Five for Friday 03/14/14

Hi Everyone,
It is Five for Friday.

It has been a long time since I've gotten to link up! It is Spring Break for me and I am loving all the free time. :) with that said, here is just a peek at what I've been up to this week. 

1. Active Blogging

Can't tell you how excited I am that I actually was able to post several times this week. If you missed it I am adding the links below.
Video Snippets (Mon)
(Videos included in Monday's post)

Feb/March Displayed work in pics (Tues)

Peek at Centers/Workstations (Thurs)

2. Instagram

If you missed it, I've posted several pics on my Insta account this week. It is amazing the things I can accomplish when I don't have to work daily. :P

If you don't already follow you can click on that little orange heart on the top right of my blog.

3. SitSpot Envy

If you haven't seen all the SitSpot rage going on in the blog-o-sphere this week where have you been? Several of the Cali bloggers recently purchased some SitSpots. They not only are showing all the fabulous things they have done with these wonder spots, but are having a giveaway too!

I blogged about my set last September, and they are still going strong! I LOVE them and have been wanting a second set for my carpet area.

This image is of my line up spots. My students adore them!

4. Working From Home

I am on Spring break and the weather has been beautiful. I have been having some down time, but I have also been taking advantage and getting some work done, while I have time. Mainly Scoring writing samples, updating student files and getting report card info done. Best part is I can do it while streaming some tv/ movies. Today it is Nebraska.

5. Kinder Writing

Can't tell you how proud I am of my Kinder Kids, my First Graders too. However, my Kindergarten students made such huge gains in writing this quarter. Most wrote 3 page books! I was a very happy teacher filling in report cards yesterday.

Here is one of my faves. 

Pg 1

Pg 2

Pg 3

He is writing about last Monday, when we went to the Capitol building for our Read Across America read-a-thon.

That's all folks.

Have a great weekend. 
Don't forget to check out all the other bloggers on Doodlebugs Five for Friday Linky.

Classroom Centers and Workstations

Oops, I missed day 3 of Spring Break. I went out to run a few errands and was out most of the day! Yikes. This means that yesterday's post is now todays post. :P

For as long as I have had this little blog I've wanted to do a series of posts on my centers/workstations. Every week I think, this week I will get it done, but Wednesday rolls around and I am completely intrenched with work and I never get it done. Does that sound familiar to anyone? So I am taking advantage of my time off and sharing a glimpse into my Center/ Workstation time.

I try, and do a pretty good job of having reading groups 3 times a week. I try for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. While I am working with my small groups,

my other students are working independently. Here is a picture of the pocket chart I use to display where my students are to go.

Once they finish their seat work they walk over to the chart, and make their way to their station for the day. I only see my kids for 1 hour each day so they don't get much time at their station. I try for 20/25 min. This gives me enough time to see 3 groups. Tight I know, but we make it work.

Technology Center
This little one caught me snapping pictures!
They LOVE, I can't stress that enough, LOVE reading on the eReader. We also have some iPods in this tub but they have been out for "servicing" for a couple of weeks. My fault.

Skills Tub Workstation

This workstation is fluid and skill based. Unlike the other centers in the room that have fixed activities, this one changes based on what my students are needing. The kinder tub is pink, the 1st grade tub is blue. As you can see this little one is working on some alphabet knowledge.

Overhead Center

When they fazed these out I made sure to hold on to mine. Just print up some worksheets on transparency paper, buy some markers and instant review! The red bag holds the kinder transparencies and the blue bag is for 1st.

Listening Center

Most of my students forget the order of the buttons, and these numbers make it easier to remember.

 

Making Words Center

This is the same pack you saw my other little smartie pants working on.

)

Puzzles "Brain Exercising" Center

Wish I had some more floor puzzles. the Target Dollar Spot has been lacking lately.

Play-Dough Center

Students work on both HFW and letters at this station.

This is strictly a Kinder center.

Reading "Library" Center

One thing my Nook has done is make my kids excited about reading again. They love looking for the same books in the library, or similar books in the series. I have to admit I am super embarrassed at the state of the library. Always a problem for my students and ME!

