yYRR8gVyqwaqFaMZkxcdjympkbOyzOOuB6KvBGfffk5FmA49xRnJLIp_1J76VyQ/w426-h640/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="Personal student dictionaries, or word books, are of great value in 1st to 6th-grade classrooms. Having a bank of sight words and commonly used words available and a place for students to record personally-relevant words is more meaningful than a word wall. Personal dictionaries can meet the needs of all students where a word wall may not. Take a look at 4 reasons for using personal student dictionaries in your classroom, and grab a free resource in this post!" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TqD8z17UVrJs4brHfu9LlidEoz9rhHZ6qWfVVa-iuOzZTqhkaL6VSsjr1GeecqmikOZsNqDT7J_vdnpF2zRw01CbgCMuSmk4NNBMaRXuKZoZE5w0GSwWh6gPYi7lzokAXJjEcr0_B6UpOlilNWXv7xkWt1UKh9LDuuxKszehZHNnTFixrZpc6ug9Cw/w640-h341/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom%20Opt%20In2.png" title="4 Reasons to Use Personal Student Dictionaries in the Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Student Dictionaries Improve Performance</h1><div>In my experience with using personal dictionaries in my classroom daily, my students improve their awareness of spelling patterns, alphabetical order, and errors in their work. </div><div><br /></div><div>My students are excited to use <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Printable-Dictionary-Personal-Student-Dictionary-Lower-Upper-Sight-Words-7147686?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Reasons%20to%20Use%20Personal%20Dictionaries&utm_campaign=Printable%20Dictionary%20Bundle" target="_blank">their books</a></b> to find the word they're looking for or add it to one of the blank spaces when they don't. I even had one of my Grade 6 students come to class with the personal dictionaries she'd received from me in Grade 2 and 3! She was so proud to still have them and pull them out during writing. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Printable-Dictionary-Personal-Student-Dictionary-Lower-Upper-Sight-Words-7147686?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Reasons%20to%20Use%20Personal%20Dictionaries&utm_campaign=Printable%20Dictionary%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of student dictionaries with markers." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IE5yyyPWilVi4ouQmFJVbsVS5d0T3wZhRUNg-ijiXvcMDU5xFHPGHN4nUOazG1X7E-eFgVK2hyNhByuAG5aqZwHpEo65h7Z_sOf1OhDeXkKAONcI78_qG61Wj2-yYRR8gVyqwaqFaMZkxcdjympkbOyzOOuB6KvBGfffk5FmA49xRnJLIp_1J76VyQ/w426-h640/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="Personal student dictionaries, or word books, are of great value in 1st to 6th-grade classrooms. Having a bank of sight words and commonly used words available and a place for students to record personally-relevant words is more meaningful than a word wall. Personal dictionaries can meet the needs of all students where a word wall may not. Take a look at 4 reasons for using personal student dictionaries in your classroom, and grab a free resource in this post!" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBMdK07SnAo41jYUeHr9m6bA3tRoXKa1xBC59cQ5_50BOJxwH96MmRH1xzouR3riR23khgTe2cUbB88K33Gszr4Klt9WPFfvPwH4ey9yb00mStWi0A4kHEPxI4RH5gPBeZmpexrit9bbxHGOfh00nAQoKt0j-yX4CAghUv5buF3OknuZczEpU-vQsfRw/w400-h400/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom%20(2).JPG" title="4 Reasons to Use Personal Student Dictionaries in the Classroom" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Since I don't do traditional weekly spelling tests, my students know I want them to apply the <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2013/11/word-work-activities-students-love.html" target="_blank">word work</a></b> and spelling skills I teach them in their daily writing. Face it, some students will never be exceptional spellers but can still succeed by learning how to edit and revise more thoroughly in the end stages of the writing process. For me, learning to use a tool like this one is as important as mastering the skill.</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Student Dictionaries are Easily Differentiated</h1><div>In every class I've taught, no matter the grade, I've had <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2016/08/the-best-word-walls-for-every-classroom.html" target="_blank">students with a wide range of abilities</a></b>. Some students work at the earliest primary grade levels, and others work well beyond grade level. </div><div><br /></div><div>Because of this, I've created and used two different student dictionaries in my classroom every year, but the casual observer or visitor would never know this. When my students pull out their word books, they all look the same on the outside. On the inside, however, I've distributed the student dictionaries based on my students' needs.</div><div><br /></div><div>The <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Printable-Dictionary-Personal-Student-Dictionary-Lower-Upper-Sight-Words-7147686?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Reasons%20to%20Use%20Personal%20Dictionaries&utm_campaign=Printable%20Dictionary%20Bundle" target="_blank">lower-level book</a></b> includes all the Dolch and Fry sight words from the Pre-Primer to Third Grade lists and helpful number words.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Printable-Dictionary-Personal-Student-Dictionary-Lower-Upper-Sight-Words-7147686?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Reasons%20to%20Use%20Personal%20Dictionaries&utm_campaign=Printable%20Dictionary%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of inside pages of lower level student dictionary." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IE5yyyPWilVi4ouQmFJVbsVS5d0T3wZhRUNg-ijiXvcMDU5xFHPGHN4nUOazG1X7E-eFgVK2hyNhByuAG5aqZwHpEo65h7Z_sOf1OhDeXkKAONcI78_qG61Wj2-yYRR8gVyqwaqFaMZkxcdjympkbOyzOOuB6KvBGfffk5FmA49xRnJLIp_1J76VyQ/w426-h640/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="Personal student dictionaries, or word books, are of great value in 1st to 6th-grade classrooms. Having a bank of sight words and commonly used words available and a place for students to record personally-relevant words is more meaningful than a word wall. Personal dictionaries can meet the needs of all students where a word wall may not. Take a look at 4 reasons for using personal student dictionaries in your classroom, and grab a free resource in this post!" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbvWfYMlRqAmHFC990Gg8cZT2VMuE1vre5PCFFiwYuvkl8dyi2TlBp7cMV34AJP7Nbb-bPsJgpP8pylYk6lLO1K0nskHGk59UFxunJj2cv-4ME6PCUR4S3KjIvo1WYhBBZWPJe2ZCWFf8Hrytg7-08y0znuvGbLDUI7ARIHt_bqEfkgAcp3-vfMy7ig/w640-h640/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom%20(3).JPG" title="4 Reasons to Use Personal Student Dictionaries in the Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Printable-Dictionary-Personal-Student-Dictionary-Lower-Upper-Sight-Words-7147686?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Reasons%20to%20Use%20Personal%20Dictionaries&utm_campaign=Printable%20Dictionary%20Bundle" target="_blank">upper-level book</a></b> includes the 1000 most commonly used words in the English language with extras like number words, contractions, and common abbreviations.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Printable-Dictionary-Personal-Student-Dictionary-Lower-Upper-Sight-Words-7147686?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Reasons%20to%20Use%20Personal%20Dictionaries&utm_campaign=Printable%20Dictionary%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of inside pages of upper level student dictionary." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IE5yyyPWilVi4ouQmFJVbsVS5d0T3wZhRUNg-ijiXvcMDU5xFHPGHN4nUOazG1X7E-eFgVK2hyNhByuAG5aqZwHpEo65h7Z_sOf1OhDeXkKAONcI78_qG61Wj2-yYRR8gVyqwaqFaMZkxcdjympkbOyzOOuB6KvBGfffk5FmA49xRnJLIp_1J76VyQ/w426-h640/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="Personal student dictionaries, or word books, are of great value in 1st to 6th-grade classrooms. Having a bank of sight words and commonly used words available and a place for students to record personally-relevant words is more meaningful than a word wall. Personal dictionaries can meet the needs of all students where a word wall may not. Take a look at 4 reasons for using personal student dictionaries in your classroom, and grab a free resource in this post!" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHfTsy6eJFtZHtnJULx4jVs3lG5oDch9wlyobJHDaJD0JjQxPFFZ8sZibZ8odBOeFwVi4q_I5ueovyNpDaPMeIkiZqICFove-D4O8PuyGZM6GD6I2O5Qr-shP9xuNOeUMj7gsMLcVQHY55u5CBZAcVd4-3W1iK-BY4X5-ofj9Qc2IDa89sxo3USoQZug/w640-h640/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom%20(4).JPG" title="4 Reasons to Use Personal Student Dictionaries in the Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Both contain empty spaces for each alphabet letter where my students can add personally-relevant words.</div><div><br /></div><div>By using the same cover on both, I can support my students' needs discreetly, so no one feels different when they pull their book out to use.</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Student Dictionaries are Easy to Use</h1><div>When I created my personal dictionaries, I needed them to be easy to start with every year. The start of a new school year is busy enough without spending hours assembling books for each student.</div><div><br /></div><div>I created these in a way that allows me to print the entire book on just seven double-sided sheets of paper. When I print them and collate the pages as I go, it takes me just moments to separate each stack, fold, and staple.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Printable-Dictionary-Personal-Student-Dictionary-Lower-Upper-Sight-Words-7147686?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Reasons%20to%20Use%20Personal%20Dictionaries&utm_campaign=Printable%20Dictionary%20Bundle" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of assembly of student dictionaries." border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="540" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0IE5yyyPWilVi4ouQmFJVbsVS5d0T3wZhRUNg-ijiXvcMDU5xFHPGHN4nUOazG1X7E-eFgVK2hyNhByuAG5aqZwHpEo65h7Z_sOf1OhDeXkKAONcI78_qG61Wj2-yYRR8gVyqwaqFaMZkxcdjympkbOyzOOuB6KvBGfffk5FmA49xRnJLIp_1J76VyQ/w426-h640/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="Personal student dictionaries, or word books, are of great value in 1st to 6th-grade classrooms. Having a bank of sight words and commonly used words available and a place for students to record personally-relevant words is more meaningful than a word wall. Personal dictionaries can meet the needs of all students where a word wall may not. Take a look at 4 reasons for using personal student dictionaries in your classroom, and grab a free resource in this post!" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEglioGfNT3oFI3nXzJ4FTzrSjZixgG-rgPRwY1pDVOMm9m3zSxc6bQj1FUj4pVrIovw0Jx0FQLQLuv_WdYmm6jg8Z54c5cXJGkuin6mkTRaz3bfWGcfRq-XNccbUXWUsTyW9Vr7oAvOuN9mdpefNY--2EP4zb0UoQNGrcYSCvkGDP1TRYhy22wNdEw/w400-h400/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom%20(4).png" title="4 Reasons to Use Personal Student Dictionaries in the Classroom" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>That's it. And for <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Printable-Dictionary-Personal-Student-Dictionary-Lower-Upper-Sight-Words-7147686?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Reasons%20to%20Use%20Personal%20Dictionaries&utm_campaign=Printable%20Dictionary%20Bundle" target="_blank">a resource we use every single day</a></b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you're ready to start with student dictionaries in your classroom, check out this ready-to-go bundle with my lower- and upper-level books. While they are also available separately, having both levels will allow you to differentiate to better meet the needs of your students.</div><div><br /></div><div>Click the image below to grab yours!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Printable-Dictionary-Personal-Student-Dictionary-Lower-Upper-Sight-Words-7147686?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Reasons%20to%20Use%20Personal%20Dictionaries&utm_campaign=Printable%20Dictionary%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Personal dictionary resource bundle." border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="775" height="400" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvkxKspOgGXSTpcfiL9jESg_oHzRThDw0pg7LtXnTPgT_5Pw2T9_JxWwDtjNu_7JDFJY8lxC_dh7NSgmuHDtgo02yIACv_TbGixl_J-qg8qsRI6_7r4JDjmu3ky5y207-RQIH6xZqE8cgKxshOryu-rNIM5l4jMquSnWs0xBU3NZzz-tU395ZPzJXgw/w400-h400/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom.png" title="4 Reasons to Use Personal Student Dictionaries in the Classroom" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If you've enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_JMTNVEB2QzKrnZZGOVAzBwGUr36-9y42w_0ch7d2AaOtcO-QY7F3wHe5dqOHfQfcQgMb2q7UH8svXroDM1p8seWYCnCdsOXDH7JmiAWkCBAEj4ih7oIIGWVV43ISyQyQIorCYDqM2NFRyWm3BXPgYzPq2fCnwdi8HvyRpV7kodgYtZKpo5sCUmWOw/s1500/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom%20Pin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of student dictionaries with text, "4 Reasons to Use Personal Student Dictionaries in the Classroom"" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" data-pin-description="Personal student dictionaries, or word books, are of great value in 1st to 6th-grade classrooms. Having a bank of sight words and commonly used words available and a place for students to record personally-relevant words is more meaningful than a word wall. Personal dictionaries can meet the needs of all students where a word wall may not. Take a look at 4 reasons for using personal student dictionaries in your classroom, and grab a free resource in this post!" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_JMTNVEB2QzKrnZZGOVAzBwGUr36-9y42w_0ch7d2AaOtcO-QY7F3wHe5dqOHfQfcQgMb2q7UH8svXroDM1p8seWYCnCdsOXDH7JmiAWkCBAEj4ih7oIIGWVV43ISyQyQIorCYDqM2NFRyWm3BXPgYzPq2fCnwdi8HvyRpV7kodgYtZKpo5sCUmWOw/w426-h640/Personal%20Student%20Dictionaries%20in%20the%20Classroom%20Pin.png" title="4 Reasons to Use Personal Student Dictionaries in the Classroom" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-1987844738331677722022-09-18T05:00:00.001-04:002022-09-18T05:00:00.158-04:00How to Create a Rubric For Any Subject<div>Rubrics are an essential part of the assessment and evaluation process. The achievement charts in the Ontario curriculum documents guide how all of our evaluations of student work should be compared. However, teacher-created rubrics are useful and valid. Here are my tips and suggestions for how to make a rubric for any subject.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of blank rubric templates with text, "How to Create a Rubric For Any Subject"" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzxy4C6E5ibzuH2_EfUu4I3oj3T1uW77YasyrXlBpdv0kxnbjI9jXENHvenvCDOKgai7O8H7YRmLtGAlJRDuVc7SxnYTx9sMVlCTVQIxQz2bfqsoLt20qBTu_KC1fcjA-YjhpuQrt7rltGaLGP7MlKsdOzuYX1sUwzxGNYkGFv2U6dHWQgXDE2MlfXg/w426-h640/How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="Rubrics are an essential part of the assessment and evaluation process. Learn what a rubric is, why you should use rubrics in your classroom, and how to make a rubric. From choosing your rubric criteria to describing levels of achievement to using it to evaluate student work, you will be ready to use rubrics in your classroom immediately. Grab free editable rubric templates to help you get started. #assessment #rubric #differentiation #classroom" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioa0-kGfPsFGQH_uce6OEvOuSKOfcVhKEAZlLp1a_fE71Yq9PR4te8PT2BD1i06XlgodiT2pL9n6uYJj8q6nwNeNg8JDwdzhCd3Njq1NREKVzXHkvp_KduoyzFW_xM53c_pQaEU6kdQMp8qRoLcZaXYDEtSFU_hmAeJNWcHUXg2lcxg5T1d0h8zg3sBQ/w640-h334/How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric%20Header.png" title="How to Create a Rubric For Any Subject" width="640" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">What is a rubric?</h1><div>A rubric is an <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2021/03/how-to-plan-assessment-for-learning-and-assessment-of-learning-in-math.html" target="_blank">assessment tool</a></b> designed to objectively describe achievement across various levels. They are typically designed in a chart with the criteria in one column and varying degrees of competencies described in the subsequent columns, representing the levels of achievement. Rubrics can state precisely what performance at each level looks like, or they can be open with the teacher using a guide like the one below to assign levels to student work.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of enlarged rubric scale" border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="721" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzxy4C6E5ibzuH2_EfUu4I3oj3T1uW77YasyrXlBpdv0kxnbjI9jXENHvenvCDOKgai7O8H7YRmLtGAlJRDuVc7SxnYTx9sMVlCTVQIxQz2bfqsoLt20qBTu_KC1fcjA-YjhpuQrt7rltGaLGP7MlKsdOzuYX1sUwzxGNYkGFv2U6dHWQgXDE2MlfXg/w426-h640/How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="Rubrics are an essential part of the assessment and evaluation process. Learn what a rubric is, why you should use rubrics in your classroom, and how to make a rubric. From choosing your rubric criteria to describing levels of achievement to using it to evaluate student work, you will be ready to use rubrics in your classroom immediately. Grab free editable rubric templates to help you get started. #assessment #rubric #differentiation #classroom" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZ5DpagR169U67eeCEG_m93KL_wywXeA2X7F4eX-1s4aW3WoQv-5EZTvtkm5PIE09cWgolBzDUIFrbqAs_VZKS4Ya1hW7g9gv2dhCRliv3_ndISBNKIfmf1L8luZdsvASjnK-Zi3ARvs8y1l9kYUxTBBEC48QoseIBKNC9Jr9OCTFWdJQ0UndW3wzdw/w640-h460/How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric.jpg" title="How to Create a Rubric For Any Subject" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Why use rubrics?</h1><div>Rubrics provide more depth than a single grade on an assignment. They break down tasks into the various components that may be evaluated and allow for an objective look at each part separately from the whole assignment. They also allow for easy cross-curricular integration of expectations. You can easily get reading and writing marks from the same piece when your expectations for students are clear!</div><div><br /></div><div>For example, a student may have written a <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2019/01/get-students-to-write-complete-responses.html" target="_blank">strong reading response</a></b> in the area of using the text to support their thinking but may be lacking appropriate spelling and punctuation conventions for the grade. A rubric allows both criteria to be considered when a grade is assigned to the work.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of sample completed rubric for reading response." border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzxy4C6E5ibzuH2_EfUu4I3oj3T1uW77YasyrXlBpdv0kxnbjI9jXENHvenvCDOKgai7O8H7YRmLtGAlJRDuVc7SxnYTx9sMVlCTVQIxQz2bfqsoLt20qBTu_KC1fcjA-YjhpuQrt7rltGaLGP7MlKsdOzuYX1sUwzxGNYkGFv2U6dHWQgXDE2MlfXg/w426-h640/How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="Rubrics are an essential part of the assessment and evaluation process. Learn what a rubric is, why you should use rubrics in your classroom, and how to make a rubric. From choosing your rubric criteria to describing levels of achievement to using it to evaluate student work, you will be ready to use rubrics in your classroom immediately. Grab free editable rubric templates to help you get started. #assessment #rubric #differentiation #classroom" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUnYgCFsXLJR-nur3VFo2653yltYsewEVxQuyu28-vaDDwQeoayegV0q1UIif7a94aGv_eOroBN3pTSi1hXWWEQXemPwZhYiIFDEIPtpqqOHr51-JX7RemJo1T3D2N62f7FGMVwIbTCtHwBFC-CVA6jRwIzKp-hFQJhoimTWE3vESypTckNT1m7H2Tjw/w640-h640/How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric%20Filled%20Sample.png" title="How to Create a Rubric For Any Subject" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">How to make a rubric</h1><div>There are several things to consider when you're creating a rubric. It is important to consider whether you are <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2021/03/how-to-plan-assessment-for-learning-and-assessment-of-learning-in-math.html" target="_blank">assessing formative or summative student work</a></b>. Let's break it down.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">1. Decide on the criteria</h4><div>The criteria, or what you're assessing, is the foundation of the rubric. Take the task or assignment you wish to evaluate and list the things you want your students to demonstrate they can do. </div><div><br /></div><div>Co-creating the criteria with your students is a good idea since it gives them a clear picture of what you expect from them. Regardless, sharing the requirements in advance is critical to student success.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of sample rubric criteria." border="0" data-original-height="573" data-original-width="720" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzxy4C6E5ibzuH2_EfUu4I3oj3T1uW77YasyrXlBpdv0kxnbjI9jXENHvenvCDOKgai7O8H7YRmLtGAlJRDuVc7SxnYTx9sMVlCTVQIxQz2bfqsoLt20qBTu_KC1fcjA-YjhpuQrt7rltGaLGP7MlKsdOzuYX1sUwzxGNYkGFv2U6dHWQgXDE2MlfXg/w426-h640/How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="Rubrics are an essential part of the assessment and evaluation process. Learn what a rubric is, why you should use rubrics in your classroom, and how to make a rubric. From choosing your rubric criteria to describing levels of achievement to using it to evaluate student work, you will be ready to use rubrics in your classroom immediately. Grab free editable rubric templates to help you get started. #assessment #rubric #differentiation #classroom" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFEpdwSfshDOia9KHVwGJne_lBfG_-w18KV2W78se7tKQS08zHCdXknNirBvaADZIxmyUvGnVlOyAojbCBpGO_0_HdFQmdlZL2kT5BAWC8wPrZmEzYgwQEg7330Rhyjh0lPm346CQc4JEHitJjpJlk-eQ5uvPSNdxWyu556fJUhYj52Qj0WQkoYuPRw/w400-h319/How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric%20Criteria.png" title="How to Create a Rubric For Any Subject" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If your mandated curriculum includes a rubric or achievement chart, use it as a guide as you identify your assessment criteria. You will want to be sure that you evaluate students on all parts of the achievement chart over the year.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">2. Describe levels of achievement</h4><div>Different districts require assessment across different levels. Here in Ontario, we use a four-point rubric or four levels of performance. A rubric can have levels that range from just complete/incomplete to multiple levels of mastery.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of enlarged rubric scale." border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="721" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzxy4C6E5ibzuH2_EfUu4I3oj3T1uW77YasyrXlBpdv0kxnbjI9jXENHvenvCDOKgai7O8H7YRmLtGAlJRDuVc7SxnYTx9sMVlCTVQIxQz2bfqsoLt20qBTu_KC1fcjA-YjhpuQrt7rltGaLGP7MlKsdOzuYX1sUwzxGNYkGFv2U6dHWQgXDE2MlfXg/w426-h640/How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="Rubrics are an essential part of the assessment and evaluation process. Learn what a rubric is, why you should use rubrics in your classroom, and how to make a rubric. From choosing your rubric criteria to describing levels of achievement to using it to evaluate student work, you will be ready to use rubrics in your classroom immediately. Grab free editable rubric templates to help you get started. #assessment #rubric #differentiation #classroom" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQ7W_dY32kyl0XcPYb7TqGHdQbBimXPlV0HwlG7UAgYjt_YVNDErHBT-uGBIzr6g6Htm8vrBMZXkDhqw_9kABF_XoHyfSwF8w5uLT63BYQhEIgfJ53Pn0-_2yiNzS3rPIy89AH_9hglPNpzfotBFfs5JgarC0CL35dO2GLCu0h-J1jZlbC_4uiQgPTQ/w400-h288/How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric.jpg" title="How to Create a Rubric For Any Subject" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In my classroom, I generally use the following:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>limited, some, considerable/most, thorough/almost all</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">or</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>not yet, getting there, on track, exceeding expectations</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">I usually use the levels in the first list for rubrics that my students don't need to see, and the second list for rubrics I'll share with my students.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In a full rubric, you will take the criteria and describe what each looks like at every level of achievement. You can see an example of this in the <b><a href="https://www.dcp.edu.gov.on.ca/en/curriculum/elementary-mathematics/context/assessment-and-evaluation-of-student-achievement" target="_blank">2020 Ontario Achievement Chart for Mathematics</a></b>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">3. Try it out and revise if necessary</h4><div>Before using your new tool to assess student work, try using it to evaluate one piece. Does it address all the goals you wanted to assess? Is it worded in a clear, objective way? Is there anything you need to adjust to better suit your needs?</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">4. Use the rubric to provide constructive feedback</h4><div>Rubrics are useless if they don't provide students with information about their progress. Unless the rubric is part of a <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2021/03/how-to-plan-assessment-for-learning-and-assessment-of-learning-in-math.html" target="_blank">summative assessment</a></b>, you should use it to share some next steps with your students.</div><div><br /></div><div>I like to use completed rubrics to let my students know what criteria they should be proud of doing well and what they should work on next to continue to grow and improve their skills.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In my <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" target="_blank">Reader's Notebook and Reading Response resource</a></b>, I've included several editable rubrics with a full page of criteria ideas for assessing student work. You can grab that here:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Reader's Notebook and Reading Response Prompts resource" border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="775" height="400" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6bEUJIZUh27uqDz8k8gLy2ymMY2XxzpxXhY5XEAE_We6eqctz0tfOZB0QGpfkYXiIeF2eFGfm8WfeY12dT6EgOwxSK1SQLYGkWOAtIt-5wNQwjeuMcJf8RsSzoc0a486-DYzXnzHbo3oPI5Ou5VxacQiyzb8C0IdvlOuGTVAQKV6G4lS4332DlNPKBA/w400-h400/How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric%20Resource.png" title="How to Create a Rubric For Any Subject" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If you'd like some <b><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/rubrictemplates" target="_blank">free editable rubric templates</a></b> to get started with, click the image below.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/rubrictemplates" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Free rubric templates offer." border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="1386" height="338" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizs8teOtryQWFt3pvG3U6jCDVKT5n0WCuP76pHFIzztxTT5la2Y-x9SLewKEeVdGgrFMrz8CIws0zw0WM_aOO8LqM9zCplJQ92FOFWAjWMURinEqAJxnZ7G1nxb_r3v5VtBOHLvjpgIgHaVivHU_pz-fZIFoHs2l1Ljn8OTEuCcPEgrEfHVvFzgc2qBQ/w640-h338/How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric%20Opt%20In2.png" title="How to Create a Rubric For Any Subject" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If you've enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fzVqpeK3PzjS3Jonl08nCZGR1pgnNSkYQ9GfJnCZ2Ih8KNGRBswBm1i4o9hR-9jHRS3nMGy2FBcI1iIfclO2sP4TBpXOROik_gQsNrN8ugScZHkDu0hgZPqylZ2eO56OKwZ4OUDaPRMbNXZCmhCL2f7KjneVlnFslqq620Ai62lweDq_GRym2Q6AGQ/s1500/How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric%20Pin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of blank rubric templates with text, "How to Create a Rubric For Any Subject"" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" data-pin-description="Rubrics are an essential part of the assessment and evaluation process. Learn what a rubric is, why you should use rubrics in your classroom, and how to make a rubric. From choosing your rubric criteria to describing levels of achievement to using it to evaluate student work, you will be ready to use rubrics in your classroom immediately. Grab free editable rubric templates to help you get started. #assessment #rubric #differentiation #classroom" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7fzVqpeK3PzjS3Jonl08nCZGR1pgnNSkYQ9GfJnCZ2Ih8KNGRBswBm1i4o9hR-9jHRS3nMGy2FBcI1iIfclO2sP4TBpXOROik_gQsNrN8ugScZHkDu0hgZPqylZ2eO56OKwZ4OUDaPRMbNXZCmhCL2f7KjneVlnFslqq620Ai62lweDq_GRym2Q6AGQ/w426-h640/How%20to%20Create%20a%20Rubric%20Pin.png" title="How to Create a Rubric For Any Subject" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-40346632028683163462022-09-04T05:00:00.001-04:002022-09-04T05:00:00.154-04:00How to Use the RACES Strategy to Teach Responding to Reading<div style="text-align: left;">A constructed response strategy like RACE or RACES is a great way to support your students when responding to reading. Since many state and provincial assessments expect these types of responses, it is essential that we explicitly teach students how to answer them! This post shares why I've chosen the RACES strategy and how to introduce and implement it in your classroom.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Use%20the%20RACES&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of Reader's Notebook pages in two formats with text, "How to Use the RACES Strategy to Teach Responding to Reading"" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nACEym_l7z4xVbr-inB51D9Nh-EhpkgagzQAV2Q6D7FCn3U7dDZOsjTG5gW4vXyzU3o9FZV66rGDu5wl8lSL2fKKMqNo-srtcuYRWmxz6ivGGcdMhGbuGzbcmYG2NrgUtkmbAu8j4uvlwepcpphqGYojG0CzmdHbCxjugpW6drsdzs0L0vZplPMmPg/w426-h640/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="A constructed response strategy like RACE or RACES is a great way to support your students when responding to reading. Learn about the RACES acronym for response writing, how to introduce the RACES strategy to your students, how to implement RACES in the classroom, and grab some FREE reading response pages to use in your 4th-grade, 5th-grade, or 6th-grade classroom to practice using the RACES strategy. #writingteacher #readingresponse #writingclassroom" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgbRBbNxOo69ponOYI8SF-qHTDh550CKFZfO9x0Q98Yuk5Zsc7f5p0Jh1A_0QuD2nvaOd4rcW8pqNk9i-cqrAI3KhIPEVd0U5hg4VFlm1iyYEa9jCrK5pBqdF0mEqgqCm8B71nPgzisqd38SApU2oS07ZxWsdrUdotRkGZE9KAHTLcXgsSdrMAmd6VA/w640-h334/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20(1).png" title="How to Use the RACES Strategy to Teach Responding to Reading" width="640" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">What does RACES stand for?</h1><div>RACES is an acronym designed to help students remember the essential parts of <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Use%20the%20RACES&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" target="_blank">reading response</a></b>. Some classrooms don't include the S, but I think it is a necessary bridge to longer-form essay writing. The RACES acronym stands for:</div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><span> </span><span> </span>R</b>estate<br /><span> </span><span> </span><b>A</b>nswer<br /><span> </span><span> </span><b>C</b>ite<br /><span> </span><span> </span><b>E</b>xplain<br /><span> </span><span> </span><b>S</b>um it up</span><div><p><br /></p><h1 style="text-align: left;">How to introduce and implement RACES</h1><p>Let's take a closer look at each of the parts:</p><h4 style="text-align: left;">Restate and Answer the Question</h4><div>For me, the first two parts of the RACES strategy work hand in hand. Students should use words from the question in a statement form that answers the question. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Use%20the%20RACES&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of RACES poster with R and A sections circled" border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="816" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nACEym_l7z4xVbr-inB51D9Nh-EhpkgagzQAV2Q6D7FCn3U7dDZOsjTG5gW4vXyzU3o9FZV66rGDu5wl8lSL2fKKMqNo-srtcuYRWmxz6ivGGcdMhGbuGzbcmYG2NrgUtkmbAu8j4uvlwepcpphqGYojG0CzmdHbCxjugpW6drsdzs0L0vZplPMmPg/w426-h640/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="A constructed response strategy like RACE or RACES is a great way to support your students when responding to reading. Learn about the RACES acronym for response writing, how to introduce the RACES strategy to your students, how to implement RACES in the classroom, and grab some FREE reading response pages to use in your 4th-grade, 5th-grade, or 6th-grade classroom to practice using the RACES strategy. #writingteacher #readingresponse #writingclassroom" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_EFdHk1pvbLn5sSu76_-J2AQX86A8er6TrYyUuD5nT5ZgbDotkFwggkrr9RpOzIAmMrqSO3CaCHk9Hqb8GmDoavmOo1Sp6QElm9jRcggUTXSBwi3Zw-Wf9lvTNx50__-J2fN8VEhy7IDUbo9iqf2CG-JYaYjBzBfhynmnjnqf9HmAoeRKseYsX3ojiA/w309-h400/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20(4).png" title="How to Use the RACES Strategy to Teach Responding to Reading" width="309" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>For example, if the question asked, "<i><b>Who is your favorite character in the book you are reading?"</b></i> the students should begin their response using something like this:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Use%20the%20RACES&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of reading response page with partial response." border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1688" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nACEym_l7z4xVbr-inB51D9Nh-EhpkgagzQAV2Q6D7FCn3U7dDZOsjTG5gW4vXyzU3o9FZV66rGDu5wl8lSL2fKKMqNo-srtcuYRWmxz6ivGGcdMhGbuGzbcmYG2NrgUtkmbAu8j4uvlwepcpphqGYojG0CzmdHbCxjugpW6drsdzs0L0vZplPMmPg/w426-h640/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="A constructed response strategy like RACE or RACES is a great way to support your students when responding to reading. Learn about the RACES acronym for response writing, how to introduce the RACES strategy to your students, how to implement RACES in the classroom, and grab some FREE reading response pages to use in your 4th-grade, 5th-grade, or 6th-grade classroom to practice using the RACES strategy. #writingteacher #readingresponse #writingclassroom" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrHmC4PQS5oQY9ZqEOXbXpQG9wQKWbaf_i1O4tzcYITd5oMgeP6HWig0KdInB_dprAZRwGFoJsKXh6YZUJbqQZJnnW3zhumf1W_qompRVyiMO6AEKhf11bREDhJmhig6sZOumpYU83rjt5ER0W2yG22CJYv6lTVKZgXqPDxvb7ZQqWnflSMR6SNdDTgQ/w640-h426/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20(6).png" title="How to Use the RACES Strategy to Teach Responding to Reading" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The text reads: "In the book Holes, my favorite character is Zero because he is brave."</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The student has both used words from the question (Restate) and given their answer.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Cite the Evidence</h4><div>The next part of the strategy requires students to cite the evidence that supports their answers. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Use%20the%20RACES&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of RACES poster with C section circled" border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="816" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nACEym_l7z4xVbr-inB51D9Nh-EhpkgagzQAV2Q6D7FCn3U7dDZOsjTG5gW4vXyzU3o9FZV66rGDu5wl8lSL2fKKMqNo-srtcuYRWmxz6ivGGcdMhGbuGzbcmYG2NrgUtkmbAu8j4uvlwepcpphqGYojG0CzmdHbCxjugpW6drsdzs0L0vZplPMmPg/w426-h640/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="A constructed response strategy like RACE or RACES is a great way to support your students when responding to reading. Learn about the RACES acronym for response writing, how to introduce the RACES strategy to your students, how to implement RACES in the classroom, and grab some FREE reading response pages to use in your 4th-grade, 5th-grade, or 6th-grade classroom to practice using the RACES strategy. #writingteacher #readingresponse #writingclassroom" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70LkLEIDWaKnbMgJLaCZ1rzaS5x4n4ZUyXS1yvsjfZLK7bL2QrCFKRPqImsJFGMjLMv-w5blgUsrGjsu5iMWkEOyNS3ZWO5FTJoneb3E5P9vXIEaQvp4gx2xUZM1z0YqsygtqlowP7G-AZtzUK-7YOvUIm6px8WnTDIvEhKEct73Nwmj7bVuk3d9BnQ/w309-h400/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20(2).png" title="How to Use the RACES Strategy to Teach Responding to Reading" width="309" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In the case of the example above, students will need to find a place in the text that proves that Zero is brave. They may write something like:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Use%20the%20RACES&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of reading response page with partial response." border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1688" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nACEym_l7z4xVbr-inB51D9Nh-EhpkgagzQAV2Q6D7FCn3U7dDZOsjTG5gW4vXyzU3o9FZV66rGDu5wl8lSL2fKKMqNo-srtcuYRWmxz6ivGGcdMhGbuGzbcmYG2NrgUtkmbAu8j4uvlwepcpphqGYojG0CzmdHbCxjugpW6drsdzs0L0vZplPMmPg/w426-h640/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="A constructed response strategy like RACE or RACES is a great way to support your students when responding to reading. Learn about the RACES acronym for response writing, how to introduce the RACES strategy to your students, how to implement RACES in the classroom, and grab some FREE reading response pages to use in your 4th-grade, 5th-grade, or 6th-grade classroom to practice using the RACES strategy. #writingteacher #readingresponse #writingclassroom" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbYHPRIkGa82g0-CbxEdB0sUxgg91Gqzd5ra-drwzx2ahhkg13J4NGPWOEsFEH5K6PCzTi3FDRSzzd2_qyxxyZLAY7ryWSX9YYJa72f1ETQ-xFkMZsU7C5gtTpGB3wOuDM4FZjoInOWPtXXzZQr3gjNFEZ5J5Dsidzo-7QjVTKlxiguyzz7gHZ0BnSTA/w640-h426/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20(7).png" title="How to Use the RACES Strategy to Teach Responding to Reading" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The text reads: </b>"In the book Holes, my favorite character is Zero because he is brave. </i><b><i>On page 144, Zero explains that his mother left him in the park and didn't return. He told Stanley that he lived there for a month before someone found him."</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">Depending on the standards or expectations in your curriculum, you may expect your students to either paraphrase the text or use direct quotes here.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Explain Your Thinking</h4><div>In this part of the process, students explain the evidence they just cited. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Use%20the%20RACES&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of RACES photo with E section circled" border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="816" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nACEym_l7z4xVbr-inB51D9Nh-EhpkgagzQAV2Q6D7FCn3U7dDZOsjTG5gW4vXyzU3o9FZV66rGDu5wl8lSL2fKKMqNo-srtcuYRWmxz6ivGGcdMhGbuGzbcmYG2NrgUtkmbAu8j4uvlwepcpphqGYojG0CzmdHbCxjugpW6drsdzs0L0vZplPMmPg/w426-h640/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="A constructed response strategy like RACE or RACES is a great way to support your students when responding to reading. Learn about the RACES acronym for response writing, how to introduce the RACES strategy to your students, how to implement RACES in the classroom, and grab some FREE reading response pages to use in your 4th-grade, 5th-grade, or 6th-grade classroom to practice using the RACES strategy. #writingteacher #readingresponse #writingclassroom" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIIL5-1dF5iZUt11cGfy9G4AHO9joH0LwCftU2_SC0WWZLGAaXBZW832aF3Odl9ztr1BFrTVqNlvCM4n2SCtl5NeKKkKT3t1CcvGfZKAWJ063pVsnb3KEj8SwGuOQt1FWHFdF_6LLMJjpka6EPyGzZx5iYMPca9MHdtx6qhpA6kbnOglQ1C8IVGoB-g/w309-h400/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20(3).png" title="How to Use the RACES Strategy to Teach Responding to Reading" width="309" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is the perfect place for students to answer the question <b>So what?</b> and say why the evidence matters. I also tell my students that this is a great place to include their opinions and feelings about the content by making personal connections to the story or text.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Use%20the%20RACES&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of reading response page with partial response." border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1688" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nACEym_l7z4xVbr-inB51D9Nh-EhpkgagzQAV2Q6D7FCn3U7dDZOsjTG5gW4vXyzU3o9FZV66rGDu5wl8lSL2fKKMqNo-srtcuYRWmxz6ivGGcdMhGbuGzbcmYG2NrgUtkmbAu8j4uvlwepcpphqGYojG0CzmdHbCxjugpW6drsdzs0L0vZplPMmPg/w426-h640/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="A constructed response strategy like RACE or RACES is a great way to support your students when responding to reading. Learn about the RACES acronym for response writing, how to introduce the RACES strategy to your students, how to implement RACES in the classroom, and grab some FREE reading response pages to use in your 4th-grade, 5th-grade, or 6th-grade classroom to practice using the RACES strategy. #writingteacher #readingresponse #writingclassroom" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4fwbRwZzq7sByYD_RXErgkOMQgpIceCLIG-S5l2Wl43prWQw4g0hyKxOAUy1QlKQlk78QCxJi0ycREjYh9VUUGg2-5zX2CODK7ORG239l82_uz4JOQImTd5-BwFXIPwvV-9_MurNOX__OeNLPVSpMRosxn80kQPA00oNwjhrHmHOaXIu56jKRH7QAQ/w640-h426/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20(8).png" title="How to Use the RACES Strategy to Teach Responding to Reading" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The text reads: </b>"In the book Holes, my favorite character is Zero because he is brave. </i><i>On page 144, Zero explains that his mother left him in the park and didn't return. He told Stanley that he lived there for a month before someone found him. </i><b><i>Being a child all alone in a strange place would be a scary experience. I remember a time when I woke up and couldn't find my parents. I ran around the house looking everywhere for them and started to cry when I couldn't find them anywhere. It turned out they had crossed the road to talk with our neighbor. I can't imagine being alone for a whole month."</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;">The student has explained a personal connection directly related to the character's bravery mentioned in their answer.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Sum It Up</h4><div>In this optional part of the RACES strategy, I teach my students to return to their topic sentences and use different words to say the same thing.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Use%20the%20RACES&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of RACES poster with S section circled" border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="816" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nACEym_l7z4xVbr-inB51D9Nh-EhpkgagzQAV2Q6D7FCn3U7dDZOsjTG5gW4vXyzU3o9FZV66rGDu5wl8lSL2fKKMqNo-srtcuYRWmxz6ivGGcdMhGbuGzbcmYG2NrgUtkmbAu8j4uvlwepcpphqGYojG0CzmdHbCxjugpW6drsdzs0L0vZplPMmPg/w426-h640/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="A constructed response strategy like RACE or RACES is a great way to support your students when responding to reading. Learn about the RACES acronym for response writing, how to introduce the RACES strategy to your students, how to implement RACES in the classroom, and grab some FREE reading response pages to use in your 4th-grade, 5th-grade, or 6th-grade classroom to practice using the RACES strategy. #writingteacher #readingresponse #writingclassroom" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xzsssCCTd-AjCOKrztD4vu1ER_aeEqhSY56r3mY2v8B7f0leO9irSgIjRRIdXBMBqFIJHmvREPBtNSnKlyjxXYYx4kBUZ3mynLeUmwSY3vC6pzyi4n5E19Vx8eMgZvRjNwY4BB_DIe2sfZoUvrUqqDsYW36b5u4Vi8xYPOB1fOXUdzjsBL_UuXDlcg/w309-h400/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20(5).png" title="How to Use the RACES Strategy to Teach Responding to Reading" width="309" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>For the response above, the student might write:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Use%20the%20RACES&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of reading response page with partial response." border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1688" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nACEym_l7z4xVbr-inB51D9Nh-EhpkgagzQAV2Q6D7FCn3U7dDZOsjTG5gW4vXyzU3o9FZV66rGDu5wl8lSL2fKKMqNo-srtcuYRWmxz6ivGGcdMhGbuGzbcmYG2NrgUtkmbAu8j4uvlwepcpphqGYojG0CzmdHbCxjugpW6drsdzs0L0vZplPMmPg/w426-h640/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20Pin.png" data-pin-description="A constructed response strategy like RACE or RACES is a great way to support your students when responding to reading. Learn about the RACES acronym for response writing, how to introduce the RACES strategy to your students, how to implement RACES in the classroom, and grab some FREE reading response pages to use in your 4th-grade, 5th-grade, or 6th-grade classroom to practice using the RACES strategy. #writingteacher #readingresponse #writingclassroom" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZWYep12yjE4SApA6EtKE9lzCEIiL8ufZPKZIKAbXVc661Th6dUuc2KGe6B0ZvK9gAe10P16RrpMC1je2155KdwBaHZv0gOT311xdNuKWb18_0i7AJ4HF2Mj-n1aA8fPFWAE2vaazuM8s3x9ogRAoK6c4AOaWppDpOJLcxa6CiGEergoN6RTfeyYVhYw/w640-h426/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20(9).png" title="How to Use the RACES Strategy to Teach Responding to Reading" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The text reads: </b>"In the book Holes, my favorite character is Zero because he is brave. </i><i>On page 144, Zero explains that his mother left him in the park and didn't return. He told Stanley that he lived there for a month before someone found him. </i><i>Being a child all alone in a strange place would be a scary experience. I remember a time when I woke up and couldn't find my parents. I ran around the house looking everywhere for them and started to cry when I couldn't find them anywhere. It turned out they had crossed the road to talk with our neighbor. I can't imagine being alone for a whole month. </i><b><i>In summary, because Zero is brave like me, he is my favorite character in the book Holes."</i></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Model responding to reading, then practice, practice, practice</h2><div>I use every opportunity I can to help my students practice this strategy. </div><div><br /></div><div>We spend time orally answering questions by restating them and giving answers. We guess what a question might have been by reading the topic sentence of a reading response sample. I spent many lessons walking students through modeled reading responses based on our class read-aloud. We look (anonymously) at student work samples and identify the parts of the RACES strategy in their responses. We also build a <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2019/04/bump-it-up-wall-can-improve-student-success.html" target="_blank">Bump It Up Wall</a></b> to explicitly display the qualities of a good response and show examples of how to improve student work.</div><div><br /></div><div>Having this RACES strategy established as regular practice from the beginning of the school year puts students in an excellent position to respond to reading questions on state or provincial assessments in the spring.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>If you'd like a copy of the RACES strategy poster I used in this post, it is part of my <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Use%20the%20RACES&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" target="_blank">full-year Reader's Notebook and Reading Response resource</a></b>. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Use%20the%20RACES&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of Reader's Notebook and Reading Response Prompts resource" border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="775" height="400" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HUnW0OTqm5uw4h2uLOPx1jSF_dDZTypxHMDj3ctqXNcR31uLmSXJp24n_l_VhnTUAgbCLvSTtUMLaMpqKqCTm3E8ZeA0TU1JXPNb3kz2wrB5_s9vKZ1zJVIm0XUJihLc88UsZK54cT35t1_IpZTfPg4F10K67bTORcrWsxpSmhD9x8aF7f1UAqBWjg/w400-h400/RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20Resource.png" title="How to Use the RACES Strategy to Teach Responding to Reading" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The poster is also part of a <b><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/readingresponse" target="_blank">free one-week sample</a></b> of this resource, which you can grab here:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/readingresponse" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of offer of Free reading response pages." border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="1391" height="340" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZyguTRufJY278BRGzkJz0EcpFJ49UZvgtJrrmxmfP0ttWGOlA0FkG_KlUS6Wc71S58XM0ueKtBKUS81ottYiw4disz58KA2Hrf6JG2LU_OmkL98ISSW_cDVMXXA7K6_rNDclYMHYIsEVYGwBNkbafZCTWivMCPAuLFTveJ73y_Z8bbB1rGeSTZSYAPw/w640-h340/RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20Opt%20In2.png" title="How to Use the RACES Strategy to Teach Responding to Reading" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>If you've enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirVmzc8kLjovEOZljVOG_RTAVQissBP496iWKdXQsI1MoKTqZFn5xldmsFG9S7rHwNzhn1P7p-LrSJAt48kh0o0XFqQqWdr0t8yKRo-q56Imq9OPx1wOwf2c6WROhUJTtZYjHRnVIu7APf0wBal5BI5DV9HvxewDcxXKZsfQ33xMyXZUg3SyhefeyjA/s1500/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20Pin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of RACES poster displayed on iPad with text, "How to Use the RACES Strategy to Teach Responding to Reading"" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" data-pin-description="A constructed response strategy like RACE or RACES is a great way to support your students when responding to reading. Learn about the RACES acronym for response writing, how to introduce the RACES strategy to your students, how to implement RACES in the classroom, and grab some FREE reading response pages to use in your 4th-grade, 5th-grade, or 6th-grade classroom to practice using the RACES strategy. #writingteacher #readingresponse #writingclassroom" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirVmzc8kLjovEOZljVOG_RTAVQissBP496iWKdXQsI1MoKTqZFn5xldmsFG9S7rHwNzhn1P7p-LrSJAt48kh0o0XFqQqWdr0t8yKRo-q56Imq9OPx1wOwf2c6WROhUJTtZYjHRnVIu7APf0wBal5BI5DV9HvxewDcxXKZsfQ33xMyXZUg3SyhefeyjA/w426-h640/Using%20RACES%20Strategy%20to%20Teach%20Responding%20to%20Reading%20Pin.png" title="How to Use the RACES Strategy to Teach Responding to Reading" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-15475209682152619042022-08-21T05:00:00.007-04:002023-02-25T14:25:09.506-05:00How to Get Started With Small Group Instruction<div style="text-align: left;">Small-group instruction is a valuable teaching strategy, but the thought of getting started can be overwhelming. How exactly do you get small-group instruction organized? I've got the tips and tricks you need!