HIP, HIP HOORAY----It's my FIRST Giveaway!

I am SO excited to announce my first giveaway. I have a surprise that I know ALL of you will LOVE. Kathy at First Grade A La Carte has agreed to TEAM with me on this 100 followers giveaway!

Kathy has created computation practice games. She has recently posted these at her Teachers Pay Teachers Store. These sets include 11 game boards to practice addition facts 0-9. She has ALSO created Multiplication versions of BOTH games. All you need to do is add a 10-sided die or playing cards, game markers, and a friend to play.

THE GIVEAWAY WILL GIVE TWO WINNERS THEIR CHOICE OF ADDITION OR MULTIPLICATION GAMES!

All you need to do to enter this giveaway is:

* For one chance, you need to become a FOLLOWER of MY BLOG (or leave a comment that you are a follower already) AND a FOLLOWER of First Grade A La Carte . You must follow BOTH and comment that you are a follower of  BOTH.

* For a second chance, you will need to ADD Learn with ME in Grade Three to your Blog Roll AND leave a comment.

Winners will be RANDOMLY selected.

GIVEAWAY will end at 7:00 p.m. EST on Tuesday, August 2, 2011.

Celebrate

I have to blog about this giveaway before my last summer getaway with my family. I return to school for pre-planning on Monday. My family has had an AWESOME summer. I am not ready for it to end. We have been to Orlando visiting Mickey Mouse and his friends at the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. We also visited Shamu at Sea World. Then, we went for a 5 night cruise to the Bahamas with Mickey and his crew on the Disney Dream. We were lucky to cruise with my sister and her family too. We had a MAGICAL time!  We have been to the lake and ridden our boat several times. We have had weekend getaways camping (and this weekend is going to be our last for a couple of weeks). We have been to the pool, ridden our golf cart around the neighborhood, shopped, watched television and hung out eating popcorn and snacks in our newly finished basement. And, of course, we have slept late and gone to bed late----BUT next week we have to get back to a routine.----SO until Sunday evening, I am out of here!

YIPPEE! Kathy over at First Grade a la Carte is doing it AGAIN! She is celebrating 700 followers! WOW! This time she is having a give away on Math Games and YOU can choose addition or multiplication. You could be one of the FIVE lucky winners! Her games are awesome! She creates them with standards and students in mind. They are great for centers, Guided Math rotations, or just plain fun while learning. Head on over to First Grade A la Carte because time is running out!

Give Away-Don't Miss IT

You need to head over to Farley's Give Away at Oh' Boy 4th Grade!!!!!
She has hooked up with some AWESOME clipartists and is having a giveaway that is worth $850.00
Hurry over and check it out! You will not want to miss out!

Reader's Notebooks

I am joining Thinking of Teaching and listing my thoughts on Reading Notebooks. (Well, turns out her linky set up has expired, but check out what other teachers are saying using link. I will post in her comments about my link.) Plus-it also goes with my series of Reading 101.
Discussion Ideas:


1) Have you used Reader's Notebooks in the past? If so what did you like about it? I used Reading Response Notebooks when I previously taught 3rd grade. I loved them. This was also my first year teaching using the Reading Workshop "method". I had always used Reading Anthologies and taught units and reading/writing lessons from them. (And nothing is wrong with reading anthologies because they are good resources. I am even thinking about having my students use reading anthologies as a "book" choice because some stories are worthy of reading.) I used many ideas from Fountas and Pinnell's book Guiding Readers and Writers (Grades 3-6): Teaching, Comprehension, Genre, and Content Literacy . Then , I taught mini-lessons, I would reference Beth Newingham's website (This was before she had the Scholastic blog she does now.) and she was my insporation to create graphic organziers and pose questions for my students to answer. So I would teach a mini-lesson (or two or three) and the students would read and respond sometimes in their notebook, sometimes using post its, sometimes using a graphic organizer. My first read aloud was Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. Our class would practice a reading concept, vocabulary concept, grammar, etc. together in the book. Then, the students would show their understanding by "journaling" or responding to a book that they were reading at the time. I would grade/respond to reading notebooks once per week. One-third of my class would hand in their notebook on Tueday, another third on Wednesday, and another third on Thursday. Therefore it was too many to read for me, and the students got back the notebook the next day. Later in the year, it was once every two weeks. I would conference with them on the other week. I always met with students in Guided Reading groups or Literature Circles too. I could tell from these groups too about what they were reading and check notebooks for other reasons (book lists, AR points, along with all the other things that I posted here.
I did not incorporate The Daily 5 into my Reading Workshop previously (well somewhat--I mean I had Word Games, Listening, and Reading) so I am interested to see how D5 will fit in with schedule. I also did not know about CAFE then either, but had taught reading for several years and always taught the reading strategies and comprehension strategies as part of Reading Workshop. It just comes naturally when teaching reading (which btw is my favorite part of the day). I could teach reading all day long. I do incorporate or should I say integrate Science and Social Studies into my Reading Workshop. I also used Debbie Miller's Reading with Meaning for mini-lesson ideas. This is an AWESOME helpful website too : Reading Lady and Mosaic
2) If you have not used Reader's Notebooks how do you plan to incorporate them this year into your reading program? I think I answered this is number one with all my rambling. OOPS!

