TEI Tip: The Answer Pads Steps Up to Capture Student Data in Go Interactive!

How many of you like to "try before you buy"? My husband used to wonder what I would come home with each time I ventured to "the teacher store". I was like a kid in a candy store, browsing up and down the aisles of colorful bulletin board trims, new resource kits, posters, workbooks etc. Now that we can shop for much more on the Internet, I like to consider the benefits before I buy, even if it's just a few dollars.

I've spent this year "trying out" The Answer Pad as a way to help teachers engage students, support BYOD and use it for technology enhanced items.  I believe I have found one feature that makes this worth trying and perhaps buying. I'd like to give a big shout out to Anna Sturrock, Managing Director of the The Answer Pad. Her interest and responsiveness to email is refreshing. To be honest, I am quite amazed at how these developers appreciate constructive feedback.

The Answer Pad now has a very cool "Capture" feature. When used in Go Interactive mode, you can now manually capture or auto-capture student responses. Once captured, visit Portfolio to see all the data. Search by class, individual students, by tag or date. The data is saved as PDF files and can be exported. While this is in beta testing, you must try it out.

What this means for the classroom teacher is that you can send out a question, chart, picture, diagram or virtually any template and get instant feedback, as well as have the data to go back and revisit. This is especially helpful for those "hot spot" questions that require students to select multiple responses.  While I prefer to think of more creative and engaging ways to use this tool, this is a huge benefit for testing grades that have the rigor of answering TEI question types.

If I haven't given you enough reasons to try The Answer Pad, when you sign up, you are now given a 30 day upgrade trial. This allows you to upload any image or graphic and then launch it as a template in Go Interactive. Our school division doesn't have iPads, which has limited my use to PCs and laptops, but there is the accompanying iPad app, TAPit Free.

The end of the school year testing is just around the corner.  The Answer Pad Go Interactive enables you to dialogue with your students, assess their understanding as well as retain their data. There you have it, my answer to why I love The Answer Pad Go Interactive!

TEI Tuesday Tip for 3/18

Fractions: They're a Coming Round the Corner!

Who would have expected snow on St. Patrick's Day! Despite the lack of green shamrocks and clover in my yard, I am here at home thinking about spring and I reminded that  fractions are already blooming at school. Fractions are a challenge to teach and for so many students, a big obstacle for learning. What can we do to help them visualize fractions and understand how they are a natural part of numbers in our world?

If you haven't checked out the Visual Fractions website, it's a must! The site map shows how the Visual Fractions website is organized. In addition, you will find links to fun games, worksheets and even a "Fraction Designer Page", where you can design your own fraction examples with circle or line models.

One of my favorite teaching tools is ActivInspire. It allows you to design creative learning resources that are tailored to the needs of your students. I am including a new fractions flipchart that models many of the released items from the VA DOE website. This flipchart is meant to be a teaching tool where you can engage your students in building their understanding of fraction concepts. Although it is aligned with grade 3, other grade levels may find it helpful for remediation.

When I think back on my classroom teaching years, I always used food to help students see and taste fractions! The KGCS math division specialist, Fanya Morton, has shared a few "tasty" fraction lesson ideas, which I am also including. You are sure to get your students' attention at the mention of food!


Sharing Brownies (Grade 1-2)
Jelly Bean Fractions
Jelly Bean Decimals
Fractions and Something's Fishy Game

Grade 3 Fraction Flipchart (New)


Here's to another day of "thoughtfully engaged instruction" ... and green fields of clover!

TEI Tuesday Tip for 2/25

Good Googly, Google Forms!

I continue to hear the comment from teachers that they want a tool that will show them which answers students are missing on hot spot TEI question types.  Google forms can provide the help and feedback for many TEI question types! As I posted earlier, Google forms are able to track multiple answers and with the use of a script, such as Flubaroo, can create self-checking forms that provide very specific feedback. Add to that the ability to use images in Google forms and you now have the ability to create some quick assessments that get students used to thinking beyond one correct answer.

