It's Time for Guided Reading….HELP!

  

 I struggled with guided reading for more years than I care to mention. I went to one inservice after another trying to find one that gave me the whole picture. Instead, I got pieces, pieces that just didn't fit together. I shared my frustration with other teachers, and was not surprised that they felt the same way. It was totally through trial (and much error) that I finally knew I had it right. It's SO much easier when you finally reach that sweet spot!

    To help other teachers who are struggling like I was, or for old pros who just want more ideas, I have a freebie, terrific videos and a useful website to help you out. The best advice I can give is to just keep reaching, looking, reading, and experimenting. When you least expect it, everything will fall into place.

    The freebie has one worksheet page for each reading level grades 1-5 to use with your guided reading groups. I know in my class there were usually at least four (five- six!!) reading levels represented. I've included just two of the pages of the freebie in the pictures below. I hope it is helpful for you. Click on the picture to get your freebie!

If you would like a great Pinterest board just full of Guided reading, reading workshop, and just plain great reading ideas, check out this site called "Guided Reading (and More) Ideas and resources

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I don't know about you, but I think seeing guided reading being taught is often better than reading about it. Here are a few great guided reading videos that are particularly helpful.

This first one is about guided reading teaching in general. A question is asked, then answered about how to do guided reading. Although this is a second grade class, it is applicable to all elementary grades.

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This video is actually a guided reading training video. Very Helpful! What I REALLY like about this video, is it also shows what the rest of the class is doing!

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This site is from WatchKnowLearn and has a number of videos looking at each part of guided reading. If you are just starting out, or are an old pro there is lots to learn on this site.

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This video is guided reading in a third grade classroom. Really helpful to those just getting started with guided reading. 

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This is a great video on how to improve reading comprehension and is directed at students. It's especially fun for upper elementary students

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This is a great site with terrific information on setting up guided reading groups, and how to run them.

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If you are just starting guided reading, or have been doing it for years, this resource is full of information, forms, and 100 student worksheets that will boost your guided reading program!

HELP! I'm Sick!

We've all had those mornings. You wake up feeling like death has tapped you on the shoulder. Sniffing, headache, every muscle hurts. What's that? You don't have lesson plans? Then pull yourself out of bed, sister! You've got to get to school to make those plans. Maybe, if you're lucky, you'll live long enough to make it home again.

Make your life soooo much easier by having a day's worth of plans already done for those "Oh good grief" mornings.  So, what do you need?

1. Your general sub folder with procedures, students to depend on, and the specials schedule
2. Two or three math activities that are more projects than worksheets (that uses up a nice chuck of time for the sub).
3. Two to three worksheets/activities that can be used with a book. Be sure to pick a short book the sub can read to the class. Depending on your class and the time of year, group projects work great for this!
4. Look on Google to find a great project for gifted kids. Many of them take a lot of time (thinking of the sub here) and all kids enjoy them.
5. Leave a list of time fillers, in case they are needed….they will be!

Ok, you have activities, but how about behavior?

My biggest fear with a sub is always behavior.  Will they scare her off? Will someone have a melt-down because she does something a different way?  Having enough well thought out activities certainly helps, but there's a few things every teacher can do to help ensure (as much as is possible) that everyone ends the day with their mental health in tact.  Some ideas are:

1.  Well before you need a sub, talk about behavior you expect if you can't be at school.  Help students roll play different situations.  For example, they walk in and a different teacher is at your desk.  What do they do?  How do they behave?

2.  Ask the sub to talk with the students about their normal routine and expected behavior.  Taking five to ten minutes to do this before the day begins gives the students ownership over a situation in which some kids may feel is out of their control. 

3.  Every class has a reward or two that they love.  My kids always like to either have an extra ten minutes at recess, or come back to the room at lunch to watch a Bill Nye episode. (dinner and a movie)  Tell students that they will all receive their favorite reward if the report from the sub is a good one.  Yes, it's a bit of bribery, but I just don't have a problem with a little bribery now and again.  

4. As you prepare your students for a sub, do some roll playing on what it is like to be a sub.  They are coming into a class of people they don't know, a schedule they aren't familiar with, and teaching subjects they may be unfamiliar with.  Help students have some empathy for the sub, and that empathy might just carry over to other situations.  It never hurts to see things through another's eyes.

To make it a little easier, I've included one fun activity to use with any book you wish to add with your plans. Click on the link below the picture!

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If you want to make creating your emergency plans a little easier, I have a resource with everything done for you. All you have to do is add a few supplies.

We the People

Knowing how our government works is SO important for kids to know! They need to know not only how it works, but how they can make their own voices heard! It's what being a citizen is all about! In fact, when public education was started in our country, one of the main goals was to prepare students to be citizens.  My goal has always been to make government a little more fun with lots of roll playing, and fun activities.

To help out a bit, I am including a fun freebie here to help you in your government study, plus some great links! Hope your kids enjoy them! Click on the link below the picture to pick it up in google.drive

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This site from iCivics is perfect for older students. The games are more involved and make kids really think! Perfect for stations, or to play as a class together...discuss while you play. Includes crisis of nations, Do I have a right? and Bill of Rights Edition.

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All the goodies you need to teach government are right here, including the Declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, Constitution of the U.S. and more! It includes the background of the document, a kids version and SO much more! This is an amazing resource!

