Sharing My Stack - Professional Development Summer Reading List

I know that I am not the only teacher to be getting my geek on with PD reading this summer!  I am sharing my stack of reading this summer along with the 3rd annual #CyberPD hosted by  Laura Komos at Our Camp Read-a-Lot, and  Jill Fisch at My Primary Passion.  CyberPD is an event in which educators read and discuss a shared professional book over a three week period in July

They kick-off the event with this Share Your Stack event where bloggers (and non-bloggers for that matter) share the books that are in their reading piles.  They then choose a book from amongst the stacks to host a book chat in July.

You can also participate in July's #cyberPD event by:

• Blog Reflection:  If you have a blog you may join us each posting date with your reflection of the chapters read.  Then link your blog to the host blog by leaving a comment and your link.  If you don't have a blog, but have been considering getting started this is the perfect opportunity.
• Blog Commenting:  If you do not have a blog, you are welcome to comment on the host blog to join the conversation.
• Twitter:  You can also participate by commenting any time on Twitter using the hashtag #cyberPD.  
• Other:  Last year we had people participate using other sites as well.  If you can link, they will come.  :o)  We love a little creativity.  

 

So here is a picture of my stack for the summer (so far - I have a terrible addiction to new reading material, so it is bound to grow :)  )

 

 

Sorry the picture is so dark, I don't know why...

 

If you can't see them, here are the links:

 

The Together Teacher

 

What Readers Really Do

 

Minds on Mathematics

 

What's Your Math Problem

 

 

 

What is in your stack of reading material?

 

Upcoming Giveaway!!!!

 

On another topic - My one year blogaversary is coming up on June 28th and I will be giving away one of these books, a TpT gift card, Mr. Sketch markers, a Starbucks gift card, a Target gift card, and some items from some great TpT sellers - so stay tuned!

 

If you would like to donate an item to the giveaway please email me at kellys3ps@sbcglobal.net

 

 

 

 

Setting Up A Teacher's/ Life Binder - Monday Made It

School's out for me, which only means one thing - summer and time for Monday Made It with 4th Grade Frolics!

I had been wanting to have a teacher's binder or a control journal a'la Flylady for some time now, but I just have never gotten around to doing it until recently. I wasn't sure that I wanted to keep track of 2 different binders for home and school, so I decided to put them together.

I made the following categories:

• Weekly Worksheet (I got this idea from The Together Teacher). I love that it has a place to put priorities for classroom, school, and personal all in one.  At the of this section I also printed out a Weekly-Round up Agenda (again from The Together Teacher) and put it in a sheet protector.  I have been trying to get better about setting aside some time on Sundays to follow this agenda to get everything organized and planned for the week.

• Calendar - I actually keep several calendars in here.  First, I printed out a Comprehensive Calendar from The Together Teacher here. Then, I added my school monthly calendar that the school sends out to all of the parents.  I also have my boys' baseball schedules and my gym's class schedule.

 

• Lesson Plans
• Standards
• Class Data
• Student Info - I added a set of alphabetical dividers so that I can keep information on each of my kiddos next year.  I have had a few times this year where I was asked about a particular student during collaboration or with meetings with my principal and I would have loved to have this on hand.
• School Meetings
• Misc

My boys keep asking me where "the binder" is so they can check on their baseball schedules and other events.  You know when your children use an organizational tool it is definitely a keeper!

I am sure that I will continue to tweak it a bit until it is perfect (or close to!) but so far, I am loving it!

Do you have a teacher's binder?  What do you use it for?

I am also linking up with two of my favorite bloggers Fun in Room 4B and Ladybug's Teacher Files for their Optimum Organization linky party. They are sharing tons of organizing ideas and I am loving learning from all of those uber organized teachers out there!

An App A Day Linky Party

Kelly over at Thirsty Firsties is hosting an App party because her school just purchased an ipad lab and she is looking for some great apps to download.  Her linky party works like this:

1. Share your favorite FREE app that you use in the classroom.

My favorite FREE app that I use in the classroom is: Flash to Pass .

It is basically an electronic set of flashcards, but my kiddos love it!  I have used it in small group instruction as well as during those extra sets of minutes you find such as waiting in line, or the end of the day.

 

2. Share your favorite app that costs that you use in the classroom. (If you don't have one, share another FREE one).

 

My favorite paid App is probably still Confer. 

Confer is the main reason why I wanted to get my ipad.  I use it as a digital pensive for Daily 5 and Café and I would honestly be lost without it!  You can view a how to video here: 

3. Share your favorite app for personal use (Instagram, Candy Crush, etc.)

 

My favorite app for personal use is LoseIt. 

