Getting Guided Reading Ready

Going into the new school year I always set one goal for myself. 

Last year, my goal was to thoughtfully plan out, record and track my guided reading lessons.

I know that sounds A W F U L to say that I didn't already do that, but it's true...I didn't. 

I knew what I did worked, I just needed a way to organize it!

Let me just say, they worked beautifully!

I check out books from our fabulous literacy library and go through them to see what I want to work on with my groups. I record what we will do before, during and after reading. On the days we do word work, I can choose what skill we will be reviewing and the activity that corresponds.

I pull out the plans in my binder and have them in front of me for each group.

The lesson plans are editable and you can add your own text. Or if you are simple like me, I just print them out and write on them. 

You can find the pack in my TpT store. 

It comes with 4 different templates depending on how you structure your groups and what strategies you use. It also includes a letter to parents explaining decoding strategies and their rules.

Join Our Tribe Gift

Are you loving the tribe themes going on currently?

Our school is embracing the theme and our team wanted to incorporate it into our Meet the Teacher.

We decided to make simple and cheap gifts for our students but also inspire them for the year!

We want them to BE BOLD, BE BRAVE and BE BRIGHT tribe members! 

Here's what you will need:

Washi tape

Glow sticks (found on Amazon)

You will also need to head to my TpT store to grab the printable. 

They are available for Kindergarten-6th grade.

Here are the simple instructions:

It took myself and 3 team mates about 45 minutes to make over 120 of them! 

Imagine how quick it would be to make a class set, not to mention how cute they are! 

Stop Spending Money on Treasure Chest! Use these Passes Instead...

Have you ever found yourself asking your friends who aren't teachers to save their Happy Meal toys?

Have you ever found yourself in the dollar spot at Target spending an outrageous amount of money...becuase we all know who quick dollar items add up...to put in your treasure chest?

STOP spending the extra money!

I've created reward passes for you class that will cost you N O money at all! 

These passes are designed to go with any behavior system you already have in place in your classroom.

I have used them with clip charts, treasure boxes and this year I will incorporate them with Class Dojo.

If you already use Class Dojo and want to incorporate them, here is the "system" that I will use to facilitate Dojo points and the passes together. Find the FREEBIE from the post below!

I have stored the passes in several ways:

You can print them "as is" and put them in binder in sleeves.

You can print them and shrink the size if you want smaller passes.

These are already in my TpT store. Find them HERE or by clicking the picture above!

Together, let's save some money!!!

Give Students Choice with Jobs! Now 38 Included!!!

Are you afraid to give up some of your tasks you do in the classroom?

What if I told you, it would save you LOTS of time?

What if I told you it would turn your students into leaders?

What if I told you it would build responsibility in your students?

I've had jobs in my classroom since I started teaching. That haven't always been as great at they are now though! I started with just a door holder and line leader. 2 jobs that changed daily.

Fast forward to now, and each student has a job. The past few years they have held the same job for a week at a time. But this year, I will explicitly teach and model the  jobs and let them apply, yes apply, for the job of their choice. 

I have recently updated all 3 of my job packs to include 38 jobs to fit your classroom needs!

There are 3 styles: 

You can find each of these in my TpT store or by clicking on the image above. 

Here is a glimpse of some of the jobs included:

Remember, there are 38 jobs to choose from.

To learn more and see a description of them all, head on over to my store!

Give your students a sense of pride and leadership this year with classroom jobs!

Tracking Class Dojo Behavior

W O A H.

It's been a hot minute since I've posted. 

Now that I'm officially over the mid point of summer, I've started thinking about the new school year.

On my mind lately has been how to update my behavior system in my classroom.

So let's talk behavior management.

Over the past six years I've tried many different things.

I started with the clip chart. Hated how the same kids always moved their clip...never making a difference. Visual smisual. Didn't work. Same kids always visited the treasure chest blah blah.

OVER IT. 

So I came up with a ticket and folder system. Students earned different value tickets for daily behavior. They saved the tickets and cashed them in on Friday's. Much better than a clip chart and treasure chest but still hasn't been doing it for me. The "put your folder on my desk so I can sign it" was doing nothing.

OVER IT.

