each year I hand this poem out a poem to my kids called A Murder in the Garden {freebie at the end}and they think I am all kinds of crazy! What kind of teacher gives out a poem about murder to seven year olds!
Well, maybe a teacher who lets you hold a tarantula!
Yep, I finally let the students pet Hairyette. They were so excited. Only three students kind of stayed back out of the way. And one eventually couldn't help themselves and came over with us. Since we are in the midst of a measurement unit and spiders I figured it had to be done!
Of course I started with my recess gloves on. Then I loosened up and just let her crawl on me sans gloves. The kids know a fall can kill this fragile pet and were very good about not bombarding me. Even though we know they are covered in hair, they were still shocked at how soft she is.
After a minute or two we started measuring. Her legs are 2" long, her cephalothorax is about 1" across, and her total body length is 4". Just a little gal! And I just impressed you with my bog words didn't I?! Well, I impressed the kiddos today too. I told them I spent my weekend writing an arachnid book for our class and learned all kinds of new information. Like daddy long legs are not poisonous-we already knew that they aren't spiders, but harvestman. I had heard they were super poisonous but their mouths were too small to bite a human.
and here’s where she ended up! Why do all animals go into hair?? I was really trying to prevent a fall {ignore the bad hair day today!}
I am joining in on Forkin4th’s Hocus Pocus with a Giveaway Focus!! Halloween's just around the corner, and I have to admit it's one of my favorite holidays! Ghost stories, pumpkins, candy corn and excitement fill the air. It can only mean that we teachers need to prepare for our classroom gremlins' dynamic desires to Trick-or-Treat this season AND fast! Why not get ready for celebrating this festive occasion by entering my HUGE Halloween giveaway?
It even includes a $25 gift card to the amazing black-and-orange company, Amazon.com! Not to mention, you have a chance to win 19 high-quality HALLOWEEN products specifically designed for upper grade students from some amazing and very generous TpT sellers!
And here’s a littlle peek at last week!
Why is it that every grade says they have to reteach nouns? Well, here I am again, person, place, thing, or idea=noun. I used Amy’s idea of writing sentences on a popsicle stick and each told us the nouns to write on out anchor chart. We also played Amanda’s {Teacher’s Clubhouse} Hop and Write Nouns. You wanna talk about confused kids! This game is what I’ve called scoot! –same idea, different name. You place a card at each desk and they scoot or hop to the next desk until they are finished. I might have given out 5 extra cards to kids who circled answers on their card on the desk.
We also began a mini-unit {you know what I mean if you use math Expressions} on metric and non-standard units. We used Hooty’s shoe task cards for extra practice with inches.
and here are some of my personal favorites from my Potion making matter mini unit. We will be working on writing about of potions this week. I can’t wait to see what they come up with!
Two birds {or bats, or ravens, crows, whatever have you this spooky season} with one stone here today. I’ve had my Currently finished since Farley posted it, but I can’t get my priorities straight. I mean, I know blogging takes precedent over planning…
so here goes {and I’m only number 328!}
ok, I guess the only explanations would be motorcycles and houses. I took Mr. Lamb to a Harley-Davidson Boot Camp a few weekends ago for his borthdaty. If oyu don’t know, I have a developed a slight obsession with Jax and the others on Sons of Anarchy. Now, after allowing my husband to watch with me, he also developed a slight obsession-but with getting a Harley! I indulged by taking him to this intro thingy. Well, that did it. He hopped on the bike and the instructor was like “oh, you’re a natural…” It was all over right then. BUT…what’s more is that in the door prize giveaway, he won the course to get his endorsement! Sheesh!
PLUS our house is for sale. We love the locale, but were ready to move on. So we moved to my grandparents’ empty house a town over. I couldn’t handle having to keep a house clean enough to show! We went from 3 levels with 3 boys to one level with 3 boys…not an easy adjustment. AND no garbage disposal. I am not sure which is worse!
Now, on to the boo’ing: I’ve been booed by a few sweet bloggy buddies so I had to participate!
Maybe you've seen or heard of this fun "game" in neighborhoods or even at your school... but let's try a blog version! Here is how it works:
if you've been booed, copy and paste the above pic and these "rules" into your post.
1. Give a shout out to the blogger who booed you and link back to their site!
2. Share 3-5 October activities, books, products (yours or someone else), or freebie(s) that you love!
3. Share the Boo love with 5 bloggers. Make sure you check this link to make sure you don't boo someone again:
And don't forget to tell them that they have been BOOED!
Here’s my typical Halloween loves {though this year I have 2 families who do not celebrate Halloween so I am choosing to leave out all witches and magic}…sniffle a little, but I like a challenge!
Hooray for Halloween from my gals at Lesson Plan SOS truly has it all in one file! I used it so so much last year!
My current obsession is my double double, toil and trouble matter mini pack. I actually left part of it with my sub today. SO cute! and easy to use!
here are a few favorite potions! Next week we will write about them.
I love to read my favs during this month, but I try to read things they’ve NOT heard before. A favorite is the Legend of Sleepy Hollow. I was obsessed with the Disney quickie as a child. I couldn’t keep my eyes open with that headless horseman came riding through! Each year for the past 4 or so, I’ve read it aloud then watched the video on YouTube. Last year I added a visualization component because the descriptions of Brom Bones and Ichabod are so good!
