Performance Matter Help Sheets

 At our Data Digs this last week, we dove into Performance Matters to help analyze our most recent DPM data. We were able to find great data with Performance Matters that helped us create small groups based on TEKS, look at what we may need to reteach whole group, and what we need to change in our teaching to help students better understand a concept.

It took some trial and error with in Performance Matters to find what we were looking for. A 5th grade teacher helped me find (or what we think is) the best way to manipulate Performance Matters to get the information we want. I created some help sheets that give step by step directions to get to the data you may want and some questions to reflect on along the way.

Grab a copy of the help sheets here!

Please let me know if you have any questions or if you have found other ways to sort data in Performance Matters that you find useful.

New Year Reflections

 

Happy New Year! 

I love the start of something new! In education, I love that I have two chances to reflect on my life and set new goals. 

With my own family, we sit down and reflect together and then talk about the year to come.

This would be a great thing to do with students this year as well. Students love 3-2-1 FriYAY, so I created a 3-2-1 New Year Reflection. I'm excited for the conversations and the community it will help build for the remainder of the year. 

Click here to grab a copy of the digital template of 3-2-1 New Year. 

You can have students fill out digitally, print a copy for each of them, or complete as a scoot.

For the scoot, print a blank copy for each student and place the 3-2-1 sheets up around the room. You could partner students up in groups and have them rotate and discuss as they go around. 

Happy 2022!!

Digital Maze Activities

I was wanting to create a digital maze practice for our students that was similar to our mclass testing. I was researching some different options and came across this template. I thought it was great! I quickly created one for 3rd grade reading and math, but you could easily use the maze template with any grade level and content area or even just vocabulary.

This activity would be great for blended learning in a digital studio or future ready as the students could create their own maze for another classmate. This would show great understanding of the concept and transfer of knowledge.

Click here to make a copy of the reading maze.

Click here to make a copy of the math maze.

I highlighted the correct answers in the second slide, so when students are done they can remove the box and self check their answers. 

You could share this in Schoology as a Google Slide or Kami assignement. Kami makes it super easy for students to highlight the correct answer. 

How might you use this template in your classroom or subject area? 

Reading Detective Notebooks

When planning with my teacher's for our upcoming Reading Units, I noticed a similarity and common ideas between 2nd, 3rd, and 4th grade. I love how each grade builds upon the previous one. We started thinking and brainstorming how we could be aligned. We are all going to be some type of detective to dig deep for clues in the texts we are reading to strengthen comprehension and thinking beyond the text. 2nd grade is more broad and will be Reading Detectives, and 3rd and 4th grade will be focusing on tracking their characters. A theme never hurts to build excitement in our students! :)

I created some Reader's Notebooks to go along with the lessons and skills the teacher's will be teaching. Teachers will create an anchor chart during their mini lesson that will correlate to the graphic organizer in the Reader's Notebook. You can print 2 slides to a page and cut the notebooks in half, upload the slides in to Schoology for a digital notebook, use Peardeck for collaboration as a class, the possibilities are endless.

Click here for the: 2nd grade notebook, 3rd grade notebook, and 4th grade notebook. Grab your magnifying glasses, put on your detective gear, and lay out the paw prints to track! Let's get excited to UNCOVER clues about the text we are reading and really comprehend what we are reading!

Dot Day Activities

Did you know International Dot Day is this Wednesday, Sept. 15th? 

The Dot is written by Perter H. Reynolds.

International Dot Day is celebrated by adults and children for boosting courage so that their creative potential is released. It is a great day to connect and collaborate, and also to celebrate self-expression.

I created and complied a Slide Deck with a read aloud, some quotes, a song, and some activities I found to go along with Dot Day and inspire creativity.

Click here to grab a copy.

How will you celebrate Dot Day with your students?

Be Brave, Be Bold, BeYOUtiful!

 

Closing the Gap Choiceboard

In order to help my teachers wrap their minds around the Accelerated Instruction that must be done for students that did not pass STAAR, I created a Closing the Gap choice board to help them easily plan for what all students would be working on while the teacher pulled small groups.

This choiceboard was inspired by Stephanie Howell's this or that choice board ideas. It gives students choice while providing differentiation and meaningful activities for all students to be creative, collaborate, and grow.

 Click here to view and make your own copy. 

The This or That boxes can be changed and adapted to focus on skills your students need to review. You could also have 2 or 3 different choice boards that you share based on student levels. Work with teammates to come up with activities. You can change the subjects at the top, add a column or delete one. Set your expectations with your students. Must complete one activity from each subject area or one from reading and math by the end of the week or 2 weeks.

Make it work for you and your students!

Share with students in Schoology so they can assess links in the choice board. You could also print off for those who need a physical checklist.

I plan on talking with my teams at our weekly planning to help come up with engaging activities to make our Closing the Gap time for students purposeful but stress free for teachers.

How are you Closing the Gap with your students?

Google Maps- Pin your Read Alouds

I believe read alouds are the heart of your classroom! Incorporate Google Maps for an extra layer of engagement and excitement. 

Using Google Maps can help you keep track of what you have read, build background information, and integrate Social Studies. Students that have traveled to these places may be able to share additional information as well.

Click HERE for a short video showing you how to create a new map, add a location, and book to your map.

Steps to create your own Read Aloud map:

1. Go to Google My Maps

2. Click Create A New Map and name it

3. Search the location (of the setting, subject's home town, etc)

4. Click Add to Map

5. View in Maps, look at images

5. Add an image of the book and some thoughts on the book if you want

6. Make connections to other books on your map

I do bookmark it so it is easy to find, but it also shows up in your Google Drive.

Here's to traveling the country with your read alouds this year! 

Happy Reading!