part of my gift to my second grade teacher friends
front :: half dry-erasable, half sticky noted
back :: dry erase marker holder
Showing posts with label classroom. Show all posts
Showing posts with label classroom. Show all posts
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Saturday, May 07, 2011
Thor
We had a sort-of date night tonight.
We went and saw Thor in 3-D at the local Imax theater. Very good movie visually and holds your attention through the entire movie. My husband and I both agreed that the 3-D didn't seem to add anything to the movie, so don't feel pressured to watch that version of it.
I never read comics. I don't know the stories behind all these Marvel characters or their storylines, but I think it's really neat that these movies are referencing each other. The Shield, a secret government group, is woven in to each movie. Then at the very end, after all the credits, there is a scene introducing a future Marvel character's movie. My husband says there's even a movie in the making that includes several of the Marvel stars as the Avengers.
Anyway, all that said, Thor was a good movie, and I think you'll find it entertaining also.
Afterward, we stopped by Logan's Roadhouse to eat. I ate the grilled teriyaki chicken with steamed broccoli and a salad. Mmm!
P.S. I got the idea from a teacher's blog to have something that the students put on their desk when they leave the room so that it's easy to see who's left the room and where they have gone. Great idea! Check out what I picked up from the "dollar" section of Target today...
$2.50 for a set of 6. Like!
I never read comics. I don't know the stories behind all these Marvel characters or their storylines, but I think it's really neat that these movies are referencing each other. The Shield, a secret government group, is woven in to each movie. Then at the very end, after all the credits, there is a scene introducing a future Marvel character's movie. My husband says there's even a movie in the making that includes several of the Marvel stars as the Avengers.
Anyway, all that said, Thor was a good movie, and I think you'll find it entertaining also.
Afterward, we stopped by Logan's Roadhouse to eat. I ate the grilled teriyaki chicken with steamed broccoli and a salad. Mmm!
P.S. I got the idea from a teacher's blog to have something that the students put on their desk when they leave the room so that it's easy to see who's left the room and where they have gone. Great idea! Check out what I picked up from the "dollar" section of Target today...
$2.50 for a set of 6. Like!
Friday, May 06, 2011
Moon Over Manifest
Finished another read aloud book today. You know what that means...
Book review time!
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
I must say, I knew nothing about this book prior to my mother handing it over to be read. When I discovered it was written by a Kansas author and its setting was based on a Kansas town, I was very eager to read it with my students.
When Abilene Tucker steps off the train and into Manifest, Kansas, she has no idea what the summer has in store for her. She unearths the history of this small town while in search of her father's history. What she discovers, however, is an identity she didn't realize she was looking for.
This book really had some great one-liners that are revisited throughout the book:
78% of my students said they liked the book and would definitely recommend it to a friend.
6% of my students thought it wasn't their cup of tea but others might like it.
17% of my students said they didn't like it and would never recommend it EVER.
From a teacher's perspective, the book is great for making connections, studying historical events during the two time periods in the book, making predictions, and making inferences. It might be a good idea to keep a plot chart going for each storyline to help keep up with the developments from day-to-day.
Book review time!
Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool
I must say, I knew nothing about this book prior to my mother handing it over to be read. When I discovered it was written by a Kansas author and its setting was based on a Kansas town, I was very eager to read it with my students.
When Abilene Tucker steps off the train and into Manifest, Kansas, she has no idea what the summer has in store for her. She unearths the history of this small town while in search of her father's history. What she discovers, however, is an identity she didn't realize she was looking for.
This book really had some great one-liners that are revisited throughout the book:
"It is not down in any map; true places never are."
"The line between truth and myth is sometimes difficult to see."
"Things are not always what they seem."
78% of my students said they liked the book and would definitely recommend it to a friend.
"It's characters had real life people personality."
"It keeps you on your toes and you never know what's going to happen."
17% of my students said they didn't like it and would never recommend it EVER.
This book essentially has two story lines. One follows Abilene on her journey of discovery. The second follows Ned Gillen and Jinx as they form a deep bond of friendship. In the end, questions are answered and connections are made as the truth about the characters unfolds."It is confusing."
