The Learning Pit
True or False: Productive Struggle is part of the learning Pit.
True
When will the new ELA Standards be implemented and expected to be taught?
A. This school year 2026-2027
B. Next school year 2027-2028
C. The following school year 2028-2029
B. Next school year 2027-2028
True or False: Learning math facts is just about memorization.
False: Learning math facts is about flexibility with numbers and number sense
What are Foundational Transcription skills in the simple view of writing?
Foundational Transcription Skills x Composition Skills = Skilled Writing
Letter Formation
Punctuation Formation
Handwriting (Print and/or cursive) Fluency
Spacing/Spatial (between letters vs words vs sentences vs paragraphs)
Spelling (to a degree)
What fast food chicken has become a famous Christmas dinner in Japan?
KFC
_______ and _______ create frustration.
A. High Expectations and High Support
B. Low Expectations and Low Support
C. High Expectations and Low Support
D. Low Expectations and High Support
C. High Expectations and Low Support
True or False: The complex text strand is at the center, or heart, of the other strands: Comprehension Development, Foundational Skills, Communication and Writing.
True
Sammy is learning his 7 times tables. He is very fluent with his 2's and 5's. How can help Sammy learn his 7's using what he already knows?
Example correct answers: You can show Sammy how to break apart/decompose his 7 times tables into 5's and 2's, for example: 7 x 8 = ? Guide him to see that if he decomposes 7 into 5 and 2 he can figure out
(5 x 8) + (2 x 8) = 7 x 8
40 + 16 = 56
so, 7 x 8 = 56
Why is it important to provide explicit, corrective feedback to students when they are learning letter formation?
A. To make students feel bad that cannot make the correct strokes for the letter
B. To make this skill become increasingly automatic to alleviate cognitive load when composing writing pieces
C. To ensure know all their letters and letter sounds
B. To make this skill increasingly automatic to alleviate cognitive load when composing writing pieces
Which company started to feature the modern-looking Santa in its ads in the 1930s?
A. Sears and Roebuck Co.
B. Macy's
C. Coca-Cola
C. Coca-Cola
A teacher gives students a chance to share how they solved their math word problem. She listened closely and jotted down some of the key points she heard in the conversations. Most students got the first part correct. She noted that some students forgot the second step in the word problem. What should she do next to effectively pull students out of the learning pit?
A. Tell everyone to stop talking and model the problem on the board.
B. Choose a student to work on the problem on the board that made the mistake and point out the mistake for everyone to see
C. Have everyone leave their word problem work on their desks and do a gallery walk. The teacher asks students to notice what was the same and different about their work and other students' work. Then, ask the students to reread the problem and make any changes they would like to make.
D. Say, "Some of you got 15 as the correct answer, while some of you got 25. Let's reread the problem." The teacher rereads the problem and asks students to act it out with a partner. Lots of students say, "OH!" The teacher asks students to go back and correct their work.
D. Say, "Some of you got 15 as the correct answer, while some of you got 25. Let's reread the problem." The teacher rereads the problem and asks students to act it out with a partner. Lots of students say, "OH!" The teacher asks students to go back and correct their work.
True or False: An interactive read aloud can be accomplished by choosing a book off your bookshelf and reading it to your students.
False: An interactive read aloud needs to be carefully planned out with a clear purpose and pre-planned stopping points that evoke meaning and elicit deep comprehension of the text. Generally speaking, it can be up to two grade levels above your students expected reading level.
Nini, a second grader, is learning her addition and subtraction facts to 20. She is excellent with her teen numbers (ie 10 + 1 = 11; 10 + 2 = 12; 10 + 3 = 13; 10 + 4 = 14 etc). She really struggles with problem such as 15 - 9 = ? Often, she tries to "regroup" or has to draw 15 dots and cross out 9 to get the answer. How can you use what she knows about teen numbers to help her with teen numbers take away 9 problems?
Example Answers: Teen numbers on a tens frame and subtracting 9 to see a pattern; teen numbers with base ten blocks; showing the pattern with teen numbers minus 9 (it is just one more "one" than the decomposed teen number etc)
True or False: When learning sentence formation it is important to start with:
WHO/WHAT? DID WHAT?
