tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24544018841601127302024-03-12T18:01:04.589-05:00Third Grade & Lovin' Itthe adventures in room 14Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-61652977243453285512014-11-02T14:00:00.000-06:002014-11-02T14:00:08.038-06:00I'm baaaacccckkkkk......with November {CURRENTLY}!!!<span style="font-size: x-large;">WOW!!!! It has been forever and a day since I've blogged! Now, before you judge me.....take a look at my excuse....</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gdfk2_FrDwI/VFaI1xC9okI/AAAAAAAANoE/hvykFngnL10/s1600/IMG_20141101_133613.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Gdfk2_FrDwI/VFaI1xC9okI/AAAAAAAANoE/hvykFngnL10/s1600/IMG_20141101_133613.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Is he not just THE cutest baby. EVER? It seems that between baby Jaxon, my 2 year old, Jaci and my 11....soon to be 12 year old, Caitlyn.....I just fell out of the blogosphere. But, fear not.....I have returned.....at least for a bit.....to link up with <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/">Farley</a> for some <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2014/11/currently-november.html">November Currently</a>. I have missed this :) </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aBhmuoKweRE/VFaLC4-y8ZI/AAAAAAAANoU/GH56p3jQIn0/s1600/November%2BCurrently.jpg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aBhmuoKweRE/VFaLC4-y8ZI/AAAAAAAANoU/GH56p3jQIn0/s1600/November%2BCurrently.jpg.png" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Listening: It's Sunday. As always, I am listening to the hubs watch the Cowboys. This will never change. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Loving: The weather in Texas has been awesome! We've been in the 60's or 70's for over a month. It's heavenly!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Thinking: I've missed blogging! Me and my kiddos have been up to soooo much. I can't wait to share it all with you guys :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Wanting: STARBUCKS!!! This is my addiction. I don't smoke, I don't drink (heavily.....ha!), and I don't do drugs. Starbucks is my one and only guilty pleasure. And the red, holiday cups are out...which I {love}!! It officially begins the holiday season for me! </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o5WZwi3kxtQ/VFaMCz-OZkI/AAAAAAAANoc/8cU0aLS0hJQ/s1600/starbucks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o5WZwi3kxtQ/VFaMCz-OZkI/AAAAAAAANoc/8cU0aLS0hJQ/s1600/starbucks.jpg" height="256" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Needing: Every weekend, our eating schedule is a bit off. We eat breakfast late, which causes us to combine lunch and dinner.....almost always. I need to get started cooking the enchiladas....yuuuummmmmm!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Reading: I'm in a leadership training with my district. As some of you know, I graduated with my Master's in May, and I'm looking to move into administration soon. The book we are reading is entitled, "Now, Discover Your Strengths". Not a bad read at all. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I hope you are all having a fabulous Sunday Funday. I hope to be back soon, letting you in on all the fabulous things we've been doing in room 14! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep living the dream, </span><br />
<img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/mandi/sig_zps1b1bdc81.png" />Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-16417973607560834262014-03-09T16:04:00.000-05:002014-03-09T16:05:19.319-05:00They are finally gettin' it, y'all! <span style="font-size: x-large;">Oh....mi.....word! I have not blogged since November 2, 2013. You must've thought that I had fallen and become trapped underneath something too heavy to lift......or that I had died.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">FEAR NOT!!! Nothing of the sort happened......I just found out that we are going to be having a {baby}.....OMG......so I've been exhausted.....on top of the normal exhaustion that every teacher experiences every.single.day! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now.....the new addition to our little family IS good news, but not quite the good news that I wanted to share with you today. The good news is........</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">MY KIDS ARE FINALLY GETTIN' IT, Y'ALL!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We have been taking practice STAAR (our state mandated test, State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness) tests and they are SOOOO getting it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">You know that panic that sets in, around January/February, after you've taken a simulation of some sort and your kids didn't do as well as you had hoped and you begin thinking, "They are never going to get this!!!" or "What is wrong with me? Why aren't my kids learning?" OR.....the worse self-talk in the book....."I'm the {WORST} teacher......EVER!!!"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Well......that fear/panic/feeling-that-makes-you-want-to-give-up-and-work-at-Dillards came over me in January, after our simulations. I didn't know what to do. I felt like I was doing a good job, and overall, the kids were doing a good job in class. I knew I was providing consistent time and energy into problem solving for math and I knew that I was devoting time to book club AND guided reading. I was TERRIFIED that I wasn't doing something right. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">THEN.....we took another practice test in February, and ALL my kids passed the math test and 94% passed the reading!!! WHOO HOO!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I was finally feeling like we were making some real gains. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">THEN.....we took another practice test in March... (yes, this seems like a lot of assessing, but we have to build their stamina to be ready for a 46 question, 4-hour assessment that's coming in April). </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">In this assessment.....(and they are getting harder each time), 94% passed math and 88% passed the reading. They are doing SOOOOOO well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I say this to you because I know how we all feel this time of year. It's such a stressful time and we are all incredibly worried that our kids are not going to be ready by the time they need to be ready.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">THEY. WILL. BE. READY........I promise!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">It's like one day, the light bulb came on.....and now, there's no stopping us. I keep raising my expectations and they keep meeting them. My first expectation was a score of 70, then 75, and now 80 and the majority of my class hits that mark on each assessment. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">They are such little brilliant, hard-working geniuses!!! Love my kiddos!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">P.S. I am starting Charlotte's Web for our book club when we come back for spring break and my kids could NOT be more excited about it. I promise to blog about how that goes.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Enjoy your Spring Break (and if you're not on Spring Break yet....hang in there.....it's just around the corner!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span><br />
<img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/mandi/sig_zps1b1bdc81.png" />Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-31742502535267166392013-11-02T14:41:00.005-05:002013-11-02T14:41:57.945-05:00November {CURRENTLY}<span style="font-size: x-large;">What up, teacher peeps?!?!?!?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I am linkin' up with Farley from <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/">Oh' Boy 4th Grade</a> for this month's {CURRENTLY}! I haven't linked up with Farley in quite a while and I have missed it....oh-so-much :)</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LRVMBRoZYiQ/UnVSMKMAzyI/AAAAAAAACvM/4Q-Ycb-ud48/s1600/November+finished.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LRVMBRoZYiQ/UnVSMKMAzyI/AAAAAAAACvM/4Q-Ycb-ud48/s640/November+finished.png" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Listening- as I am typing, my youngest daughter, Jaci, is napping and my oldest daughter, Caitlyn, is giving us a concert in the kitchen. She's the next American Idol!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Loving- the fall! Enough said! I love the colors, the smells, and THE FOOD :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Thinking- about my graduate school internship hours (principalship). I need 135 hours this semester. The hours in my classroom do not count, so I must do 135 extra hours above my normally busy schedule. Good times...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Wanting- to sit down (with no papers to grade, no lessons to plan, no articles to read) and do NOTHING!! (maybe watch some Big Bang Theory).....but there is too much to be done :(</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Needing- to figure out what I want to do in my Reading/Language Arts block. I am trying something new this week. I will post about it later...if it works ;)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Yummy Pin- that small picture doesn't do this cupcake justice. Here's the big pic!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/39195459230313465/"><img alt="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/39195459230313465/" border="0" height="425" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S_ZV-j4npOU/UnVVMgAbY2I/AAAAAAAACvY/pI3QxHMDmLU/s640/11ff6f9a7edb1033326d365b34dd2318.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Delish, right?? It's a pumpkin spice cupcake with salted caramel frosting!! Once you stop drooling, follow the link by clicking the pic and you can make your very own (and then call me over to taste test!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Have a good one ya'll!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span><br />
<img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/mandi/sig_zps1b1bdc81.png" />Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-82795972282607583902013-10-20T12:07:00.001-05:002013-10-20T12:07:20.817-05:00Classroom Pics & Book Club<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hey there! I know that I've been a bad blogger lately, but I've come to share a few things with you in hopes that you will forgive my absenteeism :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I realize that it's October now and that this classroom reveal is a bit tardy, but what the heck.....I'll show you the pics anyway!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bE0E9VJeRHw/UmP_2BI9-QI/AAAAAAAACtM/-6FtlRQXKi8/s1600/IMAG5365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bE0E9VJeRHw/UmP_2BI9-QI/AAAAAAAACtM/-6FtlRQXKi8/s640/IMAG5365.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">View from the door, looking left</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C4RGc2F4y9k/UmP_sMp9d7I/AAAAAAAACtE/-khLi3mGMNU/s1600/IMAG5366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C4RGc2F4y9k/UmP_sMp9d7I/AAAAAAAACtE/-khLi3mGMNU/s640/IMAG5366.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">View from the door, looking straight</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zi8IpPPzLEE/UmQAVnpIGZI/AAAAAAAACtc/9wrQSv7ISfo/s1600/IMAG5369.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zi8IpPPzLEE/UmQAVnpIGZI/AAAAAAAACtc/9wrQSv7ISfo/s640/IMAG5369.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Classroom Job chart</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JAPZMKQoCSI/UmQAWC_0PZI/AAAAAAAACtg/-6Q7HewZV_Y/s1600/IMAG5370.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JAPZMKQoCSI/UmQAWC_0PZI/AAAAAAAACtg/-6Q7HewZV_Y/s640/IMAG5370.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whole Brain Teaching posters</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z-Jnrnn_ewA/UmQAYajFaPI/AAAAAAAACts/yB2tAWou1gw/s1600/IMAG5375.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z-Jnrnn_ewA/UmQAYajFaPI/AAAAAAAACts/yB2tAWou1gw/s640/IMAG5375.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My small group table</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pv4AYvmD3Xk/UmQA4a-OG_I/AAAAAAAACt8/ZCUmW3yvXto/s1600/IMAG5376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pv4AYvmD3Xk/UmQA4a-OG_I/AAAAAAAACt8/ZCUmW3yvXto/s640/IMAG5376.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our Writing Corner, mailboxes, and 7 Habits posters</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qrUaMTZXX_o/UmQA4kbYXjI/AAAAAAAACuA/KvlDf2qZL6c/s1600/IMAG5378.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qrUaMTZXX_o/UmQA4kbYXjI/AAAAAAAACuA/KvlDf2qZL6c/s640/IMAG5378.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our Bulletin Board (it's full of anchor charts now....but that's another post)</span> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B88JC1DbuUw/UmQA2Pu9sRI/AAAAAAAACt0/lcBQilT07d8/s1600/IMAG5379.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B88JC1DbuUw/UmQA2Pu9sRI/AAAAAAAACt0/lcBQilT07d8/s640/IMAG5379.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A little bit of me</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TlR4UcEkSYk/UmQBCBlmbNI/AAAAAAAACuM/iJ4MOnPKKKk/s1600/IMAG5380.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TlR4UcEkSYk/UmQBCBlmbNI/AAAAAAAACuM/iJ4MOnPKKKk/s640/IMAG5380.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My desk</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now, on to more important things! I had a few teacher peeps ask me about how I run book club and I wanted to share what I've done so far. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Let me preface this by saying that you can totally tweak this to make it work for your kiddos. It's a lot like literature circles, only I made the changes I needed to make for my students. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">In 3rd grade, we don't so much teach kids to read, but how to understand and manipulate what they have already read. Having said that, I don't do guided reading (per my principal), so book club was my choice of applying my reading instruction. I have focus lessons where we work on specific skills, but book club is their chance to apply those skills :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here's how I started:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I chose one book at first, Judy Moody, and I met with each group, separately, while the others were in Daily 5 stations. </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XwwRb89JuLE/UmQHR0es3RI/AAAAAAAACug/6Xo6TGy6VcI/s1600/JM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XwwRb89JuLE/UmQHR0es3RI/AAAAAAAACug/6Xo6TGy6VcI/s320/JM.png" width="238" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I did this mostly because I only had 6 copies of the book and this allowed me to have a copy and each member of the group to have a copy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This is where I taught them about book club. What it looks like, what it sounds like, and how it's run. We read this book, as a class, but in groups, and they got a taste of what I wanted book club to become. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We did prediction activities, comprehension activities after each chapter, vocabulary activities.....whatever I wanted them to get out of the book, we did! Some of the activities I found on TpT, some of them I made. I know that with Judy Moody, I bought three different units on TpT and combined them to make what I wanted for my kiddos.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now, I have my kiddos divided into groups, by reading ability and each group has a different book. I have 19 kids, so I have 4 groups (3 groups of 5 and one group of 4). </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T5nsFxX_564/UmQInRg3dZI/AAAAAAAACuo/ZQr6URWG7Jk/s1600/image.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T5nsFxX_564/UmQInRg3dZI/AAAAAAAACuo/ZQr6URWG7Jk/s320/image.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">This allows my higher readers to read more and read at their pace without becoming frustrated. And this also allows my struggling readers to feel less pressure, because they are grouped with other readers who read at their pace and their level. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Each group has a different packet......that I put together. They will use this packet for the entire book. This packet contains work on the specific skills that we have covered (compare/contrast, sequencing, making predictions, etc.), and it always has comprehension questions. I keep the books and the packets together in a colored tray/box (different colors for each group) and the kids know that when I say it's time for book club, they need to gather their materials, {cop a squat} and get busy :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I am lucky enough to have a special education teacher in my room for about an hour and a half each day. Of course, this is when I schedule book club!!! She sits with my strugglers and keeps them on task and occasionally reads a page or two to keep them on track and to help with fluency and comprehension. This frees me up to run around to my other 3 groups and check in on them and read some, too! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I do book club for about 30-40 minutes each day. Usually, that's just long enough for them to get their stuff, find a spot, document what they're doing for the day and read a chapter (sometimes they get done with the reading and do the comprehension questions, sometimes they don't). </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Each group is at a different point in their book and in their book work, and that's ok. I check in with each group and I know where they are, what they did the day before and what they should have done by the end of their book club session.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Unlike literature circles, I don't assign jobs. Each person is responsible for reading, with the group, and contributing to the discussion and helping to answer the discussion questions. At the end of the book, the group will have to share with the class what they read (like a book report, but better!). They will have their choices as to how they want to present, but each member has to participate and they will also get to grade each other on their participation within the book club.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So far, my kiddos love it! Here's a pic of them working in book club this week.....</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m3yvgyoVo8E/UmQKxYivNRI/AAAAAAAACuw/sKgCgmSfJUM/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m3yvgyoVo8E/UmQKxYivNRI/AAAAAAAACuw/sKgCgmSfJUM/s400/photo.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We haven't finished our first book yet, but when we do, I'll be sure to share how they presented/shared their book with the class.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I hope you're enjoying your weekend and I hope this was helpful :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Livin' the dream, </span><br />
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<img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/mandi/sig_zps1b1bdc81.png" /></div>
Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-48026393148171936632013-09-29T14:15:00.001-05:002013-09-29T14:15:36.206-05:00I {LOVE} Fall, Y'all !!!<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hello, sweet friends......I hope you have found some time during your weekend to relax and enjoy some calm. I have not.....yet.....but calm is on the horizon! After this blog post, I'm gonna grab some papers and watch the Cowboys game with the hubs. (Yes, I count grading as relaxing {kind of} because at least I get to sit still!!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">First, let me just say.....that I {LoVe} fall!!! I love the colors, I love the smells, I love the food, and I love pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks!!! It's an all-around-good-time!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">BUUUUTTTTT.....more than I love all of that.....I love fall décor! I went to Hobby Lobby this weekend (without my husband.....deliberately) and bought Halloween decorations. His first question to me was, "How much money did you spend?".....he he :) Men.....no vision.....no creativity....but, oh well! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here is a little peek at my ~awesomely spooky~ finds :) </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EDm8a2cNTw0/Ukh19E33yaI/AAAAAAAACsY/JDjgaAgQ_OU/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EDm8a2cNTw0/Ukh19E33yaI/AAAAAAAACsY/JDjgaAgQ_OU/s1600/photo.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">And then, I found this *perfect* Halloween garland at Wal-Mart.....it was destiny.....I had to buy it! </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--saTKJnRQVc/Ukh3ks7zC-I/AAAAAAAACsk/XVrkZmwcRJA/s1600/garland.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--saTKJnRQVc/Ukh3ks7zC-I/AAAAAAAACsk/XVrkZmwcRJA/s1600/garland.JPG" height="400" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now, on to more teacher-related craziness......</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The day after I made my post about how I do ELA (with Daily 5 and Journeys), my team members and I (it was a group decision) decided that we would rather teach in units or themes. We all thought that with a theme or unit, we could extend the learning into all subjects. Example: We did Johnny Appleseed last week, so not only did we read about Johnny Appleseed and write about Johnny Appleseed, but we also learned about the life cycle of an apple tree and it's seasons. We also did some work with maps and timelines that involved Johnny Appleseed's life and where he moved and planted trees along the northeast. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Needless to say, we were drenched in Johnny Appleseed all week long, in all of our subjects and it seemed like the days just flowed better, ya know? We weren't jumping around from one subject to another (at least it didn't feel that way), but rather simply connecting our knowledge across the curriculum. I truly enjoyed it and the kids did too! They were Johnny Appleseed experts by the time we were through. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">With our math, it was simple. We added apples to whatever it was were learning. If I gave them a word problem, it was still 3rd grade math, but it involved orchards and apples instead of whatever other boring nouns we normally find in word problems (books, pencils, etc)!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">There is one downside to doing themes/units, though......not all of my kiddos have the same book. What I mean is, with Journeys.....we were all reading the same book. The kids got to see and hear the same book, day after day.....and my struggling readers really needed that help with their fluency. When I taught Johnny Appleseed last week, I didn't have a class set of books. I read from a fiction and non-fiction book and we discussed a lot.....but my low babies that needed to hear and see that same story over and over....didn't get that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Sooooo......I've decided to do both. No. I'm not crazy. Hear me out.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We are going to read our Journeys story each morning, like we have been (I talked about this in an <a href="http://thirdgradeandlovinit.blogspot.com/2013/09/how-i-do-reading-and-daily-5.html">earlier post</a>). But I'm only devoting 20 minutes a day to it. The kids will still get that extra fluency practice and we will test our comprehension on Friday, but that's all I'm doing with it. After we read the story and spend a few minutes discussing key points, we will move on to our unit/theme and really dig into that. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">My hope is that this will help my kiddos who struggle with fluency and still test all of my kiddos on their comprehension. Any thoughts?? I know I have some expert teachers out there who know more than I do :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm off to go "relax" and grade some papers! Have a fabulous week and enjoy this awesome autumn that we're having :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span><br />
<img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/mandi/sig_zps1b1bdc81.png" />Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-62685945345422189212013-09-16T18:52:00.000-05:002013-09-16T18:52:51.968-05:00How I do Reading and Daily 5<span style="font-size: x-large;">Well, look at me......bloggin' 2 days in a row. Woot Woot!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">As I was getting ready for the day yesterday, it occurred to me (as I know it has already occurred to many of you) that if I post what I'm doing BEFORE I do it (instead of after- like I usually do), then you may be able to use/do some of the same things........DUH!! Why haven't I done this before. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So, in light of this new revelation.......here is a peak at my week in reading and Daily 5.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>**Reading**</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">As mentioned yesterday, we use Journey's as our basal. We read a story a week (this week, we are on Lesson 3, <u>Destiny's Gift</u>) and do different activities with it throughout the week. Here is how I break it down:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><u>Mondays</u></em>- we listen to it on CD (because sometimes it's just fun to hear someone else's voice) while the kids follow along in their student books. Then we discuss/I teach the vocabulary and target skills. This coming week, the target skills happen to be character traits and antonyms. With Journey's, there are 100 different things they want you to teach in a week. I focus on a target skill in reading (character traits) and one in grammer/writing/language arts (antonyms). We will eventually hit them all, so only doing 2 a week gives me time to really focus on the 2 main target skills.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Since today is the day I introduce character traits, I will use the wonderfully amazing and perfect product from Nicole Shelby over at <a href="http://www.teachingwithblondeambition.blogspot.com/">Teaching with Blonde Ambition</a>. If you haven't started using her interactive journals yet, I highly suggest you jump on that bandwagon and ride it 'til the cows come home. I have the one for 3rd grade reading and language arts. She has made them for <strong>both</strong> subjects for <u><strong>3rd, 4th, and 5th</strong></u>. They. rock. my. WORLD!!!!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/3rd-Grade-Reading-Interactive-Notebook-aligned-with-the-Common-Core-747538"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i47VwPGmdbg/UjX3UHeOVXI/AAAAAAAACqk/65U8C30cr50/s1600/Slide001.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">She has a section in this notebook dedicated to characters and we did this today. Amazing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><u>Tuesdays</u></em>- I read the story to the kiddos as they follow along in their student books. I stop along the way and model my thinking as I read. They just listen. After we read, we discuss the vocabulary again. We use them in a sentence. We practice. We also review what an antonym is. I will give them a word, they give me the antonym. This is a quick review (they will have work in their word work stations on Monday and Tuesday that dive a little deeper into antonyms). Then, I ask them the discussion questions and we talk about the story. The very nature of these questions are a review of character traits, so this fits right in. I ask the question, give them 30 seconds to talk it over, then each table shares with the class. There is always a sense of urgency in room 14. We've got lots to do, and not enough time to do it :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><em>Wednesdays</em></u>- They read the book themselves, with their tables. The team captain starts them off by reading a page, then they go in a circle, each person reading a page. I like this arrangement because it promotes fluency. By this time in the week, they have heard the story twice, from fluent readers and have an idea on how the flow of the story goes. I give them 10-12 minutes to read the story. If they get done before all the groups are finished, then they review the vocabulary as a group. We then have a small review over antonyms. What are they? They give me examples.....this is short. Then, as a whole group, we do a "go-chart" together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">A "go-chart" is something that many of you have seen before and probably use. It's the "triangle, square, circle" chart. Our 4th graders used it last year, consistently, and their scores were OUTSTANDING on our state assessments, so we really wanted to create a consistency between the STAAR (our state test) grades in using this "go-chart". Here is what it looks like. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1rgmHFOUk0/UjeX8Wv_GfI/AAAAAAAACrk/HXGtYGO091k/s1600/go+chart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y1rgmHFOUk0/UjeX8Wv_GfI/AAAAAAAACrk/HXGtYGO091k/s1600/go+chart.png" height="320" width="203" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The one we use in class is much prettier.....I made this one in 5 seconds so you could get the idea.</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">In the triangle, we put the characters on the left, the setting on the right, and the problem on the bottom line of the triangle. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><em>*this week, we will take a little more time on characters to discuss, again, more about character traits</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">In the square, we put the summary, the Beginning, Middle, and End.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">In the circle, we put the solution to the problem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We do this whole group, every Wednesday, for every story we read. For the first 6 weeks, I will do this with them. After that, I will expect them to do this on their own during this time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><u>Thursdays</u></em>- They read in pairs. I pair them up very purposefully. I never put two struggling readers together. This is a good time for my struggling readers to hear, yet again, a fluent reader. Then, after they finish, we all come together to discuss the story for a final time before we test tomorrow. We will review the target skills (character traits and antonyms) and discuss the vocabulary one more time. By this time in the week, they should know the story backwards and forwards.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><em>Fridays</em></u>- They read the text one last time, independently. I give them about 10 minutes. Then, they have a test over comprehension, vocabulary and antonyms.......20 question total. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">**<strong>Daily 5**</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The rotations that I have for Daily 5 are: Read to Self, Work on Writing, Read to Teacher (book club), Word Work and Listen to Reading.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Owl-Daily-5-Posters-283153" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ko8kyzJFv7Y/UjYAlwKuUBI/AAAAAAAACq0/jOBb5NTBg1w/s1600/Daily+5+pic.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This was a {freebie} from </span><a href="http://secondgradediscoveries.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: small;">Second Grade Discoveries</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">. Click on the pic and it'll take ya right to her store!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><em>Read to Self</em></u>- My kiddos have a book box with their number on it and "good fit" books just for them. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Book-Box-Labels-1-30-Set-5-792399" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q3vLmlUXtyY/UjYB7bqngHI/AAAAAAAACrU/qm1CNJ1iVvY/s1600/IMAG5252_1.jpg" height="188" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I got the book box labels for $1 on TpT. Just click on the pic!</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">They have 2 chapter books, a picture book, and one book from our school library. Our reading curriculum, Journey's, has vocabulary readers that come with each lesson. I have the kiddos keep a vocabulary reader in their book box so that they can see the vocabulary, in context, in another story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><u>Work on Writing</u></em>- Right now, this station is for "reading response" type of writing. We work on writing summaries, problem/solution, cause/effect, etc. I am using my Writer's Workshop time right now to go over the basics of writing (periods, capitals, spacing, etc.) so we aren't writing stories just yet. When I do finally get my Writer's Workshop up and going, my "Work on Writing" station will be an extension of Writer's Workshop. Did that make any sense?!?!?!?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><em>Read with Teacher</em></u>- This is where my kiddos come to me and we do book club . I <a href="http://www.thirdgradeandlovinit.blogspot.com/2013/09/hello-all-i-finally-feel-like-i-have-my.html">posted</a> about that yesterday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><u>Word Work</u></em>- Here is where my kiddos work on spelling/vocabulary/and whatever else I need them working on :) This week.....they will work on antonyms over at this station. On Monday and Tuesday, we will work on antonyms. I have a few recording sheets where they have to look at a picture and give me the antonym to the picture. They will have to write sentences using the antonyms of the images that I give them. Any practice with that skill will be in this station. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">On Wednesdays and Thursdays, we always do our spelling sentences. I am a HUGE believer in the power of handwriting. I won't get on my soapbox, but I will just tell you that there is TONS and TONS of <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704631504575531932754922518.html">research about what handwriting does to the brain</a>. Our kids need to be writing, using their spelling words, if we have any hope of them remembering them, and using them later. I realize it sounds old school, and not so "cutesy", but it's proven to work. And my kids are rockin' those spelling tests!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">On Fridays, I don't do Daily 5, because we are assessing and doing our "Poem of the Week".</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><u>Listen to Reading</u></em>- I am such a fan of this station (and not just because it takes no prep time from me.....although that does sweeten the deal a bit). </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Kids need to hear fluent readers. They need to hear the structure of the English language and what good reading sounds like. I always have 2-3, sometimes more, ESL kiddos in my classroom and this station moves mountains!! Just hearing the language does so much for their vocabulary and their acquisition of the English language.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">My kids listen to Scholastic <a href="http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/bookflixfreetrial/">BookFlix</a> or <a href="http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/customer_login.asp">TumbleBooks</a> during this station. It's simply books on the computer. They follow along on the screen, seeing the words as the narrator reads and they listen with headphones. Easy peasy! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Whew.....that was a long one, but I hope it helps :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span><br />
<img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/mandi/sig_zps1b1bdc81.png" />Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-12404235739122878282013-09-15T12:24:00.001-05:002013-09-15T12:25:54.794-05:00Book club & TpT love!!<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hello all!!!!! I finally feel like I have my head a little bit above water, so I thought I'd catch my breath and blog about it :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I can't believe the first 3 weeks of school have already come and gone!! We have been crazy busy in room 14......we are being pushed to teach "bell to bell" and let me tell ya.....I'm doing just that. We are late dismissing every day, but we are soaking up every bit of instructional time that we have. I. am. POOPED!!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">On a more lively note......let me just say.....I {love} TpT!!! What would I do without it???? I have never taught 3rd grade ELA & Reading before......only math and science. And this is still my first time teaching the first semester of math and science (I moved midyear, last year.....remember???), so this is ALL new to me. BUT.....thank goodness, I am surrounded by teaching geniuses......both at school and in the blogosphere :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Not that I'm one to follow or imitate, because I have NO idea what I'm doing.....but I will give you a little glimpse of what we've been up to in room 14.......and all the great resources I found on TpT that {LITERALLY} saved my life :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">First of all, in ELA, we use Journey's as our basal. Of course, we add to it......make it better and differentiate for our kiddos. I also use Daily 5, so......after we read our story (whole group), the writing station and word work station in Daily 5 always link back to the story that we have read in Journey's. In my "Work on Writing" station, we are using this **fabulous** creation from Nicole Shelby over at </span><a href="http://teachingwithblondeambition.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Teaching with Blonde Ambition</span></a><span style="font-size: x-large;">. It's perfect....especially when we are really trying to build a foundation of "responding to our reading". I want my kiddos writing about what we are reading (for now)......and this baby does just that!!!!</span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/45-Reading-Response-Sheets-for-Common-Core-Standards-233827"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--GfNHsfWXPo/Uit4EMyzzMI/AAAAAAAACo8/WSEsf9FO4mo/s1600/nicole+shelby+45+reading+response.PNG" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Then, in our "Word Work" station, we work on our spelling words from our story for the week. Luckily, I found the entire 3rd grade Journey's spelling lists on TpT!!!! Perfection!!!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/HM-Journeys-Spelling-Lists-Grade-3-847868"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--xhFA9BgLEo/Uit5ZfSOQzI/AAAAAAAACpM/uQRULR7_PCE/s1600/untitled.png" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">When my kiddos are at their Daily 5 stations, I am doing "book club" at my table. This is my first year to do this and I am loving it so far!! We are reading Judy Moody and my kids love it!!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iNoHeR-bjfk/Uit9j9UrQdI/AAAAAAAACpc/5_HrOon1mjM/s1600/judy-Moody.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iNoHeR-bjfk/Uit9j9UrQdI/AAAAAAAACpc/5_HrOon1mjM/s1600/judy-Moody.jpg" height="320" width="222" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I was searching for some sort of "novel study" or "literature circle" activity that I could do with this book, and of course, TpT delivered. Since I had never done book clubs before, I wasn't sure what to do......but, Praise the Lord, several other teaches have done this before and were kind enough to share their wisdom!!! I found 3 different products on TpT over this very book.....and I mixed and matched different activities from all 3 products to make it work for my kiddos. Here are the 3 products I am using right now....</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e3zVoHSRCFk/UjXoNBWAOCI/AAAAAAAACp4/m3GM-vbtxjI/s1600/a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e3zVoHSRCFk/UjXoNBWAOCI/AAAAAAAACp4/m3GM-vbtxjI/s1600/a1.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I'm sorry the pics are so blurry, but follow the links in the images and you'll get a better idea! These products are awesome! They have vocabulary activities, comprehension checks, discussion questions......the WORKS! There's even a book review for the kids to complete after we finish the book. It's so much cooler than a boring ol' book report! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">In math, we just took our Unit 1 test over place value/comparing & ordering numbers. Thanks to Stephanie over at </span><a href="http://www.3rdgradethoughts.com/"><span style="font-size: x-large;">3rd Grade Thoughts</span></a><span style="font-size: x-large;">, we got to do some awesome </span><a href="http://www.3rdgradethoughts.com/2012/08/ways-to-write-number-monster-math.html"><span style="font-size: x-large;">*Monster Math*</span></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> as a review before we took our tests. The kids loved it!! </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ways-to-Write-a-Number-Monster-Math-314421"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x0Fn4mxPdrs/UjXqinH6WGI/AAAAAAAACqU/GFeJQ5F7lTM/s1600/mm7.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This got my kiddos up and moving......which they needed. Fridays we take our weekly reading assessment and our spelling tests. It just so happened that our unit test landed on a Friday, too (which I hate).....but this activity got my kiddos moving around the room for a nice change in our day 'o testing! Plus, it was a nice way to review before our test. The kids rocked it :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">As you can see, we've been busy.....and the year is just gettin' started! I hope to finally get back into my blogging routine and make a post at least once a week, but with my grad school internship (135 hours in one semester), that may not always happen!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I hope your year has started off with a *BANG* (the good kind) and that you are enjoying your weekend! Be good :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span><br />
