We've begun writing in our third grade classroom and to my delight, my students are way into it! We have set up our writing notebooks and w...
K-1 NONFICTION WRITING My nonfiction writing unit is here! This is the perfect way to introduce kindergarten and first grade students to what informational writing is. This unit is so engaging for students because it uses real life photographs and animals. We discus
FUN End of the Year Art Projects- It's the end of the year-go out having FUN! I know how it goes at the end of the year-your tired, the kids are tired...EVERYONE is ready for summer break! Go out with a bang with these super fun end of the year art projects!
For the most part, reasoning, deducing, inferring, and critical thinking are not skills that come naturally to our students. Rather, they must be nurtured and developed. We want our students to become critical thinkers so they can reason and apply logic to solve novel problems throughout their lives. These skills will set them up to...
Five classroom layout seating ideas that will transform your lessons today! These classroom seating options are perfect for any activity!
These all about me, back to school art activities for kids are engaging icebreakers. Encourage creativity and build community during the first week back
Ton Schulten is one of my all time favorite artists! I discovered him years ago when I found a calendar full of his paintings when visit...
FREE printable Sequencing worksheets for preschool and kindergarten kids. Includes 15 activities featuring seasonal themes, hygiene such as brushing teeth, washing hands, and fire safety. Great for language and literacy development!
Happy Mother's Day to all you mommies out there! I hope your day is filled with love and relaxation. Each and everyone of you deserves it! I am getting ready to spend the day with my boys at one of my favorite places- Santa Barbara! Brunch + the beach= one happy Mom! I can't wait to share pics with you later on. But first, I have some exciting news: It's hard to believe I started this amazing journey into the blogging world one year ago today! I have been incredibly blessed this last year. I have connected and formed friendships with so many of you. I have been able to share my teaching adventures and ramble about my crazy ideas- and you all have supported me. I can't thank you enough! If you can't tell, I have been looking forward to this milestone and wanted to make it meaningful and special. In order to help celebrate this milestone, I have asked ten of my dear blogging friends to help spread the cheer. They have all touched my life in different ways. Some have helped answer my silly blogging questions, others have inspired me with their own blogs and all of them are supporters of my journey. They are a few special pieces of my blogging journey puzzle! A party, wouldn't be a party without a party favor. I created a little something for each of you to take with you, as a way of saying thank you for being a follower. Make sure to enter the giveaway and before you leave, grab your FREEBIE! Now it is your turn to join in the fun and celebrate with me! This giveaway will run for one week. I will announce the winner next Sunday! Good luck! Here are all the items you can win: a Rafflecopter giveaway Now that you have followed some of my favorite blogging friends, here is your prize! I created a little packet called A Day at the Beach Multiplication Activities to help you bring a bit of summer into your classroom, all while helping your kiddos review their multiplication skills. It includes a flap book and two array review sheets. Just click on the picture to download it now. Thanks for helping me celebrate my first blogiversary and Happy Mother's Day!
First Week Watercolor Portraits 7 comments Back to School, Bulletin Boards, Self Portraits, Tutorials Every year, my second graders paint a watercolor self-portrait. It is truly my most favorite first week activity of all time. After sharing this picture of this year's portraits on Facebook, a sweet reader asked if I had a blog post about them. Well, it dawned on me that while I have shared my annual self-portraits many times, I've never really shared them exclusively in a post. So, here goes! Every year, I have my students paint a self-portrait during the first week of school (an idea I learned while student teaching many moons ago). I hang these portraits in the room, for the entire year. They really brighten up our space and they are such a joy to look at (this is a picture of my students' portraits from last year). I am not an art teacher and I believe that kids should be encouraged to take risks, so when I task my students with painting their portraits, I pretty much let them "have at it." Don't worry, it isn't a total free for all. I do model the process and I also share examples from years past, like the ones shown below. I just make it very clear that I don't expect their paintings to look like an actual photograph. ;) I always begin by pointing out how much of their body/self they will be painting. I tell them to think about the pictures they see in their yearbooks and how those pictures only show people's heads and shoulders. I explain that they will include only their head and shoulders in their paintings. I then show them examples from previous years (sometimes students move and they get left behind, so I have a few on hand). Once the students understand what it is that they will be including in their portrait, I model the drawing process on the board. I discuss how large the head should be in relation to the paper and show them what this looks like. From there, I show them how I draw a neck and shoulders, hair, and facial features. I apologize that