Year-Round Homework

Homework is one topic that seems to have mixed reactions.  To Give or Not To Give?  If you are like me, Homework (or Home Learning) is a requirement. 

At a workshop on Effective Teaching Strategies led by Dr. Robert Marzano in 2011, a group of professionals was asked to discuss the topic of homework in which became heated.  I can understand why so many are opposed.  Many teachers assign homework just as a means of busy work, no thoughtful connections are being made to lessons taught in the classroom.  However, many (like myself) work hard to think through the content that is sent home.  I ensure all work is an extension of our standards.  I find my students are more apt to complete the assignment with a high level of engagement because homework is used to reinforce what was taught in my class.

To ensure expectations are clear, I prepare an example of how I wish for homework to be set up each week.  The kids simply complete an assigned question on notebook paper.  I follow the model of centers by sending home a question for each content area the following week of instruction.  Due to practice within our learning community, I expect most are able to complete the assignment independently.  One component to our Home Learning is to read and explain the assigned homework.  Since reading is on Monday, I would read the question and clarify expectations with the kids at the closing of the workshop.  At the end of the day, I allow students 10 minutes of "me time".  This can be a time for students to work on unfinished projects, read from their book pouch, or complete homework.  I encourage students to work their home learning assignment.  No one ever stated homework should be completed alone at home.  Some of the most meaningful discussion has come from student led conversations.  Another bonus... the resources from lessons taught are readily available. 

Checking folders is an important component to my week.  This is a time where I like to write a little commentary for the kids to read. Something quick but meaningful.  They sure do get a kick out of reading my messages.  By the end of the year, I have some responding and asking questions on their own.

My homework packet is designed for 12 months.  I include 9 months of core standards in ELA/Math and National Science Standards.  By the 10th month, I include step up questions for the next grade.  The 11th/12th months are created with a summer theme is usually a cross between review and step up questions.  To ensure you are listing content to fit your pacing needs, I've added editable calendars so that you an type the content in the order that fits your progression! 

In addition to yearly content, my packet includes the 1st 100 Dolch Sight Words.  The Dolch word list is complied of the most frequently used English words.  Why are sight words so important?  Confidence and reading ability improve when children know Dolch sight words.  Dolch words are service words which are necessary for understanding sentences.  Many of these words cannot be sounded out by decoding rules or use of pictures, for example: if, do, am, for, as, so, be.

I include word lists for each month but encourage you to move students based on their individual growth.  In my class, you will find sight word rings with each list.  Students can begin practicing reading and writing as they flip through their lists.  At the start of each month, I assess the words and send home a copy of the assessment so parents are informed of words needing attention.  If a child is progressed beyond the list, I send home the following list of words.  Kids in my class could be a different places depending upon their ability level.

Kindergarten example...

First Grade...

Due to the change in resources and districts, I have not created 2nd grade.  I do plan to create one in the near future!

Interactive Science Jouurnals

Interactive journals, better known as interactive notebooks, are widely used in classroom. If you were to walk in mine today, you would see interactive journals for reading, math, and science. The purpose behind interactive journaling is to keep students organized and assist in synthesizing lessons taught. It’s common to see vocabulary, notes, graphic organizers, and reflections. Overall, interactive journals are one of many important components to promote student learning!

 

I created the journals to meet my former district expectations, including a student and teacher side of the journal. Each district is different and many have specific expectations. Mine is no exception to the rule. I currently teach off the gradual release. One page from this file can be stretched over several lessons. It’s not intended to complete both teacher and student portions in one day. Expect to work on the teacher side for several lessons before the student side is addressed as an informal assessment.

 



 Space/Technology Science is available in the bundle

 

I worked to complete science journals for Physical Science, Earth Science, Space/Technology Science, and Life Science throughout this past school year.  Each are available as a separate download or bundled today for a 20% discounted price. 

Here are a few examples of my files in use this past year...

 

  Bottom left picture isn't a component in my journals.

 

 

 

My kids were over-the-moon about taking their journals home at the end of the year.  I was floored by the feedback from one of my parents.  Her comments brought me to tears.  She mentioned her son (the sibling of my student) brought home a journal that was challenging to read and understand.  I can relate.  Over the years, I've had a hard time understanding journals, too.  We've all seen the child that without guidelines manages to write their words in circles.  I do appreciate those kids but having a uniformed response makes checking for understand a little easier.  With my interactive journals, the kids are keeping a table of contents, numbering pages daily, gluing in content focus, and interacting under coordinating flaps.  Organization happens naturally.  With a little instruction at the start of the year, kids understand the expectations within weeks.