I decided to try something completely new this year. Class Dojo. I've had a few coworkers try it and LOVE it.  They praise how involved the parents are in communication to their child's daily behavior. So this year we are giving it a try. 

I decided I wanted kids and parents talking about their behavior daily, whether it be good or bad. Here is the freebie that came out of my vision.

Each student has a folder they take home. In it they will keep a Dojo Behavior tracking chart.

Each night, they will discuss their points earned and record them on this tracking chart.

I have set a goal for them to obtain 12 points by the end of the week.

Here is a parent letter I am going to send home explaining the point "system".

If they reach their goal of 12 points by Friday, they will get to pick a pass.

{Passes are in the works and will be released in my TpT store soon!}

Students will also have the ability to reach a long term goal of obtaining 100 points! On Friday, we will spend 5 minutes of our time coloring in our weekly points on this tracking chart. 

Once students have hit their 100 points, they will get to pick an "exclusive" 100 point pass!

Have you used Class Dojo? Do you have any ideas, pointers, cautions?

Please share below, I'd be happy to hear from you.

Don't forget to grab the freebie which includes all the examples from this post by clicking -----> HERE

Grab the Egg FREEBIE

If your kids are still talking about hunting eggs then I've got another freebie for you!

I mean, who gets tired of egg hunts anyways!?

So if you still have a bucket of eggs laying around, grab them and fill them!

First find this FREE activity in my TpT store!

Second, fill the eggs with the double digit addition and subtraction problems. 

Next, hide the eggs and unleash the hunters.

Last, have them open the egg, solve the problem and record it on the included recording sheet.

You can used this as practice or a pre/post assessment.

In case you missed my last post, it had A N O T H E R free egg hunt activity.

Find it HERE!

Winter Reading Challenge Freebie

Different years bring different groups of learners.

Let's just say this year my firsties need a little bit more practicing reading.

I feel consistency is one key to success so I wanted to find a way to encourage them to read over our two week winter break. I searched TpT and found a very cute challenge already created....a time saver during all of  the Christmas madness that ensued before the break! I knew it probably wasn't very motivating, especially during the exciting season we were in.

I knew I had to create a "reward" their hard work over the break so I may have bribed them by mentioning those who turned in the reading challenge when we returned would receive a prize!

What 7 year old during Christmas time isn't thinking prizes are the best thing ever...exactly!

The challenge was to fill up a mug of hot chocolate with marshmallows. Each marshmallow was a different reading challenge for that particular day. If they brought it back filled up here is what they will get:

Time to make a S'more to go with their mug of hot chocolate!

You can find the Winter Reading Challenge HERE from More than a Worksheet.

AND

You can find my printable FREEBIE in my store HERE!

Learning through Literacy: December

I love teaching in October, but December runs a very close first place!

Did I just say December?

This year is flying by, said no teacher ever. But really, it is!

Each month, I use these easy to prep and explain activities to review previously taught skills as centers or stations for my students. 

They always include some type of the following activites:

phonics -- word study -- grammar -- writing -- sight words

Catch the December set ON SALE for the next 2 days. 

You can also find the bundle for the entire year in my store for a discounted price!

Keeping Track of Guided Reading with Lesson Plans

Don't get me wrong, I love my Erin Condren planner, but the space I had to write down my plans for my guided reading time just weren't cutting it. I always knew I could do better...better at planning my groups and really looking into what I wanted to get out of them. 

So to help me combat that, I made my own lesson plan template!

Let me just say, they have been working beautifully!

I check out books from our fabulous literacy library and go through them to see what I want to work on with my groups. I record what we will do before, during and after reading. On the days we do word work, I can choose what skill we will be reviewing and the activity that corresponds.

I pull out the plans in my binder and have them in front of me for each group.

The lesson plans are editable and you can add your own text. Or if you are simple like me, I just print them out and write on them. 

You can find the pack in my TpT store. 

It comes with 4 different templates depending on how you structure your groups and what strategies you use.

It also includes a letter to parents explaining decoding strategies and their rules.

Give Students Jobs in the Classroom!

Before introducing individual classroom jobs over 2 years ago, I only had 2 jobs.

Leader and door holder.

{YAWN}

What!? I know!

