Lapbooks, Behavior, and PIE!

Where has the time gone?!  I feel like I have been hula hooping nonstop for the past three weeks--finally I have time to catch up on my thoughts and reflect on what's been going on these past few weeks...{actually, I just don't want to watch this horrific Zombie movie B is forcing me to watch...dead people walking around screaming...that actually sounds a lot like me on Monday morning trying to find my keys...}

Apples and Lapbooks

We have been just truckin' right along in our little home at the end of the hall.  This week was Johnny Appleseed's birthday and we completed our very first lapbook of the year!  There are a few things you need to know about me...

1. I love school and anything associated with school.  

2. I am obsessed with computers and other forms of technology.  

3. I'm game for anything cute and crafty.

The lapbook combines all of the above! I LOVE THEM!  If you've never done one, don't be scared.  That's the beauty of the lapbook, you can't mess it up!  You can add anything at all in them and it is such a great way for the students to publish all of the learning they've done throughout a unit.  Lapbooks can be as long or as short as you would like!  The hardest part {to me} is finding the file folders to do them.  I was smart this year and ordered some with my back to school money {woot-woot-way to think ahead for a change Mrs. Perchinsky}.

Here is a quick video on how to get started with folding your lapbook.  

Here is a look at some items we put into our first lapbook of the year!  The kids LOVED making them and kept asking when they were going to get to take them home!  Sorry kiddos, I'm keeping these beauties hanging up at school for awhile :)  That's the beauty of my power as a teacher-MUAHAHAH!

The final product :)  Aren't they presh?

Students started off by completing a KWL chart based on Johnny Appleseed.  This was cut out and placed on the inside flap of lapbook.  The square label was placed on the outside of the lapbook on the top corner. 

Gettin' crafty with our tissue paper apple trees {outside cover}

Working hard on their very first Webquest of the new school year

Students complete a Johnny Appleseed Webquest via our classroom webpage.  They answered questions and placed them on the inside {right side} of their lap book.

The students then created  a Wordle after completing their web quest.  They were able to use any of the information in their lapbook to help {this was our culminating activity for the unit}.  This was then placed on the inside center of the lapbook.  They were SO proud of what they were able to create and so was their teacher :)

We also watched a fun video via youtube about our birthday boy and concentrated on character traits we could use to describe Johnny based on his actions.  We had some help from the list of traits found in our Daily 5 folders.  This was then placed on the back of the our books.

Glorious little sight.

We loved learning about Johnny Appleseed? Have you used lapbooks in your classroom? I'd love to hear/ see what your little ones have created!


Behavior Anyone???

By now we've all gotten to know our students pretty well.  We know their strengths, weaknesses, who can and can't work with who, and what they enjoy most about school.  I'm sure you've also been able to figure out who needs a little extra TLC when it comes to classroom behavior {I know we all have a room FULL of perfect little angels, but this is just incase someone else you know needs some assistance in this area ;) }.  Anywho, are you tired of moving clips and reminding the same students over and over and over again about the same things every day?  Sometimes moving clips and pulling cards can only do SO much.  

I've started a Positive Classroom Behavior Punch Card with one of my little ones for about 3 weeks now and it has been working WONDERS for him! I've developed this card to help promote students in a positive way.  Each time he is on task, participates, follows directions, and answers questions during class time, he earns a punch (one punch for each task done well/correctly).  The beauty of this is, it's hardly any extra work for you to keep up with!  My little one keeps it right on his desk every day so it's easy access for me to issue punches to him {interesting how THIS doesn't get lost like homework does...}
When he fills up his card he redeems the reward HE chose.  We then repeat the process again! I keep record of when the punch card was started, when it was completed, goals for the student, and the reward chosen.  This will certainly come in handy for documentation purposes for parent teacher conferences, Student Support Meetings, 504 Plans, etc.  If you feel like this is something you might be interested in starting with some of your little ones, check it out here!  I have also included some helpful teacher documents and a parent letter explaining the purpose of the punch card and how it will help their child stay positive at school each day!  It's amazing how it's sometimes the little things in life that can make the biggest differences!

Get your copy here!

Please Pass the P.I.E.