After 6 kiddos I definitely have some poundage that needs to hit the curb!  I find if I keep track of what I eat and when I work out I tend to be more accountable. 

Then grab this button and link-up. 

 

She's also giving away an iTunes gift card as part of the linky, so be sure to check out her blog and join in the fun!

 

Teacher Toolbox Trio Linky Celebration

 

I am linking up with Eberopolis for her Teacher Toolbox Trio Celebration! It is basically a celebration of all things Teachers Pay Teachers!  I know that my teaching has been greatly improved because of it, and I am sure most teachers would agree!  Here are the basic rules of the link up:

 

1. Share a product that you've made that you couldn't live without.
2. Share a product that you've purchased that you love.
3. Share something from your wish list that you're hoping to get for next year.

If you're not a seller on TpT, no worries -- just share two products you've purchased that you love!

1. Something I've Made

 My Third Grade Math Journal Prompts - I love my kiddos writing about math - it really helps increase their understanding when they explain why they know what they know. I have four prompts for every standard along with answer keys.

 

And... because I will most likely be rolling up with my kiddos next year, I just finished the Math Journal Prompts for 4th grade!

 

2. Something I Purchased

 I don't know about your kiddos, but mine certainly had a difficult time with fractions this year.  That is why I couldn't wait to get my hands on this Hands on Common Core Fractions Unit.  The unit includes lessons, exit tickets, word problems, and more!  I can't wait to use this more fully next year!


You can follow Meg's blog: Fourth Grade Studio here. (She is amazing!!)

3. Something on My Wish List

Now this is where it gets a little dicey for me - I have 211 items on my Wishlist (Don't judge!)! How can I narrow it down to one?  I guess I will put the item that is most recent on the list...

 We give out common assessments at our school, but I like knowing ahead of time where my kiddos are at and what I need to work on with them.  I have a similar set for third grade which I LOVE - so this one is definitely on my list! Common Core Math Assessments Test Prep Fourth Grade.

The Linky Celebration

Now, I bet you are wondering why it's called a celebration - well Eberopolis -- is celebrating nearing 150 followers ,so if link up , you'll be eligible to win a $25 gift certificate from Teachers Pay Teachers -- enough to possibly clear off some items from your own wish list! And I am not judging you if your list is as long as mine :)

clip art from KPM Doodles

 

Can't wait to discover some new products and see some of your favorites! Be sure to link up !



Summer Vacay is Here! June Currently

Friday was our last day of school, so summer vacation is officially here! Woo Hoo! And what better way to celebrate than with Farley's June Currently?

Using T-Charts To Solve Elapsed Time Problems

My kiddos have been REALLY struggling with elapsed time, and we have finally made a breakthrough thanks to the video below:


The video shows how to use a t-chart to solve elapsed problems and my kiddos loved it! Especially the part where he sings, "Stop in the name of math!" My kids were singing that all day long!

First, we watched the video:

 

A little close-up:

 

Then I had the students solve the amount of time we spend in school. We start at 8:30 and are released at 3:15.

 

Next, I put up two sample problems, and I had the students work in pairs to solve them using t-charts.

 

 

I decided to share, because it was so successful!  After partner work, I gave them an additional problem to solve on their own and ALL of them got it right! I just wished I had found this video earlier!

 

What do you do to teach elapsed time?

 

 

Can You Poke a Stick Through A Balloon Without Popping It? Learning About Polymers

During our morning meeting I asked my kiddos what would happen if I poked a bamboo skewer through a balloon.  Of course they said it would pop.  Are you sure? I asked them and then showed them the balloon above. Oohs and Ahhs abounded along with, "Mrs. Malloy, how did you do that?"

So... in my best teacher bribery way I told them that if they worked really hard and productively all day, I would teach them how to do it (of course I planned on teaching them how to anyway since it was in my lesson plan, but they didn't have to know that right?).

When the time for science finally came around, I told them that we were going to practice their skills of observation.  I was going to SHOW them how to do it, but I wasn't going to TELL them how.  I silently demonstrated and then handed out supplies.

Balloons were blown.

And then they attempted to poke.  A few balloons popped, but most of the students were successful on their first try.

And once they tasted success, they had to add a challenge - let's see who can poke the most sticks into the balloon without popping it!

 

Eleven was our class record!

 

 

The trick? Put vegetable oil on the stick to make it a little easier (optional) - then insert the stick at the bottom part (where the balloon is tied) and exit through the strongest part at the other end.

 



We then watched this video to learn about what polymers are:


And finished the lesson by making our own human polymer chains!

 

We will be learning about how scientists use polymers to clean up oil spills using a kit from Steve Spangler soon, but I wanted to give them a brief introduction before.  They loved it!