Five for Friday Grammar Style

My version of Five for Friday with Doodle Bugs Teaching this week is a Grammar Cartoon Splash.

I was searching through my PC files, Pinterest pins, and "stuff" on my jump drives to locate all the grammar funnies that I've saved over the years. I wanted to gather them into one place so that I can more easily share them with my kiddos. I like to splash one of these cartoons on the Smartboard at least once a week as the kiddos are coming into the room. They not only serve as a good chuckle but also as a teaching point for grammar and humor. I share five of the funniest ones with you this week... ENJOY!

Throwback Thursday: Memorial Day FREEBIE

What is Throwback Thursday? How does it work, you might ask? Simply look through your PURR-fect Previous Posts, perhaps a particular favorite of yours, and re-post it! Purr-fectly easy and simple! Your post doesn't have to be from LOOOONNNGGG ago; it can be from last month or even earlier this week. And if you don't have a post to share, perhaps an old photo or two from WAY BACK will do! Even a favorite pin is PURR-fect! Just join in the Throwback fun!

Memorial Day is fast approaching. Here's a great, low prep idea to sneak in some grammar practice. This post  originally appeared on The Teacher's Desk 6 on May 19, 2013.

Many of you know that my sixers love mystery pictures! Like, CRAZY love them! They think it's the best way to practice parts of speech and other drill type Language Arts skills. I've been working on some summer related mystery pictures that I'm sending home over the summer with both my fifth and sixth graders, and thought I should take time out to make at least one picture for Memorial Day. It's nothing fancy, just some patriotic bunting, practicing nouns, verbs, and adjectives. If you are interested you can download it HERE or by clicking on the graphic.

If you like this design, you might like another that I recently created. It features a soldier in battle fatigue and also has students practicing parts of speech: singular and plural nouns and present, past, and future tense verbs. It is available for purchase in my TpT Store.

Now it's your turn for a Throwback!

Throwback Thursday: Fun Reminder

What is Throwback Thursday? How does it work, you might ask? Simply look through your PURR-fect Previous Posts, perhaps a particular favorite of yours, and re-post it! Purr-fectly easy and simple! Your post doesn't have to be from LOOOONNNGGG ago; it can be from last month or even earlier this week. And if you don't have a post to share, perhaps an old photo or two from WAY BACK will do! Even a favorite pin is PURR-fect! Just join in the Throwback fun!

This was such a fun activity to prepare and implement. I was so happy to unearth this older post from March 23, 2013; it serves as a great reminder.

As I posted earlier in the week, my sixers have been hitting the parts of speech pretty hard lately, at least the identification part. They do very well when each part of speech is worked in isolation, they do well when two or three are practiced at one time, but when we look at all of them together... uh oh! Some of my kiddos have even been staying after school- voluntarily- to get in extra practice. They've done worksheets, quizzes, lessons galore and are getting a bit ho-hum with the practice.

So to perk things up a bit this week, that LOOOOOONG week just before a break, we are going to have a Parts of Speech (POS) Round-up on Tuesday morning.  I've been gathering the materials and organizing everything for the past few days. Today it's all ready, except for the laminating (that's Monday morning). 

Here's how it will work. Instead of a regular Language Arts class I'll be setting up six stations, one per table, around the room. Each table will house one activity for practicing the parts of speech. Students will rotate every fifteen minutes until they have visited each station and completed the activity. 

The stations are as follows:

1. POST... a card game (available in my TpT store) for up to six players in which each player brainstorms a list of words for randomly selected part of speech beginning with a particular letter

2. Mystery Pictures based on the fowl tempered friends with whom my sixers love playing. These are available in my TpT store.

3. Egg-cellent Verbs and Egg-citing Sentences... identifying verb tenses and writing sentences with randomly selected verbs that are hidden inside of Easter eggs

4. Parts of Speech Dice... purchased from Amazon, that require students to write sentences using particular parts of speech

5. MadLibs... Easter stories, collected from across the internet, to be completed by providing missing parts of speech

6. Parts of Speech Computer Battleship... the familiar board game turned digital at Quia Quiz site

Tuesday's Round-up should make it a little more fun when practicing the parts of speech. It should also help to make the day pass more quickly... ONE MORE DAY CLOSER TO EASTER BREAK! Can you tell I'm ready?

Although I still have a little time left before Easter break this year, I am planning ahead for those days just prior to vacation, those days when students and teachers alike are anxious to be away from school, enjoying the spring weather. A round-up is the PERFECT activity for this time!

Now it's your turn for a Throwback!

