Instagram Style Five for Friday

This week I've been taking pictures!  Wanted to share some with you as part of Doodlebug's Weekly Linky Party!  You actually get 6 of them - can't figure out which one to get rid of... and I'm ready to party!!  3 day weekend here we come!  

First off - This was only a 4 day week for me.  It wasn't supposed to but I had to be home with a "possibly" sick kid on Monday.  He was ill on Sunday night, and not knowing what the next day would bring I called in for a sub.  The whole thing of making sub plans at the last minute isn't for me... so I needed to give myself some time to get it done.  BTW - He felt much better for the most part on Monday.  

Anyhow, when I was home I decided (with an idea from my dad) to finally push the self cleaning oven button on the oven.  Only the top one, and there was only one fire...  

On Tuesday we had our Scholastic box show up - these books were those freebies that the kids were able to choose due to ordering in the "Beginning of school - get all the bonus points as possible - please help our class" order.  Those sweet 13 families raised over 10,000 bonus points for our class!    

This week we also celebrated our puppy's 2nd birthday.  The boys and I headed to the pet store and picked up a 3 foot long rope and more of her favorite bouncy balls.  Little things... we've learned our lesson from last year - she destroys most of her toys, so things have to be indestructible.  

I sing.  Just a fun fact about me.  I'm also really shy and afraid of microphones.  So I'm not really sure why I decided to sign up this year for the church Christmas choir.  We've been practicing for a while now, since the Christmas choir really starts singing at Thanksgiving and it's an every week type of thing.  Anyway, Thursday night - probably because I had recess duty this week and had to yell for everyone to freeze - those high soprano notes were extra high.  Thankful for my Minnie mug with hot tea & honey - and for my student that gave it to me 3 years ago.  :)  

  

I saw an example of this little owl on Facebook last night, so I switched out my art project to make them today.  Above is my example.  My students will finish up on Tuesday (some of my ELL's were gone at that moment in time and need to finish).  Super simple - paper plate, fold one edge forward - then fold back the other way, then bring in the wings before giving a quick staple (to keep it flat - the eyes are glued over the staples).  I gave my students a strip of white construction paper, which they folded into 1/4's - in 2 of the sections they drew the eyes, the other 2 sections had the feet.  Then they took some of the extra white areas and created a triangle beak. Decorate, cut, glue, and done.  

This picture makes me mad - but I feel the need to spread the word about these little book lights.  They don't work.  I was all excited about giving my students a Flashlight Friday - and my students were excited too.  So I went out to a certain dollar type store and bought a class set.  My own son was being a helper this morning in the classroom and opened one up.  Turned it on - looked great.  Turned it off, then on again - and it didn't turn on.  Maybe it's just a dud - but I have 35 more of them that may not work.  Didn't realize that the store doesn't accept returns or that the manager wouldn't exactly be a kind person.  I won't be shopping there again... which is probably okay since I never felt safe going there anyway.   

Have a wonderfully long weekend!  :)  

Read More

Veterans Day Activities

I'm so looking forward to Monday.  I need a 3 day weekend like peanut butter needs chocolate.

Of course when I asked my students if they knew why we would be having a 3 day weekend they couldn't put it into words.  So I search through the freebies on TPT and found these gems to help me explain it.

First I learned about this picture book to read to the kids.  In That Room has this mini unit to help with comprehension.  

This one is from Michelle Harper and has a timeline that kids work to put together.  I have it copied for students to work with partners.  

This one is from Ashleigh and has a bunch of different activities.  Time is going to be an issue on Friday, so I printed off her synonym activity for individual students to tackle.

This pack is from Denise Scaccia.  I love how her writing paper has all the different branches of the armed services represented.  I know it's for the little kids, but my big kids will enjoy it too.

Just a few things to help my kiddos know the reason behind the day off of school.

Hope these help you! 

Read More

My Daily Schedule

I was reading blogs the other day and ran across a linky going on over at TGIF to share our daily schedules.  Talking to my BBB's I've been realizing how different life is for so many of us - even though we are all still teaching intermediate grades.  So, I wanted to share what a typical schedule is for my classroom in CA.

Random things to know - 

*We have 19 weeks of yard duty throughout the year, it works out to being every other week, flip-flopping recess and after school bus duty.

*We have prep everyday for 30 minutes, and because we're at a K-8 school the kids get to go to a PE teacher.  The primary teachers have to teach their own PE, but they also get out a half hour before the "big" kids.    

