Blog Posts

Reading Timers

2/12/2019

I have previously used a tumble board with pictures that you change when students go to each activities in reading time. I had used a google slide deck last year as an online version but had to click each time the slide timer finished.

So I did some research, created my own timer videos and BOOM - now have an automatic transition powerpoint slide deck for reading! I just change the pictures around each day, press go and the slide works through it itself! It even has sound effects to let students know when time is up and to transition!

Interested in this resource? You can purchase it on my website below. It comes with 3 power points made already with timers and automatic transitions. Perfect for someone looking for a resource to just add their pictures and get started.

Reading Timer Slides

NZ$4.00

Reading Timer Slides

This resource is the template for what I use in reading time. A powerpoint set up - each slide is set up with automatic timers, transitions and sound effects to move through a literacy programme without teacher interaction. Simply choose your slide length, add your tumble pictures or words and you are off. Click present and it will transition through the powerpoint and conduct your reading session!

Included is:

-powerpoint with 5 minute rounds set up (automatic transitions, sound effects and timers).

-powerpoint with 10 minute rounds set up (automatic transitions, sound effects and timers).

-powerpoint with 15 minute rounds set up (automatic transitions, sound effects and timers).

-reading timers that I created if you want to change and add in other times

-instruction sheet pdf

This is so easy to use once set up and students can follow this on your TV, display or device.

Please note, that each powerpoint slide is pre-set to the timer video added. If you delete this and add in another one, you will need to change the video playback option to automatic and adjust the transition timings.

This comes as a zipfile so please ensure you have the software to unzip it.

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REady to Read QR Codes

2/12/2019

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Recently I uploaded a file on NZ Teachers Pay and on my facebook page with the link to a pdf with QR code stories - Ready to read version. Unfortunately the QR codes that were made were all invalid now. So I spent tonight quickly updating them all so they all work!

So if you used them already, I apologise for them not working. They have been fixed and should now link up to the audio files of the ready to read books.

If you are interested in downloading them you can below!

ready_to_read_qr_codes_-_jordan_priestley.pdf
File Size:	2645 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

Ways you can use QR Codes in your classroom:
-children can listen to stories (listen to reading)
-children can listen to stories while reading along with the book (read to self)

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Planning Templates

2/11/2019

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Planning can be hard to get your head around, especially when you are a student teacher or beginning teacher. Your school might have things made and you might just be so overwhelmed with what they are, what they look like and where to start.

I was contacted by a student teacher asking for some guidance and ideas around planning. So I gathered up the planning templates I have created online (using google docs or sheets) and collated them into one place. Sure these planning templates may look similar to yours or something you have seen. But these were specifically altered to meet the needs of my students and how I like to plan.

This resource here is a Google Folder with planning templates that cover different areas of planning.
Included are:
-Inquiry LTP (Google Docs)
-LTP Template (Google Docs)
-Reading LTP Template (Google Docs)
-Maths LTP Template (Google Docs)
-Writing LTP Template (Google Docs)
-Google Sheets planning templates
This one includes:
-1 Term Overview
-2 Weekly Overview Templates
-3 Reading Templates
-2 Writing Templates
-2 Maths Templates

If you're interested but want a little bit more information, send me an email: info@mrspriestleyict.com.
I would be more than happy to talk through these with you or share samples if you are not sure.
Any questions about these just ask!

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PRISM Maths Concept

2/4/2019

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So getting ready for the school year is a hard process that involves so many things you want to do, complete and use! It really can be difficult to cull it down to things you want to try, and should try. I was 100% fixed on the idea of using Daily 3 in Maths this year. But after a big think, I actually changed my mind and developed my own Maths concept based on something I came across online.

PRISM
An acronym for five different stations or activities students will/can complete in Maths Time.

P - Practise by myself
R - Ready with a buddy
I - I can use technology
S - Solve in book
M - Manipulative exploration

I created each part of the PRISM maths concepts as anchor charts for students to view and see exactly what activities can be used. Today I introduced it in class and the students loved being able to refer back to the charts to help them make choices.

You can download this resource to use in your classroom too! It comes with my anchor charts that explain each step, my resources that I have mentioned in the pictures (number of the week chart, missing numbers activity, signs for games box and problem solving charts).

Purchase it from my Teachers Pay Teachers Store here!
Purchase it from my website here!

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Sunday Spotlight

2/3/2019

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This weeks Sunday Spotlight is this new resource - writing road! It promotes visible learning in your class whilst moving through the writing process. Students can add cars, people or transport to the writing road and physically move their item along with them as they work through the writing road journey.

