tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53369982145862689562024-03-14T01:55:10.487-07:00Tails of Third GradeKarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-13541773198551432022013-02-20T05:00:00.000-08:002013-02-20T05:00:00.107-08:00Relating Division and Multiplication.Yesterday I was able to do a fun activity in my math class. I wanted students to relate what we had learned about arrays and multiplication to division. So we made some awesome mosaic patterns. Students cut stripes of paper to equal pieces and then arranged their total pieces to create a mosaic. They used the same number of pieces in each row creating a mosaic array. Since they had their total number of pieces already, students were able to practice division. The entire project went really well. I then had students write the fact family for their drawing.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hLrLy4CB3iU/USTIYnPMQ2I/AAAAAAAAAKA/q9oAi0IJjdA/s1600/student+mosaic+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hLrLy4CB3iU/USTIYnPMQ2I/AAAAAAAAAKA/q9oAi0IJjdA/s320/student+mosaic+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is a tree mosaic.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TQbVQ2x10BY/USTIawWO_HI/AAAAAAAAAKI/BF-ozGN5BO4/s1600/Student+mosaic+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TQbVQ2x10BY/USTIawWO_HI/AAAAAAAAAKI/BF-ozGN5BO4/s320/Student+mosaic+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A Rainbow</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6lobcS5XKR0/USTIc1QJjMI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/FzQxRiAvt38/s1600/example+mosaic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6lobcS5XKR0/USTIc1QJjMI/AAAAAAAAAKQ/FzQxRiAvt38/s320/example+mosaic.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My example. It is supposed to be a sunset.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-67631399722999747512013-02-04T10:45:00.002-08:002013-02-04T10:45:26.178-08:00Symbols of the United StatesWe have started our history and government unit in third grade. I am excited, it is something different for our students. I teach at a school that tries to tie instruction into environment sciences, so a history unit is always fun. This year we are creating lapbooks to go along with the unit. I have been having so much fun thinking of creative ways of displaying what we are learning. One of our first activities is learning about the Symbols of the USA and how the representing the ideals that our country was founded on. We began by doing a little research on the symbols and creating them out of playdoh. Students did this as rotations.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fPcZPFFX2ZY/UQ_5v6ffH-I/AAAAAAAAAJk/_ZjJwt4qr5k/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fPcZPFFX2ZY/UQ_5v6ffH-I/AAAAAAAAAJk/_ZjJwt4qr5k/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Mount Rushmore<br />
Students then used their research and created sticks. I copied their information form for each onto cardstock. These became sticks, with pictures of the symbol and placed in a pocket in their lapbooks.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kaHWAH0k40Q/UQ_7U42JhcI/AAAAAAAAAJs/CDYAo04dzSA/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kaHWAH0k40Q/UQ_7U42JhcI/AAAAAAAAAJs/CDYAo04dzSA/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This was really fun. My students really enjoyed the rotations and making the stakes. You can find that activity along with using the symbols to teach main idea at my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Symbols-of-the-USA-activity-pack">TPT</a> store.</div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-69194280184964488682013-01-21T10:57:00.000-08:002013-01-21T10:57:04.845-08:00Classroom Economy For years I have been trying to create a classroom economy and reward system. As I have continued my teaching I have struggled with the concept of intrinsic motivation and rewards and punishments. We live in a society we are rewarded for doing well. I love teaching, but if I didn't get a salary I wouldn't be intrinsically motivated to come to work. I think my own children would win out. <br />
In my classroom I have modified my classroom economy to reflect students' classroom jobs, and my thoughts on intrinsic motivation.<br />
At the beginning of each quarter, students get to view a PowerPoint that explains the jobs, and the qualities that a person with that job would need. Students then fill out an application for their job choice. Also choosing their second and third choices. I then choose each student or the pair of students for that job. They hold that job for the entire quarter. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XcruVdCd8Hw/UP2M0vMjpJI/AAAAAAAAAIg/HFTMON2NrZU/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XcruVdCd8Hw/UP2M0vMjpJI/AAAAAAAAAIg/HFTMON2NrZU/s320/photo.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
