Chickadee Jubilee

Optimum Organization

2013-05-22T15:49:00.002-07:00

Fun in 4b and Ladybug Teacher Files are having an organization party.

I am pretty organized....just not good about putting things away immediately. Last summer I created some things that have been really helpful in keeping things put away and easily found. The "famous" teacher toolbox" and then just prettifying and labeling sterlite drawers.

Here is how I organize running records...my favorite reading assessment even though my district loves the ridiculous 1 minute assessments that tell me nothing about a student reader.

I always forget to label the binder....however it is ginormous, so the size is kind of its own label!

Inside the sections are divided by the end of year goal for each grade (kindy, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd).

Behind each grade level tab is the books for those levels, and a page protector with numerous copies of pages needed to administer reading assessment.

And yesterday's post about student mailboxes, may be helpful also....
Happy Wednesday,

Mailboxes

2013-05-21T18:35:00.001-07:00

Possibly you don't have room for a giant mailbox center or funding...I have a solution for both. All you need is a crate and hanging files. I used to only use one crate, but with 36 chickadees the pack up line was never ending. So one crate is for boys and one crate is for girls. This also helps when papers go home, that are gender specific...soccer/volleyball/flag football/etc.

Papers that need to go home are in the tray next to the crates and then each student has their name on a hanging file. The filing team grabs and paper and puts in the matching folder.

Works like a charm!

Happy Tuesday,

Opinion/Persuasive Essays

2013-05-20T15:24:00.001-07:00

Opinion writing is underway. We have read lots of mentor texts are are trying out some writing of our own. We started by looking at how the kinds of writing are different.

I found a great anchor chart about beginning Opinion pieces over at The Go To Teacher. She has a great conclusion chart also, but we aren't quite there yet.

From Dear Mrs. LaRue

From Earrings

From I Wanna New Room

From Click, Clack Moo

From an article we found in National Geographic for Kids

Ways we can start sentences. After we practiced writing, students read their piece aloud and I put checks next to the starters they used.

Today we read, My Brother Dan's Delicious. It is told from the younger brother's point of view. He has been left alone and is convinced their could be a monster in the house. So he then clearly lists and explains why his brother Dan would be better to eat and far more delicious. We read and made a chart as we went along. Students kept track on their own paper also.

Students used words or pictures to record why Dan was a better eating choice.

Then we wrote our own main idea and two or three reasons to back it up.
Long hair better than short hair

XBox better than Wii

Roblox better than Minecraft

Playing outside instead of watching TV

Playing with dolls is better than math

PE is better than music

Happy Monday,
15 more days.....

Flashback Five Linky Party 1st Timer

2013-05-17T16:25:00.000-07:00

No school today...for the kiddos anyway, so you get for Flashback Five Thursday. Every Friday so many of you link up, that I wanted to join the fun! You can too.

Saturday is my last day of volleyball and is an all day tournament. So last night the team came over to my house and we watched volleyball videos, made posters, and painted our nails to match our shirts. Then got a team photo. They crack me up!

Wednesday, I was out for a Right Brain Training and left a "How Well Do You Know Your Teacher" Quiz. Miss Trayers started this inspiration and the responses had me laughing out loud!

This one is from my Giants fan. We are frenemies....as I am a Dodger fan. I had to go look up
Mike Krukow....apparently he is a broadcaster for the Giants.

This one is spot on. Sun-days....like snowdays, only for 80 sunny days, since we never get them during the school year. I tell my class how we all have to work to keep our class clean. I didn't spend years at school to pick up after them:-)...although being a maid, I would probably make more money.

Half my class mentioned Josh Groban! Also, apparently I love Uncle Jesse, cuz I say capesh all the time.

Every one of them mentioned We are in the middle of studying Portland, Oregon. At the end of the month we are going on a field trip downtown. During class we have been making maps and adding interesting locations. Soon groups will be choosing locations and highlighting the most effective route for seeing them. On field trip day, they use the map as their tour guide.

And we have been making posters of all the intersting things you can do and see in Downtown Portland.
Portland has a famous statue, named Portlandia. It is the 2nd largest freestanding copper statue in the world...Statue of Liberty being the largest. One of my students wrote a comic for us about statues in Portland.

