Denim Column

About The Author

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Alabama, United States
Educator and Lifelong Learner, Asst Principal at @cmslions, #NBCT, #EdD from @ucumberlands, @Google Educator Lvl 1 & 2, Google for Education Certified Trainer

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Alternatives to Round Robin Reading

Round Robin Reading, the method where each student takes turns reading orally, has been proven an ineffective learning strategy.  Students suffer embarrassment and boredom.  Time is wasted.  Students are not following along or listening.  The students do not have an established purpose for reading other than to finish. There has to be a better alternative!

I have devised a list of ten of my favorite reading strategies that take the place of Round Robin Reading.  These are Choral Reading, Whisper Reading, Echo Reading, Everyone Reads, Oral Cloze, Paired Reading, Reciprocal Reading, Jigsaw, Say Something, and Jump In.  For further explanations of each strategy, please visit my Teacher's Notebook or TeachersPayTeachers stores.


~Cara

Saturday, October 26, 2013

We Have a Winner of the VocabularySpellingCity Premium Membership Giveaway!


Congratulations, Lisa, for winning the Premium Membership to VocabularySpellingCity.  An email has been sent to you on how to claim your prize.




Thank you to everyone that entered!  If you haven't had an opportunity to use VocabularySpellingCity or Science4Us, please take a little time to check them out.  I know you won't be disappointed!


~Cara
I have used VocabularySpellingCity with the students in my classroom for over five years.  In fact, my entire school now has premium memberships for every teacher.  I was so impressed with the site and how it affected student learning that I shared it through various social media platforms.  I am now compensated to work with VocabularySpellingCity after school as a social media consultant.

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Science4Us Review and VocabularySpellingCity GIVEAWAY


Science4Us is an interactive, standards-based science curriculum from the developers of VocabularySpellingCity.  Built on the 5E Model of Learning (engage, explore, explain, extend/elaborate, evaluate), kindergarten through 2nd grade students are provided with the foundational skills needed to be successful in science.  The online lessons are based on your state standards for science and integrate technology, engineering, math, literacy and the arts.  There is even embedded content training to increase teacher comfort in teaching science.




Researchers found the content and activities to be appropriate for K-2 students stating, “It provides a foundational understanding that is needed as students progress through their learning.” Not only did researchers find the content and activities engaging for K-2 students, they also measured student achievement. Students receiving Science4Us significantly outperformed those students engaged in science instruction as usual. Researchers also noted the inquiry opportunities included in Science4Us are supportive of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) approach to inquiry-based learning. (Read the full article {here}.)

I am holding a giveaway of a Premium Membership to VocabularySpellingCity.  You can enter in multiple ways.  The more entries, the more chances you have to win.  


~Cara

I have used VocabularySpellingCity with the students in my classroom for over five years.  In fact, my entire school now has premium memberships for every teacher.  I was so impressed with the site and how it affected student learning that I shared it through various social media platforms.  I am now compensated to work with VocabularySpellingCity after school as a social media consultant.