shopping in the classroom library

I've been teaching first grade for a long time and I've had so many guided reading groups, I probably talk about it in my sleep.  Doesn't your "guided-reading-talk" spill over into other parts of your life, too?  My own children, who are not in elementary school anymore, will ask me homework questions like, "What does perseverate mean?" and "What's an algorithm?" and I instinctively respond, "Well, what strategy can you try to figure that out?"  I know they wish I'd check my teacher-hat at the door.

(Confession:  Sometimes I don't know the answers to their hard homework, so my response is really a win-win for everyone.  My kids learn to be resourceful and I don't look dumb.)

The work we do during our guided reading groups is so important, I want to make sure the children have a lot of additional time to read a lot of books that are just-right for them... books that will help them grow as readers and continue to foster a love for reading.

It's critical that all of my students have a handy collection of books to read at any given time and I've structured our schedule and classroom environment to make sure that happens daily.  A well-stocked classroom library, with a wide variety of books, is the most important part of making this a reality for my kids.  My classroom library isn't just in one part of the classroom... I've got shelves and bins and cubbies of books all over the place.  (Don't worry... it's organized.)  There's a fiction section, a nonfiction section, a section of favorite authors and one for favorite characters, and we have a leveled books section, too.

When I first started teaching (forever ago), I made my fair share of rookie mistakes, one of which was letting children choose ALL of their own books, ALL of the time.  It seems like a good idea, right?  And don't I want "buy-in?"  I mean, what's so hard about choosing books?  I do it myself all the time.  

But I'm an adult.

And they're six.

And I soon figured out something important about new, emergent readers... they don't always know how to pick out books that are going to help them grow.  It doesn't really make a lot of sense to read with children in a guided reading group on Level E books and then watch them self-select 10 Junie B. Jones chapter books from the classroom library for their personal reading collections.  That offers them little chance of practicing proficient reading behaviors on their own. And then I realized, little kids need a little help when shopping for their books.

(You should know:  I take great care at the beginning of the year making sure our classroom culture is safe and encouraging.  We talk about individual strengths and needs and how people, including myself, set goals for areas where we want to continue growing.  We value differences and celebrate everyone's successes, big and small.  These are the kinds of conversations that need to take place so my students understand why different students have different books at different times.  They make great connections when we talk about how training wheels and swim floaties come off at different times for different kids.  And it's important that children are keenly aware of what their peers are good at and that there's a spirit of collaboration and camaraderie in the classroom.  When that is missing, competition creeps in and that's why some of our emerging readers are choosing 100-page Junie B. Jones chapter books and pretending to read them during reading workshop.  There is a place for chapter books in their reading lives, and I'll explain how I honor that in just a minute, but a large amount of time spent pretending to read isn't really helping anyone.)

This is when I started using "Shopping Cards" and I've been using them for years because they work so well for us.  Here's how they work in our room:

After I finish my initial running records at the beginning of the year, I make a shopping card for each student.  The last letter on the card indicates the child's instructional reading level... the level we're working on during our guided reading time together.  This is the level that "pushes" the reader just a bit because it's a level where they need to be actively using strategies to read and make sense of the text.  

The other two levels are just slightly lower than their instructional level. Reading books at these levels strengthens their confidence, helps them read sight words more automatically, and improves their fluency (both rate and expression).  

The cupcake represents something we call "Dessert Books."  (Hello, Junie B.)  To help them understand this, we have fun talking about desserts... about how they're not the best part of our daily diet, but how we want them anyway, don't we?  We talk about how it's important to have a balanced diet and how it's okay to have dessert once in a while as long as it's not the thing we're eating most often.  They understand how that's unhealthy for our bodies.  And then I make the leap to a healthy reading diet... and they're able to leap with me... they get it. They learn that a healthy reading diet has to be full of books that are just-right for us; that are good for us; that will help us grow.  Dessert books may not be just-right for us, but they're a fun treat to have if we have just a little.