Happy Friday,

Who wants to join another linky party? Click the pic for more info.

I Heart Kidblog

2013-05-14T16:59:00.003-07:00

Many of you already do kidblog. I have been using it for a while, and just thought I would share. My class uses it fairly regularly, but stay within the topic of reading/books. It is really easy to set up and each student has their own blog to change and post on.

So here is one written today...

And the conversation that follows....

I don't worry about punctuation, spelling, etc. I may comment about it but really just encourage sharing and talking about books.

Happy Tuesday,

Last-Minute-Laurie

2013-05-09T17:18:00.004-07:00

You know that game where you have to use an adjective that starts with the first letter of your name to introduce yourself. Usually I use laughing...but this week last minute would be much better. I always have plans in my head for what I want to do, but when executed don't always create the results I wanted. So...we were going to draw a picture of the best part of our moms. Then paint it. Then write a poem. This all sounded great, but I was not loving the product.

Thank goodness for all the ideas you all share. Did you see the CUTE project over at Soaring Through Second? Sandy rescued my Mother's Day! You MUST go check it out and give her brilliance credit!

Here is what she did-

I didn't have an i-pad app for typing and my awesome roommate came in to take the pictures, so I needed the mom part to be done before she got to school. I grabbed some black paper and a bucket of sidewalk chalk and had students write.

I love them! (The "strike a pose" one cracks me up!)

Happy Thursday,

PS...you can still join the "Fiction Teacher Appreciation" Linky Party

Currently

2013-05-06T15:34:00.004-07:00

Another month flown right by! Go check out what everyone is up this month over at Oh Boy Fourth Grade. The party is the place to be!

Listening: Best flutist ever! Wish I could be just like him!

Loving: We had been doing Social Studies/Science/Art at the end of the day and writing just before lunch. So I switched the two subjects and it has been SO much more calm.

Thinking: 24.DAYS. Yes I am counting! But the to do list is atrocious!

Wanting: Portland used to have an AAA team, then soccer, and the team who shall not be named, kicked them out. So my dad and I have to drive to Seattle or Tacoma to see baseball. It is about a 3 hour drive each way. Only been gone for like three years...I am not bitter or anything:-)

9 inning funeral....home plate dug up.

Needing: Reese gets to move to my house in just about a month! Lots to do to get ready....
otherwise she will be slipping under the fence to find other friends to play with.

Summer Bucket List:
Going to New York! Really need to start planning that trip...so many things to do...find a place to stay....figure out the Subway....

Ummm read of course....an addiction that is good for you!

Remember Farley's rule of three!
Also, if you don't have blog plans....I am having a linky party celebrating teachers.

Happy Monday,

Famous Teacher Appreciation

2013-05-05T17:22:00.000-07:00

This morning I was thinking about all the teachers the media has created and then came upon a list of 100 cool teachers from children's literature. I heart reading and I heart teaching. What better way to celebrate than with a linky party?!

book: (this was very hard to pick!)
Christy Huddleston....teacher to tough kids in Smoky Mountains.

movie:
Mr. Hundert...teacher to hooligans at a prep school.

tv show:
Mr. Kotter....teacher to a remedial class in inner city New York. (This show used to have all day marathons on Nickolodeon....I got hooked.)

Give a shout to your favorite book/movie/tvshow teachers. Use the image on your blog post and remember Farley's rule of 3.

Happy Sunday,

Random Random Read All About It

2013-05-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Someday I am going to get caught up reading all my missed blog posts. But for now I have three random fun facts-

1.) I am really excited about the new instagram parties!

I now have an instagram button to match my other ones because Barb is an amazing friend and blog designer. First go to her teaching blog. It is adorable....the tree is my favorite! Then go check out her design blog...you'll find a bunch of tutorials, blinky freebies, and clipart.

2.) And I forgot to announce the winner of the my giveaway--Deniece of This Little Piggy Reads, check your e-mail.

3.) It is teacher appreciation week and I really want to thank all you teacher-bloggers who make time to share your classroom and your teaching with me! Thanks for commenting on the happenings of my little piece of Oregon. I love the cohort of teachers all across the world! I hope everyone of you feels appreciated this week!

And a video from one of my favorite teachers--

Happy Sunday,

Plugged In

2013-05-04T19:21:00.003-07:00

This week I participate in screen free week. No computer, TV, etc for a week. Well the school day part of the week. Look what happened-

First we invited our school to go screen free with us-

and made sure we stayed screen free in our classroom-
Math on Whiteboards-

The weather was so nice we did our weekly problem solving outside...no idea why my camera thought to do a black and white photo- Each group did one portion of the problem solving steps, then shared about it.

And vocabulary...no powerpoint slideshow. We acted them out. Here are fetch, construction, assembled, and downtown-

Only 25 more days....yes I am counting!
Happy Saturday,

Everyone Else Is Doing It

2013-04-28T14:02:00.002-07:00

In case you haven't heard...instagram is exploding with teachers. I already had an instagram...and used it randomly. Anyway...now it is attached to the bloggy world and I am going to need Barb to add an instagram icon to match my pinterest and e-mail ones.

So link up on Tuesday...and if you want to follow me on instagram....click the picture below.

Thought I would share my current favorite instagram image--I am getting a puppy! Right after school gets out (perfect timing) Her name is Reese...if you have seen 42 or have any knowledge of Dodger/baseball history, you will fully understand where her name came from. Precious!

This week begins screen free week...so I will not be living in the land of electronic screens. How many books will I get through not watching so much tv? I may cheat a tiny tiny bit...not sure if I have the self-control to wait a whole week for a new New Girl episode!

Don't forget to link up with What the Teacher Wants and do a bit less screen time.
See you all in a week!
Happy Sunday,

Book Character Museum

2013-04-23T17:06:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, my class created a Book Character Museum. I thought I would bring it back with my Reading Round-Up class. (Reading Round-up is our 30 minute intervention time. We divide the whole 2/3 grade into ability groups to provide interventions or extensions. I have the extension group during this time.)

First we picked a book or a book character, if we already had one we loved. Then we read up on that character. Either getting to know a new one or getting reaquainted with one we already met. We had to make a list of what we would need to be to imitate that character and then work on what we would say. We talked about Wax Museums and how life like the wax sculptures are.

We made invitations and invited all the other classrooms...so they could sign up and come in shifts, of course. Our room was VERY full. Some of our character statues overflowed into the hallway. We sat next to our book and a play button (bottle cap with a sharpie drawn arrow "play" sign.) Visitors would come to a statue, press play, and listen to facts about each of the characters.

there are people EVERYWHERE!!!

This week we put it all together-
Judy Moody and a Mike Lupica character

A Warriors cat and Bad Kitty

A student from Wayside School, Fred and George Weasley

More Mike Lupica (that jersey was originally a t-shirt!)

Beezus and Ramona

Someone on Emily Rodda's, Deltora Quest and Song Lee...one of Horrible Harry's friends

Auggie from Wonder. If you have not read this book...do it!

I have no knowledge of this character...but the book looks pretty funny!

Plastic, from Toys Go Out...one of my FAVORITE read alouds. (Plastic is a round rubber ball:-)

A Fairy from the wonderful world of Daisy Meadows and a Puppy from Puppy Magic

McKenna, a newer American Girl book series. She is gymnast and this girl was SO excited to wear her gymnastic outfit to school!

So much fun and a great way to celebrate and share books.
Happy Tuesday,

New York...New York

2013-04-17T22:28:00.003-07:00

I have always wanted to got to a summer institute at The Teacher's College, so on a whim, I applied thinking I didn't do a great job, but I could try again next year. Well today I got an e-mail and I am going to the Summer Reading Institute at The Teacher's College.

SO excited! I have never been to New York. To my New York bloggy buddies and anyone elso whose got New York info., what should a do/see while I am there. The 4th of July is a non-class day so I am free to roam the city! Seeing Newsies is the only must do on my list!

Happy Wednesday!

Monday Sayings...

2013-04-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

Saturday Sayings are one of the best parts of my week. If you haven't heard of them, you must go check out Forever in First. I am never with it enough to get ready for Saturday, but in honor of my favorite team, my two favorite players, and the fact that it's Jackie Robinson day....I am dubbing today a "saying" day. (42, the movie, was pretty great...btw.)

