tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58500136858388506752024-03-04T21:56:44.711-08:00Downeast TeachCathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-34612954400042918072016-07-29T17:57:00.004-07:002016-07-29T18:02:44.333-07:00Target TagsI want to share something that I've been doing in my classroom for the past few years that has really made a difference in my students' engagement with, and understanding of, our learning targets...Target Tags! <span style="text-align: center;">You may know them as Brag Tags, but I like the name Target Tags better, because it puts the emphasis on working towards academic or social targets.</span><span style="text-align: center;"> </span><span style="text-align: center;">My district is big on teachers setting clear targets, communicating them with students, and having students self-assess where they are in their learning. Target Tags have been a HUGE help with this!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Target-Tag-Brag-Tags-Math-Targets-Third-Grade-2003654" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisP0Mn3BVD_upvqH4KfoxP0m2kxSd6fajDvqgduwpl_wxOmmxcugFhG3SVWeTqPBBeVnIZWIt3WaKcfGa9OXahkVaDga2itFHWJ5VTs4MKCd61Tsdnlpot-7u1lTYGXxg22qEqZSDaR63J/s640/For+blog.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">Since I began using Target Tags, my students have become more articulate about which targets they are doing well with, and which ones they still need to work on. And I absolutely love having them for parent conferences! We do student-led conferences in February, and part of what students share with their parents is their Target Tag collection. They are so proud of them!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Target-Tag-Brag-Tags-and-Timed-Tests-Addition-Facts-1360485" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBMgn5UhSGGwNlPrg5e5pfyaecCTvX2A2PllMhEBi0PI9dePwf3l0dW9KytNpTdEuqljyKlcWL9oT8wLa2LG1GkgnsHLn0-NlYzfiVgflpAkkux0nWMUwGV647JRCfevedSJ_AfTjbOLJ/s640/Slide2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;">My tags are different from most other sets out there, because 25 tags fit on a page, instead of 15-18 for most other Brag Tags. This means that one page of each tag will be enough for most classrooms. (My tags are 2 inches high by 1.5 inches wide.) </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Target-Tag-Brag-Tags-Genre-Genius-Reading-Incentive-Program-1297444" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKVP-igIm9AJl8tkEl19LuWFjgXyWrwtGC8-MDXpQkGVKX1jcYwPyjrhiihLFLd55yefoswoZ_iYaevXfkKUPjk-HkWkBDMdNMg-wl2GGp9dj0RLTy6QFPssaljdNR0FYif67ZO6eN5FAl/s640/Slide1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My most popular set of Target Tags is my Genre Genius Challenge, (formerly known as the 40-Book Challenge). I wanted my students to read more books of different genres. As soon as I explained the challenge, my kids became so motivated to earn tags! They were reading more, and trying genres they had shied away from before. Some even discovered a love for a new genre...yay, happy teacher heart! For younger students who are mainly reading picture books, I have a 100 Book Challenge, which has the same tags for every 5 books read, but no genre tags, and easier recording sheets.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Target-Tag-Brag-Tags-100-Book-Challenge-Reading-Incentive-Program-1356124" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8l_YDpADBjs8NMrNzvqI2eZPD9q-dxIrj8TbwovJf0AQBjc29Vy7W-1Y6pCjIsjirfaDhBiebMnZR-92pbOHccY_LPXBC6ZTpZJJ-2DImC01sdbQf7LvvWG6a3-V9kLEmV57eCaha5V7m/s640/for+blog.png" width="289" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A target that many of my students struggled with was learning multiplication facts. I made multiplication Target Tags, (with and without timed tests) to recognize students' progress towards that goal. Again, my kids were all in, and I had students asking for extra practice pages of multiplication because they wanted to earn their tag on Friday, which is when we did timed tests. It's been awesome! I now have more students meeting their fact fluency targets than ever before!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Target-Tag-Brag-Tags-and-Timed-Tests-Multiplication-Facts-1297522" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TxbeVmJoKrAI3H5KvCK9Qr_gLH7KIZPVhZbr6hMBHZwUz2kYtl2ZMwPW5ecRiQwr22FCOS8qREqcArbwzZAZkknFgF5ufWJe8zRC67Qc55Gdbv6wuijKlyCvm2hMs9Wxt8zxEb-hahN5/s640/Slide2.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My sister is a second grade teacher and she reports similar results with using Target Tags for addition and subtraction facts.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Target-Tag-Brag-Tags-and-Timed-Tests-Subtraction-Facts-1392172" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWekiKfN2u70XYBuZbtDEcE-H5yOeu6QkG-eEBoCVF8fdvr1ZOw2sqvHsjtljx4Zcoqg_U76etT-fWHoeUNHAdG-Sf6RzrL17dWEBeM9bXimLB9yyOfnK4h3WsxvaJ012QGJ8mY4to8sHU/s640/Slide2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I knew I was on to something, so I decided to try Target Tags for homework, calling it Homework Club...another success! Students who pass in their homework every day all month earn that month's tag on the last day of the month. (I do allow everyone to forget once during the year without penalty, but after that, if they miss even one piece of homework, they do not earn the tag for that month.) At the end of the year, I award a Homework Hall of Fame tag for the students who passed in all their homework for the whole year. (There is also an Honorable Mention tag for students who only miss one month of Homework Club all year.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Target-Tag-Brag-Tags-Homework-Club-1297495" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMUFO2_bbnFLbmK3L-OU4CybqLtJCmfSwsx14GIUyB8ByWy849mzYfhgldKeKTfiA7RNN6sMGnYAn-ejkOo-dZQixPVvmwy0bkbwgIc-TR9V1FIu3cOkBbQK331vwwSQB5kbbRbDozZcd/s640/Slide2.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
Along with academic targets, I also have Target Tags for social skills. My school follows the practices of Responsive Classroom, which believes that the social curriculum is as important as the academic curriculum. I love recognizing positive character qualities!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Target-Tag-Brag-Tags-Character-Education-2052667" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjatsp4HG5Ur3wstuuiHbOoQN4Hj6x7ZvpMYUuicSNuVkqtX9y4Jtv259In9Xifp31ieHWrYbkmBuoOp434ca0t-Czylh4GrFtN5Mw9mgDNA4f33G5aVCjt4TwUDHju07rNwSLekJ5ZsY7D/s640/Slide2.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Based on feedback from buyers, I have made two editable sets of Target Tags. This way, teachers can customize the wording to be exactly what they need, whether it's to recognize meeting an academic target, or celebrate effort and improvement of a student who always does their best, but might not be at grade level. The same tag can be used multiple ways! My <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Target-Tag-Brag-Tags-Editable-Bundle-1997606" target="_blank">editable bundle</a> is a great way to try Target Tags for the first time.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Target-Tag-Brag-Tags-Editable-Set-1-1993579" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuDjslqOL9EFc3Rp0TnlBwdQSLrJPsBhH5qEu2os037Lk54xRC8USzfLl9mq03AaUBXIwexeY9dNaej2TRrtRFZxEmPX3rCwouiTB91OM7YeH1NEBSI29C6ozGzGCchINbMBoYrDieEyst/s640/Set1forBlog.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Target-Tag-Brag-Tags-Editable-Set-2-1997308" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmfEpqfwKYKsAEmA9raZgWYc__fWqkTV_irnYPOOer2Ij6609jcoYoVh7a-AhF-ruWHrrdHjsrg-15kp2HxQZztwiWiLumGFt4TxjMULWdk_F5YZy94ubv7jrvmVCC687dE91LocbgmFN/s640/Slide3.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I pt my target tags on cardstock and laminate them, but it's not necessary to do both. One of the teachers on my team prints hers on regular paper, but she does laminate. Another teacher I know prints on cardstock, but doesn't laminate. Do what works for you...your kids will love them!<br />
<br />
I display my Target Tags on 1.5 in. metal book rings, hanging on magnetic hooks on my chalkboard. My students each have a number that they write on all of their papers, so there is a round tag with each student number. I realized that the only picture I've taken of them hanging is from my first year, when I used ribbon. The book rings are definitely easier to use when you're adding new tags! Other teachers use ball chain necklaces, or even shower curtain rings from the Dollar Store! Most sets of Target Tags comes with a choice of at least 3 signs for display</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMHwwujn-LMruhQKJY0T6PGap3FyumFs8q1T08xJUpa4YCS4T3_u-6SQ1ANAKCzsaf-4my9khCbbMYY9T-XGwcmuneJTJfqE1fLJHIYr7G2IAqQZGk7wzGE65GJ4AbOgmDbncXT0RH1Bk/s1600/Display.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaMHwwujn-LMruhQKJY0T6PGap3FyumFs8q1T08xJUpa4YCS4T3_u-6SQ1ANAKCzsaf-4my9khCbbMYY9T-XGwcmuneJTJfqE1fLJHIYr7G2IAqQZGk7wzGE65GJ4AbOgmDbncXT0RH1Bk/s640/Display.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This summer, I've had fun making holiday tags!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Target-Tag-Brag-Tags-Holiday-Tags-2615868" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHrvQOpm2A24eVgEmkUzG3OPk3uv7Zu1gP4QbGHnA32biUtgmdjSTwjwpXJJGIzfe0aAw382crQWWaxCd2H2vBukVED1xCPV-mjEZ2j1nIf6oUp-D6Ccuxu1lnqvLma88QiNY5PZdub493/s640/Blog+Images.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Elementary aged children are natural collectors. Target Tags take advantage of this and increase student motivation and engagement. My students consistently rate Target Tags as one of their favorite memories of 4th grade. You can see all of my target Tag sets at the following link, including a couple of freebies! <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Downeast-Teach/Category/Target-Tags-148141" target="_blank">Target Tags</a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Is there a theme of Target Tags that you'd like to see?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" /></a></div>
Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-18014598637250624402013-08-15T21:13:00.001-07:002013-08-15T21:24:03.686-07:00What Are You Wishing For?<br />
It's almost here!! The much-anticipated TPT Back to School Sale will be this coming Sunday and Monday, August 18 and 19. Everything in my TPT store will be 20% off, even my bundles! On top of that, TPT will take an extra 10% off the sale prices, to give you a total of 28% off the original price! (To get TPT's discount, you must use the code BTS13 at check-out.)<br />
<br />
Like so many other teachers, I've been busy all summer creating, not to mention loading up my own wish list with a ton of fabulous resources. I don't know how I will choose which ones are must-haves for the start of the year... I want them all! <br />
<br />
I am linking up with <a href="http://ideasbyjivey.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ideas by Jivey</a> for a fun Wish List Linky.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqk_GBqMvdZ_ytbWKjD3cY35w6nUv8ag2C4DtEAUq-h2WAzhEs2V-J1jd-sMyrVvxDVqZZ7MsHhtDzYfmHS5Rxomtqgh1FhHLeMch0_H5ZTeKHDhrh9ediH0NsmnJHAwV5rqEU-4DsN4g/s1600/BTS13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBqk_GBqMvdZ_ytbWKjD3cY35w6nUv8ag2C4DtEAUq-h2WAzhEs2V-J1jd-sMyrVvxDVqZZ7MsHhtDzYfmHS5Rxomtqgh1FhHLeMch0_H5ZTeKHDhrh9ediH0NsmnJHAwV5rqEU-4DsN4g/s320/BTS13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The idea is to share which two of your products have been wish-listed the most, followed by the top item on your personal wish-list.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1QJNZ1coJ8thwWS570fQOn-xGCJLoeo5vSgfSRW7Dd5PA0bpp8ct2rDhW4BinT7gE0Rjh6xBzRVSnTMpCIHHoBT3d4_A5AgDt8t4EQqaQtdyXik1FjhQjn1oDBrabCJ1NNKc_xEeB9Iq/s320/BTS13a.png" width="320" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My most wish-listed item is my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Grades-1-3-Common-Core-Aligned-Math-Calendar-307063" target="_blank">Grades 1-3 Common Core-Aligned SMARTBoard Math Calendar.</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It gives regular practice with so many Common Core skills that need daily reinforcement. It's colorful, interactive, and this one file can be used all year!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Grades-1-3-Common-Core-Aligned-Math-Calendar-307063" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSelQS8Kpb7HtSY83Rxh-wZ7CGGYrZbNa2kqOkFR95ncOG6xI_XNc8oPAC8CXTFVbgV84rGf0ObQbNGIV6RM-h0RUfHW7ydQ00-k2KjRLzrB9STitfwraZ-8n4G-PqTh_wEf5nhpnBhOG6/s640/BTS13c.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMu6xNrRMF9OO1ddT-2IxrME8ebQeWTkIrTQqiKd76rCFMSMslpdCKjMAP6yGmDaQM0mdlXFClJRALrt15eiIbDaXlv-AUez_anLH3fv7iZzpeDFnjOz9WQqV9YVGwS0_-_QHLHBtWRwP/s1600/BTS13b.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMu6xNrRMF9OO1ddT-2IxrME8ebQeWTkIrTQqiKd76rCFMSMslpdCKjMAP6yGmDaQM0mdlXFClJRALrt15eiIbDaXlv-AUez_anLH3fv7iZzpeDFnjOz9WQqV9YVGwS0_-_QHLHBtWRwP/s320/BTS13b.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
My second most wish-listed product is my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Word-Work-Letter-Tiles-400305" target="_blank">SMARTBoard Word Work Letter Tiles</a>.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Word-Work-Letter-Tiles-400305" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsYxI5-5e7-dsZYH16Ur6aXMXrMPcxhOo3PwOa8oHIGUgCxzcISCQTHnPyVbJIzCp3zwWGb4mkJGIG0u3qpznySm5cLOYZ-XtBpYRhVOYj-0QEvEfBinaDjRuAJaNWrAMtY7i-bkoY1a4/s640/BTS13d.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div align="center">
These templates contain infinitely-cloned letters so that you can create exactly the word work your students need. I include complete directions for how to customize the file. It is a resource that you can use all year with the whole class, in strategy groups, for literacy centers, or Daily 5 Word Work rotations.</div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXphXfcce7_XQ4u3lkn6F1iMylUcpzTBYMuFPU1vSkT6jkViXq1yQEUtUe7be2A0rHERCXLzBw77LGPrErg-4s2kZcsCTt7dTQgSxAAMpsJcCB9xPnLO8M1dorx90qTl9KosGcPMW-kggr/s1600/BTS13f.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXphXfcce7_XQ4u3lkn6F1iMylUcpzTBYMuFPU1vSkT6jkViXq1yQEUtUe7be2A0rHERCXLzBw77LGPrErg-4s2kZcsCTt7dTQgSxAAMpsJcCB9xPnLO8M1dorx90qTl9KosGcPMW-kggr/s320/BTS13f.png" width="320" /></a></div>
My wish list is so-o-o-o long! I am constantly blown away by the quality of the resources that are out there, and grateful that I don't have to create them all myself! One item I will definitely be purchasing is <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Teaching-Non-Fiction-Reading-A-Comprehensive-Unit-On-Skills-and-Strategies-382447" target="_blank">Rachael Parlett's Nonfiction Reading Unit</a>. This picture only shows one little part of the huge, (230 pages worth), unit! There is a 74-slide SMARTBoard presentation that goes along with all the student resources. (I love, love, love using my SMARTBoard whenever I can!) The unit integrates science curriculum with reading, with an emphasis on ecosystems. I think it will be perfect for my 4th graders!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Teaching-Non-Fiction-Reading-A-Comprehensive-Unit-On-Skills-and-Strategies-382447" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="484" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjM_11579dTFQJDlfJLJlPI8SYrrMFoktnwCnlS2k2rWjt5TmkN_d5TIgVYgx1f9wMb-XdMPeIzUdfXyxWB6uutDYzeghEk9ws9RzMpRf31Aj48R14u-Utnn9bCkYw9cCNYCewUqhHGOtU/s640/BTS13e.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'd love to hear what's on your wish-list! It's a great way to learn about other sellers and find awesome resources! If you don't have a wish-list yet, go make one! You won't find a better time to stock up on high-quality resources for months to come! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(Just don't do what I did last sale and forget to use the TPT code at check-out and miss out on the extra 10% off...yeah...true story.) Happy Shopping this Sunday and Monday, and remember...<span style="font-size: large;">BTS13!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotHnYg3UFaMd4jGQjDPwyVp0g5WOONc6d8pJDRGx0QhVhtvj07pi_7WsprWMQOT8aAVxKCOtikQ0DZJMZL_V36enIQQ2vk8QH6ix5aTP0fBX899Y2AT3UriW2MlQBbZjmE51BxNAWQMyh/s320/BTS13g.jpg" width="320" /> </div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" /></div>
Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-18194692470829417472013-07-28T11:23:00.001-07:002013-07-28T11:32:46.908-07:00Ten Reasons Why I Love Morning MessageLast year, I began consistently writing a morning message every day for my 4th graders. I know that many primary teachers already do this, but I had not, until I attended a week-long Responsive Classroom training. I decided to commit to writing a daily morning message, (which my SMARTBoard make so much easier, since my handwriting is not the best, and I can easily edit any mistakes.) <br />
<br />
