Teaching Tip Tuesday

Anchor charts...classroom wallpaper or instructional tool? I don't think any teachers start out with the intention of letting anchor charts take over the walls, but they sure can multiply quickly! Let's explore these further and talk about some practical ways to use them in the classroom.     I really like this simple statement about anchor charts from an article by Lily Newman: "Anchor charts: Making Thinking Visible." They do just that - anchor charts briefly outline a strategy, skill, idea, or thought. Students use them as a reference tool as they apply the skill in a variety of contexts. These are especially effective in elementary skill as students are still developing note-taking skills. The teacher can model how to include only the most important information to summarize the skill.     Here are a few examples of quality anchor charts that I found from a Google search: 1) Example 1 - Here is an ELA anchor chart about proving your claim with evidence from a ...

What comes to mind when you think of rubrics? Happy thoughts? Or oh-my-gosh-how-much-work-is-this-going-to-be thoughts? We are seeing rubrics more and more these days, mostly due to the fact that the skills we are teaching students in 21st century classrooms can't easily be assessed with multiple-choice or fill-in-the-blank questions. When we want to assess student performance such as oral communication, or creation of a product such as an essay, a rubric is a more thorough way to know if students "get it."     So what is a rubric? At its basic level, it is an outline of expectations for an assignment. That's it! Teachers can clearly communicate what they expect, and students can use it as a checklist for what to include in their work. If a rubric is specific and clearly aligned to the learning goal, teachers can give students a score objectively.     I know what you are thinking. Isn't it time-consuming to CREATE rubrics from scratch and SCORE each individual s...

Do you want your students to engage in more meaningful conversations during your lessons? Is "Turn and Talk" a staple in your classroom, but the excitement is waning? Let's talk about some effective discussion strategies. When students engage in authentic discussions with their peers, they are able to practice some valuable skills: Communicating ideas clearly Active listening Elaborating on an idea presented Disagreeing with an idea presented  There's no doubt that students love to talk, but we have to teach them how to converse with peers in a meaningful way that leads to deeper learning. Here are a few ideas to change up your class discussions. Thanks to Lindsay Ann Learning for some great suggestions!  1) Graffiti Wall I have used this in my classroom before and it is a great way to start the conversation with reluctant learners. Place a large sheet of butcher paper on tables, or post chart paper on the wall. Pose a question, write a quote, or inc...

    If I had to select one part of a lesson that MOST OFTEN falls by the wayside, it would probably be the closing. Teachers transition from one subject to the next as quickly as possible to maximize time, without taking time to wrap up a lesson and close out a learning experience before moving on to a new one. I get it. The school day struggle is real. Staying on schedule, getting everything taught, making it to specials on time, etc.  Why should we back up and make sure to include a closing in every lesson? Why is it so important?     Think about an effective exercise routine. You begin by warming up and stretching (hook/anticipatory set). Then, you implement cardio or strength training (work session). You end by slowing down your heart rate and stretching again (closing). The beginning and end of the workout help prevent cramping, extreme soreness, and set you up for success with your next workout.     An effective lesson includes these critica...