Common Core and Citing Evidence

Common Core requires students to find proof of their answers and opinions within the text. We've been doing something like this for many years. However, the biggest difference is that now kids must cite evidence correctly from the text. This is brand new territory for us.  This fact hit me as soon as  I first started working with the new Common Core standards.  I knew our students would be able to find proof in the text, but I also knew they had never been taught how to cite evidence directly from the text, nor the guidelines for paraphrasing their proof.  So, I came up with some simple steps for our kids to follow to do just that.  

These steps were copied and placed in the students interactive journals.  Our amazing, 5th grade teacher, Ms. Christian is the most diligent and thoughtful interactive journal-keeper I have ever seen.  She had her kids paste them on the right side of the journal, and as each step is explained, students interpret what they heard and take notes around the copied page.  

After, students were shown examples of direct quotes.  These direct quotes were purposely written incorrectly.  Students are asked to work in collaborative groups to determine what was wrong with the example shown.  Then, a representative from each group shares their findings and it is marked directly on the interactive whiteboard.  Students had a great time playing this little "game."  The best part was that they didn't realize they were reinforcing the newly learned material.  

The answers were revealed on the next slide.  After working in small groups for a few examples, students were asked to work on their own to follow the same steps they used in the groups.  They directly quoted an example from one of the slides and wrote it on the left side of the journal.  Then, each child exchanged journals to review each other's work and determine if anything was wrong with the quote.  They provided great feedback and were able to correct their own work once the journals were returned.  

Paraphrasing was taught on another day.  The teachers followed the same procedures.  First, they added a photocopied sheet with the definition and guidelines for paraphrasing and students took notes.  Then, they looked at real-life examples to determine what was wrong with the paraphrasing, and finally, students were given the opportunity to work on their own and peer edit each other's work.

This PowerPoint is a wonderful resource!  It simplifies direct quoting and paraphrasing of the text for our elementary-aged students so that they are able to cite evidence from any text. It includes kid-friendly definitions, step-by-step instructions that may be printed out or used as an anchor chart, and several real-life examples.  And, if you leave a comment on this blog along with your email, I will send you a mini-copy of it.  

As always, you may purchase the entire resource in my TPT store:  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Common-Core-Citing-Evidence-for-Kids-712847

Happy commenting!

Student Game Day Lesson Plan

Summer is around the corner.  Our kids are going crazy, anxiously waiting for the last day of school.  Administration tells us we need to keep teaching.  What do we do?  I've come up with a great activity for having fun with a purpose. This is an educational activity the will surely keep your kids engaged at this time of the year.

The student Game Day Lesson Plan is an extremely fun and interactive way for your  students to review stories they have read in your class throughout the year.  It is written so that you can use any story, novel, or play you have taught throughout the year.  Students will have the opportunity to plan, design, create, use a rubric to review their own work and PLAY!  Not only will the kids love it, but you will be able to teach your kids to use a rubric and get a grade from the entire process.

The rubric is written in a clear and concise way.  Students will easily understand how their final product will be graded and the explicit teaching directions show you how to teach your students how to use it.  Students are encouraged to review the rubric before presenting their game and even score their own project.

Teachers may choose to project the sample game boards to show some of the options they can use to create their games.  Students will use the events in the plot, the setting, and the characters to build their games.  This will help them review previously taught material.  And, when they play each other's games, they will review many more books or stories they may have already forgotten.  This is a great lesson to wrap up the year with!

Included in the Student Game Day Lesson Plan:
• Explicit Instructions for the Teacher
• Game Day Planning Sheet:
• Game Day Rubric
• Sample Boards
• Game Pieces

You may purchase the entire Student Game Day Lesson Plan in my TPT store:  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Student-Game-Day-Lesson-Plan-712539   You're going to love it!

Career Day Planning Pack

Over the last 3 year, our Career Day has become a wonderful way of inspiring our students towards the careers they wish to have in the future, and also a great way of encouraging influential members of your community to become a part of your school’s culture. 

This Career Day Planning Pack has everything you need to invite, schedule, and implement a powerful event.  It takes all of the guesswork out of what you need to do.  I have used this system for the last three years to schedule over 50+ guest speakers and vehicles.  This will be a Career Day your kids will remember forever.

It is now available in my TPT store:  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Career-Day-Planning-Pack-706674

I walk you step by step beginning with how you can find noteworthy guests and more importantly how you can get them to come to your school.  Everything you need is included.  

I've taken all of the guess-work out of it.  Everything matches and looks professional. You're going to love it!