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Wednesday

WW: Villains


It's Wordless Wednesday!


Linking with and Wordless Wednesday and Wordless Wednesday with NC Sue always and sometimes with Focused on the Magic, and Miss DeCarbo








The villains bid us good-bye and GET OUT!

From Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party 2014.

:)


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Monday

IMWAYR: The Wolves in the Walls




Monday Linky from Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers!

The Wolves in the Walls

by Neil Gaiman



Have you read The Wolves in the Walls by Nick Gaiman?  It won awards for the New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book (2003), the IRA/CBC Children's Choice (2004) award and theBritish Science Fiction Association award for Short Fiction (2003).


It's told from Lucy's point of view.  She's telling her family that she hears wolves in the walls.  Of course, no one believes her Then one day, they come out!   

Lucy and her family ran out of the house and slept outside.  However, Lucy had forgotten her pig-puppet!  She went back alone.  She crept in and saved her pig-puppet. 

 The next day, the family tried to think of solutions.  Lucy suggested that they go live in the walls. And so they did!  The wolves had a crazy party in the middle of the night and made them mad!  So they came out of the walls and scared the wolves away.

It's not over yet!  There may be elephants in the walls next...

The art is beautiful. The verbs are fantastic!  There's great vocabulary in this book, too. Appropriate for 2nd-6th grades. You can find my interactive read aloud lesson plan here.  Enjoy!




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Sunday

Red Ribbon Week

Red Ribbon Week


It's time for Red Ribbon week.  Our theme:  We scare off drugs!  Here is my door (some of the kids are still working on their monsters).


Here is my door and my partners door.  His and hers...

Our school has different activities planned for every day:

* Monday the  27:  "Shade Out Drug Day" (wear sunglasses)

*Tuesday the 28: "Red Day"  (Wear something red)

*Wednesday the 29: "Put a Cap on Drugs" (wear a cap)

*Thursday the 30: "Turn Your Back on Drugs"  (wear your shirt backwards)

*Friday the 31: Have your students make a poster about "Being Drug Free" and pick the best two.  

Hope this is helpful!



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Friday

Liebster Award



October 24, 2014

Wow!  How nice to be nominated for the Liebster award by My Life at the Pencil Sharpener!  This award is for those new to blogging with less than 200 followers.  I don't even know how many followers I have...how do you figure that out?  Thanks to all the teacher-bloggers out there whom I've learned so much from!





1. Why and how long ago did you start blogging?
I started blogging this summer.  I attended several conferences this summer and it seemed to be a recurring theme so I thought I'd try it.

2. What one word sums up the heart of your blog and why?
Going deep- I really think we need to push our students to go deep with their thinking.

3. Is there something you learned late in your blog journey you wished you knew before?
I learn something every day.  The generosity of teacher-bloggers is amazing.

4. What is your favorite past time other than blogging?
I love to read.  I also like to bake but reading is my all time favorite past time.  I'm also a Disney-phile.  Love walking around Disneyland and California Adventure on Sunday mornings.

5. How many hours per week do you dedicate to your blog?
I spend about three to four hours on it.  I create my blogs on Saturday and then schedule them to post during the week.  Then I spend a few minutes every day linking the posts.

6. What category of blog posts do you enjoy the most?
There are categories?  I can be found looking at teaching blogs or Disney blogs.

7. Where does your blog inspiration come from?
My kids.  Everything is rooted in the classroom.

8. Of which post that you have written are you most proud?
I love talking about literature for the classroom.  So I'm most proud of my
"It's Monday, What are you reading?" posts.

9.Is there any post you have been planning to do, but have been postponing it for a while now?
Nope.

10. What is your favorite aspect of blogging?
Sharing and getting great ideas from others.

11. Which recipe, project, or idea on my blog would you be most likely to try yourself?
Love Heather's idea for a gutter flower box in the classroom!  I doubt my principal would let me do it but it is beautiful.


My Nominees:
1. Brynn Allison
2. Ms. Powers
3. It's Elementary
4. Teaching Tykes
5. Wild about Words
6. Little Lighthouse Learners
7. Applejacks
8. Teacher Karma
9. Anchored In Learning
10. Appletastic
11. Brain Brigade

To those who have been nominated, here are the "official" rules for accepting:
1. In your post, link back to the blogger who nominated you as a thank you and "shout out." (Follow their blog if you haven't already!)
2. Answer the 11 questions given to you (the ones I answered above).
3. Nominate 11 blogs of your choice that each have less than 200 followers. Provide them with 11 questions to answer or have them answer the questions above.
4. Let your nominees know that they've been nominated and provide them with a link to your post so that they can accept.
5. Send your nominator a link to your post so that s/he can learn more about you as well! (You can just put your post link in the comments below!)

