Happy National Poetry Month!

Hello Readers!

            This week I want to talk about National Poetry Month and Poem in Your Pocket Day. As a 5^th grade ELA teacher, I make it a point to introduce my students to various genres of literature. This month there will be a focus on poetry. Earlier in the year, my students were exposed to a short mini-unit of poetry introducing them to five common types of poetry and some of the poetic elements. For this month, our focus will turn more towards sharing and reading poems.

My students are familiar with reading poems fluently because they have practiced and performed during our class Fluency Idol competitions in November and January. During April, I would like my students to participate in Poem in Your Pocket. The actual date is set for April 27^th, but since my class has state testing that day I plan to make it a full week from April 3^rd through April 7^th. Each student will have the opportunity to self-select a poem from a collection of poems I have gathered. Students will need to keep their poem with them at all times during the school day because every time they pass an adult, they will read their poem aloud with fluency. In order to prevent redundancy, students will only need to read their poem to the same adult once per a day. This will be my first time experimenting with this assignment, so I am looking forward to seeing how it all pans out!

In addition to having my students share poems with adults in the school building, I will share poems with my two ELA classes. I hope to read a poem every day for the month of April. This will provide my students with a model of fluent reading and will potentially open up the dialogue for poetry analysis. I can’t wait to show students the fun of poetry!

Until Next Time,

~A

"When you are teaching kids to write, you're teaching them to think. Writing is the window through which all thinking starts." -Sheryl Block

Hello Readers!

This week I want to talk about creative writing and the publishing of student work. In fifth grade, we do a lot of writing! From narrative pieces to expository pieces, my students are constantly working on a writing assignment. It is wonderful to have the 1:1 technology in my classroom, so each student can type their final piece on Microsoft Word and ‘publish’ their work. However, this trimester I wanted the kids to feel like true published authors.

My students have recently completed writing their expository pieces about the adaptations of a self-selected animal. With non-fiction text, there are many distinctive text features that I wanted my students to explore. Using the electronic platform, Story Jumper, each of my students created an e-book complete with photographs, captions, a table of contents, a glossary, an index, headings, charts, diagrams, bolded vocabulary terms, etcetera. The site is very interactive and user friendly. Each student had their own username and password, so their book was protected from unwanted editors. The coolest part is the realistic display. The e-book has pages that actually flip and you can hear the sound as each page is turned. The one negative of using this site is the company charges you to print your book. It costs around three dollars just to print it from the website to your personal printer. On the positive, there is an option to order paperback or hardcover versions of your book from the company. Several of my students and their families purchased their written creations and the books are beautiful keepsakes.

Another writing piece my students have been working on is writing text to go along with wordless picture books. My school is using a program called Write Brain Books to encourage the students to write creatively using the age old adage “a picture is worth a thousand words.” In my class, the students are paired and are collaboratively writing the book. We have worked on character development, story mapping, and descriptive word choice as the partners draft their stories. Once the students finish drafting and editing, they will type their book online and we will send away for a published version. Every class in school is working on this project, so in June we can have a school wide author’s celebration!

            The writing block has become one of the favorite parts of the day for my students. They are actually asking for more time to work on their Write Brain Books! I love the students’ excitement and enthusiasm from writing for an authentic purpose and task! I cannot wait to see the finished products!

Above: One of my student's published, hardcover non-fiction books on toucans created on Story Jumper.

Below: Table of Contents from one of my student's non-fiction texts.

Above: Drafts of Write Brain Books.

https://writebrainbooks.com/

Until Next Time,

~A

We Like to Move It, Move It!

Hello Readers!

            This week I want to talk about movement breaks and their valuable role in the classroom. In my district, we are lucky enough to have a Student Support Specialist who helps teachers and students make schooldays successful. During a recent professional development day, our specialist shared with us the benefits of taking whole class mindful moments. She demonstrated yoga poses, breathing exercises, and suggested programs that can easily be applied in the classroom.

One of the strategies she talked about was GoNoodle.  I was already familiar with the website, but I always thought it was for getting the wiggles and energy out. To my surprise, the site has expanded and now has activities sorted by energy level. After learning about the new options, I use the website for both raising the energy level and lowering the energy level depending on the goal I am trying to achieve. My personal favorites have become the “Get Chill” and “Get Focused” videos. They are perfect for after recess and lunch. My students benefit from having the opportunity to bring their energy level from a whopping 10 down to a more classroom appropriate level of a 4 or 5.