I have created a Google form for third grade rounding practice. This 10 question form, uses the "fill in" and "hot spot" question types. I added an image for the hot spot questions, to show what the hot spot question would look like on a typical standardized state test. I added a page break for each page to make it easier to navigate. The data from students will become part of a spreadsheet that will give the teacher insights into how each student is answering these TEI questions.

I wish Google forms had been invented when I started teaching years ago. As you work with students using Google forms, you have the data to help them focus on moving up with their understanding. The TEI challenge is to think critically, work diligently and keep moving UP!

Here's to another day of moving UP with "thoughtfully engaged instruction"!

TEI Tuesday Tip for 2/18

Help! Properties of Numbers!

I had a conversation recently with our division math specialist. We were talking about the difficulty students have understanding properties of numbers as it is expressed on standardized testing and other types of formative assessments. While this concept starts with the early development of number and number sense, bridging the vocabulary that describes number properties requires thoughtfully engaged instruction and a creative mind!

When I was a classroom teacher, I found myself creating chants, rhymes, songs and other rhythms that students could engage in to help them understand content vocabulary. We had fun and the students had a chance to get up and creatively express themselves. I continue to be amazed at the collective talent pool that teachers have when it comes to making learning meaningful for students.

Because I love the power of video to capture students' attention, my first task was checking out the videos on the properties of numbers. While the search results yielded many, I found only a few that were exceptionally fun to watch as well as informative. My favorite was this third grade video that sings the properties of addition using the hit song, What Makes You Beautiful. 

Properties of Addition (3rd Grade students sung to What Makes You Beautiful)



Virginia teachers, if you haven't used the resource, eMediaVA, check it out! You can search for media by VA SOL or by keyword. This resource is free and is provided by the Virginia Public Media Association for use in educational settings such as schools, libraries or by teachers and students from their homes.

How many of you have visited Teachers pay Teachers? You will be amazed at the wonderful resources that are available from creative teachers like yourself! Many of the items are free and a large number are available to purchase for a low price. You might even want to look into submitting some of the innovative resources you've made through the years.

Here are links to some of the free downloads for properties of numbers from Teachers pay Teachers. You will need to create a free account to download them, but these are a click away. Did I mention....these are all FREE?!

1. The Flip Flop Fact Rap (Commutative Property of Addition)
2. Properties of Addition Posters
3. Properties of Addition & Multiplication Graphic Organizer (Phrase Clues, Picture Clues)
4. Properties of Addition Practice Cards
5. Properties of Multiplication Practice Cards
6. Properties of Multiplication Posters
7. Properties of Multiplication Matching Madness
8. Identity Property Poster
9. Properties Fold it Up!
10. Property Sort (5th-8th grade)

My last resource is  Scholastic StudyJams. This is a fun, informative and interactive website that addresses a wide variety of math and science topics. If you teach math or science, this website is well worth taking a look at.

• Scholastic Study Jams: Properties of Addition
• Scholastic Study Jams: Distributive Property
• Scholastic Study Jams: Prime & Composite Numbers

Here's to another day of "thoughtfully engaged instruction"!

TEI Wednesday Tip for 2/12

New Math TEI Flipchart! 

Grade 3 Rounding

After this last round of benchmarks, I decided it was time to refocus on designing some flipcharts that would reinforce math content that students are struggling with or just need a different way of engaging with the standards. Having taught third grade for many years, I love the third grade content and saw that rounding needed some more attention. The time for teachers to look on the Internet is stretched so thin, so I wanted to do the legwork for them and revisit online resources for rounding. I was so pleased at how creative teachers are sharing their work online. I think you will enjoy the variety of resources that are included in this flipchart. 

I encourage those of you who don't have a Promethean board in your classroom to still use the flipchart as a tool for "thoughtfully engaged" guided instruction. If you have a regular dry erase whiteboard and a wireless mouse, you can make this flipchart engaging and interactive for your students. If you teach a grade other than third, you might want to also give it a look as it could be useful for differentiating instruction.

