Classy Classrooms

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I'm linking up with Delightfully Dedicated for her summer series.  I'm going for a total classroom makeover this year. I'm moving classrooms, and my new room is already painted a zen-like blue and cream. It's beautiful...but my lime green, turquoise, and black theme from the last few years will have to go. I'm a little sad to see all my bright colors go, but super excited for a new relaxing atmosphere. So here are pictures of last years' deco...

Birthday Wall

Writing Corner

View from my door

View from my library

Reading Wall

Library 

View from my desk

Math Corner

Jobs and Leader in Me Wall

Summer Reading

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I look forward to hours and hours of summer reading every school year! This year I'm linking up with Julie Faulkner for "The Books of Summer" linky party. I look forward to all your summer book-lists. Here are the first 5 of mine:

1. I've been reading this series at the request of my 15-year old son, and I'm hooked! This is the final installment, and I can't wait to get started on it.

2.  I always read at least one professional book, and this year I chose The Writing Thief by Ruth Culham. This one is all about using mentor texts to teach writing and reinforce reading.

3.  Of course, I have to start a new series. This book is technically not for sale until September 8, so it will probably be my last book of the summer.

4.  Everyone needs a great re-read, so my 4th book choice is The Hobbit. Again, this one was at the request of my son.

5.  Finally, I loved the movie, so I have to read the book.

Follow the link to go back to the original page, and enjoy your summer reading!

The Books of Summer

Teacher Appreciation Week

I'm participating in Teachers Pay Teachers teacher appreciation sale.

My entire store is 20% off. I've focused on literature resources for 5th grade this year and have added some new products to my store.

 Supplement packets to use as independent novel studies

 Literature units perfect for literature circles

 and decor to build a literacy rich environment

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

Story Sunday Linky

I'm linking up with Elizabeth-Elle at Lifelong Learning for Story Sunday.



Click on the button above to go to the original post. I think this is my new favorite linky! Getting, and more importantly, keeping kids interested in reading is tough. This linky provides some great tips to keep you encouraged. These are a few ideas I use in my classroom and with my own kids:

1. Provide free-reading time DAILY! I have an hour-long block for reading and the first 15 minutes are set aside for silent reading. There is usually time at the end of the block for more silent reading. My 5th graders are also encouraged to read whenever they have a few free minutes throughout the day.

2. Read Aloud. It doesn't matter if you teach kindergarten or middle school, kids love to hear stories read aloud. They can get lost in a story even if they can't read the words themselves. I'm currently reading The True Confession of Charlotte Doyle (my favorite children's book) to my 5th grade class, and Ramona Quimby, Age 8 to my daughter at home. Even my 14-year-old son will listen in at home (though he won't admit he's actually listening).

3. Let them catch you reading! I love to discuss what I'm reading with my class. Our 5th grade has genre requirements each month, and I my favorite part of the month is helping kids choose their book in the particular genre we're working on. I also take suggestions from them for which book I should try next. At home, I pack my book around with me everywhere, so my own children see that I value reading. Right now I'm reading Edge of Eternity by Ken Follett, and it is always next to me just waiting for me to get a few precious minutes of free-time, whether I'm grading papers or getting ready for bed, or running kids to dance practice or scouts. I want them to see that reading can happen anywhere.

4. Keep busy work at a minimum. No matter what grading system your school uses, we all have to assess comprehensions, vocabulary, and so on with what our students are reading. Worksheets, response activities, journals, etc. are all valuable and necessary, but should not be the focus of our reading blocks. Actual reading needs to be the focus, and what most of our reading time is spend on.

5. Reward reading and use reading as a reward. Our goal is that a love of reading is a reward in itself, but until then there will always be students that need an incentive. Our school has a "Reading Around the World" optional program in which students who want to participate get the chance to earn monthly rewards, get their name on a given destination on a huge world map that takes up one wall in the school, and be recognized at an end-of-the-year celebration assembly. Within classrooms students can set goals and be awarded for milestones met. Free-reading can be used as a reward for good behavior for individuals or entire classes. Offer book clubs during lunch, before, or after school for kids to get together and talk about their favorite books. Get creative with it!

I hope these are helpful tips. Click on the button to see some more wonderful reading ideas!

The Conundrum of Social Media and Teaching

The good and bad of social media has been debated relentlessly in the world of education. How can we use it as a teaching tool? Is grammar and penmanship being tossed out the window? Are kids too "wired"? Is the art of communication lost?

The good: Classroom websites and blogs are the norm. Students can navigate any wireless device faster (and sometimes more effectively) than we can. They have access to global classrooms and virtual field trips to places they would otherwise never see. Later this spring, they will even be required to take a high-stakes assessment completely online! I have an example, as I'm sure many of you do, of students using technology to communicate with one another with our book review blog.

