Winter Projects

Winter break.  The long awaited week and a half (give or take) that we get to rest, re-group, and relax.  Well, this year, I got hit with a sickness.  BIG.  TIME.  

So far, I spent five of these six days bed-ridden with my family taking care of me.  Merry Christmas to me!  But, I have to say, I'm very thankful that it happened over break and that I didn't have to miss any teaching days.  

Anyways, I set my sights very high for my winter break and had gigantic plans to get all kinds of fun projects done for my own classroom.  I've got a file started of a list of projects.  Looks like that will be postponed a little longer.  However, I have gotten a few projects done:

(1) Erasable To-Do List

It's so easy and so useful!  All you need is a picture frame (with decent glass), cute paper, and a dry erase marker.  I like to be crafty so I also bought fun stick-on metallic letters and glitter embellishments.  At the very least, have notebook paper to put inside the frame to give you helpful guidelines.  If you don't have a dry-erase eraser handy, just hot glue a pom-pom ball at the end of the marker and VOILE, an eraser for your marker!

2) Dull and Sharp Pencil Cups

This may be the end to my misery.  Pencil sharpeners are noisy.  Even if you buy the "extra-quiet pencil sharpeners" or the machines that claim to be "classroom friendly".  It always seems like one of my kiddos needs to sharpen their pencil at an inopportune moment - as if it were life or death!  I've seen this idea many places and didn't really think about how helpful it could be until now.  So, I plan on putting them in my room after break so students can trade their dull pencil for a sharp one.  During free time or before school, I will have a student sharpen the dull pencils for me.  Such a simple solution!

All you need are two cans/jars/containers that have a sturdy side and bottom (so they don't wear out).  I used old peach cans for one set and peanut containers for a gift set.  Using Modge Podge, create a fun design that matches your classroom or personality and you've got a fancy, useful classroom tool!

I'm sure you've got a big project wish-list like I do.  Here's hoping you will be motivated to do at LEAST one of them.  But don't stop there, keep going!

Enjoy your winter break, everyone!  And STAY healthy!

Emily   :)

Please Remember

Joining me in a day of silence, Monday December 17th, to honor and remember.

"But the thing about remembering, is that you don't forget"

-Tim O'Brien

Charting Character Changes

Analyzing characters is an important aspect of reading literacy.  There are a million ideas out there for how you can encourage students to think deeper about characters, focus on particular details, and recognize character growth throughout a book.  

Right now, my kiddos are finishing up a long novel that we have been reading.  It's more advanced, and requires a lot of critical thinking.  I wanted to do an activity with my students that allowed them to look at main characters with a different lens on.  Typically, main characters change mentally, emotionally, socially, etc, throughout a book.  Sometimes I feel as though I get caught up in wanting my students to understand what's going on in the book and overlook important details such as character changes.

Here is a graphic organizer that I created a while back.  Recently, I decided to tweak it a bit and make it as useful as I could.  The worksheet is to be completed for one character.  Students will have to identify different characteristics of their character, including what he/she thinks, sees, feels, says, does, etc.  It's a great way to get students to look beyond the surface of a character and truly analyze who they are.

(This is just a preview of part of the worksheet)

In my small group, I assigned each student a main character (there are a lot) in Part I of our book (there are three parts in all).  I made copies of this worksheet back-to-back.  When we began the book I told my students to fill out the front side as best as they could.  Now that we are finishing the book, I asked my students to complete the back side of the worksheet about the character at the END of the book.  We spent a lot of time reflecting on how each character had changed throughout the book and how they have become a different person.  After a deep discussion, I had each student write at least one page about their character's transformation.

There are MANY ways to use this graphic organizer.  The bottom line is, we all want our students to critically think about important characters in their books.  Using programs such as balanced literacy, we look to develop a student's comprehension skills and critical thinking abilities.  I have found this graphic organizer to help me cultivate those skills within my kiddos.

If you're interested in purchasing this graphic organizer, check out my TpT store!  

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ms-Rothering

Otherwise, I hope it gave you some inspiration or ideas on how to help your students get to know their characters.

Emily :)

Thumb-tastic!

I just love thumbprint activities.  All you need is a thumb, paper, and ink.  That's a total of about $3.50!  

Today, I decided to have a little fun with my intervention group.  We recently learned about fingerprints and irises.  We learned that everyone has their own fingerprint and iris color - no two people have the same.  My students were specifically interested in what fingerprints look like and how intriguing they really are. 

So, the light bulb in my head went on and I decided that today was a perfect opportunity to take a break from our rigorous intervention lessons and have some fun.  We made holiday-themed art work using our fingerprints!

In addition, we made a "class photo" of all of our fingerprints.  After we analyzed them and looked for similarities and differences, we decided to turn them into thumbprint people to post on our bulletin board.  Sorry the photo quality isn't great, my camera is on the fritz.  However, you can't deny how cute they are - it's so interesting to see how they drew themselves!

Happy Thumbprinting!

:)  Emily

How do you say this word?

Okay teachers, let's think about this.  How often do you hear a student ask, "what is this word?" / "how do you say this word?" / "can you tell me what this says?".

