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Perplexors: Higher Order Thinking prep +Reading and math Skills

5/6/2016

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Perplexors are word puzzles that require close reading and or math skills plus deductive reasoning to solve the problems.

​ Introduce Perplexors the first weeks of school next year as group activities, then you can incorporate them into your lesson plans throughout the year any time you need:

 An Additional Center Activity in your mix
AN EMerGency sub Assignment
A dispersal Assigment
A team-building Activity to practicE in Groups
Enrichment Assignment for Compacted students
An Extra Assigment for Odd Schedule days, etc:

 Since my last lesson idea post was very standardized EOG prep, I thought this was a good time to mention two math and reading skills resources you can incorporate into class that will help your student not just with standardized testing skills but also with logic and higher order thinking skills that will help them well past the time their standardized test taking days are over.

Ms. Lyttle and Ms. Malone saw Perplexors in use during their PL visit to Park Road Montessori's sixth grade.

Perplexors offer free samples and here is the Link To Purchase  if you like the samples. Specific types of perplexors such as Grid perplexors, Venn Diagaram perplexors and more books are available on Amazon and elsewhere.
Perplexor Tutorials are available on Youtube:
Basic level Math Perplexor Sample:
bakers_get_the_bues_perplexor.pdf
File Size: 347 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Expert Level Math Perplexor Sample:
expert_level_math_perplexor.pdf
File Size: 27 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Basic level Perplexor sample
basic_level_perplexor_dog_race.pdf
File Size: 28 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Level D Perplexor Sample 
report_card_fun_perplexor_level_d.pdf
File Size: 30 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Here's an embedded perplexor for you to see:
starving_artists_perplexor.pdf
File Size: 41 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File



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EOG Prep 

2/12/2016

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FREE Access to Ready-made  EOG TEST PREP For YOur course

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End of Grade testing is around the corner and, regardless of how you feel about standardized testing, when  students are placed by those results, we have an obligation to help them play the game.
​I've heard mixed reviews about Edgenuity but here is something interesting to check out via Morgan Reese:

Picture
Pictureclick the image to view the complete list of EOG prep courses
FREE Ready-made EOG AND EOC TEST PREP courses
  • Courses are broken down into small, topic-specific areas
  • Use it in the classroom to differentiate, review, or blend OR offer it as an extra, voluntary option to students. training available in MyTalent

Login Instructions:
​go to
http://www.Edgenuity.com (log in at top right)

enter your

CMS Teacher Username: State ID (same as PowerSchool)
Teacher Password:  request access to the password here -(only requests coming from CMS teacher Google Drive accounts will be granted) or email me
 or
CMS Student Username: ID# or cmsID# (12345 or cms12345)
Student Password: Birthday YY/MM/DD (include the slashes)

Let me know what you think!

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AN oVerlooked Test-Prep strategy

5/20/2015

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PictureIs it crazy to want a little relaxation before exams? I think not!
Tomorrow begins our end of year testing.  Due to outdated competitive attitudes and well-intentioned conscientiousness, many teachers use the last day for last minute-review blast of facts. I used to do that, too,  even after I knew it was not proven effective educational  practice.
But Ms. Lyttle and Ms McCarthy have what researchers say is a  better idea. You can easily adapt their lesson for your own class to help students recognize and combat the stress that has been shown to hamper test performance by shutting down thinking and even restricting blood flow to the brain. 

There are plenty of resources online for all age levels that you can cull to share with students: from yoga videos and guided relaxation music to stress-busting suggestions and rate your anxiety quizzes.

Here is a step by step of the  Pre-Test Day Stress-busting lesson their students experienced, in photos:

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Step 1: Push the desks aside and lay out yoga mats and cushions.
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Take off your shoes and get comfy (fun socks are a plus)
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Prepare review resources for students who wish to review the traditional way. (They can still relax and take off their shoes, wherever they go!)
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Ms. McCarthy had students assess their stress level and discussed ways to combat anxiety so it won't affect thinking on test day.
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Be as comfy as possible while honestly assessing your stress level. Blankies from home help this process.
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Bring out your teddy bears for comfort and reassurance. You're never too old for a cuddly friend.
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Find a relaxing yoga for kids video and have students play along with the instructor.
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Relax and breathe #chill
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It is entirely possible to chill and still be colorful, as these young ladies prove.
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Think back on all you've learned this year. You are well-prepared and that is something to celebrate!
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Sit with your friends and share a smile!
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(Minnie Mouse ears, ranbow socks and Hello Kitty are optional.)
Related Posts:
http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/lesson-ideas/test-review-game-ideas
http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/lesson-ideas/scavenger-hunt-test-prep
http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/celebrating-piedmont/photos-of-the-week
http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/celebrating-piedmont/back-to-school-at-piedmont
http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/celebrating-piedmont/6th-grade-active-learning
http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/lesson-ideas/overlooked-test-prep
http://piedmontpd.weebly.com/lesson-ideas/incorporating-vocabulary
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     I am Lisa Gurthie the PD facilitator at Piedmont IB Middle School. She specializes in tech and arts integration, interdisciplinary, holistic education, and unschooling school to make it more real and relevant. One day I will modernize my "about" page. Check out the other blogs on this site for Lesson Ideas, Celebration of Good Teaching, and Piedmont PD

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