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Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-69017831588256125622013-08-25T21:41:00.001-05:002013-08-25T21:41:52.373-05:00I'm alive!!!!!Did you think I had died? Or that I had fallen and could not get up? Or that I was trapped underneath something heavy? <div><br></div><div>I am here.....and have been crazy busy with summer and kids and more recently.......professional development and back to school craziness! I promise to blog soon and share my classroom reveal :) My first day of school is tomorrow, so I'm sure I'll have lots to share! </div><div><br></div><div>Thanks for stickin' around......it means the world ;) </div><div><br></div><div>Keep livin' the dream, </div><div><br></div>Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-75022008174579460352013-07-19T12:53:00.000-05:002013-07-19T12:53:05.847-05:00Literacy Conference, Anchor Charts & Whole Brain Teaching<span style="font-size: x-large;">Ohmiword.......it has been FOR-EH-VER since I've blogged. So sorry about that :(</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">It has been crazy busy around here lately. You wouldn't think summer would get that hectic.....but WOW! The hubs and I celebrated our anniversary 11 days ago and decided to take a little trip to Santa Fe with some friends of ours. It was fabulous!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My dinner date :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laying poolside while my love played golf!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Then, when I return, my dreaded grad class is waiting with an assignment due (2 days ago) that I didn't bother looking at until 3<em> days </em>ago. It was madness! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I also attended a 2-day literacy conference on July 16-17. I love this conference. I go every year and I am never disappointed. They bring in a keynote speaker to keep us busy in the morning, and then teachers from all around the region come and teach break-out sessions in the afternoons. It is always such a blast and I learn so much!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This year, the keynote speaker was Tanny McGregor-</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">author of Comprehension Connections and, more recently, Genre Connections.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I bought both of her books at the conference and I know I won't be disappointed! She taught a bit from both books, showing classroom examples from around the country. She is fabulous! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">She really focuses on making connections to help make meaning. She suggests using objects and concrete materials as much as we possibly can to make abstract ideas easier for our kiddos to understand (inferencing, for example). In "Comprehension Connections", she talks about many different lessons (easy and cheap) to help your kids make those connections and truly understand what they're reading. In "Genre Connections", it's more about introducing different genres and understanding their structure and what they're all about. I cannot wait to start reading them!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">One of the comprehension strategies she talks about is synthesizing, which can be really difficult for some kiddos. She has her students make "synthesis spirals". How cute is that? Isn't that 10x better than a worksheet?!?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">She also has her students do "6 Picture" or "6 Word" book reports or summaries. It really takes quite a bit of effort to summarize a story in 6 words or images. Think about it.....you have to figure out the main idea, what is important in the story and what can be left out, and then you have to put it all together to choose 6 objects or words to convey what you think the story is about. WOW! That can work with kinder kids up to 5th graders! I love the differentiation that is available here. Again, so much better than a worksheet!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">In "Genre Connections", she talks about a lesson using a huge anchor chart about genre, using metaphors and concrete objects. She compares the genre to an object to make the idea more real for her kiddos. For example, when she introduces adventure/fantasy, she compares that genre to a prism. There seems to be something magical about the prism and how the spectrum of light makes so many beautiful colors. The kids now have a very real image for an abstract concept. Perfect!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Then, in one of the break-out sessions about anchor charts.....I walk in to see this......</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">ANCHOR CHARTS GALORE!!!!!</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">It was teacher heaven!! Here are a few of the cute examples that she had displayed:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">These last 4 were more for us teachers, as her students that day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I have saved the very best for last.........</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I attended a Whole Brain Teaching break-out session and have fallen madly and deeply in love with this idea!!! First of all, the two women teaching the class were fantastic and full of energy and that made the whole experience that much better!! One of the presenters has a 3rd grade class, so I really felt like this could work for my kiddos. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Did you know that everything {and I do mean.....EVERYTHING} on Whole Brain Teaching (WBT) is free?!?!?!?! I'm not lying to you.....it's free.......on the world wide web. Now, I probably spent $80 in ink printing it all off......but it's still wayyyyyy cheaper than buying it. I printed off several (and I do mean several) e-books and cannot stop reading about it. Simply go to <a href="http://www.wholebrainteaching.com/">this address</a> and create an account {again...it's free} and get started!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">There are a bazillion YouTube videos out there, just for your grade level where you can see WBT in action. I'm not going to go into all the science of it, but in WBT the students use.......you guessed it......their WHOLE BRAIN! Therefore, the engagement and retention is 10x what you get when the kiddos are NOT using their WHOLE BRAIN! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I have found the cutest and best little blog, <a href="http://wholebrainteachingwithstyle.blogspot.com/">Whole Brain Teaching with Style</a>, and it is AWESOME! I realize that I may be the very last person in the world to learn about WBT and everyone else is probably already doing this......but just in case you aren't......I urge you to check it out. I was amazed at what I learned!!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">One last thing.....my blog has reached 100 followers!!!!! YAY!!!!! Thank you sooooo much to everyone who has followed my blog and even helped promote it. I have loved every minute of this experience!! I am in the midst of putting together a giveaway......but it is my very first one and it may take me some time to organize it all and get everything ready. I look forward to sharing all of that soon :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span></div>
<img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/mandi/sig_zps1b1bdc81.png" />Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-33407616181230132692013-07-01T12:28:00.000-05:002013-07-01T12:28:44.196-05:00{CURRENLY} and a Writer's Workshop/Daily 5 {CoNuNdRuM}!!<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hello, all!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I had a saddening, somewhat frightening, realization this week. I could not, LITERALLY, could <u><em><strong>not</strong></em></u> do the July {CURRENTLY} until today. My fingers would not let me near the computer to even get a head start on it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hello, my name is Mandi Palmer and I have OCD (apparently). How ridiculous is that?!?!?!? It seemed wrong to begin on the July {CURRENTLY} until it was officially July 1st. I have a sickness. BUT....now that it's time......here we go.......some {CURRENTLY} fun with <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/">Farley</a>!</span><br />
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<a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2013/06/currently-july.html"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jpz5foRmqWU/UdG5CMiCkKI/AAAAAAAACh0/eTdB7frGPhs/s640/July+currently.jpg" width="481" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">It is CUH~razy how many people link up with this part-ay each month! Go <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2013/06/currently-july.html">link up</a> and join in the fun! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Moving on to my Writer's Workshop/Daily 5 conundrum:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">How do you do both?? Can you do both?? I love Daily 5!! I love the way it soaks kids in literacy from every possible angle. I love how it fosters independence {this helps sooooo much when I'm meeting with my small groups}. I love, love, LOVE Daily 5! I also really, really, REALLY want to incorporate Writer's Workshop.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now, I've heard that Daily 5 can be like a lot of little reader's and writer's workshops. I get that. BUT......I need specifics. Do I have them do something in "Work on Writing" in Daily 5 that directly correlates with what we are doing in WW (Writer's Workshop)? Do you do WW separately that Daily 5??? I need HELP!!! Does anyone do both? Any suggestions will do!!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Also, in my desire to learn more about WW, I ran across this **FABULOUS** resource from Amanda at <a href="http://oneextradegree.blogspot.com/">One Extra Degree</a>! I cannot wait to dive into this!!! </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/We-Are-Authors-Launching-Writing-Workshop-750387"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uGsgSo_CIfY/UdG7Q0dNNUI/AAAAAAAACiE/z2kFI3WlbRU/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-06-30+at+6_44_44+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Again.....if any of you fabulous, wonderfully creative veteran teachers out there have any (and I do mean ANY) advice on my conundrum......I would really appreciate it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span><br />
<img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/mandi/sig_zps1b1bdc81.png" />Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-48993071904473030102013-06-29T13:24:00.000-05:002013-06-29T13:24:30.637-05:00Bye-Bye Google Reader, Hello Bloglovin'!!<span style="font-size: x-large;">I am 100% sure you've heard about the soon-to-be death of Google Reader on July 1st, right? </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KLHARz9E4do/Uc8k5A8BsnI/AAAAAAAACho/bS_kqIrfDm8/s320/1happy-retirement-gr-580x362.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KLHARz9E4do/Uc8k5A8BsnI/AAAAAAAACho/bS_kqIrfDm8/s320/1happy-retirement-gr-580x362.png" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://oliverands.com/blog/2013/06/saying-goodbye-to-google-reader.html">cute pic courtesy of Oliver + S</a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">I do NOT like change......especially when it comes to my bloggin' world......BUT......we gotta roll with the punches {I guess}. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Stay in touch with {Third Grade & Lovin' It} by following along with Bloglovin'!!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/5562881"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2qhSK1iHFac/Uc8koAb0AiI/AAAAAAAAChc/VKM4ff6VtcI/s200/bloglovinbutton.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">If you need any help setting up your own blog on Bloglovin', Megan from {<a href="http://www.teachingsuperpower.com/">I Teach. What's your Superpower?</a>} has an awesome <a href="http://www.teachingsuperpower.com/2013/06/claim-your-blog-on-bloglovin-video.html">video tutorial</a> to walk you through it. It's less than a minute and half and totally easy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream,</span> <br />
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Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-62147891941948596782013-06-28T13:16:00.002-05:002013-06-28T13:16:25.966-05:00{FiVe for FRIDAY} fun.....and a new find !!!<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hello, all my lovely bloggin', summer lovin', teacher friends!! How is your summer going??? Just swimmingly, I hope :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I am linking up with <a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/">Doodle Bugs Teaching</a> and having some {FiVe for FRIDAY} fun. </span><br />
