Weather Unit

Here are a few things we did for our weather unit...

Weather Mural

 The kids worked on tearing tiny pieces of paper to create these pictures for the water cycle. Then they worked together to label the pictures.

Cloud Graphing

We graphed our favorite cloud after learning all about clouds.

-Stephanie

It's Here!!!

It's finally here!!!!

I got my book! I tricked my principal into buying it for me:)

Now if I only had time to read it...

-Stephanie

Skittles

I have found a great solution for many issues that occur in my classroom...SKITTLES!

Who would have thought that something so tiny could make such a huge difference. I use skittles for everything!  Here's my list...

1. Messy Tables- The kids tables and toolboxes in my classroom were a disaster! Once a day or once every other day I will yell  "freeze!" The kids will stop what they are doing and I will go around and check the tables. The group with the cleanest table and toolbox get a skittle...1 tiny skittle :) I haven't had messy tables in weeks! I hear the kids telling their friends to clean up because "we might get a skittle."

2. Writer's Workshop- Sometimes kids can get super chatty during writer's workshop. The solution...I call out the quietest table, praise them and give them a skittle. I don't have to worry about noisy tables after that!

3. Guided Reading- My kiddos were not having the greatest attitudes about leaving literacy work stations to come to guided reading (which is the whole reason for lit stations...more on that later). Anyway, I started doling out skittles to my kids if they put forth great effort and had a great attitude during guided reading. I haven't had any issues since!

4. Anything else that pops into my head :)

This super tiny, super inexpensive, mostly allergy free treat has made a HUGE difference in my kids attitudes and behavior. 

What do you use to "shape" behavior in your classroom?

-Stephanie

Read the Room Pointers

Check out these cute pointers that I am using for read the room. I also use these at my poetry station, big book station, and for independent reading.

Bubble Wands

I purchased these at Michaels. They were in a big kit.

Mini Garden Decorations

These are meant to be put in potted plants. I bought them from the Target dollar spot and they will be used for reading pointers.

 Butterflies on a Stick

I'm not really sure what these are meant for but I got all 10 of these in a pack at the Dollar Tree.

 Silly Straws

I also purchased these at the Dollar Tree. The kids love to use them as pointers.

-Stephanie

Organization Week- Day #6 : Language Arts Block

Again I am linking up with Pattons Patch to talk about organization. Day 6 is all about the Language Arts Block. 

I am lucky to have a co-teacher this year so we are able to meet with 6 guided reading groups each day for about 15 minutes. I have 6 guided reading groups because I have a very large class this year (which is why I have a co-teacher). Anyways, we use this area to organize our books and materials. The baskets on the top shelf house the books, word work, and games that we will be using in the near future. Each group has a basket. On the shelves below we have other materials like white boards, markers, word tiles, etc. These are mostly things that we use for guided reading lessons.

These baskets are for the children and they house their reading folders. Each student has their own folder where they keep their guided reading books. They have opportunities throughout the day to read books from their folder that are their independent or instructional reading level.

This is a reading folder. Inside the students have a popcorn word list, a word wall (where we write words that are new and difficult), reading strategies, and a reading graph. The students graph their reading level each time that we assess them using DRA. There are several graphs to address the varying reading levels of students. They bring these folders to guided reading lessons and literacy lab. When a new book is introduced, an old book is swapped out. 


Click below for the documents that are inside of our reading folders:

Reading Graphs

Reading Strategies

Reading Word Wall

Stephanie

Organization Week- Day #5 : How and Where Should I Store Things?

I'm a few days behind but I'm linking up with Pattons Patch again for Day 5 of Organization week- How and Where Should I Store Things?

When I started teaching I put everything into file folders and filed them away in my cabinet. In a short amount of time my files became messy. Another teacher showed me her binders and I was SOLD! I now have binders where I store all of my thematic pages. Inside I have tabs for each theme. Now when I find good stuff on blogs, I can just file it away. I also have a binder for literacy work stations, math stations, handwriting, sight word books, word family books, etc. Here are some pictures of my binders. 

 This is my book cabinet. I bought these handy magazine files at IKEA (They are like 5 for $3). I keep my books together by theme. This is a tall (probably like 7 foot cabinet) that is mostly full of children's literature. I put books that do not fit into the files in between the boxes. It works great!

Stephanie

50 + Followers

Hooray! I have reached 50 followers! I would like to do a giveaway when I reach 100. If you have any ideas of  or you would like to team up with me (maybe if you have a TPT store or something) let me know!

Speaking of giveaways...

Check out Made for First Grade. They are giving away 3 packs of products for 3 lucky people!

Also check out Beg Borrow Steal. They are giving away a set of programmable picture blocks!