tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67649724083171860842024-03-12T19:49:53.218-04:00No Monkey BusinessCome "hang" with me in the blogging world, where every single day is an ADVENTURE!Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-44570533074542669172020-05-09T16:13:00.000-04:002020-05-09T16:13:08.833-04:00BETTER...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CqGKTyV6279m7NZVDmmZqlgKjRZTTsu48DgjicODZSjRbSfWOHkbXjLVx3y4NQstOAhmtz5KpMwIaKmhFNcz6bZDj5sYg692TDK3Lc6F8u9z-lC85p5h38F6H24x0wFMucrdnlV0p48/s1600/BETTERpoem.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="1056" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CqGKTyV6279m7NZVDmmZqlgKjRZTTsu48DgjicODZSjRbSfWOHkbXjLVx3y4NQstOAhmtz5KpMwIaKmhFNcz6bZDj5sYg692TDK3Lc6F8u9z-lC85p5h38F6H24x0wFMucrdnlV0p48/s400/BETTERpoem.png" width="345" /></a>Who knew where we would find ourselves in 2020? At this point in time we are multiple weeks into the pandemic and things have settled into an eery "new norm." I pick up my groceries in a new way, am working from home, and find myself shopping for cute, new masks to wear in public when I venture out. Although I find myself wishing for some sense of familiarity, I also find that I'm grateful for things that have transpired during this time of uncertainty. I have become content with the slowed down pace of what originally felt like a rat race. I have found time to reflect, pray, and just "be" more often. I have become more determined to help others in need because I've been able to keep my job throughout this unprecedented time. I enjoy sitting down for dinners (even setting the table), designated movie nights with my husband, and purposefully calling/texting my kids, parents, brothers, and friends more often to check in. It's weird...I'm less in control, but feel far more in control of my life than ever. Being a believer, I don't know exactly what the future holds, but I know who holds it. <br />
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When the Coronavirus initially made its way into my immediate circumstances, I began to write about how when all this passed, I simply wanted to have a changed heart. So...I'm hoping this finds you thinking about what positives have resulted in all the negatives, and in what ways we can all do our part to be BETTER. <br />
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Bananas for seeing the good in all the bad,<br />
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<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-19486252944726512772015-02-22T13:33:00.003-05:002015-02-22T13:34:01.775-05:00Novel Studies Never Get Old + FREEBIEI'm not sure reading a book in school can ever be more exciting than doing a novel study with your classmates. There's something about collectively reading, discussing, and writing about a book with your peers. We as adults are like that, too! Look at the book study clubs that are
available out there! Who doesn't love sitting around drinking coffee
with their best buds discussing the latest best seller? Kids aren't really any different. I've noticed that during novel studies, students are often discussing the book at the playground, lunch, while lining up, etc. I love seeing students have something "new" to talk about that prompts so much thinking and wondering.<br />
So where do you even start with good novel studies?<br />
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<b>1.)</b> Picking the right book is the key to the whole thing. I'm not sure I believe the SAME book every year is the answer. Your students change, you change, the world changes, and sometimes a book that worked well with one class may not be the answer to a different group of students. Let your students lead you! Here are some great sites for a large list of novels out there for particular grade levels. <i>(Click on images to see sites).</i><br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/3rd-grade-reading-list"><img alt="https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/3rd-grade-reading-list" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FDzzmehrSBN6NAroQciMfQSwgVeSci_jJwnECFf6zHOqa-A4bHLVoowYkbM-m_h3zgmGqdFxDSC-24cKB-qHbjcwzKKBd2U8TZdAsKVCTfKKJFewdS5COuDdMShyPfoljnisxPehCKA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-22+at+12.51.49+PM.png" height="175" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/4th-grade-reading-list" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/4th-grade-reading-list" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5WYDGoUqn62-XH8gzt2qL27OurSe2gHus-OWvcKYOVpO_kKBpsDHXUZRyFTX0foG_bNNpcAFP7KAw1HJfhsOsu9w8GIf8Q_B8eXs0Ckjs0JPv42wbQGafnqKBqCi8181ARxURJ2z8gNM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-22+at+12.53.34+PM.png" height="191" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/5th-grade-reading-list" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/5th-grade-reading-list" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLCJNaf8Cj1cCQnwismbHfh0eeMWdnIbepWblAsVaO9xzENFWglxEvwsqAMfY0XdR2cI7C7pAwHZ28NP4vXelbqGTh6JZ7rqdaKhNGsAnbbvEQwp7gbsqxidP5ERQsIyjSrWoqnOXO114/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-22+at+12.55.07+PM.png" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://centerx.gseis.ucla.edu/xchange/teacher-leadership/voices-from-the-field/classroom-instruction-through-novel-studies" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="http://centerx.gseis.ucla.edu/xchange/teacher-leadership/voices-from-the-field/classroom-instruction-through-novel-studies" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicgVXaLZsOlgf8ODT55JE_3-mlLkDLSB3Ie1qHzehPFxf47hEWHMeZJuyoO4xzNDwHlkh7x2kOe3bEx-pzZ2u_pU0uipPo9wEq-jEaKrqLwPGNpkPb1A0O57HLXlURauprVI0XPSWP4b4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-22+at+11.56.51+AM.png" height="180" width="320" /></a>2.) Read the book ahead of time! I hate to even admit that I fell into this trap ONCE and ONLY ONCE. That was all it took. I was basing my novel choice on what a fellow teacher friend of mine suggested. Hindsight reveals: Her taste and my taste were very different, and what was "appropriate" for her students and mine ended up being on opposite ends of the spectrum. Lesson learned. Besides, if you really want to dive into the book with close reads of challenging parts of the text, develop a keen sense of the author's intent, know what questions to ask, and truly understand the message behind the book itself, it's imperative that you read it! I love this testimony from a teacher who had done novel studies before, but embraced this vision of doing a novel study, and doing it well, which called for some increased prep time. In the end, it was worth it! <i>(Click on the Stacey Joy video).</i><br />
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/apple4teacherMH/novel-studies/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="https://www.pinterest.com/apple4teacherMH/novel-studies/" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW05U-7MWLugqvXA6M5EKvoGxXPj4_4tgcr3Y0YzxhZQCXcT8Cv9iTU7hpGqJIEg1BjF3_czhf5Ob5PsTBekP4SWWLKh-IrVQk-vl-_kc-slyDjUMAqO2cMPFWRsJyCdMuueY9onpf4eI/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-22+at+12.13.14+PM.png" /></a></div>
3.) Value the work your students will do WITH the novel itself. If you plan activities that you simply intend to grade, return, and never do a thing with, that might be the same enthusiasm you are met with from your students. They'll do it, turn it in, and throw it away when it's returned. If the work they will do is treated as a BIG DEAL and something above and beyond special, that's what you'll get from them...above and beyond. Consider creating a space for your novel study items...bulletin boards, author's corner, showcase spaces in the library or halls, decorate doorways, etc. I just started a Pinterest board on Novel Studies where I'm on the prowl for some creative ways to do novels. <i><b>I'm also looking for collaborative pinners on that board, so if you're interested, PLEASE let me know! email: <span style="color: #3d85c6;">nomonkeybusinessmichelle@gmail.com</span></b></i> Be sure to grab some ideas from some of those incredible classrooms! (<i>Click on Pinterest board to get there).</i><br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Summary-Money-Challenge-1723959" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Summary-Money-Challenge-1723959" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCuokw45z8pMcilPR9ZoDN0UORq4sDJJE5QBScimcg_E2aCNSlsiXziFwkidkXwE7DANp944b27YGSMJp0TySx5RpN3nzKt_cc_0OxwujeDhtktU0CCV7hOSx8Iu4xC8ZZEpGQFL4obgw/s1600/IMG_0306.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></div>
Here's a FREEBIE activity to try with your next novel study on SUMMARIZING. <i>(Click image to grab)</i>. Challenge your students to a MONEY SUMMARY CHALLENGE! It's harder than you think!! (Even for adults)! You assign each WORD students write in their summary a specified money amount. (Example: .05 cents per word) Then give students a dollar amount RANGE to keep their summary within. (Example: "Write a summary that is worth between $4.00-5.00." Several things get accomplished with this activity:<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">a.) </span></b> Students search to include the IMPORTANT stuff in their summary so they get it all in. <br />
<b><span style="color: red;">b.)</span></b> Students sometimes have to get rid of unnecessary information to make it fit in the range and/or have to add MORE to make it fit.<br />
<b><span style="color: red;">c.)</span></b> You're incorporating some math skills into your reading and writing! *Be sure to challenge them with an appropriate money amount! I might not assign 5th or 6th graders with 10 cents a word. It's too easy for them to count! Make that part challenging as well! <br />
<b><span style="color: red;">d.)</span></b> Try it in groups! The old saying "two heads are better than one" is often true. With an activity like this, students work together to discuss key events in the novel, what to include or eliminate, and have to perform as a team to complete a task. <br />
<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Novel-Study-Interactive-Notebook-1722932" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Novel-Study-Interactive-Notebook-1722932" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdrR9Rq9NRfo21mQm909jvj2D1agw3tNkCHeDKgQjIzVAn1Bgqjkz0N29AYdbu7zu4wMf6K2iTSt3ytnW3BcCmNE2qOIXuLuRijWGOIxsIt1FIgX9MHDggsu0iTA_j3mFWzyyZOhNIubg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-21+at+10.26.29+PM.png" height="190" width="320" /></a><br />
If you enjoy the freebie, be sure to check out where it comes from...a reading strategy novel study interactive notebook that give students an opportunity to apply 17 reading strategies (characterization, setting, plot, theme, author's intent, style,
vocabulary, connections, timeline, figurative language, symbolism, text
features, summary, etc.) to the book they're involved in...ALL with folding and flip-flap fun! <i>(Click on image to check out the unit). </i><br />
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Finally, HAVE FUN with your novel! You never know when a book can change a child's life. Thankful for a teacher who MADE ME READ a book with my classmates. It sparked my love for reading!<br />
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Bananas for this quote! We teachers have JUST as much fun reading books with kids! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUze6H8LouAkXagiK6qRsk-kXxzRxUKpzUibK2c02kX19FtSbbU629nZZZ86ixFa4iQzEMSNSglsm6iZWQaMXp54MM6v759oZZ-AlCNicxGPIp4rGwznVtHt9F3ucP8NMUma6gfo8P734/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-22+at+1.05.55+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUze6H8LouAkXagiK6qRsk-kXxzRxUKpzUibK2c02kX19FtSbbU629nZZZ86ixFa4iQzEMSNSglsm6iZWQaMXp54MM6v759oZZ-AlCNicxGPIp4rGwznVtHt9F3ucP8NMUma6gfo8P734/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-02-22+at+1.05.55+PM.png" height="58" width="400" /></a>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-72175718767531852032015-01-13T20:19:00.002-05:002015-02-19T17:12:36.338-05:00Deconstructing a Writing Prompt<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> As our students began prepping for the state writing assessment, we quickly discovered that one of the biggest obstacles they faced was effectively answering the writing prompt. In their written essays they were missing key components, lacking sufficient evidence, or not even answering the prompt at all. After digging deeper, it became evident that students didn't have a clear understanding of what the prompt was actually asking them to do. Prompts can be lengthy, confusing, consist of multi-steps, and full of extensive vocabulary. If you can train your students how to rip apart a prompt to make sense of it, half the battle is over. So where do you start?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRpV9AkSEXL19Lfq66BhGBRd6HY8k-WL6UeXCaHeke08O23kp34LXclO7uasj2mGDKsJmqbeGeZaGCeVRuWXbJfGQo2iMtlu2JhkragOT6LxkR8mEwJu_uOUVsNyg8N4txC05HTGTq1k/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-13+at+8.12.06+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikRpV9AkSEXL19Lfq66BhGBRd6HY8k-WL6UeXCaHeke08O23kp34LXclO7uasj2mGDKsJmqbeGeZaGCeVRuWXbJfGQo2iMtlu2JhkragOT6LxkR8mEwJu_uOUVsNyg8N4txC05HTGTq1k/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-13+at+8.12.06+PM.png" height="137" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1.) Highlight all the action verbs or phrases. This will clue them in and remind them they are to actually DO some things! (It's usually MORE than one thing!) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2.) Circle important or keys words (the words that it's asking you to write about) and jot some synonyms (or phrases with similar meaning) for them. The synonyms or phrases students select are the words they are most comfortable using. This will ease their apprehension of the prompt and give them a tool for finding matching key evidence in the text that answers what the prompt is looking for. It will also LEAD them to the mode of writing they need to be thinking about. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">3.) Rewrite the prompt in their own words. This is one final way of confirming they understand the task, as well as double check that they have all the parts of the prompt accounted for. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Rip-Apart-the-Prompt-FREEBIE-1648845" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Kv0t3TcoP0cNWqUxo9brXPrcqFmdXlrR9VA0DX_4Wyffl23iNMS73D7bG81pEa_jSR1JQdRYA56rpPwwXCx22FFLT49QTVpZQ8YWvOJQt-ZT3mX3GunI-Sg1iZLFLG1uwjoIQ-FXibw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-01-13+at+6.50.34+PM.png" height="320" width="248" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have had the privilege of working in some classrooms over the last couple of months on this very task. Students often start out with that same puzzled look, only to finish with more confidence. In the words of one of our 4th graders this week, (after viewing a state released practice prompt for the first time), "Hmmm…Not sure what this means RIGHT NOW, but give me a minute to rip it apart!" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I'm happy to share one of the activities some teachers and I used with our third, fourth, and fifth graders as we worked through deconstructing prompts. ENJOY the "RIP APART the PROMPT" <b>FREEBIE</b>! We would love to hear about some successes in your own classroom, so feel free to grab it, give it a try, and share with the rest of us! :-)</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Opinion-Narrative-and-Expository-Writing-Unit-1647373" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Opinion-Narrative-and-Expository-Writing-Unit-1647373" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4218NEIkxeCIRsNFX0VhtbYs3WSD9Mpdc6XBtBRYYwGuqy1c2KYbZ7hwUNT5O8iyZJCykok3DNXpfeSk8fArJWsjC5b6858oldCbSBCHedBKKdxlyJ_Jdr6abd31n3682Af6i4tWp0Q/s1600/IMG_0058.jpg" height="162" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The freebie prompt is part of a larger unit if you're looking for something to work with all year. My newest writing unit centers around narratives, opinions, and expository writing, focusing on the procedure of putting together a solid piece of writing in the correct mode. The unit is loaded with organizers for each mode that are designed with every season (fall, winter, spring, summer) in mind. Also included are </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Opinion-Narrative-and-Expository-Writing-Unit-1647373" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Opinion-Narrative-and-Expository-Writing-Unit-1647373" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Opinion-Narrative-and-Expository-Writing-Unit-1647373" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpPdp0LZETCBmtUgkyGiQerQUOukJFrc_NkLzVRTtrEP154iLwrun5kVDl6YyUx8qKcKZ2A_xwl5RGVJl07RIMg_nNk4ffn0Di8jxTEDI7cXh_XL0rCiYhxe6NIRUWBr36LT6eMGJbmDI/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" height="200" width="180" /></a>practice skills with each mode (dialogue for narrative, opinions vs. facts for opinion, sensory details for narratives, etc.) Mini-writing folder contents are also available that offer helpful hints for organizing, constructing, and editing your writing. Students love using them and find them incredibly useful and FUN as they learn the process. Check out some of our "hard at work" 3rd graders working on their expository pieces with their mini-folders! Click on any of the photos for a closer look at that unit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bananas for students (and teachers) who love a good writing challenge!</span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-36825144843932437362014-12-20T18:17:00.000-05:002014-12-20T23:48:40.669-05:00All I Want For Christmas...a Little TpT Gift Certificate!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://corkboardconnections.blogspot.com/2014/12/tptgiftcertificate.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjegrDizks2AKIHaxERxovR4jCbNfU55HDeCmrPs46aDpKzsGY4fEn_PI_7YHSxREaHtxeVbtRwZ5OIslck_OYjGmGyXbSuhmHsA6861C-HR4tu14lKxpevhU0iLpixYECLCy8_ukezFz0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-20+at+11.44.52+PM.png" height="320" width="232" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Hoping this finds everyone finishing up their last few days and ready for some holiday peace and rest! This is one of my very favorite times of year because I can focus so much of my time on others! What a better way to say THANK YOU to my blogging family than to give away a little TpT goodie. Join <b><i><a href="http://corkboardconnections.blogspot.com/">Laura Candler from Corkboard Connections</a>,</i></b> along with some other fantastic educators (listed in linky below), as they plan to give away LOTS of $10.00 TpT gift certificates! Entering is easy, and a winner will be drawn at midnight on Dec. 23rd! </span><br />
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/New-Years-Resolution-176953" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pY8_Ob_Hj_2eSMYS8MmkWOR-meJTNCu-hWEH117XxogXlA3jsfUbpyd-6JCRGdIZQc87tzf2JkFSrWxVhFPJew_eiae52IeN1ZhFqrmg-xaS2zTL_gwAqj_E-TEYy0bQLM97w2HEoV8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-12-20+at+5.47.30+PM.png" height="200" width="156" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last but not least, don't forget to get ready for 2015 on TpT by grabbing my FREEBIE New Year's Resolution pack! LOTS of language skills involved with making a New Year's Resolution with your students! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wishing you and yours the safest and warmest of holidays! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bananas for Giveaway Fun! </span><br />
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<!-- end InLinkz script -->Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-72522832333496507022014-09-07T10:24:00.001-04:002014-09-07T10:24:33.988-04:00Wear Your "Smartie Pants!" <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We've been back to school for a few weeks now, and are settling into a nice routine. Along with settling, though, comes the Universal Screener for our students. This includes testing every child in the building K-5 to get a snapshot of where they are and what we need to do to move them. Testing can bring anxiety to even the youngest of students, so we tried to take the edge off by avoiding the "T" word...testing. We called it what it was...a screener. In addition, the administrative team and I brought in a pair of pants to school that kids could sign when they completed the screening. We called them our "Smartie Pants." <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhiCrBlubOkbwV2-MZj7lG8vMRpwjFGALNt4wQ9mSTkFRbzMQ6gmvk7y_2yW9pnUrMndW6f_RvZOVL4a17OPiEzwRZO5zDPNsL8gQpTEbLKCYbeq8qMxlmyLkEQ6M2k5bupVVf1jA-Jo/s1600/photo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUhiCrBlubOkbwV2-MZj7lG8vMRpwjFGALNt4wQ9mSTkFRbzMQ6gmvk7y_2yW9pnUrMndW6f_RvZOVL4a17OPiEzwRZO5zDPNsL8gQpTEbLKCYbeq8qMxlmyLkEQ6M2k5bupVVf1jA-Jo/s1600/photo+1.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
Our students were more than excited to grab a sharpie and sign a pair of pants! After all 700 students had finished the screening and signed the pants, we wore them on Friday to celebrate all of our little "SMARTIES" in the building. Some helpful hints:</span><div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1.) Be practical--I grabbed an OLD pair of white pants out of the "to Goodwill" bag so I didn't have to ruin anything new. That little coffee stain didn't matter anymore...it was hidden by the beautiful artwork of our students.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">2.) Put a piece of cardboard through the legs. Sharpies DO bleed, especially on white pants. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">3.) Think about what you'll wear them with. I wanted to be able to wear them again with a variety of different shirts. I had every sharpie color imaginable for my pants. One of the principals used ONLY blue. She wanted to wear them with her school shirt and keep true to our school colors. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">4.) Despite popular belief, you CAN wash them. Simply wash them on a gentle cycle (inside out and with nothing else) and in COLD water only. I also used a mild and color protectant detergent. Hand washing in a sink would be a good idea, too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">5.) Throw in some REAL SMARTIE candies for students after the testing is over. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-Q2iCvqOIoGq1MCSqlrepbB5o1RqT699ndN6rhm1MADkAg90d6qaE46_FjKvle1cIZ9geOlHuA4xEo1AmKaS9VO_H10SI_ncHr7Hz6WjFGGIEVjPNw_e4bjXom5yzNjy4KC9crbpbuc/s1600/photo+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-Q2iCvqOIoGq1MCSqlrepbB5o1RqT699ndN6rhm1MADkAg90d6qaE46_FjKvle1cIZ9geOlHuA4xEo1AmKaS9VO_H10SI_ncHr7Hz6WjFGGIEVjPNw_e4bjXom5yzNjy4KC9crbpbuc/s1600/photo+2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
On the Friday I wore them, I was greeted with the biggest smiles and giggles. "You have on your SMARTIE PANTS!" "Did you see my name on your pants?" "I see my name!!!" "I signed my name in purple!" "Wear them again tomorrow!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">They can't wait to see me in them again when we have to do Round 2 and 3 of the Screener. Does that mean they're actually looking forward to "testing?" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Bananas for the little things that take stress away from kids,</span></div>
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Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-19500454317147091312014-08-31T22:24:00.001-04:002014-08-31T22:24:36.319-04:00Good Golly, it's Grammar!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkwt7_fqLn5ncjHdyooLXsy_buPaZI2PbgzKWbvrz44p9Ey7qoFv_VXeZ5CJVAO6hzl-hNayR8lqMFqgWDYLR_fi2Pn0o_BBZlpwtAj-m7t9jVHhvhZBelhwUnDAUUn2knno1l0AwDY4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-26+at+9.18.32+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSkwt7_fqLn5ncjHdyooLXsy_buPaZI2PbgzKWbvrz44p9Ey7qoFv_VXeZ5CJVAO6hzl-hNayR8lqMFqgWDYLR_fi2Pn0o_BBZlpwtAj-m7t9jVHhvhZBelhwUnDAUUn2knno1l0AwDY4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-26+at+9.18.32+PM.png" height="221" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I may be in the minority, but I always LOVED teaching grammar. I guess I was one of those nerdy kids in school that always found myself fascinated with punctuation, phrases, clauses, and who can forget diagramming a sentence? So let's talk Grammar. In some small way, I feel like it has taken a "back seat" to other instructional practices. It can be a backseat, but for goodness sake, let's not put it in the trunk! It <b>IS </b>an important life skill. Our students will communicate in one form or fashion for the remainder of their lives. (Resumes, research, filling out forms, legal documentation, email, phones, interviews, etc.) I don't want to be the teacher of the kid who grows up and creates signs or posters like the one above. ;-) </span><br />
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<a href="http://nhhsbeacon.weebly.com/editorials/the-lost-art-of-grammar" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjft4WvZgHB46cMB9plBKchP0xjCXKUZ9ZH6tCkE3WQyl1YUNwU5pI0Qvst5Wl1nbYw-hDzluqY37lMUZthweJY04HOxTGdSTYpFpo9Ul74mv_p7KKEIcbsDMhRPsq-ixe8xQ7y-qZxpEk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-26+at+9.07.46+PM.png" height="219" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All joking aside, you ought to read this editorial by Emma Peplow on "The Lost Art of Grammar." (Click image at right) She'll crack you up with her MISUSE of grammar to prove a point. She's an editor, so I'm sure she has seen it all!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So what are some new, innovative ways to teach some grammar skills to our elementary students? Let's investigate.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's hard not to gravitate toward Pinterest for visual images of grammar instruction in action. My favorite Pinterest board is <b>FREE</b> GRAMMAR RESOURCES. It currently has over 400 pins and 28,000 followers. It's a smorgasbord of pins to to navigate through for some FREE ideas and additions to your current grammar instruction.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/cleverclassroom/free-grammar-resources-tpt/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzXNKPw6WytQe3hH-In0jqaJGv1qc2JohJt-jjsTsYx9An_mlHbXYddq1zZtKuBi6ULc2O9ZC0fEtFaeqX_wD_tDgLCfCIvdg53SYGalBJS8d-DOFBc9ETT-lUfiSt8XAi86ceuyv7Du4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-26+at+9.29.10+PM.png" /></a></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.funenglishgames.com/grammargames.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg6MKGZR7J4ldw6cSPtgNl3mNA2Qkf_2CKSR57fnwYkPuQTMVGQPjf9BBV6UAO-nVkXYtRI-lDih2VDoPllFggdyHrHpu8ZulwF8zNJ19OicTQ5nxzwKcoWbkE9sG03vQiE841hb8m_Z8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-26+at+9.38.23+PM.png" height="140" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Another FREE place for some quick grammar practice is ONLINE. You could bookmark the following sites and allow your students to practice their grammar skills interactively during center rotations. One of my favorites is <a href="http://www.funenglishgames.com/grammargames.html">Fun Grammar for Kids</a>. The punctuation game will be a hit! Students first select the correct punctuation, then SPRAY (or SPLAT) the punctuation in the correct place. </span><br />
<a href="http://www.funbrain.com/grammar/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiW5zUpAGHOaBeyoVL0nGJI3r0zR5RDJEARdc22Yy3UafySbt99i7oCpQovAmpoO9GBELwuXqy06BadOeB-n8RCLb-GqFAAwGJobYa620boW8WL8uG_dYXiwxojSV4ndpyDfPjO1NPByk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-26+at+9.40.46+PM.png" height="139" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Fun Brain offers the Grammar Gorillas for free practice with the parts of speech. They have a beginner (nouns and verbs) and advanced (all parts of speech) version of the game to select from. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Poppin-Punctuation-1416019" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFt7AQNIuOaJzhUgHTW5HVJxP9_Kd3En2XKiw0jXH2gOfFFF3PVlUt8wlJVmqMYNRQSrH5oTwJr4C-m-zl3wK-F2b1XiapMo6d_aQ4D-jPs1K233EWEvZR-jJ3O7s7Zh_0V8fY44E0iJc/s1600/photo+2+copy.JPG" height="232" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally, I've been on a grammar "kick" myself lately in the creating department. More and more of our teachers talk about the lack of proper grammar exhibited in students' daily work. So I decided it was time to create some fun and engaging ways to hit some of the basics again. Poppin' Punctuation is my BRAND NEW unit complete with 8 mini punctuation posters (with cute rhymes to help students remember the function of the punctuation), some interactive foldables, a punctuation Scoot game, a punctuation points rubric that can be used during writing (highly motivating since kids determine their high scores with correct punctuation use), and some paragraphs that have LOST their punctuation and need to be fixed! The target area in elementary is grades 2-4, since it contains practice with 8 pieces of punctuation (periods, exclamation marks, question marks, quotations, apostrophes, colons, semicolons, and commas).</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Grammar-Recipe-Book-1236383" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUC3qOlEyzXGrgagn_oTf0gpVDBQdvgDAyPnU3n9pyKymuaUOYiJPVxldAM1QEcsN2pTWx5XcJo0kFWnGzYmoW12CTYhAg_lL2GUaAV6U66jhIuFzEUitBQm0xZUpTN8TISjU_nao3Io/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-02+at+6.28.43+PM.png" height="320" width="191" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Another favorite is my Grammar Recipe Book. This one is a challenging one, but comes in both Primary and Intermediate versions. Students really "show what they know" as they have to write sentences based on what the sentence "RECIPE" card calls for. The chef may order up a sentence with a Proper noun, past tense verb, adjective, and prepositional phrase! Can your students rise to the Chef's challenge? The intermediate version deals with parts of speech usually taught in grades 3-5. The primary version works with parts of speech and punctuation usually taught in grades 1-2. Great for centers or quick formative assessments on grammar skills you've been working on in the classroom. Chef hats OPTIONAL! </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Grammar-Interactive-Notebook-761125" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhto-8PKeBe9z0732BIkcjr2aFYW8ZSGViaGYb5oHTwsvIHGuvv90GQyN2l7IDDqpnxXKgwzXxqLBMaohN8oe9uI8ISNKXYDwdaemrWfCsUKzo198828OxvkMxyz6qrHA1JI8_eNhAxgsQ/s1600/photo-3+copy.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If interactive notebooking is your thing, then be sure to investigate the Grammar Gators. This one is full of cutting and gluing using flips and flaps in interactive notebooks and writing to explain your learning. Whether your students are playing bingo with plurals or making jack in the box pronouns, they are sure to have fun with this grammar practice! </span><br />
