Thursday, December 15, 2016

Week of December 15

Thursday Thoughts December 15

I must start by saying that this is my last blog for 2016 (no blog next Thursday). Of course I will blog again when we return from break. As I thought about what I wanted to share, I recalled the different trials and tribulations that I endured in 2016. Many of you know me well enough to know that family means everything to me. I try to communicate this often and encourage our staff to put family first. In hindsight, this was one of the toughest years of my life. It is very hard to keep the personal and professional parts of life separate, especially when you are in the "people" business and always have to put your best foot forward. Thankfully for me, the year is ending so much more positively than it started; however I know that 2016 has been difficult for some of you as well.

After you finish the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, cooking, cleaning and /or traveling, I challenge you take a little time to reflect on this past year. Think about the things that occurred that will forever change you. Think about the people who encouraged you and gave you strength to get through this year. If things are good for you now, consider ways you can support someone who is experiencing challenges. When people ask me one thing I love about Medlock Bridge, I always say the staff. We are a true family. Yes we sometimes step on each other's toes, or get snippy when we run out of patience; but we support each other through good times and bad. Thank you for the support that you have given me this year. I love you guys and wish you nothing but the best in 2017.

Staff Spotlight
This week I would like to shine the spotlight on Lauren Plummer and Rachna Saxena. Today I had the pleasure of participating in a 2.5 hour IEP meeting led by Lauren and she was amazing! She was positive, prepared and kept the team on point. She and Rachna teach a wide range of learners and they know exactly what each child needs. In Lauren's role as Special Education grade chair, she has become a go to for other teachers and is always willing to help anyone. She advocates for her students and is passionate about the AU program. Rachna provides great support for the classroom and I doubt that you have ever seen her without a smile on her face. Her love for the students is always evident. While our special needs students may require a lot of additional instruction and support, first and foremost they need adults that genuinely love them for who they are. This is truly the case with Ms. Plummer and Mrs. Saxena. I am so appreciative that they are a part of the Medlock family and am thankful for the work that they are doing with students.

Holiday Fun

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Week of December 8

Thursday Thoughts December 8

Today was a mentally tough day for me. The state CCRPI scores were released during the middle of our district principals' meeting. Talk about a double whammy. While the slight decline in our score did not surprise me, the realization of the pressure that comes with standardized testing and state rankings weighed heavily on my mind. I began to speculate about the reasons why our scores have seen a decrease in the past couple of years. I began to second guess the way that we are teaching kids, our focus on integrating technology, our promotion of inquiry and problem based learning and our insistence that students must be prepared for a 21st Century world by communicating and collaborating with each other. I mean, let's face it, our kids have to take a 20th Century test and the success of our school (in the eyes of the public) is based on a 20th Century evaluation system. Why not go back to the times when students got their knowledge from the textbooks, we used worksheets for skill and drill and we expected them to work quietly and turn in mounds of work?

But then I realized that we are doing the right work. We are preparing students for the world in which they will have to think critically and collaborate with others who may have different ideas. Our students are digital natives so the use of technology is not optional. We have diverse learners who may not be on grade level yet or may speak different languages, but they are making progress. Yes we will have to go back to the basics in some regards to make sure that the foundation is solid for all, but we have come a long way in our expectations of what students can do independently and the ways in which they demonstrate what they have learned. We have given students choice in how they learn and the level of student engagement is very high.

Do we have a responsibility to analyze our scores and make adjustments to our instruction? Absolutely! But we also need to celebrate that fact that we are giving our very best to EVERY student and no matter how slow their progress may be, every child should be encouraged to keep going. Students should be judged against themselves and not each other and we as educators must remember to do the same. You are an AMAZING staff and you give unselfishly to the students everyday. I am so proud of the work that takes place at Medlock and I am thankful for the opportunity to be a part of it.

Staff Spotlight
This week I would like to shine the spotlight on Cara Vollberg. This year Cara is leading a team where two of the teachers are new to first grade. Cara advocates for her team and works together with them to ensure that the lessons and assignments planned for first graders are appropriately challenging. The academic level of first graders range from non readers to students who are reading two grade levels above. She goes above and beyond to meet the needs of this wide range of learners. Recently the parent of one of Mrs.Vollberg's students expressed her sincere appreciation of what Cara has done for her child. Much of the highlights from the letter are paraphrased below:

As a parent, I feel truly blessed that my child was placed in Cara's class. She is so kind and patient, and my child absolutely adores her. She has my child in, not only in RTI for reading, but she also started one for handwriting and fine motor.......... She has reached out to the OT for strategies and activities she can do to help my child and others with their fine motor development and I have seen a dramatic improvement already this semester.

