Wow! Time Flies!!

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted!!!  Well....it was a busy summer and the school year is off to a great start!!!  I LOVED the week of Kagan Cooperative learning.  If you haven't checked out Kagan structures....go to Kaganonline to learn more!!
So I'm wondering how many of you are using the new Common Core Standards?  Do you like/hate them??  Personally, I like them.....they seem more focused!!  It is easier to teach a few things well rather than touching on a million little things.
Ohio has the new 3rd grade guarantee to contend with.....with 24 students in my first grade class....18 are on intervention to insure they make the grade on the 3rd grade reading test!  I like that none of my kids are getting over looked....but wow it is a lot to keep up with!!!  How is your school doing this (if you have a stipulation like this)?
Hoping this will become a regular Saturday morning this for me.....
I plan on making more things for TpT too.....just don't look for it real soon...... :)

Praying everyone has a happy and safe weekend!!

Linda

New Item in TpT!!

I'm so excited....I have my first item for sale in TpT!!   Click here to go see it!!!  I would appreciate any feedback you may have!!

Linda

Thank you so much to Alyce at Mrs. Bartel’s School Family for the award!!!

Now I need to pass it on to others :)

There are some rules:

Once you receive the award, you have to pass it on to others! Here are the 3 rules to follow:
1. Follow the person who gave you the award.
2. Link back to the person who gave you the award.
3. Pass the award on to 15 new bloggers.

So here are some of my award winners...

1.  Bethany at La Manzana Dulce

2.  DeAnne at First Grade and Fabulous

3.  Penny at  The Math Solution

4.  Alicia at  First Grade Factory

5.  Christy and Tammy at   http://flutteringthroughfirstgrade.blogspot.com/

I'll be adding more soon....to get to my 15!!

Next week I am taking a week long class on Kagan Cooperative Learning!!  I am so excited....I won a scholarship for the class from Kagan!!  I can't wait to share some new ideas with you!!

New QQT - well Remade QQT

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B92ehXrWLeIBNUdIY3VuMWNuTTg

Hey Friends!  I am trying to create "nicer" QQT cards....so the above link will take you (hopefully) to my new QQT for Smart Start Words for the Treasures program!  Check it out and let me know what you think!!!

Linda

Hello!!

Hello All!  So I've been crazy busy this week.  My church hosted close to 1,000 6th-12th graders this week!  It is called SOS - Summer of Service.  I was on the Prayer Trail....it was a very hot week, but so rewarding!!  Anyway.....I'll be back to posting regularly next week - hopefully :)  Have a wonderful rest of the weekend!!!

Linda

Guided Math Book Study

I am doing the Guided Math book study with several other bloggers.  If you haven't started....you can go to  http://primaryinspired.blogspot.com/    to read the thoughts on chapter one.  Chapter two is being hosted by http://www.3rdgradegridiron.com/

These are my thoughts on chapter two:  

I agree with her Foundational Principals of Guided Math.  I found the principal "Learning Math is a Social Process" is so on target with how I teach!  I strongly believe that children learn more when they are able to discuss and process with their classmates.  My students are always involved in interactive structures that allows them to discuss and process with classmates.  

As fars a building a classroom that shows math is important.....well I don't think I do such a good job.  As Sammons says, we do a great job of making our classrooms literacy rich - but not rich in math.  That is a spot I will be working on for the fall.  As I think of my room.....I need a great deal more math on the walls.  

I loved her ideas of infusing the math into all subjects.....like getting out measurement tools to show exactly how tall a character is - if the story talks about that.  That visualization piece is so important in reading....but I never really think about using math to help them visualize!!  Maybe that comes naturally to some of you.....but not me :)

The emphasis on organization is a point that I worry about.  No matter how organized I am the first day of school.....it falls apart within a month or so.  This will be the year that I work harder on staying organized!  If anyone has any suggestions...I am open!!  Please post and let me know what works for you!

I have a question for everyone.....How do you feel about the Common Core Standards?  Have you started using them?  Do you feel Guided Math will help you better implement the CCS?

I am including another Quiz, Quiz Trade for you!  If you don't know how to play it see my earlier post that describes it.  This one is for math - the "Social" part of math :)  Just click the link below!!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15fc-T5PagMyQLYR8NOIrPH1dI_ah8tOI_OFRNTIpzv8/edit

Linda

First attempt to share a document!

Okay, so today I am going to try and share with you one my favorite Kagan structures....and one of my class' favorites.  It is called Quiz, Quiz, Trade.  I am attaching (hopefully!) a QQT that I made up for the beginning of the school year - for Treasures Reading.  Print the cards and cut them out and fold them so the word is the same on both sides.  Each student gets a card.  You tell them to Stand Up - Hand Up (to give a high five to a partner) and pair up.  Once they have paired up they show the partner the card - partner reads the card and the one holding the card either praises the partner for getting the word correct or helps them to read it.  Then they trade jobs....the other partner shows his/her card and praises/coaches.  Once they have done that they TRADE CARDS and find new partners.  My class LOVES this!!  I let them do this for about 10 minutes.  It gives them a quick review of the words and helps them to learn to work together.  One important rule is THEY CAN'T PASS SOMEONE BY TO GET TO A FRIEND!!  They have to go to the person closest to them.  I love, love, love this structure!!  I have them made for all the Treasures Units and several for math, science, social studies......I guess my next adventure will be to get a Teacher Pay Teacher account :)  Let me know what you think!!!
Here is the link:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1r94X9Xbe0s7CwWW3w2QW9JkQM8vYrq5Ur65ZXRsChBY/edit

Linda

A Little More about Me :)

I am so excited!!  I am starting a program at my school for my first grade team called Growing Readers.  It is based off of a program at my daughter's school..(that was funded by a  wealthy Cincinnati family) ...I have put together 9 boxes of books with 30 books in each box.  The students will have the chance to take a book home every night to read.  They will bring it back each day for a new book.  I have collected books for years that have been sitting in my spare bedrooms - so now they have a better use!!  I have made up lists of each book in each box and we are ready to go!  


I thought I should also explain to you about my banner picture.  I took that photo last year while my hubby and I were celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary.  We took a trip to the Grand Canyon and I got to walk out on the Sky Walk!!  It was soooo cool!!!  If you have never been to the Grand Canyon or LasVegas - GO!!!  It was so much fun - and we are not gamblers so we didn't lose any money!!


I have told you that I teach using Kagan Cooperative Learning.  This approach really helps kids learn to work together and have a vested interested in their learning and that of their classmates.  If you have never heard of it....check it out!  Kaganonline.com


Hope you are resting and enjoying your summer!!


Linda

A New Beginning for me!

Well, I am not sure how well I will do with this - but here goes!  My first ever blog :)  I love teaching first grade and have been inspired by so many other wonderful bloggers out there!  I use a teaching method by Kagan Cooperative Learning and I am excited to share some ideas with you!  Right now though, I will be trying to make a blog site that is welcoming and a place you want to come back to!  Hope you will hang in there with me!


Linda