*The kids' hours are 8:20 - 2:50 (except on Monday when it's 8:20 - 1:30), the primary students go from 8:20 - 2:20 (1:15 on Mondays).  My contract hours are 8:00 - 3:30 every day but Mondays (because our staff meetings go until 4:30).  But we all know we do way more than that...  

Updated: I forgot to share the scoop on music. Music is optional - it's not a prep. Kids have to keep their grades up, but they can sign up for a string instrument. If they are in the program it's 1/2 hour twice a week. They leave during reading time. This year I only have 6 kids that attend, and with that it's only 3 kids per day that are gone.

*My beginner and intermediate ELLs also leave class every afternoon for 40 minutes. It's during my silent reading/ workshop time since they need to be there for everything else. This year I have 9 kids that leave. 

I guess I don't know what else to share - I tend to talk a lot about my day all the time, so if you have any questions just let me know!  

Read More

Math Shout Outs

Linking up with I {Heart} Recess to share what's going on in my classroom regarding math.

I have never really liked math.  There, I said it.  I'm not a math fan, but I'm learning to absolutely love math time in my classroom this year.  

What changed?  Math rotations and finding supplements that help my students with exactly what they need.  

Wanted to share what I'm using (product wise) in my classroom on a daily/weekly basis and how I'm using it.  All the images below are linked to the product pages on TPT in case you want to go take a look.  :)  

Morning Math - 

I know I've shared it before, but I use 4th Grade Frolics's set.  It matches up with my classroom colors and goes well on my pocket chart.  I add task cards for the different areas that are easy to switch out every afternoon.   

Interactive Math Notebooks -

I have all of these from Create Teach Share - they have come in so handy.  I have to say that I'm usually using my printer's 2 per page option.  This is my first year doing interactive notebooks - so I don't exactly know if I'm doing it correctly, but the kids are so much more engaged than the days of past years when we just wrote regular notes into the notebooks.  

Math Rotations - 

I chose 4th Grade Frolics set for my Rotations board (which I keep on my whiteboard) since it matches my classroom colors the best.  I started off the year having the full board up on my cabinet, but I soon needed that spot for something else.  Since the groups change every week and the options change every day, I keep it on my whiteboard with magnets.  Four of the small cards are at the top of my board and I write what the kids are either doing, or what they need to bring to the center underneath.  I use my magnetic pocket charts (from Scholastic).  The kids change groups every Monday morning, and their classroom numbers go in the pocket charts for the week.  Then I only need to switch the rotation headings around during the transition times.  

At your seat time -

For this area I wanted to keep it a spiral type of review.

I use Fun in Room 4B's Math Moves during this time.  This is something they have to work on a little everyday, and then we go over it full class.  I love the quiz options too.

I also use these review sheets from Jennifer Findley either during at your seat, for extra review homework, or for "if you finish early" activities.  

I just bought this this morning from Create Teach Share, so I haven't used it in the classroom yet.  I'm really excited about adding one or two of these problem solving tasks into the rotation each week.  I know how much the kids absolutely hate dislike problem solving, and it shows.  Hoping to get my kids more comfortable tackling the tasks.  

Math Assessments -

I like to give a short little math quiz every Friday, so this year I'm using these 2 for my main assessments.  Each set has one quiz for each skill.  I love them!  

This set is from Jennifer Findley - there are a lot of word problems.

This set is from Ashleigh - I have the multiple choice ones copied.
Between the 2 the kids are always getting feedback, and showing me if they really get the standard.   

Parent Intervention Time (One on One) - 

This set by Jennifer Findley I printed one set and laminated it, then used binder rings to keep the different math strands together.  I keep it in my parent/helper basket, and can easily flip to the specific standard for the kids to get extra practice.

I also have this set from Create Teach Share that I use mainly for intervention (send home an extra practice sheet when they didn't do great on the quiz), but also for at your seat math workshop.

Can I tell you how much I love sales?  So thankful for all these amazing teacher creators that have helped me in my classroom.  

Hope you had a great day!    

Read More

Time for Another Peek

To be honest, when I left school on Friday afternoon I didn't really know exactly what I would be doing on Monday morning.  I mean, it is the same routine - finally a normal routine this coming week.  But I was exhausted - the day after Halloween... I spent the entire day yawning, and then fell asleep on the couch when I got home.

Thankfully I always bring home my plan book (which was blank), and had my yearly pacing guide (which was full) - so at least I could figure out what comes next.  I am so excited about a "normal" week this coming week!  :)

Just being honest.  

