Reinventing the Wheel

 Do you ever find yourself reflecting on your day as you drive home from work?  The good thing about living 25 minutes from my school is that I get to use that time as an extra plan bell.  I spend that time thinking about my day....what went right.....what went wrong....what could have been better.....what I will change......and what I will reteach tomorrow.    

The other day, on my drive home from work, I was thinking about my upcoming unit.  Now that quarter 3 has started, my students are ready for their biography research project.  This is one of my favorite and most challenging units to teach.  I love how the students get excited about this project, but teaching students how to research can be HARD!  Not only do they get to choose their famous person (within the parameters), but they also get to use the Internet and non-fiction texts for their research.  Plus, their end product is represented in a neat file folder display.    So....as I'm slowly driving down I-71, I'm thinking back to the unit and what my students did last year.....and I immediately recall what needed to be changed.  I thought to myself...."I didn't like this part.....I'm going to change that part.....This didn't work well.....Never-will I do that again..."  And by the time I got home from work, I had completely thrown the project I did last year out the window.  Therefore....I am, once again, reinventing the wheel.

(SIGH)

I went into school the next day and pulled my biography research file out of my cabinet.  While thinking about my reflective drive home the previous night, I concluded that there isn't a single thing I want to use from last year.  

(SIGH)

Why do I create more work for myself every year?  Why change everything I created last year?  

Why reinvent the wheel?

(SIGH)

I thought about this over the next few days.  And after consulting with and venting to my #1 role model (aka sister....aka Curious Firsties-Em), I think the answer comes down to three important words.   Three words that have me reinventing the wheel every year.....Three words that have me choosing another route than the previous year. 

1.  Growth-  I've been  teaching for 11 years.  That is roughly 4,015 days as an educator....1/3 of my life.  These 11 years have been filled with (but not limited to) a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, countless hours of professional development, mentoring several new teachers, and a three year commitment to a piloting project through the Ohio Department of Education.  With that being said, I still have SO much more to learn and many more years to grow.  Every day I am learning something new in education.  I learn from myself, my students, my amazing colleagues, and all the wonderful bloggers out there.  I am in the business of changing and shaping lives, so it is my duty to evolve and grow everyday to become the best educator I can be.

2.  Change-  Change is constant.  Change happens whether we want it to or not.  The lessons I taught last year are not going to fit perfectly to what my upcoming class needs.  Every student is different.  Students learn differently.  Behave differently.  Respond differently.  We spend 9 months getting to know our students inside and out.  We do this so we can teach them the way we know they will learn best.  But what worked for one group of students will not necessarily work for the next year's group of students.  Every year is different with a different set of learning styles and needs.  Therefore, changing my lessons every year is a necessity.Change is a must. 

3.  Improve-  Improve is defined as making something better or to raise to a more desirable or more excellent quality.  If your doctor told you that you needed to improve your health....would you?  Of course.  So, if you teach a lesson that could be better....wouldn't you try to improve?  Of course.  No matter the number of years I have taught, I will never be perfect.  I will never know everything there is to know about education.  But what I can do is make sure that I am improving every day....every year.  By growing and accepting change, I will improve. 

So, I guess I could say that I am not necessarily reinventing the wheel.  I am growing.  I am making changes.  I am improving.

Do you reinvent the wheel every year or are you growing, changing, and improving?

Test Lab for New and Innovative School Furniture...PART 1

A few days before the 2015-16 school year started, my principal called me into his office.  In my mind, I figured he wanted to talk about the previous year's test scores...or something to that nature.  Boy was I WRONG!!!!  Needless to say.....I think I walked out of his office looking like Taylor Swift when she wins an award!

Picture Source

Imagine your principal saying that you have been picked to test out new and innovative school furniture....  What would you say? What would you do?  

Honestly..... I thought my principal was joking!  This is not a question most teachers are ever asked in their entire teaching career.   I don't know about you, but I just get super excited over a new pack of pencils or Papermate grading pens.....My brain can't even fathom new furniture---basically a brand new classroom!!!!  It is every teacher's dream to have new, ground-breaking furniture.  I can't think of a single teacher that would say "no" to this opportunity!  And this year, I get to experience this amazing opportunity.  It honestly feels like I won the jackpot!  By accepting this amazing opportunity, I have to understand that this is going to be a year-long process.  I also need to be willing to invest time outside of my classroom and workload to work with School Outfitters.  Needless to say.... I ACCEPTED!

A local company in my area, called School Outfitters, approached my district, last summer, looking for teachers that would be willing to transform their classrooms to test out 21st century furniture.  Since 1998, School Outfitters has provided convenient online shopping and expert customer service support to educators looking to create productive learning environments for all types of learners.

