Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3...

It has been quite a while since I've tried using Google docs. Or is it Google drive now? Or neither?? I can't keep up with all of this technology. TpT has seriously made everything so easy for me as far as selling items, but I'm looking for a more convenient way to share my freebies. Thus, a return to Google whatever. 

A quick post to show what we're working on this week. We are reading The Sleeping Pig. It's such a cute story and the kids love acting it out. What I wanted to do was integrate some "making connections" into the lesson. I whipped this up real quick so the students could tell me about a time when they tried to wake someone up. Some of their stories were pretty hilarious! Let me just say I hope my future child(ren) don't...

That's right... he threw a fake spider on his poor mom and dad to wake them up!! I shudder to image how I would respond to THAT!

I could, however, live with that! What a sweetie, making breakfast for her parents' anniversary :)

Put them all together with a little cartoon pig, some other watermelons, and a vine. Viola!

If you read this story in class and are interested in making connections, I posted the writing prompt to Google. At least I think I did. Hence the testing title ;) You should be able to click on the picture below. If it doesn't work, let me know and I'll do a little more googling. Ha! 

I've got sooooo much good stuff in the works that I'll be back tomorrow! Until then sweet blogging buddies!

Best wishes,

Summarizing...

So I've never liked how my TE expects me to introduce reading comprehension strategies at the beginning of the year. They're like... "Hey, you could jut quickly teach one strategy a day for a week and be great! Your kids are definitely going to learn each strategy after reading one story!..." This year, I decidedto do things my way (thank you private school for allowing me the freedom to pretty much do whatever I want)!! Here's to hoping I made the right decision!

Last week we only focused on summarizing (we'll add synthesizing later... one step at a time). After attending a short, but helpful seminar on reading comprehension, I put together a new summarizing anchor chart.

With each step, the kids and I say what we're doing while simultaneously performing a small hand gesture. For "stop," we hold our hand up. We point to our big brains while saying "think about the story," and we cup our hands around our mouth for "say it on your own words." Let me tell you, it's a lot easier to see who is particpiating and who isn't when there's movement involved!

The first story we tried out this strategy on was There is a Bird on Your Head! by Mo Willems. This is one of my absolute favorite stories to read alound!! I really get into the different character voices and the kids are shocked when I actually yell!! Since it was a short story we didn't need to stop and summarize throughout. We read the whole thing (twice because it's so much fun) and then summarized. I have mentioned that for longer  stories we will stop after reading a few pages. Anyways, after reading, together we recited the steps for summarizing. Then we did it! We used our own words to retell what had happened. Since this was our first go around, I went with a simple picture answer. Again, this story is perfect because the illustrations are simple enough that the kids feel comfortable attempting to recreate them. Plus it helps that I do my own rendering on the board :) Exibit A...

The next day we remembered the steps to summarizing and read another story. Again, it was short enough for us to read without stopping to summarize. This time I had the students write sentences. They were able to tell about what happened using their own words. I know it doesn't show below, but trust me... wer're going to need A LOT of work on retelling ONLY the important parts. I present you with Exibit B...

Wouldn't you know it, I forgot to take a picture of this :/

On Friday, we read Bear's Loose Tooth. This time, we worked as a class to write one fluid summary instead of a couple of sentences that answered questions. Exibit C...

If only I can get them to draw with more effort. I've NEVER had this problem!! Usually first graders love to draw!! But this class, they really like drawing in only one color and leaving out most details. Yikes! Any suggestions? 

On a completely unrelated note... I just finished my Common Core Collection for first grade! Wow!! This is by far the most time consuming project I have taken on! I was excited when I began, extremely fatigued and doubting myself in the middle, and now relieved and proud that it's finished!!

This journal is 88 pages long and the perfect way to showcase your students' skills! I plan on working in this journal all year long, addressing one standard at a time after it's been taught. Our school has a book binding machine so I'll be laminating the covers and assembling them tomorrow. I'm soooooo excited to actually see the hard copy! And as a treat for my beloved followers (and for those of you who somehow happened to make it to the bottom) I'm giving away 5 free copies! If you would like one, please leave me a comment (including email address) letting me know how you teach one  (any) reading comprehension strategy. I'm always looking for new ideas to incorporate into my lessons! So, whatcha got?!

Best wishes,

Made (way too much of) It Monday...

Ohmigoodness! I have got to stop blog stalking and pinning! You all have WAAAYY too many good ideas! This is what I was able to accomplish this week...

The grossly popular seat crates. I tried to resist, but couldn't. I have such a tiny room that I always thought, "there's no space." I finally realized that these would be great in my reading corner. Just wait until I can get into my room and set it all up!!

The tattle monster was another great pinterest inspired project. Hopefully this will eliminate the mindless tattle telling that goes on day-to-day. There's a poster I'm going to print and laminate that goes with it, too.

Here's my no name board. I forgot to take the little pieces of paper out of the clip before I took this picture. Whoopsie!

Here's my writing process pencil. Again, this is one of those ideas I have seen over and over, but thought I didn't need it. Now that I've come to my sense, I'm excited to laminate this and post it with my writing process posters!

Last, but not least, this week I wrapped up my latest TpT product. May I present...

Owl and Polka Dot Reading Strategies and Skills

Aren't they just adorable?! The first 5 to say they are will get 'em for free!

As if that wasn't enough, I'm almost finished with my Common Core packet. Be on the look-out (you know I like giving things away)!!

I know it's late, but there's still time to link up and show up whatcha got!

Best wishes,