Happy Halloween,
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6
October 15, 2013
You're Invited to My Halloween Party!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Halloween! Maybe it's because my birthday is so near to it that as a child I use to think that Halloween was celebrated just for me. LOL! Come celebrate this holiday with me. I'm throwing a Halloween party here at The Teacher's Desk 6. All you have to do is share your fun and favorite Halloween products (both paid and free) in a blog post, then grab my party button, and link-up. Don't forget to invite all your bloggy friends to our party as well... the more, the merrier! Let's all get into the spirit! BOO!
Happy Halloween,
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6
Happy Halloween,
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6
October 12, 2013
Doing some bragging: Five for Friday (Saturday Style), a Freebie, and TpT Sale
October 4, 2013
Friday Freebie: Book Trailer
I had planned something else for today, but just had to change and share some great videos with you that my sixers are creating. Their assignment was to create a book trailer about a book that they have recently read. They were required to read two books over the summer. The first book was promoted via a Newbery Book Report and the second with this book trailer project. My sixers had been waiting for this video project; they've seen the three classes ahead of them produce poetry videos and book trailers and couldn't wait their turn.
I begin the project by sharing a book trailer for a book we are reading or have read in the past (a quick search via Google or comparable search engine will yield you results for a myriad of trailers). We talk about the video's features: graphics, text, video, pacing, effects, etc.; and how these combine to entice the viewer into reading the book. I end this first lesson by asking them to consider what a book trailer for their second summer book might look like. They are asked to simply jot down their ideas for tomorrow's lesson.
On the second day, I present the project sheet to the class. You can download this sheet HERE. It is in Word format so that you are able to edit it as you might see fit. It contains the specific pieces of information that they must include in their own trailer: graphic of the book's cover, the author's name, pictures, background music, minimum length, credits.
I also show them two book trailers from former students, one that meets the criteria and one that does not. As we view the trailers we discuss whether the video meets the requirements or not. This lesson ends with an invitation for my sixers to explore the links given on the instruction sheet and an invitation to bring their technology "tools" to school the next day so that they can begin working on their videos during free time. I only have five computers in my classroom, so I bend the rules (with the permission of the school president) of no personal ipads, ipods, or laptops by inviting them to use their tools at schools... we have a long and detailed discussion of do's and don'ts with these tools as well.
On the third day, I demonstrate how to make a simple video using Animoto, a free online video editor. I've blogged about this terrific website before so I won't go into its virtues now. I walk them through the features of this editor, demonstrating how to select a template; how to add a picture, a video clip, and text; and how to publish the final video. At the end of this lesson, my sixers are invited to begin experimenting by making a "for fun" video, one to just help them navigate the app, editor, or piece of software they are choosing to use.
The final developmental lesson that I present is how to download/upload photos, graphics, and music, and how to save these items to a flash drive. Along with this lesson we discuss copyright infringement and fair use for education copyright. I insist that they include simple citations for any media that they will be including in their book trailer. The exception to this is media used directly from a video editing website does not need a citation.
In past years I have required my sixers to use Animoto for this project. However, this year, because several of the girls and one boy were already using a video app called Video Star, I left out the Animoto requirement and gave them several options for creating their book trailer. Even so, I did create an Animoto account for each of my sixers. As it turns out, after three days of experimenting, all 22 sixers are using their Animoto Education accounts to create their trailer.
Yesterday and today I started receiving email notifications that book trailers were being published (they're not due until Oct. 23rd). This particular crop of sixers is usually a bit slow in completing a project. I generally have to provide loads of encouragement and plenty of reminders. I was suppose to give them the assessment rubric today to help them understand my expectations but ran out of time due to recess duty, a visit from a new born, and a school photo op... sigh!
Here are the first few trailers... LOVIN' them!
For this last trailer I can only provide a link. The author changed her password and I don't have it here at home: The Encyclopedia of Me.
I can't wait to see what the coming week will hold with my sixers' videos. Several others are in process and just waiting to be published. Maybe I'll be able to share them during the week.
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6
I begin the project by sharing a book trailer for a book we are reading or have read in the past (a quick search via Google or comparable search engine will yield you results for a myriad of trailers). We talk about the video's features: graphics, text, video, pacing, effects, etc.; and how these combine to entice the viewer into reading the book. I end this first lesson by asking them to consider what a book trailer for their second summer book might look like. They are asked to simply jot down their ideas for tomorrow's lesson.
