So much to show!

I have determined that I am not good at keeping the ole blog current. I do apologize.
Today I have PICTURES! We've been so busy lately. This week starts The Wizard of Oz!!! Yay!!!

Ok, to catch up: here are some of the non-fiction bubbles we made. I checked out about 25 non fiction books on their levels and they each chose one. We practiced reading them, then used post-its to mark 3 important facts, one thing the subject loves (or if their subject was non-living, something they loved about their subject), and one picture they would draw. They turned out so CUTE!!Scarecrows... What in interesting topic to choose!
OH- I almost forgot! We decorated the bubbles to look sort of like the subject. We did NOT draw the subject on the bubble, just tried to make it look kind of like it... She did a good job on decorating the scarecrow bubble with plaid patches! So awesome!Firetrucks. Lovely diagram.


This one is sweet because its about Taylor Swift. LOVE the diagram. She labeled her guitar and feet. Hilarious!
I realized that the kids really did understand what they were doing. However, the final product wasn't perfect. There were quite a few incomplete sentences. I get torn between proofing every thing they do, and just letting them do it on their own. *sigh* Its hard to know what is best.


We did a quick week of small groups focused on dinosaurs. I had some leveled texts so we used them and then did a whole class art project. Here is where I got the idea! Genius!


Demise of the dinosaurs by meteorites!

Then for Penguin Week we made a tree map, picked three sentences and wrote them on a penguin belly! Adorable.


Alright, I will TRY to update more frequently during the Wizard of Oz amazingness! :D
I hope you are having a great end of the school year!

PENGUINS!

So this week is penguin week for me and my firsties! Yes, I know it is spring. I know penguins are generally discussed in the winter. I am aware. But, our county pacing guide did not allow me time in the winter to discuss penguins, so I waited it out. I'm VERY excited!

We are, of course, reading Tacky the Penguin. SO funny. I love him. When I write a musical it will be based on Tacky. We are using this fabulous unit by Deanna Jump I found on TpT to help us out!
It has lots of thinking maps with penguin clipart, book templates, reading, and math activities.
We will be using a blubber glove (!) to experiment (!) and see how penguins stay warm. Basically, you coat a ziploc with crisco and it mimics the blubber. Kinda makes me sad when I think about Crisco being in cookies AND being blubber... Anyway, we will hold ice with and without the glove and compare and contrast! How fun?

I have put together a penguin book basket full of fiction and non fiction for browsing and partner reading. They are super excited and think the penguins are SO cute!

I need to find a penguin cam somewhere online so we can see some in action! I just love this week!



Also- I have decided as the year comes to a close (22 days) to only do one-on-one conferencing with my kiddos for reading. No more small groups! I did 5 today and they were really great for me to see where the kid is excelling/struggling. Here's my breakdown of the conference.

1. Choose which 5 kids to see each day. 2 low, 2 mid, 1 high.
2. Choose a text to hear them read (I am only doing cold readings. I made a end-of-the-year basket including BOB books of varied levels, Level 1 books, and a few 2nd grade level books- all fiction)
3. Call the child over, intro the text, listen to them read. I do assist them with words, giving them strategies to use. I also take notes in my CAFE notebook while I listen .
4. Ask comp questions about the text.
5. Ask student what they did well on and what they need to work on. (encourage, encourage, encourage)
6. I identify something to work on as well. I model, they practice. **this is a point I am working on this week. I'm bad about modeling it myself and forgetting to have them practice**
7. I write down the strength and point to work on. They SEE me write it down. No secrets in the notebook :)
8. Repeat! It takes less than 15 minutes with each child.
It's pretty easy and I love how much I get to see them using the strategies with a brand new text. I would love to hear how other people run their conferences!!

Have a happy week!