tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67636706829692609262024-03-05T06:15:54.399-05:00Coffee Cups and Lesson PlansMichelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.comBlogger369125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-51146092385454416222019-01-05T08:43:00.000-05:002019-01-05T08:43:54.144-05:00Of Coffee Cups and Lesson Plans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy New Year friends! I've been reflecting about my blog this week after New Years Day, and decided I need to start writing again for me! Although I'm not interested in changing the name of my blog, I've thought a little more about what I want it to stand for. I want to continue writing about teaching and coaching since that is my job, but I also feel like I need to write a little more about myself, and what it is like to be a single woman in her 40s with a teen and a young adult. I'm hoping that you will continue on this journey with me, cuppa joe in hand, learning the lessons of life, and making plans for the year! I'll still blog about teaching tips and ideas, but I want to expand a little into health and wellness, and how I am trying to live my best life.<br />
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With that being said, has anyone written any New Years Resolutions? Made a ONE WORD commitment? I would like to say I did, but nope, nope, nopity nope this year. I tried that last year. I tried to blog about my goals, and guess what... I blogged TWICE! TWO TIMES in 2018. Not a very good sign for making resolutions or one-word goals. So this year I'm trying something a little different. I'm going to take this one week at a time. One week... one blog post at a time. I've set goals for my health, my friendships, and my well-being. I'm going to track some of my habits and watch where my soul tends to take me and well.....see what happens.<br />
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Let me know your plans for the year! Big, small, soul-searching! I'd love to hear them! I'd also love to hear how you are going to stick to your resolutions, what are you going to do differently? Have you found your tribe of people to help motivate you?<br />
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Good Vibes!<br />
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-22207754255761825342018-08-02T08:08:00.001-04:002018-08-02T08:08:17.813-04:00Reconnection and ReflectionHi friends! Did I fall off the blogging train or what! Me and my big ideas for setting up routines and blogging more. It's been 8 months readers! Ummm... time to reevaluate those goals.<br />
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Can I be honest? Sometimes being a single parent, even to teenagers is HARD friends. I feel like I am constantly on the move. Being a perfectionist Virgo doesn't help matters any. Over the past two years, I've found myself just getting through the days. I started this blog as a way to connect with fellow teachers, and to find a writing outlet for myself. Then I evitably got stuck and busy and all the other excuses for not blogging came along with it. This summer has been no exception to the busy life, but it did give me some time to pause and reflect. In those few moments of silence, I realized that I missed writing. I missed making connections with people.<br />
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Let me start by evaluating some of the goals I had for 2018:<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: orange; font-family: 'helvetica neue', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; letter-spacing: 0.5px;">Wellness:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px;">I"m going to start by just making a few changes to my lifestyle. I know myself well enough to know that if I try to do too many things, I won't DO any of them. I am an awesome planner, but sometimes I get overwhelmed by my plans, and then well, I don't do any of them. Anyone else do that too? We should make a TRIBE!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px;">I'm going to start 2018 by:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px;">1) Going to a yoga class once a week. I'm hoping I can up the ante on this after a month or so and make it twice a week, but baby steps for me tend to turn into bigger leaps down the road, so once a week is the plan at the moment. I'm making this blog my accountability piece, so once a month I'm going to post about my progress and focus.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px;">2) Getting my steps in each day. My goal is to get between 8,000 - 10,000 steps in each day. I've been a huge slacker in monitoring my steps, but my mom just gave me her Fitbit tracker when she got an Apple Watch (Yes, the jealousy is real), so I'm going to hold myself a little more accountable.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue;">Did I make it?: NOPE... Nope...... NOPE... not even once did this girl make it to a Yoga class in the last 8 months... instant slacker with super good intentions. I NEED to do this for my own self-care! The steps... meh.. sometimes yes, sometimes no... hey- I'm a work in progress.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: orange; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: medium; letter-spacing: 0.5px;">Purpose:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px;">A second area I want to focus on in 2018 is my Purpose:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px;">I'll be honest, I haven't quite got this one figured out yet. I want to continue to help my parents, friends, and family in any way possible. I want to find a church where I leave every week with a message to meditate on. I want to continue teaching my students, but I'm thinking there might be something bigger in my future. Maybe a coaching position, or something where I can help teachers be better educators as well. I want to coach people not only about teaching but about living a full life. I'm not 100% sure about this, but I know that if I have faith... I will also have answers.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: blue;">Ok... purpose? YEEEESSSS! In the last 8 months, I have found a wonderful church that leaves me thinking, learning and becoming closer to God. I've been so happy with this step. I've also accepted a new position at my school where I will be coaching teachers. I'm so excited for the school year to start and to see what the year will bring. With this new position, and change I'm sure I'll be blogging about different things too. I'd like to focus more on what I'm seeing overall in schools, books, and education trends. I'm also going to share some more lifestyle posts. This helps me with self-care because your life cannot just be your job! So more purpose... put that in the winner winner chicken dinner category! <virtual high five></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: orange; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: medium; letter-spacing: 0.5px;">Abundance:</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px;">2018 is going to be a year of ABUNDANCE! Not just financial abundance... because hey, we could all use a little bit more of that am I right? But of an abundance of patience, kindness, and SELF-CARE! I want to be like Oprah... and you get some.... and you get some.... and you get some......, but not at the stake of my own wellness and financial peace, and that is what I tended to do in the past. I want abundance for myself and others. I want the people around me to have full hearts. I know this starts with what I put out into the world, and I only have that control over myself.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px;"><span style="color: blue;">This one... work in progress! I'm still in that mode of giving all that I can to others and feeling guilty when I fail miserably. That mentality puts my self-care DEAD LAST in priorities. Slowly I'm learning that in order for my family to be ok... I have to be ok first. I'll get there! I know I will.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Open Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 24px;">So my dear readers, or in this case probably just my mother because I haven't blogged in forever, I'm wondering if you spend time re-evaluating your goals at the end of summer as school begins again? Anyone interested in making changes, and following through with some accountable talk? </span><br />
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Good Vibes,<br />
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-7378013573640635682018-01-18T19:48:00.000-05:002018-01-18T19:48:17.223-05:00January Fractions in Action: Interactive Notebook Vocabulary and Anchor Chart Error AnalysisWe spend pretty much the month of January working on fractions. Over the course of the month, we learn fraction vocabulary, equivalent fractions, fraction comparisons, adding, and subtracting fractions. It is a lot for a fourth-grade mind to handle. In my district, we use a math curriculum created by Eureka Math. It is very similar to the New York State modules (EngageNY) that were created when the Common Core Curriculum was implemented.<br />
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I like the way Eureka lays out their modules, but the one item I don't care for is that I don't have the time to implement vocabulary knowledge with my students. Vocabulary is used throughout the modules, I just like the ability to introduce the vocabulary as an initial lesson, and then reinforce it as we progress. So many articles are being written about the need for a solid vocabulary in content areas, and this includes math. So one way that I get around it is through my Intervention time. Although I know that intervention is meant to reinforce skills that students are not understanding, I do take time at the beginning of my units, and throughout my modules teaching ALL of my students regardless of tier about math vocabulary, and then reinforce concepts with anchor chart interaction.<br />
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Today I wanted to share a few of the items I use during this intervention time. This is honestly when most of my students get the bulk of their interactive notebook work set up. Because my students have this intervention time after our math block, I sometimes have them leave pages blank to insert vocabulary notebook pages.<br />
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One set of notebook pages that I insert is a basic vocabulary definitions page. Students define the terms we will be using in our notebooks, and they use it as an easy reference throughout the module. Sometimes, I even have the words repeated. For example, compose and decompose are not new words for my class. We have been using them since beginning the year in the place value module, but I don't think it ever hurts to see a repeat performance!<br />
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We spend time at the beginning of the unit putting together a hands-on kit. This is a big help in getting a visual picture of equivalent fractions.<br />
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We do a lot of interaction with anchor charts. I have students spend time in groups during intervention finding fractions that are equivalent to benchmark numbers: one-fourth, one-half, three fourths, one whole, and one and one half. I teach students to write number sentences to prove this, but they also can use visual models like tape diagrams, number bonds or area models. This continues throughout the unit as we learn how to use multiplication to represent equal fractions. Usually, about once per week in the intervention time, I have students gallery walk the charts. They are adding new fractions if they have discovered new equivalents, and they are also doing error analysis. I ask them to look for fractions that someone has placed that are NOT equivalent to the benchmark. Sometimes I will purposefully INCLUDE an error on the chart, and when found, students will justify their reasoning for the error and include a corrected fractions. POWERFUL WORK!<br />
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I would love to know how you begin your fractions unit! Share your thoughts and ideas!<br />
Namaste,<br />
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-37640362589920516782018-01-03T18:00:00.000-05:002018-01-06T10:48:33.384-05:00Happy New Year! Welcome 2018: A Year of Wellness, Purpose, and Abundance!Happy New Year friends! Welcome to 2018!! Have you made your New Years Resolutions yet? Have you broken them yet? <LOL> I LOVE the start of a new year! As teachers we get to have a fresh start twice, and it's a wonderful feeling to know I can start another semester of school next week with fresh eyes, and a rested mind, body and spirit!<br />
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I'll be the first to admit that I'm horrible at making resolutions.. well making them is the easy part, it's keeping them that I always have trouble with! So this year, I've resolved to focus on 3 things: Wellness, Purpose, and Abundance!<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wellness:</span><br />
I"m going to start by just making a few changes to my lifestyle. I know myself well enough to know that if I try to do too many things, I won't DO any of them. I am an awesome planner, but sometimes I get overwhelmed by my plans, and then well, I don't do any of them. Anyone else do that too? We should make a TRIBE!<br />
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I'm going to start 2018 by:<br />
1) Going to a yoga class once a week. I'm hoping I can up the ante on this after a month or so and make it twice a week, but baby steps for me tend to turn into bigger leaps down the road, so once a week is the plan at the moment. I'm making this blog my accountability piece, so once a month I'm going to post about my progress and focus.<br />
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2) Getting my steps in each day. My goal is to get between 8,000 - 10,000 steps in each day. I've been a huge slacker in monitoring my steps, but my mom just gave me her Fitbit tracker when she got an Apple Watch (Yes, the jealousy is real), so I'm going to hold myself a little more accountable.<br />
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3) Staying above the Wellness line and taking my vitamins and supplements daily. Right now I am loving a new supplement I just tried called Ningxia Red. It is made with wolfberries, plums, cherries, and tons of other things to keep me healthy. It's all natural and so yummy. I drink 1-2oz a day, either straight or added to my morning smoothie, and I know I am doing the best for my health. I also take a Super B vitamin about half way through the day. Ain't no tired like afternoon teacher tired... am I right? Taking the Vitamin B at lunchtime gives me the energy to keep up with my teens and their activities in the evenings. Otherwise, I'm toast by 6:00 and I want to #watchallthetelevision. Since couch potato is NOT in my wellness plan, Super B is going to stay my go-to energy supplier!<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">Purpose:</span><br />
A second area I want to focus on in 2018 is my Purpose:<br />
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I'll be honest, I haven't quite got this one figured out yet. I want to continue to help my parents, friends, and family in any way possible. I want to find a church where I leave every week with a message to meditate on. I want to continue teaching my students, but I'm thinking there might be something bigger in my future. Maybe a coaching position, or something where I can help teachers be better educators as well. I want to coach people not only about teaching but about living a full life. I'm not 100% sure about this, but I know that if I have faith... I will also have answers.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">Abundance:</span><br />
