FREEBIE Friday!!

Hey Ya'll!! It's FRI-YAY!! And there is no better way to kick off the weekend with a few fun, FREE, things!

1.)
I love, love, LOVE to give just little things to people to let them know how appreciative I am of them and what they do! It does not have to be something big at all...it could be something small, slap a cute tag on it, and VOILA!  It's the thought that counts, right!?  Well the beginning of the new school year is right around the corner & you might be looking for something cute and inexpensive to give a teammate, an administrator, or maybe even your child's teacher...well I have just the perfect thing for you!  You could buy a pack of pens {my FAVE are the Paper Mate Flair pens} and add THIS TAG!  I have made it editable so you can make the necessary changes for you and yours :) Here is an example of what I did for my sweet teammates for our upcoming team meeting!

2.)
As I mentioned before the new school year is quickly approaching and I don't know about you but I am always looking for new ways to keep myself organized!  One thing that I have struggled with in the past is keeping all the work my kiddos turn in, in an organized manner.  I used to just have them turn in their work to the "turn in basket" and that's that...well NOT ANYMORE!  Here is my new system.. I picked up this super CUTE file folder expandable box from Target...BONUS: it's dotted and looks like Dalmatian spots like our mascot-SCORE!
So, I number my kiddos-it is just easier for me.  With that being said, I numbered the file folder tabs inside, placed one of my turn in signs on the front, and during the first week of school I will teach my firsties how to find their numbered folder and put their paper inside.  This will help me keep their papers in ABC order and the handle on top will help me to just take it on home, grade/check the contents, and then return it to them the next day!  Take a look at mine :)

*click on the picture to take you directly to my TPT shop*

AND 3.)  

I posted last time about my FREE sight word BINGO templates and graphs {scroll down to the last post for a download and read} so now I am going to share another idea for sight words.  You are probably already doing this but it may just be a different way to store your ideas...

These sight word chant cards by the fabulous Cara Carroll are so fun and adorable!  You can download them for FREE HERE!  After downloading, cut them out, laminate them and then..ADD THEM TO A CHEER BOX!  That's right, A CHEER BOX!  I sent my husband to the grocery store to get a Cheer laundry detergent box, I emptied out the contents, and it is now the new home for my sight word cheers/chants!  The kiddos will love coming to pick a cheer out of the box when it is time for word work and practice!  

I hope you enjoyed this kind of post...I plan to keep them up!! :) ALSO, I have gotten a couple suggestions from followers about posts they would like to see on the blog--THANK YOU!  I love getting requests and will honor them as best as I can...keep sending them my way!! 

Have a great weekend ya'll!! 

Sight Word FUN!

GOOD MORNING SUNSHINES!!  I hope you all had a FABULOUS weekend! We had one of those weekends where you never want it to end.  Hubby took a vacation day Friday and planned a whole family day of FUN!  We took Luke to the zoo for the first time and he LOVED it!  When it came time to leave he decided to run away and "hide" behind a table & chairs...I mean look at this face {and that farmers tan LOL}!!

We continued our day with other fun activities to spoil our little angel baby and make memories as a little family of 3.  The weekend was just WONDERFUL!
But now it is back to reality and school is just around the corner and I kind of can't believe it!! It has been such a busy & exciting summer with a very active toddler and all the responsibilities that come with opening a new school!

As I am preparing back to school lesson plans I want to ensure that I am spending that first week focusing on setting expectations, practicing procedures, and building relationships...I think that is so important and it will definitely pay off later in the year :)

As a fun way to end our first week back to school our first graders will be doing some sight word practice with the Kindergarten sight words.  We thought this would be a fun way to have blend academics and fun on a Friday of a long week :)

This SIGHT WORD BINGO I made is an *editable* version for you to use with any sight words that correspond with your grade level. You can put your own words in the boxes OR {what I plan to do} post the sight words to choose from and have the littles choose their own words they want and write them into the boxes and that creates so many different boards!  If you want you could even laminate them or put them in a page protector and the kiddos can write the words with a dry erase marker so you can use these over and over again throughout the year and years to come!!

*click the picture for MORE*

BUT...THE FUN AND LEARNING DOESN'T STOP THERE!!  Continue the sight word fun by then using the EDITABLE graphing pages that are provided HERE too!!  These words are the district Kindergarten words we are reviewing and adding to our word wall but you can change them to whatever words you are working with!!  I made several different pages so you can differentiate if needed OR {what I plan to do} give each child at the table group a different graph and allow them to work independently.  Then, since they each have a different graph, they can share their findings with each other and it will be new information to everyone :) This allows them the opportunity to practice sharing and to use their academic language.

*click the picture for MORE*

I look forward to sharing more fun back to school items with you guys as the new school year approaches!! :)  Have a great day!!!

TARGET. Enough said.

YA'LL!
Is it just me or does Target purposefully pin point teachers and reel them in by that gosh darn DOLLAR SPOT!!! I purposefully go in, tell myself "Kelly, you don't need a basket because you are getting ONE THING!"  Then...*dun, dun, dun* I walk by the dollar spot.  Ok, ok, I'll just look.  Then this happens....*insert walk of shame back to the cart area*....and if I must confess this isn't even all of it...this was in a matter of MINUTES!!  I'm ashamed...so, so ashamed!! Sorry hubs!!

BUT these lovely items make for a GREAT blog post to share some ideas on how to use these goodies so they don't just get stuffed in a drawer or in that "special place"...

1.) These ADORABLE aprons...

