Must Read Mentor Texts

Collaboration Cuties is hosting a *new* weekly linky about must read mentor texts.

Love the fact that this button goes with my blog theme! ;)

I'm going to talk about my favorite book of all time.

Now you may think "Wolves mean fairy tales" right? Well, there is so much more that you can do with this book!  First off, I usually have read several other wolf books like Big Bad Wolves or The Three Little Pigs.  Check your library!  There are so many other wolf books out there. 

First, before you read the book aloud, ask your students what they have learned about learned about wolves from other stories. That's activating their schema right there!

Then give the students a little background of the book.  Here's the description from my library.

Mr. Wolf asks some of his neighbors to help him make pancakes, and even though they all rudely refuse, when the pancakes are done they expect to share the feast.

Well, low and behold, the wolf starts being nice to everyone and no one wants to be his friend because of his reputation. 

Just as you are convinced that the wolf has changed his ways, you're in for a shocking ending!  Guess you'll have to read the book to find out what happens!

I made a graph that you could use either before you read the book or in the middle or reading  to your students.  There's a part where all of the animals come to the wolf's door because they smell the pancakes. It's the perfect place to take a break and practice some predicting skills. 

Click the picture to download!

Be sure to head on over to Collaboration Cuties for some more mentor texts!

Before I leave you this afternoon, I wanted to let you know that Kimberly Ann from Live, Laugh, I LOVE Kindergarten is having a 300 follower giveaway. Click on the picture to enter!

FYI: My TPT store is 10% until midnight tonight! (3/31)

Five Things Saturday!

This is going to be short and sweet.  I have to run out in the door in about 30 minutes and I forgot to take pictures at school this week. So it's going to be a little random too!

1. I spent yesterday shopping since my school was closed for Good Friday. I had to consciously avoid buying items in that lovely new spring color, mint.

I've already bought 5 shirts or dresses that are mint. I LOVE that color - goes perfectly with my red hair!

I tried on a coral stripped top at Old Navy (can't find picture)...was a little afraid that it would clash with my hair, but it looked good!

2. I could not find the right sandals to save my life yesterday. I needed them for an event this afternoon. Where did I finally find them?

Yeah, I should have started there, right?

3. I won a few giveaways this week! I swear it seems like I enter a ton and never win, but I finally struck gold! Here are the products I won if you are searching for some new things.

First Grade Smiles

Meet Miss Parker

4. My Spring Break is STILL not for another week. The county where I live is out this week, but my school decided to do it's own thing and choose a different week (April 8-12). I need Spring Break like ASAP. 

Have you had your spring break yet?  If you did, did you stay home or go anywhere?  I'm going to spend a few days in NC at my parents' house.  I'm looking forward to it because the last time I saw my dad he was in ICU (at Christmas). I'm happy he's finally getting better.

5. I finished up a new Spring Math Center Packet.  I always have grand plans to make 10 centers, then maybe 5 centers....and this packet is 3 centers (at least then it's a little cheaper!) Hopefully I'll have more time on my hands this summer to make some longer packets!

The first center reviews fact families.

Money review with some cute chicks from Collaboration Cuties!

Shape Sort - 2D/3D shapes

The first THREE people to comment can receive this packet for FREE. Otherwise it's on sale (along with the rest of my TPT store) until tomorrow 3/31.

Oooo...Paper Bag Book Report

I'm playing a little catch up on some activities we did last week in the classroom. If you read all the way until the end, you might have a chance to win something!

Our phonics concept had us studying the different sounds of /oo/.

First I gave everyone a foot and they had to tell me if the word should go under "foot" or "noon." We made this beautiful anchor chart. ;)

You can download the feet from First Grade Parade.

Yesterday we wrote our spelling words that had an /oo/ sound like loop with Froot Loops.

I only got a picture of the messy one.  :) We laid the papers out in the hall to dry.  When we walked by later, that student said "Oh, you can totally tell which one is mine."

This idea came from First Grade Wow.  I had found it last year RIGHT after I taught this skill.  Does that ever happen to you?

The other first grade teacher approached me last week about having the students complete a book report at home. She thought a paper bag book report would be perfect for the firsties to get their feet wet in the world of book reports.

I spent my Sunday morning putting together this packet (well, at least a couple of hours).

Students have to write the title, author, and illustrator on the front of the bag.  They have the option to draw and color the same cover of the book or think of their own.

On one side of the bag, students list the characters of the book. And on the other side, students should list the setting of the story. The summary of the book goes on the back.

Students should pick 3 items that represent the characters, setting or events of the book and place them inside the bag.

I uploaded the packet to TPT this morning, so be sure to check it out!  I also included an option if you wanted your students to put 5 items in the bag. There's a rubric for easy grading too!

