Believe Week Re-Cap

Dec 28, 2014



 A few weeks ago I wrote about the 2nd annual Believe Week that we hosted the week before winter vacation.  This is what we decided to plan:


 It was a fun way to celebrate our students and they had a great time.

On Monday, students celebrated their "star power."  They dressed up like super heroes.  Here is math teammate...love her!


The students discussed a strength that they possess.  They wrote their "power" on a star and we created a tree.  It is beautiful!

star power

On Tuesday, students focused on being a mathematician.  They wore clothing with numbers and if they didn't have some...they made it!  So cute!






Our firsties even voted on the skill in which they shine the brightest:

we believe we are mathematicians

Wednesday theme: I believe I am a reader was quite a success!  Students were asked to dress as their favorite character.  Here is my team:

character dress up
THEN....there was a snowball fight in each classroom.  When students opened their snowball they found a number.

snowball fight for books

Then they were off to pick a book from the box with that corresponding number.  Each kid in the building got to go home with a book.

snowball fight for books

 I believe I am a writer was our Thursday theme.  Kids were to wear clothes with words.  I made this shirt for the day:

stories are everywhere

The second grade teachers all came to school dressed in black.  Immediately I thought, "Where are the words??"  But they had a plan and it was amazing!  When I peeked into their room, I saw this:

describing your teacher
 The kids were using descriptive words to describe each of the teachers.  Those words were being stuck all over them.  LOVE IT!!

Friday was "we believe you are a star" day.  Each grade level had a different idea of what they wanted to do.

Second grade studied Polar Express.  The kids got to dress like they were "under the stars."

 First grade studied Fancy Nancy and shared their writing pieces at a "fancy tea party."  They dressed up and walked the red carpet like stars this year!



 Kindergarten got to dress up as "star elves."  There were some awfully cute ones!


 It was a fun week!  And I already have some ideas for our third annual Believe Week next year!




14 in '14

Dec 26, 2014



 With my big holiday Open-House behind me, I am ready to breathe and think about some of the other things that I wanted to accomplish this break.  A reflection of 2014, of course!

http://www.dragonfliesinfirst.com/2014/12/14-in-14.html

14. A Favorite Quote

My grandma passed away very unexpectedly this holiday season.  This quote has been very helpful to me.

http://www.addcovers.com/category/advice-quotes/page/11
From: addcovers.com

13. Favorite Article of Clothing

I think it has to be thick, thick tights or leggings.  If they have fleece in them...even better!


12. Favorite Movie I Watched

Hands down favorite!!

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2194499/



 11. Favorite TV Series

I have become seriously hooked on "Once Upon A Time."  I just can't seem to get enough of it this season.  This may be because Anna and Elsa were on the show this season!

http://abc.go.com/shows/once-upon-a-time/about-the-show

 10. Favorite Restaurant 

 My Ben and I got a little hooked on having lunch at the Honey Baked Ham store.  It.is.just.tooooo.tasty!

http://honeybaked.com/catering.asp

 9. Favorite New Thing I Tried

 This is....YUM!!

http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/chicken-bacon-avocado-chopped-salad/





8. Favorite Gift You Received

 My husband gave me the gift of new glasses this year.  THANK YOU! I am not a contacts girl and wear glasses everyday.  And my current glasses are oooolllldddd!  I can't wait to get the phone call that my new glasses are ready for pick up!

7. Favorite Thing You Pinned

 Completely not school related (because there are too many of those pins) but I really love looking at pretty clothes.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/227291112419294121/

6. Favorite Blog Post

 Back in January I wrote about a fluency idea that came to me "in the moment."  And it was a success.  I loved this post!

http://curiousfirsties.blogspot.com/2014/01/a-fluent-wednesday-wow.html

5. Favorite Accomplishment

This is actually not my accomplishment, but we are a team so it counts for this reflection.  This year my husband finally started to put himself out there in the "art world."  It has been so much to take our girls to his art shows.  They are so proud of him.  I am so proud of him.  And I can't wait to see what 2015 brings for him.


 4. Favorite Photo

 I could not pick one.

My Ben

My Preschool Grad

The first roller coaster ride

A family vacation

3. Favorite Memory

 First time at the ocean with a four and five year old. Magical.

 2. 2015 Goal

 The goal that keeps coming to my mind is balance.  Working towards a healthy balance between all parts of my life.

1. One Little Word

CALM.  I want to keep working towards that balance and having calm in my life.









What I'm Loving...and...a Winner!

Dec 24, 2014


First up...
We have a winner of the ten dollar gift card.  I have to say it was so much fun to be able to give away a last minute teacher gift.  Our winner is:
Jen P.
I have emailed you!

Next up...

http://bigtimeliteracy.blogspot.com/2014/12/what-im-loving-wednesday.html?showComment=1419429981918#c1708720056824636519

Lights

One of my favorite things about this season!  I love the inside lights, the outside lights, light from a fireplace (or my fireplace dvd).  All of it.  Sitting by a tree that is all lit up and trimmed in ornaments that have special meaning to you...ahhh!  It is the best.

Holiday Treats

Growing up my mom and Nana would always make holiday candy: peanut butter roll, buckeyes, chocolate suckers, etc.  Yum!  They have always been a special treat.  Now I make some of the candy, as well.

Art

This season has brought about some different art shows for my husband.  I have enjoyed it so much.  Looking at all the talent from around the city is so inspirational and FUN!  I hope 2015 leads to more art!

Time

I have to admit that I am really enjoying the time to get some sleep, stay in my pjs, watch holiday movies, and visit with others.  Sometimes we just need time to just...be.  I am loving it!

Happy Holidays everyone! 

All I Want for Christmas is....a TPT Gift Certificate

Dec 20, 2014




The holiday season always comes up so quickly!  Then the year wraps up and a new one begins!  I know it is a time for giving, loving, and enjoying family.  But it is also a time of reflection for me.  Thinking ahead to next part of my school year.  Spending some time clearing my head and planning for my little kiddos.

So...I am teaming up with some other bloggers to give away some $10 TPT gift certificates!  It is so inspirational to see all the great work being done by so many people across the world.  I love reading about their ideas, activities, and lessons.

If you have any last minute gifts to buy or you want to start off 2015 with some TPT money, just click on the image below and sign in :)

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Gift-Certificate

 Thank you for all your inspiration.  Because of your comments, feedback, and passion for teaching, I have become a stronger teacher.

The giveaway will end on December 23rd at midnight.  And I will email the winner their gift certificate on the 24th.  Please check out the blogs below because each one is giving away a $10 gift certificate!


a Rafflecopter giveaway





Reflection: Math Assessments

Dec 15, 2014


We have one week left of school before 2014 comes to a close and 2015 brings on new learning, new challenges, and new successes.  My mind is buzzing with holiday lists, music, and activities.  But reflection, as well.
Jess (my math teammate) and I have been working really hard to improve number sense and math fact recall this year.  And we have tried a lot of new things:
number sense activities
how I see numbers: part-part-whole 
connecting addition and subtraction 
Students have been working on math facts at their own pace and we tried assessing them through flash cards.

That didn't work.

It was a nice try but we just couldn't get to everyone in a timely manner.  We had to change it up.  And I really think it is working out well.  I hope I prove to be right when the end of the school year rolls around.

First change: "My Number Time"
We are giving the students time to "play" with manipulatives for their specific number.  They can decide what materials they would like to use.  Here are some examples:

House with beans
Plate with colored chips
Colored cubes and crayons
Rekenrek
Second change: After each "my number" time students take a quick self-assessment.  This helps them and us to determine if they are ready to take a quick assessment and move on to a new number.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Part-Part-Whole-Assessments-and-Intervention-Sheets-1520566

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Part-Part-Whole-Assessments-and-Intervention-Sheets-1520566

We tell them that if the self assessment is not quick and easy, then they are not quite ready to move on.  Our firsties have really done a great job with this self assessment.  They are honest and I think it is really helping them to realize what they know and don't know (quite yet).
This sheet allows us to determine who we need to meet with the following day.

Third change: When they ARE ready to take an assessment, Jess and I pull over an individual or a small group of students to give them a fact assessment.  They look like this:

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Part-Part-Whole-Assessments-and-Intervention-Sheets-1520566
Some are mixed sheets and some have facts for only one number.  They all include addition, subtraction, and missing number because we have been teaching all facts as part-part-whole.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Part-Part-Whole-Assessments-and-Intervention-Sheets-1520566

While the students take the assessment, we watch them and time them.  Jess and I decided not to set an exact time that each student needed to finish the sheet by but we really hope for it to be under 1 or 2 minutes (depending on the student).  We are trying to make sure that they don't use their fingers or another strategy. We want them to KNOW these parts.  And for some students they just need to be reminded (they need the confidence) that they do KNOW the parts.

But some students do not know the parts automatically.

I created these intervention sheets and they have really, REALLY helped.  These half-sheets help to illustrate how the parts of a number are connected.  I think they help because it is pretty explicit and concrete for them.  There are two different types of sheets, depending on what the individual student needs.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Part-Part-Whole-Assessments-and-Intervention-Sheets-1520566http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Part-Part-Whole-Assessments-and-Intervention-Sheets-1520566

This routine has been working so well for our first graders.  They are feeling successful and enjoy this individual time.  For Jess and I, it is a time that we can provide differentiated, individual instruction.

We plan to continue this routine in 2015 but will continue to add components as we see the need for individual students.

If you would like to try this out with your students in 2015, it is half off right now.

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Part-Part-Whole-Assessments-and-Intervention-Sheets-1520566 


What do you think? Is there anything we could add to this instructional time?