"Pathways to the Common Core"

 I love this book and I hope you  will too!  It gives an in-depth understanding into the Common Core and practical insight on how to implement it in your schools and classrooms.  I hope you enjoy the passage as much as I do!

"Cory Booker, the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, has, through his approach to his city, helped us think about the need to read the standards or any initiative as if they are full of potential, to see them with eyes of hope....People in Newark said to him, "If you want to help this city, you don't need to learn from all those Yale professors.  You need to learn from Queen Mother."  

   "The Queen Mother?" he asked.  He said that it was suggested that he visit a woman who lived on the fifth floor of Brick Towers, one of Newark's most notorious developments.

   Cory Booker climbed the stairs and knocked on the door of Virginia Jones' apartment.  A seventy-something-year-old woman came to the door.  Retelling this story, he recalled saying, "Ma'am, I am Cory Booker.  I am from Yale Law School, Ma'am.  I am here to help you out."

   The Queen Mother, unimpressed, responded, "Well, if you really want to help, follow me."  They walked down five flights, through a courtyard, past a group of drug dealers, and into the middle of the street.  "Tell me what you see around you," she instructed Cory.

   In his speech, Cory began to describe the scene around him: "I see an abandoned building filled with people doing nefarious activities, I see graffiti...."

   The Queen Mother stopped him. "Boy, you can't helpf this city," she said and stormed off.

   Cory ran behind her, stunned.  "Ma'am?  Ma'am?" he asked.  "What just happened?"

   Virginia Jones wheeled around and said to Cory, "You need to understand something, boy.  The world you see outside of you is a reflection of what you have inside of you.  If you are one of those people who only sees problems and darkness and despair, then that is all there is ever going to be for you.  But if you are one of those people who sees hope, opportunity, and love, then you can make a difference." 

American education is undergoing one of the most dramatic changes ever.  If we are going to play a role in shaping the future, then we need to take Queen Mother's advice.  We need to see hope and opportunity where the Common Core is concerned. 

"Stone Fox"

Little Willy is a wonderful character to analyze!!!

Students needed some front loading on dog sled racing and the concept of taxes, which led to a lively discussion!!!

Here is a copy of the graphic organizer we used... Sorry, I could not get it to rotate...but the website for this and other wonderful graphic organizers is

http://www.sanchezclass.com/reading-graphic-organizers.htm

"Oliver Button is a Sissy"

A heart-felt story about a boy who is a little different. My students were glued to this story. I used it as a read aloud to introduce narrative elements of fiction.

The students did a wonderful word sort and discussed how 'dancing' could be the problem in the story, or was it the solution?

This is a wonderful book to add to your selection no matter the grade level...all students, and teachers, can relate!!!

Professional Literature

"If I were to ask you to close your eyes and envision the perfect classrooms scene, what would you see? What would you hear and smell and feel? Think big! If everything were going just the way you'd like it to, what would be happening? What would your kids be doing? How about you?" Debbie Miller

I love, love, love this book! In addition to helping you define your beliefs, align your practice, and take action, Debbie also talks about 'schema theory'-connecting new learning to what we already know-in a very concrete way. She gives clear and explicit examples how to do this as well as several pages of colorful photos.

By using this book, Debbie helped me walked through my teaching practices and think deeply about them. Because of this I have a new lesson plan template I cannot wait to try out and cannot wait to get into the classroom to put in place several new ideas.

It is an interesting read with deep impact. Thank you to my colleague, Jen D., for recommending it!

Character Traits

While reading "My Brother Sam is Dead" with fifth grade students, they filled in the following chart to reveal character traits of the major characters. By using this form, students were asked to think deeply about the characters and discuss how their traits influenced the events in the story. One group filled in a chart on Father, another on Tim, and yet another on Sam. Some students also wanted to do a chart on Mother...a quiet, but pivotal character. At the end of the story we were able to take the charts and compare the characters. Interesting to learn how members of the same family can have similar traits, yet act and behave so differently.

Seven Simple Secrets

I just finished reading the "Seven Simple Secrets: What the BEST Teachers Know and Do!" The authors, Annette Breaux and Todd Whitaker list the seven secrets is a clear concise manner. They include detailed descriptions, examples and poems to really help the reader reflect. A great book for validation or a reminder of the impact we, as teachers, have on our students. Enjoy!

Teacher's Lending Literacy Library

Phew! After three weeks of collecting, sorting and cataloging, we are finally finished! Jen D., Annmarie D. and myself spent weeks gathering materials that over the years had found homes all throughout our building. Our school has tons of content materials that are literature based. However, I noticed last year when we were doing a topic of study, the books would be in one place, teacher manuals in another, videos and audios in still another! Then to make matters worse, when we were finished, I'd find more materials that could have been utilized. So, this year, our leadership gave us the 'go ahead' to weed out materials that were 10+ years old and to organize current materials according to topic of study. Although it took three weeks, it was time well spent. This coming year, teachers now have materials organized and a new lounge in which to plan curriculum.

The area is divided into various sections. First there is a case just of teacher references.These include books on differentiated instruction, small group instruction, pedagogy etc.

Next, is our first and second grade sections which boast books, adios, magazines and instant learning centers. We hope to be able to continue adding to this area for years to come.

The main portion of our materials lend themselves to third, fourth and fifth grade science and social studies. They are arranged according to topic of study for each trimester. There is also a section for ELA fiction related materials that either, directly or indirectly, support the content area. Our goal is to reinforce ELA skills through content and to piggyback subjects on one another for added exposure and support.

In addition to our content based/ELA section, we have a leveled reading section. We are very excited to be able to offer all of these materials to our teachers to invoke a stronger and more committed curriculum.

Finally our 'accountability' system...each bin has a list of materials that are housed in that particular bin located in a sleeve card. Teachers simply fill in the 'sign out' card and place it in the pocket chart hanging on the wall. When they return the bin, they simply return the 'sign out' card and store it back in the pocket with the inventory card. KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetie)