Literacy Reflections

I've been thinking a lot on our Literacy Block (besides the fact that I feel like there is no time to teach writing within our 90 minutes), and where I was in the series.

Tomorrow I am starting Theme 9. We have 16 themes (each over a two-week period). One of my 4th grade co-workers is in the beginning of Theme 8 (which we finished today), and I have no idea where the other one is. 

Speaking with other teachers, I am also ahead of them. So I starting thinking, what was I doing that was different? Should I be taking more time?  I'm doing one lesson a day like the teacher's guide (and the trainer) suggested. Was that wrong?

And then I started thinking about the Literacy series itself (we use Literacy By Design...Common Core Edition (apparently)). What are some things that I like about it? What do I feel isn't working?

As I was thinking about these questions, I realized that there were some things that I thought were missing. Like, I haven't yet touched on Character Traits. Cause and Effect. Mythology (which is big in 4th grade CC). Plot Structure. Genres. The list goes on.

So after thinking long and hard (and talking with some other co-workers), I decided to take Fridays and dedicate it to teach some reading skills that I think are...missing, or not mastered for lack of a better word (i.e. Making sure that the comprehension strategies that I have already taught are stuck in there!).

We will have a slightly different structure, and I'm thinking of switching off between Reading and Writing (I miss teaching poetry!). I'll only have 1/2 hour to introduce (should be plenty of time) before I have to start sending my kids off to guided reading groups.

I will keep you updated on my voyage into the unknown-and how it is working out.

I do have a question for you-right now I am planning on taking this Friday to work on Character Traits...but I draw a bit of a blank on what to work on after that. Any suggestions?

Yesterday's Outfit

Sweater: JCPenny
Pants: Dockers
Shoes: DSW

This is a gray outfit...although the pants are patterned. I wanted to focus on the pops of teal in the shoes and necklace.





Today's Outfit

Sweater: Target
Pants: JCPenny
Shoes: TJ Maxx

I almost saved this sweater for next week on Valentine's Day (and you may see it again if I get wash done this weekend!), but it's cold out, I was cold this morning and I wanted to wear these bottoms and shoes so out it came. But don't be surprised if you see it again next week!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Monday Made It

Time for February's Monday Made It!

I've been creative this month...with blankets! First up though, classroom made-its.

I've made up a game for out Explorers unit, based on something that I remembered from when I was in school. Students have to sail across the world, avoiding the pitfalls (like storms and sea monsters!), chronicling their journey in their ship's log. My kids are having a BLAST! They love it and get so excited for it when I say it is time.

It only takes about 15 minutes a day (I give them some time to write in their ship's log before and after). They finish up their log entry, I read it and decide how many spaces they move (up to 4). They then discuss what direction they want to move in while I check other logs. If they hit one of the 'perils' they have to pull a travel card-which are both good and bad. They could also pull a travel card whenever I feel like it...just to keep things interesting!

Here is the map I made (it's in two pictures because it's so big and I wanted you to have a good look :)

I also created ship's logs, travel cards and the little ships you see on the map.

I worked at creating some graphic organizers (we call them GO's in my class...so I don't have to write graphic organizer each time on the morning message!)

Just click on them to get them!

Remember last Monday Made It I was working on a blanket for a co-worker...well I finished it! (And she had her baby early-before I gave her the blanket!)

Close up of stitch detail

Full blanket laid out...bigger than I thought!

I also have another WIP (work in progress) that I have been working on...this one I have been doing off and on for a few years and recently picked it up again. It's also another baby blanket for a boy.

The blue stripes are decreasing in number of rounds, and the green stripes are increasing in the number of rounds. So it starts out mostly blue and will end up mostly green...at least that is my plan! I'm working it in one big granny square...with a size G7 hook (4.5 mm), so it is slow going.

What's your made it?

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Sale Show & Tell

I hope everyone has been enjoying Sunday...and having fun picking out products to buy!

I'm linking up for a Post Sale Show & Tell, hosted by Julie at My Journey to 5th Grade.


I bought a lot of math centers this time...we are moving into Geometry and I didn't have anything for it!  Click on each of the pictures to get a direct link!

          
                        


I also bought some centers from Jennifer Findley...she has the best upper grade centers! I'm planning on moving to Fractions and Decimals after our Geometry Unit, so I've planned ahead :)

             


I also picked up Jennifer Runde's Math Reflection Fans



Some fun borders from Krista Wallden at Creative Clips



and a Literacy packet for Tale of Despereaux, which I'm reading with my U/V group.


A very Math heavy purchase! By the end of the year, I should have a very nice selection of math centers to choose from...I'll have to reorganize! A good deal too...15 products for just over $35-a bargain! Thanks to all of you who had sales!

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Currently/ Math Journals

It's currently time! Hard to believe it's February 1st!

We've been working hard in our Math Journals the past few days...working with shapes!

I tend to work more with Math Journals at the beginning of a unit, as a way to introduce vocab, things they need to know. We do this as a whole group before we move into small group/center work.

First up, we talked about the different prefixes and how that can clue you in to how many sides something has. 

Next, we talked about how a shape moves.

The idea from that one came from this pin:

Source: Uploaded by user via Kaitlyn on Pinterest

After each entry, I had the kids to a worksheet to make sure that they had learned something...a quick way to assess! (I did let them use their notebooks...that's the point (to me!)).

The kids love it when I have them pull out their journals, and work on foldables. I think it's a great way to present sometimes boring information and get them to take notes. It makes it more exciting to them!

