tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62156501997776355322024-03-21T18:16:57.429-07:005th Is My FavoriteAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448665513409590545noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215650199777635532.post-91376086554315157862018-10-24T18:10:00.000-07:002018-10-24T18:10:58.407-07:00Fun with Figurative Language in 5th Grade<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Figurative Language is one of my favorite units to teach!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over the years, I've gathered and created many resources to help make this unit fun for my students. I wanted to share these with you, so you can easily find any of the resources that you think would be good for your students.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkLxvYJ3ceBFAo6eB2eG_A6QdZBB_rtL5bqZGP3xIgfNVB7ZJgoL3vRQIjLz1Y0-aXjhOxE1LKnOBD7xwl0IvXRUGIfb_YGozDIgc1GMgBpm_CEQOv8vxxCfx6Luec2JOct_ssvFIuew/s1600/FL+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="1046" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkLxvYJ3ceBFAo6eB2eG_A6QdZBB_rtL5bqZGP3xIgfNVB7ZJgoL3vRQIjLz1Y0-aXjhOxE1LKnOBD7xwl0IvXRUGIfb_YGozDIgc1GMgBpm_CEQOv8vxxCfx6Luec2JOct_ssvFIuew/s320/FL+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These concert tickets and VIP passes were a free resource from Adventures of Ms. Smith!<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREEBIE-Rock-Roll-Themed-Entry-Tickets-and-VIP-Passes-4056899">Click here for the VIP passes and tickets!</a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To start our unit we held a special concert event featuring music with all types of Figurative Language! I passed out the tickets for the concert the Friday before in order to build the excitement. I also encouraged the students to dress in their favorite concert gear!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdHRB_DY2jasWWwm4B_X4kE6yaiCN8sFLK69m92u8bwbPVtgKpVOMeIaxYEQYNWu6A_eXxT9jaSfSAU1FwU2SPONS6fVEXLKBoZr8pHlwC1Xcwjdh8dH66iuQP_opuA7ZEXfoIB0wcFw/s1600/FL+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdHRB_DY2jasWWwm4B_X4kE6yaiCN8sFLK69m92u8bwbPVtgKpVOMeIaxYEQYNWu6A_eXxT9jaSfSAU1FwU2SPONS6fVEXLKBoZr8pHlwC1Xcwjdh8dH66iuQP_opuA7ZEXfoIB0wcFw/s320/FL+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These notes from Lovin Lit gave us the definition of each type of Figurative Language!<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Interactive-Notebook-Literature-Activities-Literary-Elements-745824">Click here for the notebooking resource from Lovin Lit</a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For each type of Figurative Language we "performed" along with a different song. I let the students use our gold microphone and set up a stage in my classroom with strobe lights to help set the mood. We added notes for each new type of Figurative Language into our notebooks. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk9PEpTp0kdAKGkjAFWef5mR7ZWXGKw-Q64Cf9-XC_ToRg5qvt2e8iyyF_rpuXWIfxvVvPGX45o9ec6M-A7tcugTuhVLP08QTXJe9TPr1xjCJxhyg4SGhSayGg55w_fyBIGim8zd2p_M/s1600/FL+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="888" data-original-width="1069" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqk9PEpTp0kdAKGkjAFWef5mR7ZWXGKw-Q64Cf9-XC_ToRg5qvt2e8iyyF_rpuXWIfxvVvPGX45o9ec6M-A7tcugTuhVLP08QTXJe9TPr1xjCJxhyg4SGhSayGg55w_fyBIGim8zd2p_M/s320/FL+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I display these simple posters in my classroom for my students to refer back to when they need to!<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Figurative-Language-Posters-2699729">Click here to find these posters!</a><br />
<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Figurative-Language-Posters-in-White-2702707">Also in printer friendly black and white (print on colorful paper)</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /><span style="color: #674ea7; font-size: small;">After the concert (and preview of all the types of Figurative Language) we complete activities to take a closer look at each type of Figurative Language.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEj1dBPxywLOhzAnA3GosNtgZjjm24Oab2Ijl7ScJiRPEMRO3ceCpoEC8iOtESjoN8hg3wChyphenhyphenS6i5pd9C3TXmL1W76s-da1CZ2-5vYIEmd3Tr3hOz19vA7iE02WboE_vkQEbFt5sm4P8/s1600/FL+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJEj1dBPxywLOhzAnA3GosNtgZjjm24Oab2Ijl7ScJiRPEMRO3ceCpoEC8iOtESjoN8hg3wChyphenhyphenS6i5pd9C3TXmL1W76s-da1CZ2-5vYIEmd3Tr3hOz19vA7iE02WboE_vkQEbFt5sm4P8/s320/FL+3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This craftivity is one of several awesome resources I have from the AMAZING Deb Hanson!<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Similes-Metaphors-Alliteration-Craftivity-789382">Click here to the link for this craftivity!</a></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For some of the types of Figurative Language we complete craftivities from Deb Hanson, like the one shown above. This is a fun way for the students to review what they have learned. If you haven't tried any of Deb Hanson's units yet, be sure to check her out! Everything she makes is wonderful!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a project we completed for practice with idioms!<br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">To practice idioms, the student used idioms that contained food references to create plates and napkins. On the plates the students drew pictures to represent each idiom, and on the napkins the students wrote sentences using the idioms.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Onomatopoeia projects!<br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We made some simple art projects for practice with Onomatopoeia. I had each student choose a sound word and gave them construction paper to use. I told them to be creative in their representation of the word. They had a lot of fun with these projects!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfz7n733IuJojHrArWfZP6sdZU0HsEAQC9jAwh8MIrzExOLqlHTgHg6Fuljw0azYeljd0klLEpARNew9UVjPcRjVShx5pmh7mNEBUW5oyry5YDbfz6tkY-xOalXrMzfQ4hp4flBPZK_8I/s1600/FL+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfz7n733IuJojHrArWfZP6sdZU0HsEAQC9jAwh8MIrzExOLqlHTgHg6Fuljw0azYeljd0klLEpARNew9UVjPcRjVShx5pmh7mNEBUW5oyry5YDbfz6tkY-xOalXrMzfQ4hp4flBPZK_8I/s320/FL+11.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These practice and assess sheets also come from Lovin Lit.<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Literature-Printables-Worksheets-and-Tests-Grades-4-5-1526020">Click here for the link to the 5th grade practice and assess worksheets. </a><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">For some of the different types of Figurative Language I use these practice and assess worksheets from Lovin Lit. I have both the 5th grade and 6th grade versions of these to use for differentiation in the classroom! These are great for really getting to see what the students understand about Figurative Language.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">At the end of our unit, we completed Figurative Language projects to demonstrate all that we had learned. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished Figurative Language Project!<br /><br /><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Figurative-Language-Project-2808550">Click here for the resource for this project!</a><br /><br /><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">I also differentiate this project based on the needs of my students. The students can be asked to match each type of Figurative Language or create their own examples. I love how these projects turn out every year!<br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Practice and Review!<br /><br /><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Halloween-Figurative-Language-Bundle-3404067">Click here for the Halloween Figurative Language Review!</a><br /><br /><span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">After we finish our Figurative Language unit, it is important to review this topic all throughout the school year. I like to use fun holiday reviews to make sure we don't forget all that we have learned!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Figurative-Language-for-November-Simile-Metaphor-Hyperbole-Personification-165754">Click here to see a practice packet from Margaret Whisnant!</a></span></div>