She put my child in EIP at the beginning of the year............ and she continues to provide extra reading support and practice within her classroom and has periodically re-assessed my child using BAS and STAR to monitor progress and provide her own remediation when needed.

Once a week Cara sends out a very thorough email to the parents in her class, telling in detail, what the kids will be learning about this week in each subject area. She gives plenty of notice to when they will be assessed on the material, and she even provides examples in case a parent may be unfamiliar with a skill/ topic. Her progress reports are thick packets of multiple graded work samples for each subject. (Including Science/SS and health) She takes the time to, not only grade, but write comments on each paper/test. It is evident that much time and thought goes into each child's progress report.

From a parent's perspective, the love of her students is evident. Not a day goes by that my child doesn't come home and tell me something new that was learned in class. I have been especially impressed with how she is not only teaching the standards, but from what my child is telling me, she goes into great detail and really gives the students a much better grasp on WHY these things are important to know, instead of just having them memorize things for a test. I could go on and on with how impressed I am with Mrs. Vollberg. I always knew she was a good teacher and a great person, but getting to know her as a parent has made me realize how extraordinary she truly is.

I know my child will encounter many different types of teachers.... I am just so grateful my child was placed with Cara at such a critical stage in development. She is really been such a gift to my child.

Cara we thank you for the impact that you are making on the lives of your students and the leadership that you are providing to your team. We truly appreciate ALL that you do.

15+ Ways of Teaching Every Student to Code (Even Without a Computer)

With this collection of resources, you can teach your students to code—even if you’re still learning yourself.

Edutopia By Vicki Davis @coolcatteacher

December 4, 2013 Updated November 18, 2016

According to Code.org, 90 percent of parents in the U.S. want their children to learn computer science—it will be crucial for many jobs in the near future—but only 40 percent of schools teach it. Critics claim that it is mainly the more affluent schools that offer computer science courses, thus denying those who attend poorer schools the chance to learn necessary skills. A focus on STEM is not enough: Code.org also reports that while 70 percent of new STEM jobs are in computing, only 7 percent of STEM graduates are in computer science. It is imperative that savvy schools begin to focus some STEM resources on computer science and programming.

In my opinion, parents of every student in every school at every level should demand that all students be taught how to code. They need this skill not because they’ll all go into it as a career—that isn’t realistic—but because it impacts every career in the 21st-century world. Any country recognizing that will benefit in the long term.

With the following resources, you can teach programming to every student and every age.

Teaching Coding to the Youngest Students

Tynker Games: Use these age-appropriate games to teach your elementary students coding concepts. From Puppy Adventures to Math Art and Maze Craze, you’ll find games that students in grades 1–8 will enjoy. Tynker also has a curriculum and STEM product library that you may want to peruse if you’re interested in combining programming with social studies, English, math, and science.
Kodable started as an app targeted to students as young as kindergarten age, but it’s now a complete curriculum. The first 30 levels are free, more than enough for an hour of code. Kodable is recommended for ages 5 and up, but there are stories of kids even younger using the app with great success. Students don’t need to know how to read in order to program using this game.
ScratchJr is a version of Scratch intended for ages 5–7 and available as a free iPad or Android app.
A favorite of some programmers, LightbotJr targets children ages 4–8.
Robot Turtles is a board game that teaches children the basics of programming without having to use any technology.

Teaching Coding to Kids 8 and Up

Hopscotch is a free iPad app for upper elementary and above. Wesley Fryer has curated resources for Hopscotch in the classroom that are full of challenges that you can use with students. He also recommends activating the emoji keyboard (go to Settings > General > Keyboards) for use with the program.
Scratch is a programming game that can be downloaded or used online and is supported by MIT. It has a powerful Hour of Code tutorial in which students can program a holiday card in their web browser. If you want options for other times of the year, use the one-hour Speed Racer activity to teach your students Scratch. Teachers can watch this tutorial, visit ScratchEd’s Hour of Code Ideas forum to ask questions, or search “hour of code” in the forum for lesson plans using everything from coordinate geometry to Latin. Scratch is considered acceptable for beginners. (Some educators use Snap, originally a version of Scratch but now written in JavaScript; it is supported by University of California at Berkeley. There are several alternatives to Scratch with a similar interface. Give this list to your IT department if there are technical reasons why you can’t run Scratch or Snap.)
Lightbot is a puzzle game with a free version that lasts an hour and full versions for sale on iTunes and Google Play. It teaches planning, testing, debugging, procedures, and loops.
Alice is a popular platform with a unique storytelling aspect. You can use it to create a game, tell a story, or make an animated video. Like Scratch, Alice is free and supported by a powerful community of educators. There are two versions of Alice. The newer 3.0 version still has a few bugs but sports many new, very cool animations. This long-standing platform is a rewarding tool that kids will want to keep using past the initial hour. Alice is considered more for the intermediate student, but experienced teachers can use it with beginners.
Kodu is a programming tool that can be easily used on a PC or Xbox to create a simple game. There’s also a math curriculum. Pat Yongpradit, Code.org’s director of education, used this in his computer science classroom. (I’ve used it as well.)
Gamestar Mechanic offers a free version that you might want to use for your Hour of Code, but if you fall in love with it, the educational package allows teachers to track student progress, among other features. The company supports educators with videos and a must-see teacher’s guide.
GameMaker: Studio is an option if you want to make games that can be played in any web browser. The resources aren’t as comprehensive as with some of the other tools here and the community isn’t vibrant, but this one has been around for a while and might be fun for a more tech-savvy teacher.
SpaceChem is an interesting mix of chemistry, reading, and programming for ages 12 and up. As students read the 10,000-word novelette, they have to solve puzzles by assembling molecules. SpaceChem created a helpful guide for educators. This tool is available for download on Steam and installation on Windows, Mac, and Ubuntu. (Download a free demo.)
CodeCombat is a multiplayer game that teaches coding. It’s free to play at the basic level, and students don’t have to sign up. It has the advantage that teachers don’t have to know computer science to empower learning in programming. It’s recommended for ages 9 and up. See the teacher guide for the information and standards covered in this game.
Minecraft: Education Edition continues to be popular as the new owner of Minecraft, Microsoft, continues to collect and share best practices from classrooms.
Code Monkey Island is a board game designed for children ages 9 and up. This is a great addition to your game corner.

Additional Resources

Check out the Hour of Code lesson plan tutorial from Khan Academy for ways to teach your students. These lessons are for older students with one computer each, but they can be adapted to a flipped class model.
While the official Hour of Code is in December, see these resources for educators, unplugged lessons (no computer required), and tutorials to help you teach computer science to kids of all ages at any time of the year.

Use Hardware to Make Something Cool

Programming, making, and creating have never been easier. If you’re getting into the maker movement or Genius Hour, these should be staples in your classroom. While they may take longer than an hour to code, they’re definitely something 21st-century schools can use, because students are programming and building with their hands.

The Raspberry Pi is an inexpensive computer. There are many things kids can make with a Raspberry Pi, but after setting one up with my 15-year-old nephew, I recommend that the teacher be a tad more advanced than I am. This is definitely a tool I’d use in my classroom. (A kit costs less than $100.)
I am in love with the Hummingbird Robotics Kit—it makes Arduino easy. An Arduino is basically a motherboard that you can make, plus a programming kit. I have one of these in my classroom, and the students are fixated for hours. (A kit is around $100.)
Lego Mindstorms are part of my curriculum every spring. Students love Legos! I have six older kits that we’ve used for years. The newer NXT kits have cool robots that can be made and programmed. This product has been around for years, so there are many resources for teachers. If you purchase an older kit on eBay, make sure it will work with newer operating systems.
Dash and Dot are two endearing little robots that can be used with ages 5 and up. These robots have apps that can be used to program them, for which children ages 8 and up can use Blockly, the visual programming language created by Google. Older students can use Objective C or Java to program the bots.
Sphero and Ollie are fantastic robots that can go almost anywhere (my students have taken them across water). The SPRK education program gives teachers and parents a curriculum for using the bots and teaching programming even while the adult is still learning.

How Do You Teach Coding in Your Classroom?

