Daily 5 Series: Read With A Teacher Resources

1. Read to Self
2. Read with Someone
3. Word Work
4. Listen to Reading
5. Read with a Teacher/Teacher Time

What resources do you use during Read with a Teacher/Teacher Time?

I love meeting with my groups during Read with a Teacher! I typically have 5-6 kids in a group and it's wonderful reading through a chapter book with them and experiencing the story through their eyes.

We just finished Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and even though I have read it hundreds of times, I still love reading it during Teacher Time because it never ceases to be exciting and wondrous for my third graders :)

I love using chapter books for this time, so because of that, my resources have to be flexible to adapt to the variety of books, genres, and levels we read throughout the course of the school year.

EdHelper's Literature Units
 

One great resources I have just discovered is EdHelper's Literature Units. Elizabeth from Fun in Room 4B first blogged about this and I immediately had to know more! It's a members-only option, but for only abour $20 a year, it's well worth it for me because they have questions, vocabulary, quizzes, and activity on HUNDREDS of books! The time it saves me is HUGE!

I organize them inside of a blue folder (blue=reading in my organizational system):

I do not use them with the kids as worksheets, I rather will use them for discussion questions, partnership activity focus questions and sometimes as a formative assessment along the way to check for comprehension.

We use Accelerated Reader for end-of-book comprehension quizzes, but I like how these units allow me to check in along the way to make sure their AR quiz will be as successful as possible.

Prompt Cards & Cubes

I love these {free!} Guided Reading Prompt Cards (thank you Shelley Gray!):

Source: teacherspayteachers.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

These cards have been super-helpful because they are so quick and easy. I sorted through them and don't use every one, but most of them are fitting. I just printed them and laminated them so they can stand up to lots of use. I keep them in a bucket and kids use them as a focus question as they read or an Exit Slip question before they leave group. They are very general, so it's a nice break and super easy to use, even for short stories or nonfiction articles.

I bought several different sets of these cubes from Really Good Stuff. I love these the most because they are a bit more complex than the card and one even focuses on vocabulary, prefixes/suffixes, and finding meaning through context clues- yay! Kids love to roll them and then focus on finding the answer to the cube as we read together.

As you can see, none of these are too complicated or heavy on the prep time. The choices serve the wide variety of abilities in my room as well as all of the books we read as a group. I really like how this has turned out and it's been fun to see kids grab a card and/or cube and have a specific goal to attain in our Read with a Teacher time. It has also made teaching a chapter book more enjoyable for me since the questions and vocab are all ready to go, so I am not having to tear my hair out the night before a new book thinking of them myself!

Do you use any of these resources or others during Teacher Time? I'd love to hear about it :)

Pinterest Project: Ruler Holder

I saw this project on Pinterest and I knew I had to make it for my class:

Source: makingitasamiddleschoolteacher.blogspot.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

One thing I did change was that I used fabric instead of scrapbook paper. I only had Mod Podge and it works way better on fabric than paper- plus, now my rulers match the mini-curtains in my room!

Here are my supplies:

• Pringles can
• Mod Podge (I like the glossy finish type)
• Sponge brush
• Enough fabric to wrap around the can (I used a scrap I had- you don't need much!)

I began by passing off the Pringles to my husband and cleaning out the inside.
I then covered the entire can with Mod Podge:

I spread the fabric all of the way around and made sure it was lined up with the top. I cut off the excess on the bottom and put on lots of Mod Podge along the seam. After that, I began covering the can and fabric with lots of Mod Podge, letting it dry in between layers:

After a bit, it was dry and ready to go. I put the rulers inside this morning and it looks fantastic, if I do say so myself ;)

The finished product:

Thanks, Pinterest, for another great project :)

I'm linking up with 4th Grade Frolics: Monday Made It Linky Party!

Exit Slips & Freebie

One thing I like to do to check for understanding and see where we need to go next as a class is use Exit Slips.

There are SO many ways to use these! I love the flexibility and the quick opportunity to take a snapshot of your students' learning. I also like how their questions guide future lessons and help me reinforce concepts or introduce new concepts based upon what they're wondering.

Here's how I use them:

At the end of a lesson, I will have them show (using words, pictures and/or numbers, especially in math) one thing they learned. I typically do not have a class example, they will need to tell/show me what they learned all on their own.

Under that, I have them write one thing they want to know/still wonder about/want to learn/etc. This can be related to the lesson or it could be a tangent that was sparked during our class discussion.

Before they can transition to the next activity, I have them turn these in to me as their ticket out.

I always remind them that they will not be graded on this, it is just the opportunity to help "take the temperature" of our class- did we learn the important concepts or just skim the surface? What do we want to learn next? What did we think was the most important part? etc.

I also like to encourage them to write something in both sections- this takes a while to develop, but kids do write sentences in both after a few tries.

Here are a few examples after a lesson we recently completed after skimming Daily Life in a Covered Wagon to start our Pioneers Unit:

While I do not do these after every lesson, I do like to incorporate them here and there, especially if we are introducing some pretty complex concepts. Plus, I find it keeps kids more accountable to their own learning.

Do you use Exit Slips in your class? If you like my slip, feel free to download the freebie in my TpT Store!

Using Student Photos to Teach Conventions

I love love love my fellow teacher friends- they help me become a better teacher on a daily basis :)

One of my besties teaches 2nd grade at my school and I was chatting with her after school the other day- about nothing school-related, I'm sure ;)- and saw the CUTEST idea on her language study anchor chart:

 

Isn't this amazing! She doesn't blog, so I am sharing it with the blogosphere on her behalf :)

Love this idea- she takes pics of the kids the first week of school and prints out several copies of each (using either a printer or the super-cheap photo deals that come around for pennies per print), and viola!

She said that each rule becomes that child's rule and they never ever forget it!

PS- We use Daily Language Instruction at our school to teach proofreading and conventions and really like it!

I saw another super-cute picture idea floating around Pinterest:

Source: cometogetherkids.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Do you use photos in creative ways in your classroom? I would love to have some new ideas to add to my stockpile for next year :)

Fun Find: Divided Trays

While at Walmart with my daughter this weekend, I came across a great find: divided trays!

Not only is the color my favorite, I have a ton of ideas for these little guys :)

First off was the Pin that inspired the purchase:

Source: spendadayinsecondgrade.blogspot.com via Darci on Pinterest

I found mine for just $1 and it looks smaller and is stackable, so it's perfect for class and storing without taking up too much room.

I also thought of several other uses:

• In math, a space to roll dice so they stay in one spot and not all over the table and floor
• In math, it can hold number cards they are discarding (my kids always have a hard time keeping them separate)
• In Daily 5, it can hold the iPods to make a mini-listening center (while keeping them safe!)
• It can hold any craft supplies for projects we are working on
• and more!

Check out your local Walmart in the Summer eatery section to see these in LOTS of fun colors!

Happy Monday :)

iPads in the Classroom

Does anyone use an iPad in your classroom?

I have a loverly iPad 2 that I hold near and dear to my heart, but I need to start taking the leap into some of the cool teacher-features it offers.

I love you iPad & pretty purple case <3

I have tried out some freebies here and there, but it seems like the truly useful apps are not free (figures), so I am needing to take the financial plunge and purchase some good apps for class.

I have a Pinterest board specifically dedicated to iPads & Technology, and I have included some of my favorite pins below:

1. The Teacher's iPad Spectrum- I love how this organizes and describes apps by degree of difficulty. Some of the apps are very common and free, but the ideas provided for use in the classroom makes this chart extra-helpful

Source: edudemic.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

2. 1,000 Education Apps Organized by Subject & Price- What's not to love about this list? It's run by the Texas Computer Education Association and comes as a HUGE Google Doc, so there's something for everyone. Plus, they regularly update and list a vast amount of free apps :)

Source: edudemic.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

3. 103 Interesting Ways to Use an iPad in the Classroom- this Google slideshow takes you through a variety of apps, from well-known to new, from free to expensive, and gives a tiny summary of how you could incorporate it into your day as a teacher. Very handy and a good reference for the wide range of needs we have as teachers throughout the day!

Source: docs.google.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Ok, so clearly I have a long list of apps from which to choose.

Any recommendations? What iPad app(s) do you use and love for your classroom?

Thanks for your advice :)

Guest Blogging @ Think, Wonder & Teach: Smile File!

I am so excited to be guest blogging over on Think, Wonder & Teach today!

I am offering a description and freebie in my TpT Store about a fun end-of-year activity~ The Smile File!

Thanks for having me, Misty!

Have a great weekend, everyone :)

Learning Targets & Objectives

I had the opportunity to visit another school yesterday to be a part of their site review team. It was an incredible experience and something I wish teachers had the opportunity to do more. Seeing  wonderful teachers in action is the BEST professional development, in my opinion!

One thing that I noticed in classrooms was a focus on Learning Targets. These were written on the front board and teachers & students referred to them throughout the day.

One teacher had a great gesture to go along with these targets: At the end of the lesson, she had each student aim an imaginary bow at the target and if they felt they had "hit the target" they would release their imaginary arrows toward the board- loved it!

Here's my Learning Targets board:

It has had a ton of revising this year, but I am really enjoying this new look. I picked up these magnets from Learning Resources and love them! The top poster I made and you can pick it up for free below.

I use the "I can" language to make it easier for the kids to understand. I definitely need to try to incorporate the bow & arrow movements :)

Click on the picture to download this sign for free!

Do you all post your Learning Targets for each day or week or month? How does your board look? I started a new Pinterest Board on Learning Targets and Objectives-I would love to add your photo to the board- leave your link in the comments below!

**UPDATE** Ryan is so excited we are talking about this!! ;)

Source: google.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Resources to Implement Star Homework

**UPDATE: I have pulled these due to WBT's copyright. I have left the pictures here for your inspiration. My apologies.

Remember this Star Homework Post? Universal Homework Model: Star Homework

Well,I wanted to give you all the opportunity to use this homework model, so I created a zipped file on TpT that includes everything you will need to implement Star Homework in your class.

In this file download, you will find everything you need, including:

• pdf of the Star Homework bookmark that I use in my class (seen above and in the Star Homework original post)
• Word document (.doc) with the cute header that will allow you to customize the three stars with any assignment you'd like
• pdf of the Star Homework Weekly graph that I use in class
• Word document (.doc) of the Star Homework Graph with the star header that will allow you to customize the number of boxes for stars, rewards, and number of stars necessary for a reward.
• Link to my original post, for easy reference

If you are interested in the bookmarks, I have those as the free sample download, so be sure to check that out if you are wanting to implement them in your class this week!

Enjoy and I hope you can use this in your class- I would love to hear about how you customize it!

My *NEW* Teacher Bag

One of my oldest and dearest friends from college, Shannon, just became a Thirty-One consultant and I knew immediately what bag I needed when I heard the good news: The Organizing Utility Tote!

My new fav bag in Lotsa Dots!

Ohmagoodness, I am in LOVE with this bag!

First off, anyone who knows me knows I <3 a good bag/purse/clutch/tote. Any cute way to lug around all of my junk is greatly appreciated by moi, so I knew that Thirty-One would be the perfect place to get what I was in desperate want need of!

Ok, let me highlight what is particularly amazing about my new bag:

1. Price- I have spent WAY too much money in the past on bags, and while I still believe this was money well-spent (my husband has very different opinions!), I could not be happier with how much bag I was getting for so little!

2. Monogramming- Aaaaaah, the lovely initials that are my name :) I actually love my initials and use them everywhere, so they were also necessary when ordering a bag for school. Plus, their font choices are to die for! No plain block letters here! I chose the dot font because nothing says teacher like dot font :) They also have about 5 million thread colors to choose from- I chose brown (I'm a Plain Jane like that!), but the choices are seemingly endless!

3. Pockets!- Initially I was surprised there were no pockets on the inside. However, I am now so glad there's not! There are a total of SEVEN outside pockets on this bag and I have already filled every single one! They are deep, but easy to see into, and I store my school keys, my empty coffee mug, my water bottle, my phone, and my car keys. It is honestly the first time I can remember actually finding my keys the first time I reach for them.... Yay!

4. The Insides- One big open space= I can put in everything I need and not have to worry about what can squeeze in where- yahoo! I keep my school laptop (sometimes), my purse (small clutch, love it!), my iPad, and a host of other randomness in there and it all fits and stays safe. I love the stiff (but not too stiff) wipeable fabric (we have a baby- everything MUST be wipeable to survive!) and the handles are the perfect length to hold or put over my shoulder.

5. The Extras- Shannon was offering a special on a Mini-Utility Bin for super cheap, so I got two bags for less than the cost of one elsewhere :) I thought the bin would be teeny tiny, but it actually holds quite a lot and has made Little Girl's toys less obvious and more stylin' in their new storage location.

Are you in need of a good teacher bag? Check out Shannon's Thirty-One site at www.toteandgo.com and see the Organizing Utility Tote all of the other wonderful items available!

Do you all have a favorite teaching bag? Anyone else in love with their Thirty-One bag??

TpT Tax Break *SALE*

Tomorrow is Tax Day and in order to make your refund go father, I am copying a great idea I have seen over on several other blogs, including Miss Kindergarten.

A TpT Tax Break *SALE*- 15% off all of the items in my Teachers Pay Teachers Store APRIL 15th ONLY!

My most popular item, the Brain Breaks Set will be reduced down to just $4.68! Yay!!

Now is the best time to take advantage of this sale because all prices will go back to normal on Monday.

Enjoy and happy weekend!

CRAFT Board Update

Do you all know about Kristen & Ladybug's Teacher Files? If you haven't been there yet, go immediately and read every single post, starting from the beginning.

Kristen is an amazingly talented upper-elem teacher and I am in love with every single one of her ideas. I think one of her most super-genius ideas was the CRAFT Board:

Source: ladybugsteacherfiles.blogspot.com via Stephanie on Pinterest

Gorgeous, right?!

Plus, with the incorporation of the "R" and Response to Text, it has made our writing about reading all that much better, since it is incorporated as another strategy in our daily reading work and Daily 5 time.

One thing I really liked about the CAFE concept was the Expand Vocabulary, since it was something that my higher readers could latch onto and build from. I asked Kristen if she would be willing to adjust her "T" to incorporate that in a "Terms & Vocabulary" heading and she did....

.... I have gone to Teacher (and Teacher Blogger) Heaven:

She now offers everything in one amazing download on her blog. Check her out HERE.

Thanks, Kristen!