Here's to another day of "thoughtfully engaged instruction."

Grade 3 Rounding Flipchart

TEI Tuesday Tip for 1/28

EduWidgets Make Content Fun!

For all of you who love to experiment with cool "techy" tools, the Virginia Department of Education has just recently introduced a new interactive, online authoring tool called EduWidgets. I read about it from a January 17, 2014 Superintendent's Memo. It prompted me to set up an account and explore what resources it has. This interactive tool looks promising and is currently in beta testing. You may never decide to author new content, but you can try out the variety of "exemplars" in its Shared Widgets. It puts the tools for creating interactive content into your hands and enables you to create TEI question types. I love that it is designed for Virginia teachers! http://www.eduwidgets.org

For more detailed information, read the welcome information below, from the email I received after applying for my account.

Welcome to EduWidgets, content authoring tools provided by the Virginia Department of Education. These tools enable teachers to develop interactive lessons and share them within online courses, iBooks, and Web sites. The tools also enable students to become content creators; students may create interactive sequences, timelines, graphs, and images.

Student and teacher creations may be published on the Shared Widgetspage and tagged by keyword, subject, grade level, and Virginia's Standards of Learning (SOL). All widgets must be reviewed and approved before publishing; teachers approve publishing requests from their students. Administrators may approve publishing requests from both students and teachers.

EduWidgets teachers play an important role; teachers may create student accounts and approve publishing requests from students. Student accounts are managed using the tools available under the Manage Students tab.

Teachers ensure the quality of the content published by reviewing and approving widgets created by their students. Published widgets appear under the Shared Widgets tab on the main Web page and are visible to all users. Published widgets cannot be modified. Widgets with incorrect or inappropriate content should not be published; teachers provide this quality assurance for the program. If a published widget contains inappropriate or incorrect content, it may be flagged and notification sent to division administrators for removal.

Note: The EduWidgets software was developed using HTML5 to create widgets that work with all tablet platforms and modern browsers. As a result, for best performance it requires Chrome, Firefox, or Safari. Although Internet Explorer 11 supports many features, it is not fully compliant with HTML5.

TEI Tuesday Tip for 1/14

The Teacher Toolkit

Need a fresh idea for effective teaching strategies? The teacher toolkit is a website developed as part of a teacher training grant in Texas. The purpose of the website is to share teaching strategies that can be used for: classroom management, opening activities, checks for understanding, partner/group/independent practice, reading strategies, games and closing activities.
Each tool has an explanation of how and when to use it, a template students can use to implement the tool and a place to take notes about how you use each tool. Many of the tools also have a short video which gives an overview of the particular tool.
Check it out and try something new!

TEI Tuesday Tip for 12/17

Developing Pass Advanced Readers with TEI

Today's TEI tip spotlights the division reading specialist for King George County Schools, Laura Jo Darcy. Laura Jo's deep knowledge and passion for excellence in literacy, pedagogy, and effective instructional practices are demonstrated throughout the division. Her ongoing professional development in schools focuses on aligning the curriculum with best practices in literacy and the development of students as readers and writers. Laura Jo's blog, Reading Pass Advanced, is an excellent tool for understanding how to become more effective with reading instruction. Perhaps what inspires me most about Laura Jo is her desire to work alongside teachers and students modeling best practices in reading and writing.

Enjoy LJ's spotlight which features specific lesson ideas and templates for instructional activities related to graphic notes TEI. Then take some time to bookmark her blog, Reading Pass Advanced!

Here's to another day of "thoughtfully engaged instruction"!

 

TEI Tuesday Tip for 12/3

TEI Tuesday Stars!

 

You're Never Too Young to Learn!

Today's TEI tip showcases the work of an amazing group of 5th grade students. Their teacher, Mrs. LeFeave, approached me about teaching them to write their own TEI questions using ActivInspire software. After working with these talented designers, they were able to create their own hot spot questions to help practice identifying prime and composite numbers. They took on the challenge to learn how the software worked and I can say, their enthusiasm and eagerness was quite refreshing to work with! I compiled their work into one flipchart which you can use with your students.

