Keeping Your Students Current on Current Events

I had sort of an "a ha" moment the other morning.  My students do not know about current events in our world.

A classroom discussion during snack lead me to the startling truth that:

• 75% of my students could not tell me one current event happening in the world right now.
• 40% do not have a favorite sports team.
• 100% of my students have never read a newspaper or could even tell me the different sections within the newspaper.

Oh. My. Goodness.

Now, those of you who follow my blog regularly know that I do teach a special needs population.  However, I truly believe that even my general education teachers can relate to this rapid decline of current event knowledge within their classrooms.

After some digging around, I came up with a short list of excellent resources to help our kids stay on top of current events and social topics happening in our world today.

These great resources can easily be added to your already jam-packed school day by discussing articles during snack, watching videos as part of your morning meeting.  Or, maybe adding a current event article as part of your ELA curriculum.  Take a peek:

DogoNews
I love this website because not only does it have engaging, up-to-date news articles for kids, but at the end of every article, there are comprehension questions for the students. Kids can scroll through book and movie reviews...written by other kids.  There is also a CCSS tab that gives teachers helpful suggestions for meeting academic standards.

TeachingKidsNews
News designed with the kids in mind.  Love it.  These articles are geared for students in grades 2-8.  At the end of the article, they have writing and discussion prompts at both junior and intermediate level.

Time for Kids
Sign up for a membership and receive extra access to videos and lesson ideas.  Time for Kids is available in both hard and digital copy.  I display these magazines in my library, and the kids really enjoy thumbing through them during free reading time.

CNN Student News
Geared toward middle and high school students, these quick, 10 minute videos cover major, daily news stories happening across the globe.  Great to play each morning or afternoon as the start or end to a day.

Smithsonian TweenTribune  
Interesting articles mainly covering scientific topics.  You have the ability to choose articles based on grade level interest and reading levels.

I made these little current event quick write slips to be used as exit tickets in my classroom.  Click on the image below to grab this free resource, and assess how your students are understanding and interacting with non-fiction text.

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Seasonal Stories: Books Your Students Will Love

My goodness, we are already at Day 10 of our link up!  Today we are sharing some fun seasonal stories you can use in your classroom.

Here are some goodies I am using this month with my students (in no particular order).

1. How Santa Got His Job

I blogged on Day 7 about how my students are currently working on opinion writing.  Well, I love this book How Santa Got His Job because it ties very nicely with the Elf for Hire writing activity I mention here. It will serve as my lead in to the persuasive essay writing.

2.How to Catch Santa

Next week we begin our expository writing unit...and to start the students will be doing some "how to" writing of their own.  This funny read is the perfect, festive way to kick off that unit.

3. Christmas Fun Mad Libs

I just ordered this fun little Mad Libs..and I am super excited about it!  I love using Mad Libs as a little (educational) brain break.  It's a terrific opportunity to get in some (silly) grammar practice.

4. Home Alone
Well, when I saw that a Home Alone book was on the shelves, I immediately grabbed this one up.  I am using this to track character change and analyze how the main character, Kevin, responds to problems within the story.

5. Holidays Around the World

Photo Credit - A Year of Many Firsts

This unit was put together by A Year of Many Firsts and celebrates holidays all around the world.  Although I have not read all of books listed, I have read quite a few and I am excited to read through the remainder of those I have not.  It is super important to acknowledge multiple holidays and teach our students the importance of celebrating cultural differences.

Looking for more seasonal book suggestions?  Click through the blogs below to grab some more great ideas.  Thanks for joining us!

An InLinkz Link-up

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More Than Letters to Santa: Holiday Writing Ideas

Welcome back to Day 4 of our holiday link up!  Today we are talking about fun, seasonal writing activities.  

We have been working on opinion/persuasive writing for the past two weeks.

My kids absolutely love debating with one another...perhaps its the pre-teen just itching to come out early?  Regardless of the reason, they love opinion writing...and I'll take it!

To add some seasonal fun to this writing unit, here are some of the activities I have lined up for the next few weeks.

Would You Rather - Christmas Opinion Writing

Download this product for free by clicking the image.

These Would You Rather writing cards are intended to be used for quick opinion writing, but I use them as practice for our speaking and listening standards.  These are great little brain breaks to squeeze in throughout the day.

I keep them in a pail at the front of the classroom next to our opinion writing anchor chart.  A student is asked to come up and select a prompt and read it to the class.

