Stretching out details with story mountains

Stretching narratives out with a story mountain

This year was the first year our school had been using the units of study since our current third graders were kindergarteners. I can tell you that we are seeing the difference. Our kids are coming into third grade really understanding what a small moment is. If your students are not, see Lesson on Small Moments. 

One area that our third graders really need scaffolding is in stretching out the details. Maybe that is the case for you too. If so, try story mountains. They really work. 

Day #1: Mapping out the Action Steps

We use an 18X12 piece of paper to make a mountain. I have students identify the most important part of their small moment first. We mark it at the top by using an action sentence. For example: "I caught a fish." "I tripped on the floor" "I sprang my ankle" "I burnt the marshmallow" 

Then I have them rewind their small moments a minute or so before this important event. They write action sentence and place it at the beginning of their mountain. 

They go back to the most important event and fast forward a minute or so after, and name another action. 

During independent work time, I have them finish mapping out their actions. 

Day #2: Mapping out the Internal Story

The next day I have students map out the internal story. I retell as story about a time when I got lost and all the thoughts that went in my head. Then I tell them that everyone has a story that goes on in their head. Today we are going to map that out. In a new color, we map out the thoughts during each action step. This time we start at the beginning and work our way through. 

Day #3: Mapping out the Dialogue (Talking out loud part)

This day is similar to the previous one. By this time, kids really understand what they are doing. I do not focus on the punctation of dialogue at this point. I just really want them to get their thoughts down on paper. We choose another new and this time map the dialogue parts with it. It is also important to note to writers that they may not remember exactly what they said in this moment, but they need to make up something realistic. 

My Example

Student motivated to learn

Student not motivated, but teachable

Embracing a Growth Mindset

You can play an important role in helping your students build strong, healthy, "growth mindset" brains.

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A GROWTH MINDSET is about believing in yourself and knowing that you have the power to change your abilities. 

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Many children and teens get stuck with a FIXED MINDSET. They believe they are "not good at writing" or will never be as good as _________. 

Incorporating a "growth mindset into your classroom conversations sends the message that, with support and effort, you can improve your own self. 

Growth mindset doesn't stop at grades and athletic ability. It can be applied to anything your students are passionate about. This can be talked about in friendships, in group work, when a student needs to be encouraged to speak up for what is right. 

One outlet for is to provide your students with an opportunity to take a risk through goal setting. Each week, I set goals with my students! These goals are academic in the classroom, but I also allow them to take goal sheets home for social/emotional ones too! When goals are met, students display them on "LEARNING CHAINS"

How to teach Growth Mindset in Elementary upper grades

How do you encourage your child to take ownership of their life? To put forth effort and work toward their goals, even when things get tough? It starts by realizing that children CAN be flexible thinkers. With the right type of support and encouragement, you can create a whole new culture inside your classroom.

Goal Setting in Elementary

There is no definitive recipe, no formula, no simple list of do's and don'ts to ensure effective teaching.But although there is no precise recipe, we can recognize effective teaching by a number of characteristics.

Effective teachers use a variety of strategies. They do not teach in the same way or use the same methods year after year. They recognize that different students need different ways to understanding. One of the strategies I am trying in my room this year is goal setting! I want my students to be empowered and take more ownership over their own learning experience in third grade. Here is how I do it. 

First I use lessons from my Growth Mindset Lessons and Resource pack which includes:

7 detailed lessons and Growth Mindset Expert Notebook/ pages (primary and upper ele. versions)

1. Page One: Timeline or Reflection page on good or bad moments

2. Page Two: Becoming Smarter page with a fictional character scenerio

3. Page Three: The Power of Yet page that encourages kids to set a goal

4. Page Four: Saving Fred page that asks important questions

5. Page Five: Fixed vs Growth mindset quotes page

6. Page Six: Which Mindset Do You Have page is a quiz to find out what mindset you have.

7. Page Seven: Smart Goal Planner Page to create a smart goal

Resources include:

2 Bulletin Boards (The Power of Yet and SMART)

Learning Chains

Turn in Bins (with multiple color/pattern options)

Self Assessment Posters

2 Quote Posters

2 Growth Mindset Posters

2 Fixed Mindset Posters

Gus the Growth Mindset Expert Book (12 Pages)

Fictional Character Sort it (8 characters in color & BW)

Scoot Game with fixed and growth mindset quotes (20 cards in color & BW)

Parent Guide to Growth Mindset (Color & BW)

Next I have a regular scheduled parent/volunteer who comes in weekly to check in with kids on their goals. Once they accomplish a goal. They get to name it and write down the evidence for that achievement. Then hang it on a chain that dangles from their locker. My kiddos are just finishing up their first goals this week and they were so excited to place their first chain on their star. Goals are academic. If they want social/emotional or sports goals. I let them take the goal setting paper home to track it there. 