2018 is going to be a year of ABUNDANCE! Not just financial abundance... because hey, we could all use a little bit more of that am I right? But of an abundance of patience, kindness, and SELF-CARE! I want to be like Oprah... and you get some.... and you get some.... and you get some......, but not at the stake of my own wellness and financial peace, and that is what I tended to do in the past. I want abundance for myself and others. I want the people around me to have full hearts. I know this starts with what I put out into the world, and I only have that control over myself.<br />
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My self-care routine is going to include my wellness activities I talk about above, and the following:<br />
1) Read an abundance of books<br />
2) Try an abundance of healthy new recipes.. (have any you want to share with me?)<br />
3) Gain an abundance of time for meditation and reflection<br />
4) Give an abundance of time listening and cognitively coaching others<br />
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So I'm ready 2018... ready to hitch up my Big Girl Pants and tackle what you have to offer!<br />
Anyone else ready to DREAM BIG this year? Anyone ready to create a tribe for people to be accountable? As I said earlier, I'm going to make this blog part of my accountability board, so feel free to comment and let me know how you are doing on your goals. Let's make 2018 a great year, by being supportive of each other!<br />
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Namaste,<br />
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-36764325317626139742017-09-10T07:00:00.000-04:002017-09-10T07:00:13.974-04:00Resources to help children learn about September 11thThis week in Social Studies I'll be teaching my students about the events of September 11th. Being a native New Yorker, this subject is near and dear to me. That was a crazy day for our country, and not knowing where friends who lived in the city were and whether they were safe on that day was a horrible feeling.<br />
My students now were not even born when the events of that day unfolded, but I still believe it is vital for them to learn what happened, and how our lives changed as a result.<br />
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I found a few resources that I'll be using to teach this week. They are all FREE, so if this is something you may need to discuss with your class, I hope they will be helpful to you as well.<br />
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One of the great new things I found this year was this printable poster from <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Messare-Clips-And-Design" target="_blank">Messare Clips and Design</a>. I like to put quotes and pictures in frames in my reading corner, and this will be perfect to start the week and get students thinking. I LOVE how the design subtly incorporates the Twin Towers.<br />
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You can go <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/FreeDownload/Poster-Patriot-Day-September-11th-never-forget-Messare-Clips-and-Design--2076813" target="_blank">{HERE} </a>and download the poster for FREE</div>
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A resource that I'm going to use as a reading strategy is from The Brown Bag teacher. I'll be starting to focus on Main Idea, and this reading passage is a perfect companion to that. The graphic organizer is straightforward and an easy start to this skill.</div>
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You can go <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Remembering-September-11th-A-Lesson-Plan-for-BIG-Kids-1436443" target="_blank">{HERE}</a> for this resource</div>
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The mentor text I'll be using for the week is called The Man Who Walked Between the Towers. While it isn't about 9/11, it is a rich piece of World Trade Center history.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/031236878X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=031236878X&linkCode=as2&tag=cofcupandlesp-20&linkId=72d64d37929aec63668d84460245c353" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=031236878X&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cofcupandlesp-20" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Amazon Affiliate Link)</td></tr>
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I will also be highlighting the following books in my library corner in case students want to read more on the topic of New York, or 9/11.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142403628/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0142403628&linkCode=as2&tag=cofcupandlesp-20&linkId=4146d8723fdf57d12f5307f666981de8" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0142403628&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cofcupandlesp-20" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/053126629X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=053126629X&linkCode=as2&tag=cofcupandlesp-20&linkId=9beb61af0c244d0e30cd32ddc3264771" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=053126629X&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cofcupandlesp-20" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0545207002/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0545207002&linkCode=as2&tag=cofcupandlesp-20&linkId=d57e09266cc1bd11bc492861240c4163" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0545207002&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cofcupandlesp-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cofcupandlesp-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0545207002" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> </div>
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<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cofcupandlesp-20&l=am2&o=1&a=053126629X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<i>This post contains affiliate links which means Amazon sends me a few pennies if you make a purchase through one of the book links... this simply helps me fuel my book habit.</i></div>
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Being a fourth grade teacher, I also show my students a video from Brain Pop on the events of September 11th and we complete a Timeline activity about the events of the day. My students also color ribbons to wear so they remember to talk to their families about the events of this important day of remembrance. The ribbons are a FREE resource from Erin at Loving Lit, and you can get them <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/September-11th-911-Memorial-Ribbon-Craftivity-Free-1434559" target="_blank"><HERE></a>.</div>
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If you have older students, you may want to share this great video from Flocabulary about the events of the day. It is FANTASTIC and an amazing way to start discussions about empathy, and a video's use of pathos to hook a viewer. Click <a href="https://www.flocabulary.com/unit/week-in-rap-extra-9-11/video/" target="_blank"><HERE> </a>to check out the video</div>
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I would love to hear how you teach your students about this important day in our American History!</div>
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-46522999313335534552017-06-16T09:04:00.000-04:002017-06-16T09:04:18.535-04:00Teacher Time Management During the SummerHappy Summer friends! We are spending our time playing in softball tournaments and visiting colleges across the Southeast. I love the places we get to visit, and they always give me a little inspiration for my classroom. While I don't spend the entire 4 days of the tournament glued to my computer, I do have activities that I take with me that help me make a more smooth transition to the school year in August. Today I wanted to share a few of them with you, in case your life was also spent waiting and watching your kids and their activities.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">#1 Read and/or Annotate</span><br />
One of the best parts of the summer break is that teachers on social media start posting about books that they have begun reading. While I'm ALL FOR READING for pleasure #givemeallthebooks,<br />
I also like to try and get in some reading for my grade level. Florida tends to make this a little more easy for me because they publish a list of Florida Sunshine State books. These are novels by amazing authors that they believe students in Florida should read. While many of you may not live in Florida, it is a great list to get some good ideas from. I always try to read at least half of the 3-4 list before school starts because then I can recommend books right away to students when they come back to school. I always brag on the ones I really really liked to get students interested in reading again right away. A few of the Sunshine State books are also part of my Reading Tasting Party at the beginning of the year. It always helps motivate my students, and my stamina tends to rise quickly with these types of activities. Currently, I'm reading <u>A Whole New Ballgame</u> by Phil Bildner. Here is an Amazon link (its an affiliate) if you want to read more about this book.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250079764/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1250079764&linkCode=as2&tag=cofcupandlesp-20&linkId=a240d459030843f6b1f349b63cc64de9" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="400" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=1250079764&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cofcupandlesp-20" width="267" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cofcupandlesp-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1250079764" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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Here is the link to see the Florida Sunshine State books for the year. This is their main page, and from there you can navigate to each of the book lists. </div>
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<a href="http://www.floridamediaed.org/ssyra.html" target="_blank">Florida Sunshine State Young Reader's Award Books</a> </div>
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There are lists that are 3-5 and 6-8. I also love checking out the other levels that I'm not teaching. </div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">#2: Sketch Out Your Classroom and Jot Your Ideas</span></div>
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Another thing I like to do at the ball field is sketch out my classroom and create a things to do list. While I've seen other teacher parents sit at the field and cut laminating, I save this for nights I have to be at practice, NOT for when I'm traveling across the Southeast... too many other things to bring. I do always carry a notebook with me and I love to spend time sketching out ideas for how I can maximize the space in my classroom. I also like to look at different ideas that I've saved on Pinterest, and then give myself a reality check for accomplishing those things. I mean, let's BE HONEST! Everyone WANTS a Pinterest worthy classroom, and yes, I'm envious, just like others who drool over everything under the sun that is color coordinated. But I'm a realist, and I know that what is really going to make my classroom amazing, isn't my coordinated teacher box, but the amazing lesson plans and activities that I create for my students. So I spend my daydreaming time at the ball field thinking up lesson plans and activities. I make a list of activities I'm thinking of, and then either find the resource on TpT or make it myself to use. Lots of times if it is an idea for an interactive notebook page, I'll sketch it in my notebook, and then when we are back at the hotel in the air conditioning, I'll put the page together on my computer. When I get home from the trip, I print it out, tweak it, and put in in my INB sample binder for when I'm ready to teach it. To me this is a no pressure situation. I'm at the field, not much else going on, and I let my mind wander. Sometimes, it wanders its way to school things, and that's when I think creatively about my notebooks. Other times, meh... I want to read that trashy novel. LOL. The point is, you have a notebook available, in case the thought comes. My idea for this novel project came at the ball field, and my class LOVED doing this! <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Novel-Book-Report-Project-Bloom-Ball-Craft-Activity-2571597?aref=45t3wxsp" target="_blank">Novel Book Report Project</a></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">#3: Make a To Do List and Check it Twice</span></div>
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Again, for me it's all about that notebook. At the beginning of the summer I lay out a few goals that I want to accomplish. NOT A TON... JUST A FEW! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVHn0uzC8yH_1nDysf14wj7dpseI2zGJy06W8MxuBscge9XdDExSCT0zaXLJg39NRhbDpbxlBRdAM6cNK9dZtPhI4ZT4d3RL7hI783p0Y4ykBOPpjB79Bg2-FE5M0ZdWdvMBgUen81VbR/s1600/%2523goalsgif.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaVHn0uzC8yH_1nDysf14wj7dpseI2zGJy06W8MxuBscge9XdDExSCT0zaXLJg39NRhbDpbxlBRdAM6cNK9dZtPhI4ZT4d3RL7hI783p0Y4ykBOPpjB79Bg2-FE5M0ZdWdvMBgUen81VbR/s1600/%2523goalsgif.webp" /></a></div>
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We all need to give our brains a break. It's like doing a reset. But I do have a few things that I like to take care of before school begins, because it makes the beginning of the year a little less stressful. For example, I try in the summer to learn to make a few different weeknight meals. I have teenagers who get home before me, and this summer they are going to learn the art of food prep and meal creation. Momma doesn't need to do it all. I've gotten a few meal magazines to take with me when we travel. I'll make some decisions about meals we may want to eat and and that take under 30 minutes to cook. This summer we'll be trying them out, and adding them to our monthly meals list. Another goal that I have for the summer is to get some long term plans in place. I'm the PLC facilitator for my grade level, so I am going to create our long term plan and goals on a calendar that I can share with my admin and team. Because the calendar is online, it is easy to access while I'm sitting at the ball field, so in my day dreaming mode, I'll be able to enter dates and thoughts, and be ready for teacher pre-planning. Usually, I strive for 3-4 big to dos. If I get super motivated, and those were easy to accomplish, then I set a few more. But the point is to NOT GO GOAL CRAZY!!! You want to feel accomplished when the end of summer rolls around. I want to feel like the summer was productive without feeling like I slaved over my computer. But having a few goals helps me to prioritize my time when I am sitting and waiting. Again, I go back to that notebook at the ball field. I write down calendar dates, to dos, thoughts, ideas, lesson plans, interactive notebook ideas etc. Then when I get back to my computer, I work on putting those thoughts into my online planbook, or creating new INB pages. Right now, I'm working on INB pages for our place value unit. It is going to feel SO amazing to know that I have an entire unit created and ready to launch at the beginning of the year. It keeps me motivated, and learning all summer long!</div>
