Teaching Nonfiction Text Features

Normally, I wait until later in the year to teach identifying nonfiction text features.  This year may require me to teach it early and and often throughout the year.

So I decided to compile all the best resources I've found to date in one PowerPoint.  Most of the slides in this PowerPoint are customizable, with the exception of the task cards at the end. It includes the following:
~Teaching how to find "cloudy" and "don't know" words
~Using fix-up strategies to figure out "cloudy" and "don't know" words
~A nonfiction text feature scavenger hunt
~Textmapping
~Newspaper/Magazine Center task cards

You can pick up a free copy at my TpT store by clicking here.

What do you use to teach nonfiction text features?  Do you teach them in other subjects besides reading?  I'd love to hear your ideas!

Helping Students Retain Math Concepts

In fourth grade, we start introducing some brand new math ideas and ask students to start using the information they previously learned in advanced ways.  For many students, this is stressful and they experience "brain dump."  Essentially, brain dump is where you "learn" something long enough to take the test and then dump the information from your brain for good.

So how do I help them retain the information?  A "Problem of the Day."  I'm working on the problems they will be required to complete after the first couple of months.  I want it to directly relate to what they've already learned, but also what they will be learning.

This is a PowerPoint presentation.  I print the slides and either laminate them or put them in page protectors.  Then I can use a dry erase markers to change the information.  I have students complete one or two of the activities each day as a warm up before math and then we discuss.  You can pick up a FREE copy at my TpT store by clicking here.

Do you use a review activity before each math lesson?  How do you get your students to practice and retain previously taught information?

Celebrating Grandparent's Day

Grandparent's Day is on September 9th this year.  Our school always celebrates this special occasion by inviting our grandparents and caretakers to join us in our classrooms.  My class has been hard at work on poems to let our loved ones know how we feel about them.

I start out by reading some mentor texts aloud to the class that demonstrate how other kids describe their grandparent's and the experiences they share.  One that I read this year was Grandmama's Joy by Eloise Greenfield.

This one is a little sad at points in the story because it's about a little girl who is trying to cheer her grandma up because they are losing their house.  She also lost her parents in a car wreck, so it might not be best for little guys and girls.  It does speak to many of my students who live with their grandparents for various reasons.  I share how I was mostly raised by my grandparents.

Another book I think I'll check out next year is Grandmother’s Book of Promises by Karen Hill.

After reading the mentor texts, students interview their grandparents and use that information to write a poem in their honor.  On Grandparent's Day, the students eat lunch with their grandparents and then read their poem to them.  It's really sweet.

You can pick  up a FREE copy of my unit lessons at my TpT store by clicking here.

Do you celebrate Grandparent's Day at your school?  If so, what mentor texts do you use?  What activities do you do with the grandparents?

Lunch and Attendance at the Same Time

I just finished my first week back at school.  I don't know how, but mornings just got more hectic than they ever have been.  One of the ways I manage it is with a form that doubles as attendance and lunch count.

This is an editable form that I use for taking attendance at the same time as the student is making their lunch choice.  I assign a student the job of "lunch count", and they return the form to me when everyone has checked in.  I put it in a page protector and use a dry erase marker to mark the lunch choice.  I circle the names of students who are tardy or absent.  When I'm done for the day, I simply erase and it's ready to use again the next day.

You can get a FREE copy of it at my Teachers pay Teachers store.

Do you have anything that makes your hectic mornings go more smoothly? 

Two-Voice Poetry

What is two-voice poetry?  Well, it's poetry that written from two different points of view.  It's read aloud by two different people, each representing one of the points of view.  I ran across this idea recently when I was cleaning out my student teaching files.  Sad, right?

I want to incorporate more poetry into my writing station this year.  Then I found this baby.  As they say on The Big Bang Theory, "Bazinga!"

This is a customizable PowerPoint that can be used at a poetry station or to help the whole class write a two-voice poem. It includes:

• Instructions
• Suggested Topics
• Examples

You can pick up a free copy of this activity at my TpT store.

Do you use literacy stations?  How about a poetry station?  I'd love to hear your examples!

DIY: Teacher's Toolbox

I admit, I put off doing this because it looked like it would take a lot of time and effort to make.  Then, I saw Layla's post at Fancy Free in Fourth.

This is a woman after my own heart.  Hello, polka dots!

First step, buy the toolbox from Lowe's for about $20.

Next, print out the cute labels.  Thank you, Layla for the freebie!

Attach the labels to cute scrapbook paper to make them stand out.  I think I've settled on this color scheme, but I have to wait until the tool box arrives.

I'm going to laminate mine so I don't have to do this for a good long while!

Have you given in to the siren song of the Teacher's Toolbox?  I'd love to know how yours turned out!

DIY: Book Boxes as Organizers for Teacher Materials

I was inspired by Jodi at Clutter-Free Classroom to get my teacher materials in order.  She did a really helpful post on how to make cheap, quick, and yet incredibly cute labels that go on cardboard book boxes.

Aren't they great?

First, I ordered book boxes from Really Good Stuff.  I've heard that some people get these for cheaper from Ikea, but I'm not that lucky.

Next, I used scrapbook scissors to cut decorative paper to size.  I used decorative scissors because they are more forgiving with someone with me.  Why?  Because I can't cut a straight line to save my life!

I then stapled the two papers on to the box. 

In case you couldn't guess, there HAS to be polka dots!

Then I used a stencil set to trace the gift tags and letters, cut out the tags, and attached them with a dot of hot glue.  This took awhile.

I chose to use stencils because the placement of the letters was too hard to do on the computer to fit the shape of the tags.  Plus, I love to scrapbook, and this was a good excuse.

Are there any DIY projects that you've tackled lately?