Lessons Learned: freebie

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Falling in Love (with Reading Closely) and a freebie

Welcome back! It's another week of joining in with Dianna at Sassy, Savvy, Simple Teaching. Last week we looked at the basics of Close Reading and what it might look like. This week in Chapter 2 we get to dig in a little more about the process and how to proceed.

I know a lot of people in this book study were questioning how this might look in a primary classroom. I personally thought this chapter was full of awesome ideas. As with just about anything it is all about differentiation. In many cases, that can be just toning down for our younger ones. I think we still use the same terms (don't change it because they will see them as the years go on), but we can add examples or modifications.

For example, the first step is called: Reading through lenses. For my students, I wear glasses and contact lenses and I could use this as an example of how if I don't wear one of these items I cannot see anything at all, but when I use my lenses I can see a lot better, and a lot more!

(*sidenote: in the party section at Target are these awesome glasses. I have 5 and am going to use them on my reading bulletin board. I thought of them the whole time I was reading this chapter and thought it would be so fun for our kids to wear them if we had them in a small group doing this.)

The basics of reading through lenses is gathering text evidence. We're looking for the details. In a fiction text this may be something like looking for what a character says/does/thinks/feels. It may also be how a setting or place is described. In an informational text we can gather these details from facts, descriptions, even photos and their captions.

In terms of how this may be similar or different to word choice I would think (word choice is addressed in chapter 3) that with word choice we are going to look at the type of language used. Whereas with text evidence we are looking for details and information, we're not analyzing the words.

The next step (or step 2) is called: Using lenses to find patterns. In basic terms I think of this as analyzing the details we just uncovered during step 1 (notice I didn't say analyzing the word choice, but the details). I also thought of this like sorting - sorting the details that go together. Maybe you want to to sort it by color coding, maybe you want to circle one set of details that go together and box another set. It's up to what works for you and your students. What I did like about the coding/sorting is that they mentioned making a key, like a map key -- what a great way to tie in some social skills!

The third step is: Use the patterns to develop a new understanding of the text. What I love about this step is it is the actual process of basically, how have our thoughts or ideas changed about this character/or whatever non-fiction piece you are studying during this process?

In fact there are even sentence frames and prompts that were provided. I love that there are sentence frames because it is so valuable to my ESOL students. I've put a few reminder/prompt cards together for you. Click on the picture to be taken to the free cards (please leave feedback if you like these)!

Now I have to tell you my favorite part of this chapter was the suggestion of teaching a lesson with song lyrics first in order to introduce this whole concept. So you will use the lyrics of the song as what will be read closely, or analyzed. They used the example of a Justin Bieber song, and while my 2nd graders know who he is, I was thinking more along the lines of Let It Go from Frozen.

So the idea behind this is that some people will already like the song and some won't which is the perfect combination for this (my 2nd grade boys were so over this song last year...but I still played it cause I liked it, hehe).

So you would play the song once and then post the lyrics (I would also print out the lyrics and have a handout for each student). You can look at the lyrics to try to determine what message the song is trying to convey.

So here is how I envision this:

The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen
A kingdom of isolation,
And it looks like I'm the queen.

The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
Couldn't keep it in, heaven knows I tried!

Don't let them in, don't let them see
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don't feel, don't let them know
Well, now they know!

Let it go, let it go
Can't hold it back anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn away and slam the door!

I don't care
What they're going to say
Let the storm rage on,
The cold never bothered me anyway!

It's funny how some distance
Makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me
Can't get to me at all!

It's time to see what I can do
To test the limits and break through
No right, no wrong, no rules for me I'm free!
Let it go, let it go
I am one with the wind and sky
Let it go, let it go
You'll never see me cry!

Here I stand
And here I'll stay
Let the storm rage on!

My power flurries through the air into the ground
My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around
And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast
I'm never going back,
The past is in the past!

Let it go, let it go
And I'll rise like the break of dawn
Let it go, let it go
That perfect girl is gone!

