Last Day Blues

The end of the school year is such a bittersweet feeling. I know I'm going to sob like a little baby when my 5th graders leave, but I am so excited for what the summer has in store for me (and others!). Our last day is May 22 - only four and half more days! Absolutely bonkers.

Here are few activities I have tried to wrap up the year with my kids.  These ideas aren't groundbreaking by any means, but a fun way to maintain classroom community throughout the last few days.

Last Day Blues

Have you heard of the popular first day book, First Day Jitters? Well, Last Day Blues it the companion book to read on the last day of school.  It just arrived on my doorstep from Amazon a few days ago, and I can't wait to read it aloud. My last science rotations are tomorrow, so I'll be reading this to two different classes tomorrow. I'll keep a set of tissues on hand. 

Memory Books

I have students fill out memory books describing their height, age, favorite foods, friends, and favorite funny moments from the year. We had fun reminiscing about the year as we completed memory books today. Email me and I'll send you a copy of mine to edit on your own!

Mystery Person

I created a grid with 28 squares. Inside each square I wrote a clue about each student and a few teachers. Then, the students have to figure out which student's name belongs in each box.  This was a fun activity for me, because I got to pick out something unique about each student. Plus, it's remarkably easy because by now I know these kids sooo well! Tomorrow, we will have fun trying to identify who the mystery person in each box is. 

Word Searches

Using the oh-so-wonderful website, www.puzzlemaker.com, I plugged all of my kid's names into a word search. Today I heard the following sentences SHOUTED across the room:

"WHERE AM I!? I can't find me!"

"Sal, I found you!"

From an outsider's perspective, it sounded like a weird game of paper hide and go seek. Very enjoyable!

What kinds of activities do you do at the end of the year?

Happy Tuesday!

Authentic Writing!

Once upon a time, I wanted to a be a big wig journalist. Quicky, I realized I wasn't cut out for the field of journalism. I barely made it a semester in college, the only "journalism" aspect that stuck with me was my trusty Mac computer. This weekend, my trusty Mac came to my rescue after movie maker failed me. I'm getting ahead of myself.

As an end of the year writing project, I wanted my students to engage in an authentic writing task. I wanted them to create a product for a purpose. So! That's exactly what we did. My students had the task of creating How To videos for the upcoming 5th graders. These How To videos were to give advice on how to survive 5th grade.

Click here to purchase on TpT!

We started as a whole group and brainstormed what information was necessary at the beginning of 5th grade.  As a group, we came up with several bits of information that is important for 5th graders to know. Over the next couple days, small groups of students worked together to come up with a topic and began brainstorming. Groups were instructed to fill out a template (with supplies and step by step directions) to get the ball rolling for their videos. 

Our topics are:

How to Tackle the MAP Test

How to Organize Your Binder

How to Be a Role Model

How to Survive DARE

How to Survive Fractions

Next, we jumped into storyboards and scripts. This was so fun! The students came up with scripts on their own that included humor, costumes, props, and advice! I did have to guide a few groups in a different direction and encourage them to actually SAY the advice they wrote about. Once we got over that hump, we started practicing practicing practicing. 

Once we practiced a gazillion (yes, that's a word) times, we started filming. This was so fun! I wish I could make a blooper reel of all the funny outtakes. My little actors are made for the stage! Although.. I did have to remind them often, that laughing at their own jokes wasn't necessary. I said this line continuously, "You WROTE the jokes, you know they are funny! Don't laugh at them!!" Nonetheless, we made it through.. several... several..several takes. 

Click here to purchase my How To Writing kit on Teachers Pay Teachers! Or you can email me and I'll send it to you for free! :)

We were on a roll, filming everyday and just as I thought this project was going to be a major success - we ran into a little hiccup or two. Apparently, Windows Movie Maker hates Flip cameras and me. Yes, I'm at the point where I'm taking this personally. Let me break this down for you-
Plan A: Edit the clips in Movie Maker and publish to SchoolTube.com
Plan B: Edit the clips in Picassa and publish to Schooltube.com

......did either of these work? No. Keep chugging along!
Plan C, D, E, F: Install new converting software on my computer and edit the clips

Did this work? ALMOST! But no.

Plan W: Load all of the clips on my home computer and edit them at home and publish to SchoolTube.com

Did this work? YES! YES! It worked! God Bless iMovie and my trusty 'ol Mac!

All of my students signed a consent form to have their video published online and viola! You have the final products. Enjoy! Try not to learn too much now! Check out the rest on School Tube. Click the title for the link to the video.

How to Tackle the MAP Test

How to Organize Your Binder

How to Survive DARE

How to Survive Fractions

Nonfiction Matters!

I'll let you in on a little secret about me. I absolutely love teaching nonfiction. I'll let you in on a second secret about me, I didn't really have any feelings towards nonfiction until last year. My action research project for my Masters program revolved solely around the importance of nonfiction in the elementary classroom. After reading gobs and gobs (gobs x 100) of research on nonficion, I quickly grew to love it.

After our Jaguar unit, I wanted to dip into nonfiction a bit. So, guess what? We did. Have you heard of Stephanie Harvey? Most of you probably have, you may even own this book --

Well, I used Harvey's book Nonfiction Matters to develop a little quick review on nonfiction for my kids. Here's an overview of what we did.

Day one: Anchor Chart! Woot woot. I love anchor charts too. We answered the age old question, "Why do we read nonfiction?"According to Harvey, here are some stellar reasons WHY we actually read nonfiction:

Yes, I spelled acquire wrong. Whoops!

