Thankful and Resolutions

As I look back on the last year, I have many things to be thankful for in my life; yet, of course, I am making resolutions too. I have been saving this post for New Year's Eve (today) in my posts. However, I am also linking up to several blogging celebrities. I knew someone would be having a linky party in conjunction with this concept. I found this one over at One Extra Degree

However, I am listing all my resolutions in one post.

1-Technology-I am thankful that I found Pinterest. It is a blessing because it provides me to challenge myself to do new things in many facets of my life (recipes, kid stuff, family stuff, and especially teaching stuff.) However, one goal is to "clean up" my Pinterest this summer. Another area of technology that I am looking forward and would like to do more is share my lessons through units, lesson plans and games.  I have soooooo many; I just need to get them all "electronic". This would be less paper too and that is not a bad thing.  This means that I would also have more things in my TpT store. I have soooooo many things, and I have taught a variety grade levels in my career that I could maybe truly "touch" and help other teachers and students.

2-Organization- I want to work on decluttering my home closets and my teaching filing cabinets at school. (The files are organized, but I need to declutter and work on the electronic part that I mentioned previously.) I also want to organize at home by meal planning. I want to provide my family with more clean, real food (less processed and less eating out). I have seen the benefits. I want to organize my schedule to involve more time with my family.

3-Professional Growth-My school system has a new teacher evaluation system. Part of the system is a professional portfolio. I have a portfolio that I have kept current throughout the years since my undergraduate degree, graduate degrees, endorsements, and all my professional development. I want to "show off" me as a teacher. (Not to brag) I want to be seen as a leader and mentor, as well as, help other teachers learn and grow. I want to help provide collaboration and meaningful teaching and learning. Although this pic represents a few teachers at our school and our heartfulness toward the tragedy in CT., I want us to continue to show our love and dedication for students.

4-Downtime-What is that? I am a wife, a teacher, and a mommy to three amazing kids. In my downtime, however, I would like to spend more time making memories and vacationing (at Disney, of course) with my family.

I want to have date nights with the love of my life.

Have more mommy/ daughter days with my beautiful girl because she is growing up way too fast.

 Of course, I want to blog more often and gain more followers on my blog by helping other teachers and students grow and learn. Lastly, I want to make some of my new found recipes from Pinterest finds, as well as, begin a small garden.

5-Fitness-I am beginning today exercising with my husband. He works out everyday. I don't. (YIKES!) I have taken the first step, acceptance. I have accepted that I need to exercise. Therefore, it is time for me to get acquainted with this equipment once again.

 I want to eat (and drink)  less sugar. (That means I have to get rid of all the stocking candy and sweet treats from the holidays.) I want to detox my body and maintain a clean eating regime. I want to extend this to less chemicals and "bad" things for my body and switch to a healthy alternative (detergents, soaps, deodorants, make up, and whatever else I encounter.) I have joined a challenge on FB named My Real Food Family/My Whole Food Life Challenge made possible by My Whole Food Life and My Real Food Family. So if you see any blog posts that deal with these issues, you will know why. I am excited!

I wish all of you a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Here is another pic of my kids (sorry, couldn't resist)

Non-Fiction-What is it?

My second grade Focus classes have been focusing on a unit, Pastabilities (learning about Italy). Throughout the unit, we have been able to use fiction and non-fiction. I decided to go "all out" with non-fiction (definitely Common Core).

First, we learned about what is non-fiction and the features of non-fiction. Here are the charts we made:

 We also learned the purpose of each feature. Students used a variety of non-fiction sources. They identified the features. We made these charts:

We spent several days text mapping too. The students really enjoyed this. Not only did the students identify text features, they used the text mapping to answer comprehension questions about food in Italy.

Stay tuned for Non-Fiction post 2
Be sure to check out my Non-Fiction Text Features Choice Board in my TpT store.

What is Visualizing?

What is Visualizing? Why is visualizing important?

• Visualizing is creating mental images in our head before, during, and after reading. I explain it to my students as seeing a movie in your head as a part of reading.
• Students may use their five senses (sensory images) to enhance reading. Therefore, reading "comes to life".
• Reading becomes personal and memorable through visualizing.

During a recent lesson with some of fifth grade students, we reviewed visualizations and imagery. I read an excerpt from "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud". As I was reading the poem, the students were drawing their visualizations. Here is the excerpt:

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o'er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze. 

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

Excerpt from “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” by William Wordsworth

Here are some pictures of my students drawings:

 

Here is a lesson I taught last year in regards to visualizations using the book, Two Bad Ants  by Chris Van Allsburg.

Visualizing Freebie





Visualization Changes

Why is Making Connections Important?

