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So, I wasn't able to accomplish too much this week to brag about in pictures since I wasn't here :( However, I was able to use my workday to create some much needed anchor charts (including finishing one my sub didn't seem to quite complete on homophones!). I thought I'd share:
Fractions: I wanted my students to remember the reason why we have a numerator and denominator, as well as a fraction being equal parts. I was worried it would look too boring, but a few "dashed" boxes, and I thought it turned out pretty cute!
Plants: We're beginning Life Cycles this week, but have already discussed plants and animals with plant products and seasonal changes, so this will be a quick review of plant parts (notice the smaller life cycle on the side?). I'm not much of an artist (as you can tell by the flower's lower petals), but it wasn't too bad.
Homophones: Not earth-shatteringly spectacular, but it'll help those of my kiddos who are still earning their badge for the Grammar Police, Homophone Division!
I just realized I should have done one for Fossils! While not a huge part of our habitat unit, the students have to know that due to the study of fossils, scientists can learn more about plants and animals and early habitats. We're making fossils on Monday with shells and clay (postponed from this past week), so hmmm, maybe that'll be my next one. If it turns out cute, I'll be sure to post it! :)
So, after 5 days (3 school days) of being down and out with pneumonia, I managed to go back today. I wasn't quite 100%, but I was able to manage the day AND I have to be honest - the determination to NOT write sub plans was VERY strong! I swear, we are the only profession to drag ourselves into work SICK because of sub plans! If yours are anything like mine, I try to make them fun and engaging, without a lot of background knowledge needed on the part of the sub (because you never know who you're going to get!). I was unfortunate to have 3 different subs for 3 different days. :(
Fortunately.......
I work with an awesome SPED assistant! She and I were texting throughout the week about what was going on in the classroom, so I was able to stay on top of things, including with some of my more difficult students. Since I had to go in every afternoon (after 3) and pick up my own kids from school, I'd spend time in my room doing sub plans (how do these take two hours???) and write a few "love notes" to some of my students who were doing great, and others who needed some encouragement. I also left a class love note on the board as well. It seemed to have worked, since for the most part, they did well!
I have to admit.....I loved coming back today and feeling so special, seeing those smiles on my kids faces (not to mention the hugs!) as they welcomed me! Let me tell you - I think it's one of the best parts of being a teacher! I even had one of the resource teachers tell me, laughing, about what she had overheard some of my students talking about. They basically said that I had come back, even though they knew I wasn't completely well, because I missed them sooo much that I had to spend at least one day with them before the long weekend! (Teacher workday on Friday). Very cute! It's a little disheartening to think that I have a little over two months left to spend with them!
So, as a thank you to my kiddos for being good, I read them the Homophone Mystery story, they paired up, and went to hunt for clues. I kind of fudged my own directions, though. I was the "clue holder" and they had to come to me to show me the corrected homophones on their detective sheet, then exchange for another clue. They didn't really care, though, because they were having a BLAST! Even my most reluctant were engaged, and kids were SO EXCITED ABOUT HOMOPHONES!!!!! Bet you don't hear that everyday! :)
We also played Fraction Scoot. We've played Scoot before, and my kids really liked the game. Wanting to see where they were on identifying fractions, we played a fractions version. It was great because the kids were excited and active, and I had an instant check of who was getting it, and who wasn't!
I uploaded my "Basic Fraction Scoot" to TpT today if you'd like to try it out! I originally priced it at $2.00, but it's on sale for $1.00. I'm pretty proud of the way it turned out! Because the class we adopted in Kentucky has 27 students (!), I made it for up to 30 students, but there's also a Scoot version for 20 students as well, all in the same package. Please go check it out if you are doing fractions. :)
Next week, we'll be playing "catch up" and then a field trip to the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton on Friday! After Friday......SPRING BREAK! :)
Ugh, so I am home with a case of pneumonia. I usually plunge on when I'm sick, like most teachers and moms, but this has really run me over! :(
So, after a morning of realizing that I am not missing anything on TV while I'm at school, I resorted to blog world and showing off some things I created this weekend in between bouts of coughing, sleeping, and body aches.
One is for rounding, while the other is part of a new series I'm creating called "Grammar Adventures," where you get a mini book to read to your class, then they have to do a hunt for clues to solve the "mystery." (They even get a badge at the end! I plan on using it this week with my class, if I can ever get there!). You can find them at my TpT store, but for the first 3 comments below, I will send one or both to you for FREE! :) My only request is to comment on them on my TpT store after you've had a chance to use them!
The day is young, though. I'll be at school at 3 to pick up my personal kiddos, but maybe I'll create some things in the meantime. Still need a few more homophone, abbreviation, and fraction activities, not to mention life cycles and maps! Why is it our mind always goes so much faster than reality???