After a year of doing morning message, I have become sold on the benefits of this daily routine. Here are some of the things that I love about it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioWKbjjM0t5bVG3L4dZ0m3pTL3KMtt-iNmBgK1wOADl9vSMP00Cu2g0pErWY4madMEQ_bPSUFRMVa5HpXL3XKhS0SbEY_UekHfkvKO0WpQnqsRysKV6vIfIyUTNtGoRCZVL0Ke1XoLPjU/s1600/Slide1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioWKbjjM0t5bVG3L4dZ0m3pTL3KMtt-iNmBgK1wOADl9vSMP00Cu2g0pErWY4madMEQ_bPSUFRMVa5HpXL3XKhS0SbEY_UekHfkvKO0WpQnqsRysKV6vIfIyUTNtGoRCZVL0Ke1XoLPjU/s640/Slide1.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. It helps with building routines and getting to know each other in the early days of school. The images above are from the first two days of school last year.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. It teaches students a predictable structure. Every morning, students enter the room, make a lunch choice, pass in homework, and then read the morning message.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0dy_k5DY2rL5GtaPN65ZYEJxTO3LIUGA1ri6bj2vrKSAWwS0OQJAxKtA3GgQSUS__gHV3umsYF1aL3js-LtpYEl1m9u4YSSIwczFVWO58i9RFXC57lsdjiJ_7jl6vGsCHsrreypHS52R/s640/Slide3.PNG" width="640" /></div>
3. It reinforces and reviews a variety of curriculum concepts. The message does not start out all marked up. That happens at morning meeting when we read the message together, such as in the example above when I asked students to find the nouns and adjectives. Sometimes I do have students mark the text, such as when they edit my mistakes.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOAc9HTObbQnXjnf0vRiGYq95f9xPcpzwtWBY8R-AgCj8vtnB5Me3ZLvndxsgawZNOtE1qPgDE3Gcl5xBEqFq2mUj2StfMo3nCWZ2ttb9cr7hsbVs3kv-xVnxQXVhZqBaouWH8OpsCdAL/s1600/Slide5.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVOAc9HTObbQnXjnf0vRiGYq95f9xPcpzwtWBY8R-AgCj8vtnB5Me3ZLvndxsgawZNOtE1qPgDE3Gcl5xBEqFq2mUj2StfMo3nCWZ2ttb9cr7hsbVs3kv-xVnxQXVhZqBaouWH8OpsCdAL/s640/Slide5.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
4. It gives those students who need to know what will be happening that day more information than a typical schedule listing just subjects.<br />
<br />
5. It prepares students for what I might want them to talk about at morning meeting, so those students who need time to think can have that processing time and are not put on the spot. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2ZLzGRGXCDDgfbYiDkdLy2G3fVXgh682FYBXiY88ibGCB-ea_LTBkB8pJbLhhntEKMtwzwK9eCuMjiRUxxaCNyDrS9NloaaJyI0uyac6_u8uYve4dPh7TOwZXQ1ghItksToaYJhoGWD9/s1600/Slide4.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2ZLzGRGXCDDgfbYiDkdLy2G3fVXgh682FYBXiY88ibGCB-ea_LTBkB8pJbLhhntEKMtwzwK9eCuMjiRUxxaCNyDrS9NloaaJyI0uyac6_u8uYve4dPh7TOwZXQ1ghItksToaYJhoGWD9/s640/Slide4.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
6. It is very current with what is happening on that specific day, in that specific year. This is why I can't imagine using a prepared set of morning messages; you need them to be personal for that group of students on that particular day. However, now that I have a year's worth of messages done and saved, does that mean I won't reuse certain messages with a little tweaking? Absolutely not!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JV9ZQ46h5GNK0UTK6NCgxIDIkRZDouxJWM_mvHHWo5_ZgEAkN0Gl88wL1Y5ajTknDMIZgTDBt4K130_Q2SLRFbPc-4HZv7kz_WA7OJLHEhXnCgjLjxrrGcf0j3Ai2vFhdWfPGpNd2hLr/s1600/Slide5.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JV9ZQ46h5GNK0UTK6NCgxIDIkRZDouxJWM_mvHHWo5_ZgEAkN0Gl88wL1Y5ajTknDMIZgTDBt4K130_Q2SLRFbPc-4HZv7kz_WA7OJLHEhXnCgjLjxrrGcf0j3Ai2vFhdWfPGpNd2hLr/s640/Slide5.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
7. It allows you to address issues in your classroom in a thoughtful way. After Christmas break, my students were having a hard time settling back into the expectations for working quietly. Morning message was a non-threatening way to address the problem and invite them to collaboratively come up with a solution.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eLQNc8mliAJHxHszT1bPz5M1p3HUj0m1VEzTAoL_u2L4iEaRc1v8hQp4WJUfVXQUcCRHR10b8_227LZ_w52_5vLDUtgzu40gJWz7IztBHKxF2EcMf_ANNYJZi1T_z49cMmcRyQ3aveWC/s1600/Slide6.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8eLQNc8mliAJHxHszT1bPz5M1p3HUj0m1VEzTAoL_u2L4iEaRc1v8hQp4WJUfVXQUcCRHR10b8_227LZ_w52_5vLDUtgzu40gJWz7IztBHKxF2EcMf_ANNYJZi1T_z49cMmcRyQ3aveWC/s640/Slide6.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6GTCgYNyGSgkY-2tmQ1KVBItkpAelTieCqqMjTdUuoRNfWkU9L2jbdcYn4aqASg5rP7tDeycG3o19VzvEsiHxlGDIdcZvJTJ5kcTmHJlSNTwjylG3k7bmMt1udkAGUl46ifjNAWrB5OC/s1600/Slide7.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6GTCgYNyGSgkY-2tmQ1KVBItkpAelTieCqqMjTdUuoRNfWkU9L2jbdcYn4aqASg5rP7tDeycG3o19VzvEsiHxlGDIdcZvJTJ5kcTmHJlSNTwjylG3k7bmMt1udkAGUl46ifjNAWrB5OC/s640/Slide7.PNG" width="640" /></a></div>
8. Morning Message is very flexible. You can use it to reinforce curriculum in any subject area, as you can see in the above literacy, social studies, and science examples.<br />
<br />
9. It allows shy students an opportunity to participate nonverbally at times, such as the example above about electrical devices.<br />
<br />
10. It helps kids feel connected to their classroom community. They look forward to reading the message each day. On the rare occasion that I was out and there was a substitute, I always made sure there was still a morning message. <br />
<br />
The templates you see around my morning messages are available in my TPT store either individually, or bundled. Click on the pictures to check them out.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Smartboard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-1-289514" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Smartboard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-1-289514" target="_blank">
</a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Smartboard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-1-289514" target="_blank">
</a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Smartboard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-1-289514" target="_blank">
</a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Smartboard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-1-289514" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHu7SR4uVcUct6yxs1LCnltjefLW5aCKkifMzfNW2ylpz1r7Yclvqr9syX3MAvivqWQoWEoUXNGLzGuTbCHbGK9akZavI1wW1vslBJrE_rVOrNKmTFL-2fMA-bt4dA7X7ADTnO5NEzpG3R/s320/Smartboard_Morning_Message_Templates1_1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Smartboard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-1-289514" target="_blank">Set 1</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Smartboard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-1-289514" target="_blank"></a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Smartboard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-2-289568" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyk3MGiYHqSvPnQaQ_Xs6EkvJmSbaVsYvTK7GLQWZ0MUsLjwq8UH_sRPZndPki2zSwOqOJA3talEXkbWTfLOwgaQmpgK_vT57ToZYcempqoG63T-7E64iuSjXhgQ-ryZ7Tr0gKeTYHdjQ/s320/Morning+Message+Templates_2_1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Set 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SmartBoard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-3-292776" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsBXv7Gipskzc-jhRMqrAOl2XE2X3tvFD3Oke-SSihX6qccqQCW0QQ0J5JDIyp5Hkad6vyHTGidadVAG1QdXgA2oN9nYOVmhPpVKvASVI6Vfnhe8y0ktuBkrH4611JIxRAGXLafaSU5Wps/s320/Morning+Message+Templates_3_1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center">
Set 3</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-4-572421" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Eos6nYJQDcWo4fHi2xZcL-n-9CDCa1oEVOHLspARgfxjH-3e8_k9iZPY74COTATSGlOh8XsPnfVSb-ySRRLy9eSZsai7ovJ_e3Y7Hk4nzGNu37K0UygiyTQzT7Ny_ZKuFu8Ogrh52uSM/s320/Set+4+Preview_1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Set 4</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-5-Its-All-About-the-Chevron-793063" target="_blank"></a><br />
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-5-Its-All-About-the-Chevron-793063" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-5-Its-All-About-the-Chevron-793063" target="_blank">
</a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-5-Its-All-About-the-Chevron-793063" target="_blank">
</a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-5-Its-All-About-the-Chevron-793063" target="_blank">
</a><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-5-Its-All-About-the-Chevron-793063" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgke7S7-vTJ4yiHWO-NmP_lifOwWSh0fs59XOBt1P68hFnuEFhNDBLzXEWIjSFjFb__VLVamkziv-gQ8lPqhxEi2Q_79Tcem4JVNwzG42nkOAX9SKN8OLqXk2k5Ja4JwoHxyY9RUkOvCsRn/s320/Smartboard_Morning_Message_Templates5_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-5-Its-All-About-the-Chevron-793063" target="_blank">Set 5</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-5-Its-All-About-the-Chevron-793063" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Morning-Message-Templates-Set-5-Its-All-About-the-Chevron-793063" target="_blank"></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Holiday-Templates-427616" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgxRQA2LEosck8dBbm4AGZ03671aigirNujtRXeI2PIbloCdjP7Hq0V4aEtYWbaF2VF9ddIcIhkMlkv9tK_1_OIvEtxfHbWclOxn3IZnm7znr7Wl0w3qmk4MPLmH5roNS0JrzC8hBMtsMr/s320/Christmas+SMARTBoard+Templates_1.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Holiday Set</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Morning-Message-Templates-Bundle-795851" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn402g4J9QnPj-3McoNja88CX7sqmpcTK4PzzcV01lBYPa33zhJxk8JrAQOfsmZexK6pNHC3n85XeCWRfACaj9BI9tuDmw-CGffmCETd5dX-qaCZf2RwonK6kSGc8bsN7KpypOwES1qVmz/s400/Preview_1.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Template Bundle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Are these templates necessary to do morning message? Of course not! They just make it so easy to have a page that is colorful and attractive. I save each template in the My Content" section of the gallery. Then, whenever I have Smart Notebook open, I can go to the gallery, double-click on the thumbnail of the template I want, and it opens on the page, ready for me to type on it. I just keep adding another page each day to the same file until I have a month's worth of morning messages. Then, I start a new file for the next month.</div>
<br />
I also have a couple of FREE mini-samplers that you can check out!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-SMART-Board-Templates-300339" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYS8EncK7NuZqwdkZU0lr2nCjwqtm78R4BR70nIP029rKlUicQAGqvXvxf649kLFmAKyCxH00ubGmfiJQQ0N2bnMU4xfM6vGpEeK6LYM69AFJexMePXLssDacw4dqkzpZOT-NEiPjKtCX/s320/Smartboard_Templates_Free_1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Morning-Message-Templates-FREE-Spring-Sampler-575412" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4FFWlOiPN2luY_ddAsGE-ljRNqVxy6VgrD1ijeWiPrGKjeSI1x5ceqJIzDYHvqKNgVJfNKMG_UbpEvFGhY040ooxlLQoymegbnzgS__dz2JdXthzifkYeZcWYeW9kcdL1qh6uD-ZBWX5/s320/Untitled_1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Do you do morning messages with your students?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" /></div>
Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-48641941215166242582013-07-26T09:26:00.003-07:002014-01-23T19:05:20.828-08:00Finding Factors FreebieOoh...alliteration and math, all in one! How very cross-curricular!<br />
<br />
My 4th graders used to struggle with the difference between factors and multiples. (Heck, there are plenty of adults who still do, based on watching my students trying to teach their parents when they do their student-led conferences in January...but I digress.)<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Common Core for 4<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Grade states that
students should be able to “find all factor pairs for a whole number in the
range of 1-100” … and “determine whether a given number in the range of 1-100
is prime or composite.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
I don't know about your math program, but mine doesn't spend much time reinforcing the vocabulary of factor, multiple, prime, or composite. They assume that kids remember the difference after a couple of days of review. Doesn't work that way with my kiddos!<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This Finding Factors Freebie is what I use to help my 4<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup>
graders learn how to find all the factors of “Today’s Number” which is a routine we
do as part of my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Common-Core-Aligned-SMART-Board-Math-Calendar-for-Grades-4-5-292043" target="_blank">SMARTBoard Math Calendar</a>. Today’s Number is always whatever
day of school it is, and we make an organized factor list, starting with 1 and
the number. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is similar to divisibility rules, but because we are making an organized factor list, students use the idea of "doubles and halves as they go in order trying to see which number could be factors. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">As an example, say that it is the 76th day of school. We would start with 1 and 76.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri;"> (1 76)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Since 76 is even, we know that 2 will be a factor. Half of 70 is 35 and half of 6 is 3. 35 + 3= 38. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri;">(1, 2, 38, 76)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3 is not a factor because the digits add up to 13, which is not a multiple of 3. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I teach my kids to use "doubles and halves" to figure out if 4, 6, or 8 are factors.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To see if 4 is a factor, we go back to 2 x 38. We can double the 2 to get a 4, and if the other factor is even, we can take half of it and the answer is the same. 38 is even, and half of it is 19, so 4 will be a factor. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Calibri;">(1, 2, 4, 19, 38, 76)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">5 can't be a factor because 76 doesn't end in a 5 or 0. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">6 can't be a factor because 3 wasn't. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are no tricks for 7, but we would know that 10 x 7 is 70, and there is 6 left over, so it can't be a factor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">8 can't be a factor because the factor pair of 4 is odd. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">9 can't be a factor, because the digits don't add up to 9 or a multiple of 9. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">10 can't be a factor, because 76 doesn't end in a 0.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">11 can't be a factor because the digits are not the same.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">12 can't be a factor because 3 wasn't a factor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, our final factor list is <span style="color: red;">(1, 2, 4, 19, 38, 76), </span>and students tell me that the number is composite because it has more than 2 factors. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My students become experts on prime and composite numbers, as well
as the difference between factors and multiples, thanks to this daily
repetition. I reinforce the idea that "<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;">f</span>actors are <span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;">f</span>ew, but <span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">m</span>ultiples are <span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;">m</span>any".)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Click on the picture to get your freebie. There is a large one that can be projected via interactive white board, and a small version for students to cut out and put in their math notebooks.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Finding-Factors-Freebie-792437" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQy3287aHhE-TsZTbSg4bdULtg5eW0fkU7DsSxSqMbJZjh9jWO8DxbahdwcygFiborpEMVWefDyf4DtHeIB-9Al8gEE6TZpVwjkosPXBtcbAa6l6ggisJyN-JRy3GyeTkZ0k96nQStI0D/s400/Slide1.PNG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Finding-Factors-Freebie-792437" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-ZFmqR_IXC0i_AjCkiRbypAXcxSbTKkGmnVitIFzcKZXbGPvL3kURfBzvC5uoyAUVr9CY1Zlvttg7_hm5t4LWG2VtEnw2RmEpHgu3sZ-pKRJ-J1szu0OYQfAYw4Spgxr6PUOqZ3DjvgE/s400/Slide2.PNG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" /></a></div>
Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-61760863785981512612013-07-21T10:59:00.000-07:002013-07-21T10:59:20.412-07:00 Geometry Products, Giveaway, and a FREEBIE!<br />
I have been busy creating resources for my class and TPT. One topic that has been hard for my students in the past is geometry. There is SOOOOO much vocabulary that students have to understand about the attribute of lines and angles before they can then use those attributes to classify polygons. Heck, who am I kidding...I still had 4th graders who could not identify the basic regular polygons, much less classify quadrilaterals by the presence or absence of parallel or perpendicular lines. And now with Common Core's expectation for 4th graders to be able to use protractors, something we had not done before, I knew I needed more resources.<br />
<br />
