Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Workshop Wednesday, May Goals, and Currently:)

Shouldn't it be at least Thursday?  This week is dragging!  However, it IS Wednesday and you know that means Workshop Wednesday with my BBB, Jivey, at Ideas by Jivey!  She has a new topic every week and this week's topic is your Favorite Reading Group Book.
Jivey's instructions were to choose just ONE favorite book that we use with our reading groups. I thought, "How can I choose just one?"  So, then I tried to think of one book that I really enjoy reading with my group because it has SO much to go along with it (which lends itself well to reading groups and many extension activities in the classroom), and Paddle to the Sea came to mind immediately.
Our 4th grade covers as much as we can in social studies about the Great Lakes since our school is less than 10 miles from the coast of Lake Erie.
It is such an important topic and the future of the Great Lakes lies in our future generations' hands.
Sometimes I am baffled that the Great Lakes are the largest surface fresh water system on Earth.  Only the polar ice caps hold more fresh water. 21% of Earth's fresh water comes from the Great Lakes.
There are so many teachable moments in this book and I love exploring the various topics in each small "chapter".   It is truly an amazing story with beautiful illustrations.
Unfortunately, I don't have a literature guide that I have made because there are so many resources available already.  I have a hard copy of a literature guide that I have added to over the years with Great Lakes information.  
Part of this guide includes pages from the AMAZING RESOURCE of 164 pages from the Ohio Sea Grant!
Youtube has the Paddle to the Sea movie that is fun to watch too!
The movie is in three parts and is about 30 minutes long combined.  This clip is part one of three.


I am also linking up with the fabulous Jess I Heart Recess for her May Goals Linky:)
What are your May goals?  I always feel better writing out goals:)

It is also the FIRST of May!  Time for the fabulous Farley's Currently at Oh' Boy Fourth Grade!

Check out the sweet Sabra's 200 Follower giveaway at Teaching with a Touch of Twang!

Sorry for the post that is ALL over the place!! 
I am also working on my giveaway and hope to have it go live this weekend:)
Have a great rest of the week! 
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13 comments:

  1. jiveyMay 1, 2013 at 10:05 PM

    Thanks so much for linking up! I've never heard of this book! I'll have to add this to my summer reading list too!
    Jivey
    ideas by jivey
    Follow ideas by jivey on Facebook!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Diane RMay 1, 2013 at 10:09 PM

    I also thought that it was Thursday all day. I was pretty bummed when I figured out that it wasn't :( Oh well!

    Diane
    Fifth in the Middle

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  3. Elementary AMCMay 1, 2013 at 10:14 PM

    I grew up near Lake Erie (Canadian side though :)). I love teaching about the Great Lakes and I love taking our girls to the Great Lakes in the summer. We hope to hit Lake Superior this summer, though Lake Huron is my fav! Thanks for highlighting this book, I need to do a better job of incorporating social studies into my reading time.

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  4. SabraMay 1, 2013 at 10:14 PM

    I completely agree! I am exhausted, I need summer to be here so I can sleep in again :o)

    Sabra
    Teaching with a Touch of Twang

    ReplyDelete
  5. EmilyMay 1, 2013 at 11:39 PM

    Fun linkies! I can't seem to get in the swing of everything after last week...

    ReplyDelete
  6. Crofts' ClassroomMay 1, 2013 at 11:52 PM

    Oh I just love the smell of new campers. Weird I know...but true! Thanks for the book recommendation!

    Tina
    Crofts' Classroom

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  7. MarciaMay 1, 2013 at 11:53 PM

    I agree! It should be Friday already! These allergies are going to be the end of me. We are just are about 20 miles from Lake Erie, but on the opposite end from you. I will have to check out the book.
    Learning in Bliss

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  8. AnonymousMay 2, 2013 at 8:08 AM

    Thanks for linking up! I only camp in campers, I'm not really the sleep on the ground kinda girl :)

    Jess

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  9. Southern Love of TeachingMay 2, 2013 at 4:17 PM

    I'm one of your newest followers! I love your blog and your tpt store! (Especially the monster fraction stations!)

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  10. JenniferMay 2, 2013 at 5:21 PM

    Camping sounds like so much fun! Take me with you! I don't teach a test grade, but I am SO thankful that it's over too. YUCK!

    Rowdy in First Grade

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  11. Third and GoalMay 2, 2013 at 6:24 PM

    Organize file cabinets, me too :( boo, hiss!!! I'm so bad at that and have become a teacher hoarder!!!

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  12. Collaboration CutiesMay 2, 2013 at 9:44 PM

    Awwwww! I'm with you...let's head straight to camping!!!!! One day we'll have to meet halfway with our campers!! Seriously!! :O)

    I'm glad your testing is almost done!! And I think you do a great job blogging! I'm all about organizing as well, but there's just never enough time is there???

    Hugs my fellow camper!
    Amanda
    Collaboration Cuties

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  13. A Teacher Without a ClassMay 2, 2013 at 10:22 PM

    I love your goal, relax and enjoy the little things. I need to do that too! I loved reading your Currently! So fun! If you have time, I would love to have you drop by my blog, enter my latest giveaway, and join my latest linky. I am asking bloggers to share their favorite nonfiction author(s)/book(s).
    www.ateacherwithoutaclass.com

    ReplyDelete