As a class we determine what a pay would be determining on how much work the job has to complete. Two students have the job of banker. At the end of each day they go around and pay students for completing their classroom job. Each student has a credit and debit log sheet that they attach to their name tags. I got the credit and debit log off of Beth Newingham's blog posts for scholastic.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5UIHeib7P1M/UP2NgFfrcmI/AAAAAAAAAI0/D1DLGyLrbvY/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5UIHeib7P1M/UP2NgFfrcmI/AAAAAAAAAI0/D1DLGyLrbvY/s320/photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Each week students total up their earnings and get pay check for that they have earned. During our lunch time (my students eat in our room), students can turn in their pay check and for our classroom cash. Students can turn in their cash for a coupon for an item that is for sale in our classroom store. I store the coupons in a coupon holder <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-35Mo_XgrKUw/UP2NNi10zFI/AAAAAAAAAIs/4dzsXmZpmfc/s1600/photo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-35Mo_XgrKUw/UP2NNi10zFI/AAAAAAAAAIs/4dzsXmZpmfc/s320/photo+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
There is a sign below our jobs poster that lists what is available in the classroom store. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PKh4_kdsN-0/UP2O0n1uhAI/AAAAAAAAAJA/M71dPGTLPRM/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PKh4_kdsN-0/UP2O0n1uhAI/AAAAAAAAAJA/M71dPGTLPRM/s320/photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LJKsZMySudk/UP2PKYj9uiI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/WuAC_y63Rko/s1600/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="279" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LJKsZMySudk/UP2PKYj9uiI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/WuAC_y63Rko/s320/photo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Here is a copy of the coupons. The coupons can be found on my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Classroom-Economy-Coupons">TPT store.</a>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-20082817477365364662013-01-09T14:18:00.001-08:002013-01-09T14:18:44.224-08:00Space Unit !!Each year when it is time to begin our space unit I get so excited and can't wait to begin. This year was no different. I went out in search for new and improved ideas for teaching about the order of the planets. This year I found this amazing book for students to create in ordering the planets and recording some of the important facts we discussed in class. Students also were able to create their own mnemonic devices for the planets. Both activities were really fun.<br />
<br />
The students really enjoyed making their own mnemonic devices. They are really allowed to be creative in their devices. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iI6Qr2E3WOY/UO3sJ3qyKxI/AAAAAAAAAH4/q8pgxYJbf8Q/s1600/planet+mnemonic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iI6Qr2E3WOY/UO3sJ3qyKxI/AAAAAAAAAH4/q8pgxYJbf8Q/s320/planet+mnemonic.jpg" width="230" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_60156628"></span><span id="goog_60156629"></span> You can find the Planet Mnemonic for free <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Planet-Mnemonic">here.</a><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" id="_x0000_t202" o:spt="202" path="m,l,21600r21600,l21600,xe"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<v:stroke joinstyle="miter">
</v:stroke></span></v:shapetype><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="background-color: transparent; border: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><div class="shape" style="padding: 3.6pt 7.2pt;" v:shape="Text_x0020_Box_x0020_1">
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Catchup; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br />
</span></div>
</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
The booklet is an amazing long foldable that I found over at <a href="http://www.lessonplansos.blogspot.com/">Lesons Plan SOS</a>. My students loved creating the booklet and really learned the facts about the different planets. <br />
Here are some pictures of my students booklets.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oafoH6WGu8o/UO3sXGG3lSI/AAAAAAAAAIA/GA-w_AVTazs/s1600/Planet+book+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oafoH6WGu8o/UO3sXGG3lSI/AAAAAAAAAIA/GA-w_AVTazs/s320/Planet+book+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nu35o_6WGZ4/UO3sYNF4A-I/AAAAAAAAAII/FrtFU2jrxC8/s1600/Planet+book+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nu35o_6WGZ4/UO3sYNF4A-I/AAAAAAAAAII/FrtFU2jrxC8/s320/Planet+book+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-44l2_5N_viQ/UO3sZFgZs_I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/yhDCeCKDGgA/s1600/planet+book+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-44l2_5N_viQ/UO3sZFgZs_I/AAAAAAAAAIQ/yhDCeCKDGgA/s320/planet+book+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-57752473569172715522013-01-02T16:50:00.000-08:002013-01-02T16:50:34.749-08:00Books for Boys Linky PartyI have been pretty bad at keeping up to date on my blog so I am making it a resolution to write more posts. I found this Linky party at <a href="http://swimmingintosecond.blogspot.com/2012/12/best-books-for-boys-linky-party-giveaway.html">Swimming into Second</a> and wanted to add to the conversation. This has been a real passion of mine. My first 5 years of teaching I taught at an inner city school without a library and many of my students didn't have a large selection of books at home as well. I made it my mission to get all of my students into reading and finding books that they would all love. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://swimmingintosecond.blogspot.com/2012/12/best-books-for-boys-linky-party-giveaway.html" style="background-color: white; color: #32aba4; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LTTpX5afyp8/UMOFRiaPrJI/AAAAAAAADuY/wyO1MOGMjRo/s320/BestBooksforBoyslinkyparty.001.png" style="border: 0px solid transparent; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The first series that I found that the boys really loved was the Geronimo Stilton Series of books. This year as in many other years my boys have read all of the books I have and are looking for new one.