resource.teacher.

I am a DC public school teacher. This blog focuses not on policy (though it may come up), but rather on sharing resources useful for teachers in DC (and hopefully other places too).

[resourceteacher]

I Can't Answer These Texas Standardized Test Questions About My Own Poems

When I realized I couldn’t answer the questions posed about two of my own poems on the Texas state assessment tests (STAAR Test), I had a flash of panic ...

This article provides a unique perspective on standardized testing - from an author who’s work is used as a passage on the Texas literacy test.

When I am asked about the Common Core, the first thing I try to highlight is that the tests and the standards are not the same thing and they are not even created by the same people. When you look at a standardized test, it is a company’s interpretation of the standards. This is important. Is there an issue with the test OR the standards OR both? The distinction between test and standards matters.

I recommend reading it and exploring the links she provided to support her position. 

[resourceteacher]

Mathematics is the art of explanation.

The Mathematician’s Lament (Quoted in Seeing Struggling Math Learners as ‘Sense Makers,’ Not ‘Mistake Makers’)

I have just been introduced to Mind/Shift and am catching up on all of it!

[resourceteacher]

11 Free Reading Websites for Kids | Teacher's Lounge Blog | Really Good Stuff®

This is a great post with some really useful websites for students to use for reading on the computer. Some I already use like Tumblebooks but others are new to me and are fantastic (like We Give Books)!

I’ll be using my generic book report templates to have students respond to each book they read!

[resourceteacher]

Why America’s obsession with STEM education is dangerous

Innovation is not simply a technical matter but rather one of understanding how people and societies work, what they need and want. 

Really interesting article. The fact is so much focus has been on math and literacy that science and social studies have largely been ignored in elementary schools (since I’ve been teaching at least). There has been a recent focus on STEM education, which is a great thing. It’s not enough though. A balanced curriculum in primary grades is important for students to learn what they are passionate about. It’s not enough to simply say, “Social studies can be integrated into the literacy block.” Yes, these subject areas are strongest when they are integrated but teachers should be trained on how to teach all subjects well AND those topics should be valued when deciding how to divide up instructional time. Integrating social studies with literacy and math with science is no easy feat. It requires time and a strong understanding of the entire breadth of content - not to mention resources.

[resourceteacher]

Schools have consequently endeavored to teach children how to read and write at younger and younger ages, but Bell says that’s problematic because children mature and learn at very different rates. It also steals time away from more developmentally appropriate activities for young children.

The Atlantic

Really interesting article - How Spelling Keeps Kids from Learning.

[resourceteacher]

New and improved guided math template!

You can download it for only $1 on my Teachers Pay Teachers page!

I've been struggling to structure my guided math lessons in a similar manner to my guided reading lessons (because guided reading has been going so well!). So I created this document which focuses on math practices, math skills, and math questioning. I'm using this along with the vertical math standards document I created.

I'll be updating more about guided math throughout this year!

[resourceteacher]

It's Parent Teacher Conference Time!

This year it's been challenging to engage parents in Academic Parent Teacher Team meetings. In the past I've had these meetings after school a few times a year but parents this year are not yet interested in staying after school for these meetings.

So, instead I am having APTT meetings during our parent teacher conference day. Parents had the choice of 4 group meeting times with an optional 5 minute one-on-one conference after the APTT meeting. I'm hoping this introduction to APTT will get them engaged so we can have them more often.

This link is to the presentation for parents about our class's data. The data in this one is made up but closely resembles the distribution of grades I've had the last four years.

In addition to the presentation, I make folders (pictured above) for each parent with their student's individual data in math and reading as well as a Reading A-Z book on that student's level (in Spanish too if necessary).

[resourceteacher]

This year I’ve been learning about Proprioceptive Input Activities (aka Heavy Work activities).

I have two students who are constantly disrupting the class by walking around, jumping, moving things around, making noises, etc. Heavy work activities are starting to give these students an outlet for their energy and a place to focus it all.

