tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-66068461140835964132024-03-12T06:04:26.042-04:00Caffeine and Lesson PlansMandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.comBlogger164125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-72906329781732663032017-06-27T15:26:00.000-04:002017-06-27T17:38:09.521-04:00Pangrams: a no prep fun activity for writing enrichment<div class="m_-1876893772692298989gmail-flex-container" style="background-color: white; display: flex;">
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Getting kids to think outside the box and participate in real enrichment can be hard. It can be challenging to find activities that are fun, quick, and low prep. Well, friends: look no further. Pangrams to the rescue!</div>
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A pangram is a sentence that uses all the letters in the English alphabet. It's a simple concept, but it can actually be pretty challenging to complete. Think about it: there are only so many ways that you can incorporate words with the letters “q” and “z” into a sentence! This activity is for a small or large group of kids who enjoy playing with words. For extra bonus teaching points, let your students use a thesaurus or dictionary to help them. It's a great way to help kids expand their word choice, deepen knowledge of spelling principles, and explore sentence structure. </div>
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<b>What You Need:</b></div>
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<b>What You Do:</b></div>
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<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Show the students the following example of a common pangram: “The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.”</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Explain that a pangram uses all of the letters in the English language in a single sentence. At this point, the kids will probably underestimate how difficult writing a pangram can be. They’ll find out soon!</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Challenge the kids to write their own pangram! Once they get the hang of it, they can compete to see who can write the shortest pangram that makes sense. Students can work on their own, but this activity really lends itself to collaboration and is best in partners or small groups. If kids as they get stuck, you can help them by giving ideas for words they can add to their pangram in order to incorporate some of the less common letters of the alphabet.</li>
<li style="margin-left: 15px;">Award the kid whose pangram has the fewest letters, the kid whose pangram has the fewest words, and the kid whose pangram makes the most logical sense.</li>
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You can also extend this activity and have <span style="font-size: 16px;">your students make pangram posters using construction paper and markers. They can write their pangram in marker along the bottom of the poster, and then illustrate the pangram on the rest of the poster board.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 16px;">If you need more fun activities for spelling and writing, check out <a href="https://www.education.com/resources/fifth-grade/spelling/">this list </a>of activities from <a href="http://education.com/">education.com</a>. I always find great ideas, worksheets, and resources to help my kiddos there! </span></div>
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Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-32794800919986708632017-02-07T18:20:00.001-05:002017-02-07T18:20:50.913-05:003 Realistic Tips for Guided Math Success<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm just going to come right out and say it: guided math is one of my all time best teaching decisions. This is my fifth year using the guided math model in my classroom (to varying levels of success!) and I have to say, my kiddos are engaged, on task, and making great progress. I'm not going to pretend it isn't without challenges- sometimes we have to go back to the beginning and review all our expectations (repeatedly). One year we could only handle one station per day, other years we can do four stations a day. Most years are somewhere in-between. There are definitely some things that have made a difference for me, though.<br />
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<b>1. Make your plans work for you</b><br />
Don't plan 4 stations a day each day. Make sure you have some stations with staying power! Look at what your grade level fluencies are in the CCSS, and find activities that target those skills. In fifth grade, one of our fluencies is multi-digit multiplication using the standard algorithm. You better believe we practice that every week! I found lots of games and activities that help to reinforce this skill at varying levels, and I rotate them in and out. Very low prep! Another station is intervention, which is with me and whiteboards. Here, I only need to know what skill I am targeting. No need to copy or prep anything! The other two stations are typically either problem solving, literacy in math, a game, or a math "exploration" of a topic that the kids chose.<br />
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<b>2. Find what works in your room, and do it. Be flexible!</b><br />
Don't listen to the 42 other people that can be super human and plan 4 differentiated lessons per math period per day. That isn't real life! Figure our what works for you and your kids and stick to it. If you are having success with two stations per day, great! Work it, girl. If you can swing three or four, more power to you! If you are struggling to get one station in, that is ok. It is a starting point, and it is definitely better than nothing. Don't try to keep up with the Jones'. You are a professional, and you know your kids best. Do what works.<br />
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<b>3. Set clear expectations</b><br />
Seriously, I can't stress this enough. I go over my rules and expectations for math workshop repeatedly when we start. When I think I've done it enough, I do it twice more to be sure. Then, I am an evil, wicked, mega-strict teacher and make sure that I watch the kiddos like a hawk and address it every single time they don't follow the guidelines. I post a big copy of our expectations and then give every kiddo a small printable copy to keep in their math folder. We create the expectations together so the kiddos feel invested, and then every single person in the classroom signs the poster to agree to follow it. I don't even start working with groups until I am sure that the expectations are clearly understood and being followed. Finally, I ask each kiddo to fill out an accountability sheet each day after each station. They tell me how well they understand the math and how focused and on task they think they were. Of course, 11 year olds can inflate their effort level a bit, but with some training they are decent at self reflection!<br />
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It's over simplified, I'm sure, but it's what works for me. If you do guided math, I'd love to hear what works for you!Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-11218357002177480372017-01-28T22:00:00.001-05:002017-01-28T22:00:03.184-05:00Equivalent Fractions on a Multiplication ChartThere's no getting around it, fifth grade math can be really challenging- especially for kids that are still struggling to understand the foundational skills. I have had so many kiddos over the years that could not master adding and subtracting fractions with unlike denominators just because they did not know their math multiplication facts. Math facts are super important, but as a teacher I always felt it was my duty to find a way to help them understand the more abstract concept of equivalent fractions. So, I started using multiplication charts to help my struggling learners understand and create equivalent fractions- but maybe not in the way you are thinking.<br />
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We all know that kids who haven't memorized their math facts benefit from multiplication charts. That is no surprise! The process for using a multiplication chart to find equivalent fractions is time consuming, though. You have to find the correct product for 2 numerators and 2 denominators- that is 4 separate math problems to solve before you can even begin to solve the problem. That is a challenge for kids with low attention spans, processing speed issues, or even just kids who are easily distracted. Instead, I have my kiddos use the multiplication chart as a reference sheet for equivalent fractions for benchmark fractions.<br />
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<img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhamhix_9M6-St43Lif0h_eKDP5Hss_YJRTr23kjZ-p4OXRMJY_hICA6ktp_PiING4mqp0VgRSGg_Bt3V-X8aepycB2mskH2WOZAJhcA27SnGxd9lVCj115OTbrKa4U_lP3cLEUxBbXsrM/s320/Slide1.jpg" width="240" /></div>
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If you look at the chart, you can use the factors listed on the left hand side as the numerator and denominator. In my example above, the rows colored red show fractions that are equivalent to 1/2: 2/4, 3/6, etc. The rows that are colored blue show fractions that are equivalent to 3/4, yellow shows fractions equivalent to 5/6, and so on. I train my kids to find the benchmark fraction they are looking for, and then look at all the equivalent fractions shown for the original fraction. We talk about <i>why</i> this works, too, which is an <b>incredibly</b> important part of understanding so this doesn't become just a "trick" that they will memorize without any value or meaning behind it. Since both the numerator and denominator are multiplied by the same number, it creates an equivalent fraction. To deeper understanding for all of my kiddos, we talk about the identify property of multiplication and the fact that it relates to all numbers- fractions included! Since you are multiplying both the numerator and denominator by the same number, for example 2, that is the same as multiplying the whole fraction by 2/2, or 1 whole. </div>
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In the past, I have printed a blackline box on cardstock to help kids track the fractions. The guide works to help kids with tracking issues to follow the equivalent fractions across the page. It also helps students with focus or attention trouble stay on task with a reduced amount of visual "clutter." On the colored multiplication chart, I like to use a white guide and on a white multiplication chart I like to use colored cardstock.<br />
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If you want to give this idea a shot, I've created a freebie with a blank multiplication chart, a color coded chart, and several variations of those. The freebie also includes a template to cut the paper guides to help students track the fractions across the page! To download it, click <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Equivalent-Fractions-on-a-Multiplication-Chart-2985595">here</a>.</div>
Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-77801278110058673912016-12-31T09:24:00.000-05:002016-12-31T09:24:03.402-05:00A Fun Way to Get Back on Track After Winter Break<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px;">Oh, winter break. How I loved and cherished you, and how sad I will be to see you go. But, s</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">ince it's time to get back to the grind, its time to think about what to do with kiddos that are excited about vacation. Let's be real, they all want to share <i>everything</i> they did on their vacation. I do want to hear about their holidays and times with their families, but there just isn't time for it all smack dab in the middle of the day. In the past, I've had them write about what they did and share with a partner, but it just wasted </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">enough</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; text-align: center;">. So, for the past few years I have been using a fun new activity that is working really well. I took an old game that I used to play in school, and put a fun creative writing twist on it: whose story is it?</span><br />
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The concept is simple. The kids get into small groups (4 or 5 students would be best) and share one <u>quick</u> story about their vacation. From experience, I will tell you that keeping the stories quick is the key here. If you have a super chatty group it can be useful to use a timer to give each person 1 - 2 minutes to share their story. The story can be really interesting, or it can be kind of boring. Totally up to the kiddo! After they all share their stories, the group chooses <u>one story</u> to use. This is the hard part, as we all know. Getting it narrowed down to one story can be a real challenge! Asking the kiddos not to vote for their own story can be helpful in narrowing down the choices. </div>
