Showing posts with label Back to School. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Back to School. Show all posts

Sunday, September 30, 2012

Daily 5!!!


I am super excited to share with all my bloggy friends about how the Daily 5 has been going in my classroom!!! Lets start off with the basics, if you haven't read the following two books you should definitely start there:


  
These books give you a lot of great information about how to launch the CAFE and Daily 5, but the hardest part for me was how to launch them together.... you know at the same time!! I heard this was crazy, but why wouldn't you launch them together...I mean you are stopping to read in between different parts of the Daily 5, which is a perfect time to introduce a strategy from the CAFE. My second grade team and I work long hours over the summer to create a launching guide that combined the Daily 5 and the CAFE. It really helped us, because we had everything pre-planned  down to the books we would be reading!

The book talks about i-charts for each component of the Daily 5, which I think are soooo important. this really helped my kids to understand what they were suppose to be doing, along with us constantly modeling. Here is a picture of how I display my i-charts in my classroom:


I will go back and refer to these if a I have a student or group of students who don't do a part of the Daily 5 correctly that day. During their own time (aka recess) we will talk about what the i-chart says and they will practice again. I know some might think this is cruel, but it has really gotten the point across to some of my students who thought they could just slack around after the launching time was over.

A second major part of the Daily 5, is to have an interesting attention getting sound. I of course searched high and low for one and found this GREAT rain stick at US toy!


It is crazy how this gets the students attention in one turn!! I actually use it for our math rotations as well. The kids have really responded to it, so it was totally worth the 20 bucks I spent!

The next part of the Daily 5 is to have a set area for each component. I have labeled my areas, thanks to my bff making these cute labels!


This is my small group shelf, which is not a part of the Daily 5, but I do guided reading at my back table while my students are participating in the Daily 5. 


Work on writing tubs match their table colors. I have the supply person from each table go get their folders before we start Daily 5 therefore they have them on their desk already when they get to writing. 


Word work area. The students have to do the activity on the shelf on the left first. The activity on the right is from Abby's Spelling Unit. I pre-cut, copy, etc. so the kids just take a bag and they have all the supplies they need to make the project. Usually the kids really want to do this, but I have trained them that they have to do the other activity first!! 




My students participate in read to someone on the carpet. I have tried to let them pick their partners, but it just didn't work out. I have therefore made a list of who they will read with each day. Under my chair I keep their checking for understanding bookmarks to practice with their partner. Since putting it all together this has been the most frustrating component  because the kids want to talk too loud. It seemed no matter how much we practiced and modeled they still are too loud when they do it on their own. I am getting a student from a local college on Monday to help out during reading and I think I know exactly where I am going to put her! ;)


My students do listening to reading on the computer. I have found it was really helpful to put the directions on how to get back on the site by our icon. Many of my students "accidentally" click the little x and then they are logged off. They know if they can't get it back on, then they have to just go back to their desk and read. 

I don't have an icon for read to self, because they do that quietly at their desks. The following is a picture of how I keep track of where everyone goes and at what time/day!



We really wanted each student to participate in small group and read to self everyday, therefore we do not let them choose where they go. We have a reading day and a writing day or a day one/day two. 

Day one: small group, read to self, listening to reading, and read to someone

Day two: small group, read to self, word work, and writing

As you can tell all but one of my groups have read to self after small group, that helps me know that they will be practicing the new guided reading book we gave them. This is also the order each group goes in, but each group starts in a different component; for example:

Day one:   

Group one: small group, read to self, listening, read to someone
Group two: read to someone, small group, read to self, listening
Group three: listening, read to someone, small group, read to self
Group four: read to self, listening, read to someone, small group 

We only have 4 rotations a day for 20 minutes each. This is what we based our stamina on, when we were building stamina each day! 


I have been truly amazed at how my students are engaged in their own reading and writing. I think Daily 5 has worked wonders at our building. One thing I think it is important to remember is that the Daily 5 and CAFE are not a curriculum, they are a tool or resource. My teammate and I plan each week what strategy from the CAFE we are going to teach along with the books. 


Here are the strategies we have taught so far or during the launching phase. Also not all reading strategies are in the CAFE. This week we will be taking about summarizing, but there isn't a specific strategy for summarizing. The following is a list of the strategies we have taught and the books we used to teach them:

Checking for Understanding: David Goes to School
Cross Checking: First Day Jitters
Tune into Interesting Words: Fancy Nancy's Favorite Fancy Words
Back up and Reread: The Teacher from the Black Lagoon
Retell a Familiar Text: David Goes to School 
Good Fit Books: In those Shoes
Monitor and Fix up: The Best Books to Read
Voracious Reading: Reading Makes you Feel Good
Prior Knowledge: Spaghetti in a Hot dog Bun 


These were all strategies we introduced during the launching phase of both the Daily 5 and the CAFE. Many times in the CAFE's launching guide it says to review all strategies  in which we would pick a book to go along with one of the stories listed above. For example we also read some of the other David books after we read David Goes to School. They were then able to relate to those books and use many of the strategies we already learned. During the launching phase are theme was centered around All about Me and then went into our Space theme in September. We found it easy to use these strategies in a variety of books, not matter what your theme for the month is. 


If you want more specific word work, CAFE, and Daily 5 ideas check out my pinterest at Kelley Cirrito! 


Happy Sunday! I have parent teacher conferences this week, so only a 3 day week with the kiddos! 



Glitter Words
[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Classroom Pictures....FINALLY

We were finally able to get into our rooms on Tuesday and had to report on Wednesday so this week has been jammed pack with lots of work! I just got back from school today...I put in six hours!! I am really loving how my room is coming along thanks to the help of my lovely mom! This is what one of the trips in the car looked like...