Next, I met with a panel of employees from School Outfitters.  These members included the sourcing and supply chain VP, sourcing director, sourcing coordinator, and designer.  Our initial meeting in September is where I explained and discussed the biggest obstacles (classroom furniture and design) I currently face while teaching.  I discussed what I like about my classroom/furniture and what could be more efficient or systematic. I explained my need of an easier flow from whole group instruction to station rotations.  I mentioned that I would like a place where I can store my stations that will make it easier for students to access. I also described the amount of space that is not utilized due to large pieces of furniture (I am so thankful to have 25 Chromebooks in my classroom, but the cart where they are stored takes up so much space).   Plus, I currently have to stand in the back of my classroom when using my Elmo Machine (which means my students' backs are to me as they look at the whiteboard).    My kidney-shaped table, again, is so large that I almost have to lay on the table to read closely with my small guided reading group.  (This is only a few of the things I talked about during this meeting......I could go on and on.....)

In October, a team from School Outfitters came to take measurements of  my classroom.  And I mean measurements of EVERYTHING!  From my chalkboards..... to the area where my students place their bookbags..... to my teacher storage area...... to my window ledges.  A few days later, one of the source coordinators observed my classroom for about two hours.  She took notes about everything she saw (notes on what I did and what my students did).

Afterwards, I was asked to send them a quick sketch, or layout, of what I would want my classroom to look like in the end.  OH MY----this was SOOOOO hard.  I was told that it just needed to be a rough sketch....just an idea.....BUT-seriously?!?-I have never had the opportunity to come up with what my ideal classroom.  I took this task very seriously.....maybe too seriously.... Here's what I came  up with (please keep in mind that this was very difficult and I have already thought of ways to change it!):

Between all the meetings and emails, School Outfitters also brought me furniture to try out in my classroom.  I was brought four different types of  chairs and two different kinds of desks.  My students have used these products for almost two months.  Check out my pictures below and let me know what you think.  Would you find these chairs or desks to be useful?  Have you used anything like these in your classroom?

Stay tuned....... I will keep you up-to-date with my classroom transformation.  What is something you would want for your classroom if you had the opportunity???

Currently January 2016

I am linking up with Farley to tell what I am Currently doing in 2016.....

Listening:  I am listening to my seven year old jamming out in her room to Taylor Swift.  She asked for the CD for Christmas.  I was a little hesitant, but I went ahead and got it for her.  She LOVES it!

Loving:  I love the time that I was able to spend with my two children, husband, parents, sisters, brother-in-laws, in-laws, nieces, and friends.  It was so nice to relax and get ready for the new year.  It was a MUCH needed break!

Thinking:  During the school year, I go to bed around 9:00.  I love my sleep.  My day starts at 5:00 am, so it's important I go to bed early.  During my winter break, however, I stayed up way too late and slept in (sleeping in = 7:00 am in my house).  It is going to be SOOO hard hearing my alarm clock go off tomorrow morning.

Wanting:  SNOW!  It was 60 to 70 degrees during winter break.  That is very unusual for Ohio weather.  I miss the snow.  I want some snow days!!!

Needing:  I need to get off the computer and make dinner.....enough said.

One Little Word:  Love.......I want to spend this year loving all that I have in life.  Sometimes I think I take things for granted.

Thanks for stopping by and reading my Currently January 2016.  

Reading in a Winter Wonderland

Hello and welcome to our second annual Winter Wonderland link up!  Last year, The Reading Crew sponsored a winter literacy hop, but we decided to run it a little different this time.  Instead of hopping with the potential of dead links, we decided on a closed link up.  What this means is that there is a "map" of the blogs at the bottom of each post, so you can hop through them all at once, visit some today and some later in the week, or see what best matches your literacy needs.  

On each blog, you will see a word in blue font.  This is the blog's mystery word.  Please be sure to record them because you will need each word for a five point entry in our raffle.  To help you keep track, you can print and use the recording form.

"Run, run, run.....as fast as you can!  You can't catch me!  I'm the........"

As a child, we learned to end this refrain by saying "..Gingerbread Man!"  Did you ever learn a different way to end the refrain when you were younger?  Luckily, our children now have the opportunity to read so many different versions of the gingerbread man.  Too many versions to read in a year!  I love teaching my third graders several ways to end this refrain.  And I am so excited to share one of my favorite gingerbread versions with you!

The Matzo Ball Boy is written by Lisa Shulman and illustrated by Rosanne Litzinger.  This 2005 fictional fairy tale is a Jewish version of the gingerbread boy.  On the morning of the Passover seder, a lonely grandmother, or bubbe, decides to make a delicious matzo ball boy for her soup.  Before long, the matzo ball boy runs away from the old woman, the schneider, the yenta and her children, the rabbi, and hungry fox with a dream to see the world.   