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<a href="http://crafting-connections.blogspot.com/2015/04/figurative-language-anchor-chart.html">Click here for the link to the free resource to create this anchor chart!</a></div>
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I also like to use to reviews from Margaret Whisnant throughout the year to keep our Figurative Language skills fresh all year long. She has amazing practice packets for different months of the school year.</div>
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I also create the above anchor chart as a review later in the school. The students really do so well with remembering all the different types of Figurative Language when we review many times throughout the school year. </div>
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I hope you were able to find a resource or two here to help improve your Figurative Language units!</div>
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Thanks, Melissa</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448665513409590545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215650199777635532.post-40494713135618128632018-08-07T08:54:00.000-07:002018-08-07T08:54:05.584-07:00Teacher Tidbit Tuesday: What Makes You Happy?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKpUj9XQMzMHcyBh01WlyNgjNTNyiHznrkYDDMC7itnz2ccGbhpFF1VeBFALdDvrry_bG_x6gBqxH6IMTugJvXYGLYYobUz6q1itb1xjV_R6Z1Mv09R8IbOee9BZDp8UpsvARa9ZmP1k/s1600/August+7th.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="502" data-original-width="1507" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKpUj9XQMzMHcyBh01WlyNgjNTNyiHznrkYDDMC7itnz2ccGbhpFF1VeBFALdDvrry_bG_x6gBqxH6IMTugJvXYGLYYobUz6q1itb1xjV_R6Z1Mv09R8IbOee9BZDp8UpsvARa9ZmP1k/s320/August+7th.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My happy list, of course, starts with my family! I am incredibly blessed with three adorable children and a wonderful husband. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love having a job that allows me to be mom all summer long, but also do something that I love! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of the other things that I love are:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Setting up my classroom each year for a fresh start. One of the best parts of being a teacher is that every school year is different. We get to know new kids and try new things. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hGeSZhG6QeHgWQVRenYIOaIfWkbL9tBhwxaws9ID4INLRAGcOg96-4h9LqCnpVR9qvYZ2r3eo3QBY8e5bvS6kmLmh6AfTCrtZK11ouMY7uf7aVlV-98u_87niMREP6VItn2vcJyvgrk/s1600/IMG_20180428_153647_314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8hGeSZhG6QeHgWQVRenYIOaIfWkbL9tBhwxaws9ID4INLRAGcOg96-4h9LqCnpVR9qvYZ2r3eo3QBY8e5bvS6kmLmh6AfTCrtZK11ouMY7uf7aVlV-98u_87niMREP6VItn2vcJyvgrk/s320/IMG_20180428_153647_314.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love creating cozy, inviting spaces in my classroom.<br /><br /></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Fall! Fall is my favorite season of all. I love when the weather turns cooler and the leaves begin to change color. I love sweater weather, pumpkins, and apple picking!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reading. I love reading a book and escaping into a new world. Reading is one of my favorite ways to relax.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Enjoying a perfect summer day!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What are the things that make you most happy?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Share with me!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks again for joining me in this week's edition of #teachertidbittuesday!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #674ea7; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Melissa</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448665513409590545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215650199777635532.post-86054830928952376272018-07-24T13:37:00.000-07:002018-07-24T13:37:40.722-07:00Teacher Tidbit Tuesday: Top 10 Movies of All Time<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all know there are some movies that you can watch over and over again, and others you'll only watch once or twice. Here are my top 10 favorite movies of all time!</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. "I Am Sam" </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sean Penn's acting in this movie is amazing! When his daughter is taken away from him by child protective services because of his disability, Michelle Pfeiffer becomes his lawyer in order to help him fight to get her back. The message that "Love is All You Need" is incredibly powerful in this sweet movie.</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. "Beauty and the Beast" </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Beauty and the Beast has always been my favorite Disney movie. When this version of the movie came out, I was so worried that it wouldn't live up to my expectations. However, I was pleasantly surprised. </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. "Harry Potter" Series</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of the Harry Potter movies were so fantastic to watch. I loved watching these characters (and actors) grow as the series continued. I can watch these movies over and over again. So magical!</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. "Sweet Home Alabama"</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love a happy ending. This movie is one of those stories where you know exactly what is going to happen, but it's still so much fun to watch. And, who doesn't love a Reese Witherspoon movie? (If you haven't seen the alternate ending that could have ruined this movie, well, maybe just skip it! It would have been an awful way to end the movie!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. "Back to the Future" series</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Back to the Future series was one of my favorites as a kid. I will always love this series. It is so much fun to go back and watch the movies now and see how much has changed since they were made. (And, how much is not exactly as predicted for the future!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. "Hope Floats"</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sandra Bullock is another one of my favorite actresses of all time. I love so many of her movies, but Hope Floats is one of my top favorites. This another sappy, sweet movie that just makes you feel happy. The soundtrack to this movie is also one of my favorites!