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Free Tutoring Forms & Tips!
I have been working on getting ready for the summer tutoring season and thought I would share some things I am working on with you all.
One of the first things I do when I get a new tutoring student is have a conversation with the parents.
It's so crucial to gain as much information about the child before tutoring begins so that I can immediately start meeting the child's learning needs.
Here is a form I use to help guide me through conversations with new parents I meet.
Once a parent decides to go ahead and begin tutoring services with me, I have them complete the following contract.
This just reminds us both of the expectations we have for tutoring.
I use the following forms to survey students' reading and writing interest levels the first time we meet.
It really gives me great insight into how they feel about themselves as readers and writers.
For the younger kids, I just read the questions and ask their opinions.
This last form I use to send home with the students after each visit.
It is just a quick way for parents to see what we learned in our tutoring sessions.
Parents love to stay informed of any and all progress we make!
I hope these forms can help you as a tutor!
If you are looking for some curriculum for your tutoring sessions, CLICK on the images below to see the Reading Intervention Program!
Best of luck and happy teaching to you all!!
Who Wants to Go to Vegas!?
one day session of the SDE conference?
CHOICE of a 1 day session at SDE!
Differentiated Instruction, I Teach K, I Teach 1st, or the newly added I Teach
2nd?
a $25 gift card to the SDE bookstore, CRYSTAL SPRINGS.
hotel accommodations, or just some spending money while you are here? Well, we've got that covered, too. How about
out with that?!?!?
collect a tip for your (possible) visit to Vegas.
you hop through so that you can collect the tip.
card.
sum on the Rafflecopter on the Primary Chalkboard blog for a chance to win.
selfie, post it on IG with #primarychalkboardsendmetovegas
Don't forget to tag us in your picture! @primarychalkboard
The winner will be picked on April the evening of April 5th.
Get Creative: Teach Reading and Art!
I wanted to quickly share some great work my kids have been working on this week in our home school class combining reading and art.
We have been learning about how readers ask and answer their own questions before, during, and after reading. Â We have also been looking for evidence in the texts we're reading to help answer our own questions.
I have been using the no-prep common core printables from my TpT store to help my kids with this important reading skill.
They have been having a blast with the challenges on the printable pages!
After they read their independent reading books and respond to the skills on the page, they get to be creative!
I can see each of their personalities in their creative expressions!
They had to write quotes from characters in the book they are reading, make inferences about the characters based on the quotes, and then draw pictures of the characters. Â I loved seeing what they pictured about each character in their minds.
And I LOVED watching them have fun, expressing their artistic sides!
I can't wait to see what their creative minds will do next!
Happy Teaching!
Jen
Shark Tank Upcycling Project
I am so excited to share an upcycling project that I am working on with my kids over the next few weeks.
I really wanted to teach them about how to become an entrepreneur. I believe everyone has the ability to create and contribute something great in this world!
And motivating my kids to believe in themselves is huge!
We all love the show, Shark Tank and I am passionate about upcycling.
So I thought, why not combine the two ideas into one great project!?!?
I am going to be posting a few blog posts to show you how our project is moving along.
I first began by collecting a bunch of recycled products. Instead of recycling them, I just washed them out and saved them!
Next, I explained the concept to my kids. Â I told them they were going to design a useful product, using these core recycled materials. Â They could make a list of additional resources they need and I will pick them up (things like spray paint, string, duct tape, etc)
I suggested ideas, such as products for the classroom, recess games, and organizational products.
The kids were so very excited to get their hands on the raw materials!!!
Lastly, I told the kids that they will be presenting their product to the Sharks (my husband, my neighbors, and myself!)
They are required to make one PowerPoint slide with their company name and logo (we will learn how to create logos and think carefully about business names).
They are also required to create a poster, displaying their product name, business name, logo, details, and marketing strategies.
Of course, there will need to be at least one prototype of the product for the Sharks to see.
And they MUST dress up for their presentation.
Currently, the kids are designing their products and thinking of business names. Â They are so excited, and nervous, to present to the Sharks. Â No deals are guaranteed!
I will post more pictures as the work continues. Â Here are a few motivational images we are using to make sure we do our best!!!
I have never seen my kids more motivated!! Â I can't wait to share more of this project with y'all!!
Happy Teaching!
Jen
BIG SALE: Win a $20 TpT Gift Card!
I am so super excited to announce Teachers Pay Teachers is hosting a One Day Sale this Wednesday!!
I will be extending the sale through Thursday in my store. Â So, you can save 28% of Wednesday or 20% on Thursday on everything in my store!
Scroll through some of the resources below that will be 28% off in my store this Wednesday.
Then enter to win a $20 TpT gift card! Â I will be choosing a winner Tuesday night so you can use it for the big sale!!
Click on the images below to see what's on sale!
Check out these other incredible sellers who are having sales too!!!
I wish you all a great week! Â Have fun filling those wishlists with resources for your classroom and enjoy the sale!!
Jen
Reading Intervention Program for Big Kids
I have been looking for a reading intervention program for my fifth grader at home to help him boost his reading fluency and comprehension.
There was so much out there for the primary years, but I couldn't find anything that included both fluency and comprehension for older kids.
So I decided to make my own!
My son is loving all the reading passages and the fun ways this program allows him to practice reading each day.
And I am loving that I can track his progress in reading! Â 3 Running Records on One Page!!!
