The website is not teacher friendly!
After completing Unit 1, I can finally locate resources that seem to be hidden away in the depths of the digital program. In fact, I bought binders to organize the weekly resources including pocket dividers for vocabulary cards and extra binders to hold copies of the annotated teacher's edition of the Your Turn workbook and Grammar Workbook. It is tiresome searching online each time that I want to grade an assignment.
Take Your Time Setting Up the Calendar
I also finally figured out how to adjust the calendar feature and redistribute lessons as needed. The digital tutorials were not as helpful as they could have been. A hint to remember: setting up the calendar is an essential part of utilizing this program. Take your time to do it right.
Take the Tests and Complete the Worksheets Yourself
The Weekly Assessments are very difficult, so try them yourself before using any of them with your classes. I have heard repeatedly from teachers that the approaching level test is the one to use during the first year of implementation. I agree! You will also want to teach strategies for completing these tests that are fresh reads for the students. Pay attention to any vocabulary included in the questions that could be difficult. My students knew the meanings of the vocabulary words for the week, but they did not know some of the words that were included as synonym choices on the tests. Vocabulary and finding text support for answers are heavily weighted in this program. You won't find the pitfalls until you do the work yourself.
Watch for Errors
After Unit 1, I have reported 5 content errors in the digital program, including typos and mislabeled spelling sounds, to content support. Be persistent and make sure that you follow up if you get an email saying that there is no error. Eventually, you will get to talk to someone who will want to fix the problem.
Create Your Own Resources as Supplements
With the difficulty of the program, my students have needed additional resources and practice that are not provided in the program. I have been making my own. Some of the hidden gems that I found useful are the Weekly Writing Frames that help students to summarize and use the vocabulary from the Reading/Writing Workshop selection. I also found this website to be helpful: http://theteachersguide.com. Here you can find a weekly informational letter, printable vocabulary cards, and vocabulary lists.
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| Sample of a Weekly Writing Frame |
I have begun to make Google Slides with embedded Pear Deck questions to go along with each lesson. With the free Pear Deck add-on and 1:1 Chromebooks, I can present on the Smartboard and push multiple choice and short-response questions to students during the presentation to increase engagement. Without these, I struggled with the lengthy, large group instructional sequences built into the first 2 days of the recommended plan. I will be posting those Pear Deck slides in another post. Be sure to subscribe to get updates if you want copies of all of them. Here is the Unit 2, Week 3 (Gr. 5)Pear Deck Google Slides slide set as a sample:
Book Widgets and Spelling City have also provided easy ways to increase student engagement with Wonders. It is very easy to create sequencing activities, vocabulary crossword puzzles, timelines, word webs, and story maps with Book Widget tools. Spelling City integrates nicely and includes pre-made spelling lists at 3 levels and vocabulary practice for every Unit and Grade level. This is a handy addition.
Don't Give Up!
It gets easier to wade through the resources. I finally feel like I know the differences between the Reading Writing Workshop, Literature Anthology, Your Turn workbook, and Close Reading Companion books! There are so many resources, I have to choose which ones to use each week, but it is getting easier. Check back here or subscribe so that you don't miss the other tools that I am creating for 5th grade!
