Back to School

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's off to work we go!  We are just shy of one month into the new school year and I will just say my class is FULL of little darlings!  I am so thankful that there are a variety of personalities and each of us seem to have found exactly where we fit!  I have found myself saying so much this year with our new math curriculum (Eureka) that we are all the smartest!  There will always be something smarter than you at something and you will always be smarter than someone else at something...so THERE you have it! We are all the smartest. 

Speaking of smartest.....of course we know the old saying....You Can Lead a Horse to Water But You Can't Force Him to Drink.  GROWTH MINDSET!  I remembered this darling book last year that I found in the Scholastic Book Club and ordered, but never really found a good use for it - Rufus Goes to School by Kim Griswell.

This year I was determined to put this sweet story to use.  I just loved little Rufus and his determination to learn and could be adapted to such a large variety of character education lessons!  First, we read the story and had a discussion of course.   All the little, sweet, 3rd graders gathered around the carpet... it was DARLING!!  Then we used Mandy Neals Growth Mindset resources to create a class anchor chart for our learning.

I just DIE for these directed drawing activities so I created my own for Rufus Leroy Williams III!  The students and I worked through the anchor chart, then the directed drawing, and finally added our own speech bubbles to Rufus to display our Growth Mindsets!

So here we are...starting a new year, with new kiddos, and new goals for growth!  You can grab my directed drawing directions for Rufus by clicking one of the four pictures above of Rufus!

I grew a human!

I know it has been almost 10 months since my last post!  Crazy how fast life can start moving and before you know a month, a year, or even more has passed.  I remember so clearly the days I prayed and hoped for a positive test, prayed and hoped for a heartbeat, prayed and hoped for a healthy anatomy scan, prayed and hoped for a successful delivery, and even prayed and hoped she made it through each night.  Day after day and here we are....a happy, healthy six month old who has made sure her presence hasn't gone unnoticed.  Her smile and laugh are impossible not to love and the relationship she is building with her big sister is so genuinely beautiful.

Of course, babies are a lot, A LOT a MASSIVE amount of work.  So we have our days when I don't think I sit down until 8 p.m. between both kids and being a full-time working, nursing mom.  But, like they say, someday I will miss this noise, constant to do, and utter chaos.

In all, it is ok to let some things go on the back burner, while others take precedent.  I have neglected my blog, but have made being with my little ones a priority.

Will a freebie make it better? Part 1~Verbs

4 months since my last blog post.  I am not sure time is even an excuse, but I promise I have one.

Some one says "hi" from the inards!  The journey getting to this place has not been easy.  We have had some tragic events occur in our path to having another child, but trust in God's plan for us and his will.  I am counting this blessing, but will be even more at peace when she makes it to Earth happy and healthy!

Lately we have been deep in verbs and pronouns for weeks!  To kick off we started with a game to remind ourselves exactly what verbs are!  This is a great freebie from Lindy du Plessis. You can grab yourself a copy by clicking the picture below.

We then moved quickly to verb tenses and more specifically spelling of different tenses.  I used both these $1.00 products to make learning fun and very low prep for myself!  You can click on both to take you to the stores of Vanessa Crown and Teaching with Wit and Wonder.

Next came linking and helping verbs.....oh my, was that chore!  It seemed no matter which one we were working on the kids would refer to the opposite!!  I found these task cards and had the kids identify the verb and write A for action or L for linking.  This is a GREAT freebie, not only because it is free, but also because the text is a bit more challenging for a third grade level. You can grab it from Foreman Teaches.

The last topic was irregular verbs.  Another freebie we used was from Amy Berry. I projected the ppt on the big screen and the kids wrote the irregular past tense verb on whiteboards.  I love activities like this where the kids get WAY more practice then on a worksheet, no grading, engagement, and much more entertaining!

Tune in tomorrow and get the scoop on what we have done with pronouns and where we are going, plus an exclusive FREEBIE from my store!  I will leave you with a picture, compliments of my 3 yr old daughter!