Not all of these activities can work in a classroom setting. And of course, there’s the fear of it just being “another thing for them to throw.” Nonetheless, I’ve incorporated several of these heavy work activities in my classroom:

Push the wall (pictured above) - the hand prints are taped to the wall, students put there hands on the prints and push to try to move the wall

Stress balls

Wiggle seats

Pencil sharpening

I’ve created special corners in the room for the two students who need these activities the most. All the materials are located in these spaces and students must go to those areas to use them (with the exception of the wiggle seats). 

While many of their behaviors are far from being under control, I’ve seen improvement since starting these activities. It’s been fascinating to see which students gravitate to which heavy work activity and how they use it to help themselves. 

[resourceteacher]

States Are Prioritizing Prisons Over Education, Budgets Show

If state budget trends reflect the country's policy priorities, then the U.S. currently values prisoners over children, a new report suggests. A report released this week by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows that the growth of stat...

Priorities. 

Also, the report highlights states with the highest prison populations and notes, "Ten states had incarceration rates above 500 prisoners per 100,000 residents in 2013: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas." That's crazy.

[resourceteacher]

DCPS uses the Wilson Fundations curriculum for phonics instruction in grades K-2. My students all need extra practice with these phonics rules as most are unprepared for the level 2 curriculum. 

Here is an activity for practicing "glued" or welded sounds. I write the word on the back of the picture cards so students can check their spelling.

[resourceteacher]

Why Poor Schools Can’t Win at Standardized Testing

While huge companies make millions of dollars on standardized testing... 

Urban teachers have a kind of underground economy, Cohen explained. Some teachers hustle and negotiate to get books and paper and desks for their students. They spend their spare time running campaigns on fundraising sites like DonorsChoose.org, and they keep an eye out for any materials they can nab from other schools. Philadelphia teachers spend an average of $300 to $1,000 of their own money each year to supplement their $100 annual budget for classroom supplies, according to a Philadelphia Federation of Teachers survey.

[resourceteacher]

Common Core Standards IN SPANISH!!!

This is an awesome resource, great for communicating with parents during conferences and newsletters!

[resourceteacher]

As teachers actually take very little vacation over the summer and opt to plan for the upcoming year, this is a great resource for curriculum mapping and planning for Common Core.

[resourceteacher]

Math Missions!

My latest 'project' is creating quality math performance tasks. Now that the year is coming to an end these are great to help students practice skills, remind them of skills we learned a long time ago, and challenge them to think outside the box.

Here's a link to a free one. You can buy the whole set of 4 money tasks here.

[resourceteacher]

Dr. James Banks, a renowned expert in social studies and multicultural education, states "The world's greatest problems do not result from people being unable to read and write. They result from people in the world-from different cultures, races, religions, and nations-being unable to get along and to work together to solve the world's intractable problems." By replacing anxiety about religion with a thoughtful strategy for promoting students' religious literacy, educators are taking a step towards a better world.

Four Reasons You Should Teach Religion in School

It's a compelling argument though a scary idea when thinking of how it could actually be done. 

[resourceteacher]

Check out my latest product on Teachers Pay Teachers:

Syllable Match Game - Closed Syllables and Vowel Consonant E Syllables

I teach Wilson Learning's Fundations phonics program. This game was designed to reinforce student knowledge of different syllable types and how they can be combined in multisyllabic words. I use it as a small group word work station with my students.

[resourceteacher]

D.C. Moves To Extend School Day At Low-Performing Schools

Last night Mayor Gray discussed the plan to extend the school day for the 40 lowest performing schools in D.C. - this includes the school at which I currently teach.

In her email today to teachers, the chancellor assumed that when teachers say we “more time” it means more time with students and not more time for collaborating, planning, organizing, developing, etc. The idea of having to teach another hour without the appropriate time to plan and prepare will just lead to more poor results and many disgruntled (and tired) teachers and students.