My math program doesn't give students much direct instruction with the attributes of lines, angles, or polygons. Much of the geometry unit uses "Power Polygons", little plastic pieces that students use to make other polygons. While the kids have fun with them, they weren't transferring the concepts to the more abstract questions that might appear on an assessment.<br />
<br />
This year, I kind of did my own thing, with SMARTBoard files I created after studying exactly what the Common Core expects for geometry. I created a file for lines and angles, which I taught first, and then followed up with a file for Polygons, since students need to understand the attributes of lines and angles before they can classify polygons. After using these files with my class, (and not using my math book..shhh), my students scored the best on the spring assessment that any class of mine had ever done! Many scored in the advanced range for the geometry strand. <br />
<br />
This summer I tweaked the contents of the files and now have them up on TPT in a variety of formats. I have them bundled with pdf printables or by themselves<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHzh759ZEgN3Mcg3BPZn7T2LjPIkm9KLi81MbVWev-9Xpn-wnzB1eejlEmeeF-bByLGjkWc8iQR2iXi3CPi7NWgFdMhanHrd5qAQ1jnqPGMtEijysK1leuc9oz1ytt5F1VIxi_BYfBCzQS/s400/Slide1.PNG" width="400" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8mCEKp7Q0thFw-OJLWyAXORfdLYD2sTDo5LhyphenhyphenmyXCcNZP6LaBBHP8jMUrrghC-9huQOZCNhnBk2CzTDI7u-FNoGoWdp188IFT_UrxCap4PCEUK2r41t3d9Y9177T6aokCe7Eya0AwqWN/s1600/Slide2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8mCEKp7Q0thFw-OJLWyAXORfdLYD2sTDo5LhyphenhyphenmyXCcNZP6LaBBHP8jMUrrghC-9huQOZCNhnBk2CzTDI7u-FNoGoWdp188IFT_UrxCap4PCEUK2r41t3d9Y9177T6aokCe7Eya0AwqWN/s400/Slide2.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Geometry-SMARTBoard-File-Lines-and-Angles-748751" target="_blank">Geometry SMARTBoard File: Lines and Angles</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQTJkwP-3f0XBNMCfbN7aJOaqElePE8QMYE4nhRRq6cH5km8VIyTItwnqwcPQcRu9inCvukZkxuxG_ntPm6tq2BQCYBpBAX9InvIeKGgUSsFyL_T8Rg2JMfkiyLiUwN8PDz7FG1ALO3Xu/s400/Slide3.PNG" width="400" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbWB-ZvXk-e1QnxXbLVJT7UtuS5qJ9EI_HGPyx6Pm6UaYYmxzbdyFGr9AdacELWhZXS-7Wfjjtd7Ij5ldQ0n5WDDbeuoBdxz1_3Ixhoat4P_km5k_oE9gXwqSlmzvc0BxazwDw2T450Y-/s1600/Slide4.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRbWB-ZvXk-e1QnxXbLVJT7UtuS5qJ9EI_HGPyx6Pm6UaYYmxzbdyFGr9AdacELWhZXS-7Wfjjtd7Ij5ldQ0n5WDDbeuoBdxz1_3Ixhoat4P_km5k_oE9gXwqSlmzvc0BxazwDw2T450Y-/s400/Slide4.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Geometry-Printables-Lines-and-Angles-748759" target="_blank">Geometry Printables: Lines and Angles</a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Geometry-SMARTBoard-and-Printables-Bundle-Lines-and-Angles-748765" target="_blank">Geometry SMARTBoard and Printables Bundle: Lines and Angles</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdMWR4DmRwsP8tyNY9o8zuZsLijBCzce63zAk_-Th-pSUG3fHB2nfGQojWaz-nhIgIBNfbLDRNo67Im9y5CVeBKuw8hTwQDYFBCrEdHDbMYRntaqejIxgz560259DZlK6aJBhak9APfyr/s1600/Slide1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdMWR4DmRwsP8tyNY9o8zuZsLijBCzce63zAk_-Th-pSUG3fHB2nfGQojWaz-nhIgIBNfbLDRNo67Im9y5CVeBKuw8hTwQDYFBCrEdHDbMYRntaqejIxgz560259DZlK6aJBhak9APfyr/s400/Slide1.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Geometry-Vocabulary-Cards-for-Lines-and-Angles-748786" target="_blank">Geometry Vocabulary Cards for Lines and Angles</a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACMhprpHHwHhR33UmEhV5bAFDoZRkFMWLvCxOATePOMRj97aqVRpHAIHfZCRyuwrge5g2s68XdhWjI2gukEBwelLB6WPTskbIvplC2pTM0gF2gduNWcdmD8ESBR3yEkGkgMXV4Bd9Iyhyphenhyphen/s1600/Slide2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACMhprpHHwHhR33UmEhV5bAFDoZRkFMWLvCxOATePOMRj97aqVRpHAIHfZCRyuwrge5g2s68XdhWjI2gukEBwelLB6WPTskbIvplC2pTM0gF2gduNWcdmD8ESBR3yEkGkgMXV4Bd9Iyhyphenhyphen/s400/Slide2.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBw24DE6Ij6WlkkYGUWdhp8Zx3n-ofkP88y8LOH6R3dn70SH2QXu6jf-oI-UgxH7ZcYV19VHWCgyfSYe0zc78CgrHwKksevMAZRKHVO5GJ_K2Yd2RfyeurqLAMlAvCFDLLLa3BSBmE7YG/s1600/Slide3.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBw24DE6Ij6WlkkYGUWdhp8Zx3n-ofkP88y8LOH6R3dn70SH2QXu6jf-oI-UgxH7ZcYV19VHWCgyfSYe0zc78CgrHwKksevMAZRKHVO5GJ_K2Yd2RfyeurqLAMlAvCFDLLLa3BSBmE7YG/s400/Slide3.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Geometry-SMARTBoard-File-Polygons-748710" target="_blank">Geometry SMARTBoard File: Polygons</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7_Vxn1ww2nVsp5mjRH1lGHCkmZURbNhSqIlrlZSW8MDJDwB1U5HmpuTJa8PaHoSPKLh5yVAAd36uSsPrFdyrLSzaCbg3U0J3FXZLZoHmtM6Dmxax2LlD1AeSRPWuyxohazYsBmX7RAWe/s1600/Slide4.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7_Vxn1ww2nVsp5mjRH1lGHCkmZURbNhSqIlrlZSW8MDJDwB1U5HmpuTJa8PaHoSPKLh5yVAAd36uSsPrFdyrLSzaCbg3U0J3FXZLZoHmtM6Dmxax2LlD1AeSRPWuyxohazYsBmX7RAWe/s400/Slide4.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2VJbiXx_nv29SL38vKSJLKNQHzcy-4VUaRiOpDO5L81ngSGsXL5W0dddMfA4R7U0UVB3z0wrsqP5Nn_iv2cWH5M1S21EptzjWpHNM8-hMcFLfGjCQFjyvoauKBEaUjwrNo3Dyvn5iZRv/s1600/Slide5.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ2VJbiXx_nv29SL38vKSJLKNQHzcy-4VUaRiOpDO5L81ngSGsXL5W0dddMfA4R7U0UVB3z0wrsqP5Nn_iv2cWH5M1S21EptzjWpHNM8-hMcFLfGjCQFjyvoauKBEaUjwrNo3Dyvn5iZRv/s400/Slide5.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Geometry-Printables-Polygons-748727" target="_blank">Geometry Printables: Polygons</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Geometry-SMARTBoard-and-Printables-Bundle-Polygons-748733" target="_blank">Geometry SMARTBoard and Printables Bundle: Polygons</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotmME8s-yDsUsaLw7RvocJRuq83HjI77MujGjaQT69PSagGnyjzkvZg-ErjkTnAeu-jtyiYvOAJyqE3EVp8hZME9oU-SKXo7Dcvcql19pesp24sberwE31MKPtmIOAapU467afurpW9U0/s1600/Slide1.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhotmME8s-yDsUsaLw7RvocJRuq83HjI77MujGjaQT69PSagGnyjzkvZg-ErjkTnAeu-jtyiYvOAJyqE3EVp8hZME9oU-SKXo7Dcvcql19pesp24sberwE31MKPtmIOAapU467afurpW9U0/s400/Slide1.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Geometry-Vocabulary-Cards-for-Polygons-748745" target="_blank">Geometry Vocabulary Cards for Polygons</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Since using a protractor was a new skill for my kiddos, (and maybe a rusty skill for some of you)... <span style="font-size: xx-small;">like it was for me...</span><span style="font-size: small;">I created this "How to Use a Protractor" Freebie. Click the picture to get yours!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/How-to-Use-a-Protractor-Freebie-752965" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKeuo3A3gJxdXLe4-KuwD2iFEfT8PuptznKaBSO1jJme_ndMqI8oGEWJ9qvJQOJB3Z_Fw_3s0t_8d7ZBB31N89xbzxqN6FOZuo4wDfasdsSxHV2c61gpMeeniD5kMDgw73BqQLpjlvAayN/s320/How+to+use+a++Protractor.png" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And finally for the giveaway! Leave me a comment and become a follower, if you aren't already and I'll pick a random name to receive the Geometry product of your choice for free!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'll pick the winner next Sunday, July 28.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" /></a></div>
Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-8292264707701320862013-07-18T08:22:00.001-07:002013-07-18T08:50:03.729-07:00Leibster Nomination x 2!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaW-2sSG8By2h6cu7nzxZDu7KBq5hO-Ha8ZHctrDa8T0GwdysLfrHeZTwHIzGbVoqTIVUyfOmtY0PBe-l56GJ9eCa7mAYNl_kvEHjn0EPuY3zZvCt3zpkC58vmvlUQxYTnlpyX5ciHiYfg/s1600/LiebsterAward_3lilapples.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaW-2sSG8By2h6cu7nzxZDu7KBq5hO-Ha8ZHctrDa8T0GwdysLfrHeZTwHIzGbVoqTIVUyfOmtY0PBe-l56GJ9eCa7mAYNl_kvEHjn0EPuY3zZvCt3zpkC58vmvlUQxYTnlpyX5ciHiYfg/s320/LiebsterAward_3lilapples.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm so excited to have been nominated for a Liebster Award, not once, but twice this week! I feel so special! Thanks to Susan at <a href="http://www.pinkwatermelons.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Happiness is Watermelon Shaped in 3rd Grade</a> and Kara at <a href="http://toengagethemall.blogspot.com/2013/07/liebster-award-no-suh.html" target="_blank">To Engage Them All</a>. They both have awesome blogs...you should definitely check these ladies out!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I have seen the Liebster award on other blogs, but I didn't really know what it was for. From visiting Susan and Kara's blogs, I learned that it is given to blogs with fewer than 200 followers...yup, that's me! In order to accept the award, you have to <span style="color: #444444;"><span style="line-height: 21px;">do the following:</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">1.</span><span style="color: #0b5394;"> Link back to the blog that nominated you. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">2. Answer the questions the nominator asked you. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">3. Share 11 random facts about yourself. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: inherit; line-height: 21px;">4. Create 11 questions for your own nominees.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">5. Nominate 5-11 blogs with less than 200 followers.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394;">6. Contact the nominees to let them know that you nominated them.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: #cfe2f3; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Here are my answers to Susan's questions.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #0492e8; color: #2d0274; font-family: Play; line-height: 33px;">1. What is the best "teacher" book you have ever read?</span></div>
I have such a hard time picking favorites of ANYTHING, but the book that made a huge impression on me when I was returning to teaching 8 years ago after being away for many years, was Debbie Miller's <u>Reading With Meaning</u>. It was such a different approach from what I was used to and it lead me to look at teaching reading a whole new way.<br />
<span style="background-color: #0492e8; color: #2d0274; font-family: Play; line-height: 33px;">2. What's your favorite place to shop?</span><br />
I'm a Homegoods girl! I also like Target and Amazon...love being a Prime member and getting free 2-day shipping!<br />
<span style="background-color: #0492e8; color: #2d0274; font-family: Play; line-height: 33px;">3. What do you do in your free time?</span><br />
I spend way too much time on my computer between creating resources for my own class and TPT, especially SMARTBoard materials, (it's like scrapbooking to me!), reading blogs, and browsing and pinning on Pinterest. I sit down to do one little thing, and suddenly it's 3 hours later! I also love to read, cook, and spend time with family and friends.<br />
<span style="background-color: #0492e8; color: #2d0274; font-family: Play; line-height: 33px;">4. If you could be given one thing to improve your teaching, what would it be?</span><br />
A more defined curriculum! I know we have the Common Core, but at my school, we have no textbooks, no curriculum maps, and no scope and sequence for anything except for math. While all the freedom is nice, it's a huge amount of work to try to make sure you're covering everything. <br />
<span style="background-color: #0492e8; color: #2d0274; font-family: Play; line-height: 33px;">5. What's your favorite meal to prepare or eat?</span><br />
Again, I can't pick just one favorite, but in Maine, we get awesome fresh seafood, so I love lobster, clams, fish, shrimp, crabmeat, etc.<br />
<span style="background-color: #0492e8; color: #2d0274; font-family: Play; line-height: 33px;">6. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?</span><br />
I would love to take a Mediterranean cruise to Italy and Greece. The combination of the scenery and the amazing food would be perfect!<br />
<span style="background-color: #0492e8; color: #2d0274; font-family: Play; line-height: 33px;">7. What are your favorite TV shows?</span><br />
I'm a huge Downton Abbey fan...I still haven't recovered from the season 3 ending! I also love anything on HGTV and Food Network.<br />
<span style="background-color: #0492e8; color: #2d0274; font-family: Play; line-height: 33px;">8. What is your favorite blog(s)?</span><br />
I follow lots of blogs, especially other 4th grade ones! I am in awe of how much fabulous information and sharing of ideas is happening in the education world! <br />
Here's a small sample of some of the blogs I love:<br />
<a href="http://www.theteacherstudio.com/" target="_blank">Fourth Grade Studio</a> <br />
<a href="http://ideasbyjivey.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ideas by Jivey</a> <br />
<a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Oh' Boy 4th Grade</a><br />
<a href="http://funin4b.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Fun in Room 4B</a><br />
<a href="http://collaborationcuties.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Collaboration Cuties</a><br />
<span style="background-color: #0492e8; color: #2d0274; font-family: Play; line-height: 33px;">9. Do you have a TPT store? If so, please give the address, too.</span><br />
Yes, my store is called <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Downeast-Teach" target="_blank">Downeast Teach</a>. I started it almost exactly a year ago. Colleagues had been telling me I should try to market my SMARTBoard math calendar, and I'm so glad they gave me the nudge to take the plunge! It has been amazing to get such positive feedback from so many people, and it has motivated me to become a better teacher.<br />
<span style="background-color: #0492e8; color: #2d0274; font-family: Play; line-height: 33px;">10. What is the last book you read?</span><br />
I love historical fiction or books that are set in other cultures. I like to learn something while I'm being entertained. I just finished <u>The Taliban Cricket Club,</u> by Timeri N. Murari, on my Kindle. It's set in Afghanistan during the time that the Taliban took over and is told from the point of view of a young woman who was a college graduate and successful journalist and how her life changes under their regime, when women aren't allowed to leave their homes unless accompanied by males and then they must be fully covered by burkas. How cricket fits into all of this, you will see if you read it. I highly recommend it!<br />
<span style="background-color: #0492e8; color: #2d0274; font-family: Play; line-height: 33px;">11. Are you a morning or night person?</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I used to be a night owl. That was when I had "me time" when my kids were young. As I've gotten older, I find I'm fresher in the morning and I get upset with myself if I sleep past 6:30</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #8e7cc3;"> And now for Kara's questions!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #b4a7d6;">Why did you become a teacher?</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I had a lot of teachers in my family; my mom, several aunts and uncles. I loved playing school as a little girl, and I really enjoyed babysitting and playing with little kids as I got older. It seemed like the right fit for me!</div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #b4a7d6;">What is your favorite classroom activity of all time?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">My daily math calendar routine for the SMARTBoard. In 15 minutes a day, I know that I am targeting key skills that my students need. It has made a big difference in their math test scores, I know that even if we have a crazy day, math calendar is always a constant. I have the class helper lead it and the kids look forward to the interactive elements.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #b4a7d6;">What is your favorite book?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">As I already mentioned, I love historical fiction and books that are set in other cultures. One of my favorites is <u>The Red Tent</u> by Anita Diamant.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #b4a7d6;">What is your favorite restaurant?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">There's that favorite thing again! Can't pick just one, but I love restaurants that use fresh ingredients prepared in unusual ways with interesting sauces. I would rather have lots of small bites than one big entrée...I love variety!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #b4a7d6;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #b4a7d6;">What TV show do you watch but you hate to admit it?</span></span><br />