Each week, my students go shopping in our classroom library for their own books.  (I have 5 student teams, so one team goes each day.  This prevents the library from feeling too crowded.) They pick their own books (buy-in) with a little guidance from me... so much better than what I did my first year of teaching. Students self-select 3 books from each leveled bin on their own shopping card and then they head over to the fiction / nonfiction sections of our library and choose ANY 3 dessert books they want.  All the books they choose go into a canvas book pocket that hangs on the back of their chair, along with all the books we've been reading during our guided reading time together. As they grow as readers, so do their cards and they begin to shop for different levels.

When we get ready to go home each day, each child picks one leveled book and one dessert book to take home.  The goal is for them to read their leveled book to a family member and then ask a family member to read their dessert book to them or with them.  

You can make your own shopping cards with a simple index card, but if it would save you some time, you can pick up these blank cards for free in my TPT store.   They go all the way up to guided reading level M, but a lot of students no longer need help choosing books after about levels J or K.  By that point, they're pretty good at knowing what's just-right for their reading diet.  I have also included a completely blank card in case you use a leveling system other than guided reading levels.

Free Shopping Cards for Primary Readers

If this is the time of year when you think about updating or redesigning your own classroom library, check out this Pinterest board dedicated to special reading spaces for young children.  It is loaded with pictures and links to dozens and dozens of classroom (and home) libraries. They are cozy and inviting and inspiring to young readers.  You'll find great tips for not only reimagining your library space, but organizing it as well.

Library Spaces for Kids

Happy teaching!  :)

Teaching: Making a Difference

This is Robin from Class of Kinders. It is summer break for me and I was just at the beach the other day. We can do that here in Paradise, because the warm sunny beach is just a short drive away. It is a great escape from the fast paced life to reflect. Most of my trips to the beach are during the summer…when school is out for summer break. I do a bit of reflecting about the school year…thinking about the things I loved about the year and things I might do differently.

I take a book, listen to music, soak in the water and work on my tan! 

(Why is it that tanner skin always seems to help the figure?…lol.)

Sometimes, I go just for the sunset. Equally as beautiful! 

One evening when I was there, I happened upon lots of starfish washing up onto the shore.

There were literally what seemed like hundreds of them! It honestly made my heart beat faster and faster, to see them there, knowing if they did not get back into the water….

But there were just so many to rescue. 

The Starfish Story immediately popped into my head. The one where the little boy was throwing things  back into the water as a man approached him asking what he was doing. He told the man he was throwing the starfish back into the ocean that had washed up onto shore. The man laughed at the boy and basically told him he was wasting his time. He said the boy was just one person and there were so many starfish. The boy listened, but continued his work throwing them into the water. He turned to the man as he threw one starfish into the ocean saying… see, it made a difference for that one.

This is how I feel about teaching. I am the boy. And the man, well, "he" is ALL of 

"those things" that get in the way of me teaching my students.  Regardless, we should continue our work as teachers, just as the boy did, throwing the starfish back into the ocean

…making a difference in the lives of our students!

I created a copy of this Starfish Story originally written by Loren Eiseley.

You can get this copy free from my TpT store as a tribute to summer, teaching, and the students we work tirelessly for. Give it to a friend to encourage them…hang it in your classroom so you don't forget.

Enjoy your summer.

 Recharge your batteries.

And...

Continue making a difference!

I need a wAtEr BrEaK!!!

Each year at my school, our Firsties get to have a fun filled day of WATER!!

In honor of our summer vacation being HERE!!!! YAY!!!! I thought I would share some of our AWESOME Water Day Games.  In order to keep costs low for us, we asked all the parents to donate supplies for each of these games.  And boy did they followed through! We had more than enough of everything.

 #1. Water Squirters - We filled buckets with water, gave each child a water squirter, and they were off! (Of course we went over rules like no spraying in the face before hand AND NO water guns were allowed.)

  

#2. Bubbles - We gave each child a bottle of bubbles. just look at the excitement on her face!

#3. Car Wash - There are 2 buckets at either end of a line of kiddos.  One bucket is full of water and the other is empty. The first person in line squeezes a sponge and fills it with water from the first bucket. Then they pass the sponge down the line. The last person in line runs to the empty bucket and squeezes the sponge.  Then they run with the sponge back to the front of the line to refill it and start the sponge going down the line again. They get really wet with this one!