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Lesson-Plans-Year-Long-Math-Lesson-Plan-BUNDLE-Ontario-Math-CCSS-3268576?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction&utm_campaign=GM%20Lesson%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of small-group math activity with text, "How to Get Started With Small Group Instruction"" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-description="Small-group instruction is a valuable teaching strategy, but the thought of getting started can be overwhelming. How exactly do you get small-group instruction organized? I've got the tips and tricks you need! Easily get your guided math groups and center rotations organized with the tools and resources shared in this post. Learn how to establish small groups, how to manage small groups, what to teach in small group lessons, and what the other kids are doing during small group teaching." data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKyGlm6NWTjgA2CdzQ0mjQ0e7Jp2zZM8yrVoyTZ_UFq6tcwpoxNZ3XMAH3y8wHzrbSSmvgaTxWO30mDwP5JBP543hjUnwI2qJ_AaQiMHxcJm-vSQWBo9wOe9K9mnWXaDRRufeskEnF6mI9SLs2aV5Fm6nsA-4Zfe0eURPaVkqqFS3ruqW5tQaBs0x7w/w426-h640/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzaHNNnArajDYtCKEfiflEL_n8dvxqGB6sY-saTFG53qEq9SiNYr3kBzCDAKigeKXK9lVNRa4XLM5mTqpej5sMe9uF_tZ6LN-jQJkZtqZrc2hpztIXm6zLt0DdHSHaQTKr-ZyRwIISWbvu_qwoAdHYgZv-IUWjnsVqIdOqMOpvEdJ5OJV4jfJI7OXcw/w640-h334/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%20Header.png" title="How to Get Started With Small Group Instruction" width="640" /></a></div><span></span><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Why small-group instruction?</h1><div>If you've spent any time in a classroom, you know that there is no one-size-fits-all lesson that meets the needs of every student. In my 24+ years of teaching, I've seen firsthand the <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2018/01/the-best-reasons-for-using-guided-math.html" target="_blank">benefits of teaching small-group lessons</a></b>. A quick Google search asking <a href="https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA953CA953&sxsrf=ALiCzsZ4P5vnXMwwZ92eDDiTaf-Nium5JQ:1655579877198&q=What+does+the+research+say+about+small+group+instruction%3F&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjM4ujT27f4AhUmAzQIHaWaBIwQzmd6BAgUEAU&biw=1536&bih=722&dpr=1.25" target="_blank"><b>what the research says about small-group instruction</b></a> will give you plenty of scientific evidence to support my claim.</div><div><br /></div><div>We know <b>why </b>small-group instruction is a good idea, but how do we actually <b>do </b>it?</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">How to establish your small groups</h1><div>There is no "right way" to <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Group-Rotations-Guided-Math-Organizational-System-Print-Digital-1493193?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction&utm_campaign=GM%20Organizational%20Resource" target="_blank">create groups</a></b> for small-group learning. Groups might be based on academic ability, performance on a diagnostic task, or could be completely random.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the context of math, I <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2017/10/how-to-set-up-guided-math-groups.html" target="_blank">create my small groups</a></b> based on a combination of those first two: my students' abilities as I've observed them and their performance or engagement with a diagnostic math task.</div><div><br /></div><div>For me, having homogeneous groups where students have similar strengths and weaknesses allows me to structure lessons in a way that moves all students forward. </div><div><br /></div><div>I aim for groups of no more than five or six students, and my student groups remain fluid. They may change from unit to unit, and I may even shift a student from one group to another while we're in the middle of a unit if their needs better match those of another group.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Lesson-Plans-Year-Long-Math-Lesson-Plan-BUNDLE-Ontario-Math-CCSS-3268576?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction&utm_campaign=GM%20Lesson%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of small-group math activity" border="0" data-original-height="2849" data-original-width="2849" data-pin-description="Small-group instruction is a valuable teaching strategy, but the thought of getting started can be overwhelming. How exactly do you get small-group instruction organized? I've got the tips and tricks you need! Easily get your guided math groups and center rotations organized with the tools and resources shared in this post. Learn how to establish small groups, how to manage small groups, what to teach in small group lessons, and what the other kids are doing during small group teaching." data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKyGlm6NWTjgA2CdzQ0mjQ0e7Jp2zZM8yrVoyTZ_UFq6tcwpoxNZ3XMAH3y8wHzrbSSmvgaTxWO30mDwP5JBP543hjUnwI2qJ_AaQiMHxcJm-vSQWBo9wOe9K9mnWXaDRRufeskEnF6mI9SLs2aV5Fm6nsA-4Zfe0eURPaVkqqFS3ruqW5tQaBs0x7w/w426-h640/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDofA8K1uTszk3iv3SZKIdgrp5u0JWNTNrfSL8b04O8NcHiYpZ7HWYJW5zXofnsZC4pu0kQ4FerRCvlYHTvPlfqkcLpdwCuySd03svolBIQzWeRIVXIWWb8W09zWGZZ0YcFJRjo79j86hKuQeEgJMb2s6f60IZDjKRAQSFCnktot69YWqTvtU3spBEfg/w400-h400/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%20(1).jpg" title="How to Get Started With Small Group Instruction" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">How to manage small-group rotations</h1><div>I train my students for <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Group-Rotations-Guided-Math-Organizational-System-Print-Digital-1493193?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction&utm_campaign=GM%20Organizational%20Resource" target="_blank">small-group rotations</a></b> in math the same way I prepare for Daily 5 rotations. Training.</div><div><br /></div><div>At the beginning of the year, I explicitly <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2020/01/reasons-guided-math-groups-dont-work.html" target="_blank">teach students what small-group activities should look like and what they should sound like</a></b>. It is also a great time to brainstorm and discuss what to do when they have problems.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Group-Rotations-Guided-Math-Organizational-System-Print-Digital-1493193?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction&utm_campaign=GM%20Organizational%20Resource" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of math centers anchor chart explaining the role of students and teacher." border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="1047" data-pin-description="Small-group instruction is a valuable teaching strategy, but the thought of getting started can be overwhelming. How exactly do you get small-group instruction organized? I've got the tips and tricks you need! Easily get your guided math groups and center rotations organized with the tools and resources shared in this post. Learn how to establish small groups, how to manage small groups, what to teach in small group lessons, and what the other kids are doing during small group teaching." data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKyGlm6NWTjgA2CdzQ0mjQ0e7Jp2zZM8yrVoyTZ_UFq6tcwpoxNZ3XMAH3y8wHzrbSSmvgaTxWO30mDwP5JBP543hjUnwI2qJ_AaQiMHxcJm-vSQWBo9wOe9K9mnWXaDRRufeskEnF6mI9SLs2aV5Fm6nsA-4Zfe0eURPaVkqqFS3ruqW5tQaBs0x7w/w426-h640/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-W14a6j83K-6ym_3Ucy5l83J_hgIduc8NIQOSQPsSyZ07uj0Oz7Iu5de5tdyaQH9yyDKr1zzUf8kjC1-8mNmJ7cdDtiQQdUZMlzxK7IznFK9g1RNsmHWEH68kGMUs9gM31UgngiLYQHKX-Qwuzz1wBZfQTDc4mGmmwZHc4XahR4EykxOuuIOSDr4Ug/w448-h640/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%20Anchor%20Chart.png" title="How to Get Started With Small Group Instruction" width="448" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I want my students to know exactly what I expect from them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Once they know, we spend a little time getting silly. One at a time, I have students act out what small-group time should look like and what it should not look like. Get them to demonstrate for the class the wrong way to do centers and let everyone have a giggle, then get them to show the correct way to do centers and praise, praise, praise! This is a great time to enlist the help of the students you suspect might struggle with expectations the most.</div><div><br /></div><div>After this, we spend as much time as needed building stamina for centers. At this point, I don't pull groups for teaching. I observe, redirect, and encourage, and we celebrate each progress until the class manages independently.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Lesson-Plans-Year-Long-Math-Lesson-Plan-BUNDLE-Ontario-Math-CCSS-3268576?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction&utm_campaign=GM%20Lesson%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of student engaged in small-group geometry activity" border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="540" data-pin-description="Small-group instruction is a valuable teaching strategy, but the thought of getting started can be overwhelming. How exactly do you get small-group instruction organized? I've got the tips and tricks you need! Easily get your guided math groups and center rotations organized with the tools and resources shared in this post. Learn how to establish small groups, how to manage small groups, what to teach in small group lessons, and what the other kids are doing during small group teaching." data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKyGlm6NWTjgA2CdzQ0mjQ0e7Jp2zZM8yrVoyTZ_UFq6tcwpoxNZ3XMAH3y8wHzrbSSmvgaTxWO30mDwP5JBP543hjUnwI2qJ_AaQiMHxcJm-vSQWBo9wOe9K9mnWXaDRRufeskEnF6mI9SLs2aV5Fm6nsA-4Zfe0eURPaVkqqFS3ruqW5tQaBs0x7w/w426-h640/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXTjuA7ReT9UYgRWA0rhQoLWJgKXvZ0sBGZXHEx1OJs81PgdBHBA2hcXvQHy-oWBgELwOQsqMrYP5z65Iy_hRTqOQpuRvyRBnssjy18_Sol6J-MCJsHdpcTnIRgR4sAExnYmtf4n6MbCza0RMtWUg0NJM5C5-hFBrikUhPSYRYyZzCPaIUZurM3rYOw/w400-h400/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%20(11).png" title="How to Get Started With Small Group Instruction" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">What to teach in small group lessons</h1><div>Once your centers run smoothly, you can begin pulling groups for <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Lesson-Plans-Year-Long-Math-Lesson-Plan-BUNDLE-Ontario-Math-CCSS-3268576?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction&utm_campaign=GM%20Lesson%20Bundle" target="_blank">focused instruction</a></b>. Your lessons and activities should differ from one group to the next because you are targeting the specific strengths and needs of that group of students.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Lesson-Plans-Year-Long-Math-Lesson-Plan-BUNDLE-Ontario-Math-CCSS-3268576?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction&utm_campaign=GM%20Lesson%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of differentiated guided math lessons at three levels with school supplies on white desk." border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="1673" data-pin-description="Small-group instruction is a valuable teaching strategy, but the thought of getting started can be overwhelming. How exactly do you get small-group instruction organized? I've got the tips and tricks you need! Easily get your guided math groups and center rotations organized with the tools and resources shared in this post. Learn how to establish small groups, how to manage small groups, what to teach in small group lessons, and what the other kids are doing during small group teaching." data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKyGlm6NWTjgA2CdzQ0mjQ0e7Jp2zZM8yrVoyTZ_UFq6tcwpoxNZ3XMAH3y8wHzrbSSmvgaTxWO30mDwP5JBP543hjUnwI2qJ_AaQiMHxcJm-vSQWBo9wOe9K9mnWXaDRRufeskEnF6mI9SLs2aV5Fm6nsA-4Zfe0eURPaVkqqFS3ruqW5tQaBs0x7w/w426-h640/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNL9PZIdZ46PzdjXwLO7qaY_AStbEzo1BdAZJw01m4meVLaizM49ycbST3L7OjKUF2rbUPA6vO2OKHYJAlOrY1sv4TfA06d-eSYk99KOqqVSS2S0CYEEYetQEWug2EsxPGkS1ruoqsc4AUmeNj5u15MuPeRbDc0AkeikVI6GzJkDi35q-Gd9ZKbTzAbw/w640-h428/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%20Lessons.png" title="How to Get Started With Small Group Instruction" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div>In my experience, <b>this is where small-group instruction falls apart for a lot of teachers.</b> Either they don't have the resources for a variety of lessons each day, or they don't have the time to prepare the lessons.</div><div><br /></div><div>I advise you to find a <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Lesson-Plans-Year-Long-Math-Lesson-Plan-BUNDLE-Ontario-Math-CCSS-3268576?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction&utm_campaign=GM%20Lesson%20Bundle" target="_blank">high-quality, differentiated resource</a></b> that will allow you to meet the needs of all the students in your class.</div><div><br /></div><div>I prepared a set of full-year differentiated lessons for my students that is available to you here:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Lesson-Plans-Year-Long-Math-Lesson-Plan-BUNDLE-Ontario-Math-CCSS-3268576?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction&utm_campaign=GM%20Lesson%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Differentiated Guided Math Lessons Year-Long Bundle" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX88rjTvuRNjGjlUzppjY8jRO2prK2o6GQhLO-N5bETuG-lWCA-Pm8y1W7-MXtRzaF_XAIxVag1UnCvZF1K8Npy9IPYpcehZJpPF96lew7hdkpBpVHU7qLlR-J91DvPAeDnRick6WH2Xzh2Ij_vfq-BVdtrEgtNE9uvnMItOVrbLkt3-KB9ZA6Lraoow/w320-h320/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%20Lessons%20Bundle.png" title="How to Get Started With Small Group Instruction" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">What the other kids are doing</h1><div>Having <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-Math-Centers-BUNDLE-for-Guided-Math-Groups-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" target="_blank">engaging centers</a></b> for students to use independently is an important consideration. If they're bored, they'll be off-task before you know it! I created my own centers to meet my goals for my students - hands-on, open-ended so they could be revisited, again and again, a variety to allow for student choice, and most importantly, fun! For me, <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2021/08/reasons-to-avoid-using-worksheets-in-math.html" target="_blank">worksheets don't fit the bill</a></b>!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-Math-Centers-BUNDLE-for-Guided-Math-Groups-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of student working on small-group multiplication activity" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1124" data-pin-description="Small-group instruction is a valuable teaching strategy, but the thought of getting started can be overwhelming. How exactly do you get small-group instruction organized? I've got the tips and tricks you need! Easily get your guided math groups and center rotations organized with the tools and resources shared in this post. Learn how to establish small groups, how to manage small groups, what to teach in small group lessons, and what the other kids are doing during small group teaching." data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKyGlm6NWTjgA2CdzQ0mjQ0e7Jp2zZM8yrVoyTZ_UFq6tcwpoxNZ3XMAH3y8wHzrbSSmvgaTxWO30mDwP5JBP543hjUnwI2qJ_AaQiMHxcJm-vSQWBo9wOe9K9mnWXaDRRufeskEnF6mI9SLs2aV5Fm6nsA-4Zfe0eURPaVkqqFS3ruqW5tQaBs0x7w/w426-h640/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrdzTkMhtfQF0VGRmwVj3hJpViLZe7ZPbPVhkqcFOJ96dh-z1X4_1_vNTRoNMo0AHLUqABC5-l9uxyX2Kf8ep7_8PbT5wngo2R-5xHGSvY5vjGcKWSBq6EcXP5FTlMli3ANtRfjNYHtuXYQBmDngYlfyLFUZjOIoxbkxGl0Awl8smk56TgGqhDqrYCHQ/w400-h400/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%20(1).png" title="How to Get Started With Small Group Instruction" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If you'd like to try out the centers I created for free, you can grab a <b><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/guidedmathstarterkit" target="_blank">Guided Math Quick-Start Guide</a></b> right here:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/guidedmathstarterkit" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of Free Guided Math Quick-Start Guide and free centers." border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1688" data-pin-description="Small-group instruction is a valuable teaching strategy, but the thought of getting started can be overwhelming. How exactly do you get small-group instruction organized? I've got the tips and tricks you need! Easily get your guided math groups and center rotations organized with the tools and resources shared in this post. Learn how to establish small groups, how to manage small groups, what to teach in small group lessons, and what the other kids are doing during small group teaching." data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKyGlm6NWTjgA2CdzQ0mjQ0e7Jp2zZM8yrVoyTZ_UFq6tcwpoxNZ3XMAH3y8wHzrbSSmvgaTxWO30mDwP5JBP543hjUnwI2qJ_AaQiMHxcJm-vSQWBo9wOe9K9mnWXaDRRufeskEnF6mI9SLs2aV5Fm6nsA-4Zfe0eURPaVkqqFS3ruqW5tQaBs0x7w/w426-h640/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipMYnGE2nYETJmNw2jpQcFYnBSg3DsP7algi_Ag3hWVO8EQKpxOsesEwSK2JJIYNmaH8lTJ-HNn2Ssm8As-lK-Qi2mfSQSSw2jBGFZ-1MLg18efsvhm8mangQ2g215M7S7UY4XNUumKkPvKmtH6AdIuJarFc8ubX-b3YU_RtLnzIQQXBnbhJNRtXmEUw/w640-h426/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%202023%20(c).png" title="How to Get Started With Small Group Instruction" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Once you've established your expectations and routines for small-group instruction and gathered your materials, you'll be ready to watch your students take off! Get ready for engagement and progress in your classroom!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">And don't worry about printing your new resources! <b><a href="http://try.hpinstantink.com/grLVJ" target="_blank">Grab a free month of printing on me right here!!</a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you've enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8WO-KEje-bS9inPrVYUv-TqYV1fTdpD0M8ihDweatgHPzgtKkwVGR2GM8tOOHE_7cP4wOvYtSb79P-Ztn3drmoGl2msrr2zEIH4oNM4V1_W-WMDigyzdS7aTiZjBJ7XmLxUOHNqgJLWTNol0L_Kd1F69vvX4ESXiuiVomRDVGvwkVc789mCoqsZ0-g/s1500/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%20Pin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of Free Guided Math Quick-Start Guide with text, "How to Get Started With Small Group Instruction"" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" data-pin-description="Small-group instruction is a valuable teaching strategy, but the thought of getting started can be overwhelming. How exactly do you get small-group instruction organized? I've got the tips and tricks you need! Easily get your guided math groups and center rotations organized with the tools and resources shared in this post. Learn how to establish small groups, how to manage small groups, what to teach in small group lessons, and what the other kids are doing during small group teaching." height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8WO-KEje-bS9inPrVYUv-TqYV1fTdpD0M8ihDweatgHPzgtKkwVGR2GM8tOOHE_7cP4wOvYtSb79P-Ztn3drmoGl2msrr2zEIH4oNM4V1_W-WMDigyzdS7aTiZjBJ7XmLxUOHNqgJLWTNol0L_Kd1F69vvX4ESXiuiVomRDVGvwkVc789mCoqsZ0-g/w426-h640/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%20Pin.png" title="How to Get Started With Small Group Instruction" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-12623268014236464062022-08-14T05:00:00.001-04:002022-08-14T05:00:00.167-04:00How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom<div style="text-align: left;">Is running a calendar time in your primary classroom a practice of the past? I don't think so. Having a calendar math program is a great way to introduce, consolidate, and perfect some critical math skills, setting your students up for future success.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calendar-Math-Digital-Calendar-for-Morning-Meetings-Full-Year-Google-PPT-5503615?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Run%20Calendar%20Time&utm_campaign=Calendar%20Math%20Google" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of calendar page on computer screen with text, "How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom"" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-description="Having a calendar math program in primary classrooms is a great way to introduce, consolidate, and perfect some critical math skills. A well-planned calendar math program in your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-grade classroom allows you to teach patterns, place value and number sense, operations, money, measurement, data management, probability, and social-emotional learning skills. Take a look at a calendar math routine and grab a quality calendar math resource to use with your students in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-lk0isOEVP0DcmbdV-8Y-8apKA1v2cP9eaJVkqMAr_vJZA__HBVFvsTYmlT3fH-pim40--IqEYIeBgGt5HF9-oSouQtOrKNicOnUvrg01znjHiDN77RsP_EOybIyr93GwfmAc-BVOVFMdIoJfvGqhzF2T9RD9S0eeUqQc1W_MY1sJKXLZnidDMkT0A/w426-h640/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil6vjRL3TngzQM_AUgb-fHZ2VCRocKoJseExEfUbHvD82aPZNy6PYNalpBAz6Om1wl8NuPnvbrirJ-6qdesMlIz8Z1ucWTVE1cWCp-xXfyCYY-VG93fcOwYoUFcykum1B_NTdc-Q2PY8VczGzN0E4PwUxfWdow1v2t_ylfNt3uH9nZZWXCfpFGwYCeeA/w640-h334/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20(14).png" title="How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><h1 style="text-align: left;">What is a calendar time routine?</h1><div>In my classroom, <b><a href="4 Reasons to Use Personal Student Dictionaries in the Classroom" target="_blank">calendar math time</a></b> served as a <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2016/10/fun-ways-to-start-day-in-elementary.html" target="_blank">warm-up to our math block</a></b> each day. It was an opportunity for my students to gather with me on the classroom carpet and talk about math. It was interactive and quick, leaving no time for students to get bored or distracted, and it helped my students thoroughly learn some challenging math concepts because of its spiraled nature.</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Why focus on calendar math?</h1><div>A good calendar time program sets the stage for your students to learn many essential math skills. </div><div><br /></div><div>Because the content is spiraled and students see it daily, they have many opportunities to practice and consolidate skills over the school year. This is far better than teaching a concept in a unit that won't be revisited again until the fall or winter of the next grade. </div><div><br /></div><div>A <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calendar-Math-Digital-Calendar-for-Morning-Meetings-Full-Year-Google-PPT-5503615?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Run%20Calendar%20Time&utm_campaign=Calendar%20Math%20Google" target="_blank">well-planned calendar math program</a></b> allows you to teach:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>patterns,</li><li>place value and number sense</li><li>operations</li><li>money</li><li>measurement</li><li>data management</li><li>probability</li><li><b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2021/03/building-social-emotional-learning-skills-in-math-classroom.html" target="_blank">social-emotional learning skills</a></b></li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The possibilities are limitless when you consider the value of the conversations you can have during calendar time and how students will see math in real-world contexts!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">What to Teach During Calendar Time</h1><div>As I've mentioned, making math the focus is a no-brainer, but I also include some life skills. Let me walk you through my routine.</div><div><br /></div><div>To begin, we would sing a song about the months of the year. There are many options available for free on YouTube if you don't already have a little tune. I'd have a student identify the current month on the interactive whiteboard by dragging the circle to it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calendar-Math-Digital-Calendar-for-Morning-Meetings-Full-Year-Google-PPT-5503615?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Run%20Calendar%20Time&utm_campaign=Calendar%20Math%20Google" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of calendar resource months of the year screen." border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1664" data-pin-description="Having a calendar math program in primary classrooms is a great way to introduce, consolidate, and perfect some critical math skills. A well-planned calendar math program in your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-grade classroom allows you to teach patterns, place value and number sense, operations, money, measurement, data management, probability, and social-emotional learning skills. Take a look at a calendar math routine and grab a quality calendar math resource to use with your students in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-lk0isOEVP0DcmbdV-8Y-8apKA1v2cP9eaJVkqMAr_vJZA__HBVFvsTYmlT3fH-pim40--IqEYIeBgGt5HF9-oSouQtOrKNicOnUvrg01znjHiDN77RsP_EOybIyr93GwfmAc-BVOVFMdIoJfvGqhzF2T9RD9S0eeUqQc1W_MY1sJKXLZnidDMkT0A/w426-h640/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZIslkfiWwquhkNsMlfanXNPiKFKOiYy7ue-msENA3vmp_e45Voj1CtpnSa-Hge1VbaQmB2w1X5KxZWKrttqiVZdB9MhzPnNN27lwgcqZ_nKJ4I5jYrJINN8bC-cRK0L5kagSBOePZVkxm_5FqHk-Qeux8Z9LHA9tcfb97QvqZV4C37aqhIjptGgvcKg/w640-h432/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20(1).png" title="How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On the next slide, I'd have the calendar ready to go. I have always added the date numbers with the students but have a calendar image already placed before we begin. </div><div><br /></div><div>I create a pattern each month, beginning with simple one-attribute patterns at the beginning of the year and moving into complex patterns with two or more attributes by the end of the year. My students learn to identify and name the pattern core, the changing attributes, and predict future terms. They also learn to notice the way patterns behave on the calendar grid. For example, an AB pattern will create diagonal lines.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calendar-Math-Digital-Calendar-for-Morning-Meetings-Full-Year-Google-PPT-5503615?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Run%20Calendar%20Time&utm_campaign=Calendar%20Math%20Google" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of calendar resource September calendar with patterned clip art" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1664" data-pin-description="Having a calendar math program in primary classrooms is a great way to introduce, consolidate, and perfect some critical math skills. A well-planned calendar math program in your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-grade classroom allows you to teach patterns, place value and number sense, operations, money, measurement, data management, probability, and social-emotional learning skills. Take a look at a calendar math routine and grab a quality calendar math resource to use with your students in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-lk0isOEVP0DcmbdV-8Y-8apKA1v2cP9eaJVkqMAr_vJZA__HBVFvsTYmlT3fH-pim40--IqEYIeBgGt5HF9-oSouQtOrKNicOnUvrg01znjHiDN77RsP_EOybIyr93GwfmAc-BVOVFMdIoJfvGqhzF2T9RD9S0eeUqQc1W_MY1sJKXLZnidDMkT0A/w426-h640/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLJm_Rj76qgzpXJZr-CoehlCaZYOo37DCGXVAwI8C8GvRs5FYIXdhJK1q87RLq31tLH9ffBUN6EJWTfc4MPvg3XS0gxuSwiVbv8V1rV5oeSog5lofM38GlZd7witVIszvSRaiK0RhClB_4N2KKDzmk3FoBaPZFo-m14pJvisZQVwT_hntLmqbdgUWdag/w640-h432/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20(2).png" title="How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Next, I'd discuss the weather and season. Whether you spend time on this depends on the grade you teach and the curriculum you follow. Since I last taught primary grades, our math curriculum changed, and temperature is no longer addressed. It is, however, an important life skill, and there's no harm in speaking to it briefly. I also include interactive activities in this section to get students directly involved by manipulating the moveable pieces. This is a great way to keep students focused!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calendar-Math-Digital-Calendar-for-Morning-Meetings-Full-Year-Google-PPT-5503615?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Run%20Calendar%20Time&utm_campaign=Calendar%20Math%20Google" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of calendar resource weather page" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1664" data-pin-description="Having a calendar math program in primary classrooms is a great way to introduce, consolidate, and perfect some critical math skills. A well-planned calendar math program in your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-grade classroom allows you to teach patterns, place value and number sense, operations, money, measurement, data management, probability, and social-emotional learning skills. Take a look at a calendar math routine and grab a quality calendar math resource to use with your students in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-lk0isOEVP0DcmbdV-8Y-8apKA1v2cP9eaJVkqMAr_vJZA__HBVFvsTYmlT3fH-pim40--IqEYIeBgGt5HF9-oSouQtOrKNicOnUvrg01znjHiDN77RsP_EOybIyr93GwfmAc-BVOVFMdIoJfvGqhzF2T9RD9S0eeUqQc1W_MY1sJKXLZnidDMkT0A/w426-h640/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj979nub3KHmk3tGIGe8HMlVlcs_JQ6cWu8EMA_vh_khdy2Ib8nKsCZEsKrFzUaiGYIWC2pddwvxWqAcxpJmCwvg0a7c4u10QdrZjonQ-ttzb77-ufCNNWNvHLx5a09xhIbhMFVQiR4bgLBfPxQjVCdzZihfLQgPhNB4EiRJNXuwkf4bO8nZeQ1K2yBuA/w640-h432/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20(3).png" title="How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calendar-Math-Digital-Calendar-for-Morning-Meetings-Full-Year-Google-PPT-5503615?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Run%20Calendar%20Time&utm_campaign=Calendar%20Math%20Google" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of calendar resource seasons page" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1664" data-pin-description="Having a calendar math program in primary classrooms is a great way to introduce, consolidate, and perfect some critical math skills. A well-planned calendar math program in your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-grade classroom allows you to teach patterns, place value and number sense, operations, money, measurement, data management, probability, and social-emotional learning skills. Take a look at a calendar math routine and grab a quality calendar math resource to use with your students in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-lk0isOEVP0DcmbdV-8Y-8apKA1v2cP9eaJVkqMAr_vJZA__HBVFvsTYmlT3fH-pim40--IqEYIeBgGt5HF9-oSouQtOrKNicOnUvrg01znjHiDN77RsP_EOybIyr93GwfmAc-BVOVFMdIoJfvGqhzF2T9RD9S0eeUqQc1W_MY1sJKXLZnidDMkT0A/w426-h640/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbv09eP8WM7ajb-HQ6_vqi2fX_4c-1ebPF-OSIZCkFfcVk6BRqq2_fa3eVfqxqJ9K4cnY6_3uOvGQuNw2UvRkidymG7j03a3Kb4_jx-0pzcib3ryH_Rn_az_1k7LWXLlNua7brPA8PENAkWkpNV-kRee4WbYKCp-f2aI2WB4RfQhKoABMAb4m0ELCfZA/w640-h432/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20(4).png" title="How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>After this, I've included an emoji choice board for my students to use as a discussion starter. This is a great way to break up the calendar session and re-engage students by encouraging conversation with "elbow buddies" about how they're feeling today. This is also a great place to include some of the <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2021/03/building-social-emotional-learning-skills-in-math-classroom.html" target="_blank">social-emotional learning skill</a><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2021/03/building-social-emotional-learning-skills-in-math-classroom.html" target="_blank">s</a></b> that are now part of the Ontario Math Curriculum!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calendar-Math-Digital-Calendar-for-Morning-Meetings-Full-Year-Google-PPT-5503615?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Run%20Calendar%20Time&utm_campaign=Calendar%20Math%20Google" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of calendar resource "How are you feeling?" page" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1664" data-pin-description="Having a calendar math program in primary classrooms is a great way to introduce, consolidate, and perfect some critical math skills. A well-planned calendar math program in your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-grade classroom allows you to teach patterns, place value and number sense, operations, money, measurement, data management, probability, and social-emotional learning skills. Take a look at a calendar math routine and grab a quality calendar math resource to use with your students in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-lk0isOEVP0DcmbdV-8Y-8apKA1v2cP9eaJVkqMAr_vJZA__HBVFvsTYmlT3fH-pim40--IqEYIeBgGt5HF9-oSouQtOrKNicOnUvrg01znjHiDN77RsP_EOybIyr93GwfmAc-BVOVFMdIoJfvGqhzF2T9RD9S0eeUqQc1W_MY1sJKXLZnidDMkT0A/w426-h640/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBjt5tQHTRErxDd7SJCW6OcSgRRofatqqv6cDR-nQELq4ttTFWtDfFuXAnDbHMzZdAR4kFYqRvTcbH9JyzG_dG9DElgnUQIZs8cDk-JJlQXb9H87kaw3gXDYVWMyv-RqL9qYujMupKtEEvxNCRP5yICGoK-LYNfdGxffPA7aWuXLBchaK7sEvpngasrQ/w640-h432/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20(6).png" title="How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Now we're at the meat of the <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2013/10/reasons-for-calendar-math-routine.html" target="_blank">calendar math program</a></b> - the math! I began with a "Number of the Day" routine. This is completely flexible depending on the grade level you teach. I always started the year using numbers from the curriculum of the previous grade and worked toward larger numbers as my students consolidated their skills. Tip: bring the students up to do the writing or typing! </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calendar-Math-Digital-Calendar-for-Morning-Meetings-Full-Year-Google-PPT-5503615?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Run%20Calendar%20Time&utm_campaign=Calendar%20Math%20Google" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of calendar resource number of the day activities" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1664" data-pin-description="Having a calendar math program in primary classrooms is a great way to introduce, consolidate, and perfect some critical math skills. A well-planned calendar math program in your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-grade classroom allows you to teach patterns, place value and number sense, operations, money, measurement, data management, probability, and social-emotional learning skills. Take a look at a calendar math routine and grab a quality calendar math resource to use with your students in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-lk0isOEVP0DcmbdV-8Y-8apKA1v2cP9eaJVkqMAr_vJZA__HBVFvsTYmlT3fH-pim40--IqEYIeBgGt5HF9-oSouQtOrKNicOnUvrg01znjHiDN77RsP_EOybIyr93GwfmAc-BVOVFMdIoJfvGqhzF2T9RD9S0eeUqQc1W_MY1sJKXLZnidDMkT0A/w426-h640/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7o2PJqUSWBuSUL476COWNhXFb-QgbqHP3I1N37g6e4eTTqBGr0gv7I-TuEgGO743oEDpbV_lfSIBrzpQxYkTMI4CFjpwCklcbnf6sRDZEBNQDg15KUk5azkfG9pEdGNLUPntDOsagJZxKYKVdemd2Stq0L8JLWKJDo9k0zPGZ0h9SRvFUwiW6GkXB1Q/w640-h432/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20(7).png" title="How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Once we've talked about the place value of the number, we identified it on a number line. Students can use a drag-and-drop flag to show the number here. I've included several ready-to-go lines with various scales, both with and without commas.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calendar-Math-Digital-Calendar-for-Morning-Meetings-Full-Year-Google-PPT-5503615?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Run%20Calendar%20Time&utm_campaign=Calendar%20Math%20Google" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of calendar resource number of the day number line activity" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1664" data-pin-description="Having a calendar math program in primary classrooms is a great way to introduce, consolidate, and perfect some critical math skills. A well-planned calendar math program in your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-grade classroom allows you to teach patterns, place value and number sense, operations, money, measurement, data management, probability, and social-emotional learning skills. Take a look at a calendar math routine and grab a quality calendar math resource to use with your students in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-lk0isOEVP0DcmbdV-8Y-8apKA1v2cP9eaJVkqMAr_vJZA__HBVFvsTYmlT3fH-pim40--IqEYIeBgGt5HF9-oSouQtOrKNicOnUvrg01znjHiDN77RsP_EOybIyr93GwfmAc-BVOVFMdIoJfvGqhzF2T9RD9S0eeUqQc1W_MY1sJKXLZnidDMkT0A/w426-h640/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvH8okFqZy8i7DxNpL5GyRQDTOWJO9Ei-F8EprMkI_gXROk8iGugecZNx7Y71GLCaL-LRD_OPPacgrKHJi9CP7viMwr7EnNXaJNSqpz67iEa-oLWd-8XdsGEd3MsXRAfxY9k7HOwx2UwehrX0qD0iOENpBzQBrQoRbOiJj0DaYE1MgIVHDX_YO-Qj0EA/w640-h432/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20(8).png" title="How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><br />After this, we represent the number again using base ten blocks. There are many opportunities to explore numbers and value by building multiple representations of the number, showing the greatest and least number of blocks possible to create the number, or illustrating regrouping. Again, get the students up to do this. There's no better way to keep them engaged than with the possibility of coming up to do the dragging and dropping!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calendar-Math-Digital-Calendar-for-Morning-Meetings-Full-Year-Google-PPT-5503615?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Run%20Calendar%20Time&utm_campaign=Calendar%20Math%20Google" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of calendar resource number of the day base ten block activity" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1664" data-pin-description="Having a calendar math program in primary classrooms is a great way to introduce, consolidate, and perfect some critical math skills. A well-planned calendar math program in your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-grade classroom allows you to teach patterns, place value and number sense, operations, money, measurement, data management, probability, and social-emotional learning skills. Take a look at a calendar math routine and grab a quality calendar math resource to use with your students in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-lk0isOEVP0DcmbdV-8Y-8apKA1v2cP9eaJVkqMAr_vJZA__HBVFvsTYmlT3fH-pim40--IqEYIeBgGt5HF9-oSouQtOrKNicOnUvrg01znjHiDN77RsP_EOybIyr93GwfmAc-BVOVFMdIoJfvGqhzF2T9RD9S0eeUqQc1W_MY1sJKXLZnidDMkT0A/w426-h640/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGQijYlggs4uAnopA2MJ6AyVIxLJGpMdC12jz4dNEjPBuFxtZ7yzrawRloxUDbVGOdxnMj2JswwncWurpCn8VhA41XySGSiMGTOIhOKqulECRhPughAcTnNaufbzeCGiOCZYOjKJvpeUm5IMjTaP2KN9hoFr837jnZmN93SxWIX0cKEFigqKeudUPiw/w640-h432/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20(9).png" title="How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><br />Next, we express the number of the day as a money amount. You can decide how to do this based on the needs of your students and the curriculum you follow. For example, the number of the day 125 could be represented as 125 cents, 125 dollars, or even one dollar and twenty-five cents. Again, there are opportunities here for teaching students how to regroup money amounts to represent them in different ways or even make purchases and calculate change! The students LOVE moving the pieces on this page!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calendar-Math-Digital-Calendar-for-Morning-Meetings-Full-Year-Google-PPT-5503615?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Run%20Calendar%20Time&utm_campaign=Calendar%20Math%20Google" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of calendar resource money activity with US currency" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1664" data-pin-description="Having a calendar math program in primary classrooms is a great way to introduce, consolidate, and perfect some critical math skills. A well-planned calendar math program in your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-grade classroom allows you to teach patterns, place value and number sense, operations, money, measurement, data management, probability, and social-emotional learning skills. Take a look at a calendar math routine and grab a quality calendar math resource to use with your students in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-lk0isOEVP0DcmbdV-8Y-8apKA1v2cP9eaJVkqMAr_vJZA__HBVFvsTYmlT3fH-pim40--IqEYIeBgGt5HF9-oSouQtOrKNicOnUvrg01znjHiDN77RsP_EOybIyr93GwfmAc-BVOVFMdIoJfvGqhzF2T9RD9S0eeUqQc1W_MY1sJKXLZnidDMkT0A/w426-h640/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjcxyTu9EwybTk6WeuTdqcLm3HgwPrAJ5mTGsmwJzMG-IwhkMA_22BvP0cbqd91HU3Orr55chpvdSVSljzP6xp2YdJVMR1DrBYr8aZje78XXzBjzkt56PiFw6uCumFBzmupmEKt6eIttO_lGKkiE3tHatEQsU-msTp7fTKN3LaAyBLARkT3K3JLkPY5w/w640-h432/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20(10).png" title="How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calendar-Math-Digital-Calendar-for-Morning-Meetings-Full-Year-Google-PPT-5503615?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Run%20Calendar%20Time&utm_campaign=Calendar%20Math%20Google" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of calendar resource money activity with Canadian currency" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1664" data-pin-description="Having a calendar math program in primary classrooms is a great way to introduce, consolidate, and perfect some critical math skills. A well-planned calendar math program in your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-grade classroom allows you to teach patterns, place value and number sense, operations, money, measurement, data management, probability, and social-emotional learning skills. Take a look at a calendar math routine and grab a quality calendar math resource to use with your students in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-lk0isOEVP0DcmbdV-8Y-8apKA1v2cP9eaJVkqMAr_vJZA__HBVFvsTYmlT3fH-pim40--IqEYIeBgGt5HF9-oSouQtOrKNicOnUvrg01znjHiDN77RsP_EOybIyr93GwfmAc-BVOVFMdIoJfvGqhzF2T9RD9S0eeUqQc1W_MY1sJKXLZnidDMkT0A/w426-h640/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1gR7xy8zCZfUng4DB07lim0rkGSDWF0MpY4zGV5ogOtgA8_Pxs9W7TY_BzMDGyZ1kvly9x1rO5ozHzVB4qH24K8o-nwL1mTrLcLblWeJ-nFvNMYEqyqc3IFyqUZg8S8uftEZZW5qGvKOnrSi87rdQxG9bjhp8fXv0dnikiiD3zP3vzHp4bVNDbvMng/w640-h432/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20(11).png" title="How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><br />To wrap up the calendar time routine, we add to our count the number of school days we've spent together. This is a great place to practice skip counting by 2s, 5s, or 10s!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calendar-Math-Digital-Calendar-for-Morning-Meetings-Full-Year-Google-PPT-5503615?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Run%20Calendar%20Time&utm_campaign=Calendar%20Math%20Google" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of calendar resource page to count the days in school" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1664" data-pin-description="Having a calendar math program in primary classrooms is a great way to introduce, consolidate, and perfect some critical math skills. A well-planned calendar math program in your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-grade classroom allows you to teach patterns, place value and number sense, operations, money, measurement, data management, probability, and social-emotional learning skills. Take a look at a calendar math routine and grab a quality calendar math resource to use with your students in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-lk0isOEVP0DcmbdV-8Y-8apKA1v2cP9eaJVkqMAr_vJZA__HBVFvsTYmlT3fH-pim40--IqEYIeBgGt5HF9-oSouQtOrKNicOnUvrg01znjHiDN77RsP_EOybIyr93GwfmAc-BVOVFMdIoJfvGqhzF2T9RD9S0eeUqQc1W_MY1sJKXLZnidDMkT0A/w426-h640/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qSlwervR4QUe07t2-v9GKk-cmthCH-4X8nB-Arqmf-M7jxL10MUsJ4qY5eoU9R7bx72e6vNl9K4oy9pBlD-JQE-Lcy0z0JXunHwzd0t9c9MCiDSIq4UNvVDArn7rI7wLjdb17DJE-eFS4gcq_kye79ns9UqOGKvHk-ditxUwHe1qb5oo3_snE_R3eg/w640-h432/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20(12).png" title="How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><br />Finally, what better time to celebrate your students than by recognizing birthdays?! This is a place you can add all student birthdays at the beginning of the year. You can use it by talking about whose birthday is next, figuring out how long until the next birthday, or even as a launchpad for a graphing activity!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calendar-Math-Digital-Calendar-for-Morning-Meetings-Full-Year-Google-PPT-5503615?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Run%20Calendar%20Time&utm_campaign=Calendar%20Math%20Google" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of calendar resource birthday display" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1664" data-pin-description="Having a calendar math program in primary classrooms is a great way to introduce, consolidate, and perfect some critical math skills. A well-planned calendar math program in your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-grade classroom allows you to teach patterns, place value and number sense, operations, money, measurement, data management, probability, and social-emotional learning skills. Take a look at a calendar math routine and grab a quality calendar math resource to use with your students in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-lk0isOEVP0DcmbdV-8Y-8apKA1v2cP9eaJVkqMAr_vJZA__HBVFvsTYmlT3fH-pim40--IqEYIeBgGt5HF9-oSouQtOrKNicOnUvrg01znjHiDN77RsP_EOybIyr93GwfmAc-BVOVFMdIoJfvGqhzF2T9RD9S0eeUqQc1W_MY1sJKXLZnidDMkT0A/w426-h640/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjooY5KO3jHqvAh7c3lR3FHGK8dw1bByiyyg-4KlnZXNhYD-8ta08Z6QaOXBDQj-sKQGAybMZ8DQ6DkOIuhjUcZqjhZllIENdezDx_w-7NrsmdSdRlPA-II7ek_zP7GVQSJV4WMykIEpuOn-jrHSNGWdygcjtKcGx3vv6Ii2KeIedzIOR-e9k1GQkoaZg/w640-h432/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20(13).png" title="How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><br />Depending on the depth of your conversations, this entire routine should take less than 20 minutes. On some days, I will spend more time looking at multiple representations; on others, we'll stick to the basics and move on. The <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2013/10/reasons-for-calendar-math-routine.html" target="_blank">daily review</a></b> and conversation have proven to be the most valuable and much better than paper-and-pencil morning work "busy work."</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope this helps you to see the value of having a calendar time in your primary classroom. The possibilities are endless, and the learning you'll see happen over the year will convince you.</div><div><br /></div><div>If you'd like to get started today in your classroom, grab my <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calendar-Math-Digital-Calendar-for-Morning-Meetings-Full-Year-Google-PPT-5503615?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Run%20Calendar%20Time&utm_campaign=Calendar%20Math%20Google" target="_blank">Calendar Math resource for Google Slides and PowerPoint</a></b> by clicking the image below:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Calendar-Math-Digital-Calendar-for-Morning-Meetings-Full-Year-Google-PPT-5503615?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20How%20to%20Run%20Calendar%20Time&utm_campaign=Calendar%20Math%20Google" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Full-Year Interactive Calendar Math resource" border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="775" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX7eSgO8zFg7CHLmMfyrgiWH_9dWf69OBw5IhCdvrmGv6iEttlFGALg6NarBucP12N8Fo_vbulsOdkkFF8OAunX2Uahb8FcZBULjVhBaYg7xhZRWAobXIRGO0B0f3zVxxcPgnmdYBcA0lG1n3n8rkSsLNRj4EKWl8EjoNkTqwKatOf6zC5ojuzgJGE0g/w400-h400/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20Resource.png" title="How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If you've enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsICxQ7BPG_ZdQkPIC9idusWcZ3waSmEZ3BKOSNIDMJx6bFhsASDqs80rHskjQNRFmEf1acyG-feIClTaFS1CpKjDewOu2QaIhAM2LY4Rofo7xVFQYP36d9bB3vL5z3yCFlrBrUrl_KWZyHPFkcSJ1rc1bGN263C_x8vcpQ2HOimcSpkRxfW5pT4orw/s1500/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20Pin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of calendar math on laptop with desk supplies and text, "How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom"" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" data-pin-description="Having a calendar math program in primary classrooms is a great way to introduce, consolidate, and perfect some critical math skills. A well-planned calendar math program in your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd-grade classroom allows you to teach patterns, place value and number sense, operations, money, measurement, data management, probability, and social-emotional learning skills. Take a look at a calendar math routine and grab a quality calendar math resource to use with your students in this post!" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQsICxQ7BPG_ZdQkPIC9idusWcZ3waSmEZ3BKOSNIDMJx6bFhsASDqs80rHskjQNRFmEf1acyG-feIClTaFS1CpKjDewOu2QaIhAM2LY4Rofo7xVFQYP36d9bB3vL5z3yCFlrBrUrl_KWZyHPFkcSJ1rc1bGN263C_x8vcpQ2HOimcSpkRxfW5pT4orw/w426-h640/How%20to%20Run%20a%20Calendar%20Time%20Pin.png" title="How to Run a Successful Calendar Time in a Primary Classroom" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-54683490840827920582022-08-07T05:00:00.002-04:002023-09-02T09:41:59.756-04:00How to Give Students a Boost in Confidence for a New School Year<div style="text-align: left;">Giving students a little boost in confidence at the beginning of a new school year is the perfect way to set the tone and make them feel welcome in a new classroom! When students feel happy, respected, and part of a community, I've found them more likely to take pride in the space and engage during lessons.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Activities-Back-to-School-Centers-Ice-Breakers-and-Gifts-8159010?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence&utm_campaign=B2S%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of All About Me activity with text, "How to Give Students a Boost in Confidence for a New School Year"" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-description="Giving students a little boost in confidence at the beginning of a new school year is the perfect way to set the tone and make them feel welcome in a new classroom! Boost your students' confidence by getting to know them, giving them a voice, and incorporating their perspectives in classroom decisions. Find resources and freebies for supporting student mental health, getting to know a new class, and parent communication in this blog post. #backtoschool #classroom #studentmentalhealth" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yUNSRJiL0OJE1Vq4ZugLGjGPTerByPlTzeqXHbyR6eE_OBtYiMoe1SqNweP-BMI4k57KT8wcw1Y8M4hgFHj4-Nzf2VtdepRVFDiX5uDGcH5Ec389cFhnBAY85eTBLmQr-UOc9tSpgyX5rgdJxKsTxSKkQvEllzXqp6CmR5lBCm55fyTzTkya1PwULg/w426-h640/Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbmam2T8mM4C8mdleus_oEwMxct5NsVvSiZ0rJTtabG2KzF7Gg7PPhmWSG_WMQXGkOIEdHjaYqDuLqe2a0nSr1MDv6FJdLSAk7m-zYvqRu-E8v7W4mc2XOCc4VzSUJtQpYkFtmRF3Luoz1XkJudxF_9i3J85YmnKdPUTxbzQ97HX6fe0iOi8SxZuuVQ/w640-h334/Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence%20Header.png" title="How to Give Students a Boost in Confidence for a New School Year" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;">In my classroom, I have three simple strategies I use to give students a boost in confidence and make them feel like welcome members of my classroom.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Getting to know them</li><li>Giving students a voice</li><li>Including student perspectives</li></ol></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Boosting Confidence by Getting to Know Students</h1><div>I never like rushing into the curriculum at the beginning of a school year. As important as it is to get going - our time is short, and there is much to cover - I've found that <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Activities-Back-to-School-Centers-Ice-Breakers-and-Gifts-8159010?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence&utm_campaign=B2S%20Bundle" target="_blank">getting to know my students</a></b> as people is worth the time investment.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are lots of ways to accomplish this. These are my favorites:</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Having a Parent Connection</h4><div>Who better to help me learn about a child than that child's parent or guardian? Every year in the first weeks, I send home a <b><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/newstudentform" target="_blank">two-page parent questionnaire</a></b> to help me get to know my students and their families.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can grab this form free by clicking the image below.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/newstudentform" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Free "Getting to Know Your Child" resource for parents." border="0" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1419" data-pin-description="Giving students a little boost in confidence at the beginning of a new school year is the perfect way to set the tone and make them feel welcome in a new classroom! Boost your students' confidence by getting to know them, giving them a voice, and incorporating their perspectives in classroom decisions. Find resources and freebies for supporting student mental health, getting to know a new class, and parent communication in this blog post. #backtoschool #classroom #studentmentalhealth" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yUNSRJiL0OJE1Vq4ZugLGjGPTerByPlTzeqXHbyR6eE_OBtYiMoe1SqNweP-BMI4k57KT8wcw1Y8M4hgFHj4-Nzf2VtdepRVFDiX5uDGcH5Ec389cFhnBAY85eTBLmQr-UOc9tSpgyX5rgdJxKsTxSKkQvEllzXqp6CmR5lBCm55fyTzTkya1PwULg/w426-h640/Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYdvDt-nwx4eJQNhrET5Ev5BB10DkvpvizyhhgCouljCNWoNs2jpwARR2uvxfFsLk4jdU_ckrVgt6jKI-Nmcq5j9XtB51xgqKerXrOizolvnjMYLXQ5h7VgNaHezjjzgFaX5r7iNVS5QpjbDBWvH_beek_ZdTJNx6lG3Ntu4H9PSCcVGu7xyyUEmVcTw/w640-h342/Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence%20Parent%20Questionnaire%20Opt%20In.png" title="How to Give Students a Boost in Confidence for a New School Year" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h4>Getting to Know You Activities</h4><div style="text-align: left;">I like to spend time in the first few days working on <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-About-Me-Flip-Book-for-Back-to-School-Print-and-Digital-2699283?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence&utm_campaign=All%20About%20Me%20Flip%20Book" target="_blank">All About Me activities</a></b> and setting up the beginning of our <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Time-Capsule-Activities-Printable-and-Digital-706529?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence&utm_campaign=Time%20Capsule" target="_blank">school year time capsules</a></b>! These flipbooks make a great bulletin board display for Open House or Meet the Teacher Night, and the time capsules are a fabulous way to look back at student growth over the school year! Hearing from the students is equally important and can be a lot of fun!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Time-Capsule-Activities-Printable-and-Digital-706529?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence&utm_campaign=Time%20Capsule" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of print and digital School Year Time Capsule" border="0" data-original-height="1101" data-original-width="1668" data-pin-description="Giving students a little boost in confidence at the beginning of a new school year is the perfect way to set the tone and make them feel welcome in a new classroom! Boost your students' confidence by getting to know them, giving them a voice, and incorporating their perspectives in classroom decisions. Find resources and freebies for supporting student mental health, getting to know a new class, and parent communication in this blog post. #backtoschool #classroom #studentmentalhealth" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yUNSRJiL0OJE1Vq4ZugLGjGPTerByPlTzeqXHbyR6eE_OBtYiMoe1SqNweP-BMI4k57KT8wcw1Y8M4hgFHj4-Nzf2VtdepRVFDiX5uDGcH5Ec389cFhnBAY85eTBLmQr-UOc9tSpgyX5rgdJxKsTxSKkQvEllzXqp6CmR5lBCm55fyTzTkya1PwULg/w426-h640/Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmFlM83kwtJK0xpaIasAaOLXWAnwqLCopuz7uOTn8h2bpLbERAM410Z6CNjS_LsU-tv_LyehFxqnXKae0Lra78HRC8c8TJSR7D2yXOCKJOkx3gf0dNsaHRvLA5P9A2a2lpfq1k-o-9t8hSTUofYWWgtZA4PbbxkGleIRolXbCuIRXWFxW1-m6mYTNifw/w640-h422/Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence%20Time%20Capsule.png" title="How to Give Students a Boost in Confidence for a New School Year" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-About-Me-Flip-Book-for-Back-to-School-Print-and-Digital-2699283?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence&utm_campaign=All%20About%20Me%20Flip%20Book" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of digital All About Me flip book" border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="1119" data-pin-description="Giving students a little boost in confidence at the beginning of a new school year is the perfect way to set the tone and make them feel welcome in a new classroom! Boost your students' confidence by getting to know them, giving them a voice, and incorporating their perspectives in classroom decisions. Find resources and freebies for supporting student mental health, getting to know a new class, and parent communication in this blog post. #backtoschool #classroom #studentmentalhealth" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yUNSRJiL0OJE1Vq4ZugLGjGPTerByPlTzeqXHbyR6eE_OBtYiMoe1SqNweP-BMI4k57KT8wcw1Y8M4hgFHj4-Nzf2VtdepRVFDiX5uDGcH5Ec389cFhnBAY85eTBLmQr-UOc9tSpgyX5rgdJxKsTxSKkQvEllzXqp6CmR5lBCm55fyTzTkya1PwULg/w426-h640/Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRAho4fvX-eRnUA5H5E7uIDD3ya_1udd0vXzmj1QgqfNiJa9fz1-ejwWpxRjxW7ndYjCwRB8DOVhCFxBAviSpnhNvz47NeUz3nkRFOKz_V0Z44DHxi4ROrhOTJyQLjMBmUeLF4nomSB_SjEvBv95N5v33xEaZQyDR11_TyD7fY45lcYlf4QD2Vcp2b6A/w400-h399/Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence%20All%20About%20Me%20Digital.png" title="How to Give Students a Boost in Confidence for a New School Year" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Classroom Games</h4><div>There's nothing more fun for boosting student confidence than games!</div><div><br /></div><div>I love bringing a wide variety of <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Ice-Breaker-Getting-to-Know-You-Game-Digital-Ice-Breaker-774081?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence&utm_campaign=Getting%20to%20Know%20You%20Scoot" target="_blank">getting-to-know-you activities</a></b> to the classroom. Anything that gets my students up, moving around, and talking to one another is perfect in my books!</div><div><br /></div><div>I've always enjoyed using Scoot games in my classroom to engage students in learning, so I created one designed to learn about classmates! Students rotate in pairs, connecting with as many peers as possible, and have conversations around the prompts on the Scoot cards. So fun!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Ice-Breaker-Getting-to-Know-You-Game-Digital-Ice-Breaker-774081?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence&utm_campaign=Getting%20to%20Know%20You%20Scoot" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of back to school Getting to Know You Scoot game task cards." border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="1674" data-pin-description="Giving students a little boost in confidence at the beginning of a new school year is the perfect way to set the tone and make them feel welcome in a new classroom! Boost your students' confidence by getting to know them, giving them a voice, and incorporating their perspectives in classroom decisions. Find resources and freebies for supporting student mental health, getting to know a new class, and parent communication in this blog post. #backtoschool #classroom #studentmentalhealth" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yUNSRJiL0OJE1Vq4ZugLGjGPTerByPlTzeqXHbyR6eE_OBtYiMoe1SqNweP-BMI4k57KT8wcw1Y8M4hgFHj4-Nzf2VtdepRVFDiX5uDGcH5Ec389cFhnBAY85eTBLmQr-UOc9tSpgyX5rgdJxKsTxSKkQvEllzXqp6CmR5lBCm55fyTzTkya1PwULg/w426-h640/Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKzdI_aMPI8q7yiwDWvw_vD5BIreoGjIvwK9z1X98C7YmMMr57RNvQ-1Iib_HBRfNYcRd3zDY1aEUtcE5qgc8Z9aY45_eOBRmKYttDzXjpE8AUo45_va-N1gIPvZPUmx7j5-6spL6rahLx5grA1FdTWkB8CMcpCw_wJNuRq0ob2EIcjC82pPdz-JpCg/w640-h428/Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence%20B2S%20Scoot.png" title="How to Give Students a Boost in Confidence for a New School Year" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Boost Confidence by Giving Students a Voice</h1><div style="text-align: left;">Throughout the school year, I need to create an environment to <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2019/03/support-mental-health-in-classroom.html" target="_blank">support my students' mental health</a></b> where they feel heard and <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2021/03/encouraging-students-to-take-risks-in-math.html" target="_blank">feel safe taking risks</a></b>. I want them to know that their voice matters and feel comfortable sharing with me when they struggle with something.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I accomplish this in two ways, which you may have seen me write about before.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have a <b><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/howareyoudoing" target="_blank">daily check-in station</a></b> where my students let me know how they feel each morning upon arrival. I also have available <b><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/wishmyteacherknew" target="_blank">"I Wish My Teacher Knew" notepaper</a></b> that students can access at any time if there's anything at all they'd like to share.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Both of these give my students a voice and let them know they matter to me. What better confidence booster than to know they have another trusted adult in their corner?!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Click the images below to grab these resources free for your classroom!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/howareyoudoing" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Free Feelings Check-In station" border="0" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1460" data-pin-description="Giving students a little boost in confidence at the beginning of a new school year is the perfect way to set the tone and make them feel welcome in a new classroom! Boost your students' confidence by getting to know them, giving them a voice, and incorporating their perspectives in classroom decisions. Find resources and freebies for supporting student mental health, getting to know a new class, and parent communication in this blog post. #backtoschool #classroom #studentmentalhealth" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yUNSRJiL0OJE1Vq4ZugLGjGPTerByPlTzeqXHbyR6eE_OBtYiMoe1SqNweP-BMI4k57KT8wcw1Y8M4hgFHj4-Nzf2VtdepRVFDiX5uDGcH5Ec389cFhnBAY85eTBLmQr-UOc9tSpgyX5rgdJxKsTxSKkQvEllzXqp6CmR5lBCm55fyTzTkya1PwULg/w426-h640/Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4fsQ63SBysgPju1yhZ2rq6RVJsGp0b3ZxaQ2w24RLm11hC4PmFCr11flzpj3RCW9cOTAcSnxw8TwkRmmWqZxRBhHpyl5hgMjpeRNzpDXRA146zy93sW09h7zb_xyNSfk-KVpLMnOBbnSuB_2cW4FldHg-PXwimiv7-Gu4XADHOmFtp1U4S0V_QahfQ/w640-h338/Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence%20Check%20In%20Opt%20In.png" title="How to Give Students a Boost in Confidence for a New School Year" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/wishmyteacherknew" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Free "I Wish My Teacher Knew" notepaper." border="0" data-original-height="767" data-original-width="1452" data-pin-description="Giving students a little boost in confidence at the beginning of a new school year is the perfect way to set the tone and make them feel welcome in a new classroom! Boost your students' confidence by getting to know them, giving them a voice, and incorporating their perspectives in classroom decisions. Find resources and freebies for supporting student mental health, getting to know a new class, and parent communication in this blog post. #backtoschool #classroom #studentmentalhealth" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6yUNSRJiL0OJE1Vq4ZugLGjGPTerByPlTzeqXHbyR6eE_OBtYiMoe1SqNweP-BMI4k57KT8wcw1Y8M4hgFHj4-Nzf2VtdepRVFDiX5uDGcH5Ec389cFhnBAY85eTBLmQr-UOc9tSpgyX5rgdJxKsTxSKkQvEllzXqp6CmR5lBCm55fyTzTkya1PwULg/w426-h640/Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdowRgJBxEEZWkOLDa-tYvqK3I-7hIw35uTZuWJbGNhwQDfzYN3RiIFKtFiiT2EtdcFziC3SO0JrJoE0zTSvVE8zcrMBaZxuBwoBwzqEN4DVQVLeH9qRCdukuRIWUOY6QFxAwXnqHKgGUvZ9-as5GaJUzCBLIGRP9l_xYjBBUGxYcyhMKwV7ncdGWCvw/w640-h338/Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence%20Notepaper%20Opt%20In.png" title="How to Give Students a Boost in Confidence for a New School Year" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Boost Confidence by Including Students</h1><div>The final strategy I use to give my students a boost in confidence at the start of a new school year and throughout the year is to include them in decisions about:</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>classroom rules</li><li>class jobs and responsibilities</li><li>classroom routines</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><div>Allowing students to share their thoughts and opinions about how the classroom runs gives them ownership. Students are more likely to follow the rules when they've had a hand in creating them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Year after year, my classroom is a tidy, enjoyable space because my students take as much pride in it as I do. It is as much their home away from home as it is mine.</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Get ready for the new school year!</h1><div>It doesn't take much to give students a boost in confidence at the beginning of a new school year, and the payoff is so worth it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Grab the back-to-school resources I shared in this post and MORE here:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Activities-Back-to-School-Centers-Ice-Breakers-and-Gifts-8159010?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence&utm_campaign=B2S%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Back to School resource bundle on Teachers Pay Teachers" border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="775" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6O4wyKNDrID76QKvG9QksdQj2GTKcc9B5rxZY_KQSc8BECoPmlKO61I7vELnaC3crhIovXcOxjqbJsqQDR2G_fqpxDlCJ3KRLQJNvebtENXl7y7bZnoYUCr29iOHUODEij9dut-74AIHb7NUeJinRctoObyFReFiNm_GxeZcnN2xaNcqK2Sf-eSkfNw/w400-h400/Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence%20B2S%20Bundle.png" title="How to Give Students a Boost in Confidence for a New School Year" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>If you would like to learn more about managing home-school communication, be sure to check out this post:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2016/04/easily-manage-home-school-communication.html" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilafnhFIXcHmrJZWssWuBUhIKbDop53nbBiYa1ZxUlFZTyaPkQrv5hGerXsr8iLHMvNDPgPvnoJpfes2G2IzluEwlXb8-CX8vKuE4G8PrlSeOtiQ8JKNade2isjJzRx7DYd2aBfT3jiwe6Y17HUy1ExcOUtvuTBSxF6bIvbTfO6PsQ6FibRE4FvOA0Tk70/w400-h209/How%20to%20Easily%20Manage%20Home%20School%20Communication.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>If you are wondering how to to get students collaborating effectively, you'll want to read this post next:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2018/09/how-to-establish-group-work-guidelines.html" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUAq9GPHS7WFEP_UImrmqjktbnvdNvh2YL2DHiCkIgY9h5Iflhp6qlQgwWHelOpUj5B9R5jyAOE5hLxtUhsCq1kgODaYhNsdbEi9ursnZkCOsYsPYYdFncmas1uHxwUsD6QE79JsFaxC5-S51m-RkUgVnGrq3sbC_7qRz-xnqXgGxrrm681bT-qjLARwm/w400-h209/How%20To%20Establish%20Group%20Work%20Guidelines%20With%20A%20New%20Class%20Header.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If you've enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYK-BfxUbTr2AVs1dPmTZoLbIuuXNtq8LGDkghi-Q75yC1jmN2fLucpOk98-QY5h8kC43tvp95rNkBJ2spaj6PTAe62-Ht4O9iZyUALk0w-rh5IwLekRJXcOkVG2r4r2jxcVQIzz3x9uFIqbvb8-5i99F_Neho7TU7xvSK2NpgDX_yQILh-44kHXdygg/s1500/Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence%20Pin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of digital All About Me flip book with text, "How to Give Students a Boost in Confidence for a New School Year"" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" data-pin-description="Giving students a little boost in confidence at the beginning of a new school year is the perfect way to set the tone and make them feel welcome in a new classroom! Boost your students' confidence by getting to know them, giving them a voice, and incorporating their perspectives in classroom decisions. Find resources and freebies for supporting student mental health, getting to know a new class, and parent communication in this blog post. #backtoschool #classroom #studentmentalhealth" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYK-BfxUbTr2AVs1dPmTZoLbIuuXNtq8LGDkghi-Q75yC1jmN2fLucpOk98-QY5h8kC43tvp95rNkBJ2spaj6PTAe62-Ht4O9iZyUALk0w-rh5IwLekRJXcOkVG2r4r2jxcVQIzz3x9uFIqbvb8-5i99F_Neho7TU7xvSK2NpgDX_yQILh-44kHXdygg/w426-h640/Give%20Students%20a%20Boost%20in%20Confidence%20Pin.png" title="How to Give Students a Boost in Confidence for a New School Year" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-90564153723274105222022-07-24T05:00:00.001-04:002022-07-24T05:00:00.161-04:00Using Reader’s Notebooks: How a Reading Response Journal Can Support Readers<div style="text-align: left;">Wondering how to get started with reader's notebooks? This post is for you! Using a reader's notebook with a reading response journal is a fantastic way to support your young readers as they develop essential reading comprehension skills.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20to%20Support%20Readers&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of Reader's Notebook pages with text, "Using Reader’s Notebooks: How a Reading Response Journal Can Support Readers."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-description="Reader's Notebooks and reading response journals are a great way to support reading development in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. Learn how to use Reader's Notebooks to engage your students with books daily and develop reading comprehension skills with any genre of text. Learn more about the key parts of a Reader's Notebook, and grab a free week of reading response prompts for your 4th-grade, 5th-grade, or 6th-grade reading classroom. #reading #readingteacher #elaclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTk_Xcwgs2cYku4TDOr-ikPA9LT2uHrQ3Mq9Z1cQDAq4cBUhoDSUewEn6KxaoXc0G1byYcBki9SAteJR3_EARP7XVXm9Fs7Kogcu47Y0JCeemh3hNl6yyhPoPi1f9imKErXxTvnny8Z3idf-YWEOAdXZPvOS6iIETA89fo3U10NSm_talvvotcOvKoJg/w426-h640/Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGgWp4gSzRiOOa0bZqZcME2WPWfVSb86ZsDFvw4tTE3x77MzSir8DcMUM4Pqs8W_tZyZUmRxxHFfrI1rxHwjuGNlExvSo20g8YMjUQLmAymWhd-CEivBaqlUrJbMFdplHirtNGFxE2LmWDGCxCLD9KHzcHPloDn8w2Qaict6_w-7LzsWK3rDXSDL1ssQ/w640-h334/Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20Header.png" title="Using Reader’s Notebooks: How a Reading Response Journal Can Support Readers" width="640" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">What is a Reader's Notebook?</h1><div>In my classroom, the <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20to%20Support%20Readers&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" target="_blank">reader's notebook</a></b> is where my students engage daily with books. A reader's notebook can be used along with any text or genre to support students as they develop their reading comprehension skills in the classroom.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20to%20Support%20Readers&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of printable and digital Reader's Notebook resources." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" data-pin-description="Reader's Notebooks and reading response journals are a great way to support reading development in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. Learn how to use Reader's Notebooks to engage your students with books daily and develop reading comprehension skills with any genre of text. Learn more about the key parts of a Reader's Notebook, and grab a free week of reading response prompts for your 4th-grade, 5th-grade, or 6th-grade reading classroom. #reading #readingteacher #elaclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTk_Xcwgs2cYku4TDOr-ikPA9LT2uHrQ3Mq9Z1cQDAq4cBUhoDSUewEn6KxaoXc0G1byYcBki9SAteJR3_EARP7XVXm9Fs7Kogcu47Y0JCeemh3hNl6yyhPoPi1f9imKErXxTvnny8Z3idf-YWEOAdXZPvOS6iIETA89fo3U10NSm_talvvotcOvKoJg/w426-h640/Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPtFwo6R9fFnEa2aTSzzHuXthT4g0ToFiHpySfTeN0k5qK2noBt-g1pb8406hgh8LyvAaJiZSPa4149osk698lCtEuieWua9XXY9W6eI4upIOLH9fPJkqTzOeiU8ibCsYd0EF4amQjGJVZL0yv1JuCowYrjxT2Pa7mIQnd5TPeti3Mu538G7VeY4aaOw/w640-h640/Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20Covers.PNG" title="Using Reader’s Notebooks: How a Reading Response Journal Can Support Readers" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Parts of a Reader's Notebook</h1><div>Our reader's notebooks have three distinct sections with very specific purposes:</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Tracking Daily Reading</h4><div>First is a section for <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20to%20Support%20Readers&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" target="_blank">tracking daily reading</a></b>. This tracking area allows students to note the books they'd like to read, their genres, and their completed books. This is not a reading log like the one you might have been assigned as a student, and students are not documenting the time they spend reading in the classroom or at home.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is a great place to encourage students to try new things and stop choosing the same types/genres/series of books again and again.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20to%20Support%20Readers&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of "My To Read List" and bookshelf "Book Tracker" pages of Reader's Notebook" border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="990" data-pin-description="Reader's Notebooks and reading response journals are a great way to support reading development in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. Learn how to use Reader's Notebooks to engage your students with books daily and develop reading comprehension skills with any genre of text. Learn more about the key parts of a Reader's Notebook, and grab a free week of reading response prompts for your 4th-grade, 5th-grade, or 6th-grade reading classroom. #reading #readingteacher #elaclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTk_Xcwgs2cYku4TDOr-ikPA9LT2uHrQ3Mq9Z1cQDAq4cBUhoDSUewEn6KxaoXc0G1byYcBki9SAteJR3_EARP7XVXm9Fs7Kogcu47Y0JCeemh3hNl6yyhPoPi1f9imKErXxTvnny8Z3idf-YWEOAdXZPvOS6iIETA89fo3U10NSm_talvvotcOvKoJg/w426-h640/Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWgtLjfctEG5K-3kK_2BpineVIheqqiIkF4Guq79JzBOl0cyvvRepdv2Zs61aRD2dRiKlrSXuYBgPriQaCMAwA2U3Rh9owiftz5Yli5OYAxER5iPG6B1k0lhbc9mhTojJuZTZfd7SbksOsFVS2TlCoDwkR_BoCiPl6JcVouGUkXsx3UyTpH-nQV2MjWg/w640-h640/Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20Mockup%20Trackers.png" title="Using Reader’s Notebooks: How a Reading Response Journal Can Support Readers" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Setting and Monitoring Goals</h4><div>The second part of the reader's notebook is geared toward <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20to%20Support%20Readers&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" target="_blank">setting and monitoring reading goals</a></b>. To begin, students can choose to set a target number of books they'd like to read during the school year. I have created four bookshelf graphics with different numbers of books that my students can choose from based on their target numbers. By coloring the books as they complete a text, students have a visual representation of how their goal is progressing.</div><div><br /></div><div>We also use this section of the reader's notebook to set specific goals related to reading comprehension skills. I have used <b><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Teachers-Reading-Conferences-Classroom-Essentials/dp/0325099154/" target="_blank">Jennifer Serravallo's Reading Conferences resource</a></b> for several years. Using this resource, I meet individually with each of my students early in the year to establish a baseline measure of what they know and can do in reading. An Assessment Conference Form included in this resource helps me establish this baseline and select personally-relevant goals for my students. We document these goals and monitor progress in the reader's notebook.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20to%20Support%20Readers&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of Reading Goals and Genre Tracker in Reader's Notebook" border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="990" data-pin-description="Reader's Notebooks and reading response journals are a great way to support reading development in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. Learn how to use Reader's Notebooks to engage your students with books daily and develop reading comprehension skills with any genre of text. Learn more about the key parts of a Reader's Notebook, and grab a free week of reading response prompts for your 4th-grade, 5th-grade, or 6th-grade reading classroom. #reading #readingteacher #elaclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTk_Xcwgs2cYku4TDOr-ikPA9LT2uHrQ3Mq9Z1cQDAq4cBUhoDSUewEn6KxaoXc0G1byYcBki9SAteJR3_EARP7XVXm9Fs7Kogcu47Y0JCeemh3hNl6yyhPoPi1f9imKErXxTvnny8Z3idf-YWEOAdXZPvOS6iIETA89fo3U10NSm_talvvotcOvKoJg/w426-h640/Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZT52mWcAo-5ebim7fnPup5WIpX8iwwKAi7qK_LTVyqH6jY-gQTi7_cwsVeyYXwd2jIlAHh1bsIWbO-xVrrO1KqcGIHn8X9-wXNO_vlE2C4LPbQ3fr9t5G9z3VBBI-VYhXYM13gk5Z2ef7P_rdpb0yRciYe-XMlIKa7arPv4dK3zUpyrptpNY__GigA/w640-h640/Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20Goals%20and%20Graph.png" title="Using Reader’s Notebooks: How a Reading Response Journal Can Support Readers" width="640" /></a></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Responding to Reading Daily Prompts</h4><div>The last section in our reader's notebooks is the <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20to%20Support%20Readers&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" target="_blank">reading response journal</a></b>, dedicated to daily reading responses and reflections. Since all my students read different self-selected books, I've designed reading response journal activities to work with any text and genre. Since I also believe strongly in the power of choice in the classroom, I give my students two prompts to choose from each day. The prompts appear several times throughout the school year, allowing my students to revisit any they may skip the first time.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20to%20Support%20Readers&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of different reading response page options in Reader's Notebook" border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" data-pin-description="Reader's Notebooks and reading response journals are a great way to support reading development in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. Learn how to use Reader's Notebooks to engage your students with books daily and develop reading comprehension skills with any genre of text. Learn more about the key parts of a Reader's Notebook, and grab a free week of reading response prompts for your 4th-grade, 5th-grade, or 6th-grade reading classroom. #reading #readingteacher #elaclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTk_Xcwgs2cYku4TDOr-ikPA9LT2uHrQ3Mq9Z1cQDAq4cBUhoDSUewEn6KxaoXc0G1byYcBki9SAteJR3_EARP7XVXm9Fs7Kogcu47Y0JCeemh3hNl6yyhPoPi1f9imKErXxTvnny8Z3idf-YWEOAdXZPvOS6iIETA89fo3U10NSm_talvvotcOvKoJg/w426-h640/Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoutBz6jzKRybJx-Yv1hEIY7I30j2a-IljiJVghWuLV-KwpQaab4FCiyLZo0wCWP-FKsIjLS0bax39wWb4I26aU8KTpM10SbsyeuoavObBiyPGrYH4XB1_oH57ltsOKNHpj71GOnxzwHPaxOUHo8iidtB4Sw1GunYJvL_VOefVihjdG07nq0df5bXdIw/w640-h640/Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20Reading%20Response%20Pages%20Duo.png" title="Using Reader’s Notebooks: How a Reading Response Journal Can Support Readers" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">How the Reading Response Journal Works</h1><div>I do most of my explicit teaching of reading skills in small groups based on my initial assessment reading conference. Using the <b><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Teachers-Reading-Conferences-Classroom-Essentials/dp/0325099154/" target="_blank">Reading Conferences</a></b> book, I pull small groups of students working on the same strategy together for lessons and check-ins. They will all come to the group with a different book, but the groups seamlessly run because they focus on the skills and strategies.</div><div><br /></div><div>My mini-lessons are often pulled from the Reading Strategies Book by Jennifer Serravallo.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/READING-STRATEGIES-BOOK-Jennifer-Serravallo/dp/032507433X" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of Jennifer Serravallo's Reading Strategies Book with strategy bookmark." border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" data-pin-description="Reader's Notebooks and reading response journals are a great way to support reading development in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. Learn how to use Reader's Notebooks to engage your students with books daily and develop reading comprehension skills with any genre of text. Learn more about the key parts of a Reader's Notebook, and grab a free week of reading response prompts for your 4th-grade, 5th-grade, or 6th-grade reading classroom. #reading #readingteacher #elaclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTk_Xcwgs2cYku4TDOr-ikPA9LT2uHrQ3Mq9Z1cQDAq4cBUhoDSUewEn6KxaoXc0G1byYcBki9SAteJR3_EARP7XVXm9Fs7Kogcu47Y0JCeemh3hNl6yyhPoPi1f9imKErXxTvnny8Z3idf-YWEOAdXZPvOS6iIETA89fo3U10NSm_talvvotcOvKoJg/w426-h640/Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXZK2ufOMVNt1jwW6xKR-GT7cgZXzr7ORbtSQeMXZ5OBrhjktLAaC4YdGpU8UWOD7C70uv5gkWQZqrwKhhT8bGPLt4kzW6H_M4oT4_jH8IHcCNNAZNRYPBAXeYM1pQNfsVxsVb4w53r6oYs0RXOB9mgUV-ZODFipYZMeXQpXiEmGnJwJFz5vLNmakiXw/w640-h480/Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20Reading%20Strategies%20Book.JPG" title="Using Reader’s Notebooks: How a Reading Response Journal Can Support Readers" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The students who meet with me often have a specific goal-focused prompt to complete after leaving me to do their independent reading. I'll provide them with a specific goal from the Reading Strategies book on a sticky note, which they place on a bookmark to be kept with their current book. The students will respond to the prompt in the reading response journal section of their reader's notebook. We use our <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2019/04/bump-it-up-wall-can-improve-student-success.html" target="_blank">performance wall</a></b> as a reminder of what a great response looks like.</div><div><br /></div><div>Students who don't meet with me on a particular day will work independently and complete one of the general prompts I have created for them. As I mentioned, these are recycled several times throughout the year, so students are working on curriculum-related tasks repeatedly. This spiraling keeps the content fresh and helps students consolidate their skills effectively.</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Reflecting on Reading Goals</h1><div>The reader's notebook is where students and I regularly review their reading goals, monitor progress, and establish new goals as skills grow. Because we use this resource daily, it is a fabulous place to see student growth over a term or school year.</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">A Closer Look at the Resource</h1><div>My <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20to%20Support%20Readers&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" target="_blank">full-year Reader's Notebook and Reading Prompts resource</a></b> contains all the goal-setting and tracking pages you see here and more, plus 180 reading response journal pages. </div><div><br /></div><div>Every reading response journal page contains prompts for use with any book OR specifically for fiction or nonfiction texts, and every page provides students with two prompt choices from which to choose. I've included a full-page size for binders or duotangs and 7x9 notebook strips to save paper.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have also included a detailed getting started section, teaching support, and editable rubrics with assessment ideas.</div><div><br /></div><div>All resources are in <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20to%20Support%20Readers&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" target="_blank">printable, Google Slides<span face="-apple-system, system-ui, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Oxygen-Sans, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif, "Apple Color Emoji", "Segoe UI Emoji", "Segoe UI Symbol", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">™</span>, and PowerPoint</a> formats!</div><div><br /></div><div>Click the image to take a closer look!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Notebook-Reading-Response-Prompts-Reading-Comprehension-Activities-8179444?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20to%20Support%20Readers&utm_campaign=Reader's%20Notebook" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Reader's Notebook and Reading Response Resource on Teachers Pay Teachers" border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="775" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxbi_AcWr99wjlJsYtxQijI_LvcpHvdESjwFUzdNKxeetHrxvaQtDpGAaOvf_0pUpTWhB3CssX0V4_GQw9gYtC-DZ6pd4Pv3rQdTSZy83RFRt2qi7gISTeZlqDluPWyh1u4HW6XUKG__b-yI0X0UX8B8zpiafE-gHEkmxt7qMQvJ5_QSjG31q103UrZA/w400-h400/Readers%20Notebook%20Resource.png" title="Using Reader’s Notebooks: How a Reading Response Journal Can Support Readers" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Try the Reading Response Journal FREE!</h1><div>If you'd like to try out the reading response journal pages, you can click the image below to <b><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/readingresponse" target="_blank">grab a free week</a></b>!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/readingresponse" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Free Reading Response pages" border="0" data-original-height="738" data-original-width="1391" height="341" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1-e6tj7fL6xcLZI_-Knzugdw-rOXL6uuABe0gnq-oTIjfoXriaIcCeIdEgIP5BFJxA3CEyATVAOFDj_61CBjScTN3SwjmQNP5wJTkxml8rcO21s7ZwrpNjS34IIWS3nt5T-AUjrmVn_5CA82zlw4pAihfhZuiLEdwrZsAiiixGZUUD4NA2Rc-HWO2w/w640-h341/Opt%20In2.png" title="Using Reader’s Notebooks: How a Reading Response Journal Can Support Readers" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If you've enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYW-oQlDv0VKQt5Gkb5hlpHjF9LZ5He8w5PRdz0PRNDUjktImdmVdtNHDO8bdmHVKB23rbkI5g06d2b3Yo2LFPpCXoFoeFe1MhSJ1As64l9Gv_MS286P3IIMS1t9HUQ4puCojCYeX8wGKZXVW0e_RwH1rFpI1lcj937vXGS9iys_VKMXh6m81mp2fbMw/s1500/Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20Pin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of Reader's Notebooks with text, "Using Reader’s Notebooks: How a Reading Response Journal Can Support Readers"" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" data-pin-description="Reader's Notebooks and reading response journals are a great way to support reading development in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades. Learn how to use Reader's Notebooks to engage your students with books daily and develop reading comprehension skills with any genre of text. Learn more about the key parts of a Reader's Notebook, and grab a free week of reading response prompts for your 4th-grade, 5th-grade, or 6th-grade reading classroom. #reading #readingteacher #elaclassroom" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYW-oQlDv0VKQt5Gkb5hlpHjF9LZ5He8w5PRdz0PRNDUjktImdmVdtNHDO8bdmHVKB23rbkI5g06d2b3Yo2LFPpCXoFoeFe1MhSJ1As64l9Gv_MS286P3IIMS1t9HUQ4puCojCYeX8wGKZXVW0e_RwH1rFpI1lcj937vXGS9iys_VKMXh6m81mp2fbMw/w426-h640/Using%20Reader%E2%80%99s%20Notebooks%20Pin.png" title="Using Reader’s Notebooks: How a Reading Response Journal Can Support Readers" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-62227919531481210352022-05-11T12:30:00.000-04:002022-05-11T12:30:22.870-04:002022-2023 Erin Condren Teacher Lesson Planner<div style="text-align: left;">Teachers, it is time to celebrate! The new Teacher Lesson Planners from Erin Condren are launching on May 16 and I have your sneak peek at the coiled planner, softbound planner, and tons of great accessories!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jMk3hqroGUGgE8DjNuKkDuSlroPWmm__q7n7BWXz_FmssXZRgqVpMPgC7wpTHZdjh1QSEzUGR5FJTzYOQ-lkUR196CGsNaGnDF7Xi5wGC8fkGI87LdDQDT4fM1k3LquRU7mwrUBdTvQ_blMBQi_NhNEyc78XSBdpVHaLv0ip-9gfU3RV8hGI6Jy_6Q/s940/2022-2023%20Erin%20Condren%20TLP%20Launch.png"><img alt="Photo of Erin Condren teacher planner and accessories with text, "2022-2023 Erin Condren Teacher Lesson Planner Launch."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" height="334" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jMk3hqroGUGgE8DjNuKkDuSlroPWmm__q7n7BWXz_FmssXZRgqVpMPgC7wpTHZdjh1QSEzUGR5FJTzYOQ-lkUR196CGsNaGnDF7Xi5wGC8fkGI87LdDQDT4fM1k3LquRU7mwrUBdTvQ_blMBQi_NhNEyc78XSBdpVHaLv0ip-9gfU3RV8hGI6Jy_6Q/w640-h334/2022-2023%20Erin%20Condren%20TLP%20Launch.png" title="2022-2023 Erin Condren Teacher Lesson Planner" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>This post is part of a partnership with Erin Condren, but all thoughts and opinions about the products are my own. I don't promote what I don't love! </i></span><i style="font-size: x-small;">This post includes affiliate links for which I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you should you make a purchase.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">During Teacher Lesson Planner Launch Week there will be 10% discounts for teachers with ID, a gift with purchase, and an additional gift of a free lanyard for EC Insiders!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Not yet an EC Insider? <b><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1200956&u=1598599&m=71368&urllink=&afftrack=" target="_blank">Click here to join now for all the extra perks!</a></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Check out the walkthrough video here, then scroll down to grab $10 off your upcoming launch purchase and check out all the designs!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
<center><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="394" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vWtVX8UTi8c" title="YouTube video player" width="700"></iframe></center><div><br /></div>
What do you think? Aren't they all awesome?! <div><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: left;">How to Get Yours</h3><div>The new collection launches on May 16 and will be 10% off until the 21st, so now is the PERFECT time to <b><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1042576&u=1598599&m=71368&urllink=&afftrack=" target="_blank">head to the website</a></b> and check out the designs. You'll want to be ready for launch day to grab the free gifts with your purchase, while supplies last!</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's what to do:</div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>If you're a first-time Erin Condren customer, you can <b><a href="https://www.erincondren.com/referral/invite/erinbeattie0702/1" target="_blank">use this link to save $10 off your first order</a></b>.</li><li>If you've shopped with Erin Condren before, <b><a href="https://shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=1042576&u=1598599&m=71368&urllink=&afftrack=" target="_blank">go here to check out the new teacher collection</a></b>, and be sure you are an EC Insider!</li><li>Set a reminder on your phone for May 16 and place that order!!</li></ol><div><br /></div></div><div>Have questions about this launch? <b><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/p/contact.html" target="_blank">Contact me here!</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div>You might also be interested in this post:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2019/03/how-using-journal-can-improve-your-life.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of Erin Condren Journal with text, "How Using a Daily Journal Can Improve Your Life."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" height="209" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlbhYfToZMh3O7NUIk3zv7ds3tW5E5EWGkO35wxodAo4sFD51kULW7PPzv6E1tusSKEldsyudgZE78VNH7bu_3Pif7CA2eKbeFeJFtkGpe5leYO_3KzuHvhQuTA8K9TZoOItzEWbWrZcqNTaREQRvAFMQRvd3ENhw22gclwyc3cTY5MO0VJ2unP6CZJA/w400-h209/How%20Using%20a%20Journal%20Can%20Improve%20Your%20Life%20Header.png" title="2022-2023 Erin Condren Teacher Lesson Planner" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-34832033729845074352021-10-17T06:00:00.001-04:002021-10-17T06:00:00.179-04:005 Ways to Avoid the Time Trap of Preparing Daily Early Finisher Activities<div style="text-align: left;">Picture this. You've just finished teaching a super math lesson, and your students are engaged in an independent task. Ten minutes later, you've got a couple of students who are already finished, while most have lots to do. Are you prepared? Are you spending unnecessary planning time preparing for these students or constantly telling them to pull out a book? Here are five ways to avoid the time trap of preparing daily early finisher activities.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Preparing%20for%20Early%20Finishers&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of math morning work activities and manipulatives with text, "5 Ways to Avoid the Time Trap of Preparing Daily Early Finisher Activities."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVcAC5Vx96ierXyHFdjwq7EOYpX7aAdwWKaGAtxal8Mtgc_34_5d7Utg0_oHc6zQbyhnWQ7oNQ1gY4uUbiWydi6ZB9mT5QU4pNlIfEO0ltTIqlV3TAd7upW41FlY4tBaeHloQh00dS_ee/w213-h320/B132+How+to+Avoid+Preparing+For+Early+Finishers+Pin.png" data-pin-description="Preparing early finisher activities takes time. Your second and third-grade students will get bored with worksheets, and you want something paperless. Avoid the time trap of preparing daily early finisher activities! Choose open tasks like math morning work task cards instead of worksheets. Students in 2nd and 3rd grade love math manipulatives, so use them! Hands-on activities will keep early finishers engaged while minimizing classroom disruptions and interruptions. #earlyfinishers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLi_KX_6U3ewYeaIyoJjJCwRAx3340z-wgS2pz3PSYc3NKx7aqXK7zoR-KXOJVlhV-BJ3nm86Uqe5tU70qH5xrwSz2_7YkrGcfd9KVHsp7NsVOEcbIKMVX1N0K6d8h2pZPY9ozRkDU7SO/w640-h334/Header+%25284%2529+%25281%2529.png" title="5 Ways to Avoid the Time Trap of Preparing Daily Early Finisher Activities" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;">Having <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Preparing%20for%20Early%20Finishers&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" target="_blank"><b>early finisher activities</b></a> ready to go when your students need them takes work. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Paper activities require photocopying. How many will you need? How will you monitor which students have completed which pages? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUVd-Zyxkaw2XsGkw88huX36XlzJeEpRguumLTovHz5DGorAXmwlp0ChO_i0s-Ascn6FpGI-a8x18oZHJ_n6Pq0t_6tDFAKcEbiyrZCKv_T3FzV46wWSCGddcr5BbCkX_nCHNodwzPl_d/s2048/Depositphotos_31779129_xl-2015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of confused teacher wearing red shirt with chalked arrows pointing in different directions around her." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgUVd-Zyxkaw2XsGkw88huX36XlzJeEpRguumLTovHz5DGorAXmwlp0ChO_i0s-Ascn6FpGI-a8x18oZHJ_n6Pq0t_6tDFAKcEbiyrZCKv_T3FzV46wWSCGddcr5BbCkX_nCHNodwzPl_d/w320-h320/Depositphotos_31779129_xl-2015.jpg" title="5 Ways to Avoid the Time Trap of Preparing Daily Early Finisher Activities" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">These activities are often meaningless busywork that isn't directly related to the curriculum. You need something fast. A puzzle or word search will fix the problem of students with nothing to do, but is it time well-spent?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Let's face it. Without suitable <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Preparing%20for%20Early%20Finishers&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" target="_blank"><b>early finisher activities</b></a>, you risk having bored, disruptive students.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">How to Avoid the Time Trap</h1><h2 style="text-align: left;">Choose Open Tasks For Early Finisher Activities</h2><div>When you choose <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Preparing%20for%20Early%20Finishers&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" target="_blank"><b>open activities such as task cards</b></a>, your students can revisit the same activity repeatedly and always have a different experience. Resources like these allow you to prep once and be done instead of having to look for something new every day.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Preparing%20for%20Early%20Finishers&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of money task card and coins inside purple task card holder." border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="816" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVcAC5Vx96ierXyHFdjwq7EOYpX7aAdwWKaGAtxal8Mtgc_34_5d7Utg0_oHc6zQbyhnWQ7oNQ1gY4uUbiWydi6ZB9mT5QU4pNlIfEO0ltTIqlV3TAd7upW41FlY4tBaeHloQh00dS_ee/w213-h320/B132+How+to+Avoid+Preparing+For+Early+Finishers+Pin.png" data-pin-description="Preparing early finisher activities takes time. Your second and third-grade students will get bored with worksheets, and you want something paperless. Avoid the time trap of preparing daily early finisher activities! Choose open tasks like math morning work task cards instead of worksheets. Students in 2nd and 3rd grade love math manipulatives, so use them! Hands-on activities will keep early finishers engaged while minimizing classroom disruptions and interruptions. #earlyfinishers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxgF69Zz7nWPcdkLXVTfIIVKhQF3wuxihWa66fqZCQCj-qrw8phdCmJ7WbiYjghFqyN3H1BT0CtryAlEGtJ06KyX7hJgDP5sQWoTCsDFofC6UxnQD7HX9qDGzhWoall8OjJ95e__FSWbNh/w400-h400/Open+task.PNG" title="5 Ways to Avoid the Time Trap of Preparing Daily Early Finisher Activities" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Use Materials You Have Already</h2><div>Base your <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Preparing%20for%20Early%20Finishers&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" target="_blank"><b>early finisher activities</b></a> on the things you already have in your classroom, like math manipulatives. You don't want to have to search for materials to engage your students. I like to have the following manipulatives on hand at all times:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>money</li><li>dominoes</li><li>linking cubes</li><li>beads</li><li>base ten blocks</li><li>dice</li><li>tangrams</li><li>pentominoes</li><li>geoboards</li><li>pattern blocks</li><li>snap cubes</li><li>counters</li></ul><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Preparing%20for%20Early%20Finishers&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of math morning work task cards and a variety of math manipulatives and bins." border="0" data-original-height="459" data-original-width="612" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVcAC5Vx96ierXyHFdjwq7EOYpX7aAdwWKaGAtxal8Mtgc_34_5d7Utg0_oHc6zQbyhnWQ7oNQ1gY4uUbiWydi6ZB9mT5QU4pNlIfEO0ltTIqlV3TAd7upW41FlY4tBaeHloQh00dS_ee/w213-h320/B132+How+to+Avoid+Preparing+For+Early+Finishers+Pin.png" data-pin-description="Preparing early finisher activities takes time. Your second and third-grade students will get bored with worksheets, and you want something paperless. Avoid the time trap of preparing daily early finisher activities! Choose open tasks like math morning work task cards instead of worksheets. Students in 2nd and 3rd grade love math manipulatives, so use them! Hands-on activities will keep early finishers engaged while minimizing classroom disruptions and interruptions. #earlyfinishers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5nqfR7cJG5oLYq7vqR6FQ74romhMDMMzaXbWGQeQZvq9ff6mq5SQ8A2hBmvq4N5uI0C21IufGROklsqAurIl5Ic8Vk8SeARZy31u_cZWE6PQJQF4uAAAwJZtPnbItWlUy0BiA48TJn5e7/w640-h480/Manipulatives.jpg" title="5 Ways to Avoid the Time Trap of Preparing Daily Early Finisher Activities" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Choose Engaging, Hands-On Tasks</h2><div>When you choose engaging, hands-on activities, your students are more likely to stay on task during the work period. If kids are bored, they'll find something else to interest them, and that will often be chatting with their friends who may still be working. Having a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Preparing%20for%20Early%20Finishers&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" target="_blank">variety of hands-on options</a> means there's something for everyone, and the power of choice is HUGE! When students choose how they spend their time, they will be less likely to disrupt others.