It's beginning to feel like Christmas!

I've been such a neglectful blogger. Shame on me. I've been caught up raising my Baby Boy and keeping up with 25 5th graders :)

I'm off for the week and to get ready for the holidays in school, I made my own version of the 12 Days of Christmas: "12 Days of School-mas" a math version. I hope I can upload the science one soon. I so look forward to doing this with my students.

Also, when we go back next week, we'll be diving right into non-fiction and FRACTIONS!!! Wish me luck!!!

Great site for Spanish resources!

I just came across this fantastic site with some great Spanish resources. Enjoy!!!

Borrowing a borrowed a idea!!!

Tomorrow I have to teach inference (YIKES!!!). It is such a hard skill, especially for struggling readers. I am going to try a great "trashy reading idea" from Miss Khlon @ the adventures of a 6th grade teacher. As I type, my hubby is helping me gather some "trash" to begin my lesson. I'm going to begin with the trashy reading lesson, then I'm going to have my students make a 3-tab foldable (evidence + schema= inference). I am excited about this lesson!!! I think I'm going to follow that lesson with having my students make inferences using simple sentences (Example: She blew out the birthday candles. I can tell it's her birthday because people normally blow out candles on their birthday.), and then practice with our read aloud. Wish me luck :)

It's been a while....

I've been gone for a looooong time! I am finally feeling like I can catch my breath. I worked really hard this summer reading books and many teacher blogs to learn how to improve my instruction and (this is my 5th year teaching-2nd year self-contained) I finally feel like things are truly off to a great start. I have put into practice and reviewing routines and expectations for behavior on a daily basis and this has truly made a huge difference in my classroom. I have also implemented lots of GLAD strategies in my classroom and I am already seeing the benefits for all my students, especially in language acquisition.

I've also been using thinking maps and foldables in my classroom. I am really enjoying language arts because I am trying to follow the word study, mini lesson, practice & guided reading model (kind of like reader's workshop). In math, I am incorporating many hands-on activities and stations. In science, I am loving all the activities we have done so far to learn about the scientific method.
It hasn't all been smooth sailing- we have TONS of documentation to do, sooooo many meetings to attend and we hear ACCOUNTABILITY EVERY DAY, but I am not letting it rule my life. I am going to put my knowledge to practice and enjoy every day with my students. I hope this feeling of accomplishment never goes away!!!

Two things down...a million more to go.

I have been working like a mad woman trying to get everything done for back to school. I finally finished copying, laminating, and cutting these question prompt cards that I will be using during my reading instruction. I feel that last year my questioning could have been a lot better, so I created these question/thinking stems for fiction, non-fiction, poetry & drama to keep handy at all times. I tried hard to mirror the language of testing to get my students accustomed to higher-level questions.  (I've linked the bundle, but these are also available individually for fiction, non-fiction, poetry & drama).

I've also borrowed a fantastic idea from Stephanie @ 5th Grade Dugout and created a handy questioning ring using Stephanie's science questions, I also added a few, but her list was a HUGE help. I'm also going to use popsicle sticks like she does to put at my tables so students can use them in their discussions.
Now.... so many things I still have to work on!!!!!

Newbie Bloggers Blog Hop

Grade Three is the Place For Me is hosting a  Newbie Bloggers Blog Hop and I've decided to link up. I have learned so much from reading other teachers' blogs and finally worked up the courage to try blogging. If you're interested in joining, share the following with fellow bloggers:
1. what state you are in- Texas
2. your current teaching position 5th grade, self-contained teacher. (We test in reading, math, and science. Can you say PRESSURE!?!)
3. your teaching experience This month I will be starting my 5th year of teaching :)
4. when you started blogging I started blogging a little over a month ago. Super rookie.
5. share a blogging tip / blogging resource I am REALLY new to blogging and are still learning so much. The tip I can provide at the moment is to visit fellow teacher blogs to learn more. I like to visit Techy Things by Mrs. Stanford because Mrs. Stanfordshe offers many technology tips for teachers.

I look forward to blogging and learning from my fellow teachers :)

How do you plan?

Mrs. Stanford

I am linkin up with Mrs. Stanford to share how I plan.  I usually like to stay at least 2 weeks ahead of the game. Of course, this is much easier said than done.
I typically begin with the end in mind. I like to look at how I plan to assess a concept and then I think of the skills my students will need to master the concept. It is always helpful to have a scope and sequence to know a reasonable timeline of when concepts should be taught.
I like to have my resources listed for each concept I plan to teach. This is something new I will be trying. For example, my first unit in math will be place value. I gather the picture books I plan to read to my class, the games I want them to play, the stations they will be using... and anything else related to that unit so that I do incorporate it all into my teaching. I want to start a notebook where I keep a record of all this because there are times when I forget to use an activity. I make all necessary copies. I then go to my grade level, share and get their feedback. I like to be prepared with all materials when I share with them in case it is something they would like to use in their rooms. :) 

HUGE TpT Sale!!!

Hi everyone!!!

Get ready!! TpT is hosting their annual Back to School sale on August 12 and 13 and I will be joining in on the fun. PLUS.... use code BTS12 for an additional 10% off!!! Happy shopping!!!
Visit my Store!!

I know I have tons on my wishlist. I can't wait!!!

Fab website!!

Just found this fabulous website with lots of math & science foldables. Enjoy!!!