<img alt="The Curse of the Cheese Pyramid" border="0" src="http://www.scholastic.com/content5/media/products/45/9780439559645_xlg.jpg" style="border: 0px; color: #6a6a6a; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 12px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I also try to keep nonfiction text around that deals with what we are talking about in class. The boys seem to gravitate to the nonfiction text. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am always looking for new books for the boys in my class. This is a great Linky Party! Sorry have to cut this short, my two year old is on my lap looking for attention.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-38202216175654164362012-12-18T17:20:00.000-08:002012-12-18T17:20:33.908-08:00Author's PurposeOn Pinterest recently I saw a neat activite that a teacher did in teaching author's purpose. She had her students cut out the pictures from a Scholastic Book Club order form and determine if they were to entertain the reader or inform. I wanted to do the same thing in my classroom with my students who were studying author's purpose. <br />
I wanted to create a nice display for their work. Since it is winter time, I was able to find a mitten pattern. I labeled each mitten entertain or inform.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aDhz_Odypcw/UNET_KUetKI/AAAAAAAAAHY/FziS4WG4yqo/s1600/mitten.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aDhz_Odypcw/UNET_KUetKI/AAAAAAAAAHY/FziS4WG4yqo/s320/mitten.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Then students went through the book order and cut out and glued the pictures of the books to the correct mitten. <br />I then hole punched the mittens and strung them together. I hung them over a line in my classroom as a display. The students really enjoyed doing this activity.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GA7OOrd_nxs/UNEVIrwoV8I/AAAAAAAAAHo/stN3Zn0wxXI/s1600/mitten+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GA7OOrd_nxs/UNEVIrwoV8I/AAAAAAAAAHo/stN3Zn0wxXI/s320/mitten+2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-58649699036102953212012-11-25T16:21:00.002-08:002012-11-25T16:21:59.029-08:00Winter Themed CentersIt is crazy for me to think that Thanksgiving has passed already and December is right around the corner. With children of my own this time of year is so exciting. This year has brought as many blessing as well as some tradegy. I have been so busy that I can only pay attention to the good things in life as this is also the end of my trimester at school. Leaving more planning and report cards on my plate. <br />
I wanted to share with everyone my first winter center creation. This is a pronoun center that reviews what pronoun should be used in place of nouns.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jeo5hI30Gbs/ULK1qMPsugI/AAAAAAAAAHE/yZUzMhKHeCw/s1600/pronoun+winter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jeo5hI30Gbs/ULK1qMPsugI/AAAAAAAAAHE/yZUzMhKHeCw/s1600/pronoun+winter.JPG" /></a></div>
You can get it at my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Pronoun-Center">Tpt</a> store. <br />
I will also be participating in the TpT Cyber Monday sale!<br />
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Sales/Ongoing"><img alt="Cyber Monday" src="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/img/cyber-2012-300x250.jpg" /></a>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-62163144923429068062012-11-19T18:08:00.002-08:002012-11-19T18:08:36.629-08:00Math ProjectHaving a new math curriculum to use in classroom has me creating many different activities and centers along the way. I have created sets of math games, for the first two topics of the text. You can find them <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Tails-Of-Third-Grade">here.</a> But with the third unit on adding and subtracting, I felt the material was a little two easy for my math students. I had used a million dollar math project in the past and wanted to change it up a little for my students. Our school is currently expanding into a new building, creating campus feel to our school.<br />
<br />
Because of that I have come up with a classroom design and purchasing project that has students using all of the skills that were taught in the topic. In the project students get to design and then purchase the materials needed to supply a classroom. Allowing students the insight on the expense of the new project and furnishing the classroom.<br />
<br />
We are on our third day of the project and the students are really enjoying it and practicing the skills. It just makes me so happy when I see delight in their eyes to learn.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OO2sUtElC9g/UKrl1p-tKsI/AAAAAAAAAG0/b3ybYmu4FiE/s1600/add+project.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OO2sUtElC9g/UKrl1p-tKsI/AAAAAAAAAG0/b3ybYmu4FiE/s1600/add+project.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Classroom-Design-Addition-and-Subtraction-Project">Download the project here</a>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-81857317383147911172012-10-23T07:09:00.001-07:002012-10-23T07:09:25.457-07:00Envision Common CoreThis year my school has adopted the new Envision Common Core math program. Although it has been an adjustment for all parties, I am really enjoying the program and adjusting all the changes it has brought to our math program. There are 2 third grade classrooms in my school and we have been using the pre-tests and grouping students on their knowledge of each topic. This is a practice that is the norm at my school in the past, but grouping was not as flexable.<br />