I do star of the week in my class and I do my best to spoil that boy/girl all week long because they have earned it!  But I am always looking for more ways to show them off--insert these beauties!! The new and improved "STAR OF THE WEEK APRONS."  These are $3.00 each in the dollar spot at Target and I thought how fun would it be if that child got to wear one of these all day long each day of the week and they can have all sorts of stuff in the pockets since they are the teachers helper all week long. They could hold pencils, hand sanitizer, etc. the possibilities are endless.  But just a plain ol' apron isn't that glamorous so I made THESE cute little tags to go on the front (PTL for the glue gun).  I just printed them out, laminated them, hot glued them on the front, and VOILA-you are ready to go!! I can't wait to use these in the fall!

2.) These PRECIOUS baggies...

I mean these have stations written all over them!! I plan to put these in my literacy stations to hold a variety of different supplies.  I'm thinking in one group it will house letter tiles, in another group it will hold magnetic letters, I mean really you could do so many things with these.  In math stations these could hold all sorts of manipulatives...cubes, place value blocks, tiles, etc. Organization is key in stations, but CUTE organization is a BONUS!! **AND they are only $1.00 in the dollar spot at Target!!! I bought all they had in stock at my Target--sorry friends!!

3.) These chalkboard blocks...

These blocks are PERFECT for differentiation!! During math stations I am always looking for blank dice so I can write in my own numbers so I am able to target the needs of my students best, and these are perfect for that.  Grab a chalk pen, write in your different numbers, and there ya go!  Or you could use them in word work.  You could write letters or blends, a child rolls the dice, and has to write words that go along with it.  I am really excited about these because not only are they functional for the classroom but they are cute!!  TEN blocks for only $3.00 at the Target dollar spot!!

4.) These SUPER cute storage bins...

How cute are these collapsible storage bins?!?!  My Target carried several different colors in the infamous chevron print and I decided on the neutral grey.  These could be used obviously for cute storage, or book buckets around your room, but for me I thought I would use mine as a new Book Doctor bucket.  I made a quick little tag, added some hot glue, and slapped it on there and there we go!! These storage bins are $5 at Target but they really are worth it...they are sturdy and good quality for only five bucks! 

Email or comment on here, instagram, or Facebook with items you have got at Target and how you use them!! I am always looking for new and creative ideas :)

Happy Hump Day Ya'll!! 

I'm BACK!!!

Hi, Hi, HIIIII!!!!!!!

I’m back, I’m back, I’m BAAAACCCKKKK!!!  I could scream it from the roof tops, ya’ll!!

I took a much needed break from creating and writing to be with my little guy and cherish every moment with him over the last 12ish months and it was AH-MAZING!

Thank you so much to my sweet followers you sent me messages or e-mails to check on me…I am alive and well and ready to jump back in to blogging and creating again!! And what better way to show you how excited I am to be back then with a GIVEAWAY!!!  Thats right, ya’ll, a give away!!  Any comment, message, or e-mail I receive will count and your name will be entered into a drawing for a $5.00 credit towards anything in my TPT store.  If you don’t see anything in there right now that you could use, no worries—you can save it, no expiration date!!! :) The giveaway contest will end Sunday, July 2nd so don't forget to get your name in the mix!!! :)  Once the winner has been drawn I will notify you and you will receive your credit!!

SO to continue with the exciting news I want to fill you in on the top 3 things that have happened over my little blogging hiatus… 

#1) MY SON!!  It is still so surreal sometimes to think that I am a MOM to a precious little boy!!  Luke Patrick is 14 months now and a BUNDLE OF FUN!  I know a lot of people love the newborn stage but not me, I LOVE this stage!  Luke doesn't just walk everywhere, he RUNS!  He has a smile that lights up an entire room.  He has the best baby giggle that is like music to my mommy ears.  He is a blessing from God and I am so glad he is MINE!  I mean, ya’ll, look how cute he is on the train ride with his mama (PS-don't mind my conductor hat)!!!! 

#2) WE MOVED!!  This was a need for our little family.  My husband’s commute had just gotten to be way too much (up to 2 hours ONE way-no thanks) and with the new addition he wasn’t spending time at home with us, but rather in the car, in traffic, not moving traffic.  So, we listed the house, packed up our things, and waited…and waited…and waited.  You know, keeping a house clean for showings with a baby, that never ever wanted to be put down might I add, two dogs, and a traveling hubby is seriously a full time job.  Eventually though, the cutest couple bought our house.  It made me happy to know how excited they were to start their next chapter in our home…!  But nowwww where do we go!?!? *drum roll please…*  THE IN-LAWS!!!  I know, I know….my husband, my baby, me, two dogs, and our stuff moving in to Nana & Poppy’s house-wow!  While some are thinking “nope, no way, couldn’t do it” it really wasn’t bad.  They were so gracious to allow us to stay their for FOUR MONTHS and totally invade their space with bottles, baby food, high chair, shedding dogs, and so much more.  But after 4 long months of searching for our forever home…WE FOUND IT!  And then the angels sang!! :)

Last but not least #3) I GOT A NEW JOB!!!!  With our move meant a new school district which also meant fear and anxiety for me.  I worked for my last principal for the last 5 years, she hired me right out of college and took me with her to open a new school and she was my fearless leader and now I have to start over-cue the tears! BUT I am so excited and proud to share that this coming school year (2016-2017) I will have the opportunity to open another brand new school as the first grade team leader. YAY!!  Also, this school is not just an ordinary school but it is one that is beyond special already…this elementary school is named after a fallen firefighter that was killed in the line of duty.  I am so proud to be working in honor of this amazing woman and look forward to building a legacy in her name. 

OK!   I think that’s all-whew!  Man, I missed you guys!! Don’t forget to comment on here, Facebook or Instagram (keluselton) or shoot me an email at keluselton@gmail.com to get your name entered into the GIVEAWAY!!!!  OH!  And be on the lookout for some new goodies coming soon in my TPT shop…I am catching up on lost time over here :)

Lots of things in the works... :)

Hi!!

