tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91191768814135239832024-03-04T22:54:06.108-08:004th & 5th Grade HappinessWendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-32490845430719990952017-02-24T19:04:00.000-08:002017-02-24T19:04:17.843-08:00Cardboard, Duct Tape and Creativity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well Hello, it has been too long since the last time I blogged. I have just had such mixed feelings about blogging and I just did not have any topics that spoke to me. Then last month my fourth and fifth graders completed their January STEM challenge. I do one STEM challenge every month in my fourth and fifth grade science classes. We were going to create a cardboard arcade inspired by Caine's Arcade. Here is the Youtube video for Caine's Arcade.<br />
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What an amazing imagination this child has. It reminded me of the hours of fun my sister and I would have when my parents would buy a household appliance and we were given the large cardboard box to play with. There was no such thing as video games, cable or the internet when I grew up, we played outside and used our imaginations. Yep I am that old! LOL We spent hours imagining that box as a rocket, house and roller coaster. We spent the first few days just coloring and decorating our box. We had a blast with what are imaginations could create out of that cardboard box and stayed out of Mom and Dad's hair for hours. I wanted to share that magic with my fourth and fifth graders.<br />
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I had heard of Caine's Arcade on a tour of STEM certified schools my school toured in Reynoldsburg, Ohio in preparation for my own school's STEM certification process. So I went home Googled the above video and thought the kids would love this STEM challenge.<br />
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The first step I took was to show the kids the video and get them excited and boy did they get excited. Then we filled out the challenge packet I purchased through TpT by TeachFreak. <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/CARDBOARD-ARCADE-PROJECT-STUDENT-PACKAGE-1989523" target="_blank">Here is the link if you would like to purchase the same packet.</a> You can see part of the packet in the picture below.<br />
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I first had them brainstorm and sketch out their idea for an arcade game idea from front, back and both sides views. Then all the supplies started to pour in. I told them nothing could be store bought and they could not give out prizes. Then they we partnered up and had to merge their two ideas and create a material list.<br />
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Then they started building using recycled cardboard boxes and other supplies they found around their homes. Just a side note make sure families rinse out or don't send in any containers with food still in them. We had a very stinky plastic milk jug and a can of beans. Ewww gross.<br />
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Then the big day came for them to be able to play each other's games. One partner manned the game while the other played, then they switched. We even invited our principal and other school staff to come and play. They did not want to stop.<br />
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This game was an Alien Hunter. The player had to pull back the rubber band and shoot the paper balls into cups that were worth points for catching the alien in that cup.<br />
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This Fortune Telling machine was one of my favorites. The player said a question and then an answer was pushed out the slot on the left. Super cute and a big hit.</div>
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They were not always pretty but the collaboration, creativity and problem solving that went on in that classroom could not be replaced with a textbook. The engagement I saw in every student made my heart swell with pride. These were my kids and they are awesome! Do you do STEM challenges at your school? How often and which ones are your favorite? I would love to hear. <br />
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T.G.I.F.<br />
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Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-58748039896170064592016-11-25T18:16:00.003-08:002016-11-25T18:20:16.645-08:00Fourth Grade Reading Groups: Perspective and Point of View<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Well friends it has been awhile since I blogged but I have something I would love to share before these last few days of November are gone. I found this awesome Point of View activity on <a href="http://www.ela-everyday.com/2013/04/another-perspective.html" target="_blank">ELA Everyday In An Eighth Grade Classroom</a>. I was a little worried doing this activity with my fourth grade reading groups but they did awesome.</div>
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I have five reading groups that are reading realistic fiction: <u>Tales of Fourth Grade Nothing, Jake Drake Know It All, Skunk Scout, Bridge to Terabithia and Hatchet.</u> I assigned each group member a number either one or two that corresponded to a character in their book. I then had them take an event from the chapter and draw the event from their character's perspective. Wow the kids really did well. In <u>Hatchet ,</u> I had the kids either do Brian the main and pretty much only human character and his mom who is not in the story. The kids who had Brian drew him trying to survive in the wilderness. The kids that had Brian's mom had to infer and draw scenes. The kids drew scenes from his mom finding out Brian did not make it to his father to Brian's mom hanging out of a plane looking for her son. Really struck a code with me that even fourth graders can understand a parent's anguish and panic over losing a child.</div>
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I put the Point of View display out in time for conferences. The parents did seem to enjoy looking at their children's character's point of view. With this display they also were given a small peek into what we do in reading, which is different than the typical reading class at my school. I juggle five different reading groups that each read a different novel in hopes to give students a choice in what they are reading. My goal is to get them practicing all those wonderful reading skills the pre-k -- third grade teachers work so hard to teach them and to instill a love of reading. <br />
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I also do three whole class novels as well. At the end of the year my fourth graders will have read 7 - 8 novels. Our next novel is a whole group novel just in time for Christmas, <u>The <strike>Worst</strike> Best Christmas Ever.</u> Looking forward to sharing those activities with you next month. Do you do any seasonal novels with your class? I would love to hear about them.<br />
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Hope your Thanksgiving was restful and you recharged those batteries to get you through the next few weeks leading up to Christmas.<br />
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<br />Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-25699410090618928522016-09-17T06:10:00.001-07:002016-09-17T06:10:30.126-07:00Sharpening Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOBUahTxqHtuNV2OF3EcuoMqoHfwRzeAm_g-7Hfw8TQ5DtNfhRfv7k0YCnlA3A7u26zZE2Qi1yn7DalmNM7gUmBTdslzA4hBBIDYoTFqMUOoDEQ77_IOQZBAEI7nN-0PdXqsbIH3whfot/s640/blogger-image--1195089321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpoy1MqORaK-eIiyxt8iNv1ZezpmY44BfW80B9L-_LmqO0ljPcfGlz5FsAmHOzyE6Cz0Sg0hf1OF1sASFwT07gcYWV8K1j7Dt9zTS7VBatqHm3P2ZjuZdR6B3WIkCLGG00PyOjRv7y0C7B/s640/blogger-image-822838868.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWF4PwzZIGCoQrH2h9vHoDRRvOb7lXrct6dmNffioqhHV4ZciaZ8m2qTpCq1OPyC1K0ctx_exQSCuclNBl9cJOdF4HVq5BvKw9VaOxgEpBOis0OcT0HDLobuZEGORr202DStPSZ1PkSJY/s640/blogger-image--929931921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOBUahTxqHtuNV2OF3EcuoMqoHfwRzeAm_g-7Hfw8TQ5DtNfhRfv7k0YCnlA3A7u26zZE2Qi1yn7DalmNM7gUmBTdslzA4hBBIDYoTFqMUOoDEQ77_IOQZBAEI7nN-0PdXqsbIH3whfot/s1600/blogger-image--1195089321.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOBUahTxqHtuNV2OF3EcuoMqoHfwRzeAm_g-7Hfw8TQ5DtNfhRfv7k0YCnlA3A7u26zZE2Qi1yn7DalmNM7gUmBTdslzA4hBBIDYoTFqMUOoDEQ77_IOQZBAEI7nN-0PdXqsbIH3whfot/s640/blogger-image--1195089321.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRWF4PwzZIGCoQrH2h9vHoDRRvOb7lXrct6dmNffioqhHV4ZciaZ8m2qTpCq1OPyC1K0ctx_exQSCuclNBl9cJOdF4HVq5BvKw9VaOxgEpBOis0OcT0HDLobuZEGORr202DStPSZ1PkSJY/s640/blogger-image--929931921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Well look what I got in the mail last week.... a new <a href="http://www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com/" target="_blank">Classroom Friendly Supplies</a> pencil sharpener. Woot Woot! (Don't mind my son's hairy leg I am not great at taking pictures...obviously! LOL) Talk about excitement! These pencil sharpeners are #awesomesauce! I already have one in black but the yellow is sweet!</div>
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I know you're thinking how can someone get excited about a pencil sharpener? Well being a teacher for 20 years I have gone through tons of pencil sharpeners, both electric and the standard on the wall school models. These <a href="http://www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com/" target="_blank">Classroom Friendly Supplies</a> sharpeners just hold up better then any I have used before. </div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Check out how our pencils now go from dull to super sharp with just a few spins in this quick and quiet yellow beauty. </span></div>
These sharpeners take the beating my kiddos give all the other sharpeners but <a href="http://www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com/" target="_blank">Classroom Friendly Supplies</a> sharpener just hold up better.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVKyUOSr7oiGZiNUVwh9mRscT4Uhnq61mHFhug9G1WcShmmQ__hL4wWIcH9AeknxYDuMIFNRoH1-WqEOEUvccPN-wToC2YeEZSzAjRzV-KvAAAUr5voBdW1MbcXwHdcsCzQbAojQs84S1/s640/blogger-image--1913763693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVKyUOSr7oiGZiNUVwh9mRscT4Uhnq61mHFhug9G1WcShmmQ__hL4wWIcH9AeknxYDuMIFNRoH1-WqEOEUvccPN-wToC2YeEZSzAjRzV-KvAAAUr5voBdW1MbcXwHdcsCzQbAojQs84S1/s640/blogger-image--1913763693.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> Look at the point on that pencil...the kids love it as well as the teacher. So go over to <a href="http://www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com/" target="_blank">Classroom Friendly Supplies</a> and pick up one for your classroom. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto;">Have a great Saturday!</span>
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Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-32447325682347843962016-06-09T06:33:00.003-07:002016-06-09T06:46:49.047-07:00Camp Make It, Makerspace & ThnkBox<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Well I am back!!! School is out but learning never stops for a teacher right? At least not for me! I have been hearing all this buzz about Makerspaces. I went to an Edcamp in May (Another blog post coming soon) and went to a session on Makerspaces. I have been reading about Makerspaces on Bloglovin, Instagram and Twitter.</div>
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So "Makersapce" is the new buzzword in education. So when my teacher buddy approached me with this Camp Make It at Case Western Reserve University I just had to go. It was a three day "camp" where we were able to collaborate, design and create anything we could imagine. We were first given links to check out and learn how to use the <a href="http://thinkbox.case.edu/equipment" target="_blank">equipment</a> that CWRU ThinkBox has. I first looked at the equipment and started to freak out, OMG this was BIG equipment, like industrial equipment! I can't use that!!! I was sounding like my students. Ok I stepped back from my anxiety and told myself, I had to try, what did I have to lose right? Ummm maybe a limb??? LOL </div>
