ABC's to Successful Teaching . . . Developing Fluency!

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Today I want to take some time to talk about FLUENCY but not only FLUENCY in reading.  I also want to look at what I like to call FLUENCY in mathematics.

Let me clarify.

In my experience, students with a strong base of sight words are strong readers.

The same is true in mathematics.  Those with a strong knowledge of facts are strong mathematicians.  

DEVELOPING FLUENT READERS

**Make sure books are at or below student level.

Read to a partner!I like to assign partners and I keep a list and be sure I read with them on a rotating basis.

We choose our books on Monday.  They can bring a book from home if they want.

The only rule is...the book they choose must be one they can read easily.

Sometimes I have to ask them to make another choice.

Better readers can choose a chapter from a book.

Then Thursday we partner read.  

Read with expression and accuracy!

I love this activity.  Use your sight vocabulary list for the week.

Partner up the kiddos and have fun.

You can have them write the words or read them from a  list you have prepared.

Doubles Chant

This is so helpful in memorizing the doubles facts.

We say it each day before calendar.

                                                            

How to Make 10

This game is so helpful in learning the combinations.

It is played like Concentration.

Turn all the cards over and put them in 5 rows of 5.

Take turns turning cards over to find a match.

If they match you keep the cards.

The player with the most matches at the end wins!!

Just some FUN ways to increase student FLUENCY!!

Tomorrow...

ABC's To Successful Teaching . . . Expectations

It has been proven that a teacher's expectations can affect the way a student learns or behaves.

A teacher who believes in their students, who has a positive attitude, and who presents challenging material will boost academic achievement.

Let's take a look at suggestions on how we can improve our expectations about every student in our classroom.

1.  Find out what they are all about.

Get to know your students as individuals.  What do they like?  What are they good at?  

How do they feel about school and learning?

By getting to know each student we are able to let relate to them as an individual so they feel important and valued.

These are some interest surveys I use at the beginning of the year that give me a start.  They are leveled to meet all student needs.

Find the resource here.

2.  Allow students to set goals for themselves.

  This allows students to get involved in their own learning process and achievement.

Each Monday morning we take a few minutes to set a goal for ourselves.  

I set one as well so the class sees me working to improve also.  The first few times you do this you may have to help students with suggestions but after a few times you will see they really work hard to set and meet THEIR goals.  On Friday I hand back their goal sheet and they evaluate their progress.  

Some weeks I collect these and write a note on the back to each student letting them know how proud I am of their efforts. 

I allow students to pick the same goal more than once if they feel they need more practice.

Keep goals simple and attainable.

Sample goals:

Improve my math facts.

Work on my penmanship.

Practice ending sentences with periods.

Reading more when I finish my work.

Raising my hand before I speak out.

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3.  Play games with your students that allow for conversation.

I love this game.  It is simple and really allows me and the other students to get to know each other.

I like to partner students.  At the end they answer the sheet provided that shares one thing they learned about their partner.  We then share these with the class.

This can be played over and over as long as their partners are different!!

Find it here.

For students to succeed they need to know they are appreciated and respected.  Let your students know that YOU BELIEVE IN THEM and YOU KNOW THEY CAN DO IT!  

One step at a time they will reach SUCCESS!

ABC's To Successful Teaching ... Differentiation!

We've all heard...

Every student is an individual and needs to be treated as such.

And so when we think of DIFFERENTIATION we can really become overwhelmed.

How as an educator do I DIFFERENTIATE curriculum so that I meet the needs of every student in my classroom as an individual?

DIFFERENTIATION takes planning and with an educator's plate already full this task can seem daunting.

BUT

Let's give DIFFERENTIATION a POSITIVE spin!!

Let's look at making learning enjoyable and attainable for every student.

DIFFERENTIATION consists of the efforts of a teacher to meet the variety of needs among learners in the classroom.  It means adjusting or changing a lesson and goal based on specific needs of the learner.

You might begin by taking interest inventories and find out everything you can about every student.

How do they feel about each subject matter, where they work and even about how they feel about their own confidence.  At early ages this may be a challenge so I often have them do it with an adult who can help explain some of the questions.  

I also like to ask parents to fill out a survey about their child.

This information altogether can be very helpful.

Think about what are the big ideas, core concepts, and your learning expectations.  

Then think about ways to help students achieve them.

Let's look at some ways teachers can DIFFERENTIATE.

