Sometimes Teacher's need inspiration too..

Positive Inspiration

"You're a smartie pants!" 

 

Outreach to Teach Community Service

Student PSEA Conference

PSSA motivation letters!!

A week before the PSSA's took place I sent home a letter to all the parents encouraging them to write a note for their students to read before the first day of testing. The parents sent back letters in sealed envelopes! I wrote a few letters incase not all of the parents sent in a letter. I'm so excited to see the kids reactions Monday morning before the test! 

Eggcellent Learning!

This unit is all about converting fractions to decimals in math! The students were put into small groups and they had to match the fraction to the correct decimal.  Each group was timed to see who could complete the activity the fastest. The students had to whisper and work together. They  weren't allowed to break the egg (they were plastic and flimsy) and if they did a minute was added to their time. The kids were so excited and engaged!! 

Here's to a bright and hopeful future!

Mascot madness

Sequencing details

Alliteration activity

Cross-Curricular Connection (3 C's!)

Last week I introduced watersheds to the fourth graders after they watched a demonstration from the Audobun Society. One of the essential questions connected to the students understanding of pollution and how humans impact and could reduce pollution on the watersheds.  The students were divided up into six groups so that there were four students in each group.  The students had to include the following: 

•  type of pollution and picture of the pollution
• point or nonpoint source pollution
• how humans impact the pollution
• how humans can reduce the pollution
• COLOR

For their writing prompt I introduced informative writing.  The activating strategy was a radio reading of, "The Lorax." Students brainstormed the different ways of pollution and how kids could help. 

Then the students watched a clip of Kid President, "How to Change the World a Work in Progress" As they watched the video they recorded the different ways a kid could change the world.  The fourth graders then had a write a five paragraph informative essay over the span of four days.  Their writing prompt was: "Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it's not."   

 

 

This past week I taught equivalent fractions.  As an activating strategy (after previous lessons on equivalent fractions) I created four posters with a different fraction at the top of each poster.  Each group had to use a different color crayon (which we identified before the lesson started).  The groups had one minute to write as many equivalent fractions that they could on the poster.  After the minute the students stopped and put down their crayons.  I rotated the posters around to the different groups.  The students were not allowed to repeat any fractions that were previously written. I encouraged the students to whisper to their group members so they weren't giving away any strategies.  The students LOVED this activity! They were actively engaged and enjoyed the competition!

Story Taco (Retelling Strategy)

I am in charge of the Retelling Group for reading intervention.  The first time I met with the students we made a story time taco! The students were very enthuasistic about creating their own taco with fillings!

I first started off with a paper plate and had the students write: Story Taco and Title of the Book.

Then I had the students label each part, the brown was meat: the setting (or where the story takes place).  The next color is green which is the characters.  Then the next color paper is red and red stands for the solution to the problem in the story (answer).  The final piece of the taco is the yellow paper.  Yellow paper is used for main idea.  The main idea has three parts: beginning, middle and end.

For the next time we meet the students will read their own silent reading book and answer the questions and record their answers on the graphic organizer. 

Precepts

March Precepts! The students asked for different ones so they could compare and share!

Building Relationships


In the classroom it's vital to build relationships with all the students.  As you build relationships you learn more about the students and how to accommodate to their needs.The previous student teacher in the classroom had a genius idea that I decided to use.  She put a box on her desk and had the student put letters in her box that she would respond too.  I used the same recycled box that I used for my Valentine invitations. 

Flipped Classroom Everyday Mathematics

~Adding and Subtraction Fractions Using Pattern Blocks~

Adding fractions with like denominators

Adding Mixed number fractions with like denominators

Adding fractions with unlike denominators

Subtracting fractions with like denominators

Subtracting fractions with like denominators. 

Subtracting fractions with unlike denominators. 

Book Review/Bulletin Boards

Book Review and Bulletin Board

We needed a new bulletin board for February, so I of coarse did my research and looked up different bulletin board ideas on pinterest.  I found a bulletin board on Classroom Freebies that was perfect! This bulletin board a great way to get students reading! This bulletin board allows students to recommend books to their schoolmates in a fun and interesting way.  The students are sharing their love for reading (a book of their choice) and suggesting literature others.
There were several different stages of the project.

1. Review why we recommend books to other readers
2. Explain what is included in a review: title, author, a way to hook the reader, and why you are recommending the book.
3. Provide a few examples of the a book review.
4. Allow the students about five minutes to choose a book that they want to recommend.
*I allowed them to use the iPads to research a book that they had already read if it wasn't in the classroom.  The students loved using the iPads because it also helped them learn how to spell the title and the author of the book correctly. 
5. Have the students write a rough copy with at least FOUR good sentences.
6. The students will then edit their paper for spelling and grammar. (using whatever editing system the school uses)
7. Students will have their rough copy approved by the teacher before they start on their final copy.
8. Using the marshmallow template download (have them printed for the class) the students will write their final in cursive (students may need another marshmallow depending on how much they want to write.  I didn't set a limit on how much they could write! It allows creativity)

9.  To extend the activity (and incorporate technology) I had the students get a laptop and type their review on the scholastic book site!
*** Here is the link for the Scholastic Book Review
This site is awesome because the students are able to type up their review and their age.  The review will be posted under the title of the book so that other students can read the book reviews!
10.  I cut out all of the marshmallows and hung them around a mug on the bulletin board. I wrote around the mug "Warm Up With A Good Book." 

 

Welcome Letter

Parent communication is one of the most important components of teaching so I sent home a welcome letter the first week that I began my student teaching experience. I have provided my example and the template with instructions to use.  I would create the letter to fit your personality.  However, I found that "bunting" is an awesome way to decorate a letter.  Bunting is the triangular banner found at the top of the page.

Precepts

The first week of student teaching I was able to read the book, "Wonder" by R.J. Palacio.  This book focuses on the school day of a student born with facial abnormalities.  The fourth graders loved the few chapters I read of this book.  One particular chapter I found interesting was about precepts.  The teacher provided them with a new precept each month.  The precept for this chapter was, "When given the choice between being right or being kind, choose kind." I particularly liked this precept because it was encouraging for the students.  So I wrote the quote on paint strips (a fabulous resource) and they will be taped onto their desks.  This way the students can look at this quote and remember its meaning.  Each month a new precept will be taped onto their desk.