All-the-TIME!  As if we aren't asked a million questions a day already, we also have basic learning barriers to deal with.  Don't get me wrong, I love my students and one of my main purposes as their teacher is to be there to answer questions - whatever they may be.  

Something I've been working on lately with my kiddos is teaching them to be self-reliant.  There are a few areas I have been targeting the most that relate to these questions:

(1) Schedule: What are we doing today?  What are we doing next? 

(2) Tattling: Can you ask (name) to stop doing this?  Can you tell (name) that I don't like them when they do that?

(3) Preparedness: What am I supposed to be doing?  What do I need?  How do I do (this)?

(4) Unfamiliar Words: What is this word?

At this point, I'm sure some of you are smiling, thinking about how often you hear these questions or these questions in some form or another.  I first decided to tackle #4 - Unfamiliar Words.  As I've told you, one of the small intervention groups I teach is with basic-minimal readers.  I also teach reading to my after-school program students.  In addition to the learning barriers I work with, I have many ESL/ELL students also.  

So, I needed to help my kiddos, and fast.  I noticed that many of my students were either falling behind or at a road block.  I wanted to teach them a sort of weapon they can use to arm themselves for the future, so they can be more self-reliant and not so dependent on teachers/peers.

The result: my Word Strategy Packet that you see below.  It is a packet that teaches three strategies kids can use to identify new and unfamiliar words - in their terms, BIG words.  The three strategies I included were: (1) chunking, (2) sounding it out, and (3) word within a word.  Through a bunch of research, I found these three strategies to be the most commonly used and accepted.

To purchase it, go to my TpT store: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ms-Rothering

This packet worked out really well for my needs and the needs of my kiddos.  Each page gave an explanation of the strategy, an example, a walk-through, and a lot of practice.  In addition, I had a full page of "big words" for students to identify and choose which strategy that helped them figure the word out.  The results were very positive - with my struggling readers, students with learning barriers, and my ESL/ELL students.

Okay, so I planned and executed a strategy for ONE of those areas.  There are three more to go.  I know teaching is a constant process of evaluating, planning, implementing, and re-assessing, so I know this isn't the last of word strategy problem-solving.  For now, I'll check this off my list and move on to the next hurdle.  Hope this helps if you're finding yourself in a similar situation!

Emily  :)

Not JUST a teacher...

Reality check:  Teaching is exhausting.  It's not one of those jobs that end at a designated time every day.  Not even a Monday through Friday gig.  When you go home, your work follows you.  In fact, I don't think you can ever really catch-up and not have anything to do.  An endless to-do list.

That doesn't even include all of the daily hurdles of teaching concepts, grading, lesson planning, copying, organizing, disciplining, dealing with problems, progress monitoring, a thousand questions daily to answer, social aspects, behavioral issues, differentiating, germ cleaning, feeding, parent contacts, and testing.  

Educators are SO much more than just "teachers"...

Okay, that was sort of heavy.  But my point is, you never really understand how stressful, busy, and exhausting teaching can be until you've been in those shoes.  When I chose this career field, I don't think I truly understood the depth teaching and all of the different aspects in includes.  Even now, I'm still figuring it all out.  I really look up to those of you who have been teaching for years and years and have kept your passion alive.

This past weekend, someone asked me what I did for a living, and I told them teach.  Their reply was something along the lines of, "Oh, so you play with kids all day and color?"

Silence.  *crickets chirping*

I couldn't even respond.  Teaching is so much more, and I'm blessed to be a part of it.  But more important than that?  I am so thankful for those wonderful teachers I've had in the past who have helped me become the person (and teacher) I am becoming myself, and I'm thankful for those wonderful mentors I have in my life right now.  I'm hoping that someday I can be half the teachers they are.

Just food for thought.

Emily :)

Collecting Characters

As I've told you, I'm over waist deep in book club activities right now.  My kids are currently reading Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins.  In the book, there is a multitude of important characters that my students really need to know.

 

Of course, every good book club looks into characters, makes connections, and extracts details.  I wasn't sure how I could accomplish this with as many important characters as there are in this book.  So, I decided to have each student tackle the job of profiling a different character, and then presenting/sharing with the group.

 

The result of this idea?  Character Trading Cards.  I made a graphic organizer that includes important details, ideas, and descriptions about the characters, along with an illustration.  I printed them off about half of the size of an 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper, so we could make a booklet of all of our trading cards.

 

Here is a preview: 

 

 

 

To purchase, check out my TpT store: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ms-Rothering

 

You can also make the cards smaller - 4 to a page, and copy them so students can have one of each character from your book.  This was a fun way for students to dig deeper into a book's character and look for similarities/differences to themselves (text-to-self).  Obviously, it doesn't have to be used with the book I am teaching - it can be used with any book!  The students think it was fun to "collect" them all and put them together.  They were continuously adding to the cards throughout the book which allowed a lot of great detail.

 

Happy collecting!

 

Emily :)

Author, who?

Authors.  Who are they, anyways?  When I was growing up, I feel that most of the time, the author was just the man/woman who wrote the book, and that was about as far as it went.  Sometimes, I'd recognize names of authors who wrote several books that I like, such as Eric Carle or Roald Dahl.  As an adult, it's sad to think that I didn't know more - or even care to know more - about the people who were creative to write some of my favorite books.