Prime and Composite Flipchart

Here's to another day of "thoughtfully engaged instruction"!



TEI Tuesday Tip for Tuesday, 11/26

Allenteachers

WOW, you MUST check out this website! Allenteachers is "dedicated to building dynamic, affordable resources and applications for education." They have created some amazing, interactive resources that are formatted to simulate TEI questions. Their interactive assessment materials and resources  can be used to thoughtfully engage students in thinking as well as prepare them for the increased rigor on standardized testing.
Like any resource, the effectiveness lies in how you use it with your students. What connections are you building with your students to help scaffold their learning and strengthen their content understanding? Take a few minutes to play with some of the resources and consider how you could use them with your students. I think you will very pleased with how they are self-checking as well.
To be honest, this website makes me want to learn how they created these wonderful activities! Here's to another day of "thoughtfully engaged instruction"!

TEI Tuesday Tip for 11/19

The TEI tip for today spotlights Sealston Elementary's Math Lab Coach, Rebecca Jones!

Rebecca finds creative ways to engage students in the math process skills that are part of the rigor behind TEI questions. She has found that Class Dojo is a great behavior management tool that encourages positive behaviors when working collaboratively. Getting students to use increased rigor requires that we give them opportunities to show growth through the struggles of thinking mathematically.

TEI Tuesday Tip for 11/12

Hot Spots: All 'Er Nothing!

All 'Er Nothing is a catchy song from the1955 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, Oklahoma. In this song, cowboy Will Parker makes it clear to his charming beau, Ado Annie, that with him, it's all 'er nothing! This reminds me of Hot Spot TEI items. With these questions, it's all or nothing! At first that sounds quite harsh, particularly to younger students, but why not give this Hot Spot Challenge a second thought. How can you cultivate a desire to make hot spot items a challenge that students buy into?

While I love the flipcharts with ActivInspire, I am often asked how you can track and record progress with TEI items on them. My focus for this TEI tip is on making the Hot Spot Challenge a part of these wonderful flipcharts. Like any good instruction, the key to getting students involved is designing a lesson that builds on their understanding. Just giving students hot spot after hot spot, might get, a bit "heated". At what point in your lesson is it the right time to practice hot spots?

Notice the progression of learning in the attached rounding flipchart. I have built in several ways to help students understand the process of rounding numbers. After they have had practice, they will use the Google form to take "The Hot Spot Challenge".  The Google form (seen below) will give you the kind of feedback that you can use to track how well students are doing with answering hot spot TEI questions.

You can create Google forms that use a script to grade the quiz or assignment. Here is a link to the directions, which makes this an even more appealing way to track progress.
Directions for creating self-grading quizzes in Google Docs.
 

Here's to another day of "Thoughtfully Engaged Instruction"!

TEI Tuesday Tip for 11/5

The Answer Pad, Go Interactive feature, is an amazing online dialogue system that provides multiple ways to check for student understanding throughout teaching. Checking for understanding is essential to "thoughtfully engaged instruction" and is therefore, the focus of today's TEI tip. The Answer Pad is on my top ten list of techy teaching tools. I hope you will take some time to consider the possibilities you could have using it.

The Answer Pad is a "student dialogue system." It allows students to engage with the teacher in a BYOD environment. The Go Interactive feature has seven different ways to capture student understanding in the classroom: multiple choice, true/false, yes/no, thumbs up/down, fill-in, slider,  and template uploads. The Answer Pad works with most web enabled devices. It is perfect for the computer lab setting as well as laptops, iPads or other devices that can connect to the Internet.

With a free account, teachers can create up to 8 classes and 200 students! The developers of The Answer Pad continue to look for ways to upgrade the functionality of this program. The variety of feedback that you can obtain with this tool is worth taking the few minutes to create a free account for your class.

Take a look at this video clip to see Go Interactive in action.