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Great-Grammar-Bundle-1424326" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunE-Ah4Os2j9cNFLdonWrE2XMG6NFqMqFNFXwvCpHY1Znl-FZotQJWWAyiFRXlRrcYIPzsx5M8u53crxKSDufWAH_U18AcokLuDLfqBPr_NTCC4Ig5iGvM6DWb2lu7Ew6tVIgcUQIPH4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-31+at+10.10.32+PM.png" height="188" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You can find each of the units in my TpT store individually (click on image for direct link) OR all bundled up for a CHEAPER price. (The bundle is best for grades 2-4 and contains ALL of the units listed above...Grammar Gators, </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Poppin' Punctuation, and the </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Grammar Recipe Book (both primary AND intermediate so you can pick and choose what's best for YOUR grade level). It also contains a ANOTHER 55 page BONUS UNIT that will simply be an added surprise! The link for the bundle can be found by clicking on the Great Grammar Bundle image. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">WHATEVER you use to teach grammar, ENJOY IT! It can be lots of fun, and hopefully our students will make us PROUD as future communicators! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bananas for GRAMMAR,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-76301594230495789182014-08-21T08:00:00.000-04:002014-08-21T08:00:00.779-04:00Navigating Informational Text and a 3-5 Bundle at over 70% off!<div style="text-align: center;">
Engaging kids in informational text can be challenging, but rewarding! With the push for increased rigor and complex text, it's important to actively engage our kids with guidance through non-fiction reading material. Here are some things to think about when working with kids in this area.<br />
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1.) Find informational text in their lexile range that is of interest to them!<br />
2.) Expose kids to the variety of text features that authors use when writing complex text. Understanding what these features are and how they work will serve almost as a "cheat sheet" when comprehending the informational reading.<br />
3.) Break it down in small chunks! Use graphic organizers and webs to assist in breaking down the pieces of the complex text into more "bite size" friendly tasks.<br />
4.) Think cross curricular! Use your Reading time to teach Social Studies and/or Science concepts through content rich material in those areas. This works BOTH ways! Use your SS and Science time to reinforce reading strategies as you're working your way through the SS and Science content!<br />
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There are MANY, MANY resources out there that offer FREE, ENGAGING, yet CHALLENGING informational text which is appropriate for the age and developmental level of the kids you work with.<br />
<a href="http://readworks.org/">Readworks.org</a> is one of the best. You have to register, but it's totally free and allows you to search for material by subject, content, grade level, lexile level, etc. Happy Reading!<br />
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<a href="http://www.educents.com/#nomonkeybusinessmichelle" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk-UNDLz2ObMR6m6LPGikD52Sd3mtBqT3jex_APJN-4hajXHCWtMG7supBwxOcRQdtF3FdTaf3UEnVsIeYOdRrIK84RUnn_rqcY-hspJ3iGTrLaPgej4i7hdkqOXomhVWdhF238ltU0RA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-12+at+10.27.10+AM.png" height="200" width="154" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.educents.com/#nomonkeybusinessmichelle" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdM0K8vpEZlbxGGkf2VWWBBfvfyUPvR0g-Nxrh6X0WwHai_EW9Vtecqx9GAfHe3XrLsOjBWa9hiNqVponwVAH20_E7sG8BHbsMteRBSA0Ixj7xJf8R5jECXIPHzxKEP7S9UQ3h3Lu7FjY/s1600/photo.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.educents.com/#nomonkeybusinessmichelle" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcnuhLn4nzM6nRRCtNmLBoWaj-fjSGthCleqO4uJrfClkaH6nfCbRHLDI6UZLDmVEDOKdjCtoIwjCCJq_0uLm7-uMjdoBqO00Jn1gHjSFudHPzZLCBa_l41lLIflsmgPhPB9397LBcDc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-07-12+at+10.27.36+AM.png" height="320" width="248" /></a>I've teamed up this week with Educents to offer a resource of mine directly related to helping you navigate through informational text. It's a fun variety of graphic organizers you can keep right at your guided reading table to grab and go as you dive into complex text! It contains more than 15 graphic organizers that help reinforce some tough reading strategies. (text features, point of view, steps in a process, timelines, main idea/details, factual evidence, inferencing, and more. <br />
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The MOST amazing part about this resource this week is that it is bundled with another 32 products for grades 3-5 in the areas of reading, math, and science! <br />
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<b>Educents is offering this 700+ page bundle for 78% off the original prices! You can grab enough material to have fun for weeks and weeks with your students! Be sure to check out the bundle, which is offered for a limited time only at $24.99. CLICK the image below to grab the bundle for yourself! </b></div>
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<b><u>This bundle covers the following topics that you will need to teach this year:</u></b><br />
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Multiplication and division</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Explorers and Scientists</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Grammar including: Common Nouns, Verb Tenses, </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Graphic Organizer</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Informational Text</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Full Grade Level Math Assessments for 3rd, 4th, and 5th</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Full Grade Level Personal Word Walls for 3rd, 4th, and 5th</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Presidents</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Math Problem of the Week</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">Vocabulary</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 22px;">A couple activities for Fall including Candy Corn Science and Turkey Writing Craft</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.educents.com/#nomonkeybusinessmichelle"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBv5Gs090zfnI5V1CEUpUVd3P2YanwIGz7LENNSUw5RQ9t7-NR3N1fIT7l61vJmR0lZ9nUYsiRzeH4tehxQ4WJKkqewfWwGA0alpXoFDZOJlBa1ieorEFAhr1eqpE6waCCD9p5RWv5Ew/s1600/Slide1.jpg" height="400" width="397" /></a></div>
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3-5 Teachers....ENJOY these incredible resources as you start your 2014-15 school year! </div>
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Bananas for teacher created materials that make my life easier!! </div>
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Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-76646380687772425372014-08-19T21:19:00.001-04:002014-08-19T21:19:40.665-04:00Back to School BOOSTIt's a BACK TO SCHOOL BOOST today with a variety of resources and helpful hints to get your school year started off on the right foot! (Pinterest boards, free online resources, and a HUGE sale) Let's get to it!<br />
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<b>A. Classroom Decor</b>: It's everyone's favorite part of the year...decorating your classroom. I'll share some of my favorite "hot spots" for ideas, but let's not forget the FAB FIVE rules to decorating your room! <br />
1. Whatever theme or style you choose, you've got to LIVE with it all year. (And even longer if you're on a budget!)<br />
2. Avoid OVER stimulating your students. You don't want there to be SO MUCH in your classroom that they can't focus on the lesson at hand!<br />
3. Think practical! Just because it's CUTE, doesn't mean it's functional! Think about what you'll be using things for and if it's ultimately going to be a big waste of time or not.<br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/misty_poland/classroom-decorating-ideas/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8-DA7uj8p1knCLd8jhJZNnjZ1fYh3ER_SIB25YzK4G6x7wSHYXC0JKyeEiCgeCUuTR9Nvk7YzGl8XAeNGywcT-eF_LP1XU6Ri0WluN_RsDuKGigonpnZWx52BhicK1Fo00DAu_9oWrgo/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-19+at+8.10.22+PM.png" height="200" width="150" /></a>4. Leave some space for movement. We often forget that an EMPTY classroom has far more room than when you put the 20 + bodies in there!<br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/tlcfam/classroom-setup/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL8AsVGJGd83Uun7j8TT0vbuXoxwazRSPHvFBhiQgiAk2RbhrylHLnezim9VYRVONpQ3koVz4IUMEIAIci8blBWBHzIl6jc6a-WCeUauYPGmJOgTd49agc6vgByQyg2J45Zt94tMgW8YM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-19+at+8.59.05+PM.png" height="200" width="146" /></a>5. Don't forget yourself! Every teacher needs a working space. We use it to plan, answer emails, fill out paperwork, etc. Decorate your little private world to be a motivating and pleasant place to work for YOU! Put up some personal photos of your loved ones, inspirational quotes to lift your spirits, and go ahead and splurge on a few items that you just WANT to have. (Nice planners, cute organizers, colorful folders, etc.) You'll need that pleasant space to unwind and relieve some stress! Make it worthwhile!<br />
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Click images for some really great Pinterest board full of ideas for classroom decorating! :-)<br />
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<b>B. Set Realistic Goals</b>: I did say REALISTIC! Teachers are highly motivated individuals anyway, but sometimes we set goals so high that we only end up disappointing ourselves when we don't get there. So...think short and sweet goals! Perhaps one every quarter would be a great place to start! They can be goals ranging from personal in nature, (I WILL get home by 5:00 three days a week) to professional (I WILL purposefully pull my high achievers at least 2 days a week in math to teach them an advanced concept). Share your goals with a colleague. We all know that when we let someone in on our intent, we are more likely to follow through! Make your "buddy" hold you accountable! <br />
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<a href="http://www.teachingasleadership.org/plan-purposefully"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHZZeG_Lv7srZfd8wpeQrGi06fOq3D94dfTrq8foohxUbVwx9shmyZecj5hEwXvbTxm5ZgDNEoLfWa5J5mRFwq_0ohcDxal5DXpFhhyphenhyphenKoMgu0wDRvphaBYRPJX7Usaerx4ho_q4gmDNes/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-19+at+8.37.06+PM.png" height="65" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Purposeful-Effective-Classroom-Organization-Strategies/dp/0439513715" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnrFfvr7ZatMB53e1WSQLYBbO6k-qNROic4je4juLClnYgtC-8LS8StKI9LcCxWa7gKaKXAiiLkTCGrghmJKXA6TGGXX-vu8Xi_RLuWKi7q9nDgoWtZQl8A60lOFDFIycdKOpu9J9Cu80/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-19+at+8.41.17+PM.png" height="200" width="156" /></a><b>C. Purposefully Plan! </b>Planning is a large part of our lives as teachers. The buzz word at our school is purposeful planning! Make the most of every minute. It's amazing to think about how much time "lost minutes" add up to if we're not planned effectively. Hmmmm....5 minutes a day of "lost instruction" doesn't seem like much, huh? After all, it's only 5 minutes. Those 5 minutes turn into 25 minutes each week. (I can teach a good mini-lesson in 25 minutes!) Those 25 minutes a week turn into 1 hour and 40 minutes each month (an entire E/LA block at my school), which turns into 6 hours and 40 minutes for the year. You've lost an entire day of instruction with the "it's only 5 minutes" mentality. Purposeful planning isn't just about writing lesson plans either! It includes everything from seamless classroom routines, to long range mapping, to management of time, resources, and little people! I like this little website called Teachingleadership.org (Click Teaching as Leadership image to access). It's loaded with some tips and strategies, as well as .pdf documents as resources for your purposeful planning events. Scholastic DOES offer a paid for product called, "Your Best Year Yet! A Guide to Purposeful Planning and Effective Classroom Organization." It's available for as low as $4.50 on Amazon. <br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Michelle-Harper" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTQnyqrmORT-b7nPKq0-w3J_U0gVpb9ielKAa1Kq3Sqr1bfBBBPADSSNFm_2omPxPU4niFSJJPoBGlHABbVK9AMvGEdgjJCsJfbPp-6Q2JE99L0Xz5Jwme0w3mwhfRPMkvQWnh8YOr-Y/s1600/sale_120_125.jpg" /></a>FINALLY, what's a Back to School BOOST without your friends at TpT? They are offering a very quick ONE DAY ONLY sale for you! **WEDNESDAY, AUG. 2th!** <b><i>Most sellers (including myself) will participate in the boosting fun and give you 20% + TpT's additional 8% off if you use the code BOOST when checking out! (Total of 28% off!) </i></b><br />
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I'd love to show you some of my BEST DEALS! <br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Problem-Solving-Monthly-Bundle-532752" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQquuq16PE9G8O2A0eWAJGMusrEo6wC9vdtWexvd7mhfkj-Ud2tVg-LM6HcDoHKRuLFuEhXxEORca1G1Fypxt4W-DmlQa7m8qVAn5zKLpYBAWLhzc0k3aV-fIwRy_ZJmwJIOV6Ak1OWrk/s1600/problemsolving.JPG" height="131" width="200" /></a><br />