</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7. "Mystic Pizza"</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This movie from Julia Roberts's early days of acting is another classic in my opinion. I love watching these girls and their romantic problems in this fun romatic comedy!</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8. "10 Things I Hate About You"</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A young Heath Ledger is only one of the reasons I love this version of Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew." Julia Stiles character in this movie is so fun as an angst-filled teenager! </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9. "Practical Magic" </span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman as witches! I loved this movie so much! This movie also has another soundtrack that is excellent as well.</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10. "13 Going On 30"</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The last movie in my top 10 list is another feel-good, happy ending movie. I love Jennifer Garner and her movies. This movie is such a fun one to watch, and a good reminder that we all need to add a little fun into our lives!</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Were any of my top 10 movies your favorites too? What movies are your favorites? Share with me in the comments below! I'd love to hear from you!</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Melissa</span></div>
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<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thanks so much for joining me for another #teachertidbittuesday this week! </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448665513409590545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215650199777635532.post-15066679203489750282018-07-17T14:05:00.000-07:002018-07-17T14:05:44.247-07:00Teacher Tidbit Tuesday: How to Plan Out Your Classroom Design<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvV5wJJX_9lXHQsX0JXUVBHnjUaLDa9WtHqSxgqlLWKuUzLbtmvZocoo4npIZAXszXhXTZWqYoI9YlvQ8GfA-Xsn8qrf_4HgWzMtGYbqnNGdtQIOj1JrpCdy8MS4w0RjwderYlSTIMAI/s1600/July+17th.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="1509" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvV5wJJX_9lXHQsX0JXUVBHnjUaLDa9WtHqSxgqlLWKuUzLbtmvZocoo4npIZAXszXhXTZWqYoI9YlvQ8GfA-Xsn8qrf_4HgWzMtGYbqnNGdtQIOj1JrpCdy8MS4w0RjwderYlSTIMAI/s320/July+17th.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I start my classroom design plan for the next school year at the end of each school year. We have to leave a floor plan layout for our custodial staff in the window of classrooms before leaving for summer break. I am so appreciative of our custodial staff for setting up all of the furniture in my classroom each year because this is a huge task! (I realize this is not how it works in every school! I'm a lucky girl!) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I leave a basic drawing of where I want all of my big furniture items. This way all of my layout is set up when I return from summer break. (I sometimes decide to make a few changes after returning, but this is such a huge time-saver having it all set up!) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another thing that I do at the end of each school year is pack (and label) an open me first box for when I return. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneBWhfc95Fu4odD0sgxOiXQDXGKDEiYtKfqYhyphenhypheneY7BA1YCIpq0-cvbSxGpFXJreOKLB6QDCzyV9FEkdkacOzKe9N3CXkaHCOsBqrZkgi5swWD8OEwOGvECtn_n5Jub8HDdpo_aGWm8Ik/s1600/room+set+up+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgneBWhfc95Fu4odD0sgxOiXQDXGKDEiYtKfqYhyphenhypheneY7BA1YCIpq0-cvbSxGpFXJreOKLB6QDCzyV9FEkdkacOzKe9N3CXkaHCOsBqrZkgi5swWD8OEwOGvECtn_n5Jub8HDdpo_aGWm8Ik/s320/room+set+up+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I pack all of the items that I know I'm going to need right away when I come in to set up my classroom into my "open me first" box. Glue gun, glue sticks, stapler, etc. This way I'm not spending an hour to try and find these items when I come in to set up! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another huge time-saver that helps me when I go in to set up my classroom is that I plan out each of my walls/bulletin boards before going to school. I used to waste all kinds of time at school trying to figure out what I wanted on each wall, which borders to use with which background. I found that if I planned it all ahead of time, it really helped me get more done while I was at school. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have 3 kids at home with me all summer, so I really only get to go into school for a couple of days to set up. Having a plan has really helped me to get everything done in a short amount of time! I also always enlist help to get my classroom set up. My husband takes off a day from work to come in and help with any big items (like putting together book shelves, etc.) I also have had help from just about every one of my family members (mom, dad, sister, cousins, grandma, aunt, niece, etc... if they're willing to help, I take it!) I've tried bringing my own children, but I've found they create more work than help...maybe in a few years! Former students also love to come in to help set up! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am also very careful when I pack my room at the end of the year. I pack my library in reverse alphabetical order and label each of the boxes with the order in which to open them. This way I don't have to spend hours re-organizing my library as I unpack it! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remember, it doesn't have to be perfect on that first day of school. You have all school year to make changes! Allowing your students to be a part of that design gives them some ownership of the classroom. So, I often leave blank bulletin boards (with just a background and border) so we can add to them together. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Making our classroom into a cozy, inviting space for my students is one of my favorite things to do as a teacher. It can be very hard to get so much done in only a couple of days. I hope some of these tips can help you make your learning space into a space you love to share with your students. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Melissa</span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Join us again next week for #teachertidbittuesday as we share our top 10 favorite movies of all time!</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448665513409590545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215650199777635532.post-12374822951501861772018-07-10T08:45:00.001-07:002018-07-10T08:45:56.347-07:00Teacher Tidbit Tuesday: Favorite Instagrammers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ95eqOd9NwdlB1dav_ic8M9ZfyCS_3neWmMweSKzuOfHxEhgXFYhGFFAjtX40KYutHy_XciNinKW8a92bEesMS_j1j8C_Rs3RIMUY_k6GnSF9cnizZMB_qEeI2w5Zj7H80e9FJL6Ne-E/s1600/July+10th.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="1507" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ95eqOd9NwdlB1dav_ic8M9ZfyCS_3neWmMweSKzuOfHxEhgXFYhGFFAjtX40KYutHy_XciNinKW8a92bEesMS_j1j8C_Rs3RIMUY_k6GnSF9cnizZMB_qEeI2w5Zj7H80e9FJL6Ne-E/s320/July+10th.