Teacher Dinner

In my role of PTA mom, I am in charge of the parent/teacher conference dinners.  The lastest one ended up really cute with a Fiesta theme.  

My New Book...Language-Based Approaches to Support Reading Comprehension

I have met a personal goal of seeing my name on the cover of a book.  This is an interesting book too because they describe in the beginning the case study of a middle school struggling reader and then contributing authors from their various perspectives offer insights and research to help that fictional student.  

To cite it, you always cite the chapter authors and then the book editor like this: 

Mohr, K., Flory, M., & Knezek, L. (2014).  Promoting Agency, Access, and Acquisition Among Adolescent English Language Learners.  In F. Fauk-Ross (Ed.), Literacy Development: Language-Based Approaches to Reading Comprehension (pp. 143-164).  Rowland and Littlefield Publishers, Inc.

UCIRA Conference 2014

This year I was able to present twice at the Utah Council of the International Reading Association conference.  I reported a study about writing with primary grade students to a specific audience for a purpose.  The second day I presented on the Speaking and Listening Common Core Standards and how to use it more in the classroom.  The keynote speakers were great this year!  David Pearson and Tim Shanahan.  Brilliant men!

Halloween Classroom Parties

If you are a room mom, a teacher or a parent volunteer, you face the same dilemma every holiday of what to do for the class party.  Here are a few ideas.  

First, I can't say enough good things about my mini "Claw" game that I bought a few years ago at CVS drugstore for $20.00.  It has come in handy countless times.   Throw a couple snack size Halloween candies and hand the kids a penny and it is a big hit!

We made a big Treat or Treat poster and gave each child in the small group a squinky to be their player.  With a roll of the dice, they moved about the game board and either landed on a trick (which was a choice of games) or a treat (candy).  

Some of the tricks (games) included mini golf that I bought in the toy section of the grocery store.

Mini basketball

One of those fishing games

A mini pool table.

There is something about mini games that are always a big hit.  

Technology

This sixth grade room had a computer at every table.  Wow!