School Week and Let's Get Acquainted

Two blog posts in two days...who am I?! I will begin with my favorite read alouds in linking up with Tracey over at The Teacher's Chair and her fabulous School Week Linky! 

Favorite, now that means just a hand full, right? I can't just take a picture of the two totes full of my personal read alouds that do not go anywhere near my classroom library? Ok seriously, some of my faves are: 

This is a fairly new book, released in 2012. I used it with my third graders last year as an inference lesson. Before reading the text, we looked at all of the illustrations in great detail and tried to tell the story ourselves. Then I read the story and compared it with our initial predictions/inferences. Eventually, we watched the short film. My student teacher/para was out on the day that I read this and the kiddos could not wait to tell her about it when she returned. This was one of their favorites, for sure. It quickly became one of my all time favorites. 

I have always been rather hesitant to read Edward Tulane to my third graders, but last summer at the reading clinic, I read this book to students going into 4th and 5th grade. They were struggling readers and probably could have read it, but would have missed out on the comprehension if they read it independently. I had to do quite a bit of clarifying with vocabulary words and activating schema, but the kiddos got really into it and fell in love. I am looking forward to getting to share this book as a read aloud with my new 4th graders this year. 

 I think The Polar Express speaks for itself - no explanation needed!

I have read Sideways Stories from Wayside School for the last couple of years to my third grade classes. They L-O-V-E it! Never fails to crack them all up and the extra copies that are in my classroom library are always scoffed right up as students like to follow along and try to read ahead. It is a fun one, for sure!

I could go on all day, but I won't do that to all of you. The pictures of the books above are links to them on Amazon. 

Moving on to Latoya's Let's Get Acquainted linky. This week it is Upcoming School Year Goals! Latoya's blog is Flying Into First. 

#1 - Learn everyone's name 

I am working in a new school this year, so I know very few people. It is weird to think back six years ago to starting a new job, but I do remember worrying about keeping track of who-is-who. So hopefully I will learn everyone's names quickly!

#2 - Be organize and efficient 

I have always prided myself on being organized in my classroom, but teaching a new grade level this year, I am going to need to be more organized and efficient than ever. I will also have to be evaluated for the next 3 years, being a "new teacher" again. BOO!! Yet another reason to be very, very organized with the new evaluation system in place in my state. 

#3 - Parent communication and involvement

I am coming from a school where getting in touch with parents was like pulling teeth and getting parents involved and coming to school was even more difficult. The school that I will be teaching at this year has much more parent involvement, so I would like to be better at communicating openly and frequently with parents and getting them into school in meaningful ways! 

Enough about me, now it's your turn. If you haven't done so already, head over to The Teacher's Chair to link up with the School Week Linky and Flying into First to Get Acquainted! 

Thanks for reading! 

Linkies and a Freebie

I wish I could add a couple of hours to the day just for blogging. You would think that with it being summer I would have more time to blog...why is this not the case? Friday is the last day of the five-week reading clinic that I have been teaching; that leaves me exactly one month before I go back to school. Hopefully I will have more time to blog then. I have been busy with some back-to-school projects though. 

First, I am linking up with Tara's Monday Made It over at 4th Grade Frolics. I love seeing everyone's new, creative projects each week and I'm excited to be able to share a couple of my own this week. 

My last blog post was about using standards and/or essential questions in the classroom. For now, I decided to go the standards route, but I might add in some essential questions when I get going in 4th grade. I am not selling these, but if you are interested in them, let me know and I'll send you the file. 

I have been seeing so many great posts and TPT items for brag tags that I decided to make up some of my own. I initially began this little project because I will have AR again this year and decided this might be a fun way for the kiddos to keep track of their points. Then I created some perfect attendance brag tags. Yesterday I decided to make name tags for the kiddos. Here is a photo of what these will look like in use. 

If you are interested, my AR brag tags are free on TPT. Here is where you can grab them or click on the picture below. I would love it if you would leave feedback if you download!

Neeeeeeeext, is the School Week Linky hosted by Tracey at The Teacher's Chair. 

This linky has a new topic each day this week, so be sure to click on the photo above to get in on the fun! 

For the first time this year, I ordered an Erin Condren teacher planner. Thanks to all of my Instafriends for sharing theirs and convincing me to pick one up. It was a bit pricey, but I'm in love. I cannot wait to really start using it. 

Have you signed up for the SLANT box exchange?! I did!! This is going to be so much fun, I can't wait. The ladies at Lessons with Coffee, Mrs. Price's Kindergators, and First Grade Fairytales are organizing. Head over to any of their blogs for more info on how to get some really great mail and meet two new bloggers/teachers a month. 

I promise, I am ALMOST done! One of the family's that I tutor for gave me the cutest little surprise today. These earrings are a "Congratulations on your new job" gift and I absolutely love them! In case you can't read it they say "Keep Calm and Teach On." 

Thanks for reading!