Book Study: Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites Strategy 3 Field Trips

"The purpose of the brain is not to make good grades or to score high on standardized tests. The brain has but one purpose-survival in the real world." WoW! What a powerful statement and a great lead into the 3rd strategy, field trips.  Okay, okay, I'll confess....one of my least favorite activities is going on a field trip.  I was not a fan but....now after reading about how effective field trips are I am feeling GUILTY!!!! Get those babies out of the classroom and let them experience their learning in the real world. Research shows that concrete experiences enable the brain to store a great deal of information. (Westwater & Wolfe, 2000)  

Something else that really really stuck with me is that we need to take our kiddos on the field trip BEFORE we teach the unit!!! When I did go on a field trip I would usually take it at the end of a unit instead of the beginning. It was always the culminating event.  However, if you take them before you begin the unit then they can link their learning with prior knowledge. GENIUS!!! Why didn't I know this earlier in my teaching career???? Now that we know better we will do better!

Sometimes money and time are factors that interfere with taking field trips so check out these links for virtual field trips.  

Ten of the Best Virtual Field Trips

5 Best Virtual Field trips

Virtual Field Trips Pinterest Board

Learning Expeditions: Rethinking Field Trips

Interactive Notebooks

If you are trying to reach all learning styles then Interactive Notebooks are a great place to start. Interactive notebooks are effective in organizing information and a source that students can refer back to. Keeping the notebooks organized is key to having success with them.  Students need to "own" their notebooks and take pride in them.  When you first introduce INBs allow students to decorate the cover with pictures, words, etc. that are associated with the subject and interest them.  This serves two purposes. It allows students to have ownership and allows the you to see the students' interests. All notebooks should have a table of contents and pages numbered. Below are some of the notebooks I have created.  

In June I led professional development for our district and the following is an example of an effective model of teaching math that we introduced to our teachers:   

Start with a brief 5-10 minute whole group introducing the topic of the day.
Then move into small group rotation.

Group 1:  Meet with teacher for small group instruction

Group 2: Interactive Notebook that focuses on the same standard as being taught at small group or the standard that was taught the day before.

Group 3:  IXL, Scootpad, etc. that focuses on the same standard being taught in small group or the standard that was taught the day before. 

Group 4:  Math game/center focusing on the same standard being taught in small group or the standard that was taught the day before.

Grab this freebie!

BEGINNING ADDITION

Beginning Subtraction

MEAUSREMENT: LENGTH

TELLING TIME

Tens Frames Five and Ten Relationships

Addition and Subtraction Facts to 12

Interactive Math Notebooks Bundle

BEGINNING READING

Reading Anchor Charts Summer Stock Up

I LOVE using anchor charts in the classroom!! My firsties loved them too!!! They loved them so much that they would create their own!!! Sometimes we need a timesaver so I've created these reading strategies anchor charts that you can print poster size and hang in your classroom.

Reading Anchor Charts

Grab this Freebie!

I printed these from my printer at home and they measure 16"X22".  

First Grade Reading Street Unit 5 Literacy Activities

My last year in the classroom I began creating activities to supplement all of the Reading Street stories.  With it being the end of the year I assume most teachers that are using Reading Street are teaching from unit 5.  You can find activities for Dot and Jabber, Tippytoe Chick, Mole and Baby Bird, Simple Machines, Alexander Graham Bell and The Stone Garden in my TPT store!  Here are the links:

Dot and Jabber

Tippy Toe Chick

Mole and Baby Bird

Simple Machines

Alexander Graham Bell

The Stone Garden

Bundle of All Stories in Unit 5

Spring Fun and Free Facebook Hop

Come visit the Facebook pages of some great teacher authors!! I've joined some fabulous friends and we have created a Facebook Hop!  You'll find lots of fantastic freebies!!  

My freebie is 2 of my Reading Anchor Charts.  They can only be downloaded through the Facebook Hop. When you go to the Learning With Firsties Facebook page you will need to click the Spring Fun and Free Hop Tab at the top of the page.  

If you haven't liked my FB page then a picture like this will appear.  You have a choice to like the Learning With Firsties page or you can skip and continue on to the next picture.

When you see the picture below make sure you click on the picture under "Grab my Freebie!"  It will take you to the google doc link or it may automatically download for you... my settings allow the document to download from here. Once you've downloaded the freebie click on "Click Here to Find More!"  A new Facebook page will open and you will find more freebies!!! So much fun!!!

Here is a map of the entire hop.  You can click on the pictures to go to each FB page!

Book Study

Started reading Worksheets Don't Grow Dendrites by Marcia L. Tate!!! My favorite quote from Chapter 1: Brainstorming and Discussion

"They can't talk in class. They can't talk in the hall. They can't talk in the cafeteria. They can't talk at all!"

Mmmmm....WOW! We have to let our kiddos talk, collaborate, brainstorm, discuss, etc. This made me stop and think about my own work. How many times do we "bounce" ideas off of one another? Some of my greatest ideas have come from discussions with colleagues. I learn so much from those around me! Our students are wired the same way!! They learn from one another. If they can't spend time talking with peers then they are missing out! I would love to hear your ideas, thoughts, examples, etc. Please comment below.

Challenge this week: Incorporate brainstorming/discussion in just one lesson. A suggested strategy from the book: "Prior to reading a story or starting a unit of study have them peruse pictures, captions, graphs, etc, and brainstorm questions to be answered as they read." Such a simple task to implement but so engaging for the kiddos. Let me know how it goes!!!

Lots of great strategies in this first chapter! Order the book today and read along with me!!! I would love your input!! Email me at learningwithfirsties123@gmail.com if you would like to write a guest post!!!

Keep Teaching,

Steal of a Deal Sunday

This week I am offering Become a Research Tourist for 1/2 off! That means you can get this engaging Social Studies unit for just a $1.50.  It truly was one of my firsties' favorite units! They work cooperatively to research tourist attractions in a city of their choice. Then the students complete the graphic organizer included with the craftivity. Once the research and graphic organizer is finished they move on to the fun stuff...the tourist!

Become A Research Tourist