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<a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2013/06/five-for-friday-linky-party-june-28th.html"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KRNVq3MWyIk/Uc3KsqN-zSI/AAAAAAAACfQ/5IgUuoxBlHI/s583/fiveforfriday_thumb4.jpg" height="263" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Don't you just love that Friday sneaks up on you during the summer?!?! During the school year, we can tell anyone (down to the microsecond) how far away Friday is.....but not now, my friends.....who knows what day it is at any given moment during the summer??? NOT me!!! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">My {FiVe for FRIDAY} is incredibly random this week.....so here we go:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">1) I have been <strike>stalking this poor woman's blog every day</strike> patiently waiting for this **FANTASTIC** reading notebook to come out! She has done a 4th grade version <strong>and</strong> a 5th grade version and I have been on the EDGE OF MY SEAT waiting for the 3rd grade edition to come out and it did.....<strong><em><u>today</u></em></strong>!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Nicole from <a href="http://teachingwithblondeambition.blogspot.com/">Teaching with Blonde Ambition</a> has created this awesome resource. It is Common Core aligned (which doesn't help me at all....but we share many of the same standards) and it is my newest find!!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/3rd-Grade-Reading-Interactive-Notebook-aligned-with-the-Common-Core-747538"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_fmn5_GsB1M/Uc3MVRmtvTI/AAAAAAAACfk/JvsE2BnCGjQ/s320/Slide001.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Click <a href="http://teachingwithblondeambition.blogspot.com/2013/06/3rd-grade-reading-interactive-notebook.html">here</a> to see her blog post about it and see more images from inside (seriously....go.....do it now!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">2) I have been book shopping like a crazy person! In case you didn't hear, I will be self-contained next year and I am in desperate need of books and ideas on how to teach reading/writing. I got a ton of new books and a label maker (teacher heaven....I know!!!) and have been busy as all get-out trying to get them all labeled and ready to go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">3) My #1 reason that I look forward to summer each year is this, right here:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Unlike my 10 year old, Miss Caitlyn (who wants to play outside, stay the night with a friend, climb a tree, etc.).....this little one, Miss Jaci Brooke, LOVES to play with momma! She is "cheesin'" and I love every bit of it. She takes naps on my chest and wants nothing more than ME!!! </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">She is my joy!!</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">4) What is summer without a little fingernail polish fun?!?!?! I don't have time during the school year to do this......but I'm gonna try next year. It's fun!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JbP3WUZQmls/Uc3QO-IswyI/AAAAAAAACgk/P9eCyqOHb0Y/s1600/IMAG4585.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JbP3WUZQmls/Uc3QO-IswyI/AAAAAAAACgk/P9eCyqOHb0Y/s1600/IMAG4585.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">5) Last, but not least, professional development! Does it ever end?!?!? I have so many different books I want to read this summer and I have no idea how I'm gonna get it all done! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O2JCpXOywM8/Uc3Q4t9qyiI/AAAAAAAACgw/mKg80Do2d6Y/s1600/1052663_471361002957978_175756396_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O2JCpXOywM8/Uc3Q4t9qyiI/AAAAAAAACgw/mKg80Do2d6Y/s1600/1052663_471361002957978_175756396_o.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2cAkQOhVEfg/Uc3Q4jxl34I/AAAAAAAACg0/o1DXInasir8/s164/cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2cAkQOhVEfg/Uc3Q4jxl34I/AAAAAAAACg0/o1DXInasir8/s164/cafe.jpg" /></a></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ds74dSZT4BI/Uc3Q6-3b69I/AAAAAAAAChA/KYwYXebScl8/s182/daily+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ds74dSZT4BI/Uc3Q6-3b69I/AAAAAAAAChA/KYwYXebScl8/s182/daily+5.jpg" /></a></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Lhp5jRc8qs/Uc3Q-e9aRQI/AAAAAAAAChI/62vTjv7P_tM/s1600/IMAG4578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Lhp5jRc8qs/Uc3Q-e9aRQI/AAAAAAAAChI/62vTjv7P_tM/s1600/IMAG4578.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">That's my random and crazy {FiVe for FRIDAY}! Don't forget to link up.....it's the last one for the summer {until August}!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span><br />
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Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-57005916148877191352013-06-21T12:33:00.003-05:002013-06-21T12:35:41.526-05:00Mentor Text {HeAvEn}!!!<span style="font-size: x-large;">Waaaasssssuuuupppp???? How is everyone on this fine first day of summer??? Have I mentioned that I {LOVE} summertime!! What would we do without summer?!?!?!? I don't even want to think about it.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This is gonna be a very short post........but I just had to share what I have come across!! This may not be news to some of you, but it feels like I've struck gold! <a href="http://collaborationcuties.blogspot.com/">Collaboration Cuties</a> is a phenomenal blog written by two 4th grade teachers, Amanda and Stacia. It. Is. AWESOME! </span><br />
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<a href="http://collaborationcuties.blogspot.com/"><img alt="Collaboration Cuties" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LQ1LofAoLpg/UOkcMWAFdlI/AAAAAAAAANk/I5Jkj7J-cZ4/s320/Button.png" style="border: currentColor;" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">These two brilliant ladies have come up with "mentor text" linky parties and I have spent the last week <strike>stalking</strike> perusing this blog, looking at old linkies and seeing all the great mentor texts that veteran teachers use in their classroom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">One of the pages/tabs on their blog is <a href="http://collaborationcuties.blogspot.com/p/must-read-mentor-texts.html">"Must Read Mentor Texts".</a> It is where all of their linky parties are easily accessed and are even divided by subject. They have ELA links, Math links, even science and social studies links. Can you say "teacher heaven"???</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Simply go to their <a href="http://collaborationcuties.blogspot.com/p/must-read-mentor-texts.html">mentor text page,</a> find the subject that you're looking for (they have more than one linky, too. ELA has 4 different linky parties you could look at!!!) and get to readin'!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">My Amazon and Scholastic carts have tripled in size. Sssshhhh.........don't tell the hubs :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Well, I said this was gonna be short, but maybe not!! Enjoy the rest of your beautiful summer day, y'all! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span><br />
<img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/mandi/sig_zps1b1bdc81.png" />Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-61126623185232575902013-06-17T17:05:00.003-05:002013-06-17T17:05:56.899-05:00{SuMmEr} Bucket List<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">HELLO!!! I feel like it has been for-eh-VER since I blogged.....oh, wait.....it has! This is the first week that I've been "off". School ended on June 7th, but I registered for a week long math training the 1st official week of summer {I'm an idiot}. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">BUT.....today, I have no trainings, it's my BIRTHDAY.....and my summer vacation has *STARTED*! It's gonna be a great day :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Ever since STAAR testing ended {gag}, I have been thinking about all the things that I want to do differently/better/MUCH better next year. Enter......Teri @ <a href="http://acupcakefortheteacher.blogspot.com/">A Cupcake for the Teacher</a>, Hadar @ <a href="http://www.miss-kindergarten.com/">Miss Kindergarten</a> and April @ <a href="http://www.amodernteacher.com/">A Modern Teacher</a>. They are throwing a "Summer Bucket List" linky party and I had to join in!!!</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://acupcakefortheteacher.blogspot.com/2013/05/summer-bucket-list.html"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sRv9LeRcDT0/Ub9L_uZi11I/AAAAAAAACdY/fUqZFYRvwow/s1600/summerbucketlistlinky_zps33aa6dc3.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><em>Side note: I was told last week that I am going to be self-contained next year (vs. math/science this year). Needless to say, my summer bucket list doubled upon this revelation.</em> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">1. My Amazon cart is now empty! I have 7-8 books being shipped to me as we speak. Now, to be fair, some of them are read aloud books for my kiddos. But 3-4 are for me! Being self-contained next year is going to be a first for me in third grade (I've done SC before, but only in kinder and 1st). I'm really excited about it, and anxious and nervous all at the same time!!! I need to brush up on my ELA stuff and hopefully the "sisters" can help me out :)</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b5U_Uagl8BE/Ub98qXCsFUI/AAAAAAAACdo/-k_RNTDhfNA/s1600/cafe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-b5U_Uagl8BE/Ub98qXCsFUI/AAAAAAAACdo/-k_RNTDhfNA/s1600/cafe.jpg" height="400" width="292" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jVothUQ1RFo/Ub98sLEdgcI/AAAAAAAACdw/7NbldO3-Eoc/s1600/daily+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jVothUQ1RFo/Ub98sLEdgcI/AAAAAAAACdw/7NbldO3-Eoc/s1600/daily+5.jpg" height="400" width="358" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I have read both of these books before (for kinder and 1st), but sold them when I moved to 3rd grade math because I was "never gonna need them again". Once again, I'm an idiot. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I also went ahead and jumped on the "Teach Like a Pirate" bandwagon. I have heard great things about this book and it just happened to jump into my Amazon cart too ;)</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qOMmRfcPGJ8/Ub98t8CTzbI/AAAAAAAACd8/a_NOfkZJbV8/s1600/TLAP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qOMmRfcPGJ8/Ub98t8CTzbI/AAAAAAAACd8/a_NOfkZJbV8/s1600/TLAP.jpg" height="400" width="390" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">BTW......Gina from </span><a href="http://thirdgradetidbits.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Third Grade Tidbits</span></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> and Jennifer from <a href="http://rowdyinfirstgrade.blogspot.com/">Rowdy in First Grade</a> are hosting a fabulous book study on this book. As soon as I get the book........I'm jumpin' right in. Better late than never!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">2. I need to learn how to teach 3rd grade writing. Is that something I can learn to do in 8 1/2 weeks??? It seems like in K-2, it's a lot of "What does a sentence start with?" or "Where's your period?" or "Remember your finger spaces!". I have NO idea how I'm gonna run Writer's Workshop in 3rd grade!!! I have been on Pinterest every day looking for a way that makes sense to me.........and I've found a ton of cute ideas. I just need to settle on 1 and get to learnin' it! </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FCEpnLccawA/Ub-AA5qKfhI/AAAAAAAACeI/gCsnl0QzL6M/s1600/3ab544ee1994f1db31bd0d20c6ac32ea.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FCEpnLccawA/Ub-AA5qKfhI/AAAAAAAACeI/gCsnl0QzL6M/s1600/3ab544ee1994f1db31bd0d20c6ac32ea.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Found on Pinterest....can't find where it originated!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KN7QqtihPxI/Ub-AYKLJE6I/AAAAAAAACeQ/yOdDzkSMzNA/s1600/aab781b5f66667a3d5c49fb465d11587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KN7QqtihPxI/Ub-AYKLJE6I/AAAAAAAACeQ/yOdDzkSMzNA/s1600/aab781b5f66667a3d5c49fb465d11587.jpg" /></a></div>
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Cuteness from Amanda @ <a href="http://www.oneextradegree.blogspot.com/">One Extra Degree</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Any help in this area would be greatly appreciated!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">3. I need to work on a new classroom set-up/layout. When I was just teaching math and science, I only needed areas for those 2 things. Now, adding reading and writing and all that other good stuff, I need to figure out a way to make the most out of the space that I have! I want them to have enough space to spread out in Daily 5 and I need a carpet area now (I really needed one before....but now I certainly do!). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">4. I want to make a "Student Intervention Tub". Last year, I had 5 special ed. kids between me and my team teacher. I don't feel like I knew enough about all the assistance that I could give, or the tools that I could use to help them be successful. I also want a way to stay organized with my documentation with my Tier 1, 2 and 3 instruction. Carrie over at <a href="http://ateachersobsessions.blogspot.com/">A First Grade Teacher's Passions and Obsessions</a></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">has a great <a href="http://ateachersobsessions.blogspot.com/2012/01/intervention-kit-freebies.html">post</a> about how she's doing this very thing! </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUniF18986E/Ub-EbweIh4I/AAAAAAAACeg/zQCh9aRKqgA/s1600/SIT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wUniF18986E/Ub-EbweIh4I/AAAAAAAACeg/zQCh9aRKqgA/s1600/SIT.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Last, but certainly not least, I am going to spend all the quality time I can with my girls! </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aGbiwfl-H9M/Ub-FiAQjVwI/AAAAAAAACes/LuXN_FEihpw/s1600/1001775_4756430241457_436345708_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aGbiwfl-H9M/Ub-FiAQjVwI/AAAAAAAACes/LuXN_FEihpw/s1600/1001775_4756430241457_436345708_n.jpg" height="400" width="225" /></a></div>
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Me and the girls had a {BLAST} at the Color Run!!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The hubs plays golf A LOT in the summertime, which leaves the house to me and my girls. It's so much fun! Then, when the hubs gets home, we grill out and play some more. I'm so glad summer is finally here!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Don't forget to link up and share YOUR summer bucket list!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span></div>
