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March 25, 2024

🌸 5 Teacher Recommended Books to Welcome Spring 🌸

Peace out winter, hello spring!


I love spring as it brings with it a sense of renewal and growth. It is a
perfect time for educators to refresh their teaching practices and inspire their students in the home-stretch of the school year.

One great way to to infuse your classroom with the spirit of spring is by carefully selecting books that can serve as your guiding light. Check out this list of essential spring reads for educators!


"Miss Rumphius" by Barbara Cooney (Prek-2nd):



  1. A timeless classic, "Miss Rumphius" tells the story of Alice, who sets out to make the world more beautiful. Through vibrant illustrations and poignant storytelling, Barbara Cooney's masterpiece inspires educators and students alike to embrace the transformative power of kindness and stewardship—a perfect theme for springtime reflection.


  1. "Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt" by Kate Messner (Author) and Christopher Silas Neal (Illustrator) (Prek-K):


  1. Delve into the intricate world of gardening with this captivating picture book. "Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt" takes readers on a journey beneath the soil and above the ground, exploring the interconnectedness of life in a garden throughout the seasons. Educators can use this book to spark discussions on ecosystems, life cycles, and the importance of environmental stewardship.



  1. Celebrate the legacy of environmental pioneer Rachel Carson with this inspiring biography. "Spring After Spring" chronicles Carson's journey from a nature-loving child to a groundbreaking scientist and author whose work catalyzed the modern environmental movement. Educators can use this book to introduce students to the power of curiosity, advocacy, and the impact of one person's dedication to protecting the planet.


  1. "The Curious Garden" by Peter Brown (Prek-1st):



  1. Immerse your students in the enchanting world of "The Curious Garden," where a lone gardener transforms a dreary cityscape into a thriving urban oasis. Peter Brown's whimsical tale celebrates the joy of discovery, community collaboration, and the transformative potential of nature. Educators can ignite students' imagination and curiosity by exploring themes of urban greening, biodiversity, and sustainability.


  1. "Planting a Rainbow" by Lois Ehlert (PreK-K):


  1. Bursting with vibrant colors and lyrical prose, "Planting a Rainbow" is a delightful exploration of the gardening process from seed to bloom. Lois Ehlert's enchanting illustrations and simple text provide educators with a valuable resource for teaching young learners about plant life cycles, color identification, and the joys of gardening.





For more books to celebrate spring check out this list from We are Teachers or PBS Kids!


January 22, 2024

Top 3 Mistakes Teachers Make Utilizing Opportunities to Respond

When teachers utilize opportunities to respond (OTRs) in their classroom students achieve at higher levels, process information deeply and retain knowledge more effectively.   


OTRs is a teaching technique that encourages student participation and engagement for all students.  There are three types of OTRs teachers can use---getting kids to say things, write things and do things.

Despite its potential benefits, however, there are common mistakes that educators might inadvertently make when implementing OTR strategies. Let's explore some of these mistakes, so we can avoid them! 


Mistake 1: Limited Variation in Question Types


Research has consistently emphasized the importance of varying question types to cater to diverse learning styles and abilities. Unfortunately, some teachers might fall into the trap of using a limited set of question types, such as closed-ended questions that require only brief responses. 

To enhance student engagement, educators should diversify their questioning techniques, incorporating open-ended questions, probing queries, and reflective prompts.

Check out some of these video examples from The Classroom Check-Up!

Or, checkout these Blooms Taxonomy Question Cards which have over 8 pages of question prompts to ask your students!



Mistake 2: Unequal Student Participation


In many classrooms, certain students may dominate discussions while others remain silent. This uneven distribution of participation can hinder a collaborative learning environment. Teachers may unintentionally contribute to this dynamic by consistently directing questions to a select group of students.

Check out this article from Edutopia which gives some GREAT ideas on how to get ALL students participating! 

Response cards, Hold Ups and Response Mats are another great tool to get every student engaged.  Check out this robust package for under four dollars!  Or, download the freebie mat by clicking here





Mistake 3: Insufficient Wait Time


Wait time, is a critical factor in increasing student achievement. Some educators, however, may inadvertently provide insufficient wait time, hindering students' ability to formulate thoughtful responses.  

In fact, on average, most teachers only provide approximately 1 second of wait time between asking a question and allowing a student to respond.


Decades of research, which can be found here, support that teachers should allow 3-5 seconds of wait time after a question is asked AND after a student has responded.  


