Brainstorming, Vocabulary and Place Value...Oh, My!

I can't wait for things to settle down in my classroom.   Every day I put my camera on my plan book so I will remember to take pictures and somehow it gets moved and I forget!!!!!  Has anyone else had that same problem????

Here is a project that my husband helped me on.  He spray painted a large coffee can with flat black paint.  He sanded it a little before spraying.  I guess Target had the squishy lightbulbs over the summer in their dollar section, but when I went I only found two left.  I ordered them on-line, the link is below.  I plan on using the lightbulbs during our brainstorming for writing workshop.  

Lightbulb Stress Toy

There's No Place Like Second Grade Freebie

Over the summer, I decided that my word wall would be dedicated to Greek and Latin Roots.  I purchased a set on TPT.  In the beginning of September, Teaching in Room 6 had a great post about "Getting in those Root Words."  I would have purchased her set but I had already bought one.  She posted about using black felt on her boards.  I loved her idea!!!  I bought my fabric on sale at Joanne's and used binder clips to attach it to the front of my cabinets.

Teaching in Room 6

Here are photos of my wall.  I purchased my words on TPT from Creative Classroom A-Z.  I printed them out smaller.  I used velcro on the backs, the felt didn't hold.

Creative Classroom A-Z 

My last share is the place value cups from Pinterest.  The kids love them.  They took longer than I thought and buy extra cups!!!!  My fourth graders found them a little challenging.  Make sure to space between numbers...have them use a pinky.  We have been using them for place value, standard and expanded forms, adding to specific place and rounding.

Friday's Five Fabulous Finds (on Pinterest)

SS Notebooking 

Paragraph Writing

Seuss Writing

Display Idea

Make into math games

Citizenship and a Freebie

This week we will be wrapping up our lessons on citizenship?

I read the book "Where Do I Live?" on Friday.  It is like "Me on the Map" but great for older students.  I plan on doing an activity I found called "Color My World" from a free unit on TPT.  Click here for link:  The World Where I Live.  

I created my own citizenship sheet which I plan on reducing so it can go into their notebook.

click on image for link

Snapshots of my Week

I finally got my Writer's Eyes up in the wall...I used binder clips on the dropped ceiling.  Check out my previous post to make your own.

I created my MINTS poster with the kids.  Look at my previous post to get your own candies.

Here are my Rock Stars finished and hanging!!!

We are in the process of creating their "I am Poetry."  This student is still publishing but I had to take a picture!  My class is really getting into it.  Link for publishing sheets.

Yearn to Learn: Looky, Looky, Laminator Winner

Yearn to Learn: Looky, Looky, Laminator Winner: Let the home laminating begin for the lucky Kelly Hall. She won the My Binding Laminator giveaway.

Look what showed up on my door step today!!!!!!  

I feel so lucky.

(Don't give up on the giveaway girls)

Here is what was in my box: Laminator and two boxes of pouches, in two sizes.

 I love the stream-lined design and the cord storage!

 It comes with a few decals for personalization.

Let the fun begin!!!!!

Using Capitals

I finally remembered today to take pictures of all the things that I have been doing in my classroom lately and I left my camera at school!  Ughhh!

I need to teach a lesson tomorrow on using Capital Letters in our writing.  I will start the lesson by reading the book below.  I love Grammar Tales and so do my kids!!!!!  Scholastic has them in a set.

 I found a great printable on Pinterest.  It is a free download on Teacher's Notebook.

I was inspired to create mint candies with letters to make an anchor chart.  I will cut them out and place on top of columns in a row.  Then we will write words with capitals under each heading.  Here is my printable below:

MINTS printable

Daily Five Begins

So far in Daily Five I have introduced Read to Self, Read to Someone and Listen to Reading.  Things are going quickly because my fourth graders all had some form of Daily Five in Third Grade.  I have only been able to get in two fifteen minute rounds this week because other things in my schedule are taking longer.  I am sure that they could read longer.  Check out my older posts about Daily 5 for more information.

I have added a few skills to the CAFE: picking just right books, asking questions and visualizing pictures.

My next step is to add in Writing.  Their journals are decorated and ready to go...maybe today.  Word Work will start next week as part of their morning work.

Are you implementing Daily 5?  How is it going?  Where are you in the process?

Rock Stars Smilebox

Rock Star Day 2012

My class dressed up like Rock Stars yesterday.   I created a Smilebox Slideshow for my class blog.  It is very easy to use and lots of templates.  The will upgrade teachers for free.  Check it out on their website.

Free slideshow design customized with Smilebox Here is a sample of the posters I am making for the kids. I used a sheet from Hope King on TPT for the back with facts about the child. Rock Star Profile Freebie Here is my new crew!  The kids had a blast. I don't know why I look like superimposed???

Friday's Five Fabulous Finds (on Pinterest)

Poems for the Projector

Place Value Cups

Bucket Filler Pockets

Name of Kids Dictionary