The Problem Solving Monthly Bundle is typically $15.00. With the Back to School Boost, you'll get it for $12.00. It contains 9 months of problem solving, including a problem of the day for each day September through May. It comes with a calendar for each month, adorable monster problem solving tips, and multi-step challenging word problems in a variety of topics each month! Great to use as morning work, centers, or class constructive response problems you work on together. (Best for grades 3-4!)<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Literary-Elements-Make-a-Case-For-1267300" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirItd6_D62zrVqqu2fOG7g1JmkxFmEphF6Q1jUd0EE6luM7QhX4ksAT8NR8QX694guaxtcvdp8TgzYsUcKomyIywn-XskFqA9awdK19F9ipbJQXSuaDMJHprv1u-2RCvcGcEscxXYrLGY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-17+at+7.08.35+PM.png" height="200" width="153" /></a>My latest and one of my favorites is the Literary Elements (Make a Case for) unit. It's full of Close Reading opportunities as students round up some evidence to support their choices for characterization, plot, theme, setting, etc. This is a great unit to run multiple copies of and keep handy at your guided reading table. It includes some mini-posters on the Literary Elements you can hang in your classroom. With the Back to School Boost, you can get it for $4.00. (Best for grades 3-5!)<br />
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Whatever deals you walk away with, I hope you're feeling a little BOOSTED and ready to go. Best of luck for a fabulous 2014-15! Got any additional BOOSTING TIPS for us? Please share! We'd love to hear from you!<br />
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Bananas for a BOOST to help you start your school year,<br />
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<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-25251425703258133832014-08-11T08:00:00.000-04:002014-08-11T18:51:49.862-04:00Shark Week Fun and Problem Solving FREEBIE<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All teachers know that kids learn more when they’re excited and engaged. Today a team of bloggers come together to help your students take a BITE out of learning with a theme your students are sure to love! </span><span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<a href="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-rrxSC3PkE5M/U-WezA9vexI/AAAAAAAAMAk/k6XNxvkFLjM/s1600-h/Slide5%25255B6%25255D.png"><img alt="Slide5" border="0" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BATFqyLtFBo/U-We0QIke3I/AAAAAAAAMAs/ETR7rnIvkH8/Slide5_thumb%25255B4%25255D.png?imgmax=800" height="358" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Slide5" width="450" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Of course, picking topics the students are interested in always helps, too! </span><br />
<a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DRrS3j5WOEU/U-We155SthI/AAAAAAAAMA0/dLjSkx8S4wc/s1600-h/Slide%25252010.png%25255B5%25255D.jpg"><img alt="Slide 10.png" border="0" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-7H6Hwk0jowM/U-We3AurHeI/AAAAAAAAMA8/eygE94e_zts/Slide%25252010.png_thumb%25255B3%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" height="103" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="Slide 10.png" width="563" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sharks are IN and so is SHARK WEEK on the Discovery Channel. No matter how you feel about sharks, we all get drawn in to watching an episode or two during shark week. Kids are fascinated by sharks, so take advantage of this week and engage them in some shark problem solving. This little FREEBIE is a problem of the day for each day of Shark Week. Students could work the problems in pairs, cooperative groups, or individually. It's up to you, but it's a sure way to peak their interest in problem solving. Invest in some cheap shark stickers and mark their progress on the August calendar included in the freebie. </span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shark-Week-Problem-Solving-1384921"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5hXU4xRQEQcMweVFc1M99rlRWQhfvjRgcZ4laJ4_o7YKa042-sbKjpHqVLIZk12g1YOZJxEkYfUlSQSkPKEAT5CxAjD69haJZhkXzxISPUcQIYWEc1n3eZ08RH6F0ZgRa2eqF442ifA/s320/Screen+Shot+2014-08-10+at+6.03.32+PM.png" /></a>
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<b><i>Click the image to try it out!</i></b><br />
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Be sure to go for a swim in the linky party below. Every blog in the Shark Week Blog Hop features a fishy freebie for you and your students- but hurry! Shark Week only lasts until Sunday, August 17th : )</span><!-- start InLinkz script --><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><a href="http://new.inlinkz.com//luwpview.php?id=434973" rel="nofollow" title="click to view in an external page.">An InLinkz Link-up</a></span><br />
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Bananas for sometime scary, but interesting adventures!</div>
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</span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-30625097025598895502014-08-07T18:53:00.000-04:002014-08-07T18:53:11.509-04:00FREE Back to School E books<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What happens when some amazingly talented educators and creators for grades 3-5 share their favorite Back to School tip, as well as a Back to School freebie? You get the FREE Back to School E books available in E/LA and Math/Science editions! Both books are loaded with some easy to implement ideas with little to no prep! There are over 70 pages in the E/LA book and over 40 pages in the Math/Science book...that's 110 +freebies with some clicks of a mouse! Count me in! :-) </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Grades-3-5-English-Language-Arts-Back-to-School-E-Book-2014-2015-1376922" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlG8-mbK3P7NF99rFB2XZQsFDCWQp3KI0E9cH9700s8LKh6AEstajxHamt-DeeUse1vNYS_pZR1zN8FnyoKb8MKBhR4LRvFcco1ETPf1Kd3UPt_Afv2yVs9QtRG_UYx8MIuC_-bKQK8M/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-07+at+6.34.57+PM.png" height="320" width="244" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hats off to the contributors, collaborators, and hosts of each book! As you grab some great ideas and free materials, please remember to say THANKS! May your 2014-15 school year be an AMAZING one!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-and-Science-FREE-Back-to-School-eBook-for-Grades-3-5-2014-2015-1376532" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjMhG6WOt41jWZiT0gV2CijD1Jtd0o_apEei73Mh8wAbk2GdpYYgZuR2aR7IWpLNFjT-zeVQa0moZHm_tr-r_Ihw68aKAOCNQC1eFzFtJB24PJWsT_8SyGi3lLJwRA-1WsRjwhHytVYk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-08-07+at+6.35.22+PM.png" height="320" width="246" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bananas for incredible ideas and new beginnings each school year!</span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-61339597162464456682014-07-29T20:13:00.001-04:002014-07-29T20:13:43.469-04:00GET UP AND MOVE YOUR STUDENTS! FREEBIES to try!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.nemours.org/content/dam/nemours/www/filebox/service/preventive/nhps/pep/braininmind.pdf" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxPZWWih4sHJykl1w9UNPxJJt9PtN2SJCSQCciMNU4Z2nuKiYyMmCrEc8Ug3-Tce3FEyJ3x6kSLSfzApcRNHWZSeaKnS8vHnam9zp4QQ7OBpTPC_cE110WNm-_2U34nYs4lIifagqJQ0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-29+at+6.13.21+PM.png" height="175" width="200" /></a></div>
I was never one to sit still! At least that's what my mother always told me! Isn't it true for our students these days? Now, more than ever, students' attention span is not what it used to be! So, how do you combat this? You MOVE them! We all know that getting students out of their seats can be beneficial in the long run. Here's a link to a great article (and reminder) that movement can actually ENHANCE the the learning process. In a nutshell, <b><i><a href="http://www.nemours.org/content/dam/nemours/www/filebox/service/preventive/nhps/pep/braininmind.pdf">"Moving With the Brain in Mind</a></i></b>," discusses the physical benefits that directly correlate to increased learning. 1. Circulation increases heart rate, which gives you a better performance. 2. Movement gives learners a new spatial reference on your classroom. 3. We learn in SHORT bursts, not ones that drag on and on and cause us to become squirmy. 4. We, as humans, are designed to be physical. (walking, running, eating, and DOING) Keep in mind sitting in chairs is something a person invented... 5. Certain movement can stimulate the release of your body's natural motivators 6. Both explicit and implicit learning occur when we are academically engaged, as well as moving about. <br />
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<a href="http://k6educators.about.com/od/educationglossary/fl/What-is-a-Brain-Break.htm" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0LI4agOcp6ZyIeLOXdRhcxKrXyz-H4wlT6k_bghuJjx4zo5P-vheDfoqvszFZ8zbdKvFOPbXpbDYh3Mstd-3qWysdGx9OudGYAMpM1BcjA4d9orZYCIJ8GAMUdHy_N5zvxE2-1uDMqac/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-29+at+6.29.54+PM.png" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.slideshare.net/chriscarr0523/brain-break" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQPsvI470kThA3YwdiSPkOE8LUcsdXG-fiZ1cPPvCyTalboTomt2qYfQ5pB0GImvoqx4ESiLk3R10llkfCgu6OSTmpaopFNI8Kh5m87dNzURtJ7IOC4IVZFt03JKnt1RXzgw7rylWSd78/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-29+at+6.31.05+PM.png" height="126" width="200" /></a>There are always BRAIN BREAKS...where you simply take a moment to stretch, dance, walk, jog, etc. to get the blood going! I found some super FREE resources on brain breaks. (Click images for access)<br />
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Another way to get your students moving is to actually plan a lesson where they are required to move as part of the skill practice. Most of us are familiar with the "I Do (modeling), We Do (teacher/students are practicing together), You Do Together (students' collaborative learning) and the You DO (independently) approach to teaching a concept. Why not create opportunities where your students are UP AND MOVING during the "We Do" or "You Do Together" phase of the lesson? It's simple and immediate! For example, if you're teaching Fact and Opinion, simply call out some statements and ask your kids to do a particular movement if you share a fact, and a different movement if you share an opinion. BAM! You've given them time to practice the skill with you formatively assessing their progress, as well as given them a chance to stretch and increase their chances of learning. It works well for almost every single subject or concept you teach! (Move this way if you're an adjective/adverb, Move this way if you're an odd/even number, Move this way if you should round up/down, Move this way if the evidence in the text helps prove characterization, setting, etc.) Wow...the possibilities are endless. <br />
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<a href="http://www.activeacademics.org/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4FUWtH6qFK9jTugrdDYeEZaWhqibPDCW29Wkphox1G6vT2XbZnoMnmXgn-LyDlidcXe5OAFn_D71PqRTFOTMfm183swIP-8sgVJ3XYp5u1mD6LDFJLiIvrXRftBkxP2RT4gyn1O-UEJA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-29+at+7.00.55+PM.png" height="76" width="320" /></a>Be sure to investigate "<b><i><a href="http://www.activeacademics.org/">Active Academics</a></i></b>," a website devoted to Learning on the Move! It's a FREE site...but requires you simply register to access! I was able to acquire activities after signing up in a matter of 90 seconds!<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Corners-Game-Sentences-199456" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFLFhhKGbCgyGqyxMeHdja7950jd3InIjx8GHsxb0Q_KAulNhjil5TKc-V5yQhBILUkRY-yK_LlYc6MRqtFOGDIWWuTF_HuptmlN-7oWdaK-h6e1wOG3x7rHIHayHaHedsjblsKaomb9M/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-29+at+5.01.18+PM.png" height="200" width="150" /></a> Teachers love to create their own resources as well! You know I do! I've got some activities (INCLUDING FREEBIES) that you're welcome to try out. The 4 Corners game is probably my favorite because it can be adapted to almost anything! Be sure to try out the FREEBIE version with "Types of Sentences." <br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Road-Runner-Contractions-205831" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijWKm49PJ4a0OoTiKDKY-z49iIOYOg0RrF6PLSlMs_RC2wwyYFnmc_nnhVhXKfQcfdGhdYEqBbfc0tRn8NoLjGHjhc09ddzRM3CnQ6cOU_8MPPR0WYHMRARdfxiGzFPVEy1FMK6xgJQUw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-29+at+7.14.51+PM.png" height="200" width="165" /></a>You've probably heard of the SCOOT games. Funny thing-- when I first began playing them in my early years of teaching (Ummmmm.....20 some years ago), I always referred to them as Road Runner. :-) When "Scoot" caught on, I refused (politely) to call my games that. I still enjoyed the little ROAD RUNNERS running around (okay, walking at a swift pace and switching seats) in my classroom. So the race is on in your room if you want to try this freebie on contractions. <br />
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I played softball growing up, and had 3 brothers who played baseball, so I'm sure that was the inspiration behind some of the Bullseye games! I <br />
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Nouns-Review-Bulls-Eye-Games-225280" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzToWccu29Ahb598zeargPM-jWG_k1FVMf1sXhv46rOEJd-Ock-n_FaIFEF3Y-CyP0mMsNf_SJQ5z6-K4qOH9fZNJv8tzvJHr0fWjrlVY-ckWwfr2viIK_h0Guli5BayLGrIf0P-6eE3k/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-07-29+at+7.25.58+PM.png" height="200" width="165" /></a>think these require a little more brain power to score, but they are great fun, nonetheless! This can be a really FUN way to practice a skill, while bodies are pitching pennies or other small objects. This one is a FREEBIE on NOUNS...loaded with Differentiation practice!<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Grammar-Recipe-Book-1236383" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4foH1dehpVxIOi6rbWizRvkTAfIz2GdNTQIc1O6CJklkup0mtq6aupcUkmn6IUkN1KzzNtXVB6ovJyN7EkrMzy6jgWUb95vyVyIMVq8Pmf58o-_vmHpKNdjH83RpcG-R86MlDGF-iX4I/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-02+at+6.28.43+PM.png" height="400" width="238" /></a>So what are some things you do in your classroom to get your kids up and moving? Please share! I'm that big fan of teachers who share their ideas with others, so we all benefit. SO... let's hear it! Give yourself a shout-out. I'll put names in a hat from those that share and on August 11th (Our students' first day back) I'll draw 2 lucky winners! Primary (K-2) and an Intermediate (3-5) teacher. **Be sure to list what grade level you teach, what your get up and move idea is for your grade level, AND your email addy so I can send you something! *I have some <b>BRAND NEW GRAMMAR RECIPE</b> activities I'll send your way....an engaging, creative center that you can set up for students to APPLY those grammar skills you've taught them! *I have a <b><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Grammar-Recipe-Book-Primary-1262751">primary</a></b> and <b><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Grammar-Recipe-Book-1236383">intermediate</a></b> version! :-)<br />
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Bananas for LEARNING while MOVING!<br />