<img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/mandi/sig_zps1b1bdc81.png" />Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-44762826330288228652013-06-02T16:45:00.001-05:002013-06-02T16:45:59.680-05:00{CURRENTLY} and yes, I'm still in school! <span style="font-size: x-large;">OMG.....am I the only teacher who isn't out for the summer?!?!?! I know I'm not, but reading all of these "I'm out for the summer!!!" posts has me bummed :(</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">BUT.....I will march on. It's only one more week and I can do this......yes, I can.....yes, I can......yes, I can! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">With grades already submitted and posted, and textbooks being gathered up around the school......the kiddos are VERY aware that "school" as they know it, is over. We, therefore, have become glorified daycare workers. This last week should be really, REALLY, fun :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I really do have some pretty fun stuff ready for them for this last week. The blogosphere has been bumpin' with lots of "end of year" goodies and I have stocked up! Here are a few of the things we'll be doing in room 14:</span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dwUmIq2Xl8I/Uau4Dk5wgJI/AAAAAAAACcY/4O_nD9sPyQk/s1600/smilefile1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dwUmIq2Xl8I/Uau4Dk5wgJI/AAAAAAAACcY/4O_nD9sPyQk/s320/smilefile1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">This awesome {freebie} is from Stephanie over at <a href="http://3rdgradethoughts.com/">3rd Grade Thoughts.</a> It's such a positive way to wrap up the year. You can read all about how to use it (and download it) in her blog post <a href="http://www.3rdgradethoughts.com/2013/05/wrapping-up-another-great-year.html">here!</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Cute-ABC-Book-Template-678588"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5gvmbpiRHYw/Uau4_Z0U18I/AAAAAAAACcs/WQCfuuEasPk/s1600/blog-cover-abc-book.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">This fantastic find is from Christi over at <a href="http://msfultz.blogspot.com/">Ms. Fultz's Corner.</a> My class is going to make a book of the "ABC's" of our class for the next group that comes up! I can't wait to hear what my kiddos have to say. I'm sure it's going to be hysterical! </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Memory-Book-For-the-Upper-Grades-702153"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BHOt6-2pC8g/Uau6Sxy68ZI/AAAAAAAACc4/kuO16hcmXOU/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-05-19+at+1_03_16+AM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">This memory book is wonderful!!!! Natalie from <a href="http://www.whattheteacherwants.blogspot.com/">What the Teacher Wants</a> is so creative! It's perfect for the upper grades and I know my kiddos are gonna love it! Go on.....go get yourself one.....you know you want to. Oh, wait.....you're probably already out for the summer. {I'm not bitter. Really. I'm not.} Go grab one for next year ;) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">And now....what I've been waiting all month long for......CURRENTLY with the fabulous Farley. Have I mentioned that I think that Farley and I are soul mates? I've never actually met her, but I'm convinced we were cut from the same cloth. Truly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Moving on....</span><br />
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<a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2013/06/june-currently.html"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v_NBtYGPpEA/Uau7ZumDJKI/AAAAAAAACdE/0LuZmeETF1o/s640/currentlyjunepic.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">If you don't link up with this {CURRENTLY} linky every month......you totally should! It's a great way to get to know more bloggers and more about the bloggers you already follow! It's a down-right-blog-lovin'-good-time! So link up! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Alright, peeps.....I'm off to finish my laundry because I STILL HAVE WORK TOMORROW! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I think I can.....I think I can......I think I can.....</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span></div>
<img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/mandi/sig_zps1b1bdc81.png" />Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-62402695162684048232013-05-25T21:41:00.003-05:002013-05-25T21:43:26.501-05:00Planets and.......the {DIRT} on soil<span style="font-size: x-large;">As I've said before (like, 100 times before), we are up to our eyeballs in science right now! Trying to cram in a semester of science in 7 weeks is beyond absurd. What the heck was anyone thinking (myself included)?????</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We wrapped up our solar system unit (the kids were very upset about this.....very, VERY, very upset). They could have spent the rest of the year on the solar system! They were put into cooperative learning groups and did research on each planet. Then, they presented their findings to the class and made posters to go along with their presentations. They all did so good!!!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">When we finished our planet presentations, we went into landforms and soil. I found this adorable {FREE} foldable from <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Landforms-Foldable-Freebie-683253">The Teachers' Cauldron</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The kids loved getting to draw their landforms. I used this as an assessment tool because, right now, getting them to stay engaged is like pulling teeth!!! I figured if they could draw, I would get more out of them......and I did!!! Here is one of my kiddos' drawing of an island. Tell me this kid doesn't understand what an island is! How cute is that? </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zWGb-AFjrUo/UaFyZ_lbWhI/AAAAAAAACcA/9_36Zs_y-uI/s1600/PhotoGrid_1369534506443.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zWGb-AFjrUo/UaFyZ_lbWhI/AAAAAAAACcA/9_36Zs_y-uI/s320/PhotoGrid_1369534506443.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Then, after landforms, we dove into dirt.....or soil, rather! I found this <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Here-Is-The-Dirt-On-Soil-229557">awesome unit</a> on soil.....and everything involved with soil.......from Natalie! It comes with all the info you need to complete the activities. For the life of me, I cannot get the picture to transfer, so you'll just have to take my word for it. I loved it! We did some whole group stuff with it, some group work and then some independent practice with it. My all-in-one soil resource. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Next week, we are getting into ecosystems and inherited traits and behaviors. I'll let ya know how that goes. Are anyone else's kids just DONE with school at this point?? I mean to tell ya, anytime I ask them to do anything that requires effort or thought, they look at me like I'm the wicked witch and then they groan in despair. It really makes you feel like "Teacher of the Year", ya know?? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I have some really cool, neat, "no thought required" stuff for the last week of school......we just have to make it that far!! Wish me luck :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I know that some of you are already out for the year {<strike>I hate you</strike>}.......so enjoy your time off! For the rest of you going back to work on Monday.....enjoy your Saturday night and Sunday. Rest. You'll need all the energy you can muster these last few days!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span></div>
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Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-1691463751575989742013-05-19T14:59:00.001-05:002013-05-19T14:59:14.628-05:00We (K-4 teachers) are sooooo important!!!!<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hello, friends!!! I hope you are all enjoying your Sunday afternoon. As some of you know, I went to a 3-day science workshop this last week. I loved it!! It was a great break from the classroom (at this point in the year, we all need that!) and it was a great learning experience. The instructor was fabulous. She was hilarious and obviously very passionate about her job! She is the kind of teacher you hope you are in your own classroom. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">The name of this conference was "K-4 Physics". Now, that title isn't very......well, it's not good. It's a boring title and it completely undermines the power of the workshop. However, my principal sent out an e-mail asking who would like to go and there isn't a teacher in the world who is gonna say no to a 3-day <strike>paid vacation</strike> workshop with a 9:00 start and an hour and a half for lunch! Can I get an amen?!?!?!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I digress........back to my point. The training was fabulous!! We (60 K-4th grade teachers) sat together and vertically aligned our TEKS (in Texas, those are our standards......we haven't adopted Common Core). It was incredibly eye-opening. We got to see how the curriculum builds and how the verbs in our standards changed, and what that meant exactly. For example: in kinder (in regards to force/motion/energy) the expectation is that students will use their 5 senses and <em>explore</em> different forms of energy, such as light, heat and sound. Then, in 1st grade, following that same TEK about force/motion/energy, students are expected to <em>identify</em> and <em>discuss</em> how these forms of energy (light, heat and sound) are important to every day life. In 2nd grade, students are expected to <em>investigate</em> the effects of increasing or decreasing amounts of light, heat and sound energy. Third grade is then expected to take that information and build upon it. In 3rd grade, we expand by <em>exploring</em> mechanical energy and we introduce "thermal energy" into their vocabulary to replace "heat energy". Finally, in 4th grade, the students are expected to <em>differentiate</em> among forms of energy, including mechanical, sound, electrical, light and thermal. We add electrical energy in 4th grade. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We then looked at 5th grade and 8th grade released STAAR (our state mandated test) questions and saw how important our jobs are. Everything they are asking on those tests is directly tied to what we teach in the younger grades. We are so often overlooked. Yes, we get the pressure for math and reading. And those are important skills and I'm not downplaying that, but we are JUST as important in the science arena as well. It is <strong><u>critical</u></strong> that we put an emphasis on science. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">In science, we build our students' critical thinking skills. We use problem solving and team work and we get to have fun doing it!! There isn't another subject that lends itself so naturally to curiosity, higher-level thinking, and real-world importance. Science is the real world!!! </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_RzpjAnAw4I/UZkuVt57QVI/AAAAAAAACa0/kEfMcD4InCw/s1600/SCIENCE_ROCKS_LG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_RzpjAnAw4I/UZkuVt57QVI/AAAAAAAACa0/kEfMcD4InCw/s320/SCIENCE_ROCKS_LG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">One of the great things about this training was that they integrated math and ELA all throughout the science curriculum. Math tends to lend itself to science anyway, so the ELA part was the biggest concern for most of my peers. The instructor showed us ways to assess, using ELA objectives or TEKS, and it worked beautifully. I can't remember what grade it was for, but for one experiment, we read a book called "Letters to my Energy Superheros" and in the book, the characters wrote letters to their heros (ex: Dear Sound Energy Superman, etc.) and in the assessment for that lesson, they had to write a letter to their favorite energy superhero and explain why they were thankful for their particular kind of energy and how they use it every day. Perfect way to go cross-curricular! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">At this training, we started with a 4th grade lesson. They wanted us to begin with the end in mind. The next 2 days, we all did a kinder, 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade lesson, building up to the 4th grade TEK (standard). All of the lessons followed the 5E format. I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with that, so I'll do a quick run-down. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"></span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Engage- the hook</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Explore- let the kids explore (without much teacher explanation)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Explain- here is where we teach</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Elaborate- expand on the explore and explain</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Evaluate- did they get it? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Using these 5 E's, we went through every grade level and got to really see the knowledge and skills that our students should be coming to us with and what they should leave us with. It also helped me to understand how to <strong><u>not</u></strong> step on the toes of the grade after me. Just because it's exciting, doesn't mean that I have the right to jump ahead and teach 4th grade! I've got enough to do with my 3rd grade curriculum, I don't need to jump ahead (as much as we want to sometimes).</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I hope I haven't completely bored you to death. This conference was amazing and I wished there was a conference like this for every subject! I wish we had the time, as a collaborative team, to sit down and dissect our curriculum and really get to know what our students are coming to us with and what they need to know to get to the next level. I wish we all had the opportunity to vertically align and see where our kiddos are headed......in the big picture. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">That's all for now!! Enjoy the rest of your weekend :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span></div>
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Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-3495342347600314422013-05-12T15:59:00.001-05:002013-05-12T20:37:49.760-05:00Lots of science and a 3-day workshop! <span style="font-size: x-large;">Ohmiword.......are you exhausted??? Cause I'm exhausted........pooped.......and ready for summer!!!! We have 4 weeks left.......15 instructional days (days to take grades) and one last week of mass {chaos} before we are D.O.N.E.!!!! In the spirit of countdowns, Christi from <a href="http://msfultz.blogspot.com/">Ms. Fultz's Corner</a> has created the cutest little blinky!!
