Learning with Firsties: September 2015

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Oh Snap! It's Almost October

Oh my goodness, ya'll!!! I can't believe how fast this school year is going! As teachers we are always planning ahead so I am linking up with some of my TPT friends to share some of our October products. I'm sharing my Halloween Writing Craftivity! It will be 50% off through September 17.

In this creative writing project your students will work independently and collaboratively. First they will choose the feet of the Halloween character that interests them and create the craftivity. Using a graphic organizer they will describe their character. Then they will collaborate with a partner and use a story map graphic organizer to begin the process of writing a story about the two characters they chose. They will finish the project with a published product. Such a fun way to get your kiddos writing!

If you want a quicker simpler craftivity have your students focus on one of the characters and write just one description of the character and display.

Halloween Writing Craftivity

To see more October products go to Oh Snap It's Almost October!

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Assess Often...Who Needs That?

Your students need that!!!! You need that!!!! Assessment is key to planning instruction. If you don't assess throughout your lessons how will you know what your kiddos need? Assessment and response to instruction are essential for effective instruction and improved student learning. "The word assess is from the Latin word, assidere, which means to sit beside. This implies that assessment is something we do with and for students, not to them." (Green, 1999)
Four essential questions should drive instruction:

1. What should students know and be able to do?

2. How will we know when they have learned it?

(FORMATIVE ASSESSMENTS)

3. What will we do when they haven’t learned it?

(INTERVENTION)

4. What will we do when they already know it?

(ENRICHMENT/ACCELERATION)

The 3 Types of Assessments

Where are you on the Assessment Continuum? We really want to move towards the right side of the arrow. It's never too late to start.

Take a look at how one school uses formative assessments to differentiate instruction.

Here are some of my favorite quick assessments for reading.

10 Quick Reading Assessments

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Labor of Love Sale

Teaching first grade is an absolute labor of love!!! So I've joined with some of my first grade friends and we are having a LABOR OF LOVE SALE!! You can grab some AWESOME first grade products for up to 1/2 off!!! Search #firstlove on Teachers Pay Teachers to see all of the products offered!