This familiar story of the gingerbread man is an updated twist which will leave your students wondering how this version will come to an end.  Plus, this book offers a way to introduce and teach your students about a Jewish holiday which is celebrated by many around the world. 

I look forward to December every single year.  It's not just because the holidays are around the corner.  It's because I spend the whole month exposing my third graders to different versions of the gingerbread man.  You won't imagine how many versions there are of the gingerbread man!!!  The Matzo Ball Boy by Lisa Shulman is definitely a must to have on-hand!

I start the month with reading the traditional version....the version that most people are familiar with, The Gingerbread Man by Eric A. Kimmel. Each student is given a story map graphic organizer at the beginning of the lesson to record the characters, setting, refrain, and ending.  Next, I like to read The Gingerbread Cowboy by Janet Squires, The Gingerbread Girl by Lisa Campbell Ernst, or The Gingerbread Baby by Jan Brett.  These versions are closely related to the original.  While reading the versions, the students continue to complete their story map while I fill in my giant story map gingerbread house.  Next, I like to model how to compare and contrast the two versions using the cookie jar venn diagram.   By modeling this activity, my students are more comfortable completing the venn diagram independently or with a partner when I read The Matzo Ball Boy.

After reading the more traditional versions, I like to introduce my students to versions that they have hopefully never read before.  Such versions include The Cajun Cornbread Boy by Dianne De Las Casas, The Runaway Rice Cake by Ying Chang Compestine, and The Musubi Man by Sandi Takayama...etc.  BUT one of my favorite gingerbread books is The Matzo Ball Boy by Lisa Shulman.  I have the same story map from above copied for the students where they can record the characters, setting, refrain, and ending.  This year, my students are comparing and contrasting the The Matzo Ball Boy (Jewish version) and The Musubi Man (Hawaiian version).  With a partner, the students use their story map to compare and contrast the two versions using the cookie jar venn diagram from above.  This lesson is not just for teaching compare and contrast.  Below is another freebie that help practice another important skill. 

Once the students have become familiar with The Matzo Ball Boy, they are ready to identify some cause and effect relationships.  Teaching cause and effect has never been my favorite skill in third grade to teach....(never!)  But it must be done!  By December, I have already exposed the students to cause and effect, so this activity is more of a review to practice the skill.    Below is the cause and effect freebie! 

Once the students are familiar with the story, this cause and effect activity freebie can be a great way to practice the skill.  I have done this activity two different ways.  I have had the students complete the cause and effect t-chart while I am reading, in partners, or as a whole group.  I have also made a few different versions, depending on the level of your students.  On the first two pages, the students only find the cause of each effect.  In the second version, the students are to find the cause and effect.  The third version has the students draw a line (match-up) the correct cause to the effect.

To extend on this lesson, students can continue reading more versions of the gingerbread man.  The list keeps growing every year!  I also have my students complete a gingerbread persuasive writing piece.  The students convince the reader (Mr. Fox) that they are not a gingerbread man and do not want to be eaten.  They have to convince Mr. Fox they are something other than a cookie.  Plus, the students get to decorate their gingerbread man to match their writing.  

Before you go, I will remind you that my mystery word is gingerbread. You can enter it onto your sheet or into the rafflecopter below. Good luck to you, and I hope you'll come back soon.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

An InLinkz Link-up

An InLinkz Link-up

Integrating Science, Technology, and Writing Can Be Fun!

I need to start off by saying that it has been W.A.Y. T.O.O long since I have written a post.  I entered the blogging world this past summer and fell in love.  But once school started......yikes.....how do you even find the time?!?!?!  I'll figure out how to balance it all eventually......

So, I want to share a project that my third graders have been working on for the past few weeks.  First of all, my teammate, Melissa, teaches math, science, and social studies.  I teach reading and writing.  The past two weeks, we decided to co-teach while teaching the students animal adaptations and informative/explanatory writing.  Before I get into the details, here is what our finished project looks like!

Hallway Display....just in time for Parent-Teacher Conferences

Giant pangolin hair, beaver teeth, and eastern gray kangaroo feet.

Reindeer hair, beaver teeth, mountain goat feet

Super cute....right?!?!

Here's what we did......

First, my teammate, Melissa, spent several science classes teaching the students about animal adaptations.  By the end of her teaching, the students understood that animals have life cycles that are part of their adaptations for survival in their natural environments.  During my writing classes, I was teaching the students about informative writing, how to take notes, and the editing process. Once the students were ready Melissa and I combined classes and began the project.  We started with the objectives.

