Common Core, Writing, Research, & Technology

Are you wondering how to incorporate technology as listed in the ELA Common Core State Standards?  Try Animoto.  Remember, in the early years, using digital media is with guidance and support.  Let your children take pictures of your research project along the way.  When you are finished, use Animoto to make a video of the learning that took place.  It's a great way to create a timeline of learning while using digital media.  Click HERE to learn more about Animoto.  You can use it from your computer or there is an app for it too.

Making an Avatar

Wow! That was a lot of fun to make. Actually, I made quite a few different ones just playing around. You can choose from animals, smiley faces, people, cartoon characters and many other choices. I wish my hair looked like hers:-) You can even choose holiday theme Avatars too. You can choose a talking heart for Valentines Day. I really think this would be a great way of getting our students' attention or a new way to review or even teach procedures. There are many ideas on how to use Voki in the classroom on their website. Click HERE to check out Voki.

Literacy Alive & The Common Core

Today's post is at the heart of my teaching.  I've been doing this in my classroom for over 12 years, and I would have to say it 's had the biggest impact for my students whether I was teaching kindergarten or 1st grade.  I called the whole process Literacy Alive because I highlight a student each day and do literacy activities around that student's name.  It is currently being used in many schools throughout the United States, and I present on it frequently.  I was working on a packet for Teachers Pay Teachers when another blogger Peace Love & Kindergarten wrote about how much it helped her students.  I guess that is called perfect timing.

Here are some pictures of my students and other classrooms that use this program.  If you want to get your students motivated to learn, this program integrates many of the Common Core State Standards for learning letters/sounds, phonological awareness, phonics, sight words, and concepts of space (spacing, punctuation, and capital letters). And it just takes 15 minutes a day.

Students sign the chart everyday using "Smelly Markers."

I model correct spacing of words, capital letters, stretching out sounds,  learning our letter sounds and sight words.

Depending on the age of the student, they get the chart ready to go.

We interview each other with our Questions of the Day.

We used a megaphone to ask our questions until we received a "real" class microphone.

We post our Questions of the Day on our Smart Board.  Before we had a Smart Board, we posted them on a chart in the room.

We do this activity in the morning as a twist to morning meeting.  Instead, we focus on individual students.  As the children are ready, they begin writing the "Happy Talk" for their friends.

We have 6 rounds of Questions.  A "round" is what it takes to highlight a student using the same questions.  When we finish, we start another round.  This chart is from a teacher who uses the program in her classroom.  She calls them Super Hero Leaders of the Day.  They wear superhero capes.  Some teachers call them Star Students.  Others call them Student of the Day.  

My students like to cheer for the Student of the Day at the end.  We make up motions that go with our cheer.  Enjoy this short clip of their cheering.

I just completed a teaching resource lesson guide to my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.  It is a year-long map for incorporating this program in your classroom along with some very cute whole class books to make with your students.

Click HERE to view this packet on Teachers Pay Teachers.  Also click HERE to get a FREE Cheer Book that complements this program.

One Month Later We Remember

I started my blog in December of 2011.  My plan was to dedicate a week in December to celebrating my one year anniversary of starting a blog.  Instead, as a nation, we mourned the loss of many innocent children and their teachers in a senseless shooting that forever changed how we view our roles as early childhood teachers.  I was speechless, sitting in dismay at the unthinkable.  I couldn't even think of words that week to write in my blog, much less celebrate.  Actually, I went several weeks without posting because I couldn't find the right words that would sum up how I felt about all of the lives that were lost.

You see, as early childhood teachers, we are always the "protectors" of our young students.  We are constantly looking out for their well-being.  We are proactive in searching for areas that might be of concern to their safety.  We tend to scraped knees, bruised elbows, and broken hearts.  We are with them when they are sick, tired, and hungry.  We buy school supplies for our students.  We buy books for our students. We provide clothing, coats, and backpacks for our students who need them. We work diligently to ensure they have a safe, nurturing environment to thrive in both academically and socially. And we routinely practice all of the required drills and problem-solve what we would do if the unthinkable were to happen.  But truly we were innocent to what other teachers in middle schools, high schools, and universities across the United States have faced.  We were innocent.  On December 14, 2012, that innocence was taken away.  And I just wanted to say one month later, I still remember.  For every students' name that was read on the television and for every picture that was shown, I could name a student in my classroom who had similar qualities both physically and characteristically. Little girls whose favorite colors were pink and purple.  Little boys who loved sports and were enthusiastic about reading and learning.  Students who were natural born leaders. Young children who would greet me at the door every morning and light up the room and my heart with their smiles.

