If you want to build a community of writers, start by supporting feedback- writer to writer. Early on in the year we establish our author's chair routines, which is when, after working on writing, students elect to sit in the authors' chair, share their writing, and receive feedback. (Note: author's chair only needs to be … Continue reading Effective Peer Feedback for Young Writers: One Scoop or Two?
Professional Learning
Rectetris: an area and perimeter game
I whipped up this game earlier this year to give my students the opportunity to practice calculating area and perimeter of rectangles. I wanted a game that included a genuine use for finding out both area and perimeter and could't find anything. The main skills I aimed to have students build through this game were: … Continue reading Rectetris: an area and perimeter game
Emily and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Professional Development Session
Illustration by the very talented Ashlin Day The presenter started five minutes late and said “Can you see my screen?” and we all said “No”. I could tell this was going to be a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad professional development session. The presenter spent 10 minutes giving us an overview of what they … Continue reading Emily and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Professional Development Session
Mrs Fintelman Teaches 