Opinion Essay Unit

For a class that I took recently with a coworker and friend of mine, we had to come up with a way to incorporate more technology (specifically iPads) into our classroom.  We then had to come up with a final project that uses the iPads.

Of course we decided to go crazy and revamp a unit I had already done and change it into the 7E lesson plan model.  We are a STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathmatics) School and our lessons are mainly inquiry-based (that is our goal at this time).  I love inquiry-based learning and have become a big fan of the 7E lesson plan model.  If you are not familiar with it, you can view the framework for a 7E lesson HERE.

So, with that said, my friend and I put together our project.  I thought I would share it with you-all too! :)

This is a 5th grade Unit for an Opinion Essay, aligned to Common Core Standards.  Start with the first link (which is the unit plan) and then you can find all of the handouts and teacher and student examples below.  Thanks for reading! :)

Unit Plan & Printables:

Everything can now be found on my new Teachers Pay Teachers store for FREE!

Missing Assignments

Happy Thursday everyone! :)  I hope that you had a wonderful 4th!  


Today I want to tell you about what to do with Missing Assignments.  You know you will have those few students who have chronic problems with missing assignments.  I know I always seem to.  And everything I've tried so far hasn't worked as well as I wanted to.  


Last year my school used a computer-based grade book where you had the option to be able to print missing assignment reports for each student.  I tried to do this each week and send it home in their Friday Folders.  Then, their parent would have to sign it and return the paper, so they would at least know that their child was missing an assignment.  This method was very helpful for some of my students who just forgot or didn't want to finish their assignments.


The only problem with this method is that sometimes I wasn't able to update grades in the computer each week...then it was like 2 weeks before they got the missing assignment report.  Another teacher in our building would look through all of the papers right after they were turned in and then just enter "missing" into the computer so that she could make sure she had her reports up to date each week.  Then she would go back and enter grades at a later date.


I feel confident this year that I will be able to keep up with my grading each week because of the grading plan that I've set up for myself.  Also by using the Paper Drop system, everything will be so much more organized!


Missing Assignment Alerts
This year, because I'm using the Paper Drop system in my classroom, after an assignment is turned in, I will simply be able to look at the back of the envelope and see which students are missing assignments.  I will then call them up and have them take one of my MISSING ASSIGNMENT ALERT notes and have them write their name on my Missing Assignment Alert Clipboard.  They will have to fill in the applicable parts and then take it home to their parents.  Their parents will read it and sign it and the student will return it the next day.  This slip is just a reminder for the student to turn it in by the next day, and it is also a notice to the parents that their child has not turned in an assignment.  That way, the parents know THE DAY the assignment didn't get turned in, and it gives the student an opportunity to finish the assignment and turn it in.


I have them sign my clipboard because the next day I will ask them if they have the slip to give to me.  If they do not have the slip, then I will personally call or email their parents to see if they read the slip and know that their child has a missing assignment.  Please know that this piece of the system is IMPERATIVE.  If you don't receive the slip, you MUST call their parents.  Otherwise students will not take your system seriously and think you are making idle threats about doing things.  It will also help them to not want to have missing assignments and thus makes your job easier! :)


I am also excited about using this system because then I won't have to spend time each Thursday night preparing Missing Assignment Reports!

You can snag a copy of the a PDF of the Missing Assignment Alert and Clipboard List, as well as an EDTABLE plain text Word version of the Missing assignment alert on Teachers Pay Teachers for only $1.50!

Cary on bravely,

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P.S.  Did you know that I started my own company, Camp Partridge?  

⛺️ Camp Partridge offers online camps for children and teens ages 10-16 who want to be digital creators and authors! 

⛺️ Camp Partridge offers online courses for parents struggling with remote learning. 

⛺️ Camp Partridge offers resources for your classroom!

I would be honored if you would share Camp Partridge with people you know who need or would enjoy our camps and courses! 🧡

Strategy Grouping Template for Reading, Writing & Math

Happy Friday!! 

Yesterday I talked about different types of lesson planning sheets, and even gave you a copy of my lesson planning sheets.   Another thing I used last year was a Strategy Group Planning Sheet for Reading.  I came up with the idea towards the middle to end of the year, and I wish I had come up with it earlier.  This planning page is a quick reference page that you can either keep in your lesson plan book, or you can keep it in your anecdotal reading records binder (I'll talk about this at a later date).

This page will give you a way to plan your strategy/skill groups and what days you want to meet with them.  It also has a space for writing down your individual conference schedule.  Not only will it help you plan out your week as far as your groups and conferences go, but it will also keep you on track during the week so that nothing gets forgotten.

Last year, I only used this template for reading.  However, this year I am going to try it with math and writing as well!  At the bottom of the post, I've uploaded all 3 templates for you.  If these don't fit your needs, just use my idea and create your own! :)

How to Use These Templates
This coming year I am going to be more intentional about my grouping.  Last year I based grouping mainly upon DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment) testing (at the beginning of the year) and then my observations of what my students needed.  I also based them upon our school's testing system (NWEA- a computer based test given to the students 3 times a year), and Study Island diagnostic information.

These were all fine and dandy, but I felt like I was missing something.  At the end of the year, as I was considering how I could make grouping even more focused, I came up with the idea to give my kids a 10 question quiz each week in reading, writing, and math which will cover what I taught that week.  That way, I can break down their answers and see which kids need help in which areas.  Then I will group the students with the same needs together, and I will have my groups for the following week!

Ok...don't get scared! I know that sounds like a lot of extra work.  But I've found a way to do it a little easier.  Google Drive (formerly Google Docs) is friggin awesome!  Did you know you can create a survey with multiple choice and short answer questions?  I am going to use this survey to create my quizzes each Friday.  Students will take the quiz on the computer, and then Google Drive kindly breaks down all the info for me... how sweet! :)  I got the idea from one of my favorite math teaching blogs, The Creative Apple.  The link is to her series on how to set up Guided Math.  This blows my mind.  I totally wish I had read this before I started teaching in an elementary classroom.  I love the Guided Math system, and definitely plan to implement it this year.  Sorry for the tangent... but I just had to share!

Anywho, from the info provided by Google Drive, I will then create my strategy/skill groups and also will see what students may need even more help (during an individual conference) than just a strategy group.  I will do a whole post later on about how to use the survey document on Google Drive.

So, does that kind of give you an idea of how to use these templates?  How do you group for instruction? 

UPDATE: 8/12/14 
I have uploaded all of the FREE templates to my Teachers Pay Teachers Store.  You can now access the same great free templates by clicking here:  Ashley Stout's Teachers Pay Teachers Store.

I have also had many requests to make the templates editable as these exact templates may not fit everyone's schedules.  You can find these templates at my Teachers pay Teachers Store by clicking HERE.  Thanks! :)

Mahalo for reading,

:) Ashley

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P.S.  Did you know that I started my own company, Camp Partridge?  

⛺️ Camp Partridge offers online camps for children and teens ages 10-16 who want to be digital creators and authors! 

⛺️ Camp Partridge offers online courses for parents struggling with remote learning. 

⛺️ Camp Partridge offers resources for your classroom!

I would be honored if you would share Camp Partridge with people you know who need or would enjoy our camps and courses! 🧡