Wednesday

TT: Common Core Standards app


Common Core Standards

It's Technology Thursday!  Linking with Teaching Trio!


      As we move into the Common Core and implementing it well, we often find we need the standards at our fingertips.  This app is simple to use and FREE. It's by Mastery Connect. It's a cool tool for students, parents, and teachers to easily read and understand the core standards. Super easy to find standards by subject and grade. This app includes Math standards K-12 and Language Arts standards K-12.  It's got resources for teachers and you can even add notes if you need to jot something down.  Simple, easy and always at your fingertips.

WW: Transportation


It's Wordless Wednesday!


Linking with and Wordless Wednesday and Wordless Wednesday with NC Sue always and sometimes with Focused on the Magic, and Miss DeCarbo



A carriage ride...




Singers on a raft on the Rivers of America



From Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween party.

:)


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Tuesday

Sol: Student Feedback on Writer's Workshop


Linking with Two Writing Teachers for a Slice of Life



SoL: Student Feedback on Writer's Workshop
"We wrote about important things last year and that was fine but now we choose what to write and it's fun."


This is why I teach writing with the workshop model. It allows students to choose what to write about within a genre. When I heard my student say that, at first, I was really happy. I mean, they are seeing writing as fun. That's huge. I never want them to see it as a chore. I want them clamor for time to write!


However, after reflection, I'm not so happy.  I want them to see that their stories are important too. I want them to leave my classroom loving writing. Finding it purposeful and meaningful. So obviously, I need to get across the idea that their writing is important too!






Fourth Grade Teacher in California!

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Monday

IMWAYR: The Wretched Stone






Monday Linky from Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers!


The Wretched Stone






This is a great book for the reading comprehension strategy of inferring. It's another amazing book by Chris Van Allsburg. If you haven't read it, it's about a ship and it's crew.  The crew is a happy one, reading and playing instruments. Then it is out sailing and stops at an island.  It is s strange place with no animals or insects.  While there, they find a stone and bring it on the ship. This tone is bad news and changes the crew.  Stop reading now if you don't want the book spoiled.  OK so the men are now gathered around this stone and won't work or read or do anything.  The captain tries to talk to them to no avail.  After a time, the men turn into monkeys!  There is a storm and the stone goes dark.  The men return to normal.  


This book is a warning against the perils of too much television.  It never states that directly and there is a lot of inferring needed for this book.  If you're looking for an anchor chart for inferring and an easy lesson plan, here you go.  I created a read aloud lesson plan on TPT.  This great book teaches us to explore the evils of television with masterful storytelling. This lesson uses the gradual release model and offers stopping points throughout the story. There is also an anchor chart for inferring. 

There's great vocabulary in this book, too.  Appropriate for 2nd-5th grades. Enjoy!




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Thursday

Technology Thursday: KidBlog


KidBlog



OK I admit it...I was skeptical about Kidblog.  My kids used blogger last year and it was fine.  I use it for my own blog.  However, our district changed the student information system and its a mess.  I can get any information therefore I can't make them accounts!  So I tried KidBlog...


And am I glad I did.  Account creation was super easy- I bulk created them in 2 minutes.  It was been easy for the kids to use and I love that I approve comments before they are posted.  No monkey business!  The teacher selects the background so no losing time messing around with that. This is our class page:



We are using our blogs in connection with Edmodo and The Global Read Aloud.  I'm finding it super easy to connect with others through the Blogroll.  My students are reading The Fourteenth Goldfish and are able to collaborate with others all over the world!  I give the kids questions or writing assignments and they blog!  Here is one example:



I know it sounds intimidating but it's super safe.  You can keep it closed to only your class and your parents or you can open it to the world with the added protection of approving comments.  Give it a try.  Here is the link to my class: http://kidblog.org/MsRoblesClass-3/  Feel free to read the kids work and leave comments.

Wednesday

WW: Chalk Art

It's Wordless Wednesday! 

Linking with and Wordless Wednesday and Wordless Wednesday with NC Sue always and sometimes with 



Since The Book of Life comes out this week.

From The Chalk Art Festival at Downtown Disney.
:)



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Tuesday

SoL: A New Set of Eyes




Linking with Two Writing Teachers for a Slice of Life

SoL: A New Set of Eyes

I am a Disney-phile.  I've watched most ( I admit not all) Disney movies and I can probably sing the songs that go with them.  I've had a Disney pass for many years.  First with my kids ( my husband does not appreciate Disney as we do) and then on my own.  I went with like minded friends for years.


