Rockin' In My School Shoes ....

What was the last song you had stuck in your head?

Well, I know what the next song stuck in your head will be ...



While visiting Smith Farm Elementary School media center on the first day, I overheard a read-aloud and the song to go with it!

You probably guessed that it was a Pete the Cat book!

I have had "rockin' in my school shoes" stuck in my head for three days!

(Wonderopolis today calls things that get stuck in your head Earworms!)

My coworkers smiled at first when I sang those words and hummed the tune and then added their names ....

Then I think it became a bit much ...

But I just kept going because it was stuck in my head ...

I think I have decided that needs to be a theme song ...

I think all the things we (I) do each day should be worthy of

Can you think of things you have done that would qualify you to rock in your school shoes?

Can you think of things you can do?

That is my challenge!

Go rock those school shoes! :)

Nonfiction LIteracy and Current Events

I heard of a great web site on Edmodo this morning. The website is Newsela. This has informational text and current events in several different subjects. This web site is free, has leveled reading passages, and built in quizzes (for some of the articles). 

Teachers need to register for this site, but they can then create a classroom for their students to join. The terms of service state that you must be 18 to create your own account, but teachers can create accounts for students under 18 with parental permission.

On several articles there is an anchor with a number beside it. This is the ELA Common Core Anchor Standards. When you choose an article to read (teachers who create a class can assign articles to students; read about it in the FAQ section), on the right hand side is a blue bar. This allows you to differentiate between Lexile Levels for your students. Not all articles have quizzes attached to them, but those that do give you the grade level and standard that it meets. These articles would be good for grades 3 - 12.

If you would like to know more about Newsela, they have a wonderful FAQ section.

image created by Dorene Bates at wordle.net