Bean Thirteen by Matthew McEllicott

I just had to join Deanna for her Book Talk Tuesday this week.  I found a new book in Vegas at the exhibitor hall and couldn't be more excited about the possibilities of integrating social studies, math, and language.  The book is entitled Bean Thirteen by Matthew McElligott!

 

 

Bean Thirteen tackles early childhood math with superstition and humor.  This picture book is full of dialogue between the main characters, Ralph and Flora.  After picking 12 beans, Flora decides to pick a 13th bean.  Ralph is convinced this is unlucky!!! 

 

 

In preparation for a fair share, Ralph and Flora separate the beans only to find that 13 won't separate into even piles.

 

 

Ralph is adamant he won't eat the 13th bean.  Thinking quick, Flora invites her friend April.  Certainly, a fair share can be made!  But, no success! Flora says, "That is odd".  What a great place to discuss the meaning of odd and even!!!!!

 

 

Determined not to give up, Flora and Ralph invite over another friend and make an attempt at a fair share with four piles but...

 

 

No matter the groupings, Flora and Ralph continued to be surprised at the challenges to divide the beans into equal groups.  Can you hear the math?!?  Intermediate grades can easily introduce prime numbers, explore number strings, or introduce division!!!

Oh me, oh my!  I'm on the edge of my seat and eager to see how this night is going to end, but I'm leaving the conclusion for a surprise... 

 

Not only does this book explore math concepts and vocabulary, you can explore diversity with the different bug friends invited to dinner, family style dinning which is rare these days, and how fair doesn't always mean exactly the same which can be a tough concept for our kidlets!

 

I could have easily picked up this book and felt like I scored, but I needed the storytelling puppets and pieces to help interact with this gem of a story. 

The set includes Flora and Ralph beetle puppets and 13 felt beans.  Read the book with a little animation or have kids reenact the events.  Manipulate beans when introducing the division of beans during the read aloud or have kids manipulate at centers.  No matter which way you interact, I'm certain the storytelling pieces will be a favorite for your darlings.

 

Another magnificent tool I picked up at this booth was the storage pouch.  I can place the book and felt pieces inside the plastic zippered storage pouch and keep safe inside a binder.  Cool, right?

 

 

 

Are you sold?  If  you are like me and the resources are a must have, I'm linking the catalog cover with company name and important contact information!!!

 

 

Bucket Fillers

Having a positive classroom climate contributes to a high functioning, student led classroom.  To ensure my class is successful in communicating, I begin my year teaching the kids what it means to be a good citizen.  I use a unit from A Year of Many Firsts to teach the concept.

 

Lyndsey's Back to School for First Graders {Friends in First} has wonderful posters and activities help guide my lessons on character traits and citizenship.  Respectful Rachel, Responsible Ryan, Ready to Learn Robert, and Really Safe Rita were featured and referenced throughout the entire school year.

Click Image to Link

 

 

Building good character within the student body contributes to an encouraging, helpful, and compassionate group of young individuals.  To monitor and motivate, my class participates in Bucket Filling.  Carol McCloud, author of Have You Filled a Bucket Today, first heard the idea that a 'bucket' represented a person's self-concept or emotional health at an early childhood conference in the 1990s.  Since her publication, she has released several different versions of Bucket Filling Books.

 

 

Once we have a strong understanding of Bucket Fillers, I set up their own bucket in the classroom.  My displayed was hung on the back of my office door using a clear shoe holder.  Since my kidlets are still growing, I found it's easier to start the buckets from the bottom to the top.  To encourage positive, meaningful Bucket Filling, I have a SECRET Bucket Filler of the week.  This person is selected on Monday.  On Friday, if they've written notes to at least 10 different classmates with meaningful commentary then they'll get to eat in class with a buddy!  A little motivation never hurts, right?

 

Following the introduction to Bucket Filling, I used Cara Carroll's suggestion of reinforcing the concept of Bucket Fillers and Bucket Dippers with the beloved books, No David.  Read her post here.

I just love Bucket Fillers.  Implementing Bucket Fillers has never been so sassy!  Provided in this 30 file are several print options to meet your classroom needs. 

 

 

The file contains a single page of colors with 4 buckets per page. Colors include Red, Orange, Yellow, Light Green, Blue Green,  Bright Blue, Dark Blue, Purple, Pink, Gray, and White.  This option allows for you to pick and choose your color options or select all white to save on ink.

Also provided are pages with the rainbow colors just in case you wish to mix it up a bit without wasting the ink on additional buckets in each color.

I provided an adorable Bucket Filler pennant to hang above your display.  The same graphic is provided on the notes page for a matching classroom system.