#4. Ice pops - We gave each child an ice pop as a fun snack. 

#5. Polar Plunge - We had 2 plastic pools filled with water and ice.  Brrrrr!!! The kiddos were in 2 lines and had to run down to the end of the pool, jump in the water, spin around on their bottoms, get back out, then run to their line and tag the next person. However, we live in FL and it was soooo hot that the ice kept melting and didn't stay very cold! One of our FABULOUS PTO moms decided that the kids should be squirted with ice cold water from a cooler in order to help us solve that problem!!

#6. Duck Duck Splash - We had 1 plastic pool filled with water, one small bucket of water, and 1 sponge. The kiddos sat around the pool and began a normal game of duck duck goose. The difference here is that the person walking around the circle is holding a sponge that is loaded with water. They hod the sponge over everyone's head as they say "duck". When they finally choose their "goose", they say "goose" and squeeze the sponge over that persons head.  Then they run around the pool. If the "chooser" catches the "goose", then the goose has to sit inside the pool until someone else gets caught!

These are just a few of our fun games. We also do a field day with more "DRY" activities but that I will save for another day!

Does your school allow you to have water games? How do you celebrate summer coming with your kiddos?

Life Is Better When You Are Laughing

I truly believe that 

Life Is Better When You Are Laughing 

Anyone who knows me knows this is how I roll.  

Every day with me has laughter. 

The giggles from my students (and my teacher friends)

 is truly music to my ears.  

Summer is here and my daily laughter jam with my students will halt for a couple of months.  I will certainty miss the daily giggles and toothless smiles but I look forward to meeting 20 more new funny kids who will say the darndest things. 

Here are some highlights from my hilarious students.

Student on the playground:  Teacher I have to go to the clinic
Teacher:  Are you sick?
Student:  Well I was laughing a little bit and now my panties are a little wet.
Teacher:  Welcome to my world!  (I did send her to the clinic)

Student rushing out of the bathroom:  Teacher my panties are gone!!
Teacher:  What do you mean?
Student:  I just went potty and my panties aren’t there!
Teacher:  Did you put panties on this morning when you got dressed?
Student:  I don’t remember!!

Teacher sneezes loudly
Multiple students:  Bless you!!!
Teacher:  Thank you, I must be allergic to children
Students have a puzzled look, then giggle
Teacher sneezes weeks later
One student:  Are you still allergic to us?

Student:  Teacher your hair is getting white again but just on the top.
Teacher:  Thanks it’s hard for me to see the top of my head.

Student:  Teacher you see this part right here?  (pointing at his chest)
Teacher:  Yes, you mean your chest?
Student:  Yeah the chest, well yours looks like bacon.
Teacher:  Oh thanks for the complement.  Are you hungry?

Typing this just made me giggle!!

  Did you have any giggles this year?

10 Engaging No Prep (or Low Prep) Ways to Use Task Cards!

In this age of differentiation, I have recently realized that I pretty much need to be prepared to not only teach the curriculum but remediate, enrich, and reteach all at the same time. As in, at the exact same moment. (GULP!) 

Since the scientific community has not developed the capacity to make human clones and since I have 3 small children of my own who expect nutritious and savory meals at least 3 times daily, clean clothes, and hours of my time and attention. Every. Single. Day. I don’t have lots of spare time. I need something that I can make quickly and “grab and go” whenever I need it (usually in about 3 minutes ago).

This is how my task cards were born. I needed tasks/problems that were aligned to the common core, but that are also “self checking”. I can figure the answer out myself, but I am usually multi-tasking so much that I don’t have the time to spend doing this. Also, I wanted to have a resource I could give to anyone who works with my kiddos (students, parents, tutors, other teachers etc.) that I could just let them grab it and go with it! With my task cards all I have to do is print them, cut them and fold them (laminating is helpful, but optional). I love, love, love having these! I use them all time in many different ways. 

