Teachers Pay Teachers is Throwing A Sale!

There's NO Crying in Teaching is taking part in Teacher's Pay Teachers Back to School Sale.  During the sale on August 1st and 2nd, all my products will be 20% off.  Use TpT code FRESHSTARTBTS for an additional 5%.  Can't beat that!

You will find plenty of BTS necessities including:
Cactus Back to School Postcards
Class Schedule Cards
Top 10 BTS Edition
BTS Community Building Activity
and so much more!!!

While you are there, download my latest freebie:  Capitalization and Punctuation Posters! 

Don't forget to leave feedback on paid products to earn TpT credits toward future purchases!! :) Denise

Getting the Most Out of Turn and Talk

Well, it seems like most of us are finally on Summer Break and I've been enjoying my time off (and I hope you are, too!).  As I reflect on this school year, I think there were some highs and lows, as with any year.  But, I feel that Turn and Talk time in my class was quite successful and I'd like to share why.

Background:  Being a literacy coach in the past, I'd seen many turn and talks become idle chit-chat that either went on too long or just didn't seem to be strategic and purposeful, just a time filler  and on-the-fly!  

I didn't want to fall into the same trap, so I created purposeful practice with expectations and feedback and the effects last all year long. So, how do I do it?

The Best Advice I Can Give:
Turn and Talk is a scaffolding strategy.  So, when planning your lessons, you must PLAN for when you will have students talk, PLAN what you expect them to talk about AND have taught and practiced what that looks and sounds like.

If you want to learn more, click on the slide for all the tools you need to have successful (and meaninful) Turn and Talks in your classroom.

  Denise
Getting the Most Out of Turn and Talks

I Was In the Dark About TpT CREDITS

One night quite recently, a friend casually mentioned she had a loot of TpT credits.  CREDITS? What CREDITS?  I am sure I must have yelled through the text message.  I had never heard of them but once she explained the deal, I went to right to work.  You see, I had been a regular shopper at Teachers Pay Teachers for quite some time and had racked up some purchases.  (Don't tell the SO!)


Let me explain how it works.  You shop on TpT, download and use the product, return to TpT and leave feedback for the seller.  For each dollar you have spent, you get 1 credit.  Once you have enough credits, you can apply those credits towards a new purchase.  

Tips:  feedback on freebies won't get you any credits, but the sellers do appreciate positive feedback of all kinds.  

Here's the link with the official TpT info about credits.  There! Don't say I never saved you any money... :) 

Denise

Favorite ELA Websites: Part 1

I promised myself when I started blogging, each blog would be short and sweet.  I hate reading someone's life story to simply find the ingredients in salsa!  Just sayin'.  So, this topic may span over a few days to avoid breaking my #1 rule.

I am in a few Facebook groups and there's always a question about what 
online resources members would recommend for reading/ELA time.  
By far, I recommend the free website www.readworks.org and here's why.

1.  I link ReadWorks through Google Classroom (in the About section) so students can simply click on the link and log in with their Google account.  You can import your class list, too!

2.  There are a TON of engaging articles and stories at a variety of lexile levels.  You can add ELL and SPED supports, have articles read to the student(s), and other forms of differentiation that give every kid an access point.

3.   Using the Articles of the Day gives students 4-5 different nonfiction articles about a topic.  Kids have the choice of which articles they read.  It them prompts them to type up information that they learned in the Book of Knowledge.  *The ELL support features gives kids a sentence starter!

Finally, ReadWorks grades the multiple choice and you grade written responses and give feedback (optional).  Then you have the option to reassign part of or have the student redo the entire assignment from scratch.

So easy to use and a great resource to bookmark for the fall!  :) Denise

Stop the Summer Slide!

There's a lot of buzz around the term "summer slide"!  I can say that I have seen the effects of students losing academic ground from lack of reading during the summer.  I think one of our many jobs as teachers is to help parents realize that regardless of what language they speak at home, students can continue learning all summer long. It doesn't have to be fancy, complicated or expensive... and it can be in whatever language the parent knows best!  

 So, I created a one-page handout (freebie in my TpT store!) to send home at the end of the year.  I was also lucky enough to get a DonorsChoose.org project funded so that all my students can take home a Summer Bridges Activity Book whether they want it or not, ha!  If you are interested in getting started for the first time on DC, leave a comment below!