Math Workshop

Connecting language, mathematics and thinking...
Many teachers have adopted the workshop model of instruction for mathematics with great success. Breaking down math instruction..."chunking" the content by presenting important concepts in a mini-lesson, providing guided practice and then gradually releasing students to complete independent work while the teacher/teachers scaffold instruction via tiered groups and then close with a quick check is becoming the norm in many elementary classrooms. The student success teachers have observed using this model in reading and writing has made the choice easy for many. The integration of technology into instruction allows teachers to reinforce math skills digitally or to "flip" the learning to front load new concepts before the actual classroom instruction takes place. The sharing of educational resources online through web sites blogs, wikis, and social media such as Twitter, Pinterest and Facebook has become common place and gives teachers just in time access to the tools they need. If you have implemented this model in your classroom or if you are considering making this change, the following resources may be helpful...

Rev Up Writing!

Increase student engagement using apps and online resources!

Writing, speaking and listening are critical elements of the Common Core State Standards. The ability to write clearly and coherently is highly emphasized. Using digital tools such as the Comic Life and Toontastic apps, and websites such as Make Beliefs Comix and ReadWriteThink’s comic generator will motivate students to write more and adapt what they write for a specific audience. Students may enjoy orally presenting what they have written by acting out these graphic stories for their peers.

For other online writing options, try Inklewriter, which allows students to make and play interactive stories, or Edit Central, where students may enter text they have composed and have it analyzed for its readability immediately.

The Daily Five: Digital

Teachers in kindergarten through grade two will find that their newest digital tool, their iPad, can be put to use immediately to reinforce The Daily Five areas; Read to Others, Read to Self, Listen to Reading, Word Work and Work on Writing. In fact, they may soon come to wonder how they met student needs in each of these areas without it! The iPad or iTouch alone or coupled with the Belkin RockStar or another multiple splitter device  provides an immediate listening center, and delivers apps which reinforce skills in all areas. In fact, a quick search on the Internet returns several sites devoted to just this purpose, using mobile devices and their applications to support instruction in ELA during The Daily Five. When we first looked at this option a few years ago for the iTouch the app selection was limited. Today there are so many apps available that we struggle with which app to recommend, but here we go...