Please join the movement to help reach every child by sharing in the comments section your story or a link to your favorite resources for teaching kids to code.

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Week of December 1

Thursday Thoughts December 1

Tonight's thought applies to me. If it speaks to you too.... enjoy!

While we look forward to numerous aspects of the holiday season, it is definitely a time that can be stressful for many. I have learned that when people are stressed they tend to take it out on others. Patience runs thin, molehills become mountains and tempers can flare easily. In fact, as educators, we can often find ourselves on the receiving end of parental stress. It is human nature. It isn't fair but it is just how stress manifests itself in some people. The next few weeks will be challenging. On top of meeting our end of semester deadlines and responsibilities, we may have unexpected classroom or individual issues that might arise. It is my hope that we can handle each situation professionally and remember the main focus of why we are doing this work...... the kids.

Staff Spotlight
This week I would like to shine the spotlight on Megan McCormick. Megan is a new teacher who is experiencing the rewards and challenges of being a first year teacher. She does not hesitate to reach our to her team for support and she goes the distance when seeking help for her students. She has made real connections with her students and they love her. Megan works hard to help every child meet with success. Megan was a MBES Mustang as a student and we are so fortunate that she brought her enthusiasm and passion for kids back to where it all started. We are thankful for Megan and appreciate her dedication to her students and the team.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Week of November 17

Thursday Thoughts November 17

As we prepare for Thanksgiving and some much needed time off, I would like to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for the love and dedication that you give our students every day. You make numerous sacrifices to do this work and it often goes unnoticed. You give the best of yourself and your time. Many times this comes at the expense of your personal and family time. It is my hope that you will spend the upcoming week reconnecting with loved ones and carving out a little time for yourself. While your work at Medlock is significant, the most important work you will ever do is for your family, within your own home. I am so thankful for each of you and hope that you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Staff Spotlight

This week I would like to shine the spotlight on Jennifer Briskin. Jennifer is more than just our school psychologist. She has become a tremendous resource and support for teachers and admin alike. You will often see her helping us with difficult students. She offers to lead parent information sessions and makes herself available for SST meetings whenever called upon. She has embraced our PBIS efforts and works tirelessly to ensure that we focus on students' social-emotional needs. While Jennifer is only with us part time, she is fully committed to Medlock in every way. Jennifer, thank you for the work that you do with our students and teachers. We appreciate you!

Thanksgiving Comics

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Week of November 10

Thursday Thoughts November 10

I think we all knew that no matter the outcome of the election, there would be a segment of our country who would be extremely dissatisfied. It appears that many people put their trust and hope in one political party or the other. Instead of second guessing any political outcome, I choose to focus my efforts on influencing our greatest national treasure, our children. As an educator, I have the opportunity every day to influence a future generation of teachers, doctors, lawyers, judges, politicians and quite possibly a U.S. president. I have the ability to model civility, tolerance, honesty, and trustworthiness. I find it awe inspiring that I can help shape and mold young people who I might just cast a vote for one day. As we move forward in the days and weeks ahead, let us not focus on the present state of politics or what our government has or has not done for us. Let us leave a positive and lasting imprint on those who will one day lead our country.

Staff Spotlight

This week I would like to shine the spotlight on Pam Johnson. Pam has been working hard to create a nurturing and engaging classroom environment for her students. She has a positive attitude and truly exemplifies what it means to be a team player among her grade level. Pam is always trying to find the bright side of a difficult situation and keep her team encouraged. Because she has prior experience as a 2nd grade teacher, she can easily work with the advanced kindergarten students. She seeks ways to enrich the curriculum and challenge students. She has embraced STEM opportunities and is a cheerleader for PBL. Pam's grade level can depend on her to take on any task at any time without complaint. She has been a member of the Medlock Bridge Team for quite a few years, however each year she seeks to learn more and hone her craft. Pam we thank you for your dedication to your students, your team and our school as a whole.

8 Strategies to Keep Informational Reading Fun

By John Spencer

Edutopia April 2 2015

One of the biggest complaints I hear about Common Core is the push toward informational texts. This is often accompanied by the complaint that we are no longer allowing students to read for the sake of reading. Just yesterday, a teacher said to me, "I wish we could read novels. With all these informational texts, kids are losing the love of reading."

