Sunday, January 27, 2013

Common Core State Standards Video

The Common Core State Standards video is a reposted from Council of Great City Schools.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

SWBST Strategy (Somebody-Wanted-But-So-Then)

Are your students having trouble summarizing? Need a reading strategy that will help your students write a well-developed summary of a story? Asking students to summarize reading requires them to think at the higher levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, such as analysis and synthesis.

Well, try the SWBST strategy. This strategy can be used to help students understand plot elements such as conflicts and resolutions. It allows the student to summarize the elements of a story and develop the summary into a retelling of the story. It can be used as a “during reading” or “after reading” strategy.

The writer first makes a brief note outline of the important elements based on/utilizing the SWBST graphic organizer. Then the writer expands the notes into five complete sentences which summarize the story.

You can take any story your students are reading and have them complete a SWBST graphic organizer. How about starting with their favorite movie or TV show!!!
SWBST

Sunday, January 20, 2013

I Have a Dream


August 28, 1963 was the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation Act, which freed the slaves. More than 200,000 people gathered in the front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. It was a peaceful gathering and was made up of blacks and whites, young and old. It was at this gathering that Dr. King delivered his famous I Have A Dream speech. This speech changed the way many Americans felt about the civil rights movement.


WHAT IS YOUR DREAM FOR AMERICA AND THE WORLD?

Friday, January 18, 2013


Be inspired all year long!!!

Building Academic Vocabulary


Struggling readers need to know more words. One of the biggest challenges facing struggling readers is their limited word knowledge. Even though independent reading is an important way most students acquire a large vocabulary, it isn’t enough for struggling readers. To expand student’s vocabulary, it is essential that teacher provide both daily activities to draw students’ attention to words and instruction on academic vocabulary and word-learning strategies. Marzano offers these vocabulary building steps.



Friday, January 11, 2013

Vocabulary Treat

The use of various senses and learning styles will result in greater student learning.

Vocabulary Casserole

Thursday, January 10, 2013

RIF Reading Tip of the Day

D.E.A.R.

Do you D.E.A.R.? Tell us about it.

Happy Birthday NCLB


No Child Left Behind (NCLB) is 11 years old. Happy Birthday NCLB!!!

NCLB law has brought many changes to education across the nation. No doubt it has affected you.  Did NCLB make you a better teacher? Now, the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). What are your feelings about NCLB and CCSS?

Share your feelings.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

The Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation

President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. The proclamation declared that all persons held as slaves "are and shall be free."

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Add Four Consecutive Numbers

Some people say that to add four consecutive numbers, you add the first and the last number and multiply by 2. Is this always true? How do you know?

Monday, December 24, 2012

Happy Holidays PC Consulting


Merry Christmas from M-TEC


Happy Holidays from Educator's Corner


Happy Holidays

Your friends at Educator’s Corner wish you peace and joy this holiday season. We hope 2013 will be a happy and healthy one for you and your family.



Learn and Grow





Learn, Grow, Escape...Read a book

Approximately only 1 in 6 people read 12 or more books a year. Fewer than half of today's adults are literary readers, meaning they read novels, mysteries, contemporary and classic fiction, short stories, plays, or poetry. Leisure reading has declined about 7% over the last 10 years for genders and all ethnicities, education levels, and ages.
 
 
Take action today…
1. Read a book you’ve never read before. If you don’t have one on your shelf, go to the library or your local bookstore, or order one online.
2. Join a book club or start one with your friends or co-workers.
3. Give a book to people as gifts.
Reading is like exercising—mental and physical benefits flourish with regular practice. Reading improves language skills, vocabulary, and spelling skills, it introduces new ideas, perspectives and information; it staves off the effects of aging by keeping your mind active; it provides a vehicle for mental escape and creativity; and it relaxes, entertains, and inspires your soul. Take time to read today!

Friday, December 14, 2012

Condolences


My heart, condolences, and prayers go out to the families in Connecticut-Sandy Hook Elementary School.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Magazine Swap

Magazine Swap


At your school or local library, you can place in the entrance a shelf full of magazines people drop off when they are finished with them. These magazines will be free for others to take!


Saturday, January 7, 2012

Inspirational Stories

Share stories that make you glad that you are a teacher!

Click here for Inspirational Readings!!!

Teen Reading


I just read a very interesting article on reading and adolescents. One of the suggestions in this article was "Relax and Read without Criticizing". It suggested that parents either read silently on their own as a role model or lie down in bed with the teen and read aloud. Teenagers are not too old to read with a parent.

It stated that parents should try not to correct the kid's mistakes or ask too many questions. As soon as kids feel pressured or judged, they're less willing to read. When the kid begins to associate reading with "evening relaxation" and the fun of delving into a page-turning book, he'll/she’ll be more likely to read independently and for pleasure later on.



What ideas do you have to encourage adolescents to read more?