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So first we went to Thinkbox at CWRU which is a 7 floor Makerspace open to the public. Very cool right? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yKtaOtC3f36PKtSR2KRbIjussgOIolW8PJOp5dFTft0TW56LxM8nW-c8c_N3cqVYBZIT-mXlE-kVp1x9YvKM0QKCUbTPBx_Ps2hRtgx1-LZ8vcU7IEw0fVfqsOR1ADvKKhzQG6KjEhzM/s1600/thinbkbox.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_yKtaOtC3f36PKtSR2KRbIjussgOIolW8PJOp5dFTft0TW56LxM8nW-c8c_N3cqVYBZIT-mXlE-kVp1x9YvKM0QKCUbTPBx_Ps2hRtgx1-LZ8vcU7IEw0fVfqsOR1ADvKKhzQG6KjEhzM/s1600/thinbkbox.jpg" /></a></div>
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Day 1 - We broken into groups to make a group project. I really struggled on this day. I felt underprepared which I hate to feel. I did not have an idea what I wanted to make let alone I was feeling so overwhelmed after looking at the BIG equipment we would be using to create our project. I was definitely feeling like a student..... a deer stuck in the headlights student. So I just picked a piece of equipment that I was interested in, a 3D printer and hung with that group. Ok I am still frustrated and terrified at this point. The group decided to make a name tag that the student would earn badges or puzzle pieces that would attach to the name each time they completed a task. Ok the next huge challenge was the software, Tinkercad (web based) and <a href="http://www.sketchup.com/products/sketchup-pro?gclid=CjwKEAjwp-S6BRDj4Z7z2IWUhG8SJAAbqbF3AYHVk1GEERp7kW0RjPXlcYAxgqJF6QUolYXCK7Wa2xoCho7w_wcB" target="_blank">Sketchup.com</a> (downloaded a free trial) were two that we tried. Ugh talk about frustrated. There definitely is a learning curve and I was at the bottom. So a few people were faster learners and figured it out.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBg5VS39M-3nMJKRD_Uq03gpv4pRpKwwRbDWVqhNO5jKfcrg1fZbGVa4yfzVYbPJ95mBQvl83Bheh4wtiW6SO7R6y0DzG_3N8-TqDIzQmxOKie68moiWimqusP2dsHJ6VSgmgTqm_mMIu/s1600/blogger-image--2050160900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYBg5VS39M-3nMJKRD_Uq03gpv4pRpKwwRbDWVqhNO5jKfcrg1fZbGVa4yfzVYbPJ95mBQvl83Bheh4wtiW6SO7R6y0DzG_3N8-TqDIzQmxOKie68moiWimqusP2dsHJ6VSgmgTqm_mMIu/s640/blogger-image--2050160900.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: start;">Here is an image of a 3D printer making a stand of some kind. Very very cool!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHBJYQ7Vab4J9UMnrPmENhcreu-h3RmOfX9Sp_ETbQaAXmALebk3wzSzVLyz_nzmgvGFURmzlRX7MZMxVYriKNVnTyN3H9qKonp69hJ2FPdriG7QqwB7kK8B_z2Gn9esPZJWx8zYkTK6E/s640/blogger-image-1988251037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqHBJYQ7Vab4J9UMnrPmENhcreu-h3RmOfX9Sp_ETbQaAXmALebk3wzSzVLyz_nzmgvGFURmzlRX7MZMxVYriKNVnTyN3H9qKonp69hJ2FPdriG7QqwB7kK8B_z2Gn9esPZJWx8zYkTK6E/s200/blogger-image-1988251037.jpg" width="150" /></a><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnwSuWH9WehlHtOp-fj06jr7w2GTZ_7s4Ut87Xuk8rXesyvNWgnZG5CBMqbS8Yz5kgDC9gJw1IW2KvZsuhmwQghMUocvrJpI3tCPQeQwUyCMYabB6Nth6EvbdNuLZfWQD1tqNQnfhgbcCO/s640/blogger-image--1456293833.jpg" /><br />
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Day 2 Ok We got it on the printer...but we had to make adjustments. Trial and error but it was extremely cool to watch the machine work. Now I am looking around and all these people in the class are making really cool things and I am still at a lost of what to make, how to use the equipment or where to even start.<br />
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I do consider myself to be a creative person and enjoy being "crafty." Look I made this for my son with his prom pictures.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNFw4bq7LPTYcPo6aRoeAvCZN_Fuh-DzOvdpGvzgzzk9_f4-ZDuCVzRQV_xguU5QBAieQetX2TOzSMuu9_f2t1Rfug1wraLQJzB1TQ2ED8XoGjzac31tntKKV_VTITgdxlHZZFkV91eSYl/s640/blogger-image--14958989.jpg" /><br />
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This is our finished product. It was made out of glow in the dark filament (ink). We had to make some adjustments and thankfully I had a great group of problem solvers. Me not so much I was disappointed I did not have a project to make. <br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5V5asXt44Fc_v_sCqVHFlZJs6V_GAPG0cG7lTu5eXHqzSXIAp0lC1g79BDKjbxM4Zm6oiccCG6RQJz80n2vZgfgAG_aVfyGxeB1FwEJwMlLJt8YO72ky7fhE3K7tdl99W1xmxDIwxoOnw/s640/blogger-image--1079171873.jpg" /><br />
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This was one group's final project...an adjustable desk that could go from sitting to standing. I am in love with this project and want one, maybe five for my classroom. This project also inspired me to bring my hubby to ThinkBox on our vacation that is coming up to make me an adjustable desk. He is very comfortable with the BIG tools and I am a great at "helping." I can't wait he will be blown away at all the free to use equipment. Actually my son would love this too and then when I brought my project home my older daughter said she would like to go. Wow my kids are fearless compared to me!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH0bing9rVCJ6TuNHxj2imV8jZE9wvzvtcgTqzwRufD11BQ7wpxsoWeI05my1a8veLuuu__oruMCzFJG2uK8_o7B9obGzC1DkF3afyHTeVt4-DqmNGACQWG8bZzTOOMDpNRm3qiDtwMZ8Q/s640/blogger-image-1579669486.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adjustable desk compacted.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The camp was 3 days and I finally was able to make something. One of our very creative members was kind enough to share her template she made on the laser cutter. I <strike>stole</strike> borrowed her template put my own wording on it. It would be creepy to keep her wording right? Gosh more software to learn quickly Adobe Illustrated I tried to download at home the night before grr it took all night then I could not get it to work. Ughhhhh I knew I could use their computers that has Corel Draw on them so that is what I finally did after opening and downloading my teammate's file.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iIFKQMIl3YHlOVFF2GuM1PlrsquOJhfb5T98wO2U4ies2tW485tIWLCchcW_qwFTGN9CdGzMYvUlALRuhE8boP5-ugOCtHpR3vXqbvttdY74kRk7xdc8x4stts7uC9JPdgvoh2p4wzSD/s640/blogger-image--1250831882.jpg" /><br />
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This is the template on ThinkBox's computer which the public can also use for free.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjharTn7WEu1b9LIJhAt7o4U41OXCKaBaJQw6Klt6LCG4wfx0iz3ZS3W60zvvxOo7t7zvNRKwJNbbebv5Ih_aKaGN6D4d59sqTclIwaiMIp0UBMd_T-9H8_VZjfhCyRJgGIpbBEf9re7ra9/s640/blogger-image-1005866863.jpg" /><br />
<br />
I am starting to feel some success it is on the laser cutter etching the wording first.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFuzhIM08ui3ift-FLP9EytQxLyvHspSHkJxZCdN3LLWTnrhmw0AlLQOCeP5V6444GU6143NrHQ3SbLc9FkmVLfqFZNAF7MVrjX77rFXESalP5CSx_qENGzNrBtwbSOX7jSRUv9hgam1LM/s640/blogger-image--770995685.jpg" /><br />
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Now the laser is cutting out the tree design.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb67czYiNgKymRuVLBqHh9NZ4NY34OB9mAd8k_f8x00uZTSPD6gtlJPBAKJ4UKsZxA7v8CmYFvgTnhpr9mLgyKXOjaa3nLlvOeADyUlE82tDmcf9pR4C0buNP4Ganbsb-tHtjkJeeRu1Io/s640/blogger-image-1469187470.jpg" /><br />
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Viola "my" project. Isn't cute? After my project was done I did dabble with the Corel Draw software after seeing another group's plexiglass lap desk that they etched wording into. I did not produce it since it was getting late but I honestly will go back and maybe make one or two with my hubby holding my hand. LOL<br />
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My take away from "camp"...<br />
1. I definitely want a Makerspace in my classroom even if it is small. Maybe they can take apart an old computer or electric stapler, work with Legos (garage sales here I come) or I can create challenges they can complete at that table.<br />
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2. They can use that area if they finish early or I can add it to my science stations.<br />
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3. That a challenge can be extremely frustrating but when you succeed no matter how small it is such an amazing feeling and I want my students to feel that success too. <br />
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4. I constantly complain that kids in my classroom can't problem solve even the smallest issues and this will definitely help to learn that skill. <br />
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Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-28595441377838377362016-04-02T06:12:00.001-07:002016-04-02T06:12:30.243-07:00Rest, relax and Septic Tanks????<br />
I love April and I love spring break. Who couldn't love to rest, relax and recharge.<br />
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Seriously I did relax but I also seem to get so much more done including my second post in a week. Woo Hoo! I also love Farley's linky over at her awesome blog , <a href="http://www.ohboyitsfarley.com/2016/04/april-16-currently.html?showComment=1459600328382#c5570439820208145978" target="_blank">Oh Boy...It's Farley</a>. Grab a cup of coffee and find a comfy spot to get lost in all these amazing blogs.<br />
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Here is my currently...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14std6aeJGzqltd6cvwwZ0lZCYIkNVvv0Y-Wp0hsTz2g17rBu4lBXkJcC4EZpNYS0CUxJuQQBv9hFNQSsroV6A_ccLOVf1kR-OSV1kAowNRxwbqCIBZ3zXGuTZBw676I-18U1SkKB3XqC/s1600/april+currently.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh14std6aeJGzqltd6cvwwZ0lZCYIkNVvv0Y-Wp0hsTz2g17rBu4lBXkJcC4EZpNYS0CUxJuQQBv9hFNQSsroV6A_ccLOVf1kR-OSV1kAowNRxwbqCIBZ3zXGuTZBw676I-18U1SkKB3XqC/s640/april+currently.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Listening - The news is on in the background but I can't hear it due to my crazy dogs barking at each other or the invisible whatever in the yard.<br />
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Loving - It is the last two days of break and who could not love that. <br />
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Thinking - Two words,... lesson plans. Yuck! <br />
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Wanting - I want the cleaning fairy again. Even though I did get a lot of spring cleaning done over break it is never-ending ending with three kids, 2 dogs and 2 cats. <br />
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Needing - An appliance fairy. We seriously are having problems with all our appliances, my oven died, the top basket of my dishwasher broke and my septic system is malfunctioning. The last one is a scary problem. Ewwwwww! Fingers crossed it is just the float thingy and my hubby can fix it himself. These all broke within in two weeks. <br />
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Whatever - I am actually excited that school starts on Monday. I miss seeing my kids and sharing new things with them. I have a lot of fun ideas planned (in my head) for the last nine weeks! We start back with making marshmallow peep catapults and reading mythology. <br />
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So what are you up to? Please leave a comment or two. I enjoy finding new blogs...<br />
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Happy Saturday,<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9119176881413523983" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y302/MickeyD13/signature-23.png" /></a>Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-40334427731391969582016-03-30T06:50:00.000-07:002016-03-30T06:50:15.163-07:00Crickets, Smores and Campfires<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Well Hello, thanks for stopping by. I wanted to share my first ever classroom transformation thanks to Angie over at <a href="http://www.luckylittlelearners.com/2015/03/camp-read-lot.html" target="_blank">Lucky Little Learners</a> for all the inspiration. Every Friday, we have "Flashlight Friday" where the kids get the entire period to independently read while I conference with them. The kids still love "Flashlight Friday" but I felt the kids were a bit bored and not focused. To be honest, a lot of "fake" reading was going on. You know asking to go to the bathroom or wanting a drink a million times, changing books but not finishing any, using their flashlights for anything but read, and the constant noise of giggling and talking. Grrrrrrr! </div>