Minutes later, I went to Facebook and noticed my friends sharing articles. I hopped on Twitter and noticed the same trend. They weren't just sharing the articles, either. They were geeking out on the ideas. We are naturally inclined to find information fascinating -- to the point that we have to share it out to the world. Nobody on Facebook is getting a grade for it. They're sharing an article because they found it relevant.

As a classroom teacher, I want to see that same level of excitement as students engage with informational texts. The following are eight strategies to make informational reading fun again.

1. Student Choice

When I first taught reading, I allowed students to choose novels during silent reading time. I made a huge deal out of the genres that were available. I asked students to develop a personal taste. However, I didn't allow students to select their own informational texts. This was odd, given the fact that every student had at least one interest that he or she was passionate about. If I had simply asked, "What information do you want to find?" rather than "What do you want to read?", I would have been able to help students fall in love with informational texts. Now, as a journalism teacher, I begin with student choice and the natural desire to find information.

2. Think More and Work Less

Often when a student gets frustrated with informational reading, it has less to do with reading and more to do with the work required. When students read one page and answer nine text-dependent questions, they get frustrated by the work. When teachers ask students to practice strategies mentally (such as thinking about clarifying questions rather than actually writing the questions), students spend more time reading. This, in turn, leads to reading endurance.

3. Keep the Strategies Flexible

Close reading isn't a bad thing. However, too often close reading becomes a lockstep procedure rather than a flexible strategy. Students focus on whether they are doing the process correctly instead of thinking about the information in the text. I've seen students stare at a poster worrying about what color they are supposed to use when highlighting a text rather than thinking about the accuracy of information and the bias of the source.

4. Personalized Practice

Informational reading becomes more fun when students feel like they are improving as readers. This is why I ask students to look at the standards to identify which areas they have mastered and which areas still require improvement. Before reading, students select two strategies that are strengths and one that is a weakness. Instead of the hurried, frantic race of a pacing guide, students are given the time to practice a reading strategy until they have mastered it.

5. Solve a Problem

Outside of the classroom, one of the most common motives for seeking out an informational text is the desire to solve a problem. Too often, though, students are simply answering text-dependent questions that do little more than test comprehension. What if we started informational reading with student inquiry? What if we allowed students to see informational texts as an integrated part of research? When this happens, informational texts become challenging and relevant to an actual context. That, in turn, makes the task of reading fun again.

6. Make Something

One of the best parts of teaching photojournalism is that students get a chance to use the information for making something new. This could be research for a podcast, facts for a video, or information for an article and editorial. Similarly, when I taught all subjects in a self-contained class, students often read informational texts as an integrated part of project-based learning. The reading remained fun because it was a vital part of what they were creating.

7. Embrace Technology

Too often, students are asked to read informational texts in a way that doesn't reflect the current context of our world. They highlight photocopied articles or take notes on textbook chapters. When teachers embrace technology, students can find more specific informational texts that fit their interests.

8. Don't Shy Away From the Conflict

Teachers do a disservice to students when they treat information as inherently neutral. Informational reading becomes fun when students see the conflict inherent in any informational text. They should be examining the bias of the language and analyzing the social, political, and economic forces at work in an author's argument. As they think critically about the conflict in a source, students see informational reading as the inherently dangerous act that it is.

There is no guarantee that every student will love every text. However, I have found that these eight strategies have helped students regain the inherent love of informational reading.

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Week of November 3

Thursday Thoughts November 3

I am a political junkie, however I am not one to participate in discussions about politics. I find it to be a very personal subject and quite frankly one that can get ugly real quick. I don't think anyone can dispute that this election cycle has been exhausting. I must say that I am looking forward to next Tuesday and hopefully the end of a very long political season. Despite how I feel about the process, I would never take for granted the privilege that I have been given to cast my vote. I think about people who live in some countries where democracy is not an option. They would probably give anything to participate in a free election. There are also people like Karen Cooke who have been out of their native country for so long that they can't vote there. However, they are not a U.S. citizen so they can't vote here either. Lastly I am reminded of my relatives (some are still living) who were denied the right to vote. I have heard firsthand accounts from my grandfather about serving in the military of a country that wouldn't allow him to vote. At 94 years of age, he makes a point to get to the polls to exercise his once denied right. Even if I am dissatisfied with the characteristics of the candidates, I understand that not voting is essentially still a vote. I am proud to say that I participated in early voting this year and I encourage all who are eligible to get to the polls on Tuesday. If for no other reason, vote because you live in a country that gives you the right to do so.

Staff Spotlight

This week I would like to shine the spotlight on Matt Rogers. By now I am sure that you have taken your class to PE and seen the transformation of the gym into a haunted (but not scary) maze of fun. His attention to the design and planning of the games and activities in PE is second to none. In fact, he was recently contacted by Georgia Public Broadcasting because they want to highlight the innovative way that he integrates math into his PE games. In a time where emphasis has been placed on leaving no child behind, Matt has been dedicated to making sure that no child is left on their behind (Matt's own words). In addition, we can always count on Matt to facilitate the best fun run and field day events. I appreciate Matt's creativity and desire to provide the highest quality physical education program possible. Be sure to check out some of his amazing activities on Twitter @mygymlocker.

Scholastic’s Best Kept Secrets: 15 Free Resources to Use Now!

By Genia Connell on January 20, 2016

A red graphic image has the words, 15 FREE Scholasti Resources to Use Now across

Honestly, I've always liked to think of myself as a super-user of Scholastic's website. I've been using it a long time — think waiting for the screeching America Online dial-up long time. That's why, two years ago when I was sitting in an auditorium at Scholastic's New York headquarters listening to my friend give a presentation to new teachers on all eScholastic has to offer, I felt a little embarrassed. I didn't know some of the resources she was talking about!

I started scribbling down notes on resource after resource. Some I had used but forgotten about, while others were brand new to me. I began thinking that if I didn't know about many of the resources (and I'm on the site nearly every day), there were probably others who would benefit from hearing about them for the first time, or perhaps being reminded of all Scholastic.com has to offer.

The resources below are perfect to put into your lesson plans right away and are guaranteed to save you planning time when you insert them into your sub plans. So this week I'm happy to share with you a post that was conceived two years ago in that auditorium. I hope you will be as excited about some of the resources as I am!

1. Character Scrapbook

This reading response resource can easily be used to teach character traits or help a student delve deeper into any character — human or animal — from a fiction or nonfiction book. The scrapbook page can be saved and printed. These are also whiteboard-ready and can be done with the whole group. I've had students add their scrapbook pages to their reading response binders.

Additional Resources:

2. StudyJams! Interactive Math and Science Activities

I have no good reason for forgetting to use Study Jams! with my students — I wrote the scripts for 14 of the lessons! But still, I often forget to add them to my plans when I'm introducing new language and concepts, and only seem to remember them when I need a sure-fire way to make a challenging concept clearer. Use these short, engaging, interactive videos to help make difficult ideas in math and science easier for your students to understand.

Additional Resources:

3. Flashlight Readers

Flashlight Readers is an interactive literacy experience. Regardless of whether your students are reading any of the many popular titles, the activities are fun and compelling, inviting students to, "Go inside your favorite books." These are also great to add to a class website because if your students are like mine, they will want to use these activities much longer than class time allows!

Books Featured in Flashlight Readers

*Because of Winn-Dixie* by Kate DiCamillo	*Hoot* by Carl Hiaasen
*Charlotte's Web* by E. B. White	*Esperanza Rising* by Pam Muñoz Ryan
*A Dog's Life* by Ann M. Martin	*Inkheart* by Cornelia Funke
*Holes* by Louis Sachar	*The Underland Chronicles* by Suzanne Collins
*The Invention of Hugo Cabret* by Brian Selznick	Author Blue Balliett

Additional Resources:

4. Word Workshop

If you are looking for a go-to resource for making word walls, name tags, labels for book boxes and containers, or just about anything else that you want printed with an attractive border and font, then Word Workshop is for you! You can print cards in different sizes including half-page, whole page, and Avery-sized labels. I was at the Scholastic booths at ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) and NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English) and was surprised that with all the high-tech things out there, it was the Word Workshop that was getting all the love! Once you visit the site, bookmark it! This is one of those resources I sometimes forget about after the start of the school year when the greatest amount of labeling happens in my room. Try it, you'll like it!

Additional Resources:

5. Planning Calendar

Scholastic offers a full month of linked, timely resources for every month of the year. This calendar is great for planning ahead or to find special events to share with students such as historical dates and author birthdays. You can even print each month to keep this resource at your fingertips.

