This lesson plan is part of our partnership with two super creative educators from The Curriculum Corner, bringing you free Common Core aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources, and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest Perfecta 2400 or VariQuest Poster Maker - just be sure you have the latest version of the VariQuest Software! Mini-Lesson: Staying on Topic Level: Intermediate Objectives/CCSS Alignment: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content. Visuals & Materials: Interactive Anchor Chart – Staying on Topic (Iditarod) Peer Check: Focus on Topic conferencing form

This lesson plan is part of our partnership with two super creative educators from The Curriculum Corner, bringing you free Common Core aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources, and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest Perfecta Poster Design System - and be sure you have the latest version of the VariQuest Software! Lesson: Introduction to Problem Solving Strategies (Two-Day Lesson) Level: Primary Objectives & CCSS Alignment: Students will increase independence in using various strategies to solve different types of word problems. *Note: CCSS has problem solving strategies spread throughout the domains for math. This lesson focuses on giving them a review of each of the various strategies. It is suggested that teachers follow up this review with a more in-depth lesson in each of the strategies as they fit naturally into the curriculum or as there is student need. Materials & Visuals: Anchor Chart – Problem Solving Strategies My Math Notes for Problem Solving Click on each image to download the PDF and print to a poster! Preparation: Think through a sample problem for each of the strategies listed on the anchor chart. These will be shown to the students as examples. Prepare “Problem Solving” anchor chart for mini-lesson. Copy the “My Math Notes for Problem Solving” page for each child in the classroom. You may choose to three-hole-punch this page for use in a Math Notes binder/folder to be kept by students and referred to throughout the year. Mini-Lesson: Ask students what a “strategy” is. Accept several answers and then lead the class to the conclusion that a strategy is a plan to reach a goal. In math a strategy would be a plan to reach a final answer. Display the anchor chart titled “Problem Solving Strategies” for the students. Tell them that these are some ways that they can use to solve all kinds of different math problems. Pass out “My Math Notes for Problem Solving” to each student and explain that this page is a place for them to write down some notes that will help them to remember what each strategy is and how to use it. They will keep this in their math binder/folder and can pull it out as a reminder when needed. *Note: The boxes of this resource have been left blank so that the teacher can decide the level of support needed to fill it out. Students may need to draw or write exactly what the teacher shares for each strategy or they may be allowed to draw or write whatever they feel will help them to remember the strategy. Briefly explain a few of the eight strategies and guide students as to how you would like for them to take their notes (copying the teacher notes or creating their own depending on grade or skill level). Introduce however many strategies that time allows for in this first lesson, and then complete the note-taking for the final strategies the following day. Have students place their Math Notes into an organized binder or folder that will be kept and used throughout the year. Did you like this lesson? Leave a comment and let us know what topics you would like us to cover in future posts and we will work on delivering free resources to help you prepare for your lessons!

Reward your star students and staff and send them home with something sweet before summer. We’ve seen this candy-themed recognition idea on teacherspayteachers.com and elsewhere, but you can create these delicious and personalized awards with a trip to the grocery store and your VariQuest® Motiva® 400 Specialty Printing System on hand!

This lesson plan is part of our partnership with two super creative educators from The Curriculum Corner, bringing you free Common Core aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources, and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest® Perfecta® Poster Design System - just be sure you have the latest version of the VariQuest Software! Lesson: Introduction the Scientific Method

We are excited to have a partnership with two super-creative educators from The Curriculum Corner! You can expect to see more blog posts containing free Common Core aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest Perfecta Poster Design System - and be sure you have the latest version of the VariQuest Software!

The end of the year brings a wide array of student-centered activities and events. From sports to recognition ceremonies, pep rallies to field trips—it can be tough for students, parents, even staff to keep them straight, let alone attend! At the secondary level where the daily parent involvement tends to be less, the need to communicate and promote key events is even more important.

We are excited to announce our partnership with two super creative educators from The Curriculum Corner! You can expect to see more blog posts containing free Common Core aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest® Perfecta® Poster Design System - just be sure you have the latest version of the VariQuest Software! Lesson: Introduction to Problem Solving Strategies (Two-Day Lesson)

We are excited to announce our partnership with two super creative educators from The Curriculum Corner! You can expect to see more blog posts containing free Common Core aligned lesson ideas, teacher resources and templates you can easily print with your VariQuest® Perfecta® Series Poster Design System - just be sure you have the latest version of the VariQuest Software! Mini-Lesson: Staying on Topic Level: Primary Objectives/CCSS Alignment: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.1.5 With guidance and support from adults, focus on a topic, respond to questions and suggestions from peers, and add details to strengthen writing as needed. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.5 With guidance and support from adults and peers, focus on a topic and strengthen writing as needed by revising and editing. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.3.2.A Introduce a topic and group related information together; include illustrations when useful to aiding comprehension. *Note: This lesson addresses the part of the standards highlighted in teal only. Teachers will need to address other parts of the standards in future mini-lessons. Visuals: Interactive Anchor Chart – Staying on Topic (Chameleon) Peer Check: Focus on Topic conferencing form