Daisy-Head Mayzie...Seuss-FAN-atic!!!

I have been LOVING Read Across America Week at our school.  We have had dress-up days to match Dr. Seuss books:
Monday-Wear your favorite hat day (The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins)

Tuesday-Favorite Color from head to toe (My Many Colored Days)

Wednesday-Crazy Socks Day (Fox in Socks)

Thursday-Pajama Day (The Sleep Book)

Friday-Wear your favorite team gear (ummm...not sure on this one.  I think it was to celebrate March Madness???)

We also had student re-decorate a cover for their favorite Dr. Seuss book, our principal put Seuss stickers on the bottom of lunch trays and whoever had a sticker won a Seuss pencil, Dr. Seuss bingo, and we are having a Dr. Seuss snack competition!  LOADS of fun all week.

In my classroom, this is the project we took on:

We read the book, "Daisy-Head Mayzie!" and wrote a story to match.  In third grade, they are assessed on paragraphing, so we hit hard on that!  Here is a run-down of the paragraphs:

1-If you could be famous, what would you want to be and why?

2-With all of your riches from being famous, what would you buy and why?

3-Where would you want to travel?  What would you see or do there?

4-Besides your family, pets, and friends, what would you miss from home that would make you want to return (Just like Mayzie did!!!)?

They did a GREAT job!  Here is the template that they typed into:

P.s.  My favorite Title was "Laptop King!"  Everyone else put "If I Were Famous!" or "Being Famous"...  I guess I need to do a minilesson on creative titles!!!

They then cut out a picture of themselves, made a Dr. Seuss hat with torn paper scraps, and put a Daisy (attached to a green pipe cleaner so it would BOING) coming from their hat!  They turned out soooo super cute!  What do you think?

Martin Luther King, Jr. Sequencing/Important Details Activity

Phew, I have missed you guys!  Sorry that I took a hiatus!  With moving grade levels, taking two Master's courses (one of which is Research), and having my daughter start high school, makes me feel craaaaazzzzyyyy!  I have been BUUUUSSSSYYYY!!!  Thanks for sticking with me ;o)

I am preparing for Martin Luther King, Jr. day coming up soon.  My students need some extra work with finding important details and sequencing, so when I saw an activity on Pinterest, I knew it was the perfect fit.  I created the following document that mirrors the one on Pinterest:

 I have one that I filled in with MY important details, but I will give students the blank document with JUST the year listed.  That way, they can dig in the book they are going to read (which I am using the one from Reading A to Z because it is leveled in three different levels-PERFECT for my kiddos!) to find the information!  I am attaching files for BOTH the blank date and the one with details already filled in!  I hope you like!

Pinterest Inspiration!

I have been creating sooooo many fun documents thanks to goodies I have seen on Pinterest!  Here are the projects I pinned:

Here is what I created combining the two:

I am in LOVE LOVE LOVE with my new doodle frames that I found and the background papers.  You can find them HERE

P.s.  The graphics were from LetteringDelights!!!

Extend Your Bucket-Filling!

The past year, my classroom was engrossed in bucket-filling endeavors!  Toward the middle of the year, it fizzled a little and I had to re-introduce the books.  That is when I came across this little gem:

I LOVE this book, especially for upper elementary.  I used it in my 2nd grade classroom, but only used portions of it.  My favorite part is the "10 Facts of Life".  It teaches students that life isn't always fair, even if you are trying to fill buckets. 

One of the things I REALLY like about the book is that it goes more into depth about using a LID for your bucket.  It talks about appropriate times to use the lid, when a lid doesn't word, etc.  This is definitely a more in-depth book to use!  Check it out!

Welcome

Thanks for "Popping In" to see my NEW BLOG!!!  I am excited that you chose to follow me over here!  More updates coming soon!

Box Office Behavior Clip Chart

Ta-da!  I finished my Clip Chart to match my Hollywood theme this year.  I even made cute little clips to match.  When you look at these, you are going to see different colored clips.  The yellow, black, and red clips with popcorn pictures at the end are the clips that my kiddos will start with.  They will progress to silver, and then to gold.

***Please note...I am a FIRM believer about NOT embarrassing my students, so they will NOT have their names on their clips.  I put my student's numbers on their clip so guests, administration, etc. will not know who has had a rough day.

