Groovy Educator

This is a fun activity where the kids try to make as many words as they can using the letters from Summer Vacation. You can choose to display this sheet on the board with the document camera and the kids record their answers on notebook paper or you can copy this sheet for each child.  There are variations on how you can assign it. It can be a partner activity, a timed activity, or fill the entire sheet in activity. I prefer to do a timed activity where the kids see how many words they can come up with in five minutes. After that, they can partner up and fill in the rest of the words.  You can download this activity for free at my TpT store.

The last day of school is fast approaching.  Our class party is the day before the last day.  This year we are going to do a parent picnic where the kids can have lunch with their families.  We will picnic on blankets.  After that we will have relay races and then go back to the room to cool down and have a sweet treat.  Depending on the day we will either go back outside or watch a video.  Bring on the fun!

Every year I do a yearbook with my class. I usually start it a couple of weeks before school is out. You can choose to use all the pages or pick the ones you like best to include in the yearbook. In the past, my yearbook was only five pages.  I also add photographs by inserting blank copy pages where I want the photos to go. The kids glue them in. In addition I add work that I saved from the beginning, middle, and end of the year. This is entirely optional.  This yearbook can be whatever you want it to be. I’ve even considered having the kids trace their hand and making a picture out of it…just for the memory. You can copy the pages on colorful paper with black ink or on white paper with colorful ink. Do what works for you.  I made each page a little different so that the children stay interested.  This year I had the class memory/yearbooks bound at the UPS store.  They made them look like spiral notebooks.  I laminated the front and back covers ...

On the last days of school, I like to have the kids create thank you cards for the special area teachers, office staff, and cafeteria workers.  Sometimes I turn them into thank you books where the kids each write their own letter and draw a picture.  I staple all the pages and add a cute cover.  Other times we make "big" cards.  This entry is about the "big" cards. This week we made a "big" card (like a big book) for the music teacher.  We started out by brainstorming what shape to make the card design by listing our ideas on the board.  Next we made a plan by deciding which idea was feasible to implement.  On the list there was:  heart, instruments, and music note. We had a lively discussion about which instrument to choose but then someone suggested we cut out a huge music note and everyone draws an instrument.  I guided the class into making colorful instruments on small papers that they cut out and glued to the music note. On th...

Begins 5/12/13 at midnight and runs through 5/24/13 at midnight. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Image by:  www.mycutegraphics.com

Some of you may have heard of the mad minute before...  I LOVE it!  The kids LOVE it!  It's a hit in my room. About ten years ago I was introduced to it when I was a second grade teacher.  Like most wonderful ideas, I learned it from a veteran teacher.  She had created a set of mad minutes and showed me how to organize them.  I am forever grateful! Flash forward ten years and I made my own typed set (different problems).  I kept the storage/organization the same but tweaked the procedure.  Basically it's a small bin with file folders cut in half to file the minutes behind it.  They are labeled +1s, -1s, +2s, -2s, etc.  (I will have to upload a picture soon.) What is a mad minute?  Well, it is a crazy minute where the kids try to solve twenty addition or subtraction problems. From the Scholastic bonus catalog, I ordered two sets of  Dry Erase pockets (6"x9")  to save paper.  It also helps with record ke...

My baby is going to be one and I have been singing her lullabies every night.  One is her name song where I spell her name to the tune to It's a Small World.  (It sticks in my head!) I have also sung the following song so that she learns the name of her family and where she lives in case of an emergency. In ________________, _____________________ there is a girl           (city)                          (state) and her name is ___________________________. Her mommy's name is ______________________. Her daddy's name is _______________________. Their last name is __________________________. They love her. They love her (Sung to the tune of Hickory Dictory Dock) * mommy and daddy can be replaced by grandma and grandpa or auntie or whoever the care giver is... Every night I sing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and tonight she hummed it!  I was shocked!  I love th...

Whenever you think your day is rough, imagine that poor newbie substitute who steps into an inner city kindergarten classroom ... I always try to leave detailed plans for my substitutes.  Several years ago the substitute left a detailed note for ME.  It was a shocking note to say the least.  The gist was that he was considering being a teacher but thanks to this experience, he realizes that it wouldn't be a good idea. Days later, I was still finding crayons in places crayons should not go...  You could even link up any products that have silly written all over them...

I'm linking up with DoodleBugsTeaching for another Five for Friday! 1.  Spring Break is almost over!  I've enjoyed time with my family, working on my blog, and not feeling "rushed." Please check out my end of the year class yearbook at my TpT store.  It really is a wonderful activity and the end of the year just sneaks up.  It is a big hit every year with the kids.  I am so excited to use this updated version. 2.  Three years ago, I was in California on Good Friday.  It was the last time I've been "home."  Even though I left CA at 21 and since lived in two other states, I still think of myself as a California Girl.  I was born in the valley after all, like totally. :)  On that same trip, I visited Arizona (my favorite place).  This is the view I miss more that I can put into words.  I love the mountains.  Even though the sun has not come all the way up in this picture, I know that the sky will soon be the mos...

FREEBIE!  (for the time being...)  Updated April 2015 I've included two April calendars. They can be used in many ways. I like to track weather, record homework, or color in the square to show behavior. (Blue-Outstanding, Green-Good, Yellow-Needs Improvement, Red-Unacceptable) You can even use the calendar to keep track of AR points, set goals (in reading or other subjects), and record minutes read. The possibilities are endless! On a side note, I sell on eBay and promote other sellers.  If interested check out my eBay Store: Lowery's Loft .  My username on eBay is GroovyEducator (just like this blog).

