For any "Wonder" Fans

Did you know that R.J. Palaccio wrote another part to "Wonder" called  "The Julian Chapter"?  It is only available as a download.  

I read "Wonder" as a read aloud,  to my fourth graders last year and they were so upset that Julian's side was not in the book.  I was very excited when I discovered that the author wrote and released the new part in May. (I discovered this after school was out)  

I taught summer school and their summer reading book was "Wonder."  When I was searching for materials I found the new story.  I bought the download and read it to two summer school classes.  Wow…no disappointment.   I don't want to give away any of the book away…I loved it!!!!!

Throwback Thursday Back to School Rules

Here is a throwback to September 2, 2012.  I use the posters when having the children brainstorm expectations around the school.  I plan on using these with my new fifth graders.  I will read "Back to School Rules" and "What If Everbody Did That."  Read below for my original post.

This week I will be establishing and focusing on Rules and Being Good Citizens of Our School as part our of Social Studies Curriculum.  I think it is important that the children take part in the process of creating our rules; they need to understand what they are, what they look like and why we have them.  I will use the documents below to brainstorm with the kids as we talk about each area.

Click to download document

I have several books that I use and I have ordered a few new ones from Amazon.   I will read these books during the week and chart our rules that we use in the classroom, hallways, cafeteria and recess.  We will then narrow down our ideas to 3-4 rules for each chart.  I plan to have the kids create posters to hang in the specific school areas displaying our expectations.  I will post our final projects at a later date.

I did not order these books but thought they might be good for younger grades.

Throwback Thursday: Hopes and Dreams Time Capsule

Here is my blogging TBT.  It is a post from September 18, 2011.  I still do this activity with my students every year…they love opening the can the last week of school.

Second Grade Shenanigans

As part of my Responsive Classroom I always have my students write their Hopes and Dreams/Goals on clouds and hang them up on a wall in the classroom at the beginning of the year.  I wanted to change things up and loved this sheet from Dotsnspots.  Thanks for sharing!!!!

I reduced the size of the Hopes and Dreams sheet so it would fit into can when rolled up.  I had the children share them during morning meeting.  We rolled them up and tied them with a ribbon.  We then closed up the Hopes and Dreams Time Capsule and will share our sheets on the last day!

The paint can was from Home Depot.  I tied lots of ribbons on the handles.  Here is the cover sheet and top of the can.  Click on picture below to print out:

Link

There is an end of the year reflection sheet that I  use before we open the can.  The kids like to compare their favorites and see what has changed and what has stayed the same.  

Link

Establishing School Rules- Freebie

This week I will be establishing and focusing on Rules and Being Good Citizens of Our School as part our of Social Studies Curriculum.  I think it is important that the children take part in the process of creating our rules; they need to understand what they are, what they look like and why we have them.  I will use the documents below to brainstorm with the kids as we talk about each area.

Click to download document

I have several books that I use and I have ordered a few new ones from Amazon.   I will read these books during the week and chart our rules that we use in the classroom, hallways, cafeteria and recess.  We will then narrow down our ideas to 3-4 rules for each chart.  I plan to have the kids create posters to hang in the specific school areas displaying our expectations.  I will post our final projects at a later date.

I did not order these books but thought they might be good for younger grades.

B2S Books

Click here to link up:

I switched grade levels last year and I had I some of the same students moving up with me.  I had to come up with new B2S Read Alouds and projects for fourth grade.  I hate when you plan a lesson and you hear the dreaded statement, "We did that last year!"  Here are some of the books that I use:

Establishing Classroom Rules

Available Here

Available Here

Creating Hopes and Dreams

Available Here

Available Here

Building Community and Acceptance

Available Here

Available Here

Bucket Fillers

Available Here

Available Here

Back to School Activity- Hopes and Dreams

Looking for a Back to School Activity?  Create a Classroom Time Capsule to open in June.

I use Responsive Classroom and one of their Back to School Activities is to have the students create their "Hopes and Dreams" for the school year.  Here is the can that I made last September and the kids' sheets(second photo) before we read them during the last week of school to see if they achieved their dreams during the school year.  Any sheet could be used for your classroom level and needs.

The sheet that I used is from Dots-n-Spots which you can find on her blog. (Under Back to School- Have you ever had a Time Capsule) She also had a follow up sheet for the end of the year that my children did and could compare how they changed and grew. (Under End of the Year- End of Year Reflection)

I am breaking a posting rule...I did post this last year in September but I wanted to share it again after finding these pictures from June.  Click to see other post  Hopes and Dreams Time Capsule

Please click on this link to get the Printable for the can