Chrysanthemum and The Secret Knowledge of Grownups

Hello! My students and I are off to a good start! We spent the first month getting our procedures and expectations going. I have some chatty cheetahs, but my students look out for each other and so far are working well. 

 One of the ways I like to introduce a new book is through a picture walk and jot. I'm using Chrysanthemum by Kevin Henkes for today and tomorrow's focus. I have these giant post it notes that my grandparents had bought me at a garage sale. Seriously, these things are huge. Here's a link to staples for reference! My kids were impressed! Anyway, I make a copy of different illustrations from the book and glue one on each post-it. For this activity I made 6 different post-its. The focus on this activity was looking at the illustration and writing a jot. It could have been a question, a thought, a comment, or a prediction. Each group starts with a different one and they have 2 minutes to write all around the post-it. At the end of two minutes, I grab the post-it poster no matter what and switch to the next group. The time limit keeps the students moving and ensures that they are actually working. When they get the 2nd post-it, they have the option of  giving their own thought, commenting or answering another thought, or writing their own question. Switch at 2 minutes.

 Even though most of the students had heard or read this story, they didn't really get the chance before to investigate or question what was in the pictures. They were anxious to get to the next picture and were super focused to get their thoughts out.

The posters look really cool with marker graffiti all around the picture.

We ran out of time today, but tomorrow we will take a look at some of the comments and questions they came up with looking at the illustrations.

 Tomorrow's focus will be how the author uses the illustrations to affect the mood of the story. I will be posting pictures once we are finished!







The second lesson I wanted to share was a Writing Lesson to start the juices flowing for the kids in a fun way.
Have you ever read THE SECRET KNOWLEDGE OF GROWNUPS ?It is a hilariously funny book about the REAL reasons grown-ups create rules for "us" kids. It really is a fun read and the students really get in to it. Starting at this new school I've gone back to teaching the 6+1 traits of writing. I found that this lesson is a good one to use when talking about ideas because the students can take a rule they hear all of the time in their own lives and provide a funny twist. They get to think about their personal lives and also incorporate some fantasy.

After I used the story as an interactive read-aloud, I tasked the students with thinking about the rules in their own houses. Once they chose their rule, they had to write the "official" grown-up reason for the rule. That's the "story" that grown-ups use to trick the kids into listening. The students then had to write the "truth". The crazy, made-up, fantastical story that the grown-ups keep from kids.
We took this writing assignment step-by-step. Pre-write-listing out different rules and what the crazy story behind them could be, Drafting, Revising, Editing, and Final Copies.
The final copies are being put on tan construction paper and then crumbled to look like the files in the book. The second page of their writing will be lighter colored construction paper.

The students really took this assignment and ran with it! I get a look at some of their expectations at home, and get a glimpse of their imaginations!
 I can't wait for them to finish put here is the start of the finals!

This was is my cover! I was always told to get off my toes and walk flat to not hurt my legs. BUT the REAL reason was so I...........

Didn't float away!!!! HAHAHAHA! 

Clean off the table or the table will EAT YOU! 

These kids are off to a great start writing and I cannot wait to see the fantastical stories they come up with!

Classroom decorating part 2

I don't know about ya'll but this first month of school has been a whirlwind. I'm not sure I remember much of it! 

We also just returned from Hurricane Irma. Luckily for us, it swerved big time but my heart does go out to those who were more directly in her path. I did have some time before we lost power that I really tried to get ahead. I feel pretty successful that so I gathered the pictures I have been taking with the kids the last month. 

***Side note: I LOVE my students. They are so great, and I can tell we are going to be able to do some awesome things this year. 

I promised that I would finish my classroom decorating post first so here it is! 

Love my class library! Notice Spiderman is guarding my books this year, but he does want you to get "Caught up in a good book!" 

Batman says,"Even I wash my hands!"

These two studs will be guarding my room this year! May they be the protectors of knowledge! 

Finished Bulletin Board. I love how easy it is for us to see who has what job. The only down side is the positive clip-ups are really too high for the students to move their own clips up. 

My hall way clips. The students can easily switch out their work! 

I actually found the red, white, and blue wreath down the clearance aisle at Walmart after the 4th of July for $4! I printed the Superman logo out and stuck it in the middle. The kids think I'm so cool! 

Clearly my little one is tired of being a teacher's kid already! Sorry Z, you and Mommy have a long way to go! 

My 3rd grade partners and I are ready to go!!!!!!

