Pinterest Cause & Effect

Hello bloggers,

This week our reading strategy is cause and effect. My newest addiction is PINTEREST!!! I just google my ideas and lots of awesome lesson activities come to my fingertips! I mean what teacher wouldn't love this! Right? Follow me on Pinterest...

 

Anyhoo... these are some of the cutest things I am going to try in my classroom this week:

Read If you give a cat a cupcake and complete the cause and effect cats. This is from http://saylorslog.blogspot.com/2011/03/cause-and-effect-with-cat.html

This cause and effect game will be perfect for guided reading. This came from:

http://firstgradealacarte.blogspot.com/2011/04/if-you-give-mouse.html

Finally, I am going to kick off the week with this anchor chart I found at http://fabulous-fourth.blogspot.com/p/anchor-charts.html

Isn't pinterest the best!? Thanks for all who shared :)

Literature Circles

Happy SNOW DAY!

Well, the snow is Buffalo has finally arrived... all at once!!! Since my graduate weekend classes were cancelled :) I have begun thinking about my little third graders. I want to spend more time focused on building comprehension within their reading. During the week, they are showing a deep understanding of the weekly skills and lessons but on the test, the skill does not transfer!! 

So, I think it is time to introduce LITERATURE CIRCLES!? Right!? So, I am looking for some good resources on roles for third graders, management techniques, and much much more! Here are some goodies I have found so far!

From ABC TEACH:

http://abcteach.com/directory/basics/reading/literature_circles/

Superteacherworksheets has a few free examples:

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/reading/summarizer_WDFDM.pdf

I like how Mrs. Cowan's site and free resources!

http://www.mrscowan.com/literaturecircle.htm

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Ms. Winston's website with literature circle cards ready to print and use!!

http://mswinston.com/my_languagearts.html

Is anyone using literature circles? How is it going?

Boo.. it's almost November!

Where has the beginning of the school year gone!?

With a new adjustment to third grade, beginning graduate school, and a new HUBBY, life has been hectic (to say the least). I am going to try my very best to carve out some time for my blog and the bloggers I follow. I am always looking for new ideas and exciting ways to spice up my classroom!

Here are some Halloween ideas I have used in my classroom...

Persuasive Writing:
Students made haunted houses and wrote a persuasive story to get their reader to come inside their haunted house!

Exclamatory Sentences:
Students cut out a ghost and wrote an exclamatory sentence that a ghost would say or they would say if they saw a ghost.

RIP Overused Words:
We made a word graveyard for overused words. Each student got a tombstone and sent a word to the graveyard. On the tombstone, students wrote replacement words that could be used since their "favorite" word was now dead!

Sequencing:
We carved a pumpkin and wrote a list of steps with transition words (first, next, last, etc.)

Compare & Contrast:
We compared and contrasted our house from a haunted house, apples from pumpkins, and fall to summer.

I am so SORRY I don't have any pictures. I just had to get back on my blog with or without all of the goodies! Stay tuned.. more to come!

Open House Treats

I have been searching around our blogging world and found some great ideas from SOMEONE but I cannot relocate the page.... if this item is yours please let me know so I can give the proper THANK YOU!


These labels are for open house bag of popcorn bags for the kiddos, shown on the other blog. I just made my own label to print and share!


Enjoy :)
Popping In

Find a Friend

Who has a...?

Hello bloggers, I just created a cute twist to scavenger hunts, but with friends!!! I thought it would be a great way to begin talking before my students sit with a partner and interview each other! (I posted my interview in back to school). I hope someone can use it :)


Find a Friend

Bainbridge Giveaway!

Don't forget to head over to Christina's blog to enter to win her giveaway 'Check Please'! It's such a great thing to have for the WHOLE school year and it's super cute!!

http://bainbridgeclass.blogspot.com/2011/08/giveaway-time.html

Welcome Letter

Welcome Students!

In the beginning of August, my school sends each family their classroom teacher assignments for the fall. The packet includes a supply list and a welcome letter from the teacher. I wanted to share mine with you! I print it on cute decorated paper from the dollar tree! It always helps with a good first impression :)


On the first day of school, I send home a newsletter filled with another welcome letter, parent & student handbook, parent contact, parent survey, and permission slip to be on my classroom website. I am still working on putting it all together but check back soon!!!
Welcome Students

Here is my classroom supply list!


Supply List