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May 28, 2013

One Breath Boxes

Well it has happened.....I have started to lose track of the days.  This can mean one of two things.  One, I am losing my mind.  Or two....summer break has settled in!  I am going to go with option two....it seems like the better option! :)

It has been a full two weeks since my school released for summer break---and I have spent that two weeks taking a much deserved mental vacation!  However....today I got back to the grind and started working on some resources for next school year.

Most of the students that come to me are in need of fluency practice--lucky for me there are tons of resources out there to help them with just that!  The newest resource I have found is called "One Breath Boxes."  Maybe this isn't a new thing---maybe I just now finally discovered it!  Nonetheless.....the resource is great and the kids have fun practicing their fluency this way!


Basically, you hand each student a copy and have them take a BIG, DEEP breath!  When you say, "Go," students try to read all of the words in the first box without taking a breath.  The first box has the least amount of words---so typically the students read the first box with quite a bit of ease.  This is great because it gives them a confidence boost to finish the rest of the activity!!

Next, your kiddos take another BIG, DEEP breath and read all of the words in box two.  Each box after the first gradually gets larger (and harder) as more words are added into the box.  Then, have students take another BIG, DEEP breath and read all of the words in box three.   Students keep doing this same process until they have each box read.  As an extra challenge, once all of the boxes are read, I have students try and read ALL of the boxes in one breath.

I found a wonderful FREE resource on TPT from sellers Cathy and Wes Rethman, who made one breath boxes for blends.  Click on the picture below, which will take you to their TPT store for this fabulous seven page resource!!!   


I also (just finished today!!) made one breath boxes for Fry's Instant Sight Words.  Click the link below and it will take you to my TPT store. :)  It isn't free though...sorry guys! :)  






May 23, 2013

Giveaway!!

If you haven't done it yet....you should hop on over to Jessica Lawler's blog, Joy in the Journey for a fabulous giveaway!  She has a ton of prizes that she is giving away....so go now and enter!!!  Seriously!!!


Katie



Summer Bucket List Linky

Hello friends....I have missed you guys!!  It has been over a week since my last post, and that makes me sad!!  I do have a good excuse----we have had quite a lot going on.  First it was the end of the school year craziness (school got out last Thursday), then regional track (my hubs is an assistant coach) and then we had a major storm come through and our house suffered quite a bit of damage.  Needless to say....it's been crazy around here!

Anyway I am glad to be back!!


Today I am linking up with A Cupcake for the Teacher, for her fabulous Summer Bucket List Linky Party!!  What fun...right!?!?  Basically, Teri at A Cupcake for the Teacher wants to know what teacher's have on their bucket lists for the summer.  We all ADORE our summer months....but what is it you want to get done?  I have quite a bit I want to accomplish.....so read below for my summer bucket list.

1.  I want to relax....and unwind from the school year!! A little vacay to Colorado may be just the ticket to help me do this!!


2.  When I am done relaxing.... I want to learn how to sew!  I have lots of projects in mind.....like several duvet covers.  Those can't be that hard...right? :)

3.  In between my sewing frenzy....I want to read, read and read some more!  I love reading, and I just can never find the time during the school year. 


 4.  I suppose I should work on classroom stuff too......  Who am I kidding....I will probably be doing "school stuff" all summer!  I have lots of games, reading intervention tools, math intervention tools,  and common core resources I want to create. I also want to make my classroom "cute"....so I will probably be up at school painting for a good chunk of the summer!


Well....... that is my bucket list!  Click on any of the pictures above...and it will take you to my pinterest boards.  Follow them if you like!

Katie

May 13, 2013

Monday Funny and giveaway!!!

This post has two purposes.  First click the picture below to enter an awesome giveaway created by I'm Lovin Lit!!  There are some amazing resources you can win!! 

 
 
Secondly---HaPpY MoNdAy!!!  I hope you all had a fantastic start to your week,!  We only have four days left (its okay....you can be jealous......) 

May 7, 2013

Ready For Summer Reading Challenge--Freebie!!!

Not sure how you all are feeling....but my kids are excited to be at school checked out!  You see....we only have 7 days of school left and the kids already think it is summer break.  On the flip side---when I think of having 7 days left of school---I immediately think how much more can I cram in their little heads?!?!   I still have time to instruct and improve their reading....but in order to get actual results...I have to be super creative about it!!

So, I came up with "Ready for Summer Reading Challenge."  The students have 5 days to complete various reading challenges (that yours truly came up with).  If they complete the challenges within the five day limit---they get reward parties!  I thought this plan was genius!  For one, they have some friendly competition (which my kiddos love), two-- they get to have a party and three----they are completing "challenges" to make them better readers without even knowing it!  Can you say "Win-win!!"

Yesterday I handed my kids the double sided paper that explains the challenge.  Page one explains the directions---that all challenges have to be completed by a certain date, can be done in any order and on the same day.   Page one is below:

 
The backside of the page shows the six challenges my kiddos need to complete.       
 
 
I catered the challenges to the needs in my room, but the tasks would be easy to change for whatever needs you have in your own classroom.  For my challenges I wanted kids to get extra practice in fluency, decoding, and comprehension....thus I came up with the following "challenges."
 
1. Master level 500 Fry Phrases (great way to improve fluency!!)
 
2. Master Level 600 Fry Phrases
 
3. Read an informational article three times (out loud) and time yourself.  Try to beat your previous time by increasing your reading speed. (still practicing fluency)
 
 
 
4. Read an informational article and highlight the difficult words, write them down and break them into syllables. (this practices a decoding strategy we had been working on all year)
 

 
 
5. Read a book on Reading A to Z and take a comprehension quiz.  (working on comprehension at students reading level)
 
6. Take end of the year test with Mrs. Orr (this is for me---to see how much they have grown throughout the year)
 
 
The kids LOVE the challenge...and so do I!  They are working their little tails off and I know they are getting great reading practice and I am finishing my assessments!! Like I said---I catered this challenge to the needs in my room---but it could easily be adapted to your needs.  Click here to grab this FREE resource from my TPT!! 
 
 
I hope you enjoy!!

May 6, 2013

Teacher Appreciation Sale

It's happening...it is really happening!!!  TPT is hosting another sale...this time it is for Teacher Appreciation Week!!  WAAAA HOOOOOO.  What better way to show appreciation for teachers--than by giving them a discount?!?!  I love me some TPT.....


Anyway, head on over to TPT and check out the amazing deals and discounts from some of your favorite sellers!  BUT--you better hurry because the sale only lasts two days (Tuesday, May 7th and Wednesday, May 8th!)






 
Cute little sign right?  Get this adorable sign to post to your blog or TPT store by visiting Wizard of Boz.

Now go buy some awesome products at a discount!!!

May 1, 2013

Website Wednesday

Happy Wednesday everyone!  :)  On this fabulous day I am sharing multiple websites....which is exciting, right?!?! Throughout this year I have been on a never-ending and exhaustive hunt for informational text.  We all know Common Core demands more informational text be placed in the hands of our kiddos....which will be a struggle at our school.  In all honesty, we really don't have a ton of non-fiction text. For so long our school district has read novels, short stories or literature......but not anymore!!  Check out the graphic below for an idea of how text should be balanced.
Once I knew what was expected.....the hunt for informational text began (and still continues)!!!  I must admit one of the instructional coaches in our district compiled this list of websites....but I had to share with my fellow bloggies because the list was so great!



Happy reading!
Katie