I am dropping in to say hi and hope all is well with everyone out there in blogger world :)

Things have been rather "blah" this week due to the oh so fun STAAR testing (boo)!

With that being said I have lots going on over here at my house!  Baby boy will be making his debut next week-oh.em.gee!!! I am looking forward to meeting him and getting to be his mama :)

Also, I have been collaborating with my sweet fourth grade friend for a new writing unit to help our kiddos get pumped up before taking the standardized test!  The fourth grade team at my campus tried it out last week and it was a huge success!!! I can't wait to finish it all up and share it with you all so... STAY TUNED!!

I have so many other little projects started so I hope to get them finished and uploaded soon, maybe during baby's nap time {insert giggles from non first time mamas here-ha}!  *sigh* LOTS to do, so little time!  I know...preaching to the choir!!

PS-I am loving all the e-mails from you guys with tips and appreciation!  Ya'll sure know how to make a girl feel special! :) 

OK!  Chat soon ya'll!!!!

Reading Restaurant

Hi friends! I hope you all have been well!!

We recently finished up our Reading Restaurant in 1st grade and it was such a SUCCESS!  I am excited to share the fun with all of you!

To begin, each student picks 3 good fit books from your classroom library to use for Reading Restaurant.  I would definitely have the kiddos get your approval prior to putting them in a baggie to practice everyday during independent reading.  You don't want the book to be too challenging or too long.  Each student in my class had a Ziploc baggie for their 3 Reading Restaurant books that lived inside their book bag. 

After securing 3 good fit books for each kiddo the fun begins! In my "Reading Restaurant-Cooking Up Good Books" unit you will find everything you would need to make your Reading Restaurant a total HIT!

This is how it looked in my classroom...

*After picking out their books we made a "menu."  Fold a piece of construction paper in half and use my tracer in the unit to make the menu. Here is a quick picture...*remember don't cut on the crease!*

*In my unit you can use a template for an outside cover for the menu and two options for the insert of the menu.  This year we did our Reading Restaurant during the day so I have provided you with an insert that says "Specials for the Day" where the children write their 3 book titles or if your grade level wants to do it in the evening, after work for parents, there is an insert that says "Specials for the Evening."

*Another activity in the unit is the "book report." Students complete this over their most favorite title out of the 3 books they chose.  These are a cute and fun item to hang on your bulletin board during the Reading Restaurant.  The parents love to read them after they are done listening to their child read their books.

Extra craftivity ideas:
*Flowers--In the unit you will find a page with flower tracers...*disclaimer* you may get a grey hair or two if you choose to make these BUT they are totally worth it! They come out so stinkin' cute and are a great "parting gift" for the parent or special visitor after they are done reading their books at the Reading Restaurant.  You can fold a piece of green construction paper in half (vertically-hotdog style) then students cut strips (starting a the open flap down to the crease).  Be sure to show students NOT to cut all the way to the crease...leave a little bit of space before the crease.  Then, trace small hearts on colored paper, construction paper, or scrapbook paper and glue on the top of the piece of green grass.  Students can roll up their grass and flowers and stick them inside a red cup as a "center piece" on their desk...makes for a very fancy restaurant ;)  Here are some pictures in case you are a visual learner like me ;)...

*Chef Hats--On a sentence strip write "Chef __{insert child's name}__" I always write the word chef and let the child write their name next to it.  Measure their head and staple the sentence strip.  Use tissue paper to make the top of the chef hat.  The fabulous Cara Carroll, over at the First Grade Parade, provides a GREAT how-to when making these... check it out here! We had some FABULOUS mamas that volunteered to make these for us--bless them!!

*Mints--As a great way to say goodbye to our visitors you can purchase some mints, use the thank you sign included in my unit, and set it up by the door on their way out!

I can't say enough good things about this event...it is fun for EVERYONE!!  The parents loved hearing their child read and shine, the students loved "performing" for their parents, and the teachers love watching their kiddos hard work pay off :)  Enjoy the pictures from the event in my classroom and stop by my TPT store to get your copy of this fun bundle!! And, as always, don't hesitate to e-mail me if you have any questions or need something additional for your classroom!!

Has it REALLY been 100 Days!?!

Happy 100th day of  School!

A lot of us are getting ready to celebrate the OH, ,SO FUN 100th day of School!  There are a bazillion fabulous different ideas out in the blogger, TPT world but I wanted to share some ideas I have used in the past...

First off, I send home a letter with my kiddos to encourage them to dress up as 100 year old ladies and gentlemen!  THIS has to be my FAVORITE dress up day of the entire year!  Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE a good dress up day, I don't play around ;) This picture of Erin, teammate & bestie, and me is from last year on the 100th day...only the best from Gladys and Gertrude :)

*FYI: Those wrinkles are drawn on...just felt like I needed to clarify lol*

 





I highly encourage you to go raid your closet, or pay a visit to your local thrift store, Wal Mart or Stein Mart...money well spent!!

If you are looking to change up your 100th day by getting "into character" then Click here for the 100th day of school letter I made that you can send home with your kiddos!!

One other way I love starting our day is by making a fun hat for the kiddos to work on as they come in that morning and wear for the day... you can download this fun FREEBIE here from Julie Lee.

Another way to make the 100th day a memory for everyone is by doing rotations with the other teachers in your grade level some rotation ideas are:

My top two Math activities : (Click on the links for FREE downloads I made)

* Penny Toss-Students can work with a partner and a penny, take turns flipping it, writing a tally mark under the designated side.  This practices the coin recognition, tally marks, and at the end counting the tally marks.  You could even have them make a prediction before the begin and then confirming whether they were correct or not at the end.