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Then, the story that they have picked will be the story they <u>all</u> write, pretending it is their own story. They will have to put themselves in the narrator's shoes and invent some of the creative elements of the story. They should try to describe things as much as they can to make it believable! When they finish, the kids then each read their version of the story out loud to the class and the class tries to decide who actually told the story to begin with. It's a great opportunity for kids to use their creative writing skills in a different and enjoyable way. It's always funny to see who convinces others that a story is theirs when it is not!</div>
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This game is super simple, fun, and has some great academic elements. The kids are using perspective, point of view, and narration skills in their creative writing. They are super motivated to write the story well because of the game aspect of it. I let the kiddos who "win" and trick kids into believing the story is theirs when it is not pick something from my prize bucket. Best of all, they are sharing a story about vacation- like they want to do- while also staying on track academically. It's an all around win!</div>
Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-48114049654416289842016-07-14T17:52:00.002-04:002016-07-14T18:21:39.235-04:00Literacy and Math<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 30.492px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Summer is the best time of year. The weather is gorgeous, and I have extra time to devote to professional development while I get some sun! This summer I have been focused on math, particularly literacy and mathematics. It's something that has been on my mind a lot lately, as my district has designated writing as the focus of our instruction for this school year. So many teachers automatically began to focus on narrative writing, but I thought I'd apply it to my teaching in other ways, too- namely, in mathematics!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 30.492px;">I have to tell you, math has a special place in my heart. In addition to my generalist teaching license, I hold a math specialist license. I think that people tend to give themselves permission to be afraid of math in a way that they do not in other subjects. I've heard parents dismiss a student's bad grade by saying "oh, well, I was never good at math either. Maybe he doesn't have a math brain" I've never heard a parent say the same about another subject though. No one dismisses poor reading with "well, maybe he doesn't having a reading brain." All the parents I have worked with have done everything possible to help their child overcome their reading difficulties, and when all else fails they have had them tested for learning disabilities. So, why the difference in math? I think it all comes down to how students are taught. Allowing students to apply the academic skills that they are good at and </span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 30.492px;">enjoy</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 30.492px;"> using will help them to deepen their mathematical knowledge. Sounds easier than it is, right? I totally agree- and there are a million ways to incorporate literacy and mathematics! They <i>don't</i> all work for upper elementary or middle grades, either. So- here are my quick tips.</span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; line-height: 30.492px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Math Literature</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 30.492px;">Invest in some quality mathematical literature. It's expensive, but there are ways to get some reasonably priced books. I visit my local used bookstore, go to library book sales, and hit up yard sales. I also order them from half.com and check the used prices on amazon.com. When all else fails, I use my scholastic book points to order them. My math library is well stocked- I have something for everyone! I have created task cards to go with each math literature book, and have my students read them during one station of guided math. It's a win for everyone. My students that are avid readers can't wait for the opportunity to read some more, and my struggling readers get the opportunity to practice their reading some more. More than that, teaching mathematics through literature makes a stronger connection to the material. The students see it is a something that is learned organically, much like the morals or lessons that they learn from other stories that they read.</span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; line-height: 30.492px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Creative Writing</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 30.492px;"> I mentioned earlier that my focus on writing this year has tied into my mathematics instruction. So far, it has </span><i style="background-color: white; line-height: 30.492px;">really</i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 30.492px;"> worked. Each morning as my "do now" activity I give my students an equation that relates to what we learned the previous day. Their job is to </span><b style="background-color: white; line-height: 30.492px;">write the story of the problem</b><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 30.492px;">. They write a word problem that ranges between a few sentences and a paragraph. I have seen some seriously creative writing come out of this! More than that, their stories have given me some <i>really</i> good insight into their mathematical understanding. Do they know the key words that indicate operations? Do they correctly describe which operation to use within their story? Do they understand how to indicate what each number represents? I feel as though I have been able to learn more about what the students actually understand by reading their stories than by checking their computations on word problems I provided.</span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; line-height: 30.492px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Expository Writing</span></b><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 30.492px;">Some of my students really need to talk about their learning to help build permanent knowledge. Usually, this isn't a problem in my classroom as we work in small groups and talk frequently throughout the lesson. Sometimes, though, we just don't have enough time to talk as much as I would like. So, I ask my students to "talk it out" in writing like they would with a partner. I often have them write a letter to another student explaining how a particular mathematical concept works- for instance, how to create equivalent fractions. I always ask them to pretend the person they are writing to has no mathematical knowledge so they explain everything. The act of putting the words on paper makes deep connections that some students need. Sometimes, we even write letters to an alien from "Planet No-Math" to explain what we are learning. Of course, he is from a planet that doesn't have math, so they have to explain every last step. We post them on the board with a picture of our alien, which I usually let a student draw. It's something a little fun and different! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 30.492px;">So, that's it- how I incorporate literacy and mathematics instruction in my classroom. I'd love to hear what's worked for you, too!</span>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-89992311661070192352016-06-29T09:10:00.000-04:002016-06-29T09:10:43.688-04:00Writing WednesdaysSummer has finally arrived! It's so incredibly nice to have some time to work on professional development, play with my son, and read some teacher blogs. I could totally get used to this. <div>
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My friend Lyndsey over at <a href="http://litwithlyns.blogspot.com/2016/06/writing-wednesday-link-up.html">Lit with Lynds</a> is hosting <a href="http://litwithlyns.blogspot.com/2016/06/writing-wednesday-link-up.html">Writing Wednesdays</a>, a linkup that talks about common core strategies for teaching writing. This is part of my district goal, so it's pretty perfectly aligned with my focus for the next year! My main focus this year is going to be expository writing, specifically research writing. Fifth grade can be tough, because the kids are making some pretty heavy leaps in curriculum. They are expected to start to look at the content more analytically, and to pull information from multiple sources in a more refined way. They are building on what they learned up to this point, and using it to create a final, polished research project. That's no small task for fifth grade students!</div>
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<a href="http://litwithlyns.blogspot.com/2016/06/writing-wednesday-link-up.html"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiexeD1NFvdCBp5nKXFR2UOUPI7CN-XqYGGGd5aVFDYsxwpz61lCiATdKY4MXwE-144BKGWIvBdB9XNGh0wBxKSRlzNKPWwJtvcXgHaxPUy6jL1IrullRxx17wUrEhZSUVwOqWM1URH0Es/s320/writing+wed+product+image.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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To help my kiddos successfully meet this challenge, I have been using PROBE notebooks. T<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Trebuchet, sans-serif; font-size: 15.4px; line-height: 21.56px;">he premise is simple- they receive a topic to briefly research, and complete a short report on the topic following a basic template in a composition notebook. They must write a fact page (in their own words), draw a border that is relevant to the topic, include 4 illustrations with captions, and sum it up with a sentence or two stating what they have learned. The kids love it because it involves coloring and decorating, parents love it because it is a predictable assignment, and I love it because I have the opportunity to work with students on their research and report writing skills regularly. As a bonus, the students have a composition notebook full of their writing and they can reflect on at the end of the year. It is pretty cool to sit with a student at the end of the year and show them their writing progress as we flip through the notebook. It makes their growth really tangible, which really brings them so much pride. It's great evidence for me to use for my evaluations, too!</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/PROBE-Notebooks-A-creative-yearlong-ELA-Research-Project-1587538"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx6gl7N6D4d8eiNTnC4ocyKPQPmwTEGq5sE7SNEwgxk0yn6diFnk7m1LQ8MKrjKztj-lTaoqmgnb3xxmG8RFuHm4HUTlpTeZjF_OsXOjG1pr8zf46za24lb1o51fPoV0Mrb6XP67r0rI0/s400/photo3_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #202020; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Geneva, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.003px;">The <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/PROBE-Notebooks-A-creative-yearlong-ELA-Research-Project-1587538">PROBE notebook activity bundle</a> is the complete one-stop shop that you need to set up and start using PROBEs in your classroom. The file contains a teacher guide, rubric, completion checklist for students, exemplars, research graphic organizer to prevent plagiarism, a poster for your classroom, a sample schedule, and an editable schedule. Colorful and blackline versions are included.</span></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/PROBE-Notebooks-A-creative-yearlong-ELA-Research-Project-1587538"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheVG_ICzR5_BdfsI3CSw0FFOm9D1pgPj8nM_MbWYQFzuF2MuOtTFrzFsJFn9PbEGD11twHK290RxAFlC4qgbwtpER4XQ_bJ5Q2a9SHpSbpapaHnbiccTsZfmyR4PfoSGvcAVsBs_Jpivs/s400/Screen+Shot+2014-11-30+at+4.03.36+PM.jpg" width="311" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/PROBE-Notebooks-A-creative-yearlong-ELA-Research-Project-1587538"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_1TJb8WXG4rQz6uuTAApwOwlVfcjDmoVtam93xzb3gczKZRKeyZB0_BSm6Q0NiAW_PAoAvoKMlKZU9ZVLnO5nDWqJqB2-k8_3LF8PgHnXPSkYEdd6eLK18Pb0MnW1_JNLTPb08emZrg/s320/research+notes.jpg" width="249" /></a> <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/PROBE-Notebooks-A-creative-yearlong-ELA-Research-Project-1587538"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-ETz1NdBe6sfZkY15irogdWkejs3Scql3ofzdtbRf2RKBCW7b6L26Z_RegqQc3qy1sx1VE9w19G7Rf6XDic3rhCCQ_IPPzMFevU_ifKXUQBaMF62ma10fZhZXP7Aln06vuiKAFcnbxE/s320/rubric+preview.jpg" width="246" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/PROBE-Notebooks-A-creative-yearlong-ELA-Research-Project-1587538" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDs72y2cUthRn_HTM6WUr-nrMiDeF0_RFnr8VTqib7X4G6qUou4YMmwBrdkWDQdgtTr65nM-duaTL0CtofRSiwHhwGndo_4brAIq7yblJ7JcPkrPEt7jGw8MBlnRLpe-8l0YZB693u48/s320/E28AE6E1-A19A-4974-B28B-1BD54595EE85.jpg" width="240" /></a><span class="s1">The research notes is my favorite part, I must admit. My fifth graders <i>struggle</i> to avoid plagiarism. I created this document to help them to understand how to combine sources and put things in their own words. The students first identify the question that they are going to answer with their research. I've identified the topic for them, but they must narrow it down a bit. For instance, I chose "The First Thanksgiving" for a PROBE topic, but the students needed to decide what aspect of the First Thanksgiving they would be writing about. Then, they complete the research. I ask that they read the information FIRST, then turn away from the computer (or book) to take notes. They write down what the big take away was from this site, then go back to the source to add dates, locations, or other info they couldn't remember. Of course, they can use the same source more than once. This ensures that it will be in their own words and note a direct copy from the text. Check out the sample from one of my SPED students! They rocked it. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">You can totally implement PROBE notebooks in your classroom in a million different ways. It can be homework, classwork, enrichment, or core instruction. It's easily adaptable to meet the unique needs of your students, no matter the grade level! </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Don't forget to head over to <a href="http://litwithlyns.blogspot.com/2016/06/writing-wednesday-link-up.html">Lit with Lyns</a> to see the rest of the <a href="http://litwithlyns.blogspot.com/2016/06/writing-wednesday-link-up.html">Writing Wednesday</a> link up.</span></div>