On the second day, I present the project sheet to the class. You can download this sheet HERE. It is in Word format so that you are able to edit it as you might see fit. It contains the specific pieces of information that they must include in their own trailer: graphic of the book's cover, the author's name, pictures, background music, minimum length, credits.
I also show them two book trailers from former students, one that meets the criteria and one that does not. As we view the trailers we discuss whether the video meets the requirements or not. This lesson ends with an invitation for my sixers to explore the links given on the instruction sheet and an invitation to bring their technology "tools" to school the next day so that they can begin working on their videos during free time. I only have five computers in my classroom, so I bend the rules (with the permission of the school president) of no personal ipads, ipods, or laptops by inviting them to use their tools at schools... we have a long and detailed discussion of do's and don'ts with these tools as well.
On the third day, I demonstrate how to make a simple video using Animoto, a free online video editor. I've blogged about this terrific website before so I won't go into its virtues now. I walk them through the features of this editor, demonstrating how to select a template; how to add a picture, a video clip, and text; and how to publish the final video. At the end of this lesson, my sixers are invited to begin experimenting by making a "for fun" video, one to just help them navigate the app, editor, or piece of software they are choosing to use.
The final developmental lesson that I present is how to download/upload photos, graphics, and music, and how to save these items to a flash drive. Along with this lesson we discuss copyright infringement and fair use for education copyright. I insist that they include simple citations for any media that they will be including in their book trailer. The exception to this is media used directly from a video editing website does not need a citation.
In past years I have required my sixers to use Animoto for this project. However, this year, because several of the girls and one boy were already using a video app called Video Star, I left out the Animoto requirement and gave them several options for creating their book trailer. Even so, I did create an Animoto account for each of my sixers. As it turns out, after three days of experimenting, all 22 sixers are using their Animoto Education accounts to create their trailer.
Yesterday and today I started receiving email notifications that book trailers were being published (they're not due until Oct. 23rd). This particular crop of sixers is usually a bit slow in completing a project. I generally have to provide loads of encouragement and plenty of reminders. I was suppose to give them the assessment rubric today to help them understand my expectations but ran out of time due to recess duty, a visit from a new born, and a school photo op... sigh!
Here are the first few trailers... LOVIN' them!
For this last trailer I can only provide a link. The author changed her password and I don't have it here at home: The Encyclopedia of Me.
I can't wait to see what the coming week will hold with my sixers' videos. Several others are in process and just waiting to be published. Maybe I'll be able to share them during the week.
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6
October 3, 2013
October Currently
How did I miss it? It's already the third of the month! It's time to link up with Farley over at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade for her monthly Currently Party... golly, I almost missed it!!!!
Right now I'm LISTENING to a new show on the CW, "The Originals," a spin-off of the "Vampire Diaries." I admit it! I am hooked on these fluff-chick shows. What can I say? Guilty!
LOVING that it is October. I have ALWAYS loved this month: its beautiful colors, crisp weather, Halloween, and most importantly... my birthday! I'll be celebrating all month with extra freebies and a small giveaway. Check back tomorrow for the first October freebie (maybe more than one).
THINKING that I should be doing something productive rather than play around here. I have clothes to fold, a floor to sweep, dusting to do, school work to accomplish... NAH!
Because of my thinking I am WANTING someone to come in to my home and clean for me... sigh, if only! If someone doesn't come to clean I may be featured on an upcoming episode of "Hoarders." No foolin'!
NEEDING? Need I say more? It seems like every teacher on my staff keeps saying this very thing. How 'bout you?
And finally... My TREAT would be to disappear for a few hours with no cell phone, everything caught-up (including all the cleaning) to have a manicure and pedicure... ah!!!!!!
Happy October,
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6
Right now I'm LISTENING to a new show on the CW, "The Originals," a spin-off of the "Vampire Diaries." I admit it! I am hooked on these fluff-chick shows. What can I say? Guilty!
LOVING that it is October. I have ALWAYS loved this month: its beautiful colors, crisp weather, Halloween, and most importantly... my birthday! I'll be celebrating all month with extra freebies and a small giveaway. Check back tomorrow for the first October freebie (maybe more than one).
THINKING that I should be doing something productive rather than play around here. I have clothes to fold, a floor to sweep, dusting to do, school work to accomplish... NAH!
Because of my thinking I am WANTING someone to come in to my home and clean for me... sigh, if only! If someone doesn't come to clean I may be featured on an upcoming episode of "Hoarders." No foolin'!
