July Currently and Reading in the Wild!

Happy July, friends! Can you believe it's almost the fourth already??

Today I'm lucky enough to link up with two of my favorite bloggers, starting with Farley from Oh Boy Fourth Grade for my July Currently! 

Listening: My summer project has been to clean all my teaching supplies and college things in the basement, and organize them so I'm ready for August. Something about John Mayer just relaxes me and is perfect for organizing.

Loving: I've had time to FINALLY read so many books that I've been wanting to read all year, both professional and personal. See below for details about my favorite read this summer!

Thinking: I feel like every teacher feels the same way when July 4th comes around...summer is going by too fast! I have so much more to do!

Wanting: I've been so out of the loop on TpT. I want to start creating more files, and I have lots of little projects that I've started but never finished. So keep a look out and I promise that I'll have some new lovely products coming your way! :) 

Needing: Organization is a MUST and I've been slacking. I have so many bins, and am currently putting all my library books into them to keep them organized. From what I've seen and heard from other teachers, this is the best way to maintain a classroom library that is organized. I'm labeling everything by genre so that my students can do my 40 book challenge again next year with my new Reader's Notebooks! You can check out my post HERE for more info!

4th Plans: My family is visiting from Virginia this weekend, and we're taking them to some hometown Pittsburgh favorites including cheering on the Bucco's for some fireworks on the 4th and a trip to Kennywood the next day! 

Now onto my other favorite blogger, Catherine from The Brown Bag Teacher for the Summer Book Study! I know, I'm a little behind (only by a chapter!) 

I fell in love with Donalyn Miller after reading with her first book, The Book Whisperer. She gave me a whole new understanding of the meaning behind teaching literacy and how to foster lifelong readers in my classroom. I implemented her 40 Book Challenge this year, and saw tremendous improvements in the level of interest, vocabulary use, and writing of my students. 

Miller opens the first chapter by discussing the ways in which we need to make time to read for our students each day in school. I committed to a 15 minute quiet read time each day this year after recess. Students came in, and after the first week, knew the expectation was to grab a book and indulge in some quality reading time. What did I do during this time? Modeled my passion for reading, and read in a comfy spot, too. Sometimes, that even means on the floor! 

I know so many teachers who have asked how do I find the time for independent reading in my classroom? Well, my question is how do you not have time for independent reading? Students need choice! As we grow older, we lose our passion for reading as we are given requirements and books we have to read. Remember all those college textbooks you had to read? How many of them did you actually keep because you enjoyed reading? 

Students who spend their time reading, in school and out of school, are indefinitely more likely to achieve higher on standardized tests and develop a better vocabulary. Using time in school for students to read is an essential part of my instruction. As suggested by Miller, I use a reading/writing workshop in my classroom with use of mentor texts and mini-lessons to help make connections between what students are reading and what they are writing. 

Miller talks about how we can set aside time for independent reading in the classroom. She explains how we must be prepared for "reading emergencies" and always have a book. I've found this to be so beneficial for myself, especially with all the activities with which my family is involved. Getting oil in my car, waiting in line at the store, etc. are all great opportunities I've taken advantage of to get out my book and read. Teaching students about taking advantage of these spare moments is so important to foster a true love of reading. Even with the 40 book challenge my class did this year, as a first year teacher, I admit I never took advantage of these small opportunities we shared. All of those minutes truly add up and I look forward to challenging my students this year to take advantage of these "reading emergencies" in their life, both in and out of school. This could be waiting in line for special (gym, library, art, etc.), waiting for the bus, during transitional times, etc.

One of the ways I allowed for additional reading time in my classroom was doing the Lunch Bunch Book Club this year. Every Friday, students chose to come in and eat their lunch while discussing the book we were reading together. Spots were limited, so students would race to the sign up sheet each month to see the next book. I chose books from various genres to provide for different interests. This was something that my kiddos looked forward to! You can read more about this idea here.

I'm looking forward to seeing the other ways teachers foster independent reading in their classrooms! I love learning new things, and am always looking for ways to improve. I'd love to hear how you do this in your classroom!

Currently March

Happy March, everyone! Now we just need Spring to be here...I think it's late on arrival, but I have faith it's on its way!

One of my favorite bloggy things in the whole wide world, is the Currently linky party with Farley at Oh Boy Fourth Grade!

So, without further adieu, my March Currently....

Listening: No, Dixieland is not my favorite type of music. But, I am getting ready to teach the regions this week, beginning with the Southeastern states; so, of course, that means we are celebrating our trip to Louisiana by listening to different types of New Orleans music on Tuesday!

Loving: Right now, it is my school's spring break. No, I'm not going anywhere warm, but I am taking advantage of home-cooked meals all week long, and having time to plan out my activities for the month!

Thinking: I can't believe our state's testing is at the end of this month! I've been making things to review and prepare my kiddos for the test.  This week, we started with a fraction frenzy. I told them we are totally doing math differently - they are taking a teaching role by working in groups and partners, and they decide what we do each day (to some extent, of course). Yes, I'm still giving quizzes, but it's all depending on how and what we do the day before. The first day of fractions, I told them they needed to prove they could show fractional parts. So they were off searching the room for objects they could use to trace. Then, they folded their paper until they made fractional parts.

In ELA our focus was on summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting within nonfiction text. We started by having a student-created anchor chart or two. (Okay, yes, that's my writing. But, they made the post-its)

While this is NOT what I do with my students, it's too funny not to share. It shows the state, administration, and teacher view of the state testing... I LOVE how it says, "the joy of learning" hahaha - no pressure!

How I actually feel about the standardized tests...

So no, I don't worry about how they score. I tell them to not worry about how they score either. I'd rather give them the confidence that they are familiar with all the material on the test, because they are prepared, and they can achieve well if they try. Yes, common core means that things are going to change, and things may be harder. But, we are ready to take on the challenge. Anyway, enough of my rant, and back to my currently.

Wanting: That's right. Call People magazine, it's official. Winter and I have ended our relationship. After the bipolar vortex, it's him, not me. I'm so through with the snow. While I love the whole, snow-globe look, I'm ready to retire my boots for some heels or flats.

Needing: I don't know what it's been about the past few days, but I've had a hard time keeping up. Maybe I'm planning too much, or maybe it's just that time of year. Either way, I've had more than my usual amount of coffee in the week, and I'm way over my limit. However, Starbucks shareholders should love me. You're welcome, I'm sure I've contributed a decent amount to your stock this week.

?????: Any idea what a sailor hat, Minnie Mouse ears, and Mardi Gras masks have in common? Leave me a comment with your guess, and find out later this week in my next post! :)

Well, back to planning I go! Wait until you see what our class is doing for Read Across America's celebration on Monday! Have a wonderful weekend, and hopefully avoid the snowstorm!

Sparking Motivation & Currently February

Happy February everyone!

It's time for another Sparking Student Motivation Saturday with Joanne from Head Over Heels for Teaching. 

Here's a little peek at how I've been motivating students in Social Studies. Lately, we have been working on our Maps and Globes Unit. Let me tell you, maps aren't too exciting.

We have been discussing the parts of a map - title, compass rose, cardinal/intermediate directions, key/legend, and a scale. This week, we have been discussing how to use a globe by following the lines of latitude and longitude, as well as how the earth is divided into hemispheres. One of the first things that I made was my own map of the United States to model the important parts of a map.

To combine our concepts, I wanted to come up with a culminating activity that they would be motivated to do - not just another "make a map" project. I assigned them a challenge to create their own 51st state! They needed to include a scale, compass rose, map key/legend, a title, and extra information about their state. We presented them on Friday, and I have to say, they look fantastic! My students are so creative - take a look at how they came out!

Also, to celebrate the start of a new month, I'm linking up with Farley from Oh' Boy Fourth Grade for her Currently February!

My 2 Truths and a Fib: 

Truth: I've swam and kissed a stingray. 

The two times that my family has been fortunate enough to go to the Cayman Islands, I've been able to swim with the stingrays in Stingray City. While my poor mom was dragged into doing this the first time, I think she actually came willingly this summer when she realized how cute and friendly the stingrays are. It's such an amazing experience - and you get seven years of good luck for kissing them! 

Truth: I plan to do my first marathon this year. 

Last fall, I did my first 5K at Color Me Rad. This year, I'd love to do a full marathon. I'm not going to go too crazy on the training aspect, but I am going to start training in the summer in hopes that I can run in the fall in my city!

Fib: Sorry Colorado fans, but I'm not rooting for ya'll to win this one.

While I don't follow football much (at all), I am rooting for the Seahawks. Eli the Ape (who has correctly predicted the Super Bowl for six years in a row) picked them too, just for the record. While I'm not sure what this means, ESPN thought it was a big deal. 

Okay, now it's YOUR turn! Head on over the Farley's blog to link up what you're currently up to!

Currently January...Already?!

Doesn't it feel like December was only yesterday? It feels like 2013 went by in the blink of an eye! I couldn't have asked for a better year, though. I student taught with a wonderful fourth grade class, earned my undergrad degree, and got my permanent substitute position with my fourth grade kiddos.

I'm more than ready for a wonderful 2014! I have a good feeling about this year...

I had to start the year off right and link up with Farley for her January Currently! Head on over to check out some amazing blogs and link up with what you're currently up to!

I have to admit, I'm really loving getting to see other bloggers through these linky parties. Once you start looking at other blogs, it's hard to stop! I keep trying to tell myself that I'm lesson planning for the week as I search for ideas. There are some truly amazing blogs out there, and I just love learning from them. So far, I guess all the blog hopping I'm doing is helping me to hold true to this little resolution of mine...

I'm off to a good start by posting on the first day of January, right? Any suggestions for how I can become a better blogger? I'd love to hear your thoughts and advice!

Currently December

With December being such a short month, our class is going to be jam-packed with activities galore for the next two weeks! I came in early over the break and decorated the room - it even snowed! (Well... it's fake snow, from a can, that doesn't melt!) While decorating, I had a neat idea for December. Why not ask Santa for a classroom Elf on the Shelf? So, I wrote a letter to the Elf Boss asking for the best behaved, well-trained, elf for our classroom to help monitor our students during this busy time of year. I addressed the letter to the North Pole, and hoped for the best. Wouldn't you know, this week, we had a special announcement that a package had arrived! It was Tinsel, our unique classroom elf, assigned from the Elf Boss at the North Pole to watch over our class. It was too perfect! Tinsel is making a great addition to our classroom. So far, he's really enjoyed "hangin' out" 

Unfortunately, in the chaos of the first day, one of my kiddos grabbed him from the box. Panic spread around the room - the story goes that you can't touch an elf, because they will lose their magic powers and won't be able to return to the North Pole each night to report back to Santa. Even though we were discouraged all day, we were greeted by Tinsel the next morning as he "hung out" under our whiteboard with a little note explaining that his boss was kind enough to provide him a second chance with some magic. (we could even see he was covered with sparkles - must have been his elf magic!) We are hoping for Tinsel to have an enjoyable stay with us for the rest of the month of December! I just hope he stays out of trouble!

I'm linking up with a fellow fourth grade blogger, Farley from Oh Boy Fourth Grade for this month's currently:

 

  

Have a splendid week!

Miss S.