An InLinkz Link-up

My Favorite Holiday (Holy Day)... Merry Little Christmas! FREEBIES Galore!

I don't know what it is about Epiphany, the Feast of the Three Kings, Little Christmas that I LOVE so much. There is a great informational article HERE that explains the historical and traditional background of this holyday (holiday). For me, perhaps it is the thought that three non-Jewish uber-knowledgeable royals put such faith in ancient Jewish prophecies and traveled across a treacherous desert to a mysterious place by the light of some star carrying precious gifts for a lowly unknown king that peaks my interest and touches a chord in my heart. Talk about faith and trust! Whatever it is, Epiphany is the day during the Christmas season that I await each year, and the day that I will give my gift (a coupon book full of student friendly prizes) to my sixers just as the magi gave their gifts to the infant in the manger.

Epiphany is celebrated on January 5th this year, and we return to school on January 6th, perfect timing for an Epiphany celebration in our classroom. I have several items prepared to help us with our celebration throughout the coming week.

First up... sharing the book The Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke, retold by Pamela Kennedy. This is one of my all-time favorite stories and is always enjoyed by my fifth-grade Language Arts students. Kennedy's book is told in child friendly language as compared to the original Van Dyke story. I'm also providing a FREE Kindle link to the original story HERE since Kennedy's book is not easy to procure. Barnes and Noble does have used copies available.

Henry Van Dyke wrote The Other Wise Man in 1896, and since that time, this enduring classic has woven its mystical appeal for countless children and adults. Here Pamela Kennedy retells the story for the young reader, making it easy to understand, while retaining the magic of Van Dyke's words. Because he is helping others, a fourth Wise Man delays journeying with the other Magi to see the newborn Jesus, but thirty-three years later he has an unusual opportunity to meet his Savior.... BarnesandNoble.com

I'm linking this book up with Collaboration Cuties weekly Must Read Mentor Text. The first weekend of the month is for Language Arts texts, and even though this is a holiday text, I am using it as a Language Arts lesson. Because I teach in a Catholic school my students are well-versed in the Nativity story and the story of the magi. This book provides a bit of a twist to the familiar, allowing them to wonder, predict, infer, and compare as the story unfolds, skills addressed in the CCSS. I will be using an interactive notebook foldable Venn diagram with my students to help them comprehend the story and see the similarities and differences. Once they complete the foldable and we've had time to talk about their findings, they will write a brief paragraph about the similarities and differences in these stories.

As the week continues more lessons will be centered around my favorite holy day/holiday. Our spelling list for the week will have an Epiphany theme.

I made a wordsearch to go along with the spelling list.

We will complete an Epiphany themed revise, rewrite activity. The cute clipart is from Charlotte's Clips. I just LOVE her faith-based artwork. I use it a LOT!!!!

I have an Epiphany mystery picture waiting for my kiddos. BTW, the picture is supposed to be the three gifts brought by the magi: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

We will do the Wise Men SCOOT activity that is available in my TpT Store. It will help my kiddos review many of the Language Arts skills we have already learned this year. Again you see Charlotte's Clips artwork. This item is normally a paid item, but for the next week it will be available as a free download.

I even created a Wise Men ZAP! game for our Math teacher. Just before Christmas break I had to cover one of the sixth grade math lessons because the math teacher was administering an eighth grade mid-term. My sixers were playing a game she had left for them and were stumped by divisiblity rules, especially the rule for three. So I, the English teacher, taught my sixers a brief math lesson. My ZAP! game will help them remember the rule for divisiblity by three.

Finally, sometime during the week, we will sing and examine (search for parts of speech and analyze as a poem) my favorite holiday song... We Three Kings.

ALL of the items discussed in this blog post are FREEBIES for you! 

Just click on the pic of the item(s) that you'd like to have. Please, if you download anything from my TpT Store, leave feedback. TIA!

Merry Little Christmas,

Happy Epiphany,

Happy Teaching,

Angela

The Teacher's Desk 6

Currently... November

It's once again time to link up with Farley over at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade for...

Be sure to hop on over to read what's currently going on in the bloggy world!

HERE GOES MINE...

I'm not really LISTENING to the TV at all. It's just on in the background and HGTV "House Hunters" was on the last time I tuned in. When I do stop playing working on the computer I've been glued to the set watching "The Walking Dead" on Netflix... sigh... am I really watching this show?

I am LOVING this year's sixth graders! They are just the sweetest bunch! I'd been out sick for two days this week, and they have sent the nicest messages to me on Facebook, some via their parents and older siblings and some themselves. Here's their goofy shot Halloween picture to make me smile and feel better.