Another method I have been experimenting with are “Yoga and Mindfulness Practices for Children Card Deck.” There are more than fifty different movement activities that can be performed in the classroom to make children more aware of themselves. I love the fact that the cards use a five step method and that there are options for both out of seat and in seat activities. My students are big fans of the yoga poses. Mountain pose and Warrior are two of the common positions we practice. I have found these activities easy to incorporate into our daily routine and very beneficial in getting students to calm their bodies so they can focus on their breathing and the way their body is reacting to different stimuli.

Beyond the benefits for the students and their learning, I too have experienced personal perks. I find that the afternoon is the most challenging part of the day. The students are generally in an after lunch slump and they begin to either shut down or ramp up. While the students are performing the yoga poses or following along with the GoNoodle video, I participate right alongside them. After the activity, I feel calmer and regain control of my actions and reactions. It really does help me to refocus and have a more successful afternoon. Who can argue with results like this?

Until Next Time,

~A

https://www.gonoodle.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Yoga-Mindfulness-Practices-Children-Card/dp/1683730186/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1489864390&sr=8-1&keywords=yoga+mindfulness+card+deck

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!!!

Hello Readers!

        This week my class and I celebrated one of my favorite days of the year…Dr. Seuss’ Birthday!!! He is one of my favorite children’s authors and I love to share his creativity with my students. This year being the first time I’ve had my own classroom, I went with a big celebration. Although my students are in the fifth grade, I truly believe that picture books and Dr. Seuss are for all ages!

My students started the day with a treat bag of goodies at their seats. The Target Dollar Spot had Dr. Seuss themed pencils, bookmarks, and erasers that I just couldn’t resist buyingJ The room was decorated with cut-outs from Oh the Places You’ll Go in addition to The Cat and the Hat bulletin boarder and a “Grab Your Hat and Read with the Cat” poster on the classroom door. Every Dr. Seuss book that I own was displayed in my reading corner. I greeted my students at the door with a smile on my face, a striped red and white hat on my head, and a t-shirt that said, “Teacher of All Things.”

Throughout the day, the celebration continued. During my reading block, the students played the role of detectives as they read alibis and tried to determine which Seussical character committed the crime of messing up our classroom library. They worked independently and in pairs to sketch the crime scene and use context clues to determine a guilty suspect. In the end, students presented their case courtroom style using evidence from the crime scene and information from the alibis to prove their claim. I have never seen my students so actively engaged in using context clues, text evidence, and creating an argument. I will definitely be using this activity next year and searching for similar activities to incorporate throughout the school year.

The entire fifth grade read aloud one of Dr. Seuss’ lesser known titles, Daisy Head Mayzie and worked on complimentary activities. We used the story to discuss theme and the students worked on a project to demonstrate their understanding. Each student received a daisy cut-out. They wrote one of the themes from the story in the center and were then asked to find five quotes (one for each of the petals) from the story to support their theme. This activity made for an adorable bulletin board!

At the end of the day, my students enjoyed watching the movie, Horton Hears a Who. It was the perfect ending to the perfect day!

Until Next Time,

~A



Link to Dr. Seuss Mystery Activity: http://libraryeverything.blogspot.com/2013/03/seusstastic-mystery-in-library-revealed.html 

February Break Field Trips

Hello Readers!

            This week I want to share my adventures of February Break! As this was my first February Break as a teacher, I can honestly say that the week off is much neededJ The amount of grading had piled up in addition to unit planning that just never seemed to fit into scheduled prep time. It feels amazing to be all caught up and even ahead in some areas! With report cards coming at the end of the month, I am so thankful for this week of productivity.

            Although much of my break was spent grading and planning, I did venture out on some fieldtrips to explore the New England area. The first place I visited was the Museum of Work and Culture in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. There were nine exhibits including video interviews and historical artifacts documenting the influx of immigration to the Rhode Island area during the 19^th and 20^th centuries. I found it interesting to learn about the Industrial Revolution in New England as I walked through the replicated textile mill. It was shocking to learn about the harsh working conditions and low paygrade of the hardworking European and Canadian immigrants. I was especially surprised to learn of the French influence that permeated the Woonsocket area during this time. Local parochial schools taught in English for half of the day and taught the other half of the day in French. Newspapers and advertisements were printed in French catering to the growing population of immigrants from Quebec. The museum gave me a new appreciation for the small town history that surrounds me.

            The second place I visited was Simpson Spring in Easton, Massachusetts. This is the oldest bottling plant in the United States dating back to the 1878. Today, the plant still collects natural spring water from the aquafer, bottles, and sells it for consumption. They also offer a variety of hand-crafted sodas made from the pure spring water and natural flavoring. The tour featured the opportunity to see the spring, the bottling machinery, the on-site laboratory used in the 19^th and 20^th centuries to concoct new flavors of soda, and a plethora of memorabilia such as the first Simpson Spring vending machine. It was fascinating to go behind the scenes of a working factory that produces pure spring water.

