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If you enjoy these resources, please click the button above and forward the email to a friend or colleague. Thanks!
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 Top Teaching Resource Recommendations
Which of my resources are your favorites? Last week I shared the top three freebies in my TpT store in a special blog post. Then I asked teachers to help me choose the top products, and over 100 people shared their favorites with me. To find out which products were selected as my best resources, read the complete blog post on Corkboard Connections.
By the way, don't forget to follow me on TpT because I now offer 50% off on new products that I add to my store, but just for the first 24 hours they are on the site. The best way to find out when I add something new is to click the Follow Me link at the top of my TpT store.
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 February Activities Mini Pack - FREE!
Looking for some special activities to use in February? You'll find just what you need in my FREE February Activities Mini Pack. This item has been downloaded over 106,000 times, and last year it was the top freebie on TpT during February. However, it needs a few more ratings to put it into the top 10 for this year. Can you help? After you download the February Mini Pack, click the ratings and feedback tab and rate it there. It will only take a moment, and it's much appreciated! :)
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 New! Common Core Reading Discussion Prompts
I'm excited to share my newest Common Core resource, these CCSS Aligned Reading Discussion Prompts! Each grade level collection includes 3 sets of prompts: Literature, Informational Text, and Personal Response. I've already created the Grades 2 through 5 sets, and I'm working on a 1st grade set now. You can download complete previews of them in my TpT store.
 Make It a Combo!
These CCSS Reading Discussion Prompts are the same ones that are in the Talking Sticks sets, and you can purchase them individually or in a Combo pack. Why make it a Combo? You can save money buy buying them together, but that's not the best part. As one teacher wrote in her feedback, "Thoughtfully made. I love the combo pack in particular, because I can now use the same questions with the whole class and then with small reading groups. I will definitely be using the informational ones next week!"
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 Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Free Resources for the
Free BrainPOP Video
Do you use BrainPOP in your classroom? BrainPOP offers short animated videos about almost anything you can imagine, and they're great teaching tools. Most of their videos can't be viewed without a subscription, but they do have terrific one on Dr. King's life that's absolutely free!
BrainPOP has some wonderful teacher resources to go along with their video, but I created an additional packet of free active-engagement lessons to share with you. In case you are wondering, I do have permission from the company to use their images and share this packet with you. You can download this free packet of materials from my TpT store. If you need more resources for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, visit Sunny Days in Second Grade where you'll find this packet featured in Denise Boehm's Show N Tell Tuesday blog post along with other great resources for this special holiday.
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Cooperative Learning Success Strategies
As you probably know, I'm a huge fan of cooperative learning strategies. However, I'm aware that many teachers have not found cooperative learning to be effective. In a recent blog post on Corkboard Connections, I explored the some of the reasons why cooperative learning activities may end up being more like ineffective "group work." I also shared a some strategies for adding structure to group work to make it more productive, including techniques for fostering effective team discussions. I hope you'll take a look and let me know your favorite cooperative learning tips and tricks!
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Featured Pinterest Board: Centers and Small Groups
Upper Elementary Resources
I love using learning centers, but I also know how difficult it can be to find great resources for upper elementary centers. That's why I created a new collaborative Pinterest board called Centers and Small Groups (Upper Elementary). If you like the resources on this board, please follow it! In fact, you can use the Follow All button at the top and follow all of my Pinterest boards!
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Get Funding for Your Classroom Projects!
The big news is that starting tomorrow, I'm revising my original program to allow teachers to submit project links that go to other nonprofit organizations like Adopt a Classroom and Digital Wish. So it's now called Fund-day Sunday instead of DonorsChoose Sunday. Thanks to Facebook fans Natasha Norris and Priscilla Milam who both came up with the name Fund-day Sunday. Love it! I'll post more information about this soon on Corkboard Connections, but I wanted to let my newsletter subscribers to be the first to know. Be sure to like my Facebook page and check in on Sunday to post your project link.
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