Parent conferences are on Thursday afternoon/early evening. I am THINKING about them: THINKING how important they are, THINKING how much I enjoy talking with my students' parents, and THINKING there needs to be a better system for communicating with them instead of this mass role call... ah, if only I were in charge! LOL!

I can't wait... I am WANTING Thanksgiving break to be here pronto! We have from the Wednesday before through the Monday after free from classes. This is our first time off since Labor Day (I did have two days off being sick, but that does NOT count), and I have so much to do around the house that I can NOT wait!!!!!!!!

I am definitely NEEDING to get rid of this cough! It has caused me to miss two days of school and two nights' worth of sleep! ENOUGH already!

A YUMMY PIN... oh yeah! How 'bout an EASY, YUMMY PIN? Just dump a few ingredients in the crock pot and VOILA! Instant YUM! Here's the link to my pin (part of it got cut off in the Currently graphic above): http://www.pinterest.com/pin/188588303119460474/

Click on the picture to go to the actual recipe at Sugar 'n Spicegals. 

And finally... I've CURRENTLY been working on lots of classroom activities to use for skill practice during the holiday seasons (Halloween through Christmas). I just finished this Thanksgiving SCOOT activity before typing this post. For today only, for just my blog followers, I am offering it as a FLASH Freebie! You can download it from HERE only, and only for today November 2nd, 2013. If you click on the picture below, you'll be taken to the product in my TpT Store. Be sure to click HERE for the freebie offer. If you do scoot away with this product, please, please leave a little message below. I love to know who visited and who might be using my items in their classrooms... thanks!

Happy Teaching,

Angela

The Teacher's Desk 6

Five for Friday and Snapshot Saturday

It's Friday, well at least when I started this it was!!!!! And it's time for.......

School started this week, and we've had two terrific days thus far! I know there will be many more to come because I've energized my teaching with great ideas from fellow bloggers, sellers, and teachers on Pinterest. That's what my five and snapshots are all about this week.

1. From Collaboration Cuties and Ideas by Jivey come Mentor Sentences. I used a technique similar to mentor sentences for years, but I liked the repeated, structured organization and built in assessment these fellow bloggers included. With just two lessons in I already see a deepening in thought by my students, especially with my eighth graders who were somewhat familiar with this process from having worked with me in fifth and sixth grade Language Arts. I can't wait to continue next week with Mentor Sentences.

2. From Sweet Rhyme, Pure Reason comes the reminder to utilize music and song within curriculum. Again, this idea is nothing new to me. Being a singer and musician I have always included music within all the content areas that I teach. However, fellow blogger Nick, took it a step further with his Tunes Tuesday by using current, popular lyrics to teach language skills. Here's what my eighth graders will be looking at next week as we work our way through Ann Rinaldi's The Coffin Quilt. The file below is a Word document in case anyone would like to edit it, leaving out the reference to this specific novel.

3.  Found on Pinterest but elaborated on by several bloggers this summer comes this idea...

My sixers started this project on the first day of school by utilizing a graphic organizer to help them focus their thoughts about who they are. On the second day we began our hands. Some finished, some have not; it is a work in progress, just like all of us. Here are a few snaps shot by one of my girlies who is an award winning photographer... she took third place at the STATE fair in her age division for 4H photography. Next week I'll share the completed hallway display.



4. From fellow TpT seller, Laura Randazzo, comes Grammar in Real Life.

LOVE this product and so do my eighth graders! Here's part of the product description:

Want to amuse your students AND impress your administrators? Use these real-world grammar mistakes as a rotating desktop background on the computer you use to project lesson materials or on any computer screen in your classroom that’s viewable to students. With a constant scroll of proofreading exercises to keep eyes and brains engaged, you can just “set it and forget it.” Each day, the computer will scroll through the images all on its own.

Again, this is not something new to me or my eighth graders. When this group was in fifth and sixth grade we would often find "mistakes" in ads or periodical articles to share in class. What Laura has provided is enough material for EVERY day of the year! We are using this activity as the class opener each morning.

5.  And finally it just is not Saturday Snapshots without Miss Daisy. My family was over for dinner this past Tuesday. Normally, Miss Daisy does not lower herself to grace us with her presence during family visits. However, I had been gone all day and she was missing me so she came downstairs to sit on my lap. She was purring away and enjoying herself while ignoring all else in the room... until she noticed my grand niece laying on the floor covered with MY her fuzzy blanket. That was all it took. After the evil glare at both my grand niece and me which lasted about a minute a piece, Miss Daisy was not seen again until my family went home. What a cat!