 

But did I know who they really were?  No.  Did I know what other accomplishments they had made?  No.  Could I tell you anything interesting about them?  No.

 

That's where I've decided to change my lack of knowledge and not only look into authors myself, but create an opportunity for my students to experience researching authors as well.  So, I decided to develop an Author Study Graphic Organizer for my kiddos.  Here's a glimpse of part of it:

As you can see, I went a bit out of my way to make it more interesting.  Research can be boring, but I've found that students like when it is "fun" and you can color/draw as well.    I've done author studies before, and it was just a whole bunch of writing or typing in an arbitrary manor.  All of the information needed for an effective author study is included in my graphic organizer, but a little more exciting.

**To purchase it, check out my TeachersPayTeachers store:

 www.http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ms-Rothering. 

It is listed as "Fun Author Study Graphic Organizer" **

 

For this particular assignment, I presented it to my students as a project option for our end-of-the-novel assessment project.  It could also be used as a class activity (if computers are accessible), a homework assignment, extension activity, or extra credit.  For this particular occasion, I used it with fourth graders.  However, I believe you could use it with a range of students.  All of the information required to complete this can be accessed fairly easily, or even with the help of an adult.

 

I've been noticing that I'm starting to reflect a lot on my childhood and my experiences as a student myself.  It's scary - I'm starting to feel older and older each day!  But, as "they" say a lot - and I mean a lot! - it's important to be reflective as a teacher and to use your experiences to enhance opportunities for your own kiddos.

 

If anything, this is my attempt to make research a little more fun.  Not all students like to do it, but hopefully having it a bit more fun can help encourage them.  A little enticement never hurt, did it?

 

Emily  :)

Rain drops on roses...

First of several "favorites" posts I will be doing throughout the holiday season...!

 

Children's Books.  We all have our favorites.  Children's books are like a teacher's left arm.  Then, there are those unforgettable classics that we ALL know and love.  So, I thought I would share a few of my (not-so-well-known) favorite children's books than can be used in the classroom and across the curriculum.  Each has a great theme that can be used as the basis for a lesson or to accompany another unit.

 

The first think you need to know about my favorites are some of my absolutely favorite children's book authors. 

 

1. Eric Carle (The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brown Bear/Brown Bear, The Very Quiet Cricket)

          -http://www.eric-carle.com/home.html

 

2. Jon Scieszka (The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, Stinky Cheese Man, Squids Will Be Squids)

          -http://www.jsworldwide.com/

 

3. Mo Willems (Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Knuffle Bunny, Elephant & Piggie)

          -http://www.mowillems.com/

 

Alright, I had to put some thought into this small list.  You have to understand - there are SO many more I would love to include!  But for the sake of length, I chose five books that are more "me" and not as well-known.

 

1. The Stinky Cheese Man by Jon Scieszka

 

-This book is ridiculous.  It's clever, funny, and TOTALLY kid-friendly.  The stories are all based on well-known children's tales, stories, and poems, with a funny twist.  The illustrations are great and very expressive.  Kids always get a kick out of the silly twists and outlandish words.  The book has a great underlying theme of fake vs. real ideas and how to compare/contrast.

 

2. Miss Nelson is Missing by Harry Allard

 

-In this book, when Miss Nelson's class gets out-of-control and disrespects her as their teacher, she goes missing, and a wicked, super-strict witch comes in to substitute - Miss Viola Swamp.  Come on, what teacher can't relate to that?  :)  I have loved this book since I was a youngster myself.  It's suspenseful, funny, and relatable.  Even better?  It's got a GREAT lesson for students to learn about respecting and appreciating their teacher. 

 

 

 

 

3. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst

 

-Alexander has it rough.  Nothing goes his way, and things keep getting worse and worse.  Alexander finds MORE and MORE reasons to be upset, and his alternatives keep getting more and more extraordinary.  This book can be a clever tool to use with a group of Negative Nancy's.  You know who I'm talking about already, don't you?  A good attitude can go a long way, and this book is a perfect way to teach that to our students.

 

4. Confessions of a Former Bully by Barbara Coloroso

 

-Unfortunately, we have to fact the truth: bullying is everywhere.  Child-friendly literature about bullying can be a great teaching resource.  I came across this book during some research a year or so ago and love it.  It's a fact-filled book from the perspective of a former bully.  It turns the tables and might just open the eyes of a few miniature bullies in your class.  I will have a LOT more to tell you about Ms. Coloroso later.

 

 

 

 

 

5. Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems

 -One word: ADORABLE.  Mo Willems is a fantastic author with countless adorable, dorky books - right up my alley!  This book is about his real-life daughter, Trixie.  She loses her beloved stuffed animal, Knuffle Bunny.  What kiddo can't relate to that!?   There is a lot of complimentary tools out there, too, including an animated read-aloud that Mo Willems and his daughter read themselves.  Better yet?  There are two sequels!

6. Don't Laugh at Me by Steve Seskin

 

-Bullied kids unite!  This book (with adorable illustrations) is about students who are bullied and how they turn their unfortunate situation around.  What's even better is that proceeds from this book (if you choose to purchase it) goes to Operation Respect - a campaign against bullying.  We can't always stop bullying as teachers, but we can help those students who are bullied feel empowered to stand up for themselves.

 

 

My hope is to share these with the idea that maybe you will be inspired to find your own odd "favorites" or even use some of these in your own classroom!  I love being inspired by fellow teachers and sharing some of the knowledge I've gained throughout my own experiences. 

Three strikes...!

As I've previously mentioned before, it appears as though my fourth graders are experiencing a bit of "mid-semester buzz".  They appear to think that rules are relaxed or that they might be exempt from our behavior management system.  Not a chance!  :)

 

I think most teachers experience a low where students become comfortable with the atmosphere and learning environment they are put in.  This might result in a difficult period where rules are needing to be enforced or a lack of respect.  With more challenging classes, I think teachers might have to alter their behavior system to keep things interesting and successful. 

 

In my situation, I decided to keep the red-yellow-green behavior management system and add an extra "step" so-to-say to the process.  As noted in my last post, students always begin the day on green.  For minor or low-risk behavioral problems, students turn their card to yellow and can work their way back to green.  If students turn to red, they receive a "problem solve" that they must complete with a school counselor/psychologist.  In my small groups, I have never had to turn a student to red, thankfully, but I have had instances where students received a yellow.  Lately, I've noticed that students are very comfortable with me and one another, and think it is acceptable to talk out of turn, talk when a classmate is speaking, blurt, or answer without raising their hands. 

 

So, I researched several different strategies that other teachers have used to fix this problem.  My solution came from an idea I found on Pinterest.  Although it's not the same, I was inspired by the idea of creating a "Blurt Chart."  However, in my class, students are granted three strikes before they turn their card to yellow.  Here is what my chart looks like:

 

As you can see, each student gets three yellow dots, or strikes.  [Get it?  Yellow dots for a yellow card.  Cheesy, I know :) ]  I put Velcro on them so I can easily take them off without ruining the poster.  The poster is posted in a visible location where I can easily access it without removing myself from the teaching area.  I also have a pocket attached to the wall so I can put the yellow dots in a safe place if they have been removed.  If my portable classroom was big enough, I would have students remove their dot themselves, but due to lack of space, I remove it myself if needed.

 

Honestly?  So far, it has worked LIKE A CHARM!  My kiddos get so nervous if I wander over towards the poster - they assume someone is getting a strike!  I also hear them saying things like, "Shh, you need to listen to Tommy so you don't get a strike!".  They hold one another accountable so nobody loses a strike.  It is also a great way to have students learn to be responsible for themselves. The best part is, each day begins new, with a fresh opportunity to be "strike-free" for the day. 

 

I can't say this method will work for you, or it will be an end to all of your troubles, but I can tell you from experience that I have implemented this strategy and it has worked out really well!  The amount of blurting, talking out of turn, and not paying attention has gone down and our lessons are more constructive and positive.  Sometimes, you just have to roll with the punches and alter your strategies to fit the ever-changing needs of your kiddos.

 

My goal is to not need the chart by the end of December.  Cross your fingers!

 

Emily  :)

 

Got PBIS?

A good school creates a behavior management system and implements it.  A great school chooses a system, believes in it, supports it, researches it, and constantly develops it.  In my school district, PBIS is supported across the grades.  Within my school, PBIS is class-wide and thoroughly supported. 

 

PBIS?  It stands for Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports.  PBIS is an approach that aims to help schools and staff use behavioral interventions that are evidence and research-based.  It is structured as a continuum with prevention-oriented supports.  The goal of PBIS is to prevent problematic behaviors from happening, and improve ALL student behaviors - it's not just targeting "repeat offenders".  ( For more detailed information, check out www.pbis.org )

My school has developed a wonderful plan to fully implement PBIS school-wide.  The teachers and staff have agreed upon a behavior management system that focuses on the goals of PBIS and is used in every classroom.  We use a PBIS behavior matrix that outlines what good behaviors look like in the classroom, hallways, playground, cafeteria, etc. I love this consistency and think it is highly beneficial for students.  Classroom rules, of course, are developed and implemented by the classroom teacher, but all other PBIS rules in that matrix are enforced school-wide, along with the general behavior system.

So, I'll explain the system.  We use the "red-yellow-green" behavior card system - also known as stoplight behaviors. Each student starts on "green" each day (good behavior that follows school expectations.  If a student is struggling with expectations, they will have their card turned to "yellow".  These behaviors can range from not listening to directions, talking out of turn, blurting, being disrespectful, etc.  The final stage of intervention is "red."  Students turn to "red" for serious behavioral issues  In the event of a "red," a student will receive an in-school referral and parents will be notified.

Of course, students always have to opportunity to make the decision to turn their behavior around and meet behavioral expectations.  An exciting change that occurred within the school this year was the addition of the "purple" level.  Students who display good leadership qualities and exceptional behavior can be moved to "purple," which stands for the district's high school mascot - the Purple Knight.  We want our kiddos to work towards Purple Knighthood everyday.  It's an exciting idea for them and they love being able to turn to "purple."

Naturally, I chose to implement this system within my small groups.  I created a pocket-chart for each student.  They have a red, yellow, green, and purple card in their pocket.  If students need to change their card for any reason, they must do it themselves.  I think this helps enforce that they are in charge of their own behaviors.  Here's what it looks like!

 

So, the main reason I wanted to share this is because I have been researching other behavior management systems that other schools use.  I have found that the red-yellow-green system is very popular - and successful!  I think that the more students get comfortable with a school management system (such as PBIS), the more they decide to look for ways to work around it.  I have to admit, I've been struggling with my kiddos lately.  Whether or not it's the mid-semester craze, or the pre-holiday jitters, I can't say, but all I know is I need to implement an intervention to support the foundational PBIS system we have in place.

What will I do?  You'll have to wait for another post to find out....

Emily  :)

PS.  Sorry for the drone-like post, but I had to explain our system before going any further... !!!  :)

Election Extravaganza!

We all know what today is.  But do our kids know?

The fourth grade at my school decided to take this special opportunity of a presidential election to spend an entire day devoted to learning about anything and everything related to the election.  Each fourth grade teacher (there are four) would have their own station.  Each class got 45 minutes at a station with that specific teacher.  We spent the ENTIRE DAY doing election activities!

I thought it would be beneficial to have each station focus somewhat on a type of skill, so here's what we decided on:

(1) Arts & Crafts - Kids created a woven American flag out of red-white-blue construction paper.  They also decorated their very own star with all kinds of fun crafts.  These stars will be strung together and hung in our hallway to show they are the "United Students of Morgan".  I'll post a photo once it's done!

(2) SmartBoard - They learned about the president's job, life, and responsibilities.  They engaged in a fun interactive SmartBoard presentation that was interesting and very informative.  Then, they were able to make their own presidential poster, encouraging others to vote for THEM for president!  The posters were too cute and really creative.  The students got really into it and meant business!

 

(3) Electoral College and Political Parties - This was an awesome opportunity to teach students about the electoral college.  I remember learning about it myself much later in school - late middle school or later.  They followed a PowerPoint presentation and completed some really fun graphic organizers that allowed students to color in states red/blue based on the information given about electoral votes.  Students got the opportunity first-hand to see how electoral votes can impact an election.  Students also learned about Democrats and Republicans, which tied well into the electoral college.  They learned about general ideas that each party supports as well.

 

(4) iPad Research - Our school has one complete class set of iPads.  This was right up my alley (although it wasn't my station) because I taught in a paperless classroom last semester that ONLY used iPads and NO PAPER.  Students got an opportunity to use the iPads to research a president (that they picked out of a hat).  They really enjoyed it and got to spend free time - if they finished early - playing an app called "Stack the States."  If only we had iPads for our whole school.....!

(5) VOTING! - I think this was the favorite station.  Several members of the fourth grade team slaved away in making this SPECTACULAR voting booth (if I do say so myself :] ).  We painted each side a different color - red, white, or blue - and had one side say "Obama" and the other "Romney".  As you can see, there was even an official ballot (similar to real ballots with the unfinished black arrows) that they used with a black marker in the voting booth.  Then, students deposited their ballot in a box and it was counted.  But BEFORE they could vote, we had them register and create a voter ID, complete with an actual photo of themselves!  It was a great learning experience for them, and they were all really excited about it.  The students engaged in constructive conversations about who to vote for, as well!  As it turns out, the fourth grade elected President Barack Obama for a second term by a landslide. 

Ultimately, the day was a success.  It was a bit hectic, but totally worth it.  It was a fun-filled day of great learning experiences, and an exciting break from the usual schedule.  I think I've had my fill of arts and crafts for a while, though.  I couldn't help getting into the patriotic spirit today and dressed head-to-toe in red, white, and blue (including my socks and lanyard!).  I'm not one for politics, but I can't pass up an opportunity to deck out!  Hope you had a fun election day!

 

 

Emily :)

Book Baggies

Remember the book club I'm teaching that I'm SUPER-DUPER excited about?  The book - Gregor the Overlander - by Suzanne Collins? 

 

(Refer to this post if you don't - http://thejourneyofayoungteacher.blogspot.com/2012/10/gregor-overlander.html)

 

Well, I don't see my kiddos all day.  In fact, I only see them for thirty minutes, five days a week if I'm lucky.  So, I needed a way to store their materials in the classroom and send them home with the intent that EVERYTHING comes back the next day.  Easier said than done when you're talking fourth graders.  I devised a plan to give them their own book bags.  Better yet, water-proof book bags!  I gave each student a large ziploc bag and put their name on it.  I made sure all of the materials that they need to successfully complete homework can fit inside as well.

 

Take a look!

Inside, they keep their novel, book club journal, book club guide, and homework card.  They also have at least two pencils with erasers on the end.  Everything has their name on it, and they are not aloud to leave our classroom without their materials inside.  This is a great strategy because my kiddos put the baggie directly in their backpack after our small group (so it does not get lost before the end of the day) and in the morning, bring it directly back to my classroom.  When students get home, they are all ready to go to complete the necessary assignment because their baggies have everything they need.

 

It's a great way to operate when you've got younger kiddos, and also allows them to recognize how to stay organized and responsible.  Give it a shot yourself!  I know you'll love it!

 

:)  Emily

Fridays are the best day of the week...!

Happy Friday!