I was asked shortly afterwards to represent teachers in what we do to prepare for such an event on our local television station in Tulsa, OK.  The following is the interview that took place that day.  I really didn't know what I would say or how I would be able to talk about it.  It hit so close to home.  I was an early childhood teacher.  Our students are part of our extended family.  So I brought a piece of my classroom with me.  It is a quilt that was made for me last year by a former parent.  She made me a quilt with an individual square for each child telling what they loved about their teacher.  And for the month of December, I wrapped this blanket around me many times when I sat on the couch. It now stays on my couch. I always planned on hanging it in my teaching office, but never got around to it.  I wanted it to stay beautiful and perfect.  Those plans changed that week. So I clung to my quilt and ask the same questions that everyone else was asking.  Why did this have to happen?  Why were these beautiful children and their teachers lives taken so early?  So one month later, I just wanted to write, "I still remember those beautiful faces and names. I always will.  I will never forget."

Common Core Math Trains 5 & 10

Hi, my name is Kathy Griffin and I am an information hoarder. WHEW!!! Now that it is out, I have decided my New Year's resolution (besides the typical lose weight) will be to start organizing all of my files, templates, games, pictures, newsletters, etc.  I never delete any of my files, and I have taught 15 years.  And with each new computer, I always back everything up and keep saving.  I even have backups of backups.  The good news is that I am going to start sharing as I organize all of the files.  What better way to motivate me than by giving it to you:)

This activity is fun for the students and easy to create for teachers, which is a win-win situation for everyone. I keep my math games in white dish tubs and place the papers, manipulatives, and directions in the tub.  The students have everything they need in one place.  I usually put this game at a table that accommodates 4 (for kindergarten) and 6 (for 1st grade).  I put only the amount of dice needed in the tub.  This helps keep them accountable for the dice.  If someone doesn't put one back, then there is not enough the next time.  TEACHABLE MOMENT!  That's when we talk about appropriate consequences for taking care of our materials.  They get very good at picking up things on the floor when they drop them as they learn that their teacher is not going to replace it.  When we find things on the floor after centers, we put them into a bucket of our "missing manipulatives."  I randomly pick a day when our bucket starts to get full to start adding back to our games.  Works every time!

Click HERE to download these forms.

And the good news is this game correlates with the following Common Core standards for kindergarten.  First grade students need multiple practice with these numbers in building up to the Common Core standards of addition and subtraction within numbers to 20.

• Common Core for Kindergarten Operations & Algebraic Thinking
• Understanding Addition and Subtraction
• CCSS.Math.Content.K.OA.A.2 Solve addition and subtraction word problems, and add and subtract within 10, e.g., by using objects or drawings to represent the problem.
• CCSS.Math.Content.K.OA.A.3 Decompose numbers less than or equal to 10 into pairs in more than one way, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record each decomposition by a drawing or equation (e.g., 5 = 2 + 3 and 5 = 4 + 1).
• CCSS.Math.Content.K.OA.A.4 For any number from 1 to 9, find the number that makes 10 when added to the given number, e.g., by using objects or drawings, and record the answer with a drawing or equation.
• CCSS.Math.Content.K.OA.A.5 Fluently add and subtract within 5.

Have fun working with your students on combinations of 5 & 10. Thanks for stopping by!

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Guided Reading Organization Forms

It's time for New Year's Resolutions.  Who wants to be more organized this year? ME!!! I made this form for my guided reading books.  I always have my notes in my lesson plans, but they are usually out of reach when I need them.  I wanted a quick way to look at the different skills covered in a book.  There are 4 forms on each page.  Cut out the forms and fill in the information about the book.  I put a rubber band around the sheet and my books.  When I pull my books for students the information is ready to go.  I write in the title of the book along with the reading level.  I then list different skills that can be covered from the book in the areas of  PA (Phonemic Awareness/Phonological Awareness), Phonics, Sight Words, Reading Strategies, Comprehension.  I also have a place to put comments.  Now when I pull my books I have a "ready to use" form that saves me time scanning through lesson plans.

