Character and Setting Using Text Evidence

So, as I began writing my first fiction unit for the new year, and planning for my first observation with a new principal, I really wanted to make sure I highlighted the CCSS and our school goal, differentiation.

For this lesson I focused the standard on RL.1.3 describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

I was finding that most of the students are relying heavily on their schema when answer questions about key details in the text, rather than specific text evidence. To tackle this problem I decided I would provide my students with text statements and they would then sort those words based on whether they were describing the characters or the setting.

I chose to use a listed exemplar from the appendix within CCSS - Over in the Meadow. I spread this lesson over three days.  Below is the visual from Houghton Mifflin Treasure's series. This is the version I used with my students.

Day 1 : We read the first 3 stanzas of the poem and discussed the change of setting through out the poem - how the characters all were in the meadow, but in different areas of the meadow. We sorted our evidence by what we saw (picture clues) and what we heard (text clues) to help us decide where and when the different parts of the poems where taking place. Below is a picture of the anchor chart I used.

Day 2:  We reread the same 3 stanzas, this time I had written words from the text on the post-its and purposely distributed words to students. They walked to enlarged posters of the three stanzas and placed their post-it either on the setting or the character, based on which it was describing.  For example, slow would have been placed on the picture of the turtle (character) or night would be placed in the sky (setting) of the owl stanza. We did this lesson again focusing on how we can infer more about the characters and setting. The green post-its are from the text, the blue ones are inferential descriptive words.

Day 3: This time other stanzas were selected for independent practice. I also D.I'ed these by having some student's using rebus readers and other using ones that had no picture clues. They read their stanza and then sorted words from the text under the titles - character and setting.

You can pick up a copy of the three different student formative sheets at my TPT store for FREE.

Star of the Week

So I've revamped my Star of the Week procedures with some of the wonderful ideas from my new team. Now students will be highlighted each day of their week.

   

Monday - Star of the Week Book - students fill out a cloze sentence book about some of their favorite things. It is then posted in the classroom.

The rest of the class will visit it throughout the week to complete a compare and contrast sheet. They will fill out a template that says how they are similar and different from the star. These papers will then be compiled into a book that the star can then take home. 

Tuesday - Mystery Box - Students will place an item of personal importance inside the mystery box and read aloud 3 clues to the class. Students will attempt to guess what is hidden inside the box. After revealing the item, the star will explain it's importance with the class.

Wednesday: Guessing Jar - the star fills the jar with a group of items and presents it to the class. The rest of the class will complete the guessing jar notebook, where they estimate the number inside. We will then count out the items using groups of ten.

Thursday: Poem - student will bring in a poem of their choice to read to the class to practice their speaking and fluency skills.

Friday: Guest Reader and Favorite Book - Students share a favorite book with the class and have the option to invite in a family member or friend to read the book to the class.

So, overall I am loving this new format, it fits perfectly within the 10 minute gap between lunch and specials and really makes the students feel special. Plus - what a perfect way to develop speaking and listening skills! 

Pick up the templates in my TPT store for FREE! 

2013 Classroom Reveal

So it's taken a little longer to get this up, as I have not only been moving into a new classroom but a new home as well. But here they are, pictures of my classroom this year.

 Welcome to my Classroom! 

 Welcome bulletin board made from a free download on TPT.  The amazing tree was done by a good teacher friend of my from Florida, Patrick.

View from the front door. It's a bit smaller than what I'm use to. 

Word Wall and Writing Center

Writing Center made for a TPT download as well

Subject Area Bulletin Boards - Math Workshop, Science, Guided Reading Groups

All empty as they will be filled as we go. 

Guided Reading Area

Daily 5 Options, Book Recommendations Display

Class Library - Still waiting on my leveled readers which will go on top of the shelves

Reading Focus Boards and Alphabet Strip 

Alphabet strip available on my TPT for free! 

 Front White Board - Where I do most of my teaching - Promethean is coming soon! 

Student Seating

My Desk/Work Area - Just requested from the TV to be removed

Jobs, Mailboxes, Rules

Outside Bulletin Board - I added clothespins to hang up their work. Really missing having a big board, so I needed to get creative with Tack Strips. 

Open House Signs - Scavenger Hunt, Conference Sign Up, Transportation, Email List

Student Seats - Welcome Folder, Back to School Confetti, Bag for Supplies

My First Day! 

Getting Ready for a New Year and a Freebie!

So this year I am starting at a new school..... in a new district ..... in a new state! I am excited about this new adventure but it has been a long time since I was the "newbie".  It will take me a while to find my fit so right now I am just focusing on trying to get my boxes unpacked and room set up so I can spend preplanning absorbing the changes this new year will present to me.

Not only is my new room smaller than what I am use to but I will be having more students that I have had in the past and it's yellow! So . . . time to rethink my classroom setup and decor. I have decided to go with a colorful patterned look - I'm loving Creative Teaching Press's Dots on Turquoise Collection.  Here are some of the products I'm using:

Trimmers from Creative Teaching Press:

Word Wall Letters also from Creative Teaching Press:

And to match, this Job Chart from the same collection:

Ok, now for my newest project and a freebie! My alphabet line was looking pretty dingy after 7 years unliminated, so I decided it was time to look into purchasing a new one. The only problem was that I couldn't find one that I thought looked nice but also had pictures to relate to each letter's sound.  I like to go through each letter every day saying the name of the letter, its sound, and a word that matches. Unfortunately alphabet lines that had pictures of x-rays on X and owls on O, just wasn't going to work for me.  After hours of looking for one that would work for me, I decided just to make one. You can nab your own FREE and editable copy here at my TPT store!

Once I'm all set up, I will post new classroom tour pictures. Guess that's it for now. Happy "New" Year!

Tears and Cheers

Well we've done it - We have finished another year. This one was extremely close to my heart as it was my last year at Apollo Beach. My husband and I have decided to relocate back home to Ohio and I will be leaving the school I've been teaching at for 6 years! It's bittersweet, as I am so excited to start this new adventure but hate to leave the students, parents, and staff I have grown so close to. Here is how I closed out the year:

Throughout the week we worked on our end of the year memory books. I used pages from Lisa Frase's. Find it here for free! 

I also allowed the students to take over as teacher's for the day! Each student was given 20 minutes to teach small groups a lesson of the choice. I don't remember where I got this idea, so if it was from you, please message me so I can give you credit for it. Click here to get the documents to do it in your class!


Monday: Reading Camp out. Students brought in tents, flashlights, books, sleeping bags, stuffed animals, and dressed in pajamas. We camped out around the room and read our favorite books.

Tuesday: Minute to Win It - thanks to the ideas of over at Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits, I was able to set this activity up pretty quickly. We also had snowcones and a dance party out on the courts as a reward from admin for us winning the National School of Character title.

Wednesday: Board Game Day - Students brought in board games to play during "down time"

Thursday: Water Day and End of the Party and Awards:  We have stations set up around the campus for students to make a "splash." Stations included : bubbles, snowcones, chalk, sponge races, shaving cream fight, sponge volleyball, water balloon toss, and kiddy pool bottle cap hunt.

After students dried off, we had our end of the year party and I distributed the candy awards, also found at Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits.

Friday was our last day, we watched a movie and had popcorn, as I distributed report cards, portfolios, and end of the year gifts. For the students: I got each a book, a bookmark with a poem on it, slideshow of our year together, and a candy that says Owl miss you.

Social Studies Fair

This week was our Social Studies Fair at school.  My team divided standards up to display at the fair. My class displayed - Benchmark #:SS.1.A.3.2 Create a timeline based on the student's life or school events, using primary sources. So we created our own timelines! They came out so cute. Each student brought in 5 - 7 pictures, they ordered them sequentially, and then wrote descriptions to match.  Here are how some turned out: 

Teacher Appreciation Week

Last week was Teacher Appreciation Week and boy did I feel the love! My students and parents showered me with goodies, gifts, and straight up pampering.

Here's how my week went:

Monday - Administration provided us all with Panera lunch and my students let me know how "sweet" the are on me with a bucket of my favorite sweets, Starbucks' gift cards, and a tag that said "Mrs. Keene is so sweet!"

Tuesday - PTA sponsored a delicious breakfast of pancakes, bagels, fruits, and pastries and my students showed me that "Mrs. Keene deserves to be pampered" with a basket of lotions, spa supplies, nail polishes, and a gift certificate for a pedicure. 

Wednesday - We had a "beachy lunch" catered by our PTA and my students made me a literacy basket because "Mrs. Keene is keene on reading!"

Thursday - PTA turned our media center into a Spa and I got my eyebrows waxed and received a 20 minute massage! Plus K-Kids filled our lounge with goodies galore! My basket today was "Mrs. Keene we can supply you school needs" and was filled with school supplies.

Friday - PTA turned the media center into an island oasis smoothie bar, gave us special cups, and invited us to order custom smoothies.  My kids made sure I was entertained with a basket filled with gift cards to restaurants, the movies, and popcorn. 

All in all I had an incredible week! I can't believe how amazing my school is and how much they spoil me! I hope all the other teacher's out there felt the love too!