I am currently hosting a student teacher. What do you wish you knew when you were student teaching that I could share with them? (Other than joining us here!!) :)
What are some of your best math test prep from third through fifth grade ideas? I’m trying to compile some ideas for my teachers!
Has anyone used wordless books to help students retell a story? I have found them to be very helpful and engaging for the students. I have had my students to write out the story or verbally retell it. I have used the books Found and The Umbrella to help teach retelling.
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What have been your most positive experiences with mentorship? Both as a mentor and mentee?
How do you build community in a new school setting as a new teacher? It seems like other teachers have already formed their own groups.
One of our first units in our knowledge block is nursery rhymes and fables. How can I make learning about these more interactive for my students? I am planning on having them create a "knowledge notebook" where they get a copy of the nursery rhyme and can illustrate it and are able to revisit it. I am also going to use AI to have my students interview some of the nursery rhyme characters (Humpty Dumpty, Jack and Jill, etc.) to ask them about their actions. Are there other ideas you might have that I could try?
What FREE curriculum based measurement resources do you utilize in the general classroom or in intervention?
There is a FREE CBM assessment series located at easycbm.com and it is very similar to DIBELS, Acadience, or Aims Web - the free version gives you 9 probes for a variety of reading and math skills. You can upgrade for more options.
What are some common misconceptions that first year or newer teachers have?
Today I was looking for a quick passage for first grade students to read as an additional lesson for UFI . I couldn't find what I was looking for so, I went on ChatGTP and prompted it to create a passage using short a words for first grade students and I am really happy with the results! I then went on to prompt it to create a MAZE passage using the same story. Here is what was shared:
Sam and Dan Plan a Trip
Sam plans a (trip, car, dog) to camp. Sam asks Dan to plan the (trip, lunch, bed) with him. Dan said, “Yes! Let’s (plan, run, swim) a trip! What do we have to (do, eat, make)?”
“We have to get the van and the (tents, boats, books),” said Sam. “I can get the van if you can get the (tents, balls, trees),” said Dan.
Dan gets the (van, food, box). Sam gets the tents. The men are (glad, sad, mad) to be on a trip to camp.
How do you utilize AI to differentiate for your students?
This is a chart we use in our building when students come for support - during support time. They put it in one of those clear pockets (heavy duty) and write on it with a dry erase marker. We call it What I Need time
How can I integrate social-emotional learning (SEL) into my daily lessons without it feeling forced or out of place?
How do you prepare for Open House? What do you have students share or leave out for their families? What is the overall structure of your Open House? Do families stay for length of time or do they come and go?
What are some engaging ways to introduce the topic of space exploration to students with varying levels of interest in science?
How do you manage difficult parents that seem to blame teachers for their child's behavior and absences?
Who are some lesser known scientists that you share with your students? What are their names and contributions to science?
What are your favorite items to include in a science notebook (paper or digital)?
What are some of your favorite STEAM activities that you like to do with elementary students (bonus if you can share something that could be done as a family!)?
This weekend I presented a couple of different sessions at the MiAEYC conference and someone was inquiring about the following: tunes to help students learn the correct spelling of their names - does anyone have any resources for this?
How do you structure your prep time to get through all of your tasks?