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instagram has been an amazing source for teacher inspiration for me in the last few years. I love seeing what other teachers are doing in their classrooms, and then tweaking it to make it work for me. I think it is important to remember that teaching is all about collaboration and sharing, it is NOT a competition! We are all after the same goal: What is best for children. I hope that when teachers look at my IG page they find a source they can use to get some new ideas for their own classroom. I love the Teacher Instagram community, and I hope all teachers use it as a positive source for inspiration!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are so many amazing teachers on Instagram, but here are a few (other than my blog co-hosts) that I love to follow!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Joanne from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/headoverheelsforteaching/">Head Over Heels for Teaching</a> was one of the first teachers that I started following on Instagram. Joanne has more creative ideas than any teacher I have ever met! She loves to have fun in her classroom, and she is constantly sharing great ways to motivate students. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my favorite ideas from Joanne is her theme board. After she shares a book with her class, she has her students discuss the book's theme. After they decide on a theme, she posts the cover of the book underneath the theme topic. This way they can refer back to the books they've shared together all year long. I started doing this with my students, and I love it! It makes an incredible difference in the students understanding of theme, and it gives us so many common texts to refer to during classroom discussions. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Michelle from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/applesandabcs/">Apples and ABC's</a> is another one of my favorite teachers to follow on IG. She co-teaches 4th grade with her teacher-friend, Layla. (What an amazing opportunity for any teacher-mom! I'd love it if my school district allowed that!) Her IG stories always make me smile, and I love following along with her on Instagram!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Michelle has an awesome eye for design. She makes some of the most adorable bulletin boards and classroom decor items that I've ever seen! I've used some of her bulletin boards in my classroom, and I always receive so many compliments on them! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvVab69Pj8Im2pfvuPR4TaErUJQmqFKo0qk5KkBfB8avF5OnEI5qi2-vBknXS3HOx3G83ijJy2pvwvo8BEiCCG0jysq_-eGb4J5fCMLsfoL0Xk7hZBnd7Ocs_70fM2vl5Ow6keFAHtEI/s1600/ig5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1326" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHvVab69Pj8Im2pfvuPR4TaErUJQmqFKo0qk5KkBfB8avF5OnEI5qi2-vBknXS3HOx3G83ijJy2pvwvo8BEiCCG0jysq_-eGb4J5fCMLsfoL0Xk7hZBnd7Ocs_70fM2vl5Ow6keFAHtEI/s320/ig5.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Josie from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/maniacsinthemiddle/">Maniacs in the Middle</a> is just so much fun to follow on Instagram! She is always laughing and having fun while doing her job! Her young, fresh energy in the classroom is so contagious. You can tell she truly loves her job! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBYNAVnUMSSFvKyyT0voQtfsXz6eboEO3BrwYwF5uubXVXJJ2iDmjLCEAKF51yCOfLHvBxzEv_dNHR6fvMWW_olHtCdba1CqW4hIblinzqynu1yKsNRIXJA2dycbB7mFRhvpiG9BFdvM/s1600/ig6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOBYNAVnUMSSFvKyyT0voQtfsXz6eboEO3BrwYwF5uubXVXJJ2iDmjLCEAKF51yCOfLHvBxzEv_dNHR6fvMWW_olHtCdba1CqW4hIblinzqynu1yKsNRIXJA2dycbB7mFRhvpiG9BFdvM/s320/ig6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Josie's playlists on Spotify have been my go-to for classroom use this year. I know she will have classroom appropriate songs that I can play for my students while they are working. I love that she has taken the time to make several different playlists that I can use for a variety of purposes. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Courtney from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ramonarecommends/">Ramona Recommends</a> is a fifth grade teacher that loves using picture books in her classroom. She has an incredible collection of picture books that would make any reading teacher jealous! I think picture books are such amazing resources for upper grade teachers. Picture books allow us to share an entire story in a single lesson. They can be used in so many ways for instruction. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4N5Zc37b2SBxc007SQsfY1tLetOl9telePLN6_8R0pY03VFN-N2tACMCkUnEYSRtXw3bSZIGttatXq7QEjgY4YAhMCmO-iWmNvTSQb0XyP0ubOaT5FC_o40xqFecLZ1yzunJ0ordO7D4/s1600/ig8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1325" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4N5Zc37b2SBxc007SQsfY1tLetOl9telePLN6_8R0pY03VFN-N2tACMCkUnEYSRtXw3bSZIGttatXq7QEjgY4YAhMCmO-iWmNvTSQb0XyP0ubOaT5FC_o40xqFecLZ1yzunJ0ordO7D4/s320/ig8.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Courtney is always sharing new book recommendations, and ways to use the books in your classroom. Whenever I need an idea for a picture book to use in my classroom, I turn to Courtney's Instagram page for inspiration! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7e-dtEsP3eQMR0A3yETxtZl4nSjr30dIa9UJSLF0qXXLB4HCVy_5OjYAkBR0aqvPfRyXQSR-jQG3gOGL5PmpLJUYxdn8vj9mktum_PlzYMSG9vt2iuZ4A5Kmmo3f3ERydQxvekQepnno/s1600/ig9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1301" data-original-width="1049" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7e-dtEsP3eQMR0A3yETxtZl4nSjr30dIa9UJSLF0qXXLB4HCVy_5OjYAkBR0aqvPfRyXQSR-jQG3gOGL5PmpLJUYxdn8vj9mktum_PlzYMSG9vt2iuZ4A5Kmmo3f3ERydQxvekQepnno/s320/ig9.jpg" width="258" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jill from <a href="https://www.instagram.com/hello_fifth/">Hello Fifth</a> is another fifth grade teacher that I love following along with on Instagram. She has so many great ideas for classroom instruction. I love when she shares something she's been doing in her classroom that I can turn around and implement in my own classroom. She's adorable, fun, and full of great teaching ideas!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgrie_ALWR2VyqNv4V1G4h-vrt7fs7YEZ3D43VuaMI4haXKcRDDIxE0AMpTOozN80Hj8xn5nw37Gy_6pS3tzpUD6i-1bmU6Iiv0q5ckfrzHdQC1iLK5FICVugwvNbV3erHnpaeYIOxl4/s1600/ig10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="804" data-original-width="1055" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRgrie_ALWR2VyqNv4V1G4h-vrt7fs7YEZ3D43VuaMI4haXKcRDDIxE0AMpTOozN80Hj8xn5nw37Gy_6pS3tzpUD6i-1bmU6Iiv0q5ckfrzHdQC1iLK5FICVugwvNbV3erHnpaeYIOxl4/s320/ig10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love this board that Jill created in her classroom for interactive sentence studies! This is sitting in my TpT cart right now just waiting for the BTS sale. Students love getting out of their seats and being an active part of their learning! I think this board will be such an incredible resource to have in my classroom. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thank these girls and all the other Teacher Instagrammers out there for always sharing your ideas with us. I'm so happy to have this community as a resource for my classroom. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Melissa</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't forget to join us for #teachertidbittuesday again next week as we discuss how to plan out your classroom design!