Today's Outfit

Sweater: Kohls
Tank: Old Navy
Pants: Gap Outlet
Shoes: Burlington Coat Factory

I was able to trade in the blue monster (as I like to call it) for a Corolla. Much better! I don't have to sit as close, and I feel a whole lot more comfortable in a car (although I do miss some of the features, like push button start and keyless entry...I have it my car, and it seems like this is an economy model of the corolla...because I know they come with those things!) Even cooler, it has Georgia plates! I definitely be able to find it with all the New England plates around :)

Have a great weekend!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

January Highs & Lows

I found a cute new linky from


that asks for the highs & lows of the month.



A great way to reflect back on everything that's happened and take the good along with the bad.

I feel like January was a low month in general...I only blogged 15 times as opposed to my usual 20-25. I didn't have a lot to say this month.



~ Had a fight with a snowbank. Snowbank was feisty. Car lost. Now at car dr. to get fixed.
~ Now driving a too big for me SUV (which will hopefully be switched out by the weekend)-and since I'm short, I can't reach the pedals properly (I'm sitting super close to the steering wheel), and have to lift my foot off  the gas to brake.
~Sinus infection-still tired and sniffly
~Hot Water pipe froze-no hot water...fixed with electric heaters and landlord help (who told me to deduct the extra electricity costs from my rent)
~1/2 my kids went down in their MAP scores


Now for the good parts of January!



~1/2 my kids went up in their MAP scores (and my two LD friends went up a lot!)
~ I've made some new friends...and got a lot of support from my accident (3 people offered to take me wherever I needed to go within 15 minutes of my getting to school.)
~ I went out to dinner with my awesome co-worker (she is now considered a friend! (she was one of the 3 that offered to take me places-and the one that drove me to the rental car place) and we just spent an hour and a half talking after school...I asked her opinion on a new desk arrangement and it led to other things :)
~ Report Card Committee is going very well (in my opinion), and am loving the draft that we came up with!

That was fun! Hopefully next month there will be more highs than lows (although that's when I get to pay all the bills from the snowbank fight...so maybe not :( ) Go check this one out!

Today's Outfit

Shirt: JCPenny
Tank: Target
Pants: Kohls
Shoes: Target

It was super warm here this morning- 52! However, it dropped serverly during the day...when I got out of work it was 28. :( I had a sweater ready to put on, but it didn't go on until I was getting ready to leave work. We'll see what tomorrow brings!

Happy almost TGIF!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Asking Questions

This week we are working on Asking Questions while we read...something that is a little easier for the kids to think about!

I have some myself...like, Why didn't we have a delay yesterday?
Why didn't the plow clean the roads correctly?
Why did the snowbank want to fight?
and Why is it going to take longer to fix my car with less damage?

That's right...I'm on a streak. I go ten years without having any accidents and I have 2 within 6 months.

I slid into a snowbank yesterday while I was making a turn onto the street where the school is yesterday, and had to be towed out. My front bumper came almost completely off and is currently awaiting repair (they told me I wouldn't get it back until Valentine's Day!!!). However, there is loads less damage than the last time (and it's about 1/2 the price), so I'm not entirely sure why it's going to take just as long.

Right now I have a huge Dodge Journey...I can seriously fit my entire class in there (if we squished a little). I'm on the list to trade out for a car...I just don't feel comfortable driving it.

I did get a ride to school in the police car...and managed to time it so I was walking in with the kids (I also waved to about 10 co-workers and 2 buses that passed me while I was waiting for the tow and on the phone with the insurance company) That part was fun! :)

So leading into the kids...asking questions is a lot easier for them. We did talk about how to think more deeply and ask Why? type questions instead of What does that word mean? type questions.

Of course, I had to create an anchor chart...

and a graphic organizer to go with it (the one they provided was not as thorough as I like them to be)...

Pick up your copy here

Thanks to Rowdy in Room 300 and Tonya's Treats for Teachers for the fonts and Creative Clips for the border!

They seem to be doing a great job so far...we'll see what happens when we take the test!

Yesterday's Outfit

Sweater: Kohls
Pants: JCPenny
Shoes: DSW










Today's Outfit

Sweater: JCPenny
Tank: Target

Pants: Kohls
Shoes: Endless


It was wicked warm here today (for January)...but super foggy! If the kids moved too far away from us on the playground, we couldn't see them anymore! It's not supposed be as warm tomorrow, so the rain might turn into snow. We'll see if I have to clean that huge monster in the driveway...

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Maps and Monsters

Hi Bloggy Buds!

Remember when I talked about our Explorer unit...how how we used some ideas from Stephanie in Teaching in Room 6?

Well, the kids finally finished their old-timey map and sea monster book.

First up, we talked about how explorers got around and why they might of left. We also talked about what they thought about the earth back then.

Then, I gave them my expectations for creating their own old timey map.

I had them work on a rough draft on grid paper, then after I made suggestions on fixing their map, they moved onto their final draft.

Once they finished their final draft, we moved onto describing their sea monsters. I told them that I wanted to know where the sea monster lived, how they attacked the ship and what they looked like.

They did such a great job!! They were so cute and so creative. Most of them followed the rubrics I made, and did really good job...(you always have those few that run to their own beat...)

These are a few of my favorites

Well, it started snowing at school, so our principal went around and told us to go home ASAP (we're supposed to stay until 3:30). I was excited to go home early-ish and to get home to my snow boots! (which I left at home because it wasn't supposed to start snowing until after school had ended)...I'll make sure I have them tomorrow.

Friday's Outfit:

Sweater: Kohls
Tanks: Target
Pants: JCPenny
Boots: Endless








Today's Outfit

Sweater & Pants: JCPenny
Shoes: DSW

Since the snow up here is supposed to turn to freezing rain, maybe we'll have a delay tomorrow? Please?

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn