What the Teacher Wants!

Common Core and You {Part 5}

I know many of you have looked on my district's website for Common Core resources. It is a fabulous resource, but is SUPER overwhelming! They have laid out all of units {which I only use for a reference, not an exact guide}, but I find it to be too much. My team and I created this Scope and Sequence to align with the new Common Core and our district's website! We haven't adapted the Math Common Core yet {next year} and so this Scope and Sequence will change again this summer. I thought you might want to look at the format {keep in mind I teach 1st grade in year-round school}!

Click {here} to download a copy of the Scope and Sequence

And.....we've been working on Narrative {just like the Common Core demands me too}..... like always! :)
I read this book:

{source}

We pretended like I went missing! First, we fill out our story board by sketching a picture in each box {First, I always have my student fill out characters, setting, problem, and ending. Then, they fill out first, next, and last}:

They retell their story to 2 friends BEFORE they start writing. I model each of these steps EXACTLY how I want them to do it. It usually take 2-3 days before we are finished with everything.

Then, they go ahead and write their story:

I have some student examples that I meant to take a picture of before I went off track...but dangit.... I forgot! I'll *try* to get into my classroom sometime this week to show you!

I've remade the story board and writing paper so that you can do it with your kiddos {without my name on it, HA!}.

Click {here} to download this

Frames: fancydogstudio.com
Clipart: teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Natalie-Kay
Fonts: djinkers.com

It was Teacher Heaven

Anytime you get a LOT of teachers in a room {especially blogging teachers}, plus food, plus cheesecakes, and you've got the equation that's FABULOUS and wayyyy too much fun {4 hours of fun at Cheesecake Factory}.

I put everyone's blog URL on this post. So, PLEASE visit each blog and become a follower!

I was in Heaven. It was the most fun EVER! Thank you to Hadar for setting this all up.

Fran, me, and Hadar

Fran was PERFECT! She's HILARIOUS, energetic, knowledgeable, talented, and just amazing.

Look at these cuties!

Tammy, Sandy, Michelle, Christy, Kristin

These ladies were full of ENERGY that I loved!!!! Tammy and Christy teach together and just started a blog. Go ahead, check out it's fabulousness. Sandy is a SWEETIE!!!! She's got the cutest blog and I loved meeting her! Michelle student taught at my friend Sharon's school! What a small world! She's got a great blog and facebook page! Kristin....I LOVE HER! I told her she need to write a book. What do you all think?

Fran brought us Hey Girl pictures. Michelle, Sharon {my most favorite Hostess EVER}, Catherine {who came from Vegas...LOVE HER!}, Gwyn, and Lindsay.
I didn't get to talk to these ladies at the end of the table as much as I would have loved. Next time, right?

Group shot, minus Vicky {she was a tad bit late}. But I did get to talk to her and I just love her!!! You can't see it, but I sat next to Kathy! I adore her!

Heidi was there! I felt like I was meeting a celebrity! :)

Me, Annie, Hadar, and Traci

These ladies and I talked for hours!!!! I admire each of them! Annie...is a fabulous mommy who is SO gifted! The things she does to help her little girls learn, is so AMAZING! Traci is a triple threat! She's a teacher, blogger, and clip art maker! Cha-ching! :)

This is my soul sista! Hadar is FABULOUS. I cannot say enough about her. She's an amazing teacher, creator, never says no-er, and a do it all-er! We are thisclose, especially because we shared cheesecake. :)

Sharon...did you really think you could get out of being in a picture? Love ya!

Seriously ya'll, I cannot explain how much I love the teacher blogging world. We understand each other! We know each other without even meeting! :)

Are you ready to meet-up again? Are you going to I Teach K in Vegas July 9-12? I know I don't teach kinder, BUT I don't live far from Vegas and some of my DEAR friends will be presenting and/or going. It's the perfect time to meet-up again for a HUGE partay.

REMEMBER, you don't have to have a blog to come!

There will be more information to come! Spread the word!

Are you interested in meeting up in Vegas?

SpellingCity: Website Review

Let me start off by saying that I am VERY new to SpellingCity.com - I've always known it was there and I've always used it as a resource for parents who wanted more ways to help their child with spelling, but I had never used it as part of my classroom spelling practice, instruction, or assessment.

This is my second official week of trying out my new Premium account. So far, I am very happy with what I've seen!

My students love using this website for practice! The different activities are fun and engaging for them, and they like it a million times more than a boring worksheet or other traditional spelling assignments.

As a teacher I like that that I can track my students' progress and see the work they've done each week.

I know that I have only just touched the surface of what this fun website can do, and look forward to learning more about it in the coming weeks.

I asked my students what they liked most about using Spelling City. Here are some of their responses:

"I like that the spelling test will read the words to me as many times as I need."

"My favorite game is Hang Mouse because it is fun and helps me learn."

"I like doing the tests on the computer because I don't have to worry about messy handwriting."

"I like the games because they can be fun and they help me with my homework."

"I like how if you get a word wrong, it helps you spell it so you can get the words right next time."

"I like how the games really do help you learn and help you learn to spell better."

I would recommend this website to anyone who wants to improve spelling scores in their classroom. In just a few short weeks I've realized how much time it can save me as a teacher, and how my students' attitudes towards spelling have improved. I plan on using this website again next year as a fun and engaging way to help my students improve their spelling!

It's an "EGG"STRAVAGANZA!

Thanks for all who played along in my mini-giveaway of my Outlaw Words {Literacy Centers}. I asked who was my first country concert.

It was.....

Billy Ray Cyrus {congrats Elisabeth}!!!!! I remember going to the concert when I was 6 and feeling TRAUMATIZED! My mom kept yelling out "take your shirt off"to Billy Ray and all I could think was that she didn't love my dad anymore. HA! It's funny now and I don't even think I need therapy anymore! :)

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We've had an egg overload in my classroom today! Check out these fun activities we've done and it's only Monday! Whoa....spring break must be coming soon if we're this motivated.

I've been using resources from April's "Chickens Aren't the Only Ones" Unit. It's so amazing! I've also been browsin' online {Who me? Browse online? No way!} and came across Hubbord's Cupboard April Theme. LOVE!!

We did this little activity in my classroom too:

We talked about oviparous and not oviparous animals. The students picked an oviparous animal to write about. They wrote the poem first.

Its started as an egg.

It hatched and grew.

It became a ______,

All brand new!

Then, they cut out the egg and had to place the egg {not attach...yet} on the paper so they could see where to draw their oviparous animal so it looked like it was coming out of the egg.

After they drew their picture, they could make hold in their eggs to get it ready to put a fastener through. They used a push pin and poked their egg on the side and made a hold {I have them do it on the carpet so they don't poke themselves}.

Then they stick their fastener through their egg pieces and then through the paper. Viola! You have the cutest darn oviparous animal hatching from an egg!

Then, we wrote about how egg-cellent we are! I had the students write; I'm egg-cellent at _____ because _____. They had to write about 5 or more things they were egg-cellent at. I also ~~bribed~~ asked them to have good handwriting because the handwriting fairy was surely watching them. I was AMAZED at their writing AND their handwriting. Mrs. Smith is one proud teacher.