tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86313612173483649042024-03-13T12:17:58.833-07:00Miss Fuerst's Reading AdventuresJennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08911134810583740655noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631361217348364904.post-42542696956564853572014-07-03T11:58:00.000-07:002014-07-03T11:58:52.381-07:00Choice Words Ch. 1<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I started rereading <u>Choice Words</u> by Peter H. Johnston. The teachers from my school did a book study on this book a couple years ago, but I lacked the gumption to get up early and participate fully. However, this book has been sitting on my shelf and a colleague recently read Johnston's other book about language, <u>Opening Minds</u>. This inspired me to revisit <u>Choice Words</u>. I am barely into the book, however, and I'm thinking about the student-teacher exchange on page 4. The teacher starts by saying, "You said, 'I will to my friend, the car driver.' Does this word look like <i>will</i>?" Then the student responds, the teacher says something back, and they have a thoughtful conversation. In my experience, I will begin to say, "You said, 'I wi-...'" and my student cuts me off saying, "OH! WAVE! I MEANT WAVE!" Or sometimes, they will self-correct with another incorrect word, and keep guessing and I'm not able to have this conversation at all. It's like these kiddos have been questioned to the point that now they think they've done something wrong and are blurting out guesses just hoping to be right. I want my students to be able to listen to my questions and not automatically assume that I'm pointing out a mistake. I guess in the first example I gave above, with them self-correcting with the correct word, I could expand the conversation by asking, "How did you figure that out?" or "How do you know it's 'wave'?" In other instances when the student just blurts out guesses (usually my strugglers), I remind the student to slow down and thing about what I'm asking and what would make sense in the sentence/paragraph/story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does anyone else struggle with this? </span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08911134810583740655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631361217348364904.post-19520696823074645052013-07-30T10:10:00.000-07:002013-07-30T10:10:28.963-07:00Morning Work<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I've been thinking a lot about my plans for Morning Work this year. Our bell welcomes children to come into the school building at 8:15. Some students come straight to the classroom, but many students go to breakfast. I'm sure these are similar issues many teachers are dealing with. The kiddos who go to breakfast can come in as late as 8:40ish. So the earliest we can get started in our classroom is about 8:45. There's about half of an hour during which most students have the opportunity to participate in Morning Work. I want this time to be meaningful, but it can't be something that is required for everybody or required to be turned in. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During the first month-ish of school, we do coloring and following directions activities. We use a set of coloring pages about a funny monster named Zeebo and his family. The kids LOVE Zeebo, and they can't wait to learn about the next member of his family. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After we're through with the Zeebo papers, I thought about doing a weekly routine. This is what I've been thinking:</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monday - Picture of the Day journaling</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tuesday - Time for Kids</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday - Wonder Wednesday</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thursday - Scholastic Weekly News</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Friday - Boggle</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">MONDAY - When I did Picture of the Day before, I would pick one of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Picture_of_the_day/Archive" target="_blank">Wikipedia's Picture of the Day</a>, and have the students journal about it. I made an anchor chart with sentence starters like "I see..." "I notice..." "This reminds me of..." "In my opinion..." There are plenty of pictures to choose from, but I know that National Geographic also does a <a href="http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-of-the-day/bonobo-congo-ziegler/" target="_blank">Photo of the Day</a>. I usually put this on a Mimio or SMART Notebook slide and it's on the board when the kids enter the room. It's fun to hear their "Ooohs" and "Aaahhs" for some of these gorgeous photographs. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">TUESDAY - Our school did a Time Magazine fundraiser of sorts, and we are getting Time for Kids for free this year! I'm really excited to try it because our grade has gotten Scholastic News for years, and we've wondered about switching to Time for Kids, but couldn't get a free trial to try it. I can't wait to see what this news magazine has to offer! Although the students will take home their copy of that weeks magazine, I will keep a copy in a basket as an option for them to put in their Book Bags for Read to Self/Someone.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WEDNESDAY - I'm going to have a Wonder from <a href="http://wonderopolis.org/">Wonderopolis.org</a> projected onto the board as the kiddos come in, and have them follow something similar to what WonderPhillips does in her <a href="http://wonderingthrough2012.blogspot.com/2012/04/wonder-journals.html" target="_blank">Wonder Journals</a>. I also plan to print out the Wonder articles using <a href="http://www.printfriendly.com/" target="_blank">Print Friendly</a> to have the kids read as a group. And I'll put one in a plastic page protectors for the student's Book Bags. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">THURSDAY - I LOVE Scholastic News. I love that it comes with Common Core aligned graphic organizers. The interactive white board games and videos are perfect! Again, the kids will take home their copies, and I'll keep a copy in a basket for their Book Bags. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">FRIDAY - This is the one I'm most nervous about. Is Boggle too hard for 2nd graders? I got my ideas from <a href="http://www.missmartinsclassroom.com/2013/07/classroom-boggle-board-and-freebie.html" target="_blank">Miss Martin's Classroom</a>. I'm so appreciative that she has examples of Boggle boards that are teacher tested (no accidental naughty words)! AND she uses Scrabble letters so that students can practice addition with words they create. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I can't wait to try all of these with my second graders. What do you guys think? Does anyone do Boggle with their early elementary kiddos? </span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08911134810583740655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631361217348364904.post-44531106689064050692013-06-20T17:45:00.002-07:002013-06-20T17:45:17.729-07:00Dealing with common issues<div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am teaching at Camp Invention again this year. If you haven't heard of <a href="http://www.campinvention.org/" target="_blank">Camp Invention</a>, check it out! It's a really cool science camp for incoming 1st thru 6th graders. The kiddos get to take part in some guided science discovery "classes," and they get to do I CAN INVENT/TAKE APART in which they bring in some old electronic device (donated items are anything from computer hard drives to scanners to VCRs to motorized toys) and they get to completely take it apart. That seems to be everyone's favorite part. Later in the week, the children use parts and pieces from their device along with other recyclable items to create something completely new. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm really lucky because I started by being a counselor for Camp Invention when I was still in high school. As soon as I got my teaching license, I was able to be one of the class leaders/teachers! This year, I am teaching the <a href="http://www.campinvention.org/teachersDiscover.aspx" target="_blank">Ecoverse</a> class in which the students learn all about the different elements of the earth (fire, sky, water, and earth) and participate in different team building exercises. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At the same time, I am reading <u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Tattling-Defiance-Approaches-Classroom-Behaviors/dp/1892989549/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1371520043&sr=8-1&keywords=teasing+tattling+and+defiance" target="_blank">Teasing, Tattling, Defiance and More...</a></u> by Margaret Berry Wilson. It is part of the Responsive Classroom library (surprising, right?). This is also on the heels of listening to <a href="http://drmelrose.com/" target="_blank">Dr. Reggie Melrose</a> speak, mind you. It's all about being proactive and intentional in teaching kids how to be social beings. I love Wilson's book because she gives you the developmental reasons kids may be behaving the way the are, gives you ways to proactively teach desired behaviors, and gives ideas of how to react when the undesired behaviors happen. The author doesn't simply say, "If you are proactive, these behaviors will never happen." This author lives in the real world of teaching and she KNOWS there are slip-ups. There are a multitude of scenarios and ideas to help teachers help struggling children. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay so back to Camp Invention: I'm reading this book in the evenings and I brought it to camp to read during lunch. I got back together with the group of counselors and teachers before my next class, and boy, did I get an ear full about the next group I was going to have, and wow, did I really have to watch out for little Johnny (name changed for confidentiality) in particular! He had already stolen items from one class, completely disregarded instructions in another, and crawled into an ice cream freezer during lunch. "Good luck with that one!" they told me. "He's definitely something!" Instantly I start searching for the director. I'm wondering if he's autistic or diagnosed as something. As I reflect on this, I ask myself if it really matters. Do I need an ODD diagnosis? Will this change how I work with this child? Obviously, if there is some kind of insight it could help teachers/counselors out, but he's still a kid. He needs something. It was our job to figure out what it was. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, just having read one of the chapters in my book, I approached this boy, and I say the following sentence: "I noticed you climbed into the ice cream freezer. What happened?" HAHA! Seriously? It sounded so ridiculous. But, this language often works in breaking the ice and getting real answers. And he told me: "I just wanted to be alone in a dark, quiet space." Wow. Okay. So was he overwhelmed with the volume of lunch? Did he need opportunities to work independently? Was he in sensory overload? </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When he arrived in my class toward the end of the day, he sat by himself far away from the other groups of children. He started fidgeting with the technology I was using to present my information. I decided to give him a job to steer him away from "messing anything up." He thrived. He needed a purpose, which is one of the things <u>Teasing, Tattling, Defiance and More</u> tells us misbehaving children are striving for. He then proceeded to "take over" the technology and demonstrate ev-er-y-thing I was modeling under the ELMO. But, whatever. The kid was no longer having a meltdown and was actually participating.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel like reading this book and listening to Dr. Reggie Melrose helped me connect with this kiddo helping him enjoy camp. These resources have changed the way I could have reacted to this boy, and in turn, changed his behavior and possibly his outlook on this camp that would be going on for another 4 days.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have you ever had an "aha" moment when you were least expecting it? </span></div>
