Oops, I Didn't Do My Homework! (Freebie)

I must admit that I am not ready for summer to end.  I keep reading other blogs about setting up the classroom and I have to keep reminding myself that I have almost another month left of summer break.  It is the perk of going through the middle of June.  I am slowly beginning to think about next year and what I want to try with my new Littles.  I think that is one of the biggest blessings about our job...the chance to be innovative on a regular basis.  I  love the feeling of possibilities.  I love that we can reinvent what didn't work last year and keep what did work. 

So, I wanted to share with ya'll a little freebie that just added to TPT tonight. It's something that works for me and I wanted to share it.  It's a way that I communicate with students and parents that missing assignments have consequences.  My Oops sheet helps me relay that to my students and their families. 

It is a quick (yes QUICK) sheet that students complete before going to recess if they didn't bring their homework. I know some of you might be of the notion that students need recess and I do to.  I just also believe that actions have consequences.  I also understand that most of my students don't have active parents at home helping them with their homework each night.  My school has over 75 % free and reduced lunch.  My school has over 30 languages too.  But, my Littles all speak "recess" and "get this signed by your mom or dad."  And again, it is QUICK!  You simply tell the student what number to add to the math facts on the sheet and have a copy of the spelling words handy.  If you think that you would like a copy, visit my TPT store (click HERE) and snag yourself a free copy :)



Happy Teaching,

Counting On (math strategy) and a freebie.

In my room, we have been spending a lot of time learning and practicing the count on strategy.  Most of my Littles can do this, but I still have a few that struggle with holding on to the larger number and counting on.  They are counting all.  Here's something that we are doing to practice this skill:

 

 

The big number cards came with my Math Expressions curriculum and they have the number on one side and the dots on the back that correspond.  I just used our whiteboards for the plus and equal signs. We start out by telling an addition story problems.  Then 4 students create the equation with the cards.  My Littles love to be the "one" chosen to solve the equation.  They must:

 

We also have been using this little game in our math intervention time this week.  It's called Odd and Even Sum Snakes.  One partner has even numbers and the other has odd numbers.  They take turns rolling 2 dice or 1 die and 1 number cube and add them.  When they use the number cube it is easy for them to practice counting on :)  Anywho, the idea of this game is to X-tinguish all your snakes with X's  :)  I laminate my boards and the Littles use dry erase markers.  Grab you free copy here!

 

And Lastly, here is our finished schema chart about pumpkins.  After reading several informational texts about pumpkins, we added our new schema in the form of leaves.  The Littles seemed most impressed that there are in fact BLUE pumpkins.  They thought that was super cool.



Have a blessed week,

Back To School TPT Sale 2013

I can hardly believe that the beginning of school is here.  My Littles don't officially come until the 26th so I have a little more time to  go to meetings get my room ready.  Pictures to come soon :) 

I have only been to my classroom 2 times.  With a late scheduled trip south to visit my sweet folks and the building being closed for summer cleaning, I haven't had the opportunities!  When I walked in on Thursday, I thought I would see the typical classroom in August.  You know, the one that I have seen for the past 7 years....OH NO...the summer cleaning crew had everything piled at the front of the classroom.  PILED! More on my classroom progress later...

In happy news, TPT finally announced their Back To School Sale!  I am also offering 20% off.  That means you can save up to 28% by entering the promo code:  BTS13  

Here are a couple of my favorites:


My Desk Awards packet:

 

My CVC Practice Activities packet:

My Interactive Attendance File (16 different boards for smartboards)~ Awesome way to take attendance each day!

 

 

To visit my store click the button below!

 

Have a BLESSED day and have fun shopping...I know I will :)

CVC Practice Activites (freebie)

I love summer!  The freedom it affords can't be beat.  But, I have fallen into some habits that are going to be hard to give up when school starts.  Like:

1.  Staying up late and sleeping past 8 a.m.
2.  Drinking coffee in the afternoon.  (This probably contributes to the 1st one)
3.  Lunch with friends at a real restaurant.
4.  Matinee movies with the hubby.
5.  Pajamas till I feel like it :)

I am already starting to miss these simple pleasures.  I have to keep telling myself that I still have time.  Me = worrier for no reason!  God and I are working on that one :)

I updated my CVC Practice Activities Packet tonight.  It now includes a card game for partners or small groups and 2 CVC picture sorting worksheets.  One of the sorting sheets is free in the download on TPT.  So, head HERE and scoop it up :)

 

 

 

This one below is free!

