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.