Workshop Classroom

Cool website

I had to write a quick post to share this website: Via Second Grade is Splendid, I discovered the website Differentiation Daily. Seems very cool to explore!

Differentiation Daily via kwout

This will be one of many posts dedicated to my FAVORITE children's author, Mo Willems. I think he's a literary genius. It's the best feeling in the world when you watch children silently read, and they can't help themselves, they need to act out the Pigeon's antics in their seat or whisper, "Aggle, plaggle!" like Trixie. I have witnessed boys transform from disinterested to avid readers because of Mo Willems' books. While I read a plethora of books to my students and expose them to as many wonderful authors as possible, I know that I can depend on his literature to hold a captive audience for my mini lesson.

Courtesy of http://mowillemsdoodles.blogspot.com/

Did somebody say contest?

Yeah...I really shouldn't even be on the computer right now, but the idea of possibly winning a gift card is just making it too difficult to resist! So there are a couple of contests going on right now. Second Grade is Splendid is giving away an Amazon gift card (translation: more books).

What The Teacher Wants is giving away a $100 gift card to the Container Store (translation: prettier classroom).

Um, anybody else excited??????

Blogorrific!

Or blogtastic? Blogolicious? Yes, the beauty of being an elementary teacher is the poetic license to be corny. Here is the first of many posts that will be dedicated to the amazing blogs with interesting articles and incredible resources! I spend oodles and oodles of time reading them and appreciating their creativity. I hope you enjoy perusing them as much as I do!!

First there's What The Teacher Wants. I think their followers multiply daily because they're just so darn creative. And the bloggers span two grade levels, doubling my interest: I can reminisce about my first grade teaching (sigh) and take mental notes for the future while gleaning ideas for my current angels. And all their activities are FREE!

I have to give a shout out to Erica Bohrer's First Grade. She's an accomplished author, she has great contests, and creates amazing resources on TpT. And she's actually put me on her blog list, which I find a huge honor. Thank you for sending readers to my humble blog!

I need to explore the Ladybug's Teacher Files more so I can use her awesome blogging tips, like posting resources using Google Docs. She's just amazing because she actually has two blogs: one with FREE teacher resources and one designing blog templates. I am just so impressed!

So onto a teacher and parent resource: a father writes about how he honors children's authors and their books on their birthday in the blog, Happy Birthday Author. He does various activities with his own children that are specific to that author's characters or illustrations, including performing a skit on Mo Willems' birthday!!! How cool is that! As a teacher, I would totally show this off to my students, or possibly tie in an author's study with his/her birthday.

Happy Birthday Author via kwout

I know I've talked about in the past the challenge of finding quality math resources. However this all changed after my principal highly recommended Dr. Nicki's Guided Math blog. Math workshop, small group instruction, and differentiation are definitely hot topics in my district, and this blogger is a font of math pedagogy!

Dr. Nicki's Guided Math Blog via kwout

I also have to send some quick love to the blogs that have joined mine...I almost want to say that these resources found me!! I am in awe that I even have an audience that wants to read me ramble on and on and on...

As I discover more resources or more resources come to me, I promise to post them...

PS...I was reading up on What The Teacher Wants latest post about creating a mega page of web resources, and Second Grade is Splendid! posted this little gem of a resource: http://guest.portaportal.com/reiss. It's the mother of all resources!!!!

More funnies...

Student says something sweet and considerate. I respond with: "Aw, you guys just have a special place in my heart." One little girl asks, "Where?" I just crack up laughing...good times...

Courtesey of http://www.wpclipart.com

Inspiring Stamina During the Workshop

Last year, I felt like my job as a first grade teacher was to take kiddies who were needy kindergartners and turn them into independent students, ready to work hard in second grade. The jump between the kindergarten and first grade standards alone...enough said. And the curriculum is demanding: I certainly don't remember writing a how-to book or an all about book on an "expert" topic for 20 to 30 minutes each day. I remember practicing my spelling words on ice cream paper and the Superkids.

So how do we get these five, six, and seven year-olds to work so hard for an extended period of time? I think that's a question that we will forever be answering, but I know my colleagues and I would try some nifty tricks to motivate students to remain focused for an extended period of time.

Courtesy of http://www.wpclipart.com

Contest :)

So, I'm posting about this very cool contest, hoping that you'll be a lucky winner (or I'll be a lucky winner...hehe). I love well-made, purposeful graphic organizers, and here is a book full of them! Definitely check out Erica Bohrer's blog to see what it's all about. And while you're there, peruse her posts about wonderful classroom activities and cool TpT products.