Every year, I read Teammates to my class....usually more than one time. One of my goals for my class each year is that would know that our class is a team and stand up for each other, just like Peewee did for Jackie. Sometimes, I tell them to ask themselves, "What would Peewee do?" when they are responding to others.

Side Note...my lovely city of Portland has no professional baseball...it is the one and only negative comment I have about Oregon. So all you friends out there...I am very jealous that you could be in the stands with all the 42's. Thursday, I get to travel to Seattle to see a Mariner/Tiger game....four hour drive just to see the sport I love:-)

Happy Monday,

400 Follower Craziness

2013-04-14T17:48:00.003-07:00

Journaling has always been something I enjoy but don't do often enough. This blog has become a kind of online journal of my class. Sometimes on a day to basis or a week by week basis. I have "met" some amazing teachers and am looking forward to an Oregon Blogger Meetup. Those teachers out there share and show the wonderful learning communities they have created. This little online journal...has over 400 people following it! How did that happen? To celebrate, we need a giveaway, of course!

This giveaway is sponsored by ManMade in OR. One of my co-teachers husband is behind this cleverness. For their Etsy shop, click here. To like their Facebook page, click here. Fill out the Rafflecopter info. and you could be the new owner of a work of art.

a Rafflecopter giveaway Happy Monday and good luck!

P.S. My crafty friend, who hosted my last giveaway has become quite known...you can find her scarves sold in The Library of Congress. And she just did one for Jodi Picoult with her own book text. She is SO talented...check her out.

Giveway graphics by The (talented) 3am Teacher-

Wednesday Morning

2013-04-10T15:03:00.000-07:00

I used to do morning work....and then I read the book Whisperer. No more morning work, come in, unpack, make a lunch choice, then read.

Sometimes, there are pleasant distractions...

and sometimes the book we are reading is so good, we just want to be left alone. Thank you Jennifer A. Nielsen for The False Prince.

Happy Wednesday,

It's Happening

2013-04-09T21:47:00.002-07:00

Put it on your calendar....an Oregon meetup is coming soon!

And now back to the regularly procrastinated about report cards....

Happy Tuesday,

Polygons beat Fractions!

2013-04-03T16:56:00.002-07:00

Welcome to the world of geometry...I like this world FAR better than fractions! Yesterday we went on a polygon hunt. Kiddos did a great job of looking for shapes throughout the school and then drew them into the "polygon/not a polygon" column. Today we talked about how parts of the shape name tell us the number of sides the shape has, so we can name it.

Then I gave each group a polygon. Then they had to draw one, cut it out, and add it to their page.

Will they remember tomorrow.....

Happy Wednesday,

And for my Dodger friends...in honor of that amazing home opener...

Currently April

2013-04-01T05:00:00.000-07:00

I think the fact that I have to go back to school should be the April Fool's joke! Oh, how I despise getting up in the morning!

Listening: I heart Jimmy Fallon and baseball....celebrating baseball, with one of my favorite movies, while washing and folding piles upon piles of laundry.

Loving: Baseball is finally here! Today was opening day, (although my Dodger's don't play til tomorrow.) Dodger Stadium got a makeover and I need to visit LA to see it in person! Maybe a Teeny Tiny Teacher needs to go too....

Thinking: About a spring break redo. I did not get through my to do list. And this is where I camped out today...I always end up with a circle of work around me!

Wanting: A puppy. My last dog was named Dodger. Reeser will be the name of my new buddy. PeeWee Reese was a player for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He had the most to lose when they signed Jackie Robinson, and yet was the only one on the team to befriend him. He is one of my heroes...so I think Reeser would be great name for a puppy....one that looks something like this-

Needing: Relationships are the best way to support students with behavior....the dilemma comes when you have so many kids it is difficult to best cultivate those important interactions. I have always believed this, but forgot. Miss Night's Marbles reminded me and got my own marbles rolling! (Side note...I have been spelling dilemma with an 'n' my whole life and apparently that is wrong! Who knew!?)

