Daily 5 (Part 2)

As I was trying to type on the computer, my 3-year-old kept climbing onto my lap begging me to read to her.  (Wow, what a problem, right?!)  I kept telling her that I couldn't read to her right now.  She said, "But I can't read the book!"  My reply brought me back to Daily 5.  I said, "Read the pictures!"

In Daily 5, students are taught there are 3 ways to read a book:
-Read the words
-Read the pictures
-Retell a story

I like to keep an anchor chart with those 3 ways to read up on the wall in the classroom to remind students, no matter what reading level, that they can read!

Here is a freebie:
                
 3 Ways to Read a Book   

Happy teaching!

Turkey Day!

I've been so busy! Doing what, I can't really say. But at the end of the day, I can honestly say that I am exhausted! I have been having fun planning for our little preschool group. I guess you can take the teacher out of the school, but you can't take school out of the teacher!

This week we've been leaning about the letter T. I found a few cute crafts on Pinterest. I also found that after working with 2nd graders, I have to drastically lower my expectations of what a 3-year-old can be expected to do! We started with a turkey T, and also frosted some yummy cookies and decorated them like turkeys. We are also working on a handprint ABC book, so the kids each made a turkey handprint.

I am so thankful that I have been given the opportunity to spend more time working with Goobs. She is a character, and there is never a dull moment, but I wouldn't change it for the world! Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Boo to You!

Well, hello folks!  Life has been crazy!  Between a baby who does not want to nap, a 3-year-old who recently got "lasered" by an outlet, and a 6-going-on-16-year-old, I have had a hard time keeping up with anything other than "mommy work".  (And I'm even struggling with that!)   I've also started working on a playgroup/pre-school for my 3-year-old with a few other moms.  Yes, my life is darn-right scary lately!

Our first day of "school" is tomorrow!  We are going to have a Halloween party, complete with gory grub, spooky read-alouds, and a few games to get their little hearts and minds excited for our new adventure.  Here is a link to our Bats Everywhere e-book, one of our most popular books, complete with printables, songs, poems, and ideas.  I'm going to have the kids make the bat puppets.  I think that will be the perfect craft!                                                                            
Bats Everywhere   

More information to come- and hopefully some pictures of our little Halloween party!

Have a wonderfully spooktacular Halloween!

Daily 5!

I've decided to spend my time making things that I've made as a teacher, but add my own clip art and publish them for other teachers to use.  It always takes a big chunk of time to cut and paste to make charts, posters, labels, etc.  My goal is to do the work for you- adding a touch of originality.

I'm going to start with Daily 5.  For those of you who have never used this program, or maybe never even heard of it, check out the book:

The Daily 5 at Amazon.com

I've started working on anchor charts, posters, and signs to correlate with the Daily 5.  Here is a sample.  Check back soon for more!

Daily 5 signs page 1

    Daily 5 signs page 2

Back to School!

Looking for back-to-school ideas, songs, poems and worksheets?  Check out our "Back to School" unit.   It is full of fun activities to use at the beginning of the year. Activities like songs and poems, graphic organizers, class book with cover and student pages, 100 chart, reading log, leveled mini-books to make and take, simple math worksheets, and more.

Back to School Unit


Happy teaching!

Getting to Know You

Back to school!  No matter how prepared you (think you) are, there is still a wave of panic that comes over you when your new students walk in through the classroom door.  What will they be like?  Will they go home saying they had a wonderful day?  Will they like me and be excited about the school year?  The first week of school is all about getting to know each other and getting familiar with the classroom and routines.  I always like to have a few fun things for the kids to do to get to know each other on that first day:

 * "Get to know" Dr. Jean.  I don't know what I would have done without her creative songs and ideas.  Check out this link for cool name games to play with little ones so that when they go home, and their parents ask, "Who did you sit by/play with/meet?", they will be able to actually give a name. 
http://www.drjean.org/html/monthly_act/act_2010/07_Jul/index.html

* A friend I worked with my first year of teaching taught me a variation on "Willoughby Walloby Woo" that helped me "get to know" my students, while praising good behavior.  It went something like this:
                     Willoughby, Walloby, Wace,
                     I like how you're sitting, Grace,
                     and Willoughby, Walloby, Waddy,
                     Thank you for listening, Maddy!
The kids loved this song, and it also helped them learn each other's names by identifying the rhyming words.  Check out this YouTube video for the tune: 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dakz5lmEwR8&noredirect=1

*Another song idea:  I'm not sure where I got this, or if I made it up!  Have the kids sit in a circle, and teach them the rhyme to "Itsy Bitsy Spider".  Walk around as you are singing it and point at one of the students to sing about.   Kids love being the center of attention, and this gives them the opportunity to be in a song!  You can use the song in their poetry folder or as a class book by having them write their name and draw a picture of themselves under the spider.
Itsy Bitsy Spider


*K-2 students are all about Me! Me! Me!  So give them a chance to talk about themselves while finding friends who have things in common with them.  Here is a variation of a sheet that I've used a lot.   First have the kids color their hair and eye color and their favorite color, then draw their pet (if they have one) and their family.  Then let them walk around and find friends to sign their names on the paper. 
Find a Friend

Enjoy getting to know your little ones!  Before you know it, they (and you) will all be the best of friends!

"How I Spent My Summer Vacation" by Lorane

Who had an action-packed summer?  Me! Me! Me!

How did I spend my summer vacation?  Oh, doing nothing really, except. . . .  having our 3rd baby girl while taking care of our other two children while on maternity leave after teaching 2nd grade while my husband was away at training for 12 weeks. (Big breath)  Oh, and no big deal, but we also moved across the country where we know nobody.  Not much really. . . How was your summer?

While the events I just described were hectic to say the least, the silver lining is that now that we are in Seattle, I have the opportunity to stay at home with my 3 little girls!  I am so excited to be on the other side of things- I sent my 1st grader off to school this year instead of welcoming first-graders to my own classroom.  I am also looking forward to working with my Mom on our resources for teachers and spending more time on my blog (I mean, really, 8 months in between posts?!?). 

In the upcoming months, I'm planning on posting some ideas and links to Rainy Day Learning resources to help keep your classroom running smoothly.  Welcome back to school, and check back often to take advantage of freebies and ideas!

Hello Blog World!

Hey ya'll!  I am new to this blogging thing. . . I mean, really new, like I am figuring it out as I go.  But I am excited to start this new adventure!

I am a teacher in Northern Virginia, and this is my 7th year of teaching.  I have taught grades K-2, and in the middle of all of that teaching, I have had two beautiful daughters.  Life has been hectic to say the least, and I'm always looking for good resources to make my life easier, both at home and at school.

A few years ago, my mom (who had taught for many years) and I had a crazy idea.  We decided we wanted to put our heads together and make teacher resources and e-books.  After a LOT of hard work and dedication by my mother, I am so excited that we are finally up and running!  We are currently selling theme-based e-books for teachers of students in PreK - 2nd Grade.  Check back soon for more info and postings about our books!!