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Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-47494020476775241622016-05-07T15:58:00.000-04:002016-07-02T14:44:00.135-04:00Teaching Inference to Big Kids with a Picture BookI have to admit, I love a good picture book. I may teach upper elementary (actually, fifth is considered middle school in my district) but let's face it- fifth graders are still kids. They love sitting on the carpet and listening to a story as much as the younger kids do! I try to read at least one picture book to my students a week as a mentor text. They are interested, engaged, and have fantastic conversations about the texts. It's incredible how one piece of literature can be adapted for many different grade levels, isn't it?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgV4DHGj7V_cOeOFVMvNyAuIAXxhyB2tphEm3QYHV4QGzTgKun0JPswnhzH9meR_8zinKUhKLC-zwpuvEx5hjqGI0Kp0FbtvWgAH0pgg7xA5a5Me7JLwS1gVYzNyPoY15O6mUL86RfGEI/s1600/inference+freebie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgV4DHGj7V_cOeOFVMvNyAuIAXxhyB2tphEm3QYHV4QGzTgKun0JPswnhzH9meR_8zinKUhKLC-zwpuvEx5hjqGI0Kp0FbtvWgAH0pgg7xA5a5Me7JLwS1gVYzNyPoY15O6mUL86RfGEI/s640/inference+freebie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Last week, I decided to try something new while I was teaching inference. A co-worker had shown me a beautiful book called <a href="http://amzn.to/1T45hBV">The Lion & The Mouse</a> by Jerry Pinkney. It's an absolutely gorgeously illustrated version of Aesop's famous fable, which won the 2010 Caldecott medal. What sets it apart from every other book? It has no words.<br />
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<a href="http://amzn.to/1T45hBV"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2QfXZAslzN2Gu7TyLUc5lOHXyve8FE7iLW5BMvezyj15rLY-nuiov-Osu8l0knfu1k5KrizmcbRj2j-IkP-8AKim6mHjpuZ4uammz49x6jL6Z5HkaCbMiRAz71HgHXn2N2zFaPs9fqA/s1600/The_Lion_and_the_Mouse_front.jpg" /></a></div>
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The story is told almost exclusively in pictures, with the only words being sound effects on a few pages like "screech" or "hoot". The illustrations are incredibly detailed and well drawn, however, and let the reader do so much with the story. In my classroom, we used this book first to discuss inference. We had learned about it earlier in the year, so it was a review before our big state test- but it was a valuable one!<br />
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I brought my kiddos down to the carpet and had them sit with their reading buddy. I showed the pictures and asked the kids to discuss what they thought was happening in each picture, and to be sure to include WHY they thought that was happening. I heard some incredible conversations about what was happening in the story and why they thought that. My kids were discussing the story <i>without even reading words</i>. I was blown away!<br />
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We stopped a few pages in and worked together to complete a graphic organizer with evidence.<br />
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<a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-jwXhrgXojUZS1fc1diT1dJVzA"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifRkE6iHhgONPeK1XaPbEwlrLH8kwauWK4oySyQ93ewpf83661x_PfBOxoG9yUhYfjWTI7_MXQp0kaxGvFZ8P9z9qeYCgd9BGKf6ehLSCWGfZ4rLX1zN58Xsc3FfE8_y7HAFV4ueFU_FU/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-05-07+at+3.32.04+PM.png" width="246" /></a></div>
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We used the Claim Evidence Reasoning (CER) method. We've been using this a lot this year, and it's fantastic! It can be adapted to just about any topic in just about any subject. I've used it in math for constructed responses, in social studies for chapter end comprehension and discussion questions, in opinion writing to help organize thoughts, and in reading to prove students responses. It breaks down to:</div>
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<b>Claim</b>- what you know</div>
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<b>Evidence</b>- how you know it</div>
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<b>Reasoning</b>- why you know it</div>
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Click <a href="https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-jwXhrgXojUZS1fc1diT1dJVzA">here</a> to download the graphic organizer freebie. </div>
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To wrap it up, I had my students finish reading the book with their reading buddy. Then, they chose one page of the book to rewrite with words in their reader's response notebooks. It was a great way to practice incorporating dialogue in writing, and a quick formative assessment for me to judge their comprehension of the story and their ability to inference. </div>
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So, do you use picture books in your "big kid" classroom? I'd love to hear about it- leave a comment and tell me how! </div>
<br />Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-44515355798889966242016-03-25T14:06:00.000-04:002016-03-25T14:07:11.103-04:00Order of Operations Scavenger HuntSo many of you are off on Spring break, and I am SUPER jealous! In Massachusetts, we don't have one March spring break, but instead have a week in February and a week in April. That leaves us with this loooooooong, endless chunk of time right before state testing that I affectionately refer to as March Madness. The kids are going stir crazy, the teachers are tired, and the test is almost here. It's hard for everyone! So, in an effort to get my friends to pay attention, I decided it was time to jazz up my lesson plans. With the help of a super creative co-worker (who thought of so much of this) we decided to do an <b>Order of Operations Easter Egg Hunt Egg-stravaganza</b>!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghq3UmZvRoErD0dgkCr3bjauzadoyMHnjeZWoGMjajaYA7peC2npku1feRLLOWThgnr5QVgQn1GapxIcAe83XzbQFZgMsq0DyGOZG-J4a8BwrkuIw9iM8gGDsQ0LCu6nVtdcS4Q8BHxTU/s1600/eggstravaganza_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghq3UmZvRoErD0dgkCr3bjauzadoyMHnjeZWoGMjajaYA7peC2npku1feRLLOWThgnr5QVgQn1GapxIcAe83XzbQFZgMsq0DyGOZG-J4a8BwrkuIw9iM8gGDsQ0LCu6nVtdcS4Q8BHxTU/s400/eggstravaganza_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I started off by reviewing the order of operations and using my "Order of Operations without Aunt Sally" <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Order-of-Operations-Graphic-Organizer-1849522">freebie</a>. This really helps my kiddos understand the correct way to perform the order of operations without relying so heavily on "PEMDAS."<br />
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<a href="http://caffeineandlessonplans.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-order-of-operations-freebie.html"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKBzATFW7i-G-MHoCj1OxFGieuT_K4p8c5cWxP3Q5IF9YtgyQkQiEq1rUb7GOOo2bTShTy9yQwxcUCaXNDCG89hrHvP5bN7KGoOr-JG4skBQxlsMyo19thIgkOdB34xkZvrbVcUAbNZCE/s320/Slide1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you are interested, you can read more about that from my previous post <a href="http://caffeineandlessonplans.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-order-of-operations-freebie.html">here</a>.<br />
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Thanks to Easter egg sales and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, this lesson was pretty easy to put together. I found the <a href="http://illuminations.nctm.org/Lesson.aspx?id=2583">Order of Operations bingo</a> from the <a href="http://illuminations.nctm.org/Default.aspx">NCTM Illuminations website</a>. I made a few modifications to make it work with an easter egg hunt though.<br />
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First, I labeled all the problems with letters so the kiddos could put them on their recording sheet and keep track of which one they solved. This would help me correct their work later on in the day, as well.<br />
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After that, I cut up the problems <u>and removed the answer</u>. Then, I put 2 or 3 of them in each Easter egg. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaE1CwJEH_ciD5a3HS-pcd9HcJwyY6XeTSetkro3iZvo1K6qXMT3J8BuvaPGMTkEFu4MaQbEZrVxLOpr5GxCvFN6qcHCPI9c8Ib1sI-Ji6qxNPsiEtfhC0-2R3pT1TnHPKuEIoHAxt0E/s1600/Photo+Mar+24%252C+9+13+22+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNaE1CwJEH_ciD5a3HS-pcd9HcJwyY6XeTSetkro3iZvo1K6qXMT3J8BuvaPGMTkEFu4MaQbEZrVxLOpr5GxCvFN6qcHCPI9c8Ib1sI-Ji6qxNPsiEtfhC0-2R3pT1TnHPKuEIoHAxt0E/s320/Photo+Mar+24%252C+9+13+22+AM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then, I hid the eggs (in plain sight) all around my classroom!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRGHDUzalJCeK1MisisQd6ga0k241rvHXgjmoUPdabHFjLBpU37ftRX1zuH4NY4kcd7kzvOMUTjSwUEDEtJSL7-VHexF9TLoc-jtvvZU_Mkw1skS6GzTMDBgkmkOa7Up0uC2vPFpQSJg/s1600/Photo+Mar+24%252C+9+27+54+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkRGHDUzalJCeK1MisisQd6ga0k241rvHXgjmoUPdabHFjLBpU37ftRX1zuH4NY4kcd7kzvOMUTjSwUEDEtJSL7-VHexF9TLoc-jtvvZU_Mkw1skS6GzTMDBgkmkOa7Up0uC2vPFpQSJg/s320/Photo+Mar+24%252C+9+27+54+AM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcNKSzLkjxWY6K5thnDXi4rl7BWr0L3rCKckpEASaI2nZWAKw04fVFBgv7DXWx1E0YKgVz4FABD_vnQZRlWTeop1VURTShreeIhnjuhoc47fJYpIwtJtUqeK2E6qRK81xvhG9ucXMFNI/s1600/Photo+Mar+24%252C+9+28+37+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcNKSzLkjxWY6K5thnDXi4rl7BWr0L3rCKckpEASaI2nZWAKw04fVFBgv7DXWx1E0YKgVz4FABD_vnQZRlWTeop1VURTShreeIhnjuhoc47fJYpIwtJtUqeK2E6qRK81xvhG9ucXMFNI/s320/Photo+Mar+24%252C+9+28+37+AM.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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The original game is meant to be played as Bingo, so the recording sheet is built for that.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_P4gYbA514n_rJyki2F64-FFanJRRbUWvBUJ0CMYnZXkkirzg0rB4TszT53hrsmM92WDCTt1l72ZSlKA_MY3NvwU09ZXnuTD1BuvFJuhPP33v2MFBWPWmqt2F468I3LEgAcykO8o_WE/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-03-25+at+1.42.59+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih_P4gYbA514n_rJyki2F64-FFanJRRbUWvBUJ0CMYnZXkkirzg0rB4TszT53hrsmM92WDCTt1l72ZSlKA_MY3NvwU09ZXnuTD1BuvFJuhPP33v2MFBWPWmqt2F468I3LEgAcykO8o_WE/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-03-25+at+1.42.59+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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I love the idea of having the kids record their answers in a column that corresponds to the value, so I decided just to cut the word "bingo" off the top when I photocopied them. As the kiddos found the values of the expressions, they wrote down the value AND the the letter that I had labeled the strip of paper with. This way, when we went over our work it was easy to tell if they solved the expression correctly. To amp up the "fun factor" my kiddos were trying to fill an entire card with correct solutions for a small prize. </div>
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So, with a few modifications, Order of Operations Bingo become our Egg Hunt Egg-stravaganza! How do you add the "fun factor" into teaching this time of year?</div>
<br />Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-60881142445918257222016-02-02T15:15:00.000-05:002016-02-02T15:15:07.574-05:00Flocab: extended free trial!<div class="MsoNormal">
I know I’ve blogged about it before, but I’m back to tell
you more about my undying love of Flocab... just in time for an <a href="https://www.flocabulary.com/WTI2016/">extended freetrial offer</a>! <o:p></o:p></div>
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If you haven't heard of it, check out my previous post detailing all the different features available on Flocab <a href="http://caffeineandlessonplans.blogspot.com/2014/10/flocabulary.html">here</a>. But, if you want the cliffnotes version, here it goes! <a href="https://www.flocabulary.com/WTI2016/">Flocab</a>
is a library of hip-hop songs and music videos that can be streamed online and