From a teacher's perspective, the book is great for making connections, studying historical events during the two time periods in the book, making predictions, and making inferences. It might be a good idea to keep a plot chart going for each storyline to help keep up with the developments from day-to-day.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Summer of the Monkeys
My classroom friends and I finished our read aloud book today just in time for spring break to start... for them. Sadly [since I'm a teacher], I had never read this classic before, but I really liked it.
Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls
Jay Berry Lee wanted nothing more than his own .22 and a pony. Jay Berry was out to fetch the family's cow from the river bottoms (again) when his best friend Rowdy, an old, faithful hound, trees a monkey. Through a series of events, Jay Berry and Rowdy try to capture the 29 monkeys hanging around in the river bottom trees after they realize the circus that lost them is offering a substantial reward. The monkeys leave them looking like fools instead. After an unexpected event, however, Jay Berry is able to gain the trust of the monkeys and lead them to the safety of his family's corn crib until the circus people come to claim them.
This book has some wonderful laugh out loud moments and unexpected twists. It can lead to a lot of great discussions about positive character traits and about the characters' relationships. Not to mention, I [the teacher] really like the ending and the decisions that Jay Berry has to make. The author did a great job of illustrating Jay Berry's decision-making and the personal dilemmas he faces.
83% of my students said they liked the book and would definitely recommend it to someone else.
11% of the students said that the book wasn't their cup of tea, but other people might like it.
6% of them said they didn't like the book and would not recommend it to anyone, ever.
Since the Disney version of the movie was rated G, we decided to watch it after we were done reading the novel. Sadly, the movie has little in common with the book. For example, the whole reason that Jay Berry decides to catch the monkeys (after his grandpa tells him about the reward) is that he wants to use the money for the .22 and the pony. This is not the way the movie portrays it. There were no other boys out to get the monkeys. There was no old, grouchy man interacting with Jay Berry for being on his property.
Another big difference that many of my classroom friends were disappointed by were the amount of monkeys. The movie only had four goofy monkeys, which may not seem like a big deal, but when Jay Berry gets surrounded by the monkeys coming closer and closer before they attack and bite him, 29 monkeys are going to be scarier then 4 goofy monkeys. Also, when Jay Berry and the monkeys finally come to the house, and his sister Daisy starts yelling about him coming home with thousands of monkeys, the kids thought it was so funny they laughed out loud.
Not only were there some big differences, there lots of little differences too. Let me point out a few... In the book, Jay Berry didn't work in Grandpa's store with him. Rowdy, the hound, wasn't a hound in the movie. Daisy, Jay Berry's twin, didn't walk with a crutch like in the book. (The book actually said she was unable to walk without a crutch, and the crutch was a very touching part of the ending.) In the book, Daisy never almost fell in the river, and the monkeys never went in the family's home and messed it up.
Really, the book and movie are almost two separate stories based on the same main characters.
All that aside, pretty much all of the students liked the movie.
About half of them liked the book better than the movie.
[I think I agree! The book had so much more detail and so many more fun parts. Also, let me reiterate, I like the ending in the book much more than the movie.]
Summer of the Monkeys by Wilson Rawls
Jay Berry Lee wanted nothing more than his own .22 and a pony. Jay Berry was out to fetch the family's cow from the river bottoms (again) when his best friend Rowdy, an old, faithful hound, trees a monkey. Through a series of events, Jay Berry and Rowdy try to capture the 29 monkeys hanging around in the river bottom trees after they realize the circus that lost them is offering a substantial reward. The monkeys leave them looking like fools instead. After an unexpected event, however, Jay Berry is able to gain the trust of the monkeys and lead them to the safety of his family's corn crib until the circus people come to claim them.
This book has some wonderful laugh out loud moments and unexpected twists. It can lead to a lot of great discussions about positive character traits and about the characters' relationships. Not to mention, I [the teacher] really like the ending and the decisions that Jay Berry has to make. The author did a great job of illustrating Jay Berry's decision-making and the personal dilemmas he faces.
83% of my students said they liked the book and would definitely recommend it to someone else.
"It taught me not to just think about yourself but to think of other people."
"The boy gave up what he wanted to make his family happy."
11% of the students said that the book wasn't their cup of tea, but other people might like it.
6% of them said they didn't like the book and would not recommend it to anyone, ever.
Since the Disney version of the movie was rated G, we decided to watch it after we were done reading the novel. Sadly, the movie has little in common with the book. For example, the whole reason that Jay Berry decides to catch the monkeys (after his grandpa tells him about the reward) is that he wants to use the money for the .22 and the pony. This is not the way the movie portrays it. There were no other boys out to get the monkeys. There was no old, grouchy man interacting with Jay Berry for being on his property.
Another big difference that many of my classroom friends were disappointed by were the amount of monkeys. The movie only had four goofy monkeys, which may not seem like a big deal, but when Jay Berry gets surrounded by the monkeys coming closer and closer before they attack and bite him, 29 monkeys are going to be scarier then 4 goofy monkeys. Also, when Jay Berry and the monkeys finally come to the house, and his sister Daisy starts yelling about him coming home with thousands of monkeys, the kids thought it was so funny they laughed out loud.
Not only were there some big differences, there lots of little differences too. Let me point out a few... In the book, Jay Berry didn't work in Grandpa's store with him. Rowdy, the hound, wasn't a hound in the movie. Daisy, Jay Berry's twin, didn't walk with a crutch like in the book. (The book actually said she was unable to walk without a crutch, and the crutch was a very touching part of the ending.) In the book, Daisy never almost fell in the river, and the monkeys never went in the family's home and messed it up.
Really, the book and movie are almost two separate stories based on the same main characters.
All that aside, pretty much all of the students liked the movie.
About half of them liked the book better than the movie.
[I think I agree! The book had so much more detail and so many more fun parts. Also, let me reiterate, I like the ending in the book much more than the movie.]
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Remembering My First Year
... of teaching, that is.
It all began in 3rd grade. Sweet, innocent 3rd grade! This was before I entered the realm of hormone-activating, "relationship"-developing, attitude-driven, stinky 5th graders!
My first year... Ha! What a time!
I wanted to share some of the stories I wrote down from that first year...
----- ----- -----
Thursday, I had a boy exert some physical behaviors on a couple little girls. First, he put his hand around another little girl's neck because he thought it would be funny, even though (in his words) "it looks like murder." Of course no one laughed. Then, at lunch he tried to give another little girl Chinese torture because "it doesn't hurt you unless you're Chinese." Needless to say, he ended up in the principal's office that afternoon. His parents' reaction is to reward him with IHOP next weekend if he doesn't have anymore physical incidences this week. Hello? Whatever happened to punishing a child for their aggressive behaviors? You know, like no TV, no video games, basically just sit in your room and read books all weekend.
Fridays we usually do a Scholastic News type of "newspaper" on current events in the classroom. This Friday's was on the new spacecraft Orion. So, we're discussing what a constellation is and I drew an example on the front board for them to see. Out of nowhere this little girl in my room says, "One time I saw these two bunnies fighting over some pieces of meat." What?! No, I did not draw a constellation of a bunny... it was a dipper. Where on earth did that come from?
----- ----- -----
A boy and girl in my classroom always bicker, always disagree. "You said..." "No I didn't." "Yes you did." or "You always get to..." "No I don't." "Yes you do." and so on. They will argue if their desks are sitting right next to each other. They will argue if their desks are across the classroom from each other. They are usually worried about what the other one is doing, in the other person's business. Yet, when I let the kids choose their partners for activities... I often find those two working together. So very strange. Two thoughts come to mind... There's an old saying, "keep your friends close and your enemies closer." Or... our third grade aide says maybe third grade puppy love is in the air. I suppose it's possible they enjoy making the other one squirm. I don't know...
I continue to discover all the ways third graders are odd!
----- ----- -----
This last week I decided to take action against a student who was always putting his head down on his desk. Before you know it he wasn't paying attention. You could ask him any question and he'd give you a blank look. Sometimes it even took him a while to figure out you had even asked him a question. This had to stop. He's a bright boy... if he applies himself. How else could I stop this craziness? I just had to do it. I took his desk away. No desk? No way he can lay his head on the desk. Now, I'm totally mean. I only moved it several feet away. He can still store books and keep it nice and messy.
The first day he didn't mind it so much. It was almost odd having him pay attention to all the instruction and discussion. Since then he has disliked it more and more. As long as it works for him (and me), that desk will not return. Maybe he should think about a set bedtime and a good night's sleep. He's only 8 years old!
Hey, in case you're thinking that's mean... there's a 4th grade teacher in the school where if you take too long finding something she's asked you to take out... she assumes your desk has become unbearably messy. Then, she pushes the desk over just enough so everything dumps out. Then, they have to sort through their mess on the floor to find whatever they had been searching for! Yikes!
----- ----- -----
Well, I have to say that the last week before Christmas break has got to be one of the most pointless weeks of the entire school year. Craziness. That's the only word that can describe an elementary classroom at that time of year. I felt like I was rushing around trying to get things done... "things" includes Christmas presents made by the students for their parents, grade reports for the student who decided to move over Christmas break, actual learning activities that we try to disguise as game-like holiday activities, Christmas present made by the teachers for the students, and details laid out with the parents in charge of the ever-anticipated Christmas party on the last day of the week. I am very thankful to say the 4-day week with the kids ended, the Christmas party was very successful... and I survived! Hooray!
----- ----- -----
Lay-his-head-down-on-his-desk, be-a-monkey-in-the-bathroom boy has struck again. During the morning he does ok... that's reading/writing/spelling time. I guess during math he gets bored with the speed of the classroom. The last several days we can be halfway through the math lesson and he has a blank math journal page. What more can I take away... his chair? He already sits on the floor half the time anyway.
He's definitely an odd little man. He's almost always the last one in the classroom in the mornings. He yawns his way through the morning activities because he doesn't have a specific bedtime that's enforced. He enjoyed his ISS he received not even a month into the school year. He enjoys being sent to the office to do work that he chooses not to do with his classmates. What do you do when the kid really doesn't care because his parents haven't taught him how to? The only solution I've come up with is that for every day he acts this way during math class, he'll have to spend 30 minutes at homework assistance doing that assignment after school, a time when he should be at home playing video games or hanging off the curtains and ceiling fan.
I am thankful for the happy, chatty, somewhat immature, needy bunch that I do have this year. If all I have to worry about is act-like-a-monkey-in-the-bathroom boy and blurt-out-about-random-things-that-don't-apply-to-anything boy and "will you do this for me... I can't do this"... well, I think I'm ok. I don't mind repeating myself three, four, five times. Maybe I should get one of those court stenographers to come in to repeat things for me... or maybe a parrot would be a good class pet for them.
The other two grade-level teachers were telling stories of their first year of teaching. One of them had a child whose father ended up on America's Most Wanted. Imagine having a student come in and tell stories of parties at their house all weekend and police coming to your house almost daily... and that being a NORMAL occurrence. Yikes! I'd much rather have these 12 kiddos who are just plain doing alright.
----- ----- -----
Well, I'm very disappointed that I won't get to see my kiddos grow into their 4th grade year. I won't get to see my kiddos in the hallway next year and smile and wave as they say Hi, Mrs. Jones. Tears, tears, tears.
Lots of fun as a first year teacher. Lots of memories. I'll miss both the kids and the teachers/staff I've become friends with.
Now I'm having to start the dreaded interview process over again, and it stinks! Not knowing if what I'm telling the interviews is right. But... I'll be alright. I'm sure the new school will present just as many memories as this school, if not more. Maybe this will be the one I can settle into.
A friend said such encouraging words today that make me smile when I get sad... "The way I see it, it's our loss and their gain." Ahh... thanks for making me feel better!
----- ----- -----
I enjoy teaching the fifth grade content, but I've often thought it wouldn't be so bad going back to third grade. Giving it a second go. Now that my teaching feet are more wet, I wonder how different my experience would be...
It all began in 3rd grade. Sweet, innocent 3rd grade! This was before I entered the realm of hormone-activating, "relationship"-developing, attitude-driven, stinky 5th graders!
My first year... Ha! What a time!
I wanted to share some of the stories I wrote down from that first year...
----- ----- -----
Chinese Torture and Fighting Bunnies
Thursday, I had a boy exert some physical behaviors on a couple little girls. First, he put his hand around another little girl's neck because he thought it would be funny, even though (in his words) "it looks like murder." Of course no one laughed. Then, at lunch he tried to give another little girl Chinese torture because "it doesn't hurt you unless you're Chinese." Needless to say, he ended up in the principal's office that afternoon. His parents' reaction is to reward him with IHOP next weekend if he doesn't have anymore physical incidences this week. Hello? Whatever happened to punishing a child for their aggressive behaviors? You know, like no TV, no video games, basically just sit in your room and read books all weekend.
Fridays we usually do a Scholastic News type of "newspaper" on current events in the classroom. This Friday's was on the new spacecraft Orion. So, we're discussing what a constellation is and I drew an example on the front board for them to see. Out of nowhere this little girl in my room says, "One time I saw these two bunnies fighting over some pieces of meat." What?! No, I did not draw a constellation of a bunny... it was a dipper. Where on earth did that come from?
----- ----- -----
Love Hate?
A boy and girl in my classroom always bicker, always disagree. "You said..." "No I didn't." "Yes you did." or "You always get to..." "No I don't." "Yes you do." and so on. They will argue if their desks are sitting right next to each other. They will argue if their desks are across the classroom from each other. They are usually worried about what the other one is doing, in the other person's business. Yet, when I let the kids choose their partners for activities... I often find those two working together. So very strange. Two thoughts come to mind... There's an old saying, "keep your friends close and your enemies closer." Or... our third grade aide says maybe third grade puppy love is in the air. I suppose it's possible they enjoy making the other one squirm. I don't know...
I continue to discover all the ways third graders are odd!
----- ----- -----
Head Rest No Longer
This last week I decided to take action against a student who was always putting his head down on his desk. Before you know it he wasn't paying attention. You could ask him any question and he'd give you a blank look. Sometimes it even took him a while to figure out you had even asked him a question. This had to stop. He's a bright boy... if he applies himself. How else could I stop this craziness? I just had to do it. I took his desk away. No desk? No way he can lay his head on the desk. Now, I'm totally mean. I only moved it several feet away. He can still store books and keep it nice and messy.
The first day he didn't mind it so much. It was almost odd having him pay attention to all the instruction and discussion. Since then he has disliked it more and more. As long as it works for him (and me), that desk will not return. Maybe he should think about a set bedtime and a good night's sleep. He's only 8 years old!
Hey, in case you're thinking that's mean... there's a 4th grade teacher in the school where if you take too long finding something she's asked you to take out... she assumes your desk has become unbearably messy. Then, she pushes the desk over just enough so everything dumps out. Then, they have to sort through their mess on the floor to find whatever they had been searching for! Yikes!
----- ----- -----
Christmas Craziness
Well, I have to say that the last week before Christmas break has got to be one of the most pointless weeks of the entire school year. Craziness. That's the only word that can describe an elementary classroom at that time of year. I felt like I was rushing around trying to get things done... "things" includes Christmas presents made by the students for their parents, grade reports for the student who decided to move over Christmas break, actual learning activities that we try to disguise as game-like holiday activities, Christmas present made by the teachers for the students, and details laid out with the parents in charge of the ever-anticipated Christmas party on the last day of the week. I am very thankful to say the 4-day week with the kids ended, the Christmas party was very successful... and I survived! Hooray!
----- ----- -----
What Do You Do?
Lay-his-head-down-on-his-desk, be-a-monkey-in-the-bathroom boy has struck again. During the morning he does ok... that's reading/writing/spelling time. I guess during math he gets bored with the speed of the classroom. The last several days we can be halfway through the math lesson and he has a blank math journal page. What more can I take away... his chair? He already sits on the floor half the time anyway.
He's definitely an odd little man. He's almost always the last one in the classroom in the mornings. He yawns his way through the morning activities because he doesn't have a specific bedtime that's enforced. He enjoyed his ISS he received not even a month into the school year. He enjoys being sent to the office to do work that he chooses not to do with his classmates. What do you do when the kid really doesn't care because his parents haven't taught him how to? The only solution I've come up with is that for every day he acts this way during math class, he'll have to spend 30 minutes at homework assistance doing that assignment after school, a time when he should be at home playing video games or hanging off the curtains and ceiling fan.
I am thankful for the happy, chatty, somewhat immature, needy bunch that I do have this year. If all I have to worry about is act-like-a-monkey-in-the-bathroom boy and blurt-out-about-random-things-that-don't-apply-to-anything boy and "will you do this for me... I can't do this"... well, I think I'm ok. I don't mind repeating myself three, four, five times. Maybe I should get one of those court stenographers to come in to repeat things for me... or maybe a parrot would be a good class pet for them.
The other two grade-level teachers were telling stories of their first year of teaching. One of them had a child whose father ended up on America's Most Wanted. Imagine having a student come in and tell stories of parties at their house all weekend and police coming to your house almost daily... and that being a NORMAL occurrence. Yikes! I'd much rather have these 12 kiddos who are just plain doing alright.
----- ----- -----
Saying Goodbye
Well, I'm very disappointed that I won't get to see my kiddos grow into their 4th grade year. I won't get to see my kiddos in the hallway next year and smile and wave as they say Hi, Mrs. Jones. Tears, tears, tears.
Lots of fun as a first year teacher. Lots of memories. I'll miss both the kids and the teachers/staff I've become friends with.
Now I'm having to start the dreaded interview process over again, and it stinks! Not knowing if what I'm telling the interviews is right. But... I'll be alright. I'm sure the new school will present just as many memories as this school, if not more. Maybe this will be the one I can settle into.
A friend said such encouraging words today that make me smile when I get sad... "The way I see it, it's our loss and their gain." Ahh... thanks for making me feel better!
----- ----- -----
I enjoy teaching the fifth grade content, but I've often thought it wouldn't be so bad going back to third grade. Giving it a second go. Now that my teaching feet are more wet, I wonder how different my experience would be...
Friday, February 04, 2011
Chasing Vermeer
My fifth graders and I recently finished reading Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett together.
The story begins when three unknown characters each receive an identical note revealing that a famous work of art has been stolen. Then, we learn about the book's two main characters and sleuths, Calder and Petra. The world is turned upside down by disappearance of the painting and strange coincidences begin to happen. Luckily, Calder and Petra are able to work together to connect the pieces of the mystery and reveal the thief's identity.
I thought the book was pretty good. It definitely has moments of action and excitement. Some of the chapters end on cliffhangers, which I love as a teacher because it keeps the kids interested. Sometimes I felt the story was a little wordy, but overall I loved the mystery of it. It provided many prediction opportunities throughout. It also provided a few opportunities for the students to decode messages from one character to another. I would recommend this book to other teachers or students.
Here's what my kids thought:
- 58% of the students said they liked the book and would definitely recommend it to other people.
"I liked the mystery and action."
"...it kept me on my toes."
"... It teaches us about famous art historians."
- 37% of the students thought the book wasn't their cup of tea but that other people might like it.
"I liked the mystery but there wasn't much excitement or action."
- 5% of the students didn't like the book and wouldn't recommend it to anyone, ever.
The author of Chasing Vermeer also wrote two other similar mystery books:
The Wright 3
starring Petra, Calder,
and Calder's friend Tommy
The Calder Game
starring Petra and Tommy,
in search of Calder
in search of Calder
Friday, January 21, 2011
Getting Organized
Two of my goals as a teacher (and in general) are to simplify and be more organized.