1st day jitters...

I just read Ashley @ Fierce in Fourth's "First Day Jitters Blog Hop and here are my 3 first day jitters:

1. Meeting and getting to know 29+ new students and their parents. This always makes me nervous!
2. STAAR testing. I'm still a 5th grade self-contained teacher and I FEEL THE PRESSURE!!!
3. Can I survive without my Baby Boy. We ha been inseparable all summer long!

Happy Teaching!

My Favorite picture books!!!

I LOVE to begin a lesson with a picture book. I have linked up with The Teacher Wife to share my top 5!

A super cute book about the founding fathers. Full of beautiful pictures and lots of jokes. My 5th graders LOVE it!

Great for teaching large number patterns in math (students love using calculator with this book) & an excellent resource to teach about characters in reading. My #1 to get students exited about math!!!

Cute pics and clever strategies to use in multiplication. Tang's whole series is fabulous!!!

Great way to teach interpreting remainders & division for visual learners.

A beautifully told story about the life of Cesar Chavez. A great picture book biography.

Reading Response

I've been thinking about how I am going to have my students respond to literature. So far, I think I have it covered in fiction. I will be using critical thinking response sheets (The set includes 30 response sheets for fiction, including poetry, biography, autobiography) to have my students think in depth about text. Eventually, after I have introduced them I will be using them as a center activity. Enjoy!

Math Stations, anyone?

This year my campus will be having a set block for intervention and enrichment. It will be a 30 minute block at the beginning of the school day where teachers will be working with struggling students while others are working on activities to spiral concepts.
I am thinking that I am going to be doing Stations at this time. I am working on developing stations for each content area. So far I have started with math. Check out these. My intention is to use these stations to spiral concepts to keep them fresh in my students' minds. How do you use stations in upper elementary?

Spiraling stations

Mini Quiz

Station response sheet

It's been a while...

Okay, so my last post was on July 10th!! Eeek! I have been super busy at professional developments. I know we were all a little scared about STAAR test, but now that the raw scores have come in, I am panicking just a little more!!!! I just attended a 2-day Singapore model drawing training that I think will be very beneficial for me. If you are looking for a new and challenging way to get your students to be problem-solvers this may be very helpful. I found a book I've had for years from one of my grad school classes  (order a book) that I am going to  use as a guide when teaching model drawing to my students. The price of the book is a little high, I know I did not pay that much a while back.
You might find the Thinking Blocks site helpful to get familiar with model drawing. It offers great examples!!! It is very user-friendly. I will be bookmarking it on my classroom computers ASAP.

Has anyone taught model drawing and how did it help develop your students' mathematical thinking?

:)

Back to School bulletin board ideas!!!

Hi everyone!!

I'm already thinking how I am going to get to know my 28+ kids next year. Last year we build a class puzzle together, but this year I am going to be use a 'Superhero-themed' bulletin board. I'm hoping that it makes my kids feel exited about learning in 5th grade!!! You can find both of the options here.

This will be the theme on my welcome board.

I used this last year!

Reading Strategies posters

I will begin my reading teaching this year with reviewing the strategies that work with my students. The strategies include making connections, visualization, determining importance, synthesizing, questioning and inferring. I'm currently working on lesson plans for these. Last year I had lots of success by having students constantly use these as they read. I've made some posters to post in my classroom. Have a great day!

First day of school will be here before we know it!!

Hi! Here's a quick activity students can do while you stand at the door to greet parents on the first day of school. Glad to be in 5th Grade can then be shared whole-group so that all students can get to know each other and you can get to know each kiddo. Here's a different option!!

I think this is easier...

Comic Life allows you to simply drop pictures into place. I am thinking this may be a whole lot easier to make picture collages! What do you think?

Make picture collages!!!!

I've been trying to find an easy way to create picture collages and I think I have found a keeper! I went to http://www.shapecollage.com/download/mac and downloaded the free program (I believe it is also available for PC). I've been having fun and it seems to be easy to use. Enjoy!!

Here's one more Father's Day card idea

So sweet! Find it here!

Father's Day is just around the corner!

Greetings!! With Father's Day right around the corner we scramble to think of cute ideas to do for those very special men in our lives. Here's an idea I will be using this year. I plan to glue on a picture of my husband and my Baby Boy and use an ink pad to stamp my Baby's little foot right underneath. Enjoy and Happy Father's Day! 

Inferences made easy!

Sometimes students can have a difficult time making inferences. I have found that having my students think of prior knowledge and connecting this to the text helps them make good inferences. I made this poster to help them remember how to make great inferences. Enjoy! It's a free download 
@ http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Inferences-poster

Science review and study guides

We all know that sometimes students can have great difficulties retaining science concepts and that many of our students require just a little more help to fully grasp science concepts. Here's an idea to help students learn and retain information: Science study guides. I've created 3 science guides based on the STAAR science reporting categories. I plan to tape these to manila folders and laminate them to make them last longer and to have my students study and refer to them often. The pictures will surely help the students learn more science concepts:)
Check these out @ http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Texas-Star-Teacher

Thinking about Back to School already?!

Closing the chapter on another wonderful school year!

As the school year comes to an end, we begin to pack our things and get ready for summer break. This is also a time to reflect on all the amazing activities we did this school year and begin planning for an even more amazing new year. Check back soon for back to school ideas!!