Another goody I’ve used for years is my teammie’s Headless Horseman costume shopping activity. {yea, I like the Headless Horseman-could nay character represent spooky better!} grab this freebie!
and I’m boo’ing a few of you, too!
Katie Texas @ Rock n Teach-a fellow tattooed teacher! And she a doll!
so excited about a little idea that popped into my mind two nights ago! We always finish up our matter unit around Halloween. What perfect timing for a little potion making! SO my first thought was sorting ingredients onto a witch’s shelves. Super cute, but I wanted something more after I made that.
Potions! I mean I really coulda used some mimosas magic potion today! Oh, I was foul today. It’s the whole idea that my second graders still cannot sit for more than two minutes without talking that’s getting me. Tests, lessons, speakers, anything in front of them-they talk…..argh. The dojo was working overtime today! If you have any tricks-please tell me!! I think I’m going to pick up a few exercise balls for some little hineys at Wal-Mart this weeked!
I digress…back to Matter!
oh, it’s so stinkin cute! Not to mention actually curriculum driven too.
speaking of, my first dragon was, dare I say, cow looking! SO says my Middle Lamb! Mr. Lamb helped me work out the kinks and I’m happy with it now! that first one is pretty cowish!
a long awaited post, but a post nonetheless! I keep coming up with things to blog about and forgetting to finish up how we run Words Their Way!
So, I have a picture of my handy dandy notebook! I found this little gem at Dollar Tree! It has four sections and I happen to have four spelling groups. I wish I’d picked up 2 more for math and reading groups!
inside each folder I have a few weeks of sorts copied, a sticky with the kids’ names, and their spelling benchmarks. I use a sticky note to mark where we are in the sort books and this is perfect because I leave it on there when I copy! See how the group name is at the top! Pisa is a very large group. It’s the “on grade level” one and I just pull half at a time when I meet with them. I wouldn’t normally have that many and some will move up soon so it all works out.
Now for assessment: Right after students finish their Early Bird books each Friday, they get out their spelling baggies {snack size Ziplocs} and do a sort with a friend. Then each student glues their sort into their word journals. These are just spirals that we use for this purpose. When I get better with Word Work they’ll record in this notebook!
I call one group at a time to the rug during read to self. They bring a clipboard and pencil-I fold their paper into columns {however many their particular sort had that week.} We label the “headers” together or I write them for some dearies.
I choose 10 random words from their list. I literally sit with the WTW sort books in my lap! I try to even out the amount in each column. There is no science to this y’all!
here’s my sweet Middle Lamb’s test. His teacher is nicer than me! I count off 10 points if the word is spelled incorrectly, spelled incorrectly and in the wrong column, or if it’s spelled correctly but in the wrong column. Here Jake has “whole” in the wrong column and spelled moist wrong.
I hope this helps a little with how the whole process works in my room. If you missed out on the past series on WTW: check them out here!
I had a request for a little craft for Room on the Broom. Here’s a little preview. This lil’ freebie will be up tomorrow!
UPDATE!
Congrats Cathy VerSteeg, Halle Jenna, and Denise Talbott!! Your packs are on the way! I received so many emails I am having a flash sale! Both packs are 20% off through Sunday!
I’ve also been crazy busy updating my Day of the Dead file {it’s at least twice the size now} and finishing up my Hallo-Reads pack! I love the results! You know sometimes new clip art can just inspire you! Lovin’ KPM and Melonheadz right now. Are you checking out Nikki’s free daily pack!? Woot!
So here’s what has prevented me from showering today…
and the updated Day of the Dead pack-If you already own it-go download now! If not, check it out. I love educating about Day of the Dead!
First THREE peeps to email me your favorite Halloween book will get both units for free!!!!!!
I managed to stay home today. It’s not a mandated day, but we had a required workshop. Can I tell you how foul my mood has been this week. No-I just didn’t blog. I’ve been foul. Bless em
But I explained I needed a day with my own personal kiddos and now I’m here, with a sore throat cause it’s finally below 85 degrees, and happy!
And what’s a day off without a trip to Target?! I mean we needed milk and costumes!
So here’s what I found
I drive a little Infiniti. I had all 3 kiddos! But we scored every last candy apple red storage stool they had left-6! Perfect for my guided reading table. I had great dreams of making crate seats. 6 candy apple red crates sit in my garage. they match my candy apple red library book baskets. I don’t feel like making them. These are better! annnnndddd…on clearance for $8 woot! they are soft faux suede. Ah. Maybe they will sit still on them! ok, probably not.
Now for what I’ve been doing all day and every night this week…I’ve turned my old reading response sheets for my favorite spooky season read alouds into a common core aligned pack! So excited! I have updated, added to, and completely rehauled this stuff. I love it! It includes a Hallo-weiner writing craftivity, activities with Room on the Broom, Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Spookley!
and I’ve also added 2 more fonts to my stash over here ----------------------------------------------->
made during a staff meeting by an amazing artist teacher Kim-click to download
and I also got my personal fav uploaded-tattooed rachel everyday! I used it in my pack, too! So cool
the pack will be up soon-I’m needing it proofed. I am also updating my Day of the Dead stuff, working on a writing center idea using iSpy wonder tubes, phonics bingo for the year-my kiddos love this, and 12 Days of Common Core Christmas too!!! too much lying awake at night!