The bad: Research has been done on whether or not the overuse of technology causes delays in language, shortened attention spans, and a society of immediate gratification.

But something that has come up recently in this wireless life is the ugly side of social media. A colleague of mine was recently bad-mouthed via an angry parent publicly on facebook. This parent disagreed with a comment her child received on a particular assignment, and instead of talking to the teacher, or even an administrator, she wrote a very slanderous post, describing in detail how horrible this teacher was for the comment. What's worse were the comments she received on her post. "Vicious" is too mild a term. These people were out for blood, not just from this particular teacher, but from teachers in general. Well...living in a small town, of course the post got around to the teacher in question. Knowing how difficult it is to have a torrent of negativity thrown at you, and knowing how much I love my own students and want nothing but the best for them, I can only imagine her heartbreak.

We teach our students about cyber bullying. It has been in the news. It has devastated so many lives. And it can happen to anyone, even teachers! These lessons have no effect when they see their parents, the most influential people in their young lives, participating in this disgusting behavior.

Teaching is already a profession ripe with controversy.  Whether we like it or not, we've always been a huge political puppet from all sides. A love of children and a strong desire to help them succeed is no longer enough. Now we are parents, parole officers, nutritionists, social workers, mediators, and so much more. But through all the change, for good or bad (or ugly), it all comes back to a passion for developing the human spirit. I wouldn't change my career choice for anything! It's not just a job, it is the essence of who I am. It is my mark on the world, small as that may be.

I know I have a few parents who follow my blog, so I'd like to tell you that I love your children, as I loved last year's class, and the year before. I will always strive to make them feel respected, successful, and safe within my classroom. I will respect your input as a parent. After all, who knows your child better than you? I have, and will continue to encourage you to be a partner in this educational journey. Thank you for sharing your beloved children with me!

Traits Vs. Feelings

I don't know about you, but my students have the hardest time differentiating between character traits and feelings. After scouring many (and more) blogs, Pinterest boards, TPT stores, and anywhere else I could think of, I left empty handed. Oh, I found plenty of great stuff, but none of it was exactly what I was looking for. So I combined a few great ideas I discovered with a little of my own to come up with a series of mini-lessons on character traits vs. feelings.

I started with an anchor chart...

I love anchor charts, and I am a believer that you have to make them with the students, otherwise they just become one more poster that is never really used. We started our lesson with the obvious--physical traits. After adding it to the chart, they shared the physical traits of a character in their literature circle books.

The bulk of the lesson, however, was spent on personality traits, a much more subtle and difficult concept. We listed traits, then antonyms to make our list even longer. I discovered that this was as much a vocabulary lesson as it was comprehension! They then had to go on a book hunt for characters with particular personality traits from any book they've already read or are currently reading.

Next, we listed feelings, and compared them to traits. It took quite a bit of discussion, but students came up with feelings as being temporary things based on situation, and traits being more permanent...who a character is as a person...while they may change gradually over time.

Finally, (my favorite part), prove it! If you claim a character to be brave, you need to cite evidence to prove your claim. Insert...opinion and persuasive writing!

Today we followed up with a character comparison Venn diagram as a literature circle response activity. We will be working on written responses (citing evidence of traits), and make character trading cards (similar to baseball cards).

I have a freebie of the primary version of these character trading cards at my TPT store:

Character Trading Cards

Intermediate versions are all part of a literature unit. Here is one for a book one of my literature circles is reading right now:

You Oughta Know About...Science Buddies

I'm linking up with Jasmine McClain once again for the monthly "You Oughta Know" blog hop.

 Our school science fair is coming up in just a few short weeks (Eek!) and since this is the first year I am officially a science teacher, I am so excited! My science students...not so much. So to make this rather daunting assignment a little more fun, we went exploring! For anyone preparing for the science fair, I highly recommend starting at www.sciencebuddies.org.

Go to the topic selection wizard and enter your assignment details (time allotted, grade level, and topic).

Take an interest survey. This was my 5th graders' favorite part! You answer questions about what part of the world you're curious about...everything from planting a garden to satellites. Let's just say our computer lab was a very chatty place this week!

After that, the program gives you an individualized list of project ideas. There are hundreds of projects from early childhood up through high school. Each one is leveled in 2 different ways so you're sure to find one that is accessible for any student. Many of the projects come with pages of background information and links for further research.

Once you're finished with your project you can go back online and share your experience.

I was thrilled to find this online gem...hope you enjoy it as well!

An InLinkz Link-up