3) How will you schedule the Reader's Notebook due dates in order to be able to effectively read and respond authentically to all your students? Above too OR I saw another idea-One teacher had different color reading response journals. She had 5 or 6 due each day. She would have a place on her board the color due today, color due tomorrow, and late journals. I thought this was a cool idea.

Daily 5 (I call them Literature Choices)/Book Boxes

Ok-here is my blurb on Daily 5.

I have been teaching quite awhile and can say I have taught a variety of grade levels Pre-K through 5th grade. I have used centers that include changing the learning concept/game every week to include Math, Reading, Listening, Social Studies, Science, Media Center, Phonics, Pocket Chart, Computer, and Art. I have used Literacy Centers to include only Language Arts Concepts too. I began using Daily 5 three years ago. I know if it works in a kindergarten classroom, it will work in third too. Anyway, this is how I set up my Daily 5 which I include only 4. I allow the students to choose Read to Self, Read to a Partner, Listening, and Word Work.  I teach the routines and procedures just as described in The Daily 5 .

This is a typical is a typical Reading schedule:

Reading Workshop mini-lesson 1 on Lang. Arts/Reading concept

Practice/Daily 5 choice 1 (While the students are at each choice, I am teaching a guided reading group/literature circles/conferencing)

Reading Workshop mini-lesson 2 on Lang. Arts/Grammar concept

Practice/Daily 5 choice 2

Reading Workshop mini-lesson 3 on Lang. Arts/Phonics concept

Practice/Daily 5 choice 3

Although my students have four choices, they only do three choices a day. I usually have enough for only 6 students to do Listening to Reading.

I teach Writing Workshop separately.

This year as I move to third grade, I know reading workshop will "run" differently so I am sure I will make some changes in my mini-lesson idea.....but that is the fun thing about teaching-Every Day IS a New Day.

I allow students to use a variety of books during the Daily 5 choices. During Read to Self and Read to/with a Partner, students may use their book boxes. I use these ice bin holders from Wal-Mart.

Each student has one. I simply will take off the new label ( I had to get some new ones to make sure I had enough for my students this school year. Therefore, I have it waiting to find its home at school.) and place a cutsie label on it. I usually just use the typical labels one would use that you find at the teacher stores or now Target and write with a Sharpie the student's name on it. I have a special place for all the book boxes in the classroom. Last year, my class was so cute-whenever we had clean up time, I would see the students over at the shelf organzing the book boxes in abc order (This was first grade. However, they were having fun while cleaning and learning-can't get any better somedays.)

I wish I could posts more pictures of my choice board and book box shelf, but those are at school. I absolutely am refusing to step my foot in the classroom until August 1 (when pre-planning begins). I have good reason too-I have three children of my own. We have had an amazing summer and I want to enjoy every minute I can with them and my hubby.
How do you organize your Reading Workshop? Do you include centers or do you use Daily 5? Please share!
Thanks,

Reading Notebook

I am at a toss up on what I should use for my Reading Notebook. In the past, I used a one inch binder. However, it did not fit inside my student's book boxes. It contained some of these items:

Guidelines for Reading Workshop


Reading List (tabbed section)

Reading Requirements List

Genres at a Glance

Student’s Reading Lists

Books to Read (tabbed section)

Reading Interests

Books to Read

Letters (tabbed section)

Form for a Friendly Letter

Guidelines for Proofreading Your Letter

Letter from Teacher

Possible Topics for Your Letter

Guided Reading/Book Club (tabbed section)

Preparing for a Book Discussion

Ways to Have a Good Discussion

How to Give a Book Talk

HGuidelines for Reading Workshop


Reading List (tabbed section)

Reading Requirements List

Genres at a Glance

Student’s Reading Lists

Books to Read (tabbed section)

Reading Interests

Books to Read

Letters (tabbed section)

Form for a Friendly Letter

Guidelines for Proofreading Your Letter

Letter from Teacher

Possible Topics for Your Letter

Guided Reading/Book Club (tabbed section)

Preparing for a Book Discussion

Ways to Have a Good Discussion

How to Give a Book Talk

However, my students used a compostion book or 70-sheet spiral notebook as their Reading Response Notebook. They kept this inside their book box.
 
To help organize/label notebooks, I have created this. If you would like to download, click Reading Notebook Cover
 

These are labels for compostion books:

(These can be used with Avery L7161 which are 2.5x1.833)

What do you use for Reading Notebooks?
Enjoy!

Reading 101

I have a childhood friend (that happens to be a teacher too-and yes we are adult friends too) give me a great idea for a series of posts.
I decided to allow everyone a sneak peak into what I hope evolves in my third grade classroom by using some things that I did before in the past teaching third and some things that I used in first and kindergarten (of course, I will refine and adapt to third grade).
I use a Reading Workshop approach in my classroom. I also have decided to include Daily 5 methods in my classroom.
Reading Workshop ideas come from three sources:
1.