Here is what it looks like when it is finished.  This makes it easy for a substitute teacher or teacher's assistant (we can dream:-) to use.

Here is another form that comes in handy for tracking my students growth in letter/sounds, phonemic awareness, and phonics skills.  Copy both sheets back to back and cut on the black lines,  It will make four separate two-sided forms.  Hole punch in the top corner and store them in mini-pocket folders.  Secure them with a ring holder. When I am working with a student and I notice they have mastered a skill, I mark it off on the mini-sheet.  They are small, portable, and easy to move to other groups, as children progress through the different skills. 

 Click HERE to download these forms.

Mini-Pocket Folders - I always have these laying around my classroom and home.  Finally found another use for them:-)

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Sale

I'm having a New Year's Eve sale tonight until midnight. Everything in my store is 20% off. Happy New Year!!! Have a wonderful, safe evening.   

Click HERE to visit my Teachers Pay Teachers' store.

Easy to Make Picture Ornaments

It's that time of year when teachers are busy assessing, getting report cards ready, winding down the 1st semester of school.  But wait . . . we still have Christmas gifts to make for our parents and there is an "app for that."  Have you checked out the Grinch Cam for the iPhone?  You can choose from the different versions of card frames to create "naughty and nice" ornaments by taking your students pictures as the Grinch and then by choosing one of the other choices for the "nice" side.

Here is a great YouTube video I found that walks you through how to take the pictures.  My parents always love them and so do the students.  I print out a small 3x5 photo of both pictures and glue them back to back.  Laminate the cards and then hole punch them to hang on the tree.

 Here is the link to the Grinch Cam app.

If you are a Rudolph fan, there is an app for that too. Click for the Rudolph app.

Have fun taking pictures.  Let the countdown begin.  Thanks for stopping by!

Time for a Sale and for Traveling

It's time for the annual Teachers Pay Teachers Cyber Day Sale.  Actually it will begin on Monday, November 26th and continue through Tuesday, November 27, 2012.  Many sellers are participating including ME!!!  Everything in my store is 20% off and when you enter the code CMT2012 you get an additional 10% off my sale price which equals a 28% discount.  I will be EXTREMELY busy over the next 2 weeks presenting at conferences, but will hopefully get some new pictures on my blog of the ideas I am showing at these conferences.  Here's where I will be:

Great Lakes PreK-3rd Grade Conference - November 26-27, 2012
Illinois Conference for Kindergarten Teachers - November 29-30, 2012
Michigan Conference for Kindergarten Teachers - December 3-4, 2012
New England Conference for PreK-K Teachers - December 7, 2012
Ohio Literacy Conference for K-3rd Grade Teachers - December 10-11

And I will have the privilege of being around some amazing presenters:  Dr. Jean, Kim Adsit, Heidi Butkus, Vanessa Levin, Donna Whyte, and Jack Hartmann along with many other engaging presenters. But most of all, I will be surrounded by awesome, dedicated teachers just like YOU.

If you are attending any of these conferences, I would love to see you at my sessions.

Have FUN shopping and thanks for stopping by.

Teaching Nonfiction Text Features to Young Children

I wrote a blog post last March that continues to drive daily traffic to my blog.  What was it about?  It was titled Teaching Nonfiction Text Features and the Common Core.  Nine months later, I am amazed at how many teachers visit that post and my Pinterest board.  I am a numbers girl, so it got me thinking that this was a need for early childhood teachers.  Thus, I set out on my journey to create a couple of songs, Power Points, and multimedia files along with a specific unit to teach these features.  And after working on this project for at least 3 months, it is ready!

I have included sample pages that show visually how to use these pages in the unit.  Teachers can pick and choose which features to discuss and cover all from the perspective of the students.  And just for fun, I suggest that teachers create a nonfiction text features book about themselves along the way as a model.  And we all know that our students love that.