*100 Steps Estimation-I love this activity because the kiddos always have such an *aha* moment!  We normally start at our classroom door and predict where 100 steps will take us and they ALWAYS think crazy places (parking lot, play ground, etc.) just because 100 is such a big number! :0)  Then we do our 100 steps and it takes us actually to the library..maybe! The giggles and "oh my gosh" comments are the best!  We come back to the classroom and fill out if we were right or wrong and where we actually ended up! 

My favorite Writing activity:

*You can download this FREEBIE from Dragonflies in First HERE! If you want this writing activity to be more of a CRAFTivity than you could use her fabulous planning sheet and writing paper, but allow the students to pick a piece of construction paper close to their skin color, trace and cut out a circle, draw their face, then the best part... CRUMPLE IT!!  Students think this is so fun because it's like their "wrinkles."  Then for hair, if you want, you can use cotton balls and students can glue them on the top and shred them to look like white curls or strands of hair...these always are a hit in the hallway!! :)

Making Words Activity:

*We love making words with our letter tiles and THIS activity from Primary Reading Party makes it so much more fun on the 100th day of school!

100th day Reading Response Activities:

There are so many cute 100th day of school books you can read with your kiddos on this day but one of my favorites is the 100th Day Worries by: Margery Cuyler {get your copy from Amazon HERE}.

You can read the book to your class then give them THIS response I made to work on! 

**Side note: If any of the links don't work when you click on them PLEASE let me know so I can fix it and help you!!**

I hope you and your kiddos have a memorable 100th day of school and enjoy all the fun learning that will take place that day!! :)

Sunday FUNday with Book Clubs

Happy Sunday friends!!

It is a BEAUTIFUL day here in Texas!!  We haven't seen the sun in quite some time, just gloomy skies and rain, so we spent our morning outside at brunch and then on a nice long walk around the lake with the pups :)

I hope this post finds you all well...I have been keeping busy getting baby boy's nursery ready, getting back in the swing of first grade life after a wonderful winter break, and working hard to complete my new "Book Club Bundle" being sold in my TPT show now! :)  Check it out!

We have been keeping busy in the classroom with book clubs!  We attempted book clubs in first grade for the first time last year, with some hesitation on my part to be honest, and it went well!  This year we did book clubs with non-fiction and the kiddos have LOVED it!! 

We built up to book clubs by learning how to "write long" on a post-it and how to appropriately respond to the non-fiction literature.  Students practiced writing a brief thought on their post it and then in their readers notebook they expanded or "wrote long" by giving examples/evidence and explaining.  This took a lot of modeling during our IRA {Interactive Read Aloud} but with practice they got better and better each day!

We then moved into our book clubs.  Students were divided up into groups, according to similar reading levels, and they were each assigned the same non fiction book.  The kiddos were able to come up with a "team name" for their book club before we really dove in.  These names were pretty awesome...ranging from "The Fabulous 4 Readers" to "The Fantastic Cheetos" to "The Wrecking Balls!"  HA!  I mean whatever gets them excited, right!?!?

After we had our team names picked out we made several anchor charts about what we wanted our room to look like/sound like during book club time.  Then, thanks to some AMAZINGLY AWESOME, 2nd grade teachers at our school we watched video clips of book clubs put on by none other than those 2nd grade teachers.  They videoed themselves doing a bad book club and then a good book club.  We watched both, compared, and then made an anchor chart about it :) PS I truly feel these video clips made all the difference in the success of our book clubs.  I was always able to reference back to it during a mid workshop teach and I even heard one little angel say "HEY!  You're acting like a bad book club reader...let's fix that!"  Woah, get em' kiddo!

After the videos and anchor charts, the groups met up and came up with a goal that they were going to focus on each time they met.  I decided to post these on our "book club" wall so not only was I able to reference them when I was meeting with each group, but also to help hold them accountable. Here is a picture of our book club wall with all the groups and their goals, as well as the different anchor charts we made...

I saw students referencing this wall all the time!  This was my first time to designate an entire area in our classroom to just book clubs, and I will definitely do it again.  The organization and "go to" of it made life a little easier for everyone :)

After a couple days of practicing the students were getting really good!  Look at "The 4 Cool Kids" below...SO prepared with their sticky notes...proud teacher moment!!

I mean really!?! COME ON!  My students blow me away!!!!

 

ACCOUNTABILITY IDEAS:

 

*if students need help staying on track with their conversation don't forget to go by my TPT shop and download my "Book Club Bundle."  In that bundle you will find prompt cards for books club in a fiction, non-fiction, or fairytale unit.  You can easily print these cards out on cardstock, laminate, then whole punch & put on a ring for students to keep with them during book club.  I let some of my groups use these and when they hit a dull point in conversation they pulled them out and it helped their conversation start flowing again... **if you download and need a specific card(s) made for your classroom don't hesitate to email me, I'd be happy to make it for you**

 

* if you need a way to hold students accountable while you are meeting with other groups, you can put an Ipad/tablet in the center of the group, just on the floor, and record.  I did this with a couple groups that needed a little help just staying on task and it helped! I told students I would only hear their voices, no faces, and if they are being silly the Ipad would tell me ;)

 

 

Enjoy your Sunday ladies & gents and thanks for stopping by!!!

 

 

 

 



Happy New Years Eve...Eve!!

Hey, hey,  hey!!!

I hope all of you have had a nice, RELAXING break thus far-you all deserve it!! :)

In our team planning right before we went out for break we were talking about the new year and new goals for our kiddos.  Every year we do my little New Years glyph (free in my TPT shop) but this year, we wanted to add more MEANING behind it. 