I have not blogged in so long.....

Today I had to leave school because one of my sons got sick (Yuck!). So I was instructed by three AP's at one time to pack it up and go home. That is exactly what I did. I carried out one huge bookbag filled with teacher stuff to do, a laptop bag filled with a computer and papers to grade, as well as, my Thirty One lunch bag, and my purse. Needless, to say I did that first before trying to get my little one. Then, he was able to walk out, but not without getting sick (I believe this time he may have a stomach virus. Usually every year around this time, he seems to want to play hookie and get sick. However, this time may be different. He did not want to eat (not even fries-his all time favorite). At first, he wanted to watch television, but that lasted about 30 minutes. Then, he was out--asleep. So I decided to blog (because I could not tell you what was even on television. No, I do not even have anything on the DVR because really I do not watch t.v.) Anyhow, I was able to sneak in this blog writing for today while he has slept. Poor  baby!

 

Why is Making Connections Important?

Making Connections are important because:

1. It allows reader's to use background knowledge (schema) to connect to self, text, world, and/or media.
2. It shows that student's are thinking as they are reading.Therefore, student's are engaged during their reading.
3. It allows students to gain a deeper understanding of the text when meaningful connections are made.

   

     Teachers should teach students how to make meaningful and authentic connections through think-alouds across a variety of lessons using each type of connection.

  This bookmark and graphic organizer, as well as, other bookmarks and graphic organizers can be found at  my TpT store.

Why is Questioning Important?

 

Questioning is important because:

1. It helps students understand and clarify what they have read.

2. It helps students draw conclusions.

3. It helps students make inferences. This allows them to "question" the author as he/she is reading.

4. It involves critical thinking.

5. It allows the reader to evaluate the author's writing and purpose.

5. It can be used throughout life.

Teachers should teach that there are relationships among the type of questions "in the book"and "in the head":

•  In the book questioning is usually factual. "Thin" questions are right there in the book. These kinds of questions are usually answered in one or two sentences answering the questions-Who? What? When? Where? In my head questioning usually leads to inferences.
• In the reader's head questioning leads to making inferences.  "Thick" questions are usually in the reader's head. However, they require higher level thinking on Bloom's Taxonomy. These usually require the reader to explain, compare/contrast, use cause/effect, or list/give examples. These are usually answered in more detail using the questions Why? How?

Questioning, as all reading comprehension strategies, must be practiced and modeled by the teacher before, during, and after reading.

Here is a sneak peak at a question graphic organizer.

Be sure to check out my my TpT store for many more reading strategy bookmarks and graphic organizers.

Be sure to head on over to

 4th Grade Frolics Monday Made It

and

Classroom Freebies Manic Monday

for lots more fun!

Be sure to comment and tell how you use the organizer or bookmarks.

Enjoy!

 

Why is Summarizing Important? (Freebie)

Why is summarizing important?

Summarzing is an important skill for students to learn because:

1.It gives them practicing in telling about and finding important events. These important events are main ideas and supporting details.

2. It is a way for students to monitor their reading and understanding.

3. It is a way to practice sequencing and decision making.

4. It can be used in a variety of subject areas-Science, Social Studies, Math (integrating using Common Core Standards).

5.  It can be used in real-life situations, as well as, continue usage through college, in jobs, and one's career.

Reading Strategy Posters

Be sure to check out the summarizing poster.

I am working on bookmarks and graphic organizers for a variety of reading strategies. I am giving this one away as a freebie. It includes three different bookmarks, as well as, three different graphic organizers that cooridinate with summarizing. The bookmark sheets have three bookmarks per page. Copy, cut, distribute OR you can copy front to back, have the student triple fold. Use for homework, classwork, or literature circles. I have Making Connections, Questioning, and Visualizing in my TpT store. Be sure to check them out. (I am making more to follow.)

Summary Bookmarks and Graphic Organizers

Please also take the time to follow my blog. Leave me a comment on how you plan to use.

Be sure to visit Classroom Freebies Manic Monday and 4th Grade Frolics-Monday Made It

Enjoy!



Reading Freebies-Recap

As you are continuing to set up your classroom and/or establish rountines in reading, check out these summer freebies!!!

(You may have missed while relaxing, having fun, enjoying the sun.....)

What Am I Reading Bookmark

Reading Strategy Cards

Reading Posters-FACE of a Reader Signs

EEKK-Read to Someone/Partner Reading Poster

Read Three Ways

Expand Vocabulary

Schema

3-2-1 Nonfiction Graphic Organizer

Character Traits-F.A.S.T.

Be sure to follow.

Enjoy!