We have been diving into nonfiction over the past few weeks with a unit on colonial America.  One of the key things we have been looking at are how various text structures contribute to the reader's overall understanding of the text. Each time we read a nonfiction text, whether it be in the social studies book or out of a trade book or periodical, we stopped for a second to acknowledge the text features and make note of what they were helping us, as a reader, understand. As a whole, the class decided that pictures with captions and headings were the most helpful in giving us information that we would make the text a bit clearer.  So, when the students were in the process of writing an informational article about one of the colonial regions, we decided to include those two text features. First, the students researched one of the three colonial regions found in the early days of English settlement.  They used multiple sources and created several prewriting organizers to gathe...
One thing that I am finding I have to spend a lot more time going over now is measurement conversions.  In the past, I would touch upon it, but since it wasn't a key standard, my in depth study of it was limited, to say the least.  But now, with SBAC looming and conversions being SUCH a big part of all of the released questions, I am finding myself really diving into this skill. Knowing the actual units of measure doesn't seem to be a problem for my students.  But it is making the conversions that are proving a problem.  The actual math itself (multiplying or dividing) isn't the issue.  It is knowing *when* to use the correct operation that is tricky. SO..... I came up with this little gesture "trick" that we have been using to help the kids remember what to do. If the unit of measure that is being converted is BIGGER than the unit being converted to, the students put their hands over their head and create a multiplication sign.  They then know to multiply...
For quite some time, I have had this teeny little bulletin board hung up by my library.  I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it since school began, but just have been too lazy busy to put it up.  I FINALLY finished it, and wanted to share it with you! It is my Read Aloud Spotlight board! The idea is simple.  The current read aloud book is spotlighted so that anyone walking into our room knows just what book we are reading.  I have the name of the book (in this case Wonder by RJ Palacio) showcased under a "spotlight".  I then have the cover of the book stapled up and a little area designated for our current chapter and some thoughts.  Each day, I wipe off the vis-a-vie marker and write the latest chapter.  I then have one student volunteer write their thoughts on the book so far.  The kids really enjoy this part.  I find that they are listening *extra* hard just so they have something valuable to write on the sticky note! (not that they didn't listen before...