Read the Room Workstation

This station changes as well. We look for seasonal words in the room, words with a particular vowel pattern, and other times we just look for words that start with a particular letter, BUT we always wear our (recycled) 3D glasses. Did you now they help us find those hidden words? It is amazing what 3D glasses can do. :P Then we read them with mustache and lip props!

Color and Stamp Center/Workstation

This started as just stamping but I started adding some "Write, Color, Stamp" sheets. This is a 1st grade only center. We basically work on some phonics skills here, but I also have some HFW's work.

Pocket Chart Workstation

Again in this station the activities change but they are always skill based. Kinder tub is pink, 1st grade tub is blue.

Computer Center

Also a fave. Kids get to visit Starfall or RAZ Kids.

I feel like there is SO much that I didn't get to say. No doubt I left a lot out. If you have any questions please ask. 

Our work in Pictures.

Day 2 of spring break. I am sticking to my plan of a little bit of work and a lot of relaxation each day. The weather has been gorgeous too! 

Yesterday I shared 3 of my favorite video snippets of my students hard at work. Today I'd like to share all the wonderful creations my students have been working on this month. 

Valentine crafts. 

Presidential Learning.

The R-controlled triplets: er, ir, & ur.

Read Across America

Hard at work during small group/ guided reading time. 

That's all for today folks. Come back tomorrow for a peek at our classroom centers & workstations. 

A few of my favorite snippets...

I am off this week, YAY for Spring break! I wanted to take a minute to share a few favorite classroom videos of my students working hard.

This vid is one of my FAVORITES. It is 2 min long and he spends a min looking for some letters but don't stop watching because he does the cutest thing when he finally finds what he is looking for.

This vid shows one of my Kinder ELL kiddos using Kindergarten Smorgasbords CVC pack. If you like it but are looking for more of a challenge he just created and follow up CVCe pack!

This next pic shows an ELL student who needed a little extra practice with blending and segmenting. We used the famous What does the Fox say? pack this time. The kids LOVE this pack.

Again, if you want something a bit more challenging there is a companion pack, What does the Fox say, CVCe.

Finally I wanted to share a quick vid showing a little extra HFW practice. This day we were pinched for time and I decided instead of rainbow writing our words, we could trace them on our iPad. I walked around the room as the kids were working on their workstations. I left the projector on as they did and the other kids loved helping out when one of their friends got stuck. 

Hope you enjoyed a little peek into our room. I hope to be back later this week to share a little bit more of our classroom happenings.

Tech Tuesday: Music in the classroom.

I know you all can relate when I say that sometimes I just want to put some ear plugs in my ears in the classroom. 

My students are ELL/ ESL kids and I like giving them TONS of opportunities to talk and discuss topics and events in English. However, sometimes I could really use some silence. I mean seriously they can talk FOREVER. That is unless I ASK them to talk. Then they are as quiet as a mouse.

My students get to chatter most of the time, as they work. I really only ask them to be quiet when I am teaching or another student is talking. So far this works. However, we do have times where I would rather them CONCENTRATE on what they are doing instead of chatter away. During these times I play music. I know this is NOT a new revelation, I am not inventing, nor "re-inventing" anything.

(Seriously though who thought of "reinventing"? You can't "RE-invent". If you invent something new you invented something new. If it is the same product with a twist you modified or improved it. Don't even get me started on "New AND Improved." Is it new or is it improved? Semantics people, they are important.)

Back to what I was saying. I know that teachers have been playing music for kids for AGES. I play soft music during writing time, I play fun pop music during clean up time (It makes a great timer) and I play music to get kids moving in general.
Obviously when I first started teaching 10 years ago (yikes) I used CD's and cassette tapes. Yes, cassette tapes, I think I still have a few floating around somewhere.

However, I have evolved with the times and started playing a lot of my music digitally. That meant that I started doing 2 things. One was uploading CD's to my iTunes library. The second was purchasing kid friendly music on iTunes. At first this was excellent.

These are two of my students faves. They are short so I tend to play them in a loop. Yet, after a while the clutter of music I didn't listen to outside of work started to bug me. We could say I was less than thrilled.
About that time a friend introduced me to Pandora Radio. Which I might add has been a WONDERFUL addition to both my personal and professional life. Personally it saved me so much money because I could now listen to songs that I like but don't want to purchase. Professionally it saved me clutter, money and peace of mind.

I have also used iTunes radio with limited success. It is great in a pinch, BUT doesn't offer me the versatility nor the customizing features that Pandora Radio does. Maybe with time.

With Pandora I can create a Kid friendly station. Right now I just have 1 kids Pop station, that is all I've needed really. I get a variety of music for my students. It plays popular tunes that they love and sing along to. Because it is a kids station I don't have to worry about inappropriate language which has been a wonderful perk. I use it as a timer and play it when I want kids to clean up.

I just tell them they have to be done by the end of the song. During writing I play a modern classical music station, but not just any old music will do, I made a Danny Elfman and John Williams station. I tend to get a lot of the Harry Potter or Spiderman soundtrack music. 

Sometimes I just play something to get them moving and they do their work standing/ dancing and singing. :) 

Sometimes I play the music from my computer, other times from my iPod, or iPad, but the best part is that I get to wirelessly stream it to my projector which has some great speakers. I know they don't all, but I got lucky. Not having cords has been such a wonderful perk. 

If you haven't read my post on wirelessly streaming you can find it by clicking here.

Hope you are having a great week. I am just about half way through my 11 hour day!

TPT Spoils

I have to admit, I didn't spend much. My pocket book has been a little on the light side. Also I purchased a few items last month before I knew about the sale. However there were a couple items that have been sitting in my cart for an event just like this.

The first resource I've had in my cart FOR-EV-ER.

Word Family Posters Galore

Truth is I've only hesitated on this purchase for so long because I don't know where in my room I am going to put all these cutie posters. I finally caved when I decided to make it a center. I am not sure how but I want to. Just adorable.

The second resource come out of necessity. 

Earth Day Math Centers

Normally I don't buy many math items, cause well I don't teach much math. However, I've been needing something that covers several areas in math and while this is a "first grade" math resource I think it has just the mix of independent activities for my ELL level 1 kids. Plus it is adorable.

So what did you get?

Don't forget to check out all the other great items purchased. Just click on the button below.

March Currently

Where did February go???

The good news is that a new month means a new Currently!

If you are wondering as to the fancy buck on the Currently it is there to match Farley's new blog design. More on that in a bit, now for my (as my little ones with an accent say) "splenations".

Listening:

I am listening to Bitten a new Syfy show I am just loving. Good news is the show is a new fave. Sad news is I did't get to read the book series before I saw the show. The ironic part is that I already have the books, have for a little over a year now, but I have been so busy I haven't gotten to them. #Fail

Loving:

I've been super excited with all cute items being created by my students. Even more I am SUPER excited about all the great learning my students have been doing. Thank you SO much to all the super bloggers and creators that I've been leaning on lately. :) #LeanOnMe

Thinking:

I can't begin to tell you all the ideas that run through my head, all day long, that I want to share with you all. Good news is I am working on scheduling some posts for you all. Let's see if I can get it done! #Inspiration

Wanting:

I don't think this one needs an explanation... but I will say it is kicking my ass. #Pain

Needing:

Haven't had much to eat today, but I will be getting something very soon... #Vegan

???:

Have you guessed it yet? Isn't terribly difficult. :P Please share your guesses in the comments. #Mystery 

Just a little bit more...

Next week is going to be a busy one for me. I have Parent conferences, staff meetings, assessments and report cards to do. As I mentioned before I am working on scheduling some posts for you all. HOWEVER, should you not hear from me this week know that I am drowning and say a little prayer for me. LOL I will deff be back the week after cause it is my SPRING BREAK! #Yay

Last but not least:

Don't forget to check out Farley's new blog design and read all the other bloggers Currently's too. Just click on the button below. #LinkUp