Here I stand
In the light of day
Let the storm rage on,
The cold never bothered me anyway!

The blue highlighting is about her power and what she can do.

The orange is about how everyone knows and she is dealing with it.

The yellow is about how she had to stifle herself and couldn't be who she was.

Obviously getting the students to see all of these things will take training. So maybe in the beginning they receive direction about a certain theme to look for. **Please please take into consideration that this is not official, I am not an expert, these are just my ideas for how I would teach this to group of 2nd graders who are mainly ESOL students. There is not a right or wrong with this set of lyrics or any of it.** How do you want the lesson to go? What standard are you teaching? Just make sure that as your students are practicing this independently (when ready) you are assessing their work in order to help you decide your next steps.

Happy Reading!

Make sure to enter our giveaway and check out the other bloggers in this books study (I know there's a freebie along the way).

Entry -Form

An InLinkz Link-up

They Say I Must Be One of the Wonders - July Book Club with Ramona Recommends

Hi!! Welcome. I am so glad you have come over here to join me in July's book club. I am so grateful to Courtney at Ramona Recommends for allowing me to host this month. These books will run from July 2nd - August 6th. You've got lots of time to discover the magic in the following two books!

I must be honest and say that I had originally selected a different book (The Lemonade War). However, after having read this month's selection I knew I had to email Courtney and change it.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Whether you have read this book or not already, I urge you to join us this month and reread it. The moment I finished this book (which was less than 24 hours after I started it) I knew I needed to discuss it more with people (and teachers)! It also made me a little sad that I don't teach a 4th or 5th grade class so I could really teach and study this book. Maybe one day. For now, I've been researching and reading every article I could find about Wonder. I've been thinking about how it could be toned down for lower grades. While I'm not sure the actual book can be toned down for lower grades (I teach 2nd), I do think the principles in this book are some that are never too early to teach to students, regardless of age. This book serves such a valuable lesson (or lessons). There are so many sayings that can come from this book.

I have my personal reasons for choosing this book. I'll save that for another post. Here are some questions to help guide you as you read it. I have also included some lesson ideas and resources.

*If you are new to book club please introduce yourself, your blog (if you have one), and the grade you teach.

Questions to Wonder About:

1. What did you think of this book? Did you love it as much as I did?

2. Did it make you think about things and your actions differently?

3. I have provided lesson ideas below, but how might you teach this to your students? I'm thinking that Choose Kind could really be a mantra all year long for a class. What do you think?

4. I would love to know what your precept would be - I have created an editable postcard template. Please share your precept either in a blogpost or share it with me via e-mail. I would love to compile all of them and create a teacher collection of precepts.

Click on the image below to be taken to the editable Google Docs file. It is meant to be printed back/front.

Lesson Ideas to Keep Your Students Wondering:

1. What does it mean to wonder? vs. What does it mean to be a wonder to someone? (reference the lyrics from Natalie Merchant's song, 'Wonder' - "They say I must be one of the wonders..."; You can even post all of the lyrics to the song and disect it - how does it relate to the book Wonder?).

2. What is a precept? What would your precept be? <--this could even be monthly, or choose a different student each month.

3. How can you choose kind? What does it mean to choose kind?

4. What does it mean to be a friend? How is being a friend different from being friendly?

5. Do you believe bullying exists in our school? How can you help change that by choosing kind? <-- this could be an excellent writing assignment.

6. One other lesson idea is to discuss the different points of view the story is told from - what was the author's purpose in doing this? Why do you think some characters didn't tell their story (i.e. Julian)?

Resources About Wonder:

1. I created a Pinterest Board for Wonder. There is a great lesson idea about character traits and using Tagxedo.

2. There is a great teacher guide at RandomHouse.

3. This is the author's site.

4. This is the page for Choose Kind.

5. The Children's Craniofacial Association has resources and gear. I emailed them for a teacher packet and two are being sent to me. The email address to contact is on their page.

6. Pages of quotes from Wonder. I bet you could even use one or two for a mentor sentence. ;)

I am so excited to hear from you and hear your thoughts! If you have questions for me, feel free.

Primary Teachers: this one's for you!

Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae

I wanted to choose a book that went along the same lines of self-esteem, believing in yourself, and being kind. This book has long been a favorite of mine.

Ideas:

1. Writing - what are your strengths? What makes you special? Is there something you want to be able to do better?

2. Rhyming book

3. Adjectives

Questions:

1. Why did Gerald feel sad? Were his friends kind?

2. How can we use this book to teach about being a friend and being kind?

3. Do you think you would use this book more to teach students to believe in themselves or as a being a friend book?

Resources:

I have seen numerous resources and activities to be done with this book. If you have others please share.

1.There is a link here at Scholastic that includes a free lesson plan.

2.This offers a variety of different connections with Math and Literacy.

3. You can find a game for Giraffes Can't Dance here.

Search on Pinterest, there are really so very many ideas for this book. I think you'll love Gerald and cheer him on!

Thanks for joining us. I hope you have fun.

created by me

Summer Stock Up - OCD Much?! (and a Freebie or so)

I'm fortunate to be part of an awesome Facebook blog hop happening this weekend. There are some very talented teachers out there. I'm just an amateur (slightly kidding, she said sarcastically). We wanted you to be able to stock up early and avoid the 'back-to-school' rush. I know most of you are in complete summer mode - beaching, pooling, chillaxin'. Nonetheless, if you're around, hop along with us. Find some new blogs, new ideas, new resources, and maybe even some freebies (*that's correct you may have to read to the bitter end, gotchya).

So okay, peeps here's the deal - I'm finally going to share some things I spend hours making on my computer. Most of the time I think, oh I just make this because it works for me and there is stuff like this out there. However, the people I work with like the stuff in my room, so here goes...

Now, I know, I know, there are a TON of binder covers already out there. I can't say that the idea for binder covers is something new and original. I can't even say that I made the designs, because I'm not a graphic designer. BUT, I am OCD to the nth degree. Allow me to take you back to a photo from the days of yonder:

Nothing about this is fancy. Yet, here is what I love about it - the bins are clear. I can see what is inside. The labels are from a regular 'ole label maker by Brother (the brand). I own 3 - one for school (actually, my favorite L snagged it- if you've been around this blog, you know who she is - da bombdiggity), one for home (those are two that just print white tape), and one a tad fancier and it does fun colored tape. Again, what I love about this is that no color ink is used. No laminating pouches are bought. There is no cutting. These pictures are from my very first classroom. These bins still exist with the same labels. I know, you're probably thinking 'get with the program already!'). But, it does the job.

With all this said, I will also say that I love decorating. I've also recently discovered my love of fonts and clip art. So I am getting slightly with the program. The clear plastic bins are still in my room. The pops of color I use are book baskets and such. I like things clean and simple. I like things organized. I like that at the end of the year when teachers move into my classroom (yes, I move every year) they say, 'if I'm moving into a room, at least it's your room.' And so, here's my:

Binder Covers

Labels

Desk Trays

A place for this, a place for that

Are you still reading?

Let me answer some questions about what I have for you.

Binder Covers

This image is of my, personal covers, so they are uber detailed (hence OCD, with which 9 weeks, etc.)

1. SO - what makes my binder covers different? Absolutely nothing! Hey, I'm about as honest as they come (and sometimes that gets me in trouble, but you will always know what you get with me).

2. Why did I create them? When I first started teaching at my school five years ago I had one filing cabinet in my trailer and it didn't work. I used a two drawer plastic thing made by Sterilite and everything else went in binders. I didn't really have a system back then. I think I was just kinda, reading, math, yadda, yadda, yadda. Ya know, when you're a first year teacher, it's more of a stay afloat method. Put this here, and that there. Just make it out alive and sort it later. Well, I've evolved and developed. I've learned my standards (both personal and professional ;) and learned them well. I dare say I make some of my teammates sick. So, each subject has a different pattern/color, yet they still coordinate.

