Friday, May 4, 2012

Teacher Appreciation

I'm throwing a 20% off Teacher Appreciation Sale May 6-8 and TpT  is offering an additional 10% too! Don't forget to use the code below to get a whopping 28% off!

 My wishlist is bursting and I have some money left in my school budget to spend! Woo Hoo! As ready as I am to be done with this year, I can't help already planning for next year. If you are like that too, this would be a great time to pick up my Daily Editing Word Problems

 or Sight Word Superstars.

Maybe you want to stock up on games for your math centers?

Or Book Club Packets for reading groups.

Haven't started a Mother's Day Gift yet?  No problem, I have one for you!
Happy Shopping!





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Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Frog and Toad freebies

 We went on a field trip the other day and one of my teamies got to see my class in action. I believe it was while we watched one guy lay face-down on the floor, spread eagle, moving his arms and legs like a snow angel, squawking instead of listening to the speaker when she said something like, "I know you told me but...WOW, you do have some doozies!"

So I apologize for not posting or commenting quite as much as I used to.  I think my brain knows this exhausting year is in the home stretch...19 days! I plan to really try to recharge my batteries this summer. Oh, after I take two weeks of PD on the Common Core and then try to figure out how I can implement them next year because I am on the Guinea Pig Leadership Team. More on that later.

On to the shares. Do you read Frog and Toad?

In our OLD version of Houghton Mifflin we read The Hat and practice cause and effect. I made some multi-flow maps for my lesson that I thought I would share in case you can use them. Did you know you can do half a thinking map? When I was told I could do only one side of a multi-flow with my firsties it seemed much more manageable! Click on the picture to download.

Also, I also got an email from Patty Rutenbar saying she made an envelope label for the free Synonym Roll read the room center I shared. She agreed to let me share her label in case any of you can use it. Click on the picture to download the label. Thanks Patty! If you missed the original center you can click {here.}

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Thursday, April 26, 2012

Mother's Day Drawing

I had a request from someone using my Mother's Day booklet to help with drawing ideas.  I snapped some pictures of the one I made with my class last year and added them to the pdf so you can download the revision if you already have your copy.






We read the whole poem, then work on two pages a day so it doesn't get overwhelming. We brainstorm ideas for each page and I draw one of them using the document camera. I encourage the students to use their own creativity but those who find drawing intimidating are comforted to have my model.
The kids' drawing is always much cuter than mine. This one cracked me up last year.

I follow the same procedure with the bag drawing. This sweetie had the good idea to draw her mom's eyes closed.

Hope these pictures are helpful! 
If you don't have a Mother's Day gift idea yet you can get this one {HERE.}


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Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Earth Day

Earth Day is a pretty big deal for us since we are an environmental science magnet school. We have a an outdoor assembly and invite parents and special guests to attend. Every grade performs songs, original poems, or skits. Then all the classrooms are open and we walk around looking at the different Earth Day projects. First graders are studying insects so we made "Litter Bugs."

This family was remodeling their bathroom!
A lemon and a lime!
Some classes leave students behind to explain their projects or quiz students on their environmental I.Q.
It was adorable to see the students avidly listening to other students explanations.

4th and 5th graders also give professional tours of our one-acre outdoor classroom. On Sunday, the kids came and gave tours to the public since we were a stop along the Going Native Garden Tour. Our students always wow the adults at their knowledge of California native plants and how well-spoken they are!

My students loved seeing the 3rd graders totem hats. Each student picks an animal to write a research paper on and as a culminating activity they create these amazing hats to wear during the closing ceremony. Everyone goes all out! 
This hat was immense!




There were so many more adorable hats but this post is already over the top with pics! I'll leave you one last picture which I've told you before is a common sight at our school...
Yep, those girls are walking around campus with live snakes. I am so lucky to work at this outstanding school!



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Friday, April 20, 2012

A Sweet Countdown

Valerie at All Students Can Shine is counting down the final days until her c-section by having a giveaway!

Every day she is giving away a $20 shopping spree in her TpT store (wow) and an item from a fellow blogger. Today my Sight Word Superstars is up for grabs so head on over for your chance to win!
We have a huge Earth Day Celebration at school today so I am hoping to remember to take some pictures to show you later. 6 more weeks and I am counting them down like I have never done before!

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