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<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-25799680648014506052014-06-30T19:25:00.000-04:002014-06-30T19:25:10.555-04:00Building a Positive School Climate and FREEBIE!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KyhdBnjlSTHDyJuytHrf9VrhskM8-Hk_wTLUOcAzrLyK02WFmRz5STbc_grOLHkSFhVNEmzkPnDqQ0m8joZRupoerCOqsLcyxO6QANuHI0joJN_rwaIeYVZGi46Q8Ugz3LadjkuTpfw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-30+at+5.09.53+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KyhdBnjlSTHDyJuytHrf9VrhskM8-Hk_wTLUOcAzrLyK02WFmRz5STbc_grOLHkSFhVNEmzkPnDqQ0m8joZRupoerCOqsLcyxO6QANuHI0joJN_rwaIeYVZGi46Q8Ugz3LadjkuTpfw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-30+at+5.09.53+PM.png" height="200" width="179" /></a>If you're anything like me, you're not quite ready to think about BACK TO SCHOOL yet. The truth is, however, like most educators, I begin thinking about it long before the previous year even comes to a close. I think that's how we teachers roll. I hope your year was successful and you find yourself looking forward to the new one. As much as we look forward to new beginnings, the truth is, I find a lot of educators are quite stressed in the work place. As more and more demands are being placed on teacher and student outcomes, the more challenging it can be to keep calm, be encouraged, and see a light at the end of the tunnel. There are many articles and ideas out there for how to create a positive work environment that are easily applicable to a school culture. I love the freebie E book <a href="http://www.baudville.com/pc/52-ways-to-a-positive-culture-ebook"><i style="text-decoration: underline;">52 Ways to a Positive Work Culture,</i>" by Baudville</a>. It contains some simple reminders about the importance of staring your day right, practicing teamwork, and keeping a positive attitude.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicT4uQ1CAhwS_iCa1kiHfQvvfJOPC_9wW-CmiWlPn8tS6s-uw2N1Xp2kO4v7BZi_Zbo0cJjmwkMdWHkRO3NvJfHc1QWZ6-tQId69lokYacUshNnpB5MmVN8asIfeaLZ2nwxWiZnSRLBZs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-30+at+5.25.28+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicT4uQ1CAhwS_iCa1kiHfQvvfJOPC_9wW-CmiWlPn8tS6s-uw2N1Xp2kO4v7BZi_Zbo0cJjmwkMdWHkRO3NvJfHc1QWZ6-tQId69lokYacUshNnpB5MmVN8asIfeaLZ2nwxWiZnSRLBZs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-06-30+at+5.25.28+PM.png" height="200" width="132" /></a>There's also a book for purchase available called, <i style="text-decoration: underline;">Shaping School Culture: The Heart of Leadership, </i>written by Terrence Deal and Kent Peterson. (Available at Amazon, and most book stores). This book addresses the critical importance of the cultural aspects that bind a school community together. It's based on 20 years of research and real-life cases. If you're a leader in your school or part of a leadership team in your building, this is a worthwhile read!<br />
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Last year for us, the year seemed to start off a little rocky. Between implementing a new reading series, trying to get a handle on Common Core, new administration, and the list goes on, teachers quickly found themselves overwhelmed, exhausted, frightened, and uncertain. How are we combating this for this coming school year? One way was that someone in our district actually began an "Educators for Excellence" Facebook group over the summer. It's a POSITIVE and ENCOURAGING posts only for our district. It's designed to celebrate the successes and share positive solutions to existing issues. It went from a few members to a few thousand members in a matter of a couple of weeks! The group now even has shirts and bumper stickers available to its members that proudly state, "<b>I LOVE MY JOB</b>!" <br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/ARKS-Acts-of-Random-Kindness-for-Schools-1300556" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFO4VOon18nWplxDB-Kfy6K25CPQIqbcZMdxobfLOhwITX2Hh4TxIZ0XUVi_QILlJoVvWBagUq5X4GdEbM1rFTyHTfqMLa3qJ4iU9BcFxEdjY2t1bxsG87W3r97hRmKyBAcKNkDs6cY6I/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-05-31+at+11.19.10+PM.png" height="200" width="139" /></a>One of my personal goals this year to help get our immediate building staff started off on a better foot, is to use some (FREEBIE) ADORABLE cards that I can distribute throughout the year. They contain encouraging and uplifting comments that can easily be added alongside an inexpensive treat to share with a colleague. (Who doesn't love a little chocolate, or chips, a Diet Coke, or a nice new pen to grade papers with when you least expect it?) You can use them anonymously, sign your name, create a "Secret Pal" type situation where EVERYONE commits to using at least 3-5 cards throughout the school year for their secret buddy. Then, have a reveal party at the end of the year! :-) However you use them, they're sure to lift somebody's spirits and nurture a positive environment. So have FUN with them! <br />
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/ARKS-Acts-of-Random-Kindness-for-Schools-1300556" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLTZcO2kxoY6fUeysJOhnrY4HMucHMjkEnnJCjxNp975OCNidpMZMnkJYJ54jrY0IWEvO3f2-uQyKAfVwMRRGZTfkksW9v-cOoCJdANhPvJQplhYOtt7Km2_QqIVbwgF8M2mHgOvz2dxg/s1600/photo+1+copy.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/ARKS-Acts-of-Random-Kindness-for-Schools-1300556" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQU0jz7jjXuExVLLSl2mZaspd78vQkSeVJKmh_S6E1gUA3hdGdIZ6eZ22gwk7f1M-4O3kBVN3eMitWS-0sIMpVBWK-g9ShVaCgqDAbra8Mx0WacaY5yQb5DCE1Krcll4a_0uYrhNrUVs/s1600/photo+2+copy.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a>What are some things your school does to promote a positive school culture? Readers would love to hear! Please post any suggestions or ideas below! <br />
Best of luck for a wonderful new school year.<br />
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Bananas for this quote, "<b><i>Positive anything is better than negative nothing</i></b>." -Elbert HubbardMichellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-37540576991067624752014-03-30T21:07:00.000-04:002014-03-30T21:07:08.662-04:00Team in Final Four Sale!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSaUt8R-r5qBjUYbhyZkOQgkMqgCTejd4sthNtJagCBKhxA7aqaW4lK3ZmasL82TTjoQNFdoGEPz-7_CfCp6Av8YjHG6qs58FX9Fo9ySjSLQicFefWJ8q6WTkn65aT1CAdtSEnTFJ2wM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-03-30+at+8.29.48+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSaUt8R-r5qBjUYbhyZkOQgkMqgCTejd4sthNtJagCBKhxA7aqaW4lK3ZmasL82TTjoQNFdoGEPz-7_CfCp6Av8YjHG6qs58FX9Fo9ySjSLQicFefWJ8q6WTkn65aT1CAdtSEnTFJ2wM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-03-30+at+8.29.48+PM.png" height="159" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Well, a friend approached me after my team...the Kentucky Wildcats won their bid into the Elite Eight. She asked, "If they win again, are you having a sale?" I promised I would...so HERE WE ARE! Whether you're a CAT fan or not, sales are always a good thing, right? My entire store will be 20% off Sunday, March 30 through Tuesday April 1st! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Some newer items you can grab a little cheaper...</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/100-Activities-for-the-100-Grid-1038684" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyE3_ujIph5EOcmW8W5GWYb_iPWj-7miEr178skgzW72zaOvp23z6Cq5rFMkQLhpAv5WMTRUoZd9afrLepLxbvCcPDtzCoDFcKOXAygt05cPSn96Bh3HtqkuvLOhU4IRa-x6bsx7aef34/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-01+at+11.20.01+PM.png" height="115" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">100 activities for the 100 grid. This grade 2-4 unit incorporates a variety of math practices and skills: patterns, problem solving, analytical thinking, basic operations, fractions, missing numbers, rounding, percents, making change, missing addends, and more! GREAT for centers set up near a 100 grid pocket chart! It also makes a nice addition to the 100th day of school!</span><br />
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Book-Report-Bonanza-1157741" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdhakfxiuwATDUY4kCkEiYXhXsVKf3saHlgHmoHiGJi-Lbw2MKWro2qi1XrCs6PALP8zWb1qf2BN-w-O_hXND6SxuAvd_AvZJnduHmgjkQ0qE-h8ncObY-zVFL7DIwk5fRG_h0NfpsCew/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-03-12+at+9.05.32+PM.png" height="118" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Do you and your class enjoy book reports? Here's a new unit with 8 seasonal book reports to get you and your 2nd-4th graders through the year! (2 fall, 2 winter, 2 spring, and 2 for ANYTIME) They're great fun and make incredible displays for your classroom! Happy Reading! </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-Interactive-Notebook-Bundle-532512" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-dQka84bOK4wAo5caAOT3kpGd93aRMFzcgxO4dWXWJPmrpD9Yo4ZLvpNcntgyuQguWG21j6hme0qmMuIYKw0OtnsoGxVJ87gOt5rU6RONp6nRoazry36EK9zIBOlgBwJWQBJrlTil8zM/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-30+at+11.15.36+PM.png" height="118" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally, I've added a Math Interactive notebook on Measurement to the big bundle. So all 8 units (a whopping 293 pages) are available in one download OR the measurement unit is available all by itself! Loads of foldable, flips, and writing to explain for your students. These make great study tools for students AND parents. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's not a REAL celebration unless I'm giving something away for <b>FREE</b>....SO...if you teach</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Problem-Solving-Through-April-635718" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn1nRlT1iN_i_m4c03Exd_JETXHPvEn3vu5jColHFMqznzVGnTIC_PubQP8NX_XaHtfEGabbte4AJ4SJkBD3ve2AoSxd2v4IKoHChYOzgmJMr7OsDlxt_QFAKpz6n2mltn00y80lMyASU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-03-28+at+10.27.21+PM.png" height="116" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> grades 3-5 and would enjoy the Problem Solving through April unit (challenging and multi-step word problems for 3rd-5th grades), simply share your favorite college team and the famous CHEER that accompanies your team! In honor of the FINAL FOUR, I'll give the unit away to the FIRST FOUR college cheers I hear! *Email address needed so I can get the unit to you! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bananas for my CATS! GO BIG BLUE! ;-)</span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-35918930045261603432014-01-09T21:16:00.001-05:002015-02-01T14:38:50.598-05:00One Stop Super Bowl Shop<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/big-game/package/index.html?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=KNS" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7Eg-7ME3_4F-5I8xvSNVSP1kSz0zgclWAcdMAjwtpW9OuaUb23D2VITY7YaNWaA5rNfbKzi4OVRHbsBmys-iI122TTs0_J30lM1d-pnTD4jodMWwhRgMUEwi1Iq6fTOxqlyk_6AUNRU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-06+at+11.13.33+PM.png" height="200" width="180" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">You know what time it is! SUPER BOWL time! I've been on the hunt for some of my favorite Super Bowl stops...recipes, classroom activities, and pinterest boards. Be sure to check out some of my favorite touchdowns below.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's with NO GREAT surprise that I want to start with FOOD first! I mean...what's a Super Bowl without some amazing appetizers and food? Nobody does it better than the Food Network. So be sure to visit their "Big Game Bash" site where you can grab a variety of ideas for appetizers, chilis, wings, salsas, desserts and more! (Click image at right for a quick trip to their site).</span><br />
<a href="http://www.southernliving.com/food/holidays-occasions/super-bowl-party-appetizers-00400000039069/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xJuYML9pFIF7_YDeRMExs-xQk1W20XQ8SYLffsF7fYnWTo_cPMTQxFgahF5aZwq68jruGUp4kvNgFxvgHtoG6vRhOntnmt1CEF6kTQBNiC3e-Xr7uoThPnk_vqOi9wm0tEe0kk-sABU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-06+at+11.36.41+PM.png" height="198" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you're a Southern cooking kind of fan, then maybe Southern Living is your site. They list 42 "score big" appetizers for your Super Bowl adventure, including sweet potato chips (yum) and an old favorite, sweet and sour meatballs. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/Sophie3o/holidays-super-bowl-party-decor-drinks-food-more/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE8x10tZ6vqJcEOoQx1J2bQyAuFA63P4ashJ9eu9gGzgLVe3gOX2zeElottHeuIrLrx-72LYiNWaOi4VPTCoKSqBejNYqFVVZ-xE4iZo-Cz_bfKOSFvv-NYYT2s_Bh6sqQBi74z3R7lUs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-06+at+11.33.13+PM.png" height="187" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/tmevents/super-bowl-party-ideas/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQVODEqhOUFig1JRvpgE4L5fLPOQCv9rnykq_Mj5-O5UBpdac_1D48m9annH6LEZmu0RzWIdP7eOibS9bUlm6QX-pubRndRplU25YdTQ4easEV6zDI07ohhFCHDkjhcfDd7lOWO70pus4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-06+at+11.27.54+PM.png" height="151" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/hellomysweet/football-party-ideas-recipes-decorations/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3KLtTzIvCzhTl3LgpD_Xs0rmI8Fcc40sPYQLv8UXFRX85DnrZ1uq59KajRMa9mb_YDWtmcIgfhz5m8wuBPsEzYUtyYXVcWlAZIU1AeWRj4Kpp2069gWgKjCGnBMRq7JDbHP2dMXOpbnQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-06+at+11.18.31+PM.png" height="184" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">For all the Pinterest addicts, what's a Super Bowl without some decorating ideas? I found a few boards I love that have some great visuals and ideas for setting your table, keeping kids occupied, outfitting your drinks, and turning your living room (or front yard) into a football wonderland. These boards also have ideas for giving the simplest of foods a little football "sparkle." Some cost, but a lot are free. Even the ones that cost something gave me IDEAS for something I could do on my own! Happy pinning. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXHsPew1rQ_7zo_KWlXT8A2_Wgp4FM-AWruo_bPfSJ2xs-E2omYNyQDo7FlNOj2tNidd26uS7Zf4pY0ZS9b-8Lg7NzUNhV1JDGuPq1rXQGFB_epM2XYFGgNGg-Xk0XFX-1OdxmFBUe5A/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-07+at+12.07.14+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXHsPew1rQ_7zo_KWlXT8A2_Wgp4FM-AWruo_bPfSJ2xs-E2omYNyQDo7FlNOj2tNidd26uS7Zf4pY0ZS9b-8Lg7NzUNhV1JDGuPq1rXQGFB_epM2XYFGgNGg-Xk0XFX-1OdxmFBUe5A/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-07+at+12.07.14+AM.png" height="159" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />If time is precious and you just need to find a store with affordable football party decor quickly, you can't fumble with Party City. They carry everything from tablecloths, plates, cups, platters, invitations, favors, etc. for the big game. Pop in or shop online. They're always cute and festive!</span><br />
