Sunday, April 15, 2012

Spring Cleaning and Other Tidbits


Well I finally did it! I mailed that box! I am so excited. Now I am just studying for the assessment center test. I feel so relieved and now I have so much more free time. I even had time to spring clean my classroom last week. I reorganized my classroom library because I received a book grant I had wrote from Donors Choose. The long pink shelf houses multiple copies of chapter books.



 




This year I waited until January to start a student portfolio book and I am in love with how they have turned out. I am going to start this from day one next year. I am going to add a binder to my students supply list. I love this portfolio because it serves as a writers workshop notebook as well. I have different sections for narratives, poetry and all about pieces. The students are really motivated to do their best work since they know it will be featured in their book.

In Math Workshop, we have been practicing multiplication. I found out about a game for multiplication practice called Speed. This game is a two person game where students practice skip counting to teach multiplication. My students love this game and I have even created a big end of year Speed competition. My students are so excited they practice the game at recess and some have even asked about buying it to play at home.
Speed!

This is my second year using Daily Five and although I love it - I need to revamp it for next year. I have been trying to figure this out in my brain. One thing that is hard about Daily Five is technology problems during listening center. It never fails that the CD won't start  and students loose precious time trying to guess what is wrong. Of course I can see from my guided reading group what the problem is, but then I have to stop the flow of the lesson and go and fix it.This is why I have created a new job for my students called "tech Expert". I have trained two students with what to do if the technology is not working. This allows me to focus on my guided reading groups without distractions.


9 comments:

  1. It's such a relief to mail that box, isn't it?
    Jennifer
    First Grade Blue SKies

    ReplyDelete
  2. IPods work great for a listening center. I use them instead of the radio and headphones because I have run into the same problems.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I just found your blog! I'm your newest follower! Come by when you get a chance!

    Bloggy Blessings,
    Rebecca

    The Teacher's Chatterbox

    ReplyDelete
  4. I just came across your blog and love it! Your classroom library is amazing!

    Delighted in Second

    ReplyDelete
  5. omg so jealous of your library it looks awesome..
    by the way im your newest follower... drop by =)

    Just Wild About Teaching

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the library!!! I have awarded you the One Lovely Blog Award. Hop on over to my blog for the details!

    www.loveofteachingkimberly.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love your reading area! It looks so comfortable. I just want to curl up on that couch with a good book!

    Tracy
    Creekside Teacher Tales

    ReplyDelete
  8. Mrs. McCumbee - Thanks so much for reviewing Speed! for me last year. I hope you are still having fun playing with your students. I have big news. My husband has been working on an electronic version and today it was released for sale in the Apple iPad App Store. Check it out.

    http://highhillhomeschool.blogspot.com/2013/01/speed-is-in-ipad-app-store.html

    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  9. Julie, that is awesome! I am going to have to get that for the class iPad! You are wonderful!

    ReplyDelete

Blog Design by: Stephie McCumbee. Powered by Blogger.


Instagram


Looking For Great Novel Guides?


100th day of school (1) Achievement Gap (3) Advent Calendar (1) AP (1) author (1) back to school (4) Battle of the Books (1) behavior management (2) blog design (1) bookexpo (1) Booking a Trip Through NC (2) booksignings (1) Buses (1) calendars (1) Centers (4) chicka chicka boom boom (1) Christmas (2) classroom crafts (2) Conferences (1) Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) (3) Daily 5 (4) decoding (1) DIY (1) Double Entry Journal (1) Easter (1) fairy tales (1) Farmhouse Books (1) fashion (1) fertility (1) first day of school (1) fluency (3) free downloads (11) freebie (13) freebies (1) giveaways (3) Googlelittrips (1) guided reading (5) homework (1) Honey Bee Unit (1) integration (1) Interventions (1) interview (1) Jesus Storybook (1) library (2) Linky Party (1) Literature guides (2) main idea (1) making positive choices (1) math journal (1) math workshop (5) Me And My Gang (3) miscarriage (1) Montessori (1) My Publishing Journey Series (1) National Boards (4) North Carolina (3) Novel Guide (1) Open House (1) paci weaning (1) Peep Day (1) Phonics Dance (1) playschool (1) poetry (1) positive behavior (1) PPD Stories (2) preschool (1) reader's workshop (6) Reading (17) Reading Street (2) Repeated Readings (2) school clothes (1) School Reform (3) science (1) social studies (1) Spelling list (1) Struggling Readers (1) Summer Bucket List (1) supporting details (1) text features (1) The Garden in My Mind (1) totschool (1) Urban Children Literature (1) urban education (1) word wall (1) workshop (2) writer's workshop (1)

Follow on Bloglovin






TeacherTipster

Photobucket


Photobucket

Twitter Talk