I am not that kind of girl!!

Today I was contacted by a fellow blogger, Diane from Fifth in the Middle, and she told me that I was a No Reply Blogger - whenever I read it, I say it in a loud, deep space voice.  I was like... huh.. what the heck does that mean...

What is a "No Reply Blogger"?  It means that every time I left a comment or a question on someones blog they couldn't respond to me.  Ugg...I feel so snobbish!! I thought that no one wanted to "talk" to me! I was wrong!! In fact, a lot of bloggers have this issue and I thank Diane for bringing it to my attention!!

I promise I am not anti-social...  In fact it's quite the opposite.  I talk probably a bit too much. I love getting to know people and making new friends!  So of course I am thrilled that I was able to fix this problem.

The problem is in the User Profile on Blogger.  Where it says "show my email address", this box was not checked which made me a no reply blogger (this seems like such a bad phrase to me right now).  I had my email address on my profile, it was just the box not being checked that made people unable to reply to me.  When someone would try to respond to my comments via their blog they got a message saying "No Reply Blogger".  So, apparently, I was being anti-social without even knowing it.  I'm really nice, ask anyone, I promise and now that it is fixed I hope to talk to many more of you.  

Fixing the problem is actually quite easy once you know how...Here is a link to Mrs. Lamb's the Tatooed Teacher's Blog and her tutorial "slides" are so simple to follow!!
http://mrslambsclass.blogspot.com/2012/07/what-im-no-reply-blogger-google-fix.html

 I hope this helps you and I hope to get some new friends!! I promise to reply if you have a question!! How rude of me!! ;) I am just not that kind of girl!!

 Happy Teaching,

Classroom Photos part 3

I was asked to take photos of my guided reading management, word wall, and writing areas...here they are...

This is my rotation chart. I change group names every quarter.  I have 4 rounds each day. I see all 4 groups everyday, except on Wednesday (we have early outs on Wednesdays and my mornings are shorter); I only have 2 rounds on Wednesday.  You can check out the station cards at my TPT store by clicking the picture.  I change stations each day, but the order of time with me is the same everyday.  I have grouped my students by level.  I purchased Kirsten Smith's Guided Reading Made Easy Binder and I LOVE it!! I have gotten everything printed and copied and will begin using it this week!! Below this chart is our classroom library and student book boxes. Scholastic has a great article on the use of book boxes here.  I have been using them for years!! My kids really seem to love them and are better readers because of them!

The reading CAFE!  I am not sure where I got the C A F E documents, I tried to duplicate the border so I could list the skills for each one.  If you have seen these before, please let me know so I can give proper due!! The cutie-pie labels on the board are from Life in First Grade Tweet Tweet Focus Headers.  I printed them smaller because I am limited on space.  I put magnets on the back and write the information on the whiteboard.

This is my Word Wall...Life in First Grade's Complete Bird Themed Classroom and used the Alphabet Headers.  The words are from Erica Bohrer's PolkaDot Word Wall.  It is editable...which I love! I introduce 5 new words per week! These are laminated.  I am planning on moving my word wall next year...so I can put magnets on them and students can enjoy an interactive wall!

This is the conventions part of my writing wall!  I went to a workshop and a teacher showed these wonderful signs on capitals, punctuation, and spacing!! I tried to recreate it to suit my needs. My kids use this as a checklist for their sentences!  I totally love them too. 


Finally, Here's my writing "bulletin board"!  Don't you just love that huge writing pencil?!  Lindsey, the Teacher Wife, has that as a freebie on her blog!  Seriously, stop what you are doing right now and go print it :)  I also love this writing bulletin board set from A Cupcake for the Teacher. My Littles love the writing station!  I also have task cards (purple pocket chart) - they are required to do one activity a day. The winter words are hung for the students.  I use Judy Bonzer's Theme Posters. She has so many wonderful posters.  I place one in each of the student's table tubs as well.  I laminate them so they can be used each year!

Have fun and Happy Teaching,

This Week...Five for Friday (Saturday version)

OK this was a very busy week for me!!  

1.  Monday our District in-service was not cancelled due to -48 degree windchills!! I think we were missing about 1/3 of the staff.  Our keynote speaker was Patrick Briggs (below).  He had some inspiring things to say!  My favorite was the clip he showed...I had already seen it before but it is so hilarious I thought I'd share.  Our Teaching and Learning Department had several mini workshops put on by some great teachers!  Way to go teachers!!  One session that I really wanted to go to had both presenters not show; weather related...bummer!.  Then we got to meet with other first grade teachers in the District...to discuss...the SAME thing we discussed at our last meeting! Does this happen to you? Oh Well...Keeping Calm and Teaching On!!

