LETRS Training

Another week down! Thank you all for collaborating and working so hard in your classrooms and throughout the school! 

With our up and coming LETRS training, I feel like it is a good time to blog about the program and what we can hope to expect.  

This video is a great example of why the state chose LETRS.  I am excited to get started with this program! I also LOVE that in the video, the teachers state that it can by layered over most all programs.     

What is LETRS Training?

Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling, which is a product of Voyager Sopris Learning, Inc. (VSL, Inc.)

LETRS addresses four critical outcomes for effective literacy instruction: understanding the science of reading, converting research to practice, enhancing teacher effectiveness, and transforming instruction. By understanding the “why” behind science and evidence-based research, educators can effectively know how to aid students in learning to read.

Who is required to attend LETRS Training?

The state is providing funding for the following staff members to participate in LETRS® training:

• homeroom classroom teachers working with pre-kindergarten through fifth grade students, including CTE preschool teachers,

• one administrator per school who will support/evaluate for alignment,

• one instructional coach per school

• lead teachers working with children in the NC Pre-K program and onsite administrator (including NC Pre-K in child care and Head Start settings)

• elementary EC Resource Teachers

• elementary ELL Teachers

Let's Dive in!

We will be trained on 8 different modules through an interactive virtual interface.  

If you are interested in learning more about the training, please join in on one of the webinars provided.   Click the image below. 

Here is a great brochure that will help you understand the training process and how it will help enhance our teaching.  

Social Studies Resources

Hi All!  Thank you for an amazing week at PVES!  I am soooo impressed with all that you have done to bring our new F & P books, LL and Heggerty to life.  Your students were so engaged because of the level of questioning that was happening.  

This week on the blog, I wanted to dig a bit into resources that can help support you in teaching your new Social Studies Standards.  If you have not taken the time to dig into your grade level's standard,  you can click HERE to check them out.  *Be sure to click slide 2 and head into the unpacking.  It is super helpful in explaining the standard!

Resources to help support your Social Studies lessons!

1. This guy isn't just for science!  There is a section dedicated to history!  You will find games, videos & biographies!  

2. Be sure to create a FREE account at the Smithsonian Learning Lab!  There is sooooo much here for us to use and the cool thing is your can search for topics, create a resource with those topics and share them out with your class! 

3. Home School POP is a great YouTube channel that has tons of social studies videos that you can incorporate into your lessons. 

4. Pebble Go! This is a fantastic site with lots of kid friendly resources! 

5. NearPOD! You can build your own interactive lessons, search resources or use their pre-made lessons!  U can even search by grade level! 

Here is a fantastic blogpost by We Are Teachers that had 55+ more sites for you to visit and search for great resources for you classroom! 

Know that Susie is searching for library books to support your social studies and science standards & the K-3 coaches will be working on resources to be posted on the curriculum pages.  

*Be sure to reach out if you need help!  

What does small group time look like in a SOR classroom?

Hi All!  I know this is a huge question and a gigantic hurdle right now for us.  I LOVE all that you are doing to bring our F & P books sets to life in your classrooms.  

I have been spending some time researching what small group reading time (Tiny Table Time) looks like in a SOR classroom and I wanted to share what I have found.  

First, we need to understand that it is NOT going to look the same every day or every week.  There may NOT be a text involved in every group.  The best way to look at this time in your literacy block is to ask yourself, what do my students NEED after my mini lessons to be successful with CORE! 

*Never do in a small group what you could do as a whole class~Shanahan 

Meaning, after your Letterland lesson, if you have a group kiddos that didn't get the lesson, RETEACH! 

Strategies for Reteaching:

• Blending Board
• Word Building
• Elkonin Boxes 
• Word Detectives
• Dictation
• Letterland Small Group Work

*LOVE these ideas! 

If you have a group of kiddos that rocked the lesson, extend on that learning.

Strategies for Application of Learning:

• Add a decodable so that they can apply the learning.  
• Word Ladders
• Quick Code 
• Writing Conferences
• Letterland Decodable Passage

During your Interactive Read Alouds, pay attention to the level of engagement during questioning and turn & talks.  As you monitor independent work, pull students needing support.  If you have students that seem to be disengaged or not understanding the comprehension goals consider RETEACHING!

Strategies for Reteaching:

• Retelling Rope
• Visit a certain part of the story and use your F & P prompting guides to generate discussion.

• Stop and Jot Modeling
• Reading Salad
• Thought Bubble 
• Reading Conferences

If you have a group of students that rocked this IRA, consider extending learning. 

Strategies for Application of Learning:

• Add a graphic organizer to focus on comprehension from the story. 

• Photo copy a section from the read aloud book and do a close read. 

• Choose a book set from your grade level band and focus on a comprehension strategy. 

• Reading Conferences

This article from The Reading Teacher Top Ten Tools has a great framework if you are wanting more guidance on planning out lessons for your students.  

Just remember baby steps! I will continue to share ideas to support you in this area!  

 

Summer Break

Set the ALARM for NeVeR!!!!!  Happy Summer Break!  U made it!  U survived the most challenging school year in the history of school years!  I have NEVER been more proud to be a Park View Patriot!  Thank you for all of your hard work, dedication, partnership, friendship and sooo much more!  You are all ROCKSTARS!

As you pack and prepare for your summer break, I wanted to share some resources to help you RELAX and recharge.  You deserve it soooo much! 

I will be making an appearance at this fun event below!!!!!  If you are a craft lover or and antique hunter, this is going to be soooo fun!  Vintage Market Days of Charlotte!

4 of my favorite summer recipes!!!!  

Go HERE!!!!!  I LOVE this place!  Handmade furniture and antiques & MORE! 

Just don't buy all the good stuff!

I love essential oils!  I have them diffusing all over the house and at night!  

I diffuse Serenity and Breathe at night from Doterra. 

I also have diffused On Guard all year to help purify the air. 

Not sure if you know this or not but I am NOT a gardener!  Like heck to the NO but I do love a hack that helps me keep my yard in order. Lots of good ideas here!

I hope you all have a wonderful summer break and find lots ways to relax and recharge.  I am going to end this post with one of my favorite videos! 

Summer Reading

Hi All!  We made it through TESTING!!!!!  Another year is almost done.  I know you have so many sweet activities planned for your kiddos next week,  so... I started thinking about the summer.  

I used to love to send a book list home every summer for my kiddos.  I challenged them to read all summer and bring me back a list of their books.  I always had a fun treat and a bookmark waiting for them.  

Don't forget about SUMMER Reading at the MOORESVILLE Public Library!  

Also, be sure to let you families know about NC Digital Library!  Families will need a library card to log into their account.  Tons of great reads for kiddos all summer long! 

I found a FANTASTIC site with booklists for all ages!  Check it out below! The site is called Brightly.  I like that on the left you can click the print button and it will print the list for you but the site also offers links to where the books can be purchased too if parents want that.  

LOVE their Book BINGO too!  Perfect for printing out and sending home!

Who doesn't LOVE a scratch and sniff bookmark?????  These would be so fun for students that bring you their bingo boards back in the FALL!!!!!  

A summer reading log would also be a great way for students to stay on track!  Love these ideas over at My Frugal Adventures!  Several FREEBIES too! 

If you have any other ideas for summer reading, drop them in the comments below!!!!

Can't wait to see what you all come up with! 

Just for FUN!

Just for fun because I know this is on all of our minds!  I thought I would dig into some packing up your classroom tips.  Things are definitely going to be crazy at the end of the year and I thought these ideas might be a little helpful as we begin this process. 

I know we are all hoping this go smoothly over the summer but sometimes things don't go as planned and if we pack up well, maybe we will be able to unpack with ease in the fall...MAYBE?

I have moved classrooms, schools and states so I have some pretty heavy experience on this topic.  Here are a few things I always recommend!

1. If you can buy it with wheels, DO it!  I tried to get all my carts with wheels so I can just wheel it to a corner and cover it with a garbage bag!

2. Get some LARGE stacking tubs. Find a fun color so that they can be used as storage later in the year. The clear ones are nice so you can see what is inside.

3. Pack the tubs with centers/zones in mind.  Meaning, I pack each center in a large tub so that when I go to unpack, I can unpack areas all at once. Be sure to pack your desk supplies in their own space.  

4. I used dollar store table clothes to help cover shelves and bulletin boards!  Yep, do that back to school board at the end of the year so it is done! 

So many uses for these guys! 

5. Label ALL your boxes!!!  Try your very best to not combine 2 areas in one box.  (Painters tap comes off easily and you can use a sharpie marker!) 

6. Get a BALLPARK wagon!  My wagon has saved me soooo many times!  IT helps you move and transport things to your car and to other classrooms.  

I love this video from Pocketful of Primary!  So many good tips I never thought of! 

The Printable Princess has some great ideas too! 

The Home, Sell & Give tubs are great!  I love the idea of being able purge and have a system to do so as I pack up. 

Also, the MINE to USE but NOT MINE to KEEP cabinet!  So freaking smart! 

This is also brilliant!  Shower caps over book tubs to keep them from getting dusty!!!!!  So darn smart!  I would also do this over open tubs of manipulatives.  

Hop over to Polka Dots Please to read more about her packing up tips! 

This is a tip that I also recommend.  Anything you can do to set yourself up for a clean space is a must do! 

If you have any great tips...leave them in the comments.  

Teaching with Syntax in Mind

Happy Friday!  I hope you all had a wonderful week and have amazing plans to relax and recharge this weekend!  Things are moving quickly as the end of the year approaches.  

This week on the blog, I wanted to jump into the world of syntax to support our SOR discussions.  We will be focusing on Language Structures in PLC this week and those structures include SYNTAX. 

What is syntax anyway?

Syntax is the study and understanding of grammar.  The systematic arrangement of words and phrases that make up our sentences. 

Check out this video all about Syntax!

Students need to begin to gain a systematic awareness giving them the ability understand the relationship between words.  This awareness begins early on with our oral language and builds through our interactive read alouds.  

In order for students to gain in comprehension they must be able to understand at the sentence level first. 

How can we support students with this in the classroom? 

Giving students the opportunity to manipulate words in sentences will allow much needed practice time. 

*Here are some ideas to use in the classroom! 

Sentence Scramble: Given a set of words, students unscramble the words to create a sentence.  
*Use sentences from your read aloud text for students to unscramble. (A great way to get an additional read of the material.) 
*Use words that are from your Letterland weekly lesson.
*Love this blogpost about prepping sentences for your students!  Check it out over at the Brown Bag Teacher!

Sentence Elaboration with Question Words: Supply students with 6 questions words (Who, What, When, Where, Why Which and How)

*Students use these words to help expand on the sentence.  

Here is an example: 

Simply encouraging your students to stretch their sentences allows them great opportunity to explore syntax. 

 
Even our youngest learners can begin to learn through lessons focused on syntax.