A few updates!

There has been a TON on my plate lately. I managed to be awesome and fall down the stairs at work, in front of a 5th grade class. It was pretty epic, I must say. So after a week of swelling and two visits to a worker's comp. doctor, I am now in physical therapy. The PT informed me he thinks I have a small hairline fracture on my fibula. So no more gym workouts for me for at least another month and twice a week PT! Then a week later my kidneys decided to attack me and I was down for the count. The song that keeps running through my head is....


Thanks for all the help and advice about the LA/Reading adoption. It was narrowed down to three choices by the committee...from a short list given to us by the district (from Oregon Dept. of Ed). So thanks for the suggestions that weren't on the list, but those were our only options. The three are: Wonders, Journeys, and Reach. I'm leaning toward Journeys...I like the two "paths" that are given for the tradition anthology or using their series in Guided Reading.

Finally a follower (Marla) had read my post about paper slide videos earlier this year. Here is what she wrote:

Thank you so much for sharing the information about Paper Slide Videos.  I had never heard of them before.  I teach 5th grade in Texas and decided to have each of my students do an individual video to demonstrate something they had learned the first six weeks.  Everyone had to pick a different idea and it could be from any subject. 

They loved it!!!!  When we were through, we had 22 videos that reviewed all of our first six weeks of school.  We made a bulletin board with QR codes that were on a iPhone template and had it ready two days before our PTA program so parents could interact with it.  Thanks for turning me on to Schooltube also.  I did not know about that either!

My principal was so impressed and showed our superintendent when she visited our school.  The teachers at my school are all excited about it too.  One has already used the idea too!

Below are the pictures and QR codes she sent me! LOVE IT, thanks for sharing!

Book Trailers

We have been really busy with all sorts of FUN and EXCITING things! I know I've been horrible and not posting a single one of them....sorry!

One thing a small group worked on was book trailers. I'm sure you have heard of them before, they are a great way to get out of the normal book report. I will say that by working with these students on the trailers you could really tell that they had read the books and understood them!

For two weeks prior the students had to pick a chapter book that was appropriate for their reading level. They had two weeks to complete the book, and during those two weeks they had to complete their reading logs based on those books. Click here to get the reading log!

Once we began the actual book trailers the students really took over and got creative! I chose to use a free app/website Animoto. The free version is great! My teaching partner had each student set up their own free version. I actually liked it so much that I purchased the year plan, and made a class account.

The kids that made the book trailers have now become my Animoto experts, and we have done a few other quick projects with them leading the "production" portion. It's so much fun!

I also created a small section in our library with QR codes allowing students to scan and watch the videos.

Here is our poster:

And finally our videos: 

In My Opinion...

Thank you all for the great comments and suggestions about the suggested ELA adoptions for my district. Tomorrow is our first meeting, a little anxious and curious. I think it's hard to adopt a new series, it will be as though we are guinea pigs....there are bound to be problems with ANY new curriculum and/or series. I am also curious to hear what other teachers in the district think about using these. Let's hope I can control myself, and maybe not share TOO much of my opinion.

Speaking of opinion (you like how I did that!?!?!) we have been working on opinion writing since before the winter break. I always start the basic opinion writing before Christmas because Christmas lends itself to many different opinion topics.

This year I chose to use a cute packet, My Opinion Matters by Panicked Teacher, to help guide my initial introduction of opinion writing. I LOVE the cute graphics and fonts. I also loved how I could print little pages for the students to glue into their writing journals, and project the color ones on the board. Click the picture below to check it out in her TpT store.

We also did our first opinion piece called An Elf for Hire by Teresa Kwant. It's FREE, so you may want to grab it now and put it in one of those many files you have on your computer. My students LOVED the idea of working as an Elf in Santa's Workshop. Click the picture to link over to her TpT store.

Now that we are back from the break we are working on a "less scripted" opinion piece. My friend from GA sent me a link to a WONDERFUL site called The Reading and Writing Project. There is a HUGE amount of resources all in one spot! My students have narrowed it down to two topics that they can choose from individually... Should lunches brought from home be banned at school? or Should chocolate milk be banned from school lunches? I love the website because they have compiled YouTube videos, articles, and websites for these topics. Head over and take a look: The Reading and Writing Project (this link will take you directly to the digital nonfiction text section that I used for the opinion writing).

Finally here are two of my newest topic posters: 

cute graphics are part of Nicole Shelby's 5th Grade Reading Interactive Notebook Packet

Reading Workshop vs. Anthology Textbook

As winter break comes to an end (boo), I am letting my brain slowly start thinking about school related things again. I began thinking about my upcoming meeting about a reading textbook adoption. Which brings some worry and concern. I have been doing Reading Workshop with a mix of Guided Reading for about three or four years now. I LOVE how I teach reading, using small groups, LOTS of picture books, reading centers (using pieces of Daily Five). I can use different texts and really dig into nonfiction. It does tend to be a little more work.

When I  was asked to be in the reading textbook adoption committee I had mixed emotions. I know that because of Common Core the district is wanting to find a reading "program" to replace the old textbook, and they are pretty firm about having a textbook. I figure it's better to be on the committee and be able to voice my opinion then just be handed a textbook, but I'm also not willing to give up my Reading Workshop.

So here are the textbooks that my district is looking into adopting. Have you heard of or used any of them?? I would love to get some thoughts and opinions!

Reach For Reading

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Journeys

Benchmark Education Company Whole and Small Group 

McGraw Hill Reading Wonders

Scott Foresman Reading Street

Classroom Read Aloud (chapter book version)

The last day before the winter break I kept my students on edge and engaged by reading the December chapter of one of my FAVORITE read aloud chapter books Because of Mr. Terupt. Last year (and years prior) my media specialist came to all the fifth grade classes monthly and read this book to my students. At the end of the year we did a Skype visit with the author Rob Buyea. It was AMAZING!

So when I moved I told myself I would read this to my class. The book follows a fifth grade class (one of the many reasons I love reading this to my class), every chapter is a month in the school year, and in each chapter the main characters tell the story from their point of view! Did I mention how much I love this book?

Each of my students have a three prong folder in which they keep different entries and notes. I wanted a folder because I wasn't sure as to what exactly I was going to put in the folders. Each month/chapter they are given a sheet with each main character listed and a summary box. As I read the chapter they take notes under each character...they list things that happen, things they learn about that character, etc. 

Another thing that I add at different points of the month might be a character study map, prediction sheet, or whatever lessons we may be covering in class. I love that they are connecting what I'm teaching in my mini lessons with the book the entire class is reading. 

Now each student doesn't have a book, I usually project the book from my iPad Kindle app; therefore, I am not able to really do reading comprehension questions. But I do love how the lesson application pages are turning out. I hope to possibly have a packet made for this book...maybe by the end of the year. 

Here is another great part about this book....Mr. Terupt loops with his class to 6th grade!!!! The kids can't wait to get their hands on the next book!!

So that is probably one of my favorite classroom read alouds, here are a few others...what is/are your favorite? 

(great for fifth grade SS curriculum) 

(ReadWorks.org has a great unit on this one!)

The Joy of Giving

This year, at my new school, I was introduced to a project called The Joy of Giving (this can be done at any time of the year, maybe a new year's project).

I really love this idea, and there is not much work involved for the teachers. If you are like me taking on yet another project is a huge task, so this was perfect!

It lasts 5 days..here is how our committee set it up:

Day 1: Random Act of Kindness
  This is pretty simple, the students complete one random act of kindness. We sent home a little sheet of paper that they could fill out explaining what their random act of kindness was. They could return it to the teacher. During that day they could possibly share and discuss random acts of kindness. I suggest showing this Kid President video (LOVE Kid President)!!





Day 2: Local Food Drive
   Find a local food bank to participate with, this time of year there are MANY food drives. Have the students bring in  a canned food or other non-perishable food item that is not expired and is unopened to school.  Have a large box or designated place for the students to drop the items. Call the food bank to come pick up the items (maybe at an assembly or in your classroom, so that the students can actually meet/talk with the organization where the items are going), or deliver them yourself.

Day 3: Book Drive
  Find a local or other place that is in need of books (new and/or gently used). Here is the one we are using: Books for Kigutu is a charitable organization that brings books to the children in Burundi, East Africa. The highest need right now is gently used or new preschool books, board books, and books for children ages 3-6. www.booksforkigutu.com.

Day 4: Make a donation to an Animal Shelter

  Call a local animal shelter and ask what they are in need of. Most shelters (especially during this time of year) need blankets, bedding, etc. These items can new and sometimes gently used. Our local shelter is in need of:  cat food, canned and dry with no red dye, dry and canned dog food, collars and leashes, towels, blankets and washable bedding. Again have a designated box or bin for the students to bring items in. Once again your can deliver them yourself or have a representative come to your classroom, pick up the items, and talk to your school/class as to what they do, how the items will be used, etc. 

Day 5: Helping a Homeless Shelter

  Call a local homeless shelters and ask what your school/class could do to help. These could be simple donations, writing Christmas cards, etc. Once again have a donation box and invite a representative to come pick up the items so that the students can talk to them, ask questions, etc. If they aren't available you can deliver the items or have a volunteer to do so. 

The idea is that the students demonstrate the act of giving within their own  neighborhood (local), community (city/county), and world wide! I really like the idea of asking representatives from each place to come in and collect the donations as well as talk to your class/school. This allows the children to get a better idea of how their donations are being used, what these places do to help the community, and such. 

Another idea is to have the students make a kindness chain...for each act they do they can add a link to the chain. You can have them write their act on the chain, or simply add a link. This is something that can be kept up through the entire school year, if at any time they complete another act they may add a link. 

This was suppose to start this week for my school, however due to the weather conditions we have already been out for three days! I'll update you as soon as we are able to get this started. 

Enjoy the snow pics! 

Classroom Ornaments

Every year I tend to make the same keepsake ornament, mostly because it's so darn cute! I will admit a tad messy though. I've posted a DIY for this ornament before (click here to view it).

This year...I haven't made up my mind yet. My art class is working on a stained glass project, and if I thought about it I should have started the ornaments then...last week. But I have been on the search for something cute, simple, and not too "school craft" looking (does that make sense). I want keepsake ornaments to be worth the keeping part :)

I came across a few from Better Homes and Garden (LOVE them). Here are the ones I thought were adorable!

Click here for the website, with pictures and directions for most of these ornaments.

I'll share an update if I choose a different ornament...if the ice melts and we can go back to school!