Reading is FUNdamental!

Reading is Fundamental is a national website that prepares and motivates children to read by delivering free books and literacy resources to families who need them the most. The website has many wonderful links for parents and children.  I will post some of the resources that will benefit our families and students the most but I encourage all parents to explore the vast resources offered at this wonderful site.

Reading Aloud to Your Children Brochure
RIF's Reading Planet for Kids
Helping Your Children Become Readers


I am going to leave you with a quote today:
"We shouldn't teach great books; we should teach a love of reading." - B.F. Skinner


Ms. Clark

Community Resources HELP!

Being a teacher, sometimes you are cramped for money and need mass amounts of supplies but can't afford them.  I encourage teachers and parents to go into their communities for donations and sometimes FREE resources.  I will list some possible places that offer free resources for teachers, parents, and organizations. 

Walmart

Possible Items: Paint sticks, fabric, grocery bags... Walmart also does this really neat thing where a teacher can go in on thursday and apply for a donation.  You have to fill out a paper verifying your school and that you are a teacher and they will give you a donation for your school, classroom, or organization in the form of a Walmart gift-card.  

Lowes

Possible Items: Paint splotches, paint, sand, and paint stirs... Lowes also will give you limited supplies of anything you ask for if you have a paper from the school where you teach saying you are a teacher and you need these resources.  They will give this to you in the form of a gift card as well.

Kroger

Possible Items: Paper bags and newspapers.

Sometimes as a teacher it is hard for us to find resources to use in the classroom for cheap.  These are just some ideas in our Richmond community that you can go to for free resources to use in the classroom.

Happy Thrifty Teaching,

Ms. Clark

5 E Learning Cycle Model

In my classroom I will use the 5 E learning cycle as often as possible when teaching science and social studies content.

This Link  will take you to a site that tells about the 5 E learning cycle. The idea behind the 5 E Learning Cycle is constructivist thinking and learning.  Which is allowing students to build their own understanding.  This model is even more than students building their own knowledge, this model truly demands students and teachers to take various roles and to truly invest in their own learning.

The 5 E Learning Cycle can be broken down into 5 parts:

Engagement	Object, event or question used to engage students. Connections facilitated between what students know and can do.
Exploration	Objects and phenomena are explored. Hands-on activities, with guidance.
Explanation	Students explain their understanding of concepts and processes. New concepts and skills are introduced as conceptual clarity and cohesion are sought.
Elaboration	Activities allow students to apply concepts in contexts, and build on or extend understanding and skill.
Evaluation	Students assess their knowledge, skills and abilities. Activities permit evaluation of student development and lesson effectiveness.

I hope this offers some insight into the 5 E learning cycle and answers any questions you may have.

Ms. Clark

Math Resources for Students

I recently have found a great website for students to use that will help them work on math skills.  Students can access this website at home or when they have free time in class.
The website address is:
http://www.ictgames.com/resources.html
The website is really easy to access and has some Great! easy to use resources for students.
At the bottom of this blog I have listed 5 links under the tab, STUDENT MATH RESOURCES.  These are not all of the links from the website but just a few.
I encourage you and your children to browse this site and explore and play some of these math games.

Happy Math Exploring,

Ms. Clark

Welcome to Ms. Clarks Blog

Hello! This is our first Blog entry! How Exciting?
I hope you have a wonderful time viewing the site!
This will be the sight where you can access information that will enhance things learned in our classroom.  

Happy Viewing!
Nicci Clark