Five For Friday and Teacher Dollar Days Linkys!

Ready for a little 5 for Friday with Doodle Bugs Teaching? I think I am!  I am feeling a little random, but beware!  I have been having an awful time with technology this week!

I have been done with school since last Friday and I’m not sure I am ready to do anything constructive yet.  I jumped into summer after moving my entire classroom  my myself. without boxes and then started to tackle long neglected projects at home.  Then I burned out!  It has been super muggy and humid here in NY and I just can’t stand it.  Today it is cooler and raining – which I actually love after all the humidity.  I have so many ideas and projects whirling my my mind that I don’t even know where to begin and I’m not sure I want to!

1. Linky Parties

There are so many linkies going on right now that my head is spinning! First, I'm joining with A Teacher Without a Class for a Dollar Days linky!

I am getting ready to begin a “no buy” summer, so I am not sure if I will be able to link up too often. (If you haven’t heard of a no buy month, it’s literally a month where you do not buy anything. Crazy, but I want to save up for tuition this fall!)

I stumbled across these adorable packages of wooden items and characters at Michaels a few weeks ago. There are 4 items in a package and they cost 99 cents a package.  They are in the wood section. Add on your 15% teacher discount and it is a pretty good deal for a new and motivating writing center! My students went crazy over them!  You would have thought they were scratch and sniff or something!  I put them is a

little tin and they were squirreling the cutouts away in their desks

I created a little writing page for the students to record the three items they choose with a describing word to include in their writing.  Pick it up at my TPT Store for free if you are interested.

Link up and share some great (and cheap) finds!

2. Posts App

A blogger (I’m sorry, but I don’t remember who – sorry!) talked recently about Posts, an app for iPad that allows you to post to your blog.  I have been trying it out and it is great!  I’m notable to do everything I can do on Live Writer, but it is really easy to use and has many features that are similar to other iPad apps.  I have been using it for the more simple posts. It is sooo much better for posting than the Blogger App. 

Check out Posts in the app store.

3. BlogLovin’ App

I am also loving the BlogLovin' App for iPad!  Again, it is very easy to use and very similar to the computer version, so that makes it easy to switch back and forth.  Don’t forget to follow on BlogLovin’!

Also – don’t forget to follow on Bloglovin’! Click below to follow!

4. Chobani Bandwagon

Yes, I finally bought Chobani.  I have resisted, thinking it was a fad, but my local grocery store had a great sale and I picked 10 containers up.  I think I am liking it!  I am not a big fan of the passion fruit flavor – I’m not sure I like chewing on seeds when eating yogurt.  There are some really great flavors and I love adding our honey to a container.  I’m just not sure I can justify the price. Plus, my husband’s dairy company now makes yogurt and  am feeling like I need to support the family business

5. Summer Shopping Spree!

As I had mentioned above, I am going to try very hard not to buy anything new in July and August. I had to have one last little shopping spree before shutting it down!  I justify this by saying that I just got rid of a ton of clothes at a consignment shop.  My style is changing and it has been easy to get rid of a bunch of things!

First, I had a bunch of really pretty a-line skirts, but I am loving the pencil skirt and maxi skirt tends. So, I bought 2 maxi skirts at JCPenny

I have loved the sheer sleeveless blouse trend on fashion blogs.  I think I could wear these to work with a tank top underneath and they would look cute under a jackets.

I still love my heels, but have been into the flat trend lately and I can’t live without good pair of wedge sandals.  These are from Payless and have a nice amount of cushion. I’m still on the lookout for the perfect pair of mint colored flats, but I can’t seem to find a pair that is at my price limit.

Oh, how I love Maurice's!  I find I am wearing so many things I bought there!  I bought white jeggings and a plaid button-down on the clearance rack. I have really jumped into he skinny jeans trend after a few years  I think these jeans will be good for cooler days and the plaid shirt will work in summer if I roll up the sleeves.  I also found a great statement necklace and earrings on sale.

