Dun Dun Dunnnn. Fractions. *Freebie!

Today was exactly 18,000 times better than yesterday.

I didn't post yesterday
cause I didn't want to sound bitter
and anything at all I could've written yesterday
would have been bitter.

But today was a GREAT day,
despite two office referrals for hitting other kids on the bus.
(Not me. My kids)

This is what we did today that went so well.
We've been working on author's purpose using my Author's Purpose Pack.
Today, during Reader's Workshop, we reviewed the four author's purposes we've been working with
*to explain how
*to inform
*to persuade
*to entertain.

I put kids into partners and we set up a tree map with the four headings.

Then I gave them a sheet from my pack that had a short text from each of these four purposes. The topic was the same (birds) but there was a story about birds, a procedural on how to take care of birds, an informative piece about birds, and a persuasive piece convincing you to buy a bird.

I read each piece out loud and had the kids talk to their partners about what evidence they could find to support the author's purpose.
We sorted.
We checked.
We did well!

Grab this as part of my Author's Purpose Pack from TPT or Teacher's Notebook.

Incidentally, it would also make a pretty great foldable. I didn't think of that till just now. Oh well.

So for partner practice, I had them practice the same skill with other pieces; these were about snowmen (how to make a snowman, information about snowmen, a story about a snowman, and a persuasive about building a snowman.

I was so relieved- as I listened to the conversations kids had with their buddies, I was finally able to find evidence of my teaching.

I heard things like
Well, the author's not asking the reader to DO anything, so it's not to persuade.
I see a character, so I think it's an entertaining story.
Oh! These are steps on how to take care of a bird, so it's to explain how.

I almost cried.

But then, later in math, I almost cried for a different reason.

Fractions.

This standard is introduced before third grade, but when we started working with fractions on Monday, (most of) my kids stared at me like I was speaking Greek.
Or Math, which I have found is a new language to them as well.

So I needed them to get some basic practice with identifying fractions and using equal parts in one whole to identify denominators.

So I spent some time putting together a fractions foldable for them to sort and identify fractional parts of wholes. This is what it looked like.








I was hoping to help kids use it to hunt for examples of fractions in anything we did during math.

For example, after they finished a handout on fractions, they could cut it up and sort them into halves, third, fourths, etc., and glue them into their foldable.

It's a great fast finisher activity, too, once you've got it all set up!

So, some of us are pretty good at fractions.

Some of us were writing some pretty weird stuff in this foldable, despite the modeling.

So we're going to spend tomorrow in two groups - I kinda know what's goin on

...and I kinda don't.

I'll let you know how it goes.

In case you're interested (purpose: to persuade) I am posting my Furry Friends Fractions Pack, which includes instructions and pieces to cut out for the giant fractions foldable above. It's a big one - 46 pages of fractiony goodness.



 Grab it at TPT!

And here's a rectangle fractions freebie for you.
Grab it at TPT.

Clipart from GingerSnaps Treats for Teachers and KPM Doodles

Fonts from Kevin & Amanda

Happy Fractioning!

Saturday School Boo Hoo and Area!

I hope you enjoyed your Dr. Shoosh Day today! There was a lot of Shooshiness at our school, but in third grade, we don't really get to do anything.

I do have Saturday School tomorrow, though, so there you go.
I know, I didn't even do anything wrong. And I'm still being punished.

We do Saturday School for kids who are struggling to prepare the The Test. That's really what it is.
We do get paid.
We don't HAVE to do it, but we kind of HAVE to do it, because if we don't, somebody else has to work with our kids, and what creep dumps their kids on somebody else and doesn't show up? AND if the kid doesn't pass, it's like, "And she didn't do Saturday School and let him fail?!"

This year, we also have additional Saturday School days to address "Summer School." Why? Cause there's not enough $$ for summer school this year.
Personally, I think Summer School is a bunch of bologna
(Have you noticed it's not satisfying to spell it 'bologna'? It feels better baloney).
It's baloney the way we do it, anyway.

It's, like, ten half-days of a super structured curriculum.
But let's stop and think about why kids are in summer school.....
1. They can't read.
2. They can't focus.
3. They can't take a test.

If they can't take a test, maybe the curriculum will help. Probably not. Test-taking strategies might.
If they can't focus, a boring worksheet curriculum won't help at all, for sure.
If they can't read, the only thing that will help is reading instruction focused at filling in the gaps they have. Not a boring worksheet curriculum written at grade level.
And ten days? We couldn't do it in 180. 10 isn't gonna make a dent.
SO it's baloney.

This is what we did this week. Stuff like this MIGHT help. For math, at least. For reading, I think I already addressed it in my "Guided Reading" vegetables or whatever post.
So that's my rant.