<a href="http://www.dltk-holidays.com/fall/mlacing.htm" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="http://www.dltk-holidays.com/fall/mlacing.htm" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j6_yl6DX-9Jhn95zS1wIhCl8eS3kcEZ2ZZVtpjLZ58lbl6EP0tHXn8ldkZo19oyUlKbTaC6ZIHZF5VXIdkCueDRKhlKVvSHbqelKTETVv4KbhzLM8o41FGFLeol7On4gO75PUKqLvJc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-09+at+8.45.11+PM.png" height="133" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.dltk-holidays.com/fall/mlacing.htm" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnmrXuCcXb-2-qsX8-3c2S8vASb0Yhy4WrKuByEx09THcmGLfkUsE-GgK7Q-LLe3mBBqvfKhJ7aeakIoOj7rnqaY76fdCLt_RmOPILOlSWHKZW-vIqwpNaNxjNR97AYgNFIIiqFuu7Ctc/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-09+at+8.43.55+PM.png" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Need a classroom craft idea for Super Bowl Day? For the youngers, how about working on some fine motor skills while lacing a football? At DLTK's Autumn lacing projects, they have a football template where you can print, punch holes, get some brown lace or ribbon, and lace away (How many of you remember this...over, under, over, under)! You could always decorate with your favorite team colors! If you want to "bump it up" a level, consider printing TWO footballs, lacing them TOGETHER, and stuffing them with cotton or paper!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.teachingheart.net/footballrhyme.pdf" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic0opwFR8Nsn_wGXiSd4_14wFTe1QQT1o9jz1e7-_0bOkICAMtaK2_7yog7Or5jvw0gfJqXqRxtor6ouQ_sRVEPnCK3Fh08z_foJmjFlZcdP9Bz-7aLAkKx6m-a7KDRX5z9bQb6SPdYwg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-09+at+8.58.32+PM.png" height="50" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">EVERY teacher loves great listeners. This little activity I found at <b style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://teachingheart.net/">teachingheart.net</a> </b>challenges students to listen to rhymes and color the correct number of footballs asked of students within the </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">rhyme. It's <b>FREE!</b> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally, your students will get super motivated about the big event, as well as receive a good solid review and practice on some essential skills. Below are some links to some Super Bowl mini-units and/or reviews you can use with your classroom of little football fans. </span><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All under $5.00! </span></b><br />
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Bananas for Super Bowl ideas everywhere! Wherever you celebrate, have fun, play nice, and be safe!</span>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Happy New Year blogging world! Here's hoping 2013 was good to you and 2014 will keep you in good health, give you plenty of rest, and shower you with many meaningful blessings! </span><div>
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<a href="http://nomonkeybusinessmichelle.blogspot.com/2013/12/turn-on-lightslaser-lights-giveaway.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKGFEhWfk2wcw9EO_VOzttHxRy7coohmv_wud1fcwMb2A9wn4r5DtK9qIwH3n4JHMKN-GB7pCeZaeIgC5MCPvi8wMeDZRLn_4bTlK6xd9Dh5SGGNr1DXIK2nHiAzJE7ZT_xmaN7u5Voog/s1600/Screen+Shot+2014-01-02+at+9.03.56+PM.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">CONGRATULATIONS to Megan Horman, winner of my December giveaway! Megan will get an Amazon gift card so she can purchase her class a set of the finger laser lights. I know she'll put them to good use! *Be sure to read the previous post on how you can use them in your classroom. Several readers gave us some fantastic suggestions. Thanks to all my friends for playing along! :-)</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/New-Years-Resolution-176953" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiKnYlJ24WfBgZcFdKkFOZ950h-6Sl7Dp2Pg2hq4ZefuM4Tn0J5t6olU8xx9Qtja-7K0ptaUQmYYxymXsDrgWK0BM-Nqhdb3NSsd2-YRngjjeKa9r8u8NGVEe9gzngKYQZtBDYf3XX6y4/s320/Screen+Shot+2014-01-02+at+8.58.05+PM.png" width="258" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Don't forget to grab a New Year's FREEBIE for your classroom. It's a New Year's Resolution reflection for your 2nd-4th graders! What goals do they have? What do they plan to do to make it happen? I figure you're never to young to start setting goals, right?! I always make a few plans, but like a lot of people, lose my focus after a few months. This year, my new resolution is to set some goals and <b>NOT LOSE FOCUS. </b>I'll have to let you know how that goes! :-)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What goals or resolutions do you have for this year? Would love to hear! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Whatever they are, count the blessings you already have, make time for a few random acts of kindness, and give it your personal best in 2014! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bananas for my teacher friends,</span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-21657538013681421242013-12-07T23:51:00.000-05:002014-01-02T20:54:31.925-05:00Turn on the Lights...Laser Lights Giveaway!<br />
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Text-Features-Holiday-Match-1013251" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSBog2_sKoUKa2ppgq59gWIm0Lo7VPBLpGEL4DrtUFflNeBXNnD0SdlS7kpTKCkKb1CnCHE79BoDc5mT0EtsuOJUXhD4GaGMNFbB-0kxTzcagIGmBtldMGZR0HCyoDQ9KkA6pFFPU0j6M/s200/photo-2.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Text-Features-Holiday-Match-1013251" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsLPLZXzvWUtdAAeJk8saNpV11oaBjPBMy6CL0Dly2O6weMZFm6luHh1CihnxwPL2m527kngQqIfzGOdnt0DU_kNHRwpNvg6wHHlu2Dn5l3KiQJW6Dogq1GogULrGjqy-yfwA-848Z8k/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-12-07+at+11.02.54+PM.png" width="152" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">It's one of my very favorite times of the year. Lights in the park, lights on the tree, lights on the house, and lights in the classroom!! Light up your walls with some Holiday Text Feature identification practice. With so many different types of text features embedded in informational text, students often get confused on which feature does what, what the purpose of the feature is, and what it looks like. This new activity is an engaging game where students match the name of the feature to it's definition, as well as to an image that displays what the feature might look like. It can be done whole group, in centers, in cooperative teams, or individually. There's even a text feature reflection sheet. Students get practice with a necessary skill AND you can "string them up" to light up your classroom with a colorful, holiday display. Click on image above to grab! </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCC5KiBvS9rOgEOCMfXPltZcPb5O2_PGdE0Lk3aZ5DWOyRXnEzQO6VvHVXHCzdTsYT3wslnKYRFgxrEje_ldXDl0ExiqTeTvVis-s6mXcaCoZJjw6ltrjADtHfaJOMNd7Gti83qyjZPQ/s1600/photo-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXCC5KiBvS9rOgEOCMfXPltZcPb5O2_PGdE0Lk3aZ5DWOyRXnEzQO6VvHVXHCzdTsYT3wslnKYRFgxrEje_ldXDl0ExiqTeTvVis-s6mXcaCoZJjw6ltrjADtHfaJOMNd7Gti83qyjZPQ/s200/photo-1.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">How much fun can you have this time of year (AND YEAR ROUND) with these LED finger laser lights? The elastic strap slides over your finger for easy use. They come in four bright colors: blue, green, red, and white. I found them on Amazon (40 pk) for $7.00. Imagine sitting at your guided reading table having your students track print with these. How about locating evidence in the text, or pointing out the problem and solution? I'm thinking there are LOTS of possibilities! <b><i>So let's have some FUN with them! </i></b> Leave a comment with a suggested educational use for the LED lights in your classroom to share with other teachers. I'll put the first 10 suggestions in a hat, draw ONE out, and I'll SEND YOU an Amazon gift card for $15.00 to get a set of your own! That should even cover the shipping cost! Rules are quick and easy: </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKYrOgUspHd8rN6IvQnHiYfjcRCS6srPWuwKsbfPtGdO3BlEHO4Y3RnkplmaTaXmhlPFGE4b8hMlCA3LDAJdqA-f1R6jT4xWICAVlC_MMJs3U-oHrz3wWsT1e0meSYQXDEfUaNUN2Fnk/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIKYrOgUspHd8rN6IvQnHiYfjcRCS6srPWuwKsbfPtGdO3BlEHO4Y3RnkplmaTaXmhlPFGE4b8hMlCA3LDAJdqA-f1R6jT4xWICAVlC_MMJs3U-oHrz3wWsT1e0meSYQXDEfUaNUN2Fnk/s200/photo.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1.) <b>One </b>entry per person! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2.) Share only <b>one</b> idea so lots of teachers can participate!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2.) <b>Email address </b>must accompany your suggestion (so I know where to send the gift card!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bananas for those silly, little things that make me smile and say, "My students would LOVE this!" Happy Holidays, friends! </span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-65565294844280647472013-12-01T01:10:00.002-05:002013-12-01T01:10:59.645-05:00Holiday Freebies and a Huge Sale!<b>Happy Holidays educator friends!</b><br />
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Michelle-Harper" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw7nmJW73C-GrbluDPRxuxnOuzDpQBISjl5cQEWmVB-_D6EQK3fVZEqcRGnNRGE1YInE31bLnsYeJAThbreSgYUvamPCgxLdVgaDuahaFghxGeelkt_norzasfhY_RNsnhO5ymHyMn10c/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-11-30+at+5.25.11+PM.png" width="200" /></a>Here's hoping this finds you prepping for the holidays with your family, friends, and your classroom! There's no better time to grab some teaching materials at a huge discount during the TpT Cyber Sale Monday, Dec. 2nd and Tuesday, Dec. 3rd! Tons of sellers, including myself, will be offering 20% off their entire stores AND TpT is offering an <br />
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Family-Train-Wreck-Bundle-992381" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3PpNFF_gm0PR4b14I3CP0WxfruJFzKtcTQT8ucvD8b7Ayh3ZuG69yIMrNwC5Zvtz2H5lg2swy-piv1GyCuY4MJLqvHe9pGPtY8nbuaZFk3JRvE5ygCejVNdb4hgBA5NEFQWGsdXqEKTI/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-11-23+at+11.22.43+PM.png" width="200" /></a>additional 8% off if you use the Promo code: CYBER. (For a quick trip to the sale, click on the adorable Cyber Monday Sale Sign (created by the extremely talented Jen Jones @ Hello Literacy). What a great opportunity to stock up on some Winter and Spring goodies for your classroom. Some of the newer additions to my store: The "Word Family Train Wreck" game is a great way to give your early readers an opportunity to practice their word families. Students will delight in building their word family train. Watch out of the Train Wreck card, though! There are 13 games in this bundle! (Best suited for K-1 classrooms)<br />
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Government-Interactive-Notebook-Fun-870419" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEIvg6YzFrRixmZ8rLtuu1hMbbZzhT4CptZqVQkSr0nARdDvrJnQJzrZK0zWi_KgVCi-t0N4dOpHhv6Iwgco9R4AHkl4Q8gFQBMsgEAyxAmXLYg_SHnjV0iglvIwE75jZzG-MEnnDspw/s200/demoGovernmentInteractiveNotebookFun.png" width="200" /></a>For the 2nd-3rd grade classrooms, I added the Government Interactive Notebook a couple of months ago, which is probably one of my favorites. I adore interactive notebooking and enjoy getting to see how each notebook turns out differently. Students and parents both love them. Studying becomes a lot easier with the information organized all in one place. <br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Math-4-Ways-Bundle-1002606" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzbf1PSpCw0UfRLUXNo2h17IMexAwb6S8d67VlshcDPfNZmOiiU0NMhpKi6kozxxEXLs0EpvnqEKmSyHL9ceh5WyHrqy3KX8T-ui3miwRcJMPkFuiNQlytMTURVNahVmulU2XeLSf4r4/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-11-30+at+6.26.41+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div>
Finally for the math fans, I've added Math 4 Ways! This unit helps students learn certain math concepts in 4 different ways. If they are exposed to addition, subtraction, multiplication, fractions, money, time, and place value in various formats, they have a better chance of committing the material to long term memory. If they can <b><i>demonstrate</i></b> the concepts in all 4 ways, they truly understand it!<br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Problem-Solving-with-Frosty-417889" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGT_sLgvYV9l2fGqcA126BptES7qBL3cDpCquW77zkGkkmZz81xatEzr8fgASRLoVr_jqKuPUwO4EFAzsL2OBRuf0UK2dMqzWCT9SxZcdilgtQ4vXtFIq_U6htEo2-ryDLlaeVHoBXud8/s200/Screen+Shot+2012-11-14+at+10.20.46+PM.png" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Synonyms-Antonyms-Holiday-Match-417877" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5kRLni-lLybo2_z1PNflWcgQhTX4qMqwFCgWNfbZGHkAICHrIV7XnJZHtBX587jBsTwlY9yDzVigiNJWkW5_mR-px1BjZB_i9peEHcf5IHIssgRVwn2TKWtjYWTbr3KTAKI1CXghMm4/s200/Screen+Shot+2012-11-14+at+10.29.45+PM.png" width="200" /></a><b></b><br />
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<b>Don't forget your HOLIDAY FREEBIES</b> up for grabs: Practice synonyms and antonyms with an ornament match game OR dress Frosty with a variety of hats, mittens, and scarves by creating an organized list! <br />
Wishing you and yours the happiest of holidays this 2013 season. <br />
Bananas for the blessings in my life each and every day...including my educator friends and TpT family!Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-7873406099554537452013-10-23T20:02:00.000-04:002013-10-23T20:02:13.156-04:00Less than $5.00 November!I'm not sure exactly where October went, right? But it's time to start looking past the Halloween craze and dip into those fresh, fall activities for your November classroom. Check out some amazingly "COOL" activities I found for November below, including some FREEBIES and some incredibly fun classroom activities <b>EACH LESS THAN $5.00</b><br />
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<a href="http://spoonful.com/crafts/fingerprint-place-cards" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNg0mM0-oAVLIwipupPeztTLPfF8FghZhCBqMBSPaxAk_Agyg394JnQ1QgNun3tpSF8cXZ9O4HZ1yTa1btxrROMYPnNOQXh0yLwxQW1zsRA2uX-zd9Y2XwMCQrghoHnxpLaFO5ipxokcQ/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-10-21+at+9.43.28+PM.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First up... some adorable, FREEBIE craft ideas for the Thanksgiving feast! <b> </b></span><br />
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This quick and easy fingerprint place card for the Thanksgiving table, brought to you by <i><a href="http://spoonful.com/thanksgiving/thanksgiving-craft-decorations">Spoonful</a></i>, adds that something extra special to the place setting. Not to mention it's a keeper for parents since it was made with their child's fingerprints. Click the image for a quick list of materials needed and directions for putting together. <br />
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Another FREEBIE favorite is the Fingerprint Turkey Napkin rings.<br />