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<div class="Summer Blinky from Ms. Fultz's Corner" style="margin: 0px auto; width: 200px;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://msfultz.blogspot.com/"> <img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/fultz/fultzsummerblinky.gif" /> </a> </span></div>
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Now, if that doesn't brighten your day, I don't know what will :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">In room 14, we have been up to our elbows in science!!! I didn't realize I liked teaching science this much, but I really, REALLY do! We are in our solar system unit right now and the kids cannot get enough of it. They are asking me so many great questions and they are genuinely engaged in the content. It's awesome! We broke up the solar system into the sun and planets and we made cooperative learning groups. Each group has 2-3 people who are responsible for teaching the rest of the class about their planet or star (the Sun). Here is some of the work we've done so far:</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--JO5gaXIpiY/UY_9TWuxpvI/AAAAAAAACaE/FLFViGSZzfE/s1600/PhotoGrid_1368284033867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--JO5gaXIpiY/UY_9TWuxpvI/AAAAAAAACaE/FLFViGSZzfE/s320/PhotoGrid_1368284033867.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n0hJfB1oU8U/UY_9gek-dTI/AAAAAAAACaU/IuYljW4TcnU/s1600/PhotoGrid_1368284823616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n0hJfB1oU8U/UY_9gek-dTI/AAAAAAAACaU/IuYljW4TcnU/s320/PhotoGrid_1368284823616.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">We have been to the library to check out books and have been to the computer lab to do research online. (BTW- there are soooo many awesome websites that are kid-friendly and use fantastic imagery and grade level vocabulary). Here are just a few that we found:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.kidsastronomy.com/solar_system.htm"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Kid Astronomy</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.planetsforkids.org/">Planets for Kids</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/kids/">NASA for Kids</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.sciencekids.co.nz/sciencefacts/space/solarsystem.html">Science Kids</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://kids.nineplanets.org/"><strike>Nine</strike> 8 Planets</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://www.kidzone.ws/planets/">Kid Zone</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here comes the kink in my perfectly organized plan......I have a 3 day workshop tomorrow thru Wednesday. Taking kids to and from the library and computer lab is not something I am willing to do to a sub......especially as rowdy and rambunctious as my kids have been lately......BUT......I also don't want to just leave busy work and the learning to stop. Enter......Amber from <a href="http://amber-polk.blogspot.com/">Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher!</a> She has this wonderful solar system lapbook/foldable and it is perfect for this situation. I used it on Friday (hence, the pics above) when I had a half day sub (meetings......ugggghhhhh) and I would use it even if I didn't have a sub. It's just that awesome. I'm kind of jealous that I won't be there to see my kids do more of this. Sad face. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Solar-System-Lapbook-Unit-Common-Core"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VG5vQRKLTt8/UY_89kGEVEI/AAAAAAAACZ8/1DQjkWYrH8o/s1600/Slide1.PNG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">My kiddos will be comparing planets with a Venn diagram, creating foldables about day and night, eclipses and the phases of the moon. The learning won't stop just because I'm gone and that puts my mind at great ease. With this product, you also get a mini-book that has all the information you need to complete the lapbook and foldables. My kids already have these books, printed and ready to go. Amber really did think of everything!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Another great resource of Amber's is her <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/End-of-the-Year-Color-By-Codes-3rd-Grade-Common-Core">End of Year "Color by Code"</a> product. It's perfect for kids who get done early or for subs (yayyy!!!). It requires thought and calculation, but not teacher help. It's great! My kiddos LOVE them! Here's a little sneak peek:</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ktLKE2VCo4/UY_9gW06CTI/AAAAAAAACaY/quY6ofQG6iE/s1600/PhotoGrid_1368283907874.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7ktLKE2VCo4/UY_9gW06CTI/AAAAAAAACaY/quY6ofQG6iE/s320/PhotoGrid_1368283907874.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I am totally prepared and my kiddos and sub are ready for my 3-day absence. This workshop is a K-4 science (physics) workshop and I can't wait to attend! I'll be sure to share all the wonderful things I learn :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Ok.....I'm off to enjoy the rest of my Mother's Day. I hope you all are enjoying your weekend.....and for all you mothers out there.....Happy Mother's Day!!! I hope you're spoiled rotten :) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span></div>
<img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/mandi/sig_zps1b1bdc81.png" />Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-70494163350690765102013-05-07T16:34:00.000-05:002013-05-12T20:37:06.115-05:00Too much to do......and not enough Xanax<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now.......even though I am totally joking with my blog title {I'm not really on Xanax.....and I'm sure you needed a good laugh!}......this last 6 weeks of school is going to push me right over the edge and into prescription pills. It's madness. My kids have taken complete leave of their senses. I am trying to keep our routine on lockdown so that they don't "feel" like it's the end of the year......but this has been to no avail. They are hanging from the ceiling fans and it's all I can do to get them home alive at the end of the day. Anyone else out there having days like this???? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">In the midst of the craziness, we have been able to get <em>some </em>science done. We have had to cram in science at a rate that is much faster than I am comfortable with {this will change next year}, so bare with me! We have a great resource for our science curriculum with our Gateways to Science. It has hands-on labs/lessons/experiments with <u>every </u>topic. It's awesome.......but does take some prepping! Here are some pics of our science this past week:</span><br />
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I don' know what happened, but the pickle got cut out of this pic! We used the 5 senses to make observations about a pickle. This got us warmed up to using our science notebooks (on a regular basis) and got us thinking with our senses!</div>
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We studied the states of matter. We used clay and rocks in our lesson on solids. They are moving the clay from container to container to observe its shape change (or lack thereof). </div>
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We studied liquids as well. I think my kids liked this state of matter best. Something about pouring liquids from container to container......and getting to see me pour syrup :)</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">We also worked on simple systems, using toy cars and yo-yo's. My boys loved that lesson!!! We got a little too excited using our yo-yo's and I didn't take a pic.......sorry!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">In other news, I have not been able to stop thinking about all the things I want to do differently next year! I am going to devote an entire post to it......I've put that much thought into it. That'll be coming soon.......</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now, just in case you've been hiding under a rock.....I'm gonna let you know about this fabulous, wonderful and amazing "Teacher Appreciation Extravaganza" that 15 awesome bloggin' peeps have gotten together to do. It's a perfect way to spend teacher appreciation week.....hoppin' from blog to blog, pickin' up freebies and finally entering for 3 grand {and I mean....GRAND} prizes! Grab a Frappuccino, click on the pic below and start your journey.....it's a blog hoppin' good time :)</span></div>
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<a href="http://secondgradesugarandspice.blogspot.com/2013/05/teacher-appreciation-giveaway-blog-hop.html"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m7fKMTNDenc/UYlx5rwue5I/AAAAAAAACZg/LM4pXbT-RhI/s320/Prizes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Happy Teacher Appreciation Week, my friends......I hope you get all the lovin' you can stand!!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span> </div>
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Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-61743286758731064352013-04-30T20:09:00.003-05:002013-05-12T20:32:46.015-05:00Dear Teachers Everywhere...<span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Hey y'all........I'm just dropping by to let ya know about a fabulous </span><a href="http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2013/04/30/dear-teachers-everywhere#.UYBnl-ERhPE.blogger"><span style="font-size: x-large;">post</span></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"> I came across. As educators, I strongly encourage you to read this blog post. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://jenhatmaker.com/blog/2013/04/30/dear-teachers-everywhere#.UYBnl-ERhPE.blogger"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zUjIxaXZEhg/UYBpcwcV-II/AAAAAAAACVY/VVpuKNpVfaE/s320/IMG_20130430_191207.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">It is incredibly moving and beautifully written. You will walk away feeling abundantly blessed and appreciated.......and you'll probably cry.......</span><br />
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</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span class="Apple-style-span">Keep livin' the dream, </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/mandi/sig_zps1b1bdc81.png" /></span>Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-9224333024709760772013-04-28T13:11:00.001-05:002013-04-28T13:11:43.297-05:003rd Grade Blog {LOVE}<span style="font-size: x-large;">Helllloooooo, my fellow bloggin' teacher friends.......I'm just droppin' a <em>short</em>, <em>little</em> post here.....it'll be quick and painless, I assure you. Megan from over @ <a href="http://teachingsuperpower.blogspot.com/">I Teach. What's your super power?</a> has a fabulous <a href="http://teachingsuperpower.blogspot.com/p/third-grade-blog-lovin.html">3rd Grade Blog Lovin'</a> tab that links up some amazing 3rd grade teachers (I follow everyone on that list, promise!), so I thought I would give her blog lovin' a little shout-out so more of my 3rd grade bloggin' peeps could link up and we could find each other a little easier......and find some new friends to follow :)</span><br />
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<a href="http://teachingsuperpower.blogspot.com/p/third-grade-blog-lovin.html"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vus0O0HMoqo/UX1lgoao1AI/AAAAAAAACVI/GI52GbXH7w0/s200/Blog+Love+Button.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Link up.......you'll love it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span></div>
