Bringing Vocabulary to Life

I loved Chapter Five of Bold School! It is all about vocabulary. Vocabulary instruction has a .62 effect size when it is formal and structured. Let's ste

Growing student's vocabulary is (one) KEY to closing the achievement gap among students! 

I started thinking how could I get students excited about vocabulary in my reading and writing classroom but also include vocabulary that they need to be exposed to. I began thinking of words that my students have had trouble with in the past years and started thinking ahead to what vocabulary they need to know in future units. 

My class focuses on 5 new vocabulary words each week. We discuss the meaning of these words and give real life examples. But, it doesn't stop there because comprehension also requires picturing. Students draw their own picture to represent the word and different students each week create a card with the word, picture, and definition for our student-created interactive word wall. I do place the cards by first letter to make it easier for the students to find the word they are looking for on the wall. 

We use the Frayer Model and talk about synonyms and non-examples. I also use duct tape to show connect the synonyms on the wall to help students make that connection.

 Students love making their own Digital Dictionary of the words we are discussing and learning each week. I shared a template with them in Google Classroom, and they can edit and create a slide for each word. They can be creative and change the font, layout, background, etc if they want to.

This can be used with any content!

Click the picture to make a copy.

We mainly do this work as a warm up activity as they come in the classroom and are checking in. However, vocabulary should not an isolated activity so we are always on the hunt for our vocabulary or synonyms in our read alouds, independent reading, small group, conversations, and adding them in our own writing. We make a big deal out of someone finding or using a vocabulary word correctly in speech or writing. It's only the beginning of the year, but students are already using these words in their quick writes and writing pieces!

I also love how Christine Morgan created her interactive science wall with real life objects to help students picture and make connections.  

How else do you bring vocabulary to life in your classroom? 

I'd love to hear some new ideas!

Beginning of the Year Thoughts

I can't believe we have almost been in school a month already! I have loved getting to know my students and build relationships with them. I get so excited of the possibilities of a new year and all I hope to accomplish with my students, but I also have to remind myself teaching is a marathon not a sprint. My students need me at my best each day of the year!

I wanted to share with you, as well as remind myself of, some thoughts that are crucial for us as educators to remember throughout the whole year!

1. You are ENOUGH! 

You don't need to be the teacher/administrator next door, down the hall, or the one you see on Twitter. What you are doing inside your classroom for your students is all that matters! Yes, you should strive to do your best and challenge yourself each day but do not compare yourself to other teachers. Grow your PLN. Plant yourself next to those who encourage and support you.

2. PRIORITIZE!

Teaching is an all encompassing job and can consume our lives. Make sure to prioritize what must get done and what can wait. There will always be more we can do. Use your planning time with your team wisely and come prepared with ideas and the what, so you can discuss the how and plan engaging and relevant lessons together. Ask for help if you need it. Make time for you and your family!

3. Set GOALS!

When I set goals, I work harder to achieve them! Goals keep me focused on what I can do to improve myself in order to help my students. Goals help me see the big picture and cause me to reflect, make changes if needed, and keep pushing on. Share your struggles and celebrations with your students. Try something new and help your students set goals as well. Remember progress over perfection!

4. Continue to build RELATIONSHIPS and classroom COMMUNITY!

This is the backbone and heartbeat of your classroom! When you build relationships students trust you and trust leads to learning. Try Friday #lunchbunch with your students! You can read more about building community here.

5. You are the ONE!

I believe your students were chosen for you. They are in your classroom for a reason! 

Embrace them, love them, encourage them, push them, build them up, and help them to grow as a person and a learner. You can make a huge difference in their life. Please be the teacher that teaches the student and not just the curriculum. 

Here's to the best year yet! 

Tips for Using Quick Writes in the Classroom

A quick write is a 3-5 minute time where students write in response to something. This is a writing that is not graded and encourages students to write the whole time and down anything that comes to mind. Quick writers can be used in any content area and bonus is that several tasks involved in quick writes have high effect sizes (think discussion, reflection, integrating prior knowledge, transfer of strategies, summarizing, elaboration, feedback)!

Writing can be a daunting task for students, but quick writers help lighten the stress. The benefits of quick writes are huge. Quick writes include a bunch of John Hattie's influences with high effect size. Students think critically, build a collection of writing topics, share their voice, build writing fluency and increase of writing volume, share raw emotions, and gain confidence. Quick writes help build a community among one other.  

Quick writes also help you as the teacher know more about your students as writers and personally. 

Here are a few tips I have leaned over the last year:

Tip #1. Plan quick writes a head of time. 

I use Google Slides and house all my quick write ideas together. It helps me know what I have already done, and then I have each one planned out ready to go. What you plan, is what gets done!

Tip #2: Use mentor texts, graphics, or videos to spark student's excitement and keep them engaged. Know your students and use different media and ideas that are relevant to them. A few other ways to implement quick writes into all content areas; use them as a pre-assessment/Brain dump, summary or reflection on the lesson, making predictions and hypothesis, or exit tickets. 

Be creative!

Example of a quick write before or after a read aloud

Example of an image

Tip #3: Allow students some TALK time. 

Talking before writing gives them a chance to think out loud, hear the thoughts of their peers, and helps them feel more confident for the writing. After the first 3-5 minutes, students can talk again and share their quick write. They can also identify Focus Phrases or other writing skills.  Get them up and moving and talking to different people. This will help spark new ideas for the students, help them to add more details, and begin to build connections with one another.

Tip #4: Write with the students, yes YOU.

When you set the timer for a quick write, sit down and complete the quick write with your students. Students love seeing authentic writing from you, seeing where you had difficulty, and hearing what you had to write. This is where your classroom community becomes stronger as well. If you don't have one already create and decorate a Writer's Notebook for you.

Tip #5: CELEBRATE their quick writes.

Allow students to share their voice and ideas. Give positive feedback, highlight students who are trying hard, and reinforce the skills you are teaching in reading and writing. These quick writes are often are the beginning of a great story!

I hope you will give your students a chance to shine, grow, and share their voice through quick writes. They are such a powerful tool! I'd love to hear your thoughts or questions on using quick writes in the classroom. 

Communicating with Parents- Weekly Videos

As an elementary teacher, communicating with parents is a really big thing for me. I want parents to feel connected to our classroom and in the loop. I communicate in a variety of ways several times a week, but wanted to share a new way I have been communicating with my parents. 

I had always taken the time to send a weekly newsletter with important dates and upcoming objectives, but I started to wonder if the parents were actually reading it.  So, last year I decided to switch from my digital newsletter that I was sending to a weekly VIDEO. It was intimidating at first, but I received a lot of positive feedback from parents. They loved being able to see and hear from me each week. 

I used Screencastify in the past, but this year I am using Clips by Apple. Clips makes sending a weekly video super quick.  I record right on my phone, add any text or emojis I want, and upload to my Google Drive. I then share the link with my parents so they are able to be informed. I also post on my class website and ClassTag. (This is not the only parent communication I do each week, but this is how I share weekly updates with all my parents.)

**Side note** ClassTag is going to be a game changer. It is super easy for me to post my weekly video to and any other pictures or updates I want to send. I love that I am able to see which parents viewed my post. Parents can opt to receive notifications as a text or email. Check it out here if you haven't!

Remember with any parent communication that you make you'll want to be...

1. Professional- make sure your are representing your school and yourself well

2. Consistent- make sure to keep up with your communication 

3. Positive- make sure to be positive and upbeat

Sending a weekly video message to the parents helps me build relationships with them and allows them see my passion for teaching and their children first hand!

How do you communicate with your student's parents on a weekly basis? Have you ever tried sending a video?