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I would love to hear what motivates you in the summer! Leave a comment below and let me know some of your goals and/or accomplishments!</div>
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-40703407044833105132017-06-07T08:00:00.000-04:002017-06-07T08:00:13.905-04:00Adding and Subtracting Fractions Game: Mid Week Math MotivationHello friends! I'm back with a little Mid Week Math Motivation, and a game students can play to practice Adding or Subtracting Fractions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghILqg4tK94Hs01W8zl1k1lxAmo57dMAU_uZFEXSg8QzhxYFrgfSNB16c-footWKiwm48jYskz3OdvPSbZouJHb611ghpXh7VRA8E6RLo79uhgDN_LUdPy-7oDrtJR0Ubmx0XZdumtZDFX/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghILqg4tK94Hs01W8zl1k1lxAmo57dMAU_uZFEXSg8QzhxYFrgfSNB16c-footWKiwm48jYskz3OdvPSbZouJHb611ghpXh7VRA8E6RLo79uhgDN_LUdPy-7oDrtJR0Ubmx0XZdumtZDFX/s320/Slide1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here are the materials you will need to play:</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Fraction bars: 1 whole, halves, thirds, quarters, sixths, eighths, twelfths, and sixteenths.</span></div>
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(You should have enough pieces to create a whole for each)</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fraction dice with the following numbers: 1/3, 1/4, 1/6, 1/8, 1/12 and 1/16</span></div>
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If you don't have fraction dice you can cut out address labels to fit your dice and write the numbers on, or find circle stickers. I found these chalkboard dice at the target dollar spot in the fall, and I used a chalkboard paint marker to write what I need on them for centers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ETkbB9vGSWt7x-P7fFQAqJ96Mw7MJ0Ip90cEXU2kVSzl6PnjBcLHAMFcU0-3-F5HEch6JZevGkHZicOt5S72dwFjzdA8Nj2Zav-yTgOH5ueb3zYEdYDmI__eeRdIx7B8KNiq1eMWPIHB/s1600/1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ETkbB9vGSWt7x-P7fFQAqJ96Mw7MJ0Ip90cEXU2kVSzl6PnjBcLHAMFcU0-3-F5HEch6JZevGkHZicOt5S72dwFjzdA8Nj2Zav-yTgOH5ueb3zYEdYDmI__eeRdIx7B8KNiq1eMWPIHB/s320/1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you don't have fraction bars you could go <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Colorful-Fraction-Bars-365144" target="_blank">[HERE] </a>and grab a Free set of them, and have your students color in the pieces different colors (or print out the colored Freebie), or you could have your students create a fraction kit using different colors of construction paper. I use both when we play this game. The fraction bars that are the freebie I use when we are in class playing the game in small groups. I have the cards printed on card stock and I laminate them. Usually I keep 8 sets so that I can have two groups of four playing at the same time. Some of my smarties need the addition practice, while others are ready to move on to subtraction. I also put magnets on the set so students can use them as manipulatives on our magnetic wall. </div>
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I have my students create the construction paper set in class with me. The pieces are larger, and don't tend to get lost as easily. We keep the pieces in a ziploc bag then a pocket in our interactive notebooks because I use them for more than just this game.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLW3YxMbMnza0TKrRioQ5ZiqgTkmdCAXtciRUnufrRQSkOOUFIUUp_LY2hY05sGd5_pr9OqAaBaGHJumgTuLyB-uGTAOJfJG3nVAy6ue2u3Qvg3sEs3LqXDuNq1UiTgek0V_o5IHzuD03p/s1600/2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLW3YxMbMnza0TKrRioQ5ZiqgTkmdCAXtciRUnufrRQSkOOUFIUUp_LY2hY05sGd5_pr9OqAaBaGHJumgTuLyB-uGTAOJfJG3nVAy6ue2u3Qvg3sEs3LqXDuNq1UiTgek0V_o5IHzuD03p/s320/2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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It is easiest to begin this game by everyone doing the same thing at the same time. This way you can guide students who are struggling developmentally with understanding the equivalence of the fractions. I use a gradual release concept the day that I do this, so my students who gain understanding quickly can get started playing each other. </div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Adding Fractions Game: COVER UP</span></div>
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Start with your 1 whole strip. Your goal is to cover your one whole strip completely, without going over. Take turns rolling the cube and take the fraction you roll and place it on your whole strip.</div>
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For example. if I roll a 1/4, I would take my 1/4 strip and place it over the one whole strip. Play continues until the first person completely fills up their strip. Students are allowed to "trade out" their equivalent strips as they go. So for example, if a student has a 1/4 strip, then a 1/6, if the student rolls a 1/3 he/she could trade out the 1/3 strip for 2-- 1/6 pieces. Then they could also see that 3 1/6 pieces can are as large as 1/2, so they can trade up again. Here are a few picks of my students trading. One rolled 3 1/12 pieces during his turn. Once he put them together, he realized he could trade up the 3 1/12 pieces for a 1/4 piece. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkw_2TA3HZ6FsIxrQu0cxvFzEYFZKN4DY2ltY9QPLIa-mKNPuzE2khzyGsbXpOPAmWuqQoB6UnhPYR7JoFIZQXpdqbxVB8bTQ-B-n5q74hW7Dvf4tABls0ox-xzF2ikxAk4bHRuCxzThT/s1600/3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkw_2TA3HZ6FsIxrQu0cxvFzEYFZKN4DY2ltY9QPLIa-mKNPuzE2khzyGsbXpOPAmWuqQoB6UnhPYR7JoFIZQXpdqbxVB8bTQ-B-n5q74hW7Dvf4tABls0ox-xzF2ikxAk4bHRuCxzThT/s200/3.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh8OeOV5tgftPZ6yacZ1F8_8wqftZ3I23dTjwQId0RvTszumANnNHmtF4Jrc_Nzw7aU0iRBkHkRvCsInoDzFdtD4wmmRsjqeCol4WmGrqwApOaS4hYcBzpd2VTF3mQeHVbLe6gujM2XVM/s1600/4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh8OeOV5tgftPZ6yacZ1F8_8wqftZ3I23dTjwQId0RvTszumANnNHmtF4Jrc_Nzw7aU0iRBkHkRvCsInoDzFdtD4wmmRsjqeCol4WmGrqwApOaS4hYcBzpd2VTF3mQeHVbLe6gujM2XVM/s200/4.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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The whole purpose is getting really good at understanding equivalent fractions. This is a hands on way for students to find a common denominator. Once students are comfortable with equivalent fraction trading, have them begin to use a dry erase board to write a numeric equivalent fraction, and then eventually an addition equation. If a student rolls the die and cannot go, he/she loses their turn, and must wait for their turn to roll again.</div>
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The winner is the first person to completely cover their fraction strip exactly. </div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Subtracting Fractions Game</span></div>
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To practice subtraction, begin with your whole fraction strip covered with two halve pieces. Take turns rolling the cube, and taking off (subtracting) that fraction. You will have to exchange the pieces first, so it is a perfect formative way to make sure your students are understanding equivalent fractions (or finding a common denominator). For example, if I roll a 1/8 on my cube. I would need to exchange one of my 1/2 pieces for 4/8s in order to subtract one 1/8. Again, if a student rolls the die and cannot make an exchange, he/she loses their turn, and must wait for another turn to roll again. The winner is the first player to uncover his/her whole piece exactly.</div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Need to Enrich or Extend? </span></div>
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1) Have students play in pairs and combine their kits so that have to begin with an improper fraction.</div>
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2) See who can create the largest covered fraction within 4 turns, or who can uncover the most pieces.</div>
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My class really loved playing this game and it was a great way for my learners to get a hands on experience with equal fractions, and gain a deeper understanding.</div>
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Have a great rest of the week my friends!</div>
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-59241019476380097832017-06-03T08:00:00.000-04:002017-06-03T08:00:08.711-04:00My Essential Oils Journey: Making it an Oily SummerWe've made it friends! Summer has officially started in my house! My kids are excited and anxious and overwhelmed by all the possibilities of having 10 weeks off. As I was reflecting on what my summer might bring, I set my intentions to learn more about my essential oils this summer.<br />
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I already know that I use several EO's pretty regularly during the school year, and I'm going to continue that over the summer, because I want to stay as happy and healthy as I have been, and I want my family to do the same. Today I'm wanted to share with you a little about Peppermint, and few ways I'm going use it during the summer.<br />
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Peppermint: A Pick Me Up In A Jar:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBxnwIwPJEtLUG8L0pluZG02GH_v2_7F50o_sxgeTf0bSfcabKe7d5T_xpYkF-WFHhs8Z-MHhLhMHiPjJsMq4dEgeRQOq_tHncU3L0S58WOMi2B4YCorQzwy-FXZvk52vrWVqzGuenjuY/s1600/PeppermintVitality.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZBxnwIwPJEtLUG8L0pluZG02GH_v2_7F50o_sxgeTf0bSfcabKe7d5T_xpYkF-WFHhs8Z-MHhLhMHiPjJsMq4dEgeRQOq_tHncU3L0S58WOMi2B4YCorQzwy-FXZvk52vrWVqzGuenjuY/s320/PeppermintVitality.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">#1: Mosquito Spray</span><br />
I spend A LOT of time at the ball field in the summer time. My daughter plays softball competitively and there are times when we can be at the field from sunrise to sunset. THAT MEANS BUGS. Mosquito's give use huge welts, but I have always hated the thought of spraying myself with chemicals that contain DEET and other icky things. I've been researching about using an EO blend to help combat these pesky critters, and making it is on my TO DO list this weekend. Guess what! BUGS....HATE....PEPPERMINT! <br />
The blend contains the following oils which all have amazing properties:<br />
Peppermint, Purification, Citronella and Lemongrass.<br />
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The smell is DIVINE! <br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">#2: Diffuse Citrus Blends </span><br />
I found this great picture of a variety of oils I can use in my diffuser to help me keep that fresh, beachy feeling all summer long. I think I'm going to try them all and then decide which ones are my favorites.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWx9EBD7HtpZmhJLR8dU12hWAcEIJTv8nwi05mV1Zrpa8fRgdZspgThsvaX9vMptBi5v8IxW7-eSqOiSTx51TF7UiKAnZ76vaWhidSy9nXyUpjmSlQ4Sb9x2SOtR9FRbwo-uzr2vLC0eX/s1600/Summertime+diffuser+blends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjWx9EBD7HtpZmhJLR8dU12hWAcEIJTv8nwi05mV1Zrpa8fRgdZspgThsvaX9vMptBi5v8IxW7-eSqOiSTx51TF7UiKAnZ76vaWhidSy9nXyUpjmSlQ4Sb9x2SOtR9FRbwo-uzr2vLC0eX/s320/Summertime+diffuser+blends.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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BTW: I'm a researcher. I'll admit it. I don't dive into much without knowing a little about it, and as I was looking up these yummy citrusy blends to diffuse, I also found this infographic from the Oil Moxie about citrus oils. They are photo sensitive-- meaning they can burn you up to 12 hours AFTER you have put them on if you go out in the sun and are exposed to the heat for a period of time. I wanted to include the picture here, in case this was something new for you too!<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">#3: Panaway Pain Paste</span><br />
I'm going to be making a muscle rub using Panaway to bring with us when we are traveling for softball. Sometimes after playing 4 games in the heat my girl's muscles are a tad bit sore. I'm mean spanking those runners out at second on a throw down can take a lot out of a girl! I'm going to make a muscle rub for her at night. It contains Panaway, Copiaba, Frank, and Peppermint. You mix it with several different butters, like cocoa, shea and mango and whip it to make like a body butter cream. I can't wait to see how it works. Do you follow me on Instagram? I'll post a picture there when I"m done making ti!<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">#4: Heat Miser Spritz</span><br />
The fourth things I'm looking at creating is what I call Heat Miser Spritz. You know the Heat Miser right? He always sneaks up on us at the ball park, and leaves feeling like wrung out rags about 4:00 in the afternoon. This Heat Miser Spritz contains peppermint and lavender, and you use witch hazel and distilled water in a spritz bottle. I know it will be the perfect pick me up to battle the heat on Saturday afternoons!<br />
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What I super love about my exploration of this oily journey is that I can create so many things for my family just using the starter kit! Seriously folks, I can make everything I mentioned about except the mosquito spray which contains citronella oils. I love that I can take this journey slow and steady and at my own pace. I can research, read and learn from others on my oily journey. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask! I have been learning so so much about making the most of my healthy environment and promoting wellness in my body, and I would love to share it. If you are interested in learning more about Young Living, or are interested in a kit, just use <a href="http://bit.ly/CCLPYoungLiving" target="_blank">my affiliate link</a>, or contact me!<br />
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-91868882343752448922017-05-17T16:00:00.000-04:002017-05-17T16:01:09.973-04:00Hosting our Parent Night: Shark Tank Style!Every semester each grade level in our Title 1 school is required to host a Parent Involvement Night.<br />
This semester our End of Unit Task involved Inventions and Innovations. We found an amazing product on TpT to help us out, (you can go <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Innovation-and-Invention-Shark-Tank-Upper-Elementary-Middle-School-964967" target="_blank">{HERE}</a> to view it) and our idea of a Shark Tank Parent Night was born!<br />
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To begin we had our students learn the difference between an invention and an innovation. We had been studying people who had made a difference in the state of Florida, and found that using inventors and innovators kept our students attention. After learning the difference between the two we introduced the writing/research unit by showing our kids a few videos of Shark Tank that involved kid inventors and innovators. They were hooked! They couldn't believe there were kids on the show asking ... and GETTING thousands of dollars for their great ideas!<br />