Back to School {Whole Brain Teaching Style}

I get a lot of slack about getting such a long, luxurious, and relaxing 2 months off....when many think all teachers do is hang out by the pool, sleep, and catch-up on countless hours of crap t.v.  But honestly, our teacher brains are NEVER OFF!  I will admit I am guilty of the spending many hours next to some form of water...but I definitely was thinking about teaching the ENTIRE time.  To control my obsession with everything teaching and school related I vow to not do anything of the like during the entire month of June.  July I start easing my way back in and then by the end of July/early August....back to school is in full force!

With tomorrow being August 1st my classroom is almost ready for the big reveal and I wanted to share with you some things I will be upgrading this year in my classroom.  I have always used a handful of Whole Brain Teaching techniques, but never actually read any of the professional books.  Around Christmas last year I said good-bye to my behavior clip-chart and become much more reliant on natural consequences.  I also dabbled in the WBT scoreboard.  Knowing I wanted to know more WBT techniques and improve upon the ones I had already tried I got my hands on this book:

If you are interested in trying WBT or if you have already been using WBT, this book has something for everyone!  It first outlines the foundational games of the WBT program and then gives you countless games in a variety of subject areas to manage student behavior and increase engagement during your lessons.

Here are some of my favorite things from the book:

• Class Yes - To get student attention the teacher states, "Class!" and the students respond, "Yes?"  There can be any variation such as "Class, Class, Class" and "Yes, Yes, Yes" or "Classy, Classy, Classy" and "Yessy, Yessy, Yessy."  You can play around with this one using different voices and versions.
• Name Yes - This is another version to the Class Yes, except you train students to respond "Yes?" when their name is called.
• Hands and Eyes - This is a simple three word command.  Students are expected to fold their hands and have both eyes looking at you.  Sometimes I use this one after the Class Yes to be sure my students are 100% focused on me.  I DO NOT move forward until I see all hands and eyes.
• Mirror Words - Have you ever needed to remember something so you started to say it out loud?  This is based on that same premise that speaking something increases understanding.  The teacher will hold up both hands and say "Mirror Words" and then begin to make a key point; 3-4 sentences.  The teacher will also add gestures to important vocabulary within those sentences.  For Example:  "A proper noun (put hands on hips) has a capital letter (make a point for the capital A) and names one (hold up 1 finger) specific person, place, or thing (giving that 1 finger a wiggle with each word).  This approach is not only stimulating the visual part of the brain, but also the oral and motor.
• Three-Peat - This is similar to mirror words except there are no gestures and it is usually used more with transitions or quick directions.  Teacher may say "Three-peat....word work notebook, word work notebook, word work notebook" students respond while starting to complete the direction, "word work notebook, word work notebook, word work notebook" and the direction is completed within the repeat.
• Rule Introduction - One of the most profound things that I loved in this book was their approaching to introducing the rules.  The author suggests introducing one rule at a time (for about 2-3 days)...of course your rules will start with the most important or at least most essential to running a smooth class.  You be sure to teach the rule with the gestures and then practice the rule at a minimum of 5 times a day until the kids have it memorized!  Gradually add each rule and continue to review the previous ones.
• Wrong Way/Right Way - This is a technique used to remind students when they are breaking a rule and also a way to be sure each rule has been modeling correctly and incorrectly.  If you are working on rule: follow directions quickly, you will want one student to be the actor to portray what it looks like when breaking this rule.  You may give the kids a simple direction and be sure the actor doesn't comply.  As you notice this actor, you say "Rule 1" and the class repeats "follow directions quickly" along with the gestures.  You should be sure this technique is used before there is a problem.
• Long Talk, Short Talk, Plan Together - I have NO IDEA why I haven't thought of this before!!  After getting rid of my clip-chart last year I found myself spending a lot more time actually talking with the kids about their problems and helping them with conflict resolution...which is a major benefit to ditching the clip-chart.  This technique helps give the child a choice, helps them learn to self-monitor, and be active in making plan for change.  The long talk is simply the teacher lectures the child on what he/she did and what he/she should have done and drills it in till the child wants to rip his/her ears off :)  The child may not speak.  The short talk is the teacher stating what he/she did, what he/she should have done and quickly moving on to a consequence if necessary.  The child may not speak.  Or the child may choose plan together.  Where both the teacher and the child have a voice and identify the problem and possibly solutions.  If applicable, you could also write down the solutions.
• Growth Talk - This was more of a principle of WBT, rather than a technique, in my opinion.  In a WBT classroom all the academics are focused on improvement and growth rather than obtaining a certain level of achievement.  Therefore, as a teacher you should be complimenting students on their efforts and persistence....not ability.  This levels the playing field between high and low achievers...you are rewarded on effort...not grades!
• SCOREBOARD - One of the most critical pieces to the WBT classroom is the scoreboard.  Introduce this classroom management technique to your students as a game.  Tell them they are going to get the chance to play a game every single day and all day long in your classroom.  The best part is it is all up to them if they WANT to win!  The scoreboard begins with smileys and frownys on a t-chart.  Whenever 1 or more students displays appropriate behavior the entire class earns a smiley.  The entire class celebrates with an "OH YEAH!"  On the flip side, frownys can only be earned by more than 1 child....1 child's behavior should not affect the classroom as a whole.  The entire class mourns with an "OH NO!"  As in any game there are levels and it gets harder and harder to reach the next level, but the prizes also get sweeter!  You may choose what prizes the students may win.  Maybe it is something each day they have more smileys than frownys.  Maybe it is a class reward once they reach a certain number of wins.  It is suggested in the book to start with 10 wins to level up and then eventually move to 15 wins to level up.  Some variations include boys vs. girls, teacher vs. students, and left vs. right.    

