My Current Assignment--ELL

Although I returned to teaching as a substitute teacher, right away I started to get offers of long-term work.  Currently I am teaching the English Language Learners at the school I was at for the last six years.

I find it interesting what commercial curriculum companies think students new to our country need to know.  Like all the other highly-scripted programs I have used, the writers must think that all students who are learning English are all the same.  (Picture the car commercial with the car-shaped cookies baking in the oven.)

One page had a picture of South America that was labelled Africa.  

Frequent readers of this blog won't be surprised that I'm creating lessons as I go.  I hope to share some of them with you soon.

Quote of the Week -- January 31, 2016

"You can never fail until you stop trying."
~Albert Einstein

Happy Friday,

Groundhog Predictions 2016

Next Tuesday is Groundhog Day and I wanted to share my Groundhog Predictions freebie.  Students make predictions and track the weather for six weeks from Groundhog Day to the First Day of Spring.  Students practice finding average temperatures for a week and creating a bar graph to display the information.

When I created Groundhog Predictions, I included a data collection page for Leap Year.  If your class is participating, you will need that page this year.

Groundhog Predictions is available for free in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.

Groundhog Predictions is also available in my Teacher's Notebook store.

Happy Friday!

 

Creature Features by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page

If you are studying adaptations in animals, you have to get Creature Features by Steve Jenkins and Robin Page.  Even if you aren't teaching a formal unit, your students will love this book.  Twenty-five animals describe their features and how they function in their environment.

To create mini animal reports, download my free trading card template here.  Each page makes six fact cards that may be glued to index cards for the illustrations.



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Historical Fiction for Upper Elementary

I read and review a book a week on this blog.  Currently I am creating book lists by genre so that teachers can find a list of resources I have read and reviewed.  This week I wanted to share some historical fiction books I enjoyed reading. If you have suggestions for me of books to read, please recommend them in the comments.

Note: I created a separate list for teaching early American history. You can read that post by clicking here.

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate and The Curious World of Calpurnia Tate

Hard Gold by Avi

Bomb by Steve Sheinkin

Lincoln's Grave Robbers by Steve Sheinkin

The Secret School by Avi

The Year We Were Famous by Carole Estby Dagg

The Trouble with May Amelia by Jennifer L. Holm

Boston Jane by Jennifer L. Holm

Shadow on the Mountain by Margi Preus

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Quote of the Week -- January 24, 2016

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started."
~Mark Twain

Have a good week,

Favorite Lunch Graph

Most upper elementary students enjoy collecting data from their classmates and displaying that information in a graph or chart.  Here is a data collection activity where students survey their classmates about their favorite lunch and then create a bar graph with that information.

Students could use these forms to collect data in other classrooms and compare results.

To download the free printable forms for this activity, please visit my Google Drive here.

Happy Friday!