Michele Rothacker

I have created 6 choice boards filled with science ideas! These science choice boards can be used as homework, at centers or in small groups. You can also choose to just use one or two ideas independently at a center. There are 6 choice boards. They are titled as follows: Work Like a Scientist Choice Board Earth's Surface Choice Board Weather Choice Board Force and Motion Choice Board Matter Choice Board Energy Choice Board These are some of the units that are c

You will find 4 pages that will be useful while reading the Helen Keller story found in the 2nd grade Journeys reading book. One page is a mini-book report type page that incorporates questions that have "right there" answers as well as some higher order questions. Another page focuses on main idea and details. It also includes simple directions for the child's reference in case you choose to put this at a center. There is another page that simply has 10 spelling words and 8 vocabulary words

Great extension activities for a fairy tale unit. Can be used at a center or given as a homework assignment. Students have a choice of 8 activities as well as 1 activity of their own design. They can share their projects after completion which is a key component of the common core state standards. You can have them pick one or do three in a row, like a tic tac toe board.

Here is a choice board that contains extension activities based on Charlotte's Web. The activities can be used at a center or for a homework assignment. The activities are non-fiction related. It incorporates reading and writing. After completion, students often enjoy sharing their work with their classmates. This is a key component to the Common Core State Standards.

In our school, we are using more rubrics than ever before! Rubrics show the students the expectations we have for them. We are also incorporating project based learning. The rubrics I've used so far seem to have the desired result. The rubrics allow the student to clearly see their areas of strengths as well as the areas they need to improve. I have been letting the students assess themselves and they are often harder on themselves than I am! I have created several rubrics I hope you will fi

In our school, we are using more rubrics than ever before! Rubrics show the students the expectations we have for them. The rubrics I've used so far seem to have the desired result. The rubrics allow the student to clearly see their areas of strengths as well as the areas they need to improve. I have been letting the students assess themselves and they are often harder on themselves than I am! I have created several rubrics I hope you will find helpful. I wanted to include specifics yet leav

Here is a good resource to give to parents at open house. It gives author recommendations, reading tips, and a short note to parents about what students are doing in class. It is a tri-fold that will be a nice and informative piece for parents to have at their fingertips. It is somewhat generic as to curriculum so I think it would be useful in a first or second grade classroom. The preview is a combination of both the first and second pages. It is a 2 page document that needs to be printed

This is a hands on math activity that can be used in the fall. Students will name the graph. They can complete the graph by placing the items in the square or by coloring it in. The graph is for candy corn, candy pumpkins and M-n-M's (because I couldn't leave out chocolate :) ) They can practice patterns and writing number sentences. Can be used at centers.

In our school, we are using more rubrics than ever before! Rubrics show the students the expectations we have for them. The rubrics I've used so far seem to have the desired result. The rubrics allow the student to clearly see their areas of strengths as well as the areas they need to improve. I have been letting the students assess themselves and they are often harder on themselves than I am! I have created several rubrics I hope you will find helpful. I wanted to include specifics yet leav

This is a brochure relating to Matter. It has plans and directions for making Oobleck! This brochure can be used as a lesson plan, at a center or for a handout at a parent night. This lesson incorporates reading, science and cooperative learning. You can have the students do a scientific investigation as groups of scientists. Who wouldn't love to dig their hands into this activity? Reading is incorporated by reading the Dr. Seuss book entitled Bartholomew and the Oobleck. To fold it as a bro

In our school, we are using more rubrics than ever before! We are also doing group and individual projects. Rubrics show the students the expectations we have for them. The rubrics I've used so far seem to have the desired result. The rubrics allow the student to clearly see their areas of strengths as well as the areas they need to improve. I have been letting the students assess themselves and they are often harder on themselves than I am! I have created several rubrics I hope you will fin

You will find a lesson plan outline, a rubric/scale, character trait list, spelling and vocab list for this story (I use it to put on struggling students' desks to give them extra support), venn diagram and directions for use, watermark friendly letter form and directions for use. This will help teach students about character traits, text evidence, and comparing and contrasting.

Here are 3 Common Core State Standards Writing posters to display in your classroom or to use when introducing a concept. They are written in student friendly terms. The terms "we can" are used to encourage students to think as a team. The standards highlighted are 2.W.1, 2.W.5, and 2.W.6.

You can post these common core state standards in your room or use them to introduce the concept to your class in a student friendly way. These are the speaking and listening standards (2.SL.1, 2.SL.2, 2.SL.4)

This file contains a plethora of ideas to aid in teaching about Native American regions. Included is a power point that introduces regions, tribes and housing. There are also some assessments embedded in the power point. This mainly correlates with the Social Studies Unit 2 of our text book. Also included is a guide for lesson plan ideas, extension activities, graphic organizers and vocabulary associated with this unit.

This is a choice board filled with moon related activities! It is a springboard for the students to be creative and original. Some of the ideas are rather simple but the students can extend them. This will help in differentiating instruction. It can be used at a science center or for a homework assignment. Since the students have a choice, their interest level is increased. Each project is different and unique. The students enjoy sharing their projects when they are finished. This meets th

If you use Accelerated Reader in your school, this form will help you track the progress your students. At the end of each week, you can post their current number of points. Post this on your wall and this will keep the kids on target to reach their goals.

Here is an extra credit assignment that is perfect for Veteran's Day. Students find out if any family members or friends were in the service. Common Core Standards such as speaking and listening can be covered if they share their stories in class. Students can fill out the simple form that is attached or expand it into a poster or other type of multi-media project.

Here are three different poems that I often use at open house. One poem is comparing baking a cookie to teachers and parents working together to make a well rounded student. I include two sugar cookies in a baggie or cute box to go with this poem. The second poem illustrates the importance of positive praise. The last poem is the "Apple for the Teacher" poem. When I use this poem, I buy apple, cover them with saran wrap and tie it with cute ribbon. I feel using these poems at open house he

To aid in a smooth morning and afternoon routine, I created a checklist for students. The morning list has 7 steps that are useful in my classroom. The afternoon checklist has 6 steps listed. (This is a word document so you should be able to add or delete as necessary). You can display the checklist by making them into posters, by printing them out on paper with cute border, or you can even distribute to students individually to assist them in following your specific classroom routines.