This week, we were working with area. In our Math Notebooks, we did a little writing about area, including my area song.
Ready?
Super easy.
To the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell."

Area is inside.
Area is inside.
Count the squares inside the shape
cause area is inside.

I know, right? It all makes sense now.

It addresses the standard for third graders where I live - they have to be able to count up square units including half-units. But you could easily change the third line to something, "Find the space inside the shape," or something else.

We, by which I mean, my student teacher, (oh, the blessings of someone else to crawl around the floor) taped off various areas in the classroom using masking tape. We labeled these as Area Stations, A-E. Some were simple arrays, and some were more complicated, using half-squares that had to be combined.

The kids circulated through the stations in teams, sketched, and recorded the area of each shape on the output side of their notebooks. Yes, graph paper would have been ideal.
Shocker: I was not prepared. So we did without. 
Everybody was ok.

We kept it simple because that's where they are at this stage of the concept.
The best part? Kids could stand in the squares, move through the squares, count them by touching. Their little fingers could DO something. And they got to 'help' each other - I LOVE to hear kids actually helping and demonstrating, rather than just telling an answer.
Verbalizing thought processes=learning :)

They got a kick out of it, it was suuuuuuppppper easy and everybody learned something! :) Of course, the last step in their notebooks was to write about what they learned.

AND! Ta-DA!
My Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato Literacy Pack! YAY!
This is why I did a pack for both Jamie O'Rourkes: I found my Pooka book first, so I did it first. Then, I found my Big Potato book, and thought.... yup, I'm doing this one. So the week before Spring Break (a.k.a. Thank God Week), we're going to do some work with the Big Potato book, but either one would be cool.  You can get it at TPT or Teacher's Notebook! 

Warning: No value to this post whatsoever *Freebie

Ah, bacon and eggs. The staples of my diet.
And a glass of wine.
I'm not much fancy.

On a post the other day, Laura asked me "How do you find the time?" because I've posted a lot of products in a short amount of time.

I'm just going to speak honestly.
This is mostly because I'm nuts.
I'm nuts in that I am perfectly happy working till 5:30, coming home after work, sitting on the couch while shoving eggs and bacon in my face, watching Sarah Silverman while blogging/making stuff/planning/complaining to friends on the phone.

I think that might make me sound bitter.

My mother always says, "You always have time for the things you do first."
She makes up a lot of stuff, but this one is true.
What do I do first? Sit and work on my laptop.

I do other stuff too.
These things include...
going to my mom's house and looking in the fridge.
avoiding taking my brother to Barnes & Noble because he's too expensive.
going to my other brother's house and demanding free stuff they've gotten from extreme couponing
watching movies while eating enormous amounts of butter with a little popcorn
sitting at my hunny's house watching Fringe or Mad Men
playing board games
watching my dogs bother the cats
reading
visiting friends and drinking quantities of wine

Okay, I just realized I do WAY less stuff than I used to do.
I used to have adventures all the time. I think my hunny made me more content to stay home.


In case you're interested in other mother-isms, (things my mother says) here are a couple:

• "Nobody knows what I know." said in a very spooky voice.
• "Neither a leader nor a follower be." Sound familiar? It's modified from Shakespeare's "Neither a lender nor a borrower be." But she thinks she has it right.
• "Nobody knows how dumb you are until you open your mouth." She's not talking to "you" exactly; it's more of a generalization.

There are lots more. These are the first three I thought of when I thought of my mother. She's very quotable.

Can you tell I don't want to talk about work?

I will say two things:
1. I'm working on another Jamie O'Rourke unit, but this one is for Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato.
2. Today, I had a walk-through from my principal. Two of my kids actually approached the guided reading table during a guided reading lesson. This is forbidden. You never come to the table unless you're already at the table. I nearly lost it. I was furious, because these two were being deliberately naughty! Then I read my evaluation. "Great job multitasking between guided reading group and the rest of the class. Good job redirecting." Phwew. Not what I would've written, but I'm thankful.

Sorry about this valueless post. I've had quantities of wine that will go unwritten. Tomorrow should be better.

I was about to write, "And at least it's Friday!" but I have to teach Saturday School for nine Saturdays.
Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Want a March calendar? Grab it at TPT.

Pigphony and please pin *Freebie

Yes.
Please pin stuff from my blog.
To me, that's free advertising. It's not like it's not linked back.
Maybe there are reasons people don't want others to pin stuff.
I'm sure there are.
But I don't have any. So pinnity pin pin.

Also, the promised pigphony.

I warn you: this is pretty ridicuous. It's a very weird post. But I promised my hunny I would write it, and he had a bad day, so we have to make him happy.