I'm finally working towards the organization part of my goal. For me, it's a process. I'm not a naturally neat and organized person. I do well knowing exactly which "neat" pile on my desk I need to dig into to find this or that. I even have a box next to my desk where I place miscellaneous papers that I don't know what to do with or I don't want to deal with (especially when I know I'll have a sub). Can you imagine?
Even harder than getting organized, though, is staying organized. That's what makes this goal a process for me. I truly desire to have less clutter and less stress, so I'm proud of what I've done so far.
Take a look...
I organized and labeled my classroom library (with help from an awesome friend)...
Now the kids don't just throw the books back on the shelf randomly. They are taking better care of the classroom library area.
I've started organizing the area around my desk. (I am not finished yet, but this is what I've done so far.)
I've also organized some of the supply shelves around the room. (added labels, invested in containers)
So far, I'm liking it!
P.S. Supper tonight with small group: Cheeseburger Casserole... probably the best version of it I've made! Yum!
I'm finally working towards the organization part of my goal. For me, it's a process. I'm not a naturally neat and organized person. I do well knowing exactly which "neat" pile on my desk I need to dig into to find this or that. I even have a box next to my desk where I place miscellaneous papers that I don't know what to do with or I don't want to deal with (especially when I know I'll have a sub). Can you imagine?
Even harder than getting organized, though, is staying organized. That's what makes this goal a process for me. I truly desire to have less clutter and less stress, so I'm proud of what I've done so far.
Take a look...
I organized and labeled my classroom library (with help from an awesome friend)...
Now the kids don't just throw the books back on the shelf randomly. They are taking better care of the classroom library area.
I've started organizing the area around my desk. (I am not finished yet, but this is what I've done so far.)I've also organized some of the supply shelves around the room. (added labels, invested in containers)
So far, I'm liking it!
P.S. Supper tonight with small group: Cheeseburger Casserole... probably the best version of it I've made! Yum!
Monday, November 29, 2010
A Few Favorites
No papers to grade tonight. Hooray! That means a little me time. Here are a few of my favorite browsing sites when I have some precious free time...
1. Scholastic Top Teaching Blogs
Like, like, LIKE! These blogs are great, in my teacher opinion, because they give multitudes of ideas for the classroom. They are also written by teachers who are still in the classroom, not sitting behind a desk reminiscing about their past classroom experiences.
2. www.worksheetworks.com
This is a great website that shares maps, graphic organizers, printable Math games, puzzles, and charts, and lots of extra practice. At the beginning of each unit, I check this site out to see if there will be anything useful for my lesson planning.
3. www.superteacherworksheets.com
This is another great lesson planning helper. This site has great holiday ideas and extras. It also has lots of extra practice ideas, and I really like the comprehension passages, articles and poems. I really like that this site does not just have printables, it also has ideas to supplement some of my units.
4. www.enchantedlearning.com
What a blessing that my school district has an account to this website. I like its encyclopedia-esque explorers and inventors pages. It also has neat fill-in-the-blank maps and charts, cloze activities, and much more.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Halloween: Past and Present
 |
| Stuart Little, 2006 |
 |
| Bumblebee, 2008 |
One of my favorite things about being a teacher is getting to dress up with the kids for the Halloween parade.
Here's a look back at my Halloween costumes since I've been a teacher...
Stuart Little: A quickly thrown together costume because of an inability to make a decision in a timely manner. The nose and ears were made out of Styrofoam cups.
Bumblebee: A recycled costume from many years ago... maybe 2001? I'm not certain of the year I wore it last, but I am certain I was working at the movie theatre at the time.
You'll notice 2007 is missing. My principal that year had the rule that teachers couldn't dress up. Very unfortunate, I know. Thankfully, that rule only lasted one year (because we had a new principal the next year).
