Anchor charts don't have to be complicated. As a matter of fact, they shouldn't be... especially for primary children. I once read that anchor charts should be designed the way advertisers design billboards... simple, clear, and to the point. A driver needs to be able to look quickly at the sign, see a few key words and images, and understand what the message is about. … [Read more...]
Projects for Simple Machines
Projects for Simple Machines You know me... I love science. And science loves me. That's what's cool about it. I always learn something new, usually about how things work. And that's pretty awesome because I'm no spring chicken and you'd think I'd know more about stuff like that by now, but I don't. Now, everywhere I look, I can't help but see simple machines. Like in my bathroom this morning, … [Read more...]
The Changing States of Matter
THE CHANGING STATES OF MATTER I think food makes most things better, even science. My now-grown daughter would add that her fourth grade teacher's Munchie Math was her favorite math experience ever, and is apparently the only reason she understands fractions to this day. Clearly food can be a hook. That being said, did you know you can make ice cream in a plastic bag? It's one of those … [Read more...]
Writing and Sharing Our How-To Books
This is a piggyback-post to an earlier one: Getting Ready to Write How-To Books. I finally did the software updates on my computer and some of the applications changed. I usually hate when that happens, but this time Apple added something to my dock called "Photos" and pictures I thought I had lost were suddenly available!! Honestly, it felt a little like Christmas. And when I looked through … [Read more...]
Getting Ready to Write How-To Books
Remember when you knew everything about teaching? I do. I had just graduated from college and I was ready to bring all my gifts and talents to the world of teaching. That summer before my first job, I would tell anyone who would listen all about Whole Language, Continuous Quality Improvement, Guided Reading, and a dozen other things I had read about in my education courses. Um, reality … [Read more...]