I am so sorry that although we tried to find another room where I could present a second session, there were none to be found. The IRA folks and my publisher tried. They have promised me that next year they will have me in a large room. Here’s hoping! Thanks for your understanding and see you next year!
Archive for May, 2011
Too all of my friends at IRA…
Posted in Uncategorized on May 11, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Poetry Friday: Fish
Posted in Poetry Friday on May 6, 2011| Leave a Comment »
This week’s poem is by Mary Ann Hoberman, the current Children’s Poet Laureate.
Fish
Mary Ann Hoberman
Look at them flit
Lickety-split
Wiggling
Swiggling
Swerving
Curving
Hurrying
Scurrying
Chasing
Racing
Whizzing
Whisking
Flying
Frisking
Tearing around
With a leap and a bound
But none of them making the tiniest
tiniest
tiniest
tiniest
tiniest
sound
Differentiation for ELL newcomer during independent time
Posted in Classroom tips, tagged differentiation, English Language Learners on May 4, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Great idea shared the other day at Mark Twain Elementary for how to differentiate for an ELL student who is a newcomer to the U.S.! The teacher has a clear plastic tub with differentiated materials for this student with a sign labeling it. During independent time, she assigns a different student to work with this child daily. The kids check off a list showing the day they worked with him, so they all get to have a turn. It is one of their favorite times of day, and they love working with their new friend!
Differentiated activities for ELL newcomer are stored in a clear plastic tub. His classmates take turns working with him each day.
Teacher of the Year: Heather Gaines
Posted in math on May 2, 2011| 1 Comment »
Congratulations to my friend and colleague, Heather Gaines!!! She was just chosen as Teacher of the Year at Lovett Elementary in HISD. I had the opportunity to teach with Heather last year while I was writing Math Work Stations. Heather and her then-principal, Susan Monaghan, set up a kindergarten classroom in which we could study math stations. It was amazing! Heather goes beyond the call of duty as a coach and teacher. We learned a ton working together! So glad to get this wonderful news!
Heather takes anecdotal notes while kids work at a math station.
Heather uses an ELMO to teach story problems about things we do at the playground.
Debbie Diller 