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Hype It Up</h2>
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The first thing I did was give the class clues about the up coming, "Flashlight Friday." Then I posted a picture of the tent sent up in my house on my classroom app, <a href="https://www.yapp.us/" target="_blank">Yapp App</a>. This app is where I share all my classroom pictures with my families. I have the free version but I am unsure of the current pricing. The day before I put a sign outside my classroom telling the kids that "Flashlight Friday" was moved to "Camp Read A Lot." </div>
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Day Of</h2>
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The day of, I stood outside my classroom and welcomed each "camper" to "Camp Read A Lot." The kids were given their teams on the front board and which station they were to go to first and how to rotate. They rotated every 7 minutes to a new site. I went over the number one rule, If I see "fake" reading they must go back to civilization (their desks) to finish reading. Yes, I had a few kids who had to go back to civilization.</div>
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Picnic Station </h2>
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At this station the kids sat at our cafe to read while eating smores (Golden Graham cereal, chocolate chips and mini marshmallows). Yum!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiKmvFEIYbArLtCmrf3sQ8QvtrjxWntutXLRAxC-fgKS-Sibj7zJu5IYkHnZGVnKQGyZRYEElSE4_NCQv-CHAEJkCmAsvQLnQZkRzngzJj4_A06uYSrI-W4wqSOXqyTAviSzRRKjXM0CV/s640/blogger-image--402206850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQ3anL1mLDjQvb5kS_buV2MYg-yhe-PhR7D7czMDevsvpn8UAIymBM_AzkbHVowN2luiURWX_hD_RvcxSotaTGhynhweAdVUsKslY6eFWfYI1_Tg3bzzNZc2FtPK2o8f8tP3sPfS1i30P/s640/blogger-image--287309424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQ3anL1mLDjQvb5kS_buV2MYg-yhe-PhR7D7czMDevsvpn8UAIymBM_AzkbHVowN2luiURWX_hD_RvcxSotaTGhynhweAdVUsKslY6eFWfYI1_Tg3bzzNZc2FtPK2o8f8tP3sPfS1i30P/s640/blogger-image--287309424.jpg" /></a></div>
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The Cave at Camp Read A Lot</h2>
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I threw sheets over a table in my classroom and the kids read in the "cave.'</div>
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkiKmvFEIYbArLtCmrf3sQ8QvtrjxWntutXLRAxC-fgKS-Sibj7zJu5IYkHnZGVnKQGyZRYEElSE4_NCQv-CHAEJkCmAsvQLnQZkRzngzJj4_A06uYSrI-W4wqSOXqyTAviSzRRKjXM0CV/s640/blogger-image--402206850.jpg" /><br />
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<h2>
Sleeping Quarters</h2>
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I brought in a real tent and blankets and they read in the tent. I need to thank my hubby for dragging the tent in on a Sunday for one of my crazy ideas. I love that guy!</div>
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUt2f0PetpKqjgS5gMiy_RB06Kx1yfh_vP0TFHptwb3p8Pn6QPkWTyO6P4MQT64MR5TzT0P9BTmtS_Npi_Pr94Br9V_l7JtxvL9DQNyWX5eVZ2JIEorAzayjfCOgKN1K4Xxv1moa9CAb89/s640/blogger-image-1873259264.jpg" /><br />
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Base Camp</h2>
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Since we were starting a new book club, mysteries. I needed the kids to look at the book choices and vote for their top three books they would like to read. So I put together a Google Slide of the choices which I posted in our Google Classroom with another powerpoint on the subject of mystery genre. </div>
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-qrZikqiwswZq8F_vGRY_OO8yswf8UiOAcqtPQZwWROb0mg7-LaX5WMHvpRULQ7Xv1OqTP2avfxqRpVKTL9mZrNtMyyV_YGfZLiQA6DOLcHB-QN0hXsvWCG41polYJ5NVXWgWScE-DHK/s640/blogger-image--1179863238.jpg" /><br />
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Lake Camp Read A Lot</h2>
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On my Smartboard I found a video on Youtube that showed a moonlit lake with nighttime creature sounds. The kids sat on yoga balls to help them feel like they were really on the lake reading. Look at the awesome miner light that one kid used to read. Love it! </div>
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiqA3QaeFM5udKXlPqoap6ozqgWLhx8v1OUivWaBrJ1Bd9-gC6NTRvoRQfW-aA8aWcW2fZgHvSZLegr3-fWVVZqCxGdDeuQ9y8-jdKA8jgOQJofzN5B8jCHAkXCQBgayVkUaOxd40t2bc/s640/blogger-image-1360513017.jpg" /><br />
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Campfire</h2>
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At this station my oldest daughter made a campfire out of construction paper and I threw blankets on the floor and they read around the campfire. </div>
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We had so much fun at "Camp Read A Lot." It definitely spiced things up and the kids have been begging to go back to "Camp Read A Lot." I told them we could only do camp reading once since I wanted it to be special. I do have another transformation up my sleeve.....maybe Camp Read A Lot goes to the beach or amusement park. Hmmmm I need my thinking cap. Have you done any classroom transformations? What have you done? I would love to hear about them.<br />
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I hope you are having a fabulous Wednesday!<br />
<br />Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-55948463823695158022016-02-05T19:10:00.001-08:002016-02-05T19:10:47.031-08:00SOLE - Letting go of the reins! Happy Friday,<br />
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I just wanted to share a lesson I did with my 5th grade science students. One of my teacher friends told me about the S.O.L.E. project that her school has started to use. First S.O.L.E. stands for Self Organized Learning Environment. To find out more about the project you can check out the website <a href="https://www.theschoolinthecloud.org/" target="_blank">School in the Cloud</a> or our local website is <a href="https://www.solecle.com/#/welcome" target="_blank">S.O.L.E. Cleveland</a>. Both of these websites have excellent videos, lesson plans, printable and examples of "Big Questions. This is a wonderful video from the founder of School in the Cloud, Sugata Mitra. It really made me think.<br />
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The S.O.L.E. project has students or the teacher create a "Big Question" that they will answer through research and then share with the class. My fifth graders during our solar system unit asked the question, "Is there anything beyond space and if there is what do scientist think is beyond?" Now I have to admit I absolutely love my fifth graders' amazing thinking brains. I thought presto a perfect "Big Question." The students form their own groups and each group is only allowed to have one computer. The students can float between groups if the group they are in is not working for them. The teacher does not solve or interfere with the conflict. The responsibility is on the students to problem solve. The teachers is only there to remind them they can change groups if that group is not working for them. <br />
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The struggle is real.....<br />
While researching their "Big Question" they came up with other questions such as: "What is the Hubble Bubble?" I walked around and many of my students wanted me to tell them what a Hubble Bubble was. I supported them and said they may have other questions that pop up that they may need to answer first.<br />
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Another issue that came up was that some of the groups were frustrated with only one computer. Many groups wanted to stay in big groups with their friends and I let them. They quickly realized that when I said the groups should be no bigger then 4 people and can only used one computer it was a good rule. The big groups started to struggle and I let them struggle. I asked them how can you solve that problem? I did not tell them what to do. They then realized that if they broke up into smaller groups but shared information between their groups they could work more efficiently. I love seeing the light bulb go on. <br />
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Present Info & Reflection....<br />
The last 10 minutes of class the groups then presented their findings and asked questions. I did print off a printable located <a href="https://www.solecle.com/#/resources" target="_blank">here</a> for the groups to write down their information and then evaluate how their group did and how they did with the task after they presented. It was really eye opening to see their reflections. As well as truly amazing to see the students find answers to their questions, work as a group and enjoy completing a task all on their own. They totally were able to take ownership and reflect on how they could do it better next time. This definitely will be another technique I will be adding to my teacher tools.<br />
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Have you every used S.O.L.E. in your classroom or would you ever let go of the reins and let the students direct their own learning? I would love to hear your thoughts. <br />
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Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-48911100762043066032016-01-01T16:57:00.001-08:002016-01-01T16:57:36.173-08:00New Beginnings and Making Memories!Hey Everybody,<br />
Happy New Year......it is 2016. Yahoo, there is great things to come. Such as a party over at Farley's blog, <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2016/01/currently-january-2016.html" target="_blank">Oh Boy 4th Grade.</a> I hear Farley has not been feeling well but she can still throw an awesome party and get me off my bloggy butt! Hope you feel better soon Farley!!<br />
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Listening - Our crazy deaf white boxer barks at our hearing bulldog constantly. Ugh!!!! Can't wait to go back to school so I do not have to hear that. My kids also complain about me taking our Christmas deco down. It is a pain to put it all back up in the attic that does not have stairs, just a shaky ladder. Now everything is on hold while I party with Farley! Thank goodness you can't see my living room. Here is what our tree looked like before I started to dismantle it. <br />
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Loving - Who does not love one more weekend! <br />
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Thinking - I forgot to make dinner or was it intentional? My hubby is now scrounging around for something to make. Hee Hee! Seriously this is what I did during break. Played doctor and ate breakfast with my youngest and drove my oldest to work in my PJs! EEEEK!<br />
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Wanting - My lesson plans to be done. I have attempted 3 times to work on my lesson plans for next week but nope they are not done. I just can't get focused. I have all my plans in my head though!<br />
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Needing - Nothing this break was just what I needed and confirmed to me that I am blessed. I am actually looking forward to going back to school....but for my lesson plans.<br />
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OLW - TRY...I want to try something new this year professionally and personally. I love a new year, so many opportunities and a fresh clean slate to make more memories. <br />