Both would change daily. The leader would lead calendar and if they were responsible, I would have them run any errands that popped up during the day. I know you just 'gasped' and I did too! It obviously wasn't a very fair or consistent role. So I finally came to my senses and created a job for each student!

The last 2 years, every student in my class has had a job or a role in the classroom.

 Once thing I have noticed is that it helps a great deal by creating unity and a family-like environment. 

Here is how I have the jobs displayed. 

 That will be there job for the entire week. 

The only thing I have yet to add is a numbered popsicle stick.

Each card will also have a numbered stick next to it. This number coincides with the students' magic number.

On Friday afternoon, I will rotate the sticks so that their new job is ready for when the come Monday.

 

I have made 3 different sets of job cards. 

Safari.

Bright Chevron.

Primary Colors.

Each set contains 30 different jobs for your class.

water patrol.  weather reporter.  line leader.  door holder.  pencil monitor.  caboose.  techi.  light monitor.  trash collector.  lunch counter.  message carrier.  materials manager.  snack assistant.  germanator.  table captains 1-5.  calendar cadet.  security guard.  brain break.  card shark.  vacation.  sub.  stretch leader.  ask me.  well wisher.  librarian.  pet cadet.  

Here is a preview of a few jobs that are in each pack.

{shown is the Bright Chevron pack}

You can find each pack available in my TpT store. 

All 3 will be on sale for the next 3 days!

Click on the pack you would like to purchase for a link to my store!

Do you LOVE Anchor Charts as Much as I do!?!?

Are you down for some anchor chart L-O-V-E?!
I wanted to share with you how I use anchor charts all.the.time in my classroom.

There are 2 different types of anchor charts I use in my teaching:

1) Interactive anchor charts--those made together

2) Introductory anchor charts--those that are pre-made

Interactive anchor charts are those that my students help me construct.

Sometimes we complete them whole group. Other times I make several of the same template and put students in groups. Normally I have a title on them or a few pre-written words, but the rest of the chart is up to them to help me fill out and create based on the lesson. 

We use these in pretty much every subject.

Here are some scenarios from the picture above where we interacted to make class anchor charts:

Insects--our schema and new learning

Bats--what we learned from nonfiction text

Verbs--squares from a verb search

Phonics--digraph word hunts with books

3 Sound of ED--partner word hunts

Things We Can Do--record individual verbs

Incorporating these into any lesson engages students and lets them take ownership of their learning!

Plus they feel like they are getting to "be the teacher"!

Introductory anchor charts are used to just that, introduce a skill, strategy, or concept.

I present these completely pre-made anchor charts in my very first introductory lesson. I keep it and display it so that I can refer to it during any follow up lessons, small group lessons, or for student referencing.

I use these in every subject also.

Here are some scenarios from the picture above where I used anchor charts to introduce material:

Vowel Pairs--list all the pairs

Rhyming Words--define and show examples

Scientist--who they are/what they do

Fiction & Nonfiction--define and add pictures

Reading Strategies--define and add an anchoring mental picture

Grammar--define and add pictures or examples

I feel like I make an anchor chart for everything. My room starts off SO bare but ends up so "charty". 

So in order to save space, I have created printable anchor charts.

These charts are 8 1/2 X 11 (normal sized paper) and don't take up a great deal of space.

Printable Anchor Charts for Reading & Comprehension

Printable Anchor Charts for Grammar

Here are the 2 products for introductory anchor charts that you can just print and use from my TpT store.

They will be on sale for the next 2 days!

Happy Charting!

FREE Tips and Tricks for Managing All Kinds of Behavior

Do you ever feel your patience may become a little more strectched this time of year?

You're dealing with the same kids, but yet they seem a little different, right?

If you said yes, I think we may be in the same boat!

One thing I learned at the I Teach 1st SDE conference is to switch things up...and OFTEN!

It seems so simple and was quite a "DUH moment" for me. 

Seriously, why didn't I think of that...geez.

 #teacherfail

Thankful there's a Cara Carroll in this world to save my teacher butt sometimes : )

Her ideas were on point and I knew I had to implement them asap! So I did!

Here are 3 ideas for managing individual, table or team and whole group behavior.

And good news for you, I've put these printables in my TpT store for FREE!

 

If you're thinking about changing things up, find these free printables in my TpT store HERE.