I know it seems like a lot of items, but I think I spent around $150 dollars and I think they are all versatile items. And, yes, this is how I have spent my summer vacay so far!  Hopefully I can get myself going after resting a bit more this weekend!

Fun Writing Center

I know, two posts in one day…but it’s a freebie! (And really, does anyone pay that much attention to the dates on posts?)

My kids are loving this super fun writing center!  I stumbled across these adorable packages of wooden items and characters at Michaels a few weeks ago. There are 4 items in a package and they cost 99 cents a package.  They are in the wood section. Add on your 15% teacher discount and it is a pretty good deal for a new and motivating writing center!

You can also buy the larger wooden cuts outs, but I am a bit stingy at the moment and wanted to save the money.

I created a little writing page for the students to record the three items they choose with a describing word to include in their writing.  Pick it up at my TPT Store if you are interested.

   

You could always use clip art and laminate it, then cutout the little items for a totally free version!

New TPT Item

In my quest to avoid work for my college course, I finally finished a fun product I have had in the works for a while!  My students LOVE using story dice and I wanted to create some that provide students of all levels with the vocabulary and motivation to write creative stories. So, I used just about all of my clipart sets to create dice that feature 4 dice for characters, 4 dice for settings, and 4 dice for situations for some silly story combinations!  They are colorful dice with pictures and labels to provide vocabulary support for younger learners.  Just choose which dice you would like to include in a writing center, add some paper, and watch your kiddos create fun stories!  The dice are easy to assembly and durable when reinforced with packing tape or contact paper. Four different styles of writing paper are included.  Click on the image to check them out at the special introductory sale price!

 

Even tough I have been the queen of avoidance the past few days, my work for college tonight is complete (I think) and, after my class this evening, I am truly ready to be on vacation!  I will not let the coating of snow on the ground deter my spring break!!!  Have a great one!

Daily 5 Book Study–Chapter 3

 Mrs. Freshwater's Class & Thinking Out Loud are hosting Chapter 3 of the book study.

    

There are several key areas discussed in this chapter.

A Place to Gather

Sadly, I don’t really have a picture of my meeting area from my first grade classroom and it is i n shambles.  I didn’t really do a lot at the carpet when I taught 3rd grade the first time.  Now I can see how important it is to develop a classroom community and change up the dynamics of the classroom. I am thinking about how to define that area right now.  I will have a Prometehan Board, so naturally, the room is positioned around it.  I would still like to have an easel, but I have to leave my rolling one at my old building.  I have a folding easel that was a cast off and I just need to find a shelf deep enough to set it on.  I  know that some prefer to use the Promethean over making charts and such, but after 5 years , I find myself reverting to using the easel to freshen things up. I am going to miss my carpet.  I bought and alphabet carpet last year for my first grade classroom, but  it is just too babyish for third graders.  I can’t have a commercial carpet and the school carpets cost a small fortune, so that is a decision I will have to make later.

I bought these shelves at Target last year and think they will still fits under my board. I have 3 sets. They were great to line the front of the room and give it some useable space. I am starting with a barebones room next year!

Choosing Appropriate Books

I have a “Just Right” bookshelf in my classroom.

When I taught 3rd and 4th before, I just had genre and series baskets. I’m not sure if I will continue to have 2 libraries or not.  I know it is important to teach kids to choose their own books, but I also think it is important to support their choice development.  I might have to see how this goes with my class this year.  Plus, all my books that are already leveled are mostly for younger kids.  I also had to leave all the containers behind :

I had students choose 5 just right books and 2 library books for the book boxes.  This worked really well.  I labeled the leveled books with the groups that were allowed to pick from that basket and they ”shopped" every Monday as part of the read to self. 

I used magazine files as student book boxes, but am not sure if I will use them this coming year.  I also bought a few dozen of these plastic containers over the last few years and they are great for student book boxes and book storage.

