RtI and Intervention Ideas

Doing interventions and documenting them has been difficult for me to keep up with. I do realize how important it is to document, I just get caught up in different things and then forget! I do try to incorporate interventions for my students, however, I need new ones for the new grade level I'm teaching. I've compiled a list of good websites that have resources and activities for RtI. If you would like a copy, I can "share" it with you on Google Docs or email it to you. Do you guys have any ideas you can think of off the top of your head to improve fluency? Or Subtraction? Number Sense?

Testing Strategies

Every year I notice that students have poor testing scores. I feel that part of the reason is that testing strategies are not taught, and also not the same for every teacher. This means that every year, students are learning new ways to solve problems from different teachers every year! Many teachers teach strategies that work for themselves, but for many students it just doesn't fit. So my question to everyone is, What testing strategies (Problem solving strategies too) do you teach your students? Does the whole school teach the same thing?

For Reading, my whole school decided on these steps:

1. Read title and look at pictures. Write prediction sentence.
2. Read and look over the questions.
3. Read the story. Write the main idea for every 2 to 3 paragraphs.
4. Answer questions. PROVE by underlining sentences in story or writing out thoughts.
5. Check your work.

For Math, my school doesn't have a set strategy, but this is what I do:
1. Read the question.
2. Review answer choices.
3. Circle IMPORTANT information. Be careful not to be tricked!
4. Solve the problem. Remember you can: Draw a picture, Make a table, Find a pattern, or Act it out!
5. Check your answer.

If you have any questions or suggestions, PLEASE let me know! I'd love to hear from you!

Tid-Bits About Thinking Maps

Thinking Maps are AWESOME! But, what makes them more effective is when the WHOLE SCHOOL implements them! That way kids aren't learning new graphic organizers every year. They know when they see a bubble map, they're describing. Or that when they're writing a story, to use a flow map for the sequence of events during the pre-writing stage! All of the teachers recently completed the Thinking Maps training. It was great! I feel that students will greatly succeed because there is fluidity between grade levels, expectations will be the same, and they can actually become experts on something due to years of practice!

 When using Thinking Maps, colors can be used to distinguish groups, categories, events, etc to show that they are different. The brain is very visual, so anything that will help the kids interpret the information in the maps will help them succeed!

 Not all maps will look the same! So don't always use a Double Bubble with 3 similarities and 3 differences. Vary it up so the students will learn that every situation is different!

 Also, for higher grades, you can use multiple maps on one subject. LIke a Flow Map that includes a Tree Map or Multi-Flow Map.

Thinking Maps: Flow Maps and Multi-Flow Maps

On to the Flow Map! Flow Maps are used to sequence events. Mostly everybody has seen them and maybe even used them in their classrooms. They can be vertical, read Left to Right, or even in a shape, like a circle. The only thing you need to keep in mind is to draw your arrows to connect boxes, even if the box is on the next line! Here is a flow map! (As a side note, under event boxes you may do a mini tree map to provide details about the event!)

A Multi-Flow Map explains the causes and effects of a certain event. The causes will have arrows pointing in towards the box with the event and the effect will have arrows pointing out. Remember, just like a Double-Bubble, the amount of causes may vary compared to the amount of effects. Sometimes, several causes may result in one effect, or vice versa. When teaching Cause and Effect to my students, they REALLY embraced this map because they could easily visualize and organize their thoughts with this map. Here is a student example, and a poster I made.

(From a Tacky Book)

Thinking Maps: Tree Maps and Brace Maps

Tree maps are used for categorizing or stating the main idea with supporting details. I have been using Tree Maps to help my kids organize their thoughts and put information in a visual representation.

Brace Maps are the trickiest to understand. They divide up the physical components of objects or things. Whole objects to parts. Whole = part + part + part + part. For example, breaking down the components of a bicycle (wheels, handle bars, pedals, breaks, seat, gears). Or The Countries of South America (Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, etc). Every Brace Map is a Tree Map, but every Tree Map is not a Brace Map.

Thinking Maps: Bubble Maps

Bubble Maps! A normal Bubble map looks like a web, but has a specific purpose. It is used to describe. Which kind of words are used to describe? Adjectives! Thus, while using a bubble map, one need ONLY USE adjectives. (Ignore the information inside the map...This was before I got properly trained how to use Thinking Maps!)

A Double Bubble is used to compare and contrast two objects, just like a Venn Diagram. However, it's a little more visual and organized than a Venn Diagram. Keep in mind that there does not have to be a matching "contrast." It's ok to have an uneven amount of bubbles on sides. In real life, there won't always be an equal amount of similarities and differences. Feast your eyes on a picture!

Thinking Maps: Circle Maps

Circles maps are a handy tool to use for basically any vocabulary word in any subject. It is used to "Define in Context." The word, object, person, etc goes in the middle, then phrases or words that define it go in the outer circle. The square around the circle is called a frame of reference. So if students get information off the internet, they can write the EXACT website in the frame of reference, which then makes writing a bibliography simple! Here is one example I used to introduce pronouns.

HEELLLLLOOOOOO! Is anyone out there?

I'm BACK! I've been M.I.A. the whole fall semester! I finally feel like I'm getting back on my feet and getting a better grasp on third grade! I also got an iPhone with a camera (I was without a camera) which now allows me to take pictures all of the time and upload them easily!

I've learned so many new and wonderful things at my new school, such as PEAK strategies, CHAMPS behavior policies, and Thinking Maps!!!!! My next few posts will be all about Thinking Maps and how I've been implementing them in the classroom. Be watching for the next post soon!