Best Books for Boys

I'm linking up with Swimming into Second for her Best Books for Boys linky. (I know, I know, two in one day...but I wanted to join before I forgot about it...again)


Mine will be geared a towards the upper grades, and what I've noticed my boys like to read. Click on any of the books to take you to the Amazon page.

First up: Percy Jackson (or anything by Rick Riordan!)



They all seem to  LOVE this one!

2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid



I like this one, as it has good readability, but is presented in a good format, with cartoons interspersed throughout the pages

3. Adventure/Sports Books

I love Mike Lupica and Gordon Korman for this- they both have great, high interest books.

4. Big Nate



The boys love this one...it's not my most favorite. It's a graphic novel, but unlike Wimpy Kid, has more comics/cartoon. I like Wimpy Kid better, because it focuses more on writing. Big Nate focuses more on the comics/cartoons.

5. Non-fiction-War Stories

I have a collection of appropriate non-fiction books about the different wars- and my boys eat them up (not literally--they're a little too old for that! ;)

My boys like non-fiction, and I often see them flipping through my non-fiction bins (I have 5!)

My boys also like the Magic Tree House, The Black Lagoon (the chapter books), and Geronimo Stilton (I have a young class!)

I hope this helps all of you upper grade teachers (and lower grade teachers!) that are looking for some books for boys!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Why Explore?

Our newest Social Studies unit is Explorers. I'm taking this one slow, as I haven't be able to find any standards to help me form and guide my unit, so I'm sort of playing it by ear.

I figured that we would start with why people went exploring. We created a foldable about the different reasons ( I got the idea from Stephanie at Teaching in Room 6...she has some great resources!).

The first thing we did was to create a map/brainstorm ideas on why people went exploring. They did pretty well with this...just a few hints!

Sorry about the computer screen, it was easier than trying to pull it up on the SMART Board

After we brainstormed, we made our foldable (which went into our SS Notebooks...something I'll definitely keep for next year!)

The last tab is blank...we'll fill it in another day, after we have learned a little more about explorers.

Tomorrow we are going to do Stephanie's old-timey map with monsters- talking about how they traveled and what they thought the world looked like.

The kids are also going to be working on a biography project about Explorers (in conjunction with the librarian). Each kid is going to become an 'expert' on one explorer and then present about their explorer (using a powerpoint). They will be doing research both in books and online, and then create their presentation. Good  practice for later (note-taking skills, bibliographies, etc.).

No outfit picture today...I left my camera at school (I was taking more pictures of stuff for you guys and left it by the computer)...I'll double up tomorrow :)

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Monday Made It

It's time for another Monday Made It with 4th Grade Frolics!

<--- I've made my new blog design --->
(see how pretty!)

I've made some graphic organizers (here, and here)

I've also made a center accountability folder for the kids (which I'll explain more laterish)

The standards checklist on the left is Terri Thornton's...You can get it here.


Now, I didn't make this next one, but it is clearly handmade. It was a gift from one of my students.

It's an upside-down wine glass made to look like a snowglobe with a candle holder on top...it was just too cute not to share!

The next one is a "made-it in progress". One of my co-workers is having a baby next month, so I'm working on a blanket for her (she's having a boy)

I'm actually using three different colors of yarn together and crocheting it with an N, using a V-stitch. It'll go together quick, and will be really pretty when done (I've done this one before...with a gender-neutral blanket :).

Sweater: Kohls

Tank: Old Navy
Pants: Dockers
Shoes: Payless

I hope everyone had a great Monday back! Ours was fun-filled with learning ;)


Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Monitoring Understanding

Hi Bloggy Buds!

Our comprehension focus for this theme is monitoring understanding. This is another one of those that I feel is out of sequence, and should be more toward the end of of a cycle.

I stressed to the kids that all reads should be constantly checking for to see if they understand what they are reading, and if they don't, they need to use strategies to help them. I told them that one of my favorites is rereading, and I'll often page back on my Kindle if I'm wondering what is going on.

I just introduced this strategy, so we'll see how it goes as the week progresses. First off, I made an anchor chart to help them remember.

We will be talking more about each of the strategies that we can use to help us as the week goes on. I also created an organizer to help the kids record their thinking while they read.

You can pick up your copy here.

This week was good overall, but it was hard (on me!) getting back into the swing of things (and adjusting my sleep schedule!) Hopefully this week will go better!

Thursday's Outfit

Sweater: JCPenny
Tank: Old Navy
Pants: Gap Outlet
Boots: Endless









Friday's Outfit

Sweater: JCPenny
Pants: Kohls
Shoes: Burlington Coat Factory


I hope everyone has a great Monday back!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

1st Day Back

Happy New Year!!

We trucked back to school today, and it went pretty smoothly. However, it was COLD today...about 5 degrees this morning, and cold and windy enough to have inside recess. I dressed more warmly, as I was pretty sure that my room wouldn't be as nice and warm as it usually is, since the heat has been off for a week and a half.

I had all my kids today, so those that missed the tests on Friday started making them up. Since I had about half my class here, I had them rotate through centers (some we've already introduced, but they didn't get to) while the others took the test.

Here are the three centers I used:

And here is the test they took!

If you would like it, click here to pick it up.


We also did a Scholastic News, and introduced our new theme for Reading. Overall, a fairly easy day, a nice slow introduction to getting back into the groove!

Sweater & Pants: JCPenny
Shoes: DSW

Those of you that went back today, I hope your day went smoothly!

Those of you still on break...Lucky!!



Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Currently

Have a wonderful new year!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

PS... Tonya's Treats for Teachers is having a 13 for 13 giveaway! Go check it out!

Favorite Casual Outfits of 2012

I'm feeling so much better than I did earlier in the week. Only problem now? There's a lot of snow outside my window and I'm not all gung-ho to clean/move it. (Although I will have to in a little bit to mail my rent check...)

Onto my favorite casual outfits...I classified casual as anything with denim, since I can't wear that to work.  (although apparently denim skirts don't count? as other teachers have been wearing them)

Shirt: Target
Tank & Skirt: Old Navy
Shoes: Zappos

I LIVE in my denim skirt in the summer. I think they are uber comfortable, yet cool.

 Sweater: Maurices

Shirt: Target
Tank & Skirt: Old Navy
Shoes: Burlington Coat Factory

I like to mix colors than you wouldn't think would normally go...like this light blue with pink. Surprisingly, I usually do a good job with not clashing. :)

Shirt & Jeans: JCPenny
Tank: Target
Shoes: Endless

I love this one because it's super comfy, as well as it being one of the first times that I've layered three necklaces together to give it some more interest (as well as the pop of the pink tank in all the blue)




Sweater & Tank: Target
Jeans: JCPenny

Shoes: Amazon

The top of this outfit sparkles like crazy (although you can't see it very well). The sweater is silver sparkly with crystle buttons, and the black tank actually sparkles as well. Top it off (or bottom!) with black glittery flats, and it's a perfect holiday outfit. 

Button-Down & Jeans: JCPenny

Vest: The Limited
Shoes: Endless

It's comfy, put-together, and makes me look like an almost-30 instead of an almost-20 (which has been known to happen on multiple occasions)

This is my absolute favorite outfit of 2012. I would wear this anywhere (including to work if jeans were allowed)


Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn