Main Idea Turkeys

The month of November was filled with Thanksgiving and fall based activities. One of our favorites was our main idea turkeys. Students wrote the main idea in the body and supporting details in each of the feathers! If you want to try this activity a different time of year, students can trace their hands, write the main idea in the palm, and details in the fingers!

This was the example we created as a class.

The finished product!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy 11/11/11

I was so excited to write today's date on my white board! Number patterns are so much fun to talk about with my kiddos! Right when lunch started I checked my phone and it was 11:11! It was so much fun!

To celebrate, Lettering Delights is throwing an 11/11/11 party! Fabulous (I spent $8.88 and got some great finds!!)! They have 111 items for $1.11. Check it out if you haven't yet! The sale ends 11/14/11!

The best part about today is that my cousin Angela gave birth to a perfect little boy! Welcome Mason! What a great birthday!!

Debi

Favorite Classroom Spot

In both of my classrooms our library has been my favorite spot. There's nothing like watching my students get lost in a book while cozying  up in the library!

The crate of animal buddies are used for fluency practice! Students choose an animal, find a quiet spot in the room, and read to their animal friend. They love it! My students can also choose a carpet square and read around the room! Anything to get them excited about reading!!

Debi

Bentley's Visit

Friendship is the theme of our current reading unit! Our story last week was about two dogs who were friends...so of course I had to bring Bentley in for a visit! My kids loved it! Surprisingly they weren't too wild and crazy! We actually managed to have reading workshop with Bentley wandering around the room! We had a lot of fun! Hopefully Bentley will visit again soon!

Debi 

Christmas Music

This is my favorite time of year! I was so happy to joyfully sing along with Christmas music all the way home from work!  (my husband dreads this :) My favorite song is Amy Grant's "Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland"!! 

Call me crazy - I know I am!!

Debi

Fact Family Neighborhood

During the month of October we worked hard on creating fact families and story problems. I borrowed the idea from Amanda and adapted it for my third graders! Each student created two fact family houses:

We lined all of our fact family houses along a street and created room 101's Fact Family Neighborhood!

I would have loved to add more details to our neighborhood, but unfortunately I do not have a bulletin board outside of my classroom. Our cozy little street will do! If you use this idea and create a fabulous board, please share your ideas!!


Debi

here goes nothin'

I did it! I finally did it! I've wanted to start a blog for a while now, but haven't had the confidence (or time :) to do so! I decided this past weekend to give it a shot! I'm excited to share my ideas and love for teaching on my blog! I figure it's a great way to save my ideas! Enjoy!

P.S. I just discovered Lettering Delights this week! Here's one of my favorites :)