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448665513409590545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215650199777635532.post-15234015666695094732018-07-03T08:58:00.000-07:002018-07-03T08:58:53.519-07:00Teacher Tidbit Tuesday: What's Your Summer Routine?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYkMEd4IFrzVkx8lphxA8Y5l-9eVQiUf74s5dW5P99kTNUVfJ1ekfTxIFaA-ox8G5rTSMg11UOU1fkXp-vstjcjv2Qs629ljwTpY0GOdSCdcxudzOcQQNyIgPq5FCWs_V7K7uYdZA4pqU/s1600/July+3rd.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="1511" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYkMEd4IFrzVkx8lphxA8Y5l-9eVQiUf74s5dW5P99kTNUVfJ1ekfTxIFaA-ox8G5rTSMg11UOU1fkXp-vstjcjv2Qs629ljwTpY0GOdSCdcxudzOcQQNyIgPq5FCWs_V7K7uYdZA4pqU/s320/July+3rd.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">My summer is anything but routine, and that's what I love most about it! During the school year we are so busy from the time we wake up until the time we go to sleep at night, our days often become a bit monotonous. So when summer comes around, I am ready to drop all of those routines and just let our days plan themselves. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have three children that are all in an activity or two, so we do have some soccer and swimming lessons pre-planned for us each week, but I don't make them follow a schedule every day. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I LOVE being able to sleep in during the summer, so our days start out a few hours later than they do during the school year. I also prefer to stay up later in the summer (after my children are in bed) to read, check out Instagram or Pinterest, or watch something other than Disney Junior on television. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This summer we took our first two weeks off to take a Florida vacation. This was the best choice I've made in a long time! I really needed to get away after the end of a long school year. It was great to get away with my family and not think about anything school related for 2 whole weeks! Sometimes taking a little time off the grid is the best medicine for yourself! </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A trip to the beach was exactly what we needed!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodORAdkf9B7HIJoODj2FLLFMpCs-azriPdQABpsdZfOiUk4EcVpdz4w5I7HejaK7HOtx66RSGGJRTCJhO30mC1-b2duTR11BcFQBgg8tbIKaLW4FI8q5jE2T4dS-_pAslLK-gMpx2m2o/s1600/vacation+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhodORAdkf9B7HIJoODj2FLLFMpCs-azriPdQABpsdZfOiUk4EcVpdz4w5I7HejaK7HOtx66RSGGJRTCJhO30mC1-b2duTR11BcFQBgg8tbIKaLW4FI8q5jE2T4dS-_pAslLK-gMpx2m2o/s320/vacation+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I finally made it to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter!<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As we enter July, I will try to schedule some time each week to take a look at some of that teaching curriculum material that I brought home. There's also a large stack of books that I'm working my way through this summer. But, I really do try to focus on my family during the summer. I have all school year long to worry about that work stuff!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglv9eKAvF5JvYRGRpGyir_xGMYWWbik_u2sJ6dDLzNfZqTQuakoIbQdTuZlwfTV6z6_9r4wOZYnRbREe9O7FfKdANGGXEo_hXv4-olRRsbvuVzdJUpSHg5f7wJD9gn0znKl8qQuwEs678/s1600/June+26th.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="1511" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglv9eKAvF5JvYRGRpGyir_xGMYWWbik_u2sJ6dDLzNfZqTQuakoIbQdTuZlwfTV6z6_9r4wOZYnRbREe9O7FfKdANGGXEo_hXv4-olRRsbvuVzdJUpSHg5f7wJD9gn0znKl8qQuwEs678/s320/June+26th.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I missed last week's TTT on my teaching history, but here's the shortened version!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been incredibly lucky to work in a wonderful district with amazing people and great kids for the last 17 years. I was given this job on my 2nd interview after college, and I've never left. (Why leave a good thing?) I have been teaching 5th grade for my entire career, and I still love it just as much (if not more) than when I first started. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This year I am starting out on a bit of a new adventure, as our 5th grade begins to departmentalize. I will be teaching Reading/ELA/SS to 2 sections of students each day. I will have one group that is our G/T group, so I am excited to change up my routine a little bit. I absolutely love Reading and Social Studies, so I'm really looking forward to being able to focus on what I love. </span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448665513409590545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215650199777635532.post-56372510297883045002018-06-19T05:12:00.000-07:002018-06-19T05:12:39.938-07:00Teacher Tidbit Tuesday: My Top 10 Favorite Picture Books<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> There are so many amazing picture books available to us, and I think picture books are an incredible resource for teachers at all grade levels! Picture books are short enough to share in a single seating, and can be used to teach all different types of reading skills and strategies. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Choosing my top 10 favorite picture books is an impossible task; however, here are 10 of my favorites.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piggie Pie! by Margie Palatini<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. <i>Piggie Pie! </i>by Margie Palatini is one of my favorite picture books of all time. In the story, Gritch the Witch is looking to make herself a piggie pie, but she must first find all the piggies she needs for the recipe. She has a little trouble in her search, since all the piggies on Old MacDonald's farm found themselves disguises before she arrived. The story is full of allusions, which I teach each year during our Figurative Language unit. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast by Josh Funk<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. <i>Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast</i> by Josh Funk is an adorable picture book told in quatrain poems. The characters are at odds with one another when they find out the fridge is almost out of syrup. They race through Broccoli Forest and Potato Mash Mountain to try and get to the last tasty bit, but discover in the end it is best to be friends (and share.) </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The clever characters, use of vivid verbs, and juicy adjectives make this book a must for any writing unit.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">George vs. George by Rosalyn Schanzer</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. <i>George vs. George</i> by Rosalyn Schanzer tells the story of the American Revolution from both sides. I love using picture books to integrate in our social studies curriculum, and this book is perfect during our study of the Revolutionary War. The book has lots of good factual information about the lives of King George III and George Washington before, during, and after the war. The book is excellent for focusing on looking at multiple perspectives of an event in history. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Train to Somewhere by Eve Bunting</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Train to Somewhere</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> by Eve Bunting is another historical fiction picture book. This book gives us a small glimpse into life of a young girl that traveled on an Orphan Train. During the late 1800's and early 1900's thousands of children were sent from New York City to the Midwest to small towns and farms. I like to share this book with my students to expose them to this part of our American history that isn't often talked about in our history books.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stellaluna by Janell Cannon</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. <i>Stellaluna</i> by Janell Cannon is another one of my absolute favorite picture books. This is story of a bat that is separated from her mother at a very young age and is "adopted" by a family of birds. She learns that not all friends look and act the same all the time. It is a sweet story with a wonderful message. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt<br /></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. <i>The Day the Crayons Quit</i> by Drew Daywalt is such a clever picture book! The story is told from the perspective of the crayons. Each crayon writes a letter to Duncan (the owner of the crayons) to share his/her feelings. It is a great story to teach perspective. I've read it before, and then had the students write from the perspective of other objects (school supplies) of their choice. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KEDjFushvfJCcDfdJRw_0hBQR0bg5kFiBfrPaBfZUzqoAHZh5JVYUo8u0XvZjIv2iSsKRZt6tSfl_GeWE9a-nOdho-Xl8gFHF7wYiSTwVBo46JmwtFleejvC6GQoQpUM17DAlw4djUY/s1600/book+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1392" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KEDjFushvfJCcDfdJRw_0hBQR0bg5kFiBfrPaBfZUzqoAHZh5JVYUo8u0XvZjIv2iSsKRZt6tSfl_GeWE9a-nOdho-Xl8gFHF7wYiSTwVBo46JmwtFleejvC6GQoQpUM17DAlw4djUY/s320/book+8.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Junkyard Wonders by Patricia Polacco</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7. <i>The Junkyard Wonders </i>by Patricia Palacco is such a special book. This book tells the story of a young girl that moves to a new school and joins a class that is like no other. The students come together after losing one of their classmates to work on special project. This heart-warming story helps to show that everyone is a wonder in their own way. This book is great for discussing theme with students. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bad Boys by Margie Palatini</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8. <i>Bad Boys </i>by Margie Palatini is a fun story to share with students of all ages. These big, bad wolves are always up to no good. They need to find a place to lay low for a while after causing some trouble. The boys decide to hide out for a while as a couple of wolves in sheep's clothing, but don't worry these bad boys will still get what they deserve! Margie Palatini's story telling is so clever, she's one of my favorite picture book authors. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peanut Butter & Cupcake by Terry Border</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9. <i>Peanut Butter & Cupcake</i> by Terry Border has adorable photographs to go along with the sweet story. Peanut Butter has trouble going out to make a new friend. He tries out several different combinations before finding his best fit in Jelly. My students loved this story. I used it in one of my book baskets while we were working on identifying theme. Several of them read it more than once. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs! by Jon Scieszka</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">10. <i>The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!</i> by Jon Scieszka has been a long-time favorite of mine in the classroom. In this story, the wolf is given a chance to tell his side of the story. I use this book to begin our Fairy Tale Unit on comparing/contrasting stories told in multiple perspectives. We read this book together (I have a class set of this book thanks to Scholastic!) and carefully look at the similarities and differences in how the story unfolds as it is told from each of the different perspectives. We discuss point of view vs. perspective, character development, and write a compare/contrast essay. After we have done this together, I have the students read other fractured fairy tale to analyze as well on their own or with a partner. </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fractured-Fairy-Tales-A-Compare-and-Contrast-Unit-3052779">Check out my Fractured Fairy Tale Unit here!</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm always on the lookout for new children's literature that I can use in my classroom. I think picture books are one of the best ways that we can teach students new skills & strategies. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't forget to join us again next week for Teacher Tidbit Tuesday! Join us by adding the hashtag #teachertidbittuesday so we can find your posts! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Melissa</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448665513409590545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215650199777635532.post-44424253055028243382018-06-12T03:52:00.000-07:002018-06-12T03:52:12.873-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFIzRYBEWe88VQ50KlbkfO6u6ta6gZAwL0whUBIXQHnhp-I66MxHI24U2WvXkelx5W43AheZIwCHJYO8S2UnTUht1QoOXdhRSHN0ukipbvwpbmTWAP-q2n2BqNf5L04rv2RGBJs84z2k/s1600/June+12th.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="1510" height="106" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFFIzRYBEWe88VQ50KlbkfO6u6ta6gZAwL0whUBIXQHnhp-I66MxHI24U2WvXkelx5W43AheZIwCHJYO8S2UnTUht1QoOXdhRSHN0ukipbvwpbmTWAP-q2n2BqNf5L04rv2RGBJs84z2k/s320/June+12th.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I just finished my 17th year of teaching, so my first year of teaching was quite a while ago. I know I was young, and I was excited to be starting out as a teacher. I was sure I was going to make a difference in the lives of so many students. Ha, Ha, Ha. I was young and naive. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The year I started in my school district about half of us were first year teachers, so my mentor teacher was on her second year (and in a completely different part of the building.) The sweet, amazing principal that hired me for my first job passed away that summer, and I was never able to work with her. We went through 2 part-time principals that first year. So my co-workers and I figured things out on our own. It wasn't easy, but we found our way. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I remember during my first year I planned out a fancy science experiment for one of my first observations. The experiment turned out to be a total mess, and it didn't go as planned. #rookiemistake </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aQJZxxrPS_eTUX5Wop1ltIAq1LHJyYD4wL-_i0mf0yRsEgqa4eKMeCywTaF-v4nN_XZC7O9gTUJcXnAkjMW_oRv_vmXWGJUoMctLZFP82w-_yMD-oT0MlgjuZSe6qOKgKdyVwPG1o8U/s1600/aug2008004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7aQJZxxrPS_eTUX5Wop1ltIAq1LHJyYD4wL-_i0mf0yRsEgqa4eKMeCywTaF-v4nN_XZC7O9gTUJcXnAkjMW_oRv_vmXWGJUoMctLZFP82w-_yMD-oT0MlgjuZSe6qOKgKdyVwPG1o8U/s320/aug2008004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting up the Classroom Requires lots of Help!