Free Giveaway - 4th Grade CCSS Resource

So - you've heard that I am looping with my kids and moving to 4th grade next year, right?  Well, I have been in the process of collecting Common Core resources for myself to get ready.  And guess what?????  Look what I found!

Common Core State Standards is having a free giveaway for bloggers using Blogger and WordPress. They have directions on their website, but essentially you blog about this product and their giveaway and the book is yours!

The free giveaway ends April 21st, 2013 - so make sure to check it out soon.  

What's the free giveaway?  The ebook Fourth Grade Common Core Resources looks like a great resource for Fourth Grade Teachers.  It has over 850 pages of worksheets, activity centers, and posters that help to teach the Fourth Grade CCSS - both ELA and Math.  This is going to be really useful for me because 3rd, 4th and 5th grades at my school are transitioning into the CCSS next year.  I have been listening to K-2 this year, who made the transition, and I continually hear that they are looking for resources to help them.  I think this book will give me an edge!  Yay!

Want a free book too?  Click the above links to take you to their website, but hurry!  

Time is running out.  :)   

Pic Collage in the Classroom

This past weekend I attended a workshop on integrating Smart boards in language arts. I can't tell you how many wonderful ideas I got!

Introducing....

PIC COLLAGE

Have you heard of it? It is a free app for the I phone or I pad that lets you create picture collages, add text, etc.

Before this workshop I used it to make collages of engagement pictures or a holiday party. I can't believe I never thought of the classroom connections! See below.



This is a poster I whipped up in a few minutes to show you an example. If you have wireless, your students can either add pictures from google or take pictures with the camera.

Tomorrow my students will be making picture collages and writing about the different ways animals sleep. Now my school doesn't completely have wireless yet, so I downloaded the pictures from google ahead of time and put them in the photo album. That way they still have some design control.

Not to mention the only IPAD I have is mine. I have created a rotation schedule where groups of two or three will sit down with me and work on their poster. That way it doesn't leave my sight.

Use it for citing textual evidence, poem writing, book reviews, anything you can think of! Then email and print- now you have cool posters for your bulletin boards!

Good night!

Currently & New Placement

I'm looping to 4th with my kiddos and keeping my classroom!  Don't have too much time to elaborate but here's my currently!

 

To join go see Farley!

Currently March!

First of all, I know it has been forever.  My class of 14 students has been great this year.  Although, I must admit that it does feel like there are less "buffer students" and I see more.  Which definitely too some getting used to.

As you may remember I am getting married in Maui on June 14th.  Between planning this, my mom's trip to IL over Spring Break (in two weeks) and teaching - I have had absolutely no time.

We are working on rewriting report cards with the new CCSS on them, ISATs (our standardized state testing) are this week, and we are rewriting a lot of our curriculum.  Anyway - I have been getting into blogging a lot recently as I've started balancing my life again.

First up on the blog to do list - Farley's Currently.  Check out all the rules and directions at her fabulous blog here..


         



The like love hate words have to begin with the first letter of your first name. Mine is Courtney so my words have to begin with C. I am anxiously awaiting spring break - I have wedding showers that week, and my mom will be in town. I'm currently listening to Odd One play League of Legends. League of Legends is an online computer game. Anyway, one of my guilty pleasures is to play in my spare time. Well Odd One is a professional player who gets paid to play it - he is part of a team that plays professionally. Anyway, I have found that I'm more productive when it's on in the background. Happy March everyone!

I'm here. barely.

I know I haven't updated since before school when I was decorating my room.  It has been so crazy.  Even with only have fourteen students.  Yes I know - 14 - I feel like I have 30 with all the various needs of my students.

Just this past week I had my evaluation, three meetings, a sub, and two field trips.  I'm working on the postcard exchange on top of the wedding plans.

I'm off to bed now - but I haven't forgotten.  I will try to update with substantial information soon.