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Happy New Year & Stop by again I love company!<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9119176881413523983" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y302/MickeyD13/signature-23.png" /></a>Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-35709882295428695792015-11-22T07:21:00.002-08:002015-11-22T07:23:18.397-08:00Cafe Read-A-Latte<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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Look at our newest addition to our classroom! Yep a restaurant booth. I am so in LOVE!!!!</div><div class="" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhp0izepiFh5LzsMLBTAr1IO3LJxMwpUJU28tP5xirq4-rOi6ATa_b4GX66Yi11qh3b5nKA_SoJEtXEpOQeW-WSCVgStFObW4yv3rosQzY1lMuMZ-B3Kwh_Br-5Rx8NgfcM9rOt20kZRa/s640/blogger-image-2088281579.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZhp0izepiFh5LzsMLBTAr1IO3LJxMwpUJU28tP5xirq4-rOi6ATa_b4GX66Yi11qh3b5nKA_SoJEtXEpOQeW-WSCVgStFObW4yv3rosQzY1lMuMZ-B3Kwh_Br-5Rx8NgfcM9rOt20kZRa/s640/blogger-image-2088281579.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="" style="clear: both;"> I read this <a href="https://t.co/kCsDdkATny" target="_blank">article</a> about alternative classroom seating in a 21st Century classroom by Kayla Delzer. She talks about how classrooms should be like Starbucks with different seating for different learners. I would love to get rid of my desks and only have a few for those students that need or want a desk. Then have low tables with stools, tall tables / book shelves for standing and other types of seating. So I went on a mission to find a table for students to sit at like the one in Erin Klein's classroom check it out <a href="http://www.kleinspiration.com/2013/08/designing-your-classroom-space.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>. I love to go to resale type stores and my recent favorite to find furniture is <a href="http://www.habitat.org/restores" target="_blank">Habitat for Humanity</a>. I did not find the "breakfast nook" but I did find a restaurant booth. SWOON, but whoa the price tag was more then I want to shell out....$100.00! My hubby works in the restaurant biz so I put him on a mission and within 24 hours I got my restaurant booth! For free!!!! </div>
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I named it "Cafe Read-A-Latte" and put an opening soon sign up for the kids to see when they came in on Monday. I even added "ropes" to block off the seating so no one could sit in it before it was the grand opening. Then I slowly started to introduce the booth, First I met with students to conference with them individually before parent teacher conferences on their 2nd quarter reading goals. Then I give stickers for good behavior so for 10 stickers the students can pick to eat lunch with me and a buddy at "Cafe Read-A-Latte." Then I added to the sticker rewards that they could sit in the booth all day for 20 stickers! One girl was the envy of the entire class when she sat all day in Cafe Read-A-Latte!!! Then last Friday I walked around looking for the BEST independent readers during "Flashlight Friday" and picked four students sit in the book for "Flashlight Friday." Talk about getting their act together during independent reading! Look at these four boys! </div>
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Do you have alternative seating in your classroom? I would love to hear about it and how it works for you and your students. My mind is already spinning with some more additional seating. Check back to see what I have in mind.</div>
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Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-5163841578182950692015-10-16T18:22:00.002-07:002015-10-16T18:22:46.242-07:00Two Days of Pirates, Books and Hogwarts and I Never Left OhioI need to blog and share the first teacher conference I ever went to this week. I have had my teaching license for 19 years and have never gone to a teacher conference. Lots of workshops but never a two day conference! Wow talk about packed with information! I went with two other awesome teachers and the principal from my school to <a href="https://amle2015.zerista.com/" target="_blank">AMLE 2015</a> (Annual Conference for Middle Level Educators). <br />
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Here are some of my favorite sessions...<br />
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I went and saw Dave Burgress from <a href="http://www.daveburgessconsulting.com/" target="_blank">Teach Like a Pirate</a>. You know I had to go see the Pirate. I already read his book which was very motivational and inspiring. This session was fast pace, extremely fast pace and had hilarious anecdotes about gaining student buy in, hooking students with a teaser (think burning bra and many Victoria Secret bags) and BBQ-ing steaks (creating and presenting lessons). <br />
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Here is a picture of what was up when I walked in.<br />
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I have to admit I sent the picture to my hubby just to see what his reaction was! LOL<br />
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"Read Together ~ Succeed Together: Creating a Culture of Literacy though an Invention / Enrichment Period. This session by Hudson Middle School (Hudson, Ohio) teachers and principal was my favorite and really had me thinking. If you love the <u>Book Whisper</u> (I love this book) this group really implemented a lot of Donalyn Miller's ideas in their Intervention / Enrichment period. They set aside 30 minutes, four days a week devoted to reading; independent reading, genre studies, and other literacy activities. Every teacher in the building participates no matter what they teach.<br />
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Another favorite was from Dominion Middle School in Columbus, Ohio. The teachers and principle presented how they divide their 6th - 8th grade school into four houses similar to Harry Potter's Hogwarts or Ron Clark's Academy. I just love this idea!! I am in a K- 8th grade building and would love to have mixed age group houses work as a team collecting points for good deeds and grades. They meet once a week. The kids participate in a once a month Fantastic Friday where they play Minute It To Win It games such as Hungry Hippos (just think kids belly down on a scooters with a laundry basket out front collecting balloons in the middle of the gym floor). These teachers had all of us out of our seats popping balloons, they passed out tickets for prizes, we were shaking our booties to get the ping pong balls flying and doing the Nae, Nae! This session was full of energy! LOVE!!!<br />
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Those were my favorites and there was a few duds ( I do not like being sold anything I seek out that product.) but if I can walk away with a least one thing I can use in my classroom this conference was a success. A success that truly has inspired me.<br />
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Do you go to conferences? What are some of your favorite sessions?<br />
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Happy Friday !!<br />
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Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-875417548888642012015-10-04T19:44:00.001-07:002015-10-04T19:44:15.000-07:00Spaghetti, Marshmallows and PIE The rhythm of the school has at last gotten in a groove at last in October. Gosh the beginning of the year can be so tough. I know you all can agree with that. So I wanted to share what I was doing in my reading and science classes. We have been so busy but we are having fun.<br />
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In science this year I have vowed to do one STEM activity a month and we did our first one at the end of September. I was cruising around the internet and stumbled across a website, <a href="http://projectsbyjen.com/Calendar.html" target="_blank">Projects by Jen</a>, that I have done online activities <u>(Charlotte's Web</u> & the Oreo Challenge) on but had forgotten about it. I saw Jen had posted a STEM challenge, The Spaghetti and Marshmallow Tower Challenge. We had to make towers with spaghetti with a marshmallow on top and then post pictures on her site. It was perfect timing, I had just finished teaching them about the Engineering Design Process and what better to experience that lesson. Our tallest structure was 50 cm! <br />
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Now in reading we have started our historical fiction book clubs. We are reading: <u>Number the Stars, Bud Not Buddy, I Survived Pompeii, I Survived the Great Chicago Fire and I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake.</u> Some day I would like to do a historical fiction book club with only the <u>I Survived</u> Series. Slowly but surely I will add a few books at a time and get there. The kids love that series!<br />
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Then we started our PIE Time (Prevention, Intervention and Enrichment). During this 45 minute block 4 times a week I get to work with my fourth graders in the area of reading and vocabulary. Our technology intergrationist turned me on to <a href="http://www.scholastic.com/storia-school/" target="_blank">Scholastic's Storia</a>. I think I am going to love this site...I can assigned different ebooks to students based on their abilities, they can take a quiz and the site keeps track of their progress. Oh and the books can be read to them and all the studies I have read say that can increase comprehension by 50% and helps improve oral fluency?! Love, Love, LOVE! <br />
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Soooo I have a rotating schedule of four activities, one for each day we meet. Partner read Scholastic News (we always need practice with informational text), vocabulary / spelling work with a student choice board, teacher time (I would like to work on oral fluency but first I have to get them working on the Storia site) and then online on the Storia site. I hope to have them work on independent reading as well every other week.<br />
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They would fill out my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Quick-Easy-Independent-Reading-Response-Worksheets-1620760" target="_blank">Quick and Easy Independent Reading Response Sheets</a> which are available on TpT. <br />
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Well that is my month in a quick blog post. What have you been up to in your classroom? I would love to hear.Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-53248750063536416722015-08-03T07:21:00.001-07:002015-08-03T07:25:09.987-07:00Monday Made Its - Baking, Paint and B2S TechnologyHello Everyone! I hope everyone is filling up their carts at the TpT Back to School Sale! Don't forget the coupon code of B2S! <br>
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Well on to my one well maybe two, ohhh I thought of another one so three Monday Made Its! I guess I was more productive last week then I thought I was!!! Tara over at <a href="http://4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com/2015/08/monday-made-it-august-3.html" target="_blank">4th Grade Frolics</a> has this wonderful linky party. I love this linky especially looking at all the beautiful things everyone is making. I usually don't get to participate because I either forget to take pictures or I get nothing completed but not this week! Whoo Whoo!<br>
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This is my shamelessly plug for my TpT store. I pushed all day yesterday to finish my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Interactive-Notebook-Fast-Food-Challenge-Nutrition-Health-Math-2003689" target="_blank">Fast Food Challenge</a>. Every year I try to find a template to do this activity with my 4th and 5th graders but it is never really what I want so......I made my own. In this challenge the kids create a unhealthy fast food meal at their favorite fast food restaurant using the internet to use the restaurant's online menu. Then they create a healthy meal using the same parameters - a drink, main, side and dessert but it has to be under and as close as they can get to 550 calories. </div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Interactive-Notebook-Fast-Food-Challenge-Nutrition-Health-Math-2003689" target="_blank">Click HERE to purchase this product and remember it is 28% off today and tomorrow only!</a></div>