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Preparing%20for%20Early%20Finishers&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of beads and task cards on top of large container of task card holders." border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="816" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVcAC5Vx96ierXyHFdjwq7EOYpX7aAdwWKaGAtxal8Mtgc_34_5d7Utg0_oHc6zQbyhnWQ7oNQ1gY4uUbiWydi6ZB9mT5QU4pNlIfEO0ltTIqlV3TAd7upW41FlY4tBaeHloQh00dS_ee/w213-h320/B132+How+to+Avoid+Preparing+For+Early+Finishers+Pin.png" data-pin-description="Preparing early finisher activities takes time. Your second and third-grade students will get bored with worksheets, and you want something paperless. Avoid the time trap of preparing daily early finisher activities! Choose open tasks like math morning work task cards instead of worksheets. Students in 2nd and 3rd grade love math manipulatives, so use them! Hands-on activities will keep early finishers engaged while minimizing classroom disruptions and interruptions. #earlyfinishers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOEHi-2qagiztk0r4Pk3VWDft-5x-OL_aOO5RqmVueUmqAMePeD4eNDz5DhZAYqiFZwag2i6Bg86fXBhy806GiK9H5uugaxsQHUYPBJaLNw4KEPffm45jZ3qCTyH-DtBHT1cR71hgbl8R/w400-h400/Math+Morning+Work.PNG" title="5 Ways to Avoid the Time Trap of Preparing Daily Early Finisher Activities" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Simple Enough to Use Independently</h2><div>You don't want to be caught explaining extra work while trying to teach lessons or support the students who are still working! Be sure to prepare <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Preparing%20for%20Early%20Finishers&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" target="_blank"><b>early finisher activities</b></a> that students can manage and understand independently! </div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Keep text instructions brief.</li><li>Include visuals to support students.</li><li>Provide choice so they may move on if stuck on one activity.</li></ul><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Preparing%20for%20Early%20Finishers&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of math morning work task cards with linking cubes." border="0" data-original-height="1771" data-original-width="1771" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVcAC5Vx96ierXyHFdjwq7EOYpX7aAdwWKaGAtxal8Mtgc_34_5d7Utg0_oHc6zQbyhnWQ7oNQ1gY4uUbiWydi6ZB9mT5QU4pNlIfEO0ltTIqlV3TAd7upW41FlY4tBaeHloQh00dS_ee/w213-h320/B132+How+to+Avoid+Preparing+For+Early+Finishers+Pin.png" data-pin-description="Preparing early finisher activities takes time. Your second and third-grade students will get bored with worksheets, and you want something paperless. Avoid the time trap of preparing daily early finisher activities! Choose open tasks like math morning work task cards instead of worksheets. Students in 2nd and 3rd grade love math manipulatives, so use them! Hands-on activities will keep early finishers engaged while minimizing classroom disruptions and interruptions. #earlyfinishers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS68JJUW3YA4MY2E24wE_suVOJBxarMYl_GzbJzVq7SFRJAiuVtmcSqjmVA3_B0t1R5gDoYbXxGF8oO9v_4P6cqhn602CH6wONpanw192pUifpel-rEnoBsKrv2VvEq6AGQfbDYh5fcfX-/w400-h400/Visual.png" title="5 Ways to Avoid the Time Trap of Preparing Daily Early Finisher Activities" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Easy to Access and Store</h2><div>I would recommend choosing activities that are <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Preparing%20for%20Early%20Finishers&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" target="_blank"><b>easy for students to access independently</b></a> and not a problem for you to store throughout the year. Students shouldn't need your help to find and get started with early finisher activities. You want as little disruption as possible for the students who are still working on lesson content.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, your early finisher activities shouldn't be a hassle to store. Do you really want a trifold board sitting on a table in the corner of your room all year? Will this withstand the frequent handling throughout the school year, or will pockets tear with repeated access? </div><div><br /></div><div>Choose a reliable, easily accessible location, activities that won't take up much space, and ensure they will withstand frequent handling to take the work out of preparing them!</div><div><br /></div><div>The <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Preparing%20for%20Early%20Finishers&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" target="_blank"><b>task cards</b></a> in this post are a great early finisher activity option! They take up no space, and students love them! I print, laminate, clip them together by manipulative, and store them right in my math manipulative containers. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Preparing%20for%20Early%20Finishers&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photos of math task cards for different manipulatives held together with binder clips." border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1578" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVcAC5Vx96ierXyHFdjwq7EOYpX7aAdwWKaGAtxal8Mtgc_34_5d7Utg0_oHc6zQbyhnWQ7oNQ1gY4uUbiWydi6ZB9mT5QU4pNlIfEO0ltTIqlV3TAd7upW41FlY4tBaeHloQh00dS_ee/w213-h320/B132+How+to+Avoid+Preparing+For+Early+Finishers+Pin.png" data-pin-description="Preparing early finisher activities takes time. Your second and third-grade students will get bored with worksheets, and you want something paperless. Avoid the time trap of preparing daily early finisher activities! Choose open tasks like math morning work task cards instead of worksheets. Students in 2nd and 3rd grade love math manipulatives, so use them! Hands-on activities will keep early finishers engaged while minimizing classroom disruptions and interruptions. #earlyfinishers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQJe3z9hylCCCONCGk8fIhqwe6Sfv-EOLJh12-6UWtCiK0WtWG6erBJZ_8MoerfGDWZs_lKOKqpP8CQ7BVJHtZwXEwJT0SpQ3ol09KjOkxz3H2HUoV-e9CGkB_oP4B1HBPlRw7ybEIE-g/w640-h456/Storage.png" title="5 Ways to Avoid the Time Trap of Preparing Daily Early Finisher Activities" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I have <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Preparing%20for%20Early%20Finishers&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" target="_blank"><b>more than 280 task cards ready to go and an editable template for you</b></a> to make your own or adjust to meet the needs of your students! Click the image below to grab yours today or enter your information to <a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/MathMorningWork" target="_blank"><b>try them free</b></a> here:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/MathMorningWork" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of math task cards with text, "Click here to get 16 Free Math Morning Work Activities."" border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="1354" height="338" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvoNNGm0NybtiQot0t8SkvDpv7k07BPI8IMF7o_XjFvUcfeZK7Dwr9KhRikuskoSJwP5TMWdYeTcNiwSx0opligTsG6nZtXk7lGlL11NMwWCpwLaVjTREp7evf3Oo8u4QvsWgq50Ce3lF/w640-h338/Math+Morning+Work+Freebie+Offer.png" title="5 Ways to Avoid the Time Trap of Preparing Daily Early Finisher Activities" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Preparing%20for%20Early%20Finishers&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Cover of math morning work resource." border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="775" height="400" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHcsoanRd5sH1v5W8tXFO3cr-X-eF4uPz3IChJ97B0icaQ3T2pgoXXETDCnpV0F9OghBFFJXPuBBcaPj94hdKj5XeAOoO6sG-XkjE1gpwlBYEk7UCJTvnzLFrZBiWesDFkoYcsMVSUD5k/w400-h400/2021Thumb1.png" title="5 Ways to Avoid the Time Trap of Preparing Daily Early Finisher Activities" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>If you'd like to check out more awesome morning work ideas, you need to check out this post:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2016/10/fun-ways-to-start-day-in-elementary.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of math morning work task cards with text, "Fun Morning Activities For Elementary Classrooms."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" height="209" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvFONVb2uCmCyyD1_EPWEuOb_rb3OL24V6VzmNQeZxxRexoDbdNijTwinggEJT9HlxyUxrTIXFIpbAhSs3WaHxazkWS8f-TI-nHUNKt5W0FVjdPfzN7YwWyHA0RpQZbnDr-59BrvMqn5Co/w400-h209/Header2021.png" title="5 Ways to Avoid the Time Trap of Preparing Daily Early Finisher Activities" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1faUQ3uwogA4J06JwslXMWDEZQQ9ZlID4AWkpcR-bhQ_Dcr3l3O6IRjAGvwSXbFZjo9fLmDwfrhXsEz7LD1xNN-ngnvFzRwKyeqpmJMyODyX_x7zCwxGFBerrmiy6FrLn_Ml_ZVbC1cgo/s1500/B132+How+to+Avoid+Preparing+For+Early+Finishers+Pin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of beads and task cards with text, "5 Ways to Avoid the Time Trap of Preparing Daily Early Finisher Activities."" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" data-pin-description="Preparing early finisher activities takes time. Your second and third-grade students will get bored with worksheets, and you want something paperless. Avoid the time trap of preparing daily early finisher activities! Choose open tasks like math morning work task cards instead of worksheets. Students in 2nd and 3rd grade love math manipulatives, so use them! Hands-on activities will keep early finishers engaged while minimizing classroom disruptions and interruptions. #earlyfinishers" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1faUQ3uwogA4J06JwslXMWDEZQQ9ZlID4AWkpcR-bhQ_Dcr3l3O6IRjAGvwSXbFZjo9fLmDwfrhXsEz7LD1xNN-ngnvFzRwKyeqpmJMyODyX_x7zCwxGFBerrmiy6FrLn_Ml_ZVbC1cgo/w426-h640/B132+How+to+Avoid+Preparing+For+Early+Finishers+Pin.png" title="5 Ways to Avoid the Time Trap of Preparing Daily Early Finisher Activities" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-19933317009185642442021-10-03T06:00:00.004-04:002021-10-03T12:07:32.302-04:007+ Things You Can Accomplish While Students Complete Hands-On Morning Work<div style="text-align: left;">Having a soft start is one of the best things I ever decided to do in my classroom. When students are engaged with learning from the moment they enter your classroom, you have time to Do. All. The. Things. If you've considered a soft start but aren't yet happy with how it is going, consider these many things you can accomplish while students complete hands-on morning work!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Things%20You%20Can%20Accomplish&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of dice task card in purple box with text, "7+ Things You Can Accomplish While Students Complete Hands-On Morning Work."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-description="Having a soft start is a great management tool in elementary classrooms! Read 7+ things you can accomplish while students complete hands-on morning work in this post. Beginning the day with math morning work or math bins will engage your elementary students so you can get the teaching day organized. 2nd and 3rd-grade students love using hands-on activities using math manipulatives. Your second or third-grade class will also love using these as early finisher activities! #mathmorningwork" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAgC0wG96JF3DQlXI-u_d7um5NQdnxGivXC8C4GYj5X6IlsjGfuZ9MVqR7eUNR4zUdIy2_1pAWp1b0en6zdpE5tfmNfG7hHvF-VAna7zlDvyoOdTsPkjHJe9PdsoEntLuqZiUVWGWe97l/w213-h320/30.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-j3nqaHt_jDpkQ_-iU_jhszejnZhdx4Hyv2ylvAg9JLITf0XtmabhO4-T_RfYJix5z1cDOKOh9eFK0T7WghAcMK53a5-kROi-YLHrwwN_w5VvNCCTdpqbyAfW7KK4wJDOiHp3qi9GBpvy/w640-h334/Header+%25283%2529.png" title="7+ Things You Can Accomplish While Students Complete Hands-On Morning Work" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><h1 style="text-align: left;">Choosing The Right Morning Work Activities</h1><div style="text-align: left;">While a soft start can take many forms, I prefer to use <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Things%20You%20Can%20Accomplish&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" target="_blank"><b>hands-on activities</b></a> with the materials I already have in my classroom in the form of task cards that can be used repeatedly. I will not spend my time photocopying morning work pages that some students will finish quickly and others will never get to. That's a waste of resources and my time.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Things%20You%20Can%20Accomplish&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of math morning work task cards with a variety of math manipulatives and bins." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" data-pin-description="Having a soft start is a great management tool in elementary classrooms! Read 7+ things you can accomplish while students complete hands-on morning work in this post. Beginning the day with math morning work or math bins will engage your elementary students so you can get the teaching day organized. 2nd and 3rd-grade students love using hands-on activities using math manipulatives. Your second or third-grade class will also love using these as early finisher activities! #mathmorningwork" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAgC0wG96JF3DQlXI-u_d7um5NQdnxGivXC8C4GYj5X6IlsjGfuZ9MVqR7eUNR4zUdIy2_1pAWp1b0en6zdpE5tfmNfG7hHvF-VAna7zlDvyoOdTsPkjHJe9PdsoEntLuqZiUVWGWe97l/w213-h320/30.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW70LBSRlvc47X91hWjlQzbN-FK4iU56K6P6E6rWvxGiaMx33SBESeTGqMmNN0-7ookz_jkfz_c5T1WQVQMSbakV6Up0wTbiclXR4JGgIxNfkhzGoD9S8JNM10QKu3kNSplgR1tbMU5y4Z/w400-h400/Math+Morning+Work+Updated+2021.jpg" title="7+ Things You Can Accomplish While Students Complete Hands-On Morning Work" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Attendance</h2><div>Sometimes students trickle into the classroom over some time. There's nothing more disruptive than having your students make their way to the carpet area for your first lesson and sitting there with nothing to do as their classmates arrive and unpack. Then you walk away to enter the attendance into the school system. When students are engaged with a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Things%20You%20Can%20Accomplish&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" target="_blank"><b>hands-on task</b></a> during this time, no one is idle, and disruptions are limited.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Things%20You%20Can%20Accomplish&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of beads and task cards on top of a large container of task card bins." border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="816" data-pin-description="Having a soft start is a great management tool in elementary classrooms! Read 7+ things you can accomplish while students complete hands-on morning work in this post. Beginning the day with math morning work or math bins will engage your elementary students so you can get the teaching day organized. 2nd and 3rd-grade students love using hands-on activities using math manipulatives. Your second or third-grade class will also love using these as early finisher activities! #mathmorningwork" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAgC0wG96JF3DQlXI-u_d7um5NQdnxGivXC8C4GYj5X6IlsjGfuZ9MVqR7eUNR4zUdIy2_1pAWp1b0en6zdpE5tfmNfG7hHvF-VAna7zlDvyoOdTsPkjHJe9PdsoEntLuqZiUVWGWe97l/w213-h320/30.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTfhu9DO3JtsJBDCHNsyRjZxTRSysPmZsdMTJZXWHemsoF8lmet9aercTZJE-gx-CdZxIkxArzbsn1CfHq2TaDVPRSp0L9j4v3VJYVo4glQxa52YOZKvKsDtwNERkGS0tPImTr7BqLsOfg/w400-h400/Slide1.PNG" title="7+ Things You Can Accomplish While Students Complete Hands-On Morning Work" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Visitors</h2><div>Occasionally a parent or sibling will pop into the classroom with a special message or request at the beginning of the day. When your students have a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Things%20You%20Can%20Accomplish&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" target="_blank"><b>morning work routine</b></a>, there will be no problem with you spending a moment or two to chat. You can rest assured that they will unpack and get started without your immediate guidance.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Things%20You%20Can%20Accomplish&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of money task card and coins inside purple task card holder." border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="816" data-pin-description="Having a soft start is a great management tool in elementary classrooms! Read 7+ things you can accomplish while students complete hands-on morning work in this post. Beginning the day with math morning work or math bins will engage your elementary students so you can get the teaching day organized. 2nd and 3rd-grade students love using hands-on activities using math manipulatives. Your second or third-grade class will also love using these as early finisher activities! #mathmorningwork" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAgC0wG96JF3DQlXI-u_d7um5NQdnxGivXC8C4GYj5X6IlsjGfuZ9MVqR7eUNR4zUdIy2_1pAWp1b0en6zdpE5tfmNfG7hHvF-VAna7zlDvyoOdTsPkjHJe9PdsoEntLuqZiUVWGWe97l/w213-h320/30.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHhAQiYFygkITC5KanOH3eUMgFVNj0dEtyFqaRdk6sJxvVglFKgmMPVLck4l5T4F0eysDRyeZye7sT9xL_VL0wKD3g1JqxyCSMbDLI30i-7NsMbQWH4KTlz9vuPVTkW8H8bsgwEtbJWxbT/w400-h400/Slide2.PNG" title="7+ Things You Can Accomplish While Students Complete Hands-On Morning Work" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Yard Issues</h2><div>I'm sure you've started your school day with someone entering the classroom in tears at least once in your career. Am I right? Occasionally, problems on the schoolyard upset a student, or a yard supervisor arrives to give you a heads-up warning about a problem just as the day is beginning. Chaos can ensue if you're dealing with these issues and your students have no direction. A <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Things%20You%20Can%20Accomplish&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" target="_blank"><b>morning routine</b></a> takes care of this.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Things%20You%20Can%20Accomplish&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of task card and dominoes on top of large container of task card bins." border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="816" data-pin-description="Having a soft start is a great management tool in elementary classrooms! Read 7+ things you can accomplish while students complete hands-on morning work in this post. Beginning the day with math morning work or math bins will engage your elementary students so you can get the teaching day organized. 2nd and 3rd-grade students love using hands-on activities using math manipulatives. Your second or third-grade class will also love using these as early finisher activities! #mathmorningwork" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAgC0wG96JF3DQlXI-u_d7um5NQdnxGivXC8C4GYj5X6IlsjGfuZ9MVqR7eUNR4zUdIy2_1pAWp1b0en6zdpE5tfmNfG7hHvF-VAna7zlDvyoOdTsPkjHJe9PdsoEntLuqZiUVWGWe97l/w213-h320/30.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_vWgMh9pAxWmtt21voq2Xqb3uwYj9oSGi6InzcZXNap6ZLo7lWPULsD6T89m09tc3LeANQhRocjvFToTR4MwTVhI6uuop5fQaSXU4Bi_TDENcQob8t3YVU3z-KxnimYaM9susLNQLWXy/w400-h400/Slide5.PNG" title="7+ Things You Can Accomplish While Students Complete Hands-On Morning Work" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Money Collection</h2><div>Throughout the school year, there are times when we are overrun with things to collect from students. There's nothing worse than ending up with a pile of permission slips or money and finding that someone didn't put their name on it first. I prefer to check off these items as the students hand them in over dealing with them during prep time. When my students are busy with <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Things%20You%20Can%20Accomplish&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" target="_blank"><b>engaging hands-on activities</b></a>, I can take the extra moment to collect the following in an organized manner:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>lunch money</li><li>field trip forms and money</li><li>permission slips</li><li>book orders</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Things%20You%20Can%20Accomplish&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of task card and tangrams on top of large bin of task card containers." border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="816" data-pin-description="Having a soft start is a great management tool in elementary classrooms! Read 7+ things you can accomplish while students complete hands-on morning work in this post. Beginning the day with math morning work or math bins will engage your elementary students so you can get the teaching day organized. 2nd and 3rd-grade students love using hands-on activities using math manipulatives. Your second or third-grade class will also love using these as early finisher activities! #mathmorningwork" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAgC0wG96JF3DQlXI-u_d7um5NQdnxGivXC8C4GYj5X6IlsjGfuZ9MVqR7eUNR4zUdIy2_1pAWp1b0en6zdpE5tfmNfG7hHvF-VAna7zlDvyoOdTsPkjHJe9PdsoEntLuqZiUVWGWe97l/w213-h320/30.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukLUqAxZ-xWEWcqXUhnw_-zyhOvSRj_glyIMpiA0TDXii9mC2WIUodaG3cDw3rhZ4z2bXXShoT-MERq_bSBfWDSarobLMxsnSPJAEThOQTrks39G2MyIiEwVblAGajtqktnj-sXCsrQSP/w400-h400/Slide6.PNG" title="7+ Things You Can Accomplish While Students Complete Hands-On Morning Work" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Lesson Preparation</h2><div>Whether you're a new or experienced teacher, there are often times when you need a couple of extra minutes to prepare something for a lesson. You can take the spare moments you need to prepare for your teaching by not filling your time with redirecting student behavior.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Things%20You%20Can%20Accomplish&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Dice task card in purple task card container and loose dice on table." border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="816" data-pin-description="Having a soft start is a great management tool in elementary classrooms! Read 7+ things you can accomplish while students complete hands-on morning work in this post. Beginning the day with math morning work or math bins will engage your elementary students so you can get the teaching day organized. 2nd and 3rd-grade students love using hands-on activities using math manipulatives. Your second or third-grade class will also love using these as early finisher activities! #mathmorningwork" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAgC0wG96JF3DQlXI-u_d7um5NQdnxGivXC8C4GYj5X6IlsjGfuZ9MVqR7eUNR4zUdIy2_1pAWp1b0en6zdpE5tfmNfG7hHvF-VAna7zlDvyoOdTsPkjHJe9PdsoEntLuqZiUVWGWe97l/w213-h320/30.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNs5NnteysCL0cv46FiOo3Zxu74xGxBXcJSVJWqlxSkjtvl4HuHl2yupMhb7rr86hhAK0EjKefg96qVzUKzEwIC9_rNiGH44nwBLGDORGpGU_h9Sadfa9nk-6Y0qUpdHX2NDgzPoKoOnO/w400-h400/Slide3.PNG" title="7+ Things You Can Accomplish While Students Complete Hands-On Morning Work" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Conferences</h2><div>Having students engaged independently on a task of their choice means you can squeeze in a quick reading or math assessment! When your students are trained to get started quickly and work quietly, you can easily complete a running record or teach a new strategy in a one-on-one setting.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Things%20You%20Can%20Accomplish&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of task cards and linking cubes on top of large bin of task card containers." border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="816" data-pin-description="Having a soft start is a great management tool in elementary classrooms! Read 7+ things you can accomplish while students complete hands-on morning work in this post. Beginning the day with math morning work or math bins will engage your elementary students so you can get the teaching day organized. 2nd and 3rd-grade students love using hands-on activities using math manipulatives. Your second or third-grade class will also love using these as early finisher activities! #mathmorningwork" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAgC0wG96JF3DQlXI-u_d7um5NQdnxGivXC8C4GYj5X6IlsjGfuZ9MVqR7eUNR4zUdIy2_1pAWp1b0en6zdpE5tfmNfG7hHvF-VAna7zlDvyoOdTsPkjHJe9PdsoEntLuqZiUVWGWe97l/w213-h320/30.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_5YuQr2mFcVRqJAnPJpgejWpxloZT_fMUrq3cFmk0yDJ9cQfRyWTT9NO_bly6NCT2L5GjmXCHtE6ZDCFTdx90n7paKZ4Jdf1bQEYqUu-KK8qIzybnctSA0WMOC5coVAGj3TxEpe1gpmM5/w400-h400/Slide8.PNG" title="7+ Things You Can Accomplish While Students Complete Hands-On Morning Work" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Manage Agendas</h2><div>Whether you use agendas or not, there are parent notes to deal with first thing in the morning. Perhaps a child is being picked up early or taking a different bus. Maybe they're going to be away tomorrow, and here is the reason. This is a great time to check these messages so that you're prepared for what the day will bring.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Things%20You%20Can%20Accomplish&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of task cards in purple container with dominoes next to it." border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="816" data-pin-description="Having a soft start is a great management tool in elementary classrooms! Read 7+ things you can accomplish while students complete hands-on morning work in this post. Beginning the day with math morning work or math bins will engage your elementary students so you can get the teaching day organized. 2nd and 3rd-grade students love using hands-on activities using math manipulatives. Your second or third-grade class will also love using these as early finisher activities! #mathmorningwork" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAgC0wG96JF3DQlXI-u_d7um5NQdnxGivXC8C4GYj5X6IlsjGfuZ9MVqR7eUNR4zUdIy2_1pAWp1b0en6zdpE5tfmNfG7hHvF-VAna7zlDvyoOdTsPkjHJe9PdsoEntLuqZiUVWGWe97l/w213-h320/30.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTyHULIYIX_SAENkhE0jtIVOFFhVJkcVsn-7_f5fK8gzsl9ks8kbcTIBgH9giYK5IriBMKZcigv0QDBVzHcm0P2rOX3BRYom2uexKvFKFcZm4V93KzXCPX0BOd5aC0_v9URT-xBIvyWPC/w400-h400/Slide4.PNG" title="7+ Things You Can Accomplish While Students Complete Hands-On Morning Work" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Observe Interactions</h2><div>Sometimes I like to simply sit back and observe my students in action. I don't always have outdoor supervision on the same yard as my students, and I enjoy having the opportunity to watch how they interact with one another. </div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Where are the hotspots?</li><li>Who isn't getting along?</li><li>Is anyone left out?</li><li>Who works quietly, and who likes to chat?</li><li>Is anyone off task?</li><li>Are students demonstrating responsibility for the materials and using them appropriately?</li></ul><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1mrcufoKCgcGaBw-Ql17oCaSY4_vNavrxhnNUAHZhZZSKSGbvlwbaEJsQyeKA0hMkd4G6GX_PhjyKdpAIhGQLdLqKMmypWJkyFXCnp_dTCY566sKNIrhGcQUi1gumPW-fR99GiOzvuPz/s816/Slide7.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of task cards with tangrams." border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="816" data-pin-description="Having a soft start is a great management tool in elementary classrooms! Read 7+ things you can accomplish while students complete hands-on morning work in this post. Beginning the day with math morning work or math bins will engage your elementary students so you can get the teaching day organized. 2nd and 3rd-grade students love using hands-on activities using math manipulatives. Your second or third-grade class will also love using these as early finisher activities! #mathmorningwork" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAgC0wG96JF3DQlXI-u_d7um5NQdnxGivXC8C4GYj5X6IlsjGfuZ9MVqR7eUNR4zUdIy2_1pAWp1b0en6zdpE5tfmNfG7hHvF-VAna7zlDvyoOdTsPkjHJe9PdsoEntLuqZiUVWGWe97l/w213-h320/30.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1mrcufoKCgcGaBw-Ql17oCaSY4_vNavrxhnNUAHZhZZSKSGbvlwbaEJsQyeKA0hMkd4G6GX_PhjyKdpAIhGQLdLqKMmypWJkyFXCnp_dTCY566sKNIrhGcQUi1gumPW-fR99GiOzvuPz/w400-h400/Slide7.png" title="7+ Things You Can Accomplish While Students Complete Hands-On Morning Work" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Check In With Students</h2><div>I also love to spend the first few minutes of every day <a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2019/03/support-mental-health-in-classroom.html" target="_blank"><b>checking in with my students' well-being</b></a>. Have they eaten this morning? Did they get a good night's sleep? Are they feeling well? Did they have a rough morning? </div><div><br /></div><div>Knowing what students are showing up carrying on their shoulders really helps me choose how to approach the day. Do I need to be gentle today, or can I push a little bit? Do I need to bring some extra energy to lessons, or will students be ready to engage?</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div><b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Things%20You%20Can%20Accomplish&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" target="_blank">Morning work time</a></b> is a great time to assess some of the learning skills that appear on our report cards! </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Preparing for a soft start is a piece of cake with these <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Things%20You%20Can%20Accomplish&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" target="_blank"><b>editable hands-on Math Morning Work task cards</b></a>. Grab a <a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/MathMorningWork" target="_blank"><b>free set</b></a> right here, or click the image below to purchase over 280 ready-to-go activities today!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/MathMorningWork" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of math morning work task cards with text, "Free Math Morning Work. Click Here."" border="0" data-original-height="717" data-original-width="1354" height="338" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO_Zd3zc63KI3RfcCs7YPmbWBAVnxndY6HwIUh2F1CQ9kcDnmRrf2iDpEWHVIllJzvZj4WQBrRhLbP9aSln___fKt4MuXEK01qK-GSuvHDeAVPwVfMG7_TapyqFyqsDJTruzChZLrPy9IK/w640-h338/Math+Morning+Work+Freebie+Offer.png" title="7+ Things You Can Accomplish While Students Complete Hands-On Morning Work" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Morning-Work-EDITABLE-No-Prep-Hands-On-Task-Cards-2820631?utm_source=Blog%20Things%20You%20Can%20Accomplish&utm_campaign=Math%20Morning%20Work" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Cover of Math Morning Work resource" border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="775" height="400" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUC4LG9O9V-U4TVoC1LDs0WeQK2jPuvy-W7bQSBOz5FgWrgAAxgrWZxruKK_Qu7kwuq4OYHde2vNGf2pHf586g0VbqK0mFh-5QcbWCi5oHQdfIk54yup6Zg-da87sH4rlfj3nZp-1QgDjd/w400-h400/2021Thumb1.png" title="7+ Things You Can Accomplish While Students Complete Hands-On Morning Work" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If you already have a morning work routine set up, but it isn't quite working as you'd hoped, you'll want to check out this blog post:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2020/01/classroom-morning-routine-mistakes-you-make.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of desks and chairs in grassy field with text, "Morning Routine Mistakes You Make and How to Fix Them."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" height="209" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_4axUIUPSoIG68zC8l_Bziz957n9tiEFExbgfhAbrGZDINY9WJPznASx3mWxLgVjxEwMsjOg9-ftFT7SYGuOIzkVTOZa7rldzgIf4BfcoCJaK7MOKYLuw0Ey9I-d6TO_EId3NB1Ftudiu/w400-h209/Big+Morning+Routine+Mistakes+You+Make+%2528and+How+to+Fix+Them%2521%2529+Header.jpg" title="7+ Things You Can Accomplish While Students Complete Hands-On Morning Work" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MpPvebn4Wymdna7fRmKNz5xI3RyvZLxHZkzueyvMMWGokFfDSk2-EivzPUNy61wWosh4ZODjjLmb0xgp1a8svOveSFi7oStujR9O0Bb7_o6NHPTh3E1D-cuS1icwpct5pfkzB8m5JD_h/s1500/B131+Things+You+Can+Accomplish+During+Morning+Work+Pin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of dominoes and task cards with text, "7+ Things You Can Accomplish While Students Complete Hands-On Morning Work."" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" data-pin-description="Having a soft start is a great management tool in elementary classrooms! Read 7+ things you can accomplish while students complete hands-on morning work in this post. Beginning the day with math morning work or math bins will engage your elementary students so you can get the teaching day organized. 2nd and 3rd-grade students love using hands-on activities using math manipulatives. Your second or third-grade class will also love using these as early finisher activities! #mathmorningwork" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1MpPvebn4Wymdna7fRmKNz5xI3RyvZLxHZkzueyvMMWGokFfDSk2-EivzPUNy61wWosh4ZODjjLmb0xgp1a8svOveSFi7oStujR9O0Bb7_o6NHPTh3E1D-cuS1icwpct5pfkzB8m5JD_h/w426-h640/B131+Things+You+Can+Accomplish+During+Morning+Work+Pin.png" title="7+ Things You Can Accomplish While Students Complete Hands-On Morning Work" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-24744128568512903112021-09-19T06:00:00.001-04:002021-09-19T06:00:00.177-04:00Why I Stopped Building a Word Wall And What I Actually Do Instead<div style="text-align: left;">If you've been in a primary classroom recently, chances are you've seen a word wall. While I believe they are an essential part of an early primary classroom, they may not be the best choice when students get to second and third grade. Here's why I stopped building a word wall and what I actually do instead.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Lists-for-Word-Work-and-Spelling-Activities-EDITABLE-2474330?utm_source=Blog%20Why%20I%20Stopped%20Word%20Wall&utm_campaign=Word%20Lists" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of differentiated word lists with text, "Why I Stopped Building a Word Wall And What I Actually Do Instead."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06rFpPGNamOfW8hPX4vMGVyEcBmbm-spv6Oc4naoRDhoYWQMsykGuojGj75FocNV-gtIWQcl54Ydx8e4nzp69rREXnIvaxP0GDkW4KU26kXaeEtqCNaZtXV_T3hGLxOP-_DHS3kCtTtwb/w213-h320/B130+Why+I+Stopped+Building+Word+Wall+Pin.png" data-pin-description="If you teach elementary students, you probably have a word wall, but a word wall doesn't meet the needs of all students. I'm sharing the reasons I stopped using a word wall and what I do instead in this post. Your second-grade and third-grade students may have more writing success with word wall alternatives like personal student dictionaries. Grab free differentiated word lists and read about the word wall alternatives that my 2nd and 3rd-grade class loved! #wordwall #studentdictionary" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrDWjysZU2IxHS-sCYaLNUzgXYweDgxk46rFSbt_Nw9NyuwLSZ4vIMvZTVPx2xnA5qM2uQHk1g3599oWKIjKZwHanF_OUz6i_zVsmXt9gJm3GZWcyJmes1KuYErQnYPy_nLgfirMbWMiHc/w640-h334/Header+%25282%2529.png" title="Why I Stopped Building a Word Wall And What I Actually Do Instead" width="640" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">What is a word wall?</h1><div>A word wall is a collection of words placed on the classroom wall using letters large enough for most students to see from their place in the classroom. It is usually organized alphabetically and built throughout the school year with the students. The word wall is often the focus of word work activities and lessons.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULbz8zmsI7ImYA_6tmHlSe2Uy-RIecu6EIynoaHBbE3nbhhJWEh9fNWTe7k5CBMhyphenhyphenNOE9iSmAb2_mv23IUtKZlIzlcbis5SMnfla60DzdxsoNLH4mRv7ubKbcTtsFAaBwhgbdPGkIZOc5/s1504/Word+Wall.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of word wall on chalkboard." border="0" data-original-height="896" data-original-width="1504" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06rFpPGNamOfW8hPX4vMGVyEcBmbm-spv6Oc4naoRDhoYWQMsykGuojGj75FocNV-gtIWQcl54Ydx8e4nzp69rREXnIvaxP0GDkW4KU26kXaeEtqCNaZtXV_T3hGLxOP-_DHS3kCtTtwb/w213-h320/B130+Why+I+Stopped+Building+Word+Wall+Pin.png" data-pin-description="If you teach elementary students, you probably have a word wall, but a word wall doesn't meet the needs of all students. I'm sharing the reasons I stopped using a word wall and what I do instead in this post. Your second-grade and third-grade students may have more writing success with word wall alternatives like personal student dictionaries. Grab free differentiated word lists and read about the word wall alternatives that my 2nd and 3rd-grade class loved! #wordwall #studentdictionary" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULbz8zmsI7ImYA_6tmHlSe2Uy-RIecu6EIynoaHBbE3nbhhJWEh9fNWTe7k5CBMhyphenhyphenNOE9iSmAb2_mv23IUtKZlIzlcbis5SMnfla60DzdxsoNLH4mRv7ubKbcTtsFAaBwhgbdPGkIZOc5/w400-h239/Word+Wall.png" title="Why I Stopped Building a Word Wall And What I Actually Do Instead" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Why I Stopped Building a Word Wall</h1><div>When I first started teaching a split 2/3 class, I had a word wall. That's what's expected, right? Doesn't every primary classroom have one?</div><div><br /></div><div>I quickly realized that <b>the word wall only served the needs of some of my students</b>. It left behind my struggling students, high-achieving students, and students with vision and attention problems.</div><div><br /></div><div>My word wall also took up a LOT of space. More than half of my board space on one wall was exclusively used for my word wall, meaning that I couldn't use that space for other instructional purposes! It feels like a massive waste of space when the word wall is mostly empty at the beginning of the school year!</div><div><br /></div><div>As the year progressed, I also noticed that my students used the wall less and less during their independent work. Students with vision or attention issues had a challenging time locating the words they needed as the word wall filled up, and I had more and more students asking me how to spell a word that was already there.</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">What I Do Instead</h1><div>I have two main resources that I use now instead of a word wall. Both have different purposes and are used every day.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Personal Student Dictionaries</h2><div>At the beginning of the year, I give each of my students a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Personal-Student-Dictionary-Upper-Grades-Top-Sight-Word-Lists-Plus-Extras-2408918?utm_source=Blog%20Why%20I%20Stopped%20Word%20Wall&utm_campaign=Upper%20Dictionary" target="_blank"><b>personal dictionary</b></a> or <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Personal-Student-Dictionary-with-Top-Sight-Word-Lists-Plus-Extras-860768?utm_source=Blog%20Why%20I%20Stopped%20Word%20Wall&utm_campaign=Lower%20Dictionary" target="_blank"><b>word book</b></a>. I created two levels so I can discreetly differentiate the words my students receive. The <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Personal-Student-Dictionary-with-Top-Sight-Word-Lists-Plus-Extras-860768?utm_source=Blog%20Why%20I%20Stopped%20Word%20Wall&utm_campaign=Lower%20Dictionary" target="_blank"><b>lower level</b></a> contains the high-frequency words from pre-primer to third grade, and the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Personal-Student-Dictionary-Upper-Grades-Top-Sight-Word-Lists-Plus-Extras-2408918?utm_source=Blog%20Why%20I%20Stopped%20Word%20Wall&utm_campaign=Upper%20Dictionary" target="_blank"><b>upper level</b></a> has over 1000 of the most commonly used words in the English language, plus extra things such as plural rules and contractions.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Personal-Student-Dictionary-Upper-Grades-Top-Sight-Word-Lists-Plus-Extras-2408918?utm_source=Blog%20Why%20I%20Stopped%20Word%20Wall&utm_campaign=Upper%20Dictionary" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photos of personal student dictionaries with text "My Personal Word Book" on the cover." border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1125" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06rFpPGNamOfW8hPX4vMGVyEcBmbm-spv6Oc4naoRDhoYWQMsykGuojGj75FocNV-gtIWQcl54Ydx8e4nzp69rREXnIvaxP0GDkW4KU26kXaeEtqCNaZtXV_T3hGLxOP-_DHS3kCtTtwb/w213-h320/B130+Why+I+Stopped+Building+Word+Wall+Pin.png" data-pin-description="If you teach elementary students, you probably have a word wall, but a word wall doesn't meet the needs of all students. I'm sharing the reasons I stopped using a word wall and what I do instead in this post. Your second-grade and third-grade students may have more writing success with word wall alternatives like personal student dictionaries. Grab free differentiated word lists and read about the word wall alternatives that my 2nd and 3rd-grade class loved! #wordwall #studentdictionary" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij6tZnvO0TGVOnlJ9X3ctbn0f6SsVS-1f2aFxMnXmItIIwPOEUDtPrtNErJMktymtFYReJcywe1dNODTHHIKpQjPzehYpyF-rLvMZ9LeaKV7TE0wGrJU96XMBdUjX7n0Kfk2QOpUACLK1Q/w400-h400/Upper+Cover.png" title="Why I Stopped Building a Word Wall And What I Actually Do Instead" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>When I assemble the booklets, I use the same cover for both versions to give each student the words that will be most useful to them. </div><div><br /></div><div>Each of the books contains many words the students may be using in their writing and lots of extra space for them to write new words. My students are engaging with the words that are meaningful to them.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Personal-Student-Dictionary-Upper-Grades-Top-Sight-Word-Lists-Plus-Extras-2408918?utm_source=Blog%20Why%20I%20Stopped%20Word%20Wall&utm_campaign=Upper%20Dictionary" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photos of two levels of student dictionaries showing the inside pages." border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1868" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06rFpPGNamOfW8hPX4vMGVyEcBmbm-spv6Oc4naoRDhoYWQMsykGuojGj75FocNV-gtIWQcl54Ydx8e4nzp69rREXnIvaxP0GDkW4KU26kXaeEtqCNaZtXV_T3hGLxOP-_DHS3kCtTtwb/w213-h320/B130+Why+I+Stopped+Building+Word+Wall+Pin.png" data-pin-description="If you teach elementary students, you probably have a word wall, but a word wall doesn't meet the needs of all students. I'm sharing the reasons I stopped using a word wall and what I do instead in this post. Your second-grade and third-grade students may have more writing success with word wall alternatives like personal student dictionaries. Grab free differentiated word lists and read about the word wall alternatives that my 2nd and 3rd-grade class loved! #wordwall #studentdictionary" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ngloID538BjyodbMpSUriV__BPOBUbiqdCfzBU_AW96MNiOwAJdBcq2Z4OKC1h2fqthFz29mAMc7bKbzfd3WM-9X6SMKWJPDK_uxlo0az18jbXMIAuGQIevIjYNPujdHMBeMT_1IH6mz/w640-h260/Inside+Dictionaries.png" title="Why I Stopped Building a Word Wall And What I Actually Do Instead" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>These are kept in student desks to be used at any time during the day without fuss. My students not only pull these out during writing but also during subjects like science and social studies or during reading to collect words they read that they would like to try and use in their own writing.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Differentiated Word Lists</h2><div>Even though I don't have a word wall, I do have a word work program. We still learn about spelling patterns and letter sounds. We still practice working with words daily. For this time, we use my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Lists-for-Word-Work-and-Spelling-Activities-EDITABLE-2474330?utm_source=Blog%20Why%20I%20Stopped%20Word%20Wall&utm_campaign=Word%20Lists" target="_blank"><b>Differentiated Word Lists</b></a>. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Lists-for-Word-Work-and-Spelling-Activities-EDITABLE-2474330?utm_source=Blog%20Why%20I%20Stopped%20Word%20Wall&utm_campaign=Word%20Lists" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of differentiated word list resource hanging on metal hooks on chalkboard." border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="1501" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh06rFpPGNamOfW8hPX4vMGVyEcBmbm-spv6Oc4naoRDhoYWQMsykGuojGj75FocNV-gtIWQcl54Ydx8e4nzp69rREXnIvaxP0GDkW4KU26kXaeEtqCNaZtXV_T3hGLxOP-_DHS3kCtTtwb/w213-h320/B130+Why+I+Stopped+Building+Word+Wall+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIQJh_EGTPdTS9qrVw0ovbk3DwglVTOxecfAI14U9jYLagnBdryx-biQj3TeN9_3Y8Ks0b56mA2cNQIWyhIkAR-RfYuaZMdMeHYw3GtPAih6V_kkHhF9B-bn2k_xE_MjxaULI7nzycosFv/w640-h338/Word+Lists.png" title="Why I Stopped Building a Word Wall And What I Actually Do Instead" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I have created <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Lists-for-Word-Work-and-Spelling-Activities-EDITABLE-2474330?utm_source=Blog%20Why%20I%20Stopped%20Word%20Wall&utm_campaign=Word%20Lists" target="_blank"><b>over 330 lists</b></a> for use during these activities! When working on phonics activities, my students have access to three differentiated lists for each spelling pattern. Having three levels to choose from allows my students the opportunity to select a level where they're feeling comfortable or one to challenge themselves a little bit. The power of choice in learning is <b>huge</b>!</div><div><br /></div><div>These lists are condensed to contain ten words on each small page per level and stored on a ring. That's <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Lists-for-Word-Work-and-Spelling-Activities-EDITABLE-2474330?utm_source=Blog%20Why%20I%20Stopped%20Word%20Wall&utm_campaign=Word%20Lists" target="_blank"><b>30 differentiated words</b></a> to meet the needs of all students using a quarter of a sheet of paper. My students grab a ring during work time and take it to their workspace, returning it when they finish.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Lists-for-Word-Work-and-Spelling-Activities-EDITABLE-2474330?utm_source=Blog%20Why%20I%20Stopped%20Word%20Wall&utm_campaign=Word%20Lists" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of single-page differentiated word lists." border="0" data-original-height="1692" data-original-width="2048" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifI4IxMbNJEKOwaEQg0MhtQpuzgOOR-Pymx1bN5JUxGCH24ckVCGg0M-4q_rIUUzY6UTGilW8NiJeOIGXisSV51nMKHGU9PlRD9thDzkD2bfqUMBJFmchifj4dlqvbjdkSGcngTtjMz2HD/w400-h330/IMG_1584.jpg" title="Why I Stopped Building a Word Wall And What I Actually Do Instead" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The great thing about these lists is that they can be used in a variety of ways! You can build the sets by sound with the three levels together, or you can assign levels to each student and create student sets instead. I've always preferred to leave the levels together to give my students a choice and opportunity to take risks independently. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Lists-for-Word-Work-and-Spelling-Activities-EDITABLE-2474330?utm_source=Blog%20Why%20I%20Stopped%20Word%20Wall&utm_campaign=Word%20Lists" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of differentiated word lists for student "Emma."" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1212" height="371" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhol4Bl3vr8wykLgslBEOAamJZP-BTF-0hlDajM4aEok38d77HMhfoew_29viGv8m6HYIF2qXAAXn_nMib2RrbkmVgAySjbIi1tycgzdDYtB96yYMUsro8uF3J8_v9kKF5DCQ309dVfprAj/w400-h371/Student+Lists.png" title="Why I Stopped Building a Word Wall And What I Actually Do Instead" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>While a word wall definitely has its place in the early primary grades, these alternatives have proven far more beneficial to my students. I continue to use the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Personal-Student-Dictionary-Upper-Grades-Top-Sight-Word-Lists-Plus-Extras-2408918?utm_source=Blog%20Why%20I%20Stopped%20Word%20Wall&utm_campaign=Upper%20Dictionary" target="_blank"><b>personal word books</b></a> with fifth and sixth-grade students today!</div><div><br /></div><div>If you'd like to try these <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Lists-for-Word-Work-and-Spelling-Activities-EDITABLE-2474330?utm_source=Blog%20Why%20I%20Stopped%20Word%20Wall&utm_campaign=Word%20Lists" target="_blank"><b>Differentiated Word Lists</b></a>, you can grab a FREE sample here:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/freewordlists" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of differentiated word lists with text, "Try Differentiated Word Lists Free!"" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBabFlLHe6SE6uyRMhjG4c8I9z9DKcJOdQVgkqOGLYEGOH9N9_eqoQFhL5aH2DIs7Jm9UhaNUrRCFu41zdtt3XKdwx5gO1Y1FVbvBMM5Xzr_KEegG7ZJYUaqAcVtysEx8V7soJ6xujVun/w640-h334/Facebook+Share+Image.png" title="Why I Stopped Building a Word Wall And What I Actually Do Instead" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>To get started with these Personal Dictionaries and Word Lists in your classroom, click the links below.</div><div><br /></div>
