Classroom Happenings

Phew! I really have been meaning to post more freqently but it is just that time where EVERYTHING (grades, benchmark tests, meetings, in-services, bus duty, etc.) all come at the exact same time. I feel like I was lucky to have my plans ready for this week ;)

Anyways, I don't usually do 'themes' in my classroom, but I decided for this month to give it a try. Last week we spent a lot of time talking about New Years.

We used Cara Carroll's Happy New Year pack to review some important skills and had a blast!

During math centers, we practiced our math facts and determining if a sum was more than, less than or greater than 12.

One of our word work stations this week was practicing ABC order as well.

We also reviewed parts of a letter by writing letters about our resolutions for 2013, thanks to Primary Paradise.

And we practiced comparing and contrasting by reading various books about New Year's.

It has been a busy first week back from break. Check back to see what we are up to this week!

Data, anyone?!

Data. There is that word that seems to loom over us all year. Don't get me wrong, I completely believe in gathering, tracking, and assessing data but at times it does get overwhelming. I don't know how many of you are using AIMS Web, but that is what we use to progress monitor our students throughout the year. However, Val has found this amazing site that you can use for *FREE* to collect data on your students.

This website was designed to be used as part of an RTI model. It has benchmarking and progress monitoring assessments for both reading and math, grades K-8. For example, in reading, you can download various measures in letter names, letter sounds, phoneme segmenting, word reading fluency, passage reading fluency and multiple choice reading comprehension. Individual and group reports can be generated and printed.

If you are looking for a way to collect and track data this is a site worth checking out!

2013 and Janurary Currently

We are looking forward to exciting things in 2013. 2012 was pretty crazy for the two of us, both personally and professionally. On top of it, this past summer we decided to start up this little blog of ours and sell some items on TpT. We even got a few crazy people to follow our ramblings! It was nice to get our feet wet without stressing over what we had to get done or rather what we didn't get done.

This year however, we are ready to make TwoTackyTeachers into something bigger and better. We hope to blog more frequently, continue to create items for our kiddos, take more pictures of the happenings in our classrooms and connect with all of you fellow (and fabulous!) bloggers out there. 

So, to start the new year off right, we are linking up with Farley over at Oh Boy 4th Grade for this month's edition of Currently.

I am absolutely in love with that quote I found. It makes me realize how many little things I take for granted each day. I am *truly* blessed.

Today is Wednesday...I have not gone into school and finished cleaning up the distaster I left there on the last day before break. I do not have lesson plans, copies made or my newsletter ready. I keep telling myself I WILL be ready on Monday!

I have to admit- I was hesitant to read The Hunger Games series. It really did not sound like something I would like reading even though everyone raves about the books. Now, I'm hooked! I made the hubs go and rent the first movie as soon as I finished the first book. So far, I can't put down the second book either!

Finally.....FAITH. I know I can speak for both of us when we say we want to have more faith in 2013. Faith in oursleves, faith in finding the good in everything and faith that His plan for each of our lives is far better than any plans we think we have for our lives.

Here's to wishing you all a fabulous 2013!  

In Honor and Remembrance

Sparkle Statements!

Who doesn’t LOVE glitter!?  Haha… Ok so I don’t like the cleanup either but I just love how it makes things so much more colorful! We were working on creating “sparkle statements” this week as a part of our unit on RESPECT.  It was one of four lessons on our character trait “respect.”  Students had a blast thinking of respectful statements to put inside their shapes.  They couldn’t wait to make their statement “shine” by tracing it with glitter glue!  Students were so proud to present their respectful statements to the class.  Check out a couple below!

            

As part of this monthly unit we also read the book Show Some Respect by Anastasia Suen, and The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry
                    

Both of these trade books are great at showing how to respect others and the environment!

This is just one quick glimpse into this character trait/bullying pack which is a best seller in our store.  It consists of an entire year’s worth of lessons!  You can check it out at our TPT store!  
                    Have a great rest of your week!

Inferencing

Do your kiddos struggle with inferencing? I usually feel like my kids do really well with it until I say the word. Then I feel like I'm speaking Spanish. I've decided to take it s-l-o-w this year. We have talked over and over about inferencing and have practiced frequently but I have yet to have them practice this skill while reading a story. I know, I know! That will be my big push after winter break but for right now, they are pretty much rockin' my socks with their inferences. Take a look at an activity we did not too long ago:

First, I found this cute little pack on TpT for FREE!
(Click on the image below to link to the page)

So, I printed out the 'Cookie Clue Cards' and attached clues to the back. (The best part?! This can be re-used over and over!)

The kids had a 'Mising Cookies Case File' sheet where they recorded all of the clues and made their inferences. However they had an even better time making their dective and writing about their inferences. Here is a look at our finished product:

"I inferer Santa is the cookie theif. I think this becuase Santa lives by a snowy environment. He wears a red suit. Santa also wears fuzzy boots. He devours cookies and milk. That is why I think he stole the cookies."

How do you teach inferencing in your classrooms?

December Currently

We are linking up with Farely over at Oh Boy Fourth Grade for her December edition of currently.

Speaking of RAK.....we did some with our kiddos last year and we loved it. We spent time talking about Random Acts of Kindness and had the kids brainstorm a list of things we could do around the school. Each day they did something new. Some of the things they chose were: give thank you cards and cookies to our specials teachers, cleaned our room 'extra clean' one day to help out the custodian, they even stayed a few extra minutes in the cafeteria one day to help pick up the 2nd grade tables. We hope to do this with our kids again this year.

Head back later this week to see what we have been working on in our classrooms, thanks for stopping by!