are aligned to the Common Core. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously, they have videos on E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjVSqf-BrO4UEoStkqjCLq8EFy8tTqnLXSNxZnpZSxb1NLRBIzKyOHDdC3uPIKR0UBctueqJqFgo9bM4k8GPAS0MAy0NEDT4yyIhndjb2FdAGo3UOK9X0UGpRz3sH9kksClaDU7Mz_2M/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-02-01+at+9.47.10+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqjVSqf-BrO4UEoStkqjCLq8EFy8tTqnLXSNxZnpZSxb1NLRBIzKyOHDdC3uPIKR0UBctueqJqFgo9bM4k8GPAS0MAy0NEDT4yyIhndjb2FdAGo3UOK9X0UGpRz3sH9kksClaDU7Mz_2M/s400/Screen+Shot+2016-02-01+at+9.47.10+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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One of the focuses of my district over the past few years has been to increase student engagement. Evaluators have been paying close attention to the ways in which we, as teachers, are presenting information and getting to all students. In particular, they are looking for multiple modalities and ways to meet the needs of the kids whose interest isn’t sparked by “traditional” teaching. I had an unexpected evaluation walkthrough a few weeks ago while I was reviewing for a math midterm test. I was playing the Decimal "<a href="https://www.flocabulary.com/decimals/">Chilling on the Line</a>" video when my Assistant Principal walked in. I was a little nervous (like I always am during an observation!) but my kiddos were so engaged that they just kept on rapping along with the video. We played a review game after the video was over, and the kids did fantastic. Best of all, I got a really great evaluation write up. Win-win-win. :)</div>
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Flocab has some free content, but most of the raps and videos require a subscription to access. Real talk- that scared me! I have a really hard time spending money without knowing that whatever it is I am about to purchase is worth it. Happily, you don't have to take my (or anyone else's) word for it about Flocab. They offer a free trial.... which has been temporarily extended from 14 days to a <a href="https://www.flocabulary.com/WTI2016/">whopping 75 days</a><a href="https://www.flocabulary.com/WTI2016/"> with this link!</a> </div>
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Full disclosure: Flocab reached out to me to tell me about this great extended free trial offer, but I am not being compensated for this post. My Flocab love comes to you free and clear. :) </div>
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So, check it out- I think you'll love it!</div>
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Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-63453790075224403902016-02-01T21:14:00.003-05:002016-02-01T21:14:35.208-05:00Currently February 2016February is one of my favorite months. Valentine's day, President's day, vacation, and my hubby's birthday- it's all right there, one after another. To top it off, it's a short month- so there isn't even time to get sick of it! :) Linking up with <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/">Farley</a> for this month's <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2016/02/currently-february-2016.html">Currently</a>.<br />
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHyK18vN6nk08d8yNDqpqdePKkoK_DOCi1pUI_qh7iLXInxnjVN45EQfcpihiX8scro-dAs1n0r03E2uKsAlY9qemkPJStTa9uZiQ4dFEyaqQx6-eGerMJ5177il8lSnVy1Qcf8zVxfwc/s640/Slide1.jpg" width="480" /></div>
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<b>Listening</b>: <a href="http://www.nbc.com/american-ninja-warrior">American Ninja Warrior</a> in the background. I have to admit, I kind of love watching it! It's definitely incredible to see the athletic feats that people can accomplish. I am soooo not in that kind of shape... nor will I probably ever be! </div>
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<b>Loving</b>: A few months ago, a friend of mine from grad school posted an instagram pic of her new pencil dispenser. She had gotten an old straw dispenser from her Dad's diner and repurposed it. It is seriously SO cute! I looked around a bit and shockingly <a href="http://amzn.to/1QDjBQa">they are less than $25 on Amazon</a>. Just be careful to buy the right size- I got the "stirrer" size at first and had to return it because the pencils didn't fit in it!</div>
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<b>Thinking</b>: I'm trying to plan out my read alouds for February, and it's tough! There are so many books I love to read with them. It's hard to find the "just right" books for my fifth graders, though. They totally love a good interactive read aloud, but they also like to pretend to be "too cool" to enjoy it. Although they will totally love anything I read, I try to choose books that they can feel free to enjoy. I end up reading books with more complex themes, like <u><a href="http://amzn.to/1nBbr0R">Sister Anne's Hands</a></u> (which addresses racism and prejudice in a school in the 50s) and <u><a href="http://amzn.to/1JUihcz">Crow Call</a></u> (which explores the complicated relationship between a daughter and the father she barely knows as returns from WWII). I highly recommend both books- they are incredible!</div>
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<a href="http://amzn.to/23Fsi3C"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51mF5iMG9NL.jpg" height="200" width="181" /></a> <a href="http://amzn.to/1nJy1VO"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51l5g0S2FYL._SY496_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg" height="198" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b>Wanting</b>: One of the few perks of working in a New England school: February Vacation. I'm not sure why it started initially, but here in Massachusetts (and most of the surrounding states) we get a week off in February, starting with President's day. We then get an additional "spring break" in April, kicked off by Marathon Monday. Less than two weeks until our winter vacation.... even if it doesn't feel like winter here in Boston, where we have had less than 5 inches of snow all year. Totally not complaining, though, after we got over 9 feet last year!<br />
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<b>Needing</b>: I have always been an organized person, especially with my time. My desk may not always reflect my level of organization (can we say papers everywhere?!) but I have a method to my madness. Lately, though, I have been struggling to keep my schedule organized. I seem to be running a few days behind, and just can't catch up! My son is getting older, and the schedules that had been working for us are just not cutting it anymore. I will have to spend a day over vacation reorganizing it all to get my life back on the organization train.<br />
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<b>Swooning</b>: the Valentine's day decorations at <a href="http://www.target.com/">Target</a> are so cute this year! If only I could shop the dollar spot online... or maybe it's better that I can't. ;)<br />
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Happy February!Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-84103076418556895652016-01-03T03:00:00.000-05:002016-01-03T03:00:02.156-05:00Talking about vacation in a creative way<div>
I am super excited to be linking up with some incredible ladies from the <a href="http://middleschoolmob.blogspot.com/">Middle School Mob</a> to share some of our favorite New Year's teaching ideas... and host a giveaway! Check out my New Year's teaching idea below, and don't forget to enter to win some of our best selling products at the end of the post.</div>
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Oh, winter break. How I loved and cherished you, and how sad I will be to see you go. But, s<span style="text-align: center;">ince it's time to get back to the grind, let's talk about what to do with kiddos that are excited about vacation. Let's be real, they all want to share everything they did on their vacation. I do want to hear about their holidays and times with their families, but there just isn't time smack dab in the middle of the day. In the past, I've had them write about what they did and share with a partner, but it just wasted </span><i style="text-align: center;">enough</i><span style="text-align: center;">. So, last year I tried something new that worked really well. I took an old game that I used to play in school, and put a fun creative writing twist on it.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsWCecMEuy79PKQ0Rds3lMZtWQNJT7gG0BnXMVDwQp0rlXRnOE8B0wZvIKmpTD49uGtS8PqDOKZazwEhD6Ax1hwaxN1ftBgYe5E0rvqu6IeYMEAObNDq-pLMbBXcwWSVhq9FRkKqe3OU/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="361" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipsWCecMEuy79PKQ0Rds3lMZtWQNJT7gG0BnXMVDwQp0rlXRnOE8B0wZvIKmpTD49uGtS8PqDOKZazwEhD6Ax1hwaxN1ftBgYe5E0rvqu6IeYMEAObNDq-pLMbBXcwWSVhq9FRkKqe3OU/s400/Slide1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The concept is simple. The kids get into small groups (4 or 5 students would be best) and share one <u>quick</u> story about their vacation. The story can be really interesting, or it can be kind of boring. Totally up to the kiddo! After they all share their stories, they all pick <u>one</u> as a group. This is the hard part, as we all know. Getting it narrowed down to one story can be a real challenge! I had a bit of trouble with that last year, and think this year I will ask them not to choose their own story to see if that helps. </div>
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Then, the story that they have picked will be the story they <u>all</u> write, pretending it is their own story. They will have to put themselves in the narrator's shoes and invent some of the creative elements of the story. They should try to describe things as much as they can to make it believable! The kids then each read their version of the story out loud to the class and the class tries to decide who actually told the story to begin with. </div>
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This game is super simple, fun, and has some great academic elements. The kids are using perspective, point of view, and narration skills in their creative writing. They are super motivated to write the story well because of the game aspect of it. I let the kiddos who "win" and trick kids into believing the story is theirs when it is not pick something from my prize bucket. Best of all, they are sharing a story about vacation like they want to do while also staying on track academically. It's an all around win!</div>
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Don't forget to head over to the rest blogs and check out their New Year's ideas, and DEFINITELY don't forget to enter the giveaway. There are some seriously great products up for grabs!</div>
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<a href="http://litwithlyns.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Lit with Lyns</a> - <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Argumentative-Essay-Writing-Process-Task-Cards-1753848" target="_blank">Argumentative Writing Process & Task Cards</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ebcamps.com/blog" target="_blank">EB Academic Camps</a> - <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/New-Years-Unit-Activities-Middle-School-2262410" target="_blank">New Year's Unit & Activities for Middle School</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.raisingrigorandreaders.com/" target="_blank">Raising Rigor and Readers</a> - <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Reading-and-Writing-Activities-Common-Core-Aligned-1618710" target="_blank">Winter Reading and Writing Activities</a><br />
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<a href="http://mrsspanglerinthemiddle.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Mrs. Spangler in the Middle</a> - <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-Giver-reading-comprehension-GAMES-4-Games-in-all-8258" target="_blank">The Giver Reading Comprehension Games - Four in All!</a><br />
<a href="http://torigorosave.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Tori Gorosave: A Middle School English Teacher's Journey</a> - <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Expository-Article-The-History-of-New-Years-Google-Classroom-1613417" target="_blank">Expository Close Reading: The History of New Year's</a><br />
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<a href="http://kochsoddsnends.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Koch's Odds 'N Ends</a> - <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Student-Worksheet-for-Self-ReviewAnalysis-of-Test-Results-1936954" target="_blank">Student Worksheet for Self-Review / Analysis of Test Results</a><br />
<a href="http://the-marvelous-middle.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">The Marvelous Middle</a> - <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Looking-Back-Looking-Forward-New-Years-Activity-2262043" target="_blank">Looking Back Looking Forward New Year's Activity</a><br />
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Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-42210390359648571392016-01-01T23:29:00.002-05:002016-01-01T23:29:51.905-05:00Currently 2016The first of month and the first day of a new year! Linking up for one my favorite monthly linkys, <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2016/01/currently-january-2016.html">Currently</a> by Farley at <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/">Oh Boy 4th Grade</a>.<br />
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<b>Listening</b></div>