NEEDING? Need I say more? It seems like every teacher on my staff keeps saying this very thing. How 'bout you?
And finally... My TREAT would be to disappear for a few hours with no cell phone, everything caught-up (including all the cleaning) to have a manicure and pedicure... ah!!!!!!
Happy October,
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6
October 2, 2013
Student Mentors: The Feast of the Guardian Angels
Angel of God, My Guardian Dear...
I first wrote about my sixers being buddies, or mentors, to our second grade students a few weeks ago in THIS BLOG POST. I can not express how wonderful an opportunity this project is for my students. They take on a completely different persona during "buddy" time. Even the most immature sixth grader becomes a serious mentor to his second grade buddy.
Today we celebrated the Feast of the Guardian Angels. As part of that celebration my sixers helped their second grade buddy transform a square of wrapping paper, a paper circle, and a pipe cleaner into a guardian angel that can be hung in their room to help them remember their angel is always present, watching over them... to light and guard, to rule and guide, as the Guardian Angel prayer reminds us.
As I directed the activity I couldn't help but notice how caring, patient, and gentle my big kids were with their younger buddies. Now as I look at the photos that my teaching buddy snapped during our activity, I see an awful lot of sixth grade angels watching over second grade students. I don't know who looks forward to weekly buddy time more: me or my sixers?
I first wrote about my sixers being buddies, or mentors, to our second grade students a few weeks ago in THIS BLOG POST. I can not express how wonderful an opportunity this project is for my students. They take on a completely different persona during "buddy" time. Even the most immature sixth grader becomes a serious mentor to his second grade buddy.
Today we celebrated the Feast of the Guardian Angels. As part of that celebration my sixers helped their second grade buddy transform a square of wrapping paper, a paper circle, and a pipe cleaner into a guardian angel that can be hung in their room to help them remember their angel is always present, watching over them... to light and guard, to rule and guide, as the Guardian Angel prayer reminds us.
As I directed the activity I couldn't help but notice how caring, patient, and gentle my big kids were with their younger buddies. Now as I look at the photos that my teaching buddy snapped during our activity, I see an awful lot of sixth grade angels watching over second grade students. I don't know who looks forward to weekly buddy time more: me or my sixers?
After we finished working with our buddies, we returned to our classroom where I awarded each sixth grader with a special brag tag (we are LOVIN' brag tags this year) for learning the Guardian Angel prayer.
This is only one tag from the set Catholic Prayers Brag Tags available in my TpT Store. You're invited to stop in my store and see the complete set as well as brag tags for other occasions. Kids love earning these inexpensive, simple rewards.
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6
September 29, 2013
A Peek at My Week and a FREEBIE
Oh my goodness! It is Sunday again. I have good intentions to blog during the week, but I can't seem to squeeze in the time. I figured I could find time this weekend since I had worked hard to get all my lesson plans and materials ready by Thursday this past week, but... sigh! Then this weekend: I had planned on blogging for Snapshot Saturday but left my camera at home. I had planned to blog for Mentor Texts but left the book at school. Now it's Sunday and time for...
Monday is my boys first home football game. My sixers are permitted to play on the junior high football team. There are only three of them that play with the bigger boys, and they have been begging me to come to a game to see them. All of the games have been out of town so far, just too far to travel after a long day at school. I can't wait to see them play! I hear they are better than many of the 7th and 8th graders. Here they are at pep assembly we had this past week. Can you pick them out?
I'm hoping the week passes quickly as I've some special plans for the weekend. A dear friend of mine whom I don't see nearly as often as I'd like has invited a group of us women to her home for dinner. Can't wait!!!! AND I can't wait for next Sunday! I'm traveling out of town to visit once again with my former pastor/special friend who will be installed as pastor at his new parish.
I've got a terrific week ahead of me. How 'bout you?
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6
Monday is my boys first home football game. My sixers are permitted to play on the junior high football team. There are only three of them that play with the bigger boys, and they have been begging me to come to a game to see them. All of the games have been out of town so far, just too far to travel after a long day at school. I can't wait to see them play! I hear they are better than many of the 7th and 8th graders. Here they are at pep assembly we had this past week. Can you pick them out?
The rest of the school week should run smoothly. There are no meetings or after school activities. All I have to complete is progress reports and view a formative assessment module online in preparation for an inservice next Monday. Unfortunately, I have several progress reports in eighth grade that I must send, not due to struggling with understanding concepts, but rather letting extra-curricular activities interfere with school work... several students are just not completing work. And that formative assessment module... two hours at my computer just watching a video... sigh!
I won't even have too many papers or assignments to grade this week other than some Padlet boards for gr. 8 English and Spelling papers for grs. 5/6. We've been studying words with Greek/Latin roots each week for five weeks. This week is a review week, returning to all the roots we've covered so far: AQUA, PHOTO, PHON, GRAPH, and MOT/MOB. HERE is an assignment sheet that I will give to my students on Monday. They will work on the assignments, one per day, turning them in as we go along. The wordsearch is a little fun and challenging, requiring them to not only search for the word but identify its root's meaning. This group of kiddos has never done one like this. I can't wait to share it with them. Then on Thursday we'll play a fun review game so they are ready for a test on Friday.
I've got a terrific week ahead of me. How 'bout you?
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6
September 22, 2013
Peek at My Week and a Sentence FREEBIE
OK, where does the time go? It's already time for...
I've another busy week in the planning, nothing out of the ordinary. All teachers are always busy. At least this week I don't have to worry about inservices or evening events at school, just a regular week.
My sixers are buddies to the second graders. They act as mentors for the younger students. We go to mass together at school and we do special projects together. This past week my sixers and their buddies began work on quilt squares that represent them. They worked together coloring the squares and getting to know each other a little better.
This weekend I laminated all 40+ squares (the laminator at school is on the fritz and is not on the repair list) at home so that during the week a few of my sixers and the second grade teacher and I can start fashioning them together to form a cross which we will use all year as part of our liturgical environment during worship services. Our goal is to get it all together by this Thursday when we have out first K-12th grade mass. Keep your fingers crossed and say a little prayer for us, please!
This week I'll be finishing up a sentence unit with my eighth graders. They have been learning about independent and dependent clauses via the concept of mentor sentences. This week they will show me what they've learned. On top of a mentor sentence quiz, they will be asked to complete this foldable wherein they must define and write specific sentences. You can snag a copy of the foldable by clicking on the pic.
Later in the week, my eighth graders will begin a project for the book The Coffin Quilt by Ann Rinaldi. They will be required to respond to comprehension questions (all Common Core based) via Padlet, one of my favorite interactive websites. Here's the first item they will work with, a quote from the prologue. Keep peeking back during the week to see each student's contribution.
My niece's garden is finally yielding some produce (it's not been a good year around here for gardens) and I've got some beautiful green peppers just begging to be cooked... stuffed peppers is on the menu for one evening.... YUM, can't wait!
I can't wait to get a peek at your week, so be sure to link up with Jennifer over at Mrs. Laffin's Laughings. Have a wonderful week!
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6
I've another busy week in the planning, nothing out of the ordinary. All teachers are always busy. At least this week I don't have to worry about inservices or evening events at school, just a regular week.
My sixers are buddies to the second graders. They act as mentors for the younger students. We go to mass together at school and we do special projects together. This past week my sixers and their buddies began work on quilt squares that represent them. They worked together coloring the squares and getting to know each other a little better.
This weekend I laminated all 40+ squares (the laminator at school is on the fritz and is not on the repair list) at home so that during the week a few of my sixers and the second grade teacher and I can start fashioning them together to form a cross which we will use all year as part of our liturgical environment during worship services. Our goal is to get it all together by this Thursday when we have out first K-12th grade mass. Keep your fingers crossed and say a little prayer for us, please!
This week I'll be finishing up a sentence unit with my eighth graders. They have been learning about independent and dependent clauses via the concept of mentor sentences. This week they will show me what they've learned. On top of a mentor sentence quiz, they will be asked to complete this foldable wherein they must define and write specific sentences. You can snag a copy of the foldable by clicking on the pic.
Later in the week, my eighth graders will begin a project for the book The Coffin Quilt by Ann Rinaldi. They will be required to respond to comprehension questions (all Common Core based) via Padlet, one of my favorite interactive websites. Here's the first item they will work with, a quote from the prologue. Keep peeking back during the week to see each student's contribution.
My niece's garden is finally yielding some produce (it's not been a good year around here for gardens) and I've got some beautiful green peppers just begging to be cooked... stuffed peppers is on the menu for one evening.... YUM, can't wait!
I can't wait to get a peek at your week, so be sure to link up with Jennifer over at Mrs. Laffin's Laughings. Have a wonderful week!
