Teaching with Mel D

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Work On Writing Ideas for Daily 5, Fingers & a FREEBIE

As promised I was going to blog about some things I do with my kids during the Daily 5. I am just exploding with ideas & some have worked out VERY well & others...not so much. Here is something my kids are O.B.S.E.S.S.E.D with during their "Work on Writing" rotation.   Last month I used apple and Fall stickers and words. Now I changed it & place Halloween words in sheet protectors & provide Halloween stickers to make their own sticker stories. This is how one of them turned out....... I think they did a fabulous job! I love how they are making connections from one sticker to the next. Of course, I modeled this before they were on there own. They do 1-2 sticker stories a week. I also will incorporate seasonal stamps for the same type of writing. My kids fly to this station! In 8 years I have NEVER had the kids like writing so much since I introduced this! Here is how my Daily 5 writing looks for the week.  Monday: Response to reading … [Read more...] about Work On Writing Ideas for Daily 5, Fingers & a FREEBIE

I’m obsessed with Daily 5! Check out my rotation chart & FREEBIES!

Well friends, it's official I am obsessed with Daily Five! I read the book & stalked all your blogs & became....OBSESSED! I am loving it & so are my kiddos! It was very intimidated at first because I wasn't sure how I was going to fit it into my schedule & then I found out we are required to do an uninterrupted 90 minute reading block which does not include RTI...ugh! Well, I'm making it work & LOVE IT!  Here are a few shots of my kiddos in action!  I know, I know...holy cuteness! Here we are building our stamina. I first explained stamina to them by comparing it to yoga & how you have to build your stamina to hold a position for a certain amount of time.  Can you say "Namaste"...they can! We are practicing breathing techniques here. This has also helped with a few anxiety issues we were having adjusting to first grade. Their expressions kill me!  This is our first try @ "Read to Self" after picking out our "Just … [Read more...] about I’m obsessed with Daily 5! Check out my rotation chart & FREEBIES!

Behavior Coupons

This is definitely NOT my idea! I was inspired by some behavior catalogs I stumbled upon on Pinterest. This got my wheels turning because I have been looking for a way to get rid of my treasure box. While creating these I had it in my mind that I wanted something for my students to hold onto & for me not to create more work for myself to keep track of what they picked. So I made coupons & printed them on cardstock & laminated them. So every Friday the kids will be able to trade in their warm fuzzies for a coupon or two of their choice. They can ONLY pick one of the same coupon. They will be responsible for holding onto their coupons and handing it to me BY THE BELL....otherwise they "expire".  So if I have a student pick "Wear your favorite hat to school" this will ONLY happen in my classroom IF they give me their coupon right away. I used to let them only cash in coupons on Fridays BUT I changed that & I will let "cash in" their coupon all week … [Read more...] about Behavior Coupons

FREEBIE Monthly Labels

Here are some monthly oh so cute labels I use for my monthly read alouds. Do you send home the highlights forms to the kids? Well I always order these sturdy cardboard magazine bins for my personal stash.  They are the primary colored ones on that big ugly metal vent & also on top of that white shelf under the one legged Sneetch...lol.   After you "pin" these grab them here for FREE! Just use Avery 8163 (2x4) labels. I also stick these on drawers that I keep my monthly projects in. Another use is for all my monthly binders with worksheets. I don't think you can find anything in my classroom without a label on it...not kidding.  I am working on some smaller monthly address labels that I will use for writing samples, journals, projects, drawings, class photos, handwriting, etc. for their student memory book/portfolio. They will also be used for marking all my personal monthly read-alouds that I stash in those cardboard bins & I will use … [Read more...] about FREEBIE Monthly Labels

Classroom Set-up Day 1 & NEW peace themed stuff! Oh & a FREEBIE!

So I had only one day that I could go into my classroom this week. After spending about 8 hours in there, I could barely make it home. O...M....G was I SORE! My husband says "why are you sore?"....guess whose eyeballs were rolling?!? They just DON'T GET IT! I am on a road trip with my parents right now. I left my purse @ a Bob Evans in Lafayette, IN. & discovered it was missing 2 HOURS later! Can you say....UGH! I caused us over 3 extra hours of drive time...I felt horrible! I was too busy pinning & eating biscuits & gravy..yum...to notice I walked out without my purse! So after an added 3 hours I am in Lexington, KY right now & am so excited to be going to the longest garage sale in the world! It's called the Route 127 sale...have your heard of it? Well I am going to look for books, shelves, & peace stuff for my classroom among other things. I can't wait! So this is why I only had one day in my classroom. I took some pics of what it looked like … [Read more...] about Classroom Set-up Day 1 & NEW peace themed stuff! Oh & a FREEBIE!

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