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<a href="http://www.makeandtakes.com/fingerprint-turkey-napkin-rings" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtwC8JhkOdxR1t9xzwlY60PN4SQ_OjoCoNE5EymdL7bnmAo8A2dRK1j4VwwkuuSk-UGaZzbFullIVBqghbcrtxHtt9T-weatxHbUq6PTfcwNa4GXIbG7ZI1Gf46gSy8S3bNwdw8L8WhGA/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-10-23+at+5.41.57+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div>
This little goodie can be found at <i><a href="http://www.makeandtakes.com/fingerprint-turkey-napkin-rings">Make and Takes</a> </i>and includes simple items you probably have right in your classroom: paint, paintbrushes, glue stick, scissors, cards stock, toothpicks, and a white paint pen. Everybody will know just where to sit for the Thanksgiving dinner. (<i>And maybe the table setters can strategically place some folks!) ;-)</i><br />
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Looking for something that doesn't have to go on the Thanksgiving table? <br />
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<a href="http://villicanamomma.blogspot.com/2009/09/newspaper-leaves.html" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlc3sQfANmeWppifoT6T3qsld1490LuanPV796b3kMeHPAe0_Q0kUWNl4OtRzrn_RNwnCr8L0URzqk2ylpnCrOafn5GKhaer2INM03xRMNI-foGKDm3gffK72MEBHrY3VhSSUHX4c3j8/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-10-23+at+6.49.18+PM.png" width="200" /></a>Beautiful fall leaves make simple, but elegant decorations for your classroom or home. Check out these super easy to make newspaper leaves on display from <i><a href="http://villicanamomma.blogspot.com/2009/09/newspaper-leaves.html">Life With Little Ones</a></i>. I bet they would work on old book pages, too. Create one or string several of them together for a beautiful fall feel in any room.<br />
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For all the rest of your November classroom needs, be sure to check out the following items from some amazingly talented teachers. <b>Each LESS THAN 5 bucks!</b><br />
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<i>Teachers who are linking:</i> Please link your item(s) in the correct grade level category below. *Limit 2 items<br />
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Bananas for some fun in November,Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-42635638335699295692013-10-14T20:00:00.000-04:002013-10-21T19:02:41.161-04:0030+ Units in a 3-5 Curriculum Bundle and Pin to Win Anything in Store<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy Fall Ya'll! My newest fall adventure? Being a part of the Educents 3-5 Bundle of goodies! <b>Over 30</b> high quality items from some amazing creators to be more specific! The value of the bundle is over 75% off through Oct. 26th! Click below for more details. </div>
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<a href="https://www.educents.com/#nomonkeybusinessmichelle"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89Tr8Q9f-B-Ppy6YmXsdjkmH__ZEDMp4CDmPwztAlXFG1FkJwmK_ilCTAxw2K1-1DWHarAD8ZX21cbyPXR-Cm2uICog0rV0TeyaxPOz1AmJZeCozyWTw_EcrUPucCQ1GjrAg-RKSp-mE/s400/3_5th_Grade_Curriculum_Bundle.18ca7bc.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm very excited to be a part of this mega-bundle with Educents! I know you will love my Informational Text Graphic Organizers which are included in the bundle! They were designed with Common Core in mind and are perfect for your guided reading group and close reads! (They're great for making a few copies and keeping handy at your reading table to grab at a moment's notice when tackling non-fiction text). Organizers include concept mapping, text features, timeline, steps in a process, facts, main idea, point of view, cause and effect, problem and solution, perspective, and much more. Images of the graphic organizers are below. <br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">There are also more than <b>30 other products</b> in this bundle to get your kids learning! Multiple subject areas included: Literacy, math, science, social studies, and so much more! Join the blog hop and Hop along to see ALL the goodies you will get with this bundle! </span><br />
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But that's not all! I am giving you a chance to Pin to Win! (<b>You win ANY item from my store</b>.) Simply pin any image from the blog post and enter below to win! You can pin and enter every day!<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/49b7c99/" id="rc-49b7c99" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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The deal won't last long so head over to grab your 3-5 Bundle now!<br />
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<a href="https://www.educents.com/#nomonkeybusinessmichelle"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXX3T671C0L1EGgb2Ig029j_xQq1vdwHen-QGhOmUtnh1Q-LKI5fsoW8mKzAdgEMqW64nvFW4Qo7Htiaa1hMQ_F6jwMaDbOl9UQpJMXf_9JFPtBPWFxtUt68tUWuzYNK7w59AUG8ckokk/s320/3_5th_Grade_Curriculum_Bundle.18ca7bc.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-45649855623341904132013-08-17T23:42:00.001-04:002013-08-17T23:48:30.836-04:00Multiplication Freezer Frenzy Freebie & A Back To School SALE!<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Michelle-Harper" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAfySJav9Iofk9T9uNZq-H7Y3k1gQFMGdjhd4bL2kS5ay6BEXqXadzVBteBpaR8p0HI4FuaPJPaIpD_mPHclrIrbOI4e0YdnpntstGBnXzXSASYicjF3A-kF5pbW8roAnLJ_-Wi-gRig0/s200/TpT+Back+to+School+Sale+2013_Creative+Clips.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Accountable-Talk-Prompts-834203" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcJXjm5yCec3y0U1SCyhyITHtV_VJjCdxtu3Hs4hgMfEuAi7nUMhsujSCFLoFK628guJzkFHZ-wbA5525C8I8jSbNHb9WxSOKEy8J88G7dKyFtd1QKEEhm-TLwPR7nsQLVeXdcIvs8mts/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-08-17+at+4.58.09+PM.png" width="161" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Hopefully today's post finds you either settled in nicely to your new school year or getting excited about going back. Either way, the TpT giant <b>BACK TO SCHOOL SALE</b> is happening this weekend...Sunday and Monday, Aug. 18th and 19th. Be sure to visit your favorite stores and grab items for as much as 28% off. I put EVERYTHING in my store on sale. Be sure to check out a real steal on the <b>BRAND NEW</b> <i>Accountable Talk Prompts</i>. There are 24 accountable talk stems that are sure to keep students engaged in the text...a goal of Common Core. *<b>Don't forget to use the PROMO CODE.</b> Sellers will mark most of their items 20% off. You'll get the additional 8% by using the PROMO code! (See the beautiful button created by the very talented Krista Wallden at Creative Clips for PROMO code...Thank you, Krista!)</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Multiplication-Facts-Freezer-Frenzy-834270" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuR0-mH-Af3O3HTtTAqoNBUwD1w5e1Bv6S_p4ms-iErg1dEwi9j8yCCvhUmrfoYOSwAi8GbVLMJl7IKyPfkotJHCdJaV2aCoC0CtS1y03Qytc5LGK88YQVCF4mmr8IoGDerefihWwDNaY/s200/photo.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Teaching multiplication this year? Be sure to grab my latest <b>FREEBIE.</b>..Multiplication Facts Freezer Frenzy! My way of saying <b>THANK YOU</b> for your never ending friendship and support in the blogging world! </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">As students learn their facts, let them earn and add the corresponding ice cream to their base cone. As a REAL incentive, I bought my students an ice cream from the cafeteria when they mastered all their facts! Hmmmm....thinking I'll make a trip to Baskin Robbins tonight! :-)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bananas for incredible deals on TpT this weekend! Happy Shopping!</span></div>
Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-77540608450734792742013-07-28T21:08:00.000-04:002013-07-28T21:08:54.646-04:00A Winner and Common Core Freebies in an E book<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Congratulations to the "Giveaway...Our Way" winner, . Rafflecopter has spoken and the grand prize winner, Karyn Wilbur, won an autographed CD from Southern Push, a $25.00 gift card to TpT, and a $15.00 Itunes gift card. A second congratulations goes out to Brandi Guerra for playing along with the music video trivia. The answer was 5 ice cream cones used in the music video! <span style="color: #0b5394;"> A HUGE thank you for your support and participation! :-)</span></span></center>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Ready for some Back to School Common Core news? Several top notch teachers across the United States, helped create 8 Common Core eBooks that you can now download for FREE! These amazing resources span grades K-12! Each page of the ebook comes with a quick Common Core teaching tip, a link to a freebie, and link to some priced items that will also help you in your Common Core adventure. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">Here's a quick link to each eBook available. Simply look for your grade level and/or subject area and click! (There's a Math and E/LA eBook for each grade span, as well as a Science and S.S. eBook for the upper grades!) Happy downloading! </span></center>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Common-Core-Math-Free-Back-to-School-eBook-for-Grades-3-5-791226" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ddXhNDaKJ_XALgA1-wkJq5LIsQWrH4BctNfqIaM8GQypJ-1_g03ICrXNjzn6IzE2CDe6PuhPa-ixfBnSr9QNvY5gBNqWOsX51kXugJ-lQxLARAftX5-e4jEw8IAuDGNaLB95oiOZu6w/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-07-28+at+8.37.07+PM.png" width="154" /></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><center style="background-color: white; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 24px; text-align: left;">
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#1. Math eBook for Grades 3-5</b></span></center>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Common-Core-Math-Free-Back-to-School-eBook-for-Grades-6-12-790852" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMLfdJkSLxpcT4B3S7GgPNmqbdd6KYywO56nh8EhNeQNO8NaxBzqEWA4fedSSOxr218VwGxFqVgAE2tpIb0NSBl4jkQqlL-7f7K5_HNG_J48yFEw7aVw53NvqyLbubcnxnD8IBZEyXrI/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-07-28+at+8.49.37+PM.png" width="151" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Common-Core-Social-Studies-Free-Back-to-School-eBook-for-Grades-6-12-790551" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2KV8w1cH4f-pT2a-CQOa38Yv78OjQhRkbwkD9ibsst4wGzdzbz-ClXcmj4sdQgHQrEc23IQbyMeBRY_M_OOlm80AJJT5h0lnE5RGqx1znfKnzfhs6ZvVoUYadY0JqqEIw0EWSvThyFwY/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-07-28+at+8.53.29+PM.png" width="153" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-size: large;">#5 Social Studies eBook for Grades 6-12</b></div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Common-Core-Math-Free-Back-to-School-eBook-for-Grades-K-2-789584" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6IzaTzIefqxo7MqbP9RU3xP97dKXl7gCIwVbmSxcITPP69_9mciVTMY_kHtrVzwgDkHY5kkAIKFanvCKkm5ECnA0Vf8kXZ72Wrbjw8udlUcB4cWXQIiC0CPpeo0wFURPQQBXHp5f-T1Y/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-07-28+at+8.56.41+PM.png" width="150" /></a><span style="font-size: medium;"><b></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>#7 Math eBook for Grades K-2</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/COMMON-CORE-ENGLISH-LANGUAGE-ARTS-FREE-BACK-TO-SCHOOL-EBOOK-FOR-GRADES-K-2-795478" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1R3tadPbGI-DWz6MvQ8nFpb1FePvZEl-kd5txJ-g07cI816iDcQ1NfHdZiXYgPylHAUGiAaI42uPIzpikZgjD_rs_mGpe9yugeBDMZ02wO6HBIKWsYmElOmnqdIQR-jAS1wNodcPRWI/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-07-28+at+8.57.48+PM.png" width="152" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>#8 E/LA eBook for Grades K-2</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Bananas for all this Common Core creativity in ONE place!</b></span></div>
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Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-67873997069480646922013-07-20T15:07:00.000-04:002013-07-21T09:57:57.595-04:00A Giveaway "Our Way" <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So how many of you can say you were in a music video this summer? I CAN! :-) Okay, okay, so it was only for </span><b style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">ONE</b><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> second, but I was in one. My little brother, who is pursuing a country music career, released his first album and music video this summer. The band, </span><i style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>Southern Push</b></i><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">, hails from Nashville and consists of my brother and lead singer, Michael Moore, Carl Lindquist on electric guitar, and Travis Wilbourn, also on electric guitar. The guys are truly talented and are "pushing" the limits to modern country music with their new album, titled "Honestly." </span><b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">*To view the video, click on the first photo.</span></i></b><br />
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX8DWkafrNQ"><img border="0" height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKtx9jDhfZcba9i3-u4XJMgLj4websv-LcZQyPPgg02_oSIhFBIFjBGutrNS6BsIxcHWX5439mXisjaCL-n2ZG9GNB-DzXkW3xShJPNk76e9B5B0vQOf4e3UYv1905aC4D4ekO-spS-Dg/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-07-20+at+1.52.08+PM.png" width="320" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So what was it like to be in a video? Very interesting! My ONE second of fame took over an hour to film. A segment of video that lasts 8 seconds, took over 4 hours to film. Now I know why it takes directors so long to make a movie. Yikes! Some fun facts about the video besides my brother being the 'star'? My own son is the younger, teenage version of my brother and my parents are the older version looking back on their life through photos and memories. The young teenage girl is the daughter of a very good friend of mine from high school, and the basset hound in the video really IS my brother's dog. (And part of the reason that scene took over 4 hours to film!) The pizza restaurant scene was a "fly by the seat of the director's pants" shot. We took a break from shooting to have lunch there. He just decided last minute he wanted to film there, too! </span><br />
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/SouthernPush" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphenJjjbfsJBq6NLAy_t3HEX1uvlQB0yzM_RNiduCkBS-d9-oP1wyb3Jx51u02QAYAAKlq3T0_mWSc1z73oB2YLbzYdYNnRzWmrw5N-Bsi3-yd0RwDhHcGGvCD5siN31FhJYgRMeHsgI7I/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-07-20+at+1.47.37+PM.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">All this summer fun led me to an end of summer giveaway in honor of the band and their dreams of making music to share with the world! What's to win?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">1.) With the video release and album release on </span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">iTunes this week, I cornered the band for some autograph CD's to give away...The first one will go to the grand prize winner and the second one will go to the first person who gets the trivia question correct. (See the Rafflecopter entry requirements) If the band makes it "big," you'll have one of the first autograph CD's out there. 2.) Even if you're not a country music fan, I bet you're a music fan of some kind, so a $15.00 itunes gift card can be used for WHATEVER type of music you like. 3.) Last, but certainly not least, the back to school frenzy has already started. If you're like me, you're already stalking TpT for your new school year. So I'd love to help out with a TpT gift card ($25.00), along with something from my TpT store! So let's get ready for some end of summer fun "OUR WAY!" </span><br />
