And let the Christmas movies begin

Christmas movies...got to love them...

Two Monday Week

There was a snow day this week...thus a 2 Monday week.  REALLY glad to see Friday.

Hopefully we'll have a normal week before our Thanksgiving break week.

OMG...

OMG...where has the time gone.  It's almost a month since I've posted.  We've been busy
1.  kids' fitness day
2.  homecoming week
3.  next book project is due Friday

book bag report

First book project...DONE

Testing

23 days into school and we're testing...

Hope I remember how to get started...my class is the first of the day!

Changes to my room...

I plan on a PBiS space in my room.



Below the READ are hooks where students collect beads for every 10 AR points

assignment corner and standards board



Recovered READ with paper that went better in my room

New rug in the library area.

From Blair Turner is a monthly 'to do' list that will be on my table.

Is it August Yet?

I have been thinking about the first two weeks of school.  The first few days are practice, practice procedures, but one does need to start instruction.  SO...the first 2.5 weeks will be spent reading...

and talking and discussing those reading strategies...author's purpose, character traits, theme, etc and my favorite (for writing)...beginning sentences to catch the readers' interest ( the beginning paragraph in this book is wonderful). We will also us vocabulary from the story to make our vocabulary books...something new I'm going to try. (In the past we've just written the words in a composition notebook)

Has anyone else started thinking about this fall?  We start with students on the 12th of August.

More to come...I will be required this year to have an 'I Can' board.  Looking for ideas.  Thank goodness there is Pintrest.

summer bucket list

Summer Trip

As a book lover...I only imagine the dedication the monks in Ireland showed when they copied the 4 gospels.

A must see if you visit Trinity College in Dublin along with the library of all Irish books published...AMAZING!

Fall 2015

I'm already thinking about my next class.  Just out 4 days, but before you know it Aug. 12 will be here.

I'm thinking about the first few weeks.
1.  Will teach strategies, etc from the class reading Charlotte's Web together.  It's a great character study, story elements, and writing mentor text.  I will need to order a few more from Scholastic.  I think I'll use bonus points.

2.  I will be using specifically made vocabulary notebooks (in the past I've just used composition notebooks).  I'm still trying to decide if I'll make one for each quarter or for each unit in our reading series.
3.  Practicing procedures and learning the rules will take more time this year. I usually practice a few days and then think they have it...only to regret my decision later.
4.  Will have morning work for students to do that come early...just not sure what(maybe a spelling city activity in the computer lab since my room is next door).  In the past I've just had them read...but some are good about this activity, but not all.

5.  Am I the only one who can't get out of their teacher mode?  Help!!

Countdown...

Less than 20 days...when is your last day?

It's that time again...

Need I say more?

book report disguised as a game

Each fourth grader was to read an award winning book (Newbery or Golden Sower --Nebraska's award) and then make a game board .  We shared the games with the kindergarten classes and the third graders.  Lots of fun!!

valentine craft

Valentine craft and an exchange using Rolo!!

valentine fun

Valentine bags...fun and easy

Biography Book Reports

Read a biography, make a time line, and then come to school dressed as that person.  FUN DAY
http://flipagram.com/f/Q6krh9yIKw

I made a flip gram from all the pictures.

this week in 4th...

YEA!! Writing test is completed except for one student who was gone...
This is the week for our biography projects...LOVE, LOVE this week.  Students present as the person in their biography.

Week of building background information...We're reading Seeker of Knowledge next week, so this week we're learning about Egypt.  One item  on my bucket list is to visit Egypt (which will probably never happen), but  teaching about it is always fun.

Reading A-Z always has great booklets to help with background information.

Reading

This week our reading story is Navajo Code Talkers.  This is a great way to share history and reading.  I've been using Karen at TPT to help with focusing on the selection.