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Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08911134810583740655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631361217348364904.post-450403917608436732013-05-26T15:58:00.003-07:002013-05-26T15:58:58.944-07:00I'm baaaaaaack!<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wow. It's almost been a year since I last posted. I definitely did NOT achieve my goal of keeping up with my blog over the school year. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">School is out already, and I'll be taking up my summer tasks of professional development once again! </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am signed up for multiple professional development opportunities this summer including Common Core Math, SMART Notebook, Google Docs, Tech Tools, Handwriting Without Tears, and an ELA opportunity hosted by my school district. I am also going to be helping my grade level team write some assessments in addition to teaching at a week-long Science Camp. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My goals for reading this summer are to learn more about <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Guided-Math-Framework-Mathematics-Instruction/dp/1425805345" target="_blank">Guided Math</a> and <a href="http://www.stenhouse.com/shop/pc/viewprd.asp?idProduct=9282&r=" target="_blank">Math Work Stations</a>. Some first grade teachers in my building are trying it, so I'd like to see how it works and if I can make it work in my classroom. I also want to revisit my favorite books, including <u>The First Six Weeks of School</u>. I actually purchased The <u>First Six Weeks of School</u> for a brand new teacher joining our 2nd grade team. I'm hoping she finds it as useful as I did and do! I also want to finish <u>Teasing, Tattling, Defiance and More... Positive Approaches to 10 Common Classroom Behaviors</u> (part of the Responsive Classroom model).</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just saw Dr. Reggie Melrose speak for the second time, and she never fails to inspire and impress. I will be reading her book <u>Why Students Underachieve</u>. She deserves a whole post devoted to her work, so keep an eye out!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What are your goals for this summer?</span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08911134810583740655noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631361217348364904.post-18435345162978052042012-07-30T16:21:00.000-07:002012-07-30T16:21:13.055-07:00My Pleasure<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have to admit, I have not read the entire book, <u>The First Days of School</u> by Harry & Rosemary Wong. But the Drs. Wong say that you don't need to. They suggest you use it as car owner's manual -- and that's what I usually do. For the past three years, I've skipped around in this book and have come away with some really valuable knowledge. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of these pieces are:</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The Three Characteristics of an Effective Teacher</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An effective teacher...</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. has positive expectations for student success.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. is an extremely good classroom manager.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. knows how to design lessons for student mastery." (pg 9)</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My goal is to be that effective teacher... sometimes I feel like I'm close to meeting my goal, and sometimes (especially in the beginning of a new year), I'm not so sure. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Drs. Wong also express the importance of greeting your students at the door to welcome them to a new day of learning. This is something that I feel like I'm GREAT at doing... for maybe the first quarter. I want to make sure I am at the door every morning this year! I love seeing their smiling faces as they see me each morning. It absolutely sets a positive tone for the day! ... Except for one thing - when they RUN down the hall at you. I hate starting the day with, "Go back and walk!" It will be a little different this year because I am going to be the last classroom in the hall, so I won't be telling students in other classes to, "go back and walk," it'll just be my own students. I'd like to make sure I say, "Good morning, Johnny. I'm so glad you're here. Go back and walk. Thank you." That way, I'm greeting him/her in a friendly manner, but they still practice walking to the classroom door. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having your name, room number, grade level and short message of welcome is also important on the first day. I was able to write my own letter of welcome to families that will be sent out on August 1st. In it, I told my students how to find my room. It was easy because I'm the last classroom on the right, but I told them the color of tiles outside the door, too. Hopefully, this will set my students up for success upon finding their classroom on the first day of school. </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I also LOVE how the Drs. Wong are sure to say "Thank you" after giving directions. This is something that was covered in one of my college courses as well. I find it to be effective when you do not wish to have the student argue or complain. You just give the direction and say "thank you." -- I will try to do this more this year. I will also try to include it on written directions as well. It's definitely a nice touch and leaves no room for unwanted feedback LOL!