These are only a few of the 122 Amazing Games that are explained in the book.  

I am so excited to really jump in full force with Whole Brain Teaching this year and hope it has a positive effect on my students engagement and behavior!  Check back in a month or so once school gets rolling and I will be sure to give an update on how our WBT classroom is coming along!

The Worst Thing About Being a Teacher: End of the Year Part 1

I love my job.  I remind myself all the time how lucky I am.  How much I love the kids.  The true passion I have for creating lessons that include deep thinking and engagement. But, do you want to know the ABSOLUTE worst thing about  being a teacher.........

I spent my first year doing a long-term subbing position for a maternity leave and I always described the day like a roller coaster.  As soon as the bell rang it was like we were running around crazy.  Some moments were full of joy, some were full of stress, and others were just plain queezy.  Even when you remember the stressful days, it is the joyful ones that keep you coming back for more.  You can't be naive though.  If you get back on there WILL be more queezy days and truthfully, you never know when they will happen.

But what everyday has in common is time.  It goes by so incredibly fast!  Sometimes I am ok with that and other times I am not.  The life of a teacher goes by way to fast.  I wish everyday there was more time to slow down and not have that constant gotta go, gotta go, gotta go pressure.

  

SIDENOTE: I am a complete type A person and often have to provide myself with some self talk, affirmation, and positivity so I don't overload.  

You can read about me here: 11 Things Every Type A Person Wants You to Know :) 

Here are some of my favorite quotes that help me cherish each day; at school, at home, and in my personal life. 

You may have another year to re-do that lesson, try that great new technique, or fix your behavior plan but for the kids there isn't another kindergarten, another first grade, another second grade.  They get one year.  One shot and I am determined to make it worth it.  I push myself to make each day enjoyable, memorable, authentic, and above all meaningful.

This one in particular helps me get through the hard days.  Nothing lasts forever.  Everyday has the same amount of hours, minutes, seconds.  In the same respect, it is good to remember on the good days.  The ones where you really get to enjoy the kids' company.  Laugh at their adorable personalities.  Share their toothless grins. 

The plate of a teacher is always full.  Especially if you lead several roles in your life.  We are always striving for balance...how do you balance it all...how do you stay on top of it all.....the secret is.....YOU DON'T!  There is no balance...except for off balance.  You have to do what works best for now, this moment, and your students, or sometimes your own children.  The hardest part...willing to accept that if your heart is in the right place, no matter what else, then you made the right choice.  Take those teachable moments at all costs.  Foster relationships and encourage creativity.

With the end of the year approaching I hope we share some of these same thoughts, and if not, hopefully now we do.  

DISCLAIMER:  If you're wondering about the adorable models....my daughter and my niece :)

Movement, Sun, and a Wedding?!

