Destination Common Core with Kim Adsit!

Typically as any southern teacher when you wake up and look outside and see this....

 

 

you then turn on the TV and see all the school closings you would be excited. Typically I would be excited. BUT NOT TODAY! I was supposed to go back for Day 2 of Destination Common Core with Kim Adsit! Today, was the day to figure out everything I was doing wrong and how to make it right in my math block. I was and still am so disappointed that I am not there right now! Everything is closed down here...schools, daycares, businesses, pretty much the whole town! If you are from the South you get it. If you are from the north you will never understand it! (I promise I am originally from Cincinnati so I have seen both sides.)

 

However I cannot be too upset when I get to look at this sweet face all day!

 

I am pretty sure any working mom would be thrilled at spending an extra day with their baby. So no complaining here for that reason. Richard will be busy working...oh the joy of being married to a full time firefighter. It will be a me and Andrew day. Love this kid!

 

But hello! I am missing Kim Adsit!!!!!

 

However, I did get to spend a full day of laughing and learning with Kim Adsit yesterday. Lots of laughing! She is hilarious. Makes you feel good. Backs up everything with standards. And most importantly keeps learning FUN!

 

I got there bright and early with Carrie, one of my teaching buddies and was stoked to get personally greeted by  The Kim Adsit, see my name tag and my very own book! EEK I just knew it was going to be a good day!

 

We got settled in and every where we looked it was like fabulousness everywhere. Hanging up were all the awesome anchor charts and work samples that I have drooled over from seeing on her blog, facebook and of course my many TpT purchases (shh don't tell my hubby!)

 

Go ahead and drool! :)

 

 

We got started promptly around 8:30 and was very shocked to find that only 25 teachers were in attendance. It was like we had our very own private session and were really able to ask questions and have a better understanding. I am beyond blessed that my school district believes and invests in quality professional development!

 

We started with diving into Writers Workshop. I was feeling good with this topic. I have a solid 45 minutes WW block in my classroom. We write. We write A LOT. They share. They have their own journals. And then it was like a smack across the face! Adsit was talking about the parts of WW and what should be going on and all I could think was...you big dummy!!

 

1. Mini lesson: A quick 5-10 lesson. Connect to Prior Knowledge (check!) Teach new concept (Check MINUS!) Active Engagement (Lots of Room to Improve!)

2. Work Time: Check! My students go off and work for approx. 20-30 minutes  by themselves.

3. Share Time: Check! My kiddos LOVE to share!

 

 

 

 

So here is my plan!

 

1. I feel very good about connecting to prior knowledge. (Remember yesterday how we...) I would say most of us have that handled. Now the teach new concept part. Yes, I have a plan every day of what concept/skill/strategy I am focusing on. HOWEVER, I am very guilty of allowing myself to get more hung up on the mechanics of writing instead of the craft. For example, last week my kiddos did some outstanding fact writing about our country's symbols. After reflecting, I realized my kids did great on the mechanics. We triple dog checked our capital letters, finger spaces and periods. However, did I really do a good job of explaining why writers write facts, the purpose. Being honest, no I did not. Teaching the mechanics is important but should that overshadow what you are teaching? No. I promise I will do better! 
2. Kim also said something that was like DUH!! While talking about your mini lesson, your students should have an active engagement part where they are able to practice on the carpet! DUH!!! Now my students do some major practicing but they spread across the room, talk about major management issue and how am I able to really see the kids that need help? I can't! Okay so from now on before we spread out, we need some active engagement right on the carpet. In FRONT of me. I am completely smacking myself across the forehead right now!

 

Then we got into Reader's Workshop!! Ahh Anchor Chart time. LOVE anchor charts! I have them in my room. Posted on pretty poster boards for all my kids to see.

 

WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!

 

I have been using some not all of my anchor charts as more of a poster than an anchor chart. Your anchor charts should be in a place in the room where students always know where to look. Have an anchor chart wall. This will provide the student's with predictability. They LIKE predictability! Build the anchor chart in front of the students but you are the one giving them the information. You could cover up the pieces and reveal the parts you want for the day  or add to the laminated poster board using Velcro. Whatever your fancy! (I have always built my anchor charts in front of my students so at least I get one thing right!)This is a great way to close a lesson. Remember how we... this chart will remind us to....

 

Time to get back to my room and do some fixing, apologizing to some kiddos and get back on track! :)

 

 

 

Hearing Kim said this really helped validate what we all do in our rooms every day. Principals, administrators and other teachers may look at our "crafts" and say well that is cute. THEY HAVE NO IDEA!! Our kids need this. Their brains learn this way. They need to be able to have a connection to their learning. So by creating a fun little book cover craft, it allows their learning to be anchored in their brain.

 

Kids (heck me too!) are naturally interested in eye catching material. Hello! They can sing every word to their favorite song and spend hours on their favorite game system. They need and want something eye catching!

 

So as educators it is our responsibility to use the tools that will engaged our students while still teaching the standards. Do not back down from adding novelty to your classroom just be prepared to defend your reason (if you teach in a school that does not understand the brain of a primary student).

 

For example...My students need to make these character puppets because they will be able to retell the story by having the character travel through their writings or pictures. This will anchor their learning. 

 

I could go on and on about all of the fabulousness of Kim Adsit and the wealth of knowledge I gained but it just wouldn't be the same. If you are not a fan of KinderGals on facebook hop on over! Make sure you are also following her blog!! Don't forget to check out her TpT store!!

 

Rub some elbows with your District Office and convince them in buying some school licenses! I promise your her Writing and Reading Workshop Units are better than any curriculum guide you have seen!!

 

Thank you so much Kim for sharing all of your experience and knowledge. WE LOVED IT!!!!!

(myself , Kim Adsit and Carrie)

 

I hope to come back to a workshop or seminar soon!!!! Still kicking myself that I am missing the Math portion!

 

Now to figure out how to get to Vegas for the I Teach K conference....

Cheap and Easy Feedback Ideas

Today's post is devoted to how I provide my kinders with positive feedback and NOT use stickers all of the time. I am not saying, stickers are bad...I LOVE stickers....I just became very tired of stickers becoming the many piece of instant feedback to my students. This summer I began brainstorming of new ways that I could give my students feedback that didn't cost a lot of money, they could take it home to their parents and have various ways to give my kinders some instant positive feedback. These are my top 3 that I has been working in my classroom this year.

 

 

These are my top 3 forms of feedback:

1. Smelly Bracelets: These have to be The Class Favorite! The picture on the right shows a sheet of bracelets and it is quick and easy to tear one off. The picture on the right shows you the size of what the bracelet will look like on your wrist. (I did not connect this bracelet but it has a pieced of adhesive that makes it easy for you or your student to connect themselves!) Each bracelet has a fun saying that I love to read to them but the BEST part is each sticker comes with something to smell! Cookies, muffins, doughnuts, cinnamon, are just a few examples of some smells! They are so proud of their smelly bracelets!

 

I keep these at my guided reading table so they are close by and ready to pass out when the time is appropriate. To keep these bracelets fresh and in high demand, I am very selective about when I pass these out. Sometimes the whole group will receive one, sometimes just a student and sometimes no one earns one. The reason I do this is because I want my students to know when they receive one of these bad boys I am super proud of whatever they just did. They never know when I am going to hand one out...it could be in the hallway, after a great report in activity, a compliment from another teacher, some great thinking on the carpet etc. 

They are 10 times more likely to go home and talk about this bracelet then if everyone received a sticker/stamp.bracelet etc everyday.. If they are talking about this bracelet they are then in turn telling their families why they earned it which is then giving their parents insight into our classroom. These are a HUGE hit! I bought mine at ReallyGoodStuff. I did a quick search and could not find the link for these bracelets but they have these sniff stickers that look like a close comparison! If the kids have something to smell, it makes it 100 times better!

 

 

 

2. Smelly Chapstick: I keep these all over the room. I usually always have one in my pocket, close to the carpet area, near my guided reading table etc. These are great and CHEAP rewards to provide your students. I rub some smelly chapstick  on the top of their hand as a sign that I just noticed something that they did.  My kinders eat (figuratively speaking) this stuff up. It works great when you find a role model, rub in on their hand and then instantly the whole class is quiet.

 

The other day during math talk time one of my students shared that she knew 4+5=9 is because she knows that 4+4=8 and one more is 9. WOAH! She earned herself a smelly for her great thinking brain. This provided her with instant feedback that she was working hard and in turn provided feedback to my other students that I am looking for students that are thinking and sharing. These smellies are great ways to provide instant tangible feedback. You can find these super cheap at the dollar store and after holidays when they mark their holiday smellies way down!

 

3. Brag Certificate: Before I share this certificate I must confess to the blogging world that I was doing a really good job passing these out in the beginning of the year and have slacked off majorly. So today by blogging my goal is to print some of these bad boys out and have ready to go in the classroom when the time comes for some bragging.

 

I have 2 different designs with 2 sizes. One design has a girl displayed and the other design has a boy displayed. I have full page certificates and half page certificates. This is an example of what they look like.

 

I came up with this certificate this summer because I will admit I struggle with providing feedback to the parents of those kids that are just rocking and rolling. You know those kids, the ones that never have behavior issues, always working hard and on or above grade level. So in turn you are not talking to their parents as much as others and therefore you (I) feel like you could improve on some parent/teacher communication.

 

Now these are not just passed out to those types of students but those were the ones in mind when I created these. These Brag Certificates are pre-made and printed on colored cardstock (can you hear the angels singing...colored paper and cardstock!) If a student earns one when working with me at guided reading, I quickly fill out it with them sitting there and then tell them in will be in their folder to take home at the end of the day. If they earn it for fabulous behavior, I quickly pull them aside at the end of the day fill it out with them and then place it in their folder. Kids want to know that their good choices were noticed and parents want to hear good news.

 

You can grab yourself some FREE brag certificates by clicking here!

All I ask is for you to leave some feedback if you use these in your classroom.

 

Now, how do you provide some instant feedback to your students. I would love to learn some new, fun and easy ideas! Comment away!

 

Write on!

Today, I took a deep breath and introduced Work on Writing. My students cheered when I turned over and introduced a new choice. They were so excited to learn what this choice would entail and begin working. I, on the other hand, was a bit apprehensive and nervous to how my students would handle WOW. It is a big deal for a 5 year old to start putting thoughts to paper and forming a sentence. So I put on my big girl panties and dove in head first and boy did my students prove me wrong today!

We had so much fun talking about why Work on Writing was so important. They named some of their favorite authors and of course Dr. Seuss was on the top of the list. Many said they wanted to be famous just like him. This led to a great discussion of how Dr. Seuss became a famous writer and all the time and effort he took to practice writing. Now all of my students want to be famous just like Dr. Seuss. They were ready to put the pen to the paper and start writing! But where would I start them? And how could I help them become successful?

Thanks to my fabulous teammates, we decided starting our children off with SIMPLE writing prompts would be the way to go. This gave them some direction and allowed their thoughts to start flowing. Eventually, they will not need this.
So they had the choice of:
 I love....
My mom....
My dad....

We brainstormed lots of ideas and things we could write about. And boy were they ready to go. I was still way nervous to let them go. But we kept going and I let my students choose the speed. I showed them where the materials where, where to find their special Daily 5 journal and reviewed our working spots in the room. One by one, my students got their materials, chose a spot and opened their journals to start. I was FLOORED! I thought for sure SOMEONE would yell out they didn't know how to write. PHEW, maybe all those anchor charts and modeling and building confidence really worked this year!

The noise level was not appropriate work time and I was not going to allow that to continue so I quickly gave my signal and my students came back to the carpet. We talked about all of the awesome things I noticed and some things to work on. They were then begging to go back and finish. So what kind of teacher would I be if I didn't allow them to?

We gave the signal and my students went to work. We practiced a total of 3 times this morning and they built their stamina to an amazing 7 minutes! I was so proud of every one of them. Some did a great job writing a sentence and using spaces and some need some extra guidance but overall they did fabulous. I cannot wait to see how their writing grows throughout the year!

Did you try something new today? What have had to put your big girl or big boy panties on for?