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Want some great games/website on government? Check these out!

Government Jeopardy (AWESOME) 

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My favorite is Ben's Guide for Kids..Totally love this one!

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SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK just can't be beat.  This one is called: School House Rock, Government, No More Kings

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This one is really good for older students!

What is a Constitution?

This one is FULL of great information on branches of government, the Constitution and Elections!

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Check out my government resources below, all taught through the eyes of the Government Fairy!

Hook Your Reader!

Getting kids to start their writing with an interesting "hook" is vital to good writing! I always start with just three of the tried and true hooks, a quote, surprising fact, or a question. (see the anchor chart below). There's many more, but this is a good place to start without overwhelming kids. Once they have the basic three down, add more!

What's a Hook?  It's something that "hooks" your reader's attention and makes them want to keep reading. When teaching hooks pull some of your class's favorite books and look at those first paragraphs. Discuss what makes them great. Get a copy of "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" by Barbara Robinson. The first sentence in the books says, "The Herdmans were the worst kids in the history of the world!".  How can you ever put that book down???

What are some of the primary "hooks" writers use?

1. Use a quote: It can be a literary quote, a quote from a famous person or even a quote from your favorite TV program or store. "There's nothing to fear, but fear itself."
2. Start with a question. This method is very easy for younger students to use. "Why did he go into the haunted house?"
3. Start with an exciting scene or event. The explaination can always come later, but the exciting event will make readers want to keep reading.
4. Use an surprising fact or statistic.
5. Start with a very short (no more than five words) interesting sentence. For example, "He thought it would explode."
6. Start with a metaphor or simile. "He knew he was in a pickle! Now what could he do?"
7. Use onomatopoeia, for example, "Crash!"
8. Use an interjection, for example, "Stop"!
9. Dialogue, sometimes the conversation between two people, or the person's thinking to himself can be a very compelling hook.
10. An interesting anecdote. "It was my first dive into the ocean. Little did I know what was about to happen!"

Need a good idea to help students learn the different "hooks"?  Ask students to take their favorite fairy tale and rewrite the first sentence of that fairy tale using the hooks above.  Students of any age would love this! To make it even more fun, do it in groups!! It would look something like this:

The three bears:
1. (question) What do you think would happen if a human girl broke into a bear's house?
2. (Metaphor/simile) Goldilocks knew she was in a pickle! It had started so innocently!
3. (dialogue) "I shouldn't, I really shouldn't go into the bear's house. They're not even home. I really, really shouldn't, but I will!"
Etc.


The following anchor chart is a good one to start students into thinking about how to hook their reader. Using only three techniques at first makes it easier for younger students to concentrate on exactly what they should do.

How about terrific writing prompts to get those writing juices flowing? This site has LOTS!

Happy writing!

Get Common Core writing worksheets that will help your students grow and improve their writing abilities.  Click on the covers below!

Lost in Grammar Wonderland!

Lost in Wonderland, that's what grammar can feel like for kids, (and adults!). I'm always looking for easy and fun ways to help kids reinforce skills that need lots, and lots of practice. I found some terrific games (below) that should help, plus I have a couple of freebies for adjectives and adverbs (click on the link below the pictures). One is for second grade (primarily), and one is for third (again, primarily). With the different requirements in different states, you just never know what a particular grade's needs are. In any event, I hope they help you out!

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Need some games?

Great grammar games are on this site, including this one called Verb Viper and Word Invation.

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You can't go wrong with Grammar Gorillas!

Grammar Gorillas

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The kids have to be FAST to catch the words with this game, but it is fun! Plus it's one of the things on Brain Pop that is free! (Always a plus!)

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Don't miss Grammar Ninja! Great sound and wonderful practice.

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If you are interested in a fun language resource on adjectives and adverbs, check out "Adjectives and Adverbs Worksheets, Task Cards and More" (Alice in Wonderland Theme) 

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Get a terrific grammar resource that uses Alice and her friends as its theme. For 2nd and 3rd graders. Click on the cover below:

Valentine Resources for Your Classroom!

I just love Valentine's Day! It's one of the low-key holidays that just makes people happy! I'd like to make you happy with a math freebie and a few links for Valentine fun. First the freebie!

My freebie is three "quick math" sheets that have four problems per page for third grade, or review for fourth grade. It's a great way to give a quick check-up, or math practice to your students. They're great to use when kids come in first thing in the morning too. Just click on the link below the pictures to get your copy!

                    

If you need some Valentine Videos, check out these links:

Pete the Cat is a big favorite!  This read-aloud is great for calming down that Valentine party, or for anytime during the week.

Olivia the pig: Puppy Love Valentines Day special is another fun video to calm down those holiday wiggles.

This is a great site for worksheets for any grade level, this link is just for Valentine goodies! You do need to sign up, but it's free and they have TONS of stuff for teachers!
Valentine Worksheets from Education.com

Need a couple of fun and easy games for Valentine's Day fun? Check this out!
Third Grade Valentine Games

  Want more great freebies? You can find February Freebies Galore on Corkboard Connections! Just click on the link below the picture and enjoy!

February Freebies at Corkboard Connections: Click Here

Be sure to visit my store for other freebies and resources to make teaching SO much easier!