It's January. How did the start of the school year fly by so fast? With the school year coming closer and closer to the 100 day mark, it's time to start thinking about some other major school events that are coming up for many of us. I'm talking about the impending state assessments.
Now, I am not one to ever teach to the test---but I think some quality lessons can be taught,and at the same time, help students to do well on the state exams.
In my class, I teach test-taking as another genre. I make a promise to my students that we will not only learn the material on the test, but what the test looks like too. Reading strategies and critical thinking skills do have a place in the testing arena. Tips are good, but if you are serious about teaching through the test and not to it...it is important to start sooner then later. I wrote an article for the Really Good Stuff Blog about it last year, and I'm posting it now for anyone who is interested.
Questions? Ask away :)
Here it is, hope it helps: Test Taking as a Genre by Nichole Rozakos
One of my favorite ways to teach-or reteach-arrays is through a project called Candy Box Math. I think it's a favorite of my kids too.
Now of course, the great Marilyn Burns first created this project and you can see the directions here: Candy Box Math by Marilyn Burns.
I created a cute Candy Box Math Letter to go along with the project, and really get the kids excited. I also created a display so that students could get into groups and create posters to show off. In the past, I have even done an extensional persuasive paragraph that the kids write-up to explain why there candy bar should be made by a real candy company. I have even sent them away to Hershey's -but never received anything back. :(
The display shows the math work done on the left. On the right, there is a candy bar design with logo and flavors listed. Underneath, is the winning array and a few sentences explaining why the kids think this is the best possible packaging for the new candy bar (for this we have a discussion about traditional vs. unique, storage, space it takes up, etc.) The labels are: Candy Box Research, Candy Box Design, and Packaging
It's January. How did the start of the school year fly by so fast? With the school year coming closer and closer to the 100 day mark, it's time to start thinking about some other major school events that are coming up for many of us. I'm talking about the impending state assessments. 