Remember I had to bring EVERYTHING home for the summer because they were tiling our floors and of course they didn't get them done until the week we come back! :)


Here is the XL drink I needed for our PD on Thursday!! (it was free!)


This is my desk area...with the stack of back to school files I want to go through sometime before Wednesday!! 


My math board!


This is where I hang my students work..sorry for the blurry picture!


Small group reading area! I put colored stars down for the student's spots! I love that idea!


This is where my students writing folders are and their word work activities. I also have extra supplies here. I got the labels from Kristen at Ladybug Teacher Files!!


Here is the bookshelf and cubbies for take-home stuff. I color code each shelf of books by AR numbers so I can make sure students are picking appropriate books. 


My Ikea leaf!!!


This is up by my board. The Bravo board is a behavior system I will use for tables. (Pinterest inspired!


Gathering area with my new rolling cart and the chair I painted!! 


My CAFE board...this will be my first year using it, but we are using a modified version. 


Word Wall...letters by Kristen again! :)


This is a picture from the door!

The next few pictures are Pinterest inspired!


Frame for the kids to take pictures in on the first day of school!


How I go home clip chart! I will have a clip with each child's name on it! 


Instead of I don't know!! I love this poster!! 

I am off to go to the movies with the hubby...we haven't seen each other very much this week and I have a feeling it will be the same next week! I will be staying home and relaxing tomorrow and starting my master classes assignments! Have a great weekend! 




Glitter Words
[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Bee Statements (Freebie)

I had to revamp my bee statements, because before they were on an ugly poster and just didn't look very nice (I am not even going to show you the poster!). I have been working my butt off getting stuff done for my room and this was one thing on my list to complete today!







I think these go just perfect with my bug theme in my room! 


I also have to say if you haven't checked out Kristen's new clip art you should...its Hollywood themed! It is just too cute that of course I had to have it!! 

One more day until I can get into my room....two more days until I go back to school!!! 

Happy Sunday!


Glitter Words
[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Pictures of my room......

I am finally back from our AMAZING vacation to Maui. We had so much fun down there and it was great to just relax together. We don't get too much time to ourselves with both of us working and going to school. Here is a picture from our trip!


This is a picture from our hotel in the morning, right after the sun came up! I am still trying to get back on Kansas time, there was a six hour difference! Ugh!


We also got to go on a submarine!!! This is a picture of a sunken boat that we saw! The submarine was definitely one of our favorite things we did on the trip. 

Ok....on to my classroom pictures....NOT! All of you are working so hard in your classrooms and I am stuck at home! They ripped up our carpet and replaced it with tile. Lets just say it still isn't all done, therefore the 2nd and 3rd grade teachers can't get into their rooms until the day before we go back, which by the way is next week! I am totally disappointed about it, because I usually have my room all set up and ready to go before we have to go back. I guess I will be working some long days and weekends to get it all done. Since I don't have pictures of my room I thought I would show you pictures of all my stuff in my lovely basement, where I have been working all summer!




There is also stuff in that closet!! Ugh! I don't want to have to bring all my stuff back up to school, it is such a hassle! Well I am off to check out what all my bloggy friends have been doing. I feel like I am out of the loop! I leave you with a picture from my bff of my lil helper!! She is very talented!






Glitter Words
[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

Thursday, July 12, 2012

What have I been up to...

A LOT!! I have been a busy worker bee ever since I have been done with my masters classes (6 days ago). Not only is our whole townhouse organized, ever cabinet, closet, and drawer, I have also been working on LOTS of school stuff!! 


CAFE Strategies completed! Check out my previous post to get your own copy. Just need to laminate them now!


My chair is finally complete!! It took me a looong time, because of all the coats the lime green took to cover up the yucky brown color underneath!


I made banners for my bulletin boards. Look at the oldie tv in our basement, I don't even think the thing works!! 


Sorry it is the wrong direction, but these are my book bags for the Daily 5!! I just bought the bags in a pack of 3 at Hobby Lobby and used iron-on letters. Make sure to wash the bags BEFORE you iron the letters on. My kids have hooks on the back of their chairs that these will hang on! 


Here are some word work items I have been working on: shaker, magnet letters with sight words (need the magnet letters!!), scoop and write, and type out on the ipad (needs laminated). Check out my previous post to get a copy of my sight word cards for the magnets. Lisa asked for them in polka dot theme, so I will be working on those this weekend!



Finished math centers for August and September!! For my September ones I used stuff I had bought and found for free. Check under my MATH Centers tab to get the lemonade ones for free!


Found this idea from Pinterest. They use different types of erasers to create a graphing center each month!! This is the EASIEST center I have ever made!


Another Pinterest idea! Make labels with numbers on them in each ice container. The students use a ball, dice, or whatever to toss in a circle to make problems. This can be used with simple problems, 2 or 3 digit problems!! Great for all year! The ice trays are currently in the dollar section at Target. I got two, one for one digit and one for two digit numbers!


Word Wall letters, need laminated. From Kristen at Ladybug Teacher Files!


Also from Kristen!


Numbers for my clock...not sure who I got these from??

The next pictures are of my files!! I organized all my reading files...threw old stuff away. I also organized my social studies and science files in these stackable drawers from Target. I put two themes in each drawer. I don't have the labels on the front yet!



I got all my books organized, since I had to bring them all home. We are working on creating a new reading curriculum based on the common core, therefore I have been using my books to help us out!


Last but not least I found this great idea on Pinterest for Homework Bingo! I loved the idea and create my own Bingo poster, using my bug theme, mixed with all the bright colors I have been using. I will also be making lottery scratch off cards for the kids for prizes! I have them printed, but not painted!


And my hubby says I don't get anything done......whatever!!! Happy also Friday! I am meeting with one of the assistant superintendents tomorrow...wish me luck!