The Theater Is Open!

Last month, we opened the theater in our classroom. I inherited an old "puppet show" theater from a retired teacher. It is large enough for 2 or 3 kids to stand behind. It needed to new curtains, so I broke out the sewing machine to fix that problem. I fell in love with the summer weight corduroy fabric that matched the curtains in my room (with opposite colors).

Welcome to our theater!

 
 We introduced the "theater" by using the Readers Theater Partner Plays for Young Learners by my friend, Kristin,  from A Teeny Tiny Teacher.  I LOVE her plays and so do my students! They are super easy to use. You can click on the image below to go to her Tpt store if you want to buy a set. I'm secretly hoping she will make a fairy tale set next. 

I'm gearin' up for a weekend full of soccer games and birthday parties! Happy Friday!

Guess Who I Met?!?!?

Two weeks ago, 3 moms (one of them was me) and 5 ten year olds (one of them was my daughter) went to Detroit to see Taylor Swift with 55,000 other folks.  
I'm not much of a concert person.  Why?  I'm 4 feet 11 inches short.
The view of everyone's back is free at church. :)
But, I went and there she was...

It was fun.  The performance was impressive, the view not so much.
Luckily, the jumbo screen was hanging high enough right 
in front of our seats 
that I could take this picture of the screen 
that looks a little like a normal person's view
 minus all the backs that I see.

And then...

Forget about Taylor Swift...

Last Friday was truly my lucky day! 
I met Kim Adsit!!
She didn't sing Trouble and she wasn't wearing red, 
but she is definitely my kind of rockstar!

 I attended Kim Adsit's presentation DI for the Little Guy (Differentiated Instruction).

Kim is a retired teacher, co-author of Kindergals, 
full time presenter for SDE

 and a soon to be grandma. 
 If she is presenting anywhere near you, I highly recommend 
that you jump at the chance to hear her speak. 
 It was an truly an honor to meet her.

 Here is the proof that I met her. 

She was nice enough to take her heels off and I kept my super tall sandals on... 

so we could be in the same photo.  

I learned so much from Kim's presentation. I also filled up my Tpt shopping cart with several of her products.  Kim presented about what I consider to be the perfect balance of guided reading and reader's workshop for lower elementary classrooms.  I've attended several presentations about reader's workshop and read several books with very different philosophies.  In my mind, reader's workshop and guided reading time are two very separate things with different goals in the lower elementary classrooms.  If I'm doing a good job during reader's workshop time, then I can reinforce those skills/concepts during guided reading time.  In a perfect world, the things my students learn in reader's workshop will help them during their guided reading time, but my guided reading time is not replaced by the presence of a reader's workshop model in my classroom.  

Kim's presentation was also full of reminders that it is possible to teach the common core standards, differentiate for each learner and continue to use the fun things that motivate our little ones to learn.  In the past five years, I've been feeling like I need to hang a banner outside my door that says "Yes, this hula hoop vowel game matches one of the standards!"  No one is really questioning me, but I feel an increasing pressure to defend things that I know are developmentally appropriate for my first graders.

Head over to check out the giveaway on Kim's blog.

 

I can't wait to try out some of her reader's workshop units next year!  Thank you, Kim!  Happy summer to you!

Last day for the Sale!

Today is the last day for the Teacher Appreciation Sale in my Tpt store!  

You can use the code TAD13 for extra savings!

 If I had to choose my favorite thing to teach, it would definitely be reading. 

 Here are a few of my favorite things to help me teach reading.

Right after I visit the virtual checkout with my own loaded shopping cart, 

I'm headed to Ma Spa at my son's school!

 

Every Teacher Appreciates a Sale

We're celebrating teacher appreciation day/week by having a sale!  

 You can use the code TAD13 for extra savings!

Here are some of my math related products.

Common Core Monster Math

Doghouse Doubles Addition Game

Spring Math Journals

(I also have a fall and winter set.)

I also have several freebies related to math in my Tpt store.  

Please consider following  my store if you see something you like.

 

Teacher Appreciation Sale!

I'm probably not supposed to be buying myself presents, but...

I'll be celebrating teacher appreciation week by filling my Tpt shopping cart! 

 I'm also hosting a teacher appreciation sale in my Tpt store!

You can use the code TAD13 for extra savings!

Here are a few things you may want to check out in my store...

My best seller...Animal Research Book

Camp Read a Lot (Classroom Campout Fun!) - a ton of fun for the end of the year or anytime

Get Ready for Summer Writing and Drawing Activities

(fun things to do with your students in the last few weeks of school)

Summer Reading and Writing Practice for Home

Need a packet full of things to send home with your students

 to keep them reading and writing this summer?  Here it is!

Memory Book

(Your students can use this product to make their own memory book 

to take home at the end of the year.)

I hope you'll stop by to look, shop and/or follow my store!

 

Mother's Day Book

How did mother's day sneak up on me?  Oy... 

 I am really lucky. My class is full of amazing mothers and they are also incredibly supportive in terms of volunteering or sending things we need for the classroom. This week, each of my students will make a little book to give to their mom. We will also be making a crafty gift to go with the book, but I have not decided what to make yet. I'm kind of bored with the projects I've done in the past.

Here is my little book, in case you want to check it out in my Tpt store. It's quick and easy to accomplish. (I'll be joining the big teacher appreciation sale on May 7 and May 8 ...so all of my products will be on sale then.)

 
Anyone have any good ideas for a crafty gift for moms or perhaps a pinterest board full of mother's day ideas?  I really need to figure that out...

Hope ya'll are having beautiful weather like we are in Michigan!

Currently - May

Seriously, can it be May already?

 It's time for Farley's (Oh Boy, 4th Grade) Currently.

An explanation of my summer bucket list...

Stain the mantel - My fabulous husband made me a mantel and built in bookshelves for each side of the fireplace for my birthday.  That was in November.  We've been waiting for the weather to get warm enough, so we can work on staining it in the garage.  It's time. :)

Lose 15lbs - Well, just in case I don't accomplish that before our last day of school in June...I could work on it over the summer.  At this point, I'd be happy subtracting 2 lbs from my tubby total.  I will turn 40 in November.  I'm not at all worried about turning 40, but choosing between eating like a bird and not fitting in my pants is rather annoying.

RELAX - That is my OLW and I've been a big loser in the relaxing department.  Next year, remind me to pick something I'm really good at like "worry", "organize", "talk".

Throw away classroom junk!  I can't be the only teacher who has at least a few cupboards and/or drawers that they have not opened or used anything out of ALL YEAR.  My rule is that I have not used it in 2 years, it goes in the trash.  Just need to find time to put it there.  And...luckily one of my best teacher friends across the hall has hoarding tendencies, so my trash never gets full while I'm throwing everything in.  Love ya, friend!

Can't wait to read all about what everyone else is doing!  Go visit Farley to link up/read/join the fun!