Eventually I made a set of math task cards for each of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Common Core Standards. I have tons of task cards; I might be able to wallpaper a mid-sized house with them I have so many. They make teaching math so much easier. If someone is going to pull a small group of students for extra support, BAM, I hand them a pack of task cards and send them on their way. If a  student finishes an assignment in 17 seconds (and gets everything right), BAM, I give said student a pack of task cards. If I need an enrichment lesson for one small group and a different lesson for a remediation group, BAM, I pull the appropriate sets of task cards and BAM, I am rocking it!  While on this task card loving roll, I have come up with lots of no prep or low prep ways to spice up the whole task card experience. Below are my top ten, all time, toe curling, I hope the principal does an unannounced evaluative walk-through during this awesome activity, ways I use task cards. 

1. Scoot Games - I discovered Scoot a few years ago and let me tell you it was love at first sight, as in the clouds parted and angels sang kind of love. Scoot is a fast paced whole class game, where students “scoot” from desk to desk solving problems. If you have never used Scoot in your classroom, I created this All About Scoot Freebie. Do yourself a favor and try it out! It is PERFECT for the end of the school year!

2. Enrichment - This was a game changer for my high performing students. When I give a math assignment, I often list the 5 most difficult problems and give students the chance to do the “Most Difficult 5” first. If they can do the most difficult 5 with 100% accuracy, then I let them do an alternative enrichment activity (because they have obviously mastered the skill). The students love doing task cards and will happily work on challenging task cards. I love the task cards because the students can check their own work and I am always giving kids that need an extra challenge something meaningful to do!

3. Formative Assessments -  I project a task card and have the students solve the problem on white boards. Then, when everyone is done I have the class hold up the whiteboards so I can do a quick formative assessment. I can quickly determine who “gets it” and who needs extra help. I can group students almost instantly.

4. Centers - I put a set of task cards on a binder ring (or if I am feeling really fancy I put them in a mini-photo album with 1 task car per page) and have a recording sheet and students complete the cards at a center in the classroom. Instant center!

5. Small Group Remediation - I pull a small group of students and hand each one a task card to solve. I can check it right away and each kiddo can work at his/her own pace. Simple, yet effective.

6. At Home Support - When parents ask, “What can we do at home to help?” Or if I notice a student could benefit from some extra help, I often send a set of task cards home. Since they are “self checking” it takes a lot of stress of the parents and student. 

7. Scavenger Hunt - You can hide cards around the classroom. I give each child a clip board and a recording sheet. Then I let the kids find the cards and answer them.

8. A Board Game - Take almost any board game (checkers, Monopoly, etc) and have students answer a task cards before they get to take a turn. It is a great way to make a “fun time” academic!

9. Fast Finisher Activity - When a student finished his/her work quickly, task cards make a great “sponge” activity to “soak up” extra time. Students can work independently or in pairs.

10. Spiral Review - It is important to review and practice previously taught concepts. For morning work or bell work (sometimes called “do nows), I pull out  3 - 5 task cards and project them with a document camera. It is a quick an easy way to do a no prep daily spiral review. It is perfect for test prep or review at the end of the year!

If you would like to check out some of my task cards, click on the link below!

SpOtLiGhT oN sPeEcH bUbBlEs

Everyone who knows me knows I am in love with Elephant and Piggie.  There are a dozen things to love about these books... the kid-friendly topics, the humor, the facial expressions, the readability for beginning readers... but today, I'm talking about speech bubbles.  Mo Willems, the author of the Elephant and Piggie series, isn't the only one who has figured out the magical appeal of speech bubbles. Kids love them and each year there are more and more children's books written in this style.

Do you know what kids see when they look at this page spread?  White space. And when you're an emergent reader, this calls for a sigh of relief because this book looks like something they can read.  And to them, it looks similar to the comics their older siblings are reading, so it's cool too!  

Do you know what I see when I look at this page spread?  A built-in readers' theater!!  I love the fluency and comprehension development that comes with preparing to "perform" a readers' theater.  When you look through an Elephant and Piggie book (as with many books written in speech bubbles), you'll notice one character's dialogue is a bit more challenging than the others.  In this book, for example, the text level of Elephant's dialogue is more difficult than Piggie's. And the reason that matters is because kids of varying levels can read and process the same text together.  And that's cool to me.