Click the picture to go to my TPT store.

Do you have your students complete book reports?  What do you usually have the students do?

The first THREE people to comment will receive a copy of Paper Bag Book Report: K-2 for free!

Easter Plurals

I have been in a complete fog the last couple of weeks. Between the time change, report cards, conferences and the normal daily to-do's, I am ready for SUMMER. It was mentioned in the latest staff meeting that there are only 8 Mondays left of the school year.

I. can. make. it.

Here's an Easter freebie for you! Enjoy!

Font by Kevin and Amanda

Graphics by My Cute Graphics and Krista Wallden

Easter ABC Order

I've been on a mini blogging hiatus! The weather was beautiful over the weekend and I must admit that teaching and blogging was the last thing on my mind. I even took home a few things to grade and they are still sitting in my car.

But I did have time to make this Easter ABC order!

Just click the picture to download!

Math Freebie

This week is going to be all kinds of crazy for me! Conferences, report cards, grad school papers + normal teaching responsibilities....yikes!

We started our two digit subtraction unit last week.  I'm blessed this year with a bunch of great listeners so they ACTUALLY start their math problems in the ones column.  Nothing short of a miracle here!

I want to share this printable that I'm using as an assessment.  Click on the picture to download.

Jelly Beans & Bread

Jelly Beans & Bread - interesting title, right? Well this week we are studying the vowel digraph /ea/.
It's been awhile since my class has played a game of "I Have, Who Has?" and they've been asking for it!

I know they are going to get a kick out of it especially since my last name - deal - is one of the words. Don't your students always giggle when there is a student's name (or mom's name or dog's name) in a word problem?  They just have to tell you, don't they?

The first TWO people to comment will receive a copy for FREE. Otherwise you can find it in my TPT store.

Of course, I want to leave everyone with a special goodie.  Here's a printable that goes along with the vowel digraph /ea/.  Just click the picture to download it from GoogleDocs.

Evelyn from Mrs. Evelyn Stevenson's First Grade Class contacted me about a Christian School Teacher's Blog Train.  She's linked up all the Christian educators that she know about here. If you want to be added to the list make sure to visit her blog!

How did you handle the time change?? I am SUPER tired, but I tried really hard not to sleep in.  Luckily tomorrow is a teacher workday so the students have an extra day to get adjusted. I think the VP knows how tired we'll be because she's planning on serving us Moe's for lunch.

I want to get a jump start on my teacher's workday and finish the report card comments, grading, and conference reports that are all due this week. So you know I actually have time to clean up classroom or something.  

Enjoy your Sunday!  Maybe take an extra nap (or two)!

Friday Flashback & a Freebie

Gosh, this week had been a rough one for me! I took off on Monday and ended up taking today off too. On Monday I got a text saying a student had those special little bugs.  Luckily it didn't spread! Then I had two students catch the stomach bug. And somehow, despite my Lysol attempts, I ended up with the stomach bug yesterday.

I do have a little hint about students getting sick in the class.  I have this little rule I tell them at the beginning of the year.  It applies to when I'm in reading groups and when I'm working with students.  The only way a student is allowed to interrupt me is if they are bleeding, have a broken bone or barfing.  (Sorry for that.) I call it the 3 B's.  It generally cracks them up, but they remember it.  I tell them that if they feel like they are going to do the 3rd B they just need to run for the bathroom. It works! Out of the six years I've been teaching it's never happened in my classroom!

Are you still with me? ;)

I searched my phone and I only had one good shot of something we did this week.

We kicked off our weather unit by learning about meteorologists and basic types of weather. In writing, we created this craft from Mrs. Lee's Kindergarten.

We brainstormed the different types of weather that it could be tomorrow - sunny, partly cloudy, windy, rainy, etc. Each student wrote their own prediction and drew a picture of of what they would look like if they were a meteorologist. Here's the writing template for you.

Click the picture to download.

Category Sort and a Giveaway

I'm staying home from work today.  It is a rare event that I actually take a sick day, so I figure I should celebrate (from the couch) by hosting a flash sale.  Everything in my TPT store is 10% for today only!

You'll want to check out a new packet I made this weekend called Category Sort: March Edition.

Students sort 12 cards into 2 categories (spring and St. Patrick's Day) and then record their answers on the sheet provided.

*First person to comment wins a free copy of Category Sort: March Edition*

Need more St. Patrick's Day ideas?  Check out Sharing Kindergarten's St. Patrick Day Product Linky Party!

Amanda and Stacia from Collaboration Cuties is having a 300 followers giveaway.  It's absolutely HUGE, so you must check it out!  I donated my Digraphs Packet: Craftivities & More.

