My Memory Book Creation

I've done a Memory Book with each of my classes for the last few years. Each time it's been

a different format..I've been trying to find my groove, I guess :)

So, this summer, I took the plunge and designed my own lil' book. It includes each

month of the year, a faves page, title page, autograph page, photo booth page, my goals, and I heart page.

For every month I included a picture prompt because I found that my kids had difficulty

thinking of something to draw. I've also included a shorter line in the writing part so that kids will

remember a title at the top of their writing. I am pretty excited about how this turned out!

I bought 1 inch binder rings from Amazon for $5 for 50. I use the rings

to bind together the books as I've found that it's the easiest/most

effective way of binding them. I also like to add special artwork, reading

responses, journal entries to the memory books so they end up

getting pretty thick. I have the kids glue the month to one side of construction paper

and we put something that we did in class on the other side. Then, I laminate the pages.

All work is kept in a file folder until the end of the year. Click on either picture for this document!

Please leave a comment if you do happen to download it...and any suggestions or questions.

Step 2: Inside Shared Journals {check}

I really love the idea of shared journals. I prepared covers for the journals that I'll be using this fall. I made them 1/2 page size and will print, cut, and glue them to coil bound notebooks.
On the inside of each journal, will be instructions for the kids to help remind them what to write about.
I am going to look for 1/2 page blank & 1/2 page lined books but don't hold out too much hope.
Our school does provide this type of journal but I was hoping to get something more special.
I am also going to include a checklist on the back page of each journal so that kids can check their name off as they complete their entry.

Not done yet! Stay tuned...

Step 1: Shared Journal Covers {check}

My parents JUST got in from beautiful British Columbia for a three week visit. This blog post will be short...

I watched a tutorial on Classroom DIY by Tessa about how to make your own frames in MS Publisher. Here are six covers that I've made to cover my Journals for class writing activities. I have some ideas I'd like to try out concerning Journals, pictures, fancy pens and folders...stay tuned...more to come

I've tried to make sure that the Journals have different types of writing and that they are engaging.
The fonts are from Kevin & Amanda.

 

 

{click HERE to get covers}

I'm not finished this little project, but this is all I can do for now. Parents await...

Enjoy! Any suggestions for other topics? I am thinking a letter writing task would be good...hmmmm

Procedures and PIE

This was my first year explicitly teaching PIE...and I noticed a huge difference in the my both my Reading and Writing program. In the past, I taught Author's Purpose as a 6 week pathway, and referred to it (sometimes) inconsistently for the rest of the year.
To start, I downloaded, printed, and laminated these PIE charts from Second Grade Shenanigans. They remained on my Reading and Writing Workshop bb all year long...

{click picture to go to Hope King's freebie}

We follow the "First Steps Writing" program in our board, which lays out specifically what type of writing you teach each year to each grade. In my opinion, kids need to be exposed to all sorts of writing (just like reading) and not pigeon-holed into one specific kind according to term. So, I taught procedure writing to both my 2s and 3s (which is what I do each year).
We started each lesson with author's purpose (new to me)...and I would remind them "It's all about the PIE." This was new to me because, in the past, I skipped over purpose. I guess that I figured I had taught it, they had learned it, time to move along. At times, I would refer to author's purpose but definitely not as often as I should have.
Another aspect I focused on was "Glow" and "Grow" self & peer feedback after each formal lesson. This gave kids a chance to talk about something that they did well on and a goal for improvement. Loved it.
I found this idea on Pinterest and immediately followed the link to "Wards Way of Teaching" to find out more about it. Since then, I've noticed it pinned like C.R.a.Z.y! I love it because it fits in with my "strength-based" approach...start with something that the kids are proud of THEN go to the goal for improvement :)

{click picture to go to blog post}

Our procedural writing this year included recipes, games, dioramas and crafts. Our Morning Routine anchor chart, one of my kids pointed out, was also a procedure. So smart. Click on the pictures to go to the post, site, blog etc that inspired me:

Purple Popcorn Muffins during Seuss Week

Kids LOVED this...they even remembered that it's a Non-Newtonian substance...

Puffy paint, another fun activity. The salt makes it sparkly...

{click for recipe}

Homemade sculpy thumbprint necklaces for Mother's Day...awesome. I made the sculpy at home and the kids rolled it out, cut it out, painted it and put it on ribbon...

Necklaces inspired by Monic at The Schroeder page. Thank you.

Healthy banana/strawberry smoothies made with yogurt.

Animal Research Project dioramas...made with salt dough animals. 

On the last day of school we played Minute to Win-It which were all procedural games. Lots of fun!! I got the ideas from the NBC site.

{click picture for full Minute to Win It packet}

During the year, as kids completed each Procedure activity, they filled out a form. The form included a goal (why are you doing this?), materials, steps, diagram, and reflection. For the reflection, they had to write down one strength about their procedure and one next step. They were then required to switch with a partner and each do a glow and grow with a peer. I often used the random group generator for the partnerships.
It's a simple form but effective. Click the picture to download it :)

I am very fortunate and have a SmartBoard in my classroom. Each procedure could be displayed on the screen, and steps were easy to follow. It also meant that the outcome wasn't a surprise and kids could easily reflect on whether or not their procedure needed to be tweaked. We also completed the procedure form together and used it as a reference when doing independent work.

I taught procedures as Informing the reader...would you agree? At times, the kids were adamant that it must be Entertaining as they were having so much fun : ) Tricky...

*******YOU STILL HAVE TWO DAYS TO ENTER MY 200 FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY*******

Gloggin' thru the Milky Way

As I mentioned in a previous post, I started this year off with Interest Inventories. Last summer, I purchased Shelley Gray's Student Portfolio package and it was the bomb-diggedy. I 110% recommend it-yes it is THAT awesome. It includes Writing, Reading and Math surveys, Multiple Intelligence surveys and Reflections that can be done with the kids each month. I am so glad that I bought this...it's so incredibly useful and easy to use.

{click on picture to go to tpt}

Anywho, according to their surveys, the kids REALLY wanted to learn about animals and the solar system. 

We did a HUGE animal research project, complete with exhibition, that incorporated tonnes of cross-curricular learning. The kids loved it. 

In May, we started solar system projects. I read somewhere or someplace (many times, actually) that it is EXTREMELY important to tap into schema before introducing a new topic...something I have {being honest} skipped over occasionally. So, we started this study with a KWL chart about the planets. 

We watched Learn 360 Solar System info movies and read books/articles/poems about the SS. This took about a week. Finally, I buddied the kids up according to ability and gave them each a topic. I didn't have enough planets for the 12 pairs, so I also included the sun, moon, and Halley's Comet.

{click picture to get a copy}

I differentiated the sun, Earth, Halley's Comet and the moon.These are all 2 instead of 3 pages long and have slightly different questions than the others. It took me a day to make up the sheets but it was worth it! I also used free resources that I found on Pinterest and then photocopied to go along with each topic.

After researching their planets, kids conferenced with me. I helped them find pictures of their planets, and guided them to find the answers they couldn't find on their own. 

The last step was to create a glog. Okay-Glogster.edu changed a little. Instead of each student having their own login (I just couldn't afford the membership at the time), I created a login and gave each child a page. This just meant that they logged in as me and then found their names. Easy peasy lemon squeezey.

{click on the picture to go to this glog}

Our final step was to present the glogs on our class Smartboard. As each partnership presented, kids wrote down one-three interesting fact(s) in a flipbook that I created using Read-Write-Think. 

I would have loved to have done a craftivity with this project, but we ran out of time. 

And that's it...that's all. A really fun, engaging project that incorporated all sorts of curriculum and the kids loved.

ps  If you're interested in the rest of the planets/solar system sheets let me know and I'll send them to you!

Any Thoughts on DIORAMAS Much Appreciated...

I love this time of the year. I feel like the kids are surpassing my expectations, rich learning can be seen everywhere and routines are old hat. This time of year also makes me sad. Kids will be going on to their next class in just a few short months. {sniffle} It's always at this time of the school year that I wish I could stay with the same kids for two years in a row. I think that it's called "looping" (?) and if that is the correct term, sign me up. I think. Errrr...on second thought...

My grade 2/3 class is finishing up an Animal Research Project that I purchased (only $3.50!) from Kimberley Gillow's tpt store:

(100% recommend btw)

This resource is laid out in a fun, easy to follow format that gets the kids "feet wet" for researching. Habitat, appearance, babies, predators, food, interesting facts are headings that the kids have to find information for. Our school librarian (who absolutely ROCKS) found up all the books the kids needed after they each picked a topic of their own. Dodo birds to giraffes to Mario (which I kiboshed)...and everything in between. After showing them how to look up information and how to make a list of important facts for each heading, kids practiced paragraph writing using the Stoplight Paragraph method. We've been working on paragraph writing all year, but this method seems to have really stuck for them:

(free download from tpt)

After writing rough copies or drafts, peer editing and revising took place. For the published copy, kids are making a PowerPoint presentation, including transitions, background colour, images and even sound. They were a little frustrated at first, but have persevered and are LOVING it. My little Mario hopeful even made a turtle pp so that he could then make a Mario one in his "free time."

My final step is making a diorama. Okay-here is the question: Are dioramas passe? I think my kids (especially the kinesthetic ones) would excel at this part of the project. I am thinking that they can use half size (I'll cut) pop flats for the base. Materials from home, supply cupboard, etc can be used for the ground (kids would have to make it authentic to their animal). Salt dough animals, small extras can be made. Vegetation can be picked from home or made from construction paper, foam, etc. **I would add labels to our dioramas.

Personally, I think it would be a fantastic culminating activity. Kids would have to use their learning/knowledge to construct an authentic model for their animal. 

If all goes well, we will have an showcase in our classroom and invite other classes to come and see our wildlife exhibition...including PowerPoints :)

So, too much or inquiry based learning? Diorama or overkill?

ps We've been doing lots of other stuff, too...just in case you're wondering...we work on our projects 2 times a week so that the kids don't become sick of them.

