Sunday, January 29, 2012

Oh Sunday

Man I wish I had one more day. I just want to lay around all day tomorrow, but nope I will be up at 5:45 getting ready to go see my 23 little friends!! Well there are some exciting things going on in bloggy world!

First Hope King and Babbling Abby are having sales at their TpT. If you have not checked these ladies out you totally need to. I just bought Hope's Cloudy with a Chance Weather Unit and PSA Math Strategies Unit. I bought Abby's Inferencing Unit. I am really excited to use these ladies WONDERFUL units!





Ok so if you haven't been "TAGGED" well then just wait you will be soon! Holly was so sweet to tag me and I had fun tagging other bloggy friends. Beware it does take a while to make the post, but it is super fun reading everyone's responses to your questions. I have learned more about my bloggy friends within the past two days then the last several months!

My master classes are in full swing. I feel like I don't have time to create any great freebies anymore for my blog. I will try to get one posted this week sometime. We are starting some exciting new units. One is our Kansas Unit that goes along with Kansas Day. Yes our state is so AMAZING that we have a WHOLE day to celebrate it. (right Leanne!!) The kids love learning about the state and experiencing new things. I will post some pictures of the activities we do during the week.

Last but not least I want to ask one question and share something exciting....

1. I am keeping to my New Years Resolution to stay healthy....today the girls and I walked 5 miles! And I think we decided to walk again tomorrow. I will let you know how totally sore I am going to be on Tuesday!!! :)

2. My question for my bloggy friends....What does your reading block look like? Do you use guided reading or a basal? Does everyone in your building do the same thing or is everyone on different pages? I am considering changing things up a little in my reading block, but I want to get some new fresh ideas first!

P.S. I am almost to 200 followers and I think a giveaway is in order! I am so close, spread the word and help me reach 200! Have a great rest of your Sunday!!

13 comments:

Jen R said...

reading block...
well, our admin doesn't make us use the curriculum. I think I'm one of the few that actually doesn't use it - which lends itself easier for integrating science/social studies or doing other themes (like Reagan's Billy Goats unit she just posted that I'm excited to use!!)
I do guided reading too...though I don't use our curriculum for that either - I dont' like the texts. I pull from all kinds of sources, mainly Reading A-Z (but that's a subscription that your school will have to buy.).

But even though I don't use the reading series, I DO follow it...like the skills that need to be taught that week and such. So, in that sense, we are all on the same page, just not doing the same thing.

♥ Jen
The Teachers' Cauldron

Unknown said...

No reading block here - sorry!

I had so much fun writing my "tagged" post but it took me FOREVVERRR.

Im working on my masters too, gah.

Holly said...

I noticed that the other day - you're just two away!!!! Can't wait to see what you come up with this time for your giveaway!! :)

I do Reader's Workshop/Daily 5/Cafe. My reading block is about an hour...usually a wee bit longer. I use Debbie Miller, Kathy Collins, and Comprehension Connections for my lessons {and fill in the holes with things I find on blogs/proteacher}. A teacher friend and I are tweaking my HUGE binder of lessons, activites, I've collected over the years. Our plan is to present it to our curriculum director and see if he wants to use it for the rest of the district. Word has it, we are going to receive extensive training on reader's workshop {which cracks me up because I've been doing it for 4 years now, maybe more}...but we're purchasing Lucy Calkin's reader's workshop units...not sure what I think about that. Chances are, like always, it'll be a chef's surprise for me. I use Daily 5 to manage it all...and LOVE it. I do have a parapro who helps out and sees two of my 5 reading groups for me. I just started in with Cafe this school year...so I'm not all that good at it yet. Just dabbling.

Some goals for next year:
*Check out Calkin's RW units
*Dig further into CAFE
*Make a pensieve
*Get better at strategy groups

Pretty lofty, I know...

Sorry for the long post!!!!!

Holly
Crisscross Applesauce in First Grade

Unknown said...

I wish I had one more day, too!!
Our reading block is using the Storytown program...we are all on the same day..60 minutes whole group...60 minutes small group...and then 30 minutes of intervention in the afternoon. Our grade level as the same schedule so that the powers that be can come and do walk-throughs at the same time.
Not a lot of flexibility...
Jennifer
First Grade Blue SKies

Anonymous said...

I am supposed to use the basal, but I also incorporate leveled readers (that go along with the basal) into small groups. I follow the basal, but mostly it is an outline. I like to change it around to make it work for my students.

I would love to hear what you currently do and how you are thinking about changing it! =)

Ms. Smith
Adventures of Ms. Smith

Kristin said...

One more day would be HEAVENLY!!!
We use our Core Curriculum. We have to be on the same page or the Curriculum Cops arrest us. No reading groups. DIRECT INSTRUCTION THE ENTIRE TIME. KILL ME NOW.
A Teeny Tiny Teacher

Wolfelicious said...

My reading block is in the morning before our lunch. It starts with 30-45 whole group instruction. We use the Read Well program and Spaulding. After whole group instruction my class continues to centers after they complete their seat work. Centers last an hour and a half to two hours. During centers I am pulling small group instruction. I hope this makes sense.

April
http://wolfelicious.blogspot.com

Wolfelicious said...

Oops, I pushed publish too soon. I wanted to say congrats for almost hitting 200 followers. I am so trilled only have 21. ;-)

April

Elisabeth said...

You and I will be hitting the snooze at the exact same time in the AM! Hope Monday is good to you :)

Twins, Teaching and Tacos.

Amanda at Learn, Laugh, Grow said...

I'm feeling you on the whole extra day thing... I just feel like I run out of time every weekend! Trying to cram in the last bit of work now - but of course, I'm blog hopping!! :)

Have a great week - Amanda

Miss Kindergarten said...

I found a super cute ladybug cut out at Michaels today and it made me think of you! Send me an email, I want to make you something :)

Hadar

Barbara said...

Our reading blocks are extremely flexible. We can teach it however we like whenever we like, for as long or as short as we like, as long as we get it done. I rely heavily on Fountas, Pinnell and have for years. We have 20 min for free- choice reading first thing. This is where I listen to individuals and do running records and one on one teaching. Later in the day I spend about 40 min with two reading groups. We use mostly scholastic literacy place. For the first round the kids are reading independently from their book boxes, second round they're doing a literacy related activity. When I work with the small reading groups we also do about five min of intense phonics/spelling on little white boards.
Good luck!

Barbara
My Running Shortz

Barbara said...

Oops, wrong signature. Ha ha. I also have a blog at
Grade ONEderful

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