Make it Monday

So I got these "sleeves" for free...

But now I don't know really what to do with them...

I want students to be able to use them, so their intended use of putting them in a binder doesn't work for me.

What are some ideas for using them?

Happy Halloween

For Halloween I plan to incorporate  

some ideas from:

 Perhaps read this and create the class book:

 I will be projecting this on my SmartBoard

 I hope we have enough time to do this too on the Smartboard:

Maybe play a game with these:

Butterfly life cycle

Here's another variation on the butterfly life cycle.

Social Studies Anchor Charts

I found these Anticipation Guide's:

The 5th and 6th graders learn about them so next time I teach about them, 

I am totally going to use those guides.

We made these charts.

One thing I would add would be 

When:

The students would read independently books at their own levels and after that, we'd come together and discuss the facts found.

3rd Grade Visit

I visited a third grade class and this child has written 7 pages! 

 In math they were working on number stories:

 The girl is supposed to be me :)

 Okay, so I am the R at the table!

Word Work

Here is a close up of a word work choice:

 Here is a bigger photo of the plastic mesh underneath. 

Spiders

We made our spider schematic chart.

Our new learning came from Gail Gibbons Spiders:


*There were 30,000 different kinds.
*They lived 30,000 million years ago- even before the dinos!
*Their official name is arachnid.

I use Deanna Jump's Spider Unit as a starting point.

I also used her Spider Bite from her Simple Science Vol. 1

At the end, we graphed who likes spiders and who doesn't.  I got these spider webs from Kmart years ago when they were on clearance! 

I had every student write their names on a spider and we taped them to the webs.

On the top half of the paper they drew a spider.

 On the bottom half, I taught them to draw a spider web.
I taught K-5- most of them didn't know how to make one!

 So I had a brilliant idea for the 4th and 5th graders-
instead of just drawing the parts of the web, all they started with was the
" t and x"and for the other parts, they had to write facts.
I think it turned out fab-u-lous!!!!
So did the students!

 I often struggle with finding so many awesome ideas and with such a limited time (15 mins.)
I can't get everything in.  So I had a "lightbulb" moment.
I had different groups do different things!

I made this chart:



Then the students created this:

We discussed how spiders eat their prey.

Each child used:
Web (paper plate)
Proboscis (straw)
Insect (sugar cube)
Venom (water)

 Never use more water than we can clean up!

This one actually looked like a spider!!

 Here is our venom:

We graphed who liked spiders and who did not.

Here is a close up.
I had each child write their name on a spider.

I truly don't like spiders, but always pick to teach about them!

Make it Monday

I took this adorable folder and laminated it.

 Then I added vel-cro dots.  It isn't that cute, but it works!  I laminated a sheet of card stock.

I was inspired by this guided reading chart.
I take all of the ASP girls to the YMCA on Friday's, and my paper chart was driving me nuts! So I made this.  I have bus buddies.  I paired up the little kids with the older kids.  I try to have someone also be my assistant.  For the last few years, we have had two teachers so I had to figure something else out.

When a child leaves, I just use nail polish remover to erase their name.

Penny Dice Game

This was on the SmartBoard, but we also played as pairs.  So you start with say 10 pennies. Roll the number cube.  Take that many pennies and put on your square. The other person rolls.  To get the last of the pennies, you have to roll the exact number!

I stopped by a friend's classroom and found this awesome tool!

You can get your very own here.  I love their scissors- they work wonderfully!

Writing Ideas

So I have been seeing this chart all over Pinterest- so I had to make one too-  I was not coloring that bugger!!  So I just used colored paper! I made the pencil dull on purpose because that's what I had handy! Just like any anchor chart, I made it with the children.  The next time I make the chart, I will make in all over again!

We hung it on the wall.  I was guest teaching this lesson, so I left it for the teacher. I told the kids not to tell her, just see if she notices!  One very precocious child walks in the next morning and asks the teacher, of course she noticed it!

Here was a letter a student wrote to her teacher that was gone.

Dear Mrs. L,
I miss you really much, but class with Mrs. R (that's me) is awesome! I miss you more than the universe!

Critter College

This summer I received an awesome box from PetSmart.

It made planning my lessons very easy! We brainstormed ideas good and bad for pets. 

We talked about why they are good and bad. One child says "lion" another child says "My dad killed a lion." Oh really?  One of my favorite  sayings is "PROVE IT!"  I am still waiting on proof! 

With the younger children we talked out loud animals and the why part.

The older children recorded it in their science logs.

 Next we talked about how to handle furry little critters.

 We talked about what they  need.

 How to decide which furry critter would be right for your family.

In the critter college booklet, it goes over several furry critters.

There life spans, dietary needs, and other important info!

We talked about Pet Snacks:

It is supposed to be a paper grocery bag :)

Here is my feeble attempt to make an exercise wheel!  lol

We also talked about how to have a happy habitat:

Again my attempt to draw a cage! So with these two photos was to draw a cage- so as I was attempting to draw it, it started to look like spider webs!  whoops!  At least I tried!!!!

So here I tried to draw a doctor bag- wait do they make those toy doctor bags anymore???

So I realize that I am not that artistic, but at least I do try!  

I also realized that I need to figure out cuter ideas for our anchor charts!

As the lessons went on, I did more creative!