Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Have you and your students had fun with the PhotobombGenerator ?

http://photobombgenerator.com/

Do you know what a photobomb is? According to Google.....

pho·to·bomb

ˈfōtōˌbäm/

verb

informal

1.

spoil a photograph of (a person or thing) by suddenly appearing in the camera's field of view as the picture is taken, typically as a prank or practical joke.

...and it is fun!

Have you ever taken a photo and something is there that shouldn't be?Well now the kids can

do this on purpose and write a story about it! We took our photo booth photos from

Valentine's Day and created surprise visitors in them. Next week the kids are going to be

writing about their 'new friend'!

Our Common Core Objectives

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.A
Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.B
Use dialogue and description to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.C
Use a variety of transitional words and phrases to manage the sequence of events.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.3.D
Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely.

Are you looking for ways for your students to practice skills to get ready for the MAP test? Here are some great sights.

Thank you to all the people who put them together for the success of the students. We all know it takes a lot of work and time to do this!

A wonderful sight for Communication Arts and Math. Thank you Sikeston District.

http://www.sikeston.k12.mo.us/skelso/Homepage/Default%20Page/writing_a_friendly_letter_review.htm

This is super! Each heading is broken down into sub headings
Example: Literature is broken down into 33 skills-Wow Thank you Sowasho District.

http://www.sowashco.k12.mn.us/ro/pages/studentlinks/map/reading.htm

This is awesome-just check it out! Thank you Lee Summit District.

http://www.leesummit.k12.mo.us/resources/commartsresources/camaphelp.htm

Friday, March 21, 2014

I have been using Daily 5 (The Sisters) for a while . I really like Daily 5™, CAFE™, and all the help that Gail and Joan have given us over the years. My struggle this past year has been the amount of students I have in the centers.

Students spend most of their time READING to themselves, READING with others, and listening to fluent and expressive READING through the i-pads and CD's! But with a large classroom of students, there can be 6 in a center! This can be a disaster.

I am trying to decide if I should break the 5 into 7 centers, or will that be more of a disaster? This is what I am going to try after Spring Break:

I have always grouped my students by reading level, but I pull strategy groups as well as reading level groups. I use the Writing and Word Zone to brush up on some of the skills I see the students not proficient with (In Writing, that may be a friendly letter. In Word Zone, that may be similes)

I'll let you all know how it goes! If you have experienced this e-mail me and let me know what you tried!

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I am crossing my fingers and hope I can go...!

St. Louis, MO - The 2 Sisters' Workshops

Saturday, May 17 to Sunday, May 18, 2014

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BIRTHDAY BOTTLES

Every year I want to do something special for my students on their birthday. A few years ago I saw an idea and revised it a little. I started saving water and sports bottles, at Easter time I bought LOTS of grass, and during the early summer I started making a weekly trip to the Dollar Store. I probably spent total $15.00 to make about 30 bottles!

In each birthday bottle I put in a glitter pencil, a highlighter, a little party toy of some sort, a couple of erasers, a Mardi Gras beaded necklace, a free homework pass (rolled up with a ribbon) and the Easter grass. I used packaging tape to attach the outside label on the bottle. I store them in a box at school so they are there for the kids birthday's! I enjoy making them during the summer and it is one less thing I have to worry about during the year! (And the best thing is....the kids really like them!)

I have attached the bottle labels and the free homework pass below. Have fun making them!

An Online Timer- The Swim Meet

If you like to use a timer, I have a fun one for you! Set the timer, let it count down, and when the time is up you have a winner!