These are just a few sample pages that are included with this unit.  The students are able to create a nonfiction text feature book about themselves along with creating class books, nonfiction text feature guides, and recording sheets for research or literacy centers.

You have 2 choices of multimedia files and Power Point templates along with 2 mp3 songs.  If you want to add your students information to the Power Points, then finish the sentences and insert the song.  If technology is not your "cup of tea" then you have the option of playing the multimedia files and letting your students use created cue cards to present their information.

I aligned this unit with the Common Core State Standards for 1st and 2nd grade students.  It can be modified to use parts with kindergarten students as it is based on "All About Me" and can be bumped up to add more details for 3rd grade students.

Click HERE to view this product on Teachers Pay Teachers.  If you have any questions, please let me know.

Here is a quick peek at the multimedia files, songs, and Power Points provided in this unit.

Graphics by:
www.thistlegirlsdesigns.com
http://fancydogstudio.com
www.ccteachfirst.blogspot.com

FREE Christmas Emergent Reader Set

I presented at the Tennessee Kindergarten Conference in Nashville on Friday.  We had discussions about the Common Core and teaching our kindergarten students to use capital letters and punctuation in their writing.

To help your young students be successful in using capitalization and punctuation, they must first learn to recognize it. I created 3 book sets to help your students locate capital letters at the beginning of the sentence, including the word "I" along with locating the period at the end of the sentence.  And to make it fun, they get to color their books too.

Young children sometimes need anchor supports to complete these tasks independently.  I created "I Can" cards for each book.  Copy and laminate these cards and place in your literacy center.  Teach your students to refer to the "I Can" cards as a way to teach following directions.

Click HERE to download your FREE copy of these books for your literacy centers.

Thanks for stopping by!

Report Cards and Parent Teacher Conferences

Friday, November 8, 2012 is Fox 23 Day and welcome to the viewers who watched this morning.  The subject of today's segment was "what do parents do with the information they received from their child's report card."

If your child is struggling in any area, you need to meet with your child's teacher (if you haven't already) and come up with a plan of support for your child.  You need specifics on how you can help your child.  If you don't understand the terminology - ask.  Sometimes teachers get caught up in the "school" words or buzz words.  Just politely say - could you explain that to me?  They will appreciate your honesty and it will remind them to break it into more specific parts and to explain it better.  You, your child, and the teacher are a team.  It will take all of you to make the plan work.  If your child knows that you all are a team, he/she will be more successful.

Report cards vary greatly from district to district.  Some districts give a number system or letter system that is assigned to specific standards within a subject.  So instead of receiving an A, B, C, etc. in reading, the standards based report card could be broken down into these standards.

Recognizes high frequency words (sight words).

Use different strategies when coming to unknown words.

  

These strategies could even be separated into:

*Uses picture clues when reading.

*Uses phonics decoding skills when reading.

*Uses context clues when reading (other parts of the sentence, paragraph, etc.) to figure 

out unknown words.

*Reads familiar text fluently (appropriate pace, not to choppy, like natural speaking rhythm).

*Reads familiar text with expression (doesn't sound like a robot with a flat monotone voice) when reading.  This can show the students are comprehending what they are reading.

*Understands what has been read. (This is a comprehension skill.  Some students can read beautifully but when you ask what they just read, they can't tell you.  Or maybe they can't sequence the story or remember details of the story.)

And this is just for reading!  The same applies to math.  There are so many different standards that are within counting, adding, subtracting, multiplication, algebra and all of those typical skills we did when we were in school.

So how can you help your child over the next 6 weeks with all of the holidays coming near?  If your child is struggling, he/she needs to read, read, read.  If your child is not struggling he/she needs to read, read, read.  In order for students to become better readers, they must read everyday.  And the research is out there.  The more they read, the better reader they become.  Your child should be reading a minimum of 20 minutes at home each day.  The goal is to have your child to eventually read for the entire 20 minutes.  But if they are a struggling reader, it may take time to build up to that, so it is fine to take breaks in between. Jog in place, do some jumping jacks, play a follow the leader game and let your child be the leader!  Reading should be a pleasant event with the goal of your child loving to read. 

