Common Core ELA Vocabulary Cards & 'I Can' Statements

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I tell ya right now!  These will be the death of me.  When I created these for 4th grade math, I didn't know I would have people from all grade levels wanting them.  Which was fine... it was not bad at all.  Then, I had people also wanting the ELA as well for all grade levels.  Again, I don't mind at all because these.have.paid.off.BIG.TIME!  I can't even begin to explain just how much of a blessing TpT has been to my family.  The math cards are my #1 seller right now on TpT.  I FINALLY got around to printing my own set after having them for about 6 months.  I do have to say that THEY-ARE-ADORABLE!  I don't have the 'I Can' yet because folks at my school have went a little crazy with the color toner and lamination.  ANYWAYS- I am writing all this to say this...

I AM SO SORRY THE ELA ARE NOT COMPLETE YET!  Ya'll... life with two babies under the age of 3 is CRAZY.  I promised the cards with hopes that I would have ALL this free time in the summer.  Well, it didn't happen.  It just didn't.  I tried and tried, but every second of my time is consumed with my small ones.  And, I'm okay with that.. I just hope you all can be okay with that.  I am going to do the ELA, and I hope to have them ALL out by the end of December.  So, for my planning purpose and to answer all your questions about when your grade level is going to be available, I have created a schedule that I will keep... I promise!  So, check out your grade level and when the cards {vocab & 'I can'} will be available in my TpT shop.  After these, I will not be taking any custom orders at this time.  Ya'll, I miss creating things just for fun...

4th Grade: September 11st Grade: October 13rd Grade: November 12nd Grade: December 31
I'm assuming that these all will be out earlier than listed here.  These dates are the latest they will be available.  Once I complete the first set and see how long it will take, I will adjust the schedule accordingly.
Thank ya'll for understanding.  It really means a lot.  Also, I've had a lot of people commenting that the definition font on the cards is difficult to read from afar.  After printing these off, I agree.  After the ELA cards are complete, I am going to update all the math files with two versions, the original and the new version with easy to read font.  Don't worry, the ELA will come with both as well for those of you who are already using the current math version in your classroom.
We started school on Friday and this week is my first full week.  I am looking forward to this school year, and I can't wait to implement and use all the adorable things I purchased off TpT today.  I hope ya'll have a great week!

Thirty-One Gifts.. Don't miss this!

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Okay, okay.. this is totally not teaching related, but I just had to share!
Well, I did it again!  I just can't resist.  After taking a year off to have my little boy, I have decided to sell Thirty-One again.  I just love it.  I love having 'me' time to spend with a group of girls that love shopping just as much as I do.  When I was introduced to Thirty-One almost four years ago, I never thought it would turn into an obsession.... but it did!  Our new spring catalog goes live on Jan. 4th.  I will be shipping out a bulk of catalogs.  If you would like me to mail you a catalog, please message email me your address at terri.renee09@gmail.com. Also, if you would like to be on my monthly emails for monthly customer and hostess specials, please email me your email address at terri.renee09@gmail.com. I will be mailing the catalogs out on Thursday.   You are going to love what is in them!  Here's a sneak peek of what's inside.  If you have never heard of Thirty-one before, check out my website for more information.

MY WEBSITE
BE SURE TO 'LIKE' MY 31 REASONS TO LOVE THIRTY-ONE FACEBOOK PAGE FOR UPDATES, AUCTIONS, AND GIVEAWAYS!
I hope each of you have a great New Year and are abundantly blessed in 2013!

Parts of Speech Centers {Nouns, Verbs, & Adjectives}

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I think that an important part of student learning is engagement.  Duh, right?!  I also think that there's something to be said for activities that students feel comfortable and confident doing independently.  This is especially important during center time when your kiddos should be using their time to reinforce previously taught concepts, so that you can effectively manage the 20-some students that aren't working with you in a differentiated group.  
I loved center time as a classroom teacher.  Not only do you get to provide individualized, intentional support to your differentiated groups, but I think everyone (including the teacher!) enjoys the break from whole class instruction.  As I've grown as a teacher I've really moved to small-group, student-led learning, as opposed to constant whole-group instruction, anyway.  
 I'm not complicated when it comes to center set-up.  I like plastic bins and 2-pocket folders.  I want my kids to have everything they need at arms-length so that there's little commotion while I'm busy working.  Here's some samples of center organization...

   

And then there's the engagement/interest level of the centers.  I rarely had to force my kids into centers because they love interacting with partners to learn!  I recently created a set of centers for Parts of Speech {nouns, verbs, & adjectives} and really tried to keep the primary student in my mind as I designed them.  
Three of the activities I created involved partner work and were based on some of my favorite guessing games: Charades, Pictionary, and Taboo!  I figure if I love them, kiddos will love them, too! And, what better way to learn nouns and verbs than to act them out, draw them, and talk about them?!

                         
Plus, there's Silly Sentences - which are sure to make your kiddos giggle!  I even laughed writing My teacher can quack like an octopus!  Ha!

Here's a little preview pic of this pack that is for sale in my TpT shop HERE that includes even more than what's pictured here to reinforce nouns, verbs, and adjectives.  



{PS.  I should note that it took me an insane amount of time to upload this dang document to TpT.  Like hours.  This whole Mac thing is really messin' up my groove!}
I hope everyone enjoyed their time off today!

Prepping for Literacy Night!