If they get "Off the Chart", then they receive a jewel.  After 5 jewels, then they get a silver clip.  These are the ones with "You're a Star" on them.  They then start over with getting 5 more jewels.  If they receive 5 more jewels, then they get a gold clip with an Oscar at the end of it. 

YES, I did have 3 students this year earn a gold clip!!!  Many in my class earned a silver clip.  This is VERY achievable, but it is because of my expectations and allowing them the opportunity to WANT TO earn it!  I am telling you, this is a HUGE motivator in my classroom, but it is only because I make it a motivator!

Hollywood...Here I Come!!!

In preparation for my new theme for next year, I have created a few documents that I am getting ready to print at school.  I know, I know...I should be enjoying the summer days instead of wasting away at my computer.  I just can't help myself.  I am moving to a new room next year and I can't completely wrap my head around where everything is going to go.  Sooooo...I thought that I could use this time to get things done that I KNOW I am going to use!

Here is a sneak peek to coming up goodies!

Lead Actor/Supporting Actor (Helper of the Day)
Those of you that follow me know that I like to have ONE helper-of-the-day instead of classroom jobs.  This person helps me with EVERYTHING!  They LOVE LOVE LOVE it!  After they become the helper of the day, then they move to the bottom two slots before they get put on "vacation."  This year, with my Hollywood theme, I am having a Lead Actor and the two bottom helpers will be called Supporting Actors!  This is what their name plate will look like when I pull them out of the envelope!  More coming soon...

Box-Office Behavior:
As you know, I LOVE the Clip Chart by Rick Morrisson.  I have used it for two years and won't look back!  It is amazing.  I wanted to spice it up, so I made it match my Hollywood Theme this year.  I got the original idea from a fellow blogger-check out Mrs. Fiorini's blog!  It is amazing!  I adjusted it to fit my needs.  I only have the headings done, but can't wait to show you the finished product when I have it!  For now, this is what you get:

Please click on the picture to download them if you would like.  I don't know if I like the "Think about it" choice yet.  I wanted to do "Take 5" but then the clip art would have been the same for Parent Contact.  OCD coming out in me wouldn't allow it.  Please help with suggestions!

Box-Office Report
The component that I think helps the MOST with our clip chart is our parent communication.  They get to see where our students end up at the end of a day and they really do back it up!  THAT is why it works so well-THANKS PARENTS!!!
Here is the report that goes in their STAR Binders:

Star Binder:
Of course, many of you use these binders as communication with parents.  Here is what I will be putting in the front Binder!

And Last, but not least...another great idea by a fellow blogger...Homeworkopoly.  This is my first time using this and I am still reading up on how to make it operate, but I am getting into the swing of things and at least getting my document ready to print so I can laminate.  My inspiration came from Ladybug's Teacher Files.  Please see her original document.  She was sooooo sweet and even told me what fonts she used.  They are now my favorite fonts to use!!!  LOVE them!  If you haven't used smiley monster and Elephants in Cherry Trees together, they are a MUST!  I pretty much kept everything the same, just tweaked a few things!

Mentor Texts for Writing

I am currently taking the most wonderful Masters Class-Writing in the Primary Grades. This class focuses on The Writers Workshop and really utilizes a lot of Lucy Calkins Units of Study.  It has been powerful so far, to say the least.  As many of you know, I have been using Writers Workshop for the last two years in my classroom, but I had never been “officially” trained in it.  I read multiple books, took a balanced literature class that touched on it, but never an official training…until now!

One of our assignments this summer was to read a professional book and present to the class one of the chapters.  One area that I wanted to just know more about was beginnings and endings.  I read the book, “Mentor Texts: Teaching Writing Through Children’s Literature, K-6”by Lynne R. Dorfman and Rose Cappelli.  

This book really explores the importance of using literature and mentor texts to show students the experts using the craft you are teaching.  Chapter 5 focuses on Beginnings and Endings.  This is a MUST-HAVE book!!!

Here are a few of my “notes” for my presentation with some of the mentor texts mentioned for you to use. Click on the notes page to get to my Google Document.  I am planning on updating my “Good Hooks” documents later!