We plan to do the glyph except this year instead of the kiddos just picking any New Years Resolution (b/c besides let's be honest...how many 1st graders REALLY get the importance of "eat healthier" or "exercise more"!?!? HA!) we are going to tie it into our unit of study for writing workshop.

Our fabulous Language Arts coach sent us this link to a blog post that really helped inspire me...
https://chartchums.wordpress.com/?s=new+year.
If you read that post it can give you new, fresh ideas for the new year in your classroom. 
There were several ideas/quotes/perspectives in the post that really stuck out to me. 

In our mini-lesson when we get back we will spend time reflecting on ourselves as authors and ask ourselves "What is something I can do, as an author, to improve my writing?"

*This craftivity may take us a few days in order for us to really get the meaning, importance and point across to our students, but THAT'S OK!  We want them to understand that real authors set goals for themselves, and what better time to do that than in the NEW YEAR!!

As the teacher you will model your goal during the mini lesson and then allow them to go back to their seat to brainstorm their goal(s).  You can allow the students to meet up with their partner to share their goal(s) and even use their partner as a resource to help make their goal(s) even better.

Be sure to stop throughout workshop time to praise students with great goals.  This not only lights up that kiddos world, but it also gives ideas to other students who may need that extra little "push." 

When the students have completed their glyph, we plan to share them, praise them, and hang them out in the hallway for others to admire :)  Directions for the glyph are provided in the download!

OH!  And to add a little flare...you could buy those little party blowers from Party City or even at the grocery store and tape them on to the mouth of the face each child will create with the glyph because we need to CELEBRATE our new writing goals and our next step in becoming better authors!! :)

Enjoy the New Year friends--it's going to be a GREAT one!!!!

Elf on a Shelf EXTRAVAGANZA!!

Hi there!!

I'm a tad late on starting my North Pole friend in our classroom but HEY better late than never!

In our classroom we don't do an Elf on the Shelf, but rather we write a letter to the North Pole and just ask our friends up there to send us any friend to watch over us to ensure we are all being good boys and girls :)  The North Pole has sent us a GINGERBREAD GIRL this year! Yippeee!!! 

Monday will be our first day and I am so excited for our "Winter Wonderland Welcome Party" that all my firsties will walk in to tomorrow.  If you haven't started a North Pole friend yet, IT'S NOT TOO LATE!  The 2 weeks before winter break seem to be a tad more...challenging per say in regards to behavior so this gingerbread girl is going to solve all of my problems ;)

Below is a calendar I made for these next 2 weeks before we get out for winter break, PLEASE print it out and use it if you need any ideas on things for your guy/gal to do in the classroom!  On the calendar you will also find that I tried to list the items you would need for each day.  If you would like a further explanation on each day keep reading...

WEEK ONE:

Dec 8: "Winter Wonderland Welcome Party"-This is the first day our friend from the North Pole arrives so we have to do it BIG!  Above the classroom door will be a banner that says "Hi Kids" that I have made and hung, and fake snow will be on the floor leading them into the classroom.  On each table pod there will be a "snowman" (I made these by taking a tooth pick and putting two large marshmallows on it, draw on a face with a Sharpie and VOILA- snowman).  I will also have our gingerbread girl sitting on my back table with a letter from the North Pole introducing her along with some "treats" she brought straight from Gladys, Gingerbread Mama, up in the North Pole.  PS the treats are mini marshmallows that I will put in a Ziploc bag for each kiddo to take home and enjoy with mom and dad...IF they have been good, of course ;)

Dec. 9: Shelf Reading-We have built in shelves in our classrooms (you cold do this on any book shelf though), so our Gingerbread Girl will be sitting on a stack of Christmas/winter books and on top there she will be reading my favorite How the Grinch Stole Christmas By: Dr. Seuss. I will have a little index card note that says "To Mrs. Uselton's Class Love: The North Pole" and there will be a wrapped present.  Inside will be a new Christmas/winter book for our classroom library that we get to read at the end of the day :)

Dec. 10: "Be Good"-In our classroom is a large student work wall so today our friend will take down all the student work and replace it with a big sign that says BE GOOD LOVE, ______.  Our classroom flag poles are right above this wall so I will place the Gingerbread Girl up on top with a Sharpie marker...very guilty :)

Dec. 11: "Bananas for Band aids"-How much do your students love to put band aids on?!?! I sure hope it's not just my class! Well, today Gingerbread girl found the band aid bucket and will be sitting right inside/next to it and she will have band aids all over her and I will put some around the surrounding area with the wrappers every where *GASP*

Dec. 12: "Stick with Me"-We have a small little treasure box in our classroom that houses all of our fun stickers that the students earn.  Today, Gingerbread Girl will be sitting INSIDE and have stickers all over her and (if I can remember haha) will have a new pack of Christmas/winter stickers for each kiddo in the class!

WEEK TWO:

Dec. 15: "Sweet" Friend-Today Gingerbread Girl will be on the back counter in the classroom with an empty bag of Christmas color M&Ms and she will have spelled out "be good" (or any message you choose) in the M&Ms. 