The kids in my class are doing more comprehension work than they sometimes realize when they're practicing their "script."  There's a lot of analysis and inferring that takes place as readers study facial expressions to understand emotions.  They also notice details in the print that would affect how their voice sounds, such as punctuation marks or large, bold words inside the speech bubbles.  And they pay attention to the plot line, tying the emotions and the print features all together so they can make decisions about how their own facial expressions should look and how their voice should sound when reading aloud.

    

If you haven't yet discovered these books, ask your media specialist or visit your local library... your kids will love them.  And there are more than a dozen, so be prepared to become obsessed.  :)  Yo!  Yes? by Chris Raschka is another speech-bubble book my children love to read over and over. (It's even simpler than Elephant and Piggie... perfect for practicing expression related to punctuation.)  Many first and second graders also like the Fly Guy books by Tedd Arnold... they are a mix of speech bubbles and narrative text, so they're perfect for adding in a "narrator."  

And, if your writing curriculum will allow for a brief detour, be prepared... your students may want to try writing their own speech-bubble-stories.  These FREE templates can be downloaded in my TPT STORE... they work well for realistic fiction and/or personal narratives... it's really up to what you're working on at the time.

Do you have a favorite speech-bubble book your kids love?  We'd love to find more to add to our list!

Have fun and happy teaching!  :)

Grab & Go: A Portable LIstening Center

Hi again, it's Robin from Class of Kinders.
I am excited to share a little of my classroom with you.
It seems like there is never quite enough space in my classroom to fit all that I want for my students. I have literacy center time for my Kinders and Firsties because it provides independent practice on skills that I have taught ...and it gives me a chance to meet with my small groups.
The problem is…centers take up space! …valuable space.
The answer for me was a few portable centers!

So,  I created a "listening center" using a shower caddy and an ipod shuffle. 

I just add a book and it is a "grab and go" listening center for my students.
Off they go to find a comfy spot to read!

 My little set up looks like this. I just hang the caddies on the wall:

I got these green and blue caddies from a seller on etsy.com:

You can find her store here at SNAPPYDOTGIFTS.

( I love the READING ROCKS message…don't you? )
You can request which ever wording you wish!

Each caddy contains one book and one shuffle and a pair of ear buds or headphones. 

But if I need more than one student to listen to a story, I can simply at a "splitter." 

It looks like this:

This little green splitter can be found at Walgreens, Walmart or even Amazon. Now, there are two headphones going into one shuffle which allows two students to

listen to one book at the same time. Perfect!

This set up is also wonderful because I can have more than one book available to my students to listen to. It use to be, one book, 4 headphones, and everyone is listening to the SAME story at the SAME time. That's ok, but this works so much better, not to mention it breathes new life into

the listening center.  

I get all of my books on CDs from Scholastic. I usually buy the packs with 4 or 5 books with CDs. These are a GREAT bargain and really good quality literature.

Once I get them from Scholastic, I pop a CD into my computer (I use a Mac), upload it to my iTunes library which saves on my computer. It prompts me each step of the way.

Once it is saved in my iTunes library I click JUST the one book I want. I ONLY put one book on each iPod shuffle…because these little devices can be tricky for little fingers to navigate since there is no window to view the audio selections. One book on the shuffle makes it easy for my students to push play and get busy listening.  And this means less interruptions during my small group time, which is exactly what I need!

Here is the FIRST tab (summary) once I connect my shuffle to my computer:

Then the SECOND tab (music):

And the THIRD tab (on this ipod):

After my students listen to a story in the listening center 

I  ask them to complete a response to the story. (I usually add this part after a while, 

once they get the hang of just using the shuffle and listening to the book.) The response

sheet usually goes with a skill/concept I am teaching.

Here are a few FREEBIES I have found on TpT for your listening center!

Listening Center Report

Listening Center Favorite Part

Listening Center: Beginning, Middle and End

I hope this inspires you to create a portable listening center for your classroom! 

…thanks for taking time out of your day to join us in Paradise. 

'till next time,