Currently...in November!

I'm linking up with Oh' Boy 4th Grade and sharing what I'm currently doing.  

Come join the fun!

Happy Friday! :)

AR Test Log {FREEBIE}

My school really *encourages* AR {Accelerated Reader}.  We have been taking 1 - 2 tests per week.  Now that they've pretty much mastered how to log in and take the test by themselves, I think it's time for them to start recording their tests and scores.  I have been working on getting their AR folders ready.  

The folder isn't anything fancy.  I just fold a piece of construction paper in half and staple a few sheets of paper to the right side.  This is the AR Book Log.  On the left side, I staple the AR Test Log.

{Click HERE to download!}

I don't really *love* the idea of offering the kiddos a prize.  But otherwise, some students will never want to take an AR test.  And like I said earlier, my admin strongly encourages ALL students to test.

Also, the AR program accepts a score of 60% as passing, but I encourage the students to score 80% or 100%.  They can only record those scores on their test log.

***This Test Log is NOT my original idea.  I found and printed a similar one a few years ago.  I most likely found it on ProTeacher.  Anywho, I didn't have it saved on my computer and I couldn't find my original, so I decided to recreate it.  If you know who originally had this idea, please let me know and I will give them credit.***

Hope you can use the test log!  Have a great Sunday and a wonderful week!

{It's a four-day week for us, yippee!} :)

Just a few Dollar Tree finds!

So, I haven't been to Dollar Tree in a WHILE.  After this looooong week, I thought I deserved a little fun. :)

Exhibit A: pumpkin ice trays = fun addition to Math Tubs

Exhibit B: word wall spinners = good way to spice up practicing those word wall words

(P.S. Sorry about the glare!)

Exhibit C: 38 pages of subtraction practice = nice follow up to the 38 pages of addition practice I found on my last trip - HAHA!

Happy Friday everyone!

Principal's Pick, Whales, & Sequencing

Does anyone else do this?  

Each month our principal chooses a book, well, this year two books (fiction and nonfiction).  Each teacher then reads the books to her class and completes a reading/writing activity.

  September's nonfiction pick is Big Blue Whale by Nicola Davies.  I must say, I really enjoyed reading this book to my class!  And they loved it too. :)  

In fact, all of the nonfiction picks for this year are by Nicola Davies.  I read her book, One Tiny Turtle, last year and it was a great read.  I can't wait to read the others!

Before reading the book, we did some wondering.  What do you wonder about whales?

They really thought of some good questions!

Then we wrote one thing we learned about whales.

Hehe. :)

If you've never read any of Nicola Davies' books, I suggest you check them out!

In other news, we've also been practicing sequencing and writing stories.

My teammate shared an idea.  She photocopied some sequencing puzzles and had her class use them for writing.  

We tried it and the kids loved it!

I had a couple of volunteers come up and put the pictures in order and tell the story.  Then the class helped me write my sentences and spell some of the harder words. ;)

(Side note:  Please excuse my handwriting...)

Here are a couple of samples.  The kids didn't write as much as I'd hoped, but it was our first time doing this activity.  Hopefully next time they will add more details. :)

The cut the pictures out, glued them in order, and then wrote sentences to match.

"She gets the popcorn seeds and eats."

"The boy got paint.  And he painted his dogs house."

Happy Hump Day!

Apple FREEBIES!

We will be celebrating Johnny Appleseed's birthday and learning about apples this week.  I have found tons of great activities out there, thanks to all you wonderful bloggers. :)

I decided to share a few apple themed items I created.  Hope you like them and can use them in your classroom this week!

Cut this apart and use in a pocket chart to create a class graph.

Click HERE to download!

Here is a recording sheet for students to complete after creating the class graph.

Click HERE to download!

Here is a poem I found and just made it "cute". :)

Click HERE to download!

Happy fall, y'all! :)

What's In My Bag? {A Linky Party}

Abby, at The Inspired Apple, is hosting a School Bag Linky Party!

How fun! :)

Here's my school bag.  I got it FREE from Vistaprint.

I'm starting to wish I had a different bag.  This one has a problem...it's floppy.  I think I need one of those big, sturdy ones from 31 (that I've been seeing on other teachers blogs)! :)

Here's a top shot.  Yep, it's slam full of stuff!  I usually squeeze my laptop in here, too.  No wonder my shoulder hurts...

Now what is all that stuff?  My cute, matching organizational items. :)  I use the file holder to keep student papers organized, or small items I cut out and need to laminate.  The spiral notebook has about six pages that have pockets on each side.  I labeled each pocket by subject and put papers in those pockets that need to be copied.  Lastly, my planner helps me keep track of all those wonderful meetings and due dates.

 Here are a stack of state standards that I'll need to have displayed this week, markers for various activities, my grade book, and a nursery rhyme CD I "won" at our last faculty meeting.  

My parent-teacher conference notebook.  I've been *trying* to get these done over the past 2 weeks.  So far, I've had 5 out of 19 conferences.  Does anyone else find it difficult to get parents to come in???

Some Really Good Stuff magazines.  I like looking at these and figuring out what I can make myself!  Also, my umbrella and some cough drops.  Not sure why those are still in there since I'm pretty much over my sinus infection.

My super cute pencil bag.  I really LOVE owls!

Inside the owl bag: note pads, pens, pencils, a highlighter, and a stapler.

That's it!  What's in your bag?

Have a happy Sunday and a great week at school!

What I'm Loving Wednesday!

Here's what I'm loving this Wednesday...

{1}

I'm loving that I baked and iced this little cake all by myself. :)  Yep, I even made the icing.

{2}

I'm loving that my kiddos reached our Read to Self goal today! 20 minutes = :)

(I snapped this pic early...should have got it when it said 20!)

{3}

I'm loving writing workshop!  We made our heart maps Monday and the kids really enjoyed using them today!  This was an idea we had at a professional development last year.  However, I totally copied Ms. Carroll's (from The First Grade Parade) cute way of designing hers!  Check hers out HERE!

{4}

I'm loving that fall is almost here!  Can't wait to start some Halloween crafts like the ones below.  Pinterest inspired ;)

{5}

I'm loving that it's almost the weekend again!  

Happy Wednesday!