No Fake Reading Here

I actually have a poster in my room that says, "No Fake Reading Here".  We all have them...you know what I'm talking about.... those students that hate to read so they fake it!!!  Here are some signs to look for...

So confession time....when I was young, I didn't like reading...yeah, you read that right....THIS reading teacher didn't love reading!!!  I was a good reader...I just didn't like it!  I'm not exactly sure why, but I didn't.  I remember one day in third grade, we got to choose a book from the teacher's "book cart".  I chose a book that had several stories in it.  The story I chose was about a girl that visited her grandparents and got to ride a horse.  I wasn't a huge horse lover or anything...but I visited my best friend's home, on a farm, often!  It was such a different life for me because I lived in town.  I loved being on her farm!  I remember being so involved in the story when the teacher called time...we had to put the books away.  I remember the next time we got to choose a book, I went back to that book to finish it.  To this day, I can even recall the story.  The next year in fourth grade, I had a teacher that turned out to be my favorite of all time...Mrs. Beth Jackson.  I'm still in contact with her today...I give her most of the credit for me wanting to be a teacher!  She read to us every day after lunch...I couldn't wait for her to read...that was it!  I looked forward to going to the library to check out books...I would ask my parents to even take me to the public library to check out books!  So....I think my number one tip is....

Have a variety of books to offer choices for all readers...not just interest...but reading levels, as well!  Set aside time for students to have a CHOICE of what they read!

Share your story...if you didn't like reading (like me) then share that!  If you did like reading, share why!  Connect with your students!  This can go a long way!

Offer other things than books!  There are lots of other types of text...authentic reading....menus, catalogs, comic books...etc. etc. etc.

Build stamina!  Practice this in class!  Start off with one minute...then increase...until you reach 20 minutes.  

Be patient!  Don't give up!  It doesn't happen at the same time for everyone...and it might not happen while they are with you....but lay the ground work!  

Keep reading/modeling aloud for your students daily!  And...never give up! Chatterbox Blessings,

Vocabulary Practice: Making it Meaningful

Gadzooks! I just LOVE words!  These are just a few of my favorites!  Do you have some words that you just love?  So what is all this brouhaha over teaching vocabulary you ask?  Well...vocabulary is such an important part of reading instruction!  Research says that kids need to be exposed to a word 6-12 times before they actually master the word!  Putting words into a center for kids to "work on" just isn't enough!  Having them look up words in the dictionary is not only boring, but a meaningless activity!  I'm not saying throw the dictionaries out but giving a list of words and having them copy definitions is a waste of time!  1.  Some definitions leave the students stumped and continuing to question the meaning.  2. Copying definitions isn't going to help them master a word's meaning. 3. Many words have multiple meanings, so more than likely they are going to copy the shortest definition whether it is the one that matches the meaning you are teaching...or they are going to be asking, "Which definition do I copy?"    When it comes to vocabulary practice, there needs to be more!!  

But what?!?

Are you bumfuzzled at what to do?

   Well, I have some activities that will please even your persnickety students...and it won't cause a great hullabaloo in your classroom!

This or That? Classroom Choices

C.H.O.I.C.E.S.

Everyday, there are choices to be made.   For the most part, we like to have choices. For kids, it's no different.  At my school, students get to make a lunch choice with 4 options.  Sometimes, that is even a struggle for a few!   Choices and Decision Making go hand-in-hand and should extend the mere daily lunch choice...for several reasons.

A Love For Reading

Teaching reading is my passion.  As a child, I didn't like to read a lot.  I was a good reader but when it came to chapter books, I think I just couldn't keep my attention on it long enough.  Now, I love to read, and I love to teach reading! When Reading First was the "in thing", I was asked to help write the grant for my school.  Having a strong reading comprehension program with rich language and vocabulary is a must, however, grant-writing isn't really my forte'....but I digress.  I came across so many strategies that worked well in my class!  The kids loved them and actually got excited about learning!