True
What does the word "Noel" literally translate to from its original Latin root word (natalis)?
A. Son
B. Birth
C. Peace
Birth
Which of the following helps students understand that struggling is part of learning?
A. Growth Mindset
B. Fixed Mindsey
C. Frustration
A. Growth Mindset
The three foundational principles on which the new ELA Standards were created are:
Complex texts at the center (text complexity)
Integrated Model of Literacy and Spiraling (skilled Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening and/or Reading Rope all strands)
Variety of Texts
3rd Grade Teacher A taught her class to make a quick multiplication chart on their graph paper. She began with their 0's, 1's, 2's, 5's and 10's. If they don't know a fact, they are encouraged to find patterns in the other rows and columns. They worked on skip counting as well to help them fill in the chart. They practice creating their multiplication chart each day for 3 minutes. She checks in and gives feedback to students during this time. She hopes her students will be able to complete this chart in 3 minutes or less to help on quizzes, tests etc.
3rd Grade Teacher B studies a new factor each week. Students make flashcards and are required to study each day for 5 minutes at school and 5 minutes at home each night. They take a timed test each Friday on that factor of the week. Students earn ice cream scoops and have until the end of the year to earn an ice cream party for mastering all their multiplication facts to 10.
Who do you think will have more successful students who know their facts? Teacher A or Teacher B
Teacher A
Mr. McDonald assigned his 3rd graders this essay prompt: Should 3rd Graders be able to bring their tablets or devices to school to use during our Fun Fridays if they have all their work complete and no behavior write ups?
He had the students get up and stand on the left side of the room if they thought yes and the right side if they thought no. They discussed their reasonings.
He listed FACTS on the board: Fact 1: Fun Friday lasts 30 minutes on Friday afternoons. Fact 2: Devices can get lost or broken. Fact 3: Some kids do not have devices at home.
He modeled both claims for yes and no on the board. He plans on giving his students a graphic organizer tomorrow so they can choose which claim they would like to use. Then, they will get into groups and discuss some evidences based on the claims they chose.
What should Mr. McDonald do next?
Example: Show how evidence and reasons are DIFFERENT. Explain how evidence are the FACTS and have students evaluate if their statements are facts or reasons. They could short them on the board and discuss the characteristics of both.
In the classic movie Elf, Buddy the Elf actually gets his name from what specific object?
A. Little Buddy Diapers
B. Little Buddy Bears
C. Little Buddy Bottles
Little Buddy Diapers
What question could a teacher pose to help students get out of the learning pit?
A. Can you show that in a different way?
B. How is ____ similar to ____?
C. What pattern or rule are you noticing?
D. All of the above
D. All of the above
The three EQUAL factors in determining text complexity are? (Think equilateral triangle, divided into thirds: Q________, Q___________ and R______ & T_______)
Quantitative
Qualitative
Reader and Task
A struggling 5th grade math student is working on this math problem below:
Eli's Budget for bathroom tile: $170
Eli is laying tile in his bathroom that measures 6 ft x 8 ft. Each tile measures 1 square foot. How many tile will be he need?
If each tile costs $3.50, how much money will he spend on tile?
Will he be over or under budget?
How would you scaffold this problem for this student?
Example Answers: Reading aloud the problem, using the 3 reads/marking up the problem (circling the important parts, underlining the questions) Use manipulative tiles, graph paper to model the area.
Breaking apart the area into 5 x 8 and 1 x 8 to get the total area
Using the graph paper to line up the decimals to multiply. Breaking apart the 3.50 into 3 and .50. Etc.
Why is writing so hard for students?
It is a mental juggling act, it uses all of their brain (backwards and forwards), they may not have foundational skills mastered yet, so composition is harder for them. The composition part may demand a lot of cognitive load, therefore their handwriting may get sloppy or illegible due to mental fatigue. It requires A LOT of executive functioning skills that must be modeled by the teacher through writing think alouds, shared writing, use of graphic organizers etc.
What was George Washington doing on Dec. 25, 1776?
Crossing the Delaware in the Revolutionary War