March Currently

This cold weather in Georgia totally stinks right now!  Last Sunday I walked to Publix in the afternoon because it was a beautiful, sunny, and warm day.  This Sunday it is breezy and frigid! I can barely stand to take the dogs out to go to the bathroom. I hope it warms up for tomorrow because I don't want to have indoor recess!

Here's my March Currently from Farley! It is always such a neat way to find new bloggers and learn more about everyone!

Listening - I already had my fill of Lifetime Movies for the afternoon and there's never anything on TV from 5pm-9pm.  I am SUPER excited for Celebrity Apprentice tonight! 

Loving - I think I probably would write this every month so I need to work hard on thinking of something different for next month! But this is especially true right now because I'm sick.

Thinking - I'm so glad I only take one Master's class at a time.  I'm a little over some of the papers I have to write though!

Wanting - I don't get sick often and I'm thankful for that! But this cold has hit me hard.  I'm tempted to call in sick for tomorrow, but the control freak in me can't let go. I did try out the Neti Pot and let's just say that was an interesting experience.

Needing - Ok, I have only liked 1 out of the 4 books I've read since January. The last three I've read have had the husbands die in the story which makes me super depressed.  Any good book suggestions out there?? Something upbeat, fluffy and happy??

Like - Longhorn Steakhouse - duh! Who doesn't like a juicy steak? (well, other than vegetarians).

Love - Lucy, my dog.  Look at this cute face.  She was a surprise present for my 30th birthday. She wiggles so much my husband says we should rename her Shakira. 

  

Hate - Laundry. Well, I don't mind washing it.  It's just the folding part! :)

Enjoy the rest of your Sunday night!

Five For Friday....on Saturday

The last two weeks I managed to be first on Kacey's Five For Friday. This week I must have slacked off a little because it's Saturday and I'm just now posting!

I'm also linking up with Amanda's Flashback Friday.

1. I'm gearing up for some great St. Patrick's Day activities next week. This week was spent printing, laminating and cutting. Maybe one day I'll learn how to do the visual plans, but this is all I have!  :)

Literacy Centers  - Mix of March by Swimming into Second & March Literacy Centers by Sarah Paul

Writing - Catch a Leprechaun by A Cupcake for the Teacher, In Like a Lion & Out Like a Lamb by Miss Kindergarten Love

Our lesson plans for the following week are always due on Friday mornings at 8am. I love that I have to have everything prepared before I leave on Fridays, but sometimes I find the BEST ideas over the weekend from visiting other blogs and Pinterest. When are your lesson plans due?

2. My school participated in Accelerated Reader's "Read the Most From Coast to Coast"yesterday.  The goal was to beat the number of AR quizzes from last year.

This was in place of our Dr. Seuss celebration.  In previous years we've done a Green Eggs and Ham day (which completely makes the school smell like eggs - Yuck!) I have a teacher confession: Dr. Seuss' books drive me crazy. I don't like them.  I do realize that this is probably considered blasphemy as a first grade teacher.

3. Every month I send home a family project.  Students are supposed to decorate the template, write ten describing words for the month and send it back. I forgot to take a picture of the board, so here's a snapshot of one of the projects.

Here's what the family projects for February looked like:

Do you do anything similar in your class?

4. Funny story: I took a big gulp of water while the students were working.  It went down the wrong way and I had a HUGE coughing fit.  Everyone kept doing their work....no one looked up for about a minute (which felt like an enternity). Finally one of my students asked if I was okay.  I was still choking my this point, but I gave him a thumbs up.  Then a few other students noticed....and one said "Does this mean we get to go home?"  Yes, because if your teacher is choking you get to go home early!!

5. Diane from Fifth in the Middle is hosting a linky on her blog that is broken down by state.

Go HERE to see what blogs from your state! I know I love to find Georgia bloggers and others from surrounding states.

6. (Yes, I made it six this week!) We studied biographies and learned about George Washington Carver and Harriet Tubman. 

First, we created a George Washington Carver craftivity. 

As the students finished up the craft, one little girl came up and ask me if I would put out some scrapbook paper so they could add arms. How could you say no to creativity? Some of them may have looked a little better without the scrapbook paper.  Hmmm....

I found the George Washington Carver paper for FREE on TPT.

Here's our Harriet Tubman!

I especially like the bun in her hair.  :) The students cut a coffee filter in half to put on her shirt.

Here is a student created sample.

7. (I'm outta control this week!) Congrats to Crystal from Ms. Jones' Junction! She won a copy of my Guy Butterfly and Benny Butterfly: a mini unit for y as a vowel and Digraphs: Craftivities and More from my 100 followers giveaway!

Enjoy your Saturday!