Happy Weekend,
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6

Triple Linky Sunday and a Shout Out

WARNING: This is a long post, but please keep reading. You might... enough said for now:)

Let's begin with a  SHOUT OUT for my newest bloggy friend Tamara over at Mrs. Russell's Room. She is celebrating her one year bloggerversary by giving away some terrific items and flash freebies. Make sure you stop by her blog, wish her Happy Anniversary, collect a freebie or two, and enter her awesome giveaways. Just click on her button below and off you'll go. Just remember to come back here for a passel of linky parties.



And now for the LINKY PARTIES!!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE linky parties. They are a great tool resource toy for connecting with other bloggers with similar interests. I've met so many sweet bloggy friends via linky parties, and I'm hoping on doing the same today. There are three new linky parties that I am featuring today.

FIRST UP is a linky hosted by two terrific bloggers, Teaching is a Gift and A Teacher without a Class (make sure you definitely visit the latter blogger; she is giving away an AWESOME gift). This linky was created so that we bloggers could remain connected since Google Reader went kaput! Bloglovin' is now THE way to follow our favorite blogs and find new ones... I've got to say that I really, really prefer Bloglovin'. I would never have even considered it prior to the disappearance of Google Reader. I'm of that adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," so when I start with something I stay with something. I like the ease and format of the Bloglovin' newsletter, the maneuverability through its site, and the MANY more blogs with which I've connected! If you haven't added your blog to this linky, come and join now. Just click the badge below and follow the directions. If you don't want to join, click anyway so that you can see and visit the great collection of teacher blogs hosted there.



NEXT is a linky tailored specifically for me. If you are one of my sweet bloggy friends and visit The Teacher's Desk 6 then you know that I am seriously in LOVE with Pinterest. There are two weekly linky parties about Pinterest that I already frequent, I have the widget embedded in my right sidebar, and I find every excuse to include a pin in a blog post whenever I can. Soooooo when I became connected with Upper Grades Are Awesome (I have to agree that upper grades ARE awesome) via Bloglovin' and found this linky party I was excited!!!! This linky asks you to share your top ten pins from all of your Pinterest ideas that you are planning to use or would like to use in your classroom for the coming year. Here are mine, not necessarily the top ten 'cause I have more than ten fer shure, but still ten really good ones:

1. I will be teaching three sections of Language Arts this coming year (5, 6, and 8th grade). An idea like this could be a REALLY useful organizational tool for me.


2. I plan on doing domain specific vocabulary with all of my classes. This idea looks easy and adaptable for my purposes.


3. I love this idea! When I saw it, I immediately knew I would be using it, but expanding it to be about synonyms for color words, a unit I do with my sixth graders each year when we talk about adding variety to our writing (the trait of word choice).


4. An idea for practicing nonfiction text features...


5. and 6. Two great pictures to add to my picture prompts for Writing Workshop...



7. A MUST HAVE tool... I make a copy for each grade that I teach and keep them on a clipboard.


8. A fun way to practice dreary grammar skills...


9. I can't wait to try this one with my sixers!


10. My back to school treat for my homeroom kiddos... LOVE it!



To follow this linky or add your favorite pins in your own post on your blog just click on the badge below.

The LAST linky for today is a brand new one. It's hosted by another new bloggy friend, Amy over at 24/7 Teacher. Amy invites us to Celebrate Sweet Summer Successes... love the alliteration! This week I am sharing two sweet successes. First, I reached 100 followers with the help of Bloglovin' and am organizing a sweet, little giveaway. To read more about it or participate (last day for participation is July 8th), just click the badge below.

Second, I added several new products to my TpT store and have worked on about five or six more... phew! Will I ever finish them? One of the products I did complete this past week is a cute powerpoint that employs the hamburger model for writing paragraphs. It is quite interactive, containing sound and visual effects, as well as hyperlinks to internet websites. I've used it with my fifth graders for several years and they LOVE it! Please click on the picture for more information and views.

To visit the Sweet Summer Success linky just click Amy's badge below... but please come back and finish reading the rest of this blog post. There is a little surprise for you.

AND NOW FOR THE SURPRISE... if you stuck with this LONG, LONG, LONG post then you deserve a little gift. Just leave a blog comment below along with your email address and I will send you my hamburger powerpoint presentation as a thank you for being so kind, listening to me ramble on!


Happy Linky Parties,
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6