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For my 2nd Monday Made It I went blueberry picking with my youngest and my BFF and then made 5 loaves of blueberry bread. I was surprised how easy this quick bread was and the best part it was really Yummy! Here is the recipe <a href="http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/lemon-blueberry-bread" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br>
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My last Monday Made It I painted a really cute headboard and foot board for my middle daughter's bedroom. It was given to us for free but the person smoked and it was really gross! So I sanded, applied 3 coats of primer and 2 coats of white paint! I think we are going to buy some chevron contact paper and line the back of the sliding shelves. Hopefully I can get some pictures when my daughter wakes up. Sleep Beauty the life of a teenager. It is going to be tough in a few weeks getting up at 5:30 AM! <br>
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Well if you still are on summer break enjoy these last few days. If you are back to school already I hope you are having a fabulous first week back!<br>
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Happy Monday!<br>
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9119176881413523983" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y302/MickeyD13/signature-23.png"></a>Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-34279057586025540312015-08-02T06:19:00.000-07:002015-08-02T06:21:39.314-07:00Kitten, Sunsets, B2S Craziness! Yahooo - its <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Farley's Currently</a> linky and noooooooo it can't be August it just CAN'T be! Just when I at last get into summer mode.....BAM it's time to go back to school. I love going back to school but WOW it just comes faster every year.<br />
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Look at this beautiful sky! I just want summer to slow down to a snail's pace right now! <br />
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I love Farley's Currently! I will be lost reading everyone's posts for hours today. So here is mine...<br />
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Listening: Okay we found another furry friend at my son's baseball tournament. I took it home with the expectation that I would fine a home for it. Ahhhhhh....NOPE! Now she is tearing up my furniture with her crazy claws. Just what we need something else that poops! Isn't she cute though?<br />
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Loving: First days of August have been just beautiful here in Ohio! We went from wet and cold to stifling HOT! Now AHHHHH! You have to love Ohio weather.<br />
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Thinking: I have been working on a new product for my TpT store - Fast Food Challenge. I just ran into a snag so I am trying to problem solve it quickly so I can have it ready for the TpT Back to School SALE! I love this sale and I have quite a bit in my cart to buy on Monday. How about you?<br />
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Wanting: To go B2S shopping....I need to sell at the TpT sale! Fingers crossed.<br />
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Needing: This was the first year ever in 20 years that I did not rip down all my bulletin boards so you would think easy peasy right? Nope I decided to organize all my science supplies out of those large plastic totes. This picture all shows a small part of the mess. I love to organize but geeze what was I thinking.<br />
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B2S Rack: I love Farley's idea of putting a bit of happiness in a few teacher's mailbox. I wanted to do something last year but being new to the school I did not have enough guts. I already have a few teachers in mind now what to sneak in there???? Hmmmm<br />
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Enjoy these last few beautiful days!!!<br />
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Happy Sunday,<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9119176881413523983" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y302/MickeyD13/signature-23.png" /></a>Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-52030267270348628012015-07-21T13:08:00.003-07:002015-07-21T13:18:10.933-07:00Back to School Changes and Planning - It's that time already!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>Happy Tuesday Everyone,<br>
We at last have a beautiful day here in Ohio, no rain, lower humidity and temps in the 70's. Ahhhhh! It kind of feels like fall. I know, I know be quiet! But this type of weather makes me think of school and gets my ideas flowing. I have been thinking a lot about what I want to change or add for next year's lessons. <br>
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When I was student teacher (Yeah 20 years ago I cannot believe it has been that long!) my mentoring teacher told me to be reflective about my lessons of the day (What worked or did not work and how can I make my lessons better?). I think that is the one thing that really stuck with me from my student teacher days! Remember I student taught there was no internet, Smartboards or even whiteboards and no Pinterest! WOW has teaching changed! I do have to say I LOVE teaching even more now! <br>
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So here is what I am thinking about...<br>
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<b><u>4th & 5th Grade Science</u></b><br>
<b><u>QOW</u></b> - I am going to start a Question of the Week to try to do a review over material they should know or we are learning. On our standardized testing last year I notice the kids were missing stuff they should already know. I do not have time to go back and reteach 3rd or 4th grade material so I thought I would give them a 2 sided worksheet at the beginning of the week which will be due on Friday. This is going to be tough for the kids since they are not use to homework in science. If they have a parent's signature I will give 1 point extra credit to help motivate them to complete the QOW. I am thinking of purchasing Ari's <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Science-Warm-ups-Bundle-796478" target="_blank">Science-Warm-ups-Bundle</a> from the Science Penguin which has daily questions and I will give them four questions each week. I love her stuff. <br>
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<b><u>Health 3rd Quarter</u></b> - I always have taught health during the fourth quarter but after I looked closely at my kids' test scores I noticed they were missing quite a few basic health type questions. So I think I am going to move it up to the 3rd quarter. We do our testing at the end of the 3rd quarter, beginning of the 4th quarter so I am hopping they will stop missing these questions. <br>
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<b><u>Monthly STEM / STEAM Activities</u></b> - With such a push to do more STEM / STEAM activities in the education world I thought I should integrate more into my lessons. They kids love to do them too.<br>
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<b><u>Science Olympiad Team</u></b> - My motivation is I want to try something different and give myself a new challenge. One of my BTF is a teacher on her school's team and they placed in first place! We would also be the first school in our city to compete. I can't wait to get started.<br>
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<b><u>Young Astronauts</u></b> - We are very lucky to have NASA here in our backyard. Every year they have groups of kids from schools around the area come and do science / space type activities. This will be the first year I take a group of 3rd, 4th and 5th graders. <br>
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<b><u>4th Grade Reading</u></b><br>
<u style="font-weight: bold;">Book Club Groups - </u> We have very big classes, last year I had 27 kids in each fourth grade homeroom. This year I have heard I will have 32 kids in each fourth grade homeroom...Whoa! Last year my book clubs ranged from 6 - 8 kids which was great but I think the quieter kids got lost. So this year I want to try to make the groups smaller, 4 - 5 kids. Hopefully I can find all the books I will need. I usually gather from my collection, the school's very small collection and 2 different county's library systems. It is a lot of planning and legwork but the kids love the book clubs.<br>
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">40 Book Club -</u>This is from the Book Whisper herself! I proposed this idea of reading 40 books during the school year to my kids last year thinking only a few kids will actually read 40 books. Boy was I surprised, out of 54 kids, 30 kids were at the end of the year party. An ice cream sundae bar! Yum!! So this year I need to challenge them more....my new rule is you have to read so many books from each genre I assign and you must pass an AR quiz in their level (ZPD) after reading the book. I can't wait to see how they do!<br>
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<b><u>Mystery & Author Skype -</u></b> First the kids love anything technology related then getting to meet kids in another part of the world with <a href="https://education.skype.com/mysteryskype" target="_blank">Mystery Skype</a> or their <a href="http://www.katemessner.com/authors-who-skype-with-classes-book-clubs-for-free/" target="_blank">favorite author</a> ! Too cool!<br>
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">Flashlight Friday</u> - Last year every Friday I had the kids independently read for the entire class time. This year I want to hold them more accountable by having them fill out a quick response sheet. I made some for my TpT store if you would like to take a peek click <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Quick-Easy-Independent-Reading-Response-Worksheets-1620760" target="_blank">here - Quick and Easy Reading Response Sheets.</a> <br>
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<u style="font-weight: bold;">Reading Conference - </u>Last year I tried very hard to meet with kids to talk about their reading and I even had a binder where I wrote down notes after the conference. I just felt like I was missing some or not meeting enough so this year I am going to make a calendar where I assign kids/groups days for our conferences. I think if I am a little more organized I will make better use of my time. <br>
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So there is my ideas in a nutshell. What are you doing to changing things up with your lessons? I would love to hear from you!<br>
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Happy Summer,<br>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9119176881413523983" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y302/MickeyD13/signature-23.png"></a>Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-90114683885576164822015-07-07T13:04:00.000-07:002015-07-07T13:04:09.774-07:00Week 3 - TpT Challenge - Health & NutritionHappy Rainy Tuesday!<br />
This is week 3 challenge for the TpT Seller Challenge. To create a new product for TpT......<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlaqRxPlrbVDT0xbx2LB8CRho8OJJPly8JhZwj6H6taeZPI4-MuPd5VNupKYtC0nqYa5ltZ3N5RmuDhgZ4xmjfZvRbJ54pz97HjBsdQxAzBRWLxfTEoj2E8HgpCgEoYCMPIYkQ-NOX5Ql/s1600/Make+Your+Masterpiece.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlaqRxPlrbVDT0xbx2LB8CRho8OJJPly8JhZwj6H6taeZPI4-MuPd5VNupKYtC0nqYa5ltZ3N5RmuDhgZ4xmjfZvRbJ54pz97HjBsdQxAzBRWLxfTEoj2E8HgpCgEoYCMPIYkQ-NOX5Ql/s640/Make+Your+Masterpiece.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Nutrition-Design-Your-Dream-School-Lunch-4th-and-5th-grade-1944279" target="_blank">Click HERE for my TpT store</a></td></tr>
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I created this because every year I do this project with my fifth graders after I teach nutrition and I really needed a more formal set of directions and templates. <br />
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The Motivation - A Good Idea Gone Bad......<br />