Recently another friend decided to take the step and treat herself to a pass.  I took her on Wednesday.  Now, I love Disneyland and California Adventure.  I love the sights and the smells and the people who go.  BUT there is something magical about experiencing it with someone who has never been.  My friend had been to Disneyland and is very familiar with it but taking her to Ca Adv was so much fun.  It was great to see it through new eyes.  For me, it was a reminder not to take things for granted and to appreciate life for what it offers.  

Sunday

IMWAYR: Gorilla, gorilla, gorilla!!!




Monday Linky from Teach Mentor Texts and Unleashing Readers!


Seymour Simon




       If you teach, you must be familiar with Seymour Simon.  He's an author of children's non-fiction. He's written hundreds of books on topics such as gorillas, tornadoes, the brain, whales, and many, many more subjects.  The images are beautiful and there is a lot of information for students to use.



       I really like the Gorillas book to use as a companion piece for The One and Only Ivan.  The kids loved the pictures. Did you know Gorilla gorilla gorilla was the scientific name for the Western Lowland Gorilla?  See, you'll learn a lot from his books.

     You can follow Seymour Simon at +seymoursimon or on Twitter @seymoursimon.  He's a great resource and super nice!

Katherine Applegate

     I know I've blogged a lot about The One and Only Ivan but a new book just came out to add to your Ivan resources.


Ivan The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate.  It's a non-fiction book about the story of Ivan.  I love the illustrations by G. Brian Karas. I hadn't realized that Ivan's sister had actually lived for a short while with him.



       You can follow Katherine @kaauthor on Twitter.  I had the chance to meet her at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books in 2013.  She was very sweet.  The kids treat the signed copy with reverence in the classroom.

Friday

Funny Kid Friday AND Fabulous Freebies Friday!

Funny Kid Friday AND Fabulous Freebies Friday!



Wonder

Have you read Wonder with your kids? It's a great book by RJ Palacio. Helps teach kids empathy and kindness. If you are planning to, I made this multimedia text set to use with it. It's a freebie on TPT. I incorporated a QR code, various videos (downloaded with KeepVid from YouTube so playback should not be a problem), a link to a close reading sheet and a link to the song Wonder by Natalie Merchant.  Enjoy!



Not so much funny as heart warming and thought provoking

So the other day, one of my students was able to figure out something no one else did.  I said to him, "Wow, you're too smart for me!"  It was an off the cuff remark for me. However, he repeated that all day to everyone he passed by.

Now, let me clarify, this student is in the Special Education program and receives services. I wonder how many times he's been told he's smart?  Just a reminder to us all that our words matter.  Always consider what words you say and how they may affect a child. 




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Thursday

Open a World of Possible

Scholastic's Open a World of Possible



Such a cool idea. Visit Scholastic's website for Open a World of Possible. It's about sharing the power and pleasure of reading.

They're offering a live webcast with Usher on November 6th that you can sign up for.

Thre is also a free eBook which offers reading tales from top gurus, poets and authors.

Here's a (very) short excerpt from the beautiful work of Kwame Alexander. The poem is entitled How to Read a Book. Full poem is in the eBook (p. 160). Get the free book!! The poem is so, so, so beautiful.

"Don’t rush though:

Your eyes need time to taste.

Your soul needs time to wonder"



They have a hashtag: #sharepossible
Check it out.

Wednesday

Tuesday

SoL: Different Perspectives



Linking with Two Writing Teachers for a Slice of Life


So on Sunday, I went to see a play called Good People. I went with a good friend. In it, the main character says another character was "lucky" and that's why he got out of their neighborhood and was successful. She's still stuck in Southie because she didn't have the same "luck" as him.

So as we were walking out, my friend and I started talking about that. I firmly believe you can achieve anything if you put your mind to it and work really hard. It's all about having a growth mindset and not making excuses.  It's something I try to instill in my students.  You may have some bad circumstances but you can overcome anything.

My friend was saying that sometimes circumstances are just working against you and that's why you end up in bad places.

We got into a heated discussion about it. I think we are just fundamentally of different mindsets. To me, bad things happen to you but you can't let it get in your way and stop you. I've had plenty of obstacles in my life but today I'm a respected teacher who has a great family, career and overall life quality.

What do you think?  Is it luck, perseverance, hard work, something else or all of the above?

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