Civil Rights Read Alouds

We have been digging into some great texts during our unit on Civil Rights.  Here are the highlights!

This text is great for focusing on RL3. Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.

As we read we wrote down what we noticed about the main character's traits and supported our thinking with evidence from the text.

 We watched this video to build background knowledge and assess SL2. It's also a great text to teach point of view and character traits.  Click the pics below to download a formative assessment to go with this read aloud, or pull in a primary document by looking at a real Green Book!

 

This is a great text for RL7 acknowledging differences in the points of view of characters.  This great interactive is perfect for understanding different points of view

Techie Tuesday

Ten Marks Shout Out

This year I have been working really hard on guided math in my room.  I give quick weekly pre-assessments and make my small groups based on what the kids need.  I also have stations that include games, journals, fluency practice, and technology.  

I recently started using the site Ten Marks for my technology station, and I. Am. In. Love.  

Not only does it allow you to give your students assignments based on the CCSS, and track their progress.  It also has built in video lessons your students can use if they need help!  

I mean I'm just sayin', if there's a teacher that can pop up on the computer and help my kids if they have a question or are confused about a math problem, I'm in.  For sure.

If you haven't heard about his great online program that is free, that's right, F-R-E-E, then you need to check it out right now.

Going Batty over STEM

We have been road tripping it through Georgia, and our latest stop in the Piedmont region led us to investigate bats. 

Our STEM project for this unit was to design a bat house.  After we researched bats and read Lucy's story, we had some questions ya'll. You know, the I-know-my-teacher-is-talking-but-I-have-burning-questions-that-are-causing-me-to-scrunch-up-my-face-and-wave-my-hands-like-I'm-trying-to-help-a-plane-land type of questions. You know what I'm talkin' about.  We. Had. Questions.  And isn't that really what it's all about?  So we got busy with the design process.

And then we got to work!

We used cereal boxes, pipe cleaners, and graph paper (to represent chicken wire) to design our prototypes.  My kiddos worked in collaborative groups to come up with their design based on research we had done as a class.  It was a great way to put the engineering design process to work!

Rollin' Down the River

We are studying Georgia Rivers, so of course we are going to get wet...and dirty.  What fun would learning be if things didn't get a little messy?

We started our unit by drawing our own map using How to Draw Georgia's Sights and Symbols from the A Kid's Guide to Drawing America series.  This text was the perfect way to integrate some of the Reading Informational standards into our unit!  Click on the picture to find your state.

Today we added the rivers and then we talked about how a river is formed.  We read Follow that Water from the Brook to Ocean.

And then it was time to get down and dirty!

I assigned each person in the group a job, and they got busy 
creating,

observing,

hypothesizing,

thinking,

and don't forget the best part...getting messy!

Now - I'm off to find a broom.  If you like to make a mess click to grab the freebie below...but keep the broom handy!

Aw, Nuts!

Oh. My. Goodness.  I am SO proud of Mr. Bubblegum (a.k.a. Rob McClurkan)!  It seems like forever ago that he started working on this idea for a book of his very own...and HERE IT IS!  Just in time for fall.  Of course we took a family field trip to Barnes & Nobles so we could all stand and stare.  There it was right in the front.  With other books.  It was a moment.  One I'll never forget.  There is just like next level excitement going on around here, and I just had to tell all my friends!

He came and read the story to my kiddos (perks of being the author's wife ;) and they loved it!  I know your kids will too, so check it out!  Click on the picture to grab a copy.

Watch Squirrel's adventure begin...

Road Trip!

Pack your bags, and join us on our road trip!  We have been taking a "tour" of Georgia as we learn about the regions of our great state.  For each region, we have integrated literature based on the animals of the area.  

Check out the books we have used to help us "travel" through each region.

Technology Toolbox

This week I'm sharing some tools I've found that are helping me get rid of my paper piles.  

Today let's tackle the homework pile.  

Are you tired of getting piles of crumpled, coffee stained papers each day?  
Do you long for a desk that is free from straggling homework that didn't make it in on time?   
Then let me introduce you to... 

If you haven't heard of it you are in for a treat.

The kids love it because it lets them choose an avatar, chat with their friends on the class wall, and earn badges and rewards.  

I love it because it is aligned with the CCSS, grades their work, monitors their progress, and sends me a report! (what's not to love?)  

There are many more features to check out so scoot on over and take a look.  Oh, and did I mention that it's FREE!  There are premium features but the free account is amazing.  

Your kiddos can download the ScootPad App to use on their devices and if you are all fancy schmancy like Mrs. Wills you can use them on your classroom iPads!