Reading Response Logs

Hi everyone,

Just got in from a super fun night! In celebration of Read Across America week, our school holds a Reader's Theatre for the entire school.  Teachers volunteer and perform a play for the students.  Little me got to be the BIG Billy Goat Gruff.  Tons of fun!  Anyways, I was reading over some of my students writing and I was reeeally impressed.

I HAD to share our Reading Response logs with you!  Everyday my kiddies read for 30 minutes.... They read 15 minutes during school and 15 minutes at home.  They choose 5 books everyday from leveled bins.  These books go EVERYWHERE with them.  The next morning they get to exchange for 5 more books at their level.  

After they choose their books, they place them in their "Book Bag".  This goes home with them every night.

If you look closely, you will see a reading log.  Parents sign it everynight after their child reads for 15 minutes.

I knew my firsties were ready for a weeeelitttle more.  I decided to have them respond to their writing.  I created three different pages of topics (fiction and nonfiction) they can choose from.  I stapled the page into their notebook and the writing began!

Take a look...

How awesome is that for first grade writing?  

Here's another.....

How stinkin' cute?

If this is how they are writing NOW, I can only imagine what it's going to be like after responding for two months!  

~Proud Teacher Moment~   :)

If you want to try using these Reading Response Logs, 

you can find them 

(here)

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Teaching,

Teresa

We were "Googley" over the 100th Day!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.  I went to visit my father in Virginia. Brrr, was it cold, but we had an awesome time hiking up to Lower Oak Falls.   Here is a sneak peak of my fiance and I at the falls.

We came home yesterday, just in time for the 100th Day of School.  We got a super cute idea off of Pinterest and created 100 Day Googley Monsters.  We counted eyes in groups of ten and then began to create our monsters.  Here's the finished product!

 The children and parents loved, loved, loved them!  They were so much fun!  Here's a little tip.  We used a piece of cardboard in between the shirts.  We also used fabric glue.  It did get messy!

We  read the super cute story, "Happy 100th Day!" by Susan Milord. 

We wrote about what we would look like when we were 100 years old and also found 100 words to write in the classroom.

What a great day! I can't wait to continue teaching the kiddies about President's Day this week.  They are super interested about the life and times of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  I created a President's Day Unit that covers all of that!  I even included two fact and opinion center games for them to play!  {Oh yeah, and it's on SALE} Yay!!

Have a good *fast* week!

~Teresa

We're Going On a Hike

Happy Monday All,

What some of you do not know about me is that my father lives in Virginia.  It is absolutely beautiful.  I am SUPER excited because my fiance and I will be visiting my dad this Friday.  Everytime we go, he takes us to Skyline Drive and we hike the trails and come across the waterfalls....and I looovvee waterfalls.  I was SO excited, and Virginia got the best of me.  I was inspired to create some centers that made me think of my pops.  Well, I came up with the unit, "We're Going On a Hike."

In this unit, I made sure to include both Math and Literacy Centers that you can use with different levels in your classroom.

Math focuses on: Comparing Numbers, Fact Families, Subtracting, Sequencing, and Counting.

Literacy focuses on: Matching CVC/CVCE words, homophones, punctuations, ABC Order, and two writing prompts.


Check it out, let me know what you think.  Is there a specific center you are looking for? If so, leave a comment and I'll make it.


I am just so happy that my teaching inspiration hit so close to home.  Well, I am going to pack for this weekend.  Can't wait to give my dad the biggest hug and go for a hike! HEHE.....  :)


Teresa

Bulletin Boards

Why hello there!     I sure feel like it's crunch time.  With that being said, we've been working on adding, subtracting, reading responses, letter writing, natural resources, oh my!  LOL....    BUT... we did find some time to make our Splat Cats.

And here is the finish product... TaDa!

  I have to say they were super excited about making them.  After we created our Splat Cats, we wrote letters to people we love.  We gave reasons as to why we loved them. {SIGH} ... They were too stinkin' cute!

"Dear Dad, I love you so much! I love you because you get me a lot of toys.  Happy Valentine's Day! Love, Youssef."

How adorable right? I was super proud of them and we haven't stopped yet!  Today we continued to write letters to our parents PERSUADING them to give us something really we want!  OH MY GOODNESS, they are so funny and I cannot wait to share.  We brainstormed some wants: a puppy, vacation, a flat-screen TV in our room (ha), a raise in allowance...lol and the list goes on.  Will the parents laugh or cry ...we will just have to wait and see :)

Oh yeah, before I finished my bulletin board, I did want to share our super cute 2013 Board.  Here ya go!

Ok, off to wedding plan.  Happy Teaching!

~Teresa

Winter's Here

The weather outside is  cold. LOL... and the kiddies are getting quite anxious.  Unfortunately, with weather conditions like this, we can go outside.  Therefore, they are a teeny bit stir crazy.  SOOOO I have been trying to get them excited about Seasonal Activities.  

I read them the book, "Love, Splat" by Rob Scotton... 

Oh my, too cute!  It's about a little black cat named Splat.  He has a crush on Kitten, but is too scared to give her his Valentine.  Of course their favorite part was when Kitten, "poked his belly and called him smelly."  Gotta love it! 

We practiced retelling, summarizing, identifying problems and solutions, and of course created our own Splat cats that I will be posting soon. 

 If you would like to see the unit, please click (here)

Did I ever tell you that I have  *The Best* class parents?  Every Friday, we do something called, "Fun Friday"............I have a parent volunteer who comes in for about an hour.  He or She reads a story to the class and then completes some sort of an activity.  

We had a parent come in and read, "Sneezy The Snowman" and they made **Almost** life size snowmen..... hehehe

Materials:

Poster board cut into 3 pieces

Three doilies in various sizes

Construction Paper

Glue

*Super Easy And Super Cute*

Thanks For Stopping By,

Teresa