Wednesday, July 17, 2013

A Frog Street Press SPLASH Meet Up, Reading Response Journals, a FREEBIE and a SALE!

Hey friends!  It's that time of year where we all try to cram in our professional development hours in because we actually have the time to do it now.  What better way to gain your hours than at the Frog Street Press SPLASH conference!?!  Are any of you going?  I AM!  In fact, I am presenting again this year and I am so excited...and a tab bit nervous.  You and I both know that trying to teach you fellow co-workers and peers is harder than teaching the littles, am I right?   EEEKKK!!!    I hope that if you are attending this conference that you will come check out my presentation "UNMASKED: -Revealing the Story Behind the Words".

Anyhow, this year's presentation is also based on Guided Reading BUT, I am going to focus on comprehension and the use of reading response journals.  I think you know this already but I *heart* phonics but I also love teaching with reading response journals.  There is SO much you can do with them.  I first blogged about this topic HERE.  BUT...I must tell you that since then, my reading response kit has had a *bit* of a make-over and now here is what it looks like...




Now here what is included:  
Directions on setting up the journals
6 pages of “Table of Contents and Directions for Each Page”
3 pages for the 1st meeting
-Reading Rules for Great Readers
-Reading Strategies
-Word Bank {Vocabulary words and definitions}
3 types of book logs
36 different reading response pages for fiction, non-fiction, or both:
-Book Review
-Rate and Recommend It
-Question It
-Retell It {Beginning/Middle/End}
-Retell It {First/Next/Then/Last}
-Setting Analysis
-Character Analysis
-Prediction {picture walk}
-Predict It {prediction}
-Let’s Chart It
-Journal It
-Web It
-Visualize It {visualize}
-Solve It {problem/solution}
-Summarize It {summary}
-Summarize It {Somebody wanted but so then}
-Support It {Main idea and supporting details}
-Decide It {Author’s purpose}
-Learn It
-Share It
-Write It to the Author
-Design It
-Infer It {inference/non-fiction}
-Infer It {inference/fiction}
-“Words to Know” pages {3 pages for 6 words, 8 words, or 10 words}
-Setting Change Up
-Essential Question
-Characters Say and Do
-What the Other Characters Do
-Facial Expressions
-Character's Actions-Can I connect?
-Characters Compare Adventures
-Character Problem Connection
-Drawing Conclusions
-Chapter Book Fun Brochure {2 pages}
Terms
Credits

I think I added 16 new pages :0) but here is something new.  I have also created direction POSTERS to go with each reading response journal so that you could eventually make this a center after introducing all of the response pages.  





Use these Reading Response Journal POSTERS in conjunction with my Reading Response Journal Kit or separately during reading workshop, guided reading, literature circles, or an other small groups, including reading {read to self} or listening {listen to reading} centers. 

Simply print, laminate, and place these posters in a center and allow the students to work with them. This kit comes in black and white as well as full color. Print the parts you choose to use.

Includes:
Cover Page {page 1}
Journal Direction posters in COLOR {pages 2-38}
Journal Direction posters in BLACK & WHITE {pages 39-76}
Terms {page 77}
Credits {page 78}


The posters kit is for sale for $3.50 but if you are looking for both, you could save some money by purchasing the bundled kit 



So are you ready for your freebie yet?  Get a sampler from my bundled Reading Response Journal kit.



***And now for the SALE***

All guided reading materials and reading response journals will be 20% off from now until Saturday.  Click HERE to go get em'!

Happy Guided Reading,
Coconut Cutie

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

TEACHER...I'm DONE!

Do you hear from your students, "I'm done!" while the other students are still working hard?  You know that if you don't find something for this friend to do {AND FAST}, it could be bad...that student gets bored, starts talking to others, starts doing something to distract the other...ugh!  

That's why in my room I like to be prepared for moments like those by having an "I'm Done" bucket of stuff.  I want this to be beneficial to the students who are completed with their work, not just a time filler so I came up with this.




When a student is finished with their work, they quietly put their work in the basket and go to the "I'm Through...Now What To Do?" box.  They keep track of which envelopes they have done and not done by using their checklist.


They grab the envelope that they need and take it quietly back to their desk to work on.  On the pocket of the envelope it gives them the directions of what to do in word and picture form.  Inside of the envelope are the recording sheets to complete the task.


In this case, the student has already done envelopes 1 and 2 so they would need envelope number 3.  



Students then keep their completed pages in their pocket {see pictures below} which they just keep in their work in progress folders.  At the end of the month, it gets stapled together, I look at their packet and review what they missed with them, and it goes home.  At the beginning of the month, I put all new envelopes in the box and the process repeats.  