Next, Melissa and I read "What If You Had Animal Teeth!?, What If You Had Animal Hair!?, and What If You Had Animal Feet!? by Sandra Markle.  We spent a class period on each book.  Have you ever read these books?  So fun!  And the author is coming out with a new book in January called What If You Had Animal Ears!?

Next, we told the students about the writing assignment/project.  The students were to pick animal teeth, hair, and feet from the three books that were read aloud.  Using their chromebooks and certain resources online, the students took notes about the specific body parts that they chose.  Their notes had to include how each body part will help him or her survive in an environment.  It took a few days for the students to conduct their research, but it was amazing how well they did with finding their information!  

After conferencing with individual students to check their research, the students were given a graphic organizer to help organize their thoughts.  They had to write how the specific body part will help them adapt and survive in an environment.   It took several days to conference with students, complete rough drafts, peer-edit, and write final copies.......(very exhausting....) After all the hard work, the students were ready to put it all together.  We took pictures of each student and printed them out on 8 1/2 by 11 paper.  Prior to starting the project, I had Mr. Smith draw a template for all the teeth, hair, and feet.  Thank goodness for Mr. Smith and his artistic abilities!  Here is one last one to share....

Zebra hair, elephant tusks, and green basilisk lizard

This is a project that Melissa and I will complete next year with our third graders....and we will definitely be using the fourth book that comes out in January ("What If You Had Animal Ears!?).  Stop by next year and check out what my upcoming students come up with! 

Tell me about a project where you have integrated several subjects...

September Currently

Listening:  It has been HOT and dry here in Ohio.  So, tonight, it has been so nice to sit and listen to the thunderstorm outside.  I love to hear the rain hitting the roof and the booms of thunder.  I love it.

Loving:  It's Labor Day weekend which means no school on Monday.  I've only been in school for two weeks and I am already in need of a three day weekend.  I am looking forward to a pool party with friends tomorrow and a relaxing weekend with my husband and two children.

Thinking:  I started reading Wonder by Raquel J. Palacio.  I think I should go cuddle up in bed, listen to the thunder, and read this wonderful book.

Wanting:  My son is a little over 3 1/2 years old.  He has never really slept through the night.  After fighting with many different doctors, my son had a sleep study last December and found out he has sleep apnea.  We had his tonsils and adenoids removed in February.  He FINALLY started sleeping through the night in March.  Unfortunately, he has now hit a stage of being afraid of everything.  So, we are back to not sleeping through the night. zzzzzzzzzz

Needing:  I've had glasses since I was in second grade.  I am sick of glasses and I am sick of contacts.  By the end of the day, my eyes are done.

Goals:  My husband and I have been working on potty training with my son since June.  Not going well.  I need it to go well.  He will be 4 in November!  I also need and want to wash the outside of the living room and kitchen windows.  Lastly, I need to relax.  I've been in school for two weeks.  My school does not have air conditioning....so it has felt like 1,000 degrees.  I am worn out.  I need to relax (which is always a little difficult with two children at home).

Want to share what you are currently up to?!  Head over to Oh' Boy 4th Grade to link up!!!

September-My Favorite Things Linky

School has been back in session for two weeks and two days.  With all the beginning of the year assessments, I do not feel like I have a solid routine yet.  But I do feel like I had done some great lessons with my 3rd graders.  I am linking up with Teaching Trio and sharing my 3 favorite successful lessons that I have done in the past two weeks.  

1.  Within the first few days of school, I got the feeling that several, almost all, of my students needed to change their mindset about a few things.  We do a lot of "getting to know you", team building activities, and reading/math interest surveys the first few days of school.  These activities are pretty revealing about students' attitudes, likes, and dislikes.  I knew afterwards that I needed to do a few lessons on growth vs. fixed mindset.  I found a great WONDERFUL PowerPoint on TPT that made this lesson! Thank you Eve Coates!  The lesson ROCKED!  I wrote about the lesson here a few days ago.  There are a few different bloggers that I had to thank in that post for their amazing ideas.  It was such a success.

2.  Another lesson that went well was the day I taught my students how to pick out good-fit books for independent reading.  I think using concrete representation (in this case it was shoes) can really foster deeper understanding of skills for students.   The lesson started with a large brown paper bag filled with different shoes from my closet.  I talked about how we pick out our shoes every day and how our shoes have a purpose (just like when we pick out books to read).  Check out the post here.

3.  My weakness in life is Oreos....They are dangerous.  I can eat the whole bag in one sitting.  It really is a sickness.  So, needless to say, when I saw this activity on Pinterest, I had to do it.  Turns out, the lesson was a great way for students to see the importance of reading a text more than once.  I have not written a blog post about it yet, but here is where I found it on Pinterest.

What are your favorites this month?