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  • Ideas by Jivey

    Jivey shares ideas and lessons to make literacy accessible for all.

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    Uncategorized

    The Importance of Differentiation in Reading

    September 25, 2016

    If you’ve been a teacher within the last decade, you know the word “DIFFERENTIATION” isn’t just the latest and greatest buzzword. It’s crucial across all subjects to be able to meet the needs of the different learners in your class.



    For a teacher just starting to differentiate, the idea of it can sometimes seem overwhelming. It does require more planning, but once you get to know your students, it becomes easier. This post is going to focus on differentiation in reading instruction, but the ideas can apply to many subjects!

    WHAT DIFFERENTIATION LOOKS LIKE

    • Teaching the standards with a variety of levels of texts to meet different levels
    • Teaching the standards in tiered levels (providing access to all learners for the standard)
    • Giving students choice on how they demonstrate their knowledge based on learning styles
    • LOTS of formative assessments to determine who understands and who needs more support

    WHAT DIFFERENTIATION DOES NOT LOOK LIKE

    • Teaching the same lesson to every small group
    • Gifted students always teaching low learners
    • Ability-grouped classrooms
    Why should you differentiate instruction in reading? And why AREN'T you differentiating reading assessments? Ideas by Jivey lays it all out for you and helps you head in the right direction!
    I will go ahead and tell you upfront, I am NOT a fan of basal programs. They don’t allow for in-depth teaching of reading comprehension and, of course, many students either cannot read the story on their own or should be reading material at a much higher level.


    For this reason, I believe in using a reading workshop model. I start with a mini-lesson to teach a standard using a mentor textย then I pull small groups of students. While I pull small groups, students are reading independently (from a text on their instructional level). The small groups I pull are generally based on reading level, but sometimes based on skill need.


    Ideas by Jivey reminds you to stop leaving students out teaching only whole-group. Teach students in small groups to differentiate for levels of learners.
    In my small groups, I generally expand on the mini-lesson skill using a leveled text appropriate for the readers in the group. Depending on where we are in a chapter book, this isn’t always possible, so sometimes it is a review of previously learned skills. The students are learning grade-level standards, but not necessarily with grade level appropriate texts: some are lower, some are higher.


    Activities in reading also look different, based on my students. They are STILL working on the same grade-level standard as everyone in the class, but with modifications. I might provide a sentence stem, partially filled graphic organizer, or word bank for students who are below level. Students who are above level will have more open-ended opportunities to complete the activity. (This is called tiered-level learning.)


    Why are we differentiating instruction, but not differentiating assessments?
    Reading assessments should also look different! After all, are you assessing whether they understand the skill, or assessing whether they can read the text? I believe if you are determining whether students have mastered a comprehension standard, the student should be able to read the assessment passage on their instructional level.


    Using differentiated reading assessments has only recently become a common practice. For this reason, there aren’t many resources out there with grade-level appropriate questions with differentiated passages… which is when I come to the rescue. ๐Ÿ™‚


    I have created assessments for grades 3-5 that you can mix and match based on what your students need. The passages are written on four levels (2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th) so that you can assess on your grade level, but provide instructional level texts.


    There are six fiction and six nonfiction passages for each strand: key ideas and details, craft and structure, integration of ideas, and all standards combined.


    There are also a variety of ways to mix and match the assessments to create long and short assessments on different standards! I didn’t number the questions so that you can use as many passages as you’d like in your test. You might also consider assessing on just one standard with a few texts, or assessing multiple standards with just one text. You can even assess a standard with fiction and nonfiction! The possibilities to mix and match are endless!


    Get your assessments from my TPT store by clicking here!

    Why should you differentiate instruction in reading? And why AREN'T you differentiating reading assessments? Ideas by Jivey lays it all out for you and helps you head in the right direction!

     

    by Jessica Ivey 
    Uncategorized

    Five For Friday: Fingers and Toes Day!

    April 24, 2015

    It’s been a while since I’ve shared my week, so here I am! :o)

    Fingers and Toes Day was today!! For those of you that have no clue what that means, we can officially count down to the last day of school on our fingers and toes! :o)
    Five for Friday with Ideas by Jivey

    We are in full swing of our ABC Countdown to the end of the year, too!

