What did you say?

If your students are like mine, then you know how fidgety they can get sitting in their seat while we go over skills. For a change of pace, we did a fun activity to practice an otherwise boring skill: Types of Sentences!

I gave each student a sticky note labeled with a sentence type (declarative, interrogative, imperative or exclamatory) to place on their forehead. The students weren't allowed to look at their own label. Students were then encouraged to "mill" around the room and find a partner or actually several partners. They would then read the label on their partner's head silently and give an example of the sentence type. For example, if their partner's label read exclamatory  they would say an exclamatory statement and their partner would then try to guess the sentence type label they had. Then they would switch roles and move on to other students.

At the end of the activity (after most students have had a chance to find various partners) each student would find their own label on the wall and form a group. Each group then explained to the whole class what their sentence type was, what kind of end mark it had and give an example. The kids had a blast! :)

Anchors Away Monday (Plot)

Happy Labor Day! Hope you all are enjoying your day off (or getting ready to start school if you haven't went back already)! I'm linking up with Deb from Crafting Connections for her Weekly Anchors Away Monday!

 We started school two weeks ago and it has been crazy busy since! The saying, "There is no tired like teacher-tired at the beginning of  the year!" couldn't ring more true!  I've been exhausted for the past couple of week and we still don't have everything running smoothly at school yet. Schedules are a nightmare (hopefully, this will be completed soon) and getting into the swing of things is grueling! BUT, it will get better! Hopefully... :)

This week my reading class will be focusing on plot! This is one of the anchor charts I plan to use as well as a video clip to help students understand the important aspects of plot!
                         

 

I also plan to use this video clip from

 Watch Know Learn

This is a GREAT site for quick teaching clips! 

  

I plan to combine these two activities with their interactive notebook in order to teach plot! We will be revisiting the story Because of Winn Dixie this week in order to dig deeper into the text! 

Have a Fantastic Labor Day!!!

Five For Friday August 22 A Peek into my Room!

I'm linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for the Five for Friday Weekly Linky Party!

For this week I'm sharing some of my classroom decor since we have just started back to school! :)

First up! My new door decoration! I think it turned out cute!

                          This is my group behavior board!

This is my Words With Friends Bulletin Board! 

 

 You can find this in my TPT Store!  

 

 My Bulletin board for "S'more Smart Students" great papers!

  

 A fun Quote for the Week!

GIMME FIVE BLOG HOP!!!

 

 I'm linking up with ERICA from Heaven in Grade 7 for a HUGE Back to School Boost Blog Hop Giveaway!!   To enter head over to my TPT Store and  choose FIVE products from my store you would like to win. Leave a comment with your choices in the comment box of this blog post along with your email address. I will choose 1 winner to win all five of their wishlisted products from my store! Have fun! I will pick a winner at 6:30 a.m. on August 20, 2014 my time (Central Time) so you'll know BEFORE the sale ends if you are the winner!  IF you aren't the winner then don't forget to take advantage of Teachers Pay Teachers ONE DAY BOOST sale for a savings of up to 28% off! When you are finished click on the picture below to check out all of the other giveaways!!

Anchors Away Monday August 11

It MONDAY! You know what that means! Anchors Away! I'm linking up with Deb from Crafting Connections for her Weekly Anchors Away Linky Party!

With the common core focus on reading closely and providing evidence I've tried to find some good anchor charts which will help the students learn to read close and find proof.. I love this one with the detective theme!

This one was found on A Walk in My Shoes! 

 

Adorable isn't it?

High/Low Linky August 9

       Today I'm linking up with Julie from A First For Everything for her High/Low Linky Party!

 

 

 First up, my high for this week! Two weeks ago for Wordless Wednesday I posted a pic of my sad useless rack chairs which are horrible for grouping! Several of you responded with various answers as to the type of desk you have in your classroom. Many of you have tables (the best way to group) and several of you have flat desk (the next best way to group) which can form tables when placed together.  As happy as I was for you, I did have a twinge of jealousy since I've been begging for better desks for several years. Well, guess what was in my room yesterday! Yep! Some GREAT group forming desks! I'm so excited!!!

.... now, for my low for the week.... This is my last week of summer since we start school next week.. I had hoped to make it to the beach before school started, but that didn't work out...My dad had shoulder surgery and I needed to stay and help him so the beach trip wasn't going to happen.. We did, however, make it to Branson for vacation before the surgery so that is a high with my low.. LOL.. I'm still holding out hope for a chance at a cruise trip during December.. We shall see! :)

Wordless Wednesday "What is YOUR discipline policy?"

What day is it? HUMPDAY! It's Wordless Wednesday and I'm linking up with

 Miss Decarbo at Second Grade Sugar and Spice for her Weekly Linky Party!

 

We all wish for model classrooms where students are ready, willing and able to learn, but let's face it, some days are going to be less than stellar and some students will prove to be quite a challenge. What is your discipline policy? Does your school focus on PBIS and how is it implemented? What happens to the student who refuses to comply no matter how positive you try to be or how engaging your lessons are?