Common Core Reading Response Bookmarks

Miss me?  I know, I know.  I've been gone a long time.  I've got tons of excuses which I'm sure that most of you have faced as well like deadlines, end of the year, assessments, etc.  I've got one more major excuse though . . . pregnancy!  Yep . . . I'm in that home stretch now before our little boy arrives, so I'm really trying to get things up and running again before things get really hectic!

I've had tons of ideas of things I've wanted to make and post to share with y'all, but I've had little time (or energy) to get them made!  I pushed myself to get back on track, so I started with this one which I'm really excited about!

One thing I worked hard on this past year with my 1st graders was sustained independent reading and reading responses.  Our school has really been pushing us in this direction, but some of the problems I ran into with my little ones is that they can be easily distracted, need additional guidance on completing responses (while I am with my guided reading groups), and they can become overwhelmed by lengthy assignments.  

I created these bookmarks in response to some of these challenges I faced with my students.  I designed these bookmarks because . . . .

1-  Making it into a bookmark is a little gimmick I can use to get my kids to buy into the assignment.  Cheap trick?  I'll leave that verdict up to you, but I found that the way you present tasks to students (visually and the emotion/energy you put introducing it) can make a world of difference!  Plus, I'm not sure about how your kids feel about bookmarks, but when my kids go to the media center there are often scraps of paper or dye cuts left in a basket as bookmarks for the students.  They go ballistic over them!  Seriously.

2-  Bookmark format means you only have enough space to focus on one standard.  It's a small focused assignment that won't seem too daunting.

3-  Didn't have time to finish?  Tuck it in your book!  That way you won't loose your place in the book AND you won't loose your assignment!

There are 2 bookmarks to a page.  Cut the page in half.
Then fold each half to create the double sided bookmark.

I based them off the 1st grade CCSS, but they can be used for other grade levels as well. 

I hope you enjoy them! 

Click here to get it from TPT or here  to get it from Teachers Notebook.

A Year of Common Core Aligned Math Tests!

Oh my goodness this took forever, but I am SO happy to say that I have finally finished my packet of 1st Grade Math Common Core Aligned Assessments!  I am pooped!  I've worked my tail off this week between finally completing this beast and planning/preparing for my daughter's 2nd birthday!

I know there are other packets of Common Core aassessments out there that were completed before I could finish mine, but you know how it is when you have a vision for something.  You just have to see it through!  The way I designed this packet was to create a Unit Test for each of the 4 broader standards set out by the CCSS:  1)Operations & Algebraic Thinking, 2)Number & Operations in Base Ten, 3)Measurement & Data, and 4)Geometry.  Then I created Unit Subtests for each of the standards listed under these headings.  I then created a Problem Solving assessment for each of the Unit Tests and Subtests to help extend student learning and assessment.  These are written in the style that some of you may know from "Exemplars".  They should be solved using problem solving strategies such as drawing a picture, number sentences, graphs, charts, tables, and then completed with a written explanation of the student's thinking. 

Well I'm not sure if I'm feeling generous or if I'm just delirious from all this cooking and baking, but how about a sample of the assessment packet for free?  Get the Unit 1 test by clicking on the image below!

 

or get it here from Teachers Notebook

Want to go ahead and buy the packet?  Click the image below to get it from my TPT store!

or get it here from Teachers Notebook

Hey!  If you're still reading this you may be in luck!  In celebration of my baby's 2nd birthday the 1st 2 people to comment on this post will get the ENTIRE PACKET for FREE!  Please leave me your email address, so I can email it to you!

And just for fun . . . these lollicakes are just one of the many, many things I did today that's contributing to my present delirium!  Aren't they cute?!?

Enjoy!

Happy Birthday to my baby girl, Analise!  Mommy loves you!  

(And now so do 2 lucky people!  J/k!)