Almost forgot! My kids came bearing gifts! A cute flower pot filled with cake pop apples! YUM!
One parent brought me a stack of colored paper AND card stock! 😍

Classroom decorating Part 1

It's that time of year again! That time of year when every classroom teacher is heading back into the classroom to pull everything out of the cabinets, take stock and inventory, and DECORATE! That, of course, is my favorite and with having a new classroom again this year, I wanted to add  some cute things to my new room. I also have those sweet little third graders this year and I think they will love what I have in store. 

This will actually be a two part post. This post will be about classroom decorating but the one being rolled out after will be about flexible seating (although the seats are in my color scheme!). (I came back to this about half way through writing this post to update that this will probably be a 3 parter.)

I came into a pretty blank classroom, but that is more than fine with me! I started by just adding the various super hero borders on my bulletin board and the ugly push pin strips around the room. Not much done at the time but it was a start. 

The frames above the bulletin board are also Super hero themed! 

Complete with Baby's artwork!

I then started adding little details to the room! I painted the paintings about 5 years ago for the 1st year I did a superhero theme when there wasn't ANYthing in the teacher stores. (Of course original artwork is by Marvel Comics and DC comics. These are just replicas I created.) 

I added the calendar and my jobs board to my bulletin board. 

I found this cute little rug to put in front of my class sink at TARGET!! 

Next, I LOVE to craft and make things and I had some old desk chairs that I have brought with me all through my transitions. I had covered them once before in some random fabric I had but decided to give them a SUPER face lift! I bought the fabric from Walmart. It actually took less than a yard of each fabric! 

They turned out so great and I bet I can get the kids to want to earn the "Teacher's chair" coupon! 

I randomly bought and "E" on sale at Hobby lobby and thought I would use it for my last name as a decoration, but in the middle of telling my hubby my plan, it dawned on me that some "READ" letters would be really cute. So after a second trip to Hobby Lobby, I created my READ letters which will go above my classroom library! 

I used Hodge Podge as the adhesive and put random items on the letter while they dried. 

Final Result! Turned out so good!! Again, thank you  Marvel and DC for your amazing characters!

I made this little number to go on my door at school! Got to love the GLITTER! 

Lastly for tonight, I wanted a new treasure box to house my prizes but all ready made ones were so expensive or way too small. I finally went to the storage section in Walmart and found a bin I like for around $4. I used some 1/4 yard squares and created a collage like affect for the outside. The kids won't be able to see inside it so it will have some mystery and it looks better than the cardboard box that my treasure box was all for under $10! 

See ya'll later! 

Oh before I go, I'm just gonna leave this little guy right here. 

Holy Back to School Shopping Batman!!

                                            
Hubby, Baby, and I went Back to School Shopping! Baby is 2 1/2 but for the first time starting daycare this week! She had her own list of school items to have so that was the main purpose today. Being that she has never been in daycare before, we are a little nervous about her going. We're hoping having her pick out all of her school stuff will help get her excited about going to school Tuesday.
We're fortunate that we will be able to ease her into going to daycare full time in August by letting her go two days a week for the next month. Once I start school at the beginning of August her grandparents (amazingly) will watch her the other 3 days a week until she goes full time.

Given the choices a lot of Paw Patrol was chosen!

She picked out a chevron blue dress, Paw Patrol bib catchers, and a 5 piece Rainbow book bag (Walmart). 

Paw Patrol throw blanket and sheet set for nap time! (Nap mat not shown: Walmart) 

 I'd be lying if I said I didn't get little butterflies at the thought of Baby going to "school" but I know she's going to love it too! She's very social and loves to learn!

Then it was time for Mommy to get some school stuff and I found some GREAT deals!

Every teacher needs Sharpies! The fine pack w/ prisma-color colored pencils were $5! Plus a Spiderman poster that will debut in my Reading Corner (will post final product)! (Walmart) 

 We actually started today at Target and found some killer clearance deals that will serve a purpose in my room this year!

These "Superman" blue woven placemats were 90% off making them $.29 each! I'm not too sure what I'm going to do with them yet. I got 6 of them and I am thinking something to do with small groups, or maybe at the computer station somehow. 

Come on, we all know the superhero blue and red! These are going to be cute decorations in my room and I got them each for $.50! 

I found these awesome book bins in One Spot (the $1, $3, and $5 spot at the front of every Target store) for $3 each. They will either be in the library, the supply cabinet, or group bins. Either way, they are perfect! 

Who knew Target had stuff like this?! I was looking at one at the teacher store for $16.99, but this one was $4.99! (Normally, I do shop the local teacher store but I had to save the money  here.)  

Been looking for a Lesson plan book and I love how this not only also includes a class record section for grades, but it also matches my personal planner! I do write my lesson plans digitally, but it helps me to map everything out on paper first!