We have officially introduced all of the Daily 5 rotations except for Word Work, and we are off and running! This week was the first week for Work on Writing, and the kiddos are LOVING it. I do have a LOT of different writing activities, which helps with garnering enthusiasm. *Tooting horn* Ahem.
So yeah. In Listen to Reading, we have 2 options so far: they can listen to books on cd at the listening station, or they can listen to books on the computers. For that, they visit our classroom blog (see the links on my left sidebar), click the Listen to Reading link at the top left, and there are about 10 websites where they can listen and follow along to stories. They love it.
Soon I'll be introducing the iPads (Listen to Reading & Word Work) and iPods (Listen to Reading), which will create QUITE the buzz (can't wait--except for the crying--there's always crying when they don't get the iPad FIRST FIRST FIRST).
*Side note: we share our iPads with the 3rd grade team, so our kiddos get to use them every other day. Pretty great!
So this year we have started notebooking like CRAZE-EE. I seriously think we have a freaking notebook for every subject. It's a little out of control, but I am loving them. Especially now that they're all pretty much set up. (Creating Table of Contents using rulers? With 7 year olds? Not fun.)
Check out some of our notebooking so far this year! I found some amazing units on Teachers Pay Teachers and some freebie notebook pages, and I am soooooo excited about the awesome work my kids are going to do this year.
The above 2 pics show some freebies for Reading Notebook by Becca at Simply 2nd Resources
My Science Journal Title Page
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Here's the part where I'm gonna complain, because it's my blog, and I can whine if I want to (and YES, I may POSSIBLY be DRINKING some wine as I whine, but that's neither here nor there):
-I had my 1st SIOP training today after school (Sheltered Instruction for ELLs if you're not familiar), and I'm frustrated. We sat through a slide show presentation that basically told us information that we had all already learned back when we had to take the ESL certification test, and THEN came the REAL reason for the training: we are now going to be required to post our Content Objectives and Language Objectives in our classrooms. For every state standard. For every subject. Every day.
SIGH.
And yes, I know our district is probably super late to this objective-posting party, but DANG IT, I don't like it. I have SO MANY other things I need to be doing besides typing up the objectives that I cover every day (is it just me, or are there about 30 if I include everything I review or touch upon?). Seriously?! I haven't been so frustrated (my nice word) in a long time. Well, I was pretty frustrated when I found out I had to do 6 hours of this training, heh.
Anyone else have to do this? Would you like to join my pity party? Jump right in, folks! I loves me some comments! :)
Actually, one of our ESL Facilitators has a great Pinterest board with ideas for SIOP if you're interested.
Sheltered Instruction Pinterest Board
Actually, one of our ESL Facilitators has a great Pinterest board with ideas for SIOP if you're interested.
Sheltered Instruction Pinterest Board
Hope you are all off and running this school year. I am loving my group this year and excited about what they're going to accomplish.
Hang in there.
XO, Gayla
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