We're Steppin' Out

I ran across this cute little shoe craftivity on TpT for our end of the year bulletin board. We used scrapbook paper for the shoes and ribbon for the laces. I think they turned out really cute!

The students wrote about what they learned this year and what was their favorite part of the year. I love that everyone was able to do this activity... from my first graders to my sixth graders. The pack includes papers for 1st-3rd.  I adjusted the writing templates to include 4th-6th.

Only 18 days left! And today doesn't count since I'm home with my little sicky. She's back to her normal "Chatty Cathy" so I think the worst is behind us.

Assessment Time

The school year is drawing to a close. We only have three more weeks of our Fairview rotations (two for the 6th graders since they are away at Science Camp for a week).  So that means it's assessment time.

One of the things they stressed at my Fairview Regional Training was assess, assess, assess. We did beginning of the year Guided Reading, Adapted Dolch, ASL and writing assessments. I've been assessing the Adapted Dolch words and Bridge Phrases as often as needed throughout the year. Also, I assessed for Guided Reading levels (using the DRA) as I felt the students were topping out on a level and it was becoming too easy for them.  But now it's time for the end of year assessments.

In the Fairview student progress book there is a simple Progress form to fill out. It has everything you need to compile information for the assessments and then document the results online. But it's missing a spot for Guided Reading and our DRA assessment.  So I created this cute little form to use to document progress. I like that it's all on one sheet and is a quick little snapshot of the student's levels.  It's a nice little quick-reference sheet for current levels.

Click over to Google Docs to download a copy of the progress form if it would be helpful in your classroom.

Weather Unit

We just finished up our weather unit. We read Weather Words and What They Mean by Gail Gibbons. We used this TpT weather unit to help record all the things we learned in our All About Weather folders.

We learned all about clouds, the weather cycle, temperature, etc and documented it on our Weather T chart as we were learning. The students had a great time. Even my new student with very low language was able to explain the water cycle by the end of the unit. That was impressive!

The older kids really enjoyed making these weather cycle bags. I forgot to snap a picture of them while we had them up in the window. All the students also enjoyed making the different types of clouds with cotton balls.

Here are a few of the resources I used during our unit:
All About Weather: Math, Literacy, and SO Much More!
Weather Themed Math and Literacy Bundle
Weather Fun! A Literacy and Math unit with Common Core Standards Included!
My Weather Words Vocabulary Booklet
Temperature Match Up

It's On!

It's been a while since my last post. Its been busy, busy around my classroom! Between lots of IEP meetings, getting a new student, and state testing I haven't had a minute to breathe... let alone take pictures.

I dread this time of year. The excitement builds and the countdown to summer begins. But it also means testing time. My students also get restless and it's hard to get them to focus.

Luckily, I knocked out the majority of the state testing this past week. I have to test all my students from 2nd-6th grade. All of them have the accommodation that I will read/sign the math questions. That way it's really a math test and not a reading test. I just get so frustrated with state testing. I have 6th graders taking the 6th grade test but reading at the first grade level. It's a waste of time for them and for me. Let's give them a test that will actually measure progress rather than practice in filling in pretty patterns on a scantron form.  It's hard not to feel deflated as a teacher by this whole process.

The countdown has begun- 24 DAYS LEFT!