Next, that student, along with another, have to argue which they would rather do while using the opinion writing format.

3. Convince Em' - Winter Edition
These little writing prompts are part of a yearly writing unit I have been working on this year.  They include 17 creative writing journal prompts for students to complete.  Some are Christmas themed, but most are centered around winter in general, making these a great resource to use when the kiddos return from break.

My students (and I) love anything mini.  I cut the prompts out and stick them on a ring.  Then, they are hung in my writing center.  These are an excellent early finisher activity that students can grab and bring to their seats.

Elf for Hire - A Persuasive Writing Project
I love this adorable writing activity.  It comes complete with final draft writing pages, graphic organizers, planning pages, and a little drawing activity.  Since my students are still working up to writing essays, I plan to save this guy as the last bit of practice before we head out on break. Click on the product image to grab this product for free!

Download this product for free by clicking on the image.

To check out some more great writing ideas for your classroom, click through the blogs below!

An InLinkz Link-up

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A Mini Resource for Your Emerging Writers

Today I am talking about another ELA resource that I love.  My Mini Writing Toolbox.

This little guy is packed full of great resources for your kiddos and is available in both color and black and white printing options.

Perfect for emerging writings in grades 3rd-5th, this pack includes 15 reference posters which focus on:

• Persuasive Writing (2 resources)
• Comparing and Contrasting (3 resources)
• Alternate words for said
• Topic sentence and supporting details
• Editing/Revising (2 resources)
• The Writing Process
• Strong sentence checklist
• Short response checklist
• Sensory detail web chart
• How to write a 5 paragraph essay
• Transition word list

I laminate this pack for durability and pop them on a binder ring.  Then, the kids each attach them to a command hook on the sides of their desk.  

Here's some of what I love most about this resource:

• Covers a wide variety of writing skills: Perfect for differentiating among students' varying needs

• They are mini: Who doesn't love something mini, right?!  No, really, I love that my students do not need to be embarrassed if they don't know a skill.  The little writing toolbox is small enough that my guys can use them without their neighbor knowing what skill he/she needs help with.

• They are easily transportable:  No more juggling binders and worksheets to writer's workshop.

• Eliminates the need for large anchor charts:  Too many anchor charts become cluttered noise in a classroom.  Students can simply reach for their writing toolbox when in need of a writing refresher. 

• Promotes independence in writing: I prompt my students to turn to their toolbox prior to asking for help on a writing assignment.  Thus, encouraging students to independently turn to resources and think critically themselves. 

You can go snag this resource product by clicking here.

When you are all done, be sure to head on over to Focused on Fifth to see what other great resources my blogging buddies are talking about this month.

Happy teaching, my friends!

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4 Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Spelling Work

Do you have struggling readers in your class?  Ones that have either already been classified, or flagged as needing extra support?  How does spelling typically go for them?

I am currently taking an Orton-Gillingham-based training program.  Last week, we got to talking about spelling.  Let's be real for a sec...

Spelling is not exactly the most exciting of tasks to teach.  It becomes even more daunting if you have struggling readers and spellers.

And we teachers, in all our creative effort, do anything we can to make "word work" more exciting for the kiddos, right?

Wait!  Before we go about making those cute little activities for centers or homework, we have to ensure we're not making these very common mistakes!

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November - What are you Reading Linky

Happy Monday, teacher friends.  Welcome back to our second What Are You Reading? linky party!

In case you missed it last month, myself and some of my blogger buds at Focused on Fifth, host a monthly linky party talking all about books for upper elementary teachers.

For this month's post I am focusing on High Noon books.  I have posted a number of times this year about my students' reading struggles.  Four of my kiddies have been classified with dyslexia and are in need of intense reading intervention.

If you are an upper elementary SpEd teacher, or even a Gen. Ed. teacher with struggling readers, you understand full well how difficult it is to get your guys reading.

Books they are interested in are too hard.  Books they can read are too "babyish".  The result? They will.not.read. Period. End of story.

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Sight Words Motivation System

Hey there!  I am checking in today to talk to you guys about sight words.

Are you struggling to get your students motivated to learn their high-frequency words?

This year I am facing my biggest reading challenge thus far in my teaching career.  Eight out of my nine special learners are reading at least 3 grades below their reading levels.

Soooooo...I was in major need of motivating my students to improve their fluency...and FAST.  I developed a new motivation system that is working wonders in my classroom.

Want to know more about this universal system?  Head on over to Focused on Fifth to read more about it!