    Five for Friday countdown to the end of the year with Ideas by Jivey

    If you want an editable version, check out my blog post from 2013!

    Wednesday was Earth Day, and my kids had a BLAST creating a new invention to help the Earth thanks to Matt at Digital Divide and Conquer’s awesome PBL Activity!!

    First, my student teacher worked with them to brainstorm areas of need…

    Digital Divide and Conquer's awesome PBL Activity with Ideas by Jivey

    Then they got busy! What I love most about these types of activities is that my usual “top scholars” or “high flyers” aren’t always the ones who come up with the most creative ideas… as you’ll see below. Excuse the spelling but check out their awesome inventions!!!

    Digital Divide and Conquer's awesome PBL Activity with Ideas by JiveyDigital Divide and Conquer's awesome PBL Activity with Ideas by Jivey
    Digital Divide and Conquer's awesome PBL Activity with Ideas by JiveyDigital Divide and Conquer's awesome PBL Activity with Ideas by Jivey
    Matt has other awesome PBL Activities too- make sure to check them out!

    Oh and did I mention… we are also in the middle of state testing right now???

    With Ideas by Jivey

    We’ve been enjoying GoNoodle in between all the test review and actual testing!

    Five for Friday Go Noodle with Ideas by Jivey.

    If you haven’t been taking Brain Breaks this year, it’s not too late to start!! Sign up- it’s free! The kids love it, and it’s pretty amusing for the teacher, too. ๐Ÿ˜›

    Last… I have some exciting news- you must come back Sunday to see what it’s all about!! But here’s a little hint. :o)

    I hope your week was awesome! See you soon!

    by Jessica Ivey 
    Uncategorized

    Wordless Wednesday- Workshop Wednesday Returns Next Week!

    May 7, 2014

    I am returning this week for Wordless Wednesday! We finished five days of state testing yesterday, so I thought I would share how we celebrated!

    I did this last year, too! The students write down all of their worries/stresses about the test on colorful paper. Then, I have them cut it up small so that it can no longer be read and I store all the pieces in a Ziploc bag. This bag hung on the board all week during testing to remind them not to worry… then when testing was over, we celebrated with CONFETTI! :o)

    Do you do anything fun to celebrate testing being OVER?

    Also, Workshop Wednesday will be back in session next week! :o) I’d love for you to come link up next week and share your favorite book (or books) that you like to end the year with in Reading Workshop! You can share activities to go along with the book if you’d like, too!

    by Jessica Ivey 
    Uncategorized

    Testing Treats and Treats for YOU!

    April 28, 2014

    We are about to be in FULL TESTING MODE here in Ms. Ivey’s class. Desks separated, walls covered… the whole nine yards. To get the kids excited (as if, right?) I leave them a testing treat and note to find each morning on their desk. They keep the treat for when the test is completely done, so then they have something to look forward to! If you would like to use the testing treat notes I am using this year, you can download them for free! They go with Nerds, gum, Dum-Dums, Starburst, and Skittles. This one is my favorite:

    Testing treat notes with Ideas by Jivey

    I threaten tell the kids they MUST use their scratch paper on the math section of the test! It makes me crazy when I see kids trying to do math in their head!

    **Because of testing, Workshop Wednesday is not happening this week!!**

    The kids aren’t the only ones who deserve treats! You do, too!!

    Make sure to check out the blog hop my BBBs and I have running for tips on how to survive the rest of the year, with freebies AND chances to win TPT cash or a Classroom Friendly Supplies Sharpener!

    Also, be sure to head over to Emily or AMC‘s blogs! They are having a fantastic giveaway as they both just reached 1,000 followers!

    by Jessica Ivey 
    Uncategorized

    Workshop Wednesday: Preparing for THE TEST

    April 23, 2014

    Hello friends! Workshop Wednesday’s topic today is: how do you teach students test-taking strategies, or what are some things you do to prepare for the “BIG” tests?

    Our test is April 30-May 6 (five school days) – one test per subject… so we’ve been trying to get in some practice but I’m also still TEACHING CONTENT. We have soooo much to get in (especially in Science, Social Studies, and Math), there has not been a year that I’m not still teaching something the day before the test. It’s a bit stressful to say the least. But I think the BEST thing you can do to prepare the kids is to NOT stress them out. Let them know that as long as they do their best and show everything they’ve learned, they’ll be fine. That’s another reason why this ABC calendar comes in handy- it helps the kids relax and have fun, even during a stressful time.

