Predators & Prey

Now that things are returning to normal after my whirlwind of a weekend -- I have some fun things to share.

I decided to switch up the bulletin boards and include some things that I thought were important, like these comprehension sentence stems.

This saves me from making a bunch of different anchor charts -- and condenses them in a truly aesthetically pleasing way.  If you're interested in the signs/seeing them up closer -- I found them here. I am in love with her blog and have definitely found some AWESOME ideas! :)

We've been working hard on developing good ideas and stories for personal narratives -- which I love, because I love to tell stories and the kids are SO good at it. I also found these posters on the YoungTeacherLove blog and love how they condense my anchor chart down!

Today we worked on practicing different types of leads and I am, as always, amazed by what they write down. I have been working right along with them, writing about my most recent car accident as my narrative. I created example leads, after reading mentor texts examples. Mine were as follows:

Dialogue: 
"Have a safe drive home, " shouted Ms. Chamberlain as I walked to the parking lot.

Action/Onomatopoeia Lead:
Swish-screeech, Swish-screeeech went my wind shield wipers as they cleared the rain from the glass.

Surprise/Setting/Jump Ahead Lead:
Spinning your car off the road is nothing like you see in the movies; no stunt doubles, nobody around to yell 'CUT' when it's over -- in real life, it's just scary.



They had the easiest time with the dialogue leads -- really understanding the purpose. One of my boys wrote,
" "I'll be back soon, son," said my mom as she walked out the door."

I told him that gave me chills because I feel like something bad is going to happen.

The setting/surprise/jump ahead lead is always the trickiest -- but I had one boy write,

"Crossing people isn't the game, it's playing your best that really matters most."

I truly love teaching writing -- Lucy Calkins was so right, It's not desk work, it's life work. :)


This week's reading skill is determining Author's Purpose and as always, I love to tell them it's all about PIE. Many of my students got SO excited that we were going to eat PIE! ... sorry to disappoint -- but I love the posters.

I've created a nice little wall of THINGS READERS AND WRITERS DO -- which has become so useful.

Lastly, in science we have had to say our farewells to Geoffrey. Our time spent learning about the human body is over and we are moving on to Evolution, Fossils, and Adaptation. Evolution is not nearly as exciting as the human body...but I needed to do something that would get them to connect to it. I thought about playing a tag like game with predators and prey -- but that seemed a little wild for the introductory - I knew that it would be difficult for them to make the connection (and even more difficult to get them back inside..). So instead we set up a simulation, in our very own forest. Each student was given 2 M & Ms that told them what colored bug they were.

(Here are the M & Ms sorted by color).

I chose 3 predators who got to hunt our bugs. The predators drew an M & M out of the green cup and got to then eat every bug that was that color. However, my crafty little bugs had options -- some were blessed with a peanut butter M & M -- and by paying this to the predator they were able to escape death. If they used this option -- they had to explain how their bug stayed safe -- some said they hid, some said they camouflaged themselves, one girl even said she sacrificed another bug to escape. When the predators collected their prey -- the remaining colored bugs were able to reproduce and continue their species -- and then the process started over.

At the end we counted up how many of each color were left and discussed what happened. It was SO fun! They loved being able to make a choice and were able to explain what they did. As an exit ticket -- they had to explain in their own words what Evolution and Natural Selection were -- using the simulation as an example.

Science for the win.
Tomorrow we head off to the nature center on my very first field trip. Should be phenomenal -- I can't wait! 75 degrees with a light wind -- sounds like June -- not October. :)

Stay golden

Things coming full circle (literally)

So, this week has been something else. We ended MEAP, finally! We said goodbye in a proper way, by relaxing and doing mindless things for the end of our day on Wednesday. I'm so proud of most of my class -- they really focused and tried their best on the test and I could tell they were wiped at the end -- so I rewarded them with a movie afternoon -- their choice with snacks.

The week was looking up, Thursday flew by and I stayed after to help the counselor sort and organize all of her MEAP materials so that she didn't have to work alone. We stayed at school until about 6:15 and I hopped in my car, exhausted, to make the trek home. On my way home, this happened:

 Yeah, I spun off the highway, crashing my car through a fence off the road. It was insane, spinning in multiple circles, then finally coming to a stop...safely, on a dirt road off the highway. I came away uninjured, but couldn't say the same for my car. I paid $120 today to make it "drive-able" and the estimate to fix it is around $2500... quite the blow on my very first payday. wah wah.

However, I woke up to a shiny Friday morning, which meant the end of the week and my first payday! As usual, the day FLEW by and after telling my students that I was in a car accident and cannot make it to their pageants and bowling matches this weekend...they were devastated...but understanding, when I told them I would do my best to make it to the band concert on Monday. :)

I realized that I couldn't be mad about my car, after over-hearing this exchange between two students. One was helping the other complete his Social Studies homework:
        Student 1: "Alright, I'll give you a hint, it is outside and it rhymes with hockey..."
        Student 2: "Hockey..Hockey... ROCKY! Rocky Mountains!"
       Student 1: "Right!"
      Student 1: "Alright, I'll give you a hint about this one too.. when you go for a job, you have to                       fill this out..."
       Student 2: "Paperwork...?"
       Student 1: "No, you turn in an ap..."
       Student 2: "Application! The Application Mountains?"
       Student 1: "Uhh... no, it's a hint -- not the answer."

I love them.
In other news... this also happened last night:

Way to go Tigers! Sweeping the Yankees to bring the World Series to Detroit! Sadly, I was spinning my car off the road when they actually did it...but I hear it was exciting!

Lastly, when I got home today from picking up my battered and bruised car. I set all my school stuff down, refusing to look at it until tomorrow and checked the mail. On my porch was a glorious blessing -- a care package from my mother and one from Ideeli/my sister.

With a World Series shot for my favorite team, in my home state, and a care package full of goodies on my porch -- I can't be upset. I have a functioning car for the weekend and I don't have to waste money on a rental, my limbs are all still attached to my body and I walked away from a pretty gnarly accident with only a few cuts on my hands. I'm sitting mighty pretty right about now and I can only be happy and thankful for the things that are going my way.


Here's to a great weekend.

Cheers.

My favorite part of my room.

 Finally, I have taken some photos of the amazing bookshelves and the INSANE amount of books I was given. This wall is all shelves, filled with books -- both new and old, but ALL MINE! :)

I added some colorful touches above the shelf today.
However, I'm now finding out that sticking things to concrete walls...is not an easy task. Many of these fell down today...so I guess StickyTack is NOT the adhesive that will work...but I want these to stay up.
Any suggestions?

One boy asked, "Why did you have to make it girly in here?" I guess, I'll have to add some manly touches as well... zombies, or Halo posters...

Testing Week -- Round 1

Another week down and I'm finding my groove.

This week was the first week of MEAP testing for my class. Testing week(s) are always rough on the kids, because they hate it --- and I can feel for them, I remember taking these tests in school. A new thing for me this year was the lack of snacks for 5th grade. I remember getting snacks after MEAP in 5th grade, but since we are part of the middle school...we are too mature for snacks. Poor kids.

In the midst of testing, the kids were troopers as I worked my hardest to keep the rest of the day active and engaging to offset the silence of the testing times. We added a new friend to our class this week  - his name is Geoffrey.

He's a human anatomy model, with removable organs/bones. I am head over heels in love with him and he has taken our science study up like 100 levels! We have been learning about the systems of the human body and now, Geoffrey offers us a hands on approach to learning the pieces of these systems. Today our discussion on the brain/nervous system was awesome because I was able to take out Geoffrey's brain and pass it around, so everyone could see a cerebellum up close. :) SO SO COOL.
Sadly, I do have 2 students who are TERRIFIED of Geoffrey and they refuse to look at him. It's slightly adorable to watch them stare in a completely different direction as I talk about Geoffrey -- and they are so polite when they say, "Ms. Brown, can we get that out of here...it's kind of scaring me a lot."

