Reflections '11 in '11

DECEMBER 27, 2011

Another blog is having a Linky Party about this reflections on the past year. I read one on My Life as a Fifth Grade Teacher and decided to do it myself. Some of it is personal and some of it is teacher related!

11. Favorite movie you watched: The Help

10. Favorite TV series: I am a true GLEEK and love Glee. Lately I have also been enjoying "Once Upon a Time." I love the writing and I have always been a fan of fairy tales!

9. Favorite restaurant: Carrabba's (YUMMY!!)

8. Favorite new thing you tried: I have not tried anything new, so this is a difficult category. About 12 weeks I tried the black bean burger at Friday's and it was DELICIOUS! Sad - I know... I need to try more new things in 2012!

7. Favorite gift you received: The gift of "time." By this I mean the time I have to spend with DH, family, and friends!

6. Favorite thing you pinned: I love looking, but I have not pinned anything because I don't have an account. : (

5. Favorite Blog Post: Happy Poetry Month

4. Favorite Accomplishment: Maintaining my weight loss. A few years ago I worked hard to lose 50 pounds. I have managed to keep it off and still love working out and going spinning.

3. Favorite Picture: Anniversary Dessert at Epcot
2. Favorite Memory : Being at Disney World (Epcot really) Celebrating my 7 year wedding anniversary - Best relaxing vacation in a LONG time, Yes, I said - relaxing! Sitting by the pool in 90 degree weather after a cold NY winter is heaven!

1. Goals for 2012
Professional: My Own Classroom - I am SO OVER subbing!
Personal: Save more

What are your reflections and goals?

Holiday Book

I was at my favorite store, Barnes and Nobles, and I saw this book on the holiday display. I fell in love with the illustrations! It is a cute story, too!


Santa is left by his reindeer and needs to deliver the rest of his gifts. With some Santa magic, he has the farm animals help him deliver presents!

After reading this book, I plan to have students write their own version/ending. The possibilities are endless: zoo animals, desert animals, Arctic animals, puppies, or even some Australian animals.

I love holiday books.
Happy Reading!

Read Aloud

Dear Mr. Blueberry by Simon James is a cute story about a girl named Emily who finds a whale in her backyard. She writes letters to her teacher asking him questions about whales.

I love using this book to teach facts and fiction.  After reading aloud the book a few times, I gave students a sheet of paper that had sentences from the text. For example:

There is a whale in my backyard pond.

I fed him cornflakes.

Whales live in salt water.

Students work with a partner to cut out the sentences and put them in a chart which is labelled Facts and Fiction. I check students' answers before I let them glue the sentence stripes. 

Another lesson I teach with this book is letter writing. Students pretend they are Emily and they want to find out another new fact about whales. We go over the rules of a friendly letter and then the students write to Mr. Blueberry. I give the letters to a different student. Then, they research the question and write a follow up letter. The students really love doing this activity!

Last Day

I made it !

Today arrived and it was the:It was an enjoyable day. I went on a "Mystery Walk" with my one group of 4th graders. It was fun and LONG! However, we did reach our destination which was the local ice cream place! The kids had a treat and then we made it back to school with 5 minutes to spare before dismissal! LOL !
I went and said good-bye to each 4th grade class. Some girls gave me hugs which I though was so sweet! I will miss seeing some of my students everyday! I told them maybe I would see them next year in 5th grade.

My teaching life is up in the air for next year. Who knows where I will be? One thing is for sure, it is time to say: HELLO to SUMMER!!

Happy Summer Reading!!

March Came and Went

Here's a quick picture

I use a program called Levelled Literacy Intervention. I really love how it includes fluency, word work, reading, and writing. I have been a classroom teacher for eight years. I have to say, this is one of the best programs I have used! for reading!  Here is a picture of one of my lessons. 
This chart came from Really Good Stuff. Check them out! There is a whiteboard on the opposite side! It is great from small group work!

Happy Reading!

Hello January

Preparing for a MLK Read Aloud! 

Books and ideas I have used in the past when I taught 4th grade. Below are two of my favorite books I share with my students:

Title: Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Title: Who is Martin Luther King, Jr.?

The first thing we did in my classroom was sign a peace pact. I think I found the copy from my January books or Mailbox.com. I would then hang them on our classroom door.

A few different things I did over the years are listed below:

1. Martin Luther King Jr. believed in solving disagreements without violence. Write about a time you solved a disagreement in a peaceful way.


2. Make a poster with the heading :I Have a Dream" and have the children draw a picture of what their dream is for themselves.

3. Make copies of small doves. Anytime a student did something peaceful during the month, a student or myself would write it down and add it to a bulletin board with the title, "Keeping Peace in Room ____ "

I hope there is something you can use in your classroom.

Happy Reading!