Dec. 16: "Let it Snow"-In Texas, we RARELY see snow {unless it is a Christmas miracle} so Gingerbread Girl will bring it to us!  For today you will need to have made snowflakes using q-tips.  I use 3 q-tips and just hot glue in the center, make an X with 2 of them and then glue the 3rd going horizontally across...snow flake!  I will put some random q tips around her because it is always more fun when she makes a little mess ;)

Dec. 17: Spying is Tiring-Gingerbread Girl is worn out from all of her spying and flying back and forth from the North Pole each night, so she needs a nap.  Gingerbread Girl will be stuffed inside the tissue box and you can make a little pillow out of tissues for your friend too :) *P.S. A tip for noise control today..."Sh...Gingerbread Girl is sleeping we need to make sure we are using our whisper voices today ;)

Dec. 18: Sack Race-EEEK! This is a first time for me to do this and if all goes as planned, this may just be my favorite! I have little stuffed animals in my classroom sitting on the window sills so I plan to pick a few of my faves, along with Gingerbread Girl, and each friend will be put in a brown paper lunch sack on my back counter.  I am going to scatter them in a horizontal line as if they got bored during the night time/after the students left and had a SACK RACE!  I think the students are just going to die over this one...so is their teacher!!! :)

Dec. 19: "Sweet Treat before I go..."-Today is our last day before we get out for winter break so it is Gingerbread Girl's last day with us.  Today we will have a letter from her that reads "Dear 1st Graders, Today's my last day, I must say goodbye.  Tonight I must go, to the North Pole I'll fly.  But Santa will be here with gifts and good cheer, And I will be back the same time next year.  So be a good boy and girl, And smile with joy.  Remember the fun times with __{insert North Pole friends name}__, OH BOY!  I will miss you!  Love, ____"
Gingerbread Girl will have an empty box of candy canes and a note taped on it that says "I brought you a candy cane before I go...but you have to find it :)"  You can tape these all over the room and students can go and find one for each of them to take home! 

Wow!! SO much fun!!  I hope you and your class have the best time with your friend from the North Pole!!! I would love to see/hear any ideas you use in your classroom!  You can e-mail me at keluseltonATgmailDOTcom.

Up Close & Personal with Conferring!!

Hi!!!
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday!  The hubs and I spent the holiday in New York with my sweet family and it was exactly what I needed to refuel my heart :)

I am so excited about the post today...all about conferring!  This morning during our PDR meeting the Language Arts team discussed conferring and how to work with those lower readers (A-D/E) and how to have more meaningful conferences focusing on things other than word work.

Our fabulous instructional coach showed us a webinar by the infamous and amazing Kathy Collins!!  I had the opportunity to hear her a couple of times while studying at the Teacher's College at Columbia University in New York over the summer-she is hilariously awkward yet brilliant!!! If you ever have the chance to see her in person {or on a webinar}...DO.IT!  She is also the author of two great professional texts, Reading for Real and Growing Readers, both have helped me grow so much as a reading teacher...Kathy Collins just gets it!

Ok...soap box about Kathy Collins done.  Moving on...Here is a link to the webinar that we watched this morning...

https://twowritingteachers.wordpress.com/2014/09/24/writing-tool/

*This webinar is about 45ish minutes long but I promise you it is worth it!!

If you don't have time right now to watch the webinar keep reading and you can read some of the highlights from my notes during the webinar :)

What I loved most about this webinar was it targeted those readers who have read the little books in their book bag a gazillion times...I am the first to admit I need help with those kids!

The topic was all about Re-reading and Re-thinking in the following ways...
-Use a storyteller's voice
-Notice something new
-Talk about the book
-Pay close attention to pictures/study the pictures to figure something out
-Act out the story

In the webinar Kathy Collins also gives conference snippets or scenarios and that really helps me to hear the "lingo" and better apply it when working with my own readers. 

I love how the teacher, when approaching a student for a conference, asks WILL YOU pick a book to read with me?  That helps give the student that control, great way to start things off! 

Then more ingenious stuff...after the student picks the book the teacher says "Good choice!  I'm curious...Why did you pick that book out of all of the books in your book bag?" What a great way to hear the reasoning from the student while still giving  you, the teacher, the opportunity to better understand and aim your instruction.

And then continuing on with the conference by giving the child choice again..."Great reason! Ok, how do you want to re read this book today?  Do you want to re read it ___(insert one way)___ or ___(insert second way)___?"  LOVE.  Choice to the child, direction from the teacher-YES!

Kathy Collins gives other scenarios/snippets in the webinar if you want to hear more/read more!

Last thing I want to share with ya'll is about the "What might they think or say?" activity...

In the link where you find the webinar, you will also find a link to the think/talk bubbles and these are GREAT for helping students "be" the character and help to give them a voice or mind.

I don't know about you, but in my literacy library we have some great titles for the lower levels but they are the list type books so it is hard to help those books come alive since they don't have dialogue...WELL NOT ANYMORE!  Bring on the think/talk bubbles!

It is so easy to make these!  You can print out the page from the link (I suggest printing on CARDSTOCK), laminate, and then hot glue them on a popsicle stick.  I put the thought bubble on one side and then on the bottom of the other end the talk bubble.  Students can then add these to their book bag after you model how to use them the correct way :)

One of the sweet mamas in my class is making FIFTY of them tomorrow for me...bless her!

I am using a level D text called Sandcastles and here is how I used the "talk bubble" with one of my readers today...
I was working with a sweet little girl and we decided to "be" the girl (side note: when I asked her which person she wanted to be in the picture she said..."uh, girl...boys are weird."  Oh, of course, sorry, silly me!) 
We read the words and then she had to go over and say something that the little girl would say.  Just like Kathy Collins said, the little girl tried to narrate instead of "being" the girl.  She said "The girl is proud of her sandcastle."  So I modeled and said, "OH!  So the girl would say 'I am so proud of my big sandcastle!"  After modeling that my sweet pea started picking up on it in future pages-YAY...SUCCESS!!

 

 

If your reader says something completely unconnected from the text, direct and guide them to use the picture clues to help aim closer to what would actually be said or thought.  

 

I know that was a jam packed post, but again, I can't say enough good things about the webinar.  I hope this post and/or the webinar leaves you with something new you learned and plan to try in your classroom!!

 

Have a great night!!

Fun with FICTION!!!

Good Morning Sunshines!!