My hunnybun and I decided to celebrate Valentine's Day a little late this year. By celebrate, I mean actually leave the house and do something other than go to Target. We postponed because, on Saturday, the symphony was performing his favorite symphony of all time: Antonin Dvorak's 9th Symphony, New World Symphony. 

For reference, it sounds like this.

It's very serious (symphonies usually are).

My experience with symphonies is limited. I don't listen to them much - not opposed to them, just don't think about it much. I attended one on a field trip when I was a kid, but all I remember about it is the pretty dress I wore with a big red flower on it.

So honestly, when I hear symphonies....

I think of...

Bugs Bunny.

Well, the other day, we were listening to this symphony in the car, in preparation for our 'fancy date' (one of THREE since I met this man three years ago - not three FANCY dates; three dates at all. ever.)

He was singing some of the parts and it sounded funny to me.

Like what? you ask.

Like a pig.

Like a little pig, singing.

Like a little pig, singing, "I'm just a little pig. Please don't eat me."

Now, I know that sounds absolutely stupid. I'm not denying this. But the other day, I mentioned the pigphony, and I figured I better follow through.

So once I had established a protagonist (a precious little piggins) I had to have an antagonist. A farmer. With an axe. And a pitchfork.

I made up lyrics that had him say things like, "I must eat ALL the pigs!" and "Where have you gone, O Pig?"

The pig hides behind a cow. 

The farmer sings about bacon.

The pig begs for his life.

The farmer sings about ham.

The pig keeps hiding.

I acted this out in my den.

Then, the pig has a nightmare - keep in mind, this is all inspired by the symphony; the plot makes perfect sense with the music in my head. 

The farmer almost catches the pig.

And then....I didn't hear the end of the symphony, so I wasn't sure what happened at the end. I was sincerely worried.

So on Saturday night, we went to the symphony. 

In the middle of the fourth movement (the best part for the pig), my hunny looked at me and started to giggle. 

Then he stopped.

Then we got to the part where the pig is hiding behind a cow.

He giggled.

Then he stopped.

Then we got to the end, during which I realized what happens.

The pig trots away, so fast, on his little pig feet, and the farmer stands, holding his pitchfork, looking forlorn.

All you can see is the little piggin's little pig bottom disappearing over a hill, his curly tail bouncing behind.

I was very relieved.

After the pigphony was over, I informed my hunny about what the ending was. He was relieved too. 

But I think I still ruined the symphony for him, because now, instead of the glorious "Going Home," he is going to hear a little pig begging for his life and trotting into the distance.

I'm sorry that was so weird. I had to keep my promise.

To say I'm sorry, here's a freebie thing, black and white for easy printing: 

Click it to grab it from TPT.

Guided reading: vitamins in your reading diet *Freebie

I did promise.
So even though I really want to talk about these things...
*Fringe (what the what?!)
*Pigphony (like symphony, but pigs. More later)
*Room, which I just finished reading. O.M.G.

I am going to talk about something even more exciting!
Yes, you guessed it! Guided reading!

Guided reading is like vegetables for reading. You need a little bit every day.
For healthy readers, they might need less concentrated doses.
But for struggling unhealthy readers, you gotta hit em hard with consistent amounts.

At our school, guided reading is one of the few consistent initiatives we have - everybody does it, everybody's been trained in it, everybody has to provide evidence of it.

Space for Guided Reading

Read more about how to organize space for guided reading here!

Structure of a Lesson
There's a formal lesson plan sheet we have to use to plan every lesson, but I don't know if I'm allowed to share it. Don't want to get in trouble!

The important part is it's done at the student's instructional reading level - not grade level, necessarily. We work through grade level text all day. This is an 18-minute (approximately) block of time where the kid gets to practice strategies on a text he or she can almost manage.

When appropriate, we start with practicing some high frequency words.
The more able readers don't really need that.

Then we do a little word work - could be blends, digraphs, syllable patterns, vowel teams, rhyming words, prefixes, suffixes, decoding strategies, even synonyms/antonyms, context clues.

Next, we introduce our focus strategy. I've always used "Good readers" statements.
"Good readers stop and think about what's important from their reading."
"Good readers read to the end of the word."
Although, I recently heard "Thoughtful readers."

We preview the text, plant some language they'll need, predict words and ideas they expect to encounter, access background knowledge - all that stuff.

Then they read. Independently. Teacher works with individual students, prompting them through the text and recording anecdotal notes.

Afterwards, we praise & reteach.

Read more about planning for guided reading here.

