Check them out!

I dedicated a couple of hours today to make a banner for my blog and a couple of cute pictures for my TpT and Pinterest links. I had TONS of help doing this!! First of all, my chevron background on the banner is from Fun For Learning, the cute hearts I used to make the links and on the banner are from Graphics From The Pond (FREE!!!), and the striped pencils are from Ashley Hughes.  All of these are FREE!!! If you are looking for great frames and art visit these awesome TpTers! Also, don't forget Camping Teacher has created 2 tools to help bloggers TpTers jazz-up their stuff. Check out The Cutest Blog On The Block for many tips and tutorials for bloggers. Another site you simply must visit is Mycutegraphics.com (adorable clip art for free!!! Lots and lots of content area clip art).

TWH :)

Thank you Camping Teacher!

Just wanted to say a big, big thank you to Lynn over at Camping Teacher. She is a fellow blogger and TpTer and has created 2 great templates: banner for blogs and banner for tpt stores. Check out her cute blog and adorable tpt store.

TWH

Math Journals

I wanted to blog about my love of math journals. I have implemented math journals for 5 years now and I still continue to learn new tips and strategies to use them. I firmly believe that math journals are very beneficial to students because they offer opportunities for students to think critically and reflect on their math learning journey. I have created "Getting started with Math Journals" to help those are just getting started or are looking for new ideas to add to their math toolbox. Check out the pictures and start implementing math journals today!

I've included some ideas for input and output. It is very important for students to reflect on their learning.

These are some of my math journal entries for this. I treasure my old journals because they help me reflect on what works and what can be improved for the coming year.

A sample interactive graphic organizer.

Get yours today :)

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!!!