Activities

I have been diving into learning CAFE, and now I realize I needed to buy the first book, The Daily Five, so tomorrow I plan on making a trip to Barnes and Noble to pick it up. I am really excited about the whole CAFE and Daily Five. The district I work in is an inner city district with a LOT of struggling readers. The school I will be teaching at has a large ELL population and I think CAFE is going to be very helpful. I would love to hear comments and suggestions from anyone regarding any of these subjects! Prior to diving in to these books I did take some time to print and laminate more activity stuff. I also found out that instead of buying my laminating sheets at office depot for $30 a box (50 count) I can get it on Amazon for $13 per box of 100. I felt stupid and had buyers remorse like never before. I order 200 and so I can't do anymore laminating until it gets here. In the meantime I am working on learning CAFE. I have also been sharing it with some extended family and friends that are also teachers. I have not seen anyone in Oklahoma using this (at least I don't personally know anyone). I did buy the book "I need my monster" and found a few activities but I really wanted more. I have been not only inspired but the help I have gotten from all these teacher blogs has been motivating. I created a few activities/games for the monster book that I wanted to share. I have to say that my ideas spun off of others. I haven't figured out yet how to post a doc but when I do I will post them as freebies. I would love to know what anyone thinks. I am new at this.

 

Simple Book Map. I saw this format on another one similar for a different book and I liked the simplicity of it. 

Above are the contraction cut out cards they can use to match up and then write on the sheet provided.

Sequence cards/flip book. I got the idea from a pack I bought and changed the theme basically.

Simple for inference. Read the book without letting students see pictures and draw a picture of what they think Gabe looks like and recall what features Gabe has that Tom was requiring of a substitute monster.

I have a few more but I don't have them completed yet. 

Remembering What It's All About

I wanted to share this because it moved me. There were reasons why I chose teaching as a profession. When I moved to Oklahoma I taught my first year unbeknownst to me, at the worst school in the city. My first year was so bad that I decided to go get my masters degree in something else. What I gained while studying criminals was an even deeper understanding into the serious social issues that impact kids in school. I learned a lot about poverty via Ruby Payne and through my education in Texas, but when I taught my first year in an inner city school I was unprepared for what I would face. I didn't quit because of the kids, I quit because of the lack of leadership and support that ultimately was causing the school to fail. I left because the mentality of the teachers at the school was to yell and scream and threaten kids into submission, which never worked. I left for a lot of reasons. I assumed that all the schools would be the same and for a few other reasons I opted to go back to school. During my studies in criminal justice I began to understand something that I couldn't understand before. The criminal justice system is the back end, it is what happens after these kids have been failed by schools, teachers, churches, communities, parents and peers. Once these kids wind up in the system it's mostly downhill. Most become repeat offenders. A large number don't finish school making it even harder for them to turn their lives around. Most do not have the relationships that would have or could have put them on a different track. My education has continued to teach me how important teachers are. The are very undervalued, overworked and underpaid and it is true that if you teach you teach because you love what you do and not for the money. (although most would appreciate better pay)  My 15 year old son came home and urged me to watch this video. I didn't want to, I was busy trying to learn about CAFE, I kept saying not now, later, I don't feel like it, but my son persisted and finally I gave in and I was so glad I did. I needed to watch this and stoke the fire in my belly. This video really just says it all and anyone who is a teacher understands. Teaching elementary is challenging and teaching inner city school kids is even more challenging and the things we see test us. I am just glad that I am back because I know I have all of my heart to give.

Center one completed and the CALMING JAR is done!!!

I am sooooo excited!!! I finished my first center. The kiddos can use the letters for a variety of activities! I went into Michaels today and came across more stamp letters. I needed capital letters and they were guess how much??? Yep $5! I also finally found the clear glue for the calming jar and the diamond glitter I've been searching high and low for. 

Now, for the calming jar! It is so awesome! I used two different kinds of pink glitter and added some diamond glitter for extra sparkle!

Today I also figure out a great way to organize my activity packs using ziplocs to store them individually, then putting them in hanging folders that fit perfectly in crates! Walmart and guess what, most of it.....$5 (or less)

Getting my creativity on...

Just a quick note. I bought an activity set for the book Pinkalicious that is soooo awesome. I recommend it. Her set is 88 pages of great activities. I bought at the TPT store. Here is the link.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Perfectly-Pinkalicious-Book-Based-Math-Literacy-Activities#tab_ratings_feedbacky-Activities#tab_ratings_feedback

I have been looking for something for the book I bought I need my monster  but I haven't really found anything yet that just jumps out and grabs me the way the Pinkalicious set does. That being said, I have decided to give a try at creating my first activity set. I have purchased some clip art from etsy and here is a little peek at one of the monsters!!!

So cute!!!!! I will keep you posted. I don't have access to adobe publisher anymore, which is what I used to create my great expectation quotes. If anyone has suggestions on a great publishing program for Mac users that is as easy to use as publisher, please let me know!!!! :0) 

Room Stuff!!!

I am so excited the more stuff I get together for my room!!! So I have ideas for things but I will just let you see what Ive acquired this past weekend and I will have to come back and post pics of things put together (activity sets).

Well this is my mom and my hubby and I having lunch...we need food for shopping!

Love these little guys. They were less than $5 on sale at Hobby Lobby this past weekend. My plan for one is for a center with all types of letters to spell words, make sentences etc. 

Table supply caddies! Glitter for my calming jar and two can that match my colors and I haven't decided yet what I will use them for.

Glitter letters for a center! 

I found the polka dot lanters that schoolgirl used on her site for the own theme. A pack of 6 different colors for $25 plus shipping. They are the perfect size. When I get the table numbers attached I will take a picture and show them off!

I found a great idea on pintrest using this book as a writing prompt.  I am thinking this book will spark some creativity in me to design some activities! If you already know of some please let me know!!

I found some math and literacy activities to go with this book that I am going to purchase on TPT! It inspired me to buy this book!

Oklahoma has adopted the common core of course as most states have so I am trying to build a small in class library of books I can use for various activities. This one has a bunch of classic fables.

Here is another classic book. This one is going to inspire some activities! Let me know if you know someone who has already made some.

Oh, last thing! I finished laminating and putting together my behavior chart! So cute!! Visit 3rd Grades a Hoot blog for owl theme stuff like this. She is so good!