Character Traits Lapbook

So, I've been looking for fun things to get my students really involved and engaged. We do anchor charts and they *sometimes* take notes, but I wanted a fun way that they could have the information at their fingertips. We do some interactive notebooking, but sometimes that gets very repetitive. So... I came up with a lapbook! This particular one is for character traits. I teach this fairly early on in the year, so I wanted to go ahead and get started on it. Here's a preview of what it looks like!

I absolutely LOVE it! I just know the kiddos are going to love putting this together. You can go check it out in my store by clicking here. Go ahead... you know you want it ;)

I will be working on one for summarizing, quoting, and paraphrasing since that is the VERY FIRST thing we do in class. Look for it by next week!

It's Christmas... Say What?

I'm a little late to the sale par-tay.  AND... I'm not a blog hopper, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from participating in some July fun.

Today, I have all of my classroom management items on sale for 20% off.  Since I was late getting this posted, I will keep them on sale for tomorrow too!  

You can check them out by clicking on the images below.

Don't forget to stop by tomorrow to see what I will have on sale in addition to these :)

April Print & Go: 5th Grade Literacy

Hey, ya'll!  I'm back again {can you believe it??} to share with you my recent creation.  It's been a while since I've been motivated to make anything.  I was sooo comfortable with 4th grade math that 5th grade ELA seems so new to me!  I love making things I can use in my classroom with my own students.  I know I teach 5th graders, and many may argue that they don't care about cute things... well, THEY DO!  So, I created a packet of 10 April/Spring printables you can use in your 5th grade classroom to review various CC skills.

Here are the standards for the packet:

5L1a: function of conjunctions
5W2: informational writing
5RI5: text structure
5L2e: spelling grade-appropriate words
RL6: author’s point of view
5RI2: determine two or more main ideas
5L3a: combining sentences
5W1: opinion writing
5W3: narrative writing
5L5b: recognizing idioms
5RI8: supporting a point in a text

Here's a preview!

You can download it HERE.

I also created a freebie to give you an idea of what the packet looks like.  You can download the file by clicking the image below.

Now I'm off to bed!  Spring break has been good to me, but it's ending too soon!

Good Night, Ya'll!

Freebies & Updates

Hey ya'll!  Do you have a to-do list that is a bazillion miles long?  I usually like to put mine in my to-do section of my EC planner...BUT... my list is so long that I decided to just write it over a few days that have already passed.

I've spent the last few days trying to cross some things off that list.  I have a million +1 things that I am currently working on... can any of you relate??  AND... I also have a million +2 things that I have been meaning to get done.  There are a FEW things that I did manage to finish up.  The great news is that they are free.

The first one is a new version of the gray chevron CAFE headers.  After I printed out my other ones, I didn't really like how they were looking with the rest of my decor.  I also added some VOICES headers to the file.  They look like this...

You can download them for free HERE.  Since they are cute and free, it would be super nice if you would show some love and leave some feedback... thanks :)

The next freebie are chevron print word wall headers.  These are medium-sized with two fitting on a regular sized paper (8.5x11).  Here's a preview of them...

You can download them by clicking HERE.  Again, it would be great if you would leave feedback.

I did manage to go to my room {again} today.  My sweet principal was so awesome and printed off some of my TpT purchases so I can work on them before my 'official' day back which is August 12.  I've been busy laminating tonight and I've managed to use an almost an entire pack of 50 laminating sheets.... {side note: ummm please ignore me.. down there... it somehow got attached to the picture and I can't move it... sorry!}

If you love these, you can download them from Molly Maloy.

On another sweet note, my adorable husband came to room today to put together my new teacher chair.  I got to sit in it and I'm so excited to sit in for planning... okay... I'm officially crazy!!  I My husband also managed to put together my awesome cart that I managed to get from Michaels for only $27.39!!  It was 60% off and I had an additional coupon that gave me 20% off.  I really didn't need to spend the money, but I just couldn't pass up that deal!