Here are some ideas of how you might use The Answer Pad during teaching:

1.       Pre-Assessment: Before you begin a unit in your curriculum, use The Answer Pad to check your students’ understanding of key vocabulary terms or other concepts.  Identify those students who might already understand key terms and could receive enrichment.

2.       How Confident Are You? As you are teaching, it’s good to poll your students to see how confident they are with certain vocabulary words, processes and content understanding. Use The Answer Pad to get a quick overview of how confident your students feel about their understanding.

3.       Student Surveys: Do you need real time data? Use The Answer Pad to gather data from your students. 

4.       During Teaching Questioning: Use The Answer Pad for answers to questions. Students can answer questions with The Answer Pad  to give you an idea of how many students are reaching the lesson objective.

5.       Check Homework: Go over answers to homework using The Answer Pad.

6.       Mental Math: Use The Answer Pad to help develop mental math skills. Students can "draw" their thinking using The Answer Pad.

7.       Team Games: Play vocabulary games where students work in teams to identify, for example, parts of speech. Write examples of parts of speech on the board. Call out a word and decide as a team, the part of speech the word represents. Use The Answer Pad to record answers.

8.       Predicting: When teaching students to use context clues to predict a missing word, use The Answer Pad to identify what that word might be.

9.       True or False: Have fun with vocabulary and play a game where you simply state a word and its meaning. Students use The Answer Pad to identify if you are telling the truth or not.

10.   Student Opinion Polls: After reading a situation, scenario or problem, use The Answer Pad to poll students with possible solutions. Examine the data to see what students are thinking.

11.   Yes-No: Use The Answer Pad to explore student understanding of content specific vocabulary. For example,

a.       Math: Is it reasonable that 189 is about 200?

b.      Social Studies: Is paper an example of a consumable good?

c.       Science: Is a rolling ball an example of kinetic energy?

d.      Reading: Is a flier a type of functional text?

 Here's to another day of "thoughtfully engaged instruction"!

TEI Tuesday Tip for 10/29

Getting on board with "fill-in-the-blank" TEI questions

Take a look at the two sample science TEI questions. Students must “fill-in- the-blank” by providing the correct answer. Easy enough, however, this kind of free response answer is atypical of most multiple choice tests. Most of the fill-in-the-blank TEI questions involve numeric answers, but getting students to generate an answer based on correct  calculations and problem solving, requires practice. How can you have students practice this type of response while also building their endurance? 

 

 

Dry erase boards: Dry erase boards offer a fun, quick way to get ongoing feedback from students. They are reliable when the technology isn’t. The teacher can monitor student progress and adjust instruction by observing student responses on their mini-boards. They are a useful tool throughout each stage of instruction and can be used in many different settings.

I made a set of dry erase boards by purchasing one large sheet of  “shower board” (tile board)  at Lowe’s. When I explained it was for my students, they were willing to cut the board into individual pieces.  With nothing done to the edges, these inexpensive dry erase boards have lasted since their purchase 10 years ago. If you have a hard time finding this type of shower board, why not use plastic coated dinner plates, laminated folders or sheet protectors with heavy paper inside.

Google Forms: If you’ve never created a Google form, these can also provide an engaging way to have students practice filling-in-the-blank with a little more zip to the results.  A Google form can be used to collect information that is text-based or numeric-based. When students submit their answers on a Google form, the data goes to one spreadsheet that you can then use to view, sort and compare results.

Using a Google form isn’t something that you can only do in the computer lab setting. With only a few computers in your classroom, students can take turns completing a Google form as a quick formative assessment, check for prior knowledge or learning extension.

Here is an example of a Google form that you might use to get students thinking beyond one right answer.  The science question in the TEI sample asks the student to identify the number of carnivores in the woodlands habitat diagram. The Google form below asks students to identify carnivores in a variety of habitats.

Pose a question, respond using a Google form, then have a discussion based on their responses.
Here's to another day of "thoughtfully engaged instruction"!


 

TEI Tuesday Tip for 10/22

Getting into the Groove with the Venn Diagram!

