Five for Fraturday (Misty, Freebie, Finger, Dance!)

Happy weekend!! I have two weeks to go and am counting down! Linking up Five for Fraturday with Doodle Bugs Teaching.

Here are some random happenings from my week!

In my ELA blocks, we are reading Misty of Chincoteague.

From Amazon: Nobody could capture the Phantom. She was the wildest mare on Assateague Island. They said she was like the wind, that the white "map" on her shoulders was her mark of freedom. 

Paul and Maureen Beebe had their hearts set on owning her. They were itching to buy and tame her, and worked hard to earn the money that she would cost. But the roundup men had tried to capture her and for two years she had escaped them.... 

Pony Penning Day holds a surprise for everyone, for Paul not only brings in the Phantom, but her newborn colt as well. Can Paul and Maureen possibly earn enough to buy them both?

We happen to have this nonfiction article about the Wild Ponies of Chincoteague in the reading series Treasures that I have multiple copies of.

This book is full of challenging vocabulary. One activity I love doing for vocabulary is the graphic organizer below from Head Over Heels for Teaching product, Reading with Post Its II. These are pictures from vocabulary from Book Clubs since I forgot to take pictures with Misty.

 

We finished our Father's Day projects. I read The Best Part of Me to the students.

They choose the "best part" of their dad and wrote why that is their best part. They turned out cute!

I was really disappointed that the font didn't print right. My computer crashed last weekend and I sent the file to my colleagues email. She didn't realize how it was supposed to look (the font wasn't installed on her computer) and made copies for the whole grade. I didn't want to recopy all of them, so used it with the font looking off. I have this as a freebie in my TPT store. Pick up a copy for next year (there are Mother's Day templates too!).

Update on my pinky finger...Here is what it looked a few days after the injury (fractured from karate).

Here is my finger today. It is still swollen and now bent in. I could have surgery, but it is not necessary for just a pinky. I still can't make a full fist but it is feeling better. Medical tape has become my new best friend. :)

Last week we had NINE straight days of dance.

Four recitals

Arriving home at 10:30 pm three nights in a row with a child who goes to bed before 8:00 every night

Six costume changes for each recital

A big room full of dancers ages 3-7 (and dance moms!)

Whew!! Was it worth it? 

ABSOLUTELY!

To watch my daughter be so passionate about something at age 7 is priceless!

I needed a break after last weekend though. :)

These years are just going to fly by and I keep telling myself to just enjoy them.

Here a just a couple pictures with two of the costumes.

Don't forget to check out this amazing deal at Educents! Stock up on mentor text units in this HUGE Book Blowout! Included are EIGHTEEN products for only $19.99 (valued at $90)!! This deal is only for a limited time, so don't wait too long as you start thinking about next year!

Have a great weekend everyone!! 

Two For Tuesday, Book Blowout and Tried It!

I'm linking up today with The Teaching Tribune for week two of the summer bloggin' series! Two for Tuesday has bloggers linking up with two products at 50% off! 

The first item I have set for 50% off are my Owl Themed Book Bin labels since many teachers are already in summer mode and preparing for next year! Get these labels that are editable to customize for your library for only $2.00 today!

The other item I have set at 50% off for today only is my 4th Grade Common Core Fables pack. Get this pack with multiple-choice, short response, and extended response question for only $2.00 today! The pack also includes resources for students to write their own fable (outline, fable rubric, posters, and picture samples of completed projects). 

Don't forget to check out this amazing deal at Educents! Stock up on mentor text units in this HUGE Book Blowout! Included are EIGHTEEN products for only $19.99 (valued at $90)!! This deal is only for a limited time, so don't wait too long as you start thinking about next year!

Finally, this Tried It Tuesday link up will be up the whole month of June! Link up anytime and stop back to see new tried its! 

If you've never linked up with Tried It Tuesday, just link up any idea school or home related and what worked or didn't work. Simple! 

An InLinkz Link-up

Tried It Tuesday {Book Challenge}

Can I get a WAHOO for those of you already enjoying your summer vacation?!? I am looking forward to summer soon and being able to spend more time relaxing (which includes reading and commenting on blogs!). I have so many things on my to-do list that I am itching to get started. There's just no time right yet!

It's Time for Tried It Tuesday! 

What have you tried at school or home?
If you've never linked up with Tried It Tuesday, just link up any idea school or home related and what worked or didn't work. Simple! 

My Tried It:

Book Challenge
Two summers ago, I read The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller and it really had a profound effect on me and how I view independent reading in my classroom. The same summer I also read the Daily 5 and haven't looked back since.

Last year I blogged about my reading goals inspired by these books at the beginning of the year when setting up my classroom here. See one of my posts about Daily 5 here.

I wanted to revisit how my students have done with the number of books they have read this year. Here is a view of the "Book Challenge" display. As students read 10, 20, 30, 40...books, their name is added to the paper. I have seven students that have made it to 40 books (out of 45 students) and one that has made it to 50. To count as books "read" students take Accelerated Reader tests and must score at least 70% on them. I only count the books students have read independently (not novels we have read in class using Daily 5 methods of read to self and read to someone).

I would definitely do some things differently next year with my book challenge. When students reached different milestones, I gave them a certificate at 10, a prize from the owl bin at 20 and 30, and a candy or ice cream from the cafeteria of their choice at 40. I wasn't sure what to offer at 50 books but may give a homework pass. Although, the year is almost over, so I am stumped. I also give them Class Dojo points (one for 10, two for 20, etc.).  I need to make the rewards for reaching the different milestones more clear. I would also like to incorporate a # of words read challenge. A couple of my best readers have barely made 20 books because they are reading books that are 300-500 pages at at time.

I know I can improve some management at my end to hopefully get more students to meet the 40 book challenge. However, the 4th graders read up a storm overall and we haven't lost an Accelerated Reader challenge in two years when we compete against the 5th and 6th grades. Last year we had a larger class and, now that they are in 5th grade, I didn't think that we would win since we have 45 students and they have 62. Well, we killed it! Our grade had about 750 points and beat both the 5th and 6th grades by about 300!! I felt like I didn't even promote the contest in my classes either. The students are just always reading!! :) Something must be working!

Check out Fabulous in Fourth. She has a post about the Book Whisperer with a free handout for a 30 book challenge with genre guidelines.

Before you go, you have to check out my BBB's 1,000 Follower giveaway! Jess at I {Heart} Recess is hosting an amazing giveaway with loads of prizes!!

Tried It Tuesday Summer Schedule: This linkup will be open the rest of June but I will post a Facebook reminder each Tuesday to link-up or check out any new link ups. I will post a new link up the first Tuesday of July and keep that one open for the month too. Feel free to link up more than once during the month! August is up in the air right now. I will still be on vacation but many teachers will be starting back to school. Either way, I hope this linky gives you some new ideas of things to try (at school or home!).

Have a great week whether you are enjoying vacation or still plugging away at school! :)

An InLinkz Link-up

Monday Meet Up-My Friend Emily!

I am linking up today with the Teaching Tribune to share about my friend Emily!

She is the blogger behind I Love My Classroom!

Emily's three most popular posts are:

Welcome to 4th Grade Brochures (Student Made)

Monday Made It Hall Pass and Writing Journals

Classroom Pictures

She also has a FB page and TPT store with loads of task cards! Stop by and check it out!

Before you go, you have to check out another bloggy friend's 1,000 Follower giveaway! Jess at I {Heart} Recess is hosting an amazing giveaway with loads of prizes!!

Check back tomorrow for another edition of Tried It Tuesday where you can link up any idea you have "Tried" old or new! :) Summer schedule coming soon for Tried Its...