Day Two: We tackled those pesky expository text structures. Harvey suggested using an example of "goosebumps" for each text structure. As a class, we created a foldable and labeled each type of text structure. Then, inside the flap, students wrote down and illustrated an example of the text structure with goosebumps. Make sense? Not quite? Okay, let me back up.

For example, one expository text structure is cause and effect. We wrote the follow example:
"The temperature dropped to 45 degrees. I got goosebumps." This is an example of cause and effect. Harvey lists an example of each structure relating it back to goosebumps. It was an excellent illustration of the different ways nonfiction can be written.

NEXT time, I would like to start the year off with this activity. First, we can identify WHY we read nonfiction and the various text structures. Then, the next day, compare reading nonfiction to fiction! We can answer the question of why we read fiction and compare how fiction stories are set up much differently. I'm getting all tingly on the inside just thinking about it. Stop me before I get too nerdy.

Sounds like I've got a week planned for the fall!

What exciting nonfiction lessons do you do with your kiddos?

Hangin' in Brazil with Jaguars

We just wrapped up our literature study on Roland Smith's Jaguar and it was a BLAST! Not only were my students captivated by the story, but they engaged in meaningful discussions about the story. It was an awesome two weeks!

To begin our lit study, I started with a mini lesson on using post it notes. We brainstormed different ways we can use post it notes while reading chapter books. After coming up with a vast list (connections, questions, predictions, etc.), we decided (with my influence) to write a summary after each chapter.

Along with the story, I distributed a packet of comprehension questions and strategies. Each day, or every other day, had a different focus. For example, the first day we discussed questioning. As a group, we brainstormed questions prior to reading Jaguar. Then, I sent them on their merry way. The next day, I had small groups read the assigned chapters and determine story elements. After small groups had time to collaborate, we met together as a group and shared our ideas.

The discussion parts of the day were my favorite! Since I was reading the story with my kids, I was just as into the mystery and drama as they were. Some were begging to read more!! 

Throughout the two weeks, I had students read in small groups, in partners, independently, and I read chapters outloud. I definitely saved the last three chapters as a read aloud. It was so fun to participate WITH my students in the excitement. 

Thanks to my awesome high school teacher friend, Kelley, she helped me with ideas to make my kids "think outside the box". To wrap up our literature study, I gave my kids two different tasks. First, they had to dig deep into character analysis and write a haiku on Jacob, free verse poem about Taw, or create a comic strip detailing Jacob and Doc's relationship. I will admit, they struggled with the comic strip. This is something I would like to try again with a different approach.

As a final task, students were asked to create a new book jacket for Roland Smith's story, Jaguar. Inside the book jacket would contain a summary of the story and a mini bio on Roland Smith (an author my kids have grown to love!!) We can all thank my sweet friend Kelley for this idea as well. :)

I look forward to doing more literature studies similar to this one next year. Have you completed in any lit studies in your room? What types of activities and/or tasks do you assign to your students?

I posted this unit on my TpT account, but if you email me.. I'll send it to you for free! :)

Happy Monday, folks!

Life Lately Link Up

Happy Monday, friends! I can't believe it's the middle of April. April is the best month because of (my favorite season) spring and so many birthdays to celebrate.

I'm linking up with The Weekend File and giving you the scoop on my life lately.

I've become mildly obsessed with the game "Draw Something". I'm not an artist by any means, but I sure do love trying to illustrate wacky things like this here cyclops! Definitely one of my finest.

Call me Picaso.

I made my very first layered cake for a little birthday that happens to be today! I used the classic and well-loved Funfetti recipe and it was enjoyed by many this weekend! Plus, the cake got to hang out on my fancy dollar store cake stand that I blogged about here.

Practice Makes Perfect!

Over the weekend, I was invited to attend Opening Weekend of the STL Cardinals! As you may know from here, that baseball has never been my thing, but holy cow! The game was absolutely incredible. I loved every minute of it!

Plus, I got a sweet new ring. :)

Since the weather has been so beautiful, I've been taking advantage of the roads around me and going on walks everyday. Who wouldn't want to have this view everyday?

Life is just splendid. I hope yours is just as grand!

One Smart Cookie!

I was feeling a little creative today and decided to make another fun motivational card for my kids. I'm always telling my students how brilliant they are (because they are!), so why not give them a little card to make them smile? You can check out my Smart Cookie printable on my brand-spankin' new TpT account! Click here to check it out. My crafting addiction got the best of me, and I knew I needed more money in the bank to support my habits.

To check out the rest of my brand neeeew profile, click below! 

Happy Thursday!

A Newly Converted Baseball Fan

I've never really been a baseball fan. Now, before you throw darts at me... hear me out! Okay, I admit it, I don't have a great reason for not liking baseball. I just never really got into it. Sorry! Sorry! I've seen the light, I'm a changed woman.

Now, I've turned over a new leaf and vowed to enjoy baseball. I am pretty excited about this! Especially since I was invited to attend Opening Day festivities this weekend for the Cardinals! Lucky me, huh? I took my first step as a Cardinals fan and bought a new t-shirt and tonight I took step numero dos. I dipped a batch of oreos into almond bark and made the ugliest looking cookie baseballs, ever.

I love baking and trying out new things, but I'm certainly not a culinary artist. If a chef walked into my house right now, they would slap me silly for torturing these poor cookies. I've never preached "perfect" or "beautiful" with anything I cook, so this was just another cooking day for me! The uglier the better I say.

Keep in mind, I only photographed the decent ones.

I surrendered to the icing and failed to put the extra lace on the baseballs.

Icing you win this round! I'll conquer you next time. (Maybe. Let's be honest, probably not.)