Take a look at the "drag and drop" TEI question from a 4th grade reading sample. The popular Venn diagrams that we see in TEI questions like the one pictured here, have been around since their origination in the late 1800's by mathematician, John Venn.

What makes these graphic organizers a powerful teaching and learning tool? The Venn diagram is a graphic organizer that represents the relationship between concepts, words and ideas. One of the characteristics of effective vocabulary instruction includes the use of linguistic and nonlinguistic representations. The Venn diagram challenges the student to consider similarities and differences when placing words/phrases in the appropriate circle(s). With practice, students learn to use a higher level of cognition to make connections between words placed on the diagram.

How do we train our students to become proficient at "dragging and dropping"? The reading SOLs require students to compare and contrast early on in order to demonstrate comprehension. Using a Venn diagram where students identify the similarities and differences, or having students create their own Venn diagrams, will help to build the critical thinking skills needed for thoughtfully engaged instruction.

Let's take a look at some creative ways to get  your students "doing TEI" with all kinds of Venn diagrams!
1. Hula Hoop Venn: Use inexpensive hula hoops on the floor and index cards or recycle old folders, to "drag and drop" comparisons into the Venn.

 

2. Whiteboard: Draw a Venn diagram on your whiteboard (or chalkboard). Use post its, index cards or recycled old folders. 

3.  Document Camera: The little post it notes work nicely with this. Print off a copy of a Venn diagram and place the post it notes under the document camera. Students can get a nice view of the diagram with a document camera.

Document Camera and Post It Notes

Document Camera with Post It Notes

4.  Interactive Venn Diagrams Online: There are now more options for creating Venn Diagrams online. Here are a few I find easy to use and engaging!
Read, Write, Think, Interactive Venn Diagram
Class Tools Venn Templates
Interactivate Shape Sorter
Teacher Led, Multiples Venn
Fuel the Brain, Venn Interactives
Cyberchase, Logic Zoo

5. Computer Software: My favorite for dragging and dropping is ActivInspire. Here is a template that you could modify for using to create Venn Diagrams.
Tei Tuesday Venn Flipchart

TEI Tuesday Tip for 10/15

The TEI tip for today spotlights one of our 6th grade teachers, Matt Johnston!
Matt finds that using technology can rev up the interest level as well as get students to use math vocabulary to discuss, question and understand the essential knowledge and skills that are part of the SOLs.

The TEI tip for today includes a flipchart that has Matt's "Ratio-ing Skittles"
TEI Ratios Flipchart 
TEI Ratios Flipchart, pdf format

Here's to another day of "thoughtfully engaged instruction!"

TEI Tuesday Tip for 10/8

It's TEI Tuesday! As you teach and assess, you are continually making important decisions about what your students know and what they need to learn. Based on your observations and knowledge of the curriculum, you can then modify your instruction to meet the needs of your learners.  Assessing for learning is necessary for thoughtfully engaged instruction.

One of the tools that can help assess student understanding is IA (Interactive Achievement). While this is used for benchmark testing, it can be used by teachers to develop their own TEI questions for assessing student understanding.  IA, which is now called onTRAC, has the ability to create drag and drop, hot spot and fill in the blank question types. While this is helpful, the reports formulated in IA are what make this tool so valuable in creating thoughtfully engaged instruction.

If you aren't sure what your students know, it's hard to design learning that meets their needs. I will offer many opportunities to learn more about how to use IA during the month of October. Please join me to see how IA can be used to create TEI questions. These sessions are designed to give you a better understanding of the functionality of IA and the many ways you could use it with your students.