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<img alt="Lower Level Personal Student Dictionary" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphVHSTgr3rcl6oqldvlmpUFq5nQvdVj9T03DyKoQYAbn8XAQxJf2J90YSzdZ0TK1s-hfG-K5zMhcZfC7gvuMqPVYWBD12HJK8uYkD5yxnu16xrqaguJvofLewh2J7ypQQPt4HHJ1IOTM6/s320/Lower+Thumb+2018.png" style="width: 100%;" />
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<img alt="Upper Level Personal Student Dictionary" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0-CavtEITxpSlq0uiwHuygVCFgGbQr1x2efy5nwkNP1tZIPGLaB-C1iuvpzBjbfx8NVOluJ022AMjCvWpEtZ0ebnmoq9xNviAGk6dpWGuRGsgdkmSWVkARzGCol7yDPTHTy9V7eYYK3hz/s320/Upper+Thumb+2018.png" style="width: 100%;" />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Lists-for-Word-Work-and-Spelling-Activities-EDITABLE-2474330?utm_source=Blog%20Why%20I%20Stopped%20Word%20Wall&utm_campaign=Word%20Lists" target="_blank">
<img alt="Differentiated Word Lists" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYX068uSRCuUWE7GELK25NW5ro_K7LpGR_vTjhahOJiyE7w56Y9Iu9Tbj9nPuZZUr3pOkajZ92xyQFK7eB1a7y9mniKwO7qNpw7R6a_TnCJyjX2QQB1Zw-jsG2BQ2UJuqjx8WLMTFfmCzn/s320/2021Thumb1+Compressed.png" style="width: 100%;" />
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Read more about my word work program in this blog post:<div><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2013/11/word-work-activities-students-love.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of word work centers in drawers with text, "How to Offer Word Work Activities Students Love."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" height="209" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0M3c2qEoJuO_eKLZQr9hYfKDNZJk8Le2av9Q2uDk1ZOMcoo-YRxL0q7n80WemetrLFLfKDX6FYSXnzkJqKDYD4HgZ4eYwa7ofc4Brwq6HhVIvt33kxEPxLHGK_UO6ksZ79pQKaMUZ8jnO/w400-h209/How+to+Offer+Word+Work+Activities+Students+Really+Love+Header.png" title="Why I Stopped Building a Word Wall And What I Actually Do Instead" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOJNISInSTJENSyBeyUljjovw3Gl-RpDw1hXwhjDa-E7_hnwMfLnE3lI6_DAdBiSA-mSusOOuicQJulKrJaj75Qsaj7obBVO4RarIFfIq2OrWtxcdVheRa7m-piXNVq0G23__pKbxLIzZ/s1500/B130+Why+I+Stopped+Building+Word+Wall+Pin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of inside page of personal student dictionary with text, "Why I Stopped Building a Word Wall And What I Actually Do Instead."" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" data-pin-description="If you teach elementary students, you probably have a word wall, but a word wall doesn't meet the needs of all students. I'm sharing the reasons I stopped using a word wall and what I do instead in this post. Your second-grade and third-grade students may have more writing success with word wall alternatives like personal student dictionaries. Grab free differentiated word lists and read about the word wall alternatives that my 2nd and 3rd-grade class loved! #wordwall #studentdictionary" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOJNISInSTJENSyBeyUljjovw3Gl-RpDw1hXwhjDa-E7_hnwMfLnE3lI6_DAdBiSA-mSusOOuicQJulKrJaj75Qsaj7obBVO4RarIFfIq2OrWtxcdVheRa7m-piXNVq0G23__pKbxLIzZ/w426-h640/B130+Why+I+Stopped+Building+Word+Wall+Pin.png" title="Why I Stopped Building a Word Wall And What I Actually Do Instead" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-85543063167415754662021-09-05T06:00:00.001-04:002021-09-05T06:00:00.180-04:003 Powerful Reasons to Avoid Using Worksheets in Math<div style="text-align: left;">There are a lot of math programs available out there to choose from. All have some great qualities, but if you're choosing something based solely on worksheets, you might be shortchanging yourself. Here are three powerful reasons to avoid using worksheets in math.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsaaCzZr714ssVtW7bY1EK9x6uQXiiWJe5lRVDJXnh-6BlWF5BKJULzsTnk8vgh9vHNDv2Ojml2UJ2L2xIgj_LuAhmy8vMz1Zm9JnKeaNwEiPvtFT9YQkTydtmjfCefbQdnrnsBrhUzld/s940/Header+%25281%2529.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of guided math centers with text, "3 Powerful Reasons to Avoid Using Worksheets in Math."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhji7SCMOaijcPyYe_bXpPCoUx8D1FWsl62GYv5bSLxPCg-cwtGwZkCBoBXvbmpOegWZ8ne5dcqAHoqbRIbZEgwvp2otJopqeENU7G5tP9QcZWqCDwqXnV3wS9g-Y7IG1DeErDtj_GInEuN/w213-h320/B129+Reasons+to+Avoid+Worksheets+in+Math+Pin.png" data-pin-description="Your math program should be more than worksheets. Math worksheets won't meet the needs of all your students. Read these powerful reasons to avoid worksheets in math and learn how hands-on math centers will engage your students better! Worksheets require constant photocopying, are used once only, and result in bored students! Math centers will engage your 2nd and 3rd-grade students, and your math lessons will be more enjoyable! Grab a free Guided Math Quick-Start Guide in this post! #mathcenters" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidsaaCzZr714ssVtW7bY1EK9x6uQXiiWJe5lRVDJXnh-6BlWF5BKJULzsTnk8vgh9vHNDv2Ojml2UJ2L2xIgj_LuAhmy8vMz1Zm9JnKeaNwEiPvtFT9YQkTydtmjfCefbQdnrnsBrhUzld/w640-h334/Header+%25281%2529.png" title="3 Powerful Reasons to Avoid Using Worksheets in Math" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;">Before I continue, let me say that worksheets have a place. They can be a simple way of collecting data on what your students can or cannot do, and they are easy. Let's face it, stopping at the photocopier is easy, right? So, why avoid worksheets?</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Worksheets In Math Mean Constant Photocopying</h1><div>If your math program is based mainly on worksheets, you will constantly be preparing activities for your lessons. Every day, you'll need to copy one or more pages for your students to work on. If you're carefully differentiating to meet the needs of all your students (and you <i>should </i>be!), you may have three or more groups, all requiring different pages to work from. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is a waste of your time <b>and </b>paper.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">By choosing a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20Reasons%20to%20Avoid%20Math%20Worksheets&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" target="_blank"><b>math program based on hands-on centers</b></a>, you spend a chunk of time preparing the centers once, and if you take the time to do it smartly, you have them forever! Prep them once, and you're done!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20Reasons%20to%20Avoid%20Math%20Worksheets&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of guided math centers and math manipulatives." border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="1838" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhji7SCMOaijcPyYe_bXpPCoUx8D1FWsl62GYv5bSLxPCg-cwtGwZkCBoBXvbmpOegWZ8ne5dcqAHoqbRIbZEgwvp2otJopqeENU7G5tP9QcZWqCDwqXnV3wS9g-Y7IG1DeErDtj_GInEuN/w213-h320/B129+Reasons+to+Avoid+Worksheets+in+Math+Pin.png" data-pin-description="Your math program should be more than worksheets. Math worksheets won't meet the needs of all your students. Read these powerful reasons to avoid worksheets in math and learn how hands-on math centers will engage your students better! Worksheets require constant photocopying, are used once only, and result in bored students! Math centers will engage your 2nd and 3rd-grade students, and your math lessons will be more enjoyable! Grab a free Guided Math Quick-Start Guide in this post! #mathcenters" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-PzVvGiG-FU7c4ThFdzSAlJYi6zXeqS_geIcqn-KxD8HTKq1pqjMde-aPvAwle8GXjoVTr3L2dV51wJLasQaBABkKyEGJ7bIQhOxDHswgvjkuaCXggzaokEErAdI98aipXY5pP3ZzaJ9n/w640-h354/Bundle+Cover+Cropped.png" title="3 Powerful Reasons to Avoid Using Worksheets in Math" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Limited Use</h1><div>When you teach with worksheets, you use a page once, and then you're done. But, what if the students don't master the skill or concept after one worksheet? Are you going to hunt down another activity for them to use until they get it? </div><div><br /></div><div>Centers provide your students with the opportunity to engage with a topic repeatedly. They will progress and eventually master the goals of the program! With <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20Reasons%20to%20Avoid%20Math%20Worksheets&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" target="_blank">open tasks and games</a>, your students are never actually finished with a task.</div><div><br /></div><div>While worksheets are once and done, centers can be used:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>during regular math rotations</li><li>as extension activities</li><li>for remedial work</li><li>as early finisher activities</li><li>during indoor recesses</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20Reasons%20to%20Avoid%20Math%20Worksheets&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of guided math centers and math manipulatives." border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1487" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhji7SCMOaijcPyYe_bXpPCoUx8D1FWsl62GYv5bSLxPCg-cwtGwZkCBoBXvbmpOegWZ8ne5dcqAHoqbRIbZEgwvp2otJopqeENU7G5tP9QcZWqCDwqXnV3wS9g-Y7IG1DeErDtj_GInEuN/w213-h320/B129+Reasons+to+Avoid+Worksheets+in+Math+Pin.png" data-pin-description="Your math program should be more than worksheets. Math worksheets won't meet the needs of all your students. Read these powerful reasons to avoid worksheets in math and learn how hands-on math centers will engage your students better! Worksheets require constant photocopying, are used once only, and result in bored students! Math centers will engage your 2nd and 3rd-grade students, and your math lessons will be more enjoyable! Grab a free Guided Math Quick-Start Guide in this post! #mathcenters" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-QF6up8Af06Epw37drcwhVygOOJMsifDJ9ij6n73y1Yh-fmoGVmZZipjjo65-Pb-wXKlpbFvEJ3jkY3LAfG35_v-3jga1tmdPjf_0YEY1qP5kuCXR1lT0G-TW9Qq0SVJgpJtg2k-uj0hZ/w640-h352/Centers2.png" title="3 Powerful Reasons to Avoid Using Worksheets in Math" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Student Engagement</h1><div>When is the last time you saw your students get really excited to complete a worksheet? Okay, a paper activity may really engage them from time to time, but is that engagement consistent?</div><div><br /></div><div>What makes our students excited to learn and what they learn best from are <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20Reasons%20to%20Avoid%20Math%20Worksheets&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" target="_blank"><b>varied hands-on activities</b></a> where they can actively engage with the math content instead of passively answering questions.</div><div><br /></div><div>Games, puzzles, cards, matching activities, using math manipulatives in meaningful ways. These are the things that make students love math.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20Reasons%20to%20Avoid%20Math%20Worksheets&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of guided math centers." border="0" data-original-height="822" data-original-width="1485" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhji7SCMOaijcPyYe_bXpPCoUx8D1FWsl62GYv5bSLxPCg-cwtGwZkCBoBXvbmpOegWZ8ne5dcqAHoqbRIbZEgwvp2otJopqeENU7G5tP9QcZWqCDwqXnV3wS9g-Y7IG1DeErDtj_GInEuN/w213-h320/B129+Reasons+to+Avoid+Worksheets+in+Math+Pin.png" data-pin-description="Your math program should be more than worksheets. Math worksheets won't meet the needs of all your students. Read these powerful reasons to avoid worksheets in math and learn how hands-on math centers will engage your students better! Worksheets require constant photocopying, are used once only, and result in bored students! Math centers will engage your 2nd and 3rd-grade students, and your math lessons will be more enjoyable! Grab a free Guided Math Quick-Start Guide in this post! #mathcenters" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBToXrKoh_uxuo5yvbAOozMvhXTj0Zx7_aBo3zQZnFY0sLPD4q7ZczV0-ZxSpfRN1_TEciYRems7iCS2JzQ7_a9f0L_Rw74ywuqriXnrLqvXs5NQ4zaC_GViYKgncUhyJa-mwJgLfdlb3/w640-h354/Centers+%25281%2529.png" title="3 Powerful Reasons to Avoid Using Worksheets in Math" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20Reasons%20to%20Avoid%20Math%20Worksheets&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" target="_blank"><b>Hands-on centers</b></a> appeal to different learning styles and make the learning more accessible to your students, particularly those who struggle.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Worksheets are part of most math classrooms, but take the time to ask yourself if they should form the foundation of your program. Consider the alternatives. You can do better.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you'd like to try some engaging hands-on centers for free, I have a <a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/guidedmathstarterkit" target="_blank"><b>Guided Math Quick-Start Guide</b></a> available just for you here:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you're ready to get started with a quality Guided Math program based on hands-on experiences, these centers, available in English and French, are a perfect place to start!</div>
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If you're interested in learning more about a Guided Math program, you will want to check out this post next:<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2018/01/the-best-reasons-for-using-guided-math.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of chalkboard with chalk and brush with text, "The Best Reasons for Using Guided Math in Your Classroom"" border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="700" height="209" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_avidlXsQZhazTnZwJ6l2sAH36ngwVCE-VqkxaOHlDxl479HypjGlBCAZQCG8QAY4PCPomC_Z0sPPDyggaW4GrBBS8BBGiTLJWp-T302StMovUCCt5PH2dRYqMUdXCzsF5PRpUhr7yvqC/w400-h209/The+Best+Reasons+For+Using+Guided+Math+Revised+Header.png" title="3 Powerful Reasons to Avoid Using Worksheets in Math" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<br />If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNF2miIfjnNj80lKo-T5ft_18krRqo42OHuCnlM5T5zTbg-SktJPLSayMMHRcHQXy8VEjsn0W3ZcqFw3O0y7_PhnoFxrD6-_8fzxAiO9mwpViwCsxg2p2j1Oq0tXrF8E2ZWMpt-CjN-fI/s1500/B129+Reasons+to+Avoid+Worksheets+in+Math+Pin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of guided math centers with text, "3 Powerful Reasons to Avoid Using Worksheets in Math."" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" data-pin-description="Your math program should be more than worksheets. Math worksheets won't meet the needs of all your students. Read these powerful reasons to avoid worksheets in math and learn how hands-on math centers will engage your students better! Worksheets require constant photocopying, are used once only, and result in bored students! Math centers will engage your 2nd and 3rd-grade students, and your math lessons will be more enjoyable! Grab a free Guided Math Quick-Start Guide in this post! #mathcenters" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfNF2miIfjnNj80lKo-T5ft_18krRqo42OHuCnlM5T5zTbg-SktJPLSayMMHRcHQXy8VEjsn0W3ZcqFw3O0y7_PhnoFxrD6-_8fzxAiO9mwpViwCsxg2p2j1Oq0tXrF8E2ZWMpt-CjN-fI/w426-h640/B129+Reasons+to+Avoid+Worksheets+in+Math+Pin.png" title="3 Powerful Reasons to Avoid Using Worksheets in Math" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-85284633281108636262021-08-22T06:00:00.001-04:002021-08-22T06:00:00.208-04:00How to Set Up Effective Math Centers Quickly and Easily This Year<div style="text-align: left;">Math centers can be a powerful tool in your classroom, but teachers shy away from them because they can be a lot of work to set up. While this is true, there are a few things you can do to set up effective math centers quickly and easily this year!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20How%20to%20Set%20Up%20Math%20Centers&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of math centers with text, "How to Set Up Effective Math Centers Quickly and Easily This Year."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jnCRt9SIdBh4G7_nGinrpEKae6IIL6eL6HRyFKEioDFwuEjubnfFsXzreHSymh5lRuAfERK6QAObgnxpqobakgibsPuoeK0ZWNeC2QZTf5cxclI-x5V4yfR9GDeuPyFC957vXsF0ZV-m/w213-h320/How+to+Set+Up+Effective+Math+Centers+Quickly+and+Easily+This+Year+Pin.png" data-pin-description="Wondering how to set up math centers for a 2nd and 3rd-grade classroom? Math center preparation doesn't have to take a lot of time. Learn how to choose the right math centers for your second-grade or third-grade students, how to store your math centers, and how to create math groups for guided math or other math activities. Grab a free Guided Math Quick-Start Guide with free guided math centers! You'll never waste time with math center prep after reading this post! #mathcenters #mathactivities" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7R8Q6hw5OsBUkATBBgsrI8VVdX-PiRkqep7ZsfaLc2o-YuZXvfHicX5cvSnT6aX96mtY6qPrb_gfN6jjjSJqGHQPP9ZHQwdtkNaSZojDGH9Xa_TX9GZq2hQyqDfMMT_jQNnNs_eREhdwm/w640-h334/Header.png" title="How to Set Up Effective Math Centers Quickly and Easily This Year" width="640" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">What are the benefits of using math centers?</h1><div>Using centers in your math classroom has several benefits. First, and most importantly, in my opinion, is the ease with which centers allow you to differentiate for your students. By choosing a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20How%20to%20Set%20Up%20Math%20Centers&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" target="_blank"><b>quality resource</b></a>, you can provide students with open-ended activities tailored to the needs of every student in your classroom. This isn't possible with standard worksheets.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another great benefit of using math centers in your classroom is the engagement factor! When you choose hands-on activities or games, students have fun. Often, they don't even realize they are learning. In my classroom, our math centers have become the activities my students choose to use when they are finished work or during indoor recess. What a great testament to engagement quality!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20How%20to%20Set%20Up%20Math%20Centers&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of a variety of geometry centers." border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1488" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jnCRt9SIdBh4G7_nGinrpEKae6IIL6eL6HRyFKEioDFwuEjubnfFsXzreHSymh5lRuAfERK6QAObgnxpqobakgibsPuoeK0ZWNeC2QZTf5cxclI-x5V4yfR9GDeuPyFC957vXsF0ZV-m/w213-h320/How+to+Set+Up+Effective+Math+Centers+Quickly+and+Easily+This+Year+Pin.png" data-pin-description="Wondering how to set up math centers for a 2nd and 3rd-grade classroom? Math center preparation doesn't have to take a lot of time. Learn how to choose the right math centers for your second-grade or third-grade students, how to store your math centers, and how to create math groups for guided math or other math activities. Grab a free Guided Math Quick-Start Guide with free guided math centers! You'll never waste time with math center prep after reading this post! #mathcenters #mathactivities" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbwUaP8qUDtAHyCMcgrtF1fLNB0b_PAtIkoToIdTGQkT9bbXHmiaLvh4vEU9clER4ZJwVQ3jyaKgAVhjdr0qOS155ZspEqQvsw3DkYO8R8HfpsbZOibYNPE5fLCwJZG24TCq5-S5CyiMcZ/w640-h352/Centers.png" title="How to Set Up Effective Math Centers Quickly and Easily This Year" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>Finally, using <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20How%20to%20Set%20Up%20Math%20Centers&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" target="_blank"><b>centers</b></a> instead of worksheets allows your students to revisit a concept or skill repeatedly. They'll complete a worksheet once and be done with it, but if the student is still struggling with the idea, you'll have to find more worksheets. That takes a lot of time and energy on your part. Having open-ended activities, such as games, students can repeatedly play until they reach mastery of the skill.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20How%20to%20Set%20Up%20Math%20Centers&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of shape bingo with dice and board markers." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jnCRt9SIdBh4G7_nGinrpEKae6IIL6eL6HRyFKEioDFwuEjubnfFsXzreHSymh5lRuAfERK6QAObgnxpqobakgibsPuoeK0ZWNeC2QZTf5cxclI-x5V4yfR9GDeuPyFC957vXsF0ZV-m/w213-h320/How+to+Set+Up+Effective+Math+Centers+Quickly+and+Easily+This+Year+Pin.png" data-pin-description="Wondering how to set up math centers for a 2nd and 3rd-grade classroom? Math center preparation doesn't have to take a lot of time. Learn how to choose the right math centers for your second-grade or third-grade students, how to store your math centers, and how to create math groups for guided math or other math activities. Grab a free Guided Math Quick-Start Guide with free guided math centers! You'll never waste time with math center prep after reading this post! #mathcenters #mathactivities" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXoOVkh_kR2lyHstg8_4wLyK0xM_HBQBfy2-rAQfwBzcqdpqjcxGsBaETKcVfckcZ_Y-A2XAV62K-IgAcZ6HpOU9FMhCXAbtD6bmBR1Fr0nvh_KVqkTzwMZX_m9hqIOK5WjS_lpQwN4Qr/w400-h400/Game.jpg" title="How to Set Up Effective Math Centers Quickly and Easily This Year" width="400" /></a></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">How to Prepare Math Centers</h1><div>Preparing <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20How%20to%20Set%20Up%20Math%20Centers&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" target="_blank"><b>math centers</b></a> can take some time initially, but the time you'll save by assembling them smartly will pay off in a big way down the road. I suggest batching the work by in the following steps:</div><div><div><br /></div></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Choose a set or two to begin with and print the student-facing pages. I recommend using cardstock, if possible. The heavier paper will help the pieces stand up to repeated use. I also recommend printing in color if you're able. Color activities are more appealing and exciting for students. Investigate the HP Instant Ink program and <b><a href="http://try.hpinstantink.com/grLVJ" target="_blank">use this link to receive a free month of printing</a></b>! Printing on colored paper is a good alternative.</li><li>Sort the pages into piles by activity. You'll want to be sure you don't have anything in the wrong place, or you might have trouble sorting it out afterward.</li><li>If it is possible, laminate the student pieces. Things like games, cards, or printable manipulatives that are part of the center will last longer when they are laminated, and you won't have to prep them again and again. Also, some student activities may be laminated to use repeatedly instead of photocopying for every student. Consider how you plan to use the activities and determine whether every student must have the page.</li><li>Cut out the pieces and place each activity in a separate plastic zipper bag or envelope. I like to use bags because they generally last longer.</li></ol><div><br /></div></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">How to Store Math Centers</h1><div>Storage is the next thing you'll need to consider. I have a system that has worked beautifully in my years of teaching with centers. </div><div><br /></div><div>Each of the activities within every set of centers is in a separate zipper bag. I keep each topic set of bags in a magazine file box with a label on the front identifying it. My students do not have access to these boxes.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20How%20to%20Set%20Up%20Math%20Centers&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of magazine boxes with centers in zipper bags inside." border="0" data-original-height="1122" data-original-width="1117" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jnCRt9SIdBh4G7_nGinrpEKae6IIL6eL6HRyFKEioDFwuEjubnfFsXzreHSymh5lRuAfERK6QAObgnxpqobakgibsPuoeK0ZWNeC2QZTf5cxclI-x5V4yfR9GDeuPyFC957vXsF0ZV-m/w213-h320/How+to+Set+Up+Effective+Math+Centers+Quickly+and+Easily+This+Year+Pin.png" data-pin-description="Wondering how to set up math centers for a 2nd and 3rd-grade classroom? Math center preparation doesn't have to take a lot of time. Learn how to choose the right math centers for your second-grade or third-grade students, how to store your math centers, and how to create math groups for guided math or other math activities. Grab a free Guided Math Quick-Start Guide with free guided math centers! You'll never waste time with math center prep after reading this post! #mathcenters #mathactivities" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDJcO0kzeYf7KUOvzhzHOxw3sPhzCxg2lLrZV2xY2kZIzU173HaZ8sOJqFbyUueR1R3e_YMqRbCRGyYnxiWSdKbjRm1j1ra9mE18Hbd8-mix2jQzSJee_LEjNj6tiODYh24b3QKHx1UoG/w399-h400/File+Boxes.png" title="How to Set Up Effective Math Centers Quickly and Easily This Year" width="399" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>During active rotations, I remove the bags from the magazine file boxes and place them into bins for my students to access independently. Since I use a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20How%20to%20Set%20Up%20Math%20Centers&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" target="_blank"><b>M.A.T.H. acronym</b></a> for my math centers, I have one container for each part of my program. It is essential that my students can use these independently since centers are happening while I'm teaching small groups, so having the bins labeled helps with this organization.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20How%20to%20Set%20Up%20Math%20Centers&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Bins with labels: Math With Someone, At Work On My Own, Teacher Time, Hands-On: Manipulatives" border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="971" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jnCRt9SIdBh4G7_nGinrpEKae6IIL6eL6HRyFKEioDFwuEjubnfFsXzreHSymh5lRuAfERK6QAObgnxpqobakgibsPuoeK0ZWNeC2QZTf5cxclI-x5V4yfR9GDeuPyFC957vXsF0ZV-m/w213-h320/How+to+Set+Up+Effective+Math+Centers+Quickly+and+Easily+This+Year+Pin.png" data-pin-description="Wondering how to set up math centers for a 2nd and 3rd-grade classroom? Math center preparation doesn't have to take a lot of time. Learn how to choose the right math centers for your second-grade or third-grade students, how to store your math centers, and how to create math groups for guided math or other math activities. Grab a free Guided Math Quick-Start Guide with free guided math centers! You'll never waste time with math center prep after reading this post! #mathcenters #mathactivities" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgky5J5CwXHneZp7Q11WMyPfaWt_Lmv-c1LEKW18TAOagVFM9eK16KG82H6p4lNuqrDoG6gHf1XoKjk4PEphHQmlk7oV5hZV5qB259oCrMHWJCwhGjz7zoGIiJ1d-HINYcwms6JFshlNDRq/w309-h400/Bins.png" title="How to Set Up Effective Math Centers Quickly and Easily This Year" width="309" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Once these centers are assembled and organized, and if you have high expectations for how students treat the materials, you'll never have to do this again!</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">How to Create Math Groups</h1><div>Teachers ask me all the time how I create my groups for math centers. There isn't one correct answer to this question! Even when teaching a split-grade class, my groups remain fluid all year long, and my students quickly understand this to be true and have proven flexible as they move from one group to another. I aim to have groups with students who have similar strengths and needs.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Open Task</h4><div>One great way to organize your math groups is to give your students an open task at the start of a new unit. As they work, observe to notice attack strategies, strengths, and where your students need support. Use these observations to group students for centers.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Conference</h4><div>Having a quick one-on-one conference with each of your students to have them answer a question or complete a task is another excellent way to gauge what your students can do. These don't need to be formal conferences and do not need to take a lot of time.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Previous Performance</h4><div>Trust your professional judgment! Once you're a few months into the school year, you'll know your students better than anyone. It is okay to consider what you know and what you've seen your students do in the past and place them into groups based on your professional opinion. If you accept that groups can be fluid and ever-changing, you won't have any issues moving someone from one group to another after the unit and rotations have begun.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Formal Assessment</h4><div>Of course, you can always take the time to use a formal assessment provided by your district ahead of creating your groups. Keep in mind that these are often time-consuming and may not be necessary to drive your day-to-day activities. In my Board, we have the Prime Assessment available to us. Check with your curriculum consultants for more information.</div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Decide on a System</h1><div>Now that you have centers ready to go, you need to decide on a system for using them. I've explained in <b>a previous blog post</b> that centers are <b>not </b>your math program. They are <i>part</i> of the program only. <a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2019/08/beyond-guided-math-centers.html" target="_blank"><b>You can read more about that here.</b></a> You'll need to do some research to decide what will work best for you and your students. Some things to consider are:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How will your students rotate from center to center?</li><li>What are your expectations for student behavior as they work independently?</li><li>What should students do if they are struggling with an activity?</li><li>How will you handle interruptions?</li><li>What if students need to use the restroom? How do they get your attention?</li><li>How will you collect data on student progress with the skills and concepts in your curriculum?</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Rotations</h4><div>As I mentioned previously, I created a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20How%20to%20Set%20Up%20Math%20Centers&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" target="_blank"><b>Guided Math program</b></a> using the M.A.T.H. acronym below.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20How%20to%20Set%20Up%20Math%20Centers&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Poster of M.A.T.H. acronym: Math With Someone, At Work On My Own, Teacher Time, and Hands-On: Manipulatives" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jnCRt9SIdBh4G7_nGinrpEKae6IIL6eL6HRyFKEioDFwuEjubnfFsXzreHSymh5lRuAfERK6QAObgnxpqobakgibsPuoeK0ZWNeC2QZTf5cxclI-x5V4yfR9GDeuPyFC957vXsF0ZV-m/w213-h320/How+to+Set+Up+Effective+Math+Centers+Quickly+and+Easily+This+Year+Pin.png" data-pin-description="Wondering how to set up math centers for a 2nd and 3rd-grade classroom? Math center preparation doesn't have to take a lot of time. Learn how to choose the right math centers for your second-grade or third-grade students, how to store your math centers, and how to create math groups for guided math or other math activities. Grab a free Guided Math Quick-Start Guide with free guided math centers! You'll never waste time with math center prep after reading this post! #mathcenters #mathactivities" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFRGUHVuhS6YNEnfU-_JIVQnmPcKZwje3mvb4iJU7XyIUq-DOnn1mJRMZHSfbxb_RqHdhIfNwc6FC3ClRsBz5-KceEU1bNtRkQA6Wd-NVD6XDFcpL4BS6aTUxJ6Rzf_eHKmPwxKliw4nhF/w240-h320/Poster1.png" title="How to Set Up Effective Math Centers Quickly and Easily This Year" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I have centers ready for each of the components except Teacher Time. I have four groups that rotate through the centers, with one group spending time with me for lessons focused on the group's needs. The rotations for each day are displayed in a central location, so my students always know what is expected.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20How%20to%20Set%20Up%20Math%20Centers&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of guided math rotation board." border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jnCRt9SIdBh4G7_nGinrpEKae6IIL6eL6HRyFKEioDFwuEjubnfFsXzreHSymh5lRuAfERK6QAObgnxpqobakgibsPuoeK0ZWNeC2QZTf5cxclI-x5V4yfR9GDeuPyFC957vXsF0ZV-m/w213-h320/How+to+Set+Up+Effective+Math+Centers+Quickly+and+Easily+This+Year+Pin.png" data-pin-description="Wondering how to set up math centers for a 2nd and 3rd-grade classroom? Math center preparation doesn't have to take a lot of time. Learn how to choose the right math centers for your second-grade or third-grade students, how to store your math centers, and how to create math groups for guided math or other math activities. Grab a free Guided Math Quick-Start Guide with free guided math centers! You'll never waste time with math center prep after reading this post! #mathcenters #mathactivities" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh86eYUN_Kz7ilVlsj1cDKN_j06X6-VKaKu5AzUGwlzKg9YW3m7HyrhhDVUiACVMznM6wGdMkBy6v5HPJdXRbm17I29hcmaqrKW9Tvg6XSDkbIfYttceDik2ZG6OIWwgWoztsV7jrj7M1qq/w640-h426/Board.png" title="How to Set Up Effective Math Centers Quickly and Easily This Year" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Expectations</h4><div>At the beginning of the school year, we discuss what math center time looks like and sounds like. These expectations are posted so my students can revisit them as needed.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Struggles</h4><div>I always have a few students who have a solid grasp of the activities act as helpers. When students are working on centers, I am teaching a small group and do not want to be interrupted. Often, it takes just moments for a peer to explain to a friend how to do something to get them back on track.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've also included a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20How%20to%20Set%20Up%20Math%20Centers&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" target="_blank"><b>variety of centers</b></a> in each category of my M.A.T.H. program as well, so students who are really struggling with one activity have the option of choosing another until I can spend some time with them clarifying the task.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Interruptions</h4><div>In my classroom, we use hand signals for visits to the restroom. My students can flash the signal at me, and I can agree or decline with a nod or shake of my head without stopping the flow of my lesson.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Assessment and Data Collection</h4><div>I do not assess the work my students do in centers. These activities are practice. They are designed to be related to the curriculum expectations but open enough to be flexible in their use and accessible to everyone. </div><div><br /></div><div>I do all of my assessments in my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Differentiated-Lessons-for-Guided-Math-GROWING-BUNDLE-3268576?utm_source=Blog%20How%20to%20Set%20Up%20Math%20Centers&utm_campaign=Guided%20Math%20Lesson%20Bundle" target="_blank"><b>Teacher Time groups</b></a>. I teach the skills and concepts in the curriculum at each student's just-right level at this time. I constantly observe and document the skill with which my students work with the lessons and note where the needs for upcoming classes remain.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Differentiated-Lessons-for-Guided-Math-GROWING-BUNDLE-3268576?utm_source=Blog%20How%20to%20Set%20Up%20Math%20Centers&utm_campaign=Guided%20Math%20Lesson%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of guided math lessons and observation forms on sticky notes. There is a geoboard with elastics in the bottom-left corner and a pen in the bottom-right." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9jnCRt9SIdBh4G7_nGinrpEKae6IIL6eL6HRyFKEioDFwuEjubnfFsXzreHSymh5lRuAfERK6QAObgnxpqobakgibsPuoeK0ZWNeC2QZTf5cxclI-x5V4yfR9GDeuPyFC957vXsF0ZV-m/w213-h320/How+to+Set+Up+Effective+Math+Centers+Quickly+and+Easily+This+Year+Pin.png" data-pin-description="Wondering how to set up math centers for a 2nd and 3rd-grade classroom? Math center preparation doesn't have to take a lot of time. Learn how to choose the right math centers for your second-grade or third-grade students, how to store your math centers, and how to create math groups for guided math or other math activities. Grab a free Guided Math Quick-Start Guide with free guided math centers! You'll never waste time with math center prep after reading this post! #mathcenters #mathactivities" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTOKXeryYCznilR7WU14z3LiJSHF1dOFvYNE0vs_KjDpgCDUnp4rivaC5VYKtNph-WyI__2nfDsrsURuG_mdGGW6ab2naA-gT6QHh48TJCMzho5J2zu4-HHHZnKHCCzDiN8LAjylKdD1Y/w640-h640/Lessons.jpg" title="How to Set Up Effective Math Centers Quickly and Easily This Year" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>My Differentiated Guided Math Lessons resource contains over 240 lessons covering all parts of the 2020 Ontario Math Curriculum and aligned with the CCSS standards.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Differentiated-Lessons-for-Guided-Math-GROWING-BUNDLE-3268576?utm_source=Blog%20How%20to%20Set%20Up%20Math%20Centers&utm_campaign=Guided%20Math%20Lesson%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Cover of Differentiated Guided Math Lesson Bundle resource." border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="200" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjLW17C52Osp29ZBQOK2lIpMco8MDujzNWPJYOjs6IqwbD3zg3XdJpuyR3Li6IvoqmC_41Yl4cfcCuBoB_sI8dujmKr_OXGI_oi2Svy8kSGQzLxena1LCsin9fcnUPy7WP0DL9oudlkzis/w200-h200/Guided+Math+Lessons+Bundle+C.PNG" title="How to Set Up Effective Math Centers Quickly and Easily This Year" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Setting up effective math centers doesn't have to be a terrible experience when you have systems in place. I have an entire year's worth of centers available for you. If you're interested in trying them for free, grab my <b>Guided Math Quick-Start Guide</b></div> right here:<br /><br /><script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/data/webforms/451423/n0e1h8.js?v20" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br />
<div>If you're ready to get started with centers this year, grab my best-selling <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20How%20to%20Set%20Up%20Math%20Centers&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" target="_blank"><b>Guided Math Centers bundle</b></a> right here:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Centers-Year-Long-BUNDLE-1651478?utm_source=Blog%20How%20to%20Set%20Up%20Math%20Centers&utm_campaign=GM%20Centers%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Cover of Guided Math Centers Bundle resource" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg90IhRPXEGn06QDjBImAzrFElaNWTavLJrK66w499Y-G2nBIS_E4Ux3qwO2SzjF3kgat62He2Qo6qy_0kB54S7t1mVOaFYIAhVCAMmQj3hLaDDSqvKd_160S9aRdm9dkww1xGbDH7Q4ffw/w400-h400/Guided+Math+Bundle+C.png" title="How to Set Up Effective Math Centers Quickly and Easily This Year" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EvRg5XpYjAF-E4JMEUpNeIIqPn2I9wBdbembp0x9dtNPoqmx8SQHHDCM616lBEFBTxK3jhvKPpocIib1zt-M8ZqmfOR7YCcKDWIu0hjwriQywPUG__cMzqyjZBoUnzAovtw8odVxVbfv/s1500/How+to+Set+Up+Effective+Math+Centers+Quickly+and+Easily+This+Year+Pin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of math centers with text, "How to Set Up Effective Math Centers Quickly and Easily This Year."" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" data-pin-description="Wondering how to set up math centers for a 2nd and 3rd-grade classroom? Math center preparation doesn't have to take a lot of time. Learn how to choose the right math centers for your second-grade or third-grade students, how to store your math centers, and how to create math groups for guided math or other math activities. Grab a free Guided Math Quick-Start Guide with free guided math centers! You'll never waste time with math center prep after reading this post! #mathcenters #mathactivities" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-EvRg5XpYjAF-E4JMEUpNeIIqPn2I9wBdbembp0x9dtNPoqmx8SQHHDCM616lBEFBTxK3jhvKPpocIib1zt-M8ZqmfOR7YCcKDWIu0hjwriQywPUG__cMzqyjZBoUnzAovtw8odVxVbfv/w426-h640/How+to+Set+Up+Effective+Math+Centers+Quickly+and+Easily+This+Year+Pin.png" title="How to Set Up Effective Math Centers Quickly and Easily This Year" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-62410278549894141632021-06-27T05:00:00.001-04:002021-06-27T05:00:00.185-04:00Making Plans to Help Improve Your Teaching in the Next School Year<div style="text-align: left;">You made it! Another school year, not just completed, but survived! Every school year coming to an end provides us with an opportunity to grow as professionals. It is essential to celebrate the end and use your experiences to make plans to help improve teaching in the next school year.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuHGsMAN-WDg5iD8ZCwBVPhX80LoDqdkj_MRPzGj-eHp1vbiKDtoluoJGYz0s3O51ELdX-thZRd1CZfkQpzk1DYYxl6D1LVDFWnPlvmJYsSI5ZeF0sooPMcGWjbmThmWTiqwfpHbkutQH/s940/Improve+Teaching+Next+School+Year+Header.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of free reflection page with text, "Making Plans to Help Improve Your Teaching in the Next School Year."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1I8FN8hgXYco_8LlRuUCDz-S3ch6ysufqBhCwb1gsf0zxiNQ9RcfP9kMiWLlkd_jDETfCCgTveP77hrTDzuSe1UrQbR98mvQhR6oCt4SOudUUUGAcrFJBAFc5vnSPBxWp4CEI0SvwlCuR/w426-h640/14.png" data-pin-description="Every school year coming to an end provides us with an opportunity to grow as professionals. It is essential for teachers to celebrate the end of the school year, and use their experiences to make plans to help improve teaching in the next school year. Grab a FREE Reflecting On This Year planning worksheet and think about what aspects of your classroom experience you want to keep, stop, change, or start doing in the next school year." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQuHGsMAN-WDg5iD8ZCwBVPhX80LoDqdkj_MRPzGj-eHp1vbiKDtoluoJGYz0s3O51ELdX-thZRd1CZfkQpzk1DYYxl6D1LVDFWnPlvmJYsSI5ZeF0sooPMcGWjbmThmWTiqwfpHbkutQH/w640-h334/Improve+Teaching+Next+School+Year+Header.png" title="Making Plans to Help Improve Your Teaching in the Next School Year" width="640" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><h2 style="text-align: left;">Looking Back to Look Ahead</h2><div style="text-align: left;">There is nothing quite as satisfying as a year of teaching neatly wrapped up and delivered with a bow. As much as you'd love to jump into vacation mode, this is the <b>perfect </b>opportunity to reflect on the year, so you'll be in a better position to start the next one!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've completed more than 20 school years and know how easy it is to close the door and not look back. The problem with doing that is when the fall rolls around, and you're thinking about the new school year, the previous year feels too far away to connect with clearly.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Do yourself a favor and take an hour to sit at your computer and really reflect on this year as it comes to a close.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2A8zY3sSrN0NKW4rVOOuFVDhb1ff91zquc0TDcqg1oueEnztTnKPNwB0Z0MhbZSPJdoQ_1dpkmckiElHjElPwCHqAeKShZ0l0J8dzGeBADrD0or2WOwtUWvUvpL5HVNfpvHmtj2aNM-Fa/s2048/Improve+Teaching+Next+School+Year+Form.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of "Reflecting On This Year" worksheet and colorful pens." border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1I8FN8hgXYco_8LlRuUCDz-S3ch6ysufqBhCwb1gsf0zxiNQ9RcfP9kMiWLlkd_jDETfCCgTveP77hrTDzuSe1UrQbR98mvQhR6oCt4SOudUUUGAcrFJBAFc5vnSPBxWp4CEI0SvwlCuR/w426-h640/14.png" data-pin-description="Every school year coming to an end provides us with an opportunity to grow as professionals. It is essential for teachers to celebrate the end of the school year, and use their experiences to make plans to help improve teaching in the next school year. Grab a FREE Reflecting On This Year planning worksheet and think about what aspects of your classroom experience you want to keep, stop, change, or start doing in the next school year." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2A8zY3sSrN0NKW4rVOOuFVDhb1ff91zquc0TDcqg1oueEnztTnKPNwB0Z0MhbZSPJdoQ_1dpkmckiElHjElPwCHqAeKShZ0l0J8dzGeBADrD0or2WOwtUWvUvpL5HVNfpvHmtj2aNM-Fa/w640-h480/Improve+Teaching+Next+School+Year+Form.jpeg" title="Making Plans to Help Improve Your Teaching in the Next School Year" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">What do you want to stop doing?</h4><div>Let's start with what didn't turn out the way you'd hoped. What do you want to stop doing in the next school year?</div><div><br /></div><div>Consider things like:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Classroom routines that didn't go well.</li><li>Lessons or projects that failed.</li><li>Taking work home on the weekends.</li><li>Spreading yourself thin by volunteering for every task that needed help throughout the school.</li><li>Spending your own money on classroom supplies or materials.</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">What do you want to start doing?</h4><div>Think about ideas you had throughout the year that felt like they really needed to be introduced at the beginning of the year. Did you toss them because it wasn't the right time, even though you loved the sound of them? Did you see a great idea in a coworker's class or in a teaching group online that you might like to try?</div><div><br /></div><div>Consider planning to start:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>New routines to change how part of your day or week felt last year.</li><li>A new focus in a unit or lesson.</li><li>A different way of lesson planning.</li><li>New strategies for collecting assessment data.</li><li>Organizing the physical classroom space differently.</li><li>A new program or unit that you've never tried before.</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">What do you want to keep doing?</h4><div>Sometimes there are parts of your year that feel really great. You look back at that and say, "Yep. That worked. It worked exactly how I hoped, and I'll definitely do it again." What are those things?</div><div><br /></div><div>Be sure to think about:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Routines</li><li>Lessons or units</li><li>Organization</li><li>Special days or events</li><li>Strategies for staying on top of marking, filing, parent communication, etc.</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">What do you want to do more?</h4><div>Occasionally there are parts of the year that stand out for positive reasons, and you could make the next school year better by doing these things more. This might take a little more thought compared to the first parts of the reflection, but consider:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A particular teaching strategy that went well at some point in the year that you could use more often.</li><li>Ways that you could tweak the routines you plan to keep to include them more often as part of your regular practice.</li><li>Things that made your classroom Covid-friendly might make sense to continue even after the pandemic is over.</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">What do you want to do less?</h4><div>With a bit of time to think, I can always come up with things that I feel I did too often or too much of. What might have taken up more time last year than it should have taken or needed to take?</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Can you do less marking? Why not consider taking work up as a group or only marking a sample of the work instead of the entire thing?</li><li>Can you cut down on idle time through the school day to make your day more productive? Do you catch yourself chatting with a coworker at the photocopier when you could be tackling the planning that you'll end up taking home?</li><li>Are there parts of your day that you are doing tasks the students can do for themselves?</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Looking Ahead to Improve Teaching</h2><div>After thinking back and documenting your thoughts, you should be in a great position to close the book on the last school year and enjoy your summer. When your brain turns to the task of preparing for the upcoming year (hopefully not too soon!), pull out this reflection and use it as you strategically plan all the parts of your day!</div><div><br /></div><div>I've created a fillable reflection page for you to use as you work through this looking-back process to improve your teaching in the next school year. Grab a copy right here:</div><div><br /></div><script src="https://app.mailerlite.com/data/webforms/3736432/k3e5w4.js?v27" type="text/javascript"></script><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Have a safe and restful summer! You deserve it! I would encourage you to explore some <a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2019/03/how-using-journal-can-improve-your-life.html" target="_blank"><b>self-care routines like keeping a journal</b></a> during your time off! You'll set yourself up for success in the next school year!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkKAAIRzIfDXkiQO6z8D6UATxJtky7l_8UbbalkXb0rPuHQdVmt5AmufPpe7ioECHeZBOggReyda3apsxfGrt_iCrC3_JCpsfnWevTzC0-xLfIFbuhu8yYiolGBmYR-rut0MIwV5y_nI3/s1500/14.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of "Reflecting on this Year" worksheet with text, "Making Plans to Help Improve Your Teaching in the Next School Year."" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" data-pin-description="Every school year coming to an end provides us with an opportunity to grow as professionals. It is essential for teachers to celebrate the end of the school year, and use their experiences to make plans to help improve teaching in the next school year. Grab a FREE Reflecting On This Year planning worksheet and think about what aspects of your classroom experience you want to keep, stop, change, or start doing in the next school year." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivkKAAIRzIfDXkiQO6z8D6UATxJtky7l_8UbbalkXb0rPuHQdVmt5AmufPpe7ioECHeZBOggReyda3apsxfGrt_iCrC3_JCpsfnWevTzC0-xLfIFbuhu8yYiolGBmYR-rut0MIwV5y_nI3/w426-h640/14.png" title="Making Plans to Help Improve Your Teaching in the Next School Year" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-67664252373841306032021-06-13T05:00:00.002-04:002022-07-18T09:33:21.778-04:00How Using Simple Visuals Makes it Easy to Create Effective Classroom Routines<div style="text-align: left;">Creating effective classroom routines takes time. A lot of time, if you're working with younger students or students with special learning needs, but even in the general-education classroom, using simple visuals can make the process of learning new routines much simpler.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/End-of-Day-Dismissal-Routine-Posters-EDITABLE-2073441?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Visuals%20for%20Routines%20Post&utm_campaign=Dismissal%20Routines" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of dismissal procedures display with text, "How Using Simple Visuals Makes it Easy to Create Effective Classroom Routines."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-description="Creating effective classroom routines takes time. Especially if you're working with primary students or students with special learning needs, but even in the general-education classroom, using simple visuals can make the process of learning new routines much simpler. Click here to learn more about what classroom visuals are, why you should be using them, and what routines would benefit from using classroom visuals. Grab a FREE classroom visuals cheat sheet with links to more info and resources!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObfDJ2lrHI3-3V5gpkChmUNC0traO8o5Wsac38QhLY3XdG0ogQ5g9rXWiXaYkKkuD0WJESc2qUSV32eb2veXjVuzYItadctcS_M2_p1neK2xAzg1Cihu08pt3Ul0LPFKa_Zq95GWJsiyy/w426-h640/21.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr_hpmrXN-gIaptVY6vaXzgrPl5R7hqLL_P0mZnMoZYyeOrA2QmWlCz1cOZnYGUPk5FYtcNLbCIkt2k4Y9wnzvl1KWV76v1wqFYDJpFp7oyJlcJ9snlh7w4gkl3NVwYPvggYLd2mWBVrxI/w640-h334/Using+Visuals+For+Effective+Routines+Header.png" title="How Using Simple Visuals Makes it Easy to Create Effective Classroom Routines" width="640" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><h2 style="text-align: left;">What are visuals?</h2><div>Visuals used in classrooms can take on many forms. They can include, but are not limited to:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Picture symbols</li><li>Anchor charts</li><li>Reference cards</li><li>Infographics</li><li>Models</li><li>Maps</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div>Visuals are a method that teachers can share their expectations beyond the repetition of verbal instructions. They have very different meanings and uses in special education programs, but I will focus on general-education classrooms, which I have taught for my entire career.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Editable-Class-Schedule-Cards-NEON-Decor-3345888?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Visuals%20for%20Routines%20Post&utm_campaign=Class%20Schedule%20Cards" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of classroom schedule." border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="591" data-pin-description="Creating effective classroom routines takes time. Especially if you're working with primary students or students with special learning needs, but even in the general-education classroom, using simple visuals can make the process of learning new routines much simpler. Click here to learn more about what classroom visuals are, why you should be using them, and what routines would benefit from using classroom visuals. Grab a FREE classroom visuals cheat sheet with links to more info and resources!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObfDJ2lrHI3-3V5gpkChmUNC0traO8o5Wsac38QhLY3XdG0ogQ5g9rXWiXaYkKkuD0WJESc2qUSV32eb2veXjVuzYItadctcS_M2_p1neK2xAzg1Cihu08pt3Ul0LPFKa_Zq95GWJsiyy/w426-h640/21.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXbl8IVdVBYeryNZ80XwvsCi-TpCfEBPzdzqaCv9Qanyria-TnmMQUF6JCzyDIstGwR-Psr3A-T8rtQ3fkSDzph1ZyyRBrSDbF934Ff9vbZ7RWQ9k0RjWXNWlYZ5FEHgMnmFJMPl55wLf/w308-h400/Using+Visuals+For+Effective+Routines+Agenda.png" title="How Using Simple Visuals Makes it Easy to Create Effective Classroom Routines" width="308" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Why use simple visuals in the classroom?</h2><div>Visuals in the general-ed classroom are a way to support students who require additional reminders and a way to put some of the responsibility for following procedures and routines on the students.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/End-of-Day-Dismissal-Routine-Posters-EDITABLE-2073441?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Visuals%20for%20Routines%20Post&utm_campaign=Dismissal%20Routines" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of part of a dismissal procedures display." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" data-pin-description="Creating effective classroom routines takes time. Especially if you're working with primary students or students with special learning needs, but even in the general-education classroom, using simple visuals can make the process of learning new routines much simpler. Click here to learn more about what classroom visuals are, why you should be using them, and what routines would benefit from using classroom visuals. Grab a FREE classroom visuals cheat sheet with links to more info and resources!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjObfDJ2lrHI3-3V5gpkChmUNC0traO8o5Wsac38QhLY3XdG0ogQ5g9rXWiXaYkKkuD0WJESc2qUSV32eb2veXjVuzYItadctcS_M2_p1neK2xAzg1Cihu08pt3Ul0LPFKa_Zq95GWJsiyy/w426-h640/21.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHuiEs_JxlxlXMKg2hkPjHaU2qp-RXini5OLes_aQTgl61yeumXIiAxJayYNE-lby-tgfT8hrkK7GeZDceoUEYfOBSB0tPWuTMpBMkvg3tJqSDhZx_CwyzuHIvBCcFTqhwHT6FG-HBQM9/w400-h400/Using+Visuals+For+Effective+Routines+Dismissal.png" title="How Using Simple Visuals Makes it Easy to Create Effective Classroom Routines" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>When students are taught a procedure or classroom routine alongside a visual, they anchor their learning to that visual cue and can return to it again and again, as needed. Having these displays takes the job of repeating instructions again and again off of the teacher's shoulders.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Group-Organizational-System-1493193?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Visuals%20for%20Routines%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Organization" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1496" data-original-width="1047" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sP4U165W0RO77IfQTk_6HW1RJ52jKsH8a_K9VBmVcWgntD0gsvO1qQBdvFpzsDWgTjgbueU77cYgFJJxE8t6EmaifNcq7_7D8Qzgt-x1NiaLE1qXcslA-L1BOwJxntB2--zjlitkQWWwCbpHjL73ILER0DE46UgWsyudJ4FnqTdzVEYew9jXJTUgxA/w280-h400/How%20to%20Get%20Started%20With%20Small%20Group%20Instruction%20Anchor%20Chart.png" width="280" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Having strong <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Group-Organizational-System-1493193?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Visuals%20for%20Routines%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Organization" target="_blank"><b>visuals as the foundation of my guided math program</b></a> reduces the number of interruptions I get when teaching my small-group lessons. My students were taught how to manage their centers independently with these visual cues, so now they can work through the routine without my direct supervision.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Guided-Math-Group-Organizational-System-1493193?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Visuals%20for%20Routines%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Organization" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1260" data-original-width="971" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwC6T7q0w48knzAChBzekN58DgWSH7Pu6CS9YI9ZErUSIbIA9gX6jYOADhIC5KK_J49OSwIOpdKriXMe7CqRT1lpxJkS248lPYFUzxQjb_iIS5S2dYKQAR7BAyQFPJnxJvRIH-iKj7NBHDwAt57q6QYVErQZ6f40Zi-tikB8prWvePT0cQ3KKE4KeJA/w309-h400/Bins.png" width="309" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">What classroom routines would benefit from visual cues?</h2><div>Depending on the grade and subjects you teach, the possibilities for ways to use visuals in your classroom are nearly limitless! Just a few of the visuals I've used in my classrooms include:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Editable-Class-Schedule-Cards-NEON-Decor-3345888?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Visuals%20for%20Routines%20Post&utm_campaign=Class%20Schedule%20Cards" target="_blank"><b>A classroom schedule or agenda display</b></a></li><li>Anchor charts</li><li>Early finisher options</li><li>A social-emotional health check-in</li><li>Behavior expectations</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div>I've put together a cheat sheet of more than 10 ways that you can use visuals to create effective classroom routines and hyperlinked a ton of additional resources and blog posts just for you!</div><div><br /></div><div>Grab your copy here:</div><div><br /><script src="https://static.mailerlite.com/data/webforms/3736231/k7r1i9.js?v28" type="text/javascript"></script><br /><div>Visuals themselves will not make your routines effective, but they are an essential strategy for <a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2017/04/how-to-encourage-independence-in-your.html" target="_blank">developing your students' independence</a>. Your students will still need to be explicitly taught what you expect, but having these alongside definitely supports their learning!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:<div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXFx5td0RnPHNXxN1L9H-HZewEJdhFFYKlx6-YT2rd2RoJcaBmxDG31OmuPYejYOk6GjdBzSwd58-o9MIwNJRbKEGAPnqz48OXpL3npBkfsfAKSdXkx9jL1gNxGwhDUkxqln94a-DAUQT/s1500/21.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of dismissal procedures display with text, "How Using Simple Visuals Makes it Easy to Create Effective Classroom Routines."" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" data-pin-description="Creating effective classroom routines takes time. Especially if you're working with primary students or students with special learning needs, but even in the general-education classroom, using simple visuals can make the process of learning new routines much simpler. Click here to learn more about what classroom visuals are, why you should be using them, and what routines would benefit from using classroom visuals. Grab a FREE classroom visuals cheat sheet with links to more info and resources!" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXFx5td0RnPHNXxN1L9H-HZewEJdhFFYKlx6-YT2rd2RoJcaBmxDG31OmuPYejYOk6GjdBzSwd58-o9MIwNJRbKEGAPnqz48OXpL3npBkfsfAKSdXkx9jL1gNxGwhDUkxqln94a-DAUQT/w426-h640/21.png" title="How Using Simple Visuals Makes it Easy to Create Effective Classroom Routines" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-11332355514218686922021-05-30T05:00:00.003-04:002021-05-30T05:00:00.170-04:00How to Effectively Encourage Quality Whole-Class Discussions<div style="text-align: left;">I had an instructor once tell me that as a teacher, I shouldn't be the "sage on the stage" but rather the "guide on the side." I've never forgotten this analogy and think of him often as I work to encourage quality whole-class discussions with my students. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Accountable-Talk-Conversation-Starters-Sentence-Stems-Posters-4082869?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Quality%20Discussions%20Post&utm_campaign=Accountable%20Talk%20Posters" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of student selector sticks with text, "How to Effectively Encourage Quality Whole-Class Discussions."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-description="Whole-class conversations are valuable learning opportunities when managed correctly. These should not be teacher-directed discussions but instead teacher-facilitated discussions. Click to read how to create an environment that supports whole-class conversations by setting expectations and ground rules, creating a culture of respect, and providing structure and guidelines. Grab a FREE strategy poster for your classroom and other tips for encouraging quality conversations in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpbwTD0H49N-QAFI7wJAgV24nhLSKmRed79h4q5Nm20X-wiwhF4ldiU61SZUSstl7_4cZcB-HNdVwOt1PkHTMT-sLnwMlJDCXNVBAHzSu8GkJsbvIFCFzFQmxq6eRTEnG0J-U2lueh4z-/w426-h640/2.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03-LzwOhicYDY0PRobyJ4bwrn7rjB-rY5_zI2ErCH0uUR4raF9xme4Y8OXS2VjIAxQBoDA71PKBPg9jEZ4Hv7Vzq9kzt4881zGfkAl1RSSheVp2FMzjbiKUWHuqrw4oBGq3bSkyzFhA4h/w640-h334/Encourage+Quality+Whole-Class+Discussions+Header.png" title="How to Effectively Encourage Quality Whole-Class Discussions" width="640" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Whole-class conversations are valuable learning opportunities when managed correctly. These should not be teacher-directed but instead teacher-facilitated. Any class discussion's goal should be learning, but that should be by students working through their thinking, not the teacher dumping it into their laps.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Goals of Whole-Class Discussion</h2><div>Effective whole-class discussions should do several things. They should:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Engage all students in the learning.</li><li>Encourage students to ask questions.</li><li>Spark interest in the topic.</li><li>Include as many voices as possible.</li><li>Generate a sense of safety and environment that supports risk-taking.</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Start With Ground Rules</h2><div>I like to start the school year by setting some ground rules for collaboration of any kind. This includes our whole-class discussions and small-group activities.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Accountable-Talk-Conversation-Starters-Sentence-Stems-Posters-4082869?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Quality%20Discussions%20Post&utm_campaign=Accountable%20Talk%20Posters" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of collaboration bulletin board with anchor charts showing what collaboration does and does not look like." border="0" data-original-height="369" data-original-width="443" data-pin-description="Whole-class conversations are valuable learning opportunities when managed correctly. These should not be teacher-directed discussions but instead teacher-facilitated discussions. Click to read how to create an environment that supports whole-class conversations by setting expectations and ground rules, creating a culture of respect, and providing structure and guidelines. Grab a FREE strategy poster for your classroom and other tips for encouraging quality conversations in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpbwTD0H49N-QAFI7wJAgV24nhLSKmRed79h4q5Nm20X-wiwhF4ldiU61SZUSstl7_4cZcB-HNdVwOt1PkHTMT-sLnwMlJDCXNVBAHzSu8GkJsbvIFCFzFQmxq6eRTEnG0J-U2lueh4z-/w426-h640/2.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9hkxJVp6i2I99cMdFf61cR-Bz2LAtlAm5mjV0Ymm070-TSllsgKQqIS7tTno64WUkBsuI48drSjNdgvTLZFVDbwnNE0MRnxtu5tXsdEsKqVwbFBUD19OHNe81NLaBJYuUUJ93u27ukjeD/w400-h334/Encourage+Quality+Whole-Class+Discussions+Collaboration.png" title="How to Effectively Encourage Quality Whole-Class Discussions" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We do this together by discussing what the students like about group work and what turns them off when working in groups. Using the students' thinking makes the ground rules much more powerful. They have ownership, and because of that, they are more likely to follow these rules.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Strategies for Encouraging Quality Discussion</h2><div>There is no one perfect way to get students talking during your lessons, but I have a few favorite strategies.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Random Pickers</h4><div>One great way to get all of your students engaged in class discussions is by choosing them to share their thinking randomly. You do need to be sensitive to the topic when using random name pickers, though. Be sure that the content is accessible to everyone and not of a sensitive nature. I wouldn't necessarily use this one when teaching about puberty!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMA1ftlXwfdo-51TO0ijxNqpqiXAB6ElSIffsIG4-EYP7D1tsdH5oVsOK6-70GSi6t48bz11dAW-ctLdlMeYd_MzLiQLoU7EqIzUw1-9vddhfysS9mq-1uCSqzifxiZ84t2sEjfoRKUbC3/s764/Encourage+Quality+Whole-Class+Discussions+Name+Pick.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of student selector sticks in a cup that says, "Teachers Keep Us Sharp."" border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="553" data-pin-description="Whole-class conversations are valuable learning opportunities when managed correctly. These should not be teacher-directed discussions but instead teacher-facilitated discussions. Click to read how to create an environment that supports whole-class conversations by setting expectations and ground rules, creating a culture of respect, and providing structure and guidelines. Grab a FREE strategy poster for your classroom and other tips for encouraging quality conversations in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpbwTD0H49N-QAFI7wJAgV24nhLSKmRed79h4q5Nm20X-wiwhF4ldiU61SZUSstl7_4cZcB-HNdVwOt1PkHTMT-sLnwMlJDCXNVBAHzSu8GkJsbvIFCFzFQmxq6eRTEnG0J-U2lueh4z-/w426-h640/2.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMA1ftlXwfdo-51TO0ijxNqpqiXAB6ElSIffsIG4-EYP7D1tsdH5oVsOK6-70GSi6t48bz11dAW-ctLdlMeYd_MzLiQLoU7EqIzUw1-9vddhfysS9mq-1uCSqzifxiZ84t2sEjfoRKUbC3/w290-h400/Encourage+Quality+Whole-Class+Discussions+Name+Pick.png" title="How to Effectively Encourage Quality Whole-Class Discussions" width="290" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Hand Signals</h4><div>There's nothing more disruptive to a great whole-class discussion for me than the student with their hand up who wants to use the washroom and has nothing to contribute to the conversation at all. </div><div><br /></div><div>To avoid these interruptions in the flow of a great class discussion, I've implemented hand signals in my classroom. There is a signal for sharing a comment or thought, asking a question, using the washroom, getting a drink, or getting a tissue. If my students use the hand signal during a lesson or whole-class discussion, I can give a quick nod or shake of the head without stopping the entire class.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/handsignaldisplay" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Image of FREE hand signals display." border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="1462" data-pin-description="Whole-class conversations are valuable learning opportunities when managed correctly. These should not be teacher-directed discussions but instead teacher-facilitated discussions. Click to read how to create an environment that supports whole-class conversations by setting expectations and ground rules, creating a culture of respect, and providing structure and guidelines. Grab a FREE strategy poster for your classroom and other tips for encouraging quality conversations in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpbwTD0H49N-QAFI7wJAgV24nhLSKmRed79h4q5Nm20X-wiwhF4ldiU61SZUSstl7_4cZcB-HNdVwOt1PkHTMT-sLnwMlJDCXNVBAHzSu8GkJsbvIFCFzFQmxq6eRTEnG0J-U2lueh4z-/w426-h640/2.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrj7PUh7LDdvYdTOzws2YUTmEWRknuA5UehkuXvoObXoICaowqcG-RhmmhzUF42aAVwdehi8txQnyLlkIYbU-1AtQ-iCimPVymjapDdHpKkWp2C5cNLGDpvn7bCWUnZjarx1zYADWOHBTj/w640-h158/Encourage+Quality+Whole-Class+Discussions+Hand+Signals1.png" title="How to Effectively Encourage Quality Whole-Class Discussions" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>#TeacherWin</div><div><br /></div><div>Grab a copy of these free right here:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/handsignaldisplay" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Offer of FREE hand signals display with text, "Click here to get this free hand signals display."" border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1440" data-pin-description="Whole-class conversations are valuable learning opportunities when managed correctly. These should not be teacher-directed discussions but instead teacher-facilitated discussions. Click to read how to create an environment that supports whole-class conversations by setting expectations and ground rules, creating a culture of respect, and providing structure and guidelines. Grab a FREE strategy poster for your classroom and other tips for encouraging quality conversations in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpbwTD0H49N-QAFI7wJAgV24nhLSKmRed79h4q5Nm20X-wiwhF4ldiU61SZUSstl7_4cZcB-HNdVwOt1PkHTMT-sLnwMlJDCXNVBAHzSu8GkJsbvIFCFzFQmxq6eRTEnG0J-U2lueh4z-/w426-h640/2.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd8JoLmGr9NL-TlHg1gpUmiQHALYVVLrYLmeJrpFhiAK3tXkcWjAfurLX-BYLo0UlxRMQbpdAIihmjfRuSckNwBqu8oyvBf5j1FNeHXwvuTb6eaD9ei4G9FURcPK8IlF1bMHKZ6v-OwYbs/w640-h341/Free+Offer.png" title="How to Effectively Encourage Quality Whole-Class Discussions" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Turn and Talk</h4><div><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2021/03/encouraging-students-to-take-risks-in-math.html" target="_blank"><b>I've mentioned before</b></a> that turning and talking about a topic makes students more inclined to share their thinking in a whole-class setting. It is like a test-run of their ideas and a great way to warm them up before starting a whole-class discussion.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Accountable Talk</h4><div>It is important to remember that sometimes our students don't know <i>how </i>to participate in a discussion appropriately. For this reason, I also love to have examples of accountable talk starters posted in the classroom for them to refer to during conversations.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Accountable-Talk-Conversation-Starters-Sentence-Stems-Posters-4082869?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Quality%20Discussions%20Post&utm_campaign=Accountable%20Talk%20Posters" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of accountable talk bulletin board with speech bubbles containing conversation starters." border="0" data-original-height="289" data-original-width="355" data-pin-description="Whole-class conversations are valuable learning opportunities when managed correctly. These should not be teacher-directed discussions but instead teacher-facilitated discussions. Click to read how to create an environment that supports whole-class conversations by setting expectations and ground rules, creating a culture of respect, and providing structure and guidelines. Grab a FREE strategy poster for your classroom and other tips for encouraging quality conversations in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpbwTD0H49N-QAFI7wJAgV24nhLSKmRed79h4q5Nm20X-wiwhF4ldiU61SZUSstl7_4cZcB-HNdVwOt1PkHTMT-sLnwMlJDCXNVBAHzSu8GkJsbvIFCFzFQmxq6eRTEnG0J-U2lueh4z-/w426-h640/2.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wiXMfWzcun4mBRXdwe-ZcHugi9cT5QVEH8czJFi4rMJ1VcmFVZ44LV09N5c-sMlpw6YKlIYr_zSutY47Wpx7MPJ3Mo9RaGsr-sSiB0nRDPgAY3YZv5mPbZPrvcqSK9BEFLeXsN9OPLAX/w400-h326/Encourage+Quality+Whole-Class+Discussions+Talk.png" title="How to Effectively Encourage Quality Whole-Class Discussions" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>You can grab these posters here if you'd like to try them out in your classroom:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Accountable-Talk-Conversation-Starters-Sentence-Stems-Posters-4082869?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Quality%20Discussions%20Post&utm_campaign=Accountable%20Talk%20Posters" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Cover of Accountable Talk Conversation Starters resource." border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="775" data-pin-description="Whole-class conversations are valuable learning opportunities when managed correctly. These should not be teacher-directed discussions but instead teacher-facilitated discussions. Click to read how to create an environment that supports whole-class conversations by setting expectations and ground rules, creating a culture of respect, and providing structure and guidelines. Grab a FREE strategy poster for your classroom and other tips for encouraging quality conversations in this post!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDpbwTD0H49N-QAFI7wJAgV24nhLSKmRed79h4q5Nm20X-wiwhF4ldiU61SZUSstl7_4cZcB-HNdVwOt1PkHTMT-sLnwMlJDCXNVBAHzSu8GkJsbvIFCFzFQmxq6eRTEnG0J-U2lueh4z-/w426-h640/2.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20_iACtv5oY2PzmaWsYLytztFMMkPdpH40bN1RUdeYf8TFZihSeQd_NyNs-uYQE8oUTr_PiwHBsPLu_vHwqt4lKvYLiibQWVa84UIcOSRvE3IRdsrYeAOQBFX_fE6FgcHAWj-zAJfJPu0/w320-h320/Thumb.png" title="How to Effectively Encourage Quality Whole-Class Discussions" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Having these posted is a great way to place the responsibility for a quality whole-class discussion back on the students. </div><div><br /></div><div>Don't be the sage on the stage!</div><div><br /></div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:<div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDLkOmG2a8XMP5AARbHQtTYi0E5S6Qf8Y-Wl_xHJZepEgJuH5frMAZCBs9bUrrfN_zDFKiNxDMMTJqX3c-PFWu5DcLBZheZUPbEbxrfGYVK2Vw2xQ-vsQ89bcQhGj1_Mji2hyphenhyphena9un4Y91/s1500/2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Image of hand signals display with text, "How to Effectively Encourage Quality Whole-Class Discussions."" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" data-pin-description="Whole-class conversations are valuable learning opportunities when managed correctly. These should not be teacher-directed discussions but instead teacher-facilitated discussions. Click to read how to create an environment that supports whole-class conversations by setting expectations and ground rules, creating a culture of respect, and providing structure and guidelines. Grab a FREE strategy poster for your classroom and other tips for encouraging quality conversations in this post!" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDLkOmG2a8XMP5AARbHQtTYi0E5S6Qf8Y-Wl_xHJZepEgJuH5frMAZCBs9bUrrfN_zDFKiNxDMMTJqX3c-PFWu5DcLBZheZUPbEbxrfGYVK2Vw2xQ-vsQ89bcQhGj1_Mji2hyphenhyphena9un4Y91/w426-h640/2.png" title="How to Effectively Encourage Quality Whole-Class Discussions" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-88759903416685138352021-05-16T05:00:00.003-04:002023-07-04T18:11:26.838-04:00How Simple Choice Boards Can Be Used as a Fabulous Differentiation Strategy<div style="text-align: left;">Differentiated instruction is a must in every classroom. In my 22+ years of teaching, I have never taught a class of students where everyone is working at the same level. My students have different strengths and interests, so providing them with one way to practice their learning is ridiculous. Simple choice boards are a straightforward differentiation strategy I love to use.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Homework-Choice-Boards-Editable-Homework-Bingo-Distance-Learning-2358969?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Choice%20Boards%20Differentiation%20Post&utm_campaign=Homework%20Bingo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of printable and digital homework bingo with text, "How Simple Choice Boards Can Be Used as a Fabulous Differentiation Strategy."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-description="Simple choice boards are a straightforward differentiation strategy in any classroom. In elementary school or middle school and beyond, differentiated instruction is a must. Your students have different strengths and interests, so providing them with one way to practice their learning is ridiculous. Click here to learn how choice boards make differentiating learning easy, how to create choice boards of your own, and grab a FREE printable and digital sample for your classroom!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOSuEIGsyevHBJ_nbOLyB_BfyIS2Az-Iu6ciwTVpnCggsBTLXMh4ZjfJpkm6MXDh0xEsSYrMdRuJKia9v8guBbnyyMH97cXMVSWy7f9tUhh4C4qV-khbdcewdyL0RrzMn4NoZWaMOD-dE/w426-h640/4.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtit9G2Mn0y8pjsshSQOK1lWjSlcZ1x3JhPBG-KNDs8Hj1o-cr41ZNZm36v1wyv6teLYXG8jmUwArDoTEwbmmGZq2IdqsirxotPRmw4re0SBnG93aEJwvGH8NQJjO9rKLsZm8HQ6iaWxEI/w640-h334/Choice+Boards+as+Differentiation+Strategy+Header.png" title="How Simple Choice Boards Can Be Used as a Fabulous Differentiation Strategy" width="640" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><h2 style="text-align: left;">What is Differentiation?</h2><div>Differentiation is simply providing students with multiple options for acquiring or practicing their learning. Each of our students is unique. They have varying strengths, interests, and needs that we need to be sensitive to when creating our lessons and activities.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Power of Choice</h2><div>The power of choice is HUGE. When students feel like they have options in their learning, they are far more likely to take risks and engage.</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.edutopia.org/multiple-intelligences-research" target="_blank"><b>Howard Gardner's research on multiple intelligences</b></a> supports this idea by identifying the varied ways that humans can best process information. When teachers understand that their students can be "smart" in different ways, they are better prepared to provide them with opportunities to demonstrate what they know in ways that allow them to shine.</div><div><br /></div><div>Gardner's Eight Intelligences are:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Verbal-linguistic intelligence</li><li>Logical-mathematical intelligence</li><li>Visual-spatial intelligence</li><li>Musical intelligence</li><li>Naturalistic intelligence</li><li>Bodily-kinesthetic intelligence</li><li>Interpersonal intelligence</li><li>Intrapersonal intelligence</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbjMZGxqSeZC3yq-lWqu-hjt3PHhImy4pSSdmCPRkOLhtKLQPki2se2IHcBpycwRrt8CsyzYnHQQ9G7RvJ3xoKfiKZkdZFsaNActVwi-S3Hft5nSscOYH8Mx3kuJfWGzHFIfVA79gY2v9/s2048/Choice+Boards+as+Differentiation+Strategy+Gardner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Graphic of Gardner's Multiple Intelligences" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" data-pin-description="Simple choice boards are a straightforward differentiation strategy in any classroom. In elementary school or middle school and beyond, differentiated instruction is a must. Your students have different strengths and interests, so providing them with one way to practice their learning is ridiculous. Click here to learn how choice boards make differentiating learning easy, how to create choice boards of your own, and grab a FREE printable and digital sample for your classroom!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOSuEIGsyevHBJ_nbOLyB_BfyIS2Az-Iu6ciwTVpnCggsBTLXMh4ZjfJpkm6MXDh0xEsSYrMdRuJKia9v8guBbnyyMH97cXMVSWy7f9tUhh4C4qV-khbdcewdyL0RrzMn4NoZWaMOD-dE/w426-h640/4.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHbjMZGxqSeZC3yq-lWqu-hjt3PHhImy4pSSdmCPRkOLhtKLQPki2se2IHcBpycwRrt8CsyzYnHQQ9G7RvJ3xoKfiKZkdZFsaNActVwi-S3Hft5nSscOYH8Mx3kuJfWGzHFIfVA79gY2v9/w640-h640/Choice+Boards+as+Differentiation+Strategy+Gardner.jpg" title="How Simple Choice Boards Can Be Used as a Fabulous Differentiation Strategy" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>When students are allowed to express themselves using the style they feel most successful with, teachers see the best results!</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Choice Boards as a Differentiation Strategy</h2><div>Choice boards are a fabulous way of differentiating learning for your students, and they are simple to create.</div><div><br /></div><div>Choice boards can be used as instruction or as products. You can share lesson details on a choice board by selecting different information types such as readings, graphics, and videos that your students can pick and choose from. Alternatively, you can provide your students with varied options for demonstrating their learning after a lesson by suggesting various projects they can complete to show what they know.</div><div><br /></div><div>Choice boards may be printable or digital but generally take the format of a grid. Often these are 3 squares by 3 squares, for a total of 9 options, but this can really vary depending on the intended use and length of time your students will engage with them.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Homework-Choice-Boards-Editable-Homework-Bingo-Distance-Learning-2358969?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Choice%20Boards%20Differentiation%20Post&utm_campaign=Homework%20Bingo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of printable and digital homework bingo choice boards." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" data-pin-description="Simple choice boards are a straightforward differentiation strategy in any classroom. In elementary school or middle school and beyond, differentiated instruction is a must. Your students have different strengths and interests, so providing them with one way to practice their learning is ridiculous. Click here to learn how choice boards make differentiating learning easy, how to create choice boards of your own, and grab a FREE printable and digital sample for your classroom!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOSuEIGsyevHBJ_nbOLyB_BfyIS2Az-Iu6ciwTVpnCggsBTLXMh4ZjfJpkm6MXDh0xEsSYrMdRuJKia9v8guBbnyyMH97cXMVSWy7f9tUhh4C4qV-khbdcewdyL0RrzMn4NoZWaMOD-dE/w426-h640/4.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX_ViYrGyQu_fL42Wg3mXoPswrOKmqsorrgfZ-m95anSfDOESYImiPGfSqLDSUHZVXOdroOtQd-9D2kl162qj6FoduqWfWhn71ohgK5jZezP4ny_Yh0t2WIw2nGrvbxUn-C3O83bqDjdLl/w640-h640/Choice+Boards+as+Differentiation+Strategy+Bingo.jpeg" title="How Simple Choice Boards Can Be Used as a Fabulous Differentiation Strategy" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">How to Make a Choice Board</h2><div>Creating a choice board for your students is relatively easy. Begin with Google Docs or PowerPoint for best results. Insert a table in whatever dimensions you wish. Consider the length of time you plan to have your students engage with the options. More choices would be appropriate for a board used for weeks, fewer for a board used for a day or two.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next, add your options to the spaces. There are several things to consider:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Do you want to vary the levels of difficulty in the tasks you provide? Doing this can make the choice board accessible to all your students, but you'll want some way of ensuring that your students are not only completing "easy" tasks.</li><li>Will you vary the format of the activities? (Reading, video, graphics, etc.)</li><li>How will students be required to choose activities? Will they be required to make a line? Can they select random spaces? Pick one activity from each row or column?</li><li>Can you include activities that reach multiple intelligences? </li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div>If you are using a digital choice board, you will have the opportunity to insert links to different websites for your students to explore. Printable versions can make it easier to focus on screen-free activities, which can sometimes be preferred.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Choice Boards as Homework</h2><div>For years, I sent homework packages with students to only receive a handful back complete at the end of the week. This is the reason for what I call <a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2016/06/the-great-homework-debate-is-it-worth-it.html" target="_blank"><b>The Great Homework Debate</b></a>! Changing my focus using choice boards has flipped that on its head! </div><div><br /></div><div>By styling my choice board as "Homework Bingo," I've provided my students with the same opportunities that I had been previously, but in a format that feels flexible and achievable for families. By sending it home only once per month, I've eliminated a <b>ton </b>of preparation time on my end as well.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I have an entire year's worth of editable Homework Bingo available in a printable format and digital "Home Learning" format ready for you if you don't have the time to create your own choice boards!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Homework-Choice-Boards-Editable-Homework-Bingo-Distance-Learning-2358969?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Choice%20Boards%20Differentiation%20Post&utm_campaign=Homework%20Bingo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Homework Bingo Resource cover" border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="775" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA9QmZv2Ok5SlQvRwbziDY5QRFbHYRwdU99IF2ciG9O5cz9bMJpvP2r-2HMatrMSCBY2n0fP9YUX8oUUBhRmW4gDujAeu3fe-thbKE89691ImrJMCFAPoaIHgNY1NkT6emZ2gwY9jb2EJPnK5adaRnuvK6xYglZ0oH8yDkply6XKiy9VhiEwYi3O1EaogH/w400-h400/Homework%20Bingo%20Thumb%201%20min.png" title="How Simple Choice Boards Can Be Used as a Fabulous Differentiation Strategy" width="400" nopin="nopin"/></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you'd like to try these, grab a FREE MONTH right here:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/homeworkbingo" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Offer of FREE Homework Bingo samples with text, "Click here to get free homework choice boards!"" border="0" data-original-height="762" data-original-width="1431" data-pin-description="Simple choice boards are a straightforward differentiation strategy in any classroom. In elementary school or middle school and beyond, differentiated instruction is a must. Your students have different strengths and interests, so providing them with one way to practice their learning is ridiculous. Click here to learn how choice boards make differentiating learning easy, how to create choice boards of your own, and grab a FREE printable and digital sample for your classroom!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPOSuEIGsyevHBJ_nbOLyB_BfyIS2Az-Iu6ciwTVpnCggsBTLXMh4ZjfJpkm6MXDh0xEsSYrMdRuJKia9v8guBbnyyMH97cXMVSWy7f9tUhh4C4qV-khbdcewdyL0RrzMn4NoZWaMOD-dE/w426-h640/4.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-SyFdcZCQ3gkreWHILkUC9EfW8iaYtUxvU6LisOxwTCISzodT6hJ399k9cJyArzt_S1itXmMp-nwTzVvPVNR1DRGu50u11IueGJLDJZq1iQFuSCVuDKkuEMM4gp3rOv6iQK7PDey3RD0X/w640-h340/Choice+Boards+as+Differentiation+Strategy+Offer.png" title="How Simple Choice Boards Can Be Used as a Fabulous Differentiation Strategy" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;">If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Hnf3_IB_dBTauQr-cJVSfXj4C5OkYoftk_kbzhPzSc4mlVZpT9amXjsgDeBzCiJ4Hf5e8mbLNeWJkHq7d-9f2U1X357qDYfR2fWmwrxKdOx66TARZrnZZuNc6Gw_46FwXUnWPVtaa8Ip/s1500/4.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of homework bingo choice boards with text, "How Simple Choice Boards Can Be Used as a Fabulous Differentiation Strategy."" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" data-pin-description="Simple choice boards are a straightforward differentiation strategy in any classroom. In elementary school or middle school and beyond, differentiated instruction is a must. Your students have different strengths and interests, so providing them with one way to practice their learning is ridiculous. Click here to learn how choice boards make differentiating learning easy, how to create choice boards of your own, and grab a FREE printable and digital sample for your classroom!" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Hnf3_IB_dBTauQr-cJVSfXj4C5OkYoftk_kbzhPzSc4mlVZpT9amXjsgDeBzCiJ4Hf5e8mbLNeWJkHq7d-9f2U1X357qDYfR2fWmwrxKdOx66TARZrnZZuNc6Gw_46FwXUnWPVtaa8Ip/w426-h640/4.png" title="How Simple Choice Boards Can Be Used as a Fabulous Differentiation Strategy" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-63865527864364069432021-05-02T05:00:00.003-04:002023-01-24T19:38:03.461-05:00Encouraging Students to Feel Safe Taking Risks in Math: How to Help<div style="text-align: left;">Encouraging your students to feel safe taking risks in math is a huge piece of the achievement puzzle. Are you creating an environment that supports this? Here's how you can help!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Lessons-278776?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Taking%20Risks%20in%20Math%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Lessons%20Category" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of girl in classroom with text, "Encouraging Students to Feel Safe Taking Risks in Math: How to Help."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-description="Encouraging your students to feel safe taking risks in mathematics is a huge piece of the achievement puzzle. Are you creating an environment that supports this risk-taking in math? Here are tips for increasing student motivation, raising student confidence, encouraging problem-solving, developing positive relationships, increasing perseverance, and encouraging creativity and critical thinking in your math classroom." data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nERHxtB_U6rHykei06yrf_ojCylOkYbmZWVCgTZ0i9CEqnrOT6UveS3MceOsL43PF3W2uzcZLdPOabQVU3faALBePWjoN1yCY777Hc3Jpt4gClwYsK3I3z1ZzFnwh3x0_wSD5o56OW9m/w426-h640/17.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRmRF_jDEC5kO6QexbwxZf3ZjSmhuoVtiDA1yQ8sL-uXjsyqaOasvYLiiRB48xjW8L4R4CugDYp38E_BYLTpIQ8_u5kURmgL0Kvn_e0cNvLF2qeiX8n4NlcAgIMgtBIOO7NQV_q49hL56l/w640-h334/Taking+Risks+in+Math+Header.png" title="Encouraging Students to Feel Safe Taking Risks in Math: How to Help" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div style="text-align: left;">Picture this: You're standing at the front of the classroom. Twenty-five sets of eyes are flickering around the room as the math period begins. You start the lesson with a question. Crickets. Suddenly, everyone is very interested in what's in their lap or scratched into their desktop. You rephrase your question and wait. More crickets.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What is it that is keeping our students from raising their hands to share their thoughts? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Why Students Shut Down</h2><div>There are many reasons why your students could be shutting down in math class. </div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>They may simply not know the answer to your question.</li><li>They might be feeling the peer pressure to "play dumb" about math - the "I'm not a math person" syndrome that we're all so familiar with.</li><li>They are very likely afraid to make a mistake. I've had many students over the years with a complete fear of being wrong in any situation.</li><li>They may not fully understand your question.</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div>Whatever the reasons, we need to work hard to create environments where our students feel safe taking risks in their learning.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Lessons-278776?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Taking%20Risks%20in%20Math%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Lessons%20Category" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of boy looking hesitant in a classroom with books open on his desk." border="0" data-original-height="688" data-original-width="1152" data-pin-description="Encouraging your students to feel safe taking risks in mathematics is a huge piece of the achievement puzzle. Are you creating an environment that supports this risk-taking in math? Here are tips for increasing student motivation, raising student confidence, encouraging problem-solving, developing positive relationships, increasing perseverance, and encouraging creativity and critical thinking in your math classroom." data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nERHxtB_U6rHykei06yrf_ojCylOkYbmZWVCgTZ0i9CEqnrOT6UveS3MceOsL43PF3W2uzcZLdPOabQVU3faALBePWjoN1yCY777Hc3Jpt4gClwYsK3I3z1ZzFnwh3x0_wSD5o56OW9m/w426-h640/17.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3Loui5sGtAplEkp6jIvuAxI2hhtyzHppBKgopAeLvXDLfbtgnNZ-Xx7zJbtnDUxPBK05Y3-BSus96_lN_QCIccUtgawC7RUpPIB6JoLojDiwTCVytDlc91E2cA-14Xr_APsUkzJrD-84w/w640-h382/Taking+Risks+in+Math+2.png" title="Encouraging Students to Feel Safe Taking Risks in Math: How to Help" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Strategies for Encouraging Risk-Taking in Math</h2><div>I have some tried-and-true favorite strategies that I incorporate into my planning year after year. </div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Think Time</h4><div>Some students process information more slowly or more quickly than others. It could be an auditory processing issue or a language impairment, but all students benefit from think time regardless of the underlying reason.</div><div><br /></div><div>Whenever I ask a question, I give my students between 30 seconds and a minute minimum to silently think about my question and how they might answer before putting their hands up.</div><div><br /></div><div>This allows everyone to process what they've been asked and to ask questions if they need clarification.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Hand Signals</h4><div>I use hand signals a lot in my classroom. I have always felt that some students are intimidated when lots of hands are up to respond, and they don't have something to share. I see them shut down quickly because they don't want to appear like the only one who doesn't know an answer.</div><div><br /></div><div>Because of this, I've always asked my students put their thumbs up in front of them when they're ready to answer my question. That way, the signal is for me, not for everyone else. The students looking for some peer attention are toned down a little, and the students who are hesitant to take a risk will suddenly feel like they can do this.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Lessons-278776?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Taking%20Risks%20in%20Math%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Lessons%20Category" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of girl in classroom giving the camera thumbs-up." border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1102" data-pin-description="Encouraging your students to feel safe taking risks in mathematics is a huge piece of the achievement puzzle. Are you creating an environment that supports this risk-taking in math? Here are tips for increasing student motivation, raising student confidence, encouraging problem-solving, developing positive relationships, increasing perseverance, and encouraging creativity and critical thinking in your math classroom." data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nERHxtB_U6rHykei06yrf_ojCylOkYbmZWVCgTZ0i9CEqnrOT6UveS3MceOsL43PF3W2uzcZLdPOabQVU3faALBePWjoN1yCY777Hc3Jpt4gClwYsK3I3z1ZzFnwh3x0_wSD5o56OW9m/w426-h640/17.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWDlc4cvm89dNPqg04HdKfRj2-d_pqqzZjG85GjDjBJiFbsCf9bCj785hJyoy-ZMRknHsAas7kvKt53mQbTr4KnQTe2eNIsZ18VHj-5hX5NaUzjlqb-3Kyum5GGu9iFxi4HuaPOX1WbhQ/w640-h366/Taking+Risks+in+Math+3.png" title="Encouraging Students to Feel Safe Taking Risks in Math: How to Help" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Personal Whiteboards</h4><div>There has been a lot of <span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2019/01/engage-students-with-3-act-math-tasks.html" target="_blank"><b>research</b></a></span> done around non-permanent surfaces. Ideally, these are used in a vertical location visible to everyone, but personal whiteboards are the next best thing.</div><div><br /></div><div>Having a place to jot about their thinking or work out a problem is helpful for many students. The fact that it can be quickly erased gives anyone a sense of safety when using it. It is okay to make a mistake because there will be no record of it a few minutes from now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Personal whiteboards can be expensive, but a cheap alternative would be to give each student a page protector with a sheet of paper inside. This is a great way to use graphic organizers, too!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Lessons-278776?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Taking%20Risks%20in%20Math%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Lessons%20Category" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of a math graphic organizer in a page protector with dry erase markers." border="0" data-original-height="627" data-original-width="768" data-pin-description="Encouraging your students to feel safe taking risks in mathematics is a huge piece of the achievement puzzle. Are you creating an environment that supports this risk-taking in math? Here are tips for increasing student motivation, raising student confidence, encouraging problem-solving, developing positive relationships, increasing perseverance, and encouraging creativity and critical thinking in your math classroom." data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nERHxtB_U6rHykei06yrf_ojCylOkYbmZWVCgTZ0i9CEqnrOT6UveS3MceOsL43PF3W2uzcZLdPOabQVU3faALBePWjoN1yCY777Hc3Jpt4gClwYsK3I3z1ZzFnwh3x0_wSD5o56OW9m/w426-h640/17.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhomIDuGuXn5Q_aA8LqQUvPQAMZvD_LusEpXZWIbyln4ekDZhyphenhyphen4dsFTHJmQdg3FCUXd_iCXnsv_YgOrPkA-DmF2wHFgXtLPIa8_qA5grUI1JVSNcaNkGAqFYOEUYKP8E7jb_Yp6unH0bfuE/w640-h522/Taking+Risks+in+Math+Board.jpg" title="Encouraging Students to Feel Safe Taking Risks in Math: How to Help" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Turn and Talk</h4><div>Something else I love to do during my lessons is to have students talk about the question I've asked with an "elbow partner" or a person sitting next to them. </div><div><br /></div><div>If you try just one of these strategies, let it be this. Count the number of hands that go up after you ask your question, give the students time to turn and talk, and then count the number of hands that go up afterward.</div><div><br /></div><div>This gives the hesitant student the chance to hear what others are thinking before putting themselves out there. When they hear that their thinking isn't that different from their peers, they are far more likely to raise their hands to contribute to the whole-class discussion.