   

 

Rituals and Routines

• gathering and sitting at the carpet.
• center expectations
• reading group expectations
• choosing just right books
• book shopping and library procedures
• reading response protocol
• writing time – journals? writing workshop?
• spelling/word study/ work on words activities and materials
• locations in the room to work
• laptop use
• materials storage
• teacher checking work

Adapt Rituals and Routines for Success

I found I PICK to be too cumbersome for first graders.  We talk about all of those ideals, but I think the lesson usually went over their heads.  The shoe lesson is awesome, but I have had classes that thought it was great and other that looked at me like I was crazy.  Book choice is an area where I think it is important to elicit from the kids how they already choose books.

In terms of setting up book boxes, we receive reading levels from the previous grade level and I start right off with having the kids choose their own books for their book boxes from the leveled book library. I spend time throughout the year talking about choosing just right books.  I can see that I will have the same routine in third grade.  I’m not sure how this will look with chapter books.

I like the idea of repeated practice to build up stamina with students and adding time to how long the students can work. I am not quite a militant with the expectations.  I think that students do need to talk to construct meaning and teach appropriate voice levels.  Kids do need to move around to find a better spot to work or forget materials.  I tried sticking to the routine of calling the group back when there was an infraction, but found it just wasn’t me. I tend to build up time a bit more quickly and know that I will have to readdress it throughout the year.

I’m not sure that kids are always honest with the checking procedure.  No matter how positively I phrased it, many of the kids who really needed to work on their choices, still gave me a thumbs up.  I may try using and “exit slip type strategy with third graders.

The Most Important Statement of the Chapter

I guess what stands out for me is the over all tone of this chapter.  I love that it puts the routines of this independent reading time into concrete terms. It certainly streamlined my introduction to center type activities and helped me to teach the procedures that are important to running a strong literacy-based classroom.

I can’t wait to check out what others are thinking!

Technology for Literacy Centers - Day 4

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Day 1: Organization of Centers and Tools for Centers 
Day 2: Listening Centers 
Day 3: Work on Reading 
Day 4: Work on Spelling
Day 5: Work on Phonics
Day 6: Word on Vocabulary

Day 7; Work on Sight Words

Day 8: Work on Writing


Can you believe that I had this post almost finished and lost it?!?  It was a HUGE post! As I had mentioned when I started all this, I am putting together a summer workshop and thought I would I think, to make it more manageable, I am going to split Work Work into 4 different areas of focus: sight words, spelling, phonics, and vocabulary.  Today, let’s start with spelling.  If you have any ideas or resources to add, I would really love to hear them.  Please link up to the Linky Party at the bottom!


1. Online Resources
Spelling City – This is a great site where students can type in their spelling words and then test themselves or load games to play and practice.  It is very motivating and the games are fun to try.

 

 

ABCYA.com  - has this wonderful activity where students can practice their spelling words using refridgerator magnets.  How fun is that?!?   There is also a wonderful games for students to practice spelling basic sight words.  Click onto he images to check them out.


Wordle

In Wordle, the more times you type a word, the bigger the word is on the final creations. Have students type their name five times so you will know who it belongs to and then the spelling words three times. The kids get to choose the word cloud they want to print out and take home! They love it and it's a fun way to go over individual spelling words.

ABCYA.com also has a version that is more kid friendly.

2. IPods and IPads
I have been fortunate to borrow a set of 10 iPods from our local educational organization that supports districts and teacher staff development.  I would love to order some for permanent use, but need to find the funding.  There are a ton of amazing and free apps from spelling available through the Apple Store.  Here are a few:

Primary Applications

Intermediate Applications

  Click on the sire below for additional applications and descriptions:
http://www.squidoo.com/free-ipad-apps-for-kids-spelling


3. Other Tools:
Talk Spots and MP3s for Spelling Tests

 

I have talked about the Talk Points and MP3s before, but I have also used them to record spelling words for students to take spelling tests.  They can also easily read their own words into the Talk Points and then take a test.  Older students could use Audacity or Garage Band, recording applications available for free to use.

Along the same lines, I recently purchased my very own iPad (love it to pieces!!!) and found a few nice recording apps to use.  They would make great tools to record a spelling test and have the students click to take the test during centers.