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Oh, the sound of the <a href="http://store.irobot.com/vacuum-cleaning/roomba-robots/family.jsp?categoryId=2501652">Roomba</a> is magic to my ears. My hubby spoiled me a couple months ago with the <a href="http://amzn.to/1UlkRbc">Roomba 980</a>. It's definitely my favorite household appliance, hands down. I used to vacuum every other day to keep the cat hair and dust off the floor. Now, I only have to vacuum once a week... and I could probably skip a week and no one would notice! Did I need the Roomba? No, definitely not. No one <i>needs</i> a Roomba. But, I sure do love it!</div>
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Do I even need to explain this one? Christmas, family parties, New Year's Eve, and cuddles with my little guy. It doesn't get any better than this!</div>
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<b>Thinking</b><br />
Ok, I realize it is strange that I am thinking about new pens at 11:00 on a Friday night. I am a bit odd, but I think most teachers with a love of school supplies can relate! I have always been a Frixion pen lover because they erase SO well. I use them in my planbook and for grading. I love that I can make a mistake, erase it, and try again. I am super pumped because I just bought <a href="http://amzn.to/1Ull3r8">these new Frixion markers</a> because of their thicker writing point. I can't wait to try them out when we get back to school!<br />
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<b>Wanting</b><br />
I am so stuck in a rut with my hair style. I need to get to the salon and let my hairdresser do whatever she thinks will refresh my look. Sounds crazy, I know, but I've known her since we were 8 years old and I definitely trust her opinion. Keep an eye on instagram- things might get crazy! :)<br />
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<b>Needing</b><br />
I just need more time in my life, in every aspect. No matter what I am doing, I feel like I could do it better if I just had more time. I wish the Time Turner that Hermione had in Harry Potter was real!<br />
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<b>One Little Word</b><br />
I am trying so hard to express my gratitude more. I have always felt it, but I have not been great about expressing it. I have an incredible family, great friends, amazing co-workers, and an all around fantastic life. My goal for 2016 is to show my gratitude more and tell people just how much they mean to me.<br />
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Happy New Year, my friends!Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-78472958925222354022015-12-31T23:11:00.001-05:002015-12-31T23:11:14.868-05:00A New App for a New Year: BloomzIn a moment that will surprise no one, I am back with another great app to share! <div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzqoCR9w_XnnEF_zTsjyCwGgiTtYQ7XIstT_fDbuuX4IWtZ7Py02If8t1yOPG2NTR4n6Buaqg7_wCiXaiv2knjVnQQZUIq9Rfc9aPoNOd2FPJBlVwEstxchdn629Y9VBVP5VKSUZGFqk/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzqoCR9w_XnnEF_zTsjyCwGgiTtYQ7XIstT_fDbuuX4IWtZ7Py02If8t1yOPG2NTR4n6Buaqg7_wCiXaiv2knjVnQQZUIq9Rfc9aPoNOd2FPJBlVwEstxchdn629Y9VBVP5VKSUZGFqk/s400/Slide1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I love technology. It's practically a sickness. I'm always on the hunt for an app that will make my life a little bit easier. Sometimes it backfires, though, when I end up with 15 apps to meet all my needs. Who has the storage for that? Not only that, who can remember it all and keep it all together? Definitely not me. I am super pumped I found an app that meets a few different needs and eliminates some of the excess. Best part? <i>It's totally free</i>. <a href="http://www.bloomz.net/">Bloomz</a> is a sort of private social network that connects a teacher and the parents of students in his or her class. It's sort of like facebook, but way way better because parents of kids in your class can't creep on pictures posted by your college roommate. That can get ugly fast, people. </div>
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<a href="https://www.bloomz.net/images/sectionHowBloomzWorks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://www.bloomz.net/images/sectionHowBloomzWorks.png" width="309" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">from <a href="http://bloomz.net/">bloomz.net</a></span></div>
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With <a href="http://bloomz.net/">Bloomz</a>, you can upload due dates and events into a class calendar, ask for volunteers, make a "wish list" of supplies, communicate with parents, and even send pictures. You can choose to send updates to one parent, a group of parents, or the whole class. Parents can then like, comment, or share on what you post. If you have an issue with a specific parent, you can even "mute" them so they can't post anything but they can still receive updates. This one app replaces google calendar, email, google drive, and even some paper notices. I am all about simplicity in 2016, people, so this app is definitely being implemented in my classroom.</div>
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Happy New Year! </div>
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Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-51378290437141401802015-12-02T20:19:00.000-05:002015-12-02T20:19:03.623-05:00Currently December 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's December- the most wonderful time of year. Lights are twinkling, decorations are hung, and festive Christmas music is playing. Does it get any better than that? I'm linking up with Farley from <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/">Oh Boy 4th Grade</a> for <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2015/12/currently-december-2015.html">Currently</a>!</div>
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<img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jZQpEgdicGHnyOS-B2Box4A4xNOkfQzgLTOfmfhZk2wRqEJFov-m3YNcm32VV87dpcx9kl6hpMZzkTtzcCp9-ShTNUwUPNse2dEuPskuY8Ww4dx_XN7_c-tidTqWCMLprt23LQrP8EU/s640/Slide1.jpg" width="480" /></div>
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Listening: Have you ever seen Peg + Cat? It's a PBS cartoon that focuses on math for pre-schoolers. If you are a parent of a little one or teacher Kindergarten, you have to check it out! I first saw it when my little guy was only a few months old but he only recently started to be allowed one show a night. The NCTM conference last year featured a session about using this show for teaching math in the lower grades, too. Not to mention one of the main characters is a cat, which is my favorite animal. It's a win!</div>
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Loving: The Christmas season! How can anyone dislike this time of year? I think I have an extra special love for the holiday this year because my son is starting to <i>get it</i>. He loves to find his elf on the shelf every day and listen to Christmas carols. Is there anything better than the look in a baby's eyes as he stares at the Christmas tree? The best.</div>
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Thinking: This may be a little contradictory, but my goodness, teaching in December is HARD. As a fantastically hysterically teacher in my building said, "it's one long game of whack-a-mole." So true!</div>
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Wanting: Our school laminator broke down a few weeks ago, and I really miss it. I have a personal laminator to do small items, but I can't do anything larger than a standard 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper. I miss being able to do bigger projects, like nametags and anchor charts. Here's hoping Santa brings our school a new one!</div>
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Needing: Oh, report cards. They are always a ton of work, but this year is extra tough. We have a new computer system for inputting grades and the glitches haven't quite been worked out yet. I can't wait until they are all worked out!</div>
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Real or fake: This year, it's fake. With a little guy at home, I just don't want to have clean up after a tree. Vacuuming up dead needles, watering it, and keeping the cat out of it is all just too much this year. We got a nice fake one with lots of volume. You can hardly tell it isn't real... especially after we light our Christmas Tree candle. :)</div>
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Enjoy the season!</div>
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<br />Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-40289516960741823352015-11-10T09:30:00.000-05:002015-11-10T09:30:00.383-05:00Community InvolvementI'm blogging over at <a href="http://middleschoolmob.blogspot.com/2015/11/community-involvement.html">Middle School Mob</a> today, with some fun and easy ideas for community involvement in the classroom! Working together to help others has made my students better teammates and cooperative learners. <a href="http://middleschoolmob.blogspot.com/2015/11/community-involvement.html">Check it out</a>!<br />
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<br />Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-86265406137468060752015-11-07T17:16:00.002-05:002015-11-07T18:46:36.982-05:00Get your students started in writing (with a freebie)I was sitting with a reluctant writer last week, conferencing with her on a personal narrative. She had only a few sentences down, even after she had been writing (or trying to) for almost 20 minutes. She was disinterested in continuing, and said to me, "I just can't get started. I know what I want my story to be about, but I don't know how to start it and make it sound good." This isn't uncommon- so many of my fifth graders struggle with the same issue! So, this week I really focused on helping those struggling students find some way to start <i>and</i> helping the rest of my students enhance their beginnings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwnjrcZgTd6rB1Gzh9L8IFcIGeTMugWLFbt72hkxA6v27_O-s5G4T3xtoyy4IfNNO9A-OSUuuhMSxy6x4uo7dwR-4nqwZWgycZWnaF88bkYC4JZJnHel1ur1-A1sJWGJiPhtb_TT95Tg/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDwnjrcZgTd6rB1Gzh9L8IFcIGeTMugWLFbt72hkxA6v27_O-s5G4T3xtoyy4IfNNO9A-OSUuuhMSxy6x4uo7dwR-4nqwZWgycZWnaF88bkYC4JZJnHel1ur1-A1sJWGJiPhtb_TT95Tg/s400/Slide1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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We worked together as a class to create a continuum of beginnings. We thought about all the different ways we could begin a story, and then arranged them with the more sophisticated beginnings at the top of our chart, and the more basic beginnings at the bottom of the chart. In retrospect, I would have added an arrow to the side.... but there wasn't room left when I was done, so I just added it on the whiteboard next to it.<br />
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1. Use a motion word or sound.</div>
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2. Pose a question. </div>
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3. Use a quotation.</div>
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4. Just jump into the story and start "talking" to the reader.</div>
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5. Restate the prompt. Rearrange the words to create an opening paragraph.</div>
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My students really responded to the idea of a "continuum" of beginnings to chose from. In another conference after this lesson, one student said that he liked that the could "start with number 5" as a beginning to get over his writer's block, and then edit it later to be something more interesting. As a teacher, I loved how this lends itself to differentiation for the students!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CeLexcknYqTUWOxK9rhzjAa7q_nTg2g6CNSfBQvDMZi_C4Yo4Pu5Md2l53zgHaw8oqAseHc-3Ld1S84abi3tumn-d3DtngrrIHAYFmBPQwk2BYJ7VKUXkNmj9UAL6ipO8zJ-0JZXUXg/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_CeLexcknYqTUWOxK9rhzjAa7q_nTg2g6CNSfBQvDMZi_C4Yo4Pu5Md2l53zgHaw8oqAseHc-3Ld1S84abi3tumn-d3DtngrrIHAYFmBPQwk2BYJ7VKUXkNmj9UAL6ipO8zJ-0JZXUXg/s320/Slide1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Best of all, I made a little miniature anchor chart for my kiddos to paste in their notebooks- and thought I'd pass it along to you as a freebie! I left it at full size (8.5 x 11) and they fold it in half to paste it in. I like the words to be big enough to be easily read. If you prefer it slightly smaller, though, it shrinks well on the copy machine! I made three versions (all included)- one blank so the students can fill it in, one with just the ways to begin and a blank spot for the students to fill in their own examples, and one completely filled in.<br />
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Download the freebie <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-jwXhrgXojUOW5fWExVQTlyVnM/view?usp=sharing">here</a>!<br />
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<br />Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-38660282855928538912015-11-04T20:03:00.001-05:002015-11-04T20:03:09.449-05:00Winner!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExq7DqvUukewCV3yb07-FpaLjN3q8ZN6v_T3n0npEZwRTYLB6i2fb9-2rCL69v3TKX-IxdL9nVa2BA1xXqBaS4UEr6CiQn12lO_WO475OW5Wgesf7MT5vFjE7qeKVLfmxOjyNnP8CpPk/s1600/and-the-winner-is1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExq7DqvUukewCV3yb07-FpaLjN3q8ZN6v_T3n0npEZwRTYLB6i2fb9-2rCL69v3TKX-IxdL9nVa2BA1xXqBaS4UEr6CiQn12lO_WO475OW5Wgesf7MT5vFjE7qeKVLfmxOjyNnP8CpPk/s1600/and-the-winner-is1.jpg" /></a></div>