3. How do I organize my binders? That's a really great question. I'm still a work in progress. Aren't we all! I used to have one big binder for each subject, and then each binder was divided by tabs for each unit, but the binders were getting big and it was hard to turn the pages and it just wasn't easy.

So, I started reorganizing this year (I think I just start to reorganize things when I get stressed, anyone else do that). I began with Science and Social Studies. I created a binder for each unit. Then, I also created a spine for the binder and a matching square label to go on the front of a white magazine box/file (I use the white ones from Ikea). The magazine file holds all mentor texts or laminated hand outs/posters I have for the unit that do not fit in the binder. On my shelf behind my desk I have binder/magazine file, binder/magazine file, etc.

4. Other ideas/options - I will probably not use as many binders for writing or reading. For writing, for example, I will either use 4 binders, one for each 9 weeks, or just one for each type of writing we teach (narrative, opinion, informational, friendly letter, I know I'm forgetting one, etc.). So clearly next week when I set up my trailer, I will still figure a few things out.

Just so you can see, it's clean and simple. I've put the topic, below is the subject, grade level, and which grading period/quarter/etc. Obviously, you can edit them however you see fit.

I put the unit, then topic, then the standards

on the bottom I put which 9 weeks/quarter - again these are mine so they are super specific because I am following my county common core standards.

Here are some for you:

_________________________________________________________________________

Desk Trays

I saw this idea on Pinterest and an awesome teacher blogger pinned it too and gave me the idea. I can't find hers but I totally want to give her credit. If you see hers please let me know. Naturally, I made my own.

Note: the black looking S to the right is a doodle, I rotated it to appear as an S since it is my first initial. I took it out in the editable version since I didn't think many people would want it. Please let me know if you do.

1. Why I made it? Well I think it's pretty. Ha, but also because I am constantly looking for ideas to conquer the paper mountain! My kids give me drawings and parent notes ALL the time. This past year was the worst. My kidney table would start off clean almost (note my use of the word 'almost' as a qualifier) every morning and at the end of each day it was disgusting. I had three girls that came up each day and said, "Can I clean your table?" Yes, yes you can!

2. Again, what makes mine different? Again, nothing! I may be OCD, but I also like options. I move my decor and rearrange. I'm learning change is okay. Options are good. Which design do you like best? I can't decide!

3. It's FREE. It's Editable. If you like it, take it, use it, enjoy it. Be kind. You know the drill. Click here.

Hope you enjoy and get lots of ideas. Let me know if I have left something out or you need something I haven't thought of. :)

Have You Seen This? (Freebie)

I hope you have been feeling appreciated this week. Myself and other authors from TBA are trying to spread the appreciation all month long. The other day I posted this idea.

Here's another one that you may have seen on Pinterest, I know I did:

Source: makingitteacher.com via Sydney on Pinterest

Well, guess where you can get it?! Right here at Making It As A Middle School Teacher. Didn't Michelle do a great job?! I think so! Go show her some love.

That Little Extra (freebie for you)!

Last year I made these cute little labels to put on a pack of Extra gum for all of my teammates who I teach with. I was trying to think of a little something different to do and then my PTA beat me to it. In our box today was a cutely packaged pack of Extra gum with this taped to it:

The difference between Ordinary and Extraordinary is that little EXTRA. Thanks for all you do!

So, I went ahead and whipped up these labels for you in case you want a quick and easy little gift to make some people you work with feel a little "extra" special this week. :) Stay tuned for more Teacher Appreciation from some amazing bloggers through the weeks to come.

I personally like these new little kraft labels by Martha Stewart than can be found at Staples:

but of course, the best part is, the template for them is the same as a regular Avery label! Enjoy and Happy Teacher Appreciation Week. Tomorrow, be sure to visit Making It As A Middle School Teacher for her post!

That Little Extra

Just "Write" for Me - FREEBIE

Happy Monday!

A little while ago I saw this on Pinterest:

I decided to go ahead and make my own:

Go ahead and click on the picture. It will take you to my Teacher's Notebook Store where you can download this for free. Enjoy!

P.S. I am truly overwhelmed by the amount of generosity, kindness, and help that exists throughout this blogging community. I almost don't know where to start for my Professional Learning. If you would like to contribute, there is still time. Just click here:

I'm Looking for My Friends, I'm Looking for YOU!

Sid the Science Kid, anyone? Isn't that song just a little catchy? I'm the teacher on the hall who has found not one but two different box sets of Sid, so we watch when there's a rainy day because we can usually get a science or health grade, too (trust me, we are good teachers!). Needless to say, the teachers wind up singing this song down the hall to one another when we need something, so now I sing it to you - my blog friends.

As I mentioned in a previous post, a co-worker and I are going to teach a Professional Learning Course to other teachers. The way it works in our school is that each semester you fill out the application and topic and then the AP decides on some and the teachers have to sigh up for the one they want to join.

I had been thinking about a blogging one of sorts. Especially as I was putting centers and games together and fellow co-workers would constantly comment on my creativity, telling me I should work with curriculum or be 1st grade's professional blogger. At the time I was having a hard enough time finding a real job - so we even joked that we would give it a more "professional" title - Professional Resources Manager.

Before I knew it, co-workers were finding my blog through Pinterest (they recognized my rocking chair) and I was recognizing activities they were doing with their kids from all of YOUR blogs. We started comparing notes. We decided why not?!

We gave our PLU course a classier name - Creative Teaching and Technology Resources. It begins on Tuesday, January 23rd. What we would like to do is put together a packet/powerpoint for them (we limited the class size to 20 - and mainly K, 1, ELL teachers) of blogs, freebies, fonts we like, ideas for organizing and using, etc). The teaching I am doing this actually has no idea I am making this post, but I kind of thought it would be fun (she searches on blogs and I blog) about another different way you can use blogs to reach out to all different teachers and get ideas and resources. If you are willing to contribute - anything, in any way - be it a printable, a freebie, math, science, social studies, word work, daily 5, organization - I would love to include you all in our presentations and give you some shout outs! And of course, in appreciation I will be more than happy to share the entire organized compilation that my co-workers receive with any and all who contribute when all is said and done! If there are any questions please let me know.

Few FREEBIES for ya!

Hey guys! Just a quickie tonight...I said a guest post today, but it may get up tomorrow.

I am sure you have seen variations of these all over the place, with the original being these adorable ones over at The Teacher Wife's Blog:

But for the last week or so I have really been needing my kiddies to be able to practice it on their own, not just look at it. I needed them to be doing the manipulating with the words. Enter a cut and paste activity of their own. I whipped these up last night. A few of the teachers I work with liked them as well and asked for copies. If you think of words you would like to see on here let me know.

Add or Subtract Cut and Paste

Also, since we are into November already I wanted to let you have one of my all-time favorite activities to do each year - How to Bake a Turkey. This ties in perfectly with How To writing. What the Teacher Wants happens to have posted some very similar templates as well just today, but mine is written in recipe form (it's a slightly older version, maybe I will update in the next week or so). Each year I compile a class cookbook. I will have to find last year's and the others and show you some, they are hilarious, especially when you allow the kids to spell phonetically. Enjoy!

How to Bake a Turkey

Here We Go Again, ch. 10 + FREEBIE

As I mentioned in a previous post, I had an interview this past Monday. I never like to say or speculate how I think they went because after my ordeal I don't like to get excited. I didn't even call my parents the whole day, not even after the principal called me and asked about my references (and you better believe I was excited then). But then yesterday no call, and not an email until after 8 at night. I'm still waiting (which I don't take as the best sign that she still has more people to meet with. UGH!). I didn't sleep at all last night.

But if I do get a job, look how cute this binder my kids will have is, and help yourself if you'd like (again, I just ask that you give credit where credit is due). You can clearly tell my theme, huh?!

Ice Cream Binder Blog

More Organization, More Labels (for FREE), More Ideas, More Crossing Fingers and Saying a Little Prayer!