</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I just skimmed the entire book, and I can't find this page, but I'm almost positive this came from <u>The First Days of School</u>. Maybe it is in a newer edition?</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the other major points I've taken from this book is how to respond to "Thank you." Instead of saying "you're welcome" or "no problem," a person should respond with "my pleasure." What a difference! "No problem" totally negates what you did. "My pleasure" has such a nice ring to it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How long has it been since you've read <u>The First Days of School</u>? What are your favorite things you've learned from this book?</span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08911134810583740655noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631361217348364904.post-4742152879799162212012-07-30T14:21:00.003-07:002012-07-30T14:25:38.424-07:00Awards!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you so much to Joell at <a href="http://totally-terrific-teaching.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Totally Terrific Teaching</a> for giving me this award -- my first one! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3HQGLWdT7_dIaBrvuGLupKMj7Vvq51apuX-TcItQozk-ByQ9Au3XWlfIjmnrQkcqTQL2mqMQeFGEmF1iaod8qD-1V5O0-yPHo_hHP7217GdpugeiVC8_X27M2XWSHS_k3k9meYpkUBc/s1600/Liebster+Blog.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3HQGLWdT7_dIaBrvuGLupKMj7Vvq51apuX-TcItQozk-ByQ9Au3XWlfIjmnrQkcqTQL2mqMQeFGEmF1iaod8qD-1V5O0-yPHo_hHP7217GdpugeiVC8_X27M2XWSHS_k3k9meYpkUBc/s1600/Liebster+Blog.png" /></span></a></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liebster Blog Award Rules:</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">This award highlights blogs that have under 200 followers. </span><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Here are the rules: </span><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">1. Copy and paste this award on your blog. </span><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">2. Thank the giver and link back to them. </span><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">3. Reveal 5 other bloggers and let them know by commenting on their blog.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">My five:</span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">1. Mrs. Lilly at <a href="http://www.leapingintofirstgrade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Leaping Into First Grade</a></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Lucia at <a href="http://fortheloveoftandc.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">For the Love of Teaching and Crafts</a></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Rebby at <a href="http://classroomcompulsion.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Classroom Compulsion</a></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Mrs. Thiering at <a href="http://thefrizzinfirstgrade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Friz in First Grade</a></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. Kayelyn at <a href="http://ksiverhus.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Miss Siverhus</a></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've also been given The Versatile Blogger award by Angela at <a href="http://hippohoorayforsecondgrade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Hippo Hooray for Second Grade!</a> Thank you so much, Angela!</span><br />
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<b><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here are the rules for the Versatile Blogger Award:</span></b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Thank the blogger who nominated you</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Include a link to their blog</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Include the award image in your post</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Give seven random facts about yourself</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. Nominate 15 other bloggers for the award</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6. When nominating, include a link to their blog</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7. Let other bloggers know they've been nominated</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Seven Random Facts about ME :)</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. My favorite color is LIME GREEN! That's why my theme is frogs... </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. I am obsessed with Dr Pepper, and it drives me crazy that at restaurants they ask, "Is root beer okay?" when I ask if they have Dr Pepper. A simple "no" would be fine.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. I love Boxers! I have two puppies named Brody and Bentley, and they are both unusual. Brody is all white. Usually, white boxers are deaf and/or blind, but Brody is neither. He DOES, however, have allergy issues. Bentley is so dark, he's almost black. Boxers are traditionally fawn (light brown) or brindle (striped).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. I just bought my first house and it is hard work! LOL!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">5. I commuted to college for three and a half years out of four. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">7. I had an AMAZING student teaching experience, and I still keep in contact with my cooperating teacher. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As for the 15 other bloggers, I would like to give it to the first 15 commenters on this blog post who haven't already received the award! So comment away!</span></div>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08911134810583740655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631361217348364904.post-11774403932626997822012-07-25T17:49:00.000-07:002012-07-25T17:49:18.435-07:00Gradual Release of Responsibility<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am close to 15 pages into <u>Reading with Meaning</u> by Debbie Miller, and I've already had some pretty big "aha" moments. The main one is changing how I look at the Gradual Release of Responsibility model.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I used to have a print-out of this behind my desk:</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>1. I do, you watch.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #e69138; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>2. I do, you help.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #f1c232; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>3. You do, I help.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>4. You do, I watch.</b></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I loved this. AND it fell so nicely into my weekly lesson plan:</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monday - I do, you watch.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tuesday - I do, you help.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wednesday - You do, I help.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thursday - You do, I watch.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Friday - Assessment of what you do.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After seeing Debbie Miller at the Springboro Literacy Conference, and reading the first pages, I will be changing the way I teach strategies, AND the way I look at this model.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In her book, Debbie talks about taking 6 to 8 weeks to teach a strategy. I was taking one. WHAT WAS I THINKING? I was teaching many, many different strategies throughout the year using my one-week release of responsibility lesson outline. After listening to Debbie, Steph Harvey, and Cris Tovani at the conference and reading this book, I have definitely changed the way I will teach the strategies and the time I will take to do so.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Debbie takes David Pearson's steps, and outlines them like this:</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1. Teacher modeling and explanation of a strategy.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2. Guided practice, where teachers gradually give students more responsibility for task completion.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3. Independent practice accomplished by feedback.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4. Application of the strategy in real reading situations.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How did I get such a butchered, simplistic version of this? There are no short-cuts! </span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Miller pointed out that Pearson never meant for the release model to be done in exactly this order, every single time. There should be a catch and release of the model -- possibly all in one day, not a systematic escalation, day-by-day throughout one week. It should be an artistic dance throughout the day, week, and unit of teaching.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How do you use the Gradual Release of Responsibility in your classroom?</span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08911134810583740655noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631361217348364904.post-66110434489789112022012-07-24T10:37:00.005-07:002012-07-24T11:19:20.025-07:00First Time Blog Hop<span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">1. Ohio</span><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">2. 2nd grade General Education</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">3. Title I Reading Intervention - 1 year</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"> 3rd Grade Language Arts and Social Studies - 1 year</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;"> This is my second year teaching second grade :)</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">4. I started blogging at the end of June 2012</span></div><div><span style="font-family:verdana;color:#000099;">5. Search for beautiful FREE blog templates... like mine from <a href="http://leelou-blogs.com/">Leelou Blogs</a> :)</span></div><br /><br /><script src="http://www.linkytools.com/thumbnail_linky_include.aspx?id=154838" type="text/javascript" ></script>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08911134810583740655noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631361217348364904.post-35183531081015360442012-07-22T12:09:00.001-07:002012-07-22T12:09:46.105-07:00Back to School Books & Activities<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Okay, so I have taken the suggested schedule in <u>The First Six Weeks of School</u> and modified it to what I'd like to do. I found some awesome ideas using one of my favorite books, <u>Chrysanthemum</u>, on <a href="http://fun-n-first.blogspot.com/2011/07/back-to-school-2nd-3rd-day.html" target="_blank">Crazy for First Grade</a>. Depending on food allergies, I'd really like to do the Friendship Fruit Salad. I have a hard time slowing down in the middle of the school year and doing fun activities like that, so I'd really like to do one in the beginning of the year. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Some of the books that are available at my library (the wonderful <a href="http://www.lebanonlibrary.org/" target="_blank">Lebanon Public Library</a>) and would be great for the first few days of school are:</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>Listen, Buddy</u></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>Chrysanthemum</u></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>Lunch Bunnies</u></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>Amelia Bedelia's First Day of School</u></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>Hooway for Wodney Wat</u></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>First Day Jitters</u></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u>I Don't Want to go Back to School</u></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Are there any first day, must-reads you love? </span></span></span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08911134810583740655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631361217348364904.post-45856026114592249302012-07-20T21:59:00.000-07:002012-07-20T21:59:04.556-07:00Read Aloud Books<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't know about all of you, but I don't enjoy reading the same book twice... And that includes my chapter book read-alouds to my students. I ALWAYS read a part of a chapter book after lunch to my students. I don't stop and ask questions. My kids just sit back and enjoy an ongoing adventure. When I taught third grade, I read <u>Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH</u>, <u>Tale of Despereaux</u>, <u>Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle</u>, <u>The City of Ember</u>, and <u>The People of Sparks</u>. I can't remember the other ones. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last year, to my second graders, I read <u>The Doll People</u>, <u>The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane</u>, <u>The Magician's Elephant</u>, <u>The Absent Author</u>, <u>My Father's Dragon</u>, <u>The Fairy Tale Detectives</u>, and more that I cannot remember right now. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now don't get me wrong. Some books were so enjoyable, they could be repeated - <u>My Father's Dragon</u>. Others were perfect because it introduced the class to a series - <u>The Absent Author</u>. But I LOVE the feeling of discovering the book's secrets WITH my students. For example, in <u>The Absent Author</u>, I'll never be able to discover the author's identity again. I feel like it was so authentic when I was just as surprised as my students. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I always let my students vote between two books I'd like to read... Sneaky. I know. LOL! </span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since I can't sleep (toooooo many Dr Peppers), I have researched some books that I would like to read... to my students. Here is list I came up with:</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>The Land of Stories: The Wishing Spell</u> (by Glee's Chris Colfer)</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>The Egypt Game</u> (I LOVED this book when I read it myself in 5th grade)</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Flat Stanley</u> (believe it or not, I've not read this yet)</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Miss Daisy is Crazy</u></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>A Mouse Called Wolf</u></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Toys Go Out</u></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Finn Family Mommintroll</u></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Clementine</u> (I had this -and <u>Gooney Bird Greene</u>) available for my students, but they NEVER voted for it)</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>The Dragon of Doom</u></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Evangeline Mudd</u></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Drooling and Dangerous</u> (looks like a parody of the Wright Bros.)</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Gooney Bird Greene</u></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>How to Save Your Tail</u></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>Moxy Maxwell Does Not Love Stuart Little</u></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do any of you have a similar problem reading the same books year after year? Or are the books just THAT good, that you LOVE to read them many times? What books are must-reads in your classrooms? Have you found new books that you love?</span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08911134810583740655noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631361217348364904.post-1036264854926833792012-07-17T14:42:00.001-07:002012-07-17T14:42:12.836-07:00The First Six Weeks of School<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I LOVE the Responsive Classroom approach. </span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My curriculum director</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> was kind enough to send me to Responsive Classroom I AND Responsive Classroom II in Columbus. </span><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">RC is a week-long institute during which you are able to work with grade-level colleagues. An RC professional teaches you certain concepts and allows you to put yourself in the place of the student who is learning in an RC environment. During RC I, we focused on Morning Meeting, Take a Break, and Interactive Modeling. During RC II, we learned about Guided Discovery, Teacher Language, and Academic Choice.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I feel like I have purchased nearly all of the books published by the NEFC (Northeast Foundation for Children, Inc.), but that's only because they have so many valuable resources -- For example, <u>The First Six Weeks of School</u> by Paula Denton and Roxann Kriete. I love how they focus on community-building and modeling appropriate behavior BEFORE getting into the academics. It really lays the foundation of expectations and allows for more seamless teaching for the rest of the year.