Giveaway at 1...2...3 Teach with Me

As we enter this super busy time of year, with testing around the corner, we are always looking for ways to review and focus on small group instruction.  

One lucky winner in the 1...2...3 Teach with Me Giveaway, will receive my Investigating Fractions {Small Group & RTI Intervention Activities}, plus 32 ADDITIONAL items.

Here is how the giveaway works: "TpT Store Hop"

1.  Visit 123 Teach with Me

2.  Click on the different product links and follow the stores

3.  Leave a comment at 123 Teach with Me with your email address 

Winners will be announced on Saturday evening!  Good luck!

  

March Currently

This evening, I am linking up with Farley and her March Currently.  I love reading what everyone is working on, needing to do, etc.  It always makes me feel better to know that I am not the only one who needs to do laundry and clean their house :)

Tonight, my husband and I are staying in and listening to Matt Carter, the pastor of Austin Stone in Austin, TX.  He is speaking at a conference called Verge.  My husband loves to listen to podcasts and learn from other pastors.  I love when the Lord reminds me of who He is and how He loves me.  

I can't help but get excited about how Spring Break is upon us.  We have school next week, but I will leave Thursday to attend the TAP National Conference in Washington DC.  Super pumped!!!  TAP always puts on excellent professional development, I typically leave slightly overwhelmed, but with more tools in my toolbox.  This year with my new role, I am always looking for great wisdom and insight to better support our campus.

But, traveling brings with it the need for laundry and packing, two of my least favorite things!  

Also, I am working on my newest product...a 120 daily warm ups for 5th grade Common Core.  

Goal:  end of Spring Break!

Intervention/RTI Galore & a Giveaway

I remember the first time I was introduced to RTI...it was a brief training with a checklist, with the main point being that we did this for about 15% of our students.  I was confused!!!  As a math teacher, after school tutoring was a norm, kids really couldn't move on without mastering the previous concept.  Then, there was test corrections, homework help, etc.  I am sure all you math teachers can relate.

However, the idea of tracking what I was doing, how often, what materials, what skill, the progress...that was all new to me.  Later, I was asked to teach a remediation class for students who struggled or did not meet state standards.  Talk about a whirlwind.  These kids needed extra support, but they had gaps, wide gaps, different gaps, and I was entrusted with the task of filling them in.  Whew, I get tired just typing about it!  

I will say it was one of my favorite classes.  We set lots of goals and worked for incentives.  We celebrated every small success and really aimed to build confidence in our math skills.  At the end of the year, it felt as though I had different students, more confident, higher skill base, better problem solvers, and in general, they may not yet LOVE math, like me...but they liked it a bit more.  I remember how excited they were when we got our state assessment scores back.  It was awesome!

Now, I tell you all that to share one of the ways I did it.  By trial and error, I found two incredibly helpful methods.  

1.  Previewing upcoming skills

About two days before we started something new in our regular math class, I would introduce it to my remediation class.  We would break it down, work a few problems, and focus on the process.  I think this gave them a great deal of confidence.  

2.  Small groups, centers, stations, whatever you like to call it.  

Each week students were given a schedule for stations.  I divided them into groups and each group visited a different station.  Much like an elementary classroom, one of the stations was a small group with me.  I focused on correcting misconceptions and catching their errors right away.  

*This is my newest unit that is aimed at tutoring, small groups, and RTI intervention...check it out!  As a special thank you, I would like to GIVE IT AWAY to a blog follower, so please enter below.*

Currently, TpT Sale, Investigating Fractions

Whew, it has been a week!  Today, my husband and I had a date day, it included brunch, indoor rock climbing, and church...we had a blast.  Then, of course it was time to come home and get to work.  

First, I am linking up my February Currently poster.  If you would like to join click here.  

Also, if you have not heard yet...TpT is offering a special code on Sunday 2/3.  Use the code SUPER for 10% off, plus my store is on sale too, so you will save 28%.  What is not to like about that?

And finally...I finished my newest unit.  Investigating Fractions is a collection of 12 activities focused on: equivalent fractions, adding fractions, subtracting fractions, and simplifying fractions.  Check it out!

That's a wrap, goodnight!

How do you work best?

I am a planner by nature, it is simply how God made me.  I love lists, organization, knowing the calendar for the next seven weeks, etc.  If you are a planner, you totally understand.  Of course there are downsides, freak out moments, and a lot of stress, but I prefer to think about the positives.  

Well, one of the things I have PLANNED is working on my upcoming unit while my husband was at a conference.  I left work, ate some quick dinner at home, and now I am enjoying the ambiance at my favorite working location.  

Did I give it away?  My drink is a Chai Latte, non fat, extra hot, no water...totally low maintenance.  I even made a list of what needed to be accomplished for me to complete the unit within the next week.  How and where do you work best?  Does it take you a while to get in the groove?  Please share!   

TpT Celebration!

It is January!  Crazy to think how fast the year is going!  I am enjoying being back at school and have gotten into a groove.  Spring is my favorite!  It seems to move quickly, there are lots of activities, and with testing around the corner, time is critical.

If you were able to read this Sunday's TpT Newsletter, you might have noticed that my FREEBIE made it!  I am so thankful to be a part of TpT!

In order to celebrate this milestone, I am offering 20% off my entire store today and tomorrow until midnight!

I am also thankful to my dear friend Amanda who has really paved the way for me through TpT.  She always answers my questions, helps me with ideas, and just continues to provide encouragement.  Here is a link to her super cute fonts!!!  Love them!

Hope you have a wonderful Monday off :)

Noelle

Is noisy bad?

Well, school started, life got busy, Aggie football season is upon us, and I have not blogged in quite a while :)

While discussing the learning environment with my colleagues, the topic of compliant students arose.  Is it a misconception that compliant = engaged?  Are we as educators (specifically secondary) able to distinguish between strong classroom management skills and a compliant unengaged classroom?  How can we work to help others recognize this?  What level of comfort do we have with multiple activities, conversations, etc taking place at the same time?  Is noisy bad?

I have many elementary educator friends who are brilliant at managing centers, guided reading, and computers in one short segment.  Students are self directed, there are multiple things happening at once.  How can we bring this idea to the secondary environment?  Help!