Flash Freebie

I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that I had reached 75 blog followers this morning! It was just three weeks ago that I had FINALLY reached 50 after three and half months. I was hoping for 100 by the end of summer, but it looks like I might be able to make it much sooner... and if I really stretch it a bit with my newest followers on Bloglovin' I might even be closer, really close!

So, as a little thank you for all my followers and perhaps as a bit of an incentive to gain a few more, I'm offering my newly completed TpT product as a flash freebie until 11:59pm EST June 23, 2013. That's tonight!

Just leave a comment below before the deadline, making sure that I have your email address (either as a reply to or posted directly in the comment), and I'll send a copy to you.

Thanks, Everyone!

Happy Blogging,

Happy Teaching,

Angela

The Teacher's Desk 6

FREEBIE: Sporting with Direct Objects- Thanks to an Easter Bargain! TBA Link Up

Normally I do NOT shop! Well, I shop... but, not really.... I have a list, go to the store, get what's on the list, and get out. That's it! Last week, however, I actually shopped. You know- the browsing, take your time, look at lots of things kind of shopping. AND I found some bargains on cute Easter decorations, and I mean cute, as in classroom useful cute... like these eggs... 33 cents at Wal-mart... YES!

I only bought them because my sixers had such a great time doing an activity during my Parts of Speech Round-up just before Easter break that required them to open plastic eggs and do something with words I had placed inside. They had actually asked to do a similar activity after Easter. I figured the boys would go wild for these eggs so I grabbed them along with a separate bag of just football eggs and a separate bag of baseball eggs. Each bag was only 33 cents! But what could I use them for as far as curriculum was concerned? Today I figured it out.

We've been brushing up on Language skills, reviewing everything from all year. Direct objects and prepositional phrases are sometimes confusing for this group of sixers so I made this literacy center: Sporting with Direct Objects.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6Q14Z2f7SoAd0dYLW1yaGRpTHM/edit?usp=sharing

I whipped it up during my planning period in the morning. It's short and to the point. I put everything in a basket, briefly explained the objective and directions and handed it to the student nearest me. After she completed the activity, she passed it on, and so on. They loved it! Not everyone got to do the activity today, so we'll work on getting through the rest tomorrow. Then I'll figure out something else to do with my Sporty Eggs. 

Maybe I should shop more! Nah! But I'll definitely shop around for lots of great FREEBIES over at Teaching Blog Addict. This is my first link up for Freebie Friday, but I know it won't be my last. Love TBA!

Happy Teaching,

Angela

The Teacher's Desk 6

It's That Time Again... Manic Monday FREEBIE!

I think I'm beginning to like Mondays! Well, maybe a little! Only because it's Manic Monday! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE seeing all the freebies and surfing through all the blogs! I collect such great ideas that I'll have to teach another 32 years so that I can use them all.

Here's my FREEBIE to share this week in honor of April Fools' Day- Senseless Sentences.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6Q14Z2f7SoAbkI1TzVSRGw5QUE/edit?usp=sharing

This is a literacy activity that gives students practice fooling around with proofreading skills. Someone has written sentences with foolish mistakes. Your students will need to carefully read the sentences to determine the mistake in spelling. This is also a good activity to point out the foolishness of depending on a word processor's spell check, for the mistakes made in these sentences would never be indicated with spell check. Here's how it works:
Given a sentence such as Be careful of the name dog. Students would use context to determine that the correct sentence should be Be careful of the mean dog. I've used this activity as a warm-up for Language Arts class, as a small group mini-lesson, and even as a literacy center. It's quite versatile and provides great practice with proofreading without a worksheet.


I've recently uploaded some new materials to my Teachers Pay Teachers Store that also focus on literacy in a unique way. Stop by my store and check out items similar to Senseless Sentences. I'm holding a sale now through April 2nd. All items are 10% off.

Then scoot on over to Classroom Freebie's Manic Monday for great freebies to use in your classroom.

Happy Teaching, Angela  The Teacher's Desk 6 teachersdesk@yahoo.com

It's Manic Monday Again... Vocabulary Freebie

Love, love, love Manic Monday! It's one of the things that I look forward to each week on this dreaded day. Last week was the first time that I tried my hand at offering a freebie for MM. I also made plans for future MM's. What could I post?

I've been poking around in my original Teacher's Desk, cleaning and sorting. I specifically was looking for vocabulary ideas and activities what with the CCSS's heavier emphasis on this skill for our students. I used to use a lot of vocabulary centers in my language arts classes, but over the years and the many building moves I've made, things got packed away and forgotten.

This week for Manic Monday I'm offering Nursery Rhyme Rhetoric. This activity can be used as a literacy center or a whole group filler activity. It's a little like the typical Christmas Carol brain busters during holiday time. Presented with a convoluted nursery rhyme title, students must determine a familiar nursery rhyme's title,  while focusing on the unique wording and synonyms. You can download the freebie HERE or by clicking the link below the pic.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B6Q14Z2f7SoAMmQzaEhTRHpGX28/edit?usp=sharing

Don't forget to visit the Manic Monday blog post this week for LOADS more freebies for your classroom. There are some TERRIFIC ideas and activities there.

Happy Teaching, Angela The Teacher's Desk 6 teachersdesk@yahoo.com

I Found Something Else...

while cleaning out my desk on Saturday! Another forgotten idea! This one was actually lost. I've moved buildings four times in all the years that I've been teaching. Each move has caused me to stream-line the materials that I take with me. This last time especially caused a huge down-sizing as my newest room as NO storage space. I've tons of things packed in boxes all over my house. This activity is packed in a box with many of my learning center items.

But I diverge! What I found, or remembered,  was one of my favorite activities of all time: Peanutty Fun!

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Peanutty-Fun-Writing-Activities

Peanutty Fun is a packet of 12 writing activities for the intermediate aged student. It can be utilized as a writing center or a whole group activity. The individual topics include a wide variety of activities: writing scripts for plays, developing dialog, brainstorming lists, asking questions, and doing research.


Grab a clean coffee can, some scissors and glue, obtain this packet and you've got a great writing center for your intermediate classroom. BTW, I reworked the original activities so that they align with the Common Core State Standards, Anchor Standards for Writing: W.CCR.3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10.


Happy Teaching,
Angela
The Teacher's Desk 6
teachersdesk@yahoo.com