Spreading the word...

I love me a good teacher sale.  Seriously.  I love going to Lakeshore and finding a discounted treasure.  Or looking through the Target or Michaels dollar bins for things that are now less than a dollar.  Score.  Anyway, some fabulous teachers are having a sale on one spectacular resource at Teachers Pay Teachers from Thursday until Saturday.  Check out the list of sale items at Teacher 2 Teacher.  And come back every Thursday to check out the latest deals!

So now a word from our sponsors...

Setting:  Back table, strategy group, giving directions, getting the natives students to settle down.
Me:  Sometimes we have to do things we don't like.
Boy:  Yeah, like take a bath...last night.
Me:  Yeah....(turned a little bit so he wouldn't see me chuckle)

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Setting:  Classroom, teacher giving directions for a project

Teacher:  So, if you lose any of these pieces, c'est la vie (say la vee)

Students, in a chorus:  La vee

Me, laughing hysterically, and the students confused as to what the joke was...

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Setting:  Classroom, wanting to get started on small group lesson

Boy:  Can I get a drink?

Me:  Very quickly.

Boy:  Yeah, my throat is feeling a little rusty.

We now return for your regularly scheduled programming....

MLK Jr. Quote and Black History Month Journal

As we enjoy the day off, we're also probably lesson planning about some additional activities that we could do this week that relate to the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  (you know how teachers get all this "vacation" time...)  I enjoy reading to the children the plethora of award-winning picture book biographies as well as the never-to-be-forgotten "I have a dream" speech; I also wanted my students to appreciate some of his other quotes.  So the one that I found is a simple yet very tangible saying, applicable for young kids and for adults:  “The time is always right to do what is right.”

January Readers Workshop: Back to Basics

First of all, wishing you much health and happiness to you and your family in the coming year!  I hope your break was restful and fun.  As we're trying to figure out what we're actually going to teach this week, I was reflecting on past Januaries, and how I have to throw in a few September mini lessons on classroom procedures because we seemed to have forgotten them in the midst of parties, opening gifts, sleeping late, and eating some extra cookies.  I have this chart that we created earlier in the year that stays up all year long (in case I need to a September mini lesson in April...again).  I like this chart because at the end of private reading and/or partner reading, I can ask them to quickly rate themselves using a thumbs up, thumbs in the middle, and thumbs down.  I can also give out the Reader of the Day, Partnership of the Day, or take away stuffed animals based on this chart.

Building their reading stamina is process, building their reading stamina is process, building their reading stamina is process, I keep telling myself...

It's beginning to feel a lot like...

things are hectic.  And crazy.  And the kids want to go on break.  And the teachers NEED to go on break.  However, let's reflect on the fun things that happen this time of year.  First, I *love* making cards for parents/guardians.  This activity is so simple, yet so significant, combining the academic element of how to write a letter as well as the character development aspect, an opportunity for the students to express an appreciation for their parents.  One of my wonderful colleagues showed me this idea of creating a present out of the card.

Math resources galore!!

Switching grade levels is frustrating.  Switching positions AND grade levels is just insane.  Just a little.  It also doesn't help your blogging skills.  Well, anyway, my job is to provide intervention in literacy and math in the upper elementary grades.  In my humble opinion, there are approximately a bazillion (read:  too many to count) resources, programs, and books that talk about literacy intervention.  Because there is a lack of resources for math, it's become my mission as of late to discover these resources that provide some insight about strategies and approaches to reach struggling learners as well as possible resources for parents.  I know there are a few good books on math intervention strategies; however time and money are not on my side, so my best friend Google and I have sifted through many search result pages, and I've created a list of blogs and websites that look promising.  If you know of more resources, please, please share them. 

So what are you thankful for?

A first grade list of thankfulness.  Who isn't thankful for his Wii??

No matter what grade you're teaching, you're always going to discuss with your students about what they're thankful for in their lives.  Every year when I create this list, it's always fun to hear some of the interesting things they're thankful for...

Along with my mile-long list of personal thankfulness, I'm also thankful to be employed, to be able to work with amazing professionals, and to do what I love...