All The Small Thingks

A notebook to document my thoughts through my learning and teaching journey.

[allthesmallthingks]

So after @donalynbooks The Book Whisperer, you should read @JSerravallo 's Reading Strategies Book and @janmillburk @kimyaris Who's Doing the Work?

[allthesmallthingks]

[allthesmallthingks]

Getting ready for another Academic Year with notebooks that make me happy.

[allthesmallthingks]

As a coach you can't just say, "Well, I'll be effective with the teachers who have growth mindset.

Orin Gutlerner

[allthesmallthingks]

Winnie-the-Pooh beats Harry Potter in best-loved book character poll

The bumbling bear has seen off the boy wizard in a survey to find the UK’s favourite character from childhood reading

The full list of characters voted on, in order of popularity: Winnie-the-Pooh Harry Potter George, The Famous Five Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit Matilda Lucy, The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe The Cat in the Hat Spot the Dog Charlotte, Charlotte’s Web Tracey Beaker Mog, Meg and Mog Babar the Elephant The Little Prince Arrietty, The Borrowers Willie, Goodnight Mister Tom Stanley, Flat Stanley Babe, The Sheep Pig Lyra, Northern Lights Grace, Amazing Grace Hannah, Gorilla

[allthesmallthingks]

Drill, baby, drill? Study finds worksheets, practice improve...

A new study finds traditional math instruction – what many folks call “drill and kill” – is more effective in helping young children struggling in math than group work, peer tutoring or hands-on activities that use manipulations, calculators, movement and music.

‘A new study finds traditional math instruction – what many folks call "drill and kill" – is more effective in helping young children struggling in math than group work, peer tutoring or hands-on activities that use manipulations, calculators, movement and music.’ Thoughts?

[allthesmallthingks]

It's time to go back and pick up the crew.

[allthesmallthingks]

PD for Reading

So, I’m going to put together a PD program for teachers in school. I’m going to put together all that I learned these past few months and unpack it for the teachers so they get a review on how students read and what tools are available for us to help our students read. It might spark conversations on differentiated learning (reading skills and strategies), and hopefully lead us into writing next year. I’m excited but also a little overwhelmed.  Has anyone else done this? Any advice?

[allthesmallthingks]

I'm currently thinking of presenting research on how we read, how we learn to read, how all that translates into a vision of how our classrooms should look like - then I ask the teachers to choose a book to read (from a predetermined list) then come back and share with the team how we can use what's in the book to make our vision a reality. I'm thinking of maybe a 6-month long initial program with follow-up through the year. I'd appreciate your thoughts and advice as to how my teachers have a higher chance of buying-in/investing themselves into the decisions we'll make as a team.

[allthesmallthingks]

Learning happens whenever there is an active participation from the child.

Dr Vincent Goetry

[allthesmallthingks]

You as a teacher have a central role to play so that all the children in your classroom feel recognized at school.

Dr Vincent Goetry

[allthesmallthingks]

Statistics show that there really is a strong relationship between reading abilities and feeling of well-being.

Dr Vincent Goetry

[ohsnix]

What's one new thing you're excited about trying next year?

For me, I’m redecorating my classroom and although that’s pretty lame sounding, I’m working on flexible seating and student choice in that, so I’m pumped. Flexible seating has a lot of support/ideas in Elementary, but it’s rarer in HS.

What about you? 

[gameswithfisch]

JUDO MATH! … It sounds rad

[dudeinthestacks]

Assigning class jobs 

[spaghettimaestra]

Getting a bigger classroom and utilizing that space for labs/activities and enjoying more wall space!

[deuxportmanteau]

I’m hoping *still have to talk to co-planner* about a complete overhaul and teaching science using modeling. 

[artedish]

Gurrl, you’re going to scare him. But I think that’s AWESOME!!!

I’m excited to have 3 years worth of units outlined and ready to go. I’m reading this book designed for teens about the AIDS crisis and I’m debating writing a social justice unit using the book as the anchor text…

[andimtheteacher]

New reading program structure in my district means a new reading class that’s truly designed to support kids- getting very excited about texts to use for read alouds and discussion. Kinda geeking out.

[thesekidsarestillkillingme]

Two things: Being Activities Director- (also a thing I am terrified of) And FINALLY HAVING TABLES INSTEAD OF DESKS. (It took a decade).

[allthesmallthingks]

A reading program for all levels.  Started with the one-hour sacred reading time. Now integrating proper conferencing within that window.

[allthesmallthingks]

PD for Reading

So, I’m going to put together a PD program for teachers in school. I’m going to put together all that I learned these past few months and unpack it for the teachers so they get a review on how students read and what tools are available for us to help our students read. It might spark conversations on differentiated learning (reading skills and strategies), and hopefully lead us into writing next year. I’m excited but also a little overwhelmed.  Has anyone else done this? Any advice?

[allthesmallthingks]

[allthesmallthingks]

Less stressful and more in line with a growth mind set.

[thesnicketfile]

Lemony Snicket's Advice on Writing a Nice Thank-You Note

1. Do not start with the thank you.

2. Start with any other sentence. If you first say, “Thank you for the nice sweater,” you can’t imagine what to write next. Say, “It was so wonderful to come home from school to find this nice sweater. Thank you for thinking of me on Arbor Day.”

3. Then you’re done.

I recommend learning how to write a very good thank-you note. A child who can write a nice thank-you note can turn into a cocaine dealer five years later and be remembered as the child who wrote nice thank-you notes.

[allthesmallthingks]

This story never grows old.