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Each student created either an invention or an innovation. We went through the development process using the product from TpT, students created a 3 minute persuasive speech, a 3D model of their product, and either a display board or a created a technology presentation on SWAY (which is like PowerPoint). We invited parents to be the SHARKS. We asked students to dress up and present their inventions or innovation to the parents who asked a ton of questions and really got involved. Since we are a PBIS school, we gave the parents our praise tickets as investment money. When parents saw a product they thought was good, they "invested" in it by giving the student tickets. Our students were so excited to earn tickets, and really upped their presentation skills to try and get as many tickets as possible. We have great prizes in our Pelican Post store, and only a few days of school left. It was a wonderful way for our school community to come together. Our students really had some great opportunities to practice speaking in front of small crowds, and they were all so proud of their inventions and innovations. </div>
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The kids were so excited about this project, and I think it was an amazing way to end the school year.<br />
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Are you required to do Parent Involvement Nights? I'm looking for a few good ideas for next year, and I would love your thoughts! Do you do anything similar to Shark Tank?<br />
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-65085767156114623362017-05-07T19:00:00.000-04:002017-05-07T19:00:21.067-04:00Mother's Day Books and ProjectsMother's Day is fast approaching! I love to find fun ways for my students to celebrate the special women in their lives that love and support them. Today I'm going to share a list of books I'm going to display in my classroom about mother's and families. We are going to use the books to complete our <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Mothers-Day-Flower-Craft-Activity-2534307" target="_blank">Mother's Day Craftivity</a>. I can't wait for the week to begin!<br />
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I'll be honest, because as much as I would like to pretend I'm Belle with a vast library at my disposal, my own children would also like to eat more than cereal for dinner, and I don't own every single one of these books. Some of them came from my school library, others are from my local library. I did link them to Amazon through my affiliate link, so that you can read more about the books. But really friends, check out your local library!<br />
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Here are a few from some of my favorite authors:<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0142403504/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0142403504&linkCode=as2&tag=cofcupandlesp-20&linkId=0b92fcd46475a2ebda93838d715937e4" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0142403504&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cofcupandlesp-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cofcupandlesp-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0142403504" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cofcupandlesp-20&l=am2&o=1&a=039925076X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/039925076X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=039925076X&linkCode=as2&tag=cofcupandlesp-20&linkId=378d43cc23738c89ae272902180d955e" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=039925076X&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cofcupandlesp-20" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/156145303X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=156145303X&linkCode=as2&tag=cofcupandlesp-20&linkId=4dff12207d92c8d978b058ce33e92a4a" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=156145303X&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cofcupandlesp-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cofcupandlesp-20&l=am2&o=1&a=156145303X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0374400261/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0374400261&linkCode=as2&tag=cofcupandlesp-20&linkId=4f42c751510e1dbc1804fc7edf9e351f" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0374400261&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cofcupandlesp-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cofcupandlesp-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0374400261" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0553499386/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0553499386&linkCode=as2&tag=cofcupandlesp-20&linkId=1a3044ede6e227b1e55efa01796ab13a" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0553499386&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cofcupandlesp-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cofcupandlesp-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0553499386" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /></div>
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My students are also working on this fun Mother's Day Craftivity for their moms, grandma's or any woman that has been special in their lives. I love the thoughts they are putting into each petal of the flower. We have come up with some amazing character trait words through reading some of the Mother's Day books mentioned above, and I love to hear the stories they tell about their mothers and grandmothers. Some are so funny, and I'm sure their parent would die if they ever knew I knew. Here are a few pictures of my completed model. You can go <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Mothers-Day-Flower-Craft-Activity-2534307" target="_blank">{HERE}</a> if you are interested in the project.<br />
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-29634534760417698872017-05-04T09:00:00.000-04:002017-05-04T09:00:06.935-04:00Happy Star Wars Day: Yoda Descriptive Writing and Yoda Swamp Slime!May the Fourth Be With You my Friends! I love the first week of May. There are so many fun and interesting little bits and bobs about this week.<br />
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May Day, Cinco de Mayo, and of course Star Wars Day!</div>
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I'm going to have a ton of fun with my students on May the Fourth, and I wanted to share with you a few fun things I found to make it a Galactic Day! Of course.. one cannot begin teaching on May Fourth without:<br />
a) playing Star Wars music... all... day...long<br />
b) speaking like Yoda... all...day....long..<LoL> Let's all admit THAT gets annoying after 20 minutes.<br />
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At any rate, I do have standards to focus on, so for reading we are going to finish up our Space Unit, so we are going to read about jobs that are part of the space program. I assign my students articles from NEWSELA to read and annotate. Have you used NEWSELA before? This sight is amazing! I love that my students get the practice of reading and annotating on the computer. Plus we can adjust the lexile level of the material, so it is a perfect way to differentiate within the classroom while still discussing a similar piece of informational text. I'm still waiting for NEWSELA to come out with some specific Star Wars articles, so we'll have to read about space and pretend we are heading to a galaxy far...far...away.<br />
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To incorporate a little more language work with similes and metaphors, I am going to show my students the scenes where Luke first meets Yoda in the Empire Strikes Back. I'm using these because it will relate to our STEM activity (Keep reading below). We are going to brainstorm some adjectives, verbs and adverbs to describe the swamp, and I'm going to throw in some preposition work too. We are going to incorporate these into a similes activity to describe Yoda and his home. I found this picture of Yoda on a free printables page. I trimmed off the head and shoulders for a page topper, and then we cut the rest of the body up the middle so we could write on the inside and show Yoda's body.<br />
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I'm asking my students to write 3 similes and 3 metaphors that would incorporate a character trait of Yoda. I'm pushing them to enhance their work by trying to show the type of character Yoda was through his thoughts, words and actions.<br />
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Next Up: STEM TIME!</div>
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I feel like the best part of the day will be our STEM time, because we will be making Yoda Swamp Slime! I mean, the day can't get any better than that when we make Yoda Swamp Slime! This is your basic slime craze slime with green food coloring. For slime you need 1oz of glue, (which is perfect since we are talking about measurement conversions right now in math)which is about a quarter of a glue bottle by the way, 1/4 cup of water, food coloring (optional) and 1/4 cup of borax. You mix the glue and water together, add the food coloring, and then slowly add the borax until you get a good consistency. The kids will need to use their hands, which of course is always a squishy gross feeling, but they will love making and taking HOME the Yoda Swamp Slime! <br />
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You can check out my Instagram and Facebook pages where I'll be posting some pictures of our Intergalactic day!</div>
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Do you have any fun celebration days coming up? I would love to hear any other ideas or activities that you plan around Star Wars Day.. or any upcoming fun days for May!</div>
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Until then, May the Fourth... I mean Force Be With You!</div>
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-92120127727185210402017-04-29T07:30:00.000-04:002017-04-30T09:30:44.952-04:00Three Things I Loved About My Week: Memory Moments, Decimals, and Community GardensHi friends! I'm back to share Three Things I Loved About My Week with you. I can't believe I just sent home progress reports for the last quarter of the school year! I am really looking forward to slowing down when summer begins. I love my class, and I loved the challenge of learning a new grade level. But I'm ready to make more choices about my time!<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">#1: Memory Moment</span><br />
This week we used The Day the Crayons Quit as our Mentor Text. I love how cute this text is! I know this book has been out for awhile, but I didn't really have a reason to use it as a middle school teacher. When I picked it up at the library, I loved that my mind went to the Memory Moment signpost right away! It was perfect the way the author gives the crayons personalities, and they share the memories of how Duncan uses the crayons.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0399255370/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0399255370&linkCode=as2&tag=cofcupandlesp-20&linkId=b73a64b2f337e33e94ef20414f3f94db" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0399255370&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cofcupandlesp-20" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Amazon Affiliate Link)</td></tr>
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I used the text for mentor sentence work this week, so it incorporates a ton within one book. What made me happy was that the first day we looked at the text, our Invitation to Notice day, several of my students noticed that this book contained a Memory Moment! <HOORAY>! Imagine me doing the happy dance! <br />
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I just recently taught this signpost and we dug deep with our novel Lunch Money. It was nice to see the information transfer to other stories as well!<br />
Right now we are working on Color Poems. Students chose their favorite colors, and we are in the process of using our senses to describe them. I can't wait to see how they turn out!<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">#2 Decimal Fraction Review</span><br />
We took our End of Module assessment this week for our Decimal Fraction Relationships unit. My kids really worked hard. We started our unit looking at how decimals and fractions are similar. Did you grab this<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Decimal-Fraction-Sort-Freebie-3073734" target="_blank"> FREEBIE</a> that I created as a quick formative? It was quick and easy and my class started the unit with a Win-Win. As we progressed, we learned how to translate decimals into fractions to add them. We also plotted numbers on the number line, and learned how to change decimals and fractions between each other in computation and word problems. One of the things I really love is how our modules build on one another. They always give students problems that contain multiple steps that build. I use these problems a lot for team building activities. Instead of having just one problem that everyone completes, I create multiple problems that are similar. Students work together in teams to answer each question. It creates a feeling of anticipation and cooperation within the group. Plus it makes review a lot more interesting than "Another Math Worksheet" <Insert fourth graders rolling their eyes here><br />
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#3 Spring Gardens</div>
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The third thing about my week that I LOVED, was the spring gardens that are popping up around our school. This is a project that our third graders participate in, but I have loved watching it grow! Every third grader participates in the program. Once a week, someone from the community food co-op comes out and talks to students about healthy eating, gardens, vegetables, etc. Each student has a gallon bucket where they have planted different veggies, and the students learn to tend the gardens. They grow several types of lettuces, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash and a few herbs. When the items are ready to harvest, students help and then participate in a healthy meal together. Of course there are PLENTY of leftovers, so students go home with two bags of fresh veggies each to share with their families. I love the community support this program has!</div>
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Check out these amazing pictures!</div>
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Thanks for stopping by and letting me share a few things I've loved about this week. I'd love to hear about something that was amazing for you!</div>
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Happy Weekend!</div>
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-30245495305668107392017-04-26T19:30:00.000-04:002017-04-26T19:30:12.266-04:00Decimals and Fractions Interactive Notebook Sort FREEBIEWe started working on fraction and decimal relationships this week. My students were pretty excited to leave fractions behind, but are also proud to see how they are related to the world of decimals.<br />
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When I begin my decimals unit, I have my students create a vocabulary page for their interactive notebooks. It helps them to see the importance of the new terms we will be learning, and gives them a quick reference to use throughout the unit.<br />
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On the first day we look at metric units, and how a fraction with a denominator of 10 is equal to a decimal. We practice going back and forth between fractional unit and decimals. You can use a digital scale to help with this too. I give my students several different items that we can weigh on the scale, then we write the numbers as fractions and decimals. We also use tape diagrams and divide them into tenths. We practice shading in the tape diagram as a model, writing the fractions, and the decimal lengths. Then we model this on a number line so visually students can see the similarities.<br />
