Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Cyber Sale Linky

Are you a TpT Seller?  Would you like to link up your Sale? Are you a buyer? Then click the links below to browse and put items on your wish list. Then head back over to TpT on Monday and Tuesday to shop with the code CYBER.
300 × 250

Head on Down to the Inklinks below!! Put the link to your store or blog.
Click HERE if you would like to be a Seller on TpT.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Pumpkin Love


Pumpkins seem to be all the rage lately. I’m seeing it all over, in stores and coffee shops around town. I’ve seen Pumpkin spice lattes, Pumpkin spice candy corn, pumpkin muffins just to name a few. Of course, pumpkin wouldn’t be pumpkin without good ole traditional pumpkin pie either. 
So when I saw the beautiful pumpkin cutouts—with their vibrant oranges, textured burlap,  and beautiful patterns I couldn’t resist.  Normally I use cutouts are for decorative purposes, but I had another idea in mind when I saw these little beauties.  Part of our core curriculum and common core standards in writing is to write an informative/explanatory piece.{ CCSS W.1.2} Each fall we plan out different Fall topics for our students to write about and describe. Pumpkins are one of our topics. First, I read aloud various books, both fiction and non-fiction. (Here are a few of the books we have read).


Then we brainstorm describing words and facts about pumpkins, based on what the students have learned from listening to the read aloud.
Finally we write our sentences.  Only this time, I wanted the class to create a Pumpkin Fact Book—with the pumpkin cut-out as the cover. There are 3 different varieties of pumpkin in the pack. I let each student choose their favorite to create their very own special pumpkin book.
Here is what the students needed to do next:
1.  1.  I gave them the handwriting paper we use in class. They traced the shape of their pumpkin onto the lined paper.







2.     2. They cut out the papers in the shape of their cut-out. (Yes, they all did this on their own! It is a skill that needs practice, and can be tedious—but they were so excited about making a book, they didn’t mind the process)



3.     3. Once they had cut out all of their papers, I punched a hole at the stem.





4.     4. Lastly I helped attach a brass fastener to each of the books, and wrote their names in black permanent marker.



By using a brass fastener, the children are able to spin the cover and each additional page. After the books were put together, they each wrote about what they had learned on the pages of their books.
   
     



I love how the colors just pop!



After seeing how beautiful these pumpkins looked I decided to turn my classroom bulletin board into our very own pumpkin patch.


I already had paisley cut-outs on the board to hang student work under. I decided to leave them up, because to me they looked like a leaf on the pumpkin. After, I took regular green tissue paper and cut it length wise. I twisted and attached it between each book to create a vine like appearance.

Before:



After:
pumpkin-book-final
I added the Dots on turquoise letters in between the rows of pumpkins to create our heading.
I love the way it looks and I’m really proud of my students writing. When it’s time to take this board down, they will have a beautiful keepsake to remember part of their year in first grade.

What upcoming topics will you be working on?  Consider a cut-out and make a book! Now go grab that pumpkin spice latte and enjoy!
Thanks for reading,







This post can also be found at www.inspiredinstyle.com
Pumpkin Cut-outs, Paisley cut-outs, Dots on turquoise letters and borders can be found at www.creativeteaching.com
CTP Products Used:

Sunday, November 10, 2013

How Do you Calendar?



This post was also published at Inspired In Style...