Advice: I started blogging because I wanted to be part of the sharing and collaborating going in the online teacher bloggy world. Every once in a while I obsess about stats and followers, but have to remind myself why I started. Looking back a double bonus is that blogging has become a kind of journal. If I want to look back and see what I was doing last year, I just go to through the previous posts. I have made some super sweet friends, who I have yet to meet face to face, and gotten lots of ideas my students have benefited from.

Join the giant party over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade!

Happy Monday,

Favorite Day of the Year

2013-03-31T08:30:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter,

Where did Spring Break Go?

2013-03-30T15:53:00.002-07:00

I do not know how it happened....but it is Saturday of Spring Break. Two more days and it is back to super early mornings (and the end of my pajama marathon). I went to the beach, quick visit to my aunt's, in Medford, and read a few books. Oh and I watched all of Downton Abbey, season three. Now I am trying to get caught up on blog reading and responding.

But I leave it with a couple of gems I can across this week:
This cracked me up....not going to lie, I have watched it at least 10 times. (Click the pic to get to the video.)

Jimmy Fallon cracks me up! If you are a Downton Abbey fan, you must look up Downton Sixbey. Jimmy Fallon's take on the hit show.

Easter is my favorite! All the kids in their Easter outfits are adorable! Can't wait for church tomorrow.

Happy Saturday,

Some State Testing and Some Science

2013-03-19T16:26:00.001-07:00

The sad part of the day.....
door closed-students all apart-state testing

I duct taped the door jam so we wouldn't be distracted if people came and went...I encourage movement breaks...just not in the room:-)

Just a note to let everyone know to stay out...I taped this on top of the doorknob.

Sustenance for all involved!

The better part of the day....
My Chickadeees are SO into their non-fiction books. I am loving how hard they are working! Even the off-task ones haven't needed reminders.

We ended the day with some science. We defined germination and the parts of a plant.

a diagram to add to our lap book

Then we used our bodies to show what each stage of a plant might be expressed.

germination...note the tiny leaves

seed

Then I sent four students in the hall and told them to each pick one stage of a flower. Then told them to come back in, out of order.

Another student had to direct them back into the correct plant growing order.

Happy Tuesday,

Testing, Testing, 1, 2, 3

2013-03-17T08:30:00.001-07:00

My 3rd graders are starting the reading portion of the state test this week. We have been working on lot of test taking strategies. More importantly, I have been working on ways to prop them up! Half of the work is knowing you can do and not stressing out. I posted about some of the ways I try to encourage students once before. You can check it out here. Parents are sending in encouraging letters for students to read before they begin.

This year, I had my 2nd graders do some work to encourage their 3rd grade friends. I told them it was a secret project and explained a bit about the test the third graders were going to be taking. Then when parent volunteers were at school, they took 2nd graders into the hall and worked on the "Secret" project. My 2nd graders were loving getting to have more info. than the 3rd graders:-)

First each 2nd grader picked a 3rd grader and made them a water bottle label.

Then in a big group, they all made a giant poster....it will be so useful in covering up some of our not-allowed anchor charts:-)

Love that they tried to make both Duck and Beaver fans happy in their color choice.

What do you all do for the ridiculousness of standardized testing? For more ideas check out this linky party.

Happy Sunday,

Pretty Pastels

2013-03-15T16:47:00.002-07:00

Sunflowers are my favorite and oil pastels are messy....everyone wins with this project!
Three instructions only:
1) Draw a sunflower from any point of view.
2) Petals must be sunflower-ish, but the middle was all up to them.
3) The original pink color of paper should be showing through...most of them loved this because they didn't like that pink paper color. It encouraged coloring all the space and layering and blending the pastels along the way. This was also very difficult for some of my Chickadees...but overall I am loving them.

The oil pastels are so blended the one looks painted.

Happy Friday

Pansy Dissection

2013-03-14T17:09:00.001-07:00

More dissecting today. This time a flower. We had lots of fun finding all the parts.

Cleaning table before cleaning up plant parts....

Then each group had to choose one part that we are going to replant for our science inquiry project.

That's all for today. Now off to the annual staff vs. student basketball game.
Happy Thursday,