Formative Assessment - Before you go, "tweet" what you know...

I am loving 5th grade, the curriculum and the conversations I have with the students about learning! Although I have been extremely busy teaching and learning the new curriculum, I wanted to share what my professional development goal is this year: use more of Marazano's Nine in my classroom. I have found a ton of resources online (mostly digital tools) that can enhance and engage student learning. Of course one way to assesses the knowledge of my students it to conduct frequent, on-going formative assessments, which drives my instruction. Differentiating for our students is critical, so I must know what they know and do not know and adjust accordingly.


Although I always formatively assess, I would like something tangible from time to time to show parents. There are a ton of formative assessment techniques out there, but this week I want to focus on Exit Tickets. I have asked higher-order questions at the end of lessons to check for understanding or have given a sample skill for students to perform, but I want to know what they are thinking as well - to see if they know whether or not they get it! Here is a little exit ticket I will be using this week: I tried to incorporate hash tags and twitter.

You can get these here!

Conjunction Junction...

I am getting my feet wet in 5th grade now... phew!

This week, I will teach a mini-lesson about conjunctions and using commas in a series and with conjunctions. I have NEVER had a Smartboard until this year (yes, I know... you can breathe now...)!

I made my first attempt to create 2 Smartboard lessons: One about Conjunctions & one about Comma Usage. You are more than welcome to use them if you wish (see below)

(Freebie)

First, I will introduce conjunctions with the School House rock video: Schoolhouse Rock 

Then, my Smartboard lesson/practice & ticket out the door. (above)

Later in the week, I will introduce the use of a comma with this video: Comma Story

Then, use my Smartboard lesson/practice & ticket out the door. (above)

I just hope it goes well:) We are also finding a lot of textual evidence with our novel, Steal Away Home.

Pointing in the right directions -->

Have you seen these?

They are one of my new 'gotta have' items in my room. The kiddos love them, they are bright colors, and they focus my students' attention on important announcements! I wish I had more photos to show, but for now it is important to just know what I use them for:

• Highlighting important announcements
• Due dates
• Learning Targets/Objectives/Standards
• Pointing out important Parts of Speech in sentences
• Pointing out specific vocabulary
• the list goes on...

Where can you get them? Here: 

Currently September

I have SERIOUSLY neglected my blog - which will probably be the case this year, due to having to learn a new curriculum. So far, 5th grade is going great! I have a great team and great kiddos. I am one of those teachers who cannot do enough... so I work and work and work at trying to get better for my students. With this, I am very tired after the first few weeks! Of course, I do not know any differently. I just cannot let things go, which I need to work on...

This month will go by fast, I am sure:

• Hubby's 40th b-day
• Daughter's soccer games begin again
• My first time entering grades (eek) O_o
• plus more...

Here is my currently for September: (be sure to link up with Farley)

Listening: Well, any time there is a SpongeBob marathon, we just have to watch...LOL. My hubby loves it more than anyone!

Loving: I am SO grateful for today off of school! I needed a day to NOT think about it (much)!

Thinking: There is just so much to do to continue to stay 'caught up.' It will all work out in the end, I know!

Wanting: I need to catch up on things: housework, unit plans, etc. 

Needing: I am pretty good at taking it one day at a time, but learning a new grade level always makes you feel a tad behind. I have never given grades, set AR goals, etc. so there has been so much to learn in such a short time. 

Love for myself: These three are pretty self-explanatory:) I need time for all the things that are MOST important to me!