Measurement and word Problems

I do not have nearly enough pictures of anything we do in this classroom of mine! 

That is going to be my *new* classroom resolution until the end of the year, I want to document things as they happen in my classroom better! 

Today my class learned a new strategy for solving word problems.
We worked on simple steps:
1. Read the WHOLE problem.
2. Figure out what/who the problem is about
3. Re-write the question.
4. Solve the problem.
5. Check your solution. 

We did two examples on the carpet together and then used a scaffolded page with the steps for partnerships to work on them together. Here's what the scaffold looks like: 

I have made up a quick unit with problems that have this scaffold on the bottom half of the paper for partners to do. (that's how we used it today) You can click on the picture and get it for free! 

Here's the link for the whole unit with problems and the scaffold. 

I am still figuring out the whole how to be a teacher, student-teacher-mentor, grad student, person in my internship... but somehow I'm working it all out... I had an observation today and it went really well, so I'm happy to share these resources with you! 

Also, tomorrow begins the "Teachers are Superheroes" sale at TpT!

Get there and fill up your carts, I know I will be shopping around!

Click the picture to go to my store :) 

Have a great end to your February! 

Student {CO} Teaching

This semester is FLYING by!

Not only am I involved in finishing up my internship for my master's program, but I also have a student teacher. Wait, not a "student teacher" a "co-teacher." The University where she's graduating from (which just so happens to be my alma mater and current grad school) is adopting the Co-Teaching model. 

When I learned I was getting a student teacher, my mind flashed back to my semester as a student teacher. How I gradually gained the trust of my district supervisor in order to earn lessons and MAP prep lessons. I took over subjects and lessons a week at a time, taking control slowly and then releasing the classroom back to my mentor.

All that has changed.
They want co-teachers to be fully immersed into the classroom immediately. Teaching and working with students as soon as their semester starts.

I have found this to be quite challenging. 

For me, I learn best from observing. Watching and taking notes, reflecting on what I have seen & heard and deciding if I liked it, if I wanted to use any of it, or if I thought that I could do better.
And I always wanted to do better.

When you are co-teaching, there isn't a lot of chance for you as the supervisor to observe your teacher-candidate, or for them to observe you. The roles aren't nearly as clear - which I guess is really the point, however I fear that it makes for a less structured and less beneficial "co-teaching" experience.

And I know that people will say: "the experience is what you make of it" ... and it is!
We are incredibly lucky to teach in a departmentalized elementary (2-4) so I am able to model lessons or parts of lessons while she observes, and then attempts; I can give her pointers and then she attempts again. She can also teach/I can take notes and give them to her, and she can adjust the lesson for the next group. She can teach while I pull a small group or individual over to re-do or re-teach.

There are many benefits. And I don't down-play those.
It is a huge responsibility to teach a brand new teacher how to teach.

I think in the beginning, she was on brain drain over-load.
I explained EVERYTHING. The papers I was carrying, the mailboxes, the different math books, the copier, the girl walking down the hall, how I register for PD, that I was going to the bathroom and she might think about doing the same.
She left the first couple weeks exhausted!
As she should. haha

Any tips for a co-teacher?
Any tips for a student teacher?
Any ways to keep them motivated?