Dance Moms... since my girls were on a dance team for 15 years, and I was very active making props and costumes, I get sucked in. Fortunately, our studio was nothing like the one on the show!<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #b4a7d6;">If you could go on vacation anywhere and didn't have to w</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #b4a7d6;">orry about price, where would you go?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The aforementioned Mediterranean cruise to Italy and Greece</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #b4a7d6;">What television show can you binge watch for hours on end?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Whatever is playing on HGTV, especially Property Brothers and Love It or List It. I love to see the house transformations!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #b4a7d6;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #b4a7d6;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #b4a7d6;">What is your favorite thing to do during summer vacation?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I love having the time to read, reflect, and create things for the upcoming year...I have a lovely front porch that is shady in the mornings, so I just bring my laptop out there! (And I manage to fit in some time to relax by the pool and read for fun in the afternoons!) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #b4a7d6;">What piece of technology would you loooooove to have for your classroom?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">It sounds greedy to say, because I got 6 iPads last year, but I would love to have a class set. Right now, I use them mainly for game apps, but with a whole-class set, I think there is so much more you can do!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #b4a7d6;">What website could you not live without in your classroom?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">I have my own classroom website/blog that I use for parent communication. I post slide shows of things we are doing, as well as links to educational games, videos, resources, and frequently visited sites. The families really like it.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: #b4a7d6;">Why did you start blogging?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As I got more involved with Pinterest and TPT, I didn't have any way to share ideas that had worked for me without linking to my classroom website. I did that for one post and pinned it to Pinterest, but when I saw how many views it got in a short time, it made me uncomfortable because I have student photos there. So...I decided it was time to make a separate blog just for teaching. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: #c27ba0; font-size: large;">Okay, here goes with my random facts!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. I have lived in Maine my whole life, as did at least 4 generations before me... ayuh, we're real Maine-iacs!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. My town was so small, there were only 10 kids in my whole grade. In high school, it took 6 towns combined to have a high school of 350 students.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. My parents are celebrating their 65th anniversary this year and are both healthy and active. (Here's hoping I have inherited those genes!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. Growing up, each summer I raked blueberries to earn money for my school clothes. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
5. I asked Bob Denver, (Gilligan) to speak at my high school graduation. (He said no.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">6. I used to make miniature foods for dollhouse collectors out of polymer clay.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
7. I left teaching for 18 years when my kids were growing up and did a variety of part-time work... hand-painted children's clothes, designed polymer clay jewelry, taught Gymboree, worked in a friend's gift shop, designed costumes and props for my daughters' dance team, etc. This will be my 8th year back teaching.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
8. I am obsessed with my SMARTBoard that I got 2 years ago. It has transformed my teaching and I love to create lessons for it! I now teach SMARTBoard classes in my district, and this summer taught a 2-day class in my sister's district.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
9. I have been married for almost 33 years to my college sweetheart. We have 2 beautiful grown daughters.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
10. I love iced coffee and could drink it all day...especially with the hot, humid weather we are having right now!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
11. I hate roller coasters, lima beans, and cocky people.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">And finally, here are my 11 questions for my nominees:</span></div>
<ol>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">How long have you been teaching and what grade levels have you taught?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">What is something on your bucket list?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">What is your favorite subject(s) to teach and why?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">What is something new you would like to try in your classroom this year?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">What is a talent you are known for?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Do you have a store at either Teachers Pay Teachers or Teacher's Notebook? If so, give the link!</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">If you use Pinterest, what is your user name?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">How long have you been blogging, and why did you start?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">What do you like to do to relax?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">Other than being a teacher, what would your dream job be?</span></div>
</li>
<li><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: #b6d7a8;">What is a book you would recommend to other teachers?</span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My nominees are:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://lilacdlf.blogspot.com/2013/07/new-to-bloggin.html" target="_blank">Mrs. Faherty's Fab in 4th</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://mscranfillsclass.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Ms. Cranfill's Class</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://rolandipads.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Roland with iPads</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://knjkreations.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">KNJ Kreations</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://themasterteacher10.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tales of a Fourth Grade Teacher</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Thanks again to Susan and Kara for nominating me! This has been a lot of fun and I found some new blogs to follow!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" /></a></div>
Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-26482889572297354112013-07-02T08:25:00.002-07:002013-07-02T08:52:32.738-07:00Anchor Charts for the Handwriting ChallengedI am going to try to be better about posting to my blog. I'm starting today by participating in Technology Tailgate's "Techie Tuesday Link Up".<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.technologytailgate.com/2013/07/techie-tuesday-link-up.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivSO5GUa1k1wS7W5wpO-Ai0ZLyLsFeJNF0f3ahiyhX4DouD0KQ8zyG8I28rWPse5I92vrIh-SZ_2ou7qAzLblQOHIuzpHeNVhgjxh6pJDyxZVEf_UJuV08rLhwXQouyy_Bxt-heDGw9B1/s320/Tech+Tuesday.png" width="320" /></a></div>
I love seeing all the amazing anchor charts posted on Pinterest! Seriously, some people must spend HOURS creating elaborate charts with perfectly straight and even handwriting and illustrations that look like an artist created them! I pin them, thinking... that chart is perfect for my kiddos! I'll make that this weekend...and then reality hits. <br />
<br />
1. I could never make my chart look like that. My handwriting is...well...let's just say neatness is a challenge. Plus I'm left-handed, so I always smudge whatever I draw or write.<br />
<br />
2. That chart would take me hours to make! I have so much other school prep to do!<br />
<br />
3. I have very limited wall space in my classroom, so where would I hang it when it's done?<br />
<br />
If you can relate to any of the above, or if you're wondering, "How is this technology?"...read on!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfGAKdrds1IDGpUBFXYn_3xzzyoX1jeIKUC0kQAa5sQoPi0GLJxH1e10v1WMpOfbto0H74EciQ_7ghZzG78MDsTOgwK6z_SpsQJq0Pz366TxCm9L8ag84WhMivDzubXN8PbMGpqSPU_iq/s800/Figurative+Language+Angry+Birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAfGAKdrds1IDGpUBFXYn_3xzzyoX1jeIKUC0kQAa5sQoPi0GLJxH1e10v1WMpOfbto0H74EciQ_7ghZzG78MDsTOgwK6z_SpsQJq0Pz366TxCm9L8ag84WhMivDzubXN8PbMGpqSPU_iq/s640/Figurative+Language+Angry+Birds.jpg" width="449" /></a></div>
Just look at this Angry Birds anchor chart on literary devices. Amazing, right? It was all over Pinterest last summer. I found it at <a href="http://working4theclassroom.blogspot.com/p/teachers-resources.html" target="_blank">Working 4 the Classroom</a>. I knew I could never make it, but that it would really help my students remember literary devices.<br />
<br />
My solution to this dilemma is to save the anchor charts that I want as images and then insert them into a SMART Notebook file so I can project them during my lessons. (This would also work with PowerPoint and a projector if you don't have an interactive white board.) This is how I do it.<br />
<br />
1. Click on the photo of the chart you like.<br />
2. Right-click and choose "save picture as".<br />
3. Choose where to save your picture. I have a folder on my desktop called "anchor charts".<br />
<br />
Once the chart is saved, I usually crop it and edit it to lighten it up and sharpen the contrast. I don't have fancy photo editing software. Here's how I do it with Microsoft Office 2010.<br />
<br />
1. Browse to your saved picture. Right click on the photo and click "Open with" and choose Microsoft Office 2010.<br />
<br />
2. On the top toolbar, choose "Edit Pictures".<br />
<br />
3. On the right, options will appear. I crop first, if necessary, and then click "OK".<br />
<br />
4. Click "Edit Pictures" again and choose "Brightness and Contrast."<br />
<br />
5. Play around with how much to adjust the various settings here. In general, I adjust the contrast up, as well as either the brightness or mid-tones. When you like how it looks, click "OK". <br />
<br />
6. Click "save".<br />
<br />
If it's a chart I want my students to refer to over and over, I make mini-copies of the chart and print them out for my students to glue into their Literacy Notebooks. Here's how I do this with PowerPoint:<br />
<br />
1. Open a new, blank PowerPoint file. (Layout > blank). The orientation of the page depends on how many charts you want to fit. If you are putting 2, 6, or 8 to a page, keep it in landscape, which is the default. If you are putting 4 on a page, switch it to portrait. (Click "design > slide orientation > portrait".)<br />
<br />
2. On the top toolbar, click "Insert > Picture" and browse to wherever you saved your picture. Click on the picture and then click "Insert". (You can also just double-click the picture.)<br />
<br />
3. (For people without an interactive white board only. Otherwise, skip to Step 4.)<br />
If you do not have an interactive white board, this would be the big image you would project and use in your lesson. In that case, you would duplicate the slide to have another page for step 4. (If you need the page orientation to be different for the two different slides, it would be better to make each slide as a separate file, as I don't think PowerPoint lets you change the orientation within the same file.)<br />
<br />
4. Resize the picture for how many you want to fit on the page and copy/paste the additional pictures.<br />
<br />
5. You can either print directly from PowerPoint, or save as a pdf, which will print a little larger.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyGwyoVoa21HcP99efVhnNp_plC8PLmGGiErsrVg5oaYYfc_DE0dPVxSlmPBNDX0SfeLAWzH0M8vUaApZdJxXP8LrCMXA19_-c3zOIHXia7T-JDJIYiWSYXSuqI5gUfvYnzsuNDUxWzxX/s1412/Grouped+for+Notebook2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyGwyoVoa21HcP99efVhnNp_plC8PLmGGiErsrVg5oaYYfc_DE0dPVxSlmPBNDX0SfeLAWzH0M8vUaApZdJxXP8LrCMXA19_-c3zOIHXia7T-JDJIYiWSYXSuqI5gUfvYnzsuNDUxWzxX/s320/Grouped+for+Notebook2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Since the Angry Birds chart is so detailed, I would only put 2 on a page.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
With less detailed charts, you can fit 4-8 charts on the page.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rpe7aP7RgLNBPMEEId5Q26M7kP6b_vXP1fb0tIDh12v1zR69mNQ39zmbXCwQre1onsViuSyibwRmVOaC_q1PjofLFzpHVARrZv6i09s2bHhlvqTsHiSG6PwEu9EnVsgLprVCyjDCiLue/s1439/blog+example_rev.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="406" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_rpe7aP7RgLNBPMEEId5Q26M7kP6b_vXP1fb0tIDh12v1zR69mNQ39zmbXCwQre1onsViuSyibwRmVOaC_q1PjofLFzpHVARrZv6i09s2bHhlvqTsHiSG6PwEu9EnVsgLprVCyjDCiLue/s640/blog+example_rev.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
This chart is from the talented Stephanie at <a href="http://www.3rdgradethoughts.com/2012/08/daily-5-launching-read-to-self.html" target="_blank">3rd GradeThoughts.</a> She uses it to launch Read to Self in Daily 5. I was able to get 4 charts on a page, and, while the colored images look awesome, as you can see, they are also fine when printed in black and white, 'cause let's be realistic... all that colored ink really adds up! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I hope other busy and/or handwriting-challenged teachers find this tip helpful and that I am not violating anything by using other people's anchor charts this way. That is certainly not my intent. I figure if someone posted them on their blog or Pinterest, they wanted to share, and since these are not items that anyone is selling, I'm thinking it is okay. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" /></a></div>
Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-82777013961249881742013-05-06T17:59:00.001-07:002013-05-07T18:48:51.745-07:00Teacher Appreciation Week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's Teacher Appreciation Week, which ironically, (for me at least), comes during one of the busiest times in the year. There is so much curriculum yet to be covered before we end on June 14th, but it seems like, on a daily basis, there is some sort of special event or commitment that interrupts our regular routine. This is a recipe for STRESS! I know we will get everything done somehow, but it's a little crazy right now! Anybody else know what I mean?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Downeast-Teach" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSCEpwrSIlgHeaZYRXb7yHLKWeiNipOvvl6_zOPX3w3_Fqs-PyPXC_3RJQmStJ1K2Yw5LKCoyfhIQZf6pJs8eR_rV_exCZIP8ITU7NOiqyeb4dlqM5oCOIHiOK1EofDxXwgKJEHRhMUzyH/s320/TAD13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Here's something that I hope will <em><u>not</u></em> stress you out...the TPT Teacher Appreciation Sale, which is happening thisTuesday, May 7th and Wednesday, May 8th. I'm joining with thousands of other sellers to offer quality teaching products that just might take a little stress off your very full plate! I know I've got my cart loaded up with some awesome products that will save me a ton of time! <br />
<br />
