Science! Science! Science!

Common Core...we love common core, but please do not forget about Science! There are so many ways to incorporate science into common core. Our interactive notebooks are an excellent way! Psst...I use these same interactive tools with EVERY subject! The output pages allow the student to WRITE about their learning everyday...so do the lightbulbs!! This is a SUPER easy way to get your kids to write in every subject...in an organized way! Check it out and let us know what you think...

http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Setting-up-Interactive-SCIENCE-Inquiry-Notebooks-Lesson-Plans

It's the little things...

So, I just figured out how to make the font bigger so that all of you aren't squinting to read this, haha!  This realization caused me to get so excited... I guess it really is the little things in life that keep us going!

We are muddling our way through Common Core. In fact, we are having to make lessons, projects, assessments, & activities as we go because there are limited resources available. I'm sure that everyone is feeling that pressure as well.  As with all things, people tend to be resistant to change, at least in our building it's true. Most of all, parents are scratching their heads wondering what in the heck we are teaching their children! The math is proving to be the most challenging. In fact, we are sending home "directions" on how to solve 2 digit by 2 digit multiplication problems using base ten blocks just so parents know how to help their child. We created a PPT/slideshow which teaches the step-by-step process of multiplying with base ten blocks and also a break apart method. The students are really enjoying it and are becoming proficient at it. You may want to check it out if you are getting ready to teach this to your students.
http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Common-Core-Multiplication-Strategies-Using-Base-Ten-Blocks-Lesson-Assessments
We would love to hear about your journey with Common Core so far this school year!

Talking, Teaching, and Moon Phases!

 



Geez Louise! We are already nearing the end of the first 9 weeks!  Where is the time going? We are plugging right along with this Common Core stuff- which is not as bad as we anticipated! The math has been the biggest challenge.  After a few times of being tutored (haha) we were able to teach our kiddos how to multiply 2 digits by 2 digits using two different methods: break apart method and using base ten blocks. We are currently working on finding the factors of numbers, as well as prime and composite numbers.  Finding factors has been the most challenging thing for our students to grasp so far. In fact, we recently uploaded a helpful file to Teachers Pay Teachers that can be used to teach finding factors with a rainbow method.  It's pretty cool.

 

 

TALKING... This has been the chattiest group of kids I have ever taught in 13 years! Seriously.  Not just a little chitter chatter here and there- we are talking con-stant-lyyyyy!  I'm seriously thinking about putting all the talkers at one table so they can drive themselves crazy!  I do have a few sweet, quiet babies who never say a word, but others make up for it!  Any ideas on how to get the talkers to stop saying everything that enters their 10 year old minds?  Any helpful hints would be greatly appreciated. :-)

 

 

We just finished up our Science unit on Moon Phases & Planets.  The kids had a blast with this unit- especially since we ended it with a trip to the planetarium.  Our newest lesson plans for that particular unit is also in our TPT store.  It includes lesson plans that work nicely with an interactive science notebook; it also includes a study guide, assessment, several different labs, vocabulary cards and an "I have, who has..." game.  If you teach moon phases or even planets you may want to check it out.  It's one of our best lessons... Well, I think it is anyway. 

 

 

Happy Teaching my fellow teachers!!!

Our newest product!

 

From now until the end of day Monday August 20th, we are giving this product away for free! This is one of many units we are creating to meet the needs of Common Core. If you download it and think it's GREAT, please leave some awesome feedback. If you have any additional comments/feedback you are welcome to come back to this blog post and share! :-)   Just click this link and it will take you right there!  Preposition Unit at Teachers Pay Teachers

Hope your year is starting off great!

Our Newest Science Addition

After a lot of hard work, the lesson plans are ready to roll out for the first week and a half of Science! These step-by-step lessons are in workshop model format and include everything you need to have your students up and running during Science class.  The interactive notebooks are a great way to really get the students thinking and it holds them accountable for their learning.  These plans would be great from 2nd on up!

                                       Science Lessons for Setting Up Interactive Notebooks!

Summer 2012

Vicky, over at http://traditionslaughterandhappilyeverafter.blogspot.com/2012/07/summer-plans-what-have-you-been-up-to.html is having a linky party.  This is our first ever linky party and I'm not totally sure I'm doing this right!  I have so much to learn when it comes to blogging.  I'm hoping that the more I play with it- the better I get. If you have some helpful hints, I would love to hear from you!!

Christy and I have been spending some of our summer in professional development.  We are kind of nerds on the educational spectrum, but it's a good thing, I think. I attended a reading conference for two days and a Lucy Calkins writing conference for four days.  Meanwhile, Christy went to a five day conference on science.  She is so pumped up about it. In fact, she's currently working on our first unit that involves setting up and using an interactive notebook!  We will post pics of that soon.

I've completed a reading project with organizers for summarizing, character traits, and inferrencing.



I am also currently working on a complete preposition/prepositional phrase unit that I am totally excited about.  It will be everything a teacher needs to introduce preps, all the way to assessing them at the end. 

We both have also stayed very busy with our kids.  Christy is extremely involved with travel soccer because her beautiful twin girls play every weekend.  I, on the other hand, have found myself wrapped up heavily in travel baseball and softball. It's quite a challenge for both of us- but we love it so much!!

That's all for now....   I really I hope I did this right, LOL!!

Time is Flying!

July 25th will be here before we know it!  Our first day back to school is in 11 days. Holy cow! We are anxious and excited, but we planned on having more lessons and activities completed than we do at this moment. We are excited that we were able to roll out our new word wall words with pictures and parts of speech, along with some reading graphic organizers to help with the Common Core.  I wonder how many other teachers spend their summers working on activities for the new school year. I'm sure there has to be plenty of other nerds like us who would spend all summer coming up with new and improved ideas! I've included a couple of pictures of some things we have made.