Learning in Progress

I thought I would share some resources I've found and shared with my faculty over the last few months that would help out with teaching Common Core Standard RL.4.  Idioms & Will Ferrell: Figurative Language Master Having trouble with idioms? Check out the free English Idioms Illustrated app for iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.   The app, gives the user an illustrated example of an idiom with background and an explanation for what the idiom means. If you want your students to practice using idioms, check out this great example of an idioms handout from the blog ReadLearnTeachLife .   For the assignment, students illustrate an idiom, then use it in a sentence to show they know how to use it. Figurative language can also sometimes be a challenge for students.   Help them out with this YouTube video: Will Ferrell and Figurative Language.   The video is a bit lengthy and may be more appropriate for older viewers; however younger students may appreciate...

ROPE - a Mnemonic for Short Answer Questions I learned about this strategy last year, and I think it would work perfect for constructed response on K-Prep, or even short answer questions.   When students answer a short answer encourage them to do the following in their answers: R—RESTATE the Question O—State their OPINION— or give the answer P—PROVE it—with evidence.   This could be examples or quotes from the text E—EXPLAIN & ELABORATE on how the evidence helps to answer the question. Speaking and Listening Tip - a Mnemonic   When working with students on how to engage in group discussions, this SLANT mnemonic from Mrs. Bongers’ Life in 4B might help. S: Sit up, L: look at the person speaking, A: Act like you Care, N: Nod your head, T: Take turns talking.   You could also give them “Sentence Starters” for discussion. Be sure to check out Life in 4B for ot...

Times Machine—Bring Social Studies to Life! Instead of just reading about the sinking of the Titanic or the end of World War I in your Social Studies text book, send students out to explore what The New York Times was reporting about it.   The Times Machine, part of The New York Times website is set up to allow you to easily travel back in time to September 8, 1851 (the date of the first edition)   through 1922.   The main page of the site has direct links/snapshots of newspapers from some of the most important events covered during those years including the sinking of the Titanic, Lincoln’s assassination and the end of World War I, as well as a “100 years ago today” link.   These pages and stories are available for the general population to peruse. When you click on one of the newspapers, then hover over the story you want to look at, you can click on a link to a PDF of the actua...

These are a list of resources I've shared with my teachers over the last few months for different holidays and events.   Resources for Martin Luther King Jr. Day Martin's Big Words Looking for ways to rejuvenate your discussion about Martin Luther King Jr?   Here are a few resources I’ve come across over the last few weeks that might be useful: Martin’s Big Words — The video of the book read aloud is a Scholastic production found on YouTube.   You may be able to find it in the Scholastic as well. Martin Luther King Jr. Freebies on Teachers Pay Teachers — This freebie is labeled for K-3 and includes an MLK graphic organizer, “I Have a Dream” writing paper, and a January month calendar sheet. Martin’s Big Words: A Not So Wimpy Post — From the Diary of a Not so Wimpy Teacher blog is a great explanation of how one teacher handles such a big topic.   It includes a few embedded videos and resources for...