I don't know why, but one of my favorite skills to teach is Author's Purpose!  I feel like there is so much to do with it and it's really important to help students with comprehension.  I may be a little naive, but I'm pretty sure my rug-rats loved learning about it as much as I loved teaching it!  One little tip I always have up my sleeve are my Detective Case Files.  I don't know why, but if you put the words, "TOP SECRET," on something and tell them it's MYSTERIOUS, they will be TOTALLY engrossed in whatever it is you want them to do!  I LOVE IT-but SHHHHHH-don't tell them I told you my secret.

We completed our first case files of the year and it couldn't have gone any better {not to mention my new assistant principal was observing this lesson and loved every second of it--yes, I'm tooting my own horn for a second....TOOT! Ok, done...}  Here's the lowdown.

1. Read book, "The Secret Knowledge of Grown Up" to students.  This book is FANTASTIC for modeling how an author can start out with one purpose in mind and totally change it to be another!  That's the beauty of writing--you can do whatever you want!!  If you haven't read this book, YOU NEED TO!  It is so much fun and you will use it for SOOOO many different lessons/ skills! I've used it for 6 years in a row and I'm still not tired of it.  It's so fun!  He starts out telling you about different rules grown ups have for kids and WHY they make you follow that rule.  Only then, he transforms the purpose and tells you the REAL reason your parents want you to follow that rule.  

Example: Rule #45-Don't chew your fingernails.  

Grown Up Reason: It looks terrible on your fingers.

Real Reason: If you do, the broken fingernails you leave behind will grow into real fingers!!!!!

Get it here

As soon as you read the "Real Reason," your kiddos will freak out and want to hear more!  What more could you want?!

Anyway, back to business...

2. Assemble case file with leveled Author's Purpose Passages

3. Pair students up by ability level to coincide with leveled passages.

The passages were placed in plastic zip lock bags to act as true "evidence"--snazzy, huh?

4. Give them a magnifying glass and tell them to CRACK THE CODE located in their very own case file.

Student sample:

Aren't they just the cutest little detectives you've ever seen?!

**Note: While I various books & stories to them this week, we charted the author's purpose of each book and the evidence that told us so {ie: Sentences in the book that proved that purpose}.  The students then were asked to do the same thing on their own towards the end of the week with these fabulous case files.  They were already used to the routine so no reteaching or new directions were given.  If only it could be that easy all the time!  After students were finished determining the AP, they completed a special Detective Sheet I placed in their case files just for them.  These were also leveled based on ability level and personal interest.  Of course, I had to slap some Duck Dynasty clip art on several of these. My day wouldn't be complete without at least one Duck Commander reference...

The kids had so much fun and they really were thinking on a higher level.  If you'd like to see what other fabulousness we've done with author's purpose.  Check out my 39 page unit here.  It will certainly keep your littles ones entertained...and informed...with hardly any persuading needed :)

Get yours here!

On a cloud 9 note, my entire class threw a SURPRISE PARTY for little ol' me a few weeks ago.  They were planning it for two weeks and it was just the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me.  It was so much fun and touched my heart in ways they will never understand.  It's days like these that you are so thankful this is what you get to do everyday. It was truly magical and a wonderful reminder of this is what I was meant to do in my life.  I only hope I can return the favor for them, too.

Have a wonderful week everyone!  FALL IS HERE!!

Stickin' It to the New Year {with Sticky Notes & Inferencing}

Well, the new year is here along with many pros and cons to start off 2014. This is how my back to school year began...

1. Got to spend some much needed time with my parents and sisters.  Santa brought us an Uh-maze-ing gift we'll get to enjoy this coming August: #omgPRO!

2. Formal Observation first thing Monday morning after not being in the routine of school for a total of 16 days: #areyoukiddingmeCON {or at least for now until after I have my post conference... hopefully I can change this to a 'PRO'}.

3. Had my VERY FIRST 2-Hour Delay since moving to North Carolina: #snoozePRO!

4. Entire smart board calendar crashed and burned, leaving me with nothing but page outlines...no clipart, no links, no text...nada.  It hurt...it like, physically hurt: #noIdidn'tbackupCON

5. Scored a new desk chair for my office at 40% off: #couponqueenPRO!

6. The Golden Globes are on Sunday: #glamorousPRO!

7. There is someone or something living in the ceiling of my bedroom.  The boys and I woke up to some sort of scratching sound Saturday morning, and I have not been upstairs since.   A professional will be coming next week to assess the situation.  In the meantime, I'll be sleeping with one eye open: #mega,scary,creepy,crawly, CON.