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have used the Responsive Classroom for two years, and I have seen that it works. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Anyway, I'll hop off my soap box now, and focus on what I really wanted to write about for this blog entry: <u>The First Six Weeks of School</u>. This book is a must-have for first year teachers and a wonderful gift for veterans. It's an easy read because you don't have to go through the book word-for-word, cover-to-cover. For example, I just need the Primary Grade (K-2) chapters. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Today, I started off reading Week One for the Primary Grades (K-2). They give a wonderful overview of what week one should look like across the grade levels. Then, it lays out a sample schedule of what it should look like in the primary grades - even going so far as to add the names of games and songs that are included in the appendix. After the sample schedule, the authors talk about, in detail, the different parts of your day - from what Morning Meeting looks like in week one to guided discovery of basic school supplies. You might be thinking (much like I was when I first learned about Interactive Modeling and Guided Discovery), "Second graders already know how to use a pencil and crayons." And you're right... to a certain extent. Kids have (hopefully) been using pencils and crayons for YEARS. However, they haven't used them in YOUR room under YOUR expectations. Maybe you prefer that they keep their crayons in their cubby, but last year's teacher wanted crayons kept in desks. This is your opportunity to set your expectations of how students should retrieve, use, and put away basic school supplies. You might also think, "Pencil sharpeners are self-explanatory. You just put the pencil in." Then, in October, your kids are driving you crazy telling you the sharpener is jammed, the shavings collector is full, or that their pencil just won't sharpen. These things could be avoided if the students are trained how to use the sharpener in the first place. These first six weeks of school is exactly the time for these discovery times. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I would like to follow this Sample Schedule a little more closely this year. I tend to just "jump into" Morning Meeting and end up cutting various components to fit my schedule. One thing I have been learning about the Common Core Standards is that it requires students be able to speak (or write) wisely on a variety of topics. I am also finding that certain (usually low-income) students have very little conversational experiences at home. So why was I cutting the "Sharing" aspect of Morning Meeting? Students need to be able to communicate with one another intelligently, and these skills aren't always taught and learned at home. Morning Meeting is a perfect time to teach and hone these skills. Including shared readings of poems and songs also encourage literacy skills that are taught throughout the day. Why not incorporate them into Morning Meeting? </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Establishing rules and routines of when to become silent and how to ask to go to the restroom are crucial. I love using a music wand chime to call for silence and attention. It sure beats raising my voice or crossing a room to turn out the lights. I learned from my student teaching cooperating teacher an awesome bathroom signal. When I am not teaching, students go to where the passes hang, choose the appropriate pass (boy or girl), lift it and wait for my signal. I nod or shake my head. If I nod, the student places the pass on their desk and goes to the restroom. This works so well because no words are exchanged. Also, if I'm wondering where Johnny is, I will see the pass on his desk, and know right away where he has gone. Something I noticed, however, is that certain students used the restroom as an avoidance of things they didn't like. For example, I had a student who HATED writing. I did everything I (and my colleagues) knew to help him, but he still wanted to avoid writing. Also, when students got "bored" during Read to Self, they would try using the restroom, and then their friend would watch closely to see when they got back and were ready to meet them at the door to hold up the pass. This is something I will be working to correct this year, but the original bathroom pass routine works well and my students pick it up quickly because of Interactive Modeling. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Lastly, allowing students to illustrate their hopes and dreams for the year is something I have skipped. I really think that I lost something valuable because I didn't do it. Students are able to think about the coming months of school and decide what they most want to accomplish. I've always done a brainstorm, but this year, I hope to have them draw the picture AND write a sentence explaining their hopes and dreams. TA-DA! Built-in writing assessment for the beginning of school!</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I realize this has been a long post, but what are some of the things you do during the first week of school? </span></span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08911134810583740655noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631361217348364904.post-76289075027453960642012-07-16T13:00:00.000-07:002012-07-16T13:00:00.372-07:00SimpleK12's FREE Webinars<span style="color: blue;">WOW! Two posts in one day? Yes, ma'am! </span><div>