Okay - time to link up with Mrs. Laffin's Laughings for another installment of A Peek at My Week.  

This next week we actually have a fiction story to read.  :)  I know!!!  I'm so excited.  Not that I don't love reading nonfiction stories, but it's just not the same as tearing a part a fiction one.

The story is about a visually impaired boy that decides to start a business making greeting cards.  At this moment in time I don't have a fun connection in mind - just going to focus on the basics - defining vocabulary, making vocabulary cards, adding to our interactive notebook, making connections to self/text/world, creating a story map, rereading out loud with a partner, and writing a summary.  

In math we will be starting to multiply double digits.  I mentioned it yesterday, but I made up a new task card set for my kiddos.  

I'm having a pin it to win it until later on tonight in case you are interested.  

Read Alouds this week will be continuing on with Lemonade War - so far we're up to chapter 4, and the kids are so into it.

Our Mentor Sentence book is The Wretched Stone.  

We will begin learning about the California Missions this next week.  It will take us forever, but we get to start our mission a day booklets.

Basically each day we learn facts about a specific mission.  There are 21 of them, so we will be doing this for weeks to come, ending up right before Christmas break when they choose their own mission to learn more about and to begin their research report.

November means we will also be working on our Traditions books.  These books are so special (at least to my class) because they turn into their Christmas presents for their parents.  This is another project that takes weeks to complete, since we tackle all the different holidays and write descriptive informational paragraphs for each tradition. 

A couple of years ago I tried to do this in a matter of days by having the kids publish them through Student Treasures.  It was a wonderful idea to give it as a hardbound gift, but it caused a lot of stress.  Instead, I now just use card stock and bind it in our own school library.

Well - that's it.  5 days until we have a 3 day weekend.  :)  

Hope you are having a great day!  

Read More

Motivation - Morning Math Style (Giveaway)

Today I'm linking up with Joanne to share a little tidbit about my helpers.  I love using student helpers in the classroom.  They are so willing and EAGER to help out with EVERYTHING!  

Over the years I've learned to give up control in order to regain my sanity.  I used to be really Type A - having to control every aspect of my classroom.  Now, I'm a little more laid back at this time of the year when it comes to student helpers.  I've led them, I still monitor, but with the helper jobs the kids know how to get it done.

The other day I posted this picture of my morning math meeting.

Yes, it's on a pocket chart.  I started off the year writing a bunch of sentence strips in the chart, making up numbers and problems.  It was time consuming though, and I could never remember what problems we had already tackled.  So I switched to task cards.  The kids do the different activities first thing in the morning on their whiteboards (they are sitting on our carpet), then we go over it together - I use my own larger handheld whiteboard to solve the problems with them. 

And then the past couple of weeks I've given my helpers the added job of changing the different task cards up each afternoon for the next morning.  

It's serious excitement in the classroom during that moment in time.
Almost the same excitement as when I say it's dance party time or give them a piece of candy.  

I use the headings from 4th Grade Frolics, and have changed it up to things we are doing as a review, at present, and in the future. 

 Last night I made up some new task cards to stick into the pocket chart this coming week - I know, nothing like waiting until the last minute.  My kids are about to start double digit multiplication - and somehow last year when I started creating I only made up 3 x 2 digit ones... so that needed to change.    

Want to win a set?  Just pin it to win it!  Pin this product - either the blog post or the product page from the TPT store, and come back here to leave a comment with the pin.  I'll choose a random comment on Sunday night and send it to a lucky winner via email. 

Have a wonderful weekend!  

Read More

I Am Thankful

It's November!  

Time to remember all the things I'm thankful for... I started writing up a Five for Friday and realized my 5 things were all complaints and downers - October was once again a very busy month... so I scratched it and decided an intervention was in order.... for myself!  

So here are five things I'm thankful for.  Linking up with Doodle Bugs to share!

ONE

I'm thankful for my family.

I love my crazy boys with their never-ending amounts of energy.  

TWO

I'm thankful for my friends.  I'm blessed!

THREE

I'm thankful for my students and the opportunity to do what I love.  

It's always nice to feel appreciated too.  :)  

  

FOUR

I'm thankful for my home, even when it's messy.

{Yeah - not going to show you a picture of it at the moment...}

FIVE

I'm thankful for my boys' buckets of candy.  

Sometimes you just need a little chocolate fix.  :)  

Have a wonderful weekend!  We get that extra hour!!  :)    

Read More