Children can increase their reading level by listening to their parents read to them.  The more they listen to stories and discuss what is happening, the higher their vocabulary skills become or the more words they become exposed to.  So you, as a parent or family member are crucial to your child's reading success.  Take pride in that fact and find some time during this busy upcoming holiday season to sit down and read with your child.

Children need to use different strategies to learn to read.  Some of them were named in the report card skills above.  The following information is the slide of the song that you heard on television this morning. These are a few strategies to encourage your child to use.  I know that as parents, many of us were taught to "sound it out" to read.  Phonics is an important strategy to use but it is not the first strategy that children use when they read.   The brain searches for patterns and for reading to make sense.  And young children will look at the pictures to figure it out.  That is ok.  We eventually want to build other strategies as more effective ways to read, especially as the texts get harder and there are fewer picture clues. Try using these strategies with your child over the next few weeks.  When they come to a word they don't know, stop and wait for a minute (I know that seems forever) before you rescue them.  Ask them which strategy will help them figure it out.  Go through each strategy with your child.  When my students figure out the "unknown" word, I always ask them which strategy they used.  They need to learn which strategies help them the most.  That is just as important as reading.

You can purchase this multimedia file at Teachers Pay Teachers .  Click HERE for the multimedia file.
Click HERE for the mp3 song version.  

Look at the picture.  (Does that give you any information about what the word could be?)

Skip over it.  (Keep on reading through the rest of the sentence.  Go back and read it again, seeing if you can figure it out this time.)

Get your mouth ready. (What is the first sound of the word that you don't know?  Can you think of a word that would fit there that starts with that sound?  Try and read it with that word and see if it makes sense.)

Look for the chunk. (Do you recognize any part of the word?  Have you seen a word that looks like that it?  If the word is caterpillar, can you read the "cat" and the "pill" part.  Try to read the sentence with those parts and see if that helps.  If the word is lake and you can read cake, can you take the "c" off and add the "l" sound to figure it out?)

Sound it out.  (At this point, I usually say what letter/sound or phonics patterns do you know in this word.  I tell them to slide through the word by saying the sounds.  Some words do not follow the phonics rules (there are many).  Sometimes they need to flip the vowel sound.  If they think it should make the long "e" sound because the word is bread, I have them flip to the short "e" sound and see if they can figure it out.  Ideally, they should be able to figure it out by the previous strategies above."

Does is make sense?  (This is the END result of reading.  Are their choices making sense?  If your child says the wrong word, don't instantly correct them.  (This is HARD for us to do.)   Let them finish the sentence.  Most times they will hesitate and back up to read it again.  PRAISE them for this and tell them that is what good readers do.  If it doesn't make sense, we read it again.

And here is the rhyme that I taught on air today for how to remember if it is a "b" or a "d."  There are many ideas out there for helping with these reversals of letters.  Reversals of these letters are common until 2nd grade. Some use the word "bed" as a way to help children remember with the "b" as the headboard and the "d" as the end of the bed.  Some teach that you can make a "b" with your left hand and a "d" with your right.  This one can be difficult if your child gets confused on left and right. I had a teacher at a conference where I was presenting give me the analogy for the letter "d."  I wish I knew her name so I could give her credit.  If you are that teacher reading this blog - comment at the end, so I can give you credit.  She said that she said the first circle is the door knob and the line is the door.  You can't open the door until you turn the door knob.

So here are the corny rhymes I made up to teach your child.  And yes corny, cheesy, rhyming songs help the brain remember, especially if you add motions/movement with it.

Letter b 

You can't trick me at all.

First the bat, then the ball.

(Use your hands as the visual that the straight line is the bat, and the circle is the ball.)

Letter d

You don't fool me anymore.

First the doorknob, then the door.

Thanks for stopping by!  Become an empowered parent and team member for your child's education.  YOU are one of the most critical ingredients in their recipe of success.  We teachers thank you for your time and investment.  You are greatly appreciated.

Be Nice to the People

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Celiac Disease Awareness Month, and November is Diabetes Awareness Month. That is a lot for one girl to deal with. Yet everyday, my daughter Tessa does, and each day we celebrate her life. All of those things are just a small part of the dancing, singing, watching movies, going bowling, eating at Outback and Chickfila, while hanging out with her friends. She is so much more. Tessa captures our hearts and inspires us to live without complaining or to let those "other things" in life get you down. She is our hero. On Sunday, Tessa was an ambassador at the Tulsa 2012 Buddy Walk. Here's to 20 years of learning life lessons from "our girl." 