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6
September 15, 2013
Fabulous Freebies on the 15th Fun Linky
I'm linking up with Molly over at Lucky to Be in First for her fun monthly linky: Fabulous Freebies on the 15th. The freebies that I am sharing are just in time for U.S. Constitution Day this coming Wednesday, September 17th.
First up is a Smartboard file designed to help students learn the words to the Preamble of the Constitution. Just click on the pic to download it. Students can listen to the old School House Rock video that had us 70's kids learning the words to the Preamble in between our Saturday cartoons. They then will be challenged to unscramble the words to the Preamble.
Next up is a worksheet, again about the Preamble, for older elementary students that requires them to delve into the vocabulary of the document, paraphrase it, and analyze the parts of speech used in it. I'll be using this activity with my eighth graders.
Finally, here is a patriotic bunting mystery picture that helps students practice nouns, verbs, and adjectives. Some of you may already have downloaded this one last Memorial Day. I received some great feedback from teachers who had used this with their classes.
I can't wait to see all the other freebies being showcased via The Fabulous Freebies on the 15th Linky!
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6
September 12, 2013
Five for Friday with a Friday FREEBIE
I can NOT believe that it is Friday already! Where does the time go? I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for...
This has been an INTERESTING week...
Monday started out with beautiful fall weather, sunny and warm but not stifling. We got new mentor sentences in all my classes, continued reading our books, received new spelling words, learned about the kingdom of fungi, and just had a great day!
Then Tuesday rolled in with sweltering temperatures. My room had to reach at least 90 degrees Fahrenheit. PHEW! Beyond hot... Do you know how nasty a room full of sixth graders can smell when they get hot? YIKES! They were even complaining. I couldn't wait to get home to air conditioning.
Wednesday was even hotter! I am in a classroom that was totally refurbished when we moved into the building last year. My ceiling was lowered and new lighting was installed. It is beautiful and the sound quality in the room is awesome; however, there is no air circulation and the hot air has no place to rise. I do have a fan that on normal hot days dispurses the air around the room. Not on HOT days though! It might as well have been turned off. Our wonderful janitor tried to help out by bringing two BIG fans upstairs. He placed one at the end of the hallway to help draw the hot air out, and he placed one outside my door to blow cool air through my room. It worked a little, at least near the front of the room. I had the kiddos sit at their seats for a quick lesson, then move their chairs near the front of the room, near the circulating air, to do some practice with the lesson. Back and forth all day. We made a game of it. The only problem was that the fan was LOUD! I couldn't wait to get home to the air conditioning AGAIN. Except...
When I got home, I decided to do some laundry... so... down to the basement I went.... and smelled gas. Uh oh! I decided I'd better call the gas company... sigh! They came, checked out the smell, and discovered several small leaks along my gas line in the basement... so, they had to shut off the gas until I could get it repaired. This is now past five o'clock and no contractor was available until Thursday... double sigh! I have no hot water and no way to cook until this gets repaired. I MUST stay home on Thursday to make arrangements. OK, call the secretary to arrange for a sub and BACK to thehot box school I go to get things ready... triple sigh! I was already taking Friday for a personal day. Thursday was my day to get the kiddos where I wanted them for the sub activities.... REVISE that plan. Two hours later, I drive back home, wringing wet from all the sweat because the fan was no longer outside my room. My a/c at home never felt so good!
Thursday was spent waiting for the repairman to arrive, then waiting for the repairman to finish, then waiting for the gas company to return, inspect, and reconnect my gas.
While I was doing all this waiting, I kept busy with teacher stuff. First I made a brand new set of brag tags. I forgot how much fun using these as behavior incentives can be. I used to use them years ago but then I got tired of them. I was reminded of them by seeing them on Pinterest and a couple of blogs this past spring. My kiddos this year are lovin' them and working really hard to earn them. Some wear their tags all the time while others like to hang them in the room.
My newest set features literary genre. As my kids read independently, they can earn a tag by completing a brief book report for the type of book they finish. There are 17 different genre represented in this set: historical fiction, science fiction, adventure, drama/play, memoir/journal/diary, autobiography/biography, science nonfiction, historical nonfiction, poetry, travel, how to, humorous fiction, realistic fiction, mystery, folklore, fantasy. Click on the picture to read more about them.
I also worked on a "book order" activity for my sixers. Each time I pass out a book order, I have them do some Language Arts related skill drill with it, like searching for parts of speech, particular punctuation marks, verb tenses, and more. Here's my newest one. It's yours for the grabbing. Just click HERE or on the pic to download it.