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Thank you to everyone who entered for the <a href="http://www.classroomfriendlysupplies.com/">Classroom Friendly Supplies</a> pencil sharpener contest! The winner is....<br />
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Gabby L<br />
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Look for an email for me soon- that pretty purple sharpener is coming your way.<br />
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Happy Wednesday!Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-63234696147321636452015-10-26T07:30:00.000-04:002015-10-26T07:30:00.474-04:00My favorite pencil sharpener returns...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Are you sick of my posts about my favorite pencil sharpener yet? I know.... I can't help it. It's changed my life! Well, maybe not changed my life.... but it did make my classroom pencil management a lot easier. :) It's fast, quiet, and it has a "cool factor" that makes the kids love to use it. So much, in fact, "pencil sharpener" has become one of my most coveted classroom jobs! Classroom Friendly Supplies is now offering the sharpener in a pretty shade of purple, too!<br />
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Isn't she a beaut? One of my favorite things about this sharpener is how fast it is for a manual sharpener. Check it out......<br />
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16 pencils, read to sharpen. Apple watch, ready to time it.<br />
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And... I'm off!<br />
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Last one!<br />
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All 16 pencils done in 3:42.<br />
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Check out those hyper-sharpened tips!<br />
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I've said it before, and I'll say it again- I am a huge fan of this sharpener. I couldn't be more excited to share the new purple color with you- and since I have already bought a few for my classroom, this one is up for grabs! Open to US residents only.<br />
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<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="89de2eb91" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/89de2eb91/" id="rcwidget_3ydcsxcl" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
<script src="//widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
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You can also check out my previous posts about my favorite pencil sharpener by clicking the "pencil sharpener" tag in the word cloud in the side bar, or by clicking the "pencil sharpener" tag at the bottom of this post.<br />
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Happy Monday!Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-37602174855414520002015-10-02T18:01:00.000-04:002015-10-02T18:01:00.034-04:00Currently October!I feel like the days are flying by. Every time the calendar turns over to a new month, it takes me by surprise! I think that life hit fast forward when I had a baby last year. That "baby" is 16 months old, putting two words together to ask for things, running around, and feeding himself. When did that happen????? <div>
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Linking up with <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/">Farley</a> for my favorite monthly linky- <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2015/10/currently-october-2015.html">Currently</a>!</div>
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Listening: <u>Criminal</u> is my new addiction! It is a podcast that talks about crime in every episode. They interview all different people- people falsely accused, people that were victims of a crime, law enforcement people, criminals that have served their sentences, and even historians to talk about old crimes. I can't get enough!</div>
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Loving: GIVE ME ALL THE PUMPKIN THINGS! I love a pumpkin spiced latte as much as the next girl (iced, please!) but I take it one step further. We have pumpkin everything going on! Pumpkin candles burning, pumpkin seeds for snacks, pumpkin pancakes, pumpkin mac and cheese... you get the idea.</div>
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Thinking: I got my NAIER order- I have so many post-its and white out strips now! I am so happy. Office supplies have that effect on me. </div>
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Wanting: My living room is currently a mix of baby toys, baby clothes (that he pulled off in his travels), and papers to grade. It's a mess.... and I don't want to clean it! </div>
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Needing: A terribly long nap, which is why I don't want to clean the horribly messy living room. :) </div>
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Boo-tiful: Don't you love when students say nice things about you when they think you aren't listening? It made my day- I'm not sure what she is referring to with "fancy and fashionable" considering I am the mom of a toddler and never have much time to get ready... but I'll take it!</div>
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Happy October, friends!</div>
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Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-46541293568209809662015-09-26T13:08:00.002-04:002015-09-26T13:08:16.304-04:00What's in my Teaching Bag<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Linking up with some fabulous bloggers for the What's in My Teacher Bag linky! It's inspired by the Us Weekly "What's in My Bag" articles, where celebrities show off what they are toting around. Such a fun idea! I have to admit something right now, though. When I signed on to do this link up I told myself I was going to show <i>everything</i> that was in my bag when I wrote my blog post. I totally believed that... until Thursday, when I cleaned my bag out since I was "fall cleaning" anyway. So, pretend that there are also about 15 Starbucks straw wrappers, a few crumbled up sticky notes, and some stray pieces of notebook paper with random notes in this picture... then it would be real life. :) So here's what I have:<br />
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<b>iPad</b><br />
I use my iPad ALL.THE.TIME in my classroom. I don't have a set in my classroom for my kiddos, but I bring my personal one in all the time. I use it in centers, for read alouds of ebooks, and for my own organization. Some of my favorite apps are <a href="http://caffeineandlessonplans.blogspot.com/2013/07/classroom-organizer.html">Classroom Organizer</a> by Booksource (for <a href="http://caffeineandlessonplans.blogspot.com/2013/07/classroom-organizer.html">library organization</a>) and <a href="http://caffeineandlessonplans.blogspot.com/2014/11/plickers.html">Plickers</a> (for <a href="http://caffeineandlessonplans.blogspot.com/2014/11/plickers.html">formative assessment</a>). I usually have a few ebooks for my own personal reading on here, too- just in case I get stuck waiting for a PD to start or in line at Starbucks.<br />
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<b>Lesson Planner, Flair Pens, Paper Binder Clips, Post-its, and Washi Tape</b><br />
No big explanation necessary- I would be lost without them! I use the flair pens and washi tape to color code and organize my calendar. I write notes, to do lists, and plans in flair pens that are color coded by subject. It makes getting ready for my week SO much easier! A quick glance at my planner and I can see what is going on, what I need to do, and what is coming up- for each subject. I use washi tape to indicate deadlines, meetings, and other "special days" that PDs or in-service training. Events in our district are somethings subject to change in date, so using removable washi tape saves me tons of time... and let's be serious, it's just cute. :)<br />
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<b>ARC notebook, that I use as a TpT planner</b><br />
I carry this around everywhere. I jot down ideas for products, blog posts, or things I should check out. I can be super forgetful, so this is important for me!<br />
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<b>Hairbrush, water bottle, and KIND bar</b><br />
A girl's gotta take care of herself! I keep an emergency makeup kit in my desk, but this brush has saved me so many times as I traveled to different buildings in my district for meetings or trainings.<br />
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<b>Name badge</b><br />
This one isn't optional. :)<br />
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Not pictured: the stack of grading I brought home, under the planner. Getting caught up is my goal today.<br />
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So, there you have it- my teacher bag and it's contents on full display! Check out the other great bloggers that have linked up to see what's in their teacher bags.<br />
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<span id="docs-internal-guid-f6a171c7-ce94-1170-64e9-011820241326"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><!-- end InLinkz script →</span></span>Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-76400217367743260832015-09-13T14:19:00.000-04:002015-09-13T14:19:18.082-04:00Tips for Teaching in an Overcrowded ClassroomIf your district is anything like mine, you are being asked to do more with less. Since the recession, funding has been slashed. Teacher jobs have been cut, and class sizes have been increased. Ten years ago, there were 20 - 25 students in a typical classroom in my district. Now, there are 28 - 35. To many people who are not in the field of education, that doesn't sound like <i>that</i> much of a difference. We teachers know, though- it's incredibly difficult.<br />
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It's inevitable, isn't it? As soon as you get the classroom routines going and you have a good rhythm happening, you get the phone call. You know the one I am talking about... a new student has arrived! You look at your classroom and see this...<br />
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I've been in this situation more than once... and it isn't pretty. I happen to be in the most over crowded school in the city, <i>and</i> in the most overcrowded grade. We have one less teacher than the other grades do, although our student population counts stay the same. Aren't we lucky? I've worked hard at identifying the ways in which I was successful (and not so successful) over the past few years, and used that information to help me plan for the future. So, here are my tips:<br />
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<b>Time Management</b><br />
When you have 30+ students in front of you, time management is key. You are only one person with (likely) only one planning period, but you are expected to do a whole lot. Grading alone can eat up a huge chunk of time! If you spend even 5 minutes grading each paper- which is easy to do- you are looking at about 150 minutes of grading <i>for one assignment</i>. That is two and a half hours.... which is almost all of my planning time for the week. There literally just are not enough hours in the day... and I mean literally by the OLD dictionary definition, not the new "figurative" meaning! Points to focus on with time management:<br />
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<li>grade student papers in a conference <i>with</i> the student. They get immediate feedback, and you get to spend the time you need focusing on their work.</li>
<li>correct homework as a class, then collect it to give credit and do "spot checks."</li>
<li>accept that sometimes you have to just give a check/check plus/check minus and not traditional letter grade for less important work</li>
<li>prioritize the grading that you cannot complete these ways. Do the most important things first, and accept the fact that you will <b>not</b> always get caught up.</li>
<li>give students jobs! Not just some of the kids... ALL of them. I have as many jobs as there are kids in my class. Everyone does <i>something</i>. Kids sharpen pencils, fill the paper supply trays, and even reset the behavior chart. I give them some of our classroom currency as a "paycheck" each week, and they can save up to trade it in for prizes at the end of each term. </li>
<li>Every day, set up 3 priorities that you have to complete outside of instruction. If you accomplish those three things, then consider the day successful. Do these before ANYTHING else!</li>
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<b>Peer Learning & Collaboration </b><br />
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I am a big believer in allowing kids to learn from each other. Sometimes, hearing something explained by a peer can be the "magic ingredient" to get kids to understand something- for both kids! The student that is explaining the concept deepens their understanding by teaching someone else, and the student that is listening has an opportunity to hear the concept again. I like to have students work together a few different ways.</div>
