Teaching the Common Core: Speaking and Listening

Have you heard of the So So Happy characters?  Meet Tribe who can only shout compliments!!

My daughter picked this cute guy for her way of spending her tooth fairy money and once I read the tag, I was hooked!  This organization is fabulous for encouraging children to spread kindness!

Why am I excited to share this as part of my techniques to implement the Common Core?  Check out how he can help students address the Speaking and Listening standards:

• CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.3.1b Follow agreed-upon rules for discussions (e.g., gaining the floor in respectful ways, listening to others with care, speaking one at a time about the topics and texts under discussion).

My class really loved giving positive feedback to their presenting peers using Tribe (though he needed several reminders to not SHOUT!!).  Check it out and have fun!!!

Inspiration for CCSS Shades of Meaning

This isn't 50 Shades of Grey (sorry! Lol), but if your state is implementing the Common Core standards, I'm sure you've come across some new terminology such as "shades of meaning".  Here's the standards I'm referring to for each elementary grade level:

* CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.K.5d Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs describing the same general action (e.g., walk, march, strut, prance) by acting out the meanings.

* CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.1.5d Distinguish shades of meaning among verbs differing in manner (e.g., look, peek, glance, stare, glare, scowl) and adjectives differing in intensity (e.g., large, gigantic) by defining or choosing them or by acting out the meanings.* CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.5b Distinguish shades of meaning among closely related verbs (e.g., toss, throw, hurl) and closely related adjectives (e.g., thin, slender, skinny, scrawny).

* CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.3.5c Distinguish shades of meaning among related words that describe states of mind or degrees of certainty (e.g., knew, believed, suspected, heard, wondered).

Well, inspiration strikes in different places and in the back to school supply section I saw that Crayola is selling boxes of crayons in shades of each color.  I could totally use these in my classrooms and have the students write words/make posters and color the words to show the different shades!!  (ps. There are 8 shades of grey in one of the boxes if you were wondering :))What ideas do you have for them?  Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below!