Draw Write Color!

One of my all time favorite activities which I file under the heading "Laura's Go-to, no-prep needed, differentiated, all-subject, 5-minute, engaging, mini-lesson". I'd say that pretty much encompasses what it is all about.

Materials needed: scrap paper, pencils, crayons

1. Draw 1-5 lines on each paper (Kinde's get 1 line, upper grades get more)
2. Kids (and yourself- come on!) draw a picture in the blank space (maybe you want it on a certain topic, or simply a free-draw). Set a timer (2-3 minutes), stick to it.
3. Everyone write a few sentences (be clear on expectations) describing your drawing. I like to use sentence starters/stems with my younger grades ("In my picture I am..." "This picture shows..."). I also like having a white board handy to  quickly joy down proper spellings.
4. Color it in!
5. Share out, get and give positive feedback
6. I like stapling our pictures together with a construction paper cover to make simple class books.

Testing, Testing...

Whether you're a new teacher or a seasoned one, we all might harbour some fear of testing. Especially a big test like your state's approved English proficency assessment. A four parter! 

Where to start? How to divvy it up? Here's a quick list of best practices for you.

1. It might sound self explanatory, but read the Test Coordinator's Manual, or re-read it. This will answer the bulk of your questions and help frame your mind into testing mode.
2. Begin when you are able- with all the snow days, vacation days, and sick days it's best to get started when the testing window opens up. No one likes scrambling.
3. Divvy up responsibility- are there 2 ELL teachers at your school, 1? 3? Divide it up into a reasonable caseload.
4. Pick a grade level to start at, either work up or down from there. Finish a grade level before moving on the the next.
5. Don't burn yourself out with the Speaking portion- devote an hour or 2 per day where you'll do only this section. Bring a bottle of water to keep your mouth hydrated!
6. Prioritize. Many of our schools cannot find time for actual teaching during the testing window. Some can. If you fear test burn-out, or want to have a little more balance, decide which small group you will service regardless of testing. For example, I saw my high need 2nd graders each day for an hour during the test window. It broke up testing for me and also supported my most needed group.
7. Keep a record- know who you have left to test and on which parts of the test
8. Inform the classroom teachers- many of us wont be able to follow the agreed pull-out/push-in schedule. Let the teacher know this is an important test and it happens only once a year for these kids. 
9. Commander a classroom or quiet space- bargain if you have to!
10. Make sure your kids are well fed- keep a basket of nutritious treats around. Grumbling stomachs don't make for a great testing experience.

Good Luck!

Crossing Continents via the Mailbox

I have stolen yet another lovely idea from our friends at Hamtramck Charter in Michigan.

You know, for many of our kids, the world is what they see in a 10-block radius. Let's try and broaden that lens. Take a look www.postcrossing.com ,a site that allows you to participate in a more modern (less annoying) version of the "chain letter". Send and receive postcards from all over the world. It's a nice way to do a writing project in an unplugged way.

I'm excited about it, I think I'll join as well :) Start decorating my desk. Hamtramck had great wall art in using a map with push pins denoting where the postcard originated from. And I don't have to tell you, we could all use some refreshers when it comes to geography.

Craft-tacular

Whenever a holiday rolls around (whether it be Valentines or St.Patty's) I can be found reaching for the construction paper and glue. I love crafts. Tearing apart orange paper and gluing it together to make a knarly pumpkin for my bulletin board was always something to look forward to for me. How about you? From my experienc eyou either love it or it makes you wince :)

Nevertheless, I encourage you to whip out the scissors and glue sticks and peruse the fantastic site Pinterest (www.pinterest.com) for some inspiration. Not only is it engaging for students it falls under the "experiential learning" which we all could do more of.

Are you still lacking motivation?! If your class/small group crafts something for me (and sends it to the Service Center) I will return the favor by writing letters to your kiddos (basically allowing me ot get in on the fun too, even if it is from an office desk :))

A Living Word Wall

I've had the opportunity to have conversations with many of our ELL departments and a common theme in each of them is, how can we do a better job of addressing basic langauge acquisition while supporting classroom learning?

It's a hard thing to balance, and often the feeling is that we have to do more content support than direct language instruction. This can feel frustrating and worse, like you're really missing the point of being a teacher of English Language Learners.

Happily, many of our colleagues are finding creative ways to balance those two important areas. Instead of just displaying a word wall, they've made it a living, functioning place where students are expected to actively engage with and learn from it. What I love most about these examples is how organized and deliberate they are, and of course the illustrations!

How can we advocate to our classroom teachers the importance of living word walls like these? I believe a good place to start is to take examples from the schools below. Set up a wall in your room/area/cart(!) as a model for other teachers to get inspiration from. Do you have a crafty student? Have them be your illustrator.

*Hamtramck Charter, MI



Ridge Park, MI