            I am fortunate to have access to historical sites, so close to home. These day trips remind me that there is always more to learn about the surrounding communities. Maybe over April vacation I can explore a few more locationsJ

Until Next Time,

~A

P.S. To find out more about these locations, please visit

http://www.rihs.org/museums/museum-of-work-and-culture/

https://www.simpsonspring.com/

Sunday Shout Out

Hello Readers!

            I hope that you have been enjoying reading about my adventures in grade five! I just wanted to point you in the direction of two other amazing teacher created blogs. Feel free to click the links below and explore their work. I promise, you’ll be glad you did!

Until Next Time,

~A

https://foreverafirstgrader.blogspot.com

whatstephanieisreading.blogspot.com

Stress of Standardized Testing

Hello Readers!

            This week I want to talk about statewide standardized testing. On Friday, I had a professional development day which included an information session on the upcoming test. My state recently made the decision to customize their own standardized test instead of moving forward with the national PARCC test. This school year will be the first time students take the new test.

            As a first year teacher, this will be first time experiencing state testing from the “other side.” I know what it is like to be the one taking the test, but now I am the proctor. It is completely nerve racking to have a brand new test that no one has seen before and to be in my position of first time proctor. I want so badly for my students to perform well on the test because the test results are a reflection on the teacher. However, my challenge is guessing the standards that will make up the majority of the test. How do I know that I am doing enough to prepare my students for success? Will I have taught them everything they need to know to score proficiently?

            There is a mental clock that is counting down the days until testing. My students will be taking their English Language Arts exams during the second and fourth weeks of April. This means that after February vacation, I will have roughly five weeks to get my students prepared. Testing definitely sneaks up on you ;)    As I write lesson plans for the week after break, my focus is on test preparation. I don’t want to teach to the test (nor can I since no one knows for sure what the test will look like), but I want to review and emphasize the necessary skills my students will need.

            I am grateful that I have a supportive grade level team of colleagues who are helping me to stay calm. My principal is also giving me priceless advice and reminding me that the test results are only a snapshot. They show only a glimpse of a teacher’s success. My focus should not be on the end result, but instead should be on the student growth from September to April. It’s conversations like this that change my mindset from anxious worrywart to confident educator.

Until Next Time,

~A

Alternative Seating in the Classroom

Hello Readers!

This week I want to talk about alternative seating in the classroom. I recently received four yoga balls to test out in my classroom. For now, they are placed at each of the desktop computers in the back of the room. From the moment these new “seats” arrived, my students all wanted to bounce on them right away.

            Research has shown that sitting on a yoga ball increases concentration while allowing students to get all of their wiggles out. Students benefit from the strengthening of their core as well as from proper posture. One of the classrooms in my school has gone completely chair-free offering yoga balls or short stools as seating options. The teacher has created an environment where desks and chairs no longer get in the way of open communication and collaboration between students. Many of her students who struggle with attention deficit or hyperactivity disorders have benefitted from being able to constantly move on a yoga ball while completing their assignments. Seeing the success of my colleague and her students made me want to give it a try in my classroom.

            Several of my students have a constant case of the wiggles and need to get up out of their seats to move regularly. When the option for yoga balls presented itself, I was willing to try them out. So far, the balls have been in my classroom for three weeks. My students absolutely love sitting on them! Many students are drawn to the yoga balls during silent reading time and of course computer work. At times, the students will forget that these “seats” are learning tools not toys. Frequent reminders to sit properly, not bounce them like a basketball, and not to roll them all over the room are necessary. I hope that after a few more weeks, the novelty of the yoga balls will have worn off and the students won’t need the reminders anymore. It is my hope that with continued success, I will add more yoga balls to my collection.

Until Next Time,

~A

Addressing Challenging Behaviors in the Classroom

Hello Readers!

            This week I want to talk about one of the most challenging parts of being a teacher…addressing student behaviors. Although it’s not an easy topic to speak about, I believe it is a necessary topic. In my first year of teaching, I have come to the realization that out of all the things I learned during my undergraduate education, my student teacher experience, and my long-term substitute positions, the one area I was not completely prepared for was how to handle behavioral issues. For the most part, in each of these situations, I was never charged with the responsibility of discipline. There was always someone else who dealt with the “messy stuff.” However, now with my own classroom, it is completely up to me to determine rewards and consequences. It definitely is a learning process for me as I try and try again to find strategies that work with this particular class.