I hadn't planned on blogging tonight, but here I am!  A fellow teacher pal needed some fresh ideas for a phonics lesson coming up and I suggested sit on it from the amazing Kelley Dolling author of Teacher Idea Factory!  She has sooo many, like overwhelming, pin pin pin for later EVERY SINGLE THING ideas!  As I was stalking reviewing her blog I came across a linky she was once doing.  Not sure if this is an active linky party or not, but I only had two days last week due to a sick kid and this week is Spring Break so I won't have much to share for a while.

Just before my secretary came in to tell me my daughter had come down with a fever we were reviewing sums of 10!  Here in Missouri the weather can be a bit unpredictable, but don't tell anyone I said it I think it may FINALLY be SPRING!!!  There have still been sporadic cool days, but we have also had sunny and 70 as well!  I can't fight the urge to get outside and soak up the sun as much as possible, even if we all have to be at school.

 I found this game for practicing sums of 10 from Nicole Bunt at First Grade Owls.  Best of all it is free!  We played with partners then did a boys vs. girls race!

If you haven't read my ABOUT ME section then you may have guessed I got hitched.  Well, my husband and I just recently celebrated our five year anniversary!  It was my little sis that finally tied the knot.  It was a one of our beautiful sunny days and an amazing amount of fun!

Saturday Stray, Sale, and a Freebie!

Ok so I really never understood the time blogging takes!!  Is it just me or did I underestimate?!  Maybe I don't know something I should.  Sorry I wasn't better about keeping with my weekly linky...I promise I will get better!

This week was a short week because we had a teacher in-service Friday plus Valentine's Day festivities on Thursday; we really had to squeeze in a lot of work!

Working at a Catholic school I am always trying to integrate faith into other areas!  This year I have also been trying to incorporate more virtues in our religion.  Our topic for January was love and kindness, so to accumulate all of our studies we did a writing on how we could live the greatest commandment.  We read the book Do Unto Otters by Laurie Keller.  This is a wonderful read aloud - - like the kids clapping saying "AGAIN, AGAIN!" kind of wonderful.  We then did a quick graphic organizer to get started.  The next day we put our writing into a paragraph in our speech bubbles.  On the final day, I taught the kids how to make an otter with a directed drawing and then we decorated.  The kids did such a great job making the otters unique and one of a kind.  This may be an all time favorite activity for me! 

This pack will be 50% for the long weekend!!  Check it out at my TPT store!

                 

Teachers are clever thinkers!  Especially as a newbie teacher I am learning each and every day and of course my colleagues help me along the way, so I thought to share something that you may not know.  Every once in a while we work with partners on assignments.....sometimes I just pull sticks and let the kids pick their partners but other times I need a clever way to mix them up.  I use contractions, compound words, place value, and really any possible skill that can be matched to quickly and easily review skills and pair the kids - two birds:one stone.

We touched briefly on homographs in our reading this week so I whipped up this super quick activity: each student got a sentence and they had to find their partner that had the same homograph.  There are two versions - one with the word underlined and one without.  Grab it below for FREE by clicking on one of the pictures!

   

We had our Valentine's Day party on Thursday and it was blast!  My parent volunteer made this adorable pin the kiss on Mrs. Valentine!!! A-DORABLE!  Then all the super sweet valentine cards that my kids made were awesome!                                      

Of course we couldn't have just a normal day so we did some fun Valentine's themed activities.
Our morning work was a fun freebie word search from Kathy Ryan I found on TPT.

In Math we discussed comparing numbers with equal to, less than, and greater than with this fun math freebie from Love of First!  This concept is really lacking in our math series!  I introduced it with the kids picking numbers from a bag and then talking about which one is greater or less than the other.  Of course the kids were good at telling which one was greater but they had A LOT of trouble verbalizing WHY!  It was an amazing lesson - - I let the kids pick two numbers from a bag and we wrote them on the board.  The kids started saying things like one number is bigger or higher - so then of course I would write the other number BIGGER (literally) or HIGHER (literally)!  The giggles were priceless!  After about five times they changed their reasoning to the greater number having more digits, or more tens etc.  It was very successful!

Thankful I get to call this crazy girl my own!  We were happy to get a few warm days last weekend and made sure we spent as much of it outside as possible!  Here are a few pics from the small walk through petting zoo we visited.

 

Thanks for visiting and if you would like to share some randomness from your week just grab the images and link up!