I am enjoying just having discussions with the kids and sharing with them the things that I think are awesome --- like the brain. We talked about tumors, brain surgery, concussions, and how all of these things can affect the brain. They love it, I love it -- everyone is ecstatic.

In case you weren't aware. October is National Anti-Bullying month. We have been really emphasizing the importance of creating a positive climate in the classroom and today we watched a video during our Advisory time. It's amazing how smart these kids are and how well they can verbalize their suggestions and they had really great ideas. One boy suggested that to stop bullying you, "just don't bully." So profound.  Here is the video we watched -- if you haven't seen it, check it out and pass it on! Bullying is a serious problem in our society and the aftermath of it is tragic.

Life is good. The weeks are flying by and I've never been happier. :)

I went to a student's soccer game this week -- such a great perk of being a teacher. Go Comets!

We have also started Book It's READ YOUR HEART OUT, and the kids have book goals that they've set to meet for the month. :) 

1 week down!

Woah, it's Friday? Where did the week go?

One thing I know for sure: I MADE IT! I survived my first week as a REAL teacher, and I am so in love with all of it.
This week has been nothing short of madness and I have been rushing around keeping up my careful balancing act, trying not to let any of my new responsibilities slip. In an effort to reflect and review my very first week of being a grown up... I'll give a brief recap here.

On Monday I arrived to work in a great state of unknown. I had seen my classroom for a total of 3 hours the previous day...had spent the night prior planning "First Day" activities and unpacking. A 7th grade teacher in my building had an open room in her house and is letting me crash until I find my own place, such a stress relief. Meeting my kids was awesome, they drifted in at 8:10 to grab pencils/folders/etc on their way to their first hour extra curriculars. (I have conference period as my 1st hour...which has been a saving grace for prep this week)! Many of them stopped in front of me and asked, "Are you the new teacher?" "What's your name?" as I greeted them with a smile and a "Good Morning!" They scurried off to their classes and I got everything ready for my first day...and the first day of their 5th week! (I did get asked 2 different times, by staff members, if I was the new sub...) We spent the day getting to know each other, determining our class goals for the year and reviewing what they'd already learned. At the end of day one, a student stopped me on her way out of school to say, "Ms. Brown you're really nice and very pretty." DAY MADE.

Tuesday & Wednesday continued with hurried bliss. My class was patient and energetic as I navigated the line between how I teach and how they've been taught. The hardest part is picking up where they left off, since that wasn't clearly determined. It's a big guessing game, combined with what the other 5th grade teachers tell me about curriculum maps and common assessments. It all makes my head swim a bit, just the daily....or hourly dose of new information. 'Things you should know,' 'did i tell yous,' and 'have you figured out...' have become phrases that are always followed with a list of things that are extremely relevant...but just add another spinning plate to my current circus act. I have been discovering a new grading system, parent contact, missing students, accommodations, and MEAP testing all within my first week. It's exciting...and terrifying at the same time. I did introduce and implement my new behavior chart --which has done wonders for the class. I can tell I have 2-3 who strive for outstanding every day... which is adorable to watch them. I have 2 others who make me feel bad by how nice they are..I feel like they are hotel staff trying to wait on me. They are always first to finish their work and come up and politely ask, "Ms. Brown, is there anything I can do for you right now?" HILARIOUS.

Thursday - The overall low in my week. I woke up with a raging sinus headache and feeling like my brain had been replaced with a few bricks. (Not the ideal way to start a day that is full of teaching). I grabbed my green tea and made my way to school -- but the entire day was a blur. Oddly enough, being in front of the class --- I didn't even remember that I didn't feel well. It was the moments when I was sitting (at lunch, during conference, after school) that I felt terrible. I am a lucky lady with a great class that is overall well behaved, albeit a little loud sometimes :). I did finally make my way to the 5th grade teachers lunch...I felt bad that I haven't been over there all week, but lunch was a vital time to make sure I had everything in order for my LONG afternoon. :) I love the 5th grade team, they are all so funny and really seem to be great at what they do. They are in a different building so I don't see them often, and they switch for subjects, but I get my kids all the time. :) I left work at 5, and was asleep by 8... ugh, sickness.

