My first 1st grade creation!

Well, here it is.  My first item created for my first grade classroom.  I took all of our first grade high frequency words and make word work sheet for each week.  Students trace the word, write, stamp and then glue. Easy peasy.  Simple and easy for kids to do every week as the words change.  I also created a sheet so you can change the words every week.  It's editable if you open it with power point.  Click on picture to take you to my TPT store.

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!

Click on the cupcake to head over to my store!

Yup, it's that day that comes once a year!  MY BIRTHDAY!  I love birthdays!  I am treating myself to a girls day.  My bestie and I are going shopping, to lunch and getting a massage I'm so excited!! 
So what's in it for you! I freebie and a sale!!  YAY!  Seems like a great gift! 
Well, have fun and enjoy the sale it'll only last two days! 

Spin to win Freebie- practice the words mom and dad with this freebie.  Students just take a paperclip and hold it with a pencil in the middle of the circle.  Students flick it and wherever it stops they write that word in a column.  Whichever column gets to the top first wins.  The first time students just trace the word.  I also included a blank spin to win so you can make your own game with two words you are practicing!  Students love it!  Laminate it and play over and over.

Click on picture for your freebie!

Kindergarten Conference 2013

I'm here in KEARNEY!!  I'm having a great time at the Kindergarten Conference.  After being asked to present the past three years, I finally made it work this year.  My first time presenting outside of my district.  I think I pasted.  I went a little fast and need to learn to pace myself a little better but overall I feel that it went well.
For those of you that couldn't join in the fun.  I will post my handouts and power point.  I presented on Guided Math.  I newfound love of mine. Much of what I know I learn from the book Guided Math by Laney Sammons. Click on the picture of get your copy from Amazon.

 I love how the kids are so independent and I can reach them all at their level.  Is it the best way to DIFFERENTIATE math!!  We do this so well with guided reading and not so well with math. 

 

Click on the picture to get to my handouts! 

 

We did a short little make and take with my number ladders.  It is in the end of the handouts!  Print these on cardstock and make for the whole class. These are super cute, easy to make,  and really helps kids get a firm grasp on addition and subtraction.

 

 

 

And here is the power point.  I tried to put pictures of some brain boxes and games that I use in my classroom. If you have questions let me know.

Click on the picture to take you to my power point! 

Hope you learn something! 

Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guided Reading Summer Book Study

After reading this chapter I felt validated in myself as a guided reading teacher. I do set up routines really well.  The more I teach the slower and more intentional I am in the beginning.   I introduce the independent literacy activities in the beginning of the year.  I use baskets one for each table. I put simple easy activities like magnetic letters, marker boards, playdoh and books.   This gives students some book skills and lets them explore. We do each for 20 minutes and then the next day we switch the baskets.  I really works well at the beginning of the year.  I like how Jan Richardson suggested pulling each group over to introduce a literacy center.  I will definitely do this THIS year.   I will be teaching 1st grade and be doing literacy work stations instead of Daily 5.  While I am sad to leave Kindergarten and my love of Daily 5; I am embracing the change!  After all the only constant thing in life is change. I have been reading Debbie Diller's book Literacy Work Stations also so that has helped me with work stations.
Anyway, the biggest topic to take away from this chapter is take it SLOW! Help students gain independence. I appreciate how she says to use a time.  There is a great online time at       www.online-stopwatch.com it's easy to show through a projector if you have one in your room.  There are some fun ones like the man running to the finish line or the bomb with the fuse slowly getting smaller.  However, just be cautious they are eye catching and sometimes students will be watching the timer instead of doing their work. I found the egg timer works the best and isn't distracting.
I enjoyed reading this chapter and look forward to more learning with Jan Richardson.


One a side note, I am changing grade levels and want to change my blog. Anyone have any great ideas for a new name?  I was thinking Learning with Lisa but that is taken.  DARN!  I wanted to not make it so grade level specific but catchy, fun and easy to remember.  If you have any ideas..... let me know! I'm open! 

More writing centers

I have been busy outside playing in the pool, watching TONS of t-ball and baseball games, and enjoying summer.  I have also managed to make more writing centers.  I have added 3 more to my store.

 

Click on any picture to get them from my TPT store.  Remember if you purchase the bundle you will get all them and any additional ones that are added later for FREE.  I will notify you of any updates to redownload.  Get it before the price increases.

The cutest little word bags!

So recently one of my friends showed me a little bag her daughter made at daycare. It's so easy I had to make them for word bags next year.  I love to make word bags every year where the kids can write their sight words on notecards as they learn them and add them to their bag.  Then they always have their words with them and can practice anytime. 
Get yourself some Ziploc freezer bags and decorative duct tape. 

 

I'm doing zebra stripes theme in my room next year so I got pink and green zebra stripes.  Then just roll the tape across the front then the back. You have to cover it with 5 strips of tape.  Then to make the handle just take a piece of duct tape as long as you would like and fold in half.  Then tuck under the duct tape on the top of each side.

CUTE!  CUTE! CUTE!  I love them.  They are durable and easy to make. 

 It seriously took me 5 minutes or less to make one and you can make it while watching TV. 

 Who doesn't love that??

One roll of tape covers four bags.  You could use the smaller bags and get more bags per roll.  You can get the colored decorative duct tape at any store!  They have tons of different kinds.  The kids will love them and they will last all year!

 

You could use them for math manipulatives, purses and wallets when learning money, the possibilities are endless!

Literacy Work Stations-Making Centers Work** Chapter 1

Well, this summer I'm reading Literacy Work Stations; Making Centers Work by Debbie Diller.  So I thought I'd blog a little about the highlights from each chapter.  Even if you don't have your centers set up this way, I'm sure you can learn a little from this book. I am!

Chapter 1: What is a Literacy Work Station?
Literacy work station is an area in your classroom where students work and learn together.  Two students are usually in a center at a time. I have done work stations this way in the past we just called them Literacy circles.  The main difference is that once you have introduced literacy work stations they are not changed all year. 
Some of the highlights are that teachers need to model then gradually release responsibility until students can have total independence.
Debbie's Non-Negotiables:
* Focus on practice and purpose not just the stuff of stations.
*Link to your teaching
*Slow down to speed up.  Take it slow in the beginning.  You won't regret it.
* Balance process and product.
*Less is more
* Use novelty
*Simplify

OK so there are a few I need to work on...
It is so hard in the beginning of the school year to want to introduce it all so that you can get going with guided reading.  But really you need to go slow so that when it is time to start guided reading you can focus on guided reading not what the kids are doing. The students need to be independent first!! 
I think I need to remember...less is more. As I was cleaning out my classroom I found so many things and asked myself "Why?"  I had so many things I that I have bought over the years and have never used.  This move will be good for me to rethink how I use my stuff and get rid of the things that I don't need. 
Do you use the Literacy Work Stations Model?  Do you like it?  I'd love some feedback from people that have.  I'm excited to use this method.  I have use Daily 5 the past four years and love it but my new school uses Literacy Work Stations.  Any ideas would be helpful?

Oh ok course I can't leave without sharing my latest and greatest!!  I finally figured out how to bundle my writing centers!  It took forever to upload it to TPT but it's there!  22 centers to use all year. If you would like any other ones you don't see let me know. 

Writing Centers Bundled