End of the Year Booklet

We have only 14 days of school left, so I figured my kiddos could do one of these pages each day (8 pages in total) during writing time. We finished our last unit a week ago, so we are just refining our writing skills right now. TRYING our best to follow ALL the star sentence parts... (O_o)

You can get these here!

How many days do you have????

Techie Tool: LearnZillion

Not sure if you have heard of LearnZillion, but I ran across it yesterday and love it!

What is it? It is an online or APP tool that you can use as a teaching tool. There are over 2000 lessons that are specific to Common Core (Math & ELA). The lessons are PowerPoint presentations. You can assign specific students a lesson to view, so you can differentiate for the needs of all learners. I plan to experiment with it next year in 5th grade.

They have created the lessons, but they hope to make it to where you can create the lessons in the future.

Have you used LearnZillion? If so, let me know your thoughts about it.

You can also download the APP: LearnZillion APP

Instragram Linky... yippie #teachertalktuesday

Linking up with Michelle @ Apples and ABC's and Rachelle @ What the Teacher Wants!

Do you have Instagram? If not, you need it! It is a simple way to share photos:) I also have Instacollage, which is wonderful when you want to post multiple pics as a collage!

Please join me on Instagram: iteach5thgrade


Here are the MOST recent pics on my Instagram...

 

Backward, Forward Linky (Please Join in)

I am going to try an attempt at a Linky Party. Here goes... *crossing my fingers* that this goes right and that people will join along.

I call this the "Backward, Forward" Linky. Why? You will post about the most memorable times over this past school year (looking Backward), and you will talk about things that you are (looking Forward) to in the next school year - maybe there was something you wanted to do and didn't get to do it, or maybe you are changing grade levels or schools.

Just grab the image above to link back to this post AND submit your site below. Please, please, please respond to others' posts as well (2 backward, and 2 forward...haha). Looking forward to seeing your reflections on your year and what is exciting you for the next!! Thank you in advance for joining in. ~ Please pass the word along ~

(you are more than welcome to snatch my little forward and backward buttons, if you would like to use them)

This year has been an adventurous one! We have had 23-24 students all year long, which is a lot for what we typically have (17-18). I cannot complain, because I have had THE BEST paraprofessional/assistant EVER this year!!

Some things I will never forget about this year:

• Having 23 students
• One of my students (had some behavior problems) was hollering out and singing the Chipettes "I Whip my Tail Back & Forth," as she is standing in her chair actually shaking her bottom back and forth...LOL!

• Had a female student that REALLY needed to go potty - so much that she was pulling her pants down before she made it into the restroom...LOL!
• Trying to implement Common Core for the first time has been a roller coaster, to say the least!

 

• Our Halloween morning games were a hit!

• We had fun counting up to 50 and working with 50 objects, etc. on 50s Day:

• We always enjoy our little Native Americans...

• I will never forget the tragedy in Newtown & the changes our school has because of this (all doors locked at ALL times & a police officer at our school at ALL times)

 

• Our silly elf, reindeer, and Santa photos were awesome!!!

• WE had a blast creating 2- and 3-Dimensional figures

• We flew kites, which was SOOO much fun for our "how to" writing unit.

I am SOOOOOO looking forward to next year - in 5th grade!!!! I should be teaching Reading, Writing, and Social Studies. I am slightly nervous, but have co-taught this grade level before. I have a LOT to learn, but this team I have to work with is wonderful!

I have never painted my classroom walls before, but with a fresh new start, I plan on painting this summer... what am I getting myself in to? Can any of you give me any helpful advice for 5th grade? I can take ALL I can get!! :)

My (possible) future wall colors:

 

 

 

"I can statements" 5th grade ELA

I have seen a lot of research about the colors of classrooms and how students react to certain colors. I added some black this year, and I have noticed a difference in my students (was not a good thing). As I transition to 5th, I researched the best colors for my walls. After much looking around, I have decided on some light blues, light purples, and possibly light greens. Upper grades are calmed by these colors, plus the purples bring on creativity... which I want in their writing!

In addition to a color change, I needed to create some "I can statements" (student learning targets)posters to keep me focused and to refer to throughout teaching. I had created Kindergarten CC statements last year, so I decided to make some for 5th to match my color scheme. In addition, I am in the process of creating vocabulary cards as well.

These statements are detailed & broken down based upon the skills listed in the 5th grade Teacher Guidance document from the Georgia Standards website: Teacher Guidance Document

For your convenience, I have included my color versions and blank posters (you can print on any pretty paper of your choice).