    Some things we do to make practice a little more fun is use SMART Response Clickers.

    All of the teachers in the upper grades at my school have a set in their classroom. They are pretty awesome because 1) kids have another way of answering questions besides circling or bubbling, and 2) it is instant- I can see on my screen who did or didn’t get the answer correct, so I know who needs more help with a certain skill.

    I also teach them strategies they should use to do their best when taking their test. I got these posters from someone who teaches in my county, and the language really helps the students remember what to do.

    I would love to hear your ideas! I know some of you have already tested, so feel free to link up a past post that would help us prepare!

    An InLinkz Link-up

    by Jessica Ivey 

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    Ideas By Jivey

    10 hours ago

    Ideas By Jivey
    The TPT sale is ON and now is just as good a time as any to start mentor sentences in your classroom!What are you waiting for?? Select your grade in the custom categories on the lefthand side of my store to get just what you need! www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ideas-By-Jivey ... See MoreSee Less

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    Ideas By Jivey

    2 days ago

    Ideas By Jivey
    The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is on February 11! I've made some units for a few great books that would be perfect to share in celebration while also teaching your ELA skills.The Leaf Detective is the biography of Meg Lowman, a groundbreaking female scientist called a "real life Lorax" by National Geographic, who was determined to investigate the marvelous, undiscovered world of the rainforest treetops.Grab the unit that aligns with this amazing mentor text: www.ideasbyjivey.com/product/the-leaf-detective-mentor-text-digital-print-unit/ ... See MoreSee Less

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    Ideas By Jivey

    3 days ago

    Ideas By Jivey
    The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is on February 11! I've made some units for a few great books that would be perfect to share in celebration while also teaching your ELA skills.Dinosaur Lady is a beautifully illustrated picture book biography of Mary Anning that will enlighten children about the discovery of the dinosaurs and the importance of female scientists.Grab the unit that aligns with this amazing mentor text: www.ideasbyjivey.com/product/dinosaur-lady-mentor-text-unit-for-grades-3-5/ ... See MoreSee Less

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    The TPT sale is ON and now is just as good a time The TPT sale is ON and now is just as good a time as any to start #mentorsentences in your classroom!

What are you waiting for?? Select your grade in the custom categories on the lefthand side of my store to get just what you need! 

Link in profile: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ideas-By-Jivey

#ideasbyjivey #mentortexts #iteachtoo #fabulousfeedback #teacherspayteachers #teacherspayteacherssale #tptsale2023
    The International Day of Women and Girls in Scienc The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is on February 11! I've made some units for a few great books that would be perfect to share in celebration while also teaching your ELA skills.

The Leaf Detective is the biography of Meg Lowman, a groundbreaking female scientist called a "real life Lorax" by National Geographic, who was determined to investigate the marvelous, undiscovered world of the rainforest treetops.

Grab the unit that aligns with this amazing #mentortext at the link in my profile!

https://www.ideasbyjivey.com/product/the-leaf-detective-mentor-text-digital-print-unit/

#picturebooks #internationaldayofwomeninscience #internationaldayofgirlsinscience #mentorsentences #teachersfollowteachers #ideasbyjivey #iteach345 #upperelementaryteacher #iteach3rd #iteach4th #iteach5th
    The International Day of Women and Girls in Scienc The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is on February 11! I've made some units for a few great books that would be perfect to share in celebration while also teaching your ELA skills.

Dinosaur Lady is a beautifully illustrated picture book biography of Mary Anning that will enlighten children about the discovery of the dinosaurs and the importance of female scientists.

Grab the unit that aligns with this amazing #mentortext at the link in my profile!

https://www.ideasbyjivey.com/product/the-leaf-detective-mentor-text-digital-print-unit/

#picturebooks #internationaldayofwomeninscience #internationaldayofgirlsinscience #mentorsentences #teachersfollowteachers #ideasbyjivey #iteach345 #upperelementaryteacher #iteach3rd #iteach4th #iteach5th
    The latest Primary Mentor Text Club book (voted fo The latest Primary Mentor Text Club book (voted for by the #teachers who own this growing bundle) is Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner, and WOW what a great book to use for a true ELA-Science integration!! 