I made the teacher pages simple to understand so that any tutor, parent volunteer, or home school parent could administer this intervention as well!
As a teacher, I know how stretched we are for time. Â There are so many kids in our class that need extra help with reading, but we don't have the time for all the interventions. Â This program makes it easy for aides, tutors, volunteers, and even older student mentors to help too!! Â We can reach more students' reading intervention needs!
And Progress Monitor!!
What's Included:
Suggested Use for Each Grade Level:
Grade 2:
Use as an advanced intervention with your strong readers who need to be taken to the next level.
Grade 3:
Use as extra practice for your average, grade-level readers.
Grade 4:
Use as an intervention with those students who are slightly below grade level and need a little extra boost.
Grade 5:
Use as an intervention with those readers who have fallen about a year behind grade level in reading fluency and/or comprehension.
Grade 6:
Use as an intervention with the most struggling readers who have fallen significantly below grade level.
I hope you and yours kids can use this intervention program and I wish you a ton of reading success!!!
Super Bowl Sale!!
Bloglovin!
You can now find and follow my blog on Bloglovin for the fastest way to see the latest blog posts!
Bright Ideas: How to Set Up a Spelling Notebook
I am so excited about joining my incredible blogging buddies for another Bright Ideas Link Up and sharing how I set up a spelling notebook!!
After you read this post, be sure to hop over to some of the other amazing ideas!
I have my students set up Spelling Notebooks for the year for a few big reasons:
1. Â It cuts down on loose papers.
2. Â It's harder for students to lose a notebook than a piece of paper
3. Â All their learning can be kept in one spot
4. We can look back at all we have learned in spelling throughout the year
What you need:
1. A spiral notebook for every student
2. Extra Strong Post-It Tabs
Create 5 Sections in the Spelling Notebooks
Section One: Mini Lessons
Section Two: Words to learn
3. words they find in reading and want to know more about.
Section Three: Practice Tests
Section Four: Spelling Tests
Section Five: Interactive Edits
That's It!
If you enjoyed this bright idea, please consider joining me on Facebook, Pinterest, or my TpT Store for more great ideas.
For more bright ideas from a variety of other bloggers, please browse through the link-up below and choose a topic/grade level that interests you. Thanks for visiting!
12 Days of Freebies: Day 1 AND Half Off!
It's Day 1 of the 12 Days of Christmas!
On the 1st day of Christmas Jen Bengel gave to me…
1 Writing Project!
Click either of the images below to download your free resource!
I will also be offering 50% off related resources for one day only!
To see today's half off resources, click on the image below…
I hope you enjoyed the 12 Days of Freebies and Half Off Resources!
Happy Holidays!!
12 Days of Freebies: Day 2 AND Half Off!
Hello again friends!
It's Day 2 of the 12 Days of Christmas!
On the 2nd day of Christmas Jen Bengel gave to me…
2 Reading Conference Forms!
Click either of the images below to download your free resource!
I will also be offering 50% off related resources for one day only!
To see today's half off resources, click on the image below…
I hope you enjoy this FREEBIE and Half Off Resources. Be sure to check back tomorrow for a new FREEBIE and Half Off Deals!
Happy Holidays!!
12 Days of Freebies: Day 3 AND Half Off!
Hello again friends!
It's Day 3 of the 12 Days of Christmas!
On the 3rd day of Christmas Jen Bengel gave to me…
3 Interactive Notebook Activities!
Click one of the images below to download your free resource!
I will also be offering 50% off related resources for one day only!
To see today's half off resources, click on the image below…
I hope you enjoy this FREEBIE and Half Off Resources. Be sure to check back tomorrow for a new FREEBIE and Half Off Deals!
Happy Holidays!!
12 Days of Freebies: Day 4 AND Half Off!
Hello again friends!
It's Day 4 of the 12 Days of Christmas!
On the 4th day of Christmas Jen Bengel gave to me…
4 Workshop Lessons!
Click on any of the images below to download your free resource!
I will also be offering 50% off related resources for one day only!
To see today's half off resources, click on the image below…
I hope you enjoy this FREEBIE and Half Off Resources. Be sure to check back tomorrow for a new FREEBIE and Half Off Deals!
Happy Holidays!!
12 Days of Freebies: Day 5 AND Half Off!
Hello again friends!
It's Day 5 of the 12 Days of Christmas!
On the 5th day of Christmas Jen Bengel gave to me…
5 Spelling Games!
Click either of the images below to download your free resource!
I will also be offering 50% off related resources for one day only!
To see today's half off resources, click on the image below…
I hope you enjoy this FREEBIE and Half Off Resources. Be sure to check back tomorrow for a new FREEBIE and Half Off Deals!
Happy Holidays!!
A FREE New Year’s Eve Resource for You!
Hello Friends!
It's so hard to believe that we are in the last few weeks of 2014! Seriously, where did the year go!?
Personally, my family had a BIG year! We spent 75 days living in Uganda, Africa while we were adopting our son. Now, we are finally home and celebrating the New Year as a family of 6!
Our new son is the most amazing, compassionate, sweet little 6 year old I have ever met!!
I can't share pictures of him just yet until the adoption papers are final. But, when the time comes, you will get to see all 3 of his dimples and 2 missing teeth when he smiles big!
I put together a New Year's No Prep bundle of resources to help you and your students start the new year off right!
I hope you enjoy and have a great New Year!!