In this resource there are 2 types of prompts for students:
-a junior/middle student prompts that align with writing progressions
-middle/senior student prompts that align with writing progressions

This also comes with the title sheet and road background to get it set up in your class.

The writing process in this resource follows 6 steps displayed on stop signs:
1. Planning
2. 1st Draft
3. Editing
4. 2nd Draft
5. Final Copy
6. Publish

On the Editing and Final Copy stop signs are prompts to stop students to get feedback on their work from either self assessment, peer assessment or teacher feedback.

Also attached in this pack are my feedback slips - which come from my Exit and Feedback Pack. These are in the form of a 'two stars and a wish' feedback prompt. These align with the feedback sections for students to fill in a slip for themselves in self assessment, or be filled in by a peer or teacher. This can be attached to their work so students can remember this in their work.

Download this resource from my Teachers Pay Teachers Store or check it out on my website! Use the code 'writingroad' for a discount - only on my website!

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Morning routines

1/31/2019

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First day of school today! Back into the swing of things with my brand new 23 Year 3 students. Such a great feeling meeting those new people who will soon spend all day in my classroom.

Beginning of the year is always vital for building routines and getting those set in place for your class. This builds a strong foundation for all that you do in class, with one of mine being our morning routines! I have always used this template as a morning routine greeting to get students excited and up to date with coming to school on that day.

I use a Google slide deck to share the above information with my students everyday!
Each day has a slide with:
-a fun GIF
-date
-message
-bitmoji sticker for fun
-other short notes with information that could relate to students or their parents that come in

I find that my students rely on this to be shown in the morning and love coming in to view the GIF or the Bitmoji sticker! A great way to build routines and share notes for everyone coming in in the morning. They then go off and find an activity or something set up that I might have for the morning.

To make yourself a copy of this template to use in your classroom click here. Simply update your own items to the template and you're away!

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Be internet awesome

1/29/2019

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Google is amazing! They have so many apps that are perfect for use within education that really enhance learning opportunities within the classroom. Google apps for education can transform learning activities and help students create, collaborate and extend the walls within.

Alongside this Google has a great 'Be Internet Awesome' programme to help students gain the skills to be safe when using the Internet. Be Internet Awesome teaches kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety so they can explore the online world with confidence.

Be Internet Awesome is broken down into five sections:
1. Be Internet Smart - share with care
2. Be Internet Alert - don't fall for fake
3. Be Internet Strong - secure your secrets
4. Be Internet Kind - its cool to be kind
5. Be Internet Brave - when in doubt, talk it out

These five sections make up the programme to teach students about internet safety. The programme takes you on a tour through each of the different sections where you complete activities and games to learn the skills. Its named Interland.

At the end students can even get a certificate for completing their journey or digital badges! Teachers, there is a curriculum to guide you and your students along the journey with a pledge that can be sent home to continue the conversations at home too.

Check out all the information about it here on Google.

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My classroom 2019

1/23/2019

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With school heading back next week I know a lot of teachers have been heading back into school to set up their classrooms. And I have been storing a lot of ideas up to use this year! There are so many ideas from Instagram and pinterest that I want to use but have settled on the below details.
Check out my pictures below for a snippet into my classroom and links to where things are from!

Reading Corner
This area consists of lots of things (some added in since this photo).
Books to read
Read to someone book buddies
Poems
QR Stories to listen to for listen to reading

Favourite books section on the Kmart hanging rack
Hung up with coat hangers

Front board
This is my main teaching board at the front of the room.
It consists of:
Large Googley eyes from Spotlight
Te Reo classroom labels
Large magnetic writing board
'Yipee! We're in Year 3' sign

WOW work wall
My WOW work wall is for displaying WOW work, publishing and any other work they are proud of!
This was made using a title off the internet
Coloured A4 paper stapled landscape together
Pegs hot glue gunned on
Amazing wow work sign - VIP access section of my website

Thought of the week section
This will have different prompting questions or thoughts to probe the students each week.
Large post it notes from Stationery Warehouse

Focus Wall area
This area is for to be used when teaching my guided groups. I call it a focus area as it will have some of our main learning intentions written for display.
It consists of:
Large writing paper
Laminating wipe sheets
Focus wall sign
Kindness posters from teachers pay teachers