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<span style="color: blue;">I just attended two of SimpleK12's free Webinars. The first one was about vocabulary and the second was about integrating technology and kinesthetics AT THE SAME TIME.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">The vocabulary webinar highlighted <a href="http://quizlet.com/">Quizlet.com</a>. At this free site, you are able to create custom vocabulary lists and have your students study and play games online. You can track your student's progress (if they have accounts), print flashcards, embed the games on your classroom website, and test spelling skills. Something else that is kind of cool is that students can access your vocab lists on their iPod or iPad. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">This might be something I will use. I'm not sure yet. The presenter included other, similar sites that might be more appropriate for younger students. This included </span><a href="http://spellingcity.com/" style="background-color: white;">SpellingCity.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;"> (with which I am familiar) and </span><a href="http://wordia.com/" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Wordia</a><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">. Wordia is new to me, but has many different games and activities. I'll have to look into it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">The tech and kinesthetics webinar was FANTASTIC. Our presenter was from Honduras and works with high school students. Many of the things he said and suggested would be for high school, exclusively, for the use of Smart Phones (QR Codes, access to Twitter during school hours, etc). However, many of the members of the webinar gave great ideas for use in the primary grades. One thing Jose (our presenter) suggested was adding icons in a PowerPoint/Mimio/SMARTBoard presentation that give students the signal to do something physical every time they see it. For example, there were icons for "jump," "hug someone and tell them they matter," "send a message" (could be a Tweet OR a handwritten note), "change seats," and "share a thought or idea." I use Mimio almost exclusively in my classroom, and would love to add these icons to get my students moving. A member suggested playing 4 Corners as a game where each corner represented a different answer to a multiple choice question. I LOVE <a href="http://www.brainpopjr.com/" target="_blank">BrainPopJr</a>. and my kids LOVE taking the quizzes at the end of the videos. This would be a perfect physical activity during these times. Jose also suggested giving students the option of solving a problem you give the class OR choosing to do a physical activity. Not sure how this would work, but I think the members were saying this would be a great option for questions that have no right or wrong answer. Jose reminded us that neither the technology nor the physical activity is the focus of the lesson. That SEEMS like a "common sense" comment, but it's a nice reminder.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Finally, and I'm pretty sure this was very unintentional by Jose, but I learned so much about </span><a href="http://tweetchat.com/" style="background-color: white;">TweetChat.com</a><span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">. Previously, I had no idea how people followed conversations for #edchat or #2ndchat or any other chat. DUH! There had to be an easier way than what I was thinking. Lo and behold, there is! TweetChat. I LOVED it. I can't wait to participate in more chats.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.simplek12.com/" target="_blank">SimpleK12</a> has so many FREE <a href="http://community.simplek12.com/scripts/student/webinars/" target="_blank">webinars</a>... They're worth a look. I learned a lot in my two, half-hour sessions. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue;">Just a thought :)</span></div>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08911134810583740655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631361217348364904.post-75661836211980205662012-07-16T09:53:00.000-07:002012-07-16T09:53:25.433-07:00Time to Buckle Down!<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now that my house warming party is over, I can concentrate on school stuff! I am obviously frequenting <a href="http://pinterest.com/jennateaches/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>; <a href="http://www.classroomfreebies.com/" target="_blank">Classroom Freebies</a>; <a href="http://www.classroomfreebiestoo.com/" target="_blank">Classroom Freebies, Too</a>; and many other websites. I am in the middle of too many books to list! I feel like I really need to focus and buckle down. We can get back into our building on August 1, and since I'm moving to a new classroom, I will be a busy, busy lady! I have about two and a half weeks to read, read, read! I want to read the <u>The First Six Weeks of School</u> again, <u>The First Days of School</u>, <u>The Morning Meeting Book</u>, <u>Growing Readers</u>, <u>Reading with Meaning</u>, <u>Of Primary Importance</u>, AND look over my Responsive Classroom I and II resource books again. A daunting task, I know... I guess I better get started.</span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What books and websites are helping you?</span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08911134810583740655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8631361217348364904.post-70907483891503700972012-06-29T19:11:00.003-07:002012-06-29T19:12:07.428-07:00Learn With Me!<span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hello! My name is Miss Jenna Fuerst, and I am a 2nd grade teacher at Madison Elementary in Middletown, Ohio. My wonderful Curriculum Director has sent me to so many professional development workshops and conferences, and I have created this blog to keep track of and make note of books I am reading and things I am learning. Mostly, it's just so that I can put my thoughts into words, but if you'd like to learn and read along with me, that would be wonderful! I'd love to hear (read) your thoughts as well! </span>Jennahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08911134810583740655noreply@blogger.com0