Show Me Sunday

Let's have some fun "Buzzing through the Blogs" alphabet style.

To link up, find and post about a blog that begins with the next letter in the alphabet.

I'll start with a Letter A blog. The next person that links up will post about a Letter B blog and so on.

If we come to a letter that is difficult to find a blog for, skip it and go on to the next letter.

Can we blog through A - Z?  Let's see!

Introducing Letter A Blog

Stop by According to Ashley's blog. Ashley is a kindergarten teacher.

I loved her thoughts on teaching in her blog post "Why I Do What I Do"

Introducing Letter B Blog

Kelly from Beg, Borrow and Steal is looking for some great fundraising ideas.

She teaches first grade.

Take a peek at her cute blog.

California Regions

This week my class wrapped up our learning of the four main regions of California by making these bean maps.  My grade level does these every year. We used rice, pinto/kidney beans, split peas, and popcorn kernels to represent the coast, mountain, central valley and desert areas.

I joined up with Clutter Free Classroom's Peek into my Planbook Linky.

V is for Versatile

I've been named a Versatile Blogger thanks to Simply 2nd Resources, The Apple Basket Teacher, Pitner's Potpourri, Mrs. Teachnology, Mrs. Williams, Fun for First, Inside the Classroom , Fun in Room 4 B, and The First Grade Diaries. At the moment I would have to say I am V for a Very Tired Blogger. I just finished my 7th week of school. I keep telling myself that by now things should have S-L-O-W-E-D down work wise, but I still feel like I'm working at warp speed. Mid term progress went home today too. A teacher's work is never done! It's my belief that every teacher is VERSATILE just by the nature of our job. Can I get an amen?

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Show Me Sunday

I'm going to start a "Show Me Sunday" feature every week or so on my blog. Join in!

Come share your favorite quote or saying and join the Linky fun.

  Be sure to include a direct link back to my post to stay connected to "Show Me Sunday" spotlights.

Every Sunday I'll post another topic.

One of my favorite quotes:

Your turn!  Share yours.

I'm Sunshine Spreading

Here's to the power of positive!

Got some of your own sunshine to spread?

Join Rowdy in First Grade's Linky

On Task Behavior

I loved the self regulation idea I ran across on Empowering Little Learners.  It called to me because I have at least 3 students who have difficulty realizing when they are off task. I'm hoping this cue sheet will become a magic bullet to help them self monitor their choices. I'm willing to give anything a try. Today was my first day giving it a spin, and all 3 students were able to honestly tell me what level they felt they were at when I asked them. I posted a mini version on each of their desks. Enjoy this revised version of the original.

Join The Wise and Witty Teacher Linky for more ideas!

Let's Say Thanks with American Pride

A patriotic activity I use every year is the "Let's Say Thanks" site sponsored by Zerox. You can have your students send a postcard of their choice to show appreciation and support of our military and country.  All the free postcards are designed by kids as seen by this sample from the site. This is such an easy, but powerful way to validate the sacrifice of our country's armed forces, especially with the 10 year anniversary of 9/11 upon us tomorrow.

What do you do in your class to show patriotism?  Join Sunny Days in Second Grade linky party to share your ideas.

Writing Tips Freebie

I use this handy sheet to make comments on my students' writing. It's open ended to allow for a variety of constructive suggestions. I make notations in the conveys meaning section about the flow of writing. Does it have an organized sequence, strong beginning/ending, and stay on topic? For the spelling application section I may jot down words that were misspelled. In the grammar section I simply circle any of the areas I see a need for improvement in.  Happy writing!

Click picture to download

Join this record keeping linky for more wonderful ideas!

Addition Properties

My class is learning about the 3 properties of addition: Commutative, Associative and Identity.

I made up a worksheet to review what these big 'ol words mean. For commutative I discuss the meaning of the word "commute" or change. I also call it the flip flop rule. You can change the position of the numbers but the answer stays the same.  For associative rule I relate it to talking in a group (associate). It doesn't matter who you talk to first.  The identity rule is the easiest which is the zero rule.  Grab your copy of the property worksheet here. I also have a set of task cards for the properties too.

I'm in the Top Ten

I'm honored to be part of A Teacher's Treasure and Jack of All Trades Top Ten Blogs listings.

Thanks Mrs. Zrihen and Leslie for recognizing me.  Stop by to visit them.

Playground Magic

I like to incorporate physical activity into my content area curriculum when possible. I've posted several ways I do this through Spelling Relays, Compass Rose Relays, and most recently Place Value relays.
I've also done Junk Food Tag when learning about nutrition and Landform Tag games during my geography unit. You can see pictures of these game ideas {HERE}.  Currently my school playground is basic in set up, with some four square courts, basketball courts, hopscotch and circle courts and a basic number grid.  My PIE in the SKY wish list would include more interactive playground court games as seen on these sites. I'm allowed to wish right?

Peaceful Playground Stencils  

(This site has a quarterly drawing for a free USA map stencil)

Education Technology Stencils

  

Compass Rose Fun

My absolute favorite part of teaching geography is when my students create their own compass rose.
Prior to sending this project home we've spent time in class learning about both cardinal and intermediate directions. I even do a PE Compass Rose Relay game. I set up directional signs in a circle formation, throw colored circles around and relay teams race to follow cue cards that says various things like:

Skip and pick up a green circle. Put it in the Northwest hoop.

Crab crawl and pick up a yellow circle. Put it in the South hoop.

High knee run and pick up a blue circle. Put it in the East hoop.

Once students have a solid foundation for their directions my grade level sends home this compass rose project.

Here are some samples: