Lomasney Gifted and Talented Plus Bell Ringers

How can I be creative in the classroom, since I have to teach the Common Core State Standards?  Well, it may not be as easy as it used to be.  But it can still be accomplished.  Think about what you would like to teach, and match it with what you have to teach.  Voila!  You've done it!  Can you still make artwork in the classroom.  Yes.  Just add some concepts from Math, Reading, or Writing.  Who can complain, when students are having fun and learning the concepts required?

What does Common Core State Standards mean?  It just means that educators are attempting to get on the same page with education.  We are trying to teach the same concepts to the same grade level.  Is it bad or good?  Well...I can say it is very controversial.  Common Core State Standards are research based standards that help make educating children more consistent throughout the United States.  Furthermore, it opens opportunities for federal grants and entitlements for the schools that participate. With that being said, there are still cultural differences within the United States that don't make all things equal.  For example what a group of people in New York think is important on a standardized test may not be important for a group of people in Texas.  In addition, some people do not like that much government control over their children. As a teacher, it is difficult to constantly jump through new hoops.  We are, however, trained to be open to new ideas and continually rece

Teachers in every discipline are being asked to teach across the curriculum.  What does that mean?  It means that even if you teach Art, Music, Gym, Social Studies, or Science, you are being asked to teach Reading and Language Arts and Math.  Wow!  That seems like a lot to ask.  Well, maybe not.  Perhaps you already teach many concepts in those subject areas and don't even realize it. Take a look at Reading and Language Arts and Math standards, and see if you already teach some of those items.  Most likely...you do.  Next, just write those standards down in your lesson plans.  That's it.  Now, there may be times that you can make a point to teach RLA and Math standards within your subject area, and that's great, too! Here's a product I made to help with teaching across the curriculum, while teaching music: Click here to find out more about the Interactive Music Notebook.

Children need some self-directed instructional time.  I know...I am always saying have centers available for early finishers, but all children need some self-directed instructional time.  Centers allow children time to develop their own sense of learning.  Students can learn at their own pace, find items in which they are truly interested, and have some time to work with their peers. Learning centers should include:       * Various items per subject area,       * Self-checking materials, and       * Checklists to make sure students are covering the necessary material. Learning Centers will allow students to choose from a variety of items within a subject.  Your students will thank you with their enthusiasm! Owl Center Signs Pennant Center Signs

Why is reading important?  Reading is important, because it is difficult to function in society if one is illiterate.  Of course you wouldn't be reading this blog post if you were illiterate.  Everything in school stems on the ability of a child to be able to read.  If a child cannot read on grade level, then he or she falls behind.  In some cases not being able to read above grade level, when reading a science textbook, can actually cause problems. Can parents help this process?  Yes.  Read to your child at an early age.  Develop an attachment to books in the child.  Make reading a cozy happy time.  Make it a rewarding time. Can young children read?  Yes.  I have seen plenty of young children read.  They read cereal boxes and other sight words.  Sometimes they read their own books.  This, however, may be imitation, but that's not bad either.  There is nothing wrong in encouraging young children to read sight words.  The decoding or sounding out can come later...especially

I believe all students can learn.  I currently have a mixture of abilities in my classroom.  I do, however, believe in pull-out education, too.  I think there are times when one teacher has trouble reaching all levels all of the time.  I personally taught gifted education for several years, and I don't believe it is elitist to teach children who are academically gifted.  Sometimes, they actually get left behind, when they are left in the regular classroom. These students need a challenge, because they may become bored, begin to daydream, and get lost in the daily grind.  Many of these students won't even complete classroom work.  Why...you may ask?  Because it is boring.  They already know how to do the work. There are special emotional needs that need to be met by a specialist as well.  Furthermore, some generalists don't understand why the child, who tests so well, is a poor student in the class. Finally, my advice for the general education teacher is to have lear

Is having high expectations for all children to succeed too much to ask?  I don't think so.  All children have potential.  It may not be the potential we perceive at first, but all children have strengths.  I currently teach children with various abilities, but I believe in them to succeed to their fullest potential.  I try to find their strengths and teach to those abilities.  I expect the other weaker abilities to come along with time.  Sometimes, there is just no way for a child to learn to spell his or her name, but perhaps that child can carry a tune.  Maybe that child can shake a maraca.  Whatever the case, I believe that I am the teacher of the classroom for a reason, and that is to reach children at their level. On the other hand, some children are incredibly gifted and talented, and I enjoy helping them reach their potential, too.  These children frequently need motivation to succeed.  Therefore, I try to be the motivator or find what motivates them. Finally, that&

Do you need some printables to send home for unsavory winter weather?  Perhaps, you need some math practice sheets to keep students interested with clip art that can be colored after math is done.  What about "bell ringers"?  The following can help: Martin Luther King, Jr. Bell Ringer First Grade Math Bundle