Content:  What do the students need to learn and what can you do to meet varying degrees of difficulty?

Video, demonstration, verbal lesson, text

Process:  How will the content be presented and what can you do to vary the ways of presentation?

Same topic ... different levels

Products:  How will the students demonstrate mastery? (report, picture, play)

Learning Environment:  How is your classroom set up to meet the varying needs for learning?

Quiet, Independent, Move and Learn, Small Group

• Leveled reading.
• Using small groups to teach, reteach, and extend.
• Varying the expectations (write words, write a sentence, write a paragraph).
• Providing choices for way to present a final product. (written report, picture, verbally)
• Provide manipulatives or support tools for students who need them.
• Present material using verbals, visuals, and modeling.
• Provide flexible and varying means of assessment.
• Use questioning techniques adjusted to student's ability.
• Think, Pair, Share
• Teach Up

These suggestions show that a teacher can DIFFERENTIATE content, environment, teaching strategies, and products.  

Here are some things I have found helpful in my classroom in terms of leveling activities about the same topic.

Look for content, environment, teaching strategies, and products used in the following samples.

Below are examples of how you can take a simple topic and read, write and play math games to support varied levels in your classroom.

I included templates so that you can create your own activities.

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Tomorrow...

ABC's To Successful Teaching ... Communication!

Find it here.

Yes these are editable.

Open the file and use your text box.

I have always believed the one of the most important ingredients to successful teaching is COMMUNICATION!

Teacher to Student

Student to Teacher

Teacher to Parent

Parent to Teacher

Teacher to Teacher

Teacher to Administrator

COMMUNICATION goes beyond the written note, website, phone call.

COMMUNICATION can be how effectively we as an educator are getting our message across.

(Sometimes after a test I hear...My students did horrible on the test!  

Teachers tend to blame it on the students.  

They didn't listen.  They didn't study.  They just don't get it.

BUT 

Maybe we need to look at the way we presented the information.

It may have been our way of communicating the information to them was not effective)

COMMUNICATION can be non verbal cues  or "vibes" the students are getting from us or we are getting from them.

( Remember David?  We all know a David who drives us insane!  Think back to that glorious story by David Shannon, David Goes to School.  At the end how did the teacher COMMUNICATE to David she felt. )

PLEASE keep these in the forefront of your mind as you begin the school year.

Challenge yourself to make improvements.

The COMMUNICATION we are going to talk about today is more about "keeping everyone up to speed".  In today's world of technology this should be an easy task.  Let's take a look at some of these ways.

Classroom Website

I love having a website for my classroom.  When I was teaching it was filled with pictures of our activities, a calendar, rules and consequences, procedures, math and reading focus charts for the week, link to the lunch menu, newsletter, how to contact me.

I sent a laminated "fridge note" home with the link for each parent. 

I also provided a link to all staff who worked in or with students in my classroom. 

I used Google but there are many other "teacher friendly" websites available for use.

I set aside one morning a week to update my site.  Keep it simple but something people will WANT to visit.

A link to my present website.

Remind (Remind 101)

Check it out!

If you have not signed up for this text reminder program do it NOW!!

I sent quick reminders to parent's and support staff texts all the time.

Older students can leave their own numbers as well.

Spelling test tomorrow.

Notes due for student project.

No school tomorrow.

Email

As simple as it may sound Email is still a great way to communicate with parents, students, staff, and administration.  I sent our weekly newsletters through Email and included all those listed.  Yes, I am sorry to say I still sent a hard copy but many parents and support staff liked having something to keep in front of them.

NOTE: I always include administration and support staff on all of my communication.  It is a great way to promote your classroom and keep everyone on the same page.

Calendars

These are so helpful in letting everyone know what to expect for the coming month.  They can add their own or updated info as it comes home.  Include student birthdays, school dates, events.

I find this useful for support staff.  I then attach any papers that I hope they can work on together.

Often I include games that work on specific skills I hope the student will work on.  These provide for communication and skill discussion.  

Phone and Email Log

I keep track of phone calls because it is easy to trace and recall communications I have had with parents or numbers I need to return calls to.

Class Newsletter

I send these weekly.  One is sent attached in the Email, one is placed on the website, and one is sent home with the student.  

Conferences with parents are a wonderful way to communicate with parents.

These forms will be so helpful.

Find it here.

Are you an effective communicator?

These few tips can keep you ahead of the game and make for a productive school year!

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