Source

I am going to use it to store my daily 5 things but mostly my word work.  Here are my plans so far... post-its, magnetic letters, and rubber letter stamps & pads.  That's all I have so far.  I'm sure it will get filled up quick!


I am so close to having my room complete but right now I am finishing up small things.  I feel like it's never going to happen.  I'm so excited to share my pictures with you when I'm done :)  Now I'm off to work on that list!

Common Core Choice Board

Have you decided what you are going to do with your students once the state testing is over?  My testing finished last week so I was in a scurry to find something for my students to do.  Especially since I know they need review, but they think the end of the school year is here... really?  I had one ask me yesterday why she had to go to social studies.  "We've already taken the CRCT anyway... why do we have to still learn?"  Really??  These kids crack me up.  It really doesn't make sense to me why we test so early in the year (5 weeks left to go).  I wish we could do it so we would only have like 2 weeks left.  So, last week I was in a panic because I didn't know what I was going to do for the rest of the school year.  I still want the kids to learn and there are still things that need to be taught.

Earlier in the year, I made a place value choice board for my kids to work on.  I always have a few kids who finish every thing early and are always asking me what they can do next.  So, I made a simple choice board for them to work on.  They loved it!  It was like I was asking them to do something that wasn't work.. say what?  So, that's where I got the idea from.  If I could make a choice board that reviewed everything we have learned this year, it would be a great way to get the kids to retain our precious knowledge I have been pouring into their sweet heads.  I've been working on it a while now, and I'm glad that I have the first one complete.  I was going to wait until I had them all complete, but I just can't wait (and I know you are all looking for fun things for your kids to do, too!)

We broke it out today and the kids did so well with it!  They read directions and really seemed to enjoy the work.  The pattern blocks activity was by far their favorite.

Here are all the choices... so many to choose from!

I took the time to go over each activity with the class.  Then, I helped them choose the ones they were interested in. 

As the students were working, I was walking around assisting and assessing.... and taking pictures ;-)

Add coloring to anything and the kids love it!

Great prime and composite activity with reflection questions!  He was thinking really hard!

 These activities can be completed as stand alone activities for a unit, as small group instruction, as math centers, or a way for students to review.  Overall, the kids were excited to try something different and have a say in what they do.  

And... for sticking with me until the end.  Here's the place value choice board I made earlier this year.  It's a little simple, but to the point.  Just click on the photo to download.

Please check out my Common Core Choice Board.  It's on sale today and tomorrow for 20% off!

Yay, Yay! Look What I Did!

Oh my... I have my Math Centers ready.  There are 16 of these and they align to Common Core 4th Grade Math Standards- Operations & Algebraic Thinking.  Go check it out!  I use every single one of these in my very own classroom, and my students LOVE them!

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{MCC4.OA.4} Math Centers

Hey, Ya'll!  If you have been following me for a while, then you know just how much I love incorporating math centers into my math classroom.  In fact, I use math centers three days a week in addition to my calendar board and small group.  I have posted many things about how I use guided math in my classroom.  All of those posts can be found under the guided math tab at the top of my blog.

This year, Georgia transitioned over to Common Core.  I have been working like crazy to get CC math centers in my classroom.  I wanted to have at least one center for each
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New Common Core Math Centers Series

**UPDATE** I have decided to make this first set free so you can evaluate the quality of my work.  If you like it, follow me on TpT to be updated of new sets!  Click any of the pictures below to upload this set for free!

Hi everyone!  I am feeling much better compared to my last post, but I am still under the weather which stinks because today is my birthday and I woke up feeling HOR.RI.BLE!  I started feeling a little better as the day went by, especially after my bath soak while my three year-old was watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.  Thank God for the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse... Come inside it's fun inside!  How many of you know that tune??  I think I know every word as well as the hotdog dance!  lol  I just love my sweet Hunter Blaine.  He and his little brother, Hudson, are the light of my world.  Anyways, during my kids' naps snoozes, I managed to get started on something that I am really excited about.  I began thinking a few days ago... what if there were math centers designed for every single math standard I teach.. and for cheap!  I wanted to create something that would be useful and well organized for myself and others.  I have posted before about how I organize my stations by standard, and I wanted my actual stations to be organized by standard.  Some standards are more difficult to teach than others, and some have more resources than others.  For example, there are a TON of things on place value, multiplication, and common standards like that.  But, what about the weird standards that fit here and there?  So, I have come up with a Common Core Math Centers Series that I began working on today.  I have started with the first standard, MCC4.OA.1, and I have created two math centers that directly align with that specific standard.  This will continue until each MCC4 standard has at least two math centers.  I am so excited about this because it is something that I will use in my own classroom.  I had already started making some, but they were here and there and not in any particular order.  The great thing is that they are all blackline masters which means no colored ink.  All you have to do is print them on bright paper, laminate, cut, and VIOLA!  I actually went to Office Max today to buy three packs of Astrobright paper (they were on sale, buy 2 get 1 free.)  I can't wait to get to work on Monday to begin printing and laminating.  I just love making these... they are so fun.  So... I have a preview of what they are and they are in my TpT store for $2.00.  The first set is for standard MCC4.OA.1: multiplicative comparisons.  There are two math centers in this set.  Take a peak!  You can click on any picture to be taken to my store.

I can't wait to share more of these with you!  

Welcome, Fall!

Well, it's 'Fair Week' around here... or at least that's what us teachers call it.  The fair is in town for the week and weekend.  What does that mean to us?  Well, let's see.... sleepy students from late nights, days with no homework complete, AND that fall is officially here!  It's my favorite time of the year, and I am SUPER excited.  So excited that I wanted to have a sale this entire week.  That's right!  My sale will run from tonight until Friday night.  I wanted to make a cute fair graphic, but I didn't have any :(  So, I used this graphic from Traci  at Dragonflies in First {thanks!}.

Just click the graphic to go directly to my TpT store where everything is 20% off.  

Speaking of everything... I am STILL working on the 4th grade ELA vocabulary cards.  I know, I know... it's taking FOR.EVER!  But.. I have decided to make a 3-5 file and a K-2 file.  So, the good news is...

1) I'm 3/4 the way done.

2) When I finally do finish it, it will be for grades 3-5

TpT Back to School Sale!!!

Hi Friends!

I normally do not post more than once a day {if even that}, but I wanted to share the news that I will be participating in the annual back to school sale with my TpT shop.  If you have been waiting to get my vocabulary and 'I can' wall sets, now is the time.  Best of all, I will be making coordinating ELA sets this fall.  The sale begins tomorrow and continues through Monday.  Please click the picture for a direct link to my shop.  Don't forget to use the code BTS12 for an additional 10% off.

BTW- I'm not sure who created this adorable flier.... THANK YOU, and I hope you don't mind me using it!

Updates, Curriculum Binder, & Vocabulary Walls

To say that I have been 'out of the loop' of blogging is an understatement.  So, what have I been doing??  Well, my wonderful husband gave me a 4-hour gift certificate for here...  {ah-hum.. that's Urban Sanctuary Spa in Athens, GA in the Boulevard Historic District}.

This isn't the best picture... I was too relaxed to really take any!

It was my graduation/mother's day present.  It sure made all those hours I spent on my Ed.S. degree worth it!  I chose to be 'Queen for a Day' and it was W.O.N.D.E.R.F.U.L.!  I got a full body massage, a body scrub, a facial, a scalp massage, lunch, and a pedicure/foot massage.  Ahhhhh... I didn't want to leave!

I have also been here....

My two year old insists on going swimming every day.... FINE.WITH.ME!

I have also been super busy working on math vocabulary wall sets like a crazy woman.  I've had the sweetest teacher buds asking for their specific grade level, and I'm just too sweet to say no.  With that said, I wanted to share the ones I have available so far.  I DO NOT have K or 2nd grade and I really do not know when I will have these.  I love making these things, but there comes a time when you have to say no.  I want to enjoy my time with my sweet boys because I only have a month left of summer.  WHAT???  That's just crazy to me.  These are all available in my TpT store along with coordinating 'I Can' statements {I do not have 5th grade 'I Cans' right now... I will have them before August.. hopefully}!  You can click each picture to go to my store.  Wait.... THERE IS MORE.... A FREEBIE FOR YOU!

 

CURRICULUM BINDER

Do you have/use a curriculum binder?  I started using one last year, but it didn't work for me because I didn't take the time to organize it and get it the way I wanted it.  This year, I am determined to make it work because it is such a useful tool.  I already have a school-wide assessment binder that I use for my data team meetings.  My data team binder can get pretty thick towards the end of the school year.  I want a separate binder where I will store my everyday things like lesson plans, standards, etc..  

So... what will I use this binder for?  I plan on using my curriculum binder EVERY DAY! This will be my go-to place for standards, lesson plans, weekly & benchmark assessment results, guided math plans, etc.  Anything I need for planning will be in my binder.  During my Ed.S. program at The University of Georgia, I read A LOT about taking the time to plan your differentiated lessons.  When differentiating the RIGHT way, it SHOULD take anywhere from 45 minutes-1 hour to truly differentiate a weeks worth of plans.  Since I only teach math, I have an advantage.  This is something I REALLY want to work on this year.  I believe that having this binder will aid in my development of this.  I also plan to look at each and every assessment closely and closely monitor EACH child's progress on pre/post tests.  

I am starting to get things together, and I wanted to share a few things about it.  First of all, I bought a heavy duty 2" binder from Office Max.  

I am picky about my binders, the rings had to be flat on one side so it would close without me having to adjust my papers.  I also like the one touch open/close clasp.  

I also like the tiered pockets on the sides... I don't really have a reason for this.. lol!  

I would show the rest of my binder, but I don't have it completely ready yet.  I do want to share the sections I plan on organizing.  I created some cutesy title pages that I will put in page protectors and place behind each divider tab.  I bought the divider tabs you can write/erase.  Even though I use a sharpie to write on them with, I have found that you can use a magic eraser if you ever need to change them. 

It's obvious here that I have A LOT of work to do!  I used post-its to jot down ideas of tabs as I went through my pages.

So... here is what I have so far.  The sections I plan on including (and have included here in this link for you to have... for FREE) are

o lesson plans 

o curriculum map

o pacing guide

o common core standards

o georgia performance standards (I did not include this one since it is state specific...    we still have to teach the GP standards this year ALONG with the CC)

o standard examples

o grade level alignment (vertical alignment)

o teaching vocabulary

o birthdays

o parent contacts

o notes

o classroom records

o book issue list

o weekly assessments: pre/post

o benchmark assessments: pre/post

Previously, I posted a freebie that included a birthday, parent contact, notes, classroom records, and book issue list that you can use in your binder.  Once I get my binder complete, I plan on posting again with a detailed look inside as well as any additions I may have added, and MORE FREE FORMS.

Again, don't forget your TITLE PAGES and your CURRICULUM BINDER FORMS.  

So, now I have a question for you.  What are some other things you include in your binder if you have something similar?

One last thing... I also need to include my guided math plans.  I have created a lesson plan template just for guided math because it deserves so much more than just a small box.  That's another thing... small boxes make you feel that your plans need to fit inside that small box.  Well, I just don't think that is enough room!  You can get the guided math template by clicking the picture below.  You will be directed to my post where I talk about it more.

Whew!  That was a long post!  Don't forget to leave any additions below!  I look forward to hearing from you.