Wonder Girls

Hi everyone! Were you beginning to think we had disappeared? We haven’t! We just had to take some time to take care of our families. Between taking leadership classes, building a new home, changing schools, and getting a promotion to assistant principal, we just haven’t been able to blog much.

This summer we planned for a ½ day professional development on teaching the CCRS in Math. We always start with something light when we teach a PD. This lets the participants relax a little and also lets them know we like to have fun while learning to perfect this ever changing job teaching young minds. We started by sharing this funny video. Enjoy!

      http://www.babble.com/babble-voices/said-no-teacher-ever-is-funny-because-its-true/

Our favorite thing we were able to share with others how we are using our mini file folders (4inx6in) to help with mathematical fluency. One of our PD participants sent a picture of how she is also using this in her sight word instruction. Once the students learn a word they highlight or color that word on the outside of their folder. What a great way to allow the students ownership in their own data collection.

So, here is how we use them. Create flash cards for the skill the students are working on. For example: addition facts, multiplication facts, sight words, etc. The facts/words students do not know will go on the pocket stating “Keep Practicing”. The facts/words the students are ready to have checked will be placed in the pocket “Ready to Check”. In our classrooms we also use a chart for students to gather progress data on the front of their folder. We use these for formative assessments only.

Here are some other ideas we have for using Fluency Folders:

§  #1 – Memorization Practice

§  #2 – Group Practice

§  #3 – Math Centers Games

§  #4 – Formative Assessment

§  #5 – Partner Work

§  #6 – Resource Teachers

§  #7 – Individual Practice

§  #8 – Volunteers

§  #9 – Homework

What ideas do you have for using these cute little mini file folders?

As an instructional coach, I have been immersed in integrating nonfiction, informational text into high school content. I recently started studying Kelly Gallagher’s Article of the Week strategies. In researching how to integrate this idea into high school classrooms I found Teachingthe Core. The articles, graphic organizers, rubrics, etc. are all located right on the site. I strongly recommend you check it out if you are interested in maximizing the impact of using nonfiction/informational text in your classroom! There are also some great posts on making the greatest impact.