I usually do this with groups or partners but keep the groups small. Last year I had big groups (6 - 7 kids in each group!) My BIG idea was because there were 32 kids in each class so I had each group design one day's lunch. So there was 5 lunches per class but it was disastrous. Like I wanted to stop midway and throw it out disastrous! You know when an idea sounds great in planning but when you put it into action....UGH why did I start this!!!!! It just was too hard to evaluate. Kids were <strike>off task</strike> fooling around. Timelines were not met so unfinished projects resulting in yucky grades and unhappy students and parents. But it can be a great project that kids love..... <br />
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The Change to Awesome....<br />
So I changed it so each Individual / small group / partners would make a week's worth of lunches. I also added a student directions handout with guidelines for reference, a planning template and a final project template. <br />
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Have a terrific rest of your week and make it awesome! <br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9119176881413523983" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y302/MickeyD13/signature-23.png" /></a>Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-88021797448236053942015-06-29T07:04:00.003-07:002015-06-29T07:04:43.436-07:00 Book Clubs and Literature CirclesI have had a few questions about the books I have used during my book clubs. The first thing I do before I start a book club is to round up a few book sets in the genre we are focusing on. This can be tough since my school has a very small collection and I also have a small collection. So I reserve book sets at the local library which I have two different counties very close so I use both.<br />
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It can be a lot of work but I love watching the kids' eyes light up when I bring the books sets into the classroom. They get so excited so it is worth it. I then present the class with the choices and they write down on a piece of paper or in the Google Classroom they submit a doc. I form groups and away we go. Here is their groups from last year... <br />
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My book clubs each revolve around different genres.<br />
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Realistic Fiction: <u>Hatchet</u>, <u>Stargirl</u>, and <u>Bridge to Terabithia</u> Each day we answered comprehension questions I created in our interactive notebooks. This was a lot of work and collecting notebooks to grade. Boo! I do not think the kids enjoyed it as much either. They did enjoy completing activities from a student choice board (<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Differentiated-Novel-Study-Choice-Boards-Literature-Circles-168033" target="_blank">Click here for TpT product)</a> for the final assessment. <br />
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Mystery - <u>Westing Games,</u> <u>Bunnicula,</u> and <u>Library Card </u> I had the kids form a more formal literature circle. I used a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Literature-Circle-Booklets-126148" target="_blank">Literature Circle Booklet</a> with roles they completed each day and they shared the next day before they read. I also used audio books with this book club. <br />
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Biography -I was a bit crazy here, I had each student pick out their own biography to read. I did recommend the <u>Who Was / Is?</u> series but they could pick something different as long as it was a biography and they could finish it in 2 weeks. So everyone read independently in class. I would like to group / partner kids up this coming year. Hmmmm maybe kids that read books on the same person could partner up to do a final project together.<br />
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Whole Class Read - <u>The Best Christmas Pageant Ever</u> - This book we read together right before Christmas Break. I would put up on the Smartboard a roaring fire in a fireplace and we would read either as a class, partners or alone. Each day we would fill out a sticky note with 2 things we read and one question. The next day we would discuss our sticky notes. They really loved this book and we did watch the movie and compared the two. Warning the book and movie does use the word, "sex" in it. Hmph why do the authors do that to a great book! I may not use this next year because of that. I wonder if there is a "clean" version or better yet maybe I can White Out the word in all the books. LOL <br />
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Historical Fiction - <u>Number the Stars,</u> <u>Bud Not Buddy,</u> and <u>The Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson</u> I used another <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Literature-Circle-Printables-233001" target="_blank">Literature Circle Packet on TpT</a> this was my favorite plus it is free! I will be using this next year.<br />
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Fantasy - <u>James and the Giant Peach</u> - This was a whole class read at the end of the year. This kids loved it. Each day we read either together, partners or alone. After they read the daily section I had them fill out a sticky note with 2 things they read about and 1 question. This was then placed in their interactive notebook. The final project I had them do a report on their favorite characters. Just a warning this book does have swearing in it. Why do these children authors have to have swearing in their stories?<br />
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Mythology - I assigned each group a short story (myth) in a book club format. Here is the packet I found on TpT <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Greek-Mythology-CCSS-Mega-Pack-783341" target="_blank">Greek Mythology</a>. It was awesome! <br />
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I also did a poetry unit and worked on close reading. I think I forgot a few things but this is definitely the gist of each. Here is independent reading repsonse sheets I created for next year's book clubs in my TpT store.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2EpzmfGPNm1WgulaEaGEOmWF8QX84iuwiHNBE7TD6-gmbt-RGY0wgzOv_TAcLXznRW56uhkop-7JoJhOP3KggUJECa3G3udJ4FyXG-fGtBBxCjfuMM1xS17np31ntxmVAQ3MlGDJ7-Sq/s1600/independent+reading+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp2EpzmfGPNm1WgulaEaGEOmWF8QX84iuwiHNBE7TD6-gmbt-RGY0wgzOv_TAcLXznRW56uhkop-7JoJhOP3KggUJECa3G3udJ4FyXG-fGtBBxCjfuMM1xS17np31ntxmVAQ3MlGDJ7-Sq/s320/independent+reading+cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Quick-Easy-Independent-Reading-Response-Worksheets-1620760" target="_blank">Available in my TpT Store</a></td></tr>
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What do you do for reading? What are your favorite books that you use in your classroom?<br />
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Happy Monday!<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9119176881413523983" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y302/MickeyD13/signature-23.png" /></a>Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-57156232839821083912015-06-25T06:19:00.002-07:002015-06-25T06:19:55.052-07:00Struggling Readers and Book ClubsIt seems like lately all I post about on my blog is for linky parties or challenges. I do have to say it does motivate me to write more posts especially if I get comments. But it is not the real reason I started this blog, that was to share my classroom ideas. <br />
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In my classroom, I try to motivate kids to read and to read a lot. Practice makes perfect right? In fourth grade it can be magical! Just think for a lot of the kids, fourth grade is the year that they read a novel (chapter book) for the first time all by their self without Mom or Dad reading to them or with them. It may be the first time they actual finish a novel by themselves! I know you always have those higher readers that love to read and have been reading books forever and I LOVE those kids. But I mean the average to lower kids who struggle or just hate to read. Now to see that light turn on to reading, that is the reason I LOVE to teach.<br />
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Here is a few things I do during my class to motivate and support those types of readers.<br />
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1. This is number one, I am extremely enthusiastic about reading. I read with my classes and during independent reading. I talk about books I am reading or my own children are reading (because I read everything my own children read) and bring them in for kids to read. I challenge the kids to read 40 books and I also do that challenge during the school year. I take AR quizzes with the kids on books we are reading in our book clubs or on books I have read. I read books the kids recommend to me and talk to them about those books. I also model what good readers do, how and why I read and the variety of types of reading materials I read. <br />
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2. I give one class period a week totally devoted to independent reading. I usually like to conference with the kids at that time but sometimes I also read during that time. Model, model, model! Kids learn so much by watching those around them.<br />
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3. I have even picked a kid that is really struggling but is almost there and read a book with them. I have the student pick a book they would like to read and I get the same book and we form a mini book club. I let the student chose how much they will read each day and I read that section with them and the next day we discuss what happened in the story. When it comes time to taking the AR quiz, I am right there with them taking it too. It is a trick I have used with my own children with great success. <br />
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4. During my book clubs (my version of literature circles), I have audio books that the groups take turns listening to. I have 2 ipads and my phone which I download audio books from the library (free) or I purchase from Amazon or <a href="http://www.audible.com/t1/30trial_at?source_code=GO1GBSH060214909Y&mkwid=s55ezyBLD_dc&pcrid=78862956849&pmt=e&pkw=audible&gclid=Cj0KEQjwza6sBRCMiaaPtY_c2tIBEiQAacj5I1jioln3h7PN9L81_83P3YgxEPgbJsTk52yLGAduY9UaAgli8P8HAQ" target="_blank">Audible</a>. Audible is a $14.95 membership that you can download one audio book per month. The first book is free. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOb3GcU0YHdqJX8MDoMkMg1laCxneGoAp79bGIkeAeW1zZ3zFAXYmuLdhOsH3Qp4dSKeMJT4Fj6z1jiahvUn9IDyVpA1gd4Ml6Vfam8Vc37hrH8ebIlcS3kF5rvaicSVZEXYFH227qhLss/s1600/audible.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOb3GcU0YHdqJX8MDoMkMg1laCxneGoAp79bGIkeAeW1zZ3zFAXYmuLdhOsH3Qp4dSKeMJT4Fj6z1jiahvUn9IDyVpA1gd4Ml6Vfam8Vc37hrH8ebIlcS3kF5rvaicSVZEXYFH227qhLss/s1600/audible.jpg" /></a></div>
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Since my book clubs usually have between 4 - 6 kids I use a headphone splitter that has 5 ports that the kids can plug their ear buds into. Sometimes we have to share ear buds to get the entire book club on. The kids then listen to the section for the day while reading along. Nothing is sweeter then hearing a group bust out laughing because of a part in their book. Since I only have 3 devices and I usually have 4 - 6 book clubs going we take turns each day using the audio books. The groups that are not listening to the audio book either read out load together, in partners or silently. <br />
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The kids get very passionate about their day to listen to the audio version of their book club book. They love it! I have read, that listening to a book while reading it can increase comprehension by 50%. I definitely have seen those test score increase after using audio books. <br />