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| Orange M&M, 2009 |
Waldo: My 5th graders enjoy looking at the Where's Waldo books I still have from when I was a kid, so it only seemed appropriate to make a Waldo appearance. It was a big hit! All along the parade I heard, "I found Waldo!" A couple of teachers didn't know who I was right away but thought I was a
European traveler. Funny!
I enjoy wearing the costumes, and I really think the kids enjoy their teacher dressing up in a costume too. My policy is that I try to keep my costume a secret until I walk through the doors of the school as my temporary identity. I also think this suspense adds to the fun!
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| Waldo, 2010 |
Here's to another Halloween
and another year of costume fun!
Friday, October 15, 2010
An Excellent Read-Aloud
My fifth graders and I just finished a great book this week. We definitely recommend it to be read immediately!
Fern Drudger discovers she was given to the wrong set of parents when she was born; this explains why they are so boring and she is so interesting. Her real father comes to visit the Drudger house, and Fern goes to spend the summer with him. It is through this experience that she learns who she truly is and about her family.
Her real father and mother are part of a group of people known as 'Anybodies'; they can transform into anyone or anything. Since the death of her mother, though, things have been going downhill for her father, and Fern has to help him find a special book called The Art of Being Anybody before his enemy does.
This book is hilarious, one that especially 5th-8th graders would appreciate. Just as Fern discovered, you will soon realize that "things aren't always what they seem."
This author has an interesting way of writing. Very conversational. In fact, sometimes she will pause the storyline to comment and relate with the reader.
Fortunately, this book has a couple of sequels. We probably won't read the sequels as a read-aloud (simply because I like my kids to experience lots of different books and authors), but it's good to know that Fern's story continues.
I'd love to hear what you think of any of the three books!
Happy reading!
Fern Drudger discovers she was given to the wrong set of parents when she was born; this explains why they are so boring and she is so interesting. Her real father comes to visit the Drudger house, and Fern goes to spend the summer with him. It is through this experience that she learns who she truly is and about her family.Her real father and mother are part of a group of people known as 'Anybodies'; they can transform into anyone or anything. Since the death of her mother, though, things have been going downhill for her father, and Fern has to help him find a special book called The Art of Being Anybody before his enemy does.
This book is hilarious, one that especially 5th-8th graders would appreciate. Just as Fern discovered, you will soon realize that "things aren't always what they seem."
This author has an interesting way of writing. Very conversational. In fact, sometimes she will pause the storyline to comment and relate with the reader.
Fortunately, this book has a couple of sequels. We probably won't read the sequels as a read-aloud (simply because I like my kids to experience lots of different books and authors), but it's good to know that Fern's story continues.
I'd love to hear what you think of any of the three books!
Happy reading!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Back to Business...
School is in session again, which transforms me into a busy bee. Before long, not only will I have lesson plans to create, I'll have papers to grade. This year I've lovingly added another task to my plate, a Master's online college class. To top off my load, I'm attempting to make exercise a part of my nearly daily routine. Not to mention, our small group still meets once a week, usually. Yeah, I got it right the first time, a busy bee.
I think my favorite part of a new school year is the new school supplies that I buy. Everything is new; crayons, colored pencils, and markers have never been used. The classroom hasn't truly been lived in, not like a pack of 20 students 'live' in a classroom anyway. Everything is fresh, untouched (and has fewer germs).
I've posted a few pictures of my classroom this year.
And, of course, as mentioned before... this teacher has once again become a college student...
And so my plate overfloweth!
I think my favorite part of a new school year is the new school supplies that I buy. Everything is new; crayons, colored pencils, and markers have never been used. The classroom hasn't truly been lived in, not like a pack of 20 students 'live' in a classroom anyway. Everything is fresh, untouched (and has fewer germs).
I've posted a few pictures of my classroom this year.
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| Sign in for the day and let's go! |
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| Waiting for Science to begin... |
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| The kids have arrived! |
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| We're HAPPY! |
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| Behavior Chart |
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| Math Bulletin Board |
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| A Testing Ninja |
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| This year I'm wearing a mic. |
And, of course, as mentioned before... this teacher has once again become a college student...
And so my plate overfloweth!
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