Teaching station
This smaller teaching station is for working with my students on the mat. This consists of:
Kmart chair
small stands to display work purchased from $2 shop
Letterbox from Bunnings for students to write letters, cards or other things to the teacher

Mini table charts
These charts are for their tables with different mini anchor charts on them.
Picture frames purchased online from Urban Sales
Mini anchor charts
Rings from the $2 shop

Jobs
This section is to display the jobs that we have in class. Students will be given a job for the week from the choices.
Purchased from Teachers Pay Teachers

My teaching belongings
This is my personal space where my belongings, teacher items and things go. It consists of:
Side table from Kmart
Trolley cabinet from Kmart
Teacher toolbox from Bunnings
Toolbox labels from Teachers Pay Teachers
Picture frame from Urban Sales
Bitmoji sign from my Google Drive shared resource library

Groups
This shows my groups for reading, writing and maths. These will have the children's names on so we both can see who is in what group.
These were created by me, and can share the link to this soon!

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Daily 5 in the classroom

1/22/2019

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I have had lots of interest in my Daily 5 products over the last few days so thought I would give a quick blog post on my experience with Daily 5.
It has been a huge part of my literacy programme for the last two years. This year will be my third year using it, this time with Year 3's. Previously I have done in with Year 1s and then Year 1/2 composite. I first came across Daily 5 online and purchased this book 'The Daily 5'. It unpacks it very clearly and highlights how you should implement it in your classroom. If you're looking to get it going in your classroom then start with this.

I have used Daily 5 in a very unique way, a way that builds student agency and choice in class. For the first term I always use Daily 5 as part of a normal rotation where I tell the students where they are going and what activity to do. This is while they are learning the Daily 5 fundamentals and we are unpacking it together.

I first break down what each Daily 5 part will look like for both the student and the teacher. This makes it clear to everyone who is doing what, and my expectations throughout literacy time.

After one-two terms I then move onto a more fluid way of using Daily 5. I developed a checklist for each student to use that they cross off while they go during the week. This is for both of us to keep track of their choices and to make sure they aren't just doing the 'fun' activities all the time. This checklist was the best thing I have ever implemented in my class and once my students were trained the programme ran itself.

My Daily 5 Resources I have created:

Daily 5 Pack: This comes with everything you need to set up Daily 5 in your classroom.
-bunting for each section
-daily 5 sign for each section
-self assessment checklists for each section (filled in one with ideas and empty for your own ideas)
-work on writing templates and examples to be used in work on writing section
-work on writing mini signs (that go with each template and example)

Daily 5 Anchor Charts: These anchor charts are to be used with the Daily 5 programme. Perfect for outlining what the teacher and students need to be doing when using Daily 5 for each section.

Daily 5 Checklist: This checklist is perfect for using in your Daily 5 programme! I use this in my teaching programme and my students love having student agency over their choices! Each student gets their own checklist with the blank square for a picture of them so they know which one belongs to them. Each day in reading they can cross of their choices so you can monitor reading choices.

Daily 5 Checklist (make your own): This checklist is a 'make your own' version of my other Daily 5 Checklist. Here you are able to create your own Daily 5 checklist with your own choice of Daily 5 element icons already made on the template. Not all classes teach the same thing, so you can drag into the checklist what aspects of Daily 5 you will use.

Daily 5 Bundle: This is a combination of all of these resources above but at a cheaper price!!!!

Along with all of that, there are also some Daily 5 slides that I made for a PLD session I ran with some teachers at my school. This summarised everything that I learnt and how others could learn from something I was using in my class. You can find the links to the slide presentation here.

If you have any questions please email me info@mrspriestleyict.com! If you use any of my resources please tag me in your posts or share your feedback with me!

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Using QR codes in the classroom

1/14/2019

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So I shared a picture of my QR code wall on my Facebook page and teachers just went nuts! So many emails and messages asking where can they get them from, how do they download them, where can they make their own?

QR codes are amazing little things that take students to a specific web page, URL or place on the internet that you want them to view, listen to or watch. In this specific example, I use it for Listen to reading in my literacy programe. I created 10 books that my students LOVED into QR codes and downloaded the Dr Seuss ones from an educator off Twitter, Sara Malchow.

Since creating these at the beginning of the year, students are so independent finding and listening to the books they love. And when they have been around for awhile, I can quickly create some more with new books!

Here is a very short and simple video that I created showing you how easy it is to create your own QR codes and cute little background pictures. These could be done for anything really in your class - books, videos, information videos for writing, topic studies! It really isn't limited!