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/honestly/id672462259" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH1GPnkpxOOvAGNLkNnTY5XFDIqUbovMskAspgpwcHdPmU7fpEw-wptJ9AhNbrqHbn7XcPYXy04V0AT5L5c_INhJLvRCKRtOBwFabEGVLEa-efQjQiuFMVstuJLfgM_vCGI_QNWwoGhQw/s200/photo-5.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Bananas for an experience my family will never forget, </span><br />
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<script src="//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js"></script>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-67350263550879254462013-07-12T23:15:00.000-04:002013-07-12T23:15:36.510-04:00Engaging Students in Informational Text<a href="http://beyondpenguins.ehe.osu.edu/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcloZuTnAtR_IcmwW8rebCrl4cIXtD7IgJ8dcJ8va0zouVpiRVUn5cy2TvYvUHGEUGoMrttCJDKU-G712WfXeHrEbO_MW0tJ1mZV_Uyk2Xb4_0SoLizNAgSnXEdztkCWoKgHnqMNzZdiQ/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-07-12+at+3.43.14+PM.png" width="179" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Throughout Common Core you'll see an increase in the necessity of engaging students in informational text. I know informational text (or non-fiction) wasn't <b>MY</b> first choice off the bookshelf, so how do we as educators increase the interest? According to <b><i><a href="http://beyondpenguins.ehe.osu.edu/">Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears</a></i></b>, an online professional development magazine devoted to preparing teachers to teach science while integrating inquiry-based learning, the key is modeling our own thinking while reading informational text. It's not something we can breeze through once and expect kids to pick up on it. It has to be taught explicitly to ensure students are not only exposed to it, but actually implementing the strategies themselves. An engaged classroom, deep in informational text, is discussing the facts, asking questions, making connections, testing sources, and rereading material for further understanding. Gone are the days of reading something informational in silence and be expected to:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A.) enjoy it </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">B.) understand it </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">C.) select additional reading information on it on my own</span><br />
<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i> (Flashback to some of my personal learning experiences)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Students must be allowed the opportunity to TALK about their discoveries, as well as inquire about the points they don't understand. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After reading multiple books and articles on the Common Core classroom, I think I can sum it up with some very simple practices for encouraging students to engage in non-fiction. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>1.)</b> Increase your library with non-fiction material. *Quality non-fiction material</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>2.)</b> Have multiple sources for your informational text available. (Newspapers, magazines, etc.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>3.)</b> Utilize some websites that contain e books and/or free downloadable articles on informational text. (There's LOTS of FREE stuff out there!) </span><a href="http://www.readworks.org/">http://www.readworks.org</a>,<br />
<a href="http://www.gobookee.net/">http://www.gobookee.net</a>, <a href="http://www.timeforkids.com/">http://www.timeforkids.com</a>, and <a href="http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/">http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/</a> are a few.<br />
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Think-Aloud-Visual-769105" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXBpvTuCOsNJxtxi-2XFuUaC1oPKeM84pnhgZvmU-5STIGsHPUDA138RJ2xI9DSDJF14a8Xqqsn5CHHOsdgO0TNow61zeOsGnIHmhP_6Cv8TFOHdGnGntPrLZ2m5jCuJNwaBF1gBeDfQ/s200/photo-1.jpg" width="154" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>4.)</b> Model HOW to read informational text. Model how to read aloud, pause, think, ask or jot down questions, take notes, read with a friend, highlight, summarize as you go, make connections, etc. The more kids see you do this, the more natural it will become for them! *Be sure to grab my FREEBIE "Think Aloud" visual, It's a great visual tool to use anytime you step outside your teacher role and become a student who is thinking out loud. Click on the "happy brain" to grab.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>5.)</b> Provide many opportunities for Guided Reading practice with informational text. WALK students through graphic organizers together so they won't be so intimidated by them when they see them on their own.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>6.)</b> Allow students time to talk...about what they're reading. Allow them to share, ask questions, and challenge the information they read.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>7.)</b> Be flexible. If teachers are learning anything about teaching informational text, it's that once students buy into it and become engaged, there's no turning back! They become like little sponges wanting to learn MORE about a particular topic. Your perfectly planned 30 minute lesson may turn into a bigger adventure than you bargained for! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>8.)</b> Be creative and allow your students to be creative! Provide fun and interesting ways to present informational text. Give students the opportunity to display their knowledge from an informational text through projects, reports, displays. Allow them to be the teacher or "expert" on the material. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I recently created some Common Core informational text graphic organizers that can be </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Informational-Text-Graphic-Organizer-Pack-768234" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvqSEMbr9SBP6JmDIkKIsHXNUWU-qwmMtn_6-jLTxwJU3PNFtuX0kZSLPmag8pic2pWlNOW5KCNO5MnEjQtIx-Kcb1mD6RnxxjJb2T7aacysAgHRgPSCT7mq_FbIwvJTJKlMNXjyn7Sw/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-07-12+at+12.27.50+PM.png" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">used with any informational text. They're designed with grades 2-4 in mind, as those were the C.C.S.S. I used when creating... <b>FREE </b>to the first 10 followers who can share an additional website (not mentioned above) and/or link to any informational text FREEBIE that helps the No Monkey Business blog readers further prepare their classrooms for INFORMATION INVASION ;-) <i>*Don't forget to include your email address!</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bananas for some great non-fiction, grade appropriate websites popping up everywhere, AND a long overdue trip to the beach (which has NOTHING to do with this blog post!)</span><br />
<br />Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-43301726072167304352013-06-28T10:49:00.000-04:002013-07-02T15:16:10.775-04:00BlogLovin' & Blog Huntin'<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There's always something new to keep up with in social media, isn't there? My latest adventure: Bloglovin!
I'm still working through the details, but so far...I like what I see! I was fortunate enough to get to transfer the blogs I follow from Google reader over to Bloglovin with a few clicks of the mouse. If you weren't so lucky before Google Reader disappeared, it's NOT TOO LATE to search for some of your old favorites, and maybe even find some new ones to follow. Let's go on a BLOG hunt together! :-) I've joined the Goin' on a Blog hunt linky with <a href="http://corkboardconnections.blogspot.com/2013/07/bloghunt.html">Laura Candler</a> to help teachers find some terrific blogs to follow on Bloglovin' if you're up for it!
<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/3798741" title="Follow No Monkey Business on Bloglovin"><img alt="Follow on Bloglovin" border="0" src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a481/melclem7/ScreenShot2013-06-19at94405AM_zpsd2f1d8b3.png?t=1371660635" /></a>
Getting started is easy! If you'd like to follow my blog, <b>No Monkey Business</b>, simply click on the black button to follow my blog on BlogLovin, which was a button created by the talented and super sweet Melissa over at <a href="http://www.commoncoreandsomuchmore.com/">Common Core and So Much More</a>!
If you're ready to hunt for some additional teacher and student friendly blogs, click on the Blog Hunt button where you can peruse through some outstanding educational blogs. Happy Hunting!
<a href="http://corkboardconnections.blogspot.com/2013/07/bloghunt.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.lauracandler.com/images/bloghunt.png" /></a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"> Bananas for hunts that don't require camouflage and getting up early!
</span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6764972408317186084.post-42144747559597565562013-06-10T23:28:00.000-04:002013-06-10T23:28:31.837-04:00Read Like a Detective Book Study & Freebie<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_uaNc1UtjbNXiml-k1M9LFzWO7vBvGbUTPv2LsNgNI54MvFhQiaj_bO5Rro-EhfsqEV3cx3pyxFCjEwi3RVmxQWzb2ZvNRCVr5guGLxksPRFqRxqWFM2sj9HU1Tun89SkfPsw4B-zls/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-05-01+at+8.46.22+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_uaNc1UtjbNXiml-k1M9LFzWO7vBvGbUTPv2LsNgNI54MvFhQiaj_bO5Rro-EhfsqEV3cx3pyxFCjEwi3RVmxQWzb2ZvNRCVr5guGLxksPRFqRxqWFM2sj9HU1Tun89SkfPsw4B-zls/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-05-01+at+8.46.22+PM.png" width="145" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have you read <i style="text-decoration: underline;">Teaching Your Students to Read Like Detectives?</i> It's a close up look at training students how to analyze and dive deeper into the text, as well as learn how to discuss text in a meaningful way. I heard someone recently say, "When you teach kids to read like this, it's more like scuba diving, than water skiing." </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">My teachers and I pulled together for a book study so that we could better prepare ourselves for Common Core and teaching kids to read more rigorous text with a purpose. We had some fun along the way and I'd love to share the highlights.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07tH1QFRW0k2_K6mW4S_Hvj1YrVtxgFT-SF5oV7BCkv7xHZS2wX2iWi6234o3JQj8F61nDnqtHBLxkl6KG6BnaTl7Oh60koAMB38Wbf9a4nu30a-c0MNdOMU8dLL1dzIvS-RZhlkWXCU/s1600/SAFEclassroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07tH1QFRW0k2_K6mW4S_Hvj1YrVtxgFT-SF5oV7BCkv7xHZS2wX2iWi6234o3JQj8F61nDnqtHBLxkl6KG6BnaTl7Oh60koAMB38Wbf9a4nu30a-c0MNdOMU8dLL1dzIvS-RZhlkWXCU/s200/SAFEclassroom.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Valuable lesson #1:</b> We decided it's important to create not only a text dependent classroom, but a SAFE, text discussion-based classroom! By setting the stage early, you can foster a classroom where everyone's opinion, comments, expertise, learning, etc. has value. The book discusses some key components to creating this type of environment. I created an acronym to post on an Anchor chart to help remind our students what type of Reading classroom we would be! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Valuable lesson #2 </b>and key "take-away" from the book was the importance of keeping kids <b>IN</b> the text. OH, how easy it is for them (and us) to jump into personal schema and bring what WE know (or think we know) to the text, instead of keeping our conversations centered around what the AUTHOR wanted us to focus on. The book gives some great question stems to help guide teachers BACK to the text when students start to stray.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Valuable lesson #3:</b> Teaching Narrative text (fiction) is still VERY RELEVANT and EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! When Common Core came along, one of my very first introductions to it was someone who said that Non-fiction was here to take over the world. Okay, maybe not that extreme, but I began to wonder where literature would fit into all this Common Core stuff. It didn't GO anywhere! It's still as relevant and crucial to teach as it ever was! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Valuable lesson #4</b>: Expository Text IS making a bigger splash! There are many cool non-fiction genres to expose children to. The book gives a list of some signal words that help lead students to a better understanding of how text can be organized. I put them on Anchor Charts to help alert children to some of the different types of expository text they would be exposed to! They're NEW, but my ultimate goal is that they will carry over into the different genres of writing. If students are writing a compare/contrast piece, the "signal" words on the anchor chart can also be used in their writing to assist them in keeping it a true compare/contrast! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Finally, <b>Valuable lesson #5:</b> Collecting evidence from the text can be fun! I've included a <b><span style="color: #cc0000;">FREEBIE</span></b> template that can be used in your Common Core Reading classroom. As you do a 'Close Read' of a text, you can have students scour the text for a variety of information you want them to focus on. There are lots of suggestions in the <i><b><u>Teaching Your Students to Read Like a Detective</u></b></i> book. Our teachers will simply add the labels to the magnifying glass handles for what evidence they want the students to locate in the book. Students will record in the magnifying glass circles and share. <i>Click on the image to grab the freebie template!</i> :-)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you're an educator and are teaching Common Core, this book is an excellent resource for your professional library! If your faculty is into book studies, this one is a quick read and provides teachers with some essential tools for tackling the Common Core in Reading. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Bananas for anything that helps my students become better readers,</span>Michellehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00395642827742020260noreply@blogger.com7