LisaTeachR's Classroom: August 2015

Sunday

Sunday Scoop 8-23-15

SUNDAY SCOOP- A LINKY PARTY

I'm linking up with the ladies of the Teaching Trio for their Sunday Scoop.

Exciting news! We have a delegation of students, teachers and administrators visiting our school, Roybal-Allard Elementary School, this week. They're from Beijing, China. Students will visit classrooms and participate in activities. Admins and teachers will observe. We will have a potluck to get to know each other. AND students will perform for us! Very cool.

The craft I'm working on is a magnetic board. I bought a cookie sheet, some magnetic tape and washi tape. I'll use the washi tape to decorate and create sections. The magnetic tape will go behind the kids names or maybe I'll use numbers... I think I'll use it for Restroom Management!

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Thursday

Using tech to support reading

Best Technology Tools to Support Reading and Writing

By Lisa Robles

My name is Lisa Robles and I am so thankful to guest blog for Rachel Lynette. Here's a link to that post! I had the good fortune of attending her sessions at the TeacherPayTeachers conference in Vegas and she was awesome!!!!

OK so first I'm going to get on my soapbox for a second. Technology should never be a babysitter. It should be a tool for creation! Especially with the new standards, it's so important that our kids are college and career ready and technology is an important part of that. OK, ok, I'm off.

I use technology with my students every day. I truly believe our students need to have these skills under their belts in order to be successful in todays world. Here are the best web sites that I use with my students:

Edmodo

One of the best tools I use in Edmodo. I've used it for a few years and every year it just gets better! It is an extremely versatile platform.

First, the basics: create an Edmodo account for yourself. Then you create a group. I create a cute name like "Fabulous Fourth Graders". Edmodo will create a group code for you. Students can then sign up using the group code.
It looks like this:

Students don't need an email. I also tell kids to just use an initial for their last name for safety's sake. Easy, Peasy! Once the group is set up, the fun begins.

Ways to use Edmodo:

Book clubs- you can create sub groups to allow students to collaborate. My kids call Edmodo their "Facebook". I'm always a part of the group too so I can see their dialogue. I usually ask a focus question to help guide the conversation.
Writing- when students finish writing a doc in Writer's Workshop, they can upload it to Edmodo. It allows their peers to read it and provide constructive feedback. I teach my students' two stars and a wish- two compliments that are clear and specific and one wish that would have made the work better.
Differentiated instruction -the small group component allows teachers to send specific content to specific groups of students.
Professional development -it's also great for you as a teacher and learner. There are so many professional learning networks you can join. My favorite was for the Global Read Aloud. If you'd like more information about that, click here. This year I'm reading Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt with my students for the GRA. It happens in the fall so sign up asap!

Storybird

A great way to get kids motivated to write is Storybird. They call it "artful storytelling". It's a platform for writers to get creative. It's full of beautiful art that the students can use in their own stories. Storybird curates the artwork and students use it to inspire them to write. Here is a link to a story I created to model for the kids. The stories are easy to share through email, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest or they can just share the link. If the parents would like to keep a copy for themselves, they can download it for $1.99 or pay more for a bound hard copy. You will love, love, love the art. It's amazing. O

One assignment we did was to create Mothers Day and Fathers stories. Here is a link to one of their stories. It's easy to add students with the access code they give you. They do not require a student to have email.

Newsela

So you know how there has been a shift to more informational text? Well, Newsela is a great way to incorporate it into your curriculum. It is chock full of informational articles on topics such as war, health, science, kids, law, money, arts, and sports. Each article can have the lexile level adjusted for readability. If it's too hard, adjust it down. If it's too easy, go harder. The kids get the same information. Some of the articles even have quizzes after the articles.

My favorite ones are the articles that say 'Pro/Con'. I divide my class into two parts and assign them a side. They read the articles and gather evidence. They meet with their side and decide what is the best evidence for their case. Then, they have to pair up with someone from the other side and present their case. After discussing the best evidence, they caucus with their side again and try to rebutt the others' arguments. Here is a link to the Argument Talk Protocol from the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project (TCRWP).

Freebie!

Here is a link to a freebie on my TPT store. It's a bookmark that you can print and laminate for use with the Common Core. Three come on a page and there are two styles. Enjoy!

My name is Lisa Robles and I have been teaching 25 years and currently teach fourth grade! I love teaching language arts and integrating technology. You can find me at my TPT store or my blog!

Monday

Monday Made It: Classroom Reveal 2015-16

Monday Made ItClassroom Reveal 2015-16

Linking with 4th Grade Frolics!

It's time for Mary Poppins!

Mary Poppins name plates from my classroom decor set.

Love me some paint markers! They erase with a dry erase marker and then you use an eraser to wipe off.

Six traits of writing!

Math standards for mathematical practice!

I love to use reading quotes in my library!

It's all about the effort!

I love having a large library and lots of books to choose from. I buy sets so kids can read in literature circles. Empty bulletin boards because I have no student work yet!

Love my projector and doc camera.

Conferring center

Growth mindset posters.

I use notebooks and composition books for most work (Math journal, Writer's Workshop composition book, Readers Workshop notebook, Science/Social Studies notebook and journal for Treasures and close reading notes. I don't like paper everywhere. Keeps things neat and easy to manage.

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Saturday

Sharing is caring!: Back to School Freebies

Here are bunch of freebies for going back to school. Enjoy!

First, teach your kids about digital citizenship! If you need some guidance, click here. Here is a pledge they can sign after you have taught them the rules.

I created a Digital Citizen Pledge. You can download it from TPT here.

This freebie is a bookmark referencing the Common Core. The anchor standards for reading are separated into four areas: Key ideas and details, Craft and Structure, Integration of Knowledge and Ideas and Text Complexity and Range. I added questions to each area to keep students focused while reading. I modified it and added another version with a bookworm. It's free, of course.

Last but not least...

For math...

Skip Counting Freebie

This freebie has a skip counting reference sheet and a practice sheet. Really useful for my kids with multiplication facts and division. It's free on my TPT store!

Enjoy!

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Tuesday

Favorite web sites for teaching

Linking with I Heart Grade 3 for my favorite teaching web sites.

TeachersPayTeachers

You can find anything there! Close reading guides, classroom decor sets, digital citizenship pledges...if you need it, it's there!

Edmodo

I love it for classroom work and collaborating with other teachers. I can create small groups and differentiate work. Students can post writing and have others critique it. I can put links that will help them with their research. If you're a part of The Global Read Aloud, they have Edmodo groups to help you in the journey. It's amazing.

Storybird

They call it artful storytelling. They curate all this fantastic art and students can use it to create stories. You have to see it to believe it.

Newsela

You want your kids to read more non-fiction? Well, here it is. You can even adjust lexile levels if it's too hard. Same information just easier to read. Kids can take quizzes to check comprehension. I like the pro/con articles best. I use them for argumentation.

Those are my top sites. Best of all, they're free! Well, some of the stuff on TPT is free. Enjoy!