I place SMART goals in a small photo album

Research reveals the positive effects of setting goals and using a growth mindset in the classroom. Here is what to expect:

1. The teacher will be exposed to lesson and activity ideas as well as some free tools and resources.
2. The teacher will be offered full lesson and activities for a low-cost.
3. The teacher can intervene to stimulate the motivation of poorly motivated students (Cook, 2017)
4. The learner will increase their awareness on mindset and learn how to persevere through challenging tasks.  (Schroder, 2014)
5. The learner’s outcomes will be impacted both short and long term (Schimidt, 2016).
6. The learner will experience positive effects of personal best goals (Martin, 2006) 

References:

Cook, D.A., Castillo, R.M.,Gas, B., & Artino, A.R. (2017). Measuring achievement goal motivation, mindsets and cognitive load: validation of three instruments’ scores. Medical Education, 51(10), 1061-1074

Dweck, Carol (2006). Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.

Dweck, C. (2015). Growth Mindset, Revisited. Education Week, 35(5), 24-20.

Hattie, J. (2008). Visible learning: A synthesis of over 800 meta-analyses relating to achievement. London. UK: Routledge.

Martin, A. J., & Elliot, A.J. (2016). The role of personal best (PB) goal setting in students’ academic achievement gains. Learning & Individual Differences, 45, 222-227.

Schmidt, J., Shumow, L, & Kackar-Cam, H. (2017). Does Mindset Intervention Predict Students’ Daily Experience in Classroom? A Comparison of Seventh and Ninth Graders’ Trajectories. Journal of Youth & Adolescence, 46(3), 582-602.

Schroder, H.S.,.Moran, T.P., Donnellan, M.B., & Moser, J.S. (2014). Mindset induction effects on cognitive control: A neurobehavioral investigation. Biological Psychology, 103, 27-37.

Lesson on Small Moments

I enjoy teaching students how to write. When it comes to teaching how to write narrative, students need to grasp the difference between a big topic and a small one. One of the ways I do this is through a Watermelon vs Seed lesson in class.

Materials
Watermelon/Seed Chart
Watermelon Vs Seed Sort
Sticky Notes
Pencil

Lesson:

• Do you know that small moment stories come from big moments? 
• Tell students that you call a small moment story a seed moment and a Big moment story a Watermelon story. 
• Show some examples of a seed and watermelon moments. (Going to the cottage vs watching my son catch his first fish)
• Show students the hand signals you use for this.

Seed hand signal

Watermelon hand signal

• Name a topic and have students show you the signal to identify which kind of moment the topic is. Examples include: Going to the beach(W), jumping off the pier for the first time(S), climbing a mountain(W), slipping on a rock and falling down a hill (S), Taking a bike ride (W), seeing and eagle grab a fish from the river (S). 
• Place students in groups of 3-4. Have them sort watermelon and seed topics together on their own. Have them check out with you. 

Sorts can be found HERE

• When they are finished, have them go back to their tables and desks to write down a small moment on a sticky note. Stick these to your classroom chart for later use when they get stuck. 

• Go over them if you have time. 

Cheap White Boards

I posted a while back on Instagram about my whiteboard deal and continue to get requests about how I got them so cheap. So here is the scoop.

Go to Home Depot. For $14.98 you can get up to 27 boards made. I bought a bulk size sheet in Isle 32 at Home Depot. They will cut the board for you there. They have to free cuts and then .25 per cut after. I told the nice man who cut my board that I was a teacher and he said there was no charge for cuts then. BONUS!

I cut my board into 16 X 10 inch boards. Then I purchased isopropyl alcohol and rubbed it over the surface of all my boards so they would clean easily.

Writing Assessments

Throughout the units I use a more formative approach is to use some of these assessment tools. These tools are used for all subject areas. 

CLICK HERE to purchase

Rubrics are a great form of feedback for students. I use writing rubrics with my students when we get to the revision phase of the writing process.

One of the ways I make rubrics kid friendly is to show examples and non examples of what I expect. I have created two resources that do this for third grade and they are below 

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Also, These are 3rd grade rubrics that follow the Lucy Calkins Writing Workshop set. They will be helpful for understanding what objectives are being taught and how they should be assessed. There is 4 rubrics attached for Launching, Raising the Quality, Breathing Life into Essays, and Fiction.

First page of Essay Unit

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Growth Mindset- Lessons and Resources

Over the past thirty years, K-12 systems have shifted their thinking and for how students learn. Schools used to “teach to the middle” meaning they would grab those who were on the average range of learning. If a student couldn’t keep up, the teacher moved on. If the student was zooming through activities, they would just receive more activities. Today many schools use a Response to Intervention Model that catches the strugglers. Depending on school funding, some schools also provide some sort of gifted and talented service. Whatever the case, all students in the classroom can learn. That means anyone can become smarter! Today there are many more researched based strategies that promote positive solutions. 

By subscribing to my BLOG, I can provide you with a character education series on growth mindset while offering you free tools and activities to use in your classroom. How does that sound? So click HERE to join!