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The next day for morning work I give my students a quick check page which helps them sort and practice fractions, decimals, and word form. They match the pieces that are jumbled up on the page. Then I have notebook leaders in my groups who check their notebooks with mine and then check their groups. They let me know any students who were having trouble so I can quickly clear up misconceptions as I start the new lesson. Any students needing further assistance get help during our math intervention time.<br />
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I would love to hear how you start your decimals unit! Let me know in the comments below, and be sure to grab the interactive notebook sort page for FREE by going <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Decimal-Fraction-Sort-Freebie-3073734" target="_blank">{HERE}</a>! I've made it two levels so I can use a similar format a little later in the unit.<br />
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-57842579008427317472017-04-23T16:00:00.000-04:002017-04-23T16:00:06.670-04:00Stress Less with Stress Away: My Essential Oils JourneySo I recently shared with you a little about the beginning of my essential oils journey. Today I wanted to share a little bit about the essential oil that I use called Stress Away. At this time of year when we are all up to our necks in state assessments we all tend to get a little short and sassy with the way we treat each other and our families. We may over-eat, over-caffeinate, or over-binge on something we don't normally do just because our stress levels are at their max.<br />
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Stress Away has been my Go-To oil for anxious situations. A little dab "neat" (that means a drop or two on each wrist) at the beginning of the day and a lunch time, when I'm REALLY anxious about something completely does the trick. It helps take that panicky feeling away. You know the one you get when the copier is jammed, the pencil sharpener is broken, there is no air or wifi, and it is a week before testing? yea THAT feeling... it GOES AWAY!<br />
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When I'm not feeling super anxious and don't need the full scale of stress away, I use an essential oil blend I call Calm. It is made from stress away and lemon which add the perfect lift to my day.<br />
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I put it in a glass roller bottle that I ordered from Amazon and add a carrier oil, like Coconut Oil. I roll it on my feet in the morning before I put on my shoes and socks. Your feet actually have the largest pores, so it is a perfect place. I also add some to my wrists and rub them together.<br />
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I have had a few people ask me if they can use other essential oils and not Young Living, and of course you certainly can. I just like Young Living because of it's seed to seal guarantee. They use certified organic farms and watch over the entire process from start to finish. That makes me feel safe when I am thinking about what I'm putting in my body. I don't have to worry about what other things are processed within the oils, and since I'm trying my best to live clean and be healthy, I don't want to add any extra stuff in.<br />
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Do you use essential oils to help with stress? Are you interested in learning more about the oils? You can go here: <a href="http://bit.ly/CCLPYoungLiving" style="font-family: 'Proxima Nova'; line-height: 2.26rem;"><span data-reactid=".0.4.1.0.4.1.0.0.0" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "proxima nova"; line-height: 2.26rem;">bit.ly</span><span class="bitlink--hash" data-reactid=".0.4.1.0.4.1.0.0.1" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "proxima nova semibold"; line-height: 2.26rem;">/CCLPYoungLiving</span></a> to find out more about Young Living and their oils.<br />
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<span data-reactid=".0.4.1.0.4.1.0.1.0" style="box-sizing: inherit;">bit.ly</span><span class="bitlink--hash" data-reactid=".0.4.1.0.4.1.0.1.1" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "proxima nova semibold";">/CCLPYoungL</span>to find out more, and as always, feel free to contact me!</div>
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-74921881526228365722017-04-20T17:00:00.000-04:002018-01-07T10:24:32.512-05:00Notice and Note: Memory MomentsThis week my class tackled the Notice and Note Signpost for Memory Moments. When a reader is tracking her comprehension and she comes across a situation where a character's thoughts are interrupted by a memory or flashback that comes to the character, they are having a Memory Moment.<br />
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Memory Moments help readers understand the plot, theme, and relationship between the character and the plot. They give us insight into the character's motivation behind some of their thoughts, words and actions. When we encounter a Memory Moment in our books, I teach my students to stop and ask WHY might this memory be important? The answer will tell us about a conflict, or development that may be upcoming in the plot of the story. The conflict may involve just the character, or may be alluding to something that will be forthcoming in the story.<br />
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I love when author's are really good at their craft... I mean, isn't that WHY we want to read their books? Gary Paulsen starts Hatchet right out the gate with a Memory Moment within the first 3 pages of text. Brian is sitting in the plane and he says "The thinking started."<br />
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My fourth graders are currently reading Lunch Money by Andrew Clements. In chapters 5 and 6, Greg Kenton, the main character, shares two memory moments when he flashes back to the first time he meets his arch nemesis Maura. As readers, we learn about why there is a conflict between these two characters. I use these chapters in the book to talk to my students about internal and external conflict, and what that teaches use about a character as he/she is developing. In this particular book, Clements shows Greg remembering something that troubles him, his competition with Maura. This helps us to see the back story behind why Greg dislikes Maura so much. It also helps us to make inferences about the plot of the story. This really helps give my students a deeper purpose for reading. They look at the novel more closely, because they are reading to prove if their inference has foundation.<br />
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When I first introduce the Memory Momentnt Signpost, I show my students an anchor chart, and we use our tabbed Notice and Note booklets. We write examples of key words or clues we may encounter that will help us recognize the signpost. I also show them this video. It gives them another overview of the signpost.</div>
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Then we use this video to practice the signpost with visual media. It is easy for them to recognize.<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ls0XS6J3fs0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ls0XS6J3fs0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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I also like this video from Rataouille</div>
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If you have older students they will recognize this quick 20 second scene between Katniss and Peeta from the Hunger Games which gives great insight into the connection between the characters.</div>
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Before having my students find and discuss the Memory Moments in Lunch Money, I also remind them of previous picture books we have read that contain Memory Moments. These include:</div>
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Saturdays and Teacakes</div>
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Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox</div>
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A Chair for My Mother</div>
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Another book that I just recently found and am adding to my collection is The Day the Crayons Quit. </div>
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I know this isn't a new book, I had just not thought about using it with Memory Moments until I pulled it out for our Mentor Sentences. I LOVE when I have an AHA moment too! </div>
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Do you have other books that you use to teach the Notice and Note Signpost for Memory Moment? I would love to hear about any new books that you have found that help students!</div>
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-67109117238496891402017-03-26T08:43:00.001-04:002017-03-26T08:43:12.796-04:00Teaching with Balance: My Essential Oils JourneyAs teachers we all know how totally stressed our jobs can be. We have demands from students, parents, coworkers, and admin on a daily basis. I know many of us do our best to try and eat healthy, exercise and drink as much water as possible during the day. I try to eat as much organic produce as possible, avoid carbs and sugars, but let's be honest, when its report card week and we have papers and conferences up to our eye balls, that doesn't always happen. I'm always looking for other alternatives to continue my healthy lifestyle and remain calm, cool and collected.<br />
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At Christmas time, my sister bought me a diffuser for my home and as a homemade Christmas gift made me three bottles of essential oils blends. One was called Healthy. It contained Thieves essential oil which helps you to keep colds and flu at bay. Another was called Calm which helps to take the stress away when the going gets tough. The third was called Fun which just, well, smells happy. It made me start to think about our needs as teachers to maintain balance, and I began to research a company called Young Living. They appealed to me because they monitor everything they do from the time the SEED is planted on the farm to the SEAL of the jar. Everything is monitored and tested for purity. At first I was like meh.. seriously, it's OILS, but then I went to Marshall's and I started SMELLING some of the oils sold there. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with them, but I could smell the difference in the oils from Young Living, they were cleaner, and stronger, and well, that appealed to me, so that's what I went with. <br />
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Since then I've been looking up different ways I can use the oils to promote a healthier environment for myself and my family. I bought a starter kit which gave me a second diffuser for my home as well as 11 essential oils that I could combine in various ways to help relieve stress, help me sleep better, build up my immune system, help with sore muscles, aches and pains, and use to keep my home fresh and clean. Using the kit I've also found a much better balance using essential oils in my daily routine. I've created blends and used oils to help me with stress relief, dark circles under my eyes, grow my fine hair, and to cook with! My daughter has used products at softball that have helped her sore muscles after games, and we have gone the entire cold/flu season with literally a ONE DAY stint with not feeling well.<br />
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I wanted to take some time and just share that I was beginning this journey, and I was wondering if there were other teachers out there who use essential oils? My goal is to share what I have figured out in a blog post once or twice a month, and maybe this will help you as a teacher find more balance in your life. If you have found something amazing to use, please share with me in the comments below, and we can together find out more information about using essential oils.<br />
If you want to find out more about Young Living you can go to: <a href="http://bit.ly/CCLPYoungLiving"><span data-reactid=".0.4.1.0.4.1.0.0.0" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "proxima nova"; line-height: 2.26rem;">bit.ly</span><span class="bitlink--hash" data-reactid=".0.4.1.0.4.1.0.0.1" style="box-sizing: inherit; font-family: "proxima nova semibold"; line-height: 2.26rem;">/CCLPYoungLiving</span></a><br />
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</a>Namaste my sweet friends!<br />
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-6726923031859094192017-02-26T11:32:00.000-05:002017-02-26T11:32:14.474-05:00Three Things I Loved About My Week: Mardi Gras Fractions, Friends, Facing a Fear<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hello friends! I wanted to share the Three Things I LOVED about my week last week! </div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">#1: Celebrating Mardi Gras in the Classroom</span></div>
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This Friday we celebrated with a little Mardi Gras Fun in our classroom. Fat Tuesday is coming soon, but we have our big state writing assessment on Monday, and I wanted to spend the last 45 minutes of the day relaxed, happy, and ready for the weekend. Because I still have to teach curriculum and I teach math in the afternoon, I pulled out my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Mardi-Gras-Math-Centers-2374378" target="_blank">Mardi Gras Float Fraction</a> activity. Students were told there are 12 krewe members on their Mardi Gras Float. They worked in pairs to answer 10 questions relating to equivalent fractions and easy percents. These questions told them what each member of the krewe had to wear on the float. For example, one item said that there were twice as many girls as boys in the krewe. Students had to figure out that meant there would be 8 girls and 4 boys on the float. Another was that 75% of the boys had to have dark hair. Students had to figure out that meant 3 out of the 4 boys. When they were finished with the 10 math questions and had them checked, they were allowed to draw their floats. They LOVED this activity, and I loved sneaking in a little extra math practice. The floats while having the same information were all completely different. So many ways for them to be creative and practice mathematics skills at the same time! Math and art, you can never go wrong. I love these pictures! </div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">#2: Time with Friends: Filling my Cup</span></div>
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I had a few friends from New York visiting me this week. We got a chance to go out to one of our favorite hangouts, Buffalo Wild Wings, and watch the Syracuse vs Duke game on Wednesday night. The game was killer! I mean a win at the buzzer against DUKE is the BEST ever! But even more important, I had a chance to catch up with friends that I don't often have a chance to see, and well frankly, they "fill my cup." </div>
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Do you have friends who do that for you? Even though we are far apart I have a few friends that are just... well... there for me. When I see them they fill up my cup! I talked to my class about that on Friday. They know I love Syracuse basketball, and they asked me about the game. As exciting as it was, I found myself talking more to them about the friends I have who really help me out, and are just fun to be around. It was honestly a great way to reinforce that Kind is the New Cool mentality, and I saw a lot of my students checking in with each other on the playground and including everyone in their games. That also was a cup filler!!</div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;">#3: Facing My Fears</span></div>