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<li>Peer tutors that are "experts" on subjects help other students while I work in small groups during guided reading and guided math.</li>
<li>For some activities, I pair students of differing abilities so they can learn from each other.</li>
<li>Assign reading activities in guided reading groups, so they can discuss and collaborate before coming back to me to debrief.</li>
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<b>Routines & Optimizing Space</b></div>
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Making all of this work depends routines, clear expectations, and space optimization. I start engraining routines into my students on day one. Much of what I practice I learned in <a href="http://www.fredjones.com/">Fred Jones</a>' <u><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fred-Jones-Tools-Teaching-Instruction/dp/0965026329">Tools for Teaching</a></u>. If you haven't read this book, I seriously highly recommend it. This book is what saved me my first year teaching, and I have revisited it before going back to school every year since. What works for me:</div>
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<li>Have a routine for everything. Throwing out garbage, turning in assignments, sharpening your pencil, using the bathroom. Clear routines that are always followed help to keep a class going without interruption.</li>
<li>Teach students how you like things done. This one seems simple- but if you focus on it, you will save yourself some serious time! I spend a few periods early in the year showing students how I like them to correct their work. What marks to use, what to write (or not write), and what writing utensil to use. After doing this a few times, they have a clear idea of what is expected and I can collect the corrected papers to record in my gradebook. I "spot check" them once a week or so, and the students rarely cheat with this because they know I look at them. </li>
<li>Setup space so it can be used for more than one activity. My guided reading conference area is also my guided math conference area, and doubles as a place for me to grade papers after school. My math centers are next to my reading centers so students can use one space for both. Use every inch of space! Hang pocket folders on walls with extra work, get stacking trays for paper, and put sterilite plastic drawers under tables for extra storage. </li>
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<b>Let the Little Stuff Go</b></div>
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No matter what, you will never be able to do it all as a teacher- and especially not with an overcrowded classroom. Learn to let the little stuff go! Prioritize what is important to you in your classroom, and learn to let other things go. This is a huge struggle for me- and I'm sure so many other teachers! We are perfectionists by nature, it seems. </div>
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So, that's what works in my upper elementary/middle school setting. Some of these would work in other grade ranges, and some could be adapted to work. Good luck out there, fellow teachers with overcrowded rooms. I understand the struggle!</div>
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Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-75324360897282307022015-08-08T05:00:00.000-04:002015-08-08T05:00:00.667-04:00Product Swap with Miss L's Busy BeesI'm starting to get back into that "almost back to school" swing. I guess it's inevitable, but it's so hard to see the end of summer on the horizon! I still have 3 weeks left, but that means it's time to kick into gear. I'm organizing paperwork, thinking about setting up, and getting curriculum resources put together. I was super lucky to participate in a product swap this week with a SERIOUSLY awesome product from Haley at <a href="http://misslsbusybees.blogspot.com/">Miss L's Busy Bees</a>!<br />
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I have to start by saying that choosing a product to swap was the HARDEST. Haley has so many great activities in her store! After changing my mind a few times, I landed on her <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Hands-On-Greek-and-Latin-Root-Activities-for-Spelling-and-Defining-1752643">Hands On Greek and Latin Root Activities for Spelling and Defining.</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Hands-On-Greek-and-Latin-Root-Activities-for-Spelling-and-Defining-1752643"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrrUZNAmUo68cg4kKRAciAKDmjuZf39mr2H6BzMSuAF40mFAR-jko6fmz-WQtbN1OZL9Mlqu7CtA33Kgb-mV1Dt1lbYfHED9QbrH6nYokkwZ7h7BA5A5giJfB1F8hWybRYtkzoMgUYsfc/s320/Screen+Shot+2015-08-07+at+10.06.48+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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I know it's not technically part of the product I'll use in my classroom, but can we talk about that cover page? So cute. I can't even handle it. I decided to go with this product because my district focuses heavily on root word spelling and definitions. We are expected to have students learn to apply the root word meaning to help breakdown the definitions of words that contain those roots. The CCSS call for "common" root words, but in our literacy program we also dive into some of the more obscure root words. I've been hunting for a way to make my instruction more interactive and hands on, and this product seriously fit the bill. </div>
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The activity kit contains the following Greek and Latin root words:</div>
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<li>tele</li>
<li>photo</li>
<li>astr</li>
<li>naut</li>
<li>miss</li>
<li>form</li>
<li>liter</li>
<li>magn</li>
<li>migra</li>
<li>therm</li>
<li>tract</li>
<li>dura</li>
<li>hyper</li>
<li>vis</li>
<li>clam</li>
<li>vid</li>
<li>ultra</li>
<li>tra</li>
<li>aqua</li>
<li>dynam</li>
<li>graph</li>
<li>meter</li>
<li>ology</li>
<li>phobia</li>
<li>ism</li>
<li>ist</li>
<li>spec</li>
<li>scrib</li>
<li>rupt</li>
<li>port</li>
<li>ject</li>
<li>dict</li>
<li>able</li>
<li>ible</li>
<li>ance</li>
<li>ence</li>
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The pack starts off with word wall cards to be posted on the word wall, glued onto an anchor chart, glued into a notebooks, or printed and cut to send home as vocabulary flash cards. I love the fact that the are multi-use! The word and definition are included for each.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPz_IOjhLWvprFuO6UKZzxWcC4oSeB9Ns_yDJcZ4FLYHrJkSRyDh7gmMqzmJ7ELl_bMP1IvBuzzgxIWeSPSI3xFYJZHsERK-RclXA1ttNnzNjiw_o2AOR9Xj6gpt2t6j18h_riHXzkMh8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-08-07+at+10.07.19+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPz_IOjhLWvprFuO6UKZzxWcC4oSeB9Ns_yDJcZ4FLYHrJkSRyDh7gmMqzmJ7ELl_bMP1IvBuzzgxIWeSPSI3xFYJZHsERK-RclXA1ttNnzNjiw_o2AOR9Xj6gpt2t6j18h_riHXzkMh8/s320/Screen+Shot+2015-08-07+at+10.07.19+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next, Haley make a note-taking sheet for the root words. It includes a place for the root word, definition, and examples. I love the fact that it can be put in a binder for quick reference for homework. That is where my kiddos usually need it the most! You all know what I am talking about... they go home and magically forget the lesson of the day. Using this in their binders, the students will be able to study to root words and share what they are learning with their parents. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WuAXx-4VsylNVWtQfrXsvOpT5IdioD14qtZgFZdKDuPF2zafMWNI36JZQA4ELSvgJUrayvHXsAT9IU5IeuQYJo1CxyZkofUpvBZRf0nsIIKB9KmCHHqA1l_-FBp-C1rasR07FHSSbFg/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-08-07+at+10.07.50+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6WuAXx-4VsylNVWtQfrXsvOpT5IdioD14qtZgFZdKDuPF2zafMWNI36JZQA4ELSvgJUrayvHXsAT9IU5IeuQYJo1CxyZkofUpvBZRf0nsIIKB9KmCHHqA1l_-FBp-C1rasR07FHSSbFg/s200/Screen+Shot+2015-08-07+at+10.07.50+PM.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBPYwsPGZa8m6bp-utu-YdbAPUQ6R1YWTTYRamyYz0nUVC5jqn2WQko-OFuVJMa48CFUvZh9NBTvp-3qpRI1svkZL05YEsROYY1cEsrZoDGUQ5elih_QkL0icDJ2ajvWRiqehoXtkRu0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-08-07+at+10.08.28+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifBPYwsPGZa8m6bp-utu-YdbAPUQ6R1YWTTYRamyYz0nUVC5jqn2WQko-OFuVJMa48CFUvZh9NBTvp-3qpRI1svkZL05YEsROYY1cEsrZoDGUQ5elih_QkL0icDJ2ajvWRiqehoXtkRu0/s200/Screen+Shot+2015-08-07+at+10.08.28+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgC5HbVVwPNXf-yCB_qnBN1G8N4C6M1wII0ZvkfGAoh2bmWVM2o2v6l78gDPrN0kXozxNGOFsjeMhPI0c8Gxa6gAOa5Rl__b3L1nBhONLjqlEBdmBQCKWnzGx0Qc3mkXnKTdmry7GDgo4/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-08-07+at+11.15.49+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="95" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgC5HbVVwPNXf-yCB_qnBN1G8N4C6M1wII0ZvkfGAoh2bmWVM2o2v6l78gDPrN0kXozxNGOFsjeMhPI0c8Gxa6gAOa5Rl__b3L1nBhONLjqlEBdmBQCKWnzGx0Qc3mkXnKTdmry7GDgo4/s200/Screen+Shot+2015-08-07+at+11.15.49+PM.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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The next part is the <i>best</i> part. Haley has 5 really fun hands on activities for the kiddos to complete to help them really understand the meaning of each root word. These activities can be completed independently or in partners/small groups, depending on your needs. These are perfect for completing during Reader's Workshop stations. I LOVE that they are fun and engaging and will keep my kids on task! I don't want to give away all of Haley's secrets so I won't go into details with the games, but they are <i>definitely</i> worth checking out in her product.</div>
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Overall, Haley has made a great activity packet for teaching root words. The focus has been pushed away from rote memorization, and into activities that have been created to help engage students and encourage authentic interaction with the root words. <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Hands-On-Greek-and-Latin-Root-Activities-for-Spelling-and-Defining-1752643">Check it out!</a></div>
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I'm the last stop on the Blog Hop, but if you started in the middle click below to continue on to Vanessa, our first stop, to see her product swap!</div>
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<a href="http://longwingmontessori.blogspot.com/2015/08/our-teaching-tribe-august-challenge.html"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIjZ2BcHNaDfeedHA1mgJpYkjs3MSS8rpbsffsWajmQ5ZrSIdqsbKtwYqXtE-FD-RafaTLefQPOp5rPGFaDIGgVHFN8a4awzhwI42NvK4aVwm_GrKKOO9zjvyqLTItv5XsAlWB8GYhfA/s320/TEACHING+TRIBE+BLOG+HOP-01.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-73370217719843017172015-08-01T22:16:00.003-04:002015-08-01T22:16:50.352-04:00Currently AugustTime seems to fly in the summer, doesn't it? It feels like just yesterday it was the last day of school... and now, here we are! The Sunday night of the summer. Linking up with Farley from <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/">Oh Boy Fourth Grade</a> for <a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/2015/08/currently-august-2015.html">Currently</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1VD4gi1bmgjTH_5Dj_FQasq89NzbGLYNi6hVbv1iZtSEwBmwLTPRHpOq_UhSXTpuvX3sL5IoKmquKnJO8kNP19ejf1YvtFZRK2L6-WqSJI3iuhEVhv9mufkVFAfAIxT7GQPJse7pxgw/s1600/Slide1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo1VD4gi1bmgjTH_5Dj_FQasq89NzbGLYNi6hVbv1iZtSEwBmwLTPRHpOq_UhSXTpuvX3sL5IoKmquKnJO8kNP19ejf1YvtFZRK2L6-WqSJI3iuhEVhv9mufkVFAfAIxT7GQPJse7pxgw/s640/Slide1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<b>Listening</b>: Silence! Moms, you totally understand how glorious this is when you have a toddler. I relish in the quiet I get for a couple hours each night.</div>
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<b>Loving</b>: I don't go back for a month. A GLORIOUS month! I am going to love every second of our late start this year. We always head back the week before Labor day, which just happens to be late this year. It's pretty great.</div>
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<b>Thinking</b>: starting to put some ideas together for my classroom. I haven't gotten serious yet, but I have some new thoughts!<br />
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<b>Wanting</b>: Does this need explanation? Summer nights.... :)<br />
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<b>Needing</b>: I'm thinking tomorrow we will hit the beach. We live so close to the coast that it's hard to stay away in the summer time! It's been too long for people who live so close.<br />
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<b>RAK</b>: I love the idea of doing some random acts of kindness for BTS. Who doesn't love a good treat in the teacher's lounge??<br />