COLOR VERSION

You can get these here!

BLANK VERSION

You can get these here!

Student Survey: What I need to learn best...

Linking up with All Things Upper Elementary: Free 4 All :)

As I enter 5th grade, I really need to know what it is that 5th graders expect out of their teacher. Of course, I always strive to give my students what they need. This survey is a great way to really see what they are thinking and to see how they view how they learn best. Click the image below for the {free} resource:

You can get these here!

Fave Classroom Spots

I am a little late joining this link up, but better late than never... right?

 

The topic this week is to show off my 3 favorite places in my classroom (my home away from home). I am bittersweet, as I am leaving this room to head to 5th grade next year. The BEST spot is my window (as I get to see the front entry of the school and know what is going on at all times). Other than that, here are my faves:

My self that stores ALL my read alouds, where students cannot dig into them. I have them categorized, so that it is simple to find what I need!!!

 

Next, I am IN LOVE with my easel. Many folks do not care for the larger easels, but this one has been great for storage AND I have a place to write on charts & on the white board section at the same time - GREAT for setting criteria and transferring the information quickly! In addition, I can keep literacy on one side, and my Number Talk (math) on the other! No need to switch everything out each day.

 

 

 

 

I will have to find some NEW favorite spots next year when I move to 5th! :)

Five for Friday

Linking up with Doodle Bugs, Five for Friday!

WOW...what a week in Kindergarten!!!!

Had to fill in and do some CRCT testing this week. Was nice to have a change, but reading the tests aloud for accommodations is NOT fun when your ALLERGIES are acting crazy!!!

Okay, so I have to admit that we (at our school) do notice a difference when there is a full moon... ANYONE else??? My children were angels on Monday... the rest of the week was WILD. Our schedule has been a little off with testing, etc., so this may have contributed to it.

Really am very grateful for my teacher bible study group!! We really have each others' backs and are in constant prayer for one another. Our talks about being STUCK have really helped me put my focus on God and solely rely on HIM!

We meet every other week & it is truly a BLESSING!

Have to take a mommy moment and brag on my daughter!! She is in 1st grade and recently took the STAR Math and STAR Reading tests. She scored 3rd grade level in reading and middle of 2nd grade level in math. She has met her AR goal each quarter, as well. We are very proud of her::

We had a walking field trip today... was a beautiful day for it!! We visited our downtown community to learn about different careers:

 

Local Radio Station

 

Police Department

 

and the...

 

Library

We had a great day & thanks to my husband for joining us and keeping a few of my little fellows under control!!! :)

Spiritual Self Evaluation Bible Study

I recently read two books that challenged and inspired me:

Love Gives Life: A Study of 1 Corinthians 13 by Evan May

Crazy Love by Francis Chan

The first is a short book that encouraged me to live out love as described in 1 Corinthians 13, the "love chapter" of the Bible.  After reading that book, I saw a video of Francis Chan and decided to read Crazy Love.  It exhorted me not only to live out God's love, but also to think specifically about all of my actions (or inactions) in light of my relationship with God.  I was to categorize myself as lukewarm or obsessed.  While I might have argued that I was somewhere in between, Francis Chan is right that "If I stop pursuing Christ, I am letting our relationship deteriorate."  The following Bible study is a compilation of Bible verses (many from the chapter "Profile of the Lukewarm" in Crazy Love) to help believers evaluate their relationship with God.  

This Bible study does not teach how to be saved, it only helps to evaluate the relationship of a believer with his or her Savior.  For information on how to be saved from the penalty of sin, click on one of the following links:

Are You a Good Person?

This Bible study was also not intended to help you assess another person's relationship with God.  In order to make these evaluations, motives and attitudes need to be evaluated and each person alone can evaluate their own motives and attitudes.  If you see sin in the life of another believer, deal with it biblically (Matthew 18:15-17) first considering your own sins (Matthew 7:1-5).

Feel free to print these out for yourself or others.   They were made to be used (originally by me, though I like to share).  However, if you claim that you wrote this or try to publish it under your name, you made need to read this evaluation again.

Spiritual Self Evaluation (click here for a printable version)

A personal Bible study based on portions of Crazy Love by Francis Chan

How is my relationship with God?  Do I love Him completely?

Read Psalm 63:3.  Do I really believe that God�s mercy is better than life?  Do I live like I do?