You can save up to 28% off, by using the <strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">Code:</span><u>TAD13</u></span></strong> at check-out. (Thanks to Beth at Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah Designs for the awesome graphic above!) My entire store is on sale, so if you are considering trying any of my SMARTBoard math calendars next year, (which are my best-selling products), this would be the perfect time to get them at a great price!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Common-Core-Aligned-SMART-Board-Math-Calendar-for-Grades-4-5" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLz70gqFMBGW2k0FCWL2GeTQEDAV5E9YeVPXp8HdCp9ZH1vGsgE2uDxEecM9a1FE8xM1AOUjA2k3UiPWIfTvMZbvulYBw3eoJ8vBvhtB0yyAe9RtrnWfc-_tiu_kU36MNhotJ8P_v01v82/s400/Core+Calendar_1.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Core Calendar gets added to and used every day of school.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMART-Board-Math-Calendar-Grades-4-5-Day-Files-Set-7" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbaqw5csYxhSAmY5OUas89MeuZfzjsu_j-lcdiOhqH22v2Ckf0z0n1-dIvgnLTn0mkIMVzp47awQOWoUDXSEPmRaRFDVHuveHBt4TEgemoKyv7k-vvmEeSbAbex3YsJK1q_A0PqLEOn19/s400/137a_3.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Page from Set 7</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMART-Board-Math-Calendar-Grades-4-5-Day-Files-Set-2" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_14sXudNSVV8t5nxEiyKzerehdhhsvS9vQBwkq_L9RMFdQHIEOaMC2hVGBpc2BkLGFZX4wWmzJse5ijixitarHiqfotLqw8kDHuS3mexM3VDA_xdGN7DzoaAo6GZJYLlqofiuiNe3b7c/s400/38b_1.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Page from Set 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMART-Board-Math-Calendar-Grades-4-5-Day-Files-Set-4" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv7MwXVtsoKddtWHwKQVjbs53rxy8KhNIo43ll2poJDvyTMiVfWlInMVdMNJ-9FwEbxflddK6sjPbWsypYv37ASaFe7fRkzIbqCV2x3utZD3mXbzTMoRfF5UqC-QX9wVv9u9B4SiUmYrxv/s400/69a_3.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Page from Set 4</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMART-Board-Math-Calendar-Grades-4-5-Day-Files-Set-6" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNNBA2UzH18fNXj9SUPImnOiHhCQQFT1jIjR0pe5wHzQNkKPUw_lU5uU3YJwpFcBuBixpMVsnvtYUoOZi8RduKgYHPYCTU-HRylQaK9p8xKE5i0YPMrMeFFvIkWTkmLAsYxMUD4NrEVIHY/s400/111a_3.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Page from Set 6</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMART-Board-Math-Calendar-Grades-4-5-Day-Files-Set-7" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcqVwmF461jaw_rLqEA10cBH4tVEFnz98Nzz6tNXgap6cFLm9a2iXX39oTV6PpUxWlsehzoR5B2ow4KmIIbrtQ_KhKA6LY3KUIPvrSZeokUxD5N6NplhJ5rMSRCUod16E_d5x4-G8ezSM/s400/140b_3.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Page from Set 7</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMART-Board-Math-Calendar-Grades-4-5-Day-Files-Set-3" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpSwgeKbqrM_gJ3i3r_URXRrPfKB_vIBjcktbthAA4gEX232_o0YH5-UH6EJr87vYXaWFFMteaLEhX87fsmZkxemPTaPoqHbd0tZufCzsq9JFXgBA9FZs12qiyXSBGJ9gHFiNGgt8N5PjK/s400/47a_3.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Page from Set 3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3RHtNfGIjrvH2gxpyeTjpVZmop_nuMwmR4oD5g1uYtD6c39QUrXqXhZ8Fvjq9-lc2SuJRaQshX1a5PfMsIXlTtOVwjFYWhJf8Udouoz5mGXGc6WOGjnC7fj5xoxhmaSzqxbr9DYuWmtY/s1600/170b_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3RHtNfGIjrvH2gxpyeTjpVZmop_nuMwmR4oD5g1uYtD6c39QUrXqXhZ8Fvjq9-lc2SuJRaQshX1a5PfMsIXlTtOVwjFYWhJf8Udouoz5mGXGc6WOGjnC7fj5xoxhmaSzqxbr9DYuWmtY/s400/170b_2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Page from Set 8</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMART-Board-Math-Calendar-Grades-4-5-Day-Files-Set-5" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjaSbPQ9L3n3LTLMhyphenhyphenmZ0QysDugri9eMlAsmoUtj6Cbe6Pm9CjlrNjLFg3fyiJEqPadM9NXWxSJSkOQIHp2q1PSk-w9hUb191QUCpZL6mzk0f-wXGxuFPyTK7h2exb181sAWLqLVscj6I/s400/97a_1.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Page from Set 5</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The above pages are from various sets in my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Common-Core-Aligned-SMART-Board-Math-Calendar-for-Grades-4-5" target="_blank">Grades 4-5 Math Calendar</a>, which while the pages below are from my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Grades-1-3-Common-Core-Aligned-Math-Calendar" target="_blank">Grades 1-3 Math Calendar</a>. Click on the links to learn more about them. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppjHMZSb9QdKuc7ILTnDsCDs_FmgPfGyJSdSXtAwPCtYgLWUko15X3FtOCp_BVTZUfPA3VSqNVSRns5jJ43sAIX5NJONgOnPd2W95OaA26qUx1i_iBqeAYkwBX2VRJL_PtaejQuONP0et/s1600/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppjHMZSb9QdKuc7ILTnDsCDs_FmgPfGyJSdSXtAwPCtYgLWUko15X3FtOCp_BVTZUfPA3VSqNVSRns5jJ43sAIX5NJONgOnPd2W95OaA26qUx1i_iBqeAYkwBX2VRJL_PtaejQuONP0et/s1600/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="77" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppjHMZSb9QdKuc7ILTnDsCDs_FmgPfGyJSdSXtAwPCtYgLWUko15X3FtOCp_BVTZUfPA3VSqNVSRns5jJ43sAIX5NJONgOnPd2W95OaA26qUx1i_iBqeAYkwBX2VRJL_PtaejQuONP0et/s320/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_1.png" style="left: 139px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 3392px;" width="96" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Grades-1-3-Common-Core-Aligned-Math-Calendar" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjub1omabEumnUadIfShQVRnPGPDWFLUhPmypoUJIk2wW8Sx63dM9jgTC9R5vjKWTKt7XAw2iCxKNQMf5ADHzVTxPoAZmzddchR0F87WbHSegCAaojpzyZrTfCqfhgzgXO1wKnPLXR8Ft/s400/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFNk8C5ZkAcDXLCy7IEkPRQtJPBx-3G_k5V6MHzfabNpEEgGBEgnWsR3_AlYmb6padm0znDMbl4yD4ZPPRHXIjWsRqxhHGsWs46kIyRuBeJMwKKp-gJL8CAxjmxaWl5J1jjktwRV8xzJT/s1600/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBFNk8C5ZkAcDXLCy7IEkPRQtJPBx-3G_k5V6MHzfabNpEEgGBEgnWsR3_AlYmb6padm0znDMbl4yD4ZPPRHXIjWsRqxhHGsWs46kIyRuBeJMwKKp-gJL8CAxjmxaWl5J1jjktwRV8xzJT/s400/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D1rdfXrqYsQrQNofru8Wy23nuZC8qZTFtR42YQFr3tDKvYaalSSKeKi_0XdIAvyT0JApjKxXYDZJLK7KLTe6WnGaXeJCSHS7sehXMBZKIFQRa5UpbDAsR5Ub-0UjIhce0BUV3iT4RTR0/s1600/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_10.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4D1rdfXrqYsQrQNofru8Wy23nuZC8qZTFtR42YQFr3tDKvYaalSSKeKi_0XdIAvyT0JApjKxXYDZJLK7KLTe6WnGaXeJCSHS7sehXMBZKIFQRa5UpbDAsR5Ub-0UjIhce0BUV3iT4RTR0/s400/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_10.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7u5TwUE_HTZuVGAATvUM55_JNYcQQ2X5aMi_t16lwG9p3WNYfOF7PzWE-IfLJdCqD_71NA4cAkjvqp0ah08CRkFIu9QqTKXAvoBV_uORtngVDfM7rGTmAFDLTnd6AjDo8oIJ61ojEZQB/s1600/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_11.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7u5TwUE_HTZuVGAATvUM55_JNYcQQ2X5aMi_t16lwG9p3WNYfOF7PzWE-IfLJdCqD_71NA4cAkjvqp0ah08CRkFIu9QqTKXAvoBV_uORtngVDfM7rGTmAFDLTnd6AjDo8oIJ61ojEZQB/s400/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_11.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhZ5flf8ufvy4NRbzPqc0oSuhQecBOSdORqWcYDhTtkJxNrQA3Sq2uDkT5CDtVggaJP7AVQUW-Q6kM9qOwWOimv2AiFInMlvROpp6sDb3s2G4QoMEAE3sasbyYFbTe5pLA7tEhrUSHCfr/s1600/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbhZ5flf8ufvy4NRbzPqc0oSuhQecBOSdORqWcYDhTtkJxNrQA3Sq2uDkT5CDtVggaJP7AVQUW-Q6kM9qOwWOimv2AiFInMlvROpp6sDb3s2G4QoMEAE3sasbyYFbTe5pLA7tEhrUSHCfr/s400/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_3.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aJmITCpKSgLPMuwPSbrkoT6b0d6NPrWmKVXUx_2LeaX3lbCB94UoYOKjvo4ii_iyIcVLuDuOc3vVLT0FXZ2H4lyayKyu-_wGPCNOTFPq68EPK60Sa19pzLR1kDdNuq4mmNQdzmWWzVRT/s1600/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aJmITCpKSgLPMuwPSbrkoT6b0d6NPrWmKVXUx_2LeaX3lbCB94UoYOKjvo4ii_iyIcVLuDuOc3vVLT0FXZ2H4lyayKyu-_wGPCNOTFPq68EPK60Sa19pzLR1kDdNuq4mmNQdzmWWzVRT/s400/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_4.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tm04d-VFgPj4-Twom4DN3-rwmvVunEplvG_Rr6ITWktK_-Ax_sYi-AU7xdIG0GSmEHDzvk4a4bTPXz392bcGvyX0XsPFppnkjCAZE2QSH2X8ZrsHooHW-BenjyHWMqaHEl8TQF0c_FDi/s1600/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2tm04d-VFgPj4-Twom4DN3-rwmvVunEplvG_Rr6ITWktK_-Ax_sYi-AU7xdIG0GSmEHDzvk4a4bTPXz392bcGvyX0XsPFppnkjCAZE2QSH2X8ZrsHooHW-BenjyHWMqaHEl8TQF0c_FDi/s400/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_5.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwV3ksqsOocBWDXsnHyq3nBGKSk-fVpH8qz3aJpEDOCnr0QfBxDK3A8UqN1JNLyl3mkYuNrXu8m5_GyFqXAMfKaIHx-QJw_E-RBxuCsBsBht0rUsTf6MxUzhTfjYcFdSYwcFZ9M_wG72by/s1600/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwV3ksqsOocBWDXsnHyq3nBGKSk-fVpH8qz3aJpEDOCnr0QfBxDK3A8UqN1JNLyl3mkYuNrXu8m5_GyFqXAMfKaIHx-QJw_E-RBxuCsBsBht0rUsTf6MxUzhTfjYcFdSYwcFZ9M_wG72by/s400/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_6.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgw3D12V9gXsj6CGW4k4KYCxwB7uWZ6-gLUXpApoP0R7eIXkQ_C_9g6dZ8EOWxdNNrDCA9TBELsU3hyARd-by3cWXvqYc6MxL9_29uV2j5Ow57bY8xh9X5icQuK5KwgznmZbicSv5UzigO/s1600/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgw3D12V9gXsj6CGW4k4KYCxwB7uWZ6-gLUXpApoP0R7eIXkQ_C_9g6dZ8EOWxdNNrDCA9TBELsU3hyARd-by3cWXvqYc6MxL9_29uV2j5Ow57bY8xh9X5icQuK5KwgznmZbicSv5UzigO/s400/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_9.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Happy Shopping!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" /></a></div>
Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-1087784183691687952013-04-20T09:01:00.002-07:002013-04-20T09:01:51.945-07:00Dioramas, Posters, and Skits, Oh My! (Our State Museum!)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrDInP0MWRM0sZgeobv6kfSumAlz6hu5RN0PhyphenhyphenB1LYi63cWVf8nQLUp-aJsfl9vXRQ-TT5moaiczMDHhSyyVC4_Q6ZqFGIyhmmYKnys-HAeBq9mA0t7X7c3QPNkPZ4YPSGmizWt74xqWg/s1600/Picture13.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrDInP0MWRM0sZgeobv6kfSumAlz6hu5RN0PhyphenhyphenB1LYi63cWVf8nQLUp-aJsfl9vXRQ-TT5moaiczMDHhSyyVC4_Q6ZqFGIyhmmYKnys-HAeBq9mA0t7X7c3QPNkPZ4YPSGmizWt74xqWg/s640/Picture13.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My two grade-level colleagues and I decided to try something new this year as a culmination of our study of Maine. We created our own Maine Museum! It was a lot of work, but we saw high levels of engagement, particularly from students who struggle academically. For many of them, the hands-on component was an opportunity for them to really shine!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Students worked in small groups to research and present information about a variety of topics, including natural resources, geography, economy, animals, and important places. We came up with 21 different topics which we split up between the 3 fourth grades, so that no two groups did the same topic. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGczatdpopeAKRy6XQ9VJKTES6DM5DNw4j_ZpQsQ0CNNFXKUbu1WghyphenhyphenkPkYDnn_vG_p9Cwq_hZCsCNjhfm1wzFt6L2BQUB-avk80xB7V2DkBMC1ggjE96Z1OabszKoycCrW1CXP7h6I6b/s1600/Picture2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="513" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwGczatdpopeAKRy6XQ9VJKTES6DM5DNw4j_ZpQsQ0CNNFXKUbu1WghyphenhyphenkPkYDnn_vG_p9Cwq_hZCsCNjhfm1wzFt6L2BQUB-avk80xB7V2DkBMC1ggjE96Z1OabszKoycCrW1CXP7h6I6b/s640/Picture2.png" width="640" /></a></div>
Once students had conducted research and taken notes about their topics, they had choices about how they would communicate their information. They had to have some sort of visual display to put on the table for the actual museum. This could be a poster, diorama, game, lift-the-flap board, etc. They also needed a technology component that could be viewed on laptops, which would be set up at the museum, This could be a skit, Photo Story, rap song, etc. We also made the decision to have the whole project be done entirely at school. Many of our students do not have resources/support at home, so this way, we could ensure that everyone had materials and guidance.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHMAv0E5EILT5ZwlHDnqbls5yeiOFeE_sUwumZxKTippPI7ZQwTbs-LePgoh0kCKljrf-nrueyI7dP5rQ9nWLhPHkJb-wprzKW7V6YmWlJkqB4cl9iy7tJ1tFvwL-QnSP7akecxZlFaHl/s1600/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwHMAv0E5EILT5ZwlHDnqbls5yeiOFeE_sUwumZxKTippPI7ZQwTbs-LePgoh0kCKljrf-nrueyI7dP5rQ9nWLhPHkJb-wprzKW7V6YmWlJkqB4cl9iy7tJ1tFvwL-QnSP7akecxZlFaHl/s640/Picture1.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The kids were so excited to create their products! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzU0hWLejGp24dBoWQ6SKoytw9ZuBDnFSyM4bqOpdMVYg2GBvXdKqB1Af_K_PenZIJBEaH2yLuX74W3M6Hr2nFWBfX7CFqyzuwxF1FNd2amhrqcL4aRxwqr0S_I42Ws8MAuldZO2KsdHNw/s1600/Picture3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="539" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzU0hWLejGp24dBoWQ6SKoytw9ZuBDnFSyM4bqOpdMVYg2GBvXdKqB1Af_K_PenZIJBEaH2yLuX74W3M6Hr2nFWBfX7CFqyzuwxF1FNd2amhrqcL4aRxwqr0S_I42Ws8MAuldZO2KsdHNw/s640/Picture3.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Most of my class chose to make dioramas for their visuals, but there were also a couple of posters, a board game, and a lift-the-flap game. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOT7fvm_lMifV4edqVp9YmIYAmDSwmmbFAkjy7Bm8XS3NZVcIibIqg7zAnLWiQ7BNZvq8RcgCrGjTUP0oGBf7APhcR__R6iqqOai6pHwDQz1zQjHyKHbIm1zQv3AenDPywAch8eIyYgkBw/s1600/Picture6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="537" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOT7fvm_lMifV4edqVp9YmIYAmDSwmmbFAkjy7Bm8XS3NZVcIibIqg7zAnLWiQ7BNZvq8RcgCrGjTUP0oGBf7APhcR__R6iqqOai6pHwDQz1zQjHyKHbIm1zQv3AenDPywAch8eIyYgkBw/s640/Picture6.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shipbuilding group made a poster AND a board game, complete with clay ships as game pieces. They also wrote a wonderful skit full of facts about the history of shipbuilding.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLUWjjeX-u8U3SaY6C_9CDhaMdvpTJVAwi1CfsgOMdgDoSowbgyTDVaTxOIhP1wt-C36Zb3jNS69qCIfLuszXe-jduRqp9Y5v_OXYDV6s2_57PWt2nkZbfsWWg6wUmYqrVOrV-H2uBdIc/s1600/Picture7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtLUWjjeX-u8U3SaY6C_9CDhaMdvpTJVAwi1CfsgOMdgDoSowbgyTDVaTxOIhP1wt-C36Zb3jNS69qCIfLuszXe-jduRqp9Y5v_OXYDV6s2_57PWt2nkZbfsWWg6wUmYqrVOrV-H2uBdIc/s640/Picture7.png" width="577" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Portland group wrote a skit in which one person was a new visitor and the other was a tour guide who told him all about Maine's largest city.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpujozSa7WKu0d_PxiiCONIZRTVElCLd0jHvz5Z9BdYIoA4Za8X_KFApd412tyPiwcFu9flT_xUgPgIQJHorgxObRSTo40wLiwvMWZxvEsAPMHgCOOMvVmhF1mwRRmkMfDEA2D3TPbm1L/s1600/Picture4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="537" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzpujozSa7WKu0d_PxiiCONIZRTVElCLd0jHvz5Z9BdYIoA4Za8X_KFApd412tyPiwcFu9flT_xUgPgIQJHorgxObRSTo40wLiwvMWZxvEsAPMHgCOOMvVmhF1mwRRmkMfDEA2D3TPbm1L/s640/Picture4.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lift-the-flap board about landlocked salmon.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHpQ64K8n9vQcIjJodmEsC3RHS30waBj9ZO-88_wMCggUAWXjv9-faESLdD4swokE1twJeIHr-329Ye28elfC2NKh2ltF-vRq5FQnsNXdKholJCZhHTGyiYa_SWV86N6dVWFXK5kBKfT7/s1600/Picture10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHpQ64K8n9vQcIjJodmEsC3RHS30waBj9ZO-88_wMCggUAWXjv9-faESLdD4swokE1twJeIHr-329Ye28elfC2NKh2ltF-vRq5FQnsNXdKholJCZhHTGyiYa_SWV86N6dVWFXK5kBKfT7/s640/Picture10.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishing has been an important industry in Maine for over 400 years! The fishing group also created a wonderful video full of fish facts!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5897PLDPKYOvCbYYMX-oFFFnVpVpSUayBUYazr2lZ50N22t2bUl7FLjDvoyEVgmJsmmE5w6RYTvicnZZgug4BmseMk4AWiH0hRj2wHT05QG24yIwj3CG-Jno0jinP1vAinX3NvgDE-pL/s1600/Picture12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5897PLDPKYOvCbYYMX-oFFFnVpVpSUayBUYazr2lZ50N22t2bUl7FLjDvoyEVgmJsmmE5w6RYTvicnZZgug4BmseMk4AWiH0hRj2wHT05QG24yIwj3CG-Jno0jinP1vAinX3NvgDE-pL/s640/Picture12.jpg" width="601" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center">
Baxter State Park is home to Maine's tallest mountain, Mt. Katahdin. It is the setting for our first read-aloud of the year, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Mountain-Maine-Donn-Fendler/dp/068811573X" target="_blank">Lost on a Mountain in Maine.</a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpqj8qdPWtFM9PE6kAyj1ZV_yNQ-CRCmAm8ltfQCsSoCPis0LwChYGqmwpFzsg2IoPr8HcYPv36Xu5gXeLllchkMoleKIeGABIXON108muKHlRAGzbhD3K4ZkbtLOiPV2SNIhjUC-6-9P/s1600/Picture8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjpqj8qdPWtFM9PE6kAyj1ZV_yNQ-CRCmAm8ltfQCsSoCPis0LwChYGqmwpFzsg2IoPr8HcYPv36Xu5gXeLllchkMoleKIeGABIXON108muKHlRAGzbhD3K4ZkbtLOiPV2SNIhjUC-6-9P/s640/Picture8.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blueberries are the Maine state berry. 99% of all the wild blueberries in the country come from Maine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiBNsidgecip3sjGxeyYjUt9YnAQj2M1bB8fSQPyeAa6DXyAZGc2qXFsKEDLonHwrSbkiqy6Qi7s_Mco1Smh8MmDu8_OBhLREUiVnKeE69txwNbRneN6O2aC2syBnW2xlYDkIj-kjULTk/s1600/Picture9.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="457" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiBNsidgecip3sjGxeyYjUt9YnAQj2M1bB8fSQPyeAa6DXyAZGc2qXFsKEDLonHwrSbkiqy6Qi7s_Mco1Smh8MmDu8_OBhLREUiVnKeE69txwNbRneN6O2aC2syBnW2xlYDkIj-kjULTk/s640/Picture9.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's hard to see the title, but this is the river diorama showing how the logs, which had been cut down in the forest during the winter, were dragged to the river in the spring to be floated down river to the lumber mills.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJaT9mkO3MGoUhUAgObzLHwmawkVIi72TkoI7ma9bQSyN9El5_tUdreu423pLQ3xHYgXBSvyVhy-jlXGV5euKsnEqF5LfGFgg02Bd-k1MDZowPYxnkKrieJAV-wkpNhB7Tp6xjCpD9YiY/s1600/Picture11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkJaT9mkO3MGoUhUAgObzLHwmawkVIi72TkoI7ma9bQSyN9El5_tUdreu423pLQ3xHYgXBSvyVhy-jlXGV5euKsnEqF5LfGFgg02Bd-k1MDZowPYxnkKrieJAV-wkpNhB7Tp6xjCpD9YiY/s640/Picture11.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each classroom had a group researching 3 important Maine animals. We had the landlocked salmon, our state fish, the honeybee; our state insect, and the black bear, which is the mascot for our largest college, the University of Maine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
For their technology component, most groups wrote and recorded skits. (They were awesome, but out of respect of my students' privacy, I can't post any of them.) The night of the museum, each table had two laptops with the video for that exhibit on the desktop. We had headphones attached, so as families visited each exhibit, they could sit down and watch the video. A couple of groups created a <a href="http://microsoft-photo-story.en.softonic.com/" target="_blank">Photo Story</a>, which is a free and easy program that creates a professional-looking product! Here is the Blueberry Photo Story.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw2EC5OHSo7Tfvto1rX3h4qf_3FKy0PLFQh4-XLXyIT2PHYj_fZVf8AEGrkO_MmJmJZgPAN1ogu1NBy5Vs8TQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We presented our museum for each other as a practice a couple of days before the real one. Students went around with clipboards and took notes on important facts about each topic. The day before, we invited the 3rd grades into our classrooms to view our videos, visit the exhibits, and ask questions. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Overall, it was a great success and I think the students will really remember the topics much better than if they had just read about them.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I would love to hear other ideas for what you do to teach about your state!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" /></a></div>
Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-70605518727321620902013-04-03T18:17:00.000-07:002013-04-03T18:17:18.863-07:00April CurrentlyOops...I'm a little late to this party...like 400 people late...but you know what they say about better late than never, so here goes. Thanks to Farley from <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Oh' Boy 4th Grade</a>!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj282iz8BFJMcwJNwJBw6VbeZ1obDjVKVQTcSwxz1yTEti8MJsxKNzdM-2SKmF6l-9cVidRdzj6lTprDa8LMg3QFmQBTElirndbRycrGVZCwfvH51Ut147BOEHeiMpqk3ymcVqlGuTl7JnF/s1600/currentlyapril3.jpg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj282iz8BFJMcwJNwJBw6VbeZ1obDjVKVQTcSwxz1yTEti8MJsxKNzdM-2SKmF6l-9cVidRdzj6lTprDa8LMg3QFmQBTElirndbRycrGVZCwfvH51Ut147BOEHeiMpqk3ymcVqlGuTl7JnF/s640/currentlyapril3.jpg.png" width="484" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Listening</span></strong>: I love all the glitz, glamour, and even the spray tans of everyone on Dancing with the Stars. I have no desire to wear any of it myself, being a jeans and fleece kind of girl. I have a hard time walking in any sort of heel without falling over...I can't imagine dancing in them! The pros are amazing, and I have great respect for the celebrities and how hard they work. I felt bad for Dorothy Hamill when she had to withdraw.<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Loving</span></strong>: This one needs no explanation. I think I can...I think I can...<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;"></span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Thinking</span></strong>: When we get back from spring break, the end of year craziness and special events really start to ratchet up. I look at how much more we still need to cover, especially in math and I wonder how we will fit it all in!<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Wanting</span></strong>: I had been doing pretty good not overindulging in chocolate. I would have one square of Lindt dark chocolate at night. But that was before the Hershey Eggs came out for Easter. It's been downhill from there...<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Needing</span></strong>: My husband has a conference in Vegas during my spring break, so I get to stay for free...cool, huh? I'd like to get something new to wear, but I'm not loving the weight I have put on since last spring, so I'm not excited to shop...<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Advice</span></strong>: I am amazed by all the wonderfully gifted and talented teachers out there who so generously share their expertise and ideas. I learn new things every day from other people's blogs, the TPT forums, and watching video tutorials. If curiosity and learning new things keeps your brain young, maybe there's hope for me!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" /></a></div>
Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-89232744314566202952013-03-29T21:14:00.002-07:002013-03-29T21:14:31.167-07:00My Kind of Spring Cleaning! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Downeast-Teach" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ImdMMQKPXAFuwOoRpyiz3SgcuTv8xOP74r5NIqOJPfl85UKhYjaANSLTJ9UN9uDkeI2-fcr7SNXZnukadUKg_D4sYA9X8PD87fCggDk6fen3ZeXy-vBvLDwd5L9yjghSch3KQpIqDhmg/s400/spring+cleaning+sale.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
If you're anything like me, spring cleaning is not on your list of the "Top 10 Things to Do for Fun on the Weekend"... (or in my case, even the Top 1000...I really HATE cleaning!)<br />
<br />
But this kind of spring cleaning, as in clean out your TPT wishlist and get great teaching resources for 20% off...well, that's the type of spring cleaning that I can get excited about! (not to mention that I can sip coffee while I am doing it and there is no scrubbing involved!)<br />
<br />
Everything in my store will be 20% off this weekend, March 30-31. If you have a SMARTBoard, I have interactive resources for word work, fractions, government, Math Calendar, and more!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Word-Work-Letter-Tiles" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5xvBTQsFt359wI29xmt4bFIc2HniVTVHYAqABKnz8La_Y2MgMJ9-LHch_jbhZJo3vUpXU_7V30lzoLSFxf9D5ZJxJZkPEy2MyJJbag9esMqoeFuPfeBLezVIatNQOf9mYmgj1dFitkix/s320/Letter+Tiles_1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Suffix-Machine" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpOGbF5HNfkAcZnJk89KjaH-UIoUnLtQC_wVk8_JeYKq69Qf53yCVOpdiSLyoKExSbpTXJcFm4dDcw_gjrJ_nmeADQD1X34IJBzsB47YT21STkjr9SxkNoUAqw3Wmhov15b-bT7Dui_wf/s320/Suffix+Machine_1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMART-Board-Interactive-Fraction-Manipulatives" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRV53QFz83aZh1NngtPKNBuSuUyjnqn_6cbL4QgIC9aucVO2q7bQFRKsbfWx-a0etM1Ko8_n1klXbc8OtsZ_Zt-mi7iJHbWs-rdNX7dF46uZYFDwMo71X8eQ9YdDcOKtfp6n-aK4pKmg-w/s320/Fraction+Manipulatives_TPT_1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/3-Branches-of-Government-SMARTBoard-File-with-Printable-Activities" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJUgDzGfxJJanNX8eugHmyUkkBG7xb7G4ewDxV0g7qyP8_IHCkIJEUfk0rNVui4AXiuq1-gNCjGfVwXH0a6T1Akfix2i-ZVTyn7gmfHp5hBwfgVm0t7Mbv07v6yzuYzGcIvLblRijHKuHW/s320/3_Branches_of_government_TPT_2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Word-Work-Letter-Tiles" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGmQ7cJZ5a1EfclyySsTbfj64x8uhtzHxuP9ijyvmba452obWWJb7rRqJgay-GOXJTlXlGrbSD6_bnsXXKQ4cnr3txWvZ5KeVXMt9GxzhT4yF4fKevLzsbtH5aGGbiUJiFTT1IPRtlUXS/s320/Math+Calendar+Grades+1-3_1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Common-Core-Aligned-SMART-Board-Math-Calendar-for-Grades-4-5" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcndOcuMRhziLiM-HTizmE6havFOq6uferdj0i-O6qlz6mH5DMwVQAQxGwlL26yECdTbwrJwD9pVb1ZpIycxlH-e3aiOqRxX_sZJkJb7XjRoB5dMQTgzI9HFkXYK_cD5UvD59ujD5CTMN/s320/Core+Calendar+Routine_1.png" width="270" /></a></div>
Thanks to the talented Krista Wallden at <a href="http://thecreativechalkboard.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Creative Chalkboard</a> for the idea and this adorable graphic. Head over to her blog to see some of the sellers who are participating and to link up if you have a TPT store and want to participate! And if anyone asks you what you did this weekend, you can honestly say you did a little spring cleaning!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" /></a></div>
Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-25013054891415154482013-03-15T17:47:00.002-07:002013-03-15T17:47:50.833-07:00Happy Birthday Maine!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwtS-utixdb1_OJMQTgqdcqACMwA-w25qrh8GhQnWil_JW0jydvApolCjT2ZcmJx5E43PE3gm1pEYIX3IlYuV34VuA7JD-N1VdYYnp154t1vrpEGU6ZzRVVQS1S5vqU1waTCwtrQ_qLj3X/s400/Maine+b-Day+hat.png" width="261" />I don't know about other states, but in Maine, a large part of the social studies curriculum for 4th grade is focused on learning about our state. We study the geography, history, government, and economy of Maine. Today was Maine Statehood Day, because on March 15, 1820, Maine became the 23rd state to join the Union. In honor of the occasion, we had a Maine Birthday party today. It was a great way to review some of what we've learned about our state as well as just have some fun!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZFlwksX8BTTMNzX7lWZ_m4fHAn3UGxRD1T0_IzdjIFdD1i9fR3O6JsiBhhWaB_eaM4GkFHYZLujnLSt9Qi5AKDJFcwTtVJBXcH6iOlRv8_HTreJbvdYydDcue7HXaAM0jUzOqXx7WQofc/s400/Maine+b-Day+numners.png" width="400" /></div>
<br />
This was my morning message on the SMARTBoard. Students took turns dragging each number to the correct spot.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkYJwbeCa4i-U8dA7mywZHYvOt6vPUqTT7niEkafYpiuHUl3PdNoTK4n9zAgD1Q1eaWRYnubPzkc1Oxow4gsigwBlur9fbHWJWxnlYJHSCtr5W5FRvi0EGMug6PSfH0uIhzOOQoi7ZrO0/s1600/Olivea.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="322" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkYJwbeCa4i-U8dA7mywZHYvOt6vPUqTT7niEkafYpiuHUl3PdNoTK4n9zAgD1Q1eaWRYnubPzkc1Oxow4gsigwBlur9fbHWJWxnlYJHSCtr5W5FRvi0EGMug6PSfH0uIhzOOQoi7ZrO0/s400/Olivea.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Students colored Maine symbols to glue onto a paper hat, (made from a template for a famous feline hat). The hats were glued onto a 6x24 inch strip of construction paper, sized to each student's head, and stapled together. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhWBH2PjRu7KinyYc5M8DkdSy73HISNbpNhNSfSXwdmQxWiB6hLOAQjEQtu3jMINthhhVCCbSF9s8ZYruLabWTuGaG_Ew2Nk5o2qkUIF5PITu7OuO1_xwRNKtbTVD40oY32-w4CmqgVZ9/s1600/hat+coloring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqhWBH2PjRu7KinyYc5M8DkdSy73HISNbpNhNSfSXwdmQxWiB6hLOAQjEQtu3jMINthhhVCCbSF9s8ZYruLabWTuGaG_Ew2Nk5o2qkUIF5PITu7OuO1_xwRNKtbTVD40oY32-w4CmqgVZ9/s320/hat+coloring.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
You might think 4th graders would be "too cool" to want to wear a hat like this, but they loved them!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-yo2-lWih8MR5FfZs_JzzjgWNNTnJtChFspk_esnJ1-ZRFOxm0bd2CoQECH4X2L6BMRY5U03kocNoxES7kT5v59y9TNTfDUQCdh56nGahY6f8PxP6o6sEvIOj78kuVgLz13dlnNEQnLh/s1600/hat2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht-yo2-lWih8MR5FfZs_JzzjgWNNTnJtChFspk_esnJ1-ZRFOxm0bd2CoQECH4X2L6BMRY5U03kocNoxES7kT5v59y9TNTfDUQCdh56nGahY6f8PxP6o6sEvIOj78kuVgLz13dlnNEQnLh/s320/hat2.jpg" width="240" /></a><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3lbOHsTt3AMTGWyYO5c38-tUPtnx7f3UDoq4XQOZjqmVqY7CPVJFyIY_6deqFI8dy6LPMc2CTZJzvWSzkSUUDZ0d8PdfFKAR_dE3dTeDU_hJOpklW4U1F_0HsZf7DMFlMh3p-PBwlgxdN/s320/hat1.jpg" width="240" /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKEZzj2EySGF1W3Q1dbxBso2MfwNoNLVsxBL2vRqcXMDDuWD51XuojqaaMH0LwYgdsLKJcfdZjcvnWVr1orCtPFhdKzjKYMhjLKQl2up3nTYu9YcteXfUcrZ-kkVaFCtiOPgk6jYadw0T4/s1600/hat3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKEZzj2EySGF1W3Q1dbxBso2MfwNoNLVsxBL2vRqcXMDDuWD51XuojqaaMH0LwYgdsLKJcfdZjcvnWVr1orCtPFhdKzjKYMhjLKQl2up3nTYu9YcteXfUcrZ-kkVaFCtiOPgk6jYadw0T4/s320/hat3.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We had a special snack of Maine foods, (or in some cases, foods meant to represent Maine products.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBpuAxPNweV96J1Q9hK8clTCPQ2T309K655eKEMCPc4hJdiyImM-80do9_lsZUfsKlGptZBA12eDNiIpWlt_sibvWsfWvgTGf8LznJCbQ5Igarp7Jwd8G3rG3TWXMu9mEXZnMv91Ld9LW/s1600/Food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmBpuAxPNweV96J1Q9hK8clTCPQ2T309K655eKEMCPc4hJdiyImM-80do9_lsZUfsKlGptZBA12eDNiIpWlt_sibvWsfWvgTGf8LznJCbQ5Igarp7Jwd8G3rG3TWXMu9mEXZnMv91Ld9LW/s320/Food.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our menu consisted of <span style="color: blue;"><strong>blueberries</strong></span>, (our state berry), Gold<strong><span style="color: blue;">fish</span></strong> crackers, pretzel <span style="color: blue;"><strong>logs</strong></span>, <span style="color: blue;"><strong>apples</strong></span>, B&M <strong><span style="color: blue;">Baked Beans</span></strong>, <span style="color: blue;"><strong>potato</strong></span> chips, <span style="color: blue;"><strong>Moxie</strong></span>, (which was invented in Maine, <span style="color: blue;"><strong>apple</strong></span> juice, and <span style="color: blue;"><strong>Poland Spring</strong></span> water. In the past, we have had moose-shaped sugar cookies, Whoopie Pies, (our official state snack), and mini-blueberry muffins, but due to food allergies, we can no longer have any baked goods. The kids did not seem to mind at all and some even came back for thirds! There were a lot of purple teeth in the room!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We did the birthday chant that we usually do when it's someone's birthday.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://drive.google.com/?tab=mo&authuser=0#folders/0B_7N5aJoezFfcDZRcEptMnhvekE" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAJDdlvYqUaqh0mMay2kWLKO4cX0cbQ3UPkJE_DJyClrLgl8QMCjtBOiBOS5VjOc8r0GhdqPgdCqPYIJgMziXCG0DNDHOzHQTPgzqK9CkUCbSTq4C0IjFC3YMYVGNMok8aW6fRKyAiO084/s320/Maine+b-Day+chant.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Click on the picture to get your free birthday chant.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We played "Pin the Tail on the Moose"!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2_OgFC05NZuAw_cd-7vsTzf6H_r18ammzaOnvc3Jro6W1aGHAG3sqRDW-oyy4PAFAHSmtuXZQWxTEao8AHp-29xsuO7VM_Ctt1VnNATVEIBzKBiyRv0vHi_-Shr2Dzt8eUl_x8LOYhhn/s1600/Moose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO2_OgFC05NZuAw_cd-7vsTzf6H_r18ammzaOnvc3Jro6W1aGHAG3sqRDW-oyy4PAFAHSmtuXZQWxTEao8AHp-29xsuO7VM_Ctt1VnNATVEIBzKBiyRv0vHi_-Shr2Dzt8eUl_x8LOYhhn/s400/Moose.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
No, I don't have only 14 students in my class...I had one student absent and there were 5 tails that didn't even make it onto the moose paper. I had to stop one student from walking blindfolded right out of the classroom!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We also played Maine Jeopardy, boys against the girls. I adapted the rules a bit. First, I did not require them to answer in the form of a question. Second, while each team took turns choosing a category and point value, both teams had the opportunity to answer every question. We used iPads to write the answers using the free <a href="http://www.showme.com/" target="_blank">Show Me App</a>. The kids loved this and asked if we could play again sometime. My teaching partner found a <a href="http://exchange.smarttech.com/details.html?id=1903b709-c359-4676-a6e2-44aee90b032c" target="_blank">free Jeopardy template</a> on the Smart Exchange and we just added our own questions.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjCity2r2zx1eofNvPZZqXNugVrpvBq7bc8gy6EHhJqP1fMjTLILvd_iAUh986fNW6uSkXEQFcFyodJx3WzUut23mKvtsDdXb-nfu2vQlRT8gm4HNUcBvzm7UDbnnGAgMBiZK-5mBL-K8/s1600/Jeopardy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjCity2r2zx1eofNvPZZqXNugVrpvBq7bc8gy6EHhJqP1fMjTLILvd_iAUh986fNW6uSkXEQFcFyodJx3WzUut23mKvtsDdXb-nfu2vQlRT8gm4HNUcBvzm7UDbnnGAgMBiZK-5mBL-K8/s640/Jeopardy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-moQzwrk5gK7p2XMKxTchJBm_OcbBdjHDO4DjwnoBNiNtuyNxaWwlH84sgelyxZ-u6GtMUx50bZTixaRT8HXFvMMemGm2oivv6eDpQKmWHZmUAI_E_LM5zrUhiZ8Gv4ohXWmx5jNXKA9/s1600/Boys.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-moQzwrk5gK7p2XMKxTchJBm_OcbBdjHDO4DjwnoBNiNtuyNxaWwlH84sgelyxZ-u6GtMUx50bZTixaRT8HXFvMMemGm2oivv6eDpQKmWHZmUAI_E_LM5zrUhiZ8Gv4ohXWmx5jNXKA9/s400/Boys.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The boys huddle to decide on their answer.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
All in all, we had a wonderful time, but let me say that I am glad that March 15 fell on a Friday this year. I am TIRED!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz4ZVH5dVPzuckHdhxZuou9kt3GevKp6K_mdeoWWWN6oiZXATtvyY4Z3YWFKWoZ_ZR6YybBd0fFIHmnnVJ_0PyXydiI2ZdHErVxRG7VubbcxbR_FbcbjeDTguRSGmNH4qPOF0skyxUI1g/s1600/Flag.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbz4ZVH5dVPzuckHdhxZuou9kt3GevKp6K_mdeoWWWN6oiZXATtvyY4Z3YWFKWoZ_ZR6YybBd0fFIHmnnVJ_0PyXydiI2ZdHErVxRG7VubbcxbR_FbcbjeDTguRSGmNH4qPOF0skyxUI1g/s640/Flag.png" width="640" /></a></div>
If your curriculum includes studying about your state, consider holding a state birthday party!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" /></a></div>
</div>
Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-4452650059246710942013-03-14T03:40:00.001-07:002013-03-14T03:40:46.815-07:00A Bloggy Makeover!<div align="left">
</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Okay, so I know I've only had my blog for a few weeks, but right from the start, it didn't look the way I envisioned it in my mind. I couldn't get the effect I wanted and it didn't look professional. What to do... what to do?</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Enter the amazing Megan from <a href="http://abirdinhanddesigns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Bird in Hand Blog Design</a>. She came to my rescue with the most fantabulous blog design ever! Don't you love it? </div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I grew up on the Downeast coast of Maine, and in my tiny town, wild blueberries were, and still are, a major industry. (Did you know that 90% of the nation's wild blueberries come from Maine?) Anyway, I wanted to keep my little blueberry girl, but change everything else. Megan was super easy to work with and she made the process of choosing what I wanted soooo easy! (Well, actually, the hardest part for me was choosing which header I wanted from the 3 adorable options she came up with.</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Seriously, if you are looking to start a blog, or update the look of your blog, I can't recommend Megan highly enough. You won't be sorry, and you will have a blog that you are proud to show off!</div>
<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Megan also is the author of <a href="http://teachingsuperpower.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">I Teach, What's Your Super Power?</a>, and <a href="http://teachingsuperpower.blogspot.com/p/blog-baby-blog.html" target="_blank">Blog, Baby, Blog</a>, both awesome sources of information and inspiration. Be sure to check her out!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s1600/Signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8ZEPeTYYCwzVWs-sNxzpnr7YkOWnLHAFqnZIrU3sS7eOnFzXDnNJIG8GfGoIDP63vJJxxd7c1yb6ACEoI3dMhYy8zdaowKejNRXJugPvc6FYy4JLQ9twleVg8wKF4ixQg-mMwintaQxu/s200/Signature.png" width="200" /></a></div>
Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-83429273433767005162013-03-02T07:10:00.000-08:002013-03-02T07:10:12.373-08:00March Currently and a GiveawayI used to see the "Currently" posts all over the web and always enjoyed reading them. Now that I have my own blog, I get to participate in all the fun! Thanks to <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Farley from Oh' Boy 4th Grade</a>!<br />
Here is mine for March.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yUVp3CwqNXw1QoNVgFU9GY54xs43mbBkJ72yHmuITZFJQd3BnYy7RhGP89-b10QxqdOK22eOPu99hwRAIQYu9Ap2-2y9lbkgt6PtJf1FMZitoraZqnG_UKy0MJkGQpEz-KYum5SqkFkR/s1600/Currentlymarch2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7yUVp3CwqNXw1QoNVgFU9GY54xs43mbBkJ72yHmuITZFJQd3BnYy7RhGP89-b10QxqdOK22eOPu99hwRAIQYu9Ap2-2y9lbkgt6PtJf1FMZitoraZqnG_UKy0MJkGQpEz-KYum5SqkFkR/s640/Currentlymarch2.png" width="476" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: x-large;"><strong><u>Listening</u>:</strong></span> To HGTV. I love all the design/renovation shows like Property Brothers, Love It or List It, Buying and Selling, etc. I can see a complete transformation in 30-60 minutes. Wish it were that easy in real life. We are having work done on our VERY old, (like 1850's old), house, and it seems never ending!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><u><strong>Loving</strong></u>:</span> My SMARTBoard! Though I've now had it almost 2 years, I never take it for granted. Not every teacher at my school who wants one has one. Every year, the district gives out a few more, but you have to write a grant to qualify. I had to try 3 times before I got mine. I use it for almost everything all day long, and love to create products for it!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: x-large;"><u><strong>Thinking</strong></u>:</span> How does everyone else do it? Like crank out multiple blog posts/new products on a weekly basis, while teaching full-time, and in many cases, raising a family? My kids are grown, so it's just my husband and me, (plus a neurotic cat, but she doesn't count.) I know I'm slower than I used to be, and I shouldn't compare, but it takes me a really long time to finish a product. It makes me wonder if some people just don't sleep!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: x-large;"><strong><u>Wanting:</u></strong></span> A magic wand to wave over the giant stack of papers/notebooks in my bag so they will magically correct themselves. (And as long as I have it out, I might as well use it to clean my house too!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><span style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;"><strong><u>Needing:</u></strong></span> </span>To exercise more. . . sigh. . . I have such great plans . . . I will leave school by 5:00 and go to my local community center, (which has an indoor track), so I can walk for 1/2 hour and still make it home in time to cook dinner and eat at a reasonable time. (I know 30 minutes isn't much, but I've got this Achilles thing going on, so it's a start!) Anyway, the track is right on my way home, so that's not the issue. It's the leaving school at 5:00. Even though I've been there since 7:00 am, there is always JUST ONE MORE THING that I need/want to do. Can anyone else relate?</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"><strong><u>Like:</u></strong></span> Coffee. . . gotta have it first thing in the morning. . . and I'll still be sipping on it after lunch.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"><strong><u>Love:</u></strong></span> My computer. . . I have a problem. . . seriously. . . I can get lost for hours going from Pinterest link, to awesome blogs, to TPT, back to Pinterest. . . that's probably part of why I don't feel like there are enough hours in the day. It is so amazing to see the wealth of knowledge, rich discussions, and creative ideas that are being shared online these days! I think my husband gets a little jealous sometimes!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"><strong><u>Hate:</u></strong></span> Cockiness...always have, always will...To me, cockiness is very different from confidence. It is that sense that someone thinks they are better than everyone else and that the rules don't apply to them. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There! Now head on over to <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Oh' Boy 4th Grade</a> to get in on the fun! But first...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I want to tell you about a giveaway I am participating in! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Janet from <a href="http://secondgradewaves.blogspot.com/2013/02/100-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Making Waves in Second Grade</a> is having a 100 follower giveaway. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://secondgradewaves.blogspot.com/2013/02/100-follower-giveaway.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsbNeEMP9x8rzimZaYLjxgqjPvH1UnJEecp-eKt_C5N_wEX_oku2P13eqGYEYIyKKLChatmotFNXM2DKPqMdcnKL_z6byun5tI9gVIpJIjqH9rHCkm2SJ3XS79c3JbkMyIelyw9fMcyeOG/s200/giveaway_Janet.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
I donated my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Word-Work-Letter-Tiles" target="_blank">SMARTBoard Word Work Letter Tiles</a>. It is in the first grade bundle at Janet's blog, but is appropriate for K-3. It allows you to create customizable word work activities for your students that are interactive and fun.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Word-Work-Letter-Tiles" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1rTA5r73n5vRNBnVQ4fsf7MawUqMNMDt_9rdpZ_SuyoF5cTNYnw_GKw4BnX5aLxFPQJvdmPRrgaUmyS5UUNg6FTGdC76zgJkeHE0w7SaZd6z-Gz3iMryyOiBWdNb7zosAjgsAi1HjMCH/s400/Letter+Tiles_1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Happy Weekend!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://s618.beta.photobucket.com/user/Cap57/media/signature.png.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo signature.png" border="0" height="111" src="http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt263/Cap57/signature.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-90913757877632282052013-03-01T20:27:00.000-08:002013-03-01T20:43:29.363-08:00Cool U.S. Geography Resources<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Unkempt; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">I am fortunate enough to have 6 iPads in my classroom this year. One of my students' favorite apps is "Stack the States". It has all the fun of a game, while helping kids, (and maybe even some adults), learn cool facts about the 50 states. </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Unkempt; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">The same developer also makes a version called "Stack the Countries".</span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UhBJHcJ7sW0?rel=0" width="420"></iframe><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Unkempt; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; text-align: center;">Another wonderful resource for geography is this awesome video about the 50 states and capitals. My students love to watch it on the SmartBoard when we have a few extra minutes. (Hah! Who am I kidding? We never have any <i><b>EXTRA</b></i> minutes, but I make time for this video a few times a week.) We're wondering how long it really took the guy to do all the drawings!</span><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_E2CNZIlVIg?rel=0" width="560"></iframe><br />
<div style="text-align: start;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Unkempt; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">And of course, we can't forget an oldy, but goody..."Fifty Nifty United States". Every year my class learns this song, and forever more, they know all 50 states in alphabetical order.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Unkempt; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;"></span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ivpUBvOeD1s?rel=0" width="420"></iframe>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Unkempt; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px;">What are your favorite quick videos or apps to use with your students?</span>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<img alt=" photo signature.png" height="111" src="http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt263/Cap57/signature.png" width="200" />Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-72998815059796992892013-02-23T06:52:00.001-08:002013-02-23T06:52:05.755-08:00Spring is in the Air! (and so is a Freebie!)
Okay, I admit, with the forecast in New England for yet another snowstorm tonight and tomorrow, it's not likely to feel, (or look) like spring anytime soon. But, it can seem a little more spring-like in your classroom with my FREE SMARTBoard Template Spring Sampler! Click on the picture to get yours!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SMARTBoard-Morning-Message-Templates-FREE-Spring-Sampler" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ4FFWlOiPN2luY_ddAsGE-ljRNqVxy6VgrD1ijeWiPrGKjeSI1x5ceqJIzDYHvqKNgVJfNKMG_UbpEvFGhY040ooxlLQoymegbnzgS__dz2JdXthzifkYeZcWYeW9kcdL1qh6uD-ZBWX5/s640/Untitled_1.png" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
What is cool about these templates is, once you add them to the "My Content" section of your gallery, anytime you have your SMARTBoard on, it is so easy to open one of these templates and have a cute page to write on! It will make the simplest thing you're working on seem more exciting and fun.<br />
<br />
Here are the directions for adding the templates to the gallery, for those who might not know. <br />
<br />
1. Once you download the file, open it up in Smart Notebook. <br />
<br />
2. On either the left or right side of the page is what's called the page sorter tabs. The one that looks like a picture frame is the gallery. Click it, then click "My Content" at the top. You will then have the option to create a new folder, which is a good idea to keep your files organized. Name this folder, "Templates."<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5p5Y4Ezvb_j9OYJ8Za5Wtr_T8vxbUKNEXjiRA9L-7BmsesXe3NNPZADGIeeqBbIhfGZQ_aC54ouUEn_cKdQ_AlKYgaw0MsXrMnsgnjyv5oS9NCaKjoMhWMjUdNzFncxtsjevqXLnTBift/s640/gallery1.png" width="640" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
3. Click on the tab above the Gallery that looks like two pieces of white paper. This is the page sorter tab and it always brings you back to the view of the pages in your file.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
4. On the thumbnail of the page you want to add, click the little inverted triangle in the top right corner. A drop-down menu will open. Way at the bottom, click "Add to Gallery."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgB6o5blB66JMGVn12C7UI6MiyB_UWLAUuZsCdkm0ka-_S9LpHIa2XYeUCVaKgbfC4vyetHBSi1sz-QIW0nOotolniJ5yf8RVa7oNa-qqBb6iya0mVccBy0Thf5EOywUXmHE_5-MtRqlc/s1600/Gallery2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgB6o5blB66JMGVn12C7UI6MiyB_UWLAUuZsCdkm0ka-_S9LpHIa2XYeUCVaKgbfC4vyetHBSi1sz-QIW0nOotolniJ5yf8RVa7oNa-qqBb6iya0mVccBy0Thf5EOywUXmHE_5-MtRqlc/s320/Gallery2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
That's it! Once you have put the first page in, the rest of the pages are easier, because you have already selected the "Templates" folder, so you only have to click on each thumbnail and choose "Add to Gallery". By default, they will go into the same folder.<br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy these templates and...think spring!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<img alt=" photo signature.png" border="0" height="111" src="http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt263/Cap57/signature.png" width="200" />Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-89379841187767177552013-02-22T13:25:00.000-08:002013-02-22T13:26:11.335-08:00Hall Pass Linky!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdxAiwK9D9qj9BFbkXJ0BDasn-6APrWMeQaX2VlthlAviA-KHuqjdc93qUg8QMvsH7EHb66yIQHDZkxTa-0LcgFCqvQ5O4QW6y8O9vGggkiEfk1Pqr-oYIucjvySzjxaWc1K7GzMMBHBB/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirdxAiwK9D9qj9BFbkXJ0BDasn-6APrWMeQaX2VlthlAviA-KHuqjdc93qUg8QMvsH7EHb66yIQHDZkxTa-0LcgFCqvQ5O4QW6y8O9vGggkiEfk1Pqr-oYIucjvySzjxaWc1K7GzMMBHBB/s400/Slide1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm participating in my very first linky party! Reagan, from <a href="http://tunstalltimes.blogspot.com/2013/02/hall-pass-linky.html" target="_blank">Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits</a>, (awesome blog BTW!) had the fantabulous idea to host a Hall Pass Linky, but this pass is for the teacher, not the students!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnru0S1O7BXJwIift1a1AK-QVQNOGhxWOVL_tS1h0hzp0RdD2oSyBbZQwh1NQcjGq3tXxcNLRFWTC_QNwCQ-klapMpQhdNPCdWGtL_jOGkB_td7OkaQbMvOA7wcKpXplrmo6L0BbUCK3rd/s1600/PASS.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnru0S1O7BXJwIift1a1AK-QVQNOGhxWOVL_tS1h0hzp0RdD2oSyBbZQwh1NQcjGq3tXxcNLRFWTC_QNwCQ-klapMpQhdNPCdWGtL_jOGkB_td7OkaQbMvOA7wcKpXplrmo6L0BbUCK3rd/s640/PASS.png" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;">P</span><span style="font-size: large;">roduct</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">:</span> My favorite product, and the one I'm most proud of is my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Common-Core-Aligned-SMART-Board-Math-Calendar-for-Grades-4-5" target="_blank">math calendar</a>. I've already blogged about it, but it is the product that I feel makes the biggest impact on my students. At first, I was the only 4th grade teacher using it in my building. After feedback from the 5th grade teachers about how they could tell who had been in my class the year before because of their math skills, the other teachers started using it too. The kids love it, and they don't even realize how many common core math skills they are practicing! The first picture shows the first page of the Core Calendar, where we figure out if Today's Number is prime or composite. This was from the 95th day of school.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-I60I-zz_KnE9U7Nl-UwRf6Jbv4bxwOPA7vhCr8fJPFLupHrjWc9caFeURVHgzmt4mJ3NFOardURFZxgYAzzIHbunr5RrMyS3B3m3vREPYr-CldgKv_NbiRZ77w-v6Gkciv4Ca4ZRisC/s1600/Core+Calendar_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-I60I-zz_KnE9U7Nl-UwRf6Jbv4bxwOPA7vhCr8fJPFLupHrjWc9caFeURVHgzmt4mJ3NFOardURFZxgYAzzIHbunr5RrMyS3B3m3vREPYr-CldgKv_NbiRZ77w-v6Gkciv4Ca4ZRisC/s320/Core+Calendar_2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The second picture shows a page from one of the Day Files. I have separate files for 180 days of school. Each file has 3 pages and covers a variety of math concepts for grades 4-5.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-39x4lS_TvlAxDIIvdidD-KiMFb0NRwdAlUSeey9VC2zNEV7Yk_8Pm1qt3vo_DkCFGV85OxJbaNALdldZ6kb2o1lE21KQyLyPtDzl0bJx_3TJvarpVth4lo4uu0QOz-4PiIQvIlatV3X1/s1600/159a_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-39x4lS_TvlAxDIIvdidD-KiMFb0NRwdAlUSeey9VC2zNEV7Yk_8Pm1qt3vo_DkCFGV85OxJbaNALdldZ6kb2o1lE21KQyLyPtDzl0bJx_3TJvarpVth4lo4uu0QOz-4PiIQvIlatV3X1/s320/159a_3.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;">A</span><span style="font-size: large;">rea</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">:</span> My favorite area of my classroom is the front carpet area, which is right in front of the SMARTBoard, (which, as I have mentioned before, I L-O-V-E!) Even though 4th graders are technically "big kids", I still have them come to the carpet for almost every lesson. I like having them close and we can talk and share ideas more easily. They bring their notebooks, clipboards, and/or white boards. I also frequently refer to this poster that I have hanging at the front of the room.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5EAqhtw3PS6-2bNUEO6qG2cuIuT7P9xboRA3r3PFKw-umq3Nuh7vSIUFp096e8ZYISBzVglnOGVZim-HaSihlBSjIYQRXbOv7Iz1Q3YxlY2EKRFxe6qZmxOJGb8Mqki5Q4RK3I5tC-bW/s1600/poster_Expert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5EAqhtw3PS6-2bNUEO6qG2cuIuT7P9xboRA3r3PFKw-umq3Nuh7vSIUFp096e8ZYISBzVglnOGVZim-HaSihlBSjIYQRXbOv7Iz1Q3YxlY2EKRFxe6qZmxOJGb8Mqki5Q4RK3I5tC-bW/s320/poster_Expert.jpg" width="224" /></a></div>
I feel very strongly about this quote. I am always telling the kids that practice actually makes you smarter!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span><span style="font-size: large;">ignal</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">:</span> I have two signals that I use. If I am near my desk, I use this chime. Many teachers in my building participated in Responsive Classroom I last summer, so we were all given chimes by our administration. The cafeteria staff are using chimes too! It is a peaceful way to get everyone's attention.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupf8WUoOLLcDsg3N49WgcXlGbld81pmLm_fVDOWxQTz2gq8la6RWKEeTaMa45XKTBYTSWw35W1E5gKDikEhfKWSsIRfV7H5ksY_UTSLjNhtOGU8X0vkHxlTJ3H63Nfadl64ab-gNrCJ5A/s1600/chime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjupf8WUoOLLcDsg3N49WgcXlGbld81pmLm_fVDOWxQTz2gq8la6RWKEeTaMa45XKTBYTSWw35W1E5gKDikEhfKWSsIRfV7H5ksY_UTSLjNhtOGU8X0vkHxlTJ3H63Nfadl64ab-gNrCJ5A/s200/chime.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
