Need A Website That Recommends Book Lists?

Hello Teachers!
It's 88 degrees here!  Sounds like a name of a pop band :-)  I think this is Wisconsin's last run of warm weather for the year!  Believe me, I am eating up the sun rays.

So, are you hungry for a site that has multiple selections of books choices categorized by ages, awards, themes, genres, or/subject.  YOU ARE GOING TO BE SERVED DESSERT WITH THIS SITE:   Bookworm  It has been helping me choose books for Daily 5/Cafe and to meet the Common Core ELA Standards!  Not quite that far yet to be my best teacher friend, but close!  ENJOY!

                    

Literacy smiles to you,

Double A's-ABCYA and Adventures to Fitness!

Today we used the Smart Board for a variety of purposes and activities.  (we don't have one in our classroom :-( so when we use it, it's a special treat).  First, we went on one of our FAVORITE sites-  Abcya  !  We  practiced our math skills and used our math strategies on the Smart Board.  We used a blank hundred's chart to try to place numbers on it correctly (using our understanding on place value, ordering of numbers, and sequencing-trying to meet a few Common Core Math Standards. 

 We also practiced our sight words by playing a came where we raced 3 other kittens to get to the finish line before they did! 

WE TRIED OUR BEST and earned a trophy.  The support and encouragement on this game shook the walls!!!  I think I can put this under Favorites!  Again, this game supports the Common Core Standard on fluently reading grade level sight words!

Finally, we went to Adventurestofitness  to learn about the Himalaya Mountains.  First, of all, if you have never used Adventures to Fitness, it is almost like you whole curriculum on one sight-standards from all curricular areas are woven into physical fitness adventures!            

 Kitten Hop

100 Number Grid

 

Tomorrow I Remember! Tomorrow I I Teach About Heroes!

Tomorrow I Remember!  Tomorrow I Teach About Heroes!

Do you want to show your students the Memorial that honors 9/11:
 9/11 Memorial
Here are some tips to talk to your students and/or children about  9/11
tips

Here are three poems I found that touched me!  The last one was written by a 7th Grader.

 My Hero

I saw my hero
just walking down the street
the other day.
I see my hero
in my dreams
everyday.
I watched him leave
he had a tear in his eye
as he looked back at me.
He mouthed 'I love you'
and then he was gone.
I said 'I love you too.'
and then tears came down
my eyes
as I started
to cry.
I saw my hero
fighting for me,
fighting for you.
I saw my hero
in my dreams.
Why did he have to go?
Why did he have to leave?
Why is this happening
to me?
I miss him.
As my heart starts pounding
I watch as the light in his head goes dim.
I saw my hero
in my dreams.
I saw my hero
pleading to come back to me.
I saw my hero
in my dreams.
I as the light
in his head went dim.
I saw my hero
come back to me.
I saw him.
I see him.
My hero.

Stephani Mager

The Day The Towers Fell

A sad day for America
As rejoicing rang from hell,
Awakening a mighty giant
On the day the towers fell.
Our hearts were saddened
As we watched this vicious act unfold,
As innocence met a fiery death
And seeds of war were sowed.
Shouts rang out from the middle east
That Allah has done his good
But no god joys in faultless deaths
Through certain cowards could.
America just sort of glides along,
But don't step on her toes ...
For her belief in right and justice
Will stomp out freedom's foes

Cross Amidst the Ruins

On an early September morning;
Hatred reared it's ugly head.
Terrorism struck Manhattan;
It's wake left thousands dead!
It truly was a miracle ...
How many lives were saved.
Over-shadowed by the horror;
Of the war-like rubbled grave!
Time seemed frozen, hope was lost;
For loved ones left behind.
Trying to hold onto their faith,
Praying, "God give us a sign!"
Uncovered from the wreckage;
A sight that seemed unreal.
A cross that stood 'bout twenty feet ...
From twisted beams of steel! 




On September 11th we woke to a normal morning and got ready for the day.
We never expected the tragedy that was headed our way.
We got ready for school and work; we didn't want to be late,
Not knowing we'd never forget this horrifying date.
We started our routines, and planned for a busy time,
Until we got the call through the telephone line.
We turned on the TV just as we were told,
And watched as our hands started to grow very cold.
New York was full of smoke like a very foggy morning,
Because a plane had struck a building without a single warning.
We all watched in silence as the second building was hit,
I could not believe it, NO not one bit!
As we watched the first tower collapse and saw the people jumping,
We had to look away for our hearts were surely pumping.
When the second tower collapsed, tears fell from my eyes,
I thought of all those people that lost their lives.
© 2/23/03 -Roman Widdig
7th Grade - 13 yrs old
Ohio


Respectfully,
 

Another Must See Site for Common Core

The first day of the school year (and for a brand new "grade"-Multi-age 1-2) quickly came and has gone. The second day made it and is here! Hopefully, my Multi-agers can have an opportunity to "talk" more today; I think yesterday I must have sounded like a yaker because I felt like I was none stop-going over procedure after procedure.  I still have a few more to get through- what the hallway looks like/sounds like, Safety Drill procedures, fire and tornado drill, a classroom tour, and ...well, I guess there is more than I thought :(  BUT, all of these are so important to model, model, model and establish the first few days!  Hopefully Harry Wong would give our classroom and myself a pat on the back!