 I guess I can be considered a veteran teacher at this point in my career—16 years—however, I don’t really like that word. It sounds like I’ve been through combat, when in reality I love what I do.  Yes, some years have been harder than others, difficult students, changing standards, but that comes with the territory right?  I’ve learned that education never stays the same, so you might as well just roll with it. Over the years, I’ve taught many grade levels and just like wine, I know I’ve improved with age. Like many of you, I take what works, and what doesn’t – I revamp, reuse and refine my plans and classroom each year to make them the best they can be.
I’m going to be completely honest with you. My Calendar Bulletin Board has always been my bane, my weakness—
bane (noun): the bane of somebody’s existence or life. Somebody or something that is a constant source of trouble or annoyance.
—When I first began teaching I didn’t look at the calendar as a tool for learning. It was there to tell the date.  What day is it?  Oh yeah, it’s Monday—again!
As I changed grade levels, schools and states, the calendar became a more integral part of my math curriculum. So, for me, looking at the dark green pocket chart with the same boring red and blue number cards was torture. Every year I would tell my class to remind me to do our calendar because I never do it out of habit or routine or free will. There was no way for my students to come up and be involved. Don’t get me wrong, the pocket chart calendar is great for some—but for me……like I said BANE!  I tried snazzing it up with a Charlie Brown and Snoopy I had made years ago, but that only helped a little.
Fortunately, (for me and my students) I found a calendar and add-on pieces to make it work for me in my weakness.






This calendar has transformed my teaching weakness. I actually ENJOY standing to the side of the calendar and watching as my Student of the Day writes in the date and tally marks. We count, we add, we learn the days of the week.  Most importantly we have fun!!!  The months of the year, days of the week, calendar # cards and weather were all a part of the Dots on Turquoise calendar Set.
I laminated the Chevron cutouts, and paisley poster, so my students can write directly on them daily.  What’s nice about using the blank cut-outs and posters is that I can change the content as I change topics and chapters in math.  All of the borders coordinate great with the calendar as well.  I used the chevron and paisley across the top of the space to make it look like water for the handmade boat holding Charlie Brown and Snoopy. The borders define the space as my calendar wall. It also coordinates with the adjacent wall, which houses my word wall—with coordinating borders. The 100 chart came from an old math series, and is actually out of date—it should be a 120 chart—but I don’t have 1 big enough right now.



As you can see here, we are still going strong with our calendar!!!  Yay!!  Too keep it interesting, I’ve changed out the number cards with a Fall set for the next month.  My class was so excited to see the new numbers. They came in the room and were all standing in front of the calendar oohing and aahing! The color really pops on these Fall numbers and truly reminds me of the colors of fall.
To make it functional on a day to day basis all the poster pieces were stapled to the wall. I use the blue sticky tack for the moveable pieces, ie; Number cards, weather cards and days of the week cards. I like to make my calendar grow throughout the month, so my students can identify the date. They can easily add the next number on the calendar, without worrying about staples. Each day I choose a “Student of the day” as evident above on the Chevron Cut-out. That student gets to then Write the date on the laminated poster, lead the class in counting, stating the date, month and year, completing the tally chart, weather-person, leading the class in the days of the week and / or whatever other task that needs to be completed for the calendar that day.




I am thrilled to report, that the calendar portion of my day is no longer my bane. I am excited to use it on a daily basis, and my students are eager to learn. I have learned that sometimes our greatest weakness just needs a little tender love and care, as mine did. The thing that I like best, is that I can keep it interesting by changing the number cards and make it meet my needs as we change topics throughout the school year.
I hope you can make your calendar board as fun and functional in your own classroom!
Enjoy,
 






The Following items were used to create this space:


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Pinch me! I might be dreaming

That's right--I must be in a dream!  Creative Teaching Press has asked me to be a contributor to their blog Inspired in Style.  What?!!!!!! Melanie Rabulsky has been such an inspiration to me. She is so creative and kind, I'm just a little starstruck.


When they asked me I just couldn't believe it. I thought I was being punked--but really what would Ashton Kutcher want with a first grade teacher?  So, I slowly allowed my self to believe it.
In my head I was saying "Are you kidding me?  Are you sure?  Really?"
How did this all start? you must be thinking it...
It all started this summer when I wrote a little blog post about some items I had purchased for my classroom. Chevron borders, Dots on turquoise items, awards, stickers and some other fun stuff.  You can read about that here.

I guess, Heather from CTP found my post and sent me an email. It was as simple as that.  "We liked your post" she said "We would like to work with you."  Wow, of course-YES!!!!-Who would say no?

You can read my first post for Inspired in style Here. It's about how I use the Calendar and other materials, along with the challenges I had with it in my own classroom. Hopefully, you all like it and can use some of the ideas in your own classrooms.

