Inside Bell's Brain

I've been contemplating how to kick off my new blogging endeavor, and I think I know just what to do. I've already shared this little trick with several of my closest teacher friends, and we've found it to be a dream come true for establishing multiple grouping configurations.  (Interaction and multiple grouping configurations are absolutely essential for English learners to get the most from their content classes.) About two years ago, I developed these grouping sticks to ensure that my students were able to work with all their classmates in different settings and in different groups. The concept is a little tricky to articulate, but I have taken pictures to support my attempt at a detailed explanation.   The first decision is determining the number of sticks you need. For a class set, I usually use 25, although some of you probably need a class set of 36 (in which case, purchase 2 packs). You can purchase a pack of multi-colored Popsicle sticks at your local craft...

Hello, teachers and friends! I am so excited that my second Donors Choose project was recently posted. Our classroom project from last year was fully funded in conjunction with Sonic's AMAZING program called Limeades for Learning. I am eager to share this second project with you and let you know that it is available for voting on the Limeades for Learning website. You can read the project details at the following link: http://www.limeadesforlearning.com/teachers/view/1586525/default/1070864 . Please take a few minutes to vote daily. When you register with your email address, you can mark my project as one of your favorites so it's easy to return to vote again the next day. You can also receive daily vote reminders. Plus, for every 10 votes you enter, you receive two bonus codes for voting. I hope you'll use them on our project! Visit your local Sonic too and get additional codes on soft drinks. Keep calm and limeade on!

Well, my fellow teacher friends, I must say I've really been enjoying spectating in the blogging world. Also, if you know me, you know I've been a long-time fan of TPT (Teachers Pay Teachers). That being said, I have been receiving a lot of encouragement from my wonderful coworkers to really delve into my blog with more resources, advice, etc., and to take the leap into the TPT world as a seller! I'm really excited about the possibilities! But, as all teachers know, it's always a good idea to do a little formative assessment before launching any new unit or project. So here's where you become involved. I want the resources I create, the information I share, the research I post, etc., to be beneficial, practical, and useful for you. So what would you like to see most? What would you like to learn together? What resources do you need in your classroom? Please take this opportunity to comment and interact. Collaboration is one of the best resources we can of...

Last month I delivered professional development for my teachers on interpreting ACCESS results.  I made a Prezi to share with them that included basic information about WIDA and its language proficiency test (ACCESS).  We worked together to see how we can use student test scores to inform our instructional practices as we examined how those student scores align with WIDA's Can Do Descriptors.  I've included the Prezi here, so feel free to watch and learn something new about WIDA and ACCESS.

I am very excited to finally have my website up and running.  I have lots of ideas about how to make this site an invaluable resource for us in connecting with our English learners and improving our own instructional practices. I welcome any suggestions you may have because I want this to be something that helps you as much as it helps me. Please continue to have patience with me as I build this site, and please return regularly to check for new updates.  As always, thank you so much for your support!