 














I’m Through” Pocket:
It is simply a 12” X 12” piece of scrapbook paper or construction paper that I folded in half, put a label on it, stapled together, and cut a small wedge out of.  I also laminated them so that they would last for the year.  Each month the pockets are cleared out and taken home to begin the new month.  We attach the tracking page to the stack and staple it together.

I keep my materials organized by putting it all in zip lock bags.


 I put the originals in there as well as the envelopes so when the new month comes around, I grab the bag, make the copies {there are 2 recording sheets per page}, put the copies in the envelopes and put them in the box.  Another month's worth of stuff done in about 5 minutes.  Easy!

Don't want it as a "I'm Done!" box?  That is OK!  These work great for small groups, centers, tutoring, interventions, RTI practice, bellwork/morning work, etc.  The skills get harder each month and continue to spiral.  It should be a review of what they have already learned/know!  Each kit {except for August} comes with 24 envelope tasks.These are great for independent first grades, high kinders, or low second graders.

There will be a packet for every month *except for June and July*.  I have uploaded August {a brief sample}, September, and October.  More will be coming soon!

BUT WAIT...THERE'S MORE!  

You can start getting this ready by downloading my FREEBIE *August* "I'm Through...Now What To Do?" kit by clicking the picture below. 


Don't forget to leave me feedback, comments, questions, etc.  Also, don't forget to check out my September and October kits as well! 

Happy Classroom Management,
Coconut Cutie



Monday, July 15, 2013

Math Centers and a Number Line

Hey friends,

I just uploaded a NEW product today on my teacher's pay teachers store that I REALLY hope you check out.  My kiddos did this at the end of the year and had a blast with the centers.  


Here is what you get...

Animal Antics is a collection of centers to help students practice adding 3 numbers together, subtracting 3 numbers, or mixed addition and subtraction 3 numbers {example: 2+3+5=10, 15-5-4=6, or 12-5+2=9}. The numbers add up to or subtract from 20 or less to meet Common Core and TEKS standards.

All centers come with a brown paper sack label with title of the center as well as the directions, directions for the teacher to set up the center, the center game pieces, and a recording sheet.

What's Included:
Cover-page 1
Photo Examples-pages 2-5
Direction Label Cards for bags-pages 6-8
Insect Match Up directions, center, and recording sheet-pages 9-15
Reptile Room: Add and Write directions, center, and recording sheet-pages 16-20
Amphibian Add Up directions, center, and recording sheet-pages 21-33
Camel Mammal Cover Up directions, center, and recording game mat-pages 34-40
Bird Cage Memory directions, center, and recording sheet-pages 41-50
Find the Answer Fish directions, center, and recording sheet-pages 51-57
Terms-page 58
Credits-pages 59-60

Check out the preview for a better look at what is included!




Insect Match Up


Reptile Room:  Add and Write



Amphibian Add Up



Camel Mammal Cover Up


Bird Cage Memory



Find the Answer Fish


I have marked this for kinder, first, and second graders. If you are going to have your kinders do these centers, add a number line, hundred chart, or 10-frames to the center.


You can get a FREE number line by clicking HERE-Number Line Freebie


All that for only $6.00.  That's $1.00 per center!!!  I hope you and your kiddos love them as much as we did!

Happy Adding and Subtracting,
Coconut Cutie


Sunday, July 14, 2013

A Little ABC Order Fun!

Happy summer!  I hope y'all are getting some much needed rest this summer and having some fun to.  I have been busy with traveling and working on some teachers pay teacher's stuff.  I wanted to share my newest upload.  I hope you will check it out.

Do your students struggle with alphabetical order? Looking for a fun new way to introduce ABC order? Look no further. This is a super fun way for students to practice their alphabetical skills as well as reviewing the words "before", "after", and "between".






In this game, students will get a task card out of a bag and read it. They will use an alphabet line to find the letter that the task card asks for. Once all of the cards are done, students will practice their skills on a practice page. 
This kit is great for your word work center or as a whole group introduction and assessment page. This would also be great for small groups, tutoring, or RTI groups!








What's Included:
Cover Page-page 1
Set Up Directions-page 2
Set Up Pictures-page 3-4
Alphabet Line-pages 5-7
Bag label and Directions-page 7
Task Cards-pages 8-11
Alphabet Fun worksheet-page 12
Terms-page 13
Credits-page 14



Happy Alphabetical Ordering,
Coconut Cutie