Burton's Class

A colleague taught me the Turtle Method of multiplication when I was struggling to teach my students the standard, or traditional, algorithm for multi-digit multiplication. I created worksheets to teach and support this method. While I created this using Google Slides, I formatted it 8.5 x 11 paper for easy printing.Includes:Detailed description of methodSimplified description of method3/4 size description of method for student notebooksEditable Google Slides version of all files Scaffolded wor

In the Circle of Viewpoints, you’ll want students to think about something that has happened in the section of their book club book that they will be discussing today. They will then explain how three different characters all look at the same event or situation. For instance, in the book Charlotte’s Web, students could look at how Charlotte, Wilbur, and Fern all think about the moment when Charlotte’s first web is seen. Each character will have very different ideas and reactions to what is happ

This is a full-color, illustrated vocabulary list for the 4th and 5th grade FOSS “Earth and Sun” unit.  Each slide contains a vocabulary word, definition, and picture illustrating the word for better understanding. While I made a slide for each word, I do not use all of the slides, or teach each word every year. It really depends on my group of students. Because of this, I have made a Table of Contents to help you identify the individual slides you wish to use. These words are organized alphabet

I always call this the 5 Ws and the "oddball" (because the H in how seems to have lost his W) to help them remember the questions to ask in order to write a great nonfiction summary sentence. By adding details, they can use this work to create a nonfiction summary paragraph. This works best with shorter texts or sections of a longer text.

For years I have been looking for and trying to create a conference log that would work for me and my students. Each year I try a new version, but it's never quite right. This year I feel like I've finally got it! I created a heading that would give me quick "at-a-glance" info on each child. I added the category of "iReady Area of Focus" because that is the assessment data my district uses, but the title can be changed to mirror the system your district uses. I also created a second page to use

I have revamped the old-fashioned book club jobs into tasks using Visible Thinking Routines. I think this has made book clubs more accessible to all of my students as well as added interest and clarity.

I made these to help my students remember the steps as well as help the PARENTS understand what we are doing in the classroom. I laminated them for student use and created a smaller version to fit in their math notebooks. Uses US Traditional for BOTH.

I use these lessons to present information regarding the different colonial regions. I have my students take notes on the printed "Colonial Note-Taking" sheet and color the "Colonial Map". They will use this for studying or for a written response, depending on the year and group. **My Google Slides presentations always work best with a wireless presenter remote.

This lesson presents information regarding the Mid-Atlantic Colonial Region. I have my students take notes on the printed "Colonial Note-Taking" sheet. They will use this for studying or for a written response, depending on the year and group. **My Google Slides presentations always work best with a wireless presenter remote.

I use these Google Slides to introduce the idea of the Silk Road and Marco Polo. I use a few videos in this lesson too from Discovery Education, Netflix, and BrainPop. The titles are listed on the first slide. I also use this with the Explorers and Exploration Graphic Organizer. It is set up in two ways. One is more generalized and one is more specific. **My Google Slides presentations always work best with a wireless presenter remote.

There are two separate resources in this doc. One has the students focus on the accomplishments of specific European Explorers. The other is much more general, having them focus on the push and pull factors that led England, France, Spain and the Vikings to explore.

This year, my students needed a lot more scaffolding with the Lucy Calkins Units of Study, so I created some simple graphic organizers to go along with the lessons. I used this one to help students think about the different themes they can find in a single text. You will find where I used it on The "Conferring and Small-Group Work" in Session 7.

For a Step Inside, the student really thinks closely about a particular character. They will explain what the character is seeing, thinking, caring about, and wondering about. I usually have my students do this in first person through the eyes of their character. This student can lead a discussion by explaining their thinking and then asking group members if they have different or additional ideas to the ones this student created. This template  can be printed and handed to the students or poste

This is a simple organizer for students to see their entire essay at a glance. This can be used with any kind of essay. The blue bullets will be the main idea of each paragraph with the supporting bullets beneath. I have created two versions of the Boxes and Bullets Essay Structure: one can be printed and handed to the students and one can be posted online for students to create digitally.

This lesson presents information regarding the New England Colonial Region. I have my students take notes on the printed "Colonial Note-Taking" sheet. They will use this for studying or for a written response, depending on the year and group. **My Google Slides presentations always work best with a wireless presenter remote.

This lesson presents information regarding the Southern Colonial Region. I have my students take notes on the printed "Colonial Note-Taking" sheet. They will use this for studying or for a written response, depending on the year and group. **My Google Slides presentations always work best with a wireless presenter remote. *While I mention plantations in this lesson, I do not bring up slavery. That concept gets its own lessons where I explore it in depth.*

I created this lesson to highlight the differences between Armed Forces Day, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day. I have included information on each one and a couple YouTube videos. At the end, I have highlighted a Memorial Day story that is local to my town.

This year, my students needed a lot more scaffolding with the Lucy Calkins Units of Study, so I created some simple graphic organizers to go along with the lessons. I used this with my students each time we were getting started on a new essay to help them create a thesis statement. It helped them make sure they had included all of the elements of a thesis and was then very easy for me to assess understanding.

This is a very sanitized version of Columbus' arrival in the Americas. In it, I discuss the Crossroads between Europe and Middle East, and the capture of Constantinople to help students better understand why Europeans wanted to find a new route to Asia in the first place. Then I focus on what Columbus knew and did not know regarding the earth. I end the lesson with a YouTube video of a teacher reading Encounter by Jane Yolen. If you have access to this book, I recommend reading it in leiu of t

In this lesson, I instruct students on the reasons the Spanish wanted conquest and a couple of examples of this. I discuss the 3 Gs, Conquistadors, Cortés, Missionaries, and Magellan. I use videos that I have subscriptions to and I list where to find them if you also have a subscription. There is an imbedded video from PBS. Then I would have my class fill out the Spanish Explorers page on the "Explorers and Exploration Graphic Organizer". **My Google Slides presentations always work best with