Structure of Groups
I meet with two groups a day. My most struggling group meets with me daily (M-F).
My next most struggling group I see three days a week (M,T,W). Then I see a group on Thursday, a group on Friday, and my highest group meets with me Wednesday during breakfast. They're actually slightly ahead of the game, so they don't need as much direct instruction.

Read more about grouping students here!

Documentation

This is my bee-utiful guided reading binder!

Each group has a divider a plasticky divider.

I keep lesson plans behind the plastic pocket. Then there are individual dividers for each student in the group.  That's where I keep the running records.

Read more about organizing your binder here!

Inside the kids' folders, they have a reading level tracker to keep track of their reading levels. I mostly use it with my more struggling (below grade level) groups, to motivate them to work hard during guided reading. They notice when they move up, and they feel proud!

You can get the reading level tracker (and SO MUCH MORE) for free! Just enter your email address below to get freebies and tips for guided reading right in your inbox!

All of these guided reading materials are in my TpT store! Check it out!

How'd you meet your hunny?! Linky Party!!

Ahh, the season of love.

Or looooooove, as I hear it in my head.

This season is love for double reasons.
#1 is obviously Valentine's Day.
#2 is it's my hunnybun's birthday on the day before Valentine's Day.

Awwww loooooove.

I think I've already mentioned that, when we first met, he thought this meant that we didn't have to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Don't worry. We fixed that up right quick.

Anyway, I'm kind of nosy when it comes to this love stuff.
Looooooooove.

I want to know everybody's business.
So I'm gonna be brave.
I figure, I should get the ball rolling by sharing a story first, and then,
maybe
if you're very very nice
and don't want me to develop a blog complex
about being the only one at my linky party
you'll link up, too
and tell us
ok, mostly me...

Now, I want to be fair.
I didn't have a hunny for a loooong time.
I spent my fair share of evenings drinking wine
eating frosting (I know. Counterproductive to catching a man)
and watching Bridget Jones.
So I get it.
If you don't currently have a hunny,
you can write about how you would LIKE to meet your hunny,
which means you can write whatever fantasy you'd like.

Cause if I was writing that post,
it definitely wouldn't go like this:

I've worked for my school district for 9 years.
A few years ago, my campus had a disaster.
By that I mean there was mold.
In the campus.
On everything.
In the air.
In the library.
It ruined ALL the books in the WHOLE library
and damaged LOTS of stuff in the WHOLE school.
My school had to be bused every day across town to a vacant old school building
that was gross
and didn't have anything in it
and that was our home for a year.

To make an incredibly long story short
ish,
I wasn't too happy.
Nobody was.
And then-
dun-dun-DUNNNNN
worse news
we were going to have to move classrooms again.

Nope.
I had it.
So I went and spoke at a board meeting.
I wasn't very nice
but I wasn't that mean either
but it got the job done
because other people heard and helped us
and we didn't have to move again.
I wasn't a favorite in the public relations office,
but then,
I could live with that.

Well, two months later, my friend nagged me into setting up a Yahoo! personal profile.
I know.
Ew, some say.
But it was kind of fun.
'Something to do' as my mother would say.
So I did it
and started checking out some dudes online.
I 'winked' at this cute guy
who looked like Fred Flintstone
and said he worked for my district, in multimedia.

Multimedia, I thought.
Instructional Technology Department, probably.

A week went by.
A week!
I was seeing other guys from the site, but they were pretty lame boring weird much not for me.
Finally, he responded!
First we just emailed,
but finally,
when he manned up and called,
when his brother made him do it
we got to talking on the phone. He said,
"You know, I see so many teachers. I'm surprised we've never met."

Taking a long shot, I said,
"Well, do you remember that teacher from ___fill in school name___ who came and spoke at the board meeting?"

"YEAH! The crazy who ripped everybody a new *%&hole?"he said, in an animated tone.

........

"Yes. That was me," I said, charitably.

.........

"Ah. Well......then I do remember you," he pathetically responded. "I work in public relations. We recorded it. My boss isn't too crazy about you."

Yeesh.

Later, I was able to ask this man,
who would eventually be my hunnybun,
"What did you think when you called me a crazy?"
He said, "Open mouth. Insert foot. I was mostly just relieved that you didn't get upset."

Of course I didn't get upset. I knew I looked like a crazy.
People who stick up for kids always do.
Creeps.

Anyway, we set a time to meet
three years ago
in a Village Inn
fancy
and fell in
looooooove.
Now I'm working on step 2.
You know,
the bling.

But anyway, that's How I Met My Hunny.

All right!
I spilled the embarrassing beans!
And keep in mind, this is my first linky party
EVER
and I'm having anxiety about it.
please
please
please
please
please

And if this thing doesn't work, please tell me! :)