Teaching students the differences between making inferences, drawing conclusions, and predicting outcomes may be one of the most difficult skills to teach. This series of three posts includes definitions, examples, and activities.
Conclusions
Conclusions are opinions, judgments, or decisions that are formed based on a situation’s facts. A reader or observer collects information. Readers weigh the evidence. The evidence proves what is going to happen or the next logical step in the information series.Continue Reading
Teaching students the differences between making inferences, drawing conclusions, and predicting outcomes may be one of the most difficult skills to teach. This series of three posts includes definitions, examples, and activities.
Inferences
An inference is a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning. Readers infer many topics. For example —Continue Reading
Teaching students to understand the differences between fact and opinion is essential. This is a tested skill. More importantly, helping students to correctly evaluate information will help them make informed life choices. For example, the news is full of campaign ads. Sorting facts from opinions helps people vote intelligently.
Also, the Internet has opened up vast sources of information. Learning to distinguish what is true is of vital importance. Studies show that teens are sharing more and more information about themselves online. This information can even lead to cyber bullying. Teens need to sort out what is true.Continue Reading
Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson is an exceptional book about six students who are placed in an experimental class during their 5th/6th grade years. The teacher decides that the last hour of each Friday will be ‘talk time.’ She takes them to an empty classroom and leaves the six alone. Slowly the students open up and talk about their troubles.
Estaban
Authorities take Esteban’s father and move him to Florida where he will be deported. Continue Reading
Are you looking for some writing prompts for upper elementary students? Motivating students to write daily can be a real challenge. Changing up prompts may be one solution to keep students excited about putting a pencil to paper. Check out these ideas.
#1 – Inspirational Quotes
Quotes are great for not only inspiring students to work harder but to also think at a deeper level. Quotes make great discussion starters for students to think critically. Remind students that quotes may have different meanings for different people depending on life experiences. There are no wrong or right answers to what a quote means. Writing a paragraph about what a quote means is a great journal activity. If you need inspiration about where to begin, check out 50 of Our All-Time Favorite Classroom Quotes from We are Teachers.
#2 – Writing a Letter to My Future Self
Have students write letters to their future selves. At futureme.org students type letters. They select when they will be delivered: 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, or a specific date. Students can select for their letters to be private or public. Be aware. Some of the public letters contain inappropriate material for students. Continue Reading
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Candles are important during the holiday season. They represent both religious and nonspiritual winter events. People interpret their meaning in many different ways. Some associate candles with the Yuletide. The winter solstice celebrations date back for centuries. Celebrators think the warm glow of candles shows spring is on its way. Others view candles as a family’s guiding light. This comes from several ancient traditions. Christians equate candles with the guiding star of Bethlehem. Jews light a Hanukiah during Hanukkah. During Kwanzaa, the central symbol is a candelabra of special colored candles.
Christmas
For Christians, the star of Bethlehem guided the Three Wise Men from the East to baby Jesus. The Magi wanted to honor the newborn king of the Jews with gifts and prayers. Because of this, Christians use candles during Christmas services to remember Jesus is ‘the Light of the World.’Continue Reading
Here in the mountains of North Carolina, winter came in with a vengeance. Students have missed several days of school. A fresh wave of 12 to 24 inches is predicted for this weekend. It seems fitting to load up on some great winter materials for the classroom during this snow event.Continue Reading
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