Fry Readability

Are you a teacher getting ready to pack up your books for the summer, but wanted to do a little bit of organizing first? Are you a parent trying to pick out summer books for your child but aren't quite sure what's appropriate for your child's current reading level? If so, check out Kathy Schrock's guide at Discovery Education. She explains how Dr. Fry's Readability levels work, how to find a "just right" book, and even gives a link to books, including The Reading Teacher's Book of Lists (I own it, it's a great book) and software called Readability Plus that will help you level your books instead of having to use Dr. Fry's graph for each one. She also links to several school websites where teachers and reading coaches have worked together to provide lists of books and their levels. I also love Dr. Fry's homophones book. I hope this was helpful, enjoy!

 

Books by Dr. Edward Fry

Teachers: is your entire library leveled? If so, how do you sort your baskets - by level or topic? How long did it take you to complete?

Foldables

Dinah Zike, Foldable guru

5 basic folds

Foldables are some of my favorite learning tools. Students love them because they're a lot more fun than regular paper, and they look so cute! Check out these sites - they include guides on how to fold and give you some great ideas for every subject. I often use foldables and attach them to tri-fold boards and interactive bulletin boards (upcoming blog) for centers or for students to use as study guides.

http://www.mswinston.com/fold.pdf

http://www.catawba.k12.nc.us/C_i_resources/Foldables.htm

http://printcutfold.com/activities.html

http://foldables.wikispaces.com/ (a place to share / find foldables)

Google Search for Foldables

Video Search for Foldables

Interactive Bulletin Board images

Teacher guides / books on interactive bulletin boards

                                                               

Teachers, do you have any pictures or links that you want to share? Email me and I will post them!

Sunlight and Shadows

Topics covered: light, shadows, sun, and moon. 

(This goes well with the rainbow and mirror lessons I have already posted!)

Younger students can use chalk to create an outline of their feet and shadow. Redraw at one hour intervals. 

Older students can use a compass, pencil, and sunclock diagram to prove that Earth is rotating toward and away from the sun.

Print the Sun Clock Diagram here

Objectives

Students will:

• Demonstrate that light travels in straight lines, or rays, unless it is bent or refracted. (website)
• Explain that the sun stays relatively the same size, but may look smaller or larger depending on where Earth is in its rotation (looks bigger on the horizon).
• Explain that the sun does not really rise, set, or disappear. Clouds can cover it or our side of the Earth may be experiencing night, so it is shining on the other side of Earth.
• Demonstrate that the angle, intensity, and length of sunlight we get due to Earth's revolution on its axis and rotation around the sun determine which season we are experiencing.
• Demonstrate why the moon appears to change size and shape.
• Make a model to show that the moon does not give off its own light. Sunlight reflects off of it as well as other moons and planets, so that they can be seen.

          

Click the pictures for some great, free resources from FOSS.

Click Teacher Resources on the left, then Duplication Masters to print lab sheets.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

This is a great lesson on symmetry, reflection, and light! We used mirrors and sheets from FOSS. 

We used our document camera to project what we were seeing on the big screen.

Putting a mirror above letters makes them upside down, while putting the mirror to the side makes them appear backwards.

investigating multiple reflections

Check out this BBC mirror game.

Try these!

Gaga for Games

Have you ever played Gaga at summer camp? My students and campers at Stonybrook Day Camp loooovvveee when we play games. It doesn't matter if they are athletic, computer, or board games, they love to play anything and everything! These games are great for recess, camp, time on a bus or in the car, or during Morning Meeting at school. I also have used some of these with the girls on the soccer team I coached - and they were teenagers!

One of my favorites is Jedi Mind Numbers. On a hot day such as today, students practice patience, teamwork, and counting as they attempt to count to a defined number (usually 10). The catch is that all eyes have to be closed and only one person can say the number at a time. You'd be surprised how much of a challenge is, and how busy it keeps them when the classroom, car, or bus are too hot for movement! Also check out these Rainy Day / Indoor Game videos on how to keep busy!

EveryDay Math incorporates tons of games into its lessons, which can be photocopied or played online during a Game Center literacy station. Spelling and vocabulary words can be turned into word searches and puzzles (Shrock Guide), flashcards (Spelling City), or games either by students or me. My students also love Sparkle, which can also be played in a car or on a bus. The Guess Who board game or question game (see video below) are also great.

Check these sites out... you (or your children, depending on computer access and ability) can create your own Jeopardy games, Who Wants to be A Millionaire, Big Wheel, etc.

      

How to Purchase Everybody Wins: A teachers guide to customizing games for any curriculum Dr. Jeff Ertzberger UNC Wilmington

Click the Game Board to Play Interactive Boggle

Click the Game Board to Play Scrabble