Fables & Folktales

Trying to wrap my brain around Common Core... I thought I had it.  I really did and then school hit.  Bam!  5000 things to do plus a new curriculum.  We're SLOWLY getting there.  Our newest unit is Fables & Folktales.  In the past we've done tri-folds on story elements.  My kids love them and are pros!  So I thought, why don't we try it with fables?
Here's a copy of what I'm doing - check it out.  Fables & Folktales Trifold and Fables & Folktales Study
Leave a comment and let me know what you think - can you use it in your room?

You mean we've been in school for 9 weeks and this is my FIRST post??!!

Forgive me!!!  My brain has been completely rattled with buying a house and NOW finding out we are getting a little one in December!!!  I'm so overwhelmed and just a little bit LOT stressed out!  For the moment instead of thinking about reading stations, Daily 5, small group lessons, Common Core, and other school "stuff", I'm thinking about baby clothes, baby bedding, and baby, baby, baby!
I'll be back to myself soon - in the mean time, please be patient with me and don't give up on me!  :)

Also - if you'd like to help support the cause - order a shirt from the Adoption Bug link or order coffee from Just Love Coffee!

Love y'all!
Marcie

Classroom Library Part 2…

My kiddos and I are making progress on our classroom library.  HOPEFULLY by the last day of school we’ll have it up & running correctly! I’ve read and researched; pinterested (is that a word) and googled; and thought about this overwhelming library for weeks!  Throughout all of this searching I have found several WONDERFUL sites for labels.  I’m a BIG believer in not recreating the wheel when you don’t have to, know what I mean?!? 

You can find labels on these sites:

http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/2011/07/free-genre-labels-for-your-classroom.html  (MY favorites!)

http://hill.troy.k12.mi.us/staff/bnewingham/myweb3/library%20organization.htm

http://www.kellyskindergarten.com/Classroom%20Organization/classroom_organization.htm

http://thecornerstoneforteachers.com/free-resources/literacy/class-library

Here are some before pictures:

And here are some “in progress” pictures:

MAYBE by May 18th (last day of school), you’ll see some after pictures!

We found out this week, (keep in mind that we have 9 weeks left) that we need to have students continuously writing book reviews.  SO….in our library, I have created and implemented a Book Review Binder.  My kiddos are LOVING it!  You can see the binder here.  I’m also attaching some freebies that you can download in my TPT store.  It’s a great way to see what your kids are reading and how they feel about the books they are choosing.  It’s really interesting to see two Read to Someone and have completely different reviews!

  Explanation of stars on front cover for reference.

 Blank Book Review Pages for students to fill out and place behind their tabs.  My babies have to fill one of these out each time they go to the Book Nook.  They have to choose a book to write about and log the other books on the form below.

 Reading Log to keep track of all books read.

Overview of Genres for reference.  I found it on a blog somewhere and can’t remember where!  If you know, please leave me a note letting me know!!

To grab this freebie, click HERE!

If you like the freebies, then please do me a favor, review them and follow me! 

Thanks!
Marcie

Springtime regrouping game anyone??

Enter to win my new regrouping activity on Teachers Pay Teachers!!  FUN FUN FUN! My kiddos love this game and I think yours will too!  It’s easy to enter. You need to follow me here, leave a message with contact details, and follow my TPT store!  On Sunday evening I’ll use random.org to choose the winner.  Here’s to Hoppin’ Good Luck!
Thanks!
Marcie

Yay! I’ve been given an award!!!

Cynthia @ http://2ndgradepad.blogspot.com/ chose my blog as a Top 10 Blog!  I’m so excited!  
Five months ago this award was created to encourage teachers who blog.
Since that time, there have been MANY new bloggers who deserve some high fives from the blogging community.

Click here for more information.
Are there certain blogs that you return to day after day that continually provide you with inspiration? Then why not give them an award to say a big thank you! Here are some Top 10 blogs! (I'll add more as I come across them!)


Betsey @ http://trendytechtipsbd.blogspot.com
Krystal @ http://secondgradesuccess1.blogspot.com
Katherine @ http://thirdgradeteacherfiles.blogspot.com

School Pictures & the Stomach Bug…

Who would have thought they were connected?  I never would have dreamed…until this year!  Thursday was class picture day and I had encouraged all of my sweet ones to be there for the special day.  I forgot one important word of advice.  If you are sick, stay home!  One of my babies wanted to be in our pictures so badly that she came to school with a stomach virus.  Yeap, full blown, been yacking all morning before coming to school…NICE, right?!  Mom brought her, filled me in on the wonderful details and asked that we get our picture taken first so that her baby could go back home and rest!  We happily obliged and now…as my babies are happily chugging away at school enjoying their day, I am at home nursing myself back to health.    Be careful, your children want to make you happy even at a cost!  Moral of the story – always add a disclosure to your requests!

On a happier note, my hubs brought this little fellow home yesterday to cheer me up!  