I don't have a photo of this, but essentially, I model and narrate the process, one step at a time. And, then...it's the students' turn. I give each student a piece of white card stock (8x10 inches) to work with. Card stock is brighter and thicker than construction paper, and it just seems to hold the paint better, in my opinion. Then, they start their drawing. Sometimes, I have them draw the outline of their pictures with a black crayon (see below). When I do this, there is NO pencil involved. This helps them to really slow down and visualize before they draw because they know that they can't erase. However, this year, I let them draw with pencil first and then they traced over their pencil lines with a Sharpie. Why did I do that? I have no idea, it was just what I decided to do when I was prepping the materials, but the end result was still fab! Once the students draw the outline of their portrait, they get to paint! Using watercolor is a tricky thing for many second graders. They have a hard time always gauging how much water to use, so a discussion about this (and a little modeling) ahead of time is a good idea. Tip: No matter how much explaining and modeling you do, you'll still have a student or two that uses too much water. Let them use a tissue to blot their paper if you notice this happening. I lay the portraits to dry on the floor, in an out of the way spot. They dry within minutes here in the desert. Once they are dry, I flatten them by stacking heavy teacher manuals on them overnight. I could iron them, but my iron and I do not get along. At all. The next morning, I hang them up and admire the sight before me...all year long. :) At the end of the year, it's always fun to repeat this process. You will be amazed at how much growth your students show. Here are a few examples from last year. Amazing, right? We always get lots of compliments on our portrait display, and the kids are always very proud of them. They love seeing if their parents can guess which one is theirs, and it's fun to see how many parents get it right! At the end of the school year, I send the portraits home as a keepsake. Many parents have commented how much they love them, and they are the perfect size for framing! First week self-portraits are a great way to encourage students to take risks, have fun, and learn to use materials. Beyond that, the students take great pride in their creations and enjoy them just as much as I do, and we have something truly magnificent (that they created!) to look at all year long. :) Share It:
Whether you are teaching your prechooler at home or working with them in preparation for school, here is a preschool learning folder for you.
Analyzing writing curriculums, planning writing workshop and teaching writing lessons can be overwhelming. You might think, how am I going to fit everything in and produce successful writers? Where do I start? What skills do they need? This post will share the 7 BASIC WRITING LESSONS that every teacher should teach! With this basic knowledge, students will be able to perform other writing assignments more effectively. The following skills are not only effective in upper elementary, they are often needed at the middle school level for review or the primary level for differentiation. So yes, every teacher should teach them! If you start with these 7 fundamental skills, it will set the expectations for your writing lessons and assignments throughout the year! Frequently Asked Questions What are the basic skills and what order should I teach them? Sentence Structure 1. Complete Sentences Lesson for complete sentences 2. Fragments Lesson for fragments 3. Run-ons Lesson for run-ons Paragraph Writing 4. Topic Sentences Lesson for topic sentences 5. Relevant Details Lesson for relevant details 6. Transition Words Lesson for transition words 7. Closing Sentences Lesson for closing sentences How much time should I dedicate to teaching these fundamental skills? I recommend one day for each skill. If you spend a whole writing block for each skill, students will benefit from the practice. How do I teach each skill? First: Start with an anchor chart explaining the skill. (See each lesson link above for effective anchor charts.) Second: Provide examples. Students can share examples too! Next: Students should take notes. I love using Interactive Writing Notebooks to take notes. Research supports the use of interactive notebooks through studies on multiple intelligences, the brain and note taking. Here are a few videos to Set Up Interactive Writing Notebooks. Click photo for the Upper Elementary Version. A Primary Version is also available. Then: Identify the skill. Provide practice sheets and task cards for students to practice identifying the skill in sentences and paragraphs. Last: Apply the skill. Students should have the opportunity to write their own sentence or paragraph to apply the particular skill. What if I can't fit the lesson in one writing block? If you can't extend the days to complete them, there are other ways to get the whole lesson in. You can put practice sheets or task cards in a center, or you can have students apply the skill for homework or morning work the next day. What if my students, some of my students, or absent students can't do interactive notebooks? Make a small anchor chart to put in their notebooks with the same information! If you don't have a printable poster, take a picture of the anchor chart you used in class and print them off! I hope you found this post helpful and your students become successful writers this year! Connect With Me! TPT Store Facebook Pinterest My Blog
As we approach Matariki, there are some wonderful Matariki crafts you can do with your children to celebrate.
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This summer, after attending a reading workshop, I've made it my goal to amp up and improve my guided reading and shared reading instruction. With this in
An elementary art teacher blog with art projects and lessons, DIY projects and outfit photos as well as clothing I have made myself.
Number and Place Value are two Maths topics that I am constantly revising throughout the year – it may be a quick 5 minute game, or a whole lesson, but the importance of understanding place value can never be underestimated. When I am teaching these basic concepts I always have my High School Teacher Mum ... Read More about Understanding Place Value with 15+ Activities
I am all done with parent conferences and it feels great! I had the most terrific year and I’m so happy to share my students’ progress with their parents. During parent conference time, I always love to have lots of student work to display. I absolutely love to incorporate student pictures into student work. This ... Read More about Silhouette Autobiographies and Read Across America
I have used the reading workshop model for about 8 years now. It has changed a lot over the years! One thing that has stayed the same is the ‘Respond to Text’ station. This is a time where students get to write about their reading. The station stays the same all year, but the activities in the station change. Below is a list of activities you can add to your ‘Respond to Text’ station at the beginning of the year. 1. Bookmark Book Report At the beginning of the year, some students struggle to finish chapter books. I find that this bookmark book report helps them stay engaged in their reading. The students keep track of the pages they read, and complete activities as they read their book. There is a fiction and nonfiction version available for download. 2. Text Structures Tri-fold Students can use this trifold to ‘hunt’ for different text structures. Just put a basket of nonfiction books at the station and you are set! It’s a great way to get them reading nonfiction books. 3. Choice Board Students get to choose what activities they’d like to complete. This is great because it can be used for the story of the week (if you follow a basal) or the chapter book they are currently reading. You can have the students glue this page inside their reading notebook, or have them staple their responses to this sheet and turn in. Download the Printables: Click here to download the bookmark book report. Click here to download the text structures trifold and choice board. Add editing tasks to your reading workshop block! Math Resources: 1st Grade Tri-Folds 2nd Grade Tri-Folds 3rd Grade Tri-Folds 4th Grade Tri-Folds 5th Grade Tri-Folds Thanks for reading! I hope you will find these printable helpful :) Visit my blog @ Learning With Mrs S. Visit my TPT Store Follow me on Pinterest! Follow me on Instagram! Follow me on Facebook :)
Make October Magical with these adorable October Preschool Worksheets - Fun Halloween themes to practice counting, alphabet letters, and much more.
Looking for fun Color Worksheets for preschool? You've found them and a bunch of fun, hands-on, play-based learning centers as well. Recognition, sorting and more.
Whether you're looking for a first day ice breaker or games to play at a back to school bash, this list has something for everyone!
Thousands of teachers have used these tried and true GUARANTEED tups to stop students from blurting out. Chatty Class? YOU NEED TO READ THIS!
The idea for this lesson came from an image I saw on Pinterest.. but after doing some investigative work - seems to have originated from the blog Art. Paper. Scissors. Glue and before that from the 1991 book written by Sara Beggs, "The No Nonsense Guide to Teaching Art." For this lesson we began by taking about what symmetry is and the difference between linear symmetry (1 line of symmetry) and radial symmetry (more than 1 line of symmetry). Then we talked about what a sculpture is (a piece of artwork you can see from all sides - it is 3-dimensional) and what a relief "sculpture" is (a piece of artwork that has depth on the surface but is not meant to be seen from all sides). Once students understood the principles behind radial symmetry and sculpture we began creating our very own radial paper relief sculptures! Students started by folding a piece of 12"x12" black construction paper diagonally both ways and vertical and horizontally (to create an 'X' crease and a '+' crease). Making these creases makes creating a radial design SO much easier because it gives you guidelines to work with. Once their papers had been folded and their names written, we sat them aside. Before having students begin folding their colored paper (each piece was cut to 3" x 3") to fill the inside of their design, I demonstrated 4 folds to them to get them started. *Students were allowed to deviate from these folds if they wanted to. To download the handout below, click on the arrow button in the top right corner (this will open it in a new window). You can download from there. My kids absolutely LOVED this project! They are already super into origami, so this project was like heaven to them! :) You might also be interested in checking out my Paper Poinsettia Sculpture lesson which uses the same basic concepts. Also available in my Teachers Pay Teachers store!
