- What are some characteristics of living things?
- What are some characteristics of nonliving things?
- How are living things different from nonliving things?
Friday, September 25, 2015
4th Grade Living Things
Living versus nonliving things: Questions
Monday, September 7, 2015
List of Inexpensive School Incentive Ideas for 4th Graders (FREE or Cheap)
I found a great resources for inexpensive incentive ideas to use with 4th graders. The list is comprehensive and full of ideas that teachers do not have to buy.
The list is great because it has ideas for all ages.
I have used a lot of these ideas in the past for rewards to go with my classroom money system. They work!
Here is the link to the PDF...
Classroom rewards and incentive ideas that work for 4th graders.
Here is another list
The list is great because it has ideas for all ages.
I have used a lot of these ideas in the past for rewards to go with my classroom money system. They work!
Here is the link to the PDF...
Classroom rewards and incentive ideas that work for 4th graders.
Here is another list
Saturday, August 22, 2015
I Couldn't Believe The Reading Teachers in My School Didn't Do this to Improve ELA Scores
I was shocked to find out that I was one of the only teachers in my school doing this to teach reading.
I teach with some great teachers, but after doing a summer program with them I learned that many of them didn't even think of the benefits of teaching reading the way I was doing it!
After more than 16 years in the classroom, I thought it was an obvious way to get more reading time.
If you have ever had this complaint...
I don't have enough instructional time or...
if I only had another hour in my day or...
I am tired of all these interruptions...
You need to maximize instruction time and believe it or not there is a simple way to boost student reading skills without any extra work on your part.
High school teachers are out of luck, this technique can only be utilized by regular ELEMENTARY classroom teachers.
I teach 4th grade, but any elementary teacher can use this to help students improve reading comprehension.
The simple technique involves teaching reading during math time. It sounds crazy to a lot of teachers, but before I tell give you my 12 reasons why it works from my own classroom case study, I think you should try something a little unusual...
You see, my technique involves something that most teachers can't find, interesting open-ended math word problems. I have been using these in my classroom for years, but now I am putting them in a format that all teachers can use...
Teachers are being attacked from all fronts and I have benefited from so many great FREE resources from other teachers that I thought it was about time I shared some of my own.
Most elementary teachers love ELA, but are less enthusiastic about math, but what if great stories and sharing could be done during math time?
I have 5 days of word problems that will give you a taste of how powerful math time can be to build reading skills.
These problems are written to explictly teach reading and problem strategies together.
The unique format of these problems hooks reluctant learners and engages high-flyers.
These activities are like no other math activities...
Here’s why:
A center activity for math or ELA that ACTUALLY keeps students on task!
EASY for any teacher to implement!
TEACH Common Core ELA skills and Common Core math skills at the same time!
Works as bell-ringer, a center activity, homework or a complete lesson!
Open-ended math that challenges high-flyers while allowing struggling students to work at their own pace!
Helps FREE “teacher time” to work with struggling students!
Students learn to read and follow written directions independently!
Rigorous math disguised as art perfect for reluctant learners!
Visual learning great for ELLs!
Discover the secrets of of using math to teach reading! (Learn how by getting on my email list go to mr4thgrade.blogspot.com)
Assess reading comprehension in seconds
using uncommon techniques
Classroom tested, MATH COLLABORATOR ACTIVITY,
that gets students thinking deeply about math and working together!
Gets students using comprehension BOOSTING prereading questions, during reading and postreading questions
Triple TIME-ON-TASK by integrating three key subjects!
Helps to quickly assess math processing skills!
The pdf shows you how you can put this into practice tomorrow.
If you want it, just put your email address in the box on the right. I am just putting the finishing touches on it and I will get it out as soon as it is complete.
Honestly, it is my favorite way to teach reading comprehension strategies. It only takes 5 minutes a day and it FREES up so much time to do the FUN reading!
I teach with some great teachers, but after doing a summer program with them I learned that many of them didn't even think of the benefits of teaching reading the way I was doing it!
After more than 16 years in the classroom, I thought it was an obvious way to get more reading time.
If you have ever had this complaint...
I don't have enough instructional time or...
if I only had another hour in my day or...
I am tired of all these interruptions...
You need to maximize instruction time and believe it or not there is a simple way to boost student reading skills without any extra work on your part.