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cxzHwbkELsxiaOw7r2Fs6emqPLFIsGL97q5rbhNoQPfJecfr70FcrzsPujJ9VbHikt61EWZnevYB1AwNf3fg3-XbIsw4EKOdQKBWJFmC3qvgwaBL4FUVNiQdMNEeiARnqfRMld9PPh4/s1600/aug2008006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cxzHwbkELsxiaOw7r2Fs6emqPLFIsGL97q5rbhNoQPfJecfr70FcrzsPujJ9VbHikt61EWZnevYB1AwNf3fg3-XbIsw4EKOdQKBWJFmC3qvgwaBL4FUVNiQdMNEeiARnqfRMld9PPh4/s320/aug2008006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's a little dark, but this was my first classroom.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've been very blessed to work in an amazing school with wonderful people. I love my job! I don't remember a whole lot about my first year, but those "kids" that I taught are all adults now. I've heard about some of the amazing things that they are doing now, and hopefully I was a small part of what brought them to where they are today. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Don't forget to join us each week all summer long as we share our Teacher Tidbits. The schedule is below so you can join along if you like, just add the hashtag #teachertidbittuesday so we can find you!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448665513409590545noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215650199777635532.post-20259539567574244012018-06-05T06:04:00.001-07:002018-06-05T06:04:16.742-07:00Teacher Tidbit Tuesday: A Little About Me!<br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today is the first in a series of blogs that I will be completing all summer long. Together with some of my favorite teachers, I'll be sharing some "Teacher Tidbits" each week on Tuesday! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today's topic is All About Me. I recently did a post sharing about my teacher life, so I thought use this post to tell you a little bit more about me outside of school. So here are 10 random facts about me!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1. I'm a mom! I have 3 children: Benjamin is 8, Brett is 5, and my daughter Riley is 3. I love having the summer off each year to be home with them! It's part of the reason I went into teaching. I knew I'd be able to have a job that I loved and also have time at home each summer with my family.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">2. I have a shopping addiction. It's like therapy for me! I really love seasonal sections in the stores. I love looking at all the cute decor items. Since I started flexible seating in my classroom, I'm always on the hunt for new seating options in my classroom. I like creating a "homey" feeling in my classroom. My favorite stores are Target, Home Goods, Hobby Lobby, and Gap. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3. I could eat pizza every day. Chicago has some of the best pizza in the country! There are so many different pizza places around our home, it's different every time. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">4. I love Disney. I just think there is something so magical about it. It makes me feel like a kid. I love watching the movies with my kids, and seeing them experience the parks and the magic is so special to me. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">5. My teacher Instagram account has made a huge difference in my teaching. Instagram opened me up to a whole new type of teacher pd. I love seeing what other teachers are doing in their classrooms, and making those ideas work for me. If you don't already follow teachers on Instagram, you need to it right now!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">6. I have a husband that is an amazing cook (and he cleans!) I like to cook too, so it's something fun we can do together. He loves finding new recipes to make his own. I'm a lucky girl!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">7. I was born in Germany. My parents met in the Army. We moved to the U.S. before I was old enough to remember anything. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">8. I once tried out for Wheel of Fortune. I was really good at solving the puzzles quickly. I made it through several rounds of try-outs, but didn't end up making it on the show. I haven't watched the show since. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">9. I'm a Scholastic Teacher Advisor this year. I was selected (as 1 of 16 teachers) by Scholastic to take a trip to their office in New York to share my thoughts on their company and what they do for teachers. It was an incredible opportunity that came about because of Instagram. I applied through a post they had put out, and was accepted. I will continue to work with them throughout the 2018-2019 school year. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">10. I love reading YA books. I know that I need to read them in order to be current with what my students are reading, but I also enjoy reading them. They are easier and quicker reading for me, which is good because with three children I don't have a whole lot of time to read to myself. My goal for this summer is to finish all of the books on the Rebecca Caudill list for 2019. I'll also probably sneak in an adult book or two and a new PD book. Any suggestions??</span></div>
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<span style="color: #8e7cc3; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Below are a list of our topics for Teacher Tidbit Tuesday. Feel free to join us and use the hashtag #teachertidbittuesday so we can all find your posts! Don't forget to follow my blog with your email so you don't miss any of our fun posts!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448665513409590545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215650199777635532.post-59410500901923948842018-05-17T15:47:00.000-07:002018-05-17T15:47:14.441-07:00My Flexible Seating Journey<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a teacher, I've always had a few "comfy chairs" in my classroom for students to use during silent reading time. Of course the students were always fighting over who was able to sit in these chairs, and over the years I used a variety of systems to make sure it was fair for everyone. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then, when I started hearing about the idea of flexible seating in the classroom a couple years ago I was interested. I decided to add a few extra seating options to my classroom last school year. I still had a desk for every student, but I also had 2 disc chairs, 2 bouncy chairs (for the students that could use them properly,) a tall pub style table with stools, and some small tables with floor pillows. Every single day I would get the question, "Can we work around the room?" The students LOVED it! They enjoyed being able to find a comfortable place to sit and work. It was great for small group work and independent work alike. And, if a student wasn't working I was able to send them back to their desk as a consequence. It was wonderful! My principal came in for my observation and saw the kids in action. They were fully engaged and showed her how that they were actively working in a whole new way. She loved it and supported my idea to further pursue a flexible seating classroom.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Table from Amazon, Stools from Ikea</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNnvNDrI0h3QuGGUwS34L6ix0S4CK_yzYbDFewBSsxFp4FzsGJl5L6TwZIoAUuvsmuuq7a8BzRHJ2j7IFdlD1Oizua67NQfNkgNlOFtTRsxqfJwQbcpYUk4Do-Z2hx8bcPdD9d9Cbf1w/s1600/20180517_171814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1076" data-original-width="1076" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiNnvNDrI0h3QuGGUwS34L6ix0S4CK_yzYbDFewBSsxFp4FzsGJl5L6TwZIoAUuvsmuuq7a8BzRHJ2j7IFdlD1Oizua67NQfNkgNlOFtTRsxqfJwQbcpYUk4Do-Z2hx8bcPdD9d9Cbf1w/s320/20180517_171814.