Books Teachers Love {On the Same Day in March}

Welcome back to another month of Books Teachers Love! I cannot believe I am planning for March already! This year has been such a whirlwind! 

I picked "On the Same Day in March" by Marilyn Singer as my book this month. 

 

 

Teaching in Texas sometimes makes it difficult to teach about weather and seasons. More than once I've found myself trying to help my students understand that leaves change colors and YES snow is real. Haha!

 

 

 

 

 

On the Same Day in March will take your students on a world tour while describing the weather all along the way!

 

 

 I LOVE that the book covers three subjects in one read aloud, perfect for the short month of March!To set the stage I usually hang up my HUGE whiteboard map that I keep propped in the corner of my classroom behind the door, the kids never know what it is and are always so surprised when I pull it out and hang it up for the first time each year!

I usually read it right after Dr.Seuss celebration has ended and before I break out the St. Patrick's Day books.  

 

 

 I read the first page and show the kids where it says "On the same day in March..." and teach them to read that part chorally on each page. It just helps keep them engaged and following the text, its a bit longer than the normal read aloud I would select!

 

Thinking about all the different types of weather in the different places sets the students up to practice drawing conclusions. We stop a TON during the read aloud to find places on the map & THINK aloud about how the weather is different all over the world. We use the thinking stem "I notice..." during the lesson to help frame our conversations.

  The kiddos love learning that people all over the world have different weather on the same day! Such a neat book to help expand kids thinking! 

To grab the book on Amazon, click here!

 

 

Keep hopping to find even more fantastic March read aloud planning ideas & freebies below!

Secret Santa Blog Hop {with The Elementary Entourage}

I have loved doing secret Santa exchanges since elementary school. It just so much fun to send and receive secret gifts! My awesome secret Santa partner was Alex from The Kindergarten Connection.

She put together the cutest snow themed gift for me! Look at this adorable snowmen card! I just love it.

I just loved all the details of this card, complete with super cute frames & fonts! 

I got this snowman wrapped candy bar, with a glove for his hat.

Of course, she also sent me the other glove too! Ha!

I got a fluffy pair of Christmas socks just in time for sock day at school because I accidentally packed all mine away for storage since I am in the middle of moving. 

I have a thing for ornaments that can't break, so this perfect!

Alex even made my gum into little snowmen, I don't want to use it up! Too cute!

Thanks Alex for being such a great secret Santa! I love it all! Now that I shared all of the goodies I got...I want to give you a little secret Santa freebie! 

Click the picture to grab the Christmas tree adjective poem from my shop for FREE! 

Merry Christmas y'al1! 

An InLinkz Link-up

{Bloggers Love Books}-The Apple Pie Tree & a FREEBIE

Welcome to the Second month of Books Bloggers Love, a monthly link-up between 12 teacher bloggers! We will be sharing our favorite book to read for the month of September, share with you how we use it, and you might find a freebie or two. The best part?! Each month, you will have a chance to win 4 of the 12 books we blogged about!

 

The Apple Pie Tree by Zoe Hall Click the link or picture to check it out on Amazon. I chose a book that is perfect for the month of September and the traditional primary September theme of apples!

  

I love using themes in my classroom. In first grade, we are already so focused on rigor that it can be hard to find a balance in the classroom. Using a theme for read alouds, a book display, my poem, a few work stations, and a writing project REALLY helps keep my kiddos excited but also challenged at their independent level. 

I love using  The Apple Pie tree as a read aloud to introduce the apple theme in the beginning of September. It is such an easy and quick read aloud.

By the time September rolls around, my class is already focusing on learning specific comprehension skills during mini-lessons and read alouds.In order to keep up the rigor of my lessons while incorporating a theme, I make sure I am focusing on an important comprehension skill during each lesson. 

First, I tell my students about sequence and we discuss why it is important for a story to be in order! Next, we take a picture walk, and the students make observations about what they see in the pictures.Then, I read aloud the story, without stopping.

Last, we discuss the beginning, middle, & end. We then complete the sequencing activity in a pocket chart as whole group. Once I'm sure most of my students had a working knowledge of sequencing, they completed the same activity independently.

I love to extend the apple theme across any subjects as possible. Here is a freebie apple adjective lesson I like to use towards the end of my apple unit.

  Click the picture to download the FREEBIE!

To read more about how I use the apple theme in my classroom, click the pictures below!  

Be sure to enter the giveaway and check out the other bloggers below and see what books they are using for September!

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An InLinkz Link-up

{Bloggers Love Books} The Kissing Hand & a FREEBIE

Welcome to the first month of Books Bloggers Love, a monthly link-up between 12 teacher bloggers! We will be sharing our favorite book to read for the upcoming month, share with you how we use it, and you might find a freebie or two. The best part?! Each month, you will have a chance to win 4 of the 12 books we blogged about!

Most of us begin going back to school during the month of August, so I chose a book that is perfect for the month of August and the first days of school. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. Each year when my students arrive to school on the first day, they harbor a wide variety of feelings about school in general, beginning a new year, making new friends, and leaving loved ones at home after summer break has ended. 