One thing that I am finding in teaching the new curriculum is that my higher students need more to do during class. <br />
I have created a series of centers that support topic 2 for our math program that I wanted to share. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x3K-AVpLL2s/UIaksDva1jI/AAAAAAAAAGg/ysdSYXFjvGg/s1600/addition+and+subtraction+centers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x3K-AVpLL2s/UIaksDva1jI/AAAAAAAAAGg/ysdSYXFjvGg/s320/addition+and+subtraction+centers.JPG" width="309" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You can find this set of centers at <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Addition-and-Subtraction-centers-for-Topic-2-for-EnVision-Common-Core">http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Addition-and-Subtraction-centers-for-Topic-2-for-EnVision-Common-Core</a> .</div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-25443312509311904882012-10-01T16:21:00.000-07:002012-10-01T16:21:13.119-07:00CentersI am sorry that I have been away from the community for so long. I got exciting news on my first day of school. On the first day of school, I also found out I was pregnant! I am super excited, my husband and I already have two boys but were looking at expanding our family. This is awesome for me, because my due date is exactly 6 weeks before the end of the year. I was not able to time my other two pregnancies this well. <br />
So that aside, in my years of teaching I have struggled with managing centers, over the last year I have finally come up with a great way of easily managing it. In the beginning of the year after I have done my beginning assessments I create my guided reading groups. I change them up with each of our trimesters. <br />
I have our remaining centers and create a chart. I just rotate the centers throughtout the rest of the chart.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W80ynI7UeSQ/UGmoFO2bssI/AAAAAAAAAGM/kAEiixGuGOU/s1600/centers+rotation.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="134" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W80ynI7UeSQ/UGmoFO2bssI/AAAAAAAAAGM/kAEiixGuGOU/s320/centers+rotation.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
I then create cards with the name of each center. I have two that say book clubs. Book clubs is what I call guided reading. Then according to the above chart I place the 1,3,5,7,9 cards behind each other and the 2,4,6,8,10 cards behind each other. They are placed in a centers chart in two columns next to they students names. The cards should show centers 1 and 2. Then when we are done those centers I move those cards to the back and cards 3 and 4 are showing for the next day. It stays organized and easy to keep track of all year long.<br />
<br />
<br />
I promise to try and post more. My goal was twice a week and that has not worked. <br />
<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-70044589212147355602012-09-17T07:16:00.001-07:002012-09-17T07:16:50.990-07:00Noun Adventure My school year started last week and I have been away from the blog for a while as well, my first day of school started off full of surprises when I found out I was PREGNANT!!! My husband I had been trying for a couple of months so we were really excited. But can I just say, beginning the school year and first trimester pregnancy equals pure exhaustion. I am finding myself falling asleep at 8 at night. I have just been so busy trying to get all of my beginning of school year stuff finished, wanting to post, and my oldest turns for next Monday so his birthday is Saturday. <br />
Before I got my exciting news I decided I was going to try my hands at being a super mom and creating capes for all the kiddos that are coming to party. I finished the last one this evening and am able to sit down quickly to begin this post while my two little boys are playing in the yard.<br />
The beginning of the school year has gotten off to a great start. My kiddos are a bit talkative but we are quickly learning to control the volume and when to talk. I created a Noise-O-Meter that is in the front of the room that reminds to students about their noise level.<br />
<br />
One of the first grammar skills we begin with in my room is common and proper nouns. So last week in practicing how we behave outside and in the hall my students created lists of people, places and things that they saw. We then turned their ideas into this beautiful tree, which allowed us to segway right into common and proper nouns.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pZXQubkqhEc/UFcwpuaQIQI/AAAAAAAAAFw/5E5bekevdKg/s1600/DSC02323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pZXQubkqhEc/UFcwpuaQIQI/AAAAAAAAAFw/5E5bekevdKg/s320/DSC02323.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PqIxKJrUB2I/UFcwvOoxF4I/AAAAAAAAAF4/bxZWodkAQRc/s1600/DSC02325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" hea="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PqIxKJrUB2I/UFcwvOoxF4I/AAAAAAAAAF4/bxZWodkAQRc/s320/DSC02325.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
I am going to promise to post more. So sorry guys!Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-86625035367477407982012-08-23T20:55:00.001-07:002012-08-23T20:55:14.115-07:00Prepping for the Year!