We all learn in different ways, and kids are no different.  We, as educators, need lots of tips and tricks in our teacher toolboxes!  As you know, when you get kids involved in their learning...talking with their peers...getting hands-on... and doing activities other than just paper-pencil, they are going to  be more enthusiastic about learning!  Personally, I get GIDDY (probably more than I should...lol) when I find new strategies to use with my kiddos!  You do have to model and practice partner/group activities just like you would for centers so guidelines are established and practiced, and mastered so students can be successful...but you already know that!  :) 

So that's why I created this huge reading and vocabulary strategies packet.  There are 80+ pages and it was a real labor of love for me!  Everything is right in one place to pick and choose what works best with our students.  Each one is tried and true.  Of course I have my favorite go-tos.... Anticipation Guide,Carousel Graffiti, and Appointments for reading strategies....

and Pictionary, Word Bump and Paint Chip Vocabulary for vocabulary.   Perhaps you are needing some new ideas, as we all do!  I'd love for you to check it out.  You can find it HERE.  

As always, I appreciate you stopping by!  It does my heart good to share and connect with other teachers! Chatterbox Blessings, Rebecca

We Have A Barn!

 It is completed!  My hubby is wonderful!  On Monday, when I got home from the chiropractor and running errands, my sweet hubby had it already painted for me.  He could have done a number of things on this day off, but he finished this up for me so I wouldn't have to get out in the hot garage to paint.  I just love him!Today, I met my former teammates {two of which I have worked with for 14 years and 7 years, respectively} for lunch.  I'm excited to be moving to second grade this year, but I am sure gonna miss these two!  They are the BEST teammates and friends ever!  We had a nice time, and vowed to do this often!  We are too good of friends not to, and I know we will!

Tomorrow...is my first day of the 2012-2013 school year!  Yep, you read that right...I start back TOMORROW!  

So, I'm enjoying this tonight.  :)
Kiddos start next Wed.  I can't believe summer is over and the new school year is upon us...but I'm also excited to start a new year...in a new grade.  So, when do you start back???  I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer!Many Blessings,

P.S.  Be watching for some freebie Back To School graphics soon!

Beginning On The Barn...

Recently, I shared a picture of a barn that I found on a teacher's blog.  So, I talked my sweet hubby into making it.  We worked together on the design to make it fit my needs, and we went to work.

Cutting out the first side of the barn...

So then we used the first one for a template for the next one.

Cutting the two by twos went much quicker!

 The frame went well.

This was the fun part...putting it together.

I will use the top of the barn for holding book baskets.  There's a bar at the top for support, that I can use for hanging things.

Now, it is just awaiting some red paint and white trim.  I'll post pics when we get that completed...but I'm loving it so far!  I think my kiddos will love it too!Many Blessings,

Daily 5 Book Study Begins!