This past week we have been wrapping up our "Fun with Fiction" unit and "spying" on our fictional characters.

We made several anchor charts throughout the past few weeks to go along with character traits.  Something we really focused on was inside and outside character traits.  We practiced that the outside character traits are the things we can see on a character (i.e. brown hair, blue eyes, tan skin, smiling, thin, large, crying, dancing around etc.) and sometimes the outside traits can help us infer the inside traits (i.e. happy, excited, sad, etc.). 

We used mentor texts throughout this unit to really spy on our character.  We chose to use Kevin Henkes' books like Owen, Lily and the Purple Plastic Purse, Chrysanthemum, Sheila Rae's Peppermint Stick, Lilly's Chocolate Heart, Julius, and there are so many more wonderful titles by Kevin Henkes that are so helpful during a character unit. 

We read a different title each day during our IRA {Interactive Read Aloud} and then referred back to it during our reading workshop mini-lesson when making an anchor chart.

During the last 2 weeks of this unit we wanted to help the students write about their character so I made a couple different handouts to practice inside/outside traits and then after they were strong in identifying those things, we practiced writing down the "evidence" to prove the inside trait.  These student recording sheets are part of my "Fun with Fiction" unit in my TPT shop :)




*Students drew a picture of the character they were spying on in the middle, and then identified the inside/outside traits*

*Then once students mastered identifying the inside/outside traits they picked 2 of the inside traits of one of their characters wrote it on the left and provided evidence on the right*



 

Then during the last week in this unit, the learning really CAME. TO. LIFE!  WOAH!

I made a letter to send home to all parents introducing a "Book Character Day" assignment that the students would do at home for homework.  {The letter to parents and character day assignment are also part of my "Fun with Fiction" unit in my TPT shop!!}  The students absolutely loved presenting on their book character and dressing up to match :) Some of us teachers even got involved...!  Enjoy the pictures below from our Book Character Day...PS these are just  a FEW!!

 

Mrs. Uselton aka Mrs. Twinkle was ready for the day!! :)

One of my amazingly "FANCY" teammates...dressed as Fancy Nancy!

The Pigeon from The Pigeon Wants a Hotdog-LOVE!

 David from David Gets in Trouble-AWESOME!

Animal from Put Me in the Zoo-So FUN!

FLY GUY!! P.S. His mama made those wings from wire hangers and panty hose...can you say CREATIVE!?

 



 

WOW!  Sorry for such a fictional filled post friends, but I just wanted to share it all with you!!! If you are looking for some resources to implement with your character unit don't forget to stop by my TPT Shop for my "Fun with Fiction" unit!!

 

HAVE A GREAT DAY!!

Management Monday...or Wednesday!?!?

Hi Friends!!!
Sooo...Management Monday quickly turned into Management Wednesday!  Yikes!  I'm sorry!

I am excited to share some of the management ideas I have implemented in my classroom and look forward to hearing fabulous new ideas from all of you :)  I would LOVE to hear from you!!

*Individual Incentive Program*
This year, on our campus, we are doing something different in first grade and we have departmentalized.  I teach reading/writing and my fantastic partner teachers math/science/social studies.  It has been an adjustment, but we all seem to be getting in the swing of things now :)

One challenge that we faced at first was ensuring that our individual incentive program stayed the same between both classes so it was unified and expectations were clear for both sets of students.  This year we are using "behavior bucks" that I created.  We chose to do "behavior bucks" instead of tickets because we wanted to integrate a math skill...always looking for another way for real life application ;)  You can grab your free copy of my behavior bucks HERE!

The students are LOVING to spend or save their bucks!  Below is a picture of the reward chart I made for my class and it is so neat to hear FIRST GRADERS have the conversation about the importance of saving and not spending right away *music to a teachers ears*!  You can make your own using any amounts/prizes that fit your classroom! 

*Whole Class Incentive Program*
In addition to an individual positive reinforcement system {the behavior bucks} I also have a whole class incentive program called BEHAVIOR BINGO!!  I heard about this fun idea a few years back and the students love it each year!!  You can grab your free copy in my TPT shop HERE!!

*Bathroom Breaks*
I don't know about you all but we do not have time for whole class restroom breaks.  I know a lot of teachers that use the crossed fingers in the air and as much as I would love for that to work for me, it just DOESN'T! *sigh* SO, I implemented the hand sanitizer bathroom system and it has been a life saver this year!  How it works: When a child needs to use the restroom {during the appropriate times you have discussed beforehand} the girl/boy grabs the designated bottle of hand sanitizer and places it on their desk.  This gives me a visual for who is out of the room AND students grab a pump of hand sanitizer when they get back {just in case my little sweetie didn't wash with soap and water...you just never know...}before they put the bottle back in it's "home."  My ADORABLE bottles were made by a fellow teacher at my campus and she makes them for lots of teachers.  Her work is flawless and she is amazing to work with-I would recommend her in a heart beat. If you want to order one of her products you can reach her here: https://www.facebook.com/MadeByMissyGiftsandMore.

I mean look how cute these stinkin' bottles are...*swoon*

WOW!  You made it to the bottom!  I look forward to posting more Management tips in the future...I hope you were able to gain something from this post!  Remember, e-mail me {keluseltonATgmailDOTcom} with your super ideas!!

Have a great hump day ya'll!!

BOO!!!

Hi friends!! Oh, how I've missed you so!

Things have been...well...a little busy and crazy around our house lately!!  Doing WHAT, you might ask!?  WELL....

Brian and I are expecting our first little bundle of joy!!!  We are over the moon excited! :)
The love and support we have been shown has been absolutely amazing!!!

Photo Credit to my sweet friend Erin :)

 

 



ANYWHO....TOMORROW is Halloween and it's FRIDAY...our little monsters will be in rare form!

