SMART Teacher Evaluation

This year we have switched our teacher evaluation process.  We have to write 2 SMART goals.  One for student achievement and one for teacher professional practice.  As part of the process we have to demonstrate and collect artifacts and show evidence that we are meeting our goals and the teaching standards.  Many schools in Massachusetts have moved to this new tool.  Is this something that your state/district/school is using?

My focus for my students is to maintain/or improve their GMADE math stanines from the fall to the spring.  My professional goal is to implement strategies to improve the area of math. 

Here are some things I have implemented during the school year to meet my goals:

• New math curriculum aligned to the Common Core
• Guided Math groups 2x a week (flexible grouping)
• Fact Fluency Practice- home and in class (2x a week)
• Fact Fluency Checks- daily in the beginning, now 2x a week
• Problem of the Day
• Pre/Post Tests to drive instruction and develop grouping

Now I have to collect evidence to demonstrate the teaching standards and my goals.  Blogging is a great way to demonstrate the ways I meet all the standards.  

Visit from Author Julie Berry

The fourth grade students in our school were lucky to have a visit from children's author Julie Berry.  She gave a presentation to all the fourth graders and then spent the day leading classroom workshops.  

Julie gave the kids many ideas to get their creative juices flowing and how to make their stories original.

The children were so excited to start their own stories after Julie modeled some ideas.

Check out My New Layout!!!!

Have you been thinking about getting a new custom blog design?  I have always wanted one and never took action.  I was very lucky to win a new layout from Ruby Slippers Blog Design.  It was a great experience working with Barbara.  She was very professional and followed through with all my suggestions and input.  She started on Friday and had it all set by Sunday night.  This blog design is exactly what I wanted.  Check out her site!

Luck of the Quotient

I created a St. Patty's Day themed math game called "Luck of the Quotient."  My children have been loving it this week.  The game was designed to practice division facts with remainders.

Click here to go to my TPT shop:

I found the bucket and gold coins at Joann Fabrics.  

(I want to get more when it is on clearance)

Watt's Up Thomas Edison???

One of my new Common Core ELA Units is called "Figure it Out."  It is about notable people who overcame challenges to become successful in life.  We read about Helen Keller, Leonardo da Vinci, George Washington Carver and Thomas Edison.

We created lap-books using an Invention Brochure that I bought on TPT from This Little Piggy Reads.  The printables fit nicely on the file folder.  Here are some samples of my student's work.  I made a sample but allowed my students to use their own creativity.  It also fits in with our electricity unit.

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Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss

We celebrated Read Across America and Dr. Seuss' birthday yesterday at my school with readers from the Middle School.  They come every year and share their favorite Dr. Seuss book with every class.  I was very happy to see a former student walk into my classroom wearing a hat and whiskers on his face.  He chose "The Lorax."  Thanks for coming Douglas!