Help! I’m embarrassed to show you my lack of classroom library organization…

Seriously, my classroom library is LITERALLY going to make me pull my hair out! in need of a makeover!  My kids & I have worked really hard all year to keep it organized in subjects & genres.  Our book piles keep growing which is driving me crazy fantastic!  However, our boxes and strength to keep organizing is not growing!  As you can see below, we have books coming out of our ears.  (I spend a lot of time at Goodwill and yard sales buying books!)  I love being able to put my hands on books when I need them.  That’s what I love about sorting books by subjects or genres.  HELP!  What do we do?  How do you organize your library?  Genres?  Reading levels?  Free for all?  I want something easy for my kiddos to manage.  They LOVE being in charge of the library!  My goal for the next two weeks is to fix this situation…I’ll keep you posted.

 

Permission To Pin–Pinterest!

If you’re on pinterest – listen up!  I didn’t realize this earlier but you HAVE to have permission to pin from a blog.  Check out Laura Candler’s blog for more information.  She is a blogging guru!  I was reading through 2nd Grade Rocks blog and found info.  If you find anything you like on my blog – feel free to pin it on pinterest!  In fact, check out my boards on pinterest and follow me!  
  

Super Story Elements

My co-worker and I spent Friday afternoon planning for this week.  We had a great time!  It’s always more fun to bounce ideas around with someone.  As you know, we are not focusing on our Reading program – which we are SOOOO thankful about not using!  Our one concern being, how should we assess?  We want to assess the focus standard of the week rather than the story.  She came up with the idea of creating an assessment that would work for ANY story we (or the students) read.  Did I mention that I LOVE collaborative planning??!!  :)  
You can find our first attempt on TPT.  It covers author’s purpose, main idea, setting, characters, text connections, etc.  I think you’ll love it!  It’s free – check it out! 
Super Story Elements
If you like it, please rate it & follow me!  :)

Organization anyone??

We've been told we do not have stick strictly to the reading program - HALLELUJAH!  I absolutely love teaching standards and reading skills rather than a story a week.  However, I am struggling with all of our basal resources while teaching standards to mastery. We have some great leveled readers. I just don't know how to organize & utilize all of the resources!  


To start with - I think I'm going to take all of my leveled readers and sort them first by levels and then by skill taught.  So...I talked my hubby into stopping by Big Lots after church. It was organizing HEAVEN!!!  Colors, colors, colors!  IF you're looking for baskets, rolling drawers,etc...try big lots!!

How do you sort yours?? How do you use all of the county given resources?  Leave a comment and let me know.  I need all the help I can get & I'm sure others will love the help as well!


Thanks!!
Marcie

Word Journeys with Daily 5

My class took a short break from Daily 5, a couple of weeks tops.  We just had to with all of the county required assessments, holidays, etc.  My kiddos started asking – “when are we doing stamina stations?”  I have NEVER called it that so I was quite impressed w/ them!  Needless to say, when children are BEGGING to read and write in stations - I deliver!  I pulled the bags back out & let go of the reins a little.  I LOVE that they LOVE it!  They have grown as self managers and it's really working! 
We have added working with words and my kids are TRULY engaged.  My school uses Word Journeys (Differentiated spelling/phonics) and it's perfect w/ the Daily 5.  
  
I've created a menu for our Working with Words that I'm attaching.  It does take a few times of doing it with your kids for them to really get it.  Each one of my kiddos have a folder with the menu stapled inside the front cover.  It's a requirement that they complete all four activities.  They can choose to do one a day and then a word game when finished or they may complete them on the same day and have word games for the remainder of the week. Word Work Menu
I've also tinkered with our spelling contract so that it contains some of the same activities.   I'm attaching that as well.  Spelling Contract
If you haven't tried Word Journeys (or Words their Way) - research it and try it.  It takes a little more work but it's also very impressive the way my babies are actually STUDYING words rather than memorizing. 
This has been a big concern of mine.  I come from a kindergarten background, it’s my first year in 2nd grade.  Letters/Phonics/Words were our life!  What do you do for word work in 2nd grade?  I’d LOVE to hear your thoughts!  Please leave a comment.
Sincerely,
Marcie :)




Here is the WTW assessment that we do weekly.  It takes more time & a little work but it's worth it.  My kiddos are recognizing and understanding the spelling/phonics pattern rather than just memorizing.

Liebster Award!

Wow!  I'm so excited!!  Thank you for the award!   

It started my day off with a smile! :)

I'm so excited to receive this award from Terri - http://monkeyingaroundwithtechnology.blogspot.com!  Thank you!  You should definitely check out her blog.  It's FULL of great ideas!

This award is presented to bloggers with under 200 followers - up & coming star bloggers!  

Here are the rules for the Liebster Awards:

1. Copy and Paste the award on your blog.
2. Thank the giver(s) and link back to them.
3. Reveal your picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are my top picks - check out their blogs!

1. Heidi and Emily Kate   

http://sstorywindow.blogspot.com/

2. I do, we do, you do

http://independenceinlearning.blogspot.com/

3. Second Grade Two Step 

http://tejedatwostep.blogspot.com