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #d99694; font-family: Almagro; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D99694; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: "lumm=60000 lumo=40000"; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent2; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">I have
finally started to slow down on designing and creating my classroom and sat
down to plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have until after Labor
Day until I meet my new kiddos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sat
down and started to plan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted to
start doing a calendar math, daily number beginning to math class each day and
do not have the wall space or bulletin board to do that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #d99694; font-family: Almagro; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D99694; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: "lumm=60000 lumo=40000"; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent2; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">The
other night I had an epiphany and created a different way to do the same
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I created a sheet that I plan on
putting on an overhead projector.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish
I had more technology and could have put it on a SMARTboard. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #d99694; font-family: Almagro; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; mso-style-textfill-fill-alpha: 100.0%; mso-style-textfill-fill-color: #D99694; mso-style-textfill-fill-colortransforms: "lumm=60000 lumo=40000"; mso-style-textfill-fill-themecolor: accent2; mso-themecolor: accent2; mso-themetint: 153;">I am so
excited by this enlightenment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can
change it as the year progresses and I get to do what I wanted to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so excited about it right now!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
Here is what I created.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pa0ysRLWKZA/UDb7A6ofdNI/AAAAAAAAAFc/OtGAQER9ciE/s1600/problem+of+the+day+pix.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pa0ysRLWKZA/UDb7A6ofdNI/AAAAAAAAAFc/OtGAQER9ciE/s320/problem+of+the+day+pix.JPG" width="244" /></a></div>
<br />
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-12068043196193383622012-08-21T19:37:00.001-07:002012-08-21T19:37:54.750-07:00And the summer fades...<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This week I have spent the last two days in my classroom,
getting the last things hung and organized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The majority of my Monday was sitting in my classroom staring around the
room trying to decide where to begin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have so many things I want to change and new things that I want to try for this
year that I was unsure where to start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
finally got a to do list together and organized all of my thoughts, so I could
begin methodically going through and making all of the changes that I wanted to
make.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Kristen ITC"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">This brings me to today. I am almost there; the classroom is
almost where I want it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By Thursday I
should be ready to go and get the school year started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still have plenty of time for the more
important things like creating lessons for September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realized today that I have totally been obsessing
on my classroom that I haven’t begun writing out my lesson plans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though through my planning I did sit down and
create a lesson plan template that I think will really work for me this
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can check it out below.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfFTD4L-T7M/UDRExH6Xz2I/AAAAAAAAAFE/37seD2a8Z3k/s1600/lesson+plan+good+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZfFTD4L-T7M/UDRExH6Xz2I/AAAAAAAAAFE/37seD2a8Z3k/s320/lesson+plan+good+2.JPG" width="247" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This template is for when I teach a whole group lesson in reading.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IISwTvO7KP0/UDREzCqtwPI/AAAAAAAAAFM/YqdR3cksaVU/s1600/lesson+plan+good+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IISwTvO7KP0/UDREzCqtwPI/AAAAAAAAAFM/YqdR3cksaVU/s320/lesson+plan+good+1.JPG" width="244" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This one is for when we do centers during reading.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Investigation is what my school calls our science and social studies.</div>
</div>
Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-46208904101853240032012-08-13T11:51:00.000-07:002012-08-13T11:51:03.246-07:00Newbie Bloggers Blog Hop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Katy Berry"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">I have been
running into my classroom throughout the summer, preparing for the school year,
but I haven</span><span style="color: #548dd4; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">’</span></span><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Katy Berry"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">t been a good blogger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My goals for blogging this year, is to blog every other day and learn more
about the blogging community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really
want to find out how to do giveaways and all the other fun stuff that many of
my favorite bloggers do well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found
this blog hop and thought it was a good way of getting back into blogging for
the new year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w8GW4MttmLA/UBbHLJxKhFI/AAAAAAAAAek/F8CU14J4YWo/s1600/Newbie+Blog+Hop.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w8GW4MttmLA/UBbHLJxKhFI/AAAAAAAAAek/F8CU14J4YWo/s1600/Newbie+Blog+Hop.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Katy Berry"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">The rules
are to answer these questions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: #004c99; font-family: "Katy Berry"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Katy Berry"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Katy Berry";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Katy Berry"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">What