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As our Title I teacher, it is part of my responsibility to help plan and implement a school-wide Literacy Night.  I had the opportunity to meet with our PTA president and our FRC coordinator today to brainstorm for this upcoming event and, needless to say...
I. Am. So. EXCITED.
!!!!!!!!!!
Seriously, I cannot wait to see it all come together in March!  
Are you familiar with Literacy Nights?
Basically, the school puts on an evening of activities that encourage community literacy and emphasizes reading outside of school.  As we all know, family engagement is absolutely crucial for student success.  And, reading?  Also crucial for success.  Combining the two and bridging the gap between school and home is what a Literacy Night is all about.  
Fortunately, our Literacy Night will coincide with our PTA Read-a-Thon and Read Across America week.  Yay!


I don't want to disclose too many details because I want to blog all about it with pictures and ideas afterwards!
Have you participated in or planned a Literacy Night before?  Since I'm a Literacy Night novice,  I'd love to hear feedback, suggestions, or ideas you might have for me!  Please share!
Happy Tuesday :)

All things *green* and lovely!

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I never considered March to be one of my favorite months of the year, but I'd have to say that it wins over January and February by far!  It's all that promise of newness and growth and - let's be honest - Spring Break.  Holla'!  I'm really looking forward to seeing GREEN this year.  Flowers, leafy trees, and shamrocks really speak to me :)
Speaking of green, I am a HUGE  Emerald City fan.  Love me some Wizard of Oz!  I even incorporated a Wizard of Oz themed unit in my classroom for the past two years.  My kids loooooved it and it gave me a great opportunity to incorporate creative writing into our curriculum and expose kids to one of my favorite stories.  {My Wizard of Oz unit can be found HERE.}
                               Besides loving the Wizard of Oz, I also LOVE Wicked.  I've seen it thrice and every time I want to get on that stage and defy gravity with Elphaba and Gah-linda.  My sister and I *might* sing that song into wooden spoons at the top of our lungs.  In front of our family.  Not embarrassing at all.

And, now, low and behold, this...


!!!!!!!  
So, to make March even better Oz The Great and Powerful comes out on the 8th.  Stop. It. 
And, then, there's St. Patrick's Day.  

I like to be festive, what can I say?  I also like to get the free green soft serve ice cream at Ameristop.  FREE.  
If you're getting centers ready for the coming month, check out my St. Patty's Day Packet O' Fun. Clean, green fun.  

March is going to be busy for the Mullins fam.  Between coaching my Academic Team in Governor's Cup, to prepping for Literacy Night, to packing our home up in preparation for our move, to all the spring festivities, we are going to be seven shades of green come April!  Shoo!  
Are you as excited for March as I am?!

ROFL! LOL!

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I totally forgot to add this pic to my Wizard of Oz post yesterday...

Becks is reading one of *the best* Wizard of Oz adaptations with pop-ups by Robert Sabuda.  This illustrations and pop-ups are so intricate and incredible!  The original story is still told by L. Frank Baum, but this book just takes it too a whole other level.  Your kids will love it!
Anyway, back to my ROFL! LOL! title.  
I am doing a little research on funny read-alouds.  And, I'm talking hilarious-make-them-laugh-out-loud books.  Books that both boys and girls will enjoy.  Becks and I have happened upon several, and I've pulled out a few from my classroom library.  
Here's what make us ROFL...

Walter the Farting Dog is hilarious.  Probably because it says fart and rectal flatulence like no big deal. I will be completely honest here and say that the first time I read it - before Becks was even born - I was crying I was laughing so hard.  Here's an excerpt...
Walter wanted to stop [the burglars] but he was having unbearable gas pains.  He rolled on his back, and waved his paws in the air.  He gnashed his teeth...That's when Walter let it fly.  It was the worst fart of his life.
I apologize now if we don't share the same humor :P


I adore ALL books by Jan Thomas, but Can YOU Make a Scary Face? definitely gets giggles.  I tested  it out on some kindergarteners the other day, and I had to remind them to turn down their giggles a bit.  

Once Upon a Royal Superbaby is pretty funny, too.  It tells a shared story between a boy and girl classmate and how they tell the same story differently.  {PS.  This is a great book for your reluctant male readers!}  It also ends with a stinky diaper - Becks' favorite part.

Mo Willems has some super stories, but Becks and I have been cracking up over Elephant and Piggie lately.  Such a funny duo!  The stories are so simple and there is a lot of repetition and sight words.  A perfect funny choice for your K-1 babies.
So, back to my research question for y'all: what are some tried and true funny read-alouds that you and/or your kiddos adore? 

Pets, Pets, Pets!

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  Next week we are learning about pets!  This unit is a fun one because lots of families have pets, so this is an extremely relatable theme for preschoolers.  I have gathered some great pet resources and wanted to share!
Book Ideas:




Craft Ideas:
A Dog Craft Freebie from The Constant Kindergartner

Source: teachersnotebook.com via Ashley on Pinterest
Handprint Cats from Easy Preschool Craft
Source: easypreschoolcraft.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest
Individual fish aquariums from Teach Preschool
Source: teachpreschool.org via Ashley on Pinterest
Fun & Free activity ideas:

Free pet graphing from Bunting, Books & Bainbridge
Source: teachersnotebook.com via Ashley on Pinterest
Fish Cracker Match from Pre-Kinders
Source: prekinders.com via Ashley on Pinterest
Doggie Where’s My Bone? Phonemic Game from Make, Take, Teach
Source: teacherspayteachers.com via Ashley on Pinterest
Fish and bubble counting from To the Lesson
Source: tothelesson.blogspot.com via Ashley on Pinterest
Here is the Pretend Play Vet Clinic that I set up for my kiddos last year.  It was a big hit!
 







I would love to hear your ideas for a Pet Thematic Unit!