This is my newest product.  Even if you choose not to purchase this one, I've listed some ideas on how reading logs in general can be used in the classroom. For $2.00 I've enclosed a few variations of the same reading log so that you can choose the version that works best in your classroom.  !. You can use this form in class to hold your children accountable for reading during independent reading or center time. At the end of readers' workshop or independent reading, collect the reading logs and briefly question the children about the book/books listed. I usually draw the names of 2-3 students. (I have them written on popsicle sticks in a cup.) You can ask a quick question like who was the main character in the book? How do you know? Or what was your favorite part and why? 2. The reading log can be used to track Accelerated Reader (AR) points. (If your school participates in this program) 3. It can be used to document time read with parents at home or with a volu...

I am throwing a sale to celebrate Spring Break.   Almost EVERYTHING is 20% off now through March 26th! This is a great time to get the Class Yearbook (memory book)!  April is right around the corner and then May!  I like to plan ahead.  Purchasing this item now gives you time to look through the worksheets, decide on which ones you will use, make the copies,  and laminate the cover (optional).  My Mad Minute is also on sale! ( This rarely happens... ) The only product not on sale is my brand new item. - Star Reader Reading Log Feel Free to grab my sale button! :)

I just love linking up with DoodleBugsTeaching for this Linky party! What a week, what a week... (If you read only one of these five things, please read #5.) 1.  I have been sick since Saturday!  Yes that's right... A WHOLE week!  I still do not feel a hundred percent. :(  I had to miss THREE days of school this week due to the fever. :(  This is a nasty virus (sore throat, fever, cough, headache, stomache ache, etc).  BUT it afforded me the time to start not one but TWO LINKY PARTIES! 2.  We had our Egg Hunt at school and the kids were so sweet.  They had a BLAST! I just love my class.  They all brought in stuffed eggs earlier this week.  I counted them all up and checked them last night.  Some parents came to help me hide the eggs while the little darlings were at P.E.  Each kid had to find fifteen eggs and then sit on the bench until everyone was done.  They were not allowed to open the eggs until we got...

Okay...perhaps it is because I am still sick with this flu/cold/sinus/thing-a-ma-bob OR perhaps it's because I am enjoying My First Linky Party so much that I am starting another one !  IT'S LINKY MADNESS! :) Please link up your TpT Store or newest product so that you can advertise and share. You can also link up with Educasong for an April Linky Party!

I've been home sick these last TWO days!  It's so frustrating!  I did sneak in my classroom at 6:30am Monday to make sure the leprechaun visited and make sure plans were in order. Can you believe I had over a 100 degree fever Saturday, Sunday, and Monday?  Today I woke up drenched (luckily no fever) with a straggling sore throat that will not go away .  Luckily my husband was off and he took care of our soon to be one year old sweetie pie. I slept and I slept and I slept.  I forgot what that felt like because it's been so long!  In the moments that I wasn't sleeping, when my teeth were chattering, I looked up ideas for my baby's first birthday.  It is sneaking up so quickly. I feel so guilty that I wasn't grading papers!!!  It's so hard to find balance now that I am a mom.  I feel guilty when I am doing school work because I want to give my daughter 100% and I feel guilty when I am doing mommy jobs because I feel my other babies nee...

mycutegraphics.com Welcome to my first linky party!  Please submit a link to your favorite blog post. There is a wealth of information out there.  I would love for everyone to share their best work/ideas in one place.  Please link up to make this a valuable resource to reference.   On a side note, I sell on eBay and promote other sellers.  If interested check out my eBay Store: Lowery's Loft .  My username on eBay is GroovyEducator (just like this blog).

I am linking up with DoodleBugsTeaching for another fun Five for Friday.  1.  Last Sunday, my daughter had her picture taken with the Easter Bunny.  It was an experience.  She is normally a super friendly little darling... When she saw the Easter Bunny, her eyes bulged and she let out a blood curdling scream right there in the middle of the mall.  She was dressed to the nines but my husband and I were not.  We all ended up in the picture.  It's interesting.  I know we will laugh about it in the years to come.   We were not expecting this because she loved Santa.  She brings us so much joy.  Every moment is a learning experience around her.  I see the world with new eyes.  2.  My class made Leprechaun traps today.  Since St. Patrick's Day falls on Sunday we did this activity today and will have a treat on Monday.  I had the children develop a plan and draw out a draft before comm...

As I mentioned in a previous post, I've decided my classroom theme is going to be stars.  I keep going over sayings and I am reflecting on future bulletin boards. One idea that popped in my head is a bulletin board entitled We are STARS!  Each kid could have their picture on a star and the following message could be on a mega big star...even a 3-D pop out star. S -Students who T -Try their best A -Always finish their work R -Read Everyday and S -Start each day ready to learn Right now this is just an idea that's developing...I'm sure it will evolve several times... Any thoughts?

I am so excited to link up with  Doodle Bugs Teaching  for another Five for Friday! A couple of my items are more personal and not school related this time. 1.  My baby girl WALKED!  I mean she took five steps carefully and didn't fall.  She is almost 11 months old.  I am so excited.  She has done this a few times this week.  It never ceases to amaze me how much she has learned in such a short time. 2.  In my quest to get healthy, I attempted jogging!  It felt good to do more than I thought I could.  Whenever I undertake something challenging, I try to look at it from a kid's perspective so I can be empathetic to their struggle at times. 3.  On a sad note, a friend's cancer came back full force.  She is in the hospital.  Please pray for peace and relief from the pain.  Life is a gift and circumstances can change quickly in either direction.  Times like these make me realize that life is unpredicta...