Monday Made It

Happy Monday! It's truly a happy Monday for me, as I have it off! :)

My first made it this month is binder spines! I finally had too many binders to keep them without, so I had to make spines so I could tell what I put where, so I didn't have to keep pulling random binders to find what I was looking for :)

Please ignore the disaster on top of the binders :)

I did color code them by subject-but that's just me :)

I've also started work on a new afghan-this one in jewel tones.

I love how it is turning out! You can get the pattern here.

I have been going a little painting crazy! I've started a series of paintings-one for each season.

Right now, I have Winter, Spring and Fall. I will be adding leaves in to represent the seasons. :)

I did do one that I thought would work for Summer, but once I finished it, I didn't think it 'fit' as well as I liked. But...take a look and tell me what you think!

I haven't added a tree-I might use it for something else.

I've also started a set of three for my bathroom, although I'm working on it in stages.

Definitely a crafty month for me!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Making Inferences with Pixar Shorts

Happy Friday!

We've been having a great time the past two days in reading-using Pixar Shorts to help us!

I introduced our newest skill-making inferences, which is always a tricky one for kids to do and explain.

I busted out an old chart, and made some additions to it.

I then told them we were going to watch a video and make inferences while we were watching it.

We did "For the Birds"


I stopped in about 4 different places to ask a question, and had the students write down their answer on paper (explaining how they knew, of course!)

They did a pretty decent job!

I sent them to practice with some inference task cards from Teaching With a Mountain View (seriously awesome task cards here!)

We started with the red set, which has guiding questions on them.

Today, we did it again with a different movie.

First, I modeled how to write a response using evidence by showing "For the Birds", so the kids knew what I was looking for in their responses (something I noticed after the first day!).

This time, we watched "Partly Cloudy"

This was a cute one too-and they did  better!

We practiced with the blue task cards-no questions, but same passages/pictures.

We're going to play inference scoot on Tuesday to practice some more.

Hopefully, using these fun tricks helps the students realize they make inferences everyday, and easier to explain it.

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Writing off of Pictures

We have finally started actually writing stories! It only took a month to set everything up. :)

For our first trimester, we are focusing on narratives. The easiest way (I thought), to work on an imaginary narrative was to start with a picture.

After we finished discussing paragraphs, and how to write them, when to change them, etc. we were ready to start.

An updated paragraph chart-with my famous hamburger (miniaturized!) I love seeing it pop up on Pinterest!

I started the process by using a strategy call "I See, I Think, I Wonder" from Making Thinking Visible (seriously, go check out this book!).

I popped a picture up on the SMART Board, and had the students write down all the things that they saw in the picture. I gave them about 5 minutes to do this-I wanted them to notice all the little details.

After a few minutes, I had them turn and talk with a partner. The partners then shared different things that they noticed.

I then asked them what they thought was going on the in the picture-based only one what they could see! They had about 5 minutes to write it down, and then we did another turn, talk and share.

They had some interesting things to share! I loved hearing what they thought, and of course, I asked one of my favorite questions-Why do you think so? :)

After we had shared our thinks, I asked them what they wondered about the picture. They made a list of things they wondered, and then we shared. They wondered some pretty awesome things!

After they shared their wonders, I told them that they were going to write a story about the picture-and it had to answer their wonders!

I felt that this gave them a good place to start, as well as a direction to go in.

They took took this like ducks to water-I've never seen kids write so much in a short period and with such concentration!

After a few days of writing, we went over some editing symbols, as well as what to look for when editing.

I'm having them self-edit their writing when they are done and turn it in. It's not going to be a graded piece, but a piece for them to see how far they've come by the end of the year.

They're pretty interesting!

Next on our list is brainstorm ideas, small moments, and writing an interesting lead. 

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Five for Friday

TGIF!!


My SMARTBoard was finally fixed!!!!! :D

This is the SMART Board in the computer lab-I wanted to start a writing activity before mine was fixed-although this picture has been up on my board as well :)

It only took 5 months, some emails back and forth, and a new projector (that's crooked on the screen-but I'll take what I can get!)

My teaching life is SO much easier now-and more interactive! I heart my SMARTBoard :)


We are using the picture above, and our paragraph chart to write a story about it!

Stay tuned for how I introduced it-I want some student work examples to go along, so it may be a little bit-but they had a lot of fun with the introduction!

The Book Box came!

I held a raffle for the books I had ordered (a la Book Whisperer)-the kids ate it up! I'll definitely do it again. :)



I've been working on a painting at home-it's going to be one of four (for the 4 seasons).

This will be either spring or summer (or fall!)-I want to paint the others before I decide. One will have a gray background (winter), one a blue and the last a pinky-plum color.


So I'm thinking of getting a tablet-but I need some help! What do I choose?

Galaxy or Ipad? (or something else?)

Regular size or Mini?

How many GBs? (I'm thinking 32, if possible)

Suggestions, comments, and opinions, please!

Have a great Friday!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Currently

Happy October!

Clock Partners

So I'm thinking of getting a tablet-but I need some help! What do I choose?

Galaxy or Ipad? (or something else?)

Regular size or Mini?

How many GBs? (I'm thinking 32, if possible)

Suggestions, comments, and opinions, please!

Thanks!

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn

Guided Reading: Organization

Welcome to my Guided Reading area!

I wanted to do a post about my organization and set up, since it is something I thought a lot about over the summer, as well as 'perfecting' what works for me over the years. You can read previous posts about Guided Reading here)

First up, my Guided Reading binder.  I've made a few modifications over the years, and streamlined it a bit.

Opening up

On the left pocket side, I have the Guided Reading Schedule, originals of my reading skills sheet and anecdotal records, and the Scholastic GR Level Wheel.

Traditional lesson plans don't work for me (I never fill them out), so I thought I'd try this-just recording the books and skills we've covered, so I have some idea where we've been and things we need to focus more on.

I use the 2 by 2 in. post-its-it's a little bigger that the 1/5 by 2, and gives me a little more room to write notes :)

I have my binder tabbed, with a reading skills sheet in the front of each group, and then anecdotal record sheets for all students in that group.

My last tab has hole punched copies of the reading skills sheet and anecdotal records, so I can easily replace when I run out.

I also have pockets to insert any papers I need to save.

The Snapshot was a freebie from here (although I don't use it for my kids-I just store it there! :)

Moving around to my supplies. I have a bin to hold supplies-it's a little sparse now, but I'll add in task cards and other things as we start practicing some different skills.

In my bin, I have a cup holding pens, trackers, highlighters and skinny post-its.

In the bin, I have a variety of post-its. Task cards/fluency cards will be added as we go.

Behind my chair, I have hooks holding the fluency task cards that I got from Teaching With A Mountain View.

On the desk on my left side, I have worksheets, books, and a handy place to hide things :)

I've labeled all of the pockets, and worksheets are grouped by skill. (I use a mix of my own and various other sellers that I've bought over the years). They have a label at the top (staggered so I can see what's what).

As well as on the front-with a cute illustration!

Joanne's awesome Reading Response Menus right up front!

I did put packing tape over all the labels-just to make sure they stayed stuck :)

I also have the resources I use often handy.

Frequently used strategies from The Next Step in Guided Reading

Bought from here and bound at Staples-added tabs for each different section.

And that's it! We have Guided Reading books that came leveled with our literacy series (and the GR books are pretty decent), as well as a book room I can pull from. Of course, I also have some sets of my own. :)

Smiles and Sunshine,
Kaitlyn