Hello everyone! I’m Tammy, and I’m excited to have this opportunity to share with you today here at Minds in Bloom! While most of my experience has been in teaching fifth grade, I currently teach third and have been teaching since 2004. Although I teach all subjects, I have a passion for teaching science. I love creating hands-on and engaging lessons and activities.
The Background Story
Curriculum Planning

Time Adjustment
I adjusted my times in both reading workshop and in science. I taught science now longer than 30 minutes a day because I was now teaching reading through science. This also made it easier for me to reach that Common Core requirement of 50% nonfiction and 50% fiction (for fourth grade) reading balance. I was teaching students how to read nonfiction texts along with nonfiction strategies, and they had to apply them beyond not only just a book of their choice but also in their science studies. I did slim back my reading block a bit. I still taught reading separately, but the focus was more on fiction studies and providing independent time. This also allowed time for me to meet in small groups or confer. This entire change was actually difficult at first because of the adjustment but extremely powerful in the end! I was so moved by it that I will never teach another way!
Other Ideas
*Morning Work – Use morning work that focuses on science and reading, such as my Science Picture of the Day activity. Students have to observe and infer the science in photographs. Check out this critical thinking freebie.



My co-teacher and I have been working toward this goal. Thank you so much for outlining your strategy. You were much more organized in your approach than we have been! It really does take an enormous amount of pre-planning, but it is totally worth it!
It definitely takes time! Start small but know that it is possible!