The unit I created for this one aligns life science (ecosystems, and classifying and describing animals) with shared research, using text and pictures to learn, as well as writing with vivid verbs and prepositions!

Check it out at the link in my profile! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Over-and-Under-the-Pond-Life-Science-Integration-Mentor-Text-Unit-Grades-1-2-9078283

#mentortext #mentorsentence #ideasbyjivey #iteach1 #iteach2 #iteach1st #iteach2nd #2ndgradescience #1stgradescience #teacherspayteachers #teachersofig  #teachersfollowteachers
    Are you reading a fun book for Groundhog Day? ๐ŸŒž Are you reading a fun book for Groundhog Day? ๐ŸŒž โ„๏ธ 

Check out my February book idea list! Link in profile! Need a unit to go along with one of these? DM me the title for a link! 

#groundhogday #groundhogdayintheclassroom #ideasbyjivey #iteachtoo #mentortexts #mentorsentences 

 https://www.amazon.com/shop/ideasbyjivey/list/30LEKEOLP7026?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_aipsflist_aipsfideasbyjivey_NSV9QRK52KNNAPCEJ5B7
    ๐ŸŒž Groundhog Gets A Say is a fun book for kids o ๐ŸŒž Groundhog Gets A Say is a fun book for kids of any age, but I especially liked to use this #mentortext to tie in some research skills and #opinionwriting!

The book is written as a narrative, but is filled with facts about groundhogs as the main character tries to convince everyone that he deserves more than just ONE day of recognition.

The unit I made for this book includes printables for text features, note-taking from text, fact and opinion, main idea and details, context clues, a writing brainstorm organizer, plus a #mentorsentence lesson for relative pronouns and contextual vocabulary activities! 

I'd love you to check it out on my website at the link in my profile: https://www.ideasbyjivey.com/product/groundhog-gets-a-say-unit/

You can also find it in my TPT store, too! 

#ideasbyjivey #teachersfollowteachers #groundhogdayintheclassroom #upperelementary #mentortextmonday
    ๐Ÿ˜ The latest seasonal club unit for #uppergrade ๐Ÿ˜ The latest seasonal club unit for #uppergrades is completed, and you'll definitely want to grab it before next week! 

Groundhog Weather School by Joan Holub is an informative #mentortext about groundhogs, Groundhog Day, and weather, but it's presented in an entertaining way that will keep your students laughing while they learn. ๐Ÿ˜‚

โœ… With this unit I created, you'll receive a week of explicit lesson plans to go along with the book. 

๐Ÿค“ You'll get everything you need to teach about organized notetaking, tier 3 vocabulary, word parts, and types of sentences, plus you'll be able integrate it all with science: weather, seasons, and groundhogs! 

Grab it at the link in my profile: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Groundhog-Weather-School-Mentor-Text-Unit-Grades-3-5-Groundhog-Day-Seasons-9006611 #ideasbyjivey #mentorsentence #teacherspayteachers #teachersfollowteachers #groundhogdayintheclassroom #upperelementary #iteach345
    โ„๏ธ There are so many fantastic #picturebooks t โ„๏ธ There are so many fantastic #picturebooks to use in January with a snowy winter theme. 

๐Ÿ“– If you work with early emergent readers, this #mentorsentences mini-unit is perfect for you! 

There are lessons for five snowy winter-themed books to help students grasp language through a balanced literacy approach. 

Check it out at the link in my profile! #ideasbyjivey #iteachk #mentortexts #teacherspayteachers #teachersfollowteachers https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Mentor-Sentences-Mini-Unit-Snowy-Winter-Books-for-Early-Emergent-Readers-2293853
    Can students actually think critically about... GR Can students actually think critically about... GRAMMAR?!? ๐Ÿค”

You bet they can! ๐Ÿฅณ

Check out how at the link in my profile! https://www.ideasbyjivey.com/higher-order-thinking-questions-for-grammar-and-writing/ 

#ideasbyjivey #mentorsentences #mentorsentence #iteachtoo #teachersfollowteachers #teachgrammar #iteach2nd #iteach3rd #iteach4th #iteach5th
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