Pattern Blocks, Site Words, and Pinterest

While pinning, I saw an idea for practicing sight words using pattern block pictures at First Grade Sweet Life.
My classroom contains hundreds of these pattern blocks, so as soon as I saw this idea I thought to myself  "This is going to work like a charm for both Math and Literacy...YAHOO!"

I am going to print on cardstock (Micheals has a big sale on right now!), laminate and add to our Word Work Station.

 I have searched and searched for printable pictures. VOILA-here is an amazing resource to use. PreKinders has asked that her designs are not shown directly on other blogs/websites. Instead, she has asked that a link to her site be provided and followed...click HERE.

New Look~Same Blog

As I was perusing blogland, I noticed that a member had the same blog as me. Whoops-she has been blogging longer so I changed mine up. This time, I mixed and matched so I hope I avoid this faux pas in the future. Also, wanted to say "Welcome" to my new followers. I have to admit, however, that Leea at Set this Circus Down made my week! She very kindly featured my blog and is encouraging others to check it out. Thank you x 1 000 000!!
I have two of my besties visiting this weekend so don't know how much blogging I'll get done BUT I'll be back on Monday...or sooner (probably sooner as I love blogging).  :)

Before I sign off and get cleaning (lol), I thought I'd show a website that my kidlettes LOVED. It is part of the New York Zoos website and is called "Build Your Wild Self." Kids have an opportunity to add different body parts to a person to make a new "animal"-self. What I especially loved about this site is the description the kids are given at the end. A short paragraph about each chosen animal part is included as well as a new, made-up animal name. The image can be printed or copied and saved. I haven't yet figured out how to save as a jpeg as the site saves in a different format. As soon as I figure it out I'll update. I used this as a centre activity the last week of school and had two kids on computers at a time (that's the number of computers I have in my room). Kids then printed them and included them in their year-end scrapbook. FUN!

Baringo Giraffe horns - The Baringo giraffe is one of the largest giraffes in the world. Sometimes the horns of a baby giraffe are flexible and can be bent. It can take months for the baby horns to straighten out.

Fossa Ears - Your fossa ears are a hunter's best friend. They can help you track down your favorite snack...lemurs.

Giant tree frog arms - Your sticky fingers are actually giant tree frog toe pads. They help you cling to trees and climb vertically anywhere you want.

Siberian tiger legs - You are a very hairy tiger. Siberian tigers have thicker and longer hair than most tigers because they live in Siberia, where average temperatures get as low as -5ºF. Good thing you have a warm coat.

Monarch butterfly wings - Your monarch butterfly wings can beat five times per second. Can you flap your arms five times in one second?
This would be a fun writing prompt or jumping off point as well. The website is FREE and user-friendly.

Writer's Workshop Binder Insert Idea...

Last year, I started using WW binders. I used many of the ideas on Beth Newingham's site (she is AMAZING), with tweaking for my grade 2/3s. Honestly, I didn't use them the way I had envisioned. I am going to further tweak my binders as I read about all the awesome things that everyone out there is doing. So...this is my first major brainwave lol.

I've decided to make "My Writing Guide" inserts for the kids. I've done up a sample using my own pictures that I made into a collage in Picnik. I created the other two images and then used PowerPoint (thanks to a blogger who explained this is how she makes all of her signs/posters) to make the insert itself. I copied images from the Internet of characters that the kids LOVE to read about. If you'd like to see my sample, click on the image below. I'd also be happy to send you an editable copy in MS Ppt if you'd like to add your own picture collage or for use with your class.

 In the fall, I am going to send home a letter to parents that invites kids to bring in a few pictures that inspire them. I may even show them how to use Picnik...Also, the kidlettes can add stickers and colour to their own Writer's Workshop Guide. I strongly believe that kids need to make their charts, covers, etc so that they are authentic to them.We will use cardstock for durability (Michael's puts them on sale for $2.50/50 page pack) and then I will laminate them. My intention is to have the kids insert them in the front pocket of their binder. 

I will also be making a reference poster on the back which will include; Writing Success Criteria, a few GO Charts, and maybe JUICY WORDS...will most likely wait until school is back in session so the kids can tell me what they want.

Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Tony Stead-Teaching Nonfiction Writing

I received this book in the mail last week and have just finished reading it. I love the ideas and lesson plans that are outlined throughout. One idea that I especially like for September is getting the kids to write biographies about each other. Hmmmmmm...Sounds like fun to me!
These are the recommended steps to this unit: 1)Have every child write a baseline biography of their partner with no prior teaching. 2)Assess where each child is using a master list and skills required. 3) Immerse the kids in biographies about actors, singers, etc (their interests). 4) Plan, plan, plan biography together. 5) Write a biography together on one person (ie teacher, pop star...) 6) Partners write biographies again. 7) Compare pre and post unit biographies.

I am looking forward to trying this out. It is a twist on the getting to know me theme of September.