Monday, July 22, 2013

RTI AND PROGRESS MONITORING!

With the push of RTI, progress monitoring, data collection and not to mention the HUGE influx of paperwork piling up on my tabletops... I can't help but think there's an easier way!!!  I felt completely overwhelmed teaching the day to day curriculum and then creating small group intervention that didn't even align with our learning targets for the week! AND SO I BRING TO YOU... Timed Sight Word Fluency Reads! 

Using these timed fluency reads, students will be tracking their OWN progress as they become more efficient at recognizing and accurately reading their sight words on a day to day basis!!  I tell you what, I've found that putting the students in charge of tracking their progress makes all the difference in the world!



These products BOTH are created to align with the first grade Treasures Reading Program, but would be a great supplement to any core reading program as the sight words are taken from the Dolch List. 

How might you use them in YOUR class?
  1. Progress monitoring tool for the entire class
  2. RTI intervention work
  3. Data collection
  4. Or even as partner work during independent work stations
                   All that is needed is a 1 minute timer!!!
If I can help make just ONE teacher's life a bit simpler, I'm happy!!


Sunday, July 14, 2013

CRAFT Board BINDER ALERT!



After several failed attempts at learning logs and posting standards... I found SUCCESS!!  Implementing the Ladybugs Teacher Files' CRAFT board in my classroom has not only helped keep my kids more accountable, but has helped me to stay organized and on top of my game!!


To help anchor all of the learning that has been happening, I created the CRAFT Binder!  This is the  perfect companion to the CRAFT board!  Included in this **FREEBIE** is not only the binder cover and tab sheets, but a description of HOW I use this binder with my first graders alongside the CRAFT board.  Be sure to follow the links embedded in the download to see specific products that have helped make the CRAFT binder work for me!!
 

Click the picture to head on over to my TpT store and download this FREEBIE to jump start literacy workshop inside YOUR classroom today!
 
One of the most important factors in the CRAFT binder is that it helps to anchor the learning that goes on from day to day.  This can be managed in many different ways as I have shown in some photos within the download.  It really depends on the lesson and how you want to manage it! 

Way 1: Give students a graphic organizer or an outline to place in their binder that they will need to fill out or complete along with you!  

Way 2: Sometimes I type up a small sheet of the learning objectives for a lesson and then have students glue it into the appropriate tab of their binder.  

WAY 3: Create an anchor chart together and take a picture of it and then add the actual photo to their CRAFT book.

WAY 4: Refer back to specific lessons or pages within the CRAFT book.

  
Most importantly, you need to find something that works for YOU and your STUDENTS!  :)


 

 

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Summertime sweet summertimeeee!!!

Packing up the classroom and saying goodbye to my sweeties is always hard, but what makes it THAT much easier is getting to meet my new 18 on the last day of school!  This year I sat them down and explained to them that their first grade year will be spent in the jungle (filled with animal print, vines.. you name it!).  Then I put them to work creating their own BIG head safari man.  I'll decorate the entry of our classroom with these *a d o r a b l e* creations for open house to really develop a sense of belonging and they remain there the whole year long!


Here is the project I sent home with Mrs. Miner
from Mrs.Miner's Monkey Business for her soon to be 1st GRADER to complete!  



And with summer, so begins the whirlwind of planning and creating for next year!!  First up on the agenda?

# 1  Literacy workshop CRAFT Binders (adapted from LadybugTeacherFiles CRAFT board headers and inspired by CAFE thedailycafe.com).  WHAT A RESOURCE her craft board has been in my classroom!  And as a Treasures Curriculum teacher, there is no better fit to organize decoding/ comprehension strategies for the kids to refer back to!!





The binders I'm creating are currently in progress, but will be for my independent  soon to be independent kiddos to keep track of their learning and record their thinking as it relates to the skills and strategy cards on the CRAFT board!




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Tuesday, June 25, 2013

20% OFF ENTIRE STORE TO CELEBRATE!

Take a look at my products by checking out My TpT Store by clicking the link!  I'm throwing a 20% off sale to celebrate the new blog!!

I have a few FREE downloads including...

A set of measurement task cards


AND SO IT BEGINS!

Over the past year I have become completely obsessed with all of the incredible teacher blogs out there and their creative thoughts and products!  So much so that it has inspired me to hop on board and enter the fabulous land of teaching blogs!

Here's to creating, sharing and inspiring! :)