 

What teacher doesn't love a Friday?  In my classroom(s), it means Friday fun, no weekend homework, maybe a little extra recess, and some ketchup and pickles.

 

Hold it.  Rewind... Ketchup and pickles?  This happens to be a fun idea and time set aside for kiddos to catch-up on work, or be rewarded for working hard during the week to finish their work.  See for yourself...

 

I created a large (about 1 1/2 feet?) ketchup bottle and animated pickle.  Okay, I know I went overboard with the pickle. But he's cute, isn't he?  Who doesn't love a happy little veggie at the end of the week? 

 

Each Friday, I put these on my whiteboard, and write the names of my students underneath (they must go in one of two categories).  Students will either be a "pickle" for the day, where they can PICK a fun activity, or they are "ketchup", in which case they need to CATCH-UP and finish some work.  All of the pickles engage in a fun activity (either individually or as a group) that relates to the topic or standards being taught.  However, I make sure it is fun and a great incentive for the week.  Every Thursday students are pining over whether or not they will get to be a pickle.  It's serious business!

 

As you can guess, the ketchup kids have to finish any work they are behind in or have yet to complete.  This is also a time to help students who may have been absent or pulled out of class for whatever individual reason.  I choose to not give my students "zeros" for unfinished work, but instead, have them work on it every time we do Friday Catch-Up.  Although they won't get full credit (for those students who missed the deadline), they are still completing their work.  I think it's important that no matter what, they get the practice and exposure to whatever skill we are working on.  I feel that it is much better than the student not doing their work at all!  For those students who were simply absent, this is a great opportunity for me to teach a mini-lesson on the skill or explain the assignment.  The student also gets needed one-on-one time with the teacher to ask questions and clarify the material.  It's a win-win-win situation!

 

So, if you're looking for a fun way to wrap up the week and get work done, try pickles and ketchup.  It's a wonderful combination, and kids eat it up - figuratively, of course....

 

Happy Friday!

 

:) Emily

Gregor the Overlander

Alright, here is a first for me.

I'm going to GUSH over a book I discovered this summer!  This past winter, I discovered The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins.  I began reading the first book and was instantly hooked.  I read all three books in THREE DAYS. 

 

Before I go any further, you have to understand something about me.  I don't like to read!  I have always struggled with reading, focusing, and seeing the words on the page.  I've got some vision troubles, so I was always getting headaches or feeling sleepy throughout my school age years.  That was the main reason I didn't like reading.  However, I never found a book that I truly loved.

 

Well, that phase of my life is over.  The Hunger Games was a turning point.  I love everything about the books - the characters, the dialogue, the roller coaster of emotions, the text-to-world connections... everything!  This summer, I was looking for a book to use for my Level T readers.  My fourth graders that I am teaching in a small group are Advanced-Proficient (thus, Level T).  I found a book called Gregor the Overlander by Suzanne Collins - the same author as the Hunger Game series!  Jackpot.  So, I read the beginning of the book and was weary.  Giant cockroaches?  Small, claustrophobic space?  However, soon after reading a few more chapters, again, I was hooked.  There are five books in the series, and I soon found myself reading ALL OF THEM.  What is wrong with me?!   I owe Suzanne Collins a BIG thank-you.

 

Gregor the Overlander is a sci-fi, fantasy type book about a young 11-year-old, Gregor, who falls through a grate in his laundry room into the Underland (the land under the Earth).  He soon realizes that the creatures of the Underland were expecting  him, and that his trip back home won't be as easy as he thought.  The novel is about his adventures, battles, relationships, discoveries, and triumphs.  Will he find his way home?  That's up to YOU to find out!

 

As you can imagine, I was so excited about reading this book with my kiddos.  They were already hooked when we read the back of the book!  As if my passion for the book wasn't enough, I dove head-first into creating activities, worksheets, handouts, projects, book club ideas, and lessons.  I made lots of them.  And I mean LOTS!  I did a lot of research online, at school, and from my college materials/textbooks to find what types of activities are most beneficial and engaging.

 

Next thing I know, I've posted ALL of my materials onto TeachersPayTeachers!  There wasn't enough room, time, or energy to post and sell everything I've done (or plan to do) with my kiddos, including activities and games, but I posted what I thought was the "meat and potatoes" of my materials.  There are THREE packs you can purchase, or you can go all out and buy the ALL-INCLUSIVE Pack, which I highly recommend.  You're getting the most bang for your buck, and they are all really practical and useful!

 

I have to be honest with you.  I worked really hard putting together these materials!  That is not to toot my own horn, but to communicate to you that these materials had a lot of though put into them.  With all of the love, time, energy, and creativity I put into it, I really think I came up with some great materials.  This book is truly a great novel to read with students and has a lot of opportunities to spark imagination, think critically, go beyond the text, and make real world connections.  If you're looking for a book that is sure to hook, excite, and have students begging for more, Gregor the Overlander is the book for you. 

 

Check out ALL of these materials in my TeachersPayTeachers store at http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ms-Rothering.  While you are there, *follow* me and suggest to others!

 

PS.  Happy Halloween!

 

Emily :)

Teacher toolbox!

Happy Monday!

