2.5 weeks and counting

Is it possible that the school year is almost over (May 16 at 11:10 am)?  When is your ending date?  We just finished state testing.  My class didn't do to well, but there are a lot of dynamics in this class along with a lot of ieps. 

Any plans for the summer?  I wish I was going to Hawaii, but not so :(

Powerpoint Poster

Needed:  sign for bulletin board to match my room's colors...
1.  look through TPT...no luck
2.  Make signs using powerpoint

YES!

HELP!!

My school district is deciding on a new reading series...
Journey
Reading Street
Treasures

And what are you using...any thoughts?

A Time To...

take a break from classroom ho-hum!

This time of year can be a challenge.  Spring break is over, and what awaits us???
MAPS testing, state testing-YIKES

The routine of the day...the week is starting to get a little boring, so for a beak I like doodling.  This time the students will outline, color, and water paint the scene.

Design on cardstock...Outline with a sharpie...Color with construction paper crayons...Watercolor with the watercolors we all used when we were kids.  The designs I chose are from http://www.doodle-art-alley.com/

Pictures to follow...

That Time of Year...

2.5 snow days...need to start thinking about MAPS...state assessment...and I'm on the district's team to implement a new teacher evaluation framework mandated by the state...

AND how many days until summer?

Of my followers and blog stalkers...who is evaluated using the Marzano  design?  My district has decided on that format for data collection...it should fit nicely into our state's new framework.

So until life leaves me more time to be creative...and less stressed-out over what standards I need to teach...I doubt I'll have one creative or useful bone in my body.

HELLO SUMMER!

Biography Book Project

My 4th grade class has monthly book projects.  One of my favorites is when we study biographies.  Students must read a biography, make a timeline, a poem about the famous person, and give a speech as that person...thus the picture.  Did you guess my guests were Pocahontas, Jim Thorpe, and Helen Keller.

A Busy Week...a busy beginning

MIA...that's me.  The beginning of the semester found me moving to a new building.  AND when you've been teaching for 25+ years...AND you're a hoarder...that's a job that no one should be responsible for.

OK...the move is done.  I'm still very unorganized and I'd like to have 2-3 days to reorganize my room, but that will probably wait until this summer.

BUSY WEEK...not only will we be reading My Brother Martin this week, we're celebrating 100th day on Wednesday.  Over break (since I couldn't get into the school since it wasn't quite done) I had a chance to rethink my weekly teaching to cover all our reading state standards...we don't have common core (yet).

Monday:  prediction, vocabulary,  and connection
Tuesday: read and/or listen to story...vocabulary review
Wednesday:  summarize
Thursday: reading strategy suggested in basal
Friday:  story map/and test

OH YEA!  did I mention that this week we'll be completing our writing assessment...wish my class luck.