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