 

This weekend, I FINALLY got around to finishing a project I  began back in May.  Last year, I discovered the dangerous world of Pinterest.  Since then, I've expanded my project to-do list about a mile with all of the fantastic ideas on the site that I want to use in my classroom.  Pinterest is a teaching gold-mine!  I will have many more posts to share of projects I've done, inspired by Pinterest finds - you can count on that!

Earlier this year, I came across the teacher toolbox.  Teachers are supply connoisseurs and in need of a space to keep all of those office odds'n'ends.... and keep them ORGANIZED.  Easier said than done, right?  Well, I decided to take on the project myself.  I found the perfect sized utility organizer at my local hardware store (Lowe's, Home Depot, Menards, etc.)  Surprisingly, it was very inexpensive - around $15.  I hopped over to my usual stomping grounds (aka Michael's) and found some cute paper to go with it, and a large jar of Modge Podge.

 

That was earlier this year.  Yes, I procrastinated.  However, I sat down this weekend and took some much needed time for therapy - which, in my terms, is doing crafty projects.  I put a lot of thought into what I wanted each drawer to contain, and printed out the labels.  I matted the labels and glued them on to cute paper.  A little embellishing (thank you Cricut machine!) and a lot of Modge Podge later......  Ta-da!

 

The finished product!  The color scheme might seem a little boring at first, but I thought it was practical.  I want to be able to use the toolbox for many years, and didn't want to limit myself to a certain color scheme.  I also glued fun shapes on the sides of the toolbox.  A tip I have if you choose to do this, is to also put paper on the back of each drawer!  If the back is exposed on your desk, it will still look cute, and may detract any curious fingers.  This project is so practical and SO USEFUL!  I intend to keep this toolbox to myself and not allow students to access it, but it could work either way.

 

Pinterest has been a blessing and a curse.  I LOVE all of the wonderful ideas I find, but wish I had more time to complete all of the projects!  I'm already excited for my next craft.  Hopefully this just might inspire you to get in gear and do a project or two.

 

:)  Emily

All about the language

”The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.” Mark Twain

 

As teachers, we spend a lot of time telling our students to use school-appropriate language.  But sometimes, I think we do that just because it's the right thing to do and because we don't want our students going home and telling mom or dad that "Joey said _____" or "Susie called me a ______."  Well, it should be more than that.  SO much more.

 

I've always been an advocate for the eradication of the r-word.  I whole-heartedly support www.r-word.org and their global mission.  However, there is a larger list of words that I want to teach my students to remove from their vocabulary including "gay", "slow", and "disabled."  These terms are offensive, hurtful, and derogatory.  It's essentially hate-speech.

 

Recently, a famous political figure used the r-word in a tweet, in reference to the President of the United States.  Putting my personal feelings aside, I have to wonder - what kind of an example does that say to our  youth?  Worse yet, this person defended their tweet saying there was nothing wrong with her use of that word.  When asked if she had remorse for using the word, she said, "Oh, of course I don't!"  Seriously?  It's not only sickening, but it worries me to think about the  youth who see this and think it is acceptable.

 

So, where do you begin?  Students are so much older nowadays for their ages than they were when I was a kid.  Many of my fourth graders are interested in boyfriends/girlfriends, own cell phones, and have Facebook accounts.  Shocking.  Naturally, they have a larger 'street-smart' vocabulary and knowledge of differences.

 

People-first language.  Have you ever heard that term?  It is when you put people before their disability.  For example, you can call someone a "disabled student"  or a "student with a disability."  It describes what a person has, NOT what a person is.  How would you like to be defined by something you cannot control, such as a physical appearance?  Our kids might not understand why using people-first language is important, which is the reason why I like to stop and talk about it when I catch a student in action.  Most likely, the example I set for my students will not be earth-shattering.  In fact, I might only get this idea through to a handful of students each year.  But if I can get the importance of people-first language across to even one student, I have made a difference.

 

One of my favorite quotes is "People will forget what you said.  People will forget what you did.  But, they will never forget how you made them feel."  Next time you think about using the r-word (or any other word with a negative connotation) or hear a student use it, STOP and take that opportunity to show the importance of people-first language.  Have students think about something that makes them feel uncomfortable or self-conscious, and have them think about  how they would feel if they were known by that label.  Using those kinds of words might not be a big deal to you (or them), but I can GUARANTEE that it is a big deal to many of us.  Why use it if it can cause harm? 

 

Try using people-first language.  I promise that it can make a difference, even if it's one person at a time.

 

:)  Emily

It's not always about what "they" say...

I'm sure you've heard the saying "practice what you preach" or "put your money where your mouth is".  As a teacher, that's sometimes a difficult road to travel.

 

I have to be honest.  I HATE taking tests!  When I was young, I always struggled with text anxiety.  I was a straight-A student, but I still worried myself to sleep over tests.  The older I got, the more my distaste for test-taking became. 

 

But even worse?  I really struggled in college.  Not with grades, not with turning in assignments, and not with understanding material.   I just didn't enjoy it!  School was definitely a full-time job and definitely NOT the job of my dreams.

 

It's quite ironic that I'm now the one dishing out the tests. How can I hate tests, but give them on a weekly, and sometimes daily basis?