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Square Tables from Ikea, Pink Pillows from HomeGoods</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrudC4mnsyB_Qf5UaWXgwtPapZKr0p-h-ZLBM0KYEO0NOe3aNIBvYO1ZFMK9RHAYLGNJD8pNulYXLCo82hqxfhsr2ADfnEN22sZFM_grB1nOTlW7FuHHqhZ9smNLYdkWMsLItVriU048/s1600/20180517_171801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtrudC4mnsyB_Qf5UaWXgwtPapZKr0p-h-ZLBM0KYEO0NOe3aNIBvYO1ZFMK9RHAYLGNJD8pNulYXLCo82hqxfhsr2ADfnEN22sZFM_grB1nOTlW7FuHHqhZ9smNLYdkWMsLItVriU048/s320/20180517_171801.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This school year I started with around 10-12 desks, 2 tables with wobble stools, and 2 chairs from Ikea, a small couch (and the options I had already added the previous year.) When the parents came for school supply drop off, many of them commented about how different the classroom was from a traditional classroom. However, they were all very supportive and excited about the idea for their children. The students were all incredibly excited when they saw their new classroom!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stools from Office Depot, Table and Couch from Ikea</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEk4wSfQlsSlY7UgdNSDKj1IaWgqcpwvaY96RfMQQybmNF50G-sNu3MFvqxidyzbWySuKHa5xWSpeHLGWTHKRm-OTlbkp54YUoHzFTg-S4rcabF4x-PUtS4Im3nUAd-dmRXt924XiGfc/s1600/20180517_172307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1080" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEk4wSfQlsSlY7UgdNSDKj1IaWgqcpwvaY96RfMQQybmNF50G-sNu3MFvqxidyzbWySuKHa5xWSpeHLGWTHKRm-OTlbkp54YUoHzFTg-S4rcabF4x-PUtS4Im3nUAd-dmRXt924XiGfc/s320/20180517_172307.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lawn Chairs from Ikea</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTtb4mlk0G-tWUA1Iav8Xa1lISDGZWTT1pZyZbQo6gae8ZF-WzNvEMuZy4_62gSo22i6T5DWLFlR7HvOsmI774cPSa_AbWXyNnHbJsUAhy-QuC6CNMpVpYsr9e6tkfw30fT30sDAovrQ/s1600/20180517_172318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSTtb4mlk0G-tWUA1Iav8Xa1lISDGZWTT1pZyZbQo6gae8ZF-WzNvEMuZy4_62gSo22i6T5DWLFlR7HvOsmI774cPSa_AbWXyNnHbJsUAhy-QuC6CNMpVpYsr9e6tkfw30fT30sDAovrQ/s320/20180517_172318.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Shelf and Book Shelves from Ikea</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the beginning of the year, I knew I would need to have some organizational plans in place to make sure the students all had a place to store all of their materials. I bought a book box for every student to store all of their notebooks, folders, paper, etc. Each student also brought in a plastic shoe box to hold all of their art supplies. The textbooks were all stored in the classroom. This system worked for most students. There were a few that still struggled to keep organized, so I gave them each a desk to store their materials in, even if they weren't sitting at the desk. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JebMMNtu7UKblWf-WxGvB35evCD6fxfku61w8lNtan2skVfn1Prm23lu44hhPjhhGDOG_i_y-G01rMnq-s4BsjK62t8mh6_PpaTVxEz1i8juZ4prBQm0ZhesGvhQZg-Z1tMc-ZQo3vU/s1600/20180517_172421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1079" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JebMMNtu7UKblWf-WxGvB35evCD6fxfku61w8lNtan2skVfn1Prm23lu44hhPjhhGDOG_i_y-G01rMnq-s4BsjK62t8mh6_PpaTVxEz1i8juZ4prBQm0ZhesGvhQZg-Z1tMc-ZQo3vU/s320/20180517_172421.jpg" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Book Boxes are Magazine Boxes from Ikea</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also needed to set some ground rules on how students would choose their seats (How often do we change seats? Can I sit anywhere I want?) I let the students be a part of this decision making process since it was new to all of us. We tried many different options throughout the school year. We finally decided that switching seats once a week was what worked best for us (with a few rules about how often you could choose the same seat, etc.)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think that having the students help create the rules for how we use our seating options really gave them some ownership of the classroom. They would debate the options and explain their reasons why they believed their ideas were best. This improved our classroom community. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the school year, we started to rearrange some of the classroom and added a few new chairs. The students decided we didn't need as many desks, so we are now down to only 8 desks. (This is nice for the students that still prefer a desk or students that aren't demonstrating that they can handle their seating choice on a particular day.) </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XAw97SyCgeiSHeCZ0iOWsOYSS5Q9syz6I4IUASzT_7wYfedrWL25J8sc0b5Ak1KOze9EnDb2ddVD86C3xuZMpU6fB-9PTmwnARNm_bNSUFAs-pR8zCdLd1kYk70ieFlsrsIuqinehEc/s1600/20180517_174057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2XAw97SyCgeiSHeCZ0iOWsOYSS5Q9syz6I4IUASzT_7wYfedrWL25J8sc0b5Ak1KOze9EnDb2ddVD86C3xuZMpU6fB-9PTmwnARNm_bNSUFAs-pR8zCdLd1kYk70ieFlsrsIuqinehEc/s320/20180517_174057.jpg" width="315" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chairs from Kohl's</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love having a flexible seating classroom. I think is such an amazing benefit for my students. Please feel free to share your questions!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Melissa </span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448665513409590545noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6215650199777635532.post-13766206132004506262018-05-16T15:19:00.000-07:002018-05-16T15:19:27.010-07:00A Little About Me!<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Welcome!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought I'd share a little about myself in this very first post on my new blog! I'm just finishing my 17th year teaching 5th grade! I've taught in the same school for my entire career, and I love it! The community that I work in, and the kids are so wonderful. I love finding fun ways to motivate my students. I enjoy using room transformations and unique lessons to motivate. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #741b47;">I am also a flexible seating teacher. I think that my students really do learn best when they are comfortable in their environment. I have several different seating options in my classroom, including desks for the students that want them. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Reading is my passion. I love to read, and I work very hard to instill a life-long love for reading in all of my students. You can see a little glimpse of my classroom library in the picture above. I also have a few other shelves in other areas of the classroom. Students need to have access to lots of books in order to give them a wide variety of choice in what they read. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I enjoy sharing about my classroom and teacher life on my Instagram account @5th_is_my_favorite so be sure to check it out! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I hope you've enjoyed reading a little bit about me, and will continue with me on this new journey of blogging about my teaching life!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Melissa</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16448665513409590545noreply@blogger.com2