Celebrating Reading Month with Families! Check out all of the FREE literacy activities at: https://www.ginapepin.com/blank-10-1-1
Did you know that there are FREE early literacy interactive apps available to caregivers, teachers, and families at www.ginapepin.com?
FREE SEL Resources for quick check-in/s and support: https://www.ginapepin.com/_files/ugd/5fe563_dde7da71d3674f06a3764b08ee207c3e.pdf
200 FREE Voices to use with your students, families or friends! Make literacy learning joyful and engaging!
https://www.ginapepin.com/blank-10-1
How do you teach your students how to differentiate between main idea and summaries? I am a fourth grade teacher. We are struggling with the differences other than summaries are longer. The kids are struggling with writing their own main ideas in fiction.
I am working a university on revising/creating a M. Ed. program that is going to be offered for elementary classroom teachers who are interested in becoming master reading teachers. It would be more so for teachers that want to learn more about differentiation, assessments, RTI, MTSS - difficulties vs disabilities, rather than becoming a reading specialist. What areas, topics, competencies would you suggestion be considered?
In lieu of Night of the Notables, which has historically focused too much on white men and has raised concerns about cultural appropriation, we hosted a TEDx Event to give students the opportunity to take on the role of changemakers—a major focus of our civil rights unit. This event allowed them to share their own ideas, passions, and leadership, amplifying diverse voices and meaningful, authentic storytelling.
It was truly inspiring to see these young voices confidently express their unique perspectives and innovations with the world. Rather than looking only to the past, this event empowered students to shape the future. Do other schools also host TEDx Talks? I'd love to see them!
This year our school is using the theme - board games for reading month. We all design and create board games on our classroom doors. We make them interactive so that students and families can enjoy them!
My door is based on the game Mad Gab - and I used the sentences from UFLI to create this fun activity!
March is reading month! This year our reading month theme is - board games! What theme is your school using for reading month? And do you have a family night - if so, what type of evening do you plan with your families?
With some of my second graders, we have been comparing numbers (two and three digit). I created these cards that I printed and laminated to help them. One of the trickiest things about comparing numbers is having students realize that whatever number comes first, that's what you're saying is greater than or less than the next number. We can't just find the largest number.
Since I'm in the land of fractions right now, I thought I'd share my favorite teaching math meme! It honestly never fails! You feel like you've seen all the light bulbs go on and then this happens!
Just bought a copy of Beyond Pizza and Pies -- a professional book about fractions! I dove in yesterday and I'm already excited about what I'm learning.
Has anyone read this? What are your thoughts? Also any other good resources for helping 3rd-5th graders learn fractions? This is an area of weakness across our school!
I started a leadership program through my district in January and one of the videos we had to watch is a Ted Talk called Embrace the Shake. Linked here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrZTho_o_is
One of my biggest take aways is that I don't necessarily have all of the tools, yet, to move into a coaching position, but there are many things I can leverage that I do have so that I can build my strengths. One of them is stepping outside my comfort zone to try new (and sometimes scary) things!
What are some ways you've stepped outside your comfort zone to be a leader inside your school building?
A new (to me anyway!) site that I recently learned about is Youcubed! I have linked specifically the tasks section of this website because there are so many great ideas here for engaging students in real world math experiences. It appears to be for K through 12th grade, which is awesome! (https://www.youcubed.org/tasks/)
Any other amazing math task websites I need to check out that maybe I haven't?
A couple of years ago I taught a GT (Gifted and Talented) group of 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. One thing about gifted students is they love a good project that they can create from scratch. As a way to keeping them engaged, I did some research on passion projects (https://keepemthinking.com/2020/09/discover-the-power-of-passion-projects/ I had a brainstorming sheet I had created, but I cannot find it! This website explains what it is and gives some great ideas on how to get started.) My students absolutely took this and ran with it. At the end of testing season, they explained their projects (attached picture is one of pure joy!) and the students were in awe of each other. It was one of my favorite days of teaching ever!
During Black History Month, I encourage the students to research other influential African- Americans than just the ones that are most studied. I ask the students to find local individuals who have made an impact. Florida has a rich history of African American contributions. To that, I also encourage the teachers to teach Black History all year long, after all, all the history of African Americans did not happen only in the month of February.