For every picture on this collage, there is a personal story attached.  Each picture is special for some pivotal point in Tessa's life.  Some are stories of great success, some are stories of struggles Tessa was facing (even while wearing a smile), and some were turning points in my career.

When Tessa was born, I was heading back to college to complete my teaching degree.  I will never forget that Sunday afternoon when I thought my teaching dream was over, and I would never become a teacher.  Little did I know how much I would learn from Tessa and how much she would impact my own teaching.  What did Tessa teach me?

*She taught me that imagination, hands on activities, and play are the cornerstone foundational pieces for increasing cognitive skills along with increasing language skills.  
*She taught me that it may take a lot of practice and humor before she masters a skill, and I need many motivational activities to help her do it.  
*She taught me that we are teaching, not testing.  Sometimes we get that backwards.
*She taught me that singing helps her retain information.  Put it to a song, and she can remember and recall information with a smile. 
*She taught me that she learns best with real photographs of concepts being taught.  
*She taught me that there are no gray boundaries.  There is only black and white.  Giving into the gray areas makes it hard for her to learn to make appropriate choices.
*She taught me that I can expect her to make appropriate choices on behavior, but I needed to teach her how to get out of a negative situation as much as learning how to prevent one.
*She taught me to think outside the box when trying to reach children who struggle to learn.
*But most importantly, she taught me that it's the little successes in life that are sometimes the most important to families of children with special needs.

I started presenting at conferences when Tessa was 4 years old (picture of her standing holding onto the bars).  I was asked to speak, from a parent perspective, about what I expected from her teachers.  That was also my first year to be a classroom teacher.  It was a small conference with just a few teachers, and I was very nervous doing it. But it changed my life forever and helped lead me down this path of presenting at teacher conferences all over the United States. 

So October is our month of reflection on the different struggles Tessa has faced medically and cognitively.  But it is also a time for celebrating the young lady she has become, and the impact that she will always have on me as a teacher and presenter and on the people that hear her story.

Tessa wants everyone to get along.  She wants everyone to be happy. Whenever her father gets impatient with other drivers, or her mom gets impatient waiting at the pharmacy counter or with people who "just don't get it", she always says the same thing. And instantly, she calms me down.  And in honor of her, I would like everyone to think about the quote that she wants us to all live by, "Be nice to the people." -Tessa

Thanks for stopping by.  Happy Monday to everyone:)

Words Sorts and Reading

I am a HUGE word sort fan. I believe word sorts help children make sense of a sometimes unpredictable English language. Since our brains like to look for patterns and order, word sorts help children notice how words are the same and how they are different. And I feel they are more effective when the students already have the cards ready to sort instead of having to do a cut and paste activity.  We want children to use their time sorting and reading not cutting and pasting.

I made a new Monster Word Sort Games packet just in time for the last 2 weeks of October.  And yes, I did put it to a song with the tune : 10 Little Indians.  Click on the picture to see the words to the song.  It's very simple but will help teach the skill of sorting.  Always focus on how they are the same.  Then focus on how they are different.

This packet includes activities for whole group, guided reading or small groups, and independent literacy centers.  

Pictures of some of the activities.  There are 56 cards  (same color within word family) and 56 cards (mix colors within word family) included to sort along with sorting mats and a recording sheet to apply the skill.  Choose which cards will work best with your students' age and reading ability.  

To purchase the 70 page resource, click HERE.  The graphics are by: www.thistlegirldesigns.com

I also included the Common Core State Standards for ELA Reading Foundations for Kindergarten and 1st Grade Phonological Awareness and Phonics.

Thanks for stopping by.  We are having fall break in our state starting today.  Hurray for fall!  And it actually is starting to feel like it.

Tell Me More About the Common Core

Hello to the Fox 23 viewers visiting my blog today.  What's today's topic?  We are discussing the Common Core State Standards.  The Common Core  initiative is a state led coordination by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practice and the Council of Chief State School Officers.  These standards were adopted in 2010 with a projected date of being fully implemented during the 2014-2015 school year.  Each state/district/school has set their own timeline for implementing these standards ensuring their school is ready by 2014.  So what this means is that your child's school has already begun to develop and implement these standards in the classroom while many are providing teachers with professional development, training, and collaboration time to align their teaching with these standards.

