These eight printable posters are useful for showing students the different methods they can use to solve problems in math: use concrete materials; act it out; draw a diagram; make a list; find a pattern; guess and check; use computation; and simplify the problem.
Problem Solving Strategies Posters
Illuminations
This website was created by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. The site contains standards-based lesson plans and unit plans. The 541, K-12 lessons are organized, and searchable, by grade and standard. Many of the lesson plans have links to activity sheets and math tools mentioned in the plan. There are also 102 math activities on the site, as well as links to 724 reviewed web resources.
Guide to Effective Instruction in Writing, Kindergarten to Grade 3 (2005)
This resource guide for teachers is published by the Ministry of Education. It was written as a practical guide for delivering an effective writing program. Some of the topics covered are: stages of writing development, becoming an effective writer, teaching writing to ELL students, and assessment and evaluation. Each instructional approach chapter also contains at least one sample lesson plan.
Guide to Effective Instruction in Writing, Kindergarten to Grade 3, 2005
Role Cards for Literature Circles
These reproducible role cards briefly explain each literature circle member’s role and there are prompts for each member to respond to when they participate in the discussion.
Anchor Chart for ‘Just Right’ Texts
This chart explains the five-finger method for choosing a book. When trying to select a book a student should open the book to a random page and begin reading. If he or she comes across five words they do not understand then the book is too difficult.
Early Reading Strategy Grades K-3, Expert Panel Report (2003)
This Ministry of Education report was written by the Expert Panel on Early Reading. Its purpose is to provide a practical guide for building an effective reading program. It begins by discussing what effective reading instruction entails. It also provides instructional strategies for teaching phonics, read aloud, shared reading, guided reading, comprehension, and independent reading. Other topics such as assessment and evaluation and help for children with reading difficulties are also covered. There is a glossary and suggested reading list at the back of the report.
Early Reading Strategy Grades K-3, Expert Panel Report (2003)
Content Literacy
This document from the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat’s Research into Practice series addresses the question: how can we teach content literacy to elementary students? It discusses the challenges that students face when it comes to reading informational texts that contain vocabulary and concepts that are foreign to them. The author presents teaching strategies and tips to assist teachers in helping students to overcome those challenges.
Learning Blocks for Literacy and Numeracy
This article, from the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat’s ‘Reasearch into Practice’ series discusses the importance of having 100-120 minute blocks for literacy learning and 60-70 minute blocks for numeracy learning. Emphasis is placed on the fact that learning blocks allow for differentiated learning. The author also suggests tips for planning a classroom timetable in addition to outlining a sample instructional sequence for learning blocks.
Balanced Literacy Diagram
This diagram shows the main components of balanced literacy program as well as the main features of each component.
Using Bloom’s Taxonomy in Reading Instruction
This is a one-page graphic representation of how to connect Bloom’s Taxonomy with reading instruction.