Read Matthew 7:21.  Do I think I�m going to heaven because I�m a �Christian� or do I have an active relationship with my Savior?  I can�t lose my salvation (Read John 10:28-29 and 1 John 5:13).  However, if I am saved, won�t I want to have a relationship with my Savior?

Read Matthew 22:37-39.  Do I think that it is possible for me to love God with all my heart and soul and mind or do I believe that kind of love is just for special Christians?

Read Luke 9:57-62.  Have I let God have all of me or just the part that I don�t mind Him controlling?  What part of me don�t I want to let Him have?

Read Luke 14:33.  Have I forsaken all for Him?  Am I satisfied with giving Him less than everything?  Do I think that giving Him less will satisfy Him?

Read Luke 18:21-25.  Do I put a limit on how much I will do for God?

Read Luke 12:16-21.  Do I feel secure because I have made plans rather than trusting God for my future?

Read James 2:17.  What I am doing right now that requires faith in God?  How are my actions showing my faith?

Am I more concerned with appearances than the condition of my heart?

Read Luke 18: 11-12.  Do I see myself as a good person because I think I am better than others?  Do I compare myself to other imperfections or Christ�s perfection?

Read Matthew 21:28-31.  Do I understand that God judges actions and not outward appearance or words?  Do I live knowing that He sees me heart, attitude, and motives?

Read Matthew 5:16.  When people see my good deeds, do they praise us or God? If they praise us, do we point them back to Him or to we rob Him of the glory that is His?

Read Matthew 23:5-7.  Do I do things for God or to be seen by others?  When I am doing good, am I thinking about His pleasure or other people�s praise?

Read Matthew 23:25-28.  Am I holy from the inside out or do I just appear holy on the surface?  What about my motives?  Are they pure?

Read Luke 6:26.  Am I pleased with myself when people praise me?  Do I understand that people often praise the wrong things (the outward instead of the heart)?

Read Revelation 3:1.  Am I more concerned about what other Christians think or what God thinks?  No matter what others might think of me, in reality am I spiritually dead or alive?

Read Matthew 10:32-33.  Is my own comfort more important than sharing Christ?  Is my belief strong enough to risk embarrassment?

How pure is my worship?  Am I merely religious or do I truly have a relationship with my Savior?

Read Malachi 1:10.  God says that giving no offering (by shutting the doors) is better than an apathetic one.  Am I apathetic in my worship or do I have a sincere heart?

Read Isaiah 29:13.  Do I give God worship with my lips but fail to give Him my heart?  True worship is backed up with actions (Luke 6:45), so does my life prove the sincerity of my worship?

Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-4.  Do I think that I am spiritual because I have a miraculous gift, speak well, have wonderful knowledge, or give generously?  Do I see that all of these things, though good, are only for this world and will no longer be needed when Christ returns?  Do I instead focus on love which will not cease at Christ�s return?

Read Galatians 5:6.  Do I rely on my religion and religious traditions or rather faith which works in love?  Religion means nothing in Christ, but faith and love should be the heart of my relationship with God.

Read Philippians 2:5-8.  Do I think that I am spiritual because of some great sacrifice I have made?  My sacrifices are nothing next to His because He had so much more to sacrifice than I do.

Read Colossians 2:20-23.  Is my focus on trying harder to be good or do I focus more on Him?  Trying harder is often just appearing spiritual and has �no value against fleshly indulgence.�

Do I truly love others more than myself?

Read Matthew 5:43-47.  Do I love others without looking for anything in return or are there strings attached?  Do I love those who hate me?  Do I forgive them or hold onto a grudge?  Do I act on that love by doing kind things for them?

Read Luke 14:12-14.  Do I do things for others only when it benefits me (by looking good, by having them �owe me��)?

Read James 1:27.  Do I have a heart for the helpless, the fatherless, the widows, and the needy?

Read Matthew 25:31-46.  Do I treat each person as I would Jesus?  Do I really believe that �Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me�?  Do I only do things for those who are easy to love and won�t embarrass me or do I help the �least of these�?

Do I give freely to others?  Do I share my possessions or do they possess me?

Read Deuteronomy 15:10.  Do I bemoan what I give to the Lord or do I give with an open hand?

Read 1 Chronicles 21:24.  Do I offer things to God which have cost me nothing?

Read 1 Chronicles 29:14.  Do I consider my belongings mine or God�s?  Who makes the decision on how to use my possessions: me or God?

Read Matthew 6:20-21, 33.  In what do I invest my money and time?  That is where my heart is.  Is my heart in God�s kingdom or my own?