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My daughter also had an opportunity to "fill her cup" this week by having other friends from NY visiting. We met our friends at Disney Springs for dinner and to hang out a little. As a group we decided to go up in the hot air balloon. Ok, so... yea.... I'm afraid of heights... but I couldn't be the ONLY person who didn't go up in that balloon, so I mustered up a little confidence... yea.. I used my Confidence Essential Oil roller... LOL... and I did it! 8 minutes in a hot air balloon. I smiled the whole time but inwardly.. I .. WAS... FREAKING OUT!</div>
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So that being said, this week after out writing test I am going to read a book to my class called Courage. We are going to spend some time writing an essay about what it takes to make a person courageous, and how they are courageous about something in their lives.</div>
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Share with me something from your life that you LOVED this week, or a way you had your cup filled, or were fearless. Any Mardi Gras parades or activities in you week? I'd love to hear about them!</div>
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Have an amazing week friends!</div>
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-12749794409991584582017-02-18T11:26:00.002-05:002017-02-18T11:26:46.946-05:00Three Things I Loved About My Week! Welcome to the weekend friends! I wanted to take a moment and share Three Things I Loved About My Week. <br />
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I hope some of these make you smile or laugh, or give you a new idea for your own life or classroom. Spread the positive my friends... spread the positive.<br />
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#1: Retired Teachers Make the Best Secret Pals<br />
The retired teachers at my school are amazing! Every month they bring in snacks and goodies for us, and we get a few days of heaven in the teachers room. They are part of the reason why I never seem to be losing any weight.... ( the other reason may be that I have to get off my couch.. but that isn't something I loved, so we won't talk about it)<br />
How delicious are these cakes looking! Do you see how they made MANY MANY cakes! NOT one cake or two cakes that are gone by the time the second lunch round is over, but CAKES for DAYS.....<br />
Do you have anyone who is wonderful to you like this?<br />
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#2: World Read Aloud Day! <br />
February 16th was World Read Aloud day. To celebrate my class found their favorite picture books from my classroom library and a partner that they do not normally read with. Together they shared their book for about 15 minutes. Although this wasn't a huge amount of time it was nice see them sit together and read to each other. It brought a sense of calm to the sometimes chaotic classroom that we have, and it made me smile.<br />
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#3: Peer Editing and Collaboration<br />
We have been working really hard on our writing skills since we came back from our Christmas break. We are getting ready to take our state writing assessment in just a few short weeks, and I need my students to have a solid sense of both opinion and informative writing, and how our state will be assessing their skills. We read a paired text on roller coaster design. The informative prompt that I gave my students asked them to explain how roller coaster designers are innovative. I have seen so many improvements in their writing, adding leads, and key details. Their conclusions are getting stronger too. One thing that has FINALLY clicked in for them is the importance of peer editing and discussion. This week I had them practice being both the teaching coach AND the learner. I pressed them to give specific examples, and we worked on speaking kindly to each other but still giving constructive criticism. When each group finished students were able to grab a post it note and create a writing goal for next week. Baby steps lead to giant leaps my friends!<br />
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I hope everyone else could find three things that they LOVED about their week! Feel free to comment below and let me know what you loved!! I would love to hear about it!<br />
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-35007802371296334862017-01-22T15:35:00.001-05:002017-01-22T15:35:27.145-05:005 Interesting Facts, Books and Fun about Chinese New YearHappy Chinese New Year my friends! Do you celebrate Chinese New Year in the classroom?<br />
Chinese New Year is coming up January 28th. 2017 is the Year of the Rooster. I always like to teach my students something about Chinese New Year because it is a bright, fun holiday in the middle of winter. Usually it is cold and dismal this time of year, and the thought of hanging a little color up in my classroom always makes me smile at the end of January. <br />
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Today I put together 5 interesting facts about Chinese New Year that also contain activities or books that you can use in your classroom to help your students learn about this fun holiday.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">FACT #1: There are 12 Animals in the Chinese Zodiac</span></div>
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In the Chinese Zodiac there are 12 animals represented. The belief is that Buddha asked the animals of the world to come and help him celebrate spring. Twelve animals showed up to the party and these animals became the Chinese Zodiac. Each animal has special qualities, and you can relate your birth year to these special traits. For example, 2017 is the Year of the Rooster. The rooster is said to be confident and hardworking. As a fourth grade teacher most of my students were born in 2007. This was the year of the Pig or Boar. People born under the sign of the boar are responsible and kind. One activity that you could create with your students is a drawing of the animal and have them list the character traits that they are most like within that year. Here is an example:<br />
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This would be a great lesson on synonyms and antonyms for words that correlate with the animal. For example if we were to do the rooster, I would have student look up shades of meaning words for confident and hardworking. If they wanted to do the year of their birth, for example the boar, I would have them do shades of meaning with responsible and kind.<br />
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I follow this activity up with some word work in centers about finding synonyms in context with facts about the Chinese New Year using <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chinese-New-Year-in-the-Upper-Grades-1064729" target="_blank">these cards</a>:<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fact #2: The Chinese New Year Celebrates Spring Cleaning</span></div>
Out with the old, and in with the new! That's the motto for Chinese New Year. What a perfect thing to start daydreaming about during the frosty month of January! You could relate the idea of GROWTH MINDSET to the broom. Have students make two layers of the broom on the bottom. The first layer would contain ways that they used to think about problem solving: I can't do this, It is too hard, etc. Then have students place a layer on TOP with new growth mind set. I CAN get this far.. etc.<br />
It may look something like this:<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fact #3: Red is the Color of Good Fortune for the New Year</span></div>
One Chinese tradition is receiving a red envelope with money during Chinese New Year.<br />
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As a morning work writing activity, I have my students complete a quick write about what they would do with money they received in their red envelopes. <br />
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I also try to sneak in a few stories about Chinese New Year during the week when we sit down for our Grammar and Writing time. Some of my favorites include:<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1880000539/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1880000539&linkCode=as2&tag=cofcupandlesp-20&linkId=bab4d206d1ee1fcd4474400ef1db60fb" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=1880000539&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cofcupandlesp-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cofcupandlesp-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1880000539" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0525420681/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0525420681&linkCode=as2&tag=cofcupandlesp-20&linkId=1bd171533010960d568a5a88c19e00ec" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0525420681&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cofcupandlesp-20" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cofcupandlesp-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0525420681" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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Usually I buy red envelopes on clearance after Christmas, and then we place our quick writes in the envelopes as a bulletin board, but I forgot to buy the envelopes this year, <wah wah wah> so I will have to improvise a little.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fact #4: Chinese New Year Allows You to Honor Your Relatives.</span></div>
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It is customary during Chinese New Year to make lanterns to honor relatives who have passed away. The celebration of Chinese New Year usually ends with a Lantern Festival where red lanterns are hung on families homes and gates. Sometimes the lanterns contain a riddle which makes the festival more lively. This year as something new, I am going to give my students a center choice about making lanterns. Our riddles will be math puzzles to help improve our mental math. Usually I try to complete a brain break math riddle with my students every day. It helps them to keep them thinking and using their computation skills. The math riddles are 5-6 step directions that I differentiate and get progressively harder with the skills. The number riddles never go above 100, so students that need a little extra visual to solve the problems can pull out their hundreds boards and multiplication charts to help them.<br />
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I use cards similar to these as my brain breaks:<br />
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Then for this lantern craft I will have students write their own riddles that we can include on the lanterns.<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Fact #5: Chinese New Year is about Celebration with your Family</span></div>
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Families spend a lot of time eating and celebrating during the Chinese New Year. What a great way to celebrate the great job your students are doing by having fortune cookies! We have many Chinese restaurants in our area, and I will be asking them to donate fortune cookies to my students to celebrate. Even if I have to go to two or three places, it would be a fun treat during our Morning writing work. A great quick write activity would be to explain how your fortune could be a theme for your life, giving key details that support the central message. Just something fun to get them thinking and writing. You could also have orange slices or tangerines as your snack during the week. Many families that celebrate Chinese New Year eat oranges which symbolize luck and wealth. This is a perfect healthy snack for us living in Florida because oranges are in season. Some of my students even have orange trees in their yards, so this is a great way to get them to eat better and share a few facts with their families!<br />
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Along with the activities above, I also use Tikki Tikki Tembo<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0312367481/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0312367481&linkCode=as2&tag=cofcupandlesp-20&linkId=1767a631677595842567b48c017f304e" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=0312367481&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cofcupandlesp-20" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Affiliate Link)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cofcupandlesp-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0312367481" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />as a mentor text for the week. I have the Mentor Sentences pack from Ideas by Jivey, so this is an easy no prep lesson for me. The focus skill is compound sentences, so it is a perfect review and incorporation into our writing work. We also work on some other word work activities like identifying pronouns, homophones and sentence combining. These are part of the pack I created for <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chinese-New-Year-in-the-Upper-Grades-1064729" target="_blank">Celebrating Chinese New Year in the Upper Grades</a>.<br />
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I would love to hear how you plan to celebrate Chinese New Year, and I hope that you will be able to try some of the activities and books that I've mentioned above. <br />
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May the Force Be With You!<br />
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-57614365647398647782017-01-19T07:00:00.000-05:002017-01-19T07:00:20.809-05:00Martin Luther King Jr. Opinion Writing with Martin's Big Words<br />
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Last week I focused on Martin Luther King Jr. during my writing and word work time. I wanted to share a few activities that we completed in case you were looking for something that was short and sweet, but still helped you cover some of your CCSS standards.<br />
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For our word work time I am focusing on prepositions, which was difficult for my smarties to identify in a sentence before break. I'll be using Martin's Big Words as my mentor text, and since I don't reinvent the wheel, my mentor sentence work came from Ideas by Jivey and her mentor sentence lesson for the week. It is part of this <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Mentor-Sentences-Unit-Vol-2-Second-10-Weeks-Grades-3-5-1971494" target="_blank">[Unit]</a>. If you haven't used mentor sentences before, Jessica is a great go to person. She has several different webcasts you can listen to, and she has written many good blog posts about how to get started.<br />
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Beyond the basics of word work with the text, we are also working on opinion writing, so my review/focus is based on opinions. I took the "Big Words" from the text... Freedom, Peace, Together, Love, and Dream, and we worked on deciding which word was the most powerful. Together we crafted an opinion paragraph using OREEEO as our organizer. No, that isn't a typo... I don't use just OREO.. my students are required to give me more.. so we go for TRIPLE STUFFED!<br />
O-opinion, R-reason, E- evidence, E-evidence, E- elaboration (give me the how and/or why connection, O-opinion/transition. We even had triple stuffed Oreos as a quick reminder snack when we started this discussion.<br />
