Happy Birthday!

Hello Everyone!
 Everyone in my immediate family has a summer birthday. My oldest son will be turning 24, my youngest son will be turning 20, my husband and I will both be turning...well, you can probably figure it out! My husband and I will also be celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary this summer! We are all taking some time to be together in a wonder-filled vacation spot this month. I can't wait!!
Birthdays are so special. I try to make my firsties feel special on their birthdays. The kids at our school get to be on our video announcements on their birthday and are celebrated with a birthday book and pencil. In the classroom I like to set up the "Birthday Buckaroo's" desk with a birthday banner. They get to wear our Birthday Buckaroo hat, and enjoy a Happy Birthday Bucket filled with small treats. I get the buckets from Target's dollar spot before July 4th and do the writing before school starts. I've even, on occasion, been organized enough to have them filled and ready to go (bubbles, pencil, sticker, etc.) before the year starts.The kids love the buckets and I have even had kids who have graduated tell me they still have their bucket!! :)  
 We of course sing "Happy Birthday" as a class. This year I wanted to change it up a bit and celebrate with a new song. (No offense to the writer of the original "Happy Birthday!") I've heard this new song or something close to it before, so if you are the originator, thank you!! I think the kids are going to love it!!

Ready for the B-Day Buckaroo!

I'll run copies of the song, tie some rope around it and have that ready for each B'day kiddo as well!

For your free Happy B-day song printable, smile and click!

If you have a birthday coming up, Happy Happy B-day!!

May all your dreams come true!

Joyfully!

Nancy 

Silent Signals

Hello Everyone!
I have just a quick post today, but before that, I want to say a very humble thank you for all the positive comments on my blog.  I am new to this venue, but love being able to share and take every opportunity to teach. I am about to begin my 30th year as an educator of young children,but am realizing that I can help other teachers as well. We are all in this together, and in this for our sweet students. If you can use any of these ideas to help a kiddo be successful and happy, I am thrilled! So thank you!!  Thank you for giving me the confidence and spurring me on to keep going!!

I've had a couple of questions about how I keep the kids from interrupting while I am testing or exploring a guided reading lesson with a group.  I have a lantern (goes along with my western themed room!) that I turn on during those important times.  I train the kids to know that when that lantern is on, there will be no interruptions, whether I am working individually with a student or working with a group. We work on building that stamina every day!!
This year I am going to introduce some "silent signals" for my kids to use, because it never fails that someone needs to use the restroom, get a drink, or get a new sharp pencil during testing or guided reading!  :)  I know many classes already use some similar signs, but I never implemented them.  I am excited for the kids to practice and get used to using and not abusing these silent signals!!

For your downloadable copy of our Silent Signal mini poster, click here! Shhhhhh! :)

Have a great day!!

Joyfully and Thankfully!!

Nancy

Me and My Community

Hello Everyone!
Hope you're having a joyfilled day!!  I wanted to share my "Me and My Community" social studies mini unit with you.  If you are one of my kiddos reading this, have mom or dad print it off for you and get busy!! :)  We've done many of these activities already, but it is still a great summer time filler! 
The unit contains 30 pages of poems, drawing and writing activities, anchor chart activities, a mini book for kids to make, citizenship, community workers, map skill activities, and much more.  I have loved having time to organize it. Don't you love summer for just that reason? 
Here are a few pics of what is included!

Unit contains three poems

An 8 page mini book for kids to make

Our "Me on the Map" anchor chart

Craft Connection Inspired by finallyinfirst.blogspot.com :)



Mini poster



"What will you be?" anchor

sample- unit contains all 4 cardinal directions
 and a compas rose

Since you are part of my community, here's your free 30 page printable unit. Click Here!

Hope you can use a least a bit of this!!  I can't wait to use it again this fall!!

Have a great rest of the day!

Joyfully!

Nancy

Me and My School

Hello Everyone!
Thanks for stopping by to take a peek!  Today I worked on updating our beginning of the year social studies unit, "Me and My School."In this unit we discuss the purpose for rules, who the leaders are around us, what some good rules are, what happens when we don't follow rules, etc.  One great book I love to use during this unit is David Shannon's "David Goes to School."  If you don't have this book yet, it is a must!  Kids love this book and can totally relate to the cute little main character, David!  This little unit has some poetry, some thinking maps, a group anchor chart to make with your kids, and a quick little craft connection. Here are some pics.



A poem for our Poetry Folders!

Anchor Chart

Have kids make their own David.  A simple circle pattern is included in unit.  Let them go from there!! :)

For your free 18 page mini unit, click here!! :)


I hope you can use some of these ideas!
Next Stop? "Me and My Community!"  Coming right up!!
Thanks for stopping!  As always, if you need anything, just holler!  Leave me a message or e-mail me!

Till then, look for the joy in everything!

Joyfully!
Nancy

Sneaky E is back!

Hello Everyone!
One of the most fun activities we did this past year was the study of Sneaky E. You can view the whole post by searching this blog for Sneaky E or searching by date 1/26/12.
I wanted to share the little Sneaky E poem I just revamped. It tells the story of what Sneaky E is all about!  I can't wait to share it with my new class this coming year!! 