Friends, we are so thrilled to release Math Pack 39. There are only a few more packs to go until we round of the packs that focus on first grade and we will start plans for some more advanced packs that target skills perfect for 2nd grade. Math Pack 39 helps you teach your students to order and sequence numbers to 100, using their knowledge of place value. Our Math Packs include 5 activities that are engaging and easy to prep! This collection will help students learning to: compare numbers to find the greatest position, compare and sequence numbers on a hundred chart become familiar with the pattern of numbers on a hundred chart when they skip count by 2, 5 and 10 sequence numbers in a 1 more, 1 less, 10 more, 10 less arrangement skip count backwards by 2, 5 and 10 to explore the position of numbers in a backwards skip count Each of the 5 small-group activities has: detailed instructions playing cards/boards/templates a worksheet (either a recording worksheet or a fun-follow-up) a cover page to help you organize your resources for future reference The activities included in this bundle are: Biggest Number Bus Students will compare and identify the greatest 2 digit number in a selection of 3 numbers. They will look at the 3 numbers on a bus card and use their knowledge of place value to clip or circle the biggest number. Extend your capable learners by asking them to build this number with concrete materials. Challenge advanced learners to find the difference between this number and 100. Robot Place Students will make a 2 digit number and locate its position on a blank 100 chart. They will spin a 2 digit number using a paper clip and pencil and then locate the position on the blank chart. Alternatively you could laminate the board and ask them to write the number with a dry erase marker. Skip Pattern Students will make a pattern of numbers on a hundreds chart by counting by 2, 5 or 10. They will place number tiles over the squares on the chart to show a pattern. As they do this, a base for complex understandings of number patterns and sequence of skips will form as they notice the position of a count and the other numbers around it. This is an awareness that needs to develop and form within a child's understanding, so providing lots of activities to experience pattern making, rather than just talking about it or explaining it to them, is perfect for a little learner. We have charts for skip counting by 2, 5 and 10. Sequence Kids Students will sequence numbers in a 1 more, 1 less, 10 more, 10 less arrangement with these cuties. They will have a kid base board, place a number on and identify the numbers around it. Count Back Cats Students will count backwards by 2, 5 or 10 from a variety of starting positions in Count Back Cats. Using a dry erase marker they will write the sequence down the cat strip. These activities can be used in a structured game rotation program, as math centers or in guided math. Once taught, they also make fantastic 'fast-finisher' activities for revision of key concepts. Backward Skip Counting Math Craft We have made a craft that perfectly accompanies the Count Back Cat activity in Math Pack 39. Better yet, it is free today! Your little ones can cut and glue their cat together and then write their numbers on! Hop over to our TpT store to find it! We'd love to see your cat displays on social media, tag us so we can love on them!
During the last weeks or days of school, I am looking for fun ways to celebrate with my students. We have become such great friends, and I want to end the year with a bang! Having end of year theme days during that last week can be so much fun. You can sneak in academics
Teaching area and perimeter in your upper elementary math class? This blog post shares a collection of ideas for teaching area and perimeter!
Subitizing, being able to quickly identify the amount of objects in a group, is a very important skill for early learners.
This post has been updated and moved, click here to read it.
Pencil Names - Name Building Practice Printable comes with eight editable pages, containing two pencils. Each pencil has pieces for two letter names up to nine letter names. Getting Pencil Names - Name Building Practice Printable
It was about this time last year I took my third graders outside for a paper airplane competition. We had spent a half hour working in te...
I introduced our handwriting zoo yesterday. I am telling you people, it is a LIFESAVER! I used to dread teaching the "handwriting lines" (ok, I still do BUT not as much as I used to!) If you haven't checked out the packet yet and you're starting to teach the handwriting house check it out! It's on sale in my TPT store for $3.00 until the end of September. Tomorrow is FRIDAY!! Yay!
Not sure what to teach the first week of 3rd grade? Here's what we did!
Modern Manners & Timeless Courtesy An Elite Etiquette Education Welcome! You're in the right place. And I'm so glad you're here! Through The Etiquette School of America, confidence, sincerity, and graciousness become the authentic expression