 

By now, I'm sure you are wondering, why on EARTH did I become a teacher?  That's a story for another post.  But I am someone who looks to learn from her experiences.  As the testing weeks for the WKCE (Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam) began, I realized that many of my students are just like me.  During the weeks of preparation, the anxiety grew and the dread of the arrival of the WKCE loomed over their heads. 

 

As a teacher, it is our duty to do whatever we can to help this anxiety.  Today, we put a lot of strategies I've learned in school to action, and they seemed to work!  We took our kids outside to jog around the playground, had a fun brain-break with a bit of role-playing, had snacks ready to boost energy, gave them positive reinforcement before beginning, and gave them gum.  Peppermint gum.  The difference between a focused student and a student in La-La-Land could be found in a piece of gum.  It can be as simple as that!

 

So, I'm going to put my money where my mouth is, and apply the strategies that  I've learned in school - as dreadful as I thought it was at the time.  I have strong faith that these strategies will help student achievement and will be visible in their test results.  Better yet?  I can use the experiences I've had as a student and implement strategies and ideas that would have helped me as a student.  One of the most powerful tools we can have as teachers is the experience of BEING a student once ourselves.  

 

I might not love being in school myself, but I love teaching.  If I can help my students enjoy school and see the light at the end of the tunnel (which I always struggled with), I just might actually be able to practice what I preach....

 

Emily   :)

Test anxiety? Try this!

As we all know, the beginning of the school year in Wisconsin for many means MAP (Measure of Academic Progress) tests, and the WKCE (Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Exam).  The pressure is put on not only teachers, but on students as well.  Expectations in the state of Wisconsin recently increase as well.

 

So, in order to prepare my students, I put together a handful of activities and lessons that expose students to topics and skills necessary for a good performance on the WKCE.  This past week, we had our last few sessions together before the beginning of the big test tomorrow.  I gave them a practice exam of a WKCE that was given a few years ago.  YIKES.  The kids were so anxious and stressed!  Our prep lessons went so well that I thought they were prepared.   Little did I know that I had forgotten one important aspect of test preparations - test taking strategies!

 

Well, here is my solution.  I did a little research and put together a list of eight strategies that are helpful for students getting ready to take a test.  It doesn't have to be a state standardized test such as the WKCE - it could even be a classroom exam!  I think that I sometimes forget that these are just kids and not adults! 

 

The image here is just a thumbnail of the worksheet I uploaded into my store: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ms-Rothering.  Click on the link, and you can buy the note sheets yourself!  There are two documents - one with the notes already given, and another with space for students to write the notes themselves. 

 

Good luck to those of you gearing up for your standardized tests this month.  Crossing my fingers that my preparations will prove to be helpful for my kiddos!

The first freebies!

Here it goes...

I have entered the world of TeachersPayTeachers.com.  It's a great community of some awesome educators who are looking to share, collaborate, and inspire each other within the classroom.  The idea of TpT is this, "It's not rocket science.  Teachers pay teachers, not corporations.... it's about time."  That's right.  Teachers sell their own products to other teachers!  Genius, right? 

Well, I set up my own store and am excited to share my collection of materials I've made thus far.  Here is my very first TpT freebie. 

A fun, simple worksheet where students must come up with two "favorite things" for each letter of the alphabet.  One must be a verb, and one must be a noun.  Simple enough, right?  I received a similar idea from a teaching friend and decided to make my own version.  My kiddos LOVED it as an early-finisher activity.  It kept them engaged and on-task.  They couldn't wait to share!

This is my other freebie:

You're probably wondering what's so special about this worksheet.  It's not anything mind-blowing or original.  But, it takes students back to the basics.  I have a small group that I teach of below grade-level learners.  These students are reading at first-second grade level and are in fourth grade.  They spend the first few minutes of our sessions rereading non-fiction or fiction books.  I want them to be engaged in their reading and I want to be able to assess whether or not they are comprehending the books they are reading.  There is nothing worse then what I call "empty reading" where students are told to read while the teacher is working on something else or preparing for a lesson and they end up day-dreaming or reading the words without trying to understand them.  Silent reading is great, but we need to know that they are actually reading and better yet - comprehending what they are reading.

If you'd like to download these PDF freebies, check out my TpT store and "follow" me! 

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Ms-Rothering

Stay tuned for more posts, thoughts, freebies, and silly stories from the journey of a young teacher.  I just might be getting the hang of this blogging deal...!

Happy Sunday! 

:) Emily

And so it begins...

HELLO!  Welcome to my blog!

I'm Emily.  I'm nearly a college-graduate with a degree in Elementary-Middle Education.  I've also got two minors in Special Education and Spanish.  Busy?  Yes.  But I wouldn't trade the path I'm on for anything.  I love education, I love teaching, and I love making a difference in the lives of others.  I'm SO ready to have my own classroom, my own school, and my own family of kiddos!

But let's be real.  Finding a teaching job in this market can be tough.  It's equally important to pick a district and school that is right for you.  Once you've landed a job, then begins the real journey.  The life of a first-year teacher.  I'm not sure that much can prepare me for that experience, but I'm ready to give it a shot.  And while I'm at it, I want to share my experience with others.  The ups and downs, the ideas, the no-way-did-that-really-happen stories, and the moments I'll never forget.

Ready to travel with me?

:)  Emily