 

 

Have a BLESSED day,

Feeling Appreciated :)

I love Teacher Appreciation week...especially this time of year!  My Littles are at the point that they are acting like siblings.  It happens.  Today we had to "practice" some procedures that needed tightening up.  We reviewed and practiced how to come to the carpet.  They heard me say our famous "quickly, QUIETLY, safely"  several times today.  I seriously can't complain though.  My Littles are sweet, very social, but super sweet! 

Back to the business of Teacher Appreciation.  Our classified staff at school have gone out of their way to make us feel special.  On Monday, they brought in flowers for us.  Today they loaded the lounge with sweets of all kinds.  I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!  My Littles have been thoughtful too.  From handpicked flowers from the flowerbed in front of the school, to chocolates and handmade cards, they have spoiled me.  One Little pulled out a piece of toast spread with nutella this morning.  I am pretty sure that it was her breakfast and she decided to give it to me.  When I tried to give it back, she wouldn't hear it.  I am blessed!

To make today even better, I went with my sweet hubby to Chipotle to take advantage of their Teacher gift (buy one get one).  Yummy! 

 

 



Lastly, Don't forget about the TPT sale.  I have linked up with Mrs. Leeby for the sale.  I love that she thought to do this.  You could save up to 28% :)  Click the picture to visit my store.

 

 

~Happy Teaching



 

 



CVC practice for those that *still* need it

Happy Teacher's Appreciation Week, Friends!  I hope that you are all being celebrated each day by the Littles that love you dearly. 

My TPT shop is joining in the sale and I just uploaded a new packet tonight.  I don't know about you, but I still have a few Littles that are reading below grade level.  They still need CVC practice.  I created a packet that can support the Littles in my room that need it.  It contains 30 CVC picture cards, 3 different tracking forms, and 4 ideas on how to use the materials.  Click HERE if you are interested.
 

~Happy Teaching!

Borders and Bossy R Video

The last day of April....where has time gone?  I can't get over how quickly time is passing this year.  A principal I was once acquainted with used to say, "Time is passing, are you?"  My Littles have so much more to do this year.  Of course, we don't get out until June 19th, so we have a while.

I made and uploaded a set of scalloped borders to TPT tonight.  It was my first attempt at doing this type of thing.  It was lots of fun!  You can check them out HERE.

Here is a sampling of them :) You can download a free one in the preview on TPT too!

Also, I wanted to share a video that my Littles are loving.  We have been learning about Bossy R for the last 3 weeks.  (/ar/, /or/, /er/, /ur/, /ir)  To further support my Bossy R packet,  I have played this video a few times during our transition and it has been a hit.


~Happy Teaching!

Testing, Bossy R and a Giveaway :)

Sunday...I have a case of the Sunday night blues.  I love my Littles, but goodness gracious I am not ready to relinquish my weekend just yet!  I am ready for summer vacation, but I have lots more school year left.  We don't get out until June 19th!  I keep reading other blogs and some are SO close to summer.

Like, they can smell the coconut suntan lotion and taste the frozen drink by the pool close!

I am jealous.

But, I must admit that I love not starting school until the very end of August or sometimes the first of September!  I have to keep chanting this to myself.

This week starts "The Test" in my district.  So much stress for my school.  I teach in a highly diverse, high need school.  We have gotten over 30 ELL refugees since December. They aren't required to take the test, but next year they will.  I mean they will have had a full year of school to catch up, learn the language, navigate the nuances of the written language, answer in complete thought and score well....right?   I understand that testing is needed, I just don't believe that high stakes tests produce the better students.  One of my friends works at another school in a neighboring district.  She works with small reading groups all day.  At her school, reading groups are not allowed to read books during those groups.  She can ONLY use "Test-like passages." You read that right O N L Y !!!

Seriously!

My heart hurts for those students. 

But, here is the kicker: They score well on "The Test."  They win awards.  They are also highly diverse and high need.

Can they read?  Sure!  Can they answer questions?  You bet!  Do they enjoy reading?  NO!  Do they choose to read?  Nope!

I want my students to fall in love with books and reading.  I want them to discover worlds beyond and live vicariously through beloved characters.  I want them to appreciate the written word.  I want them to understand and acknowledge its power.  That's one reason I chose to be a teacher!

In my little classroom this week, we are continuing our investigation of Bossy R.  I finally finished my Bossy R Packet for TPT.  It contains 7 activities and printables to support your Bossy R instruction.  Check it out HERE.

As always, I will give this packet away to the first 3 people to comment on this post!  Don't forget your email address :)

Happy Teaching!