Thanks for all of the great feedback on my organization post! Yes, you read correctly, I do not have a classroom for all of this - but actually with that just said I have an interview on Monday morning. Normally I don't speak of these things until afterwards and if they have gone well, but if you have read any of my chapters on my life story then you know I need this. So if you could cross your fingers or say a little prayer or whatever it is you do when you are back in your classrooms on Monday morning I would appreciate that.

Now, back to my organization - you saw me getting my classroom ready in my closet. Here I am being organized in my own home - the home I moved into this past summer that I said was such a big deal, so of course I got down to business on decorating and organizing. I finally got to show it off this week and I felt so vindicated:

my living room

my bedroom - this is the wall across from my bed - the hoops of fabric I did on my own. The galvanized letter are from Anthropologie

These organizers are my pride and joy. They hang behind my bedroom door. I saw them on Pinterest and my mom helped me replicate it. I had a lot of fun doing it. I went to Lowe's found most of my pieces on my own in the plumbing aisle. I needed them to cut and thread the pipes for me. When they asked what I was using it for I laughed when i told them a jewelry hanger - and so did they, but doesn't it look good?! Loving the industrial look too.

Below is my pantry. I must warn you this picture is old, and by old I mean a couple of weeks old. I had it open at one point during the evening and I looked at my friend and was like, I rearranged this since the last time you were here. She was like you are nuts. My other friend (who is married, and I am not) says "look how many spices you have that I don't!"

I hung a command hook on the door for my aprons and lunch bags.

This apron was one of my end of the year teacher gifts from a few years ago from some awesome room moms. It reminds me of how fun this class was.

And below this was another room that got lots of comments - the bathroom, weird I know, or is it weird to show you?

yep, so here I go again, OCD with the organization. I have a bin for contacts, sinus & cold, first aid, travel size shampoo, etc, toothpaste, razors, dental (I keep floss and toothbrushes in there), ointments, the open stacking bins on the right have haircare, the one below is soaps, etc, the little green one is nail polish, etc.

what teacher isn't big on the germs?!

the organization above is self explanatory

and yes, people even spoke about the organization in my closet

stacking bins on the left - the top is purses and clutches, the bottom is socks. to the right are pull out drawers with shoes.

scarf organizer - from IKEA

I am still organizing the classroom too. A while back I posted some library labels. They were enough to organize through last school year - but here we go for this school year, unless I wind up in like 5th grade or something:

1. The first thing I did was get all my categories in Alphabetical order. It looked something like this. I just put this in here so you could see it - this is not anything you cannot do nor is it formally typed.

Classroom Library

2. Then, I made the labels bigger, I color coded them (picture books, chapter books, non-fiction books), and I added a bin # to each label. These all will print on Avery shipping labels, 6 to a page 5164. Now your bin # may not be the same as mine, so if you actually do want to use mine (cause let's face it I think I'm only like the 1000th person to do some of these) and you need the word document, I am happy to email it to you.

Classroom Library Bin Labels

You will notice that I used the 'smiley monster font' which does not always use capital letters in the front, but again I am that OCD that I have changed the font for the beginning letter so that it is uppercase. After all, that is what I try to teach my students to do.

3. Stay tuned for the color coded bin # labels to match these that will go on the back of each book. For example, each Eric Carle book will have a small label on the back that says bin # 6 in blue. Those should be here soon. (man I have way too much time on my hands!)

4. You may have been wondering why I finally got to show off my new place this week. It was for a Stella & Dot party. Have you heard of them? I am sure a lot of you have, but since a lot of my giveaways and deals have been for places that I try to introduce you to, I definitely wanted to share Stella & Dot with you. You can only buy through a rep. If you don't have one, my party is open for one more week (til August 6th, so you can just click on any of these links in this paragraph and then where it says "find your hostess" you just find my name: Sydney Cohn. Have fun. There are some great inexpensive and teachery (made that word up) pieces. For example, I love these: