Stimulating Science Simulations

Calling all creative writers!  Summertime is a great time for getting your jam on.  How about an online summer writing camp to get your creative juices going?  I'm tapping into Boomwriter this summer to offer a fun alternative to traditional summer camps.  So many times families have to choose between sending kids to summer camp or traveling together.  Well, with an online camp you can do both! I'm looking for 10 -15 students who have just completed 3rd-5th grade to work together on a creative writing project.  I will provide the storystarter and everyone will write their own version of the next chapter.  I will provide guidance, feedback, and suggestions for revision.  Students will revise and then they will read each other's chapters.  Everyone will vote on their favorite version and the next day they will all pick up where that writer left off to start the process again.  By the end of the week, we will have a completed story which ...

Have your students taken a benchmark test recently?  Do you have a limited time to review the questions with them before turning in the "secure test materials"? Would you like a different way to review that involves the students as leaders and lets you, "the teacher",  take a backseat? I've got just the thing... Math Meet-ups.  The idea isn't new. It's really the same as stations, centers, rotations, task cards, etc.  The big difference is that a student is in charge of each question and does the models their solution for their peers. WARNING: This took A LOT more preparation than I originally anticipated. BUT... it was really worth it. First, I created a short video, in Adobe Spark, that all 5 teachers played for the students in order to explain the process. Second, I created a Powerpoint slideshow with timings to manage the rotations from question to question. (3 minutes per question and 30 second transitions). Step 3 involved assigning the studen...

I have created some posters with essential questions that can be used in grades K-5. Stop by and download the ones that you need. Please leave me some feedback. What other tools would make it easier for you to teach science and/or math?  What do you wish someone would make so that you don't have to? Maybe I can make your wish come true. Get your essential questions posters here....

It is that time of year when we all pause to think about what we are thankful for. Today my students finished some incredibly thoughtful thank you letters to the generous citizen philanthropists who have funded our Garden Stepping Stone Mosaic project on DonorsChoose. I dropped the envelope in the mail and when I got home I found a gift card waiting for me in my email. I am thankful for the opportunity to volunteer with DonorsChoose. It is a wonderful charitable organization and I love the fact that through volunteering my time to screen proposals, I am able to earn a gift card each month. I dedicate these gift cards to paying it forward. My class has received some wonderful materials through generous donations over the years. In return, I try to show my appreciation by helping to fund the projects of other teachers. Do you have a project posted on DonorsChoose right now? Could you use a little help getting it funded? If your answer is yes then please follow the steps below to link u...