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By doing this I am supporting my struggling readers without the rest of the class knowing it and for those that are below grade level they can read a more challenging text. My fourth graders hate being treated like a baby and reading what they consider "big kids'" books I am able to boost their self confidence in the process. I also recommend to parents to get audio books with the actual book so the kids can read at home. The trick is they need to do both, read and listen to the book at the same time. I have seen tremendous growth in my students' Star scores. The best part is when I hear one of my kids say, "I actually like to read now after this year!" <br />
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Next post I am going to reflect on what I am going to do new next year to up the ante in my reading classes. I have some great ideas brewing!<br />
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Have a great week and happy reading,<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9119176881413523983" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y302/MickeyD13/signature-23.png" /></a>Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-73636120277954147772015-06-22T19:32:00.001-07:002015-06-22T19:32:48.569-07:00Dare to Dream and Dream BIGWe are on week 2 of the TpT Seller Challenge and this week's theme is Dare to Dream. In this challenge we are to blog about our BIG dreams for TpT. Every time someone purchases one of my products or downloads one of my freebies I am truly humbled. When I get that email that someone has purchased something or left feedback I am jumping up and down with excitement and also thinking, "WOW someone bought one of my products?"<br />
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Around adults I am pretty shy and quiet until I get to know them. So when I decided to post my first product on TpT it was way out of my comfort zone. I am very happy I did and it is all a work in process for me but it has totally been worth it. I even forced myself to go to a Northeast Ohio Meet Up this last spring. I was so happy I did! I met some wonderful ladies and learned a thing or two. I would definitely do it again. <br />
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Here are my BIG Dreams I would like my TpT store to help with...<br />
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Dream 1 - Ok this is not one I am very proud of but it is truthful. We are in dept up to our eyeballs due to losing my job 5 years ago due to budget cuts. I did find another job for the following year but at a significant pay cut. We had to put a lot of daily living on credit to make it for 4 years. This last year I found another awesome teaching job and I am extremely thankful that it pays much better. Now we are digging ourselves out of a very big hole. If I could get my TpT store going, it could help pay off some of that yucky debt.<br />
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Dream 2 - After all that yucky debt is paid off (and dream 3 is on its way) I want to go to Italy with my hubby. Both of our families are from Italy and it is a dream of ours to visit where our families came from. Life is just too short not to follow your dreams. <br />
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Dream 3 - This dream is number 1 even though I listed it as number 3. It is to put some money in our savings. My TpT store can definitely help with this dream. I just need to get out of my comfort zone and advertise / promote my products. It is scary to think that someone could be criticizing (ripping a part) my work. It is so hard to put yourself out there.<br />
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Well I hope you have some big dreams. I cannot wait to read about them. <br />
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Have a great night,<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9119176881413523983" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y302/MickeyD13/signature-23.png" /></a>Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-43038593138618192552015-06-15T08:38:00.001-07:002015-06-15T08:38:15.839-07:00TpT Challenge Week 1 - Check<br />
Okay wow is all I can say! I decided to jump on the TpT Sellers Challenge that I started to see on Instagram. <br />
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Oh my goodness this is totally amazing the amount of sellers jumping on board. I love seeing all the great advice and tips. I honestly have never been involved in anything this big. <br />
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The first step was to post a stats report. Before and then I will do it again when this is all done.<br />
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I know pretty sad...but I am proud of where I have gotten my blog / store. I can't wait to see if I can get those numbers up a bit more.<br />
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Then every week they give us a challenge....this week we had to make over one TpT product. Last week I started messing around with my decomposer lab so this challenge was prefect. So here is the before and after...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLlSX3cRMF4cevtO7DWJ_A_qwXSlWZwSxSNjqEONplu7imxAGCX9Hgi6QTgsIyxYuHq72pAZfQDSpBP5kzZZly4T8du9ToXkpiZ_zYBDPa1jJ0Co50_pDs-UyYmSokdoYBqGHC1k2cMTT/s1600/makeover+madness+decomposer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifLlSX3cRMF4cevtO7DWJ_A_qwXSlWZwSxSNjqEONplu7imxAGCX9Hgi6QTgsIyxYuHq72pAZfQDSpBP5kzZZly4T8du9ToXkpiZ_zYBDPa1jJ0Co50_pDs-UyYmSokdoYBqGHC1k2cMTT/s640/makeover+madness+decomposer.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Here is the link to my TpT Store if you would like to pick it up. <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Decomposer-Lab-with-Technology-Worksheet-Food-Chains-Webs-1645003" target="_blank">Click here to purchase.</a><br />
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Come check out the other hosts and blogs.<br />
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<a href="http://sparklinginsecondgrade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Sparkling in Second Grade</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thirdinhollywood.com/2015/06/tpt-seller-challenge-week-1-makeover.html" target="_blank">Third In Hollywood</a><br />
<a href="http://www.peppyzestyteacherista.com/2015/06/tpt-seller-challenge-makeover-madness.html" target="_blank">Peppy Zesty Teacherista</a><br />
<a href="http://www.teachcreatemotivate.com/" target="_blank">Teach Create Motivate</a><br />
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Have a great day. I know where I am going to be. Looking at all this greatness! <br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9119176881413523983" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y302/MickeyD13/signature-23.png" /></a>Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-82393301247990448962015-06-12T19:55:00.000-07:002015-06-12T19:55:29.820-07:00Painting, Reading, A Little Rain and A Lot of Baseball <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well my first full week of summer vacation just flew by and I did get a few things done off my summer To Do list. Washing down my kitchen cabinets and organizing my kitchen pantry. No where on my fun meter but they needed to be done. Now what is really on the fun meter......linking up with <a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2015/06/five-for-friday-linky-party-june-12th.html" target="_blank">Doodle Bugs Teaching</a> Five for Friday! Here we go!!!!</div>
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My youngest took a one day summer painting class. I think she did an awesome job and her smile shows how much fun she had.</div>
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I went on a reading binge and finished this book in 2 days. I loved it and I am pretty critical about professional reads!!! I was shaking my head up and down countless times throughout thinking wow if I could get parents, my principal and other teachers to read this! Also it gave me some inspiration for my own classroom. Now if I could figure out a way to visit RCA, You know the old saying, "If there is a will, there is a way." I am already thinking I have a girlfriend who lives in Atlanta! Hmmmmmmmm</div>
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Baby chick update, they are now moved out to a temporary coop next to the big girls coop only during the day. I am hoping this will accumulate the big girls to the chicks so hopefully there will be less feathers flying when we move the chicks into the big coop. <br />
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Today plans were ruined due to a torrential downpour. So I went Target shopping with my oldest daughter. Love Target and of course did not even buy what I went there to buy (stove top griddle), just everything else. LOL<br />
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These were today's original plans, my oldest playing baseball (he is a catcher). They were able to get one game in of a double header. I think someone was listening to our prayers to get a rain out though since today was the 5th & 6th game of the week. Still 3 more games this weekend. UGH too many. <br />
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I hope you are enjoying your summer off or if not there yet you are on the home stretch! </div>
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Have a great night,</div>
Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-53647461459068037412015-06-04T12:28:00.002-07:002015-06-04T12:28:19.987-07:00New Year, Chicks, and Summer, Ok I am totally in love and guess with what? It is officially summer for me and my kiddos! YAHOO!<br />
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It was a wonderful year at my new school and I am confident that I made the right choice in changing schools last year. I was so scared and worried. But.....I had so much FUN with my kids and I even was able to hatch a baby chick. Here is a picture of Julian on her birthday...<br />
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Shhhh you may notice I am using the pronoun, "her / she." We are praying its a girl. We won't know for a few more weeks. Chickens are not like puppies or cats where you can just flip them over and check out those privates. Nope they are well hidden. LOL<br />
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Yep you do see two chicks. Only one hatched (out of six) which is blocking the other one we bought (Tweedy Bird) to keep Julian company. They are not the cutest right now since their big girl feathers are coming in. I did let my classes name them both. One of the names they wanted was SHAQ! Thank you that did not win. LOL<br />
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Also since my time is a bit more relaxed I had to join Farley over at <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2015/06/currently-june-2015-and-helping.html" target="_blank">Oh Boy 4th Grade</a> for her June Currently. This is my FAVORITE linky party. So here it is...<br />
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Listening and Loving - Self explanatory:) <br />
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Thinking - Feeling a bit guilty that I have not hit the floor running with my gigantic To Do list. Oh well it will get done..right?<br />
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Wanting - I am looking for a new and inspiring prof read. I have read quite a few lately, Teach Like A Pirate, Lighting Their Fires (summer read for school - finished in 2 hours), Ron Clark's Essential 55 ( I so want to visit his school now), Book Whisper, Reading In The Wild.... What is your favortie professional read? I would love some recommendations or to join a book club (something I have not tried yet). <br />
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Needing - Nothing! Live is not easy but it is good. I am enjoying this time in my life.<br />