Fridaywill be is my personal day so I may visit my former pastor and boss who is still my GREAT friend. He left my town/parish two years ago at the bidding of the bishop when our diocese did a lot or reorganization. I miss him horribly and jump at the chance to visit him whenever possible. I actually wrote this post on Thursday night since I knew I wouldn't get home on Friday until LATE. I can't wait for Friday!
I also can't wait for Friday because of Freebie Friday's hosted by Fern Smith over at Teaching Blog Addict. I've been visiting this site each Friday for as long as I've been visiting bloggyland, and when I started blogging I tried to make sure that I shared a freebie each Friday as well. I've gained much from bloggers who share freely; I want to share in return. That's the best part of blogging and bloggyland. I am so excited to be TBA's featured blogger this week. THANK YOU, TBA!!!! Head on over to find LOADS of great FREEBIES created by teachers like you and me.
Happy Friday,
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6
This has been an INTERESTING week...
Monday started out with beautiful fall weather, sunny and warm but not stifling. We got new mentor sentences in all my classes, continued reading our books, received new spelling words, learned about the kingdom of fungi, and just had a great day!
Then Tuesday rolled in with sweltering temperatures. My room had to reach at least 90 degrees Fahrenheit. PHEW! Beyond hot... Do you know how nasty a room full of sixth graders can smell when they get hot? YIKES! They were even complaining. I couldn't wait to get home to air conditioning.
Wednesday was even hotter! I am in a classroom that was totally refurbished when we moved into the building last year. My ceiling was lowered and new lighting was installed. It is beautiful and the sound quality in the room is awesome; however, there is no air circulation and the hot air has no place to rise. I do have a fan that on normal hot days dispurses the air around the room. Not on HOT days though! It might as well have been turned off. Our wonderful janitor tried to help out by bringing two BIG fans upstairs. He placed one at the end of the hallway to help draw the hot air out, and he placed one outside my door to blow cool air through my room. It worked a little, at least near the front of the room. I had the kiddos sit at their seats for a quick lesson, then move their chairs near the front of the room, near the circulating air, to do some practice with the lesson. Back and forth all day. We made a game of it. The only problem was that the fan was LOUD! I couldn't wait to get home to the air conditioning AGAIN. Except...
When I got home, I decided to do some laundry... so... down to the basement I went.... and smelled gas. Uh oh! I decided I'd better call the gas company... sigh! They came, checked out the smell, and discovered several small leaks along my gas line in the basement... so, they had to shut off the gas until I could get it repaired. This is now past five o'clock and no contractor was available until Thursday... double sigh! I have no hot water and no way to cook until this gets repaired. I MUST stay home on Thursday to make arrangements. OK, call the secretary to arrange for a sub and BACK to the
Thursday was spent waiting for the repairman to arrive, then waiting for the repairman to finish, then waiting for the gas company to return, inspect, and reconnect my gas.
While I was doing all this waiting, I kept busy with teacher stuff. First I made a brand new set of brag tags. I forgot how much fun using these as behavior incentives can be. I used to use them years ago but then I got tired of them. I was reminded of them by seeing them on Pinterest and a couple of blogs this past spring. My kiddos this year are lovin' them and working really hard to earn them. Some wear their tags all the time while others like to hang them in the room.
My newest set features literary genre. As my kids read independently, they can earn a tag by completing a brief book report for the type of book they finish. There are 17 different genre represented in this set: historical fiction, science fiction, adventure, drama/play, memoir/journal/diary, autobiography/biography, science nonfiction, historical nonfiction, poetry, travel, how to, humorous fiction, realistic fiction, mystery, folklore, fantasy. Click on the picture to read more about them.
I also worked on a "book order" activity for my sixers. Each time I pass out a book order, I have them do some Language Arts related skill drill with it, like searching for parts of speech, particular punctuation marks, verb tenses, and more. Here's my newest one. It's yours for the grabbing. Just click HERE or on the pic to download it.
Friday
I also can't wait for Friday because of Freebie Friday's hosted by Fern Smith over at Teaching Blog Addict. I've been visiting this site each Friday for as long as I've been visiting bloggyland, and when I started blogging I tried to make sure that I shared a freebie each Friday as well. I've gained much from bloggers who share freely; I want to share in return. That's the best part of blogging and bloggyland. I am so excited to be TBA's featured blogger this week. THANK YOU, TBA!!!! Head on over to find LOADS of great FREEBIES created by teachers like you and me.
Happy Friday,
Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)