Friday! My first Friday. It was just enjoyable, knowing I had made it through the first week. It's so satisfying to feel successful at the end of the week, knowing how hard you've worked for that weekend. My class was completely set up...an being taught by another teacher at the beginning of the year. With this situation came ALL of her books. My class has a back wall that is nothing but shelves...and these shelves are FULL of books. If you know anything about me, you know this is complete heaven. Just books on books, so many options --- soooo awesome! However, with the power comes great responsibility...and not much space for my very own books. So, the previous teacher, as well as about 4 others came and took what they wanted off the shelves... I sadly had to say goodbye to some books I wanted...which is fine...because I still have way more than I need. After this purging of the shelves, I decided that the hodge podge mash-up of books wasn't my style. My students learned the importance of alphabetizing today...helping me sort books by author, using their tables. I wish I'd documented it, because it was insane. They were all quickly walking with stacks of books saying, 'I have a G, where are the G's' and 'Ms. Brown, I need more books.' After this process...the day was over for the kids -- they left and I stayed. I spent an hour and half putting books back and realizing some of my students need some alphabetical help :) or just got confused in the shuffle. Two co-workers kids walked into my room after school with this reaction, "WOAH, is this the library?!" "Man, you have a LOT of books....who are you anyway?" :)




I can say, one of the best things about coming into the school year at week 5, to a teacher who is now the counselor (one door down) is having a fully set up classroom. Now, it's not exactly how I would do it...but the greatest part is that it allows me to focus on curriculum and make slow changes to the room to fit my style. I don't have to panic that the walls are bare, and the bookshelves are empty...because they aren't. I have a classroom that looks like a real classroom and is FULL of supplies, books, and the tools necessary to teach my class. My focus now is curriculum and creating great lessons and the creative stuff comes at a slower pace -- which is sooooo nice!

Overall, my first week was awesome and flew by so quickly that I'm excited for the next one -- when my grip is just a bit tighter. MEAP starts next week, so the kids will be diligently working, while I twiddle my thumbs watching them... :)

Here's to my first weekend as a salary earning, public school employee. :)

The Big Move

So, I did it. In one day, I moved across the state, checked out my class, planned for the first day and made it through. :) I am still in awe of the fact that I am actually teaching my very own class! I have inherited an awesome classroom library -- my back wall is just BOOKSHELVES. If you know me, you know this is a dream come true.

I'm still in the process of decorating, so hopefully once things start falling into place, I'll be able to post pictures and really get the ball rolling.

I have done a few crafts with the kids and will post up some photos of those once things become a little bit less like a tornado. Each day seems to run through my fingers as we move from subject to subject, fit in missed library time and I discover the amazing things my kiddos can do. I'm the definition of a busy bee right now and each night I come home more tired than the last.

Let me be clear: these are NOT complaints. I am head over heels in love with my class, and my school is so awesome. Everyone has been so helpful in making my transition as smooth as it can be -- entering 4 weeks into school!

 I received these flowers from my awesome parents on my first day! I'm so spoiled!

 
I found this sign when I was out picking up last minute things. It seemed to fit my mindset for this year and my situation. So it has become my sort of classroom philosophy, the kids noticed it immediately -- right on top of the bookshelf :)

        
For a bit of humor:
     On the first day, I was trying to get to know my students through their daily journal prompt. They had a list of questions to fill out and at the end of writing I called on them and had them tell me their name and at least one of the answers to a question they'd written. Here is one of the best responses I receieved:

             Me: "Alright, what is your favorite food?"
             Student: "Ahh, that would definitely be a 6 oz. sirloin."
             Me: "Wow, that's specific..."
            Student: "I also prefer it medium rare"