October IA Training at Sealston Computer Lab (138)

October 18

• 7:45 - 8:30 am: Using onTRAC reports to create math quick checks (Fanya and I will show you how the reports can help you in creating a quick check assessment for math)
• 4:00 - 5:00 pm: Creating a basic and TEI exam

October 24

• 7:45 - 8:30 am: Using onTRAC reports to create math quick checks (Fanya and I will show you how the reports can help you in creating a quick check assessment for math)

October 28

• 4:00 - 5:00 pm: Creating a section exam with TEI questions (Section testing is used to create multiple sections in an exam to control the use of certain tools in each section)

October 29

• 7:45 - 8:30 am: Creating a section exam with TEI questions (Section testing is used to create multiple sections in an exam to control the use of certain tools in each section)
• 4:00 - 5:00 pm:  How to create your own exam questions

October 30

• 7:45 - 8:30 am: Understanding the reports in IA

TEI Tuesday Tip for 10/1

It's TEI Tuesday!! Time for a new TEI tip!

Attached is a flipchart with sample math TEI questions for grades 2-6. These questions are aligned with quarter one math SOLs. This flipchart opens in ActivInspire. ActivInspire is a wonderful, interactive program that can be used even if you don't have a Promethean Board.

Perhaps my best tip this week is my recent experience with using a wireless mouse. This very handy tool allows you complete freedom to walk around and observe your students when you are presenting information on your computer with your LCD projector. Of course, I believe one day we will have rooms equipped with interactive whiteboards.....but, until then, why not purchase an inexpensive wireless mouse? I bought a $12 mouse and it worked great (minus the few times it dropped) My coordination has since improved as I "walk and mouse". If you happen to be in the computer lab, you have the added bonus of being able to see what your students are doing on their computer screens, without being tied to the "teacher computer".

Using a wireless mouse, you can project these sample items and navigate through the flipchart. Try passing the mouse to students for them to answer. Of course, you can also recreate these items with paper, however, I believe it is always good practice to have them see the formatting as it appears on testing programs.

I am always happy for feedback after your use a flipchart.

Here's to a great day of "thoughtfully engaged instruction"!

TEI Tuesday Flipchart 001

TEI Tuesday Tip for 9/24

Our school has launched TEI Tuesday. The purpose of TEI Tuesday is to intentionally engage your students in the kinds of thinking and rigor used in the TEI (technology enhanced items) questions.

Need a quick look at the kinds of TEI questions your students might be asked? Take a look at the sample math, reading, writing TEI items in these pdf documents.

Grades 3-7 Sample Math TEI Questions
Grades 3-8 Sample Reading-Writing TEI Questions & Paper Templates

Let's start by knowing where to find TEI resources on the Sealston website. If you haven't explored the Websites for Staff page, http://kgcs.k12.va.us/ses/staff_websites.htm, take a few minutes today to see the wealth of instructional resource links. Among the links are ones that our instructional leaders, LJ Darcy and Fanya Morton, have worked on developing. I started this blog last year, which will continue to expand this year.

Make sure you sign up for Teacher Direct, http://www.doe.virginia.gov/testing/teacher_direct/index.shtml, from the DOE. You will receive SOL related information throughout the year.

Most importantly, start discussing among your grade level, how you can start getting your students to think beyond one right answer.
 

Here's to a great day of "thoughtfully engaged instruction"!

Reading TEI Flipcharts

King George County Division Reading Specialist, Laura Jo Darcy, has created reading TEI flipcharts for grades 3-6. Her goal in creating these is to provide teachers with resources which align to the current VA reading standards. These flipcharts are designed to be an instructional tool to help with building reading skills as well as exposing students to technology enhanced items (TEI). You are encouraged to use these as an assessment for learning with your students and not merely a stand alone activity. With each question, guide your students to use the tools on the page (highlighter, pen) to find supporting evidence in the selections.

If you would like to view the contents of the reading flipcharts, but you do not have ActiveInspire, a pdf for each of the reading templates can be found on the "Reading TEI Templates" page.

• Grade 3 Taj and Berto Reading Flipchart
• Grade 4 A New Chewing Gum Reading Flipchart
• Grade 5 The Amazing Hummingbird Reading Flipchart
• Grade 6 Follow That Mouse Reading Flipchart
• Guide Words Flipchart 
• Coral Reefs, Reading a-z, Level Q Flipchart

To contact Laura Jo Darcy about the reading flipcharts, email her at: ldarcy@kgcs.k12.va.us