<img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/mandi/sig_zps1b1bdc81.png" />Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-91936971488340331312013-04-26T18:33:00.001-05:002013-04-26T18:33:39.532-05:00Five for Friday!<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hello, dear friends! With state testing taking up 2 full days of my week.......I am pooped!!! I wish I had more energy to blog and share with you how I "actively monitored", but you'll just have to settle for my <a href="http://www.doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2013/04/five-for-friday-linky-party-april-26.html">Five for Friday</a> linky fun :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I will blog tons more next week about the adventures in room 14!! We will be up to our elbows in science experiments and nature walks and all the other fun stuff we haven't gotten to do because of that STUPID test!! So.....stay tuned! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">For now, here are 5 random things from my week:</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2013/04/five-for-friday-linky-party-april-26.html"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5JZjrzijAcA/UXsDdhEF5kI/AAAAAAAACT8/l3ZqNgwpBlU/s320/fiveforfriday_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">1. This week was the season finale of Duck Dynasty. I must say.......I secretly judged my husband when he began watching this show. I would sit back and think, "My Lord.....who wants to watch these idiot rednecks?!?!" Now I know......I DO!!!! I {heart} this show so much!!!! I love that it's kid friendly and we can all watch it together. I love that they pray at the end of every show. And.....I love Jase <3</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GGhP32PE38M/UXsEPpYGIvI/AAAAAAAACUI/jAH3HUP8stk/s1600/DD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GGhP32PE38M/UXsEPpYGIvI/AAAAAAAACUI/jAH3HUP8stk/s1600/DD.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">2. You know that finance class that I've been griping about for....oh, I don't know......FOREVER?!?! Well, I finally got to take the final exam and the class is now OVER!!! </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uj68nncK4Xc/UXsFDD0SXmI/AAAAAAAACUQ/m-Ti2hqiWqs/s1600/550351_4535349474576_1269205199_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uj68nncK4Xc/UXsFDD0SXmI/AAAAAAAACUQ/m-Ti2hqiWqs/s400/550351_4535349474576_1269205199_n.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">3. I noticed this week that <u>Third Grade & Lovin' It'</u>s <em>Instagram</em> page has 103 followers! That just blows me away! I love Instagram, especially for following teachers. It gives me a glimpse into their classrooms and since I'm such a visual person, it really blows my mind how creative so many teachers are! I'm extremely grateful that 103 other people wanna take a look into my classroom. It's an honor :)</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8KCyjRCaj18/UXsMmLB8MII/AAAAAAAACUk/I7I5HmA4T7U/s1600/2013-04-26_18-16-50.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8KCyjRCaj18/UXsMmLB8MII/AAAAAAAACUk/I7I5HmA4T7U/s400/2013-04-26_18-16-50.png" width="225" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">4. After 2 days of state testing, it was game day galore in room 14 (for 2 days......ssssshhhhhhh)</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AUfcWvqW9Ys/UXsM-QE-xAI/AAAAAAAACU0/YslWiXeLTyQ/s1600/PhotoGrid_1366938212642.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AUfcWvqW9Ys/UXsM-QE-xAI/AAAAAAAACU0/YslWiXeLTyQ/s320/PhotoGrid_1366938212642.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">5. </span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">As a thank you for a hard week's work, our principal spent some extra mool-ah and paid a few spa ladies to come and pamper us during our planning periods!! Yayyyyy!! We got exfoliated, massaged, lotioned, sprayed.......the works! Luckily, my planning/conference time is at the end of the day, so I <em>really</em> let my hair down (literally.....there was a scalp massager tool that I almost took home. Oh.Mi.Word. It was heaven!)</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NATl_ZP5hlM/UXsM9zwDz-I/AAAAAAAACUs/WrpXHp2Upb4/s1600/imagesCAFIWT3A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NATl_ZP5hlM/UXsM9zwDz-I/AAAAAAAACUs/WrpXHp2Upb4/s1600/imagesCAFIWT3A.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So, there was a little tid-bit from my week. I'm hoping to rest up and catch up on some blog stalking this weekend. I hope you all have a great weekend.........smooches :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span></div>
<img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/mandi/sig_zps1b1bdc81.png" />Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-3763532773933624842013-04-21T21:41:00.002-05:002013-04-21T21:41:33.057-05:00The time of {the TeSt} is upon us......<span style="font-size: x-large;">It's here. There's no escaping it. There's no hiding from it. The <strong><u>S</u></strong>tate of <strong><u>T</u></strong>exas <strong><u>A</u></strong>ssessments of <u><strong>A</strong></u>cademic <u><strong>R</strong></u>eadiness is HERE!! As much as I'm dreading Tuesday and Wednesday (4 hours is a long time for 9 year olds).....I am sooooo ready for it to be over with. This is my first year to be the teacher in the room, and not just an assistant or a helper......but THE teacher. The teacher who taught it. Talk about pressure :(</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">So, here's the plan. Tomorrow, we are going to create a book. I got this nifty idea from the delightfully talented Dana over at <a href="http://www.3rdgradegridiron.com/">3rd Grade Gridiron</a> . She had her students create "mini math booklets". They make a table of contents and get to makin' their book. You can access the specific post <a href="http://www.3rdgradegridiron.com/2013/04/mini-math-booklets-test-prep-fun.html">here.</a> It's simple and it's student centered. Those kind of activities are the best kind!!! Here are her example pics from her blog {Dana....I hope you don't mind me sharing!!!}</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.3rdgradegridiron.com/2013/04/mini-math-booklets-test-prep-fun.html" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OsThLlwYETY/UWA2MXsahNI/AAAAAAAAEUA/crIAhoZOEF8/s400/photo+1.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Then, after we get done with that fun.....we are going to jump into some {Earth Day} problem solving fun courtesy of Amber at <a href="http://amber-polk.blogspot.com/">Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher!</a> I made the task cards last week, so we are ready to go!!</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/I-Love-Earth-Day-Word-Problem-Task-Cards-Common-Core" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QAEXMv7LGiI/UWrnw29CNII/AAAAAAAADzU/1M2UPqQxU9I/s320/Slide1.PNG" width="247" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Oh, and I made a little treat for my kiddos :)</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N7lgMHlOwWQ/UXSiNh75cHI/AAAAAAAACTk/mG6HU_n0R7k/s1600/PhotoGrid_1366576236219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N7lgMHlOwWQ/UXSiNh75cHI/AAAAAAAACTk/mG6HU_n0R7k/s320/PhotoGrid_1366576236219.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Who doesn't love Blow Pops????</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Now, I'm off to bed. This is my reading material. Be jealous.....very, very jealous!</span> </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-056UcdO3q7I/UXSiPTgim4I/AAAAAAAACTs/jX_e6ebWBko/s1600/PhotoGrid_1366596471822.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-056UcdO3q7I/UXSiPTgim4I/AAAAAAAACTs/jX_e6ebWBko/s320/PhotoGrid_1366596471822.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Have a fabulous week, y'all :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span><br />
<img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/mandi/sig_zps1b1bdc81.png" />Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-84556215382796927432013-04-13T14:25:00.001-05:002013-04-13T14:25:35.195-05:00{CURRENTLY} and a little Type A personality fun<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hello, all!! Good Saturday to ya :) Don't you just love weekends??? God's gift to teachers, I'm just sure of it! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Today, I'm linkin' up (for the 1st time....yay!) with Farley from <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/">Oh' Boy 4th Grade</a> for some April {Currently} action!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Here goes nothin' :</span><br />
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<a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2013/03/currently-april.html"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jqpzMN71Cfc/UWmskZuc2jI/AAAAAAAACTM/QLQHAWL8Sps/s640/Picture1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Listening- my mother made all of us kids a CD of the music that we used to listen to growing up. My mother was so musically oriented, it wasn't even funny. Now, when I hear the CD, it almost makes me cry. But a good cry :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Loving- as much as I love my baby and the joy she brings me......I do enjoy nap time. The other kiddo is watching some TV and eating my sunflower seeds. Therefore, I blog!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Thinking- Target? Need I expand on that?? Nope, I don't think so....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Wanting- usually, almost 99% of the time, I love school. I'm a nerd. I love to learn. But this class I'm taking now, "School Finance" is going to drive me to drink. UUUGGGGHHHHH! It's awful. Can't I just run the school and pay someone to handle the finances??? </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Needing- my nephew turns 11 today!! We already bought his gift (which is rare for me, I'm the "day of the party" type of shopper), but I need to wrap it before we meet up for some homemade enchiladas (YUUUMMM)!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">6. Advice- it goes without saying, but I have noticed that my memory has failed me too many times to not mention the importance of writing. everything. down. I can't rely on my own memory any longer. Sad day :(</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Moving on.....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Am I the only one thinking about next year......already???? Every time I do my blog stalkin' (which is quite often), I am making a list of things I want to implement next year. As a matter of fact, just today, I made a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Third-Grade-Lovin-It/422972047796874?ref=hl">Facebook</a> post about my Type A personality. I am a planner and I cannot help myself! </span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aucepjm975Y/UWmtWw3FGlI/AAAAAAAACTU/0hZTCbdI9OI/s1600/68973_438620409565371_216491021_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aucepjm975Y/UWmtWw3FGlI/AAAAAAAACTU/0hZTCbdI9OI/s320/68973_438620409565371_216491021_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">Anyhoo......I'm gonna finish getting ready and run to Target. For what, you ask??? I have no idea.....but I'm sure I'll find something :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream,</span><br />
<img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/mandi/sig_zps1b1bdc81.png" />Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2454401884160112730.post-46519294571600688812013-04-12T17:01:00.001-05:002013-04-12T17:01:38.454-05:00Five for Friday!!<span style="font-size: x-large;">Hey y'all.......I'm linkin' up with <a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/">Doodle Bugs Teaching</a> for some Friday linky fun!</span><br />
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<a href="http://doodlebugsteaching.blogspot.com/2013/04/five-for-friday-linky-party-april-12.html"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vg7meDHLZg0/UWh6CC5lgyI/AAAAAAAACRs/WdT66pX-cm0/s320/fiveforfriday_thumb%5B6%5D.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Just like many of you, we are prepping for our big state standardized tests coming up. Uggghhh :( But, with Amber from <a href="http://amber-polk.blogspot.com/">Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher,</a> we are makin' it fun!! She has these adorably cute and engaging task cards at her <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Amber-Polk/Category/Task-Cards/Order:Most-Recently-Posted">TpT store.</a> Check 'em out!</span></div>
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<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-Into-Test-Prep-All-Third-Grade-Common-Core-Standards"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mBTrOWaFLh0/UWh_SQ35ZjI/AAAAAAAACR4/9VlDwvdfj20/s1600/Slide1.PNG" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">2. I have these 2 beautiful, audacious, spunky, vivacious and fabulous daughters to come home to every day. Need I say more??</span> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9-wkhAzRcsI/UWiAKkO-agI/AAAAAAAACSE/igBzavlLpfg/s1600/860781_4242303308605_2000856277_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9-wkhAzRcsI/UWiAKkO-agI/AAAAAAAACSE/igBzavlLpfg/s320/860781_4242303308605_2000856277_o.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">3. It was National Sibling Day this week. My siblings are my best friends. My sisters are my partners in crime. I don't know what people do who don't have siblings. "Siblings by chance. Friends by choice."</span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rdCMwi20vCI/UWiA8yerZQI/AAAAAAAACSU/rb9Lc67fyeY/s1600/602246_156983667801835_377555376_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rdCMwi20vCI/UWiA8yerZQI/AAAAAAAACSU/rb9Lc67fyeY/s320/602246_156983667801835_377555376_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Amanda from <a href="http://www.teachingmaddeness.com/">Teaching Maddeness</a> showcased my blog this past Wednesday in her <a href="http://www.teachingmaddeness.com/2013/04/budding-bloggers-showcase-third-grade.html">"Budding Bloggers"</a> showcase. It was so awesome to have someone so experienced and creative and fantastic be so generous to a {newbie} like me. Loved it :)</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.teachingmaddeness.com/2013/04/budding-bloggers-showcase-third-grade.html"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n6mII3hGws4/UWiCyDd6j3I/AAAAAAAACSo/zIH7gtDcn8E/s1600/Budding_Blogger_Series_Logo.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">5. I don't know what it is about this time of year (actually I do, but nonetheless)......my kiddos are hanging from the rafters. They are bouncing off the walls at every turn and when I saw this pic.....I couldn't help but laugh and say "Yep....that's about right!"</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pGjiBq2ehyM/UWiDiLaajvI/AAAAAAAACSw/YUXoLmsdx5A/s1600/65681_437036319723780_725313071_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pGjiBq2ehyM/UWiDiLaajvI/AAAAAAAACSw/YUXoLmsdx5A/s320/65681_437036319723780_725313071_n.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">I hope you all have a fantastic and incredibly relaxing weekend!!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Keep livin' the dream, </span><br />
<img src="http://i1064.photobucket.com/albums/u378/designbychristi/mandi/sig_zps1b1bdc81.png" />Mandihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09728092779351015995noreply@blogger.com3