SBAC

Today was the first day of my students taking the new SBAC, Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, on-line. It went a lot smoother than I had thought it would, although there were four teachers in the room to be sure that all the kids were able to login correctly.  I was pretty impressed that they were able to log in so quickly, and then begin the test.  To say this test is different from the past tests we have had would be an under statement.  It was extremely different.  Students in the past have always used just a pencil and paper, well today it was pencil paper, whiteboard (optional), and then answering on the computer. 

My district does not have computer/technology teachers in the elementary grades, so there were a few hurdles as far as just the basic typing instructions, i.e. capital letters for sign in, hyphens, etc...  I take my students weekly to the computer lab, but we do not have a keyboard program that we use to get them familiar with just the keyboard in general.  This was an obstacle, but we overcame it. 

Once everyone was logged in and began working, I was able to walk around and observe what they were doing, as well as get an idea as to what types of questions were being asked.  The SBAC is a common core based test, so it was really interesting to see the expectations that will be set in place for next year.  It was for sure more difficult, however, we have not been doing "common core" in the upper grades this year, so there's that!  I think if I was able to teach the common core standards all year, some of the questions wouldn't have looks SO foreign to the kiddos.  Overall I was impressed at how hard they worked, they really gave it there all.  I am sad that we will not see any scores from these tests as they are just for practice, and information.

I am excited to see all the technology that we are using in testing, and teaching.  I am excited to see where this all goes.  As a teacher you always hear about the pendulum swinging.  We are really in the thick of it right now!  It is an exciting time to be a teacher.  New standards and different styles of teaching, as well as new ways of testing.  I love when there is change, it really makes you think and give it your all!  I also fear it at times as there is SO much information out there and research to be done.  It is very cool that I am a part of this movement in teaching, and in all honesty I am truly excited to see where it all goes, and how it shakes out!

What are your thoughts on the new Common Core Standards?  Have your students taken the SBAC?  I would love to hear your thoughts and what you think.  If you are an educator, parent, or just plain out interested in Common Core Standards, comment below and let's get a discussion going.

Happy Monday

Island of the Blue Dolphins

In the eight years I have been teaching, I have come to have a love hate relationship with the novel "Island of the Blue Dolphins" by Scott O'Dell.  There are some years that I would dread teaching it.  It is not the easiest book for fourth graders to understand, yet at the same time, they absolutely love reading it.  I teach in California, so teaching this novel is a great way to teach them about different elements of our coast such as kelp forests, as well as the different sea life that is native to our Pacific Coast, such as Octopus, or the"devilfish" as it is referred to in the novel, the sea otter, abalone, and the elephant seal.  I also integrate teaching about the missions of California as well as the different Native American Tribes that lived all throughout our great state. 

This year I have found a new love for this novel.  I searched and searched on line for different packets and questions, and ways to teach the novel. I came across this great website and packet that I pull many of the questions from.  Here is the link: http://www.novelstudies.org/downloads/Island_of_The_Blue_Dolphins.pdf 

Island drawings based on details from the novel

Island Drawings based on details from the novel

Cover of their folders for our literature unit

Drawing of Karana's home based on details from the novel

One of the many different sheets used to learn more about the marine life mentioned in the novel

I found this PDF to be one of the most helpful I have ever used.  The questions really make my students think,and I love that they have to go back to the novel for their answers.  It has great things to do with vocabulary, as well as different things to do with grammar.  My students do not mind working on these worksheets together, and actually enjoy them.  There are some great extension activities as well. 

This has not been the only thing that I have been using to teach the novel.  There are so many things that you can teach your students about from this novel.  For each animal that we come across I print out a kid friendly fact sheet, or some other form of information that I find on-line and edit for them.  We made folders in the beginning of the unit, and we keep all our goodies in the folders.  As for the animal printouts we have one on the sea elephant, sea otters, octopus, and the abalone.  They love learning all about the sea life! 

I have just really gotten into the book this year.  Maybe it is the new found link above, and the fact I haven't taught it in a few years, as I was up in fifth grade for a while, or maybe it is the excitement I see in my students face whenever it is time for us to get our novels out and read, or maybe it is simply because this book is truly a timeless classic.  Whatever the reason, I am happy that I am able to share some of the things I have discovered, and rediscovered here with you.

A Teaching Blog Was Born!

Reasons I decided to start this blog:
* I love children and learning
* I am always scouring the internet for new fresh ideas, and I come across some amazing blogs. I have been thinking about it a long time, and I just decided there is no better time than now to start my own!
* I think it is neat to share teaching ideas for free
* I think it will be a great way to get more connected to other teachers out there that are just as passionate about teaching, collaborating, and sharing ideas as I am.

This is just a short list of why I want to start a teaching blog. I hope to post many new and exciting ideas here for lessons, classroom management, and other "teaching" ideas weekly!

Teaching and Blogging

I have decided to start a blog here on this page about my adventures in teaching! I have been a teacher for 8 years, and I LOVE it! It doesn't define who I am but in a way it really does. I am not an English teacher, so I will not always have the best grammar, or spelling, or punctuation, but I will try. I come from a family of teachers! My mom was a teacher, and two of my aunts were also teachers for a bit. My younger sister is also a teacher, English of course, so I hope that she doesn't correct too many of my mistakes - or is that to... Anyway, you could say teaching is in my blood! I married the son of a teacher as well - glad he knew what he was getting into with the amount of hours and money spent outside of the classroom! It is my hope that this blog becomes a place where I can share the many ideas that I have as a teacher, and some of the things that I do in the classroom with my students! I am looking forward to starting this up. I have seen so many wonderful teaching blogs out there, and I thought, I could do that too! I don't know how often I will post, I will try to be dilligent and get things out there. I also have a personal blog, that I need to post to more frequently..... Yes, I will do it!