In need of SMARTboard activities?

A great go-to site that I find myself checking daily is the smartexchange website.  This site has a large variety of lessons built to use with the notebook software on the smartboard.  You are able to search the content based on grade level, subject, standards, and so much more!  The best part about it- it's free!!

You can find anything from exciting math games to "words their way" word sorts.  Never make another smartboard file again without checking smartexchange first!  Happy hunting!

Writer's Workshop Idea

I love the idea of using a pie chart as a visual for the writer's workshop structure.  I am going to try this out this year.  I found this right in time too, as I plan to introduce the routine of writer's workshop in this upcoming week.


This teacher also has some other great writer's workshop ideas that can be found by following her link below:
 http://applesofyoureye.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-basics-of-writers-workshop.html

Sensational Start to the New Year

When reflecting on the first few days of the new year, I am astounded at how "ready to roll" all of my new second graders were.  We did a lot of the typical review of rules and routines; however students were already demonstrating an incredible handle on these second grade staples so easily.  In an attempt to sort of let go some of the control, I began my first day of math centers on Friday without ANY discussion of expectations, rules, or procedures.  Instead, I let the students simply show me how they thought they should act during this time.  I was so astonished to see that students were self-directed, hard working, and cooperative throughout the entire math time.  Perhaps with this group of students, I will be more easily able to employ this "backward design" more often and send them off on a task first and discuss positives and rules after.