I follow The First Twenty Days (and tweek to my students--I also skip some and combine all according to my class.

2.When teaching kindergarten and first grade, I used Reading Workshop Lessons from The Learning Pad.
(Again, I adapted to my students and found other books that might work too.)

3. My students-My classroom guides my teaching. I allow "teachable moments" to occur regularly everyday. Although I may have lessons planned and ready to go, my students (and the county requirements and state standards) "drive" my teaching and what should or should not be taught.

Other sources that I use for reading instruction:

Reading with

Meaning by Debbie Miller

The Daily 5 by Gail Boushey

The CAFE Book  by Gail Boushey

Strategies that Work: Teaching Comprehension for Understanding and Engagement by Stephanie Harvey

The Teacher's Guide to the Four Blocks  by Patricia Cunningham
I have also used the Four Blocks Model specified for Kindergarten, First Grade, and Upper Grades

Of course over the years of teaching and learning as a teacher, I have adapted my "own"model of what reading should look like in my classroom. Each of us have our own philosophy of What is Reading and How to Teach Reading to Students  (all students-developing reading or "seasoned" readers all the same). I hope this year to share reading in my classroom with you. I am sure I will learn from all my blogging friends and definitely my students.

Stay Tuned for....More Reading 101

Blogger Mix Linky Party

Yearn to Learn is having a cool linky party. I am somewhat new (well I am getting more and more followers and hopefully being added to some blogrolls) to blogging myself. Anyway, I decided to link up and share:


1. A blogger who is a "New Kid on the Blog"


(Let's say someone who has blogged 2 months or less and has less than 200 followers)
I have recently found several new bloggers, but I just found Marlene at I Heart Teaching Elementary



2. Post a blogger in your same grade level
I recently have changed grade levels so I definitely have been looking for those in my grade level. I found not only two teachers in my grade level, but my same state-Georgia!
Ashleigh at Education Journey
and
Dana at 3rd Grade Gridiron



3. Post a blogger in a different grade level
I definitely have to post Kathy at First Grade a la Carte. She teaches first grade. I taught beside her last school year, and she has been my inspiration and a great help in my blogging.




4. It's all about the button. Find a cute blog button and post it.
And I love how Yearn to Learn used Wordle to create her blog button

Classroom Items Linky Party

I am linking up with Ladybug's Teacher Files Classroom Items Linky Party.  Look what I found at Target today!

 This is my Dr. Seuss collection. I got silly bands, book marks, buttons, pencils, stickers, post it pad, and a pair of crazy socks for me. I also got me two colored baskets that I can put in the middle of my tables (desks). They had red and blue. I will continue looking for green and yellow (between my sister and I looking at Target).

 Earth's Core and President Puzzles

 Non-Fiction Books about animals, 50 states and Presidents

 Adventure chapter books for boys

 Dictionaries (I got ALL that my Target had-14. I plan to give these to my students to keep. Of course, I am looking for more because I will definitely have more than 14 students. LOL!)

 I got these cute dry erase lined white boards (both sides). I thought I could use these at Word Work.

 Desktop Pocket Chart Stand-I got two. I have one that I got with points from Highlights years ago. I plan using at Word Work.

 A teacher can never have too many pocket charts. I got this one because I love green. I will replace it with my red one and use my red one for Word Work.

And of course, I got my darlings some surprises too. Phineus and Ferb cup and socks for Dylan. Polka dotted notepad and gel pens for Ashleigh, and Disney Alphabet book for Austin.

Oops-almost forgot--Name plates, stickers, Happy Birthday stickers, Name Plates ( I will use for book boxes, and behavior chart), and two-sided bookmarks.

All of my items were from the dollar spot. The baskets were there too and the desktop pocket charts, but they were $2.50 each. All in all, I did great!

No I am not ready for summer to end, but I do have some cool finds for my room. I will continue to spend summer with my kiddeos and have fun! (as well as blogstalk too)

I created a favicon!

Thanks to Kathy (again), my good/true friend over at First Grade A La Carte for encouraging me to create a favicon. I used her guidance and the tips from Ladybug Teacher Files Technology Tips to create me a favicon and get rid of the blogger B.  It takes a while to show up so I guess we'll see........waiting.

THANK YOU KATHY for my Button!

I am so excited! I am elated! AHHHHH! Check it out!

Thanks to Kathy (my friend and former class neighbor) over at First Grade A La Carte for designing me a blog button (I did not even ask her. Now that is what I call a true friend.)!

Grab My Button over on Left Side Bar of My BLOG!

Thanks Again-Kathy!

Fall Reading Linky Party

Head on over to Learning With Mrs. Parker and join the Linky Fun on what you enjoy reading in the Fall.

This is a list that includes a variety for a variety of grade levels. Here it is !