Rainforest Research and Upcoming TpT Sale!

One of the changes I have really enjoyed learning about when it comes to the Common Core Standards is the research component.  One of our stories, The Red Eyed Tree Frog, takes place in the rainforest and I decided to have our writing connection be a research project.  My awesome intern and I worked together to plan a lesson that collaborated with our technology integration teacher.  A flipchart was made that allowed students to click on their animal and be taken to various websites that were preselected to help them gather information on their animal.  Students worked in pairs in the lab to identify facts about their animal's habitat, diet, and appearance.  They were also encouraged to find other interesting facts that they read along the way.  The cool part about technology and the CCSS is that students are asked to gain information from readings as well as other sources such as videos.  This is a great extension for some of my struggling readers.  They are still able to collect information and it doesn't have to be watered down to their reading abilities.  They did the research in technology class (which made it much easier then taking turns on the 3 computers in the classroom) and we worked on putting it all together throughout the week in the classroom.

I will be adding the graphic organizers we used this week, but in the meantime, check out some of our finished projects!

Teachers Pay Teachers is having another big sale this week!  May 7th-8th you can get up to 28% off many items in different stores!  My store will be participating along with MANY others!  Be sure to check it out!  If you're a seller, I made some other banners that can be used to promote the sale!  Feel free to download and use!

Hope everyone has a great week! 

Spring is Almost Here!

I am so excited for warmer weather!  It sure doesn't feel like spring is headed our way around here this weekend.  It is chillllyyyy.  Spring is not the only fun thing going on at school this week.  We have our Book Fair and Literature Night.  Literature Night is always fun and this year's theme is Story Laboratory!  We are pretty jazzed about it in room 13.  Our PTA decided to add a door decorating contest to the mix this year.  Check out our door!

They all wrote about what reading gives them the power to do.  They surprised me with their creative responses.  :)

We've been working hard on Comparing and Contrasting this past month.  I was so excited to find these dry erase Venn-diagrams at the Dollar Store.  Score!

They worked in groups to compare the story we working, Moving Day by Robert Kalan and A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle.  It worked really well because the stories had a lot of similarities and differences.  I really liked A House for Hermit Crab because it has a lot of good vocabulary to discuss.   I included the links if you want to check them out.

Moving Day

A House for Hermit Crab

Here are some of the center activities I made to go along with the skill!

This was a really big hit!  I made an interview sheet that they used to find out more information about their classmates.  They then used that information to compare and contrast themselves.  The interview sheet is included in the unit.  You can find the entire unit here!

Both of my units include differentiated practice.  Information is presented in bulleted form and then in short paragraphs.  You will also see a fun center activity included in my Compare and Contrast Unit that has students compare and contrast information about different sports.  This was really popular with my boys.  Yay!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

~Abby

Super Bowl Sale!

Baltimore is looking quite PURPLE these days!  Everyone is getting more and more excited for the game Sunday.  We have been wearing purple for weeks at school now and tomorrow we are having a big pep rally!  I can't wait!  :)

To celebrate the big game, Teachers Pay Teachers is having a mega sale!  There will be a ton of stores participating, mine included :), so it is definitely worth checking out!  See the flyer below for more details!  Don't forget to enter the promo code SUPER to get the great deals!

Go, Ravens!

Consonant Digraphs

We have been working on consonant digraphs in our class over the past week or so.  I wanted a new center to go along with it.  I know there are many monster themed centers out there, but they are so cute I wanted to add one more to the mix.  I also just can't get enough of the clipart over at My Cute Graphics!  She is a very talented lady!  Her clipart and backgrounds are just adorable and FREE!  You can grab the activity from my TpT store!

Monster Munchers Activity!

More Fonts!

The obsession continues!  Here is another set of fonts that I made.  My favorite one is Charlie Christmas.  Making that one kept me busy while I was watching the Ravens game.  :) I hope you like them!  If you want to download them head over to my TpT store!  They are free for personal use!

Fonts! Fonts!

I learned how to make fonts!  Ah!  New obsession!  Thank goodness Thanksgiving break started today.  It will give me a little down time to play and not feel so guilty about all of the other things I should be doing.  Check them out and let me know what you think!

I added a few more!  Grab yours for free here!  I have two collections available for free download.  :)

If you're wondering who Cooper and Charlie are.....they are these two fellas. 

If you like the fonts and want to download them, you can grab them from my TpT store!  I hope everyone has a great and relaxing break!  Check back if you like them!  I am working on my second set now.  :)

Clipart! Clipart!

I'm making a little more progress!  I made my first set of clipart images, nothing too fancy, but I'm still excited about them!  They are for sale in my TpT store!

Cooper and Charlie get excited when I get obsessed with projects like this because they love nothing more than to snuggle up on the couch.  :)

I hope you had a relaxing Election Day!

It's been a while....

There is just never enough time in the day is there?  Seems to be a constant battle to be fought.  I have been using any spare time that I get to try to play with Photoshop Elements.  I have learned a lot thanks to YouTube.  :)  It really is amazing all of the things you can learn on there.  I love it.

The last time I posted I was learning to make digital frames and now I have learned how to make digital paper.  Woot woot!  I am pretty excited.  :)  I love using the paper to make backgrounds for my whiteboard.  Jazzes things up a bit.  Here is the new bundle I created.  If you're interested, click the title below to check it out!

Holiday Bundle

Clipart and Graphics!

I have recently become obsessed with attempting to conquer the unfamiliar world of Photoshop.  I love making things "pretty" and really wanted to learn how to make frames and borders, etc.  We had a 3 day weekend this weekend so I figured it might be a nice time to give it a shot.  After hours on the couch today fiddling around with it and watching tutorials, I am feeling a liiiitttle bit better. Nevertheless, I have a feeling it will be years before I understand all that this program has to offer.  So here is what I have accomplished after way too many hours.  I love using flower frames to jazz up my classroom posters, daily slideshows, and printables.  Click on the title to download!  Did I mention they are free?!  :)

Flower Frames

Leave me a comment if you like!  Also, follow me for much more to come.  I bought this bad boy today.  It is the Wacom Bamboo Capture Pen and Touch Tablet.  It is going to help me make more pretty things.  :)

I am working on making doodle frames and borders and hope to have some finished this week!  Check back soon!

Valentine's Day!

This was inspired by the monster glyphs I saw on Pinterest.  I tweaked the idea just a little to make it Valentineseque.  We had the best time with it!  They turned out so cute and the activity was super easy!  Visit my TpT Store for more details and printables to go with the activity!  You can see a preview of some of the activities below!

Valentine's Day Bundle!

How cute are they?!?

Thanks for stopping by!