            Without a doubt, the twenty-two students in my homeroom certainly keep me on my toes at all times. Just when I think I have figured everything out, some new issue occurs and I am back to square one. Some of the techniques I have implemented include: a ticket reward system, a visual cue for classroom noise level, having the students fill out a think sheet self-analyzing their inappropriate behavior, sending students out into the hallway or to the office, one-on-one discussions about making smart decisions, and having the district student support specialist teach my class about problem solving. Each time, I had hope that this new method would encourage my students to make wise decisions regarding their behavior. In the end, some techniques were more effective than other. For example, one of the most successful methods was having the loss of a privilege. Depending on the student it may be loss of recess, exclusion from a special class activity, or not being able to read in the literacy corner for a day. The ability to differentiate when using this method is part of what makes it so successful.

Overall, I must say the learning curve is steep when it comes to new teachers having to learn how to monitor and manage behaviors. There is nothing easy about the process, but I do hope that with experience things will become a bit easier.

Until Next Time,

~A

Teaching with Technology

Hello Readers!

This week I want to talk about technology in the classroom. I recently received a set of twenty-four HP notebooks for my class. To say that I was excited is an understatement. I am not quite sure who was more thrilled, me or the kids!

On my side of things, I see the technology as an opportunity to teach and engage students using the electronic devices as a platform for learning. Giving students the ability to type assignments, perform research on the internet, and use learning programs such as IXL and Whooo’s Reading, has afforded my students with daily practice of their evolving 21^st century skills. Technology as a tool in the classroom is quite powerful and definitely opens the door to multi-media learning.

From the students’ perspective, the one-to-one technology means they have personal, constant access to use of a notebook. No matter what the subject area or assignment, I students who want to use a notebook to complete their work. I have also noticed that providing the option to use technology s seems to motivate my students to learn more, write more, and produce more than they typically would with the traditional pencil-paper method.

Since the notebooks are rather new to my classroom, I am anxious to try some new applications. A few of my colleagues have experienced great results using ‘Kahoot!’ as a formative assessment. I would like to create one of my own ‘Kahoot!’ quizzes and integrate it as morning work. The ‘No Read Ink’ website also sounds like a promising opportunity for my students to practice their grammar skills. I plan to use ‘StoryJumper,’ a book creation site, for my students to publish their expository writing pieces on animal adaptations. My overall goal is to incorporate some aspect of students using technology to access the curriculum in my daily lessons.

Until Next Time,

~A

Introduction

Hello Readers!

I'm so happy that you have decided to check out my blog! Here's a little bit of information about me.

I am a first year teacher working in a suburban elementary school. I teach fifth grade English Language Arts and social studies to forty-four students. Reading, writing, and grammar are my specialties and I love getting to spend the majority of my day sharing my passion with students. My favorite part of the school day is reading aloud to my students. Even though they are "big" fifth graders, I think sitting on the rug and listening to me read is one of their favorite activities too😉

Now for some truths and the reason behind the blog.

1) Navigating through my first year of teaching while taking graduate classes part-time is probably one of my most difficult life experiences. Last year, I was a long-term substitute in grades two and three. The hands-on opportunities were priceless and definitely helped me prepare for the multi-faceted, demanding task of being a classroom teacher. Afraid that I wouldn’t have a full-time teaching position come the fall, I applied to graduate school in the spring of last year as a back-up plan. However, as it turned out, everything fell into my lap at the same moment. All of a sudden, I was a fifth grade teacher and a grad student. Juggling the two responsibilities has been a daunting undertaking to say the least, but has certainly afforded me with several benefits such as having my own class to try new ideas with.

2) To say learning opportunities abound every day is most definitely an understatement! From dissecting new curriculum to meeting new challenges presented within my own classroom, I am constantly learning something new. In my first year of teaching, I have come to the conclusion that there is always more to learn. I will forever be a student seeking more and more knowledge.

3) My goal for this blog experience is to authentically document a little piece of my first year journey. I am five months into the school year, so this is the perfect time to begin a regular reflection. My class and classroom are fairly settled and I am at a place mentally where the blog could serve as a positive outlet for my thoughts.

Fun Facts:

· My favorite novel is The Giver by Lois Lowry.

· My favorite children's author is Dr. Seuss.

· Naturally, my favorite picture book is Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss.

· My dream grade that I hope to teach someday is first grade.

· Reading for pleasure is one of my favorite hobbies.

Until Next Time,

~A