8. Updated and REORGANIZED all the apps on our class iPads: #ittookforeverPRO

Find how you can do the same to yours HERE

9. Found this snazzy little magazine holder at TJ for $20!  I, of course, had to jazz it up with some scrapbook paper and Mod Podge.  :)  Finally, my home inspirations are not taking over every table in every room of my home: #organizedyetcraftyPRO

10. I've been trying to savor devouring these mint chocolate chip cookies from Fresh Market for the past three days.  They are one of the best and most addicting cookies I've ever eaten: #numnumnumnumPRO  #nextbiggestlosercontestantCON

2014 is to turning out to be the year to keep me on my toes.  Let's hope the coming weeks have more PROS than CONS.  With National  Board Certification coming up, I need all the PROS I can get!!!

Aside from the above CONS, the first week back to school was fun and pretty stress free.  My little ones adjusted back better than I expected, and we were able to get the ball rolling with ease.

Something we did to review by myself reading, was "Posting our Thinking."  Sometimes when students read, they tend to not use their full thinking abilities and drift off into fantasy daydreaming land.  It happens to the best of us, but with our Middle of the Year Reading MCLASS assessments coming up next week, I wanted to refresh and get students back into the reading groove. {Cue: Justin Timberlake's 'Let the Groove Get In'!}

There are many things that can get students excited about silent reading, but one of the simplest and "no planning" things is a POST IT!  We use this poster/ anchor chart in our classroom to help us make connections and build comprehension during read to self time. Students also have this same poster inside of the Daily 5 folder so they can refer to it whenever possible.  It's kid friendly and they love writing and responding to other sticky notes they come across while reading.  We did this as a review in small group and I loved reading what the kids jotted down as part of their thinking.

You can find this resource here!

We of course made some new years resolutions to kick off 2014.  With the Olympics coming up, I thought it would be fun to relate resolutions to being an Olympic athlete.  We discussed the origins of the Olympic Games and the difference between the summer and winter events.  

We developed our own resolutions we had for school, home, and the world.  Students created themselves as an Olympian and wrote their goals on three gold medals.  **When we do this again, I think I'll change the medals to  gold, silver, and bronze, and have the students order their goals according to the medal colors of what they wish to accomplish first, second, and third.  Literally had this thought in the shower Friday night at midnight.  My brain needs an "off" button ASAP...

Our Olympians:

Our jerseys contained Last Name, Second Grade, School

We revisited inferencing this week and started off with Shel Silverstein's Poem, "Snowball!"  Oh boy is it a cutie.  I had the students analyze this poem with a partner and illustrate each stanza modeling their inferences {one square = one stanza}.  I could hear them LOLing from across the room!  Listening to their discussions of "what he really means is..." was fantastic, especially after being away from school for two+ weeks!  Ok, add this to the PRO list.

Poem Illustrations:

Even though we have yet to experience a snow DAY first hand, we read about some people who had.  "Snow Day," was so cute and the kids looooooved it--the story was so fun and the illustrations were even cuter!  There was a little terrier in it, so of course I'm going to feel strongly about it... :)

Before we read, we brainstormed some things we could do in the snow.  We made a little diagram to show what we could do ONLY when there was snow present, and things that are good for a snow day, but could also be done at other times (example: playing cards, drinking hot chocolate, etc.)  We checked for understanding by crossing off  the activities as we read.  

To practice inferencing, we revisited our CASE FILE envelopes we used during our Author's Purpose Unit.  Students analyzed pieces of evidence from the character's snow day {that wasn't included in the story}, and inferred what they did based on those pieces of evidence.  Students also had to give a time in which that activity could be done.  On the back, groups made a timeline of the activities according to AM and PM times.  I loved hearing them discuss the difference between AM and PM and what you would be doing 12 hours from then (someone said they could bake cookies at 3AM and an uproar came from their group mates about being asleep at 3AM--up-roaring is ok as long as it has a purpose :)). 

Next Week is Snowman Week! Woo-hoo!!!  Let's hope all of our snow talk ignites some snow showers here, too :)  Bring on the Polar "Snow" Vortex!!