When I saw that Teaching with Grace was doing a linky about what our classrooms look like when they are not perfect I HAD to join the fun. I LOVE blog hopping and looking at all of you all’s classrooms, but sometimes I get a bit discouraged because “my room doesn’t look like that!”  Of course, when I post about my classroom I always try to post “perfect” pictures, but most of them time my classroom is much less than perfect!  So, here is some pics of what my classroom typically looks like at the end of the day. This is

This is one of those, “Duh, why didn’t I think of that moments!”   Thank goodness I work with brilliant people! I have my kiddos work with “Thinking Partners” in class.  A LOT!   I used to have them just “Turn and talk to someone sitting close to you”.  Of course then Johnny, Susie, and Tommy don’t have partners  and they have to cross the whole room to talk to each other!   So, my wonderful colleague and friend Kelley came up with a simple yet amazing idea!   Every morning as part of our “Morning Business” the kiddos choose a partner for

I am linking up this week at The Teacher’s Chair to share my lesson plan book.  I change the way that I plan lessons a lot!  I never print out too many pages because I like to tweak things!  I have a lesson plan template that I print that has all of the important and repeating times: specials, lunch, recess, switching for different subjects… Of course, each month the theme and color scheme changes…I still like to handwrite my actual lessons though.  I keep all of my plans (for now) in a binder.  I plan to streamline it a bit by

This book is really making me THINK!   Chapter 8 is all about Synthesizing Information.  This is one of those strategies that I have always had a tough time explaining to the kiddos.   According to Keene and Zimmerman (1997) compare synthesis, the process of sifting through a multitude of details, focusing on the most relevant and then organizing those ideas, to the meticulous creation of a “mosaic of meaning, a beauty, greater than the sum of each shiny piece.”  The author states: “The process of synthesizing information may be the most complex of the comprehension strategies.” (I’ll say!) So!  How does this