Differentiated Instruction

Many thanks to our friends at Sylvan in McAllen for hosting us at the Mini Maker Faire. Sandy and I had so much fun with differentiated instruction!

Word Fluency Charts

Loving my Word Fluency Charts.  Kids are thinking and constructing connections.  I like to leave one up all week and give them time to ponder...

Happy 4th of July!

Monica created a super cool way to paint American flags while doing Math.  Her lesson included measurement, proportion, patterns, number operations, and problem solving.  Very Nice!

Picasso Paper Mache

Monica and I just couldn't get enough of our paper mache' creations.  The kids really enjoyed examining the style and characteristics of this artist's work.  

Literature Connections with The Ants and The Grasshoppers

The Ants and The Grasshoppers!  Great Book.  I love these adorable paper mache' bugs.  The kids enjoyed the literature connection.

Summer Science and Creativity Camp

Happy Summer!  For the past eleven years I've taught a summer science and creativity camp.  My partner in this adventure is a wonderful 4th grade teacher who thinks and acts like me.  Oh No!  All kidding aside, we have such  a great time.  This week is the week we've set aside for our 5 and 6 year olds.  They're wonderful and full of intrigue.  Tomorrow's art exhibit at a local eatery will be their culminating experience.  Cant' wait!

Kandinsky Inspired Ladybugs!

Cycles and Patterns can be found in the natural world.  The kid version was so much better than mine.  We made connections with cycles that were natural and manmade.  This particular project is also a Glyph!  The number of dots represents the child's age.  The type of leg was based on their likes or dislikes of bugs.  Yay for Research Skills!  First Grade is gathering information.  Just posted the supporting documents on Teachers Pay Teachers.  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kandinsky-Inspired-Ladybug-Glyph

Dear Blabby

I finally finished my follow up to a writing lesson from 20 years ago.  Wow!  Back then, I had a class newspaper with a columnist like Dear Abby. I'd forgotten how perfect it was to combine communication skills, social skills, and writing.  So here it is -  Dear Blabby!  This set has conflict/resolution cards for a two week span.  Can be used in a literacy center or daily writing.

I Tweet...

This is one of my "New Favorites." Great way to set up Communication Skills for kids of all ages.  Can also be used as a formative assessment and promotes Transdisciplinary Skills.  

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Communication-Skills-Set-One-I-Tweet

Research Skills and Interactive Board

Getting back in the swing of 

Research Skills

things for a new semester.  I love this old favorite Fact, Non-fact, and Opinion.  It's great for classification and research skills.  Check out my Presidents' Day cards at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Presidents-Day-Research-Skills-and-Center-Activities

The North Pole - Adaptations and Arctic Waters

Hot Off The Press!!  I was determined to finish this 16 page inquiry into The North Pole.  I wanted something that was seasonal, but loaded with Science and Language skills.  And just because I'm "Me" I included a page on Global Warming and the Causation/Responsibility that accompanies it.

The last page is open to interpretation.  Who Lives at the North Pole?  Younger children will certainly illustrate the guy in the red suit.  Older children may provide a literal response.  

Take a Look - http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/An-Inquiry-Into-The-North-Pole-Animal-Adaptations

Elf Math

I just posted my Elf Math activities on http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elf-Math
These are K-1st grade activities.  2nd graders could use them for review.  Read Elf on A Shelf to get your students interested in all of your Holiday Fundays!!

City Nights

I had a few darling 1st graders help me with a City Nights picture.  They did their very best cutting squares and rectangles.  Good Job!  It's a great compliment to their studies on Rural and Urban Communities.

Inquiry Into Endangered Species

This unit can be used to support a 4 week inquiry or as an "All In A Day" center rotation.  It makes connections with biographies, Critical Thinking, Fluency, Perspective, and Adaptations.  I used it in a 2nd grade Gifted Classroom, but it can be modified for grades 1-3.  A great science lab activity to add is the exploration of Blubber.  the teacher will prepare one plastic glove with Crisco or another vegetable shortening.  (The tub of white shortening)  Then, place another plastic glove on top.  You'll have a glove within a glove with "Blubber" in between.  This adaptation will be put to the test as students dip the insulated hand in a bowl of ice water.  They will they dip the other hand without insulation.  Draw Conclusions!  Perfect for the connections with penguins and whales.

Available at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Carla-Walk

Rhyming Words

Just posted my rhyming words flashcards.  These are perfect for Literacy Centers or Independent Projects.  

Inquiry Based

My first inquiry based center is up and running on Teachers Pay Teachers.  Great "Thought Provoking" activities to be used for individuals or collaborative groups.  Go to http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Carla-Walk
Inquiry Based

Communicator Pumpkin

Be a communicator!  I used Dr. Seuss as an addition to my Pumpkin Patch.  He represents the encouragement to be a communicator.  Reading, Writing, Drawing, and Speaking are wonderful ways to express our thoughts and ideas.  This is the perfect time to connect with the work of Dr. Seuss and have children work on rhyming words.  Stay tuned for learning center connections!

The Principled Pumpkin

This is a sample of my first pumpkin in my Inquiry into Being Principled.  It offers many opportunities for children to add questions, thoughts, and connections.

Fall Festival

Nothing says, "Fall is here!" like a school's Fall Festival.  Milam School celebrated a time honored tradition and they did it with great style.  Haunted House, Dunking Booth, DJ, And Cotton Candy provided a good time for all who attended.  This put me in the mood for a little pumpkin fun.  I'm working on a pumpkin patch that will support the characteristics of The PYP Learner Profile.  My first entry is a representation of someone who is Principled.  I chose former President Jimmy Carter for his work with World Peace and Habitat For Humanity.

Back to Blogging

I'm back!  So many exciting things are going on for me, I decided to give blogging another try.  I'm also taking the plunge with Teachers Pay Teachers.  My first downloadable file is Wild Weather Station.  This is a short weather play that I wrote about 17 years ago.  I've made a few changes, but the play continues each year.  It's great for a Readers Theater also.  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Carla-Walk