I feel so unbelievably blessed with this new opportunity. The Lord works in mysterious ways is a saying I've heard and said over the course of my  life. 2 years ago, I never would have thought this was apart of the plan.  I feel humbled and honored at the same time--if that is possible.  I know God has a purpose for my life and I give him all the honor and the glory for His blessings.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Batty about Bats

Part of the common core standards is to write an Informative piece.
Part of our school wide rubric is for first graders to not only report the facts, but also to include a Topic sentence and a concluding sentence.
This is new for us to begin at this time of year. It's a difficult concept for my students to understand--Introducing a topic.  Like Hi, Nice to meet you, I'm a bat.
I will be developing this concept over the next few weeks, and I hope to post more on the progress of my students. I've been trying really hard to make them indpendent in this area.

I started with bats last week. I read a book about bats that I got in a set about different animals from Scholastic. We also had a great Scholastic News magazine telling great information about the mammal. The information is read-able, interesting and factual. My kids were loving this picture and I loved hearing them talk about bats as if they were scientists.  Slurp!

 I also found an old reading comprehension/directed drawing activity to go along with it. They read the short passage about bats. They then had to answer the questions using information from the passage. Finally, they got to follow the picture directions to draw a bat.

The day we did this, I must mention, we had a few extra students from another class, because her sub didn't show, and it was the end of the day.  I think, that may be why I was so pleasantly surprised by the results of their writing. Here are a couple of examples of what this background knowledge produced.
"I like bats and they are mammals. Bats help farmers keeps the food and the from away from the insects. I know bats are cool. I like bats because they are pretty. Bats are our friend."

Bats are mammals. They are nice! Bats have claws. Bats sleep in the day.
Whenever you are doing writing I highly recommend finding several sources of information. Each time I am pleasantly surprised by the content and quality of my students writing.
We are currently writing about Monsters--and will be finishing up on Monday. The next topic is Owls so stay tuned for our writing progress and updates :0) 
Happy writing,

Friday, November 1, 2013

20 day blast!

Yes, It really has been about 20 days since my last post (maybe 22) but who's counting?
I feel like I've been in some sort of Fall whirlwind tunnel.  It's been nothing but planning, prepping, teaching and starting all over again! In between all the school stuff, is soccer and tap, and acrobatics and some more soccer for my kiddos.  Not to mention, breakfast, lunch and dinner somewhere squeezed in between.
Here are a few snapshots of our Fall Into Writing, Fall Fun Day ...I am beginning the next stages of planning, and prepping for the most wonderful of Holidays--Thanksgiving too!



Students created their own friendly monster--I don't do scary!
Fall into writing about Pumpkins!!! I will be dedicating a whole post to this --coming soon!
My students favorite was this little guy!  Our Candy Corn that was in disguise.  For some he was a super hero! For others he was a secret spy.... I love how they think!

Fall Leaf Tracing--Make a leaf pile--color each shape a different fall color!
Make a scarecrow cookie!  What a hit.  Sugar cookies, sugar wafers, a couple of m$m's, a candy corn nose all held together with vanilla icing!
This was a surprisingly fun and independent activity for our Fall fun day. I gave simple instructions on threading the bead into the pipe cleaner. The children loved sitting and creating patterns and having a Fall Fun souvenir!

To reinforce vocabulary and make and build words with our knowledge of phonics we have finished up our October Mystery word. They get so excited to guess the word each day!
This Fall Fun day activity is a freebie in my store!!! Candy Corn graphing Yummy!!!



As we pull head on into November, we will begin learning about the Pilgrims and Native Americans. I think it's important for my firsties to understand how life long ago, children long ago, etc... are different than things are today. I created this unit to help my students compare and contrast differences and similarities between themselves and Native American and Pilgrim Children. There are a variety of Venn Diagrams and Double-Bubble Maps to choose from, depending on your preference.


Great books for Thanks giving!  I'm getting ready to prep my Thanksgiving Comparisons that I used last year!




Thanksgiving Comparisons unit

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