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Enjoy August, everyone!Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-50323580385620965322015-07-31T08:00:00.000-04:002015-07-31T08:00:09.140-04:00Beliefs into Action<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Every single teacher I know came into the profession for a meaningful reason. No one that I have met has ever said "oh, I decided to teach because I wasn't sure what else to do" or "I don't know, I just ended up here!" in the way that sometimes people in other professions sometimes say. Similarly, I think we all have philosophies and beliefs about education- but I personally feel as though perhaps I don't talk about them enough to my students and their families. When I saw <a href="http://withlovefromtexasblog.blogspot.com/">Whitney's</a> from <a href="http://withlovefromtexasblog.blogspot.com/2015/07/i-challenge-you-turn-your-beliefs-into.html">With Love from Texas' Beliefs to Action blog hop</a>, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to spend some time focusing on my philosophy.</div>
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<li><b>All students have the ability to be successful.</b> This is so critical! If students know right off the bat that you believe they can do well, then you have set a precedent. It's true that some students will inherently be more successful than others, but that doesn't take away from the successes of other students. </li>
<li><b>Nurturing is an incredibly important part of education, but so is tough love at times</b>. You have all seen it before- some kids just need a hug. They are hurting, lonely, or have a major difficulty in their life which seems insurmountable. Those kids need love and nurturing- there is no doubt about it. I think that teachers need to be skilled in recognizing those moments, but also in recognizing when a kid needs tough love. I grew up in a less than ideal living situation, and remember lamenting about it to my fifth grade teacher. She took me to the hall and said to me "Listen, Mandy. Your life is hard, that's true. It's probably harder than lots of kids in the class. But, they will be applying to the same colleges that you do. They will take the same SATs and final exams in high school. No one will give you extra points because life is tough for you. You have to find a way to work through it." I won't ever forget those words. I'm not saying that all students need this or even that all students would react well to it. I do think, though, it's important to recognize the moments when this conversation, or one like it, is absolutely appropriate to have with a student.</li>
<li><b>Instilling confidence in a child can make a tremendous difference in his educational performance</b>. This one really speaks to me. How can a student do well if they don't believe they can do well? It's just not logical. Anyone that has taken a standardized test can tell you that a little bit of confidence goes a long way. Anxiety and lack of confidence will just distract from your focus and lower your chances of performing to the best of your ability. As a teacher, I really believe it is a part of my job to help students to recognize their own abilities and have confidence in themselves. </li>
<li><b>Parents, students, and teachers should work together to be part of an educational team. No one portion of the team can do all the work. Each of us has our role, and all of us must do our best to fulfill that role to help students succeed to the best of their ability</b>. What else can I say? Communication and teamwork between all three parts will lead to success! </li>
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I really enjoyed writing my beliefs down! Although they were always within me, it had been a while since I sat down and put them into words. I encourage you all to do so, as well! In the meantime, hop on over to <a href="http://www.hodgesherald.com/2015/07/education-beliefs-into-action-blog-hop.html">Hodge's Herald</a> to see what <a href="http://www.hodgesherald.com/2015/07/education-beliefs-into-action-blog-hop.html">Elizabeth's educational beliefs</a> are. </div>
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<br />Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6606846114083596413.post-23541662552197124272015-07-23T13:12:00.001-04:002015-07-23T13:12:47.280-04:00Making Research Reports Fun with InstagrokI have spent a lot of time researching the Common Core research standards this year as part of a professional learning community. My PLC worked hard at finding ways to integrate the research, writing, and technology standards into our teaching. It's not easy, friends! I use <a href="http://caffeineandlessonplans.blogspot.com/search/label/research%20standards">PROBE notebooks</a> as a <a href="http://caffeineandlessonplans.blogspot.com/search/label/research%20standards">yearlong research report project</a>, but since that is written it doesn't address the "technology" portion of the fifth grade writing standards and the College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards. In my hunt for websites and apps, I found something really cool: <a href="https://www.instagrok.com/">instagrok</a>! <div>
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<img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGGqaD8cpbX86Xa-Ni-95juUnMYx3IbR2PsxpbbmsjHjUmTwFk-wT-eanMGyx_GRx1i8XJEoKQ9qpusSDdx2O_6xCnHrVdsJjKYETf4gEXqavIt2Ges6m5XP5O8yQRhq7xdIXMbisZTqE/s400/Slide1.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<a href="https://www.instagrok.com/">Instagrok</a> seriously puts the "cool" <strike>back</strike> into research reports. It's super easy to use once you understand it! A "grok" is a visual concept map created for you based upon a search. It's pretty simple to get started- there a search bar, just like google, and you type in whatever you are doing research on. The concept map populates pretty quickly! <a href="https://www.instagrok.com/">Instagrok</a> searches educational websites, pictures, and videos and puts together the best supporting concepts.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3sQHSmVCH4XzRVZN6EOskW3sLbSf6_9bOzR7awqUNLGlLbrF2dDl3TbtUwkiD8TA2HGDHpaiezx9cALnxx00Gea8xCLyG-0LvVLBnVoMfQ2K4KZfcpDylaZdZynnMGplAph9J9ejA24/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-07-22+at+9.55.00+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW3sQHSmVCH4XzRVZN6EOskW3sLbSf6_9bOzR7awqUNLGlLbrF2dDl3TbtUwkiD8TA2HGDHpaiezx9cALnxx00Gea8xCLyG-0LvVLBnVoMfQ2K4KZfcpDylaZdZynnMGplAph9J9ejA24/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-07-22+at+9.55.00+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's pretty, isn't it?? I love concept maps! Now, the real fun comes in. It's totally interactive. If you click on the video, it pops up a larger window and starts playing. If you click on the words, another window pops up with more details.</div>
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It's broken down into key facts, websites, videos, images, concepts, and notes. I have spent most of my time working with the kiddos in "key facts" but I think that as time goes on and they become more sophisticated in their research abilities I explore all the tabs with them. What a great way to teach them about determining importance! </div>
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When you click on each fact, it brings up the source of the information so you can view it yourself. It also gives you a little text box on the bottom where you can add your own notes.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcyeU68YE_LOjuxriZdPBc2bLjIZssJ3vmIt2bgdNpi2QeGUg5-lbJVEDtdL9UY_9cdWoN8nYjEr7u6EcJ57-okrAD78esdPOxPrKCeDZFfvbgua9PxKDI_KKLipgbMBTgCib0qRFlqs/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-07-22+at+9.59.12+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcyeU68YE_LOjuxriZdPBc2bLjIZssJ3vmIt2bgdNpi2QeGUg5-lbJVEDtdL9UY_9cdWoN8nYjEr7u6EcJ57-okrAD78esdPOxPrKCeDZFfvbgua9PxKDI_KKLipgbMBTgCib0qRFlqs/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-07-22+at+9.59.12+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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You can then "pin" the resource to your journal, which saves the information for later so you can refer back to it (and the notes you made) while writing your research report. I have to tell you a major downfall I found though- instagrok includes results from wikipedia. I address this by having my students mark them "not credible" and having them disregard that information. If there is a fact they <i>really</i> love, I ask them to find it from another source to use it. If it's a reliable fact, they will find it again!</div>
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One of my favorite things about instagrok is that you can customize the level of difficulty!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgcEAoht2WaWLvCI_t62H2ajCnFnqG9PHf6-vw_cxdc8-HI6cHO6M92_ZUVJp2fSOAiNgNliriuLIXwLDzp23rbTI5f8Po6G2k8Nlm4BIMz2tqCBm0k9fN_i764n6VL0D_P81KGJd610/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-07-22+at+9.55.08+PM_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTgcEAoht2WaWLvCI_t62H2ajCnFnqG9PHf6-vw_cxdc8-HI6cHO6M92_ZUVJp2fSOAiNgNliriuLIXwLDzp23rbTI5f8Po6G2k8Nlm4BIMz2tqCBm0k9fN_i764n6VL0D_P81KGJd610/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-07-22+at+9.55.08+PM_edited-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In the top task bar, there is a difficulty slider. Kiddos can self-select their level of difficulty, or you can assign it for them. This is SUPER helpful when trying to get some deep information and understanding for enrichment kids! I have put them up to "difficult" and then been amazed at some of the things they have researched and put together. They have examined some of the intricacies of their topics and really done a fantastic job. </div>
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The grok stays really true to the topic, no matter the level that is assigned. At each one, the "meat" of the topic is really well represented. In the easy level, the student is introduced to the key components of the research topic. I like to think of it as the "quick and dirty" of the topic. They get the information they need without extra information to bog them down. This is great for kiddos that really have no prior knowledge on a difficult topic or for the students that struggle with retaining information. They get the knowledge they need, on their level, and are able to synthesize it into a written report. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfjAiOrCESk2q5nfre7fX1LPHGkkUwxlAg0SQqxRt149XABcz9FpzuYJYFKmcjAIUQQV3PVkFtLaZKg9BO-J1Dz2Bo6StRQyqOdZ1UbDzeWpYaJCvWcaRkSL-mGD5d09TtMHOjIH11yw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-07-22+at+10.00.35+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnfjAiOrCESk2q5nfre7fX1LPHGkkUwxlAg0SQqxRt149XABcz9FpzuYJYFKmcjAIUQQV3PVkFtLaZKg9BO-J1Dz2Bo6StRQyqOdZ1UbDzeWpYaJCvWcaRkSL-mGD5d09TtMHOjIH11yw/s640/Screen+Shot+2015-07-22+at+10.00.35+PM.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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When the research is done, it's time to write the report! I don't know about you guys, but typically this is the part that my kiddos hate. I can't tell you how many times I have had kids that did spectacular research and then failed to put it together in a meaningful way- resulting in a lackluster project. I have to tell you- instagrok has really revolutionized the research report in this way! All the information that you have pinned as you looked through your grok is easily accessible on the sidebar. You can refer back to it as you write your report. When you finish, a bibliography is populated in the sidebar, as well. Best of all, you can export your sources to <a href="http://www.easybib.com/">EasyBib</a> and have a bibliography populated for you! I love doing this to teach my kiddos the correct way to cite sources. Let's be real- fifth graders are not always the most detail oriented, and little things like bibliographies sometimes slip through the cracks. I once had a student turn in a research report with "my brain" listed as a source... not even listed in proper MLA format! ;) </div>
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Once the kiddos have finished their reports, they can email them as embedded text or print them. If you have assigned the project through your teacher account, the finalized report will show up in your teacher dashboard. The major downfall I see here is that you <u>cannot</u> save the file as a text document on your computer. Instead, I have had the file emailed to me and then I have copy/pasted it into Word. This is definitely not the fastest way to get things done, but it works for now. </div>
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<a href="https://www.instagrok.com/">Instagrok</a> is <u><b>totally free</b></u> to use as a student, and the "teacher" account is free for 90 days. Once your 90 day trial is up, <a href="https://www.instagrok.com/classroom.html">it is $45 a year to keep the "teacher" services</a>. I have to say, I won't be signing up for a paid account once my trial is up. For me, I love the student portion of the site (researching and writing) but found the teacher dashboard a bit clunky and hard to use. I like walking through the computer lab and working with the kiddos on the research as it happens. I don't think I use the paid version enough to justify buying it. I will definitely keep using <a href="https://www.instagrok.com/">instagrok</a> to help my students address the CCSS research and technology standards, though! </div>
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Mandyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05325163877096634791noreply@blogger.com3