state are you teaching in: Pennsylvania<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: #004c99; font-family: "Katy Berry"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Katy Berry"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Katy Berry";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Katy Berry"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Your
current teaching position: Third grade <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: #004c99; font-family: "Katy Berry"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Katy Berry"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Katy Berry";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Katy Berry"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">What
is your teaching experience: 8 years<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: #004c99; font-family: "Katy Berry"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Katy Berry"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Katy Berry";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">4.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Katy Berry"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">When
did you start blogging: I started blogging in February of this year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: #004c99; font-family: "Katy Berry"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Katy Berry"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Katy Berry";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">5.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Katy Berry"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Share a blogging tip: Include lots of pictures
and how-tos. <script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=154838" type="text/javascript">
</script>This is a <b>Blog Hop</b>!</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br />
<span style="color: #548dd4; font-family: "Katy Berry"; font-size: 22pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 153;">Check out all the other blogs</span></div>
<br />
<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-19664970407586777072012-07-10T08:16:00.000-07:002012-07-10T08:16:35.132-07:00Place Value<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am sorry for being away for so long. I took some time to be with my family after experiencing a personal loss. My boys have been a bright beam of light throughout everything. Soon we will be going to the beach, I am looking forward to getting away with my family.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xc5fUV3uLL0/T_xFUO9gnGI/AAAAAAAAAD8/hpKmitpn_wo/s1600/The+boys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Xc5fUV3uLL0/T_xFUO9gnGI/AAAAAAAAAD8/hpKmitpn_wo/s320/The+boys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
provided by Mika Crandal photography</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have been trying to move on by working and got a new unit together to go with EnVision math. My school will be using the program next year and I wanted to get ready to go with the first unit. This is just a series of center games and word wall cards that go along with the first unit.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href=""><img alt="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Place-Value-and-Numberation" class="tipper" src="http://tcdn.teacherspayteachers.com/item/Place-Value-and-Numberation-1341932537/medium-275265-1.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Check out the unit here <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Place-Value-and-Numberation">http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Place-Value-and-Numberation</a> .</div>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-50901724049709731052012-06-26T16:24:00.000-07:002012-06-26T16:24:11.170-07:00First award!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WU2mXQPh2HY/T-TjiRQ9_fI/AAAAAAAAALE/61tFVXcT_zk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-06-22+at+5.24.12+PM.png" /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I am so excited to have received my first award. I have been away from blogging for awhile and have missed it. I hope to get back into the swing of things soon. This award is really going to help. Thank you to Melissa over at </span><a href="http://www.moretime2teach.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">http://www.moretime2teach.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> for giving me this award. It means a lot. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Here are the rules for the award after you receive it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">1. Follow the person that gave you the award.<br />2. Link back to the person that gave you the award.<br />3. Pass the award on to 15 new bloggers.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Thanks so much!</span> </div>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-38285388267249128552012-05-07T16:26:00.001-07:002012-05-07T16:26:18.895-07:00My Worry is Over!Last week was so stressful for me. On Monday our shad eggs were delivered and my stressed started. How was I going to manage the students with the eggs and did I know everything I needed to know. Half our eggs were dead on arrival and we didn't clear all of them out right away, which caused more to die. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o7pSZWmvXhY/T6hXhrN0LxI/AAAAAAAAADg/6OlpT3ZNZdU/s1600/shad1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o7pSZWmvXhY/T6hXhrN0LxI/AAAAAAAAADg/6OlpT3ZNZdU/s320/shad1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The week went by really quickly with caring for the eggs. Each day students removed the dead eggs and counted our live babies. Our mortality rate was really high,and every night I went to bed dreaming of shad eggs and praying that one would hatch for release into the wild on Friday. The nature center where we had planned to release the eggs, had contacted the newspaper and had a reporter coming to the release. AAAHHHH the stress!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uer876sLGN8/T6hYELiBPXI/AAAAAAAAADo/jntyh9bEM1o/s1600/liveeggs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uer876sLGN8/T6hYELiBPXI/AAAAAAAAADo/jntyh9bEM1o/s320/liveeggs.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here are some live eggs.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