Read Luke 21:1-4.  Do I give God all I have or just the leftovers?

Read 1 Timothy 6:17-18.  Do I focus on what my possessions can do for me or how I can use them for others?

Is sin effecting my relationship with God?

Read Romans 6:1-2.  Do I continue in sin?  Do I get frustrated with myself when I sin?  Do I confess each sin to God?  I�m dead to sin, not just the penalty of it.  I will still struggle with the sin nature, but I should hate sin.

Read James 1:22-25.  Am I merely convicted of my sin or do I act on that conviction by repenting (changing my behavior)?

Read James 4:17.  Do I notice the good I fail to do?  Do I make excuses to myself for not doing something I know that God would want me to do?  Do I feel convicted about not helping those who I know are in need? 

Is my focus on this short life or all of eternity?

Read Philippians 3:18-20.  Do I think more on this life of the next?

Read James 1:2-4.  Do I count it all joy when I am in trials?  Do I realize that they are making me more like Christ?  Do I then consider the trials worthwhile to reach that goal?

Read 1 John 2:28.  Am I anticipating Christ�s return or will I be ashamed of my actions when He comes?

Abiding, Focusing, and Fellowshipping

Trying vs. Abiding

Read Colossians 2:20-3:4.  Trying harder to do the right thing isn�t the answer.  It�s still being focused on the world to which we should be dead.  The answer is to set my mind on Christ.  Do I focus on Him more than my service to Him?

Read John 15:1-11.  In these verses, what is the secret to bearing fruit?  What does it mean to abide in Him?

Read 1 John 2:3-6 and 1 John 2:24.  Trying harder accomplishes nothing.  The secret is abiding in Him.  How do we do that?  What is the proof that I am abiding in Him?  Do I abide in God�s Word?  Does my life show that I abide in God�s Word?

What is my focus?

Read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18.  Trials seem tough when I am going through them, but do I recognize that they are only a �light affliction� when compared with the �far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory� that is waiting for us?  This life is temporal.  I need to retrain my mind to think with an eternal perspective.

Read Hebrews 12:1-3.  What should my focus be on?  What do I personally need to put aside?  What joy is set before me and what am I enduring to reach it?

Read 2 Corinthians 10:5.  Do I take every thought captive to obeying Christ?  My mind must be retrained and I must constantly force myself to look from His perspective.

Fellowship

Read 1 John 1:5-9.  How do I stay in fellowship with God?  Do I have any unconfessed sin that is keeping me from fellowshipping with God?

Read Revelation 3:20.  These verses are actually written to believers, not those who still need salvation.  If I want fellowship with God, what must I do?  Do I let God in on my everyday life or are there parts of my life where I keep Him out?  What can I do to invite Him into all areas of my life.

Read James 4:8-10.  How can I get closer to God?  What actions in these verses are associated with drawing near to Him?  There are at least four.

Read Ephesians 5:25-27 and Titus 3:5-7.  In what two ways does God cleanse us?  How am I encouraging God to change me through His Word?  How am I encouraging God to change me through His Spirit?



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Last days in Kindergarten... what are we up to?

Well, today is 18 more days left of school!! Yay! I sure will miss my kindergarten sweeties when I am in 5th next year, but I know I will make positive relationships with the older students as well:)

In honor of counting down the days, we are popping a balloon with a special activity:

18 - inside manipulative play time (instead of small group work in the AM)
17 - sidewalk chalk (afternoon)
16 - sit anywhere
15 - no shoes in class
14 - ice cream cones (yummy)
13 - listen to music during small group work time
12 - chew gum
11 - use markers instead of pencils to complete work (this is a BIG deal to them...lol)
10 - sidewalk chalk (during small group time)
9 - Tour 1st grade classroom & ask questions
8 - inside manipulative play time (instead of small group work in the AM)
7 - free drawing time (AM)
6 - game day (all day) - they enjoy games like: 4 corners, up & down game, heads up 7 up, doggie where's your bone?, etc.
5 - make paper airplane & have an airplane flying contest
4 - FIELD DAY - all day games outdoors
3 - movie & popcorn
2 - draw & listen to music
1 - play "minute to win it" games (see some here: Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits)
LAST DAY - Fun day at local state park!!!

 

 

We just finished our 'How to..' writing unit. We enjoyed some time flying kites and writing about the steps to fly a kite:

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are looking forward to our upcoming field trip (downtown) to visit our local library, police station, and radio station!!