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Celebrate Mistakes</h2><div>Having an environment that celebrates mistakes instead of just fixing them has also changed my students' risk-taking level during math. </div><div><br /></div><div>I very enthusiastically thank my students when they share a misconception or an error. I tell them that I was hoping that someone would say precisely what they just have so that we would have the chance to discuss it. I explain to the class that mistakes provide us with the opportunity to stretch and grow our brain connections. That without errors, learning doesn't happen.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, students are still a little embarrassed by the thought of messing up in front of their peers, but there is a part of them that certainly feels proud to have contributed such value to the discussion.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Lessons-278776?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Taking%20Risks%20in%20Math%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Lessons%20Category" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of proud girl holding up her work in the classroom with students and teacher behind her." border="0" data-original-height="593" data-original-width="971" data-pin-description="Encouraging your students to feel safe taking risks in mathematics is a huge piece of the achievement puzzle. Are you creating an environment that supports this risk-taking in math? Here are tips for increasing student motivation, raising student confidence, encouraging problem-solving, developing positive relationships, increasing perseverance, and encouraging creativity and critical thinking in your math classroom." data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nERHxtB_U6rHykei06yrf_ojCylOkYbmZWVCgTZ0i9CEqnrOT6UveS3MceOsL43PF3W2uzcZLdPOabQVU3faALBePWjoN1yCY777Hc3Jpt4gClwYsK3I3z1ZzFnwh3x0_wSD5o56OW9m/w426-h640/17.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQuU6O4HNoS-G-_uMjEOiISmsAJDyUa98Ly270R3v_F5Vknqnowjp46Upls_aY_JlwAlhkxyDbPyyy9yw57wLhgKoT8ZOl96N2-on9sSI63dZMI4f2HKFFXaZvlPhDD_p9squNOQXnpQx/w640-h390/Taking+Risks+in+Math+5.png" title="Encouraging Students to Feel Safe Taking Risks in Math: How to Help" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This is by no means an exhaustive list of ideas, but encouraging students to feel safe taking risks in math is high on my priority list, and these are just a few of the most common techniques I use in my classroom.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have embedded many of these strategies into my <span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Lessons-278776?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Taking%20Risks%20in%20Math%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Lessons%20Category" target="_blank"><b>Differentiated Guided Math Lessons</b></a></span> for primary classrooms. Those are available here:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Lessons-278776?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Taking%20Risks%20in%20Math%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Lessons%20Category" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Cover of Differentiated Guided Math Lessons bundle" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjAqNbh_1FL_i2qvesdYspUpXokBwAkh80Qbt1Ko4SjIRZGo96mr9ZL_5WzKA2-0tCYRRXb3TA4J7lRA5PJnZB6pmIdFUvfacZamdYuonB6r6yI0dAvvJebnrQpjX-tKRJCUsKEF5I7oP/w320-h320/Guided+Math+Lessons+Bundle+C.PNG" title="Encouraging Students to Feel Safe Taking Risks in Math: How to Help" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>If you'd like to try Guided Math for FREE, grab my <a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/guidedmathstarterkit" target="_blank">Quick-Start Guide and a set of free centers</a> right here:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/guidedmathstarterkit" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Cover of FREE Guided Math Quick-Start Guide resource." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicnVgN3mCfuDlXmqkKhcLVMlAM3VPesgslJIJLmKDzdDJDgNwhs0XK2zUIMKS5ZpCEeAyEbC0QkyoeDeGRFni2uJaM6DvlKoSt1m5lTIYS2gUxLT6YHSTQ52J1kbI3vwel9DkGooVwH1McdTYZodtnEkzIlKcR4QqNAolcXbfhnJ_d0dnwoX3NjH8XSA/w296-h400/Book%20Cover%20Mockup%20C.png" title="Encouraging Students to Feel Safe Taking Risks in Math: How to Help" width="296" /></a></div><br /><div>You might also be interested in reading more about why your guided math groups aren't working the way you'd hoped in this post:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xQ6UteE-B08NNqeibW4TJaR5rzTk7y-RIrGIuC-hG0D2UqoAy2Z_UHM__rrHROBUxYX05Hmfh48zL1GHAHBZMMOw93hX07pAtuOcNzq6PGzGW6KFROa1w1ZH2reqGPx3yBkKO4OwZ41M/s940/5+Reasons+Your+Guided+Math+Groups+Are+No+Good+Header.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of math tiles with text, "5 Simple Reasons Your Guided Math Groups Are No Good."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" height="210" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xQ6UteE-B08NNqeibW4TJaR5rzTk7y-RIrGIuC-hG0D2UqoAy2Z_UHM__rrHROBUxYX05Hmfh48zL1GHAHBZMMOw93hX07pAtuOcNzq6PGzGW6KFROa1w1ZH2reqGPx3yBkKO4OwZ41M/w400-h210/5+Reasons+Your+Guided+Math+Groups+Are+No+Good+Header.jpg" title="Encouraging Students to Feel Safe Taking Risks in Math: How to Help" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:<div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-1oa4e5VqM5eOBtdMdr4RG7DlpmsmTW2RLYfM7AfpVbpUL3TsxisPiJdgxr7ZgVcBUOd-jiKyC8xRA-atKqZeYBXiYs2dHuMDLYm_gafS8NClGG4Duawf81XOMgeUrUXI3Ru5gijkHEE/s1500/17.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of girl in classroom with text, "Encouraging Students to Feel Safe Taking Risks in Math: How to Help."" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" data-pin-description="Encouraging your students to feel safe taking risks in mathematics is a huge piece of the achievement puzzle. Are you creating an environment that supports this risk-taking in math? Here are tips for increasing student motivation, raising student confidence, encouraging problem-solving, developing positive relationships, increasing perseverance, and encouraging creativity and critical thinking in your math classroom." height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ-1oa4e5VqM5eOBtdMdr4RG7DlpmsmTW2RLYfM7AfpVbpUL3TsxisPiJdgxr7ZgVcBUOd-jiKyC8xRA-atKqZeYBXiYs2dHuMDLYm_gafS8NClGG4Duawf81XOMgeUrUXI3Ru5gijkHEE/w426-h640/17.png" title="Encouraging Students to Feel Safe Taking Risks in Math: How to Help" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-63873683857974927202021-04-18T05:00:00.001-04:002021-04-18T05:00:04.276-04:00How to Spark Social-Emotional Learning in Your Math Classroom<div style="text-align: left;">Social and emotional learning skills have been part of classrooms for years, albeit often without this label. Recently, though, social-emotional learning skills are showing up explicitly in the curriculum. The revised 2020 Ontario Math Curriculum includes an entire strand dedicated to SEL in Math. Here's how to build these skills in your classroom.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Search:Social-Emotional?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20SEL%20in%20Math%20Post&utm_campaign=Social%20Emotional%20Search" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of SEL in Math activity with text, "How to Spark Social-Emotional Learning in Your Math Classroom."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonB-0c7A37qze7uTJNQE4H_F_Lj31zkxqNRWufXpso1E_CvFDePCgUMwKFGAd-1zQfFMAmydqy0CqJ2sdR1yklich01E5OaDyNHd8PIdQhv9UIvfkAAkIVR1Tyju4U31Ahpg3qDSg1MXT/w426-h640/23.png" data-pin-description="The 2020 Ontario Math Curriculum includes a new strand about Social-Emotional Learning in Math. Here's how to build SEL skills such as perseverance, learning from mistakes, positive self-talk, problem-solving, managing emotions, recognizing stress, coping with challenges, maintaining positive motivation, building relationships, communicating effectively, developing self-awareness, developing self-identity, and creativity and critical thinking in your classroom." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5iSnHpgn2zOP3aFOCuaGmdYbnd2Sbh39vX0dig2Zyy8ldORMJgHuNuf6VOi1GmwCg7D0LH4lDUj1L0G9JdnbQxjdDvKN6gpgQ1p5542hYT2cRSzex6IOS_e_dWb1cRAPEsWgwCSx6AD6F/w640-h334/How+to+Spark+Social-Emotional+Learning+Math+Header.png" title="How to Spark Social-Emotional Learning in Your Math Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><h2 style="text-align: left;">What is social-emotional learning?</h2><div>Social-emotional learning, in particular how it pertains to the new math curriculum, includes:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>identifying and managing emotions</li><li>recognizing sources of stress and coping with challenges</li><li>maintaining positive motivation and perseverance</li><li>building relationships and communicating effectively</li><li>developing self-awareness and a sense of identity</li><li>thinking critically and creatively</li></ul><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Source:</b> "A1. Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Skills and the Mathematical ...." https://www.dcp.edu.gov.on.ca/en/curriculum/elementary-mathematics/grades/g1-math/strand-a/social-emotional-learning-sel-skills-and-the-mathematical-processes.</i></span></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Students need to learn about and practice these skills the same way they practice multiplication facts or work on their reading. These are life skills that can have a significant impact on student learning and performance.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">What does SEL look like in the math classroom?</h2><div>In math class, social-emotional learning focuses on mindset, perseverance, risk-taking, relationships, and attitude. These are the key indicators that students will build as they interact with the math curriculum's processes and expectations.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Search:Social-Emotional?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20SEL%20in%20Math%20Post&utm_campaign=Social%20Emotional%20Search" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of "I'm So Stressed" SEL in Math activity." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonB-0c7A37qze7uTJNQE4H_F_Lj31zkxqNRWufXpso1E_CvFDePCgUMwKFGAd-1zQfFMAmydqy0CqJ2sdR1yklich01E5OaDyNHd8PIdQhv9UIvfkAAkIVR1Tyju4U31Ahpg3qDSg1MXT/w426-h640/23.png" data-pin-description="The 2020 Ontario Math Curriculum includes a new strand about Social-Emotional Learning in Math. Here's how to build SEL skills such as perseverance, learning from mistakes, positive self-talk, problem-solving, managing emotions, recognizing stress, coping with challenges, maintaining positive motivation, building relationships, communicating effectively, developing self-awareness, developing self-identity, and creativity and critical thinking in your classroom." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrqJMZJpD_W7DMGaP3Nk3QeJBkqrfRDS6jGIpWdfNQwptcgGO-adsuOv8XrqdwxucETYz-0_a6YaXTprzSOD0SduounUMFBE7y7G3-IitEQPgvCQT2NVViPWDytSpshw5nZ3LQD73GGbK/w400-h400/IMG_8814.jpg" title="How to Spark Social-Emotional Learning in Your Math Classroom" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>For a more detailed explanation, please check out the <span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.dcp.edu.gov.on.ca/en/curriculum/elementary-mathematics/grades/g1-math/strand-a/social-emotional-learning-sel-skills-and-the-mathematical-processes" target="_blank"><b>full curriculum document</b></a></span>.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Strategies for Building a Growth Mindset in Math</h2><div>Unfortunately, math traditionally has a bad rep. I'm sure many of the students in your classroom have heard an adult in their life say, "I'm no good at math." or "I'm just not a math person." These statements set our students up right away with an excuse or reason to not do well.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>These are fixed mindsets that we need to be extremely careful not to pass on to our students!</b></div><div><br /></div><div>In my classroom, I have my students regularly reflect on how they feel about a subject or topic. You can do this in your classroom by asking questions such as:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>How did today's math make you feel?</li><li>What are some positive ways and negative ways you can respond when math feels hard?</li><li>What can you say to a friend who is struggling with math?</li><li>What parts of math feel stressful?</li><li>What can you do when you feel stressed out in math class?</li><li>What parts of math make you feel successful?</li><li>What can friends say to you to make you feel better about math?</li><li>What self-talk can you use to help you persevere?</li><li>What can we learn from our mistakes in math?</li><li>How are mistakes a positive experience in math?</li><li>How can you respond appropriately if you disagree with someone during problem-solving activities?</li><li>How can you be a good group member?</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div>Having these conversations daily as part of your regular mathematic lessons is a great way to build these skills. They are best embedded into everyday experiences instead of being taught in isolation.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Search:Social-Emotional?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20SEL%20in%20Math%20Post&utm_campaign=Social%20Emotional%20Search" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of SEL in Math worksheets." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonB-0c7A37qze7uTJNQE4H_F_Lj31zkxqNRWufXpso1E_CvFDePCgUMwKFGAd-1zQfFMAmydqy0CqJ2sdR1yklich01E5OaDyNHd8PIdQhv9UIvfkAAkIVR1Tyju4U31Ahpg3qDSg1MXT/w426-h640/23.png" data-pin-description="The 2020 Ontario Math Curriculum includes a new strand about Social-Emotional Learning in Math. Here's how to build SEL skills such as perseverance, learning from mistakes, positive self-talk, problem-solving, managing emotions, recognizing stress, coping with challenges, maintaining positive motivation, building relationships, communicating effectively, developing self-awareness, developing self-identity, and creativity and critical thinking in your classroom." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn-fbUdkG5hoR6laM5Y-NT_PBxdFmc-PH50ih79t28hKRN6ZTm5upq1UY2KLdbzdVCSqSMu34JBF5EzbVfz-1N86PyEsYJ_IS5CtDUfCq0_4OQ9tEU38WvL55ZOA-WmfVvgVOhkhV5NRhyphenhyphen/w400-h400/How+to+Spark+Social-Emotional+Learning+in+Your+Math+Classroom+1.jpeg" title="How to Spark Social-Emotional Learning in Your Math Classroom" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Strategies for Building Perseverance and Risk-Taking in Math</h2><div>Perseverance is a means of getting through challenging situations. When math is hard, students want to give up. We have already established that they have the excuses they believe will justify that behavior. It is our job to shift that perspective.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>I believe that a key to building perseverance in math is to spend time celebrating mistakes!</b> </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Search:Social-Emotional?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20SEL%20in%20Math%20Post&utm_campaign=Social%20Emotional%20Search" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of digital SEL in Math activity page." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonB-0c7A37qze7uTJNQE4H_F_Lj31zkxqNRWufXpso1E_CvFDePCgUMwKFGAd-1zQfFMAmydqy0CqJ2sdR1yklich01E5OaDyNHd8PIdQhv9UIvfkAAkIVR1Tyju4U31Ahpg3qDSg1MXT/w426-h640/23.png" data-pin-description="The 2020 Ontario Math Curriculum includes a new strand about Social-Emotional Learning in Math. Here's how to build SEL skills such as perseverance, learning from mistakes, positive self-talk, problem-solving, managing emotions, recognizing stress, coping with challenges, maintaining positive motivation, building relationships, communicating effectively, developing self-awareness, developing self-identity, and creativity and critical thinking in your classroom." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPuVCI2EVFML9LPlMH3QYjpUaQgKwhoFjbW7e4zd74EZJPnRoNoFSUn7yXkrEi04ba0p8x6ig4FXaP6bKzvDVCUFcGbZkOLllA_CIuNy763p9f1DdACQFanf81f3wYNeakzZKyYD9akwag/w400-h400/How+to+Spark+Social-Emotional+Learning+in+Math+2.png" title="How to Spark Social-Emotional Learning in Your Math Classroom" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>In my classroom, we spend a lot of time talking about how mistakes are a signal we are growing and learning. That without mistakes, we don't have the opportunity to stretch our brains and make new connections. Some ways to do this include:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Celebrate mistakes. </li><li>Focus on the process of learning instead of the final result.</li><li>Working on challenging problems weekly. I recommend <span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2019/01/engage-students-with-3-act-math-tasks.html" target="_blank"><b>3-Act Math Tasks</b></a></span> for this!</li><li>Give students work with mistakes and have them explore what went wrong.</li><li>Recognizing there are many ways to solve problems in math. Instead of working on 5 problems during a math period, why not find 5 different ways to solve ONE problem?</li><li>Understanding that an <i>unproductive struggle</i> is not the same as a <i>productive struggle</i> and learning to shift in that direction.</li><li>Give students time to reflect on their work. Using some of the questions above, students can develop a positive growth mindset and persevere when math gets tricky.</li><li>Ask your students questions that will guide them toward learning instead of giving them the answers when they struggle.</li></ul></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">How to Help Students Shift Their Attitude About Math</h2><div>The most important thing that teachers need to do to help students shift their attitudes about math is to create a supportive environment.</div><div><br /></div><div>If they feel like mistakes show failure, this won't happen.</div><div><br /></div><div>If they feel constant pressure to get the "right answer," this won't happen.</div><div><br /></div><div>If they are laughed at or teased by the teacher or peers for errors, this won't happen.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Search:Social-Emotional?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20SEL%20in%20Math%20Post&utm_campaign=Social%20Emotional%20Search" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of "I Don't Get It" SEL in Math activity." border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGcIO1LQgOLgT6G23Ao2oEZYpOxg8cWjzz6t2u-ISpGOMeNY-C-I70wcS_ZnxOCP0CmqHPRxh0s2aN_cq1PJNni9hs_gBKIaeUMzbJXAXUfMWDlwC3gIUXmzHIaG-IyoZIB1KSOxHzkti9/w640-h480/How+to+Spark+Social-Emotional+Learning+in+Math+3.jpeg" title="How to Spark Social-Emotional Learning in Your Math Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Students need a learning environment where they feel:</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Supported</li><li>Free to make mistakes</li><li>Safe</li><li>Celebrated</li><li>Praised</li></ul><div><br /></div></div><div>Shifting your feedback during assessment for learning is key. <b>Try focusing on the student's effort instead of whether or not they got an answer correct.</b> </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Search:Social-Emotional?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20SEL%20in%20Math%20Post&utm_campaign=Social%20Emotional%20Search" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of FREE sample printable and digital SEL in Math activities." border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="816" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNhKRbnDOH6j_ssDU80-uZ2YX_RJ0po1a15ejl1n3ZgANf1oQ7unMRN36zdWxcv2b0zNo80ye1wwZUV7KHYWsDOfEH1cGt1-FxzamWWVeD2q-sufismgKyNXYaRaY3VTGmgbr43_aYcVp/w640-h640/How+to+Spark+Social-Emotional+Learning+in+Math+4.png" title="How to Spark Social-Emotional Learning in Your Math Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Building your students' social and emotional learning in math class is not an overnight job, but making these skills part of your everyday teaching is a great way to make progress!</div><div><br /></div><div>If you'd like to get started with SEL in your math class, grab a FREE sample of my resources for Grades 1-3 and 4-6 right here:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/selinmath" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="FREE offer of SEL in Math printable and digital activities." border="0" data-original-height="754" data-original-width="1417" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqH11RRj9pkR7Qn6WT7jBV4ib-UE-x-6H13q2dyAkCWlydmPDqUct6gaVV0ayJWIACjgAr_uA9mZQ65P0vDrZ4qEMHFmNjMtYSjY4ToXEmhlAxRSLoSq5DrGFS7FqY-1F-HaZD7Sn9R8B9/w640-h340/How+to+Spark+Social-Emotional+Learning+Math+Offer.png" title="How to Spark Social-Emotional Learning in Your Math Classroom" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I have an entire set of <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Search:Social-Emotional?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20SEL%20in%20Math%20Post&utm_campaign=Social%20Emotional%20Search" target="_blank"><b>SEL in Math activities for the Grade 1-3 and 4-6 curriculum in Ontario</b></a> available here:</div><div><br /></div>
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If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRXEp2MHY0ocYqwZ2kGfYQoduXcU1v7cUfvS28QWC7Zy72GCn24idXAS-KEq3zuZcyMm-Vf_9TzLPNXalDdXkm0xgipy60aXpv1ShK7H_-GCVms5l85UU4YlfYgEdeoV-SQp0gdeV4lg_/s1500/23.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of SEL in Math activities with text, "How to Spark Social-Emotional Learning in Your Math Classroom."" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" height="640" data-pin-description="The 2020 Ontario Math Curriculum includes a new strand about Social-Emotional Learning in Math. Here's how to build SEL skills such as perseverance, learning from mistakes, positive self-talk, problem-solving, managing emotions, recognizing stress, coping with challenges, maintaining positive motivation, building relationships, communicating effectively, developing self-awareness, developing self-identity, and creativity and critical thinking in your classroom." src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHRXEp2MHY0ocYqwZ2kGfYQoduXcU1v7cUfvS28QWC7Zy72GCn24idXAS-KEq3zuZcyMm-Vf_9TzLPNXalDdXkm0xgipy60aXpv1ShK7H_-GCVms5l85UU4YlfYgEdeoV-SQp0gdeV4lg_/w426-h640/23.png" title="How to Spark Social-Emotional Learning in Your Math Classroom" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-89106394447441791442021-04-04T05:00:00.002-04:002021-08-10T11:28:22.986-04:00How to Plan Successful Assessment For Learning vs. Assessment Of Learning in Math<div style="text-align: left;">Great teachers like you know the importance of having various assessments guiding their teaching, but did you know that specific types of assessments should happen at particular times in the learning process? Let's check up on your use of assessment for learning vs. assessment of learning in math!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Lessons-278776?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Assessment%20For%20Of%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Lessons%20Category" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of math lessons. "How to Plan Successful Assessment For Learning vs. Assessment Of Learning in Math."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-description="Great teachers like you know the importance of having various assessments guiding their teaching, but specific types of assessments should happen at particular times in the learning process. There are differences between assessment for learning vs. assessment of learning in math! Check out this post for a review of these assessment types and get some great math lesson ideas for primary grades at the same time. You won't want to miss the FREE math assessment forms included!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J3NZ0vpKaxu03129hL7X7W0SRBiKYSQsqntHANTdR0dlQVfOjoV6PEylBmHbxTWuRSfKgspEBLH8PyjPQrYv-lPHHsGMFHC4BH4cKGtt6g8xEcJLA0NIbIjEBTAsXTzwgLJZQNjmnetT/w426-h640/21.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKFDr9o89wZ5txUmeCdATuyN7FUPeIJ-WSGekrWw8X8xmvgzvdAXn3dRCAqXl0zXig6RU3EArKtxXQyZmtgrBOpF9U3qvcBcp5LgMuB13ZeVqAFkqHpQklWiflcIMpAFyuIbSmtXdNJ9HF/w640-h336/Assessment+For+vs+Of+Learning+Header.png" title="How to Plan Successful Assessment For Learning vs. Assessment Of Learning in Math" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><h2 style="text-align: left;">Assessment FOR vs. Assessment OF Learning</h2><div>Assessment <i>for</i> learning occurs at the beginning of a unit and continues throughout. This assessment drives your instruction and helps you determine what needs reteaching or what your students already understand. It is a method of delivering feedback to your students for how they can improve. Assessment for learning is what has traditionally been referred to as diagnostic and formative assessment.</div><div><br /></div><div>Assessment <i>of</i> learning occurs at the end of a unit and evaluates the knowledge the student has acquired. This assessment is judged and given a score or a level that refers to the curriculum's standards or expectations. It is the type of evaluation that has traditionally been referred to as summative assessment.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Assessment For Learning</h2><div>At this stage, you are looking to see where your students are, where you want them to be, and make decisions about how you will get there. There are many ways that teachers can engage in assessment for learning. Gone are the days when the paper-and-pencil evidence was the only thing that mattered. This triangulation of data, or relying on data from three different sources, is an essential part of the evaluation process in education today.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Observation</h4><div>Teachers have professional judgment. Your observations are a very valid form of assessment in your classroom. The key to doing this well is all in how you document the observations you make.</div><div><br /></div><div>I like to use sticky notes with the expectations or evidence that I'd like to see from each of my students for a particular lesson. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Lessons-278776?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Assessment%20For%20Of%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Lessons%20Category" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of sticky note observation slips." border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" data-pin-description="Great teachers like you know the importance of having various assessments guiding their teaching, but specific types of assessments should happen at particular times in the learning process. There are differences between assessment for learning vs. assessment of learning in math! Check out this post for a review of these assessment types and get some great math lesson ideas for primary grades at the same time. You won't want to miss the FREE math assessment forms included!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J3NZ0vpKaxu03129hL7X7W0SRBiKYSQsqntHANTdR0dlQVfOjoV6PEylBmHbxTWuRSfKgspEBLH8PyjPQrYv-lPHHsGMFHC4BH4cKGtt6g8xEcJLA0NIbIjEBTAsXTzwgLJZQNjmnetT/w426-h640/21.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXP3-7jDUh876EQYNzYf_eqdNGN2WaZnUsujvpcqVTNlyi12VXy1CVbOYhiyR9Jk1YyDsjvtVYnU-eGTe67afO8SO6KM8ERLs13ucOewEtpJGcxTsQtOakdi97Fgc1NTsI7MoyxBqXdnNv/w640-h480/Assessment+For+vs+Of+Learning+Stickies.JPG" title="How to Plan Successful Assessment For Learning vs. Assessment Of Learning in Math" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I can use these as checklists and places to jot quick notes about the students' performance. I have an evidence collector page for each student, which is simply a place to stick each note that I gather on that student.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another strategy I use is to observe my students' level of mastery with an activity. This is something that I typically use during independent work with the whole class. All I do is jot each student's name into a column on my chart to record their success with a task and put general notes about the next steps for my teaching at the bottom of each group. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Lessons-278776?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Assessment%20For%20Of%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Lessons%20Category" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of FREE math observation form." border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="656" data-pin-description="Great teachers like you know the importance of having various assessments guiding their teaching, but specific types of assessments should happen at particular times in the learning process. There are differences between assessment for learning vs. assessment of learning in math! Check out this post for a review of these assessment types and get some great math lesson ideas for primary grades at the same time. You won't want to miss the FREE math assessment forms included!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J3NZ0vpKaxu03129hL7X7W0SRBiKYSQsqntHANTdR0dlQVfOjoV6PEylBmHbxTWuRSfKgspEBLH8PyjPQrYv-lPHHsGMFHC4BH4cKGtt6g8xEcJLA0NIbIjEBTAsXTzwgLJZQNjmnetT/w426-h640/21.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirabwVMg_3ZxI3IUQ__JEgRvQYRknTzkhKon_EJuOvwTzBeZrHEDTXLc_CQkA9KNcccN8aCBWbAGheOVRfniPRX-XGnHgIU7USET734zsSedNZ4OpAK8Ihd1hTMXVX_k7yb6P_ckzRl72c/w640-h434/Assessment+For+vs+Of+Learning+Observation.JPG" title="How to Plan Successful Assessment For Learning vs. Assessment Of Learning in Math" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I also sometimes just use a basic chart with spaces for each of my students to record my observations in point-form or coded format. An example of a coded format would be to use letters to stand for behaviors I observe, such as:</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">E = Engaged<span> O = Off Task <span> D = Distracted</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">or</div><div style="text-align: center;">P = Proficient<span> G = Getting There<span> S = Struggling</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span><span><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Whatever code you'd like to use is OK! This is only for your own reference. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Lessons-278776?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Assessment%20For%20Of%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Lessons%20Category" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of FREE math observation grid." border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" data-pin-description="Great teachers like you know the importance of having various assessments guiding their teaching, but specific types of assessments should happen at particular times in the learning process. There are differences between assessment for learning vs. assessment of learning in math! Check out this post for a review of these assessment types and get some great math lesson ideas for primary grades at the same time. You won't want to miss the FREE math assessment forms included!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J3NZ0vpKaxu03129hL7X7W0SRBiKYSQsqntHANTdR0dlQVfOjoV6PEylBmHbxTWuRSfKgspEBLH8PyjPQrYv-lPHHsGMFHC4BH4cKGtt6g8xEcJLA0NIbIjEBTAsXTzwgLJZQNjmnetT/w426-h640/21.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ax-Nl5-K0M7OGOPDRa_hHFfnYRLRvhjro98tVFeDId-AP4O_27mYvxA4xcXOYbPvy-oM4dDoVcCfEfGzEBa5HnJuJhMnOPCBJDGEI6ZNlF2CMe6r7vzJWToIUtN_6rjXAHJFtVSgbsDD/w640-h480/Assessment+For+vs+Of+Learning+Chart.JPG" title="How to Plan Successful Assessment For Learning vs. Assessment Of Learning in Math" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div>
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</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Conversation</h4><div>Having conversations with your students, whether they are informal as you move through the classroom or more planned, like an interview, are an excellent way to gather data on your students' understanding of a topic. I use my observation forms to jot notes when I have conversations with my students.</div><div><br /></div><div>Conversations allow you to gather important information about how your students are progressing with their learning.</div><div><br /></div><div>You might ask:</div><div><br /></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><ol><li>Can you explain your thinking?</li><li>Can you show me what you did here?</li><li>Can you demonstrate how you found that answer?</li><li>Can you tell me what you've learned?</li><li>What are you finding easy?</li><li>What are you finding difficult?</li></ol></ol><div><br /></div><div>This is a particularly effective way to evaluate understanding in situations where written explanations might be challenging for students. Often, your students will be better able to talk about what they did than write about it.</div></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Student Work</h4><div>Of course, there is still a place for paper-and-pencil, or product-based, evidence. Worksheets or activity pages are easy to collect and assess at another time. Still, for any activities involving an element of demonstration or giving proof, such as with manipulatives, it can be challenging to collect this evidence to refer to later.</div><div><br /></div><div>I love having some iPads in my classroom so students can take photos of their work. They can drop these photos into a shared Google folder, <span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://app.seesaw.me/invite/?code=rfsh6Jaf3P0LJV4xsuZdld8ezNluMH7Y_11FLhPJVJdZXjbkwvu6omCUTVlEcv5zPHU0r56gT54Wkq0meuEV9g%3D%3D&type=REF" target="_blank"><b>Seesaw</b></a></span>, or another portfolio platform. Check with your technology team to see what is available and approved for use in your area.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">What do I do with this information?</h4><div>The goal of assessment for learning is to provide students with strategies and steps for improving their understanding. You will want to take the information you gather and:</div><div><br /></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><li>Make adjustments to the lessons you have planned. Consider whether it would be appropriate to teach <span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2019/08/beyond-guided-math-centers.html" target="_blank"><b>small guided groups</b></a></span> instead of whole-class lessons to better differentiate the lessons.</li><li>Provide feedback in oral or written form.</li><li>Share next steps that students can implement independently or with support.</li></ol><div><span style="background-color: #fcff01;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Lessons-278776?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Assessment%20For%20Of%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Lessons%20Category" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of differentiated guided math lessons." border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" data-pin-description="Great teachers like you know the importance of having various assessments guiding their teaching, but specific types of assessments should happen at particular times in the learning process. There are differences between assessment for learning vs. assessment of learning in math! Check out this post for a review of these assessment types and get some great math lesson ideas for primary grades at the same time. You won't want to miss the FREE math assessment forms included!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J3NZ0vpKaxu03129hL7X7W0SRBiKYSQsqntHANTdR0dlQVfOjoV6PEylBmHbxTWuRSfKgspEBLH8PyjPQrYv-lPHHsGMFHC4BH4cKGtt6g8xEcJLA0NIbIjEBTAsXTzwgLJZQNjmnetT/w426-h640/21.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjD8HwRukUSX6lke1y0wcjHTDjpkl9zaJ8qVI_Cw3iu4x6Vp7cvakxYkSfRlIrSfcDLESb6fR01rf4MnzMRG1Pe2-4JrpOt1ji2fu0WUXsS9_3aSqeWzgT_hS6qV7LQcwp085mdyczCQO/w640-h480/Assessment+For+vs+Of+Learning+Lessons.jpeg" title="How to Plan Successful Assessment For Learning vs. Assessment Of Learning in Math" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Assessment Of Learning</h2><div>Assessment of learning is the evaluation stage. This data shows you whether or not students have understood the expectations or standards in the curriculum. This assessment receives a mark or grade, and it can also be collected using triangulation. You will need to continue documenting your evidence in the same way you did during the assessment for the learning process.</div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Observation</h4><div>If you teach your math lessons in small, guided groups, you will have some fabulous opportunities to observe your students as they engage with the math topic. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Lessons-278776?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Assessment%20For%20Of%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Lessons%20Category" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of students working on guided math activities." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" data-pin-description="Great teachers like you know the importance of having various assessments guiding their teaching, but specific types of assessments should happen at particular times in the learning process. There are differences between assessment for learning vs. assessment of learning in math! Check out this post for a review of these assessment types and get some great math lesson ideas for primary grades at the same time. You won't want to miss the FREE math assessment forms included!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J3NZ0vpKaxu03129hL7X7W0SRBiKYSQsqntHANTdR0dlQVfOjoV6PEylBmHbxTWuRSfKgspEBLH8PyjPQrYv-lPHHsGMFHC4BH4cKGtt6g8xEcJLA0NIbIjEBTAsXTzwgLJZQNjmnetT/w426-h640/21.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MFszOpXgXN2Lfex3CcJ9cM_NGYABpmmW9tzauN3yMJ30HPCWrKANp5Ppta0Dv8BqeDcPPKwqahfZCtuNWfrfLy-1jBKq2jF4NSSr8k5RqGdlCSBmoysOBjqRZa6a6nXAqLzSLjt1NcbJ/w400-h400/Assessment+For+vs+Of+Learning+Task1.JPG" title="How to Plan Successful Assessment For Learning vs. Assessment Of Learning in Math" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>It is possible in these small groups to closely observe what students do as they work through a math process or problem. Watch for:</div><div><br /></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><ol><li>How they interact with and use manipulatives.</li><li>Whether they recognize errors or misconceptions.</li><li>What they do when they make a mistake.</li><li>How well they can persevere to complete a task.</li><li>How they contribute to partner or group activities.</li></ol></ol><div><br /></div><div>Of course, this is also a great time to have conversations about student learning!</div></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Conversation</h4><div>Assessment of learning can also occur through conversations with your students. The types of questions need not change. It is how you use the information you gain from the student responses that is different.</div><div><br /></div><div>You might ask:</div><div><br /></div><div><ol style="text-align: left;"><ol><li>Can you explain your thinking?</li><li>Can you show me what you did here?</li><li>Can you demonstrate how you found that answer?</li><li>Can you tell me what you've learned?</li><li>What are you finding easy?</li><li>What are you finding difficult?</li></ol></ol><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Lessons-278776?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Assessment%20For%20Of%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Lessons%20Category" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of guided math activity." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" data-pin-description="Great teachers like you know the importance of having various assessments guiding their teaching, but specific types of assessments should happen at particular times in the learning process. There are differences between assessment for learning vs. assessment of learning in math! Check out this post for a review of these assessment types and get some great math lesson ideas for primary grades at the same time. You won't want to miss the FREE math assessment forms included!" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J3NZ0vpKaxu03129hL7X7W0SRBiKYSQsqntHANTdR0dlQVfOjoV6PEylBmHbxTWuRSfKgspEBLH8PyjPQrYv-lPHHsGMFHC4BH4cKGtt6g8xEcJLA0NIbIjEBTAsXTzwgLJZQNjmnetT/w426-h640/21.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkq1XSe4RYhfiZXSN5J0IlqNmdtiUrlZuRCTUl2fsFAd6epxJh6Nnnx6iNafTbl5ekvQnIiO8sklWEjielAZEdSZfnqUc3jJtA_zyXmVS-5J-fypEn0qC54cWBdHXraWxvXLcrZyl-ggyQ/w400-h400/Assessment+For+vs+Of+Learning+Task2.jpg" title="How to Plan Successful Assessment For Learning vs. Assessment Of Learning in Math" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h4 style="text-align: left;">Student Work</h4><div>As with assessment for learning, the student work you evaluate in this stage of the process can vary. It is possible to collect paper-and-pencil tests or assignments, but having the student demonstrate a process or understanding may be more valuable information!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Lessons-278776?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Assessment%20For%20Of%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Lessons%20Category" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of student working on guided math activity." border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J3NZ0vpKaxu03129hL7X7W0SRBiKYSQsqntHANTdR0dlQVfOjoV6PEylBmHbxTWuRSfKgspEBLH8PyjPQrYv-lPHHsGMFHC4BH4cKGtt6g8xEcJLA0NIbIjEBTAsXTzwgLJZQNjmnetT/w426-h640/21.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRwAQlczj0h0b3AZn4SDRdgXDhZ7nVUmsmlDXKK7kSQ4qEBA7IhD2AUC01OfQBs11VPziGc6hbeuIIgWjvPWLscYFUyq3cNZW1RzJGGqGzeMmdsfY-L-bJgJSe6PddSWsJSRaN3E3h8-z/w400-h400/Assessment+For+vs+Of+Learning+Task3.jpg" title="How to Plan Successful Assessment For Learning vs. Assessment Of Learning in Math" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Managing Your Data</h2><div>How you manage all of your observations and evidence of learning matters most when completing report cards. You don't want to be shuffling through piles of random pages trying to locate the information you need for each student.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have several methods of tracking student progress in my classroom. </div><div><br /></div><div>I keep all of the sticky note observations on a separate page for each student in my <span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Lessons-278776?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Assessment%20For%20Of%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Lessons%20Category" target="_blank"><b>guided math lesson binder</b></a></span>. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Lessons-278776?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Assessment%20For%20Of%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Lessons%20Category" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of differentiated guided math lesson binder." border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="874" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_b6rqia1Phb9N8XW1L9iVSGe3hkDAt5uY6M0FoCWGotj0t_gD1imKrKXdT_Do5f8lrPrYIQPFlesUI_uX1gldgp93dYh33Xxytg12dIwqf6M25lkWmAi_WzSyy6e_kzM7KYwBLPhUaGj/w640-h360/Assessment+For+vs+Of+Learning+Stickies+Binder.png" title="How to Plan Successful Assessment For Learning vs. Assessment Of Learning in Math" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I have a binder for my whole-group observation pages. I usually use these to monitor progress and as a way to build my small groups for targeted teaching, so they aren't as essential to have on hand during reporting.</div><div><br /></div><div>Any marks I collect throughout a unit are entered into my <a href="https://www.idoceo.net/" target="_blank"><b>iDoceo app</b></a>. This is a paid app, but well worth the money, in my opinion. There are no privacy concerns when using this app, as all the data is stored on your device and not in a cloud or server somewhere.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Be sure to grab the observation forms for your classroom right here:</b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylog_QV1El3shVAxO_1kWDukYRdb8f8WtHENaeD5_vebrNcJ0auwPaozh5moug9tgLV2wK-YJ4C-sg2bYUhxISqA5zWSu9VELU9ZC0-G53Q8qUBGYr8Tp6Dx4jo7gD81KEqp5iVlpGCC7/s1080/Assessment+For+vs+Of+Learning+Forms.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of FREE math observation chart." border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylog_QV1El3shVAxO_1kWDukYRdb8f8WtHENaeD5_vebrNcJ0auwPaozh5moug9tgLV2wK-YJ4C-sg2bYUhxISqA5zWSu9VELU9ZC0-G53Q8qUBGYr8Tp6Dx4jo7gD81KEqp5iVlpGCC7/w320-h320/Assessment+For+vs+Of+Learning+Forms.png" title="How to Plan Successful Assessment For Learning vs. Assessment Of Learning in Math" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>