Allowing 3-5 seconds of wait time promotes LOTS of positive outcomes for students including:
  • increasing the length of student responses
  • increasing the number of unsolicited appropriate responses
  • increasing responses from students categorized as low performing
  • increasing student to student interactions
  • increases in student achievement 
  • more thoughtful and contemplative answers
  • decreases in students not responding or saying, "I don't know." 
  • decreases in discipline problems

Opportunities to respond are powerful tools that can enhance student engagement, critical thinking, and overall learning experiences. By being mindful of common mistakes, teachers can harness the full potential of OTR strategies. 


January 5, 2024

Increasing Opportunities to Respond Using Physical Movement

In today's educational landscape--fostering student engagement is crucial for effective learning. Read about what the research says by clicking here .

One powerful strategy educators can employ is increasing opportunities to respond (OTRs).  OTRs refer to moments when students actively engage with material you are teaching.  Students can engage by writing, saying, or doing.  

Research suggest that increasing OTRs is linked to higher levels of students achievement, as it allows learners to process information deeply and retain knowledge more effectively. 


In previous posts I shared TEN ways students can engage in content in a verbal way and FIVE ways students can respond to taught material in a written way. Find those posts by clicking here or here!  For this post we will focus on ways students can interact with the content by doing--kinesthetic learning!  

Physical movement can be a powerful tool for understanding and retaining information.  Incorporating gestures and whole body movement into the learning experience taps into multiple senses, reinforcing neural connections and making learning more memorable.  Keep reading for FIVE easy strategies that will get your students responding to content in a physical way!


1. Interactive Learning Games:


Introduce games that require physical movement to reinforce learning objectives.  For example use a game of charades to review vocabulary or act out historical events!  

I have been playing the game Quick Draw  with my students for YEARS.  This is a great game to review or introduce vocabulary terms, words on a word wall or even spelling words! 

Quick Draw requires virtually no prep and the materials needed are in almost every classroom.  

Here's how you play:
  1. Determine the list of words you want to introduce or review
  2. Provide each student with a marker board
  3. Provide each student with a dry erase marker 
  4. Shout (okay maybe not shout...but say) the word aloud to students
  5. Give students 30 seconds to illustrate the word
  6. Say, "3.....2.....1....show me!" and every student MUST hold up their illustration (if they are still drawing I give them a warning, and tell them they get paper pencil next time)
  7. Select a couple of students to explain their drawing to the class; or have them turn and talk about their drawing with a neighbor



Looking for ideas? Check out this blog post, which is filled with games to implement in your classroom!


  1. 2. Role Playing Exercises:


    Allow students to transform into characters or concepts through role-playing. This approach increases engagement AND provides a deeper understanding of material. Reader's Theater is a great way to incorporate role playing into the classroom!

  1. 3. Choreographed Mnemonics:


  2. Create simple choreographed movements or gestures associated with key concepts or facts.  Students can perform these movements as a group, reinforcing the information through physical repetition.  Check out this video from EL Education--lots of great ideas for how to incorporate movement into your classroom!


4. Hand Signals :



Try using hand signals during instruction to gauge students understanding of the content being taught.  A few examples are: 
  • Fist to five: students rate their level of understanding using a 0 to 5 scale 
  • Thumbs up and Thumbs down
  • Pointing to the correct answer (i.e. point to the right if, point to the left if, point on your paper to the correct answer, etc.)
  • Fingers as a number: with your fingers show me the correct number choice....

  1. 5. Response Cards:


Have student engage with the content by holding up response cards.  If response cards are too messy to organize--try using a response mat where students use a a paperclip or some sort of marking device to mark their cards. Response cards and response mats (also called hold ups and student participation cards) are great ways to gauge students understanding and get them interacting with taught concepts. Some examples of cards you could use are:

  • true/false
  • thumbs up and thumbs down
  • red and green
  • numbered
  • lettered

Click here or the image below to get your hands on this FREEBIE student response mat!




Or, if you are looking for a more robust package of response cards, hold ups and mats check out this product by clicking here, or the image below.  For under four dollars, you will have NINETEEN different ways students can respond to the content you are teaching.  WOW!!






December 29, 2023

What is your ONE WORD for 2024? 🍾🎉

  Have you picked a word of the year before?




2021 was the first year I selected a single word to guide my goals for the year.  Last year's word was fearless.  I was choosing to not let worry, anxiety or fear stand in my way of anything--personally or professionally.  