    

2.  On Tuesday..."TOO COLD TO GO TO SCHOOL" DAY!! I got absolutely NOTHING done; heehee!! The kids and I vegged and watched some movies! I stayed in my PJs all day!

3. Wednesday...so excited to see my Littles!! I missed them so much! It was such a relaxing day - the kids were thrilled to come in to a new room set up!  I move desks around once a quarter and they look forward to new table-mates!  After school, I finished getting read for a guest teacher so I could attend SDE 1st Grade Conference...Yippee!! Sad to leave right after we get back, but the program is to good to pass up...Click the picture to see the list of presenters!

4.  OK...not a great start...Thursday began with the Reps telling us the Pat Pavelka was sick and was not going to make it!  AHH!! Of the 8 sessions I chose; and the reason I wanted to attend - I planned to go to 5, yes 5 of her sessions!!  She was Commone Core, Reading, and Writing!!  I was so bummed.  The positive side, I met Sherri Strating who was pretty exciting to see! I went to other sessions that I felt were to basic for me - morning meeting and math stations! It was so disappointing!  Plus, I went alone so...no happy hour!! I did get caught up on Walking Dead episodes! I am only on season 3 and Laurie just died giving birth! Now there is a crazy Governor and Daryl and Merle are going to fight? I went to bed at 1 AM...ugg!  I found this Peanuts version of the Walking Dead!!  Too funny!

I also started a 1st Grade Standards Binder to sell on TPT!  I FINALLY finished it!  I hope teachers can use it and get organized!  Check it out by clicking on the picture!!

5.  Friday...more bad news the other 2 session I wanted to attend - presenter not coming! GRRRR!! I am not sure how I feel about it. This was a very upsetting conference - of the 8 session I went to - I got something out of two of them - Sherri Strating's Close Reading and Donna Whyte's Games for the Common Core.  Unfortunately there were some other issues I will not bore you with!  I was so happy to be home!!

When I got home, the fam and I went to Texas Roadhouse for yummy New York Strips! Then we went and spent WAY too much at the book store.  Finally, we went to the movies.  We saw Lone Survivor. WOW! What a great humbling movie. I totally recommend it! It made me appreciate the military for all they do for us. We have not a clue what they go through each and everyday!!  I will put their families in my prayers as well!!

Here is a link to the trailer...













I am looking forward to Monday!!  I hope the guest teacher was adequate...I was told by my partner teacher that when she went in too check on the kids, her was talking on his cell phone during guided groups. Yikes!!! He is going on the list of never again!

Yippee!!

First of all, I have to say I LOVE LOVE LOVE Leslie Ann Rowland!! She is my most favorite blogger!  She hosts the sites Life in First Grade and Life in Fifth Grade! I won a small contest and was able to chose anything in her TPT store!! I selected Plot Passages! It had been on my wishlist (only $5) and was so excited to get it! I used it for a whole group lesson and the kids got SWBS right away! I recommend this to all my 1st and 2nd grade followers!  Click on the picture to get to her store!  I am so sad that she is teaching 5th grade this year; but she is Super-Sweet and still posts materials for us 1st grade friends!! She has a Beauty blog that is fun, too!

It may be one of my favorite downloads!! I can't wait to use more!!

SOMETHING ELSE I FOUND...

I just LOVE it when bloggers want to give stuff away!!  I came across this today:

Enter to Win!! Just click on the picture to get to one of the Gals who is providing the goodies!! I have my fingers crossed!!!

 

I am looking forward to 2014!  I rang in the new year with my family.  After dinner and drinks with my husband, best friend and her husband, I came home and was able to watch the NY Ball Drop with my Emily!  Randy was very tired and went straight to bed.  Chase had his Wisdom Teeth pulled on Monday and stayed in to play video games.

I know it has been awhile since I have been on my blog!  I have been extremely busy with just about everything!  I am going to make a mini resolution to keep my blog updated at least once a week...crossing my fingers! 

I really wanted to post pictures from our last week; but I DID NOT TAKE PICTURES!!! Grr...I NEVER do that!!  I did get a gift certificate from TPT from My mom and her colleagues!  Here is what I purchased...

 

 

   

   

       

I am so excited to use these resources!!

Happy Teaching,
Jessica