<script src="https://app.mailerlite.com/data/webforms/3737752/x3l9m2.js?v28" type="text/javascript"></script><div><br /></div><div>If you'd like more information about the resources I've shared in this post, you can find them here:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom/Category/-Guided-Math-Lessons-278776?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Assessment%20For%20Of%20Post&utm_campaign=GM%20Lessons%20Category" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Cover of Differentiated Guided Math Lesson bundle" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOjAqNbh_1FL_i2qvesdYspUpXokBwAkh80Qbt1Ko4SjIRZGo96mr9ZL_5WzKA2-0tCYRRXb3TA4J7lRA5PJnZB6pmIdFUvfacZamdYuonB6r6yI0dAvvJebnrQpjX-tKRJCUsKEF5I7oP/w320-h320/Guided+Math+Lessons+Bundle+C.PNG" title="How to Plan Successful Assessment For Learning vs. Assessment Of Learning in Math" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><div>If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFeC4XaOYW0Sag0lUhyphenhyphenTsVCQ46IJAb3jwyIzU64IpFLorL5NW1FOWEiGSfH_Au8PhHMLzYzsYkuswe0pPnNLWUhLVelrX_MeFISTsr6qcFs6QzGAZuORCDNQ2rolQJtfB5Z6jh28FizrH/s1500/21.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of math lessons. "How to Plan Successful Assessment For Learning vs. Assessment Of Learning in Math."" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" data-pin-description="Great teachers like you know the importance of having various assessments guiding their teaching, but specific types of assessments should happen at particular times in the learning process. There are differences between assessment for learning vs. assessment of learning in math! Check out this post for a review of these assessment types and get some great math lesson ideas for primary grades at the same time. You won't want to miss the FREE math assessment forms included!" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFeC4XaOYW0Sag0lUhyphenhyphenTsVCQ46IJAb3jwyIzU64IpFLorL5NW1FOWEiGSfH_Au8PhHMLzYzsYkuswe0pPnNLWUhLVelrX_MeFISTsr6qcFs6QzGAZuORCDNQ2rolQJtfB5Z6jh28FizrH/w426-h640/21.png" title="How to Plan Successful Assessment For Learning vs. Assessment Of Learning in Math" width="426" /></a></div><br />Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-30991301101649835472021-01-17T20:37:00.001-05:002021-01-17T21:06:03.106-05:0010+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides<p>During remote learning, I've learned that there are several particular skills that students need to work independently when using Google Slides. Here are ## must-teach skills when using Google Slides.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJk3SBbzsZPn3zYMU-r8xxl6WUhyphenhyphensNUjj0gUG_m3QrLm2PPWaPJ9jVsl6bC-5zZ9JHsTXtvKkyQCdgJK-rYJrGeisV4OsxV7hDb7X4zd3TW6uSoIC9FEWD2spZQR0QFjDTPNgekapbDybG/s940/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Header.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Girl with computer with text, "10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides"" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDxdVg4c4OWRhU4aYQK11GxMTyqVXIUU0SG_w9CbOFolOpJIp5Ocv1vTXDTLZXopKWcoSu2ndnXLFQ0zbRT0jolTh0OYdy4IhSSj_-ZygqJmy-ZOgbfrKE9_W35W9UXREN7TupX9DA3n/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJk3SBbzsZPn3zYMU-r8xxl6WUhyphenhyphensNUjj0gUG_m3QrLm2PPWaPJ9jVsl6bC-5zZ9JHsTXtvKkyQCdgJK-rYJrGeisV4OsxV7hDb7X4zd3TW6uSoIC9FEWD2spZQR0QFjDTPNgekapbDybG/w640-h334/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Header.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><span></span><h1 style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span><a name='more'></a></span>Why Teach Skills Like These?</span></h1><div>Students are spending more and more time learning and relaxing online, and there are certain basic skills they should have when working with top platforms such as Google Slides. My instructions are based on the commands used on a PC or Chromebook and may be different on an Apple device.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Make a Copy</h2><div>This one may seem like a redundant feature of the Google Slides platform with the existence of force-copy links, but there have been many times this year that I've needed my students to make a copy of a file.</div><div><br /></div><div>While Google Classroom has the capability to make a copy of a file for each student, sometimes I want my students to have access to a support document but don't want to clutter up their Drive if they don't end up needing something.</div><div><br /></div><div>Students can make a copy of the file they are viewing by selecting "File," then "Make a copy," and finally choosing either "Entire presentation" or "Selected slides."</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/readingcomprehensionbundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot depicting how to make a copy of Google Slides File" border="0" data-original-height="947" data-original-width="1500" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDxdVg4c4OWRhU4aYQK11GxMTyqVXIUU0SG_w9CbOFolOpJIp5Ocv1vTXDTLZXopKWcoSu2ndnXLFQ0zbRT0jolTh0OYdy4IhSSj_-ZygqJmy-ZOgbfrKE9_W35W9UXREN7TupX9DA3n/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtjw6Q6mNv30ItfMzm2XcrWMgG_WeP_n-3-NGC0hh-qokB9_9oLEZ6yNWvOBx5IyIzyMHlu1JlEPmMRDbBhR4STZ_BhVzFQKHbkNIihCQdP10-OTB4dLuPtexZyO-ebrwb5OlL5Z0zw-QS/w640-h404/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+How+to+Make+a+Copy.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Change Page Setup</h2><div>It surprises me how many adults don't know how to change the page setup, so it would be foolish of me to assume my students could do this without help. By default, Google Slides opens in a widescreen presentation mode, but if students are planning on completing work that may need to be printed, they must be working from a page size that matches their printer settings.</div><div><br /></div><div>Students can change the page setup by selecting "File," "Page setup," and choosing "Custom" in the dropdown menu. They will then enter the dimensions of the desired page, either in centimeters or inches.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/readingcomprehensionbundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot depicting how to change page setup in Google Slides file" border="0" data-original-height="1009" data-original-width="1500" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDxdVg4c4OWRhU4aYQK11GxMTyqVXIUU0SG_w9CbOFolOpJIp5Ocv1vTXDTLZXopKWcoSu2ndnXLFQ0zbRT0jolTh0OYdy4IhSSj_-ZygqJmy-ZOgbfrKE9_W35W9UXREN7TupX9DA3n/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitcN5UtGleArBgzQl_oHxaIqWkbbcIjgm1J20UarD3WLwM7RejRT0WMao4xIavoVJ2TKeAE4s3lVyeohTKptWz-24w8mgwTy8ikHz4-dIZwR7NRU-leuO4eVg7uvCkHNxrpABbNUQCOFbY/w640-h430/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Page+Setup1.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZyRfqXkVFfpvRFQ2tSTO3mxzXOCfbsyBivyI9VbPhj1J2ligMXSoL-xzPvqU0twkQ0zsP8Vri1jZk2ijPNy8KJ8tVGuvrj0BgNkxFV_IhQGw8Zwq57_iAUinaMHIuQjPon_rOH4CnEVz/s1500/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Page+Setup2.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot depicting how to change page setup in Google Slides file" border="0" data-original-height="695" data-original-width="1500" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDxdVg4c4OWRhU4aYQK11GxMTyqVXIUU0SG_w9CbOFolOpJIp5Ocv1vTXDTLZXopKWcoSu2ndnXLFQ0zbRT0jolTh0OYdy4IhSSj_-ZygqJmy-ZOgbfrKE9_W35W9UXREN7TupX9DA3n/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOZyRfqXkVFfpvRFQ2tSTO3mxzXOCfbsyBivyI9VbPhj1J2ligMXSoL-xzPvqU0twkQ0zsP8Vri1jZk2ijPNy8KJ8tVGuvrj0BgNkxFV_IhQGw8Zwq57_iAUinaMHIuQjPon_rOH4CnEVz/w640-h296/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Page+Setup2.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Add a Text Box</h2><div>Occasionally, I'll provide my students with a digital copy of a worksheet that I'd like them to complete. Sometimes, I don't have the time to set up the page for instant use, and I need my students to add their own text boxes. If working from a scanned worksheet, I may also want to show them how to add a subtle fill color to cover writing lines on the page. I usually use the colors in the row indicated in the image below.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIF1WSCYQwQfmkA1AvDi6RyaC-b5xZ2dxQ77BcvbdnnWb04sIg4q1h-VAd3-q2YR_eXANy4_MCqI8EcLje7TsFrJ9kap1rGLn6dHlTCHiU89KE7UcATbiBO6dizZGUU3qTfi2bA0xw9ld/s1500/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Text+Box.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot depicting how to add a text box in Google Slides file" border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="1500" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDxdVg4c4OWRhU4aYQK11GxMTyqVXIUU0SG_w9CbOFolOpJIp5Ocv1vTXDTLZXopKWcoSu2ndnXLFQ0zbRT0jolTh0OYdy4IhSSj_-ZygqJmy-ZOgbfrKE9_W35W9UXREN7TupX9DA3n/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPIF1WSCYQwQfmkA1AvDi6RyaC-b5xZ2dxQ77BcvbdnnWb04sIg4q1h-VAd3-q2YR_eXANy4_MCqI8EcLje7TsFrJ9kap1rGLn6dHlTCHiU89KE7UcATbiBO6dizZGUU3qTfi2bA0xw9ld/w640-h300/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Text+Box.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/minibooksample" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="FREEBIE OFFER" border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="1475" height="211" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG-9OjCiIiVZ-i2fSgLTAsUrTC8_VqX14R_i7tB8mF5wzVYONBktxortDVbajIGxQkHK7LVQoU9ewLITdMFatAZXo1GyygSf-NyFWnGzX8_XqgpNQm1ATH8tyqvceKyhETYe0vyTCTBX2j/w400-h211/Mini+Book+Free2.jpg" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Duplicate a Slide</h2><div>I use many resources, like the "Good Readers" Reading Comprehension Activities seen in the images, that can be used repeatedly to practice skills. I want my students to know how to duplicate these pages in a file so that they don't have to make multiple copies of a file. Duplicating a slide <b>before</b> editing it will leave a master available for future use.</div><div><br /></div><div>Students can duplicate a slide by right-clicking on its thumbnail on the left side of the screen and selecting "Duplicate" from the menu. Multiple pages can be duplicated by first selecting multiple thumbnails. To do this, click the first slide, hold the "Shift" button, and click the last desired slide. If random slides are needed, hold the CTRL button when selecting the slides you want to duplicate.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/readingcomprehensionbundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot depicting how to duplicate a slide in Google Slides file" border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="1500" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDxdVg4c4OWRhU4aYQK11GxMTyqVXIUU0SG_w9CbOFolOpJIp5Ocv1vTXDTLZXopKWcoSu2ndnXLFQ0zbRT0jolTh0OYdy4IhSSj_-ZygqJmy-ZOgbfrKE9_W35W9UXREN7TupX9DA3n/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1QULzsqIOg7_KFhQkky8Zun_3Ifd0eg8nx07DN0x1EnIi3buf_Ha217r4qyk6Iqmq-bBgxBvl7DAkfjLqPYnzkoqry-CCvAF1cGU7aSqHULrqW4SccMhICLfGLhSMGyCeqpqr4hrEL0L/w640-h300/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Duplicate.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Copy and Paste</h2><div>When using files with moveable pieces, such as my Digital Math Manipulatives, there will occasionally be times when additional pieces are needed. Students need to copy and paste to duplicate these.</div><div><br /></div><div>Students can copy and paste objects or text boxes using the right-click menu or keyboard shortcuts. </div><div><br /></div><div>When using the menu, students highlight the object(s) they need to copy, right-click, and select copy, then right-click again and select paste. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digital-Math-Manipulatives-Virtual-Manipulatives-Distance-Learning-Google-5342885?utm_source=Google%20Slides%20Skills%20Blog%20Post&utm_campaign=Digital%20Manipulatives%20Google" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot depicting how to copy and paste in Google Slides file" border="0" data-original-height="701" data-original-width="1500" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDxdVg4c4OWRhU4aYQK11GxMTyqVXIUU0SG_w9CbOFolOpJIp5Ocv1vTXDTLZXopKWcoSu2ndnXLFQ0zbRT0jolTh0OYdy4IhSSj_-ZygqJmy-ZOgbfrKE9_W35W9UXREN7TupX9DA3n/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFotJbDhBZLPb0980EWQFyLYmUJGcn1zlYL0CBWjA7j8FwU8P5AXvmz_lAdIwteLiuJSJXOupw1o1ZbbTqWzXw8Ts4jsKY6IPybdtISK8o3qajVQDTjqFw2cVlCtfy9S0Iyiv1G7lwYhW/w640-h300/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Copy+Paste.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I prefer to teach my students the keyboard shortcuts, as they are much faster. They should press CTRL and "C" to copy, and CTRL and "V" to paste.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/minibooksample" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="FREEBIE OFFER" border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="1475" height="211" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1guzV4FIiyfMuymqoerQ4elyME70eJeJ2_k3MEa82V7Mn_87WusGB5xGxxc5m_mcInCj8LN8YLbF6EMoX2ICYndS138yvI5EI8idEisawTfGIaxRq4ziVjeo7y8Oqm3__oOKgkhZZUu8l/w400-h211/Mini+Book+Free.jpg" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Adjust Text Style</h2><div>There are many reasons why a student may wish to change the style of the text. I won't go into the "Why" but will focus on the "How." </div><div><br /></div><div>Several text features can be changed in a Google Slides document. The font, font size, text color, highlight color, and styles such as bold, italic, and underline.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3VPMSAoNppmUDk3dS8p8BOtFvy30sVT1BOVNhyphenhyphenSqfVsJOXy-uOuUnmBoKuMXS74iIPZ10hA7QV5nHDOv9xljxYmfEK_sbTeZ0cnOyZnSLSigfTb3LB73eWBKVu1HgNaWns9HuHL0CQwW/s1500/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Text+Style.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot depicting how to adjust text style in Google Slides file" border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="1500" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDxdVg4c4OWRhU4aYQK11GxMTyqVXIUU0SG_w9CbOFolOpJIp5Ocv1vTXDTLZXopKWcoSu2ndnXLFQ0zbRT0jolTh0OYdy4IhSSj_-ZygqJmy-ZOgbfrKE9_W35W9UXREN7TupX9DA3n/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu3VPMSAoNppmUDk3dS8p8BOtFvy30sVT1BOVNhyphenhyphenSqfVsJOXy-uOuUnmBoKuMXS74iIPZ10hA7QV5nHDOv9xljxYmfEK_sbTeZ0cnOyZnSLSigfTb3LB73eWBKVu1HgNaWns9HuHL0CQwW/w640-h302/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Text+Style.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I always encourage my students to play around with these tools the first time we work digitally on an assignment. I want them to know how to personalize their work in this way. We use my Text Features Activities to learn about bold and italics to understand why they might use these styles.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">When and How to Undo</h2><div>Undo is one of the first tools that I teach my students to use. Whether they've deleted something important, changed the size of something they shouldn't have, or applied a style change that they don't love, using the undo feature is a huge time-saver!</div><div><br /></div><div>The easiest way to use the undo feature is with the toolbar's icon, although it is probably smart that your students know where to find it in the "Edit" dropdown menu.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/readingcomprehensionbundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot depicting how to undo an action in Google Slides file" border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="1500" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDxdVg4c4OWRhU4aYQK11GxMTyqVXIUU0SG_w9CbOFolOpJIp5Ocv1vTXDTLZXopKWcoSu2ndnXLFQ0zbRT0jolTh0OYdy4IhSSj_-ZygqJmy-ZOgbfrKE9_W35W9UXREN7TupX9DA3n/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjku5sd0-v4MckyXj6uMLEyElDQmzrOgoQEi0xUacOyqT6oc-7sjEbz-CzevbcoAkRsFFwVtA34YBRsMq0tWkDft8wpv00RvNG60WaK89VIrp1GCFG5PCcJYhpsVPNDEP6WaIJT2pNxDnRa/w640-h300/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Undo.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Change Text Alignment</h2><div>From time to time, I notice that the text in a text box is not properly aligned within the box. This can make editing multiple side-by-side text boxes tricky, especially for children who don't know how to fix this. As my students are often adding their own text boxes, I want them to know how to fix this issue independently. I encourage them to try different settings until the text shows up as they expect it to, as there are times that the setting looks appropriate, but the text doesn't.</div><div><br /></div><div>The text can be aligned to the top, middle, or bottom of a text box, and it can be left-justified, centered, or right-justified.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/readingcomprehensionbundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot depicting how to change text alignment in Google Slides file" border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="1500" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDxdVg4c4OWRhU4aYQK11GxMTyqVXIUU0SG_w9CbOFolOpJIp5Ocv1vTXDTLZXopKWcoSu2ndnXLFQ0zbRT0jolTh0OYdy4IhSSj_-ZygqJmy-ZOgbfrKE9_W35W9UXREN7TupX9DA3n/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSLlbGdBZT3YPYmjU3L9jGjqeMbzBuBgNjahjQzduTksgKNzI-ncXWK0IWP9qvSk2_tpYj4RZ1AmMNPxsPObWZ-S0ezTa_mnCAzr49UapZ4aWpd0uc6huqU70IO8iHeoyakYuYY0KuDu4N/w640-h300/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Alignment.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/minibooksample" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="FREEBIE OFFER" border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="1475" height="211" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRh1Cy3dVj-agAd1MTEWuFVJuVpmXnSY-yybdgoD19xm7tDvleIE5LqNpcQwEhMIgVjHD-UZ3d2iAZnKOmkm9elxV7woQ0spG0yLK7lndPhzKAP2oPxBruNGIRNogGG1BMePRPZv1kbZL/w400-h211/Mini+Book+Free2.jpg" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Magnify or Zoom In</h2><div>Being able to magnify the page or zoom in is a helpful feature when there is a lot of text on a page or small, moveable pieces that aren't easy to manipulate. While some devices allow the user to pinch or spread fingers on the screen to do this, I always teach my students about the toolbar's magnifying glass feature.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is often easiest to simply select the magnifying glass and click on the screen in the area you want to zoom in on. Still, students need to know how to use the drop-down features and understand that they must click the "Select" tool once they've magnified before they will be able to use any other click tools.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/readingcomprehensionbundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot depicting how to magnify the page in Google Slides file" border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="1500" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDxdVg4c4OWRhU4aYQK11GxMTyqVXIUU0SG_w9CbOFolOpJIp5Ocv1vTXDTLZXopKWcoSu2ndnXLFQ0zbRT0jolTh0OYdy4IhSSj_-ZygqJmy-ZOgbfrKE9_W35W9UXREN7TupX9DA3n/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHcmaNCB46qba1tNAztly8LJq5rfvCTWrVwsAmqvaHAvFYieW2jjIykQJSh5EQsOs1Kco8F9AZZBIN3riUCiMixxssFgGETqNs5WmB7LL9toD_CteD3e5SzuEF_V4ODOlmVyVPDFlsli9r/w640-h300/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Magnify.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Change the Order of Objects</h2><div>When students add images or text boxes of their own, there will be times when the order of the items on the screen needs to change. For example, when labeling an image, the text box will need to appear on top of the image. Students should understand how objects appear on the page and how to change their order.</div><div><br /></div><div>Students will click on one object on the page, select "Arrange," then "Order," and choose how they would like the object to move on the page. They should know that when they select "Bring forward" or "Send backward," that this occurs relative to every object on the page, so nothing may change at first glance if the objects are not all touching.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digital-Math-Manipulatives-Virtual-Manipulatives-Distance-Learning-Google-5342885?utm_source=Google%20Slides%20Skills%20Blog%20Post&utm_campaign=Digital%20Manipulatives%20Google" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot depicting how to change order of objects in Google Slides file" border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="1500" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDxdVg4c4OWRhU4aYQK11GxMTyqVXIUU0SG_w9CbOFolOpJIp5Ocv1vTXDTLZXopKWcoSu2ndnXLFQ0zbRT0jolTh0OYdy4IhSSj_-ZygqJmy-ZOgbfrKE9_W35W9UXREN7TupX9DA3n/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitefy8ocKSWo-MAqtIv1PLPrkW019f25uCXs9cxfh1zGQ-zLlhT7uhOBuMfV_UZPaHJoKSX-NJJy_RYd3LyA2OUrs8WlMjEauoI7oWVHXW2WIFkOkyI5fDlDXJOF5Cn14Med4B_hYN7ozu/w640-h300/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Order.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Recognizing Errors</h2><div>Google Slides has a few great built-in editing features that students should be aware of. They aren't perfect, and won't pick up every error that your students make, so you should continue to teach editing skills and not only rely on technology. </div><div><br /></div><div>There are two easy ways to access the corrections. The first is to right-click on the words that Google Slides underlines in red. A list of predictions will appear at the top of the dialogue box, followed by additional options for future instances of the same error.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRZ3cWMGfE4QCgjIGMYpTttXIdm48VkuOXKZAFUyFl9t8qt55kdoI2CR6AO-cO_c_8dq9EDknwkwmrxcxsgBAqbsga26uTNagK_12-I-MfmdXQBaBQfphiim3er6HkiT141n-bQ2F7ncB/s1500/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Correction1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot depicting how to correct errors in Google Slides file" border="0" data-original-height="703" data-original-width="1500" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDxdVg4c4OWRhU4aYQK11GxMTyqVXIUU0SG_w9CbOFolOpJIp5Ocv1vTXDTLZXopKWcoSu2ndnXLFQ0zbRT0jolTh0OYdy4IhSSj_-ZygqJmy-ZOgbfrKE9_W35W9UXREN7TupX9DA3n/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRZ3cWMGfE4QCgjIGMYpTttXIdm48VkuOXKZAFUyFl9t8qt55kdoI2CR6AO-cO_c_8dq9EDknwkwmrxcxsgBAqbsga26uTNagK_12-I-MfmdXQBaBQfphiim3er6HkiT141n-bQ2F7ncB/w640-h300/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Correction1.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The second is to use the toolbar. Students select the text box they need to correct, click "Tools," then "Spelling," and "Spell check." A new dialogue box opens to the page's side, giving suggestions and options for changing the word, ignoring it, or adding it to the user's personal dictionary.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/readingcomprehensionbundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot depicting how to correct errors in Google Slides file" border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="1500" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDxdVg4c4OWRhU4aYQK11GxMTyqVXIUU0SG_w9CbOFolOpJIp5Ocv1vTXDTLZXopKWcoSu2ndnXLFQ0zbRT0jolTh0OYdy4IhSSj_-ZygqJmy-ZOgbfrKE9_W35W9UXREN7TupX9DA3n/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRuSJ3UovGVcCpXMo1h-R6CTPivah2r_30qx311ctG-b8VhUtHADZo57nJXuHjjSQTFuUl7b7WtukmZUdDB_qwmwIAky_PW0rh-JFgWKRBK13954R3N3aaYIzuMcoR0HhmmlcDANVA-pqf/w640-h302/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Correction2.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Both are excellent features that make the editing process a little easier for students. However, you will notice that grammatical and punctuation errors are not always going to be highlighted.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/minibooksample" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="FREEBIE OFFER" border="0" data-original-height="779" data-original-width="1475" height="211" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Q_UX_vKt9bZnO31wov9un84rw3rzgrDiZTABOmpssKigwDtAaH1ghVFwGnYfRc2y0ZrKifQt1IdWv6jAMKq-3g39RU56iQHcTNL4F36863SJuEV_IGHRtM6t33WjHEX7y0qnNB955_kT/w400-h211/Mini+Book+Free.jpg" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Sharing the File</h2><div>I use Google Classroom, so my students don't often need to know how to share their work with me, but from time to time, they create their own documents in Google Slides or Docs, which are not directly linked to a Classroom assignment. In cases like these, they need to know how to share their work with me. </div><div><br /></div><div>The easiest way is by using an email address. Because my students and I are part of the same organization, my email will pop up for them when they start typing the first few letters of my last name. An easy alternative is to have your email address posted somewhere in your classroom, so your students can refer to it as needed.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/readingcomprehensionbundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot depicting how to share a Google Slides file" border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="1500" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDxdVg4c4OWRhU4aYQK11GxMTyqVXIUU0SG_w9CbOFolOpJIp5Ocv1vTXDTLZXopKWcoSu2ndnXLFQ0zbRT0jolTh0OYdy4IhSSj_-ZygqJmy-ZOgbfrKE9_W35W9UXREN7TupX9DA3n/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjg5oe4pAtCYrg8253o5KXs0D29fMKlLtt0R0_iAifqM09a3-tWfHMWIZB_a6fxyrerwP2a7l1nikgwUi-oJ-gBWQSZodFE6o9EUodNlNj3Dp92h6UrUnEsC1aXFEgRk4M9G5jGU-ftlH/w640-h310/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Share1.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/readingcomprehensionbundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot depicting how to share a Google Slides file" border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="1132" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDxdVg4c4OWRhU4aYQK11GxMTyqVXIUU0SG_w9CbOFolOpJIp5Ocv1vTXDTLZXopKWcoSu2ndnXLFQ0zbRT0jolTh0OYdy4IhSSj_-ZygqJmy-ZOgbfrKE9_W35W9UXREN7TupX9DA3n/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtgEdhzRnA3-X95vto9pi6yjjMxaQ00gSRbOpwWcMnpdwkmSUlFm6M9ZVKi4qN3gEefqKMeWXUhgXBbIyrktXBUXs_YpkCOkgJ1MAD55x586HfaXcyvztH4dhCK_1Ed8yrGTLgKGXw9q8/w400-h253/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Share2.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><h1 style="text-align: left;">Bonus Tip:</h1><div>I have one last tip that isn't specifically related to Google Slides but will help your students be more efficient and successful when using any Google Drive file.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">How to Move a File</h2><div>By the time my students come to me in Grade 5, they've used their Google accounts quite often. They almost always arrive with a Drive full of "Untitled Document"s. There are many things that they don't need, such as blank documents and old work from previous years that isn't worth keeping. The first thing I show them how to do is move these files to the trash.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/readingcomprehensionbundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot depicting how to move a Google Slides file to trash" border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1500" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDxdVg4c4OWRhU4aYQK11GxMTyqVXIUU0SG_w9CbOFolOpJIp5Ocv1vTXDTLZXopKWcoSu2ndnXLFQ0zbRT0jolTh0OYdy4IhSSj_-ZygqJmy-ZOgbfrKE9_W35W9UXREN7TupX9DA3n/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivtYtPzWrgN2ldBTKpGBn_XGKyL3q9YAOBjKbPHfJSe2uv8MLkn70Fz8MRr1L-LXFA_7A5r5Kc3ixdNMCxG-I5Cw6rUbjg9RD9RAlUL0FR_d4Het2zS7jOepZzTzRO73e-RskePeJ4q2S/w640-h298/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Trash1.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Once they have all the unneeded files removed, I teach them how to make folders and move their new, named documents into places they'll easily find them.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/readingcomprehensionbundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Screenshot depicting how to move a Google Slides file within Google Drive" border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="1500" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hDxdVg4c4OWRhU4aYQK11GxMTyqVXIUU0SG_w9CbOFolOpJIp5Ocv1vTXDTLZXopKWcoSu2ndnXLFQ0zbRT0jolTh0OYdy4IhSSj_-ZygqJmy-ZOgbfrKE9_W35W9UXREN7TupX9DA3n/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR84YgSOo0Cd-pb4_-V7zceMWAdfFR2QRiopzuf5fKBtUNAoa5BR1wRsGOxtZsYX2ozKYYrwIz2zxSZIDy5ll5iIgIwkhfbTGTMuMuUMW4W34sAh8km5WR3Nw-5r_YIrNkneI8s4GB6m_-/w640-h312/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Trash2.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I hope that this list of must-teach skills when using Google Slides has been helpful! Download a PDF checklist to keep track of what you need to include in your lessons.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/googleslideschecklist" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="FREEBIE OFFER" border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1443" height="338" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGBUM2goYh-oseb-hNGxMGT8HoTNBuwew7kr2R-Id4IUkYYFX-NF8FQ5qIERYHauIkvedG2p0yKN0OhPXoasWDl3Qlsjoj2q-VKjRUODonQeLmdEYXaiEowJnFFJ1Ag99ROL4o2TmpELUi/w640-h338/Freebie+Offer.jpg" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>You might also be interested in the helpful technology videos I've shared on my YouTube channel:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYCBgZ9dm_Whn2iDt-ENYSQ/?sub_confirmation=1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photo of computer with text, "Edit Google Slides in Full-Screen Mode"" border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="360" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_TZ-xpMVO85MErdZYphZOhKPqDiMJ-MXWW6L_9g3w6voZLh7w9oMRLqvJA2GXmlecsUQhTnu7iNLY-SUsA-h6Os1wD6F5TNk5V_jcG6u3IOsR_x4vqndmn24guyxZArXkWOALmTPnFoL/w640-h360/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+YouTube.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>You can access the full resources seen in this post from <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Sellers-Im-Following/Add/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom" target="_blank"><b>my Teachers Pay Teachers store</b></a> by clicking the images here:<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Comprehension-Activities-for-Any-Text-Print-Digital-BUNDLE-1198303?utm_source=Google%20Slides%20Skills%20Blog%20Post&utm_campaign=Mini%20Book%20PDF%20and%20Digital%20Bundle" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="775" data-original-width="775" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0yk3WELMVeLy7hCJBiZRlYaIGlTWk_vJqoFMDY-QAi6QHD9bBH4K8mIZedwIFbix9pLsm80sptz_bAZe_MOI5MJi-vEmGmbaR-3W-6iIYS5Nu_r7Zyb1fZGyA5E9_tD0d2tgM7JZpiYhl/s320/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Mini+Book+Bundle.png" nopin="nopin"/></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digital-Math-Manipulatives-Virtual-Manipulatives-Distance-Learning-Google-5342885?utm_source=Google%20Slides%20Skills%20Blog%20Post&utm_campaign=Digital%20Manipulatives%20Google" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq2Jvd6IPq8zV64RD05JmXo24dprLu3IOMi6ybpcbWvCSLYiLdzHnXXKXhKsTfs2fbL47e8qipueQ4AYPmmQV8zs82eXEPMyf6Di7X1pvxpLZQaRwDRv8bTkx9w72izBJCQQVnRMCZdZPC/s320/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Digital+Manipulatives.png" nopin="nopin"/></a></div><div><div><br /></div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook, or pin it on Pinterest:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbrv2XbjY5YSpEs8ByZq_RtE155L9NPOpJhzoBoQrVgIBKReiWeRlUsIKkGRRQzllaxX-N2wv2ToN1H7hxtYPma1YebWc3RXDlzRA9mI7ASilqiGZS8iAe9YEaUZmUNc-YfR07wa_qwCu/s1500/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Photo of computer with text, "10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides"" border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" data-pin-description="Put these must-teach skills in your plans when students use Google Slides and Google Drive in your distance learning classroom. Your students should know these 10+ technology skills for success in remote learning classrooms. Grab a free checklist for the classroom and sample reading comprehension activities in PDF and digital format. #digitalclassroom #distancelearning #remotelearning #googledrive #googleslides #googleclassroom" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgbrv2XbjY5YSpEs8ByZq_RtE155L9NPOpJhzoBoQrVgIBKReiWeRlUsIKkGRRQzllaxX-N2wv2ToN1H7hxtYPma1YebWc3RXDlzRA9mI7ASilqiGZS8iAe9YEaUZmUNc-YfR07wa_qwCu/w426-h640/Must+Teach+Skills+for+Google+Slides+Pin.png" title="10+ Must-Teach Skills When Using Google Slides" width="426" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-44604931129432662922020-08-28T15:56:00.001-04:002020-08-28T19:50:50.160-04:00How to Have a Shared Library Without Spreading Illness<p>Teachers like me are trying desperately to maintain a sense of "normal" as we head back to school, but shared parts of the classroom like libraries are in question. Can they be used? If yes, how can we do it safely? Here are my unofficial thoughts on this issue.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1d4W69T7lPFGpbImL3CBMrzz6v1-qCLroy__vOHzj1q00wwmTvCIj9tsuxK1td5Gxw2a8pRhNvil2OHqYWq2BM038donZ1mNY8XP5NDt5vUwurGCxk_4d4ySl5rP1bliIVBB4FDqe27f/s940/How+to+Have+a+Shared+Library+Without+Spreading+Illness+Header.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Classroom library sign with text, "How to Have a Shared Library Without Spreading Illness."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-description="Using a shared classroom library during a pandemic can be scary, but there are ways to share classroom books safely at this time so students can continue to work on literacy skills at school. Click to read this great book quarantine idea and grab FREE classroom library quarantine labels to use in your classroom. #classroomlibrary #teachingduringpandemic" data-pin-media="https://tinyurl.com/y4qqwmao" height="335" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU1d4W69T7lPFGpbImL3CBMrzz6v1-qCLroy__vOHzj1q00wwmTvCIj9tsuxK1td5Gxw2a8pRhNvil2OHqYWq2BM038donZ1mNY8XP5NDt5vUwurGCxk_4d4ySl5rP1bliIVBB4FDqe27f/w640-h335/How+to+Have+a+Shared+Library+Without+Spreading+Illness+Header.png" title="How to Have a Shared Library Without Spreading Illness" width="640" /></a></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><p><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Please note that I am not a medical expert and am basing my conclusions on the research listed below. Please do your own research and contact your school district for information on requirements and guidelines in your area.</span></i></p><p><br /></p><p>My research has indicated that the Coronavirus does not live on surfaces, even porous ones like paper, for more than five days at the most. (Read about my findings from the <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/pdf/Reopening_America_Guidance.pdf" target="_blank"><b>CDC</b></a>, <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/health-professionals/assumptions.html" target="_blank"><b>Canadian Public Health</b></a>, and <a href="https://www.webmd.com/lung/how-long-covid-19-lives-on-surfaces" target="_blank"><b>WebMD</b></a>.)</p><p><br /></p><p>This leads me to feel comfortable opening my shared classroom library with some strict guidelines for use.</p><p><br /></p><h2 style="text-align: left;">How We Will Use Our Classroom Library</h2><div>My students will be required to wash or sanitize their hands following our district's guidelines before touching any of the books in our classroom library.</div><div><br /></div><div>They'll peruse the collection and choose the book they would like to read, <b>keeping it at school at all times</b>. I usually allow my students to carry books between home and school, but to minimize the risk of virus transmission that will no longer be allowed.</div><div><br /></div><div>When they're finished, students will return their book to the bin labeled with that day of the week. Books returned on a Tuesday will be placed in the Tuesday bin, while books returned on a Friday will be placed in the Friday bin.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgW1Idm98_T4w6OEsPL5R9a00O5_w5jUSLr1zvw6EVz5EwaO9UuZPEZFRFLFGla88Cd08QPDuqID5t4E6pI4nQmpWReCre-Fg_AMYMzOup79_i8otdOn6bozPOUtaarV2QDQeGRwlKVqU/s1125/How+to+Have+a+Shared+Library+Without+Spreading+Illness+Bins.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Classroom library quarantine bins." border="0" data-original-height="691" data-original-width="1125" data-pin-description="Using a shared classroom library during a pandemic can be scary, but there are ways to share classroom books safely at this time so students can continue to work on literacy skills at school. Click to read this great book quarantine idea and grab FREE classroom library quarantine labels to use in your classroom. #classroomlibrary #teachingduringpandemic" data-pin-media="https://tinyurl.com/y4qqwmao" height="393" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgW1Idm98_T4w6OEsPL5R9a00O5_w5jUSLr1zvw6EVz5EwaO9UuZPEZFRFLFGla88Cd08QPDuqID5t4E6pI4nQmpWReCre-Fg_AMYMzOup79_i8otdOn6bozPOUtaarV2QDQeGRwlKVqU/w640-h393/How+to+Have+a+Shared+Library+Without+Spreading+Illness+Bins.png" title="How to Have a Shared Library Without Spreading Illness" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>These books will not be touched until the same day in the following week.</div><div><br /></div><div>This means that the books are "quarantined" for seven days, enough time for any Coronavirus exposure to not survive. </div><div><br /></div><div>On the morning of each day, I will remove the previous week's books and reshelve them into our bins for students to access again.</div><div><br /></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">Grab Your Own Bin Labels</h2><div>If you'd like to try this system, with the support of your school district, and would like to use my bin labels, you can grab them free right here:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/classroomlibraryquarantine" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Free classroom library quarantine bin labels." border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1385" data-pin-description="Using a shared classroom library during a pandemic can be scary, but there are ways to share classroom books safely at this time so students can continue to work on literacy skills at school. Click to read this great book quarantine idea and grab FREE classroom library quarantine labels to use in your classroom. #classroomlibrary #teachingduringpandemic" data-pin-media="https://tinyurl.com/y4qqwmao" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2pFUhXnasmKIQanj64coGZYL9bCAKwA2K2bCXVu5ov9H4iC2As0UJuhKaYE-hqYT4Fif3oChV_jx6z_bMhLamEKd_PO4X7tfZLQ7J4SqffW1HKIBoiMu88zHQA0GRKgGdHT-7njSF2l-R/w640-h337/How+to+Have+a+Shared+Library+Without+Spreading+Illness+Freebie.png" title="How to Have a Shared Library Without Spreading Illness" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I'd love to hear how you're keeping your classroom as "normal" as possible during this challenging time! Reach out by email at questions {at} mrsbeattiesclassroom.com or leave a comment below!</div><div><br /></div><div>You might also be interested in the ideas I've shared in this blog post:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2020/07/how-to-easily-use-pages-from-one-google.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Hand holding computer mouse with text, "How to Easily Use Pages From One Google Resource in Another."" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" height="214" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMEuqZ_3ke-tMdpAn3Z9hOXTzF8cSGxXvVfcqrTRKs1sCgEVLJjPRsq1sPugkthdffsb0yMTxzzZczWhsdouhjcwOIlh6DcW6GVUIqG2wLLDmvXYbVywq3gGchHXZcl1js7IPpk_uxPfm/w410-h214/How+to+Easily+Use+Pages+From+One+Google+Resource+In+Another+Header.png" title="How to Have a Shared Library Without Spreading Illness" width="410" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMc0vPdtTGrC8Hfe5olhU2SBye2fjV4Uw-8VQZOzIfZj9TUQpVVBnjFOZPNPS7HOqEJLcDHdxi8spVerqUi07Cxyw9-lUWXYJwI_cPqciUSeToHGXitFqowpA9Q2XwFKpJiBG58NqDCHa/s1417/How+to+Have+a+Shared+Library+Without+Spreading+Illness+Pin.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Classroom library bins with text, "How to Have a Shared Library Without Spreading Illness."" border="0" data-original-height="1417" data-original-width="931" data-pin-description="Using a shared classroom library during a pandemic can be scary, but there are ways to share classroom books safely at this time so students can continue to work on literacy skills at school. Click to read this great book quarantine idea and grab FREE classroom library quarantine labels to use in your classroom. #classroomlibrary #teachingduringpandemic" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMc0vPdtTGrC8Hfe5olhU2SBye2fjV4Uw-8VQZOzIfZj9TUQpVVBnjFOZPNPS7HOqEJLcDHdxi8spVerqUi07Cxyw9-lUWXYJwI_cPqciUSeToHGXitFqowpA9Q2XwFKpJiBG58NqDCHa/w420-h640/How+to+Have+a+Shared+Library+Without+Spreading+Illness+Pin.png" title="How to Have a Shared Library Without Spreading Illness" width="420" /></a></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5098788881455011683.post-65837136480306132242020-08-17T05:00:00.002-04:002021-02-14T12:48:52.716-05:00How to Easily Use Pages From One Google Resource In AnotherIf you're teaching online this fall, there's a good chance you'll be using Google Classroom and Google Drive resources during your distance learning activities. To keep this as simple as possible, there will be times that you want to use just part of one Google activity inside another resource that you're sharing with your students. Here are some tips for easily doing that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTyvHCUVE36175Izclho7jBBJm4crM71rwEA7kkCehRSTmK8R47juAWzJG-jgtr3wb6tI23f3LQkXvsBDMxNIqIdabrx_oS1rp5oJgcM-kVY6SS2_0ffer4TmuKmg3mSkTxZqruIdFQFE/s1600/How+to+Easily+Use+Pages+From+One+Google+Resource+In+Another+Header.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hand on computer mouse with text, "How to Easily Use Pages From One Google Resource In Another"" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-description="When sharing assignments with students during distance learning, you'll want to provide digital resources that mimic classroom learning as much as possible within your Google Classroom. Learn how to use pages from one Google Slides file in another! Perfect for digital manipulatives and digital tools for problem solving. Grab simple tips in this blog post for combining digital activities in your Google Drive for easy use during virtual learning. #distancelearning #googleresources #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://tinyurl.com/yyx2r2qm" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiTyvHCUVE36175Izclho7jBBJm4crM71rwEA7kkCehRSTmK8R47juAWzJG-jgtr3wb6tI23f3LQkXvsBDMxNIqIdabrx_oS1rp5oJgcM-kVY6SS2_0ffer4TmuKmg3mSkTxZqruIdFQFE/w640-h334/How+to+Easily+Use+Pages+From+One+Google+Resource+In+Another+Header.png" title="How to Easily Use Pages From One Google Resource In Another" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a name='more'></a>To create a context for the virtual learning situation you might find yourself in, let's imagine a file that you're assigning your students daily with multiple pages to include each subject area. There would be instructions and assignments for your students to complete, either directly within the document or inside a separate one that they'll submit to you.<br />
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Say you've given your students a math problem to solve inside this day's document, and you want to provide them with the manipulatives tool from my <b><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digital-Math-Manipulatives-for-Distance-Learning-Google-Slides-5342885?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Use%20Pages%20from%20One%20Google%20in%20Another&amp;utm_campaign=Digital%20Math%20Manipulatives" target="_blank">digital math manipulatives</a></b> to help them solve the problem.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5kfRMDR8tScGc8y0w0gsiL79IwAzucMs2xdWcMEsYubi83AI3g-0FCrQwYfnN99LU30iGtmkW4mNvt6CR4q0QOtGO75d5lE-GXHGfHTNfkd34XZFbf7YF_wDCgTnX5FpNbHFHSdF3bFq/s1600/How+to+Easily+Use+Pages+From+One+Google+Resource+In+Another+Mockup+Image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mockup of a digital math problem for students." border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" data-pin-description="When sharing assignments with students during distance learning, you'll want to provide digital resources that mimic classroom learning as much as possible within your Google Classroom. Learn how to use pages from one Google Slides file in another! Perfect for digital manipulatives and digital tools for problem solving. Grab simple tips in this blog post for combining digital activities in your Google Drive for easy use during virtual learning. #distancelearning #googleresources #googleclassroom" data-pin-media="https://tinyurl.com/yyx2r2qm" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5kfRMDR8tScGc8y0w0gsiL79IwAzucMs2xdWcMEsYubi83AI3g-0FCrQwYfnN99LU30iGtmkW4mNvt6CR4q0QOtGO75d5lE-GXHGfHTNfkd34XZFbf7YF_wDCgTnX5FpNbHFHSdF3bFq/w640-h334/How+to+Easily+Use+Pages+From+One+Google+Resource+In+Another+Mockup+Image.png" title="How to Easily Use Pages From One Google Resource In Another" width="640" /></a></div>
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There are some considerations to keep in mind when combining Google resources, and a couple of ways you can accomplish it.<br />
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<h2>
The Simple Copy-and-Paste</h2>
<div>
Probably the easiest way to share a slide from one Google document into another is simply to copy and paste the entire page. What you'll need to keep in mind, though, is that Google will adjust the copied page to fit the dimensions of the document you're pasting into.</div>
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In some cases, this isn't going to be a problem. Tools like base ten blocks or counters can still be used, even if they're a tiny bit distorted.</div>
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Where it will be a problem is with things like pattern blocks or tangrams, where the relative sizes of the pieces are critically important for students to be able to use them effectively.</div>
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Take a look at the video for some suggestions on how to make this strategy work:</div>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="394" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ckLqQSsxGpQ" width="700"></iframe>
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<p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><h2>The Mighty Link</h2>
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An easy workaround that will allow you to share the necessary pages and have them retain their properties would be to share a link to the document, which would open in a new tab.</div>
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This isn't as ideal with younger students, who may have more difficulty managing, but with some training is definitely achievable.</div>
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You'll need to set up the document you want shared to be as simple for your students to do what you want them to as possible. Watch the video below for some tips about reducing the file size of your resource and sharing it with students.</div>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="394" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jd89CQ8JQEE" width="700"></iframe>
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<div>
<br /></div><div>Once you have your document set up you'll enable sharing to "anyone with the link," and insert that link into your file like I demonstrated in the first video above.</div>
<h3>
Have a Link Hub Your Students Can Easily Access</h3>
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In my classroom, I have a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Flapjack-Educational-Resources/Category/-SMART-CLASS-WEBSITES-341505" target="_blank"><b>Communication Google Slides Doc from FlapJack Educational Resources on TpT</b></a> that I use as a link-sharing tool.</div>
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I have pages set up for the different subject areas and link the websites I need my students to access. Some links are permanent, and others change with each lesson. I have a personalized bit.ly link that is easy for my students to access, and they know any link they need will be there, and it is accessible on any device.</div>
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Tabitha has done an incredible job of including thorough instructions for setting this up, and she's created them in a ton of awesome themes. You can see a few of them below. Click the image for more!</div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Flapjack-Educational-Resources/Category/-SMART-CLASS-WEBSITES-341505" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Communication Google Slides Docs from FlapJack Educational Resources" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1280" height="500" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnX8x1ubJjpMPDdSwQcQ5dVE4T4jfO4mqlRnW3H5ldJw5ZpJJzCU8QiQxPujT9gINHX6htIiHAfo26Hg7Z0cCI_4-x0Fc_XsTZ0sQFm-cncxeNZYdI-OvZFbyyZ9Y8vL20TTnpAj3SaCwM/w398-h500/How+to+Easily+Use+Pages+From+One+Google+Resource+In+Another+FlapJack.jpg" title="How to Easily Use Pages From One Google Resource In Another" width="398" /></a></div>
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<h2>
Need Digital Resources for Your Classroom?</h2>
These are perfect for distance learning!
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digital-Math-Manipulatives-for-Distance-Learning-Google-Slides-5342885?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Use%20Pages%20from%20One%20Google%20in%20Another&utm_campaign=Digital%20Math%20Manipulatives" target="_blank">
<img alt="Digital Manipulatives for Guided Math" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTt6DIpdiN67e0H7Jn6naohBbHiMNNVudp09GHgYGyPwtpzcNSFn9p-YYeBiLAwSLTfcAP4mGKkDma9gBsd9jTif2wDBrVU0mYeUM6HbYs8DyHisloQO_XLs6x-0GQ4iTOy1w5Z3YHtKwK/s1600/Thumb1.png" style="width: 100%;" />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digital-Tangram-Puzzles-for-Math-Distance-Learning-Google-Slides-3206604?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Use%20Pages%20from%20One%20Google%20in%20Another&utm_campaign=Digital%20Tangram%20Puzzles" target="_blank">
<img alt="Digital Tangram Puzzles" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNRI8yHfaMN7xHpprGBZkW6JXkN62p4e6gxm4GmkO5ejVf05evjzHJn-EJTcuWIkNziyWlIEdRKVJRbaPn07Pc4LGuToNUr2oVj-18AdM3V0GTI4OvWPwvhCPKm92NIWil34i15DQv7olo/s1600/Slide1.PNG" style="width: 100%;" />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digital-Pattern-Block-Puzzles-for-Math-Distance-Learning-Google-Slides-3659790?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Use%20Pages%20from%20One%20Google%20in%20Another&utm_campaign=Digital%20Pattern%20Block%20Puzzles" target="_blank">
<img alt="Digital Pattern Block Puzzles" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfATIgzTmWB5WUXo8a06gAL8uVXh-W8GK1HVe6jY_x4x8NsLIsSZi8dVMDeA52iQkZuv2n0QSw4Npuwl8jKjMac15m40V6q95QdiUAjDvZrl85R8WP_Ox2oJWfy8xQNtMSTG-nykZY4OG/s1600/Thumb1.png" style="width: 100%;" />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digital-Multiplication-Wheels-for-Math-Distance-Learning-Google-Slides-3630540?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Use%20Pages%20from%20One%20Google%20in%20Another&utm_campaign=Digital%20Multiplication%20Wheels" target="_blank">
<img alt="Digital Multiplication Wheels" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRoujxv3PbCPHNO5crgeWCjMNxIDASQgcZ67K-YVPKdnojpEsRCndBEBxPI8kaMB0phO8-CFfZ_iiPDzvKuIBIN2w6CwIoBJkaXjos_EWgDETDdU_XxSMNTTc6eT1pD66BoTonxC7c0OU1/s1600/Thumb1.png" style="width: 100%;" />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digital-Patterning-Activities-for-Math-Distance-Learning-Google-Slides-3245764?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Use%20Pages%20from%20One%20Google%20in%20Another&utm_campaign=Digital%20Button%20Patterning" target="_blank">
<img alt="Digital Patterning Activities" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK1RkDp8ZsxV66Ot-hCPE8BGkyCjEGOee4rPg1NJmop7gaGJ3gYvMnMNrc9jNwNv2tP6h8doNyoWYLff6zwhV7MUwhFCxN8xcO93stlALaxpR1JXkkz6EghNVEfqh8jctuwdHgD6kHt4v0/s1600/Thumb1.png" style="width: 100%;" />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digital-Word-Work-Activities-for-Distance-Learning-Google-Slides-5354020?utm_source=Blog%20%7C%20Use%20Pages%20from%20One%20Google%20in%20Another&utm_campaign=Digital%20Word%20Building" target="_blank">
<img alt="Digital Word Building" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HyD-Bc4JWKvzTNrF1bCap2UZIIza6Sj5fuyqbToII5ycKgLcLwzKZdva7yH16HIm42IIRn7KYa6eg8Dk6QMMToQaWbQoRtlvmKLWSao5aK7QOXs9-BxQ6dY30OJ3oeIy5krsf4wP9RU7/s1600/Slide1.PNG" style="width: 100%;" />
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<br /><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Sellers-Im-Following/Add/Mrs-Beatties-Classroom" target="_blank"><b>I have many more digital resources available here in my TpT store!</b></a><div><br /></div><div>Grab a fun collaborative FREEBIE to use with your students in Google Slides right here:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/wouldyourathergame" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px;" target="_blank"><img alt="Free Collaborative "Would You Rather" Game" border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1398" height="339" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6G2vjvHKpw777Eo2P4g80U_uchraXdWWgQw1_lbgs_HW9erfIHW8O5I12TkwgJP1Cm9Bm6Jf0nPYh8Qx9SDrOecxQj0kh05XAs-NtQUzMxuOrElLdF6w_9lPjd5NhMYa_PPKx-oXI4kn/w640-h339/How+to+Get+to+Know+Your+Students+in+a+Virtual+Setting+Game.png" title="How to Easily Use Pages From One Google Resource In Another" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>For more great ideas for distance learning, be sure to check out this blog post:<br />
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<a href="https://www.mrsbeattiesclassroom.com/2020/05/how-to-split-google-slides-files.html" target="_blank"><img alt="How to Split a Google Slides File to Share Easily With Students" border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="940" height="208" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiD6bH19xPEqS45XLgXmM4K80vJ3sDwrgUlTeVK_rsRI_NM-I8fv9TTPFsOnFh1JwblCX1U9bIw5zS5mhIPeEleKoi9u_zc-qECaSa6pLv8tQuYz7ivi8ihAb6w6gHThREbaWDyAdkcEY5/w400-h208/How+to+Split+a+Google+Slides+File.png" title="How to Easily Use Pages From One Google Resource In Another" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /><div>If you have enjoyed this post, please share it with friends and colleagues on Facebook or pin it on Pinterest:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSAoLESdAn755x3jpmVxv7cvxbTo8OzfqrN7vEg9g318Rv1VgtSRuIOrlqk4pvROIZiOOMtWAORa-tK_oWAidM8CJAcowLlDlJW6njwo_K-x77npvCwnbGcp4hzaeUCm-bgK6ObAxQTIo/s1200/How+to+Easily+Use+Pages+From+One+Google+Resource+In+Another+Pin.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="Hand on computer mouse with text, "How to Easily Use Pages From One Google Resource In Another"" border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="800" data-pin-description="When sharing assignments with students during distance learning, you'll want to provide digital resources that mimic classroom learning as much as possible within your Google Classroom. Learn how to use pages from one Google Slides file in another! Perfect for digital manipulatives and digital tools for problem solving. Grab simple tips in this blog post for combining digital activities in your Google Drive for easy use during virtual learning. #distancelearning #googleresources #googleclassroom" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOSAoLESdAn755x3jpmVxv7cvxbTo8OzfqrN7vEg9g318Rv1VgtSRuIOrlqk4pvROIZiOOMtWAORa-tK_oWAidM8CJAcowLlDlJW6njwo_K-x77npvCwnbGcp4hzaeUCm-bgK6ObAxQTIo/w427-h640/How+to+Easily+Use+Pages+From+One+Google+Resource+In+Another+Pin.png" title="How to Easily Use Pages From One Google Resource In Another" width="427" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div>Mrs. Beattie's Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12953921721733529970noreply@blogger.com0