By the time Friday got here, my head was hanging inside a water tank, with the classroom lights out searching for fish. We had two and the students enjoyed the whole process and learning so much. The cared for the eggs, removed the dead eggs, tested the water and got to see the fry and eggs under a microscope. It was an amazing project that still has to be cleaned up entirely, but I can't wait to experience it next year. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bwkEX9gd7NE/T6hZA60J4SI/AAAAAAAAADw/gs-_zwM3txI/s1600/release.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bwkEX9gd7NE/T6hZA60J4SI/AAAAAAAAADw/gs-_zwM3txI/s320/release.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Releasing a fry.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We had 5 that we got to release and had an amazing learning experience through the process.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-83705188424226120742012-05-02T10:20:00.000-07:002012-05-02T10:20:42.391-07:00Integrating ScienceMy class has been continuing their study of life cycles. We looked at complete and incomplete metamorphosis and have created many things to help us understand the difference between all of the different life cycles. One thing students created was a complete and incomplete metamorphosis, was to create a booklet with pictures and the definition of each stage.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmQm8qXDZT8/T6FaIE6LL-I/AAAAAAAAADM/S5cFN9jXJmA/s1600/metabook.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dmQm8qXDZT8/T6FaIE6LL-I/AAAAAAAAADM/S5cFN9jXJmA/s320/metabook.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
I just used index cards and then bound them together with yarn. <br />
I teach in an exciting school where my students are able to experience many different things. In learning about metamorphosis I was able to get them into the creek that runs behind school where they found different macro-invertebrates and were able to use guides to identify and draw the different macros.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F-ZELkYpsoU/T6FbRZL0feI/AAAAAAAAADU/cDyJ7-1cDRY/s1600/macrohunt.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F-ZELkYpsoU/T6FbRZL0feI/AAAAAAAAADU/cDyJ7-1cDRY/s320/macrohunt.JPG" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Afterward students chose a macro to study. I found a great website that has little identification sheets for each and macro. Students were able to use these and recreated the life cycle and wrote about the cycle.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Here is the great website</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="color: black; direction: ltr; font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 10pt;">
<a href="http://creekconnections.allegheny.edu/Modules/On-LineActivities/AquaticMacros/aquaticinsectfactsheets/" moz-do-not-send="true">http://creekconnections.allegheny.edu/Modules/On-LineActivities/AquaticMacros/aquaticinsectfactsheets/</a></div>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-12350989054276452392012-04-24T18:29:00.000-07:002012-04-24T18:29:27.799-07:00Life CyclesSorry for my long absence. I was not feeling well and my boys, and husband have all gotten sick or had some needs lately that have taken me away from the computer. My husband and I were able to take a quick hike, to an amazing waterfall.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w9lef6FKpPI/T5dSvRE1LFI/AAAAAAAAADE/9RVMfu7S5tI/s1600/hike.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w9lef6FKpPI/T5dSvRE1LFI/AAAAAAAAADE/9RVMfu7S5tI/s320/hike.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Taking a picture of yourself with a cell phone camera never turns out right.</div>
<br />
At my school we work in trimesters and have a science-based integrated unit that we focus on that trimester. The last trimester seems to be the most fun for me. In our last unit we discuss interdependence on the mountain behind our school and the systems and cycles that take place to create a sustainable environment. <br />
We have worked our way beyond living things and their characteristics. A trip to the pond near by actually allowed to see toad reproduction in action. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pwATK7Xgve8/T5dQuZuplRI/AAAAAAAAACs/S6Y6wPQvaN0/s1600/toads.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pwATK7Xgve8/T5dQuZuplRI/AAAAAAAAACs/S6Y6wPQvaN0/s1600/toads.png" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We went back today to follow up and check out the toads' life cycle and we found thousands of tadpoles.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fb5KNOiz8Gc/T5dQ2vHOJ_I/AAAAAAAAAC0/gcWrA1WHda0/s1600/tadpoles.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Fb5KNOiz8Gc/T5dQ2vHOJ_I/AAAAAAAAAC0/gcWrA1WHda0/s1600/tadpoles.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It was just so awesome to be able to observe what we are talking about. The students really get to understand the cylces and systems when they are able to experience it.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Back in the classroom we began talking about life cycles by looking at their cycle. Students created posters of what their life cycle would look like. The drew pictures and wrote descriptions of each stage of their life cycle. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U4xpeoT5Y6o/T5dRYhJ-KXI/AAAAAAAAAC8/68GN4ESuFE8/s1600/life+cycle+picture.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-U4xpeoT5Y6o/T5dRYhJ-KXI/AAAAAAAAAC8/68GN4ESuFE8/s1600/life+cycle+picture.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We then looked at the life cycle of the American Shad. Our eggs come next Monday and students will be able to care for the eggs and release the fry for one week. It will an exciting experience to see the beginning of the American Shad life cycle and work on a conservation project.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our next step is to look at different life cycles, then move on to photosynthesis.</div>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-86469182796596751152012-04-16T18:41:00.000-07:002012-04-16T18:41:30.864-07:00Plot HikeToday the weather in Pennsylvania was very warm for April. I took full advantage of the weather and had my students out for a hike this afternoon. I took them on a new trail and we were able to travel farther than we have been able to go in the past. In my classroom we are currently working on plot and science fiction. We have to talking about how the plot of the story was like a mountain. So on our hike today I took the science fiction book that I was planning on reading. I read <u>The Secret Science Fair Project that Almost at the School</u> by Judy Sierra.<br />
<u><img alt="The Secret Science Project That Almost Ate the School (Paula Wiseman Books)" border="0" height="300" id="prodImage" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51PSDJ5WSVL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" width="300" /></u><br />
So at the beginning of our hike we discussed how we have the back ground information, which happens at the beginning of the mountain. So I read the background information then we proceeded up the mountain. The Trail has some dips and valleys as you are working your way up the mountain. So I stopped in one of the valleys and we compared it to the raising action, then read the story. I proceeded as we continued. It worked out great.<br />
<br />
I was also able to use the hike to discuss what we are also studying about living and non-living things. We are mostly focusing on water so, at the different creeks and things we passed we discussed living and non-living things.<br />
