First Read Aloud

The beginning of school promises to be hot, temperature wise (even though I'm enjoying the cooler temps of the Rockies--until tomorrow), so for an afternoon break we'll drink lemonade and listen to The Lemonade War.

This is a story about Evan and his sister.  They will both be entering 4th grade in the fall.  Sibling rivalry rears its ugly head when they both start a lemonade stand to see who can raise the most money.

Family values, friendships, and a little math computation will make this a great story to enjoy at the beginning of school...and 4th grade.

Vacation

I will be frantically working tomorrow at school and then off to a family reunion in Colorado.  The high temperature here today was 102...and look  at the temps where I'm going.  Maybe I can stay until school starts...Aug. 13th.

Math

I will be teaching math this year (insert sad face)...I'm thinking about doing every day calendar math. But then I'm wondering..."Does anyone use Mountain Math? "  I think this might be a little more interactive than Drops in the Bucket as a daily reviewing process. But how does it compare to calendar math?  


I would get the online version, so there would be not be much preparation. 

Any thoughts?

Thank You

Thank You Dani at A Place to Thrive.

To Do list

ready for the welcome bags

'I'm absent' homework folders made

 ready for the 'homework completed' basket

Student checklist updated (which isn't always a good idea since there are always deletions and additions to the class list)

I am slowly coming  to the realization that school will be starting in less than a month...Action is needed...not pinning and hopping!!  I just wish it wasn't so hot (100's today and all next week).

 

Countdown...

August 13 (first day with students) is looming on the calendar.  So I've started working on before school projects ( and not just pinning, blog stalking, and thinking).

1.  I use composition notebooks for a lot of subjects.  This year there will be a notebook for

• spelling words
• reading responses 
• writing workshop
• calendar writing 

2.  This post is about the calendar writing.  In the past I've had the weekly writing journal assignment a response from the reading series we use.  Since I don't always use a story a week (don't tell my principal), I sometimes, in the past had trouble with ideas.

• This year I'm using Busy Teachers Cafe monthly writing ideas for this journal.
• On the front of this journal I've made a label with specific directions.
• With a month's worth of writing choices, I'm hoping this helps with differentiation and better responses.

Pathways...

Why I ordered this book...

• author Lucy Calkins
• Nebraska hasn't adopted common core...but it surely will and I'd like to 'hit the ground running'
• I still have a little over one month before school starts 

AND...I will be moving into a new building in December, so I've decided that instead of getting two rooms ready this year, I'll survive in my old room and use my ideas pinned for this year until December.  This leaves me the rest of the summer for professional reading and not creative thinking (just pinning).

Anyone in the blogosphere read this for PD?  Any thoughts on the book?

"Beloved"

Thank you Emily at  I LOVE MY CLASSROOM  for nominating me for the
Liebster Award (for under 200 followers)..and looking up the definition of liebster...I'm hoping Emily means 'beloved'.

Here are a few other blogs that deserve the award...

• Fourth Grade for Sure
• Teaching in Third Grade
• Just Julie Teaching 3rd Graders

Thanks again Emily!!

Thank You Twitter

Found a great site thanks to twitter chatter.  I don't chatter since I only have 3 followers, but I follow over 145...some educational, family, and political.  Here's the topic that caught my eye...
What I wish I had done before deploying 735 middle schoolers ipads.

Monday Makeover

Tara at 4th Grade Frolics has motivated me to be crafty this past week. 

• paper clips decorated with Martha Stewart paper tape (for the fun-of-it)
• donut boxes decorated with duct tape (the boxes are for school supplies, students will keep in their desks).  {My husband and I own a convenience store, so these boxes are my contribution to recycling.}