 

We have been learning about Compound Words so we decided it was time for a little craftivity...

 

I went to my go to place...TPT, of course, and searched "candy corn template" and you can choose one that you like best...I used this one (click on the picture to take it directly to the fabulous creator's TPT shot for this FREE download).

 

 

 

You can break the compound word apart and put it in each section of the candy corn...for example: cup in the top, cake in the middle, and cupcake in the bottom :) 

 

If you feel like getting really crazy you could give students little black slips of construction paper, fan fold them and have them glue arms and legs to the candy corn and now you could have a Class of Candy Corn Compound Words...might be a cute little Halloween/Fall display in your classroom!!

 

There is so much you could do with a candy corn template if you aren't studying compound words.  Some other ideas are: Nouns-put a person, place, thing in each section; fact families-put the 3 numbers in the family in the top and then addition sentences in the middle and subtraction sentences in the bottom, 3 different ways to make 10 or any number you are working on, the list goes on... :) 

 

Enjoy your Friday and remember...if you can't beat em'...join em' ;) HAVE FUN and Happy Halloween!!

 

Drop back by on Monday for my first "Management Mania" post!  I am so excited to share some classroom management ideas!!

 





Small Moment Writing!!

Hi Friends and HAPPY SUNDAY!!

I am excited to share this post with you all about small moment writing!!  My first grade writers have been doing such a great job generating ideas and putting them down on paper, so now it is time to "zoom in" and teach the children to take their big moments and narrow them down to something smaller. 

Now...I had every intention to bring the introduction of this unit to life by using a watermelon so I made my anchor chart  using watermelon pictures... 

 ...BUT that didn't work out! 
Did you know that watermelons are now made SEEDLESS!?! Ah-I didn't get that memo and don't they know I need the seeds for my small moment unit!!
SO, what's a teacher to do after visiting FOUR grocery stores and still not finding a watermelon with seeds... TIME TO IMPROVISE...PUMPKIN IT IS! :)

We talked about how the pumpkin is the big moment, like going to the beach.  So many things happen at the beach so we talked about making it smaller into a slice.  Then we went even smaller, into a seed. 

The visual of the pumpkin really helped them to understand the true meaning behind this unit. 

Then, it was time to WRITE!  The students worked in partnerships and I made a planning sheet for them to use to help organize their thoughts :)

*Click on one of the pictures and it will take you to my TPT shop to download your FREE copy*

There are some great things happening in first grade and I love the e-mails I am seeing from you guys!! If there is something positive happening in your classroom I would LOVE to hear about it!! You all are amazing and are making such a difference in the lives of children!!!

Have a great day!!

GRAND OPENING!!

Hi there!!!

Our long awaited grand opening of our library happened this past week and boy, oh boy, was it a SUCCESS!  The students were welcomed on Monday morning with balloons at the front door and in the library...

Then our sweet and amazing counselor came in to "cut the ribbon" and partake in the festivities. Her excitement really helped pump up the kids even more :)

 

 

After the cheering we said goodbye to Mrs. Baker and it was time to book shop! I am still working on my reading testing to find each kiddos level so this was such a great time for me to sit one on one with each child to help them find their "just right books."  We use the 5 finger rule in our library to find good fit books.  I was also able to introduce our book shopping cards! I love this time of year when we are able to foster their love for learning and help mold them into the best independent readers they can be :)   If you are in search of a "just right books" book mark or a set of book shopping cards head on over to my TPT shop HERE and get your copy for FREE! 

 

 

Have a great day!!



Library is ALMOST opened....

Hey Ya'll!! Happy Friday Eve!!! *Whew*

My students have been working SO hard on building their stamina during independent reading and we are SOOO excited to open our library on Monday!!  Our sweet assistant principal is coming in to "cut the ribbon" and the students are going to *love* it!!

During the summer our campus had Dave Burgess from Teach Like A Pirate out...and boy, oh boy, if you have never had the opportunity to hear him speak, DO. IT.

In an effort to bring up the engagement level in the classroom we have been doing little "surprises" for the kiddos leading up to the grand opening of the library.  Today, a mysterious green bag appeared!  I acted like it wasn't there but, of course, the "What is that?" "I think it's ____" started buzzing!  Mission accomplished.  I finally let them open it and it was NEW BOOKS!!  They LOVED it!!
I also gave them an index card with their name on it and allowed them to decorate it.  No one really wondered "Hm...why are we coloring an index card?!"  Until I made them turn it in.  They wanted to keep it but mean ol' Mrs. Uselton told them I wanted to keep it until tomorrow ;) After some moans and groans they wanted to know WHYYY!!  I told them they would have to wait until tomorrow...WHAT?!? A whole night not knowing...!!!  *Spoiler Alert* We are going to use the index card on their NEW BOOK BAGS they will get tomorrow!! They are going to go b-a-n-a-n-a-s, BANANAS!! I decorated a box with some bows tonight before I left and it will just be sitting on the table when they come in, just waiting to cause some more buzz in our first grade classroom!!

P.S. You know you have accomplished the element of surprise/engagement when a kiddo goes home and I hear from his mama that he can't wait to see what the surprise at school tomorrow is!!

In honor of libraries on our campus opening and soon to be opening...I am loving the way my sweet friend's library came out in her fabulous new 4th grade class ...

 

 *primary and intermediate book bin labels as shown here can be found in my TPT shop*

I love how inviting and put together it is!! The teachers on my campus are seriously unbelievably talented!!  I will be posting pictures next week of my class library, our Grand Opening and all the festivities that will go along with that...stay tuned!! :)

Have a great weekend ya'll and HAPPY FRIDAY {tomorrow}!!!