Scholastic's Free Printable Planning Calendar

6. Story Starters

Banish writer's block forever with this fun tool that offers up hundreds of different scenarios for students to write about. It's easy to use, whiteboard ready, and available on iPads. Choose your grade level and the genre you would like, pull the lever, and wait for your writing prompt to appear.

Kids love when prompts like, Write an email to a forgetful sorcerer whose bracelet has magic powersappear. These can be done by individual students or on a whiteboard with a whole class writing to the same prompt.

Additional Resources

Story Starters Teacher's Guide

7. Poetry Idea Engine

Poetry Idea Engine is a part of the Writing with Writers series, but it deserves a special shout-out of its own. The Poetry Engine guides students through writing four different styles of poetry: haikus, cinquain, limericks, and free verse. Clear, line-by-line directions and fill-in-the-blank examples with this interactive poem builder will quickly help your students become experts at each style.

8. Virtual Field Trips

With Scholastic's Virtual Field Trips teachers can take their students to learn about faraway places and get a firsthand look at history all from the comfort of their classroom. While Scholastic's First Thanksgiving virtual field trip isn't a well-kept secret (it's one of the most trafficked areas of the site), you may not know that there are other virtual field trips your class can take part in:

Additional Resources:

9. Free Printables

While I love my all-access subscription to Printables and think it's worth every penny, I realize the budget or the situation doesn't always allow for extras. Kudos to Scholastic for offering a very generous number of their printables for free. Look for each month's free p

rintables in your Scholastic newsletter emailed to your inbox each month and be sure to try the dozens of free printables linked in the resource list below.

Free Printable Resources:

If you like the Scholastic Teachers Facebook page, you'll also find all sorts of free reproducibles delivered right to your newsfeed nearly every day.

Freebies on Scholastic's Teacher Facebook page

My favorite find on the Facebook newsfeed last week was the link to the set of 40 quotes free to print and hang in the classroom. Thanks, Scholastic!

40 Free Printable Quotes for Your Classroom

10. Writing With Writers Free Writing Workshops

Created with upper-elementary students in mind, this set of lessons includes writing tutorials from expert authors. Students can learn how to write myths with Jane Yolen, poetry with Jack Prelutsky, and mysteries with Joan Lowery Nixon just to name a few.

Workshops covered:

Writing Workshop on Poetry with Jack Prelutsky

11. Everything You Need — Resources

Think of any topic you want your students to learn more about and Scholastic has probably put everything you need all in one spot for you. There are nearly 100 topics covered. In the Everything You Need collection, you'll find lesson plans, crafts, articles, book lists, and more. You can see them all here and check out just a few below:

Everything You Need Resources for dozens of topics

12. Computer Lab Favorites

Scholastic's Computer Lab Favorites is an area of their site where you will find more than 50 no-prep needed activities for student enrichment in language arts, math, science, social studies, and Spanish. Many are also compatible with interactive whiteboards.

12.5 Interactive Whiteboard Activities

Scholastic has taken some of their best activities and formatted them to work on your interactive whiteboard. Activities are designed for SMART, Promethean, Mimio, and other brands of boards.

13. Daily Starters

This is another one of those things that I used regularly a few years ago, then stopped for no real reason. I've started using Daily Starters again this year, and I've found many more uses for them than just morning work! See my post "Daily Starters to the Rescue" which includes ideas and links to teacher guides for all grade levels.

14. Professional Development Videos and Podcasts

With budgets being slashed, it's often not easy to have access to quality professional development, that's why I was thrilled to discover that Scholastic offers professional development from many experts in education. Watch videos and listen to podcasts from authors such as Pam Allyn, Ruth Culham, Laura Robb, and Jeff Wilhelm. Our district has even provided professional development hours for taking part in Scholastic's podcasts.

Scholastic Free Professional Development

15. Freebie Corner

The name alone, Freebie Corner, is enough to appeal to me. Here, you'll find student contests, sweepstakes, free resources, and lesson plans for all grades.

Freebie Corner Free Resources for Teachers

Hopefully this post will have helped you discover a new resource you can use in your classroom or even remind you of a forgotten favorite. I know there are still more parts of the website that deserve to be recognized. If you have a favorite, free Scholastic resource, please share it in the comment section below!