Math teachers rock at Stehlik Intermediate

Recently I had the privilege of observing and working with fine math teachers at Stehlik Intermediate in Houston. These folks rock at teaching 5th and 6th grade math! Their instruction was clear, consistent, and creative. Here’s a peek of some of the things I saw there.

Sixth grade anchor chart on angles

Sixth graders draw and label different kinds of angles in their original art

Fifth graders use clickers to show their answers

Sixth graders move around the classroom to use sticky notes to find and label different kinds of angles

Buddy talk in 5th grade math

Teacher checks with students during buddy talk

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Peace Partners – Monday, February 15, 2010

“A mentor can be a peace resource.”

My mentor has already been down a path that is new to me. She shares valuable information which is a comfort to me, because she has already experienced what I am going through. A mentor might be a colleague, as mine is. Or she might be a friend, as mine has become.

I met Laura Robb at NCTE. We presented together in Philadelphia and learned we had much in common. We are both writers and consultants; we love teaching and literacy; we are nurturers. She became my mentor because I asked.  She is helping me through a difficult season, because she is equipped by life to do so. Recently she gave me such wise counsel that I hung a picture of her with a speech bubble quoting her wise words in my office.

Laura listens. She helps me reflect. She gives advice as I ask for it. She is wisdom. And wisdom brings peace.

May you find a mentor that can bring you wisdom and peace. You just have to ask.

Peace be with you,

Debbie

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Computers are “closed”

Recently when I visited a kindergarten classroom, I learned that computers were “closed” during math stations. The reason was that the teacher could not find free high quality math work for children to use at the computer station.

Upon searching I came upon a few sites that we really liked, so we bookmarked three counting games in “Favorites” and put them in a folder marked “Math.”

 

To help children easily access the games we wanted them to play during math, we taught them how to find and open this folder. Their teacher modeled this using her Smart Board (lucky girl!). Then we wrote simple picture directions together so they could do this on their own.

 

We also added the password they’d need on a post-it note stuck to the computer (just in case the computers froze and they needed to restart them). Then we had two students model for the rest of the class how to open the favorites file and choose a math game.

 

The children were so excited and so independent. Now they can return to one of their favorite math stations… the computer station is open again!

Teacher models how to open Favorites files for math

Two kids model how to open the bookmarked files

Computer directions made with the class and provide support so students can do this independently

Children work on their own at the computer during math stations

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Peace Partners – February 12, 2010

How’s your peace? Did you try jotting down 2-3 things a day that were most important for you to do? I know you have a million things to do, but choosing just 2-3 helps us feel more peaceful.

As you look forward to the weekend, you might try the post-it approach. What are the 2-3 most important things for you to do on Saturday and Sunday? Be sure to include something that brings you peace! Here are mine: “spend time with Tom; play in my flower beds by taking photos and deadheading plants.” Notice that I didn’t write down all the work stuff I must do. That goes without saying. I’m sticky noting the most important things… the things that will bring me peace.

Wishing you a peaceful weekend,

Debbie

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Moving furniture in Indiana

Recently I worked with teachers in Indiana. When I got to the room where we were meeting, I didn’t pay much attention to the space… until teachers came in and began to sit down. I looked at the room arrangement and thought, “What does this tell teachers about how we’ll be learning today?

 

Teachers sitting in rows

 

So, I asked teachers to help me move the tables before we started instruction for the day. I could have done it myself, but many hands make light work! We were done in just a few minutes.

 

Teachers help to move tables

 

Throughout the day, teachers worked collaboratively in groups. What a difference the arrangement of furniture makes in a classroom! How has your furniture arrangement affected learning in your room?

Teachers work in groups

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Loving kindergarten at Lovett

One of the highlights of recent weeks has been working with kindergartners at Lovett Elementary School in Houston. It’s one of the places where I’m studying math work stations. The other day we read my big book, One, Two Buckle My Shoe, from www.reallygoodstuff.com and then acted it out with retelling pieces. It will be at the big book station for children to reread and act out soon.