The standards are not a curriculum, but rather a clear set of goals and expectations for what knowledge and skills our students will need to be college and workplace ready.  Think of them as steps on a staircase where skills seamlessly build upon each other so there are no gaps in learning.

As a parent and educator, it's great to have tools to help us navigate this newer terminology. And with technology - comes the tools.  If your preference is to have the standards and information at your fingertips, check out the FREE Common Core Apps for the iPhone or iPad and Android below.  If you prefer to view items on your desktop computer, visit the Common Core State Standards website below or look on the right side of this blog and click on the Common Core gray bar.

For more information on the Common Core App for the iPad or iPhone click HERE.

For more information on the Common Core App for the Android click HERE

To visit the Common Core State Standard website click HERE.

You can search by grade level and subject area.  You have all of the Common Core standards from K-12 right at your fingertips.  If you have a child who is struggling on a 1st grade level, click on the same heading under kindergarten to see what prerequisites are needed to build up to this skill.  If you have a child who is ahead of the skills you are teaching in 1st grade, click on the same heading under 2nd grade to see what you can do to bump it up a level.  Think of it as a way to differentiate instruction.

So let's take a look at one area of Language Arts and see how it fits on the "staircase" of learning.

All children and adults have "opinions." Writing an opinion piece is now part of the Common Core State Standards.  Instead of introducing it in 5th grade, expecting them to master all 4 of the higher level thinking skills needed to write an opinion paper, we are providing young children the opportunity and exposure to learn this standard in a developmentally appropriate way in kindergarten.  How many times has one of your children or your students given you an opinion about something?  Probably all of you have experienced this.  So I am going to break it down and apply it to:

Common Core State Standards under Language Arts Writing

Text Types and Purposes

Kindergarten
1. Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose opinion pieces in which they tell a reader the topic or the name of the book they are writing about and state an opinion or preference about the topic or book (e.g., My favorite book is…).

First Grade 

1. Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure.

Second Grade

1. Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.

Third Grade

1. Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.

a.  Introduce the topic or text they are writing about, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure that lists reasons.

b. Provide reasons that support the opinion.

c.  Use linking words and phrases (because, therefore, since, for example) to connect opinion and reasons.

d.  Provide a concluding statement or section.

Fourth Grade

1.  Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.

a.  Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create and organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writer's purpose.

b.  Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details.

c.  Link opinion and reasons using words and phrases (for instance, in order to, in addition).

d.  Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.

Fifth Grade

1.  Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.

a.  Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer's purpose.

b.  Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details.

c.  Link opinion and reasons using words, phrases, and clauses (consequently, specifically).

d.  Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.

And you can continue all the way up through 12th grade seeing how each skill builds upon the other.

So what can be some topics to help your children learn about writing opinion pieces.  Consider the many times your students or your own children ask you these questions.

  

1.  I need an iPhone.

2.  I need a dog.

3.  Can I spend the night with my friend?

4.  I want _________ for Christmas.

5.  Can we have extra recess?
6.  Can I go to the movies with my friends?

Using the standards above, get your children talking about their opinion or question.  Talking and verbalizing their thoughts is the first step to getting them writing.  Writing is an organizational tool adults need in their everyday lives.  Yes, you may end up with some lawyers on your hands, but that is what the Common Core is about . . . preparing our children for college and the workplace.

Here is a video that a first grade class made about Mo Willem's pigeon series books.  I think they did a great job giving their opinions on why the pigeon should be the principal.

Watch Don't Let the Pigeon Be the Principal

Mo Willems' Pigeon books are fantastic for learning about opinions and supporting details/reasons for doing things.  His books are very comical, dramatic, and theatrical as to why the pigeon should get to do something.  And if you want to meet Mo Williems in person, he will be in Tulsa on November 16, 2012, 7 p.m. at Central Library, Fourth Street and Denver Avenue to speak, answer questions, and sign copies of his books. 

Click HERE for a link to Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus at Amazon Books.

