Skip to main content

T3: Instructional Resources

    The search for quality questions, texts, tasks, etc. to use during instruction can often be a struggle. It isn't that there are not enough resources out there. There are plenty. But who has time to search the 1.6 million Google hits for the best resource to use in next week's lesson? I have found that having a brief list of go-to websites shortens my search and streamlines the planning process. Quality over quantity. I came across two sources that I wanted to share that would be helpful for math and English/Language Arts. Add these to your toolbox of resources.

    The first one is exclusively math, but has a huge bank of challenging math problems for all grade levels and math domains. The site is called Open Middle, and it is a resource co-developed by Robert Kaplinksy. He also has his own website with a plethora of math resources. Open Middle has a very basic, user-friendly website; it is easy to navigate to the grade level and domain of your choice. There are questions based on different topics within the Common Core standards. All questions require higher order thinking and problem solving, and there can be more than one way to solve many of the problems. Here's a 4th grade example within the Operations and Algebraic Thinking Domain:


    Many of the problems are formatted this way, requiring students to use the digits 1 through 9 only one time to achieve a goal. If students are stumped, hints are available. There are also answers provided for teachers to verify accuracy. This would be great to use as a problem of the day, to build into Number Talks, or as early finisher questions. Check it out!

    The second website is called Achieve the Core and provides resources for both math and ELA. You can create a free account so that you can save resources to view at a later time. For ELA, you can find short passages, questions, tasks, student writing samples, prompts, rubrics, and assessments. Some of the lessons reference books that are not included in the set, but check your library for these books if you are interested in using the questions. For math, there are lesson plans, sample questions, tasks, and assessments. All of these resources are aligned to Common Core Standards by grade level.
There are a few additional tools on Achieve the Core that I thought were pretty neat. There is a digital lesson planning tool as well as an observation rubric that can be used for self-assessment or peer observation. It is definitely worth a look!

    What are your go-to places for resources? Add them in the comments to share with other teachers!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

T3: Preparing for state testing

State testing season is upon us. I don't know of many other things that produce more stress, anxiety, excitement, and uncertainty in the life of a school. End-of-year testing is the main event, the championship game, the finale. State test scores show us what students have learned, the effectiveness of instruction, and overall strengths and weaknesses for each content area. They help teachers determine growth over time, adjust instruction for the next school year, and select strategies to target a focus area. And YET...     While scores from end-of-year tests provide teachers with valuable information that can be used to improve our practice, they are not the gospel. Regardless of pressure that we feel from the state, from district personnel, or even from our own drive towards self-improvement, we need to understand that one score from one day cannot fully define a student or a teacher. The characteristics listed in the graphic above are measured in a variety of ways, and ...
Post a Comment
Read more

T3: Closing a Lesson

    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...
Post a Comment
Read more

T3: Anchor Charts

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 ...
Post a Comment
Read more