We made these pinterest inspired puppets of Sneaky E!

For your free copy of my poem click here! :)

Don't forget to look back at the original post on Sneaky E!  Be on the lookout for that sneaky fellow!!
Have a great day!
Joyfully!
Nancy

Science Notebook

Hello Everyone!
Just a quick post tonight. I've got to get ready for our 4th of July celebration!! Among so many other things, I love teaching science to my sweeties!  I have posted many things already that we have done in science, but I realized I hadn't posted about how we organize all of our recording sheets, observations, and explorations. We keep everything in our Science Notebook (just a brad pocket folder). At the very foundation of our teaching of science is establishing an environment that promotes inquiry and create an investigative mindset in our kiddos. Our first unit of study is "Scientists and their Investigations." I have reworked our Notebook cover and created some beginning of the year "Scientist" activities, including "What do scientists do?" "What do I want to learn?" and a few other things. Throughout the year we will add more to our notebook.  I hope this helps you get started! Just print these off, punch some holes and start the exploration!

If you are one of my kiddos reading this (or parents), don't forget that you can bring your notebook to the zoo the next time you go,  In the children's pavillion, you can show the keeper your notebook and he will give you points to be used for trading in on some amazing science specimens for you to keep!! So cool!!

For your free 8 page Science Notebook starter unit, click here!

Okay! I'm off to make some yummy munchies for tomorrow!!!

Happy fourth y'all!!

Joyfully!

Nancy

Guided Reading Guide

Hello Everyone!
Thanks for stopping by!! I get a lot of e-mails asking what I do when my kids are fully involved with Daily 5. Well, that is the perfect time for guided reading lessons with small groups or individual kiddos, as well as reading and writing conferences.   I keep a large notebook with a section for each of my firsties. After doing DRA's on each, I know what skills I need to work on and if I can group any of the kids together. I combined the behaviors that I notice in readers and teaching points I need to remember into single documents for each level of my readers from A-M (Fountas and Pinnell). At a glance I can see what support I need to provide and when my kiddos are ready to move up to the next level.  The checklist, date documentation, and other notes I have taken help during parent conferences and other meetings.

A sample of the level A documentation sheet

A sample of the level L documentations sheet

You can get your free 14 page Teachers Guided Reading Unit Here!

I hope this helps you whether you are a teacher or a parent!

Joyfully!

Nancy

Fiction and Nonfiction compare anchor chart

Hello Everyone!
I've had some requests to make a printable Fiction/Nonfiction anchor chart.  I originally posted a pic of the anchor chart my kiddos and I worked on back in February. (search Feb 13, 2012) I finally had a chance to make one to print and maybe store in the kids'  reading journal, or just post in the classroom if you don't have room for a large chart. Hope it helps!

for your free printable, click here! :)

Have a great day!  Thanks for taking a peek!!
Joyfully!
Nancy

Reader's Response D5 Work on Writing

Hello Everyone!
Thanks for stopping by to take a peek!!  I've had some questions about what I do for the "Work on Writing" component of Daily 5.  Among other written expression activities, I reserve a lot of time for the kids to do a Reader's Response piece in their journals. This is another reason why I love Daily 5.  The opportunity to build wonderful connections between reading and writing is made so relevant.  What is learned in one area can be used to extend the other.  Reading and writing are so related on every level of literacy development!
Because of this, writing about what we have been reading can be purposeful, relevant, and functional! Sometimes I give the kids a prompt, and other times I let them choose from some response prompt cards. I just finished revamping my cards for the first semester. I will do more that deal with nonfiction reading later. Here are some pics of some of the journal entries, and a pic of the first few pages in my packet.

***If you are one of my kids reading this, print off the cards and get reading and writing.  I know it's summer, but what a better time to enjoy some good books and practice writing!!! 
 Love you!! Mrs. V!


My kids use a simple composition journal for most responses.

 for your 9 page free printable of our reader's response cards click here! :)

Have fun and Keep Reading and Writing!!
Joyfully!
Nancy

CAFE Menu Board

Hello Everyone!
Just moved the rest of my "30 years of teaching stuff" to my new room!  Oh My Aching Back!  Now to organize it all and put it all back together!  Fun times!!  No, seriously, I loooove decorating a new room! I am going to continue with my western cowboy theme since I've invested way too much already.  I decided to make some new western style CAFE signs for my board.  Are you familiar with CAFE?  If you are doing Daily 5, you have probably heard of CAFE.  If not, it's not too late!  Pick up a copy of The CAFE Book by Boushey and Moser and dig in!  The Sisters present a way to engage all your readers in the areas of Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, and Expanding Vocabulary.  Using it along with Daily 5 is a perfect combination.  To get you started, I'm sharing my new CAFE board.  I'll take some pics when I get it all put up, But here are a few snippets. You can click below to get your free 20 page printable.

Click here to download your own set!

There are pages for each heading, and all the strategies to build literacy in your students.

I love the Sisters!!

Let me know if you have any questions!!!

OH! A friend caught a minor typo in my Reading log. (I hate typos!UGH!) If you've already downloaded it, check again for the new one.

Here's the new link :)

Have a wonderful and joyfilled day!!

Nancy