Math RTI Resources: Do They Add Up?

Math seems to be the new focus of many RTI programs. Previously, there weren't many resources available. Tennessee has several resources listed on their RTI website. Head on over to http://www.tnspdg.com/math/.   what have you found to be helpful? Are you finding the resources you need to help students?

Generating Rhymes: Developing Phonemic Awareness from www.readwritethink.org

A great website to use as a resource is www.readwritethink.org.  I was looking for some information on activities for phonemic awareness in the classroom today and came across the following lesson plan: Generating Rhymes: Developing Phonemic Awareness.  The best part is that this lesson plan is free!

The overview says: "Learning to recognize rhyming patterns in language is an essential skill for emergent readers. As students manipulate words and sounds to create simple rhymes, they become aware of word and letter patterns that will help them develop decoding skills. In this lesson, students become familiar with 12 rhyming pairs of one-syllable words as they create rhyming lyrics to known songs ("Down by the Bay"), give rhyming words for a given keyword in a poem, and interact with their peers to find rhyming pairs of word cards. Students then demonstrate their knowledge through an individual assessment exercise."

Rhyming words are a great way to help children with phonemic awareness.  Many children who struggle in this area will respond to music or song.  Head over to http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/generating-rhymes-developing-phonemic-121.html and check out the lesson plan!

Fall Fluency for RTI

Looking for some fall-themed fluency activities for RTI?  Head on over to http://arlenesandberg.blogspot.com/2014/09/building-fluency-with-fall-fluency.html.  They have a free pack of fall-themed fluency activities for you to try with students.  I loved them so much that I bought the entire pack of activities.  It was only $4!!!

Tier 1 RTI reading interventions

I was looking around the internet and came across this website:  http://www.pavilioncsd.org/webpages/mnoble/index.cfm.  It has TONS of reading interventions for Tier 1 reading support.  All of the files are free to download.  Take a look and let me know what you think!

Free Halloween Brain Breaks!

I'm a big believer in using brain breaks with students.  Sometimes they get stuck and can't move on, sometimes they have the wiggles and can't focus on learning until we move.  There are all kinds of reasons to use them.  I found these FREE Halloween brain breaks over on Facebook.  

 So go on over to http://www.secondstorywindow.net/home/2014/10/brain-breaks-for-halloween-freebie.html and get your free copy!  Do you have a favorite brain break that you use with your class?  

Share in the comments!

SYNC 2013 Titles Revealed

Head on over to http://www.audiobooksync.com/2013/04/13/sync-2013-titles-revealed/ and download the latest and greatest in adolescent audiobooks for FREE!!  I love finding stuff for free and this resource was recommended on the AdLit website.  So click the link and let your preteen/teen have some great audiobooks to listen to as they wait for school to start soon.  Do you have any other audiobook website recommendations?  Let us know in the comments section!

Looking for some grammar help? Head over to ChompChomp!

My oldest child has long had difficulty naming parts of speech.  He just finds that type of work boring.  Well now I have found a great website that offers videos, downloads, games and more!  Theses free resources all revolve around the topic of grammar.  So head on over to ChompChomp and give it a try. Just click on the link at the bottom of the page and then dive into all of the resources available. :)

Here's a great Math freebie for March!

As usual, I was scrolling through Pinterest and found a great March math activity for free.  Head on over to this link for a Bit o Math Balarney-true/false equations.  It is a free download on the TeachersPayTeachers website.

Dibels freebie using word search!

Head on over to Simply Kinder for a fantastic free Valentines and Kinder DIBELS word search freebie.  I know Valentines is over, but it is never too soon to start putting stuff aside for next year.  

Fractions, Fractions, Who can add or subtract fractions?

My 4th grader is drowning in the world of fractions lately.  Denominators, reduce to the lowest form; he doesn't know which way to turn.  I spent some time looking on Teachers Notebook and found this great FREE resource!  Click on the link and it will take you to a free set of items to help students practice adding and subtracting fractions.  If you aren't a member (have to in order to download!) then it is easy to sign up.  It is free to register for the site.  You can even search the site for just free items.  I've been looking for two days and still haven't gotten through it all.  So head on over and download your free Adding and Subtracting Fractions item and let me know what you think about it.

Blogs to check out...

I have been haunting Pinterest and have found all types of new blogs to check out that offer items for free for educators to download.  I thought I would share one here.

If you are looking for a literacy freebie, then head on over to Speechie Freebies.  There you can find a great freebie to go with the book "There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Chick".