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In their paragraphs, students had to choose which of Martin's words they felt was the most powerful, provide a reason, back it up with evidence from the text, and then elaborate or extend the connection. I borrowed a few copies of this book from other classrooms in my building, and I also used a reading on YouTube, (You can go <a href="https://youtu.be/Rc39Ka8ut6k" target="_blank">[HERE]</a> for it online), so my students had extra access to the book. <br />
We wrote our final copies on a half sheet I created, and then we completed a directed drawing for our bulletin board. I don't do too many directed drawings with my fourth graders, but I thought this might be a good opportunity to practice some listening skills work since we have been out for 2 weeks. The directed drawing directions I found for free <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Martin-Luther-King-Directed-Drawing-469950" target="_blank">[HERE]</a>. I love the way they turned out.<br />
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Need to order Martin's Big Words? Click the picture below. (Amazon Affiliate)<br />
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Do you have plans for Martin's Big Words that I can add to my list for next year? I would love to hear about them!<br />
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May the Force Be With You,<br />
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-4346422561159932362016-12-30T07:00:00.000-05:002016-12-30T07:00:20.257-05:002016: A Year in ReviewHappy New Year friends and family! I'm sitting here with my coffee cup in my quiet new kitchen doing a little reflecting about 2016 and all that it has had to offer. At first I was majorly beating myself up because I haven't blogged in... I don't know... FOREVER!! Even after Megan created this beautiful new design for me in the summer, but then I thought... STOP BEATING YOURSELF UP.. put in the past what is in the past and start being in the here and now. SO.... for here and now, here I am with a little bit of year in review.. both educationally and personally... well, if you've stopped by with your coffee cup before, you already know that about me. <br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2016: was a Year of Interactive Math:</span><br />
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I worked hard in the early part of 2016 to come up with ways to make mathematics more interesting and fun for my sixth graders. They were NOT keen on having to learn fractions, and algebra and distance on the coordinate grid, and we had some major intervention to do. I started a bi-monthly blog post called Mid-Week Math Motivation, (which I'm hoping to kick start again) which helped me think out and share some of the ideas I had to keep math engaging. One of my favorite activities was creating a gigantic coordinate grid on the cafeteria wall. We rolled foam dice for creating the integers on the grid, and I had candy prizes at different coordinates. The kids had to tell me the integer and it's quadrant to keep the prize. You can read more about it in this post <a href="http://www.coffeecupslessonplans.com/2016/03/interactive-coordinate-grid-candy-style.html" target="_blank">{HERE}</a>. My class loved this activity. It was engaging, fast, and fun. <br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2016 was a year of a BIG MOVE:</span><br />
In the summer this year I moved with my kids to be closer to my family in Florida. I also found an amazing house for us to live in, and I'm proud that I have managed to buy it and run it all on my own. I love the area where I live. <br />
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I have a pond in the back of my house that is filled with Cypress trees. There are literally hundreds of birds that live there. I love sitting with my coffee cup on the deck in the morning watching and listening to them chatter. We also have a gator we've named George.<br />
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What better way is there than with perfect Rae Dunn mug... yes I've become a collector of these, and Fiesta dishes.. I need more quirky and color in my life!<br />
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">2106 was a Change in Grade Levels:</span><br />
Along with the BIG MOVE I also changed from teaching sixth grade to teaching fourth grade in a new state. Learning new curriculum has kept me VERY busy this first semester of the school year, and I will definitely blame my lack of blogging on treading water at school. I do really love my class, and the staff there, and we are working hard at improving our school report card. We are a D school right now, and we want off that list! My smarties are working hard, and they have ME working hard. That has its pluses and minuses as I've totally gone off of my taking care of myself regime, and I'm spending WAAAAYYYY more time at work and doing school related planning than I should be, but I'm hoping things will even out in 2017. New Year... New Hope... <Yep.. that's me, putting in the whole Star Wars reference... You know I shed some tears over the loss of the Princess, but I digress><br />
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I mean how can you not love that THIS is the type of place you get to go to on a FIELD TRIP!<br />
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Gorgeous right! <br />
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So that my friends in a nutshell is why I've been MIA for the past few months. I'm hoping to get back to blogging and catching up with my peeps in 2017. I have always enjoyed connecting with teachers and sharing ideas. Let me know what was amazing about your 2016!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubxTYjuwbnNXGsBN2Na-GgzeGaTAY7OI3kwaab6IYU-4-3_ritnwynU48HcMoHdqpFImPiH6nLwAcrotSjaAcafTop7Yp_YuuLy87B0YqKHDVOclt0s4HnuC0Yx7SnjUWw0sVAhlp05jm/s1600/Signature+1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubxTYjuwbnNXGsBN2Na-GgzeGaTAY7OI3kwaab6IYU-4-3_ritnwynU48HcMoHdqpFImPiH6nLwAcrotSjaAcafTop7Yp_YuuLy87B0YqKHDVOclt0s4HnuC0Yx7SnjUWw0sVAhlp05jm/s1600/Signature+1.png" /></a><br />
<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-12272835668363214022016-08-20T09:53:00.001-04:002016-08-20T09:53:54.446-04:00Back to School First Week Fun!Well friends, I made it! I just got through my 23rd First Week of School! I know, I know, you are saying, WWWHHHHHAAAT!! There is no way she is THAT old, LOL.. It's all in the Ponds Moisturizing creme my friends! Take care of your skin!<br />
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But seriously, I'm so excited to be starting a new adventure in a new state, new school, and new grade level. I've been teaching sixth grade for about 18 years, and in my new school, I'm teaching fourth. I love that I know right where those middle school teachers want my Smarties to be, and I'm going to do my part to get them ready!!<br />
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We had a great first week of school, and I wanted to share a few activities that I did with my class this week that I love. I hope you can use some of them too!<br />
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I have to admit, I don't start the year with one of those Pinterest perfect classrooms. I LOVE to look at them. I pine over their beauty when I'm wasting time on my phone, but honestly, I can't do it. My walls are my kids walls, and I want them to create their beauty. One thing that I do like to put up is a Salutations greeting. I used Powerpoint, a fun font, and colored paper to print this sign.<br />
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My purpose was to give students a word they may be familiar with if they have read Charlotte's Web (our second graders do), but may not know quite the meaning of the word. I use it as a spring board to discuss 1) Not everyone knows every thing on the first day of school 2) Vocabulary has several deeper shades of meaning. Vocabulary is a big push for our students this year. You can go <a href="http://www.coffeecupslessonplans.com/2016/07/three-ways-to-help-struggling-readers.html" target="_blank">{HERE}</a> and read a blog post I've written about strategies I'm going to implement in my classroom.<br />
I plan to add words to this wall during the year to get my point across about the deeper shades of meaning.<br />
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On the first day of school I read a fabulous book called First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/158089061X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=158089061X&linkCode=as2&tag=cofcupandlesp-20&linkId=611a47be2f4723ec8da8d0fb383cb817" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&MarketPlace=US&ASIN=158089061X&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL250_&tag=cofcupandlesp-20" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Affiliate Link)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Have you read it? I told my students there is a twist in the book, something unexpected happens, and good readers need to be on the look out for it. They ate it up! They were so excited to learn that Sarah Jane was the TEACHER and not the STUDENT! After I read the book I introduced the bottle tree that I have in my reading corner.<br />
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I plan to add a bottle to the tree every time we read and discuss a book in class. On the back of the bottle we have to add three things:<br />
1) Something important that happened in the book<br />
2) A lesson that was learned or the theme of the book<br />
3) A connection to the book. <br />
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At first I expect them to make a personal connection, but as the year progresses, I will be expecting text to text and text to world connections. My Smarties did such a great job! I was really impressed with the thoughtful answers they gave me on the first day of school!<br />
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Along with reading First Day Jitters, I also used the book to teach my grammar lessons in my writer's block. I'm using my BBB, Jessica's, Mentor Sentences with my students. Mentor texts are the way to go my friends, and Jivey made it easy to incorporate grammar skills right into good books. Reading and discussing good books translates into good writers! You can go <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ideas-By-Jivey" target="_blank">{HERE}</a> and see what Jivey has. If you haven't used mentor sentences before, she has several free lessons that you can download and check out.<br />
Look at what my students accomplished with our mentor sentences this week! They could tell me parts of speech, diagram sentences, revise a sentence, and imitate it. I chose several of the best sentences to hang on the wall for everyone to read.<br />
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We started science with a great idea from one of my teammates. Since our first reading text is all about a scientist who studies tarantulas, we started our notebooks with drawings of what type of scientist we would like to be. <br />
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I had students put up privacy folders while they worked, so that each one would be unique. They drew themselves in a labcoat, and then decorated the lab coat with what they would want to be a scientist of. We discuss how scientists ask questions about the world around them, and then complete investigations and make observations to answer those questions. Everyone was so excited to see all of the different types of scientist we have in our room.<br />
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A few other fun activities that you could use to start science or practice problem solving skills include Saving Fred. You can read about this activity <a href="http://www.coffeecupslessonplans.com/2015/08/sparking-student-motivation-back-to.html" target="_blank">{HERE}.</a> I'm doing it with my class next week. I also sometimes do the Index Card Challenge. You can go <a href="http://www.coffeecupslessonplans.com/2014/09/sparking-student-thinking-with-index.html" target="_blank">{HERE}</a> to find out about this activity (There is a link to a freebie where I wrote down the directions, and a youtube video if you need to see this in action). My class LOVED this once they figured it out. I think I'll be saving it for a fun Friday activity a in a few weeks.<br />
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I am also planning to create a Back to School Dodecagon Ball with my students for Open House. I don't normally start this project until the second week of school if I can help it. We have to start to establish some routines first. Basically my students will be getting 2-3 sections a day throughout the second week of school to complete. Some I ask them to draw, others I ask for more of a writing component. I'll use my writing time for this, as I'm still leveling students and trying to see where I have to start my basics at. When we finish this project I'll have them up for Open House. I know my parents are going to Love the way they look. It is a great way to incorporate writing, math and art all in one area. If you are interested, you can go <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Back-to-School-Getting-to-Know-You-Dodecagon-Ball-2740912" target="_blank">{HERE}</a> to check them out.<br />
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Of course, the first week wouldn't be complete without a guest coming in.. right?<br />
Here is our little Nagini that decided she needed a little extra learning. This racer snake was in the hallway one morning, and I just about had a heart attack. I AM NOT A SNAKE PERSON! Good thing one of my teammates is! I hope the momma isn't lurking somewhere!<br />
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I'd love to know what you are doing for the First Week of School! Let me know how it went for you! I'm all about gathering a community of teachers to support each other!<br />
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Have a great day!<br />
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-82460547431031430182016-07-21T06:00:00.000-04:002018-01-07T10:27:14.582-05:00Three Ways to Help Struggling Readers in the ClassroomAt different points during the year, any good teacher will take time to reflect on their reading and mathematics program. We decide what is or is not working, what we think we need to keep and what needs to be changed or tweaked in some manner. Today I wanted to share with you three strategies that keep my struggling readers engaged in the classroom.<br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;"> #1: Increase Common Vocabulary</span><br />
Literacy study after literacy study has proven that having a high vocabulary is a key indicator in the reading ability of students. We all have vocabulary that needs to be taught in our classrooms. Sometimes this is content or story specific, but recently, I found this great <a href="https://www.flocabulary.com/4th-grade-vocabulary-word-list/" target="_blank">LIST</a> from Flocabulary that I plan to use with my new fourth grade class. These are common vocabulary words that students should know at every grade level. When I teach vocabulary, I like to have my students create vocabulary slides. We use Google Slides, and I assign each student or pairs of students specific words. They create a document slide that contains the vocabulary word, definition, two synonyms, and an antonym. I always like to have students include two synonyms because it gives me an opportunity to teach and discuss shades of meaning with students. I try to challenge them to use thesaurus.com to find synonyms. These slides provide so many opportunities for conversation because we can really discuss whether a word is really meant to reflect a similar meaning. When we finish, we add the word to our vocabulary/spelling dictionaries, so we have a spot for further reference. The vocabulary section is set up with a Fray model for vocabulary similar to the slide, so our shades of meaning synonyms are always included. My students use these during our writing block as well.<br />