As I reflect back on my 2023 one word goals; I can say with confidence that I selected the right word.  I cast fear aside and jumped into new opportunity--hello accepting a brand new position within my district AND starting my doctoral degree in educational psychology!

I love the simplicity of choosing one word to direct your focus for the year.  Instead of selecting multiple specific goals to try and achieve, choose one word to be at the forefront of your mind.  

This one word will be overarching, allowing smaller goals and accomplishments to fit within it.




So what is my one word for 2024?  

I am selecting the word development

The definition of development is to expand by the process of growth.

I am ready to trust whatever educational path I am destined to be on, and challenge myself to grow professionally and personally through it all!

If there is an opportunity--I am going to take it and learn from it!  

If there is an adventure--I am going on it and letting it change me.  

I plan to be bold, courageous and open-minded!



Need help selecting a word of the year? Check out this post from blogger Elizabeth McKnight.  She gives some great inspirational word examples and a more in-depth explanation on the benefits of choosing one word to guide your focus.   

What will be your word?  I would love if you would share!

Have a happy new year!  Stay safe and healthy!

November 13, 2023

Increasing Opportunities to Respond: Written Responses

Have you ever been at a staff meeting or professional development seminar where you (or some of your colleagues) were not paying attention?  Perhaps they were grading papers, texting, scrolling social media or having private conversations....



As we know all too well, kids are not a whole lot different than adults: if they aren't fully engaged in what is going on, they will find something else to absorb themselves in. 

I know all educators strive for maximum learning for all of their students, so we must avoid student disengagement at all costs!  One of the ways to do this is by increasing opportunities to respond (OTRs).

During a lesson students should have LOTS of opportunities to respond by saying, writing and doing! And by lots, I mean 3-5 OTRs per minute for simple responses (verbal or gestural) and 1 OTR per minute when the OTR is more complex (think solving a multi-step math problem) (MacSuga-Gage & Simonsen, 2015).

In my previous post I shared TEN ways students can engage in content in a verbal way You can find those posts by clicking here or here.   For this post, we will focus on ways students can respond to learning in a written way!  Keep reading for FIVE easy strategies that will get your students responding to content in written form. 


1. Quick Writes:

Encourage students to engage in brief, focused writing exercises, known as quick writes. Pose open-ended questions related to the lesson and give students a short time frame (e.g., 5 minutes) to express their thoughts. 

Quick writes serve as a low-pressure way for students to respond individually, promoting reflection and comprehension.



2. Think-Pair-Share with Writing:

Combine the traditional think-pair-share strategy with writing. After pondering a question individually, students pair up to discuss their thoughts and then collaboratively write a concise summary of their discussion. This approach not only enhances critical thinking skills but also encourages peer interaction.


3. Journals and Reflections:

Implement regular journaling or reflection sessions where students can express their thoughts on the material covered in class. Journals provide a personal space for students to connect with the content on a deeper level.

If your students struggle getting pen to paper, perhaps supporting their thoughts with sentence frames will do the trick. 




4. Interactive Note-Taking:

Transform note-taking into an interactive activity. Encourage students to annotate their notes, ask questions, and make connections to their own experiences. This method not only promotes active engagement during the lesson but also serves as a valuable reference for future review.

Interested in some specific note-taking strategies? Check out this easy WICK strategy from Edutopia. Or, take a look at downloadable graphic organizers from HMH or Thinkport.


5. Exit Tickets:

Use exit tickets as a writing tool for students to demonstrate their understanding of the day's lesson. Require them to summarize key concepts, ask questions, or share their opinions. This quick form of assessment helps both students and teachers gauge the effectiveness of the lesson.

Interested in a FREE exit ticket for comprehension?  Download the resource pictured below, by clicking here

When you incorporate written opportunities to respond in the classroom, you are enhancing student comprehension while contributing to the development of communication, critical thinking and collaboration.  Embracing the power of written expression truly empowers our students to deepen their educational journey!

If you are interested in deepening your knowledge about student engagement, check out How to Keep Kids Engaged in Class from Edutopia.  This is a great quick read with resources at the end! 



References

MacSuga-Gage, A. & Simonsen, B. (2015). Examining the effects of teacher directed opportunities to respond on student outcomes: A systematic review of the literature. Education and Treatment of Children, 38, 211-240.