A fantastic new resource!

Oh boy, am I in trouble.  I came across a new resource and have been downloading things all weekend!  I came across a great website, Teacher's Notebook.  This is a website where teachers post their creations and other teachers can download them for free or a small price.  Now, I'm all about the free items.  Let me tell you, I have spent all weekend downloading the free items only and I haven't scratched the surface!  This has also been a fantastic way to find new blogs by educators.  It has really reignited my excitement for teaching.  So head on over there and take a look.

A Behavior Resource....

Today I would like to share a behavior resource with all of you.  I have joined the Pinterest craze like most people.  One board on my page is all about behavior resources.  If you head over to http://pinterest.com/oneald/behavior/ you can check out what I have pinned there.  I try to add to it almost every day as I come across items.  I also have an education page, reading stuff page, and a math stuff page.  So click away!

A great Reading and Math resource!

I love collecting new resources for teachers.  I mean I really LOVE finding them!  You might say I am obsessed with collecting things I can share with teachers.  I visited a new site today and could not wait to get to this post and reccommend it to everyonoe!  Go on over to http://www.readtennessee.org/.  It is a fantstic resource of reading, math, and social/emotional resources for early grades.  The Common Core Standards are also available on this site.  There are lots of things for parents and educators to look at and a great section on community resources.  So take a look and let me know what you think. :)

Behavior Charts - Free Downloadable

Behavior Charts - Free Downloadable

Take a look at these behavior charts that are free to download and use. What do you use with your students?

Reading Rockets: Helping Struggling Readers

Reading Rockets is a fantastic resource for parents and teachers for the area of reading. Below is an article I found under struggling readers. Please take a moment to take a look and check out some of the links.

Helping Struggling Readers

Did you know that learning to read is a challenge for almost 40 percent of kids? The good news is that with early help, most reading problems can be prevented. The bad news is that 44 percent of parents who notice their child having trouble wait a year or more before getting help.

Unfortunately, the older a child is, the more difficult it is to teach him or her to read. The window of opportunity closes early for most kids. If a child can't read well by the end of third grade, odds are that he or she will never catch up. And the effects of falling behind and feeling like a failure can be devastating.

Click below to find information on:

• FAQs – Find answers to real questions from real parents about reading and learning disabilities
• Q&A with nationally known experts – A new monthly feature covering topics such as assessment, cognition and learning, and educational technology
• Why They Struggle – Learn why some kids struggle with reading
• Target the Problem! – Pinpoint the problem a struggling reader is having and discover ways to help
• Assessment Process – Find out how to get your child evaluated
• Parent as Advocate – Why you need to toughen up and stand up for your child
• Finding Help – Where to get extra help for your struggling reader
• Self-Esteem and Reading Difficulties – What else suffers when kids struggle in school and what they can do to help themselves
• Struggling Readers – Find more Reading Rockets resources, including inside the classroom video, webcasts, articles, and related research

Early identification is crucial. Please, if you suspect a problem, don't hesitate. Learn about reading difficulties, get your child assessed, find out what you can do to help your struggling reader, and don't give up!

Related articles

Early Signs of a Reading Difficulty
By: Susan Hall (2009)

Parents are often the first to suspect their child has a reading problem. An expert alerts parents to some of the earliest indicators of a reading difficulty.

Seeking Help for a Struggling Reader: Seven Steps for Teachers
By: Joanne Meier and Karen Freck (2005)

Children come to our classrooms from so many different ability levels and backgrounds. As a teacher, it's important to recognize and know what to do to help a struggling reader.

About Reading Disabilities, Learning Disabilities, and Reading Difficulties
By: Kathryn Drummond (2005)

Reading difficulties likely occur on a continuum, meaning that there is a wide range of students who experience reading difficulties. There are those students who are diagnosed with a learning disability. There is also an even larger group of students who do not have diagnoses but who need targeted reading assistance.

Waiting Rarely Works: Late Bloomers Usually Just Wilt
By: American Federation of Teachers (2004)

A look at three pivotal longitudinal studies that clearly show: Late bloomers are rare; skill deficits are almost always what prevent children from blooming as readers.

Seeking Help for a Struggling Reader: 8 Steps for Parents
By: Reading Rockets (2004)

What should you do if you think your child is having trouble with reading? Sometimes children just need more time, but sometimes they need extra help. Trust your instincts! You know your child best. If you think there's a problem, there probably is.