Thanks for stopping by.  Check back soon and follow my blog to learn more ideas about the Common Core State Standards.

Authors: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers
Title: Common Core State Standards (insert specific content area if you are using only one)
Publisher: National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, Council of Chief State School Officers, Washington D.C.
Copyright Date: 2010

Monster Reading & Math Fun

I love this time of year.  It's time for parent-teacher conferences, the children are settling into their routines, the weather is getting cooler, and next week is FALL BREAK.  I LOVE FALL!

One of my favorite units to do with my students is "Monsters."  We read all kinds of silly monster books, sing monster songs, and play monster games.

I've created a Monster Reading & Math Fun activity packet just in time for the festivities that await us during the last 2 weeks of October.  Our little ones are excited about Halloween, so this activity pack will fit right in with all of the fall fun.

 I've created 2 new books that should be easy to remember.  Monsters Everywhere is to "Oh My Darling Clementine."  This book has 2 sizes.  One 8 1/2 X 11 for whole group reading and a 1/2 size book for the children to put in their book boxes or to use as homework reading.  You can print the 1/2 size books front to back to save paper and print in grayscale to save on the color ink.  The other book is Our Silly Monster Book which is sung to "The Farmer in the Dell."  You can see a copy of my cute great-niece and great-nephew making their "BOO! Faces for my book.  The clip art is from www.thistlegirldesigns.com  

I included a craft activity that focuses on shapes.  The students may use the monster pattern or they may create their own monster out of the shapes pages.  We used dot markers to paint our monsters.  If you use dot markers, make sure to copy the monster template on card stock.  Regular copy paper will curl when used with dot markers.  You can also copy the monster template on colored construction paper or card stock to make a bright bulletin board.  Use the words from Our Silly Monster book to place on the bulletin board.  The children will enjoy lifting the monsters' faces to reveal a picture of themselves.

I love to use pocket charts for building sentences and learning concept of print.  The cards for the pocket chart are color-coded to help young emergent readers build the sentences. The art activity can be made using the monster template or there is a blank sheet for the students to design their own monster.  Use the words from Our Silly Monster to highlight your bulletin board.  What fun for parents to open the monsters and see their children making "Boo Faces."   

BOO! It's me!

BOO!  It's me!

Click HERE  to view Monster Reading & Math Fun.

Thanks for stopping by.

Noise Level Control Anchor Chart

Ever have those days when the children just seem really loud?  You think to yourself . . . Full moon?  Barometric pressure?  Not enough caffeine?  No they are just loud.

This is a procedure I use in my classroom that includes a chant, motions, and a visual representation of what our voice level should be for different times of the day.

I start the chant by saying, "We're up here!"  And I put my hands up in the air.
The children then put their hands at the level they should be for the subject/activity and say, "We need to be here."

Outside Recess - Our voices are loud and we raise our hands above our heads to show that is the loudest our voice is.

Math Centers - Noise level is children busy, manipulatives quietly moving, but there is discussion amongst each other. Our hands are straight out in front of our shoulders representing our voice and noise level.

Literacy Centers or Reader's Workshop - Noise level is quietly working, on-task, whispering amongst each other as we complete our tasks.   Our hands go out by our knees representing where our voice and noise level should be.  The teacher needs to be able to hear the children who are working at the guided reading table.

Group Time - Noise level is off and we are using attentive listening.  Our hands point to the floor representing the lowest level of voice/noise level which is quiet - no talking.

This is the same version but just on a smaller one sheet chart.  I keep it close by to refer to as needed.

This is what it looks like on the wall.  I print the cards and tape them to a ribbon and hang from the wall.  I will sometimes have the student who is struggling the most stand by this wall and lead the chant.  And of course I always throw in my favorite quote from the Cat in the Hat:
Teacher:  It's fun to have fun.
Students:  But you have to know how.

Want a FREE copy of these cards/charts?  Click HERE to get them on my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Kathy Griffin (c)  Copyright 2012  Graphics by www.thistlegirlsdesign.com &  teachersclipart.com

Thanks for stopping by.  Click to the top right to follow my blog.  I have two projects that are oh so close to being finished.  Hoping to post one tomorrow just in time for fall.