Reading One, Two Buckle My Shoe in whole group

Kids act out One, Two Buckle My Shoe

I also had so much fun working in kindergarten with Heather Gaines and Kathryn Kraitman. We’ve been studying geometry and the children are learning about 2-D and 3-D shapes. Here are a few pics of kids in action at their math stations. They LOVE stations time!

Partners read a shape big book made by the class

 

Kids work together to sort 3-D shapes

 

2-D paper shape sort at a math station

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Peace Partners – February 8, 2010

“I’m so stressed out!” This is not a good feeling. This is not a feeling of peace. And yet, how many times do we feel this way?

One thing that really stresses our children is “not knowing what comes next.” We can ease their feelings of uncertainty by providing a daily schedule in the classroom. One with pictures and times is most helpful for young children. They can look at it and see exactly what comes next. If the schedule is made with a pocket chart or Velcro or magnets, pieces can be manipulated to change schedules and let children know about those changes. This is why I use a pocket chart for management of work stations; it shows children exactly where they’ll be going.

Feelings of “not knowing what comes next” can stress us out as adults, too! Of course, there are some life events we have no control over. But we can focus on today and what our plans are for this day only. Try jotting on individual sticky notes the 2 or 3 top things you want to be sure you will do today, so you know what comes next. Put them in order to help you plan for your day.

Today my 3 post-its say, “doctor visit- 11 AM; rewrite place value chapter; exercise 30 min.” These are realistic important tasks that will help to guide my day. I feel more peaceful when I have a (flexible) plan for the day.

Peace be with you,
Debbie

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Peace Partners – February 5, 2010

What did you give yourself permission to do “good enough” this week? Did you cut yourself any breaks? I hope so.

I was delighted to get in a 30-minute workout with a video rather than driving to the gym and back for an hour-long class. Perfection doesn’t bring peace.

Wishing you a peaceful weekend,
Debbie

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Dedicated in Denver

My recent travels have taken me to Denver Public Schools where I’m working with CORE Matters teams. Educators there are so dedicated to improving instruction for their students. It is a delight to be a part of this project! Teachers have used my book, Spaces & Places, to set up their classrooms and are using literacy work stations and small group instruction.

Here are some photos from January 2010:

"I Can" lists help children remember exactly what to do at stations and independent reading. This one is in a classroom library.

 

"I Can" list for independent reading

First and 5th grade teachers wear something on their heads to remind students to work independently of them- It works!

A cowboy hat works too!

Dedicated educators from the Force Elementary CORE Matters team

Teams examine leveled books together for guided reading instruction

Teachers make comprehension anchor charts

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CD players and snacks

Best CD Player for Young Children

  

Last week a teacher asked me what’s the best CD player for young children to manage on their own. Great question! Several years ago, I found a Fisher Price one with a built-in microphone. The 4-year olds loved it! We had kids use it for retelling, and even the quiet ones loved talking and listening back to their voices. Of course, after I found this model, they discontinued it! My favorite would be one that plays and records.

 

Let me know which CD player your young children can use on their own. Thanks for your help!

Simple CD player in kindergarten has colored dots for ease of use

Rebus Recipes Requested

  

Some early childhood educators I’ve worked with have a snack center where kids can prepare their own snacks.

 

I’m looking for recipes with rebus art directions that are simple for kids to prepare on their own. It would be great if the snacks were healthy, too! Any books or website recommendations would be appreciated. I did find one recipe I loved that I’ll post here. Please send me other ideas you have, too. Thanks!

 

Cheese and Apricot Cut-Out Snacks

You will need:

• pieces of white American cheese
• dried apricots
• small metal cookie cutters

Have children place one apricot on one piece of white American cheese. Then they cut through both with a metal cookie cutter. Remove the extra pieces (which can be eaten, or used to cut out more decorations!). You have a beautiful snack to eat, too.

Materials needed to make this snack.

Finished snack of cheese and apricot

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