Formative assessments are not new to the teaching game, but they are a vital tool for teachers to check for understanding and student progress. They provide teachers with valuable information about students’ knowledge and skills, and allows them to adjust their instruction based on a student’s performance. Formative assessment is at the heart of responsive teaching, or “being in the… Read More

It’s that time of year again!  Summer break is winding down, and the smells of sunscreen and chlorine will soon be replaced with those of freshly sharpened pencils  You will soon be getting your room ready and getting your class lists – 20 or more names that will quickly become part of the fabric of your every day.  Their bright,… Read More

Raise your hand if you’re looking for more ways to keep your students engaged in their learning? Task cards are the perfect way to get your kids up and moving. They are perfect for practice and review for any skill in any subject. What are Task Cards? Task cards are exactly how they sound. They are small cards that have… Read More

Word walls can be a powerful tool in any classroom. Several years ago I made the switch to an interactive word wall and never looked back. Let me tell you why. My first year of teaching I created this huge word wall display that took up an entire wall. I think I put less than 10 words up on it… Read More

Hey there! Welcome back to part 3 of my vocabulary series where we are focusing on creating meaningful vocabulary instruction. In this series, I am walking though Marzano’s Six Step Process for teaching vocabulary. They are: Describe and Explain Restate and Explain in their OWN words. Create a Drawing Enrich and Explain their Knowledge (synonyms, antonyms, prefixes, etc…) Collaborate with… Read More

Hey there! Welcome back to part 2 of my vocabulary series where we are focusing on creating effective instruction through meaningful vocabulary activities, including creating vocabulary pictures. In part one of this series, I introduced Marzano’s Six Step Process for teaching vocabulary. They are: Describe and explain Restate and Explain in their OWN words.  Create a Drawing. Enrich and Expand… Read More

Hey there, friend! I don’t know about you but I’m tired of spending hours upon hours on student assessments and analyzing data. Let’s not forget about all the paperwork that goes along with that. Then you have to keep up with said paperwork to take to parent conferences and RTI meetings. IT IS A LOT OF WORK! What if I told… Read More