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Living-and-Non-living-Thing-Pack">Here</a> are some activities that I have created to go with our unit on living and non-living things.<br />
<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-91805567920634891652012-04-10T18:52:00.000-07:002012-04-10T18:52:56.785-07:00First Day BackWe had a short break for the Easter Holiday, and all the work that I did over the break did not seem to matter. I was behind the eight ball all day today. The third grade at my school was to begin our service project of raising American Shad. Our morning was supposed to consist of building he habitat for raising the roe into fry. Which didn't go as planned because one of the parts was not included to build the stand. So we adjusted to schedule to try again in the afternoon. All 45 students worked on assembling all of equipment, only to run into another problem. We had a pump that was not working. AAAHHHH, why couldn't anything go right. The first day back from a break and it was not a good one. Only 9 more weeks to the school year. I need to make it through.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dKpG26GmTvk/T4TjtVDWvjI/AAAAAAAAACk/3uJqlIeBzBc/s1600/photo+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dKpG26GmTvk/T4TjtVDWvjI/AAAAAAAAACk/3uJqlIeBzBc/s320/photo+(1).JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
On a positive note I was able to finish this little activity set for pronouns. You can find it in my TPT store. You can find it <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pronoun-Pack">here.</a> <br />
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pronoun-Pack"><img alt="Pronoun Pack" height="140" src="http://data3.teacherspayteachers.com/item/Pronoun-Pack-202/home-231577-0.jpg" title="" width="140" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
Tomorrow will be better!Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-73546775918720910912012-04-04T15:33:00.001-07:002012-04-04T15:33:20.361-07:00Culminating activity for government UnitToday we finished our government unit. It was a long unit that dealt with history to government through the services provided. We wrapped up the unit with interviews the past two days. Students were able to interview local borough councilmen as well as one of our board of trustees yesterday. We made a connection of our school being run similarly to the government, so they were able to question all of the people about their roles and what they did for the government. <br />
Today they were able to interview different services. They interviewed a representative from the Department of Labor, DCNR and our local Public Works. The students seemed to really make the connections to government and learned a lot about each person. They then reflected and wrote about what they learned yesterday and today.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XehnexY6ibA/T3zMHX09deI/AAAAAAAAACc/CmI5qIKvfb0/s1600/government+day.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XehnexY6ibA/T3zMHX09deI/AAAAAAAAACc/CmI5qIKvfb0/s1600/government+day.png" /></a></div>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-407068468439967532012-03-30T17:52:00.001-07:002012-03-30T17:52:22.652-07:00Writing Lesson<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Earlier this week I started talking about voice when writing. I find this a difficult task with third graders. But the lesson today went so well. I am so excited. When I began talking about it, I used Scholastic's Trait Crate and introduced their lesson with <u>How are your Peeling</u>, and making a collage of faces from magazines where you can tell their voice. (happy, sad, scared) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Today I followed it up with our first writing assignment. My aid and I each wrote our own I AM FROM poems and I posted them. Our reading specialist read them to the class so the class couldn't tell who was who, and the class guessed which poem belonged to each of us. They were correct. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I pasted out a brainstorm page that had the different categories we both used. It was just a table, we then went through and the students identified the categories in our poems. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">Afterward, the students began writing their own. IT was a great lesson that I can't wait to finish Monday. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">I am going to have the students publish their poems without names and have students guess the voice for each poem.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">You can get the lesson </span><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/I-AM-FROM-POEM-LESSON"><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">here.</span></a>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-88351228479150023062012-03-26T16:29:00.001-07:002012-03-26T16:29:29.768-07:00Kids, Parties and the GovernmentIt seems like a while since I was able to post. It was a busy weekend. My parents watched my kids so my husband and I could have a date. It was pretty pathetic, dinner and shopping without kids. It amazes me what I look forward to when I have a 3 year old and 21 month old boys. The weekend ended with a baby shower, for someone I use to babysit, it made me feel old and ready for another. <br />
<br />
But I was able to finish gathering the pictures for a pretty cool government lesson. I wanted my students to draw a comparison to the federal, local, and state governments and how our school us run. We created a tree diagram showing the four locations and the three branches. It turned out really cool. And I think the students were really able to see the comparison.Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5336998214586268956.post-66625174582673986722012-03-22T17:42:00.001-07:002012-03-22T17:42:10.457-07:00VerbsI just want to say how exhausted I am this week. It is our state testing and it is just an exhausting task. I can't imagine how exhausted my students are. One of my students told his mom that he was worried about me because I had to continually walk around and that he thinks that I would get too tired. I thought it was so cute that someone was worrying about me, when I was worrying for them so much.<br />
<br />
Working through my exhaustion I prepared this for next week. I created a series of verb activities. I made a small poster and some activities along with the a center. It seems that parts of speech is something that goes in one ear and out the other with my students, so I try to hit things over and over.<br />
<br />
<a href=""><img alt="" class="tipper" src="http://data2.teacherspayteachers.com/item/Verb-Tense-Pack-704/medium-222390-1.jpg" /></a><br />
You can get the pack <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Verb-Tense-Pack">here.</a> I am having a sale at my store this week, so stop on by.<br />Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11046590043264438089noreply@blogger.com0