Groovy Educator

I am so excited to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching  for another Five for Friday! 1.  Since Read Across America day falls on Saturday this year, my class did our first Book Talk and Walk on Friday.  March 2nd is Dr. Seuss' birthday so to celebrate my class did book reports on Dr. Seuss books.  For the Book Talk and Walk, each child walked the track and shared their book report with two partners.  I chose their partner the first lap and they chose their partner the second lap.   This activity was a hit!  The kids loved it.  Next week I plan to do a Book Talk and Walk on our reading story (just one lap).  This is such a neat activity because you can use it in just about every subject.  We might even do a science talk and walk to prepare for the test.  The best way to hold the children accountable is to do a quick check where they share what their partner said OR write what their partner said.  2.  Our unit ...

I absolutely love Scholastic Book Clubs!  At the beginning of every year, I send home a couple of book order pamphlets.  Scholastic often offers the best bonus points deals at this time.  I like to stock up on bargain books for Accelerated Reader Awards and for classroom gifts.  This year I am going to try something a little different.  Normally I send home the book order monthly and it gradually tapers off.  Instead I think I will send it home only four times this year. September - Back to School books - Everyone is excited! November - Holiday books - Great for giving as gifts! February - Half of the year is already over (practice, practice, practice) - Allows me to replenish my supplies... April - Stock up on summer reads - I can start building up my bonus points for next year. I plan on creating a letter so that my class families are aware that there will be opportunities to order throughout the year but that they are limited.  By only se...

Okay, I couldn't take it... Here is one more picture before I sign off for the night.  This is taken from a different vantage point than the first.  You can see my smartboard at the front.  To the right of the smartboard is my dry erase board and writing bulletin board.  The door to the classroom is to the right.  Hanging on the wall is a blue mini pocket chart that I use for book checkout.  Underneath the smart board and dry erase board are tubs (the kind you use for dishes) filled with books.  That is my classroom library.  The books are organized by theme.  Just about every book has a pocket with an index card so the children can check them out and take them home.  My philosophy is the more you read the better you read.  So...my goal is to get as many books as possible into the hands of children. I've organized the student desks into a rectangle where everyone is facing in. I like that I can get to everyone quickly and that w...