 

This file is editable with highlight fields.  Please read instructions carefully when creating your editable buckets!

 

  

My sweet friend Alisha from The Bubbly Blonde has a cute freebie I plan to use this year.  This will provide a bit more background for Bucket Filling. A link to her post is provided in the graphic below.

With all the resources available today, I encourage you to look at Bucket Fillers and find whatever resources are right for you!

Crash Course Book Review and Giveaways

Summer is a time for teachers to sit down and revaluate their teaching practices, content, and delivery.   Okay, I will admit it's not all about school.  Summer is a time of recovering emotionally and physically.  Time for faith, family, friends, and necessary "me" time.  For myself, "me" time can consist of a pedicure with a good book.  The greatest gift of summer is a rejuvenated passion for reading. It is cheap, it consoles, it distracts, it excites, it gives you knowledge.  This summer I began reading a book that inspires me to build relationships, abandon fears, embrace unique qualities through the life lessons of a remarkably motivating, highly acclaimed teacher.  It's the honesty, humor, heartbreak, and humanity that pours from the pages of Kim Bearden's book Crash Course: The Lessons My Students Taught Me that entangles my heart, activates my thoughts, and gives me a renewed approach to education.  The inspiring true stories complied in Kim's book will help others find compassion, joy, and success both personally and professionally.

As I read each chapter (referred to as a course), I'm captivated by lesson learned through the stories Kim has experience with her students.  Building background happens to be the most important component to any lesson.  Without the connections made, the instruction is lost.  Chemistry and trust are the background to connecting with students.  The words to which she describes chemistry jump off the page and smack me between the eyes! "When we show others that their interests matter to us, we are making meaningful steps toward developing lasting bonds and trust."  Kim's words seamlessly flow and before you blink you are riding a rollercoaster of emotions in which you connect deeply. 

 

There are 17 courses in this book: Chemistry, Magic, Courage, Play, Recover, Talent, Optimism, Love, Generosity, Tenacity, Insight, Expectations, Bonding, Creativity, Improvisations, Gratitude, and Faith.  Each course begins with a description that extends beyond the title of the chapter and describes the main idea.  The words are constructed from experiences throughout Kim's 27 years as an educator and administrator.  At the conclusion of each course you'll find class notes in which summarizes the chapter with key bullets that assist in allowing you to reflect upon the stories told.  In addition to the notes, homework is provided in order to guide your thinking from reflection to actions.

 

After visiting the Ron Clark Academy in which Kim is a co-founder and teacher of language arts, I understand fully the innovation of energetic teaching that captivates children on various levels of academic, social, and emotional development.  Kim is infectious! So grab some tissues, and pick up your copy of the book right here! You will definitely not be disappointed! 

Kim Bearden is the co-founder and executive director at the Ron Clark Academy. Most importantly, she is also the language arts teacher. 

Kim has received numerous awards for her creative, dynamic, and rigorous teaching styles. She was selected from over 70,000 nominations to be honored as the Disney American Teacher Awards Outstanding Middle School Humanities Teacher. Along with countless other awards, she was also chosen from among 7,000 teachers as Teacher of the Year in Cobb County Georgia. 

Over the past twenty-seven years, she has been a teacher, instructional lead teacher, curriculum director, school board member, staff development trainer, and middle school principal. 

For someone that has accomplished so much during her career, Kim is by far one of the most humble and down to earth educators. Her life hasn't been perfect, and I love that she is so transparent in her book as she shares her experiences as an educator. 

Instead of telling you, I will just show you! Here is a little clip that shows who and what the Ron Clark Academy is all about! The best part? You can actually come spend a day…or two…at the school! Be sure and follow the Ron Clark Academy on Facebook {HERE} to receive special updates and events! 

If you would like to visit RCA and participate in the RCA Educator Training Experience, visit the website {HERE} to register! It is truly a training unlike anything you have ever experienced before. During this training, you will get to meet the students of RCA and observe Ron Clark and Kim Bearden's unparalleled instruction in their 5th grade classrooms. You will also spend the day in classroom observations and workshops that will enhance your instruction in any grade level. And of course, you will end the visitation becoming "slide certified." 

2014-2015 Training Dates:

I am so excited about teaming up with some of my favorite bloggers to share our review of Kim's book. Click on any of the links below to see what they think...

An InLinkz Link-up

 

Win a signed copy of Kim's Book!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Win a free visitation to the Academy! 

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I will end this post with a few pictures of my RCA experience. If you ever get a chance to visit, you will see exactly why I feel so extremely blessed to have visited this enchanting school.