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Summer Lovin" - I love to organize and purge my house during the summer. My poor pack rat and garbage picking hubby. He is already swearing under his breath but he does love to have his wife back if its at least for a few months. I love to spend time with my family and we do with all the traveling we do with baseball and soccer. Also love to do crafty things around the house. I just have to pick one of many to start. Maybe paint the front door a bright cheery color. <br />
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I hope you are out too or will be very soon. Would love to hear from you:)<br />
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Hugs,<br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=9119176881413523983" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y302/MickeyD13/signature-23.png" /></a>Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-74737767861539130452015-05-02T05:31:00.000-07:002015-05-02T05:31:03.612-07:00Weather, Bathrooms & Summertime<br />
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Good Morning Everyone,</div>
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It is Currently time with <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2015/05/currently-may-2016.html" target="_blank">Farley's</a> fabulous linky party. This is my favorite linky! I get to catch up with all my favorite bloggers, meet a few new friends and share some of my own happenings. </div>
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Sooooo here it goes...</div>
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Listening... My first grader has taken off with reading and insists on reading everything. I know it is awesome but when you first wake up that is not what I want to hear, "Mom what is this word" fifty times. Ugh the reading love of a first graders you have to love it.<br />
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Loving....I think we are going on the summertime stretch here is Ohio. Beautiful weather is here to stay. LOVE<br />
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Thinking... Ok my bathrooms need to be cleaned desperately but I just don't want to. There is always another day right? <br />
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Wanting... To take a short trip with my hubby but it is hard to find someone to take all 3 of my kids and their crazy sport schedule. <br />
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Needing...I am not one to count down the school year I actually love being with my class and at school but I am getting pooped.<br />
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Summer YES, hope and dream... Most of my summer is running kids to different soccer and baseball tournaments. We put a lot of miles on my van but we are always up for a road trip. I hope we can take a vacation but money is tight so I think it will be a Staycation for us. Of course my long standing dream is to go to Italy. <br />
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Everyone enjoy their Saturday (2 soccer games for us today). Grab a cup of coffee and check out the other awesome bloggers. <br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y302/MickeyD13/signature-23.png" /></a>Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-24387868595141104422015-04-10T14:47:00.004-07:002015-04-10T14:47:32.983-07:00What An Awesome Week!!!!It was my first week back from spring break and you know how those weeks can go. But...... I think today and this week was one of the smoothest days / weeks I have had this school year. It was awesome! I am going to try and link up with <a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Doodle Bugs Teaching</a> Five for Friday!<br />
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For the last quarter I switch from science and teach health. First I had my fifth graders work on designing a school lunch for one day but they had to follow the US guidelines that our school follows. This was the video I used in my Google presentation to inspire them, school lunches in Paris, France. You should have seen the reaction of the kids to the idea of eating escarole for lunch! LOL We had a pretty heated debate after this video. I divided them into five groups and when they are done they need to create and design a daily lunch that they would eat but meets the US regulations. I cannot wait to see their lunch ideas! <br />
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With my fourth graders in health, we are looking at food labels. So I found this awesome website <a href="http://blog.fooducate.com/2012/08/14/fun-nutrition-worksheets-for-kids/" target="_blank">Fooducate</a> and printed out the five different food labels (FREE) and put them into five groups. They answered the questions and then presented the information to the class. The next day I partnered them up with a different food label and had them fill out a worksheet comparing the 2 food labels.<br />
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Every Friday I do "Flashlight Friday" where the kids can bring in a flashlight and a furry friend to read with. They LOVE this and look forward to it every week. My kiddos that were not book lovers now beg to read! We now read for 30 - 45 minutes at a stretch but boy did we have to build up endurance. At the beginning of the year they were a bit squirrelly after 10 minutes. They make me so proud! I usually try to meet with a few kids to discuss what they are reading or AR scores at this time. I tried to take some pics of the kids without their faces showing but oops their faces were showing too much. Ugh!<br />
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Also in reading we are working on the final project for our historical fiction genre with Bloom Balls or a 3D figure that is twelve sided. On each panel the kids have to do something about their book they read in book club such as; problem, solution, setting, character, sad part, favorite part, text to self..... No pictures yet but if you Google "Bloom Ball" you can find tons of images and the templates.<br />
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Then finally the last thing that made me really happy.... my lesson plans, grading, newsletter and gradebook are all done so I do not have to do any school stuff over the weekend!!! The one thing I cannot live without and makes my life easier and is sooooo worth the money of $12.00 a year. <a href="https://planbook.com/welcome.html" target="_blank">Planbook</a> an online lesson plan program. I love this website because I can just merge years and presto my plans are pretty much done but for a few tweaks here and there!<br />
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Well I am off to dinner with my hubby and girls. My oldest is at a friends house. Have a fantastic weekend! <br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y302/MickeyD13/signature-23.png" /></a>Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-15324712370108617772015-04-02T09:57:00.000-07:002015-04-02T09:57:34.778-07:00Spring Break, Vents & FoodYea!!!! It is April and the weather is at last changing after a cold and snowy winter. I have been seeing peeks of spring everywhere. My willow tree bloomed, the daffodils are popping out of the ground and crocuses are blooming. How beautiful....<br />
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Also it is Farley's awesome linky party!!!! Click <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2015/04/currently-april-2015.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> to check out her hoppin' party!! This I my favorite linky especially since I am on spring break so I can link up kind of early. Also check out those cute chick graphics what is not to love.<br />
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Listening- Okay that is obvious to any parent with kids home on spring break too. <br />
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Loving - I think every teacher at this point in the school year needs a break. I know some teachers do not get a spring break. How do they do this home stretch????<br />
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Thinking - I always need to clean and every Currently I want a cleaning fairy but she never comes! LOL So it is up to me....and boy do I need to. I am taking a break now after taking all my heater vents off and vacuuming and wiping them down. Talk about gross with 2 dogs, 1 cat and 3 kids (not counting the hubby) the vents become hair and dust collectors! Now I hope to vacuum and wash the carpeting next but I am still hoping for the fairy to come save the day! <br />
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Wanting - We all wanted to go somewhere fun over break but with a family of 5 it can get expensive. We did do a lot of fun things so far over break; Skyzone, formal dress shopping with my middle (Nope, we did not find anything. Is there such a things as a formal soccer jersey??), ear piecing for my youngest, poker party for my oldest and we have a few more days to have some fun especially since hubby will be home through Monday. Yahooo!! he is always up for an adventure.<br />
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Needing - Ok one word....teenagers! They eat me out of everything within a few days.<br />
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EGGS-plain your name - Well I think this is obvious with the blog name of 4th & 5th grade Happiness. I have been a teacher for 19 years and have pretty much taught 4th & 5th grade the entire time. The intermediate grade kids are AWESOME. They are old enough they do not need to be babied (NO hanging on me, blowing noses or tying shoes...I taught preschool for one year.) but they are not too cool to still like / love their teacher. Most of the kids love to come to school and their curiosity is contagious. I also love the curriculum at this age and I am usually smarter then a 5th grader! LOL What is not to LOVE about 4th & 5th grade, it makes me happy to see their smiling faces everyday! One strange thing is I never completed 4th grade due to kidney disease. Hmmmm what would a psych say about that? <br />
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Happy Thursday & Happy Easter,<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y302/MickeyD13/signature-23.png" /></a>Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9119176881413523983.post-61432905712164504332015-03-29T16:55:00.002-07:002015-03-29T17:00:19.427-07:00Animals, Animals, & More AnimalsGood Evening!<br />
Well I am officially on spring break and I hope to get some cleaning, organizing and some much needed time with my family. The weather looks like it is going to be a little cold here in Ohio but that's okay. It will motivate me to get things done instead of wanting to be outside. <br />
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I do want to share what I did with my kiddos at the end of the third quarter. For the fourth quarter I teach health to my fourth and fifth graders. To end the third quarter we completed my Extinct, Endangered and Threatened Animal webquest with my fourth graders. If you are interested in the webquest you can find it <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Simple-Easy-Extinct-Endanged-Threatened-Animal-Webquest-1319076" target="_blank">HERE</a>. <br />
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Partners were given an animal from a children's museum website so they do not have to go anywhere else to do the research. I link up the URL through my Google Classroom but you can make a QR code, email the link to your students or use an URL shortener site. They were then given a graphic organizer to help them search for answers in the museum article. The partners needed to then turn that information into a poster that would be presented to the class as the animal expert. Oh was I pleased with their work. Take a look... <br />
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What have you been doing in your classrooms? I love to hear and see what wonderful creativity is out there.<br />
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Happy Sunday,<br />
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<br />Wendy Phttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03886017464734885747noreply@blogger.com1