Throwback Thursday, Workshop Wednesday (a day late), NEW Monsters Clipart, & a SALE--Oh my!

Throwback Thursday Linky

Just found out about Throwback Thursday and decided to link up! This is a great linky over at the First Grade Parade where bloggers are linking up oldie-but goodie previous blog posts. 

Here is one of my favorite posts...

**********Originally posted February 23, 2013**********

Just discovered the picture book, Things That Are Most in the World by Judy Barret, thanks to Sunny Days in Second's Show & Tell Tuesday. What perfect timing! I was just getting ready to do a lesson on comparative adjectives.  Well, the story is hilarious--as evidenced by the roaring laughter coming from our room at the end of the hall--but what was to follow was even better...

There is an open writing frame at the end of the book for kids to create their own page.  I decided to adapt this a bit and create a three-part writing frame.  First, each student randomly chose an adjective from the basket and wrote the adjective in three forms (e.g. sharp, sharper, sharpest). Then I gave students a model of what they would be doing. Here is an example of what I wrote--A porcupine's quills are sharp.  A porcupine learning to sword fight is sharper. A porcupine sword fighting a sea urchin is the sharpest thing in the world. The object was to build on the original frame. I also showed the illustrations I made to accompany my writing.  

The book and model were inspiration as students began to create. I don't know how many times I have reread these, since just yesterday!  Their creativity makes me smile, laugh, and a few left me with that warm-fuzzy feeling... 

It's hot because it's 100 degrees.  It's hotter because it's 100 degrees and he's running a marathon. The hottest thing in the world is when it's 100 degrees and he's running a marathon wearing long sleeves and sweat pants.

A duck is lucky.  A duck that is opening a fortune cookie is luckier.  A ducking eating a fortune cookie while crossing a high way without getting hit is the luckiest thing in the world.

A t-rex is large. A t-rex holding a sky scraper is larger. A t-rex holding a sky scraper with a tree on the sky scraper is the largest thing in the world.

My fuzzy slippers are soft. Wearing my soft socks with my fuzzy slippers is softer.  Wearing my soft pajamas while wearing my fuzzy slippers and my soft socks is the softest.

A cow standing on two legs is silly.  A cow riding on a bike, standing on the seat, on two legs is sillier.  A cow eating corn on the cob, while standing on two legs, on the seat of a bike, is the silliest thing in the world.

We have yet to share as a class, so I anticipate the laughter and fun to continue...

I used an 11"x 17" version with my students, but I have also created a 14" x8.5" version. Click to download either. Have fun! 

Update: The kids decided they wanted to make a book out of their creations. :0)

Workshop Wednesday (a day late)

Linking up with Ideas by Jivey for Workshop Wednesday. I'd like to share how I organize reading rotations (guided reading) and my plans for using the same system for guided math this coming school year.

I create a diagram that helps organize myself as well as my students.  I create a circular diagram on the whiteboard so it is visible the entire school year.  Wish I could show you the actual diagram on our whiteboard, but I won't be creating it until we get back to school.  BUT I have created the following visual for you.

Here's how it works:

The names on the inside of the circle are magnetic.  This allows for flexible grouping depending on the skill, text, strategy, etc. of focus.  Last year I had 20-21 students, but I created this sample with 23 students (approximate number for this coming school year). As you can see, I just threw some names in... :0)

The colored labels indicate where students will begin the day's rotation.  These are magnetic labels as well, as they change from day to day.  Station rotations include word work, writing, listening, read to self, reflecting on reading, Mrs. Masters, and the collaborative special education teacher (in previous years I have always had collaborative students in my classroom, yet I do not know about this year yet). 

The arrows help students remember the order of rotation. Students who start with me will go to Word Work, then Writing, and finally Listening (according to this diagram).

As you can tell, I do not use Daily 5 as the basis--BUT I do use their procedures for building stamina for each independent activity/task.  This works fabulously!

Looking forward to guided math...

Courtney and I have talked about how this diagram/organizational system will be useful for guided math as well.  Like guided reading...

• Groups need to be flexible
• Students need to know the order of rotation
• Activities, independent work, games, etc. need to be flexible

Thanks to Jivey for this opportunity to link up! Please stop over to her blog to learn about other great workshop ideas--there are many...

NEW Monster Clipart!

I have been wanting to create some googley-eyed monsters, so here they are! Check them out at my Graphics by Sarah Beth TpT store...

Independence Day SALE!

Finally, fly on over to my Teachers Pay Teachers stores to save big this Independence Day! Just click my TpT store links on our left side bar!

All the best to you and yours this 4th of July!