#31DaysofBacktoSchool

Favorite Read Aloud

My class used to have a volunteer that came in to read Bud, Not Buddy three times a week.. it was amazing!

What is your FAVORITE class read aloud? Leave your comments below!

#31DaysofBacktoSchool Back to School Resolution

If we are to be honest with ourselves, many of us spend the days leading up to January 1st toiling over our New Year's resolutions! I can't be the only one who thinks of all the things that I didn't get right in the passing year with the hopes of doing better this next time around. 

I know some people aren't big on resolutions and I can admit that from time to time they can get a little cheesy, but there is one thing that I do love about resolutions and that is their ability to help us set a goal. When you are on a mission there is nothing better than having a goal in mind. 

So this school year I decided that I would come up with my own Back to School Resolution! I wanted to help myself continue to become a better teacher and if you are reading this then I know that you want to become a better teacher too. 

So here is my New School Year Resolution:

Greater Follow Through! Sometimes I dream of amazing projects but after I get them started I don’t complete them with the same intensity that I began them with. I want this to change! I plan to reach this goal by increasing my planning time for projects. I feel that I spend a good amount of time each week on planning for my day to day activities but I need to increase the time I spend planning projects.

 I have been teaching for eight years and sometimes I think the longer we’ve taught the more we think we have it all down. I tend to rely on some of the projects that I have done in the past and don’t always push myself to be more creative for new innovative projects and activities! This year I plan to change that.

In order to see that I achieve my goal I am giving myself some measurable steps.

·         Allot at least one additional hour to project planning.

·         Pick one subject each month to add in additional student project.

Just that simple! I set goals that were realistic to accomplish and easily measurable. 

So what’s your New School Year Resolution??

Leave your comments below.. I would love to hear from you!

#31DaysofBacktoSchool Starbucks Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

31 Days of Back to School

So I will be the first to admit that I have totally neglected this blog. Not intentionally, but between work and the full scale assault that graduate school has launched on my life there was little time to do much else. Work is still there and so is graduate school in a way, however it’s about priorities and I am moving my blog back up to the top of the list! 

In order to re-energize myself and make this blog actually useful to other people I decided that I would do a month long campaign aimed at getting ready to go back to school! Which is how I birthed the idea of #31daysofBacktoSchool .

Basically I wanted to start and share 31 posts that would be of use to my fellow teachers all aimed at starting the school year off on the right foot. This is going to be great… I want to overwhelm my subscribers with GOOD QUALITY resources and discussions aimed at easing you right back into the swing of this new school year. In addition to the posts, link-ups, resource shares, and helpful tips I want to also throw in a few giveaways (because who doesn’t love free stuff).

So let’s get this party started right! 

Today’s giveaway is $15 gift card to Starbucks (because you know that you are going to need it)

In order to win make sure to follow this blog! 

Now, let’s get this party started! 

Great American Mail Race Anyone?

Great American Mail Race Anyone?

Maybe it’s just me, but every year I tell myself that this is the year I will do the Great American Mail Race with my students. But once the year gets moving I can never seem to follow through. Maybe it’s the MASSIVE amount of paperwork and set up of the year or maybe it’s just me.. either way this year is going to be different!

Hence the reason I am doing all of the legwork now! Maybe this way I can start the year with a better plan of action and actually follow through!

I have two classes that I teach Language Arts/ Social Studies to, so if you are interested in linking up with my 3^rd and 4^th Grade classes that would be AWESOME!! I think this will be a good way to make sure we get responses, as well as putting a little fire under my behind to see things through! 

If you would like to link up with my classes comment below so that we can CONNECT!! 

If you want to purchase my student packet that contains all of the handouts to get the kids started find it here -> Mail Race Student Guidelines Packet

Characters Changing Over Time

Quick Win from My Room to Yours:

One dynamic that I like to make my students aware of while they are reading is the character's ability to change over time (or during the course of the text). This is a great comprehension strategy to teach children, because it helps them read for details, as well as use evidence to support their conclusions on changes.

Hope this helps :)