Sharing Part 2

A way my teaching partner and I created more of that extremely valuable resource in school, time, was by bringing both of our classes together for read aloud. Two days a week she brings her class to my room and I read to both classes. She also reads to both classes for two days of the week as well. This allows one of us to have 20 to 30 minutes of prep time each day we do read aloud. One thing we have done to allow our students to practice reading in front of a group is to have two students each week (Very Important Person or Star students of the week) read a favorite book to the classes during one of my read aloud times. Then during my teaching partner's time one day we have students from both classes read their writing samples and stories they created to the whole group. Students really think about which of the writing samples they want to share and they enjoy receiving feedback from their peers. Very much like blogging. Let me know if you have any creative ways to build in more prep time.

Teaching Tips and Blogs, Blogs, Everywhere

I'm new to blogging and would like to hear from anyone with a great blog for classroom ideas in the primary grades. Also if you have a teaching idea I'd love to hear it. I've got one I just learned about. Take a transparent report cover and open it up. Slide it on top of a textbook and let students write with dry erase markers on the cover. It's a great way to see what students look at to help answer questions, see if they are paying attention. Make sure they cover up the pages so they are not marking all over their book. A tissue or sock from home can clear off the cover and allow a whole new set of marks to be made.