Summer Stock Up - And a GIVEAWAY!

Are your bags full yet???  Well, make room for more great additions to your classroom!  

I'd like to show you a product that I simply could not live without!  Reading Strategies for Growing Readers is a product that allows children to help create a small, skill-based anchor chart for each Guided Reading strategy that you may teach in your mini lessons.  I use them with my CAFE board, but the possibilities are endless!  

As you see below, students create an illustration for each strategy that I teach.  Then, they are posted in my classroom so that they can be referenced throughout the entire year.  Students LOVE getting to show their understanding!

A second "must have" for guided reading are printables to go with the texts that you are teaching!  This past year, during Read to Someone, students worked with a partner or in small groups to read a text on their independent reading level, or their instructional reading level (one level above independent).  For each text they use, I created short reading guides that help them use the strategies I've taught in previous mini lessons.  As they go along, they work together to read and understand the text.  This allows time for me to move through several reading groups in a small amount of time.  

Students have a 1/2 inch binder that they use to keep their book and questions together.  These are stored in their independent reading bins.

Take a peek inside my Froggy Goes to Bed reading guide!

Here are just a few of my other available units! 

 Now... I know that all of your precious children, RARELY need reminders of your expectations, but... Just in case they do, I have created this product to help with the "forgetsies."  I use this at the beginning of the year to help teach my procedures.  Each procedure is taught in an "I do, We do, You do" format.  Behavior examples are given so that the teacher and students can model the correct, incorrect, and almost-but-not-quite actions.

 Now, who is ready for a giveaway???

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

 

It's About Time!

At the start of each week I tell myself, "Your should really focus more on your blog."  By Wednesday, I'm saying, "All I  need is a nap!"  BUT... Excuses are out the door.  I'm here to tell you about the AMAZING tool I introduced to my students this past year.  I don't know about you, but I'm a FREAK when it comes to disturbing noises in my classroom... ESPECIALLY when I am teaching mini lessons or small groups.  I'm sure you are aware that pencil sharpeners are the WORST noise in a classroom (since I no longer have chalkboards and I bite my nails!)

So I contacted Classroom Friendly Supplies and they sent me one of their pencil sharpeners!  Let me tell you - BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD.  It's quiet, easy for younger students to use, and quick! 

Head on over to their website to order one or twenty.  You won't regret it!

 

Ladies and Gentlemen... START YOUR ENGINES! It's a $1.00 Sale!

I hope everyone is enjoying their Memorial Day weekend!  We are spending it in Ohio for a family wedding celebration!  I am linking up for the Indiana Teaching Bloggers $1.00 Sale.  Load up your carts!  I know I will be!

An InLinkz Link-up

Spring Clean-Up Blog Hop

Welcome to your next stop!  This year I am teaching a 1st/2nd grade split and it has required lots of patience and organization.  I thought I would share how I set-up Reading Workshop/Daily 5 in our classroom.

We begin our day with a reading mini lesson.  This is taught whole group.  Students then Read to Self for 20 minutes while I conference with students individually or in small groups.  Then, students Read With Someone for 25 minutes.  

Here comes the part that requires MAJOR organization.  

For the next 75 minutes students are responsible for completing their Reading Station Maps.  These maps offer practice in the areas of writing, word work, comprehension, fluency, and so much more! They are independent activities that students complete while I work with small groups or individuals on specific skills that may need introduced or reinforced.  I also use this time to challenge those students who need their brain "stretched."  They receive their maps on Mondays and the MUST DO's (stars) need to be completed by Friday.

Here's what our station maps look like. Click here to download a PDF copy.

   

Now let's talk organization.  

How in the world do I organize all of these stations? 

 I have 3 Reading Maps each week.  The materials and directions are placed in totes.  They are clearly labeled with the same photo from their station map.  Students can work anywhere in my classroom while I am teaching small groups as long as they are whispering or silent.

What if students finish their station maps before Friday?

They are allowed to work on activities from another leveled Map OR they can choose from my dessert tub.  You can see this in the photo above.  There are games like boggle, word towers (Jenga), letter tiles, mini books for writing, and much more!

  

Where do students keep their work and maps?

     

Students keep their maps and all completed work in their station folders.  One side is for reading.  The other side is for math, which I set-up the exact same way).  As students complete each task, they color it in or place an X in the box.

What happens when students don't get their MUST DO's complete (items with stars)? 

On Friday afternoons we have Ketchup and Pickle Time.  Students who complete their Must Do's get to PICK something fun to do (PlayDoh, Legos, Puzzles, etc.) and those who don't finished are Ketchups with me!  Click on the photo below from First Grade Garden!

How do I get students to be independent?

 Here's how...  With this magical poster from 3rd Grade Thoughts.  Students must ask 3 friends before asking me or my teaching assistant.  It's AWESOME. 

 Now, it looks like I have it all together, but check out this hot mess!  We have chicks!  I have to get this organized.  Any ideas???

Now it's time to...

 

DRUMROLL Please... It's the Indiana Teaching Bloggers $1.00 sale!

The Indiana Teaching Bloggers want to help you meet the needs of your students!  AND we want to celebrate the arrival of SPRING! 

These items are only $1.00 in my store!  STOCK UP! I know my cart will be full!

An InLinkz Link-up

Overjoyed and Celebrating!

This weekend my all-star cheerleading teams competed in Ft. Wayne, Indiana!  So, the hubs and I left after school on Friday... KID FREE!  Seriously, that never happens!  We drive for nearly 5 hours in the snow (note:  it's a 3 hour drive normally) and we finally arrive at 11:30 pm.  Whew!  We were pooped!  At 5:30, I awoke to a feeling of sickness - SURPRISE!  The flu decided to stop by for a visit.  So, let's just chalk that up as a loss and move on.  Ha!

I have so many reasons to celebrate!  First, I reached 155 followers on BlogLovin!  Second, I am at 173 followers on Teachers Pay Teachers.  AND FINALLY - My Book Order Fun Literacy Activities made the TPT newsletter!  Totally overrides the FLU!

So, in celebration, my store is 20% off until Wednesday!  Enjoy!  Click on the link below to shop!

Ready for a FREEBIE and an AWESOME Giveaway?

ALL SET?  You bet!

I am in a giving mood and I am ready to get my products in the hands of hardworking, dedicated teachers... which I know ALL of you are.  So, with that being said, here it goes!

First, enjoy my newly updated Book Order Literacy Activities!  

Then, feel free to enter the giveaway below for your chance to win any 3 items in my TPT store.  Seriously - YOU CAN'T pass this up!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway  
Finally, for those of you who post about my giveaway and freebie on your blog, I'll email you my top selling product!  Just make a comment on this post with your blog link and email!