April Showers Bring May Wow-ers!

 

I’m thinking I’ll have my students write poems this month. With the focus on how pretty it looks and feels outside, this should be an easy enough inspiration! I’ll post their poems on large flower, umbrella, cloud, butterfly, or tree templates. Hanging them from string around the room or in the hall for Spring Open House would decorate the room nicely. Any suggestions?

I’ve done a poem before where the students fill in the blanks with what they see, hear, smell, etc. Then, I cut off (or fold back) the beginning part of the sentence to make it sound more like poetry than a narrative.

I see…_____________________________________

I hear…____________________________________

I smell…____________________________________

I feel…_____________________________________

I touch…____________________________________

I taste…____________________________________

‘Just a fun idea. This time of year is one of my favorites! Visit my Teacher’s Notebook shop and/or Teachers-Pay-Teachers shop (look on the right side of my blog for a link to these) for more ideas.

*I’m running a Spring into Spring 15% off sale on both sites!!!*

MARCH ON!!!

 

March Madness. Spring Break. Easter. What else does March 2013 have in store for us???

I’ve been trying to come up with simple ways to cover grammar that aren’t too long and arduous. I’ve included two worksheets on “Teachers Pay Teachers” and “Teacher’s Notebook”. Use these for practice at home or in a station/center to assess your students’ understanding. Right now, my school is covering coordinating and subordinating conjunctions in compound and complex sentences. I also saw the need to review parts of speech…often!So, I made a shapes and color-coded practice sheet for parts of speech. Each is only .99!

On T-P-T:

Conjunctions: Hooking Together Clauses:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Conjunctions-Hooking-Together-Clauses

Shape and Color-Coded Weekly Grammar Homework:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Shape-and-Color-Coded-Weekly-Grammar-Homework

On T.N.:

Conjunctions: Hooking Together Clauses:

http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/IHEARTMIDDLE/conjunctions-hooking-together-clauses

Shape and Color-Coded Weekly Grammar Homework:

http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/IHEARTMIDDLE/shapes-and-color-coded-weekly-grammar-homework

Enjoy your fun-filled, busy MARCH!

Happy Teaching!

February: The Month of Love

 

We’re now in February. The month of love. Almost as soon as we’ve made our resolutions, we’re tested to keep them…

We love the Super Bowl. We love Mardi Gras. We love chocolate and over-indulging. After we go a little overboard, we have to reel ourselves back in…

I’ve created a fun little lesson you can do with your kids. My students loved them! After they’ve written their creative, unique Diamante poems, cut them out, glue them onto colored paper and hang them from string. Let their little diamonds shine!

On TpT: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Creating-a-Diamante-Poem

On T.N.: http://www.teachersnotebook.com/product/IHEARTMIDDLE/creating-a-diamante-poem

Have fun and enjoy!

Story Time

Whether you’re introducing the elements of a short story for the first time, or you need to review plot structure to analyze a novel, it’s nice to have a graphic organizer and ready-made analysis sheets to distribute to your students. I’ve added an item to both Teacher’s Notebook and Teachers Pay Teachers that can make this process more fun for you and your students.

If you have English Language Learners or Special Education students, having a mental model for them to organize their thoughts, makes things easier for them.

Check it out!

On T.N.: ' target=_blank>Character, Setting, & Plot

On T-p-T: Character, Setting, & Plot

Happy Teaching! :)

Happy New Year!!!

 

2012 was a great year. I learned a lot about things that work and things that don’t. I decided to make things easier on myself (and consequently more fun for the kids), by implementing more technology in my teaching! It was scary at first, but I realized it really saves time and it’s more engaging for them.

First of all, rather than paper journals, the kids are using “Kid Blog” to record their thoughts and feelings. Let’s face it. Blogging is the new journaling anyway.

Next, I’ve been using www.spellingcity.com for my students to practice and take their spelling tests. There are lots of activities they can do on “Spelling City” to learn the words – meaning, pronunciation AND spelling. It’s fun for them and a quick and easy grade for me!

Last (but not least), I have been allowing my students time to practice their typing skills on “Type to Learn”. They need practice typing. Too many of them STILL hunt and peck on the keyboard! AHHHH!!!!

I hope 2013 brings lots of excitement and wonder into your classrooms and your hearts. We’re starting our research projects. So be looking for some research lessons soon. In the meantime, check out a figurative language lesson, get your students’ papers organized into a ELAR notebook, or get ideas on how to use literacy stations by going to:

Teacher’s-Pay-Teacher’s Store:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/I-Heart-Middle

-and-

Teacher’s Notebook Shop:

http://www.teachersnotebook.com/shop/IHEARTMIDDLE

I have New Year’s Sales going on NOW!!!!

 

 

Check out the HUGE Turkey-Sized Sale!

HUGE Thanksgiving Sale!!!

Thanksgiving

Hello, Thanksgiving!

We spent the past 2 days making "Thankful Turkeys". On each feather, they listed something for which they have to be thankful. At first, they struggled to come up with more than a handful of things. Then, when I reminded how fortunate they are to have all the luxuries they do, they began to think of things I hadn't even considered! One little girl said, "Love." I hadn't thought of love. Perfect.

We are writing one major paper per 6 weeks. The 1st 6 weeks we wrote a personal narrative. The 2nd was a persuasive essay. Now that we're into the 3rd 6 weeks, they're writing a reflective paper, in which they'll respond to literature they are reading in Reading class. They will be asked to make emotional connections to the conflicts in the story and how they connect to the characters.

We have barely begun our literacy station transitions. The students seem to enjoy the various activities and frequent changes throughout the class period, and it gives us (teachers) the opportunity to conference with each student about their writing and other skills for which they need extra attention.

I'll share how they are going in a few days, once we're worked through the kinks. I think it's going to be a great thing!

Happy Turkey-Eating!

Enjoy Teacher's Notebook sale (below) and combine it with mine to receive:

55% off!!!!



55% off Teacher's Notebook Sale!




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