If I am not near my desk, I use the Class/Yes signal from Whole Brain Teaching. The kids really like it because you can use different variations and voices with it.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span><span style="font-size: large;">anity</span><span style="font-size: x-large;">:</span> My sanity savers all seem to start with the letter "c"...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeTGQvrZ8z037UxlE3rXC1O2NAv3vrWX6aubsBNO5K5jo-KJdfgg1t6flBfDxF8kb2tQp2hJgfP9gSx2AsisWkOdiJiNyrf4AXe6dsskkV7i6WMnHPckWWHC8k4QQDgmgG4itLVLRGUAZ/s1600/Sanity.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieeTGQvrZ8z037UxlE3rXC1O2NAv3vrWX6aubsBNO5K5jo-KJdfgg1t6flBfDxF8kb2tQp2hJgfP9gSx2AsisWkOdiJiNyrf4AXe6dsskkV7i6WMnHPckWWHC8k4QQDgmgG4itLVLRGUAZ/s640/Sanity.png" width="640" /></a></div>
Coffee is a must-have in the mornings, as is a little dark chocolate after lunch, (and again after dinner!) My computer is my go to for information, entertainment, creative expression, collaboration, you name it! I am never bored...and now that I am blogging, I have even more things to read and places to explore! And finally, my colleagues help keep me sane...we all have different teaching styles, but we stick together and support each other.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s618.beta.photobucket.com/user/Cap57/media/signature.png.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo signature.png" border="0" height="111" src="http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt263/Cap57/signature.png" width="200" /></a>Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-72241181112870040782013-02-21T05:25:00.000-08:002013-02-22T10:58:01.841-08:00The Simplest Classroom Management System Ever!I have tried a variety of classroom management ideas over the years...names on the board with checkmarks, (okay, that was 30 years ago), moving clips up and down, bean jars, prizes, etc. For the past 5 years, since I moved up from 2nd to 4th grade, I have used an idea given to me by a fellow 4th grade teacher...(thanks Stephanie!) <br />
<br />
Teacher Points/Student Points!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFvoCBzPCJdrypyWhu-sOzdV0VarfOVubLA_Ljb2VD1wdXWaJwx8TMdm15OAZ0L24jn-FeXr0TYaKW8QQ6g4wMWiZUDB88lu49NkqKht0laDl5I1SQpvoznxPHtLQtt1aIWHAG5LLwFos/s320/points2.png" width="320" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
What I love about this system is that it takes absolutely no preparation or money, and I can use it as much or as little as I want, (or remember!) Here's the basic idea...I have a little scoreboard at the front of the room, (I actually just draw mine on the chalkboard.) When students are on-task, I just walk over and put a tally mark in the student column. If they are loud, off-task, or not following directions, I get a point. When they travel quietly in the halls they get a point. If another adult compliments the class, they get a point. When they transition quickly, they get a point, etc. Once I explain it at the beginning of the year, from that point on, all I have to do is walk towards the scoreboard if they are being too loud and they immediately quiet down ... without me saying anything ... gotta love that!<br />
<br />
At the end of the day, whoever has more points gets 5 minutes. If they win, they get to put the 5 minutes towards Friday afternoon's Choice Time. If I win, I keep the 5 minutes for learning, because the fact that I have more points means we must have lost learning time that day being off-task. <br />
<br />
Occasionally they skunk me, meaning I didn't get any points that day. When that happens, they get 10 minutes towards Choice Time. Believe me, that is very motivating! They will remind each other to follow the rules and I don't have to say a word..."Guys! We're skunking her...get in a quiet line!" (said in an intense whisper as we were lining up to go to a special, and they know I need a quiet line to travel in the hall.)<br />
<br />
At the beginning of the year, I award points more frequently during the day as we are building routines. Later on, I honestly forget sometimes! That's the beauty of this system, though...the number of points doesn't matter. It's just whoever has more at the end of the day. It usually works out that students earn between 20-30 minutes for Choice Time. We have a rule that if they don't earn at least 15 minutes, we roll the minutes over into another week, because less than that just isn't worth it.<br />
<br />
One other thing that I do occasionally is to allow one student to earn a student point for the entire class. As an example, we do a yoga-type program first thing in the morning called Get Ready to Learn. I have a student with ADHD who has a very hard time sitting in his chair, let alone participating in the yoga. He regularly disrupted the other students during this time. One day I noticed that he was really trying to do the movements, so after yoga I told the class that he had earned a point for the whole class because he did something that was really hard for him. The class was excited and thanked him, and he felt great!<br />
<br />
I do still have to deal with individual students being off-task or disruptive. I don't take a teacher point for this. I use positive time-out as recommended by Responsive Classroom. Sometimes students may need to stay in a recess and complete a behavior reflection. It varies with the situation.<br />
<br />
So, if you're looking for a simple whole-class management system, maybe give this a try! <br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://s618.beta.photobucket.com/user/Cap57/media/signature.png.html" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo signature.png" border="0" height="111" src="http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt263/Cap57/signature.png" width="200" /></a>Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-81286556616098846972013-02-19T18:49:00.002-08:002013-02-22T10:57:45.270-08:00SMARTBoard Math Calendar and a Freebie!I am a HUGE proponent of math calendar! In about 15 minutes a day, you can can cover so many skills that often do not get practiced enough in the regular math class. When I taught 2nd grade, I did my calendar routine much as many primary teachers do...we practiced the days of the week, patterns on the calendar, skip counted, tallied the days of school, counted money, added straws and made bundles of 10...you know the drill. <br />
<br />
I moved up to 4th grade 5 years ago and I still wanted to have a calendar routine, but I wanted to incorporate those skills that I felt my 4th graders students would need more repetition with...things like prime/composite numbers, factors and multiples, decimals, percent, place value, fractions, geometry, the list goes on and on!<br />
<br />
I created my own version of math calendar. When I began, I used a large white board that I created a template on in permanent marker. Every day I would set it up at recess using dry erase markers. It wasn't fancy, but my kids loved it and their math scores improved!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpn_RLkiUpMY4s5N4hPTKYwsRtT6eaHRd1R8eb-Dqv4EP5B88VKUPdPh9wkCXeqo8NfLLvmtGU8UD5YYFB0b01iLFmXvLimcm950wUHkWmtBgD77C9xCm3yNrhD8M8DFnllSRRSmhwkFm/s1600/old+calendar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpn_RLkiUpMY4s5N4hPTKYwsRtT6eaHRd1R8eb-Dqv4EP5B88VKUPdPh9wkCXeqo8NfLLvmtGU8UD5YYFB0b01iLFmXvLimcm950wUHkWmtBgD77C9xCm3yNrhD8M8DFnllSRRSmhwkFm/s1600/old+calendar.jpg" /></a></div>
If you look closely, you can tell by the big number section that this was done on March 15, 2010, just under 3 years ago. In that time, I have gone from the whiteboard above...to this!<br />
<div align="center">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbxnQg8axm7zImzfZZNNyMZM7utpbbIWVnWMHjTW8xkEJckHaNsyc9qboSm4r8JsQu-EkNIjHecVcCy5RN0KnsyedJw7BbwW7auinGYrn-ZJm4vGYKfvSlrE6fCuf2ZwBXAbmJ1jNmgpS/s1600/54b_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbxnQg8axm7zImzfZZNNyMZM7utpbbIWVnWMHjTW8xkEJckHaNsyc9qboSm4r8JsQu-EkNIjHecVcCy5RN0KnsyedJw7BbwW7auinGYrn-ZJm4vGYKfvSlrE6fCuf2ZwBXAbmJ1jNmgpS/s400/54b_1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMOim_pv8jccHyCPgNDwv6PQuNgnCXw-0ybqGauv26lXq2OggMyz8jl4wE7IoyPN0ysZYCyqLiul0r_p3VK0Xfva6YTetC6g6NGHG_qA1I486vUEIelXS2EUhkoHWKHBbMntv33K3vFal/s1600/43a_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMOim_pv8jccHyCPgNDwv6PQuNgnCXw-0ybqGauv26lXq2OggMyz8jl4wE7IoyPN0ysZYCyqLiul0r_p3VK0Xfva6YTetC6g6NGHG_qA1I486vUEIelXS2EUhkoHWKHBbMntv33K3vFal/s400/43a_1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXe0TmnGPgbirhvFrmVj5-9HdNamynGNi1_UwEtzYgZZPM6K7ejK6ipbSUm9nLccECQgmt8n_7VJPer3S4T4XSrsfn2Bn7B4zfaLZSSkP-DJTWKgwH-IBCQYockH22GYxwezJWUzUY4tp-/s1600/70b_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXe0TmnGPgbirhvFrmVj5-9HdNamynGNi1_UwEtzYgZZPM6K7ejK6ipbSUm9nLccECQgmt8n_7VJPer3S4T4XSrsfn2Bn7B4zfaLZSSkP-DJTWKgwH-IBCQYockH22GYxwezJWUzUY4tp-/s400/70b_2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxz3EL-ZiTNDR2-71IAHMeSQS6Y7j8Jx2u62CAYV7SsHz3PEyQhQuVu2UASm4r6MFcc9ZyNh-kw3cHUO8Lr_lJpZhJgCp0SnCDGZE1zL3P8dRwItgIhaaUKrCX5D2jocE78krWXliTvvd/s1600/57a_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxz3EL-ZiTNDR2-71IAHMeSQS6Y7j8Jx2u62CAYV7SsHz3PEyQhQuVu2UASm4r6MFcc9ZyNh-kw3cHUO8Lr_lJpZhJgCp0SnCDGZE1zL3P8dRwItgIhaaUKrCX5D2jocE78krWXliTvvd/s400/57a_1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQ9vKhEiHbGcrU7NQlBAzDL8GQqFhIq97tqOOxxLkw-lqd0S0umaOntz-m173dgv-RR8_xGuzVmlX2hnu6wqnkFxzxDgMLYkKEdQO_H6RzJ32C52WGXngijZdnGttQXB8l3nTkt-3wuOl/s1600/105a_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYQ9vKhEiHbGcrU7NQlBAzDL8GQqFhIq97tqOOxxLkw-lqd0S0umaOntz-m173dgv-RR8_xGuzVmlX2hnu6wqnkFxzxDgMLYkKEdQO_H6RzJ32C52WGXngijZdnGttQXB8l3nTkt-3wuOl/s400/105a_3.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfK5rivgdHa628peh2E_5lvKs6am0Ju5i9WYZubasAa6_QcS2yjxcvEN6aFB635WRvH-OTh3I-kYWAUp6goMyTeolnNaf4Y7AgG1h6tYyoz2uuJQL0gI7yz6YT4CAOlAoVtnLCJb5AZVBO/s1600/155a_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfK5rivgdHa628peh2E_5lvKs6am0Ju5i9WYZubasAa6_QcS2yjxcvEN6aFB635WRvH-OTh3I-kYWAUp6goMyTeolnNaf4Y7AgG1h6tYyoz2uuJQL0gI7yz6YT4CAOlAoVtnLCJb5AZVBO/s400/155a_1.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1kZ80T0M0A0C-O2phEhDJqrhmmeLnvdtm-5Ef1jt5NlzEVKfJkXCnE2wfpJ9IEypLbpJ2dmVk3aSbNTZqI4nt8bUKz1Ek9mXHoSRM5-J_4JJWXekx8c43A-_pfGH0hHCoEOIIEa0G1tv/s1600/108b_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1kZ80T0M0A0C-O2phEhDJqrhmmeLnvdtm-5Ef1jt5NlzEVKfJkXCnE2wfpJ9IEypLbpJ2dmVk3aSbNTZqI4nt8bUKz1Ek9mXHoSRM5-J_4JJWXekx8c43A-_pfGH0hHCoEOIIEa0G1tv/s400/108b_1.png" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlYau2LL1MfLUWifYAm9vRMdO4i9qWExogWO2D5TdEjXBcM_mAGFBgArFicAgSpkOS7mWWIcw5Ik6hri1gRtHicd0d93_X6yJl_67reCMbQ9RfICWm15o-eutP5bef3FCvWxfRIlEMEek/s1600/118b_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlYau2LL1MfLUWifYAm9vRMdO4i9qWExogWO2D5TdEjXBcM_mAGFBgArFicAgSpkOS7mWWIcw5Ik6hri1gRtHicd0d93_X6yJl_67reCMbQ9RfICWm15o-eutP5bef3FCvWxfRIlEMEek/s400/118b_3.png" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div align="center">
</div>
What prompted the switch? Three years ago this April, I got my amazing SMARTBoard!! I had been wanting one for so long... About 5 years ago, my district started awarding a few local grants each year for classroom SMARTBoards. Twice I applied for the grant, and twice I was not chosen. I realized it was because I didn't really understand the software and what it could do. So...this time three years ago, I spent my February vacation reading, practicing, watching online tutorials, and learning all I could about Smart Notebook software. Consequently, I was able to write a much more detailed and specific grant proposal, and as they say, 3rd time's a charm because... I got my SMARTBoard! YAY! (It still makes me excited because it has changed how I teach and I don't think I could ever go back!) Anyway, creating a prototype for math calendar was my first major project. <br />
<br />
I have since completely redone my math calendar to incorporate more skills and to more closely align with the Common Core. This year, I also have students record parts of calendar in their math notebooks as the class helper writes on the SMARTBoard, which helps hold everyone accountable. <br />
<br />
I believe math calendar is the single most important thing I do in math. Through the regular repetition of vocabulary and concepts, students gain a deeper understanding of many common core skills.<br />
<br />
My passion for math calendar was also the driving force behind my starting to sell on Teachers Pay Teachers. Grade-level colleagues had been telling me to look into it for awhile, which I finally did last summer. It has been very exciting and rewarding to have my products used and appreciated by so many others!<br />
<br />
The images above are from my sets of Day Files. I have 8 different sets for a total of 180 days of school. (Each file has 3 pages.) They are intended to be used with my core Calendar routine, which is a separate file that gets saved every day, where we track prime/composite, factors/multiples, and calendar patterns, among other skills. <br />
<br />
If you are lucky enough to have a SMARTBoard, and would like to try a couple of freebie Day Files, click on the picture below.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREEBIE-SMARTBoard-Math-Calendar-Sample" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbaqw5csYxhSAmY5OUas89MeuZfzjsu_j-lcdiOhqH22v2Ckf0z0n1-dIvgnLTn0mkIMVzp47awQOWoUDXSEPmRaRFDVHuveHBt4TEgemoKyv7k-vvmEeSbAbex3YsJK1q_A0PqLEOn19/s320/137a_3.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3>
Click for a freebie calendar sample!</h3>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s618.beta.photobucket.com/user/Cap57/media/signature.png.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt=" photo signature.png" border="0" height="111" src="http://i618.photobucket.com/albums/tt263/Cap57/signature.png" width="200" /></a></div>
Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5850013685838850675.post-24628572456648027212013-02-18T19:42:00.000-08:002013-02-19T17:56:16.739-08:00A New Adventure!I said I wouldn't do it...there's no time... I have too much else to do...I couldn't possibly keep up with it... I'm speaking about starting my own teaching blog. See, in addition to all the responsibilities of teaching, I already have a classroom blog that I use to communicate with families, and I have a hard enough time keeping up with that! <br />
<br />
And then, there's my TPT store. I started selling products last summer, and that can consume crazy amounts of time, for sure! And let's not forget Pinterest! I can get sucked in for hours pinning cool teaching ideas and products! No...I definitely DO NOT have time to start a teaching blog...and yet, I just spent all evening working on a template design, trying to get my background and header the way I want them. So, why am I doing this?<br />
<br />
I blame Pinterest.<br />
<br />
It all started a couple of days ago when I wanted to pin a cool simulation game for the Iditarod that I found online. I had used it with my 4th graders and they loved it. They even got to customize their lead dog... you know 9 and 10 years olds would be all over that! Click on the picture to check it out!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.alaskakids.org/layouts/alaskakids/games/Alaska/index.htm" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4i0tR9nGogrdaimwILkRWibRMXeHEFGwYh2UD-LwEedFAkS-9nRRSY4SpiPzUJSFseawQeD4YQuVKE0wgVEw8e8cf2C7nFVeFd6PxCsfH9wLh9prh15GcIv_fS30zOoKwfe4yR1dP28ZQ/s320/balto.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serum Run Iditarod Game</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The trouble was, the website that it came from had no pinnable image. (Is pinnable a real word? My spell check doesn't think so! But then, it doesn't recognize Pinterest either...) Anyway, I wrote a post about the Iditarod game on my class website and pinned to Pinterest from there. Lots of teachers repined it, which was cool. But then I got to thinking about how maybe my students' parents don't want lots of other people on our classroom blog, where I have pictures of my kiddos. So...I'm going to give this a shot and see how it goes. </div>
<br />
I don't have all the bells and whistles that I see on other folks' blogs yet. I still have a lot to learn. But I hope to figure things out bit by bit. They say new challenges keep your brain young, right? Well, my old brain needs all the help it can get! In the meantime, I now have a place that I can share teaching ideas and resources from without compromising the privacy of my students and their families. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYeA2Kkl6LzNmqsrbagvPvcTCDMB4Yj0r4Z2AzxKUirsUU6Ih6479VSoks7VrdKpLJVETl9C8F3MkYYBmSIzvIPCUoFF-fKH7x0oCy-sdypt5kksRI4w8ViLzGHtJo1olZ57Bu1bxlPAq/s1600/signature.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisYeA2Kkl6LzNmqsrbagvPvcTCDMB4Yj0r4Z2AzxKUirsUU6Ih6479VSoks7VrdKpLJVETl9C8F3MkYYBmSIzvIPCUoFF-fKH7x0oCy-sdypt5kksRI4w8ViLzGHtJo1olZ57Bu1bxlPAq/s200/signature.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />Cathy http://www.blogger.com/profile/01417814598321561120noreply@blogger.com1