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<span style="color: #073763; font-size: large;">#2 Use Audiobooks as Reading Partners</span><br />
I was so happy to read a recent article in the ILA's Literacy Today magazine that discusses the use of audio books as companions for struggling readers. Just as the author, Lisa Trottier Brown comments, having struggling readers use an audio book and follow along, reading aloud themselves increases the reading rates of students. This can also be done with a strong reader and a weaker reader. BOTH students read at the same time from the challenging text. It allows the struggling reader the opportunity to hear speech patterns and inflections, which is effective when scaffolding difficult text. Audio books in the classroom are perfect for this. You can often get audio books from Overdrive which is through the public library system, or Audible which is from Amazon if you know several of your students will be reading similar books.<br />
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Just be sure that the book is read by a real person, NOT a computer, because a computer generated voice will not provide the weaker student with the important voice inflections etc. that they need to hear. Having a paired reading experience is also a great way to use your volunteers in your classroom. Especially if you can get Dad's in to read. The importance is for your weaker reader to be reading at a more rapid rate, sitting together using a challenging text. </div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">#3 Have Students Leave Tracks in Their Reading</span></div>
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Reading <a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20%20href=%22https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/032504693X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=032504693X&linkCode=as2&tag=cofcupandlesp-20&linkId=d5308d6d598139b4a4a07354aab45629%22%3ENotice%20&amp;%20Note:%20Strategies%20for%20Close%20Reading%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cofcupandlesp-20&l=am2&o=1&a=032504693X%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E" target="_blank">Notice and Note</a> by Kyleen Beers and Jeff Probst this year was so affirming for me. I needed a fresh set of ideas for helping my students leave tracks in their reading. Many of them were blowing through books and not remembering a single part of them, or remembering just enough to take an AR test. They weren't sharing their reading experiences or talking about books in ways that made them become better readers. By teaching my students about the Signposts, and following up with picture books, excerpts, and videos that helped them see how monitoring their comprehension made them better readers, my students gained a deeper level of understanding in their independent reading books. I saw them choose books to read together, and then while reading series of books have conversations about where a character had had an AHA Moment, or how an older character showed signs of being a Words of the Wiser. They began to discuss books much more frequently, and read more books on their levels, rather than easy books they could forget quickly after AR points were achieved. To help them keep track of Signposts, I used a tabbed booklet which students kept in their Reader's Notebooks. It gave examples of each Signpost as an anchor chart with the anchor question as well as picture book and video examples that would help keep them focused. The anchor charts were especially helpful for my struggling readers, because it gave them something to refer back to. I put the videos I used to teach the Signposts in our Moodle account, and they could also be an easy reference if those students were really stuck.</div>
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Do you have reading strategies that may help struggling readers? I would love to hear about what you incorporate into your classroom!</div>
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Have a great day!</div>
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<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-90042044537882859152016-07-17T06:00:00.000-04:002016-07-17T09:00:06.464-04:00Happy World Emoji Day!!!Hi friends! Thanks so much for hanging in there with me as I went through some blog design changes. What better day to post again than on World Emoji Day!<br />
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I love the craziness of these types of days, and when I recently saw this new coffee by JavaMoji, I knew I had to check it out. I mean, how much fun will it be when I go back to school and pick out my coffee emoji for my morning brew! Y'all know I don't run without my morning coffee!<br />
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JavaMoji is a pretty new company, so I'm eager to see what my first batch may bring. I think these K-cups will be really cool in our teacher workroom...<br />
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What a great pick me up! I'm thinking Secret Santa, or something fun for my team, and I'll definitely be remembering them when it comes to parent gifts, or a birthday gift for a colleague.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkZ-nzpQkpEJlwMX3qoH48vFMV43XOTKdDLuQrwnZxJ17_fo0NGUWvOQIwafFwy9ZsLKvZqhIdBGM8wY6q5a49TlTUh0EJ0oPqwUwx-GaiqCkN3Ys27axdyLO_UmVl0ulDSmLxvWhglro/s1600/Slide2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOkZ-nzpQkpEJlwMX3qoH48vFMV43XOTKdDLuQrwnZxJ17_fo0NGUWvOQIwafFwy9ZsLKvZqhIdBGM8wY6q5a49TlTUh0EJ0oPqwUwx-GaiqCkN3Ys27axdyLO_UmVl0ulDSmLxvWhglro/s320/Slide2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you want to check them out for yourself, you can go to their website <a href="http://javamoji.com/" target="_blank">{HERE}</a>. You can also order them from Amazon: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HPL1WKS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B01HPL1WKS&linkCode=as2&tag=cofcupandlesp-20&linkId=58a6a8d0a5eadf5814e749e729303efb">JavaMoji, Emoji K-Cups, Dark Roast Coffee, 24 Count</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=cofcupandlesp-20&l=am2&o=1&a=B01HPL1WKS" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (affialiate link) starting today!! Happy World Emjoi Day!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubxTYjuwbnNXGsBN2Na-GgzeGaTAY7OI3kwaab6IYU-4-3_ritnwynU48HcMoHdqpFImPiH6nLwAcrotSjaAcafTop7Yp_YuuLy87B0YqKHDVOclt0s4HnuC0Yx7SnjUWw0sVAhlp05jm/s1600/Signature+1.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/AVvXsEiubxTYjuwbnNXGsBN2Na-GgzeGaTAY7OI3kwaab6IYU-4-3_ritnwynU48HcMoHdqpFImPiH6nLwAcrotSjaAcafTop7Yp_YuuLy87B0YqKHDVOclt0s4HnuC0Yx7SnjUWw0sVAhlp05jm/s1600/Signature+1.png" /></a></div>
<br />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6763670682969260926.post-30439123436329384932016-05-29T09:13:00.000-04:002016-05-29T09:15:21.027-04:00Awesome Clipart and Activities for Memorial DayHi friends! I'm just popping in to say a quick hello and share some awesome resources that I've found to celebrate Memorial Day. Most of them are freebies created by hard working teachers like yourselves. If you love the item and download it, don't forget to leave them a little feedback love too!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFDxr5gyJ2IdhshF1g52AH69X6SZGu9yXGECACwsHmmKPcq5Ta0rf49u6nojPpl9_l58410FOrAsa9Mz0ZaaYPAfe8hjdN81UqP0kRD04a8O7tXhcGa-TAaVcM934CYEXZKzWhB5D15Qy/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyFDxr5gyJ2IdhshF1g52AH69X6SZGu9yXGECACwsHmmKPcq5Ta0rf49u6nojPpl9_l58410FOrAsa9Mz0ZaaYPAfe8hjdN81UqP0kRD04a8O7tXhcGa-TAaVcM934CYEXZKzWhB5D15Qy/s320/Slide1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">CLIPART</span><br />
I love this Memorial Day clipart from Messare Clips and Design<br />
Check out these cute freebies:<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/USA-Map-with-Flag-Clip-Art-Messare-Clips-and-Design-1062325" target="_blank">USA FLAG MAP</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZ9J43pxNpMlobcagz6zCUjw_ugHzYkApgkZSvf2JIxPC6JSZphKKJhUGgWhVS90rvly2Ot-onZVY4M9fn1MMEd48C60xtUTt-K0VhCiwhgqXN2K-JVxtr8cjA6aC0hPzDdqmGYA-ZTuk/s1600/Screen+shot+2016-05-29+at+8.22.32+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZ9J43pxNpMlobcagz6zCUjw_ugHzYkApgkZSvf2JIxPC6JSZphKKJhUGgWhVS90rvly2Ot-onZVY4M9fn1MMEd48C60xtUTt-K0VhCiwhgqXN2K-JVxtr8cjA6aC0hPzDdqmGYA-ZTuk/s320/Screen+shot+2016-05-29+at+8.22.32+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/USA-Map-with-Flag-Clip-Art-Messare-Clips-and-Design-1062325" target="_blank">HONOR MILITARY SOLUTE</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTcyDSLYUZYti-QyFV_c9lmpEBZR1HOxDATZyXparH51baRWmkmlLO6h_DQr3YTODYPtwqrDqRGOiYQVoCaoqCYga_s9Ao4OdCkcoZc2s1FP4L2roadUs0bSNldjm39SqhzvSkFZawumw/s1600/Screen+shot+2016-05-29+at+8.31.41+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTcyDSLYUZYti-QyFV_c9lmpEBZR1HOxDATZyXparH51baRWmkmlLO6h_DQr3YTODYPtwqrDqRGOiYQVoCaoqCYga_s9Ao4OdCkcoZc2s1FP4L2roadUs0bSNldjm39SqhzvSkFZawumw/s320/Screen+shot+2016-05-29+at+8.31.41+AM.png" width="317" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/A-Freebie-Patriotic-Shield-Banner-and-Foldable-Paper-Airplane-2000255" target="_blank">PATRIOTIC PAPER AIRPLANE</a>-- Who doesn't need THIS to entertain kids the last few weeks of school!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8siMbOSwBgm6R1wJqr2B60Wd9bKKaoa2u-BGnft2humr6ho2cccenC3nt7HdVmu7ZdhSroi2e2itfMCZkevjMgI0UMNUgYHT31YbOM6rO83EV85-Fy9pleudDiS2fm_ui2bEShpf4NhR/s1600/Screen+shot+2016-05-29+at+8.23.29+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8siMbOSwBgm6R1wJqr2B60Wd9bKKaoa2u-BGnft2humr6ho2cccenC3nt7HdVmu7ZdhSroi2e2itfMCZkevjMgI0UMNUgYHT31YbOM6rO83EV85-Fy9pleudDiS2fm_ui2bEShpf4NhR/s320/Screen+shot+2016-05-29+at+8.23.29+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Plus, how cute is this puppy! It doesn't have anything to do with Memorial Day, but I love him anyway!<br />
<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/A-FREE-PUPPY-MCD-Freebie-Messare-Clips-and-Design-2569659" target="_blank">PUPPY FREEBIE</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7plNI73SSfubea4D8VZxdnSFp7GSyzDLW12e6d5sQfyTr8mtRK82liVZCTkT3w109j02ZI1DJykVEsVCmxHl6xFVoe76YIxr51Wn2YhzavBpGvmmz2vUWpLA4NcPVf_zML2kFDbj7Xd_/s1600/Screen+shot+2016-05-29+at+8.23.48+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-7plNI73SSfubea4D8VZxdnSFp7GSyzDLW12e6d5sQfyTr8mtRK82liVZCTkT3w109j02ZI1DJykVEsVCmxHl6xFVoe76YIxr51Wn2YhzavBpGvmmz2vUWpLA4NcPVf_zML2kFDbj7Xd_/s320/Screen+shot+2016-05-29+at+8.23.48+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here are a few other pieces. They aren't freebies, but they are still pretty cool!<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Memorial-Day-Tribute-Set-Messare-Clips-Design-1849628" target="_blank">MEMORIAL DAY TRIBUTE SET</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1NL3euLnmOCbhszEgZ5f982Op59ASDOdX7hF-U907urux284soPPRBQTRkEPaub5S3uNfHvxwA9DPldnScCPxot61BpAdCBYy5a23KRwve1MIpGJm-f-rEo0xQvLCLvhk7BSZMj-7Ibq/s1600/Screen+shot+2016-05-29+at+8.24.16+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip1NL3euLnmOCbhszEgZ5f982Op59ASDOdX7hF-U907urux284soPPRBQTRkEPaub5S3uNfHvxwA9DPldnScCPxot61BpAdCBYy5a23KRwve1MIpGJm-f-rEo0xQvLCLvhk7BSZMj-7Ibq/s320/Screen+shot+2016-05-29+at+8.24.16+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Memorial-Day-Tribute-Set-Messare-Clips-Design-1849628" target="_blank">MILITARY SERVICE SET</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04bVyWGSnChIuXm0paslu8-GbPKYP60Jd5LOO_f7PcHcBURyCoIKLZ7bsdZ4tyzUKO_z5h4sPXZsfIr7uOY_Hfs2N9tkZ4yPw2Xu8vDtlgK8k8k4HH9CnGqD0yHa5ihUxL_wjPtz2Isl7/s1600/Screen+shot+2016-05-29+at+8.24.58+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg04bVyWGSnChIuXm0paslu8-GbPKYP60Jd5LOO_f7PcHcBURyCoIKLZ7bsdZ4tyzUKO_z5h4sPXZsfIr7uOY_Hfs2N9tkZ4yPw2Xu8vDtlgK8k8k4HH9CnGqD0yHa5ihUxL_wjPtz2Isl7/s320/Screen+shot+2016-05-29+at+8.24.58+AM.png" width="316" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-size: large;">ACTIVITIES</span><br />
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I loved using this <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Memorial-Day-FREE-Unit-Arlington-1248340" target="_blank">Arlington Freebie</a> from I'm Lovin Lit. It uses song lyrics to teach ELA skills. My students really like a different way to practice strategies. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EBYV__CMM6w-ut0VQTnSmfbi6WbkXb5WNu0fG_5srXOFGjqScz4tOYfxjb940z2x4_ZHoL0MjshMx9wJgHGd7BTCKsXRFBAAwul13yfqHZ7O4Tzb7Za1WJcorP_u4FpP2wq1i4NO-Sjk/s1600/Screen+shot+2016-05-28+at+9.22.49+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4EBYV__CMM6w-ut0VQTnSmfbi6WbkXb5WNu0fG_5srXOFGjqScz4tOYfxjb940z2x4_ZHoL0MjshMx9wJgHGd7BTCKsXRFBAAwul13yfqHZ7O4Tzb7Za1WJcorP_u4FpP2wq1i4NO-Sjk/s1600/Screen+shot+2016-05-28+at+9.22.49+PM.png" /></a></div>
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I've also used this cute <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/HERO-Flip-Book-Printable-Book-Veterans-and-Memorial-Day-970894" target="_blank">FREE HERO Flipbook</a>. My students created these, and then we passed them on to a local Veteran's home. They were do grateful.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGdhZgmhyphenhyphenFAMEUYlOciuRpzMvriCI0_9lCW8Zfqg6xuGsXVjNXw1DENVeTrCJwvkVc7QQT_Ec2yNyiZwJZIn9E4yesWQGViNiR5PT4qUOEEEf-1E4AJHHP9AWlEUOdCIYR_gBqbqwgOX-/s1600/Screen+shot+2016-05-29+at+8.25.29+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAGdhZgmhyphenhyphenFAMEUYlOciuRpzMvriCI0_9lCW8Zfqg6xuGsXVjNXw1DENVeTrCJwvkVc7QQT_Ec2yNyiZwJZIn9E4yesWQGViNiR5PT4qUOEEEf-1E4AJHHP9AWlEUOdCIYR_gBqbqwgOX-/s320/Screen+shot+2016-05-29+at+8.25.29+AM.png" width="247" /></a></div>
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Have you read America's White Table? This is a beautiful picture book that describes why a small white table is set up in the American Legions around the world. If you don't own the book, you can find a Youtube Video for it. I usually teach several lessons on symbolism and American symbols. I also use it as a text for our mentor sentence for the week. You can go <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Veterans-Day-or-Memorial-Day-Activity-Americas-White-Table-389532" target="_blank">{HERE}</a> to check it out.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-p1MsVOVdi4P6p3O3plm8jUjdbKq0-4zVG0if4i-Nc7FTipT54IteIQAsIT03md_skz2Cf7Y05W5J7VIUXilLuuLEurkDmQFZzA1-0VDV1XXvMsRFEsllsamiRIBc5nSsYboBN1145OZc/s1600/Screen+shot+2016-05-29+at+8.30.06+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-p1MsVOVdi4P6p3O3plm8jUjdbKq0-4zVG0if4i-Nc7FTipT54IteIQAsIT03md_skz2Cf7Y05W5J7VIUXilLuuLEurkDmQFZzA1-0VDV1XXvMsRFEsllsamiRIBc5nSsYboBN1145OZc/s320/Screen+shot+2016-05-29+at+8.30.06+AM.png" width="246" /></a></div>
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I hope you've found a few things you can use at home or with your students to honor our troops! Enjoy the rest of your weekend!<br />
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<img align="center" src="http://i1102.photobucket.com/albums/g447/eschaff/Coffee%20Cups%20and%20Lesson%20Plans/sgn2.png" />Michelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04674675143629781926noreply@blogger.com0