Currently - December 2013

I feel like a blog stalker today - I kept refreshing and refreshing Farley's blog waiting for the December Currently!  This is one of the first times I get to do it early since the first landed on a Sunday - day off!  Woo hoo!  I know - I'm crazy!  Maybe it's the Thanksgiving stupor wearing off?  So without further ado my Currently:

And... I am currently waiting impatiently patiently for the big TpT sale tomorrow, (although I MAY have already purchased a few things that I just couldn't wait for!).  Some sellers are already having sales, so why not?  Just don't tell my snoring hubby!  I am also having a big sale this weekend  at my store with a bonus Buy one get on Free Deal!  Check it out here!

Black Friday Sale and TpT Cyber Monday Sale 20% off and BOGO!

I have never been a big Black Friday shopper myself.  Although I would love the deals - I don't really like dealing with the crowds, and I would rather spend my precious days off with my family.  That being said, I DO love the fact that the sales have come to the internet world!  I can still get great deals while relaxing at home with the family!  Bonus!

I am also super excited about Monday's AMAZING sale at TpT - my wish list is over brimming and ready to be added to the shopping cart.  Unfortunately, Monday is a work day and can be hard to get to the computer.  So... I am having a sale in my store from now until Tuesday - 20% off everything.  If you wait until Monday you can get an additional 8% off from TpT (you have to use the code CYBER), but if you can't wait, you can still save.


And to sweeten the deal - if you buy before Monday you can get a free product as well - Buy one get one free on top of the 20% off!

To get the free Item:

1. email me at kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net

2. Be sure to include your TpT user name and the item you purchased (between Nov 29 and Dec 1 at Midnight)

3. The item you would like for free (equal or lower cost than item you purchased)

4. I will email you the free item as soon as I can.

My Teachers Pay Teachers Store

Time to Be Thankful!

It is so easy to get caught up in the craziness of life.  Sometimes it is nice to stop and think about all the amazing things in life to be thankful for.  That is why I am linking up with Reading and Writing Redhead for this gracious linky!

Five For Friday Nov 22 With A Freebie!

It's been a few weeks, but I am FINALLY joining up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday!  I love peeking in on everyone else's week, and looking back at my own. PLUS - there is a FREEBIE in today's post as a Thanksgiving treat from me to you! So without further ado:

Writing on the desk.  

I don't know why, but for some reason my students are extremely motivated to solve math problems when I let them write on the table.

We use study island, and I noticed a few of my students were struggling with writing numbers in written form, so I pulled out my place value dice and let them work with partners to write on the table.

Art Work

My students love sharing their drawings with me to hang on the wall behind my desk.  Here is the newest piece - a Cornucopia!  Perfect for Thanksgiving!

Snow!

We had snow this week and the kiddos have been so excited.  That and the full moon, made for an INTERESTING Monday and Tuesday!  But, by the end of the week behavior was improving.  

This one wanted me to take a picture of her hair with the snow in it.  

More Snow!

I found these "fake snow" science experiments at the Dollar Tree.

We made factor turkeys today.  Super easy and fun!

AND... as a thank you for scrolling down this far, I have uploaded the template as a freebie on Teachers Pay Teachers.  Just click here. And,,, I know some of the examples look wrong, but they were due to mis-communication and gluing.  One of the kiddos covered part of her numbers when she glued and the other put both 5's on one feather since I told her she only needed one feather for the 5 - it looks like 55 instead of just 5.  My fault!

Hope you enjoy!

Graphing Update and Throwback Thursday - Talking Turkey With a Freebie!

We followed up our cranberry lesson yesterday by making bar graphs.  It was interesting to see the variety of understanding they had.  I didn't teach them how to make a bar graph today, I just asked them to use the data to draw a bar graph so I could see what they remembered from their past experiences. Here are their graphs.

Also, I can't do these projects with my kiddos this year since I rolled up with the same students, but I figured I could show last year's as a "Throwback Thursday" in case you are looking for some more ideas for Thanksgiving next week.

This week we were inspired by this book to write a persausive paper pleading with readers not to eat turkey for Thanksgiving.

We pretended we were the kids in the book, and are working on persausive essays asking people not to eat turkeys for Thanksgiving.

Our school uses Write From The Beginning, but I have found it challenging for my students to use the circle map and tree map to write an essay - it just wasn't scaffolded enough for them.  So, I created graphic organizers for this prompt - and so far it is working great!  I can really find the areas that they need help on, and it has helped focus the students as writers.

Here are a few samples of the graphic organizers from today - 

And the final product:

I have the packet on sale in my Teachers Pay Teachers store here or in my Teachers Notebook store here if you would like to try them with your students.

I also have a FREEBIE!




We are Thankful Craftivity and Writing Prompt.

Cranberry Taste Test - A Little Thanksgiving Graphing

Our school participates in a special grant from the USDA where we receive fruits and vegetables twice a week.  Today we got cranberries!

We also tried some cranberry juice and cranberry sauce to see the difference in taste.

The results were mixed ...

From LOVED

to not quite sure. :D

One of the students suggested we take a poll to see what everyone preferred.  She made a poster and the other students casted their votes.

We were able to discuss data.  For one, we noticed that we needed a category for people who didn't like any of the items.  We also realized this wasn't the best way to show the data.  It is hard to read, and needs to be more organized.  The students will finish that up tomorrow.  It was a fun holiday lesson!

Fictional Narrative Writing - Do Over!

Our district has common assessments that our students take approximately every 6 weeks.  Normally they take them during computers, but because last week Monday was a holiday (our usual computer day) we had to take them the old fashioned pencil and paper way.  I figured it would be an easy thing to plug into my sub plans while I took the GRE.  Tests are often my go to for sub days - keeps the kiddos somewhat quiet for the sub.

Anyway, when I got back the next day, along with a 2 page note from the sub (they had a rough day, I'm not going to lie), was a stack of assessments with written responses that looked like this:

and this:

So, I had two choices, 

1.  I could cry about the sub note

2. I could re-teach them how to write a fictional narrative

I chose the second option.  Because this was completely impromptu and unplanned ignore my messy rushed handwriting!

We talked about the steps for writing when answering a written response.  

1. Read the prompt - What is it asking you?  (The prompt was - "Describe the day you woke up as a fish.") So, we decided this was asking us to write a fictional narrative.  

2. Brainstorm and organize your thoughts.

I asked the students, what do fictional stories have? Story elements!  We created quick graphic organizers listing the text elements: characters, setting, problem, solution, beginning, middle, end, feelings, action, dialogue.  We brainstormed what could go under each.  I sent the students back to work on their own brainstorm.

3. Write.  Once everyone was close to being finished with their brainstorming, I showed them how I might begin my own story.

They went back to work, and here are some of their revisions with some before and after as well.  I was so proud I *ALMOST* forgot about the sub note!

Before

After page 1

                                            After page 2 WoW!

I also have a student who needs a bit more support and normally doesn't take the tests with the class, but I had her draw a picture to help her brainstorm.  Here is her writing sample:

Have you ever done a do-over?