High school teachers are out of luck, this technique can only be utilized by regular ELEMENTARY classroom teachers.
The simple technique involves teaching reading during math time. It sounds crazy to a lot of teachers, but before I tell give you my 12 reasons why it works from my own classroom case study, I think you should try something a little unusual...
You see, my technique involves something that most teachers can't find, interesting open-ended math word problems. I have been using these in my classroom for years, but now I am putting them in a format that all teachers can use...
Teachers are being attacked from all fronts and I have benefited from so many great FREE resources from other teachers that I thought it was about time I shared some of my own.
Most elementary teachers love ELA, but are less enthusiastic about math, but what if great stories and sharing could be done during math time?
I have 5 days of word problems that will give you a taste of how powerful math time can be to build reading skills.
These problems are written to explictly teach reading and problem strategies together.
The unique format of these problems hooks reluctant learners and engages high-flyers.
These activities are like no other math activities...
Here’s why:
A center activity for math or ELA that ACTUALLY keeps students on task!
EASY for any teacher to implement!
TEACH Common Core ELA skills and Common Core math skills at the same time!
Works as bell-ringer, a center activity, homework or a complete lesson!
Open-ended math that challenges high-flyers while allowing struggling students to work at their own pace!
Helps FREE “teacher time” to work with struggling students!
Students learn to read and follow written directions independently!
Rigorous math disguised as art perfect for reluctant learners!
Visual learning great for ELLs!
Discover the secrets of of using math to teach reading! (Learn how by getting on my email list go to mr4thgrade.blogspot.com)
Assess reading comprehension in seconds
using uncommon techniques
Classroom tested, MATH COLLABORATOR ACTIVITY,
that gets students thinking deeply about math and working together!
Gets students using comprehension BOOSTING prereading questions, during reading and postreading questions
Triple TIME-ON-TASK by integrating three key subjects!
Helps to quickly assess math processing skills!
In addition to these word problems, I would like to share to show an actual case study where I got better reading results by teaching reading during math time. I put the notes in an easy to use pdf.
The pdf shows you how you can put this into practice tomorrow.
If you want it, just put your email address in the box on the right. I am just putting the finishing touches on it and I will get it out as soon as it is complete.
Honestly, it is my favorite way to teach reading comprehension strategies. It only takes 5 minutes a day and it FREES up so much time to do the FUN reading!
Sunday, August 16, 2015
4th grade math battle game and trading card math game
I have tried a lot of games in the 4th grade classroom. I have always envisioned a whole class math game that sort-of mimics a trading card game like Pokemon or another similar game. I also like the idea of a year long math game that works sort of like Dungeons and Dragons.
I have been successful with some grid style games using my classroom floor which the students have loved, but I am looking to add a math battle game into the mix. I haven't quite figured it out yet, but I am starting with to gather some ideas here.
Link to Time for Kids
I have been successful with some grid style games using my classroom floor which the students have loved, but I am looking to add a math battle game into the mix. I haven't quite figured it out yet, but I am starting with to gather some ideas here.
Link to Time for Kids
Monday, July 13, 2015
The First WEEK of 4th GRADE: Setting the Stage for Learning
During the first two weeks of school, I love teaching students how the brain works. After all, it is the reason we are in school! Shouldn't we all know some basics about how learning works.
The average 4th grader is more than capable of understanding how the brain learns. In fact, they need to be taught how the things they do during the year affect how they learn.
Here is a good overview of the science of how the brain works. I will be going through this with my students during the first weeks of class. In addition, I will show students notetaking strategies that will help them "grow" their brain throughout the year!
Link to 4th Grade Beginning of the Year
The average 4th grader is more than capable of understanding how the brain learns. In fact, they need to be taught how the things they do during the year affect how they learn.
Here is a good overview of the science of how the brain works. I will be going through this with my students during the first weeks of class. In addition, I will show students notetaking strategies that will help them "grow" their brain throughout the year!
Link to 4th Grade Beginning of the Year
Monday, June 29, 2015
4th Grade Science Ideas and Resources
I am working to upgrade my lessons using my science notebooks in 4th grade. Here are some science notebook links that look promising.
Science notebooks
Science notebooks
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Profit Lesson Plan for 4th Graders
Students in my class have been responding well to money math lessons that I have been doing in class. I am looking for some good business simulations that can be done at a 4th grade level. This is a list of a few that might work in class.
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