If you have done Daily 5 {D5} or will be doing D5, you know the feeling that I have from within!  I am so excited to start this that I could burst!  lol  I have read about D5 for a couple of years now, but have never implemented it, or even read the book for that matter.  However, with making a move to 2nd grade next year, I thought this would be the perfect time to start.  So, I bought the book and began reading...only to find a wonderful book study here in Blogland! 
Mel, from Seustastic, and Nicole at Teaching With Style, are hosting a Daily 5 Book Study...WITH SOME AWESOME FREEBIES!!!  I am soooooo beyond excited!
So our challenge is to answer the questions that are posed in Chapter 1. So here goes...1.  On pages 4-6, the authors present two different pictures of their classrooms.  In thinking about an dreflecting on your own practice, how would you characterize your literacy block?  Does it look more like the first or second scenario, or is it somewhere in between?  How will you change it?I've been teaching for 14 years in elementary {I taught preschool for 9 years before that, but I'll just focus on my years in elementary in this post.}  When I first started teaching third grade, 14 years ago, I implemented centers in my classroom {and still do}.  My first year, I was the only teacher that did centers, to my knowledge.  When I think back, my kids were pretty much always on task, but what they were doing might just be "busy work".  In my 6th year, our school received the Reading First grant, so came the 90 min. block.  I have to say that it was a great thing for our school, and my students were no longer engaged in meaningless but when the grant was over, there were resources that were no longer available to us.  Also, students were grouped homogeneously, and center were set for them.  I truly believe in my heart of hearts that students will be more involved and enthusiastic if they have ownership in something.  I have heard so many positive comments about Daily 5 that address these issues.  
2.  The typical teacher is very busy having students do lots of different activities.  How is what you are having students do now in your classroom creating quality readers and writers?I feel that I really did well at creating quality readers...but writing?  Not so much!
3.  What sets the Daily 5 structure apart from what you are doing in your classroom?As I mentioned previously, my students have been homogeneously grouped by me with with very little input on what THEY want to do.  Also, I really want to create quality writers, which I don't feel that I have adequately done.
Thanks for Mel and Nicole for providing this awesome book study and great freebies for us!
My teammates and I are really hoping we will be able to attend the Atlanta workshop by the 2 sisters in August.  Anyone else going to that one?
Now, check out what others are saying about Daily 5 Chapter 1.
Waving from The Teacher's Chatterbox, 

What Are You Reading???

...Or rereading in my case!  I love anything by Isabel Beck, Debbie Diller or Debbie Miller!  I was looking through our teacher resource room the other day.  There were a few books that I personally own, so I pulled them back out.  I also picked up a couple from the teacher resource room to bring home.

What are you reading right now?

What are your favorites to revisit and read again?

Right now I'm rereading Debbie Diller's Practice With Purpose...and then Reading With Meaning by Debbie Miller.  Love these authors!!!

Happy Reading!

Roll A Cube FREEBIES

Here are some freebies for ya!

Graphics by KPM Doodles











Hopefully you can find a use for these roll-a-cubes for reading and math games.  I'd love to hear what you do with them if you use them.

Enjoy!

Blessings,

All Aboard!

The Polar Express!

It's finally here...the train is packed and ready to roll!

Climb aboard...here.

Christmas Blessings,

Anchor Charts Addiction

Hi!  I'm Rebecca, and I'm addicted to Anchor Charts!  

bwahahahaha  

I just love to create Anchor Charts with my students.  

However, I'm starting to run out of space, so I have got to get creative about storing them!  I have found several ways, but I'm not sure which way I like best.  How do YOU store your Anchor Charts?  I'd love to hear your ideas!

Chatterbox Blessings,

Simply Learning Centers

I am sooooo excited and honored to be an author at Simply Learning Centers.  {Thanks, Jennifer!!!}

Head on over to check out all the great info that has been shared so far on centers!  You'll be glad you did!

And check out my very first post on "Centers for the Beginner!"

Chatterbox Blessings,

Prove It!

Yesterday, I shared an Anchor Chart on Anansi that one of my small groups helped me create at center time.  However, it wasn't enough that they picked out words to describe the character.  They had to prove it!  They had to do this by locating things in the reading that supported their decisions.  

So, we came up with a "DOES" list and a "SAYS" list.  Students found sentences in the story that showed what the character did to support their decision for choosing words such as "tricky, or dishonest, etc..  They had to do the same thing to show what the character said to support their word description choices.  They enjoyed working together to find these sentences that would really tell all about this character.  It wasn't always easy for them to locate sentences that really supported certain words they had selected but they stuck with it helping each other.  I love the fact that my small groups always work together to get the job done!  They're the best, and make teaching so much fun!

Chatterbox Blessings,

Anchor Charts

I love using anchor charts.  Who says they have to be boring.  I like to make them fun to get the kids interested...and since we use these throughout the year, who wants boring old charts and posters??!!  The kiddos really enjoy helping create these!  

This is one we did when we were focusing on Character Traits.

Chatterbox Blessings,