Thanks for stopping by!  I'll see you over there!

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What Are You Reading? A Monthly Linky

Happy Sunday!  I am linking up today with some of my blogging buddies over at Focused on Fifth for our brand spankin' new monthly linky.  I am super excited about this link up because it is all about reading...a topic near and dear to my heart.

For this month's linky, I am focusing on mentor texts for teaching point of view.  Here are some of my favs.

This book has been around since I was a child and has always been a favorite of mine.  I always love to use this mentor text as a start to my point of view units because it is based off of a childhood classic everyone is familiar with.  To start, we read the original story of the three little pigs, followed by this fun twist.  We then compare and contrast the two stories using a Venn Diagram.

     

These two also made it to my list of favorites this school year.  I used Honestly, Red Riding Hood was Rotten as my second mentor text in my point of view unit.  We first watched a little animation of Red Riding Hood's original version on the SMARTBoard, then we read the story.  We compared and contrasted again using an interactive Venn Diagram (shown below).  I liked this lesson because we hit another one of the standards by analyzing point of view through different media formats. Seriously, Cinderalla is so Annoying was used after this book because instead of watching the movie or reading the book, the students needed to tap into their memory to be able to analyze the different points of view from the stories. 

Interactive Venn Diagram where students each received two different colored sticky notes.  They wrote their differences down, read them aloud to the class, then stuck them in the correct circle.  Finally, we brainstormed similarities as a class.

This little picture book is told from many different points of view, as Duncan's box of crayons write him letters expressing their true feelings on how they are each being used to color.  After reading this story, the students each closed their eyes, and selected a crayon at random from a pile.  Next, using which ever color crayon they chose, they had to write another letter to Duncan summarizing their feelings about how he uses them in the final drawing of the book.  I saved this one for the end of my unit because there are multiple points of view happening in this story. 

Our What are you Reading linky is all about book suggestions for the fifth grade classroom.  We are looking for all types of reading suggestions...including read alouds, picture books, mentor texts, professional development books...etc., etc.  If you're a fifth grade teacher...and you've got some books to share, we want to know about em'!  Click on the button below to join in on this link up!

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Close Read for the Struggling Reader: Previewing the Text and a BTS Giveaway!

Happy Labor Day, folks!

As promised, I am back to talk some more about Close Reading Strategies for the Struggling Reader.  If you missed the first post you can check it out here.

Today, our students are expected to dissect some rather rigorous informational texts.  This can be extremely daunting and overwhelming for anyone, especially the struggling reader.  So, to make the process less challenging, I teach my students the importance of previewing or skimming a text before they even begin to read.  Check out the steps:

Skimming through the text features can help students feel less overwhelmed with the reading because they can focus on one feature at a time.  For example, I might model the text features in this type of order:

1. Look at the Headings and Sub Headings: These will tell us the overall topic and how that topic is categorized.

2. Graphics, Images, Maps, and Captions:  Pictures and diagrams will better help us visualize what the author is talking about.

3. Special Text and Glossary:  Key words will be highlighted, in bold, italics, or underlined, and often have a caption to explain what those words mean.

Annddddd, you get the point...by modeling how to move through and analyze each of the features, students can begin to paint a picture of what the reading will be about.

Next, the students try to identify the text structure.  How has the author written the text?  Has he presented the writing as a problem/solution, or perhaps he is comparing and contrasting two different ideas?  If students identify the structure of the text, they have a better idea of the author's purpose for writing.

The very last step is making an educated prediction.  Students use all the information they gathered while skimming the article to make 1) an educated prediction regarding what the text will be about 2) formulate questions they may have about the reading.  The prediction piece is key because it helps my emerging readers to also become critical thinkers and learn how to self-reflect on their thought process.  Last year I had my students write their predictions in their reading notebooks, but this year I am trying a different format.  I created these prediction and reflection sheets for my kiddos:

And so comes along my final Back to School Series Giveaway...

The prize for this giveaway is my Non-Fiction Text Features and Structures Posters Pack.

Not all posters featured.

The pack includes:

- 21 colorful posters with examples for students to reference

- 4 reading prediction and reflection activity sheets (featured above)

- Color or B&W printing options

Possible Uses:

- Guided Reading

- One-to-one Intervention

- Small Group Instruction

- Bulletin Board Displays

- Hang on mini anchor chart stand for quick reference

- Mini-lessons

This giveaway will be live until Friday, September 5th.  Follow the steps below to enter to win this pack!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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