I love using the Kissing Hand as a first days read aloud to begin a discussion on feelings and character. The first open, honest, discussion helps to set the tone in my classroom throughout the year. 

I first introduce the book to my students by telling them that Chester the Raccoon is having a hard time thinking about going to school. I then ask students to think about how they are feeling about school today {the first day of school} and keep their feeling in their mind while I read. 

Next, I read the book straight through to my class. After I have finished reading the book, I ask my students to think about how Chester felt. We will have a short discussion on how he felt and why he felt that way. Discussing the 'why' is important with first graders, I want take my students beyond the yes or no questions right away in the school year! I want my students to be thinkers from day one. 

Then I draw my students attention to the compare and contrast anchor chart on the focus wall. We each student will have a heart with their name on it, Chester has one too, even Mrs. Decatur has a heart!  One side of the Venn-diagram has a small illustration of Chester and says "Nervous" the other side has a happy smiling Raccoon Illusions and says "Excited".  Each student gets a chance (if they want to) to place their heart on the side that matches their feeling about the first day of school. 

After each student has had a turn, we have a short discussion to compare and contrast how each of us feels, some of us may even share why we feel a certain way! I like doing this because it allows my students to express their feelings in a safe place right away. 

I also have a response sheet ready so my students can draw & write about their feelings. I want each of them to feel validated & that their feelings matter, no matter what they may be! Even if they are mad or very upset about returning to school, I like to find out ASAP so I can work on changing that!

Click the picture for your reading response freebie! :) 

If you enjoy the freebie be sure to check out the whole packet {varied response sheets, class book, anchor chart cut outs & more} Click the picture to link directly to the item in my TpT store!

Check out these other awesome ideas I found on Pinterest! Click the pictures for the links! 

Be sure to enter the giveaway and check out the other bloggers below and see what books they are using for back to school!

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An InLinkz Link-up

{Makeover Madness} #TPTsellerchallenge- Week 1

I am so excited to link up with PeppyZestyTeacherista, Sparkling in Second, Teach Create Motivate, & Third in Hollywood for the TPT Seller Challenge! I haven't made any products at all since I began grad school in the fall, I am looking forward to this challenge to get back into the creation groove for summer! 

For week 1 {Makeover Madness} I decided to makeover my genre poster pack!

 I have used these in my classroom for three years & they are a big seller in my shop! However, they looked a little sad, they were one of my first products! 

Here is what they started out looking like, not AWFUL but it doesn't reflect how I currently make products! I have learned SOOOO much in the two years I have been a TPT seller! 

Here is the newly revamped cover! HOWEVER, I updated the entire file & have already posted it to my TPT store! So if you already own them..hurry over & redownload the newly revised version for the upcoming school year! If not click the photo to link directly to my TPT store so you can grab a set to brighten up your classroom library! 

**********************************BONUS*************************************

I also added a "Genre of the Week" 8x10 poster that can be laminated & written on with dry erase marker {OR} download my FREE genre cards to display on the chart! 

The cards are my TPT "Free Download" & I went MAD & gave them a makeover as well! They go along with  my genre posters! It also includes a copy of the Genre of the Week freebie that you can use the cards to display on!  Click the pictures to download either or both for FREE! 

I can't wait to see what week 2 brings! 

Are you linking up for the #TPTSellerchallenge? 

Five for Friday- June 12, 2015

Hey, everyone! I'm so excited to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday! The last time I participated in this was quite a few months ago! I'm excited to share with you my first Five for Friday of summer break 2015! Whoot!

I am thoroughly enjoying my summer break. It has been one entire week since it began! I have spent the whole week in Boston with my husband. We have had everything delicious you can dream of, but most importantly, CANNOLIS. AH I just love love love them! I have had them in about five or six states..nothing beats Mike's! Boston has been wonderful, but I am excited to get home to my furbaby & start in on my LONG summer to do list! 

If you follow me on IG you know, I love Moscow Mules, or really any sort of mule! Since I got totally hooked on them from a dear friend, I try a speical local version everywhere I go now! This is number 7! I have had  Texas mule, Thai mule, Moscow mule, Kentucky mule, Polish Mule, Manhattan mule, and this is a Mission High mule in Boston! They change the name based on the type of alcohol inside the drink! If you haven't tried one you should, so refreshing! 

Classroom decor...I saw some of the CTP bloggers previewing the paint chip and chalk theme, I am just in love! I have had several themes over the last five years, I think this may actually be able to pull my mangerie of decor and organizational items together for a nice simple cohesive look. I feel like when I started teaching, I couldn't find enough stuff to cover every wall and shelf, now I envy a nice sleek clean simple classroom. I will be aiming for that this summer! 

I am officially on Facebook as "MrsDecatursLittleGators" I'd love if you follow me there too, I have uploaded  a special fan freebie you can only download through that link! Click the picture above to be redirected to my FB page! Here is a preview of the freebie available there:

Summer teaching reading list! Everyone is posting their list on IG, I am feeling the pressure! I need to get going on what I want to brush up on and which new books I want to dive into. Since I started grad school, selected PD reading has been on a back burner & its time to bring it to the fore front. What are you reading this summer? I'd love some suggestions, I teach first grade, reading ELA & social studies only!