Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Workshop Wednesday: Talking with a Text

This week is our third week of school and second full week. We're finally into a lot of our routines and we've been launching Reader's Workshop. Yesterday, we worked on adding "hieroglyphics" to mark spots in our reading. Today, we learned how to have a conversation with our reading. This is a newer lesson for me this early in the year but the students did such a great job. After our private conversation with the text, we met in groups and shared our reactions and questions.

We started with a "Fat Questions Starters" half sheet glued int our notebooks. My amazing teaching partner created our sheet which you can grab for free from my Dropbox.
Side note: Go check out her blog over at Endeavors in Innovative Teaching! She's just getting started but has some amazing ideas....


First, I modeled the strategy with the first paragraph/section with an article we chose about iPads helping students with autism. Here's my notebook:

Then students started their private "talk" with the text.
Here's what students came up with...



One student really struggled with asking questions of the text, so allowed him to just use hieroglyphics today... This shows me he was actively reading and not just sitting there but we'll still need to work on questioning.

How do you get students interacting with at text?
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Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Tried it Tuesday: Reading Hieroglypics

I know I posted about the hieroglyphics before - but this is a Tried it Tuesday update! Recap: The team across the hall does such a fantastic job of getting students to use their reading "hieroglyphics" to code a text. Students even use them in the content area classes! So, my teaching partners and I jumped on board this year as well! We all have the reading hieroglyphics posters displayed in our classroom and we're also taking a page from our neighboring team and will be rewarding students for use great note strategies in all classes!

Here's my poster:
You can grab it for free on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Today, we introduced the idea of our hieroglyphics. We used Diane from Fifth in the Middle's Close Reading April texts as our mentor texts for this activity. I started by reading "Jelly Beans" to the class and then did all my thinking out loud as I coded the text. Then students were given "Ship of Dreams?" to do some coding of their own.

I was pretty impressed with their coding and thinking for the second week of school!
Here's some student samples:

Bonus: They were even able to discuss parts of the article afterwards. This lesson was a success and I can't wait to watch my new 5th graders use their hieroglyphics throughout the year. Tomorrow, we're building on this idea by "talking back to the text."

Don't forget to check out all the other great August ideas over for Tried it Tuesday over at Fourth Grade Flipper! Thanks for hosting Holly!

Happy Tuesday!
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Monday, August 18, 2014

#BTS14 Classroom Reveal!

Okay, I finally remembered to take photos for my classroom reveal! Today, was our third day of school and I finally got to start doing some writing & social studies. Tomorrow, we launch reading, writing, and social studies. Can't wait to get the ball rolling!

But let's first take a tour for my #BTS14 classroom reveal! 
Welcome to 5th Grade!

Writing Area + Character Trait Post-It Stop

 These three drawer carts from Target are housing all my Social Studies folders {6 per student} and our extra paper and glue sticks! These will get labelled once I get my label marker up and running!

Regions Map and Student Mailboxes


This wall opens up to my teaching partners' classroom. I usually just write the agenda, missing work, an lunch DT's on this board in case it's open.

New "Jot Lot" courtesy of @LessonsWithCoffee's TPT Store!

SMARTboard, Teacher read aloud area, and job board!

All this hard work makes for one tired teacher!
Tonight is definitely a pizza night!

Happy Monday,

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Saturday, August 16, 2014

Meet the Teacher!

So, we started back to school this week! Where did summer go? Seriously! I felt the most unprepared this year for my 9th first day of 5th Grade, however, everything went completely smooth. Probably one of my best first days!


In honor, of a great start and back to school. I decided to join in the Meet Teacher party hosted by the wonderful Stephanie at Falling into First.


 THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS... 
 Flair pens, washi tape, my Erin Condren planners, my two adorable dogs {Mikka & Iggy}, cheeseburgers, Snap Pea Crisps, neon colors, post-it notes, the Oxford Comma, and Diet Vanilla Pepsi. 

IF YOU WEREN'T A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE? 
I'd probably want to work with animals. My dream "retirement" job would be volunteering at our local ASPCA or the Cincinnati Zoo. 
THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.
Compassionate. Creative. Organized.


FINISH THE SENTENCE, "________,  SAID NO TEACHER EVER!!" 
"I'd really enjoy jumping through more hoops," said no teacher EVER!

IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOU CAN INVITE ANYONE {DEAD OR ALIVE} TO THE PARTY. WHO ARE YOU INVITING?
The cast of Criminal Minds... I follow them on Instagram! They always look like they are having so much fun!

IF SOMEONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?  
Organized Clutter. 

YOU GET TO PICK ONE SUPERPOWER. WHAT IS IT?   
I have to go with teleportation because I hate driving. I really, really hate it.
 
WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?  
"A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”

-- Roald Dahl

IF YOU HAD TO SING ONE SONG ON AMERICAN IDOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

I do not sing unless the music can drown me out completely. Nope, nope, nope!
 
 ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL? Morning person. Although some mornings I do need a Starbucks before I can be fully functional. But, I've always done better with getting up early than staying up super later.

 WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED IN YOUR TPT SHOP? 
 I don't really have a favorite. My newest product is "Nerdy Writer's Notebook Section Dividers.
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writers-Notebook-Section-Dividers-1395466 
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writers-Notebook-Section-Dividers-1395466 I've always loved Writing Workshop but I can never lock down how I want to organize my notebooks. Therefore, I'm so excited to use my newest product for my own notebooks this year in my 5th grade classroom. To keep them organized - I created some notebook page dividers {mini-anchor charts} explaining each section. My notebooks will not include all the sections in the product but will focus on journaling, grammar, author's craft, and editing and revision. 

SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU! 
I've ridden in a hot air balloon. I was absolutely scared to death but it turned out to be one of the most amazing experiences.

Don't forget to check out other #TeacherBloggers over at Falling into First
Happy Saturday,

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Sunday, August 3, 2014

Is Your Cart Ready for BTS14?

The Teachers Pay Teachers huge Blast Off! Back to School Sale is happening Monday & Tuesday this week! Tweak your wishlist and get you carts ready! I have a few must haves {including some new clipart} in my cart and maybe a few more will get added before the end of the sale! I'm also having a sale so my entire store is 28% off! 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Msaplusteacher
Special thanks to The Barefoot Teacher for the adorable graphic!




I have a few new products in my store...

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Historical-Fiction-Independent-Reading-Activities-1357094

Check out the preview for more details! 


http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kizzy-Ann-Stamps-Novel-Study-1340592



http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Writers-Workshop-Notebook-Covers-1348449

 
 
Please leave feedback for all the great teacher authors and happy shopping! 
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