Quit Taking It Personally - State Testing Results

I've been depressed.You see, today I saw how my class did last year on State Testing.  I went into State Testing knowing that I did everything in my power to help the students get it.  We learned that material until we were blue in the face.  I taught intervention after school all year long.  I sent home tons of resources, and I had as many small groups as I could have had.  I utilized parent helpers and my wonderful push...

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Summer Sandwich Writing Activity

So I mentioned the other day about the kids writing a Summer Sandwich. It wasn't my own idea, but one that my neighbor graciously shared with me a couple of years ago.  I love this project!In 4th grade the kids have to learn to write a multi-paragraph essay on a single topic. At the beginning of the year the kids gasp in horror when I tell them that we are going to tackle this feat every week for the school year.When I mention the first assignment's...

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Convicted

I know it's a second post for today, but I've been convicted. I had to head out to the grocery store for milk this afternoon and the Christian radio station was on in the car. Usually we have the CDs going or a kid movie in the DVD player. Anyhow, as I was driving there the guy came on and spoke about it being a stressful time of year and the reminder to Trust God. He mentioned the verse - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart..." Maybe you know it? Well, it reminded me that I didn't include a big portion of my life in my post the other day.Last...

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Reading Assessments, Daily 5, and my Future Sanity

I did some assessments this past week - the STAR assessment through Renaissance Learning and a beginning of the year Fluency test. The results were more spanned than any I can remember of previous years. Out of the 30 kids that I tested (2 new ones came on Thursday and Friday that I haven't had a chance to get to), 21 of them are reading below grade level. The other 9 are either at grade level or advanced. Basically the range in my class is from...

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Therapeutic Thursday

Did you miss me yesterday?  After a summer of not missing a day I just couldn't make it on here.I know what stress feels like.  I had to teach about concrete and abstract nouns today, and I know that stress is supposed to be an abstract noun - you know, something you can't see or touch - but I know exactly how stress feels.  It makes me think I'm having a heart attack.  Of course I'm not, but my chest hurts so bad at times that...

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Comparing Numbers - A Silly Little Game

Today my class compared numbers up into the millions.  I think it's amazing how 4th graders think it's such a big deal to work with numbers in the millions.  Maybe they believe it because I relate millions to money - though I've never been close to a million dollars in my life...  Anyhow, we compared... and compared some more... and then I told them that we were going to play a game.  Of course this is the first official math...

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Must Have Monday!

I'm linking up with Blog Hoppin' to share my 5 must haves to start out the school year.  I know I probably should have chosen something else to share, but I really love my technology.  So here are the things that I'm thankful I don't have to live without.*I should mention that my classroom has these awesome items because my past classes have been very generous and raised the money for technology, my family has given me money for my classroom,...

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Learning About My Kiddos (Student Surveys)

This past week at school I had my students fill out surveys and we discussed them whole class.  I didn't do it as a time filler, though it did take time.  I had them fill them out to learn about them.  I wanted them to have to share what was on their brains as they started in our classroom.  I'm so thankful for other bloggers sharing their ideas with the rest of us. Who Am I?  Stephanie over at Teaching in Room 6 shared her...

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3 Summer Memories, 2 Favorites about Back to School, and 1 Career

I'm joining up today with 4321's linky party.  I love the idea of a 3, 2, 1 - I do it with my school kids all the time.  So here it goes...3...2...1 Linky Party!3 Favorite Summer Memories 2 Favorite Things about Back to School1 Career you would like to try if you weren't a teacherSo... here's my information:3 Favorite Summer Memories*I loved going to Pismo Beach and Monterey with my family.  There is just something about getting...

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School Tube

Another website that I just learned about... Seriously, why isn't there professional development that just shows off what is free on the web for resources?  I wish!So, I was looking around for Bucket Filler videos the other day, and I saw this website: www.schooltube.comNot a lot of video based websites are allowed in my school's network, so I was hoping beyond hope that it would work.  It does!  It seems to be a cross between...

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The Power of the Plink

It's all about positive reinforcement in my classroom.  Yeah, I have a behavior chart, but I'd rather reward the good behavior and have the kiddos want to be on their best behavior than discipline the unruly ones.  Not that I don't do both.  I'm just saying how I feel...So, behavior wise I have a lot of positive reinforcement going on that I love for my class.  We've gotten it all started the past 4 days, and it's working so well....

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Back To School Night is TONIGHT!

I'm a little nervous about tonight.  I'm not so nervous about talking with the parents because that is on my own turf (so to speak) - though that might change by the time that it's really time to share... it's the part of standing up in front of a packed auditorium at the beginning of the night and having them introduce me that makes my knees fall apart.  Even after all this time... does this feeling ever go away??  For my two 30 minute...

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My 1st Day of School (Lesson Plan)

So, yesterday was my first day of school and it was overall a good day.  I guess the big thing is remembering their names - I'm not good with names and it bugs me how long it takes me.  Do you have a method that you do that helps you?  I'm open to advice!So, here's what I did on my first day.  Just my simple plan.  I always write out my first day as a checklist - too many details to try to fit inside the little boxes in my...

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Monday Made It: Making Connections and Story Maps

Tara is hosting her Monday Made it once again, and to be honest I didn't think that I would have anything to share.  I've made so much stuff lately... I'm kinda sick of my glue gun, but still in love with my laminator, Google free clip art,  and the Fontmoochers font!  So today I'm sharing my new reading posters with you.  I had these same type of things last year in my classroom - just on a plain anchor chart paper, but I wanted...

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