I continue to search, read, chat with educators about the best resources to meet and tools to meet the Common Core Standards.  I found this site:  Professional Development Toolkits  It is broken down into two categories- K-2 and 3-5.  Once you click on one of those categories, you can click on Student Activities, Teacher Strategies, Materials, or Formative Assessment!  It also has lesson plan and formative assessment templates!  All in all, a MUST SEE and USE!!!  I have just begun to explore it!  I hope it is helpful to you!

Lesson Plan Template

SMILES!!!                                     
 

I Have, Who Has? (student names)

Happy Labor Day Weekend!  Did you sleep in this morning?  For me, it is the last weekend before school starts!  Did you start or are you anxiously waiting for Tuesday like me?
My students have always loved I Have, Who Has (Follow Me Cards), so I decided to make them using their names.  I also included my name-I can't miss out on the fun!!  Through the use of their names I hope to strengthen our classroom family ties, foster connections, encourage social interactions, and spark a few smile moments. (I also get another snapshot at the reading skills -at least recognition of a peer's name.)

Here are a few websites that you can use to make I Have, Who Has cards:   senteacher    sparklebox

I just used a table in Word.  Here are my cards:   I Have, Who Has

SMILES and wishing you many moments of relaxation this weekend!

Laugh Out Loud-Poetry Fun!!

Last year I started Poetry Notebooks!  My 2nd Graders absolutely loved them!  Tongue Twisters, surprise ending poems, and poems full of alliteration were always favorites and re-read several times!   Many of them would use DIRT (Daily Independent Reading Time-aka Read to Self) with their Poetry Notebooks or use them to read to a partner. We would chorally read the poems, read them in groups (of various kinds), read them in stanzas, lines, and of course, change our voice, inflictions, tone, and pacing!  Our highlighters would also become a staple when reading poems because we would mark certain parts of speech, surprising parts, sections that we could connect to, etc.  With the success of last year's Poetry Notebooks, I cannot wait to begin to share and create poems with my Multi-agers.

Here are two poems from one of my favorite poems from the one and only and hilarious Ken Nisbitt

First One:

A Funny School Poem for Kids

"Dear students, the summer has ended.
The school year at last has begun.
But this year is totally different.
I promise we'll only have fun.

"We won't study any mathematics,
and recess will last all day long.
Instead of the pledge of allegiance,
we'll belt out a rock-and-roll song.

"We'll only play games in the classroom.
You're welcome to bring in your toys.
It's okay to run in the hallways.
It's great if you make lots of noise.

"For homework, you'll play your Nintendo.
You'll have to watch lots of T.V.
For field trips we'll go to the movies
and get lots of candy for free.

"The lunchroom will only serve chocolate
and triple fudge sundaes supreme."
Yes, that's what I heard from my teacher
before I woke up from my dream.

Second One:

I'm Staying Home From School Today

I'm staying home from school today. I'd rather be in bed pretending that I have a pain that's pounding in my head. I'll say I have a stomach ache. I'll claim I've got the flu. I'll shiver like I'm cold and hold my breath until I'm blue. I'll fake a cough. I'll fake a sneeze. I'll say my throat is sore. If necessary I can throw a tantrum on the floor. I'm sure I'll get away with it. Of that, there's little doubt. But, even so, I really hope my students don't find out. --Kenn Nesbitt

Here is Mr. Nesbitt's website in case you would like to discover some of your favorites and laugh out loud with your students: Click Here
ENJOY and SMILES,

1/2 Way Through July and MORE!!!

It is July 16th-yes I know you did not want to be reminded- but I can scarcely believe that we are 1/2 way through July and the summer!  The stores are starting to put out Back to School displays, racks of top line and fashion fit clothes are being rolled into the store aisles, and school supplies are overfilling the bins!  Today I was going to plung into my classroom library area and reorganize my chapter books and Guided Reading materials, but it is supposed to be 99 degrees here, so that means my classroom will top that by at least 5 degrees!  Can teachers melt???   Does your school have air conditioning?  Ours does not...perhaps this summer's higher than normal temps will change that! 
On another note, I AM SO BLESSED TO HAVE SO MANY NEW FOLLOWERS!  I hope my followers count continues to grow!  I hope to hit 50 before the 1st day of school-crossing my fingers and toes on that!!! :>)   Soon, I hope to start a TPT account!  If you have a TPT account, what do you recommend for prospective account members?

On yet another note, I registered for my Trucker Buddy!  I am so eager to hear who my 2nd Graders will be buddies with!  I hope we will be able to meet him or her!  They seem to be getting many registrations forms this summer so they said it might take awhile to hear back from them!  In the meantime, I am picturing in my head where I might put the notes, postcards, and letters we get back from him/her.  Have you ever had a Trucker Buddy?

SMILES AND ENJOY YOUR DAY!!!

Do you use inspirational and motivational banners in your classroom? 
 I found this one to be compelling and thought provoking!