Weekly Post for February 19, 2016

I am sure many of you are coming off a 4-day week (which probably has you more tired that a 5 day week).  If you are super lucky then you have enjoyed a full week off.  My house has been full of sickness this week.  I think my kiddos have made up for 2 years of nothing major in 5 days. I am ready for warm days now!

Book of the Week
Today I am going back to one of my favorite books.  The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo is one I have read aloud every single year.  I've read it to 2nd graders and 5th graders, boys, and girls...they all loved it.  I have recommended it to other teachers who quickly came back for more suggestions because their class loved the book.  If you want to teach theme, if you want to have your students on the edge of their seats, if you love beautiful pictures, and if you want a book YOU will enjoy reading again and again, then this is the book for you.  (NOTE: Have your school librarian hold all copies of the book in the library for your class.  I guarantee you students will ask to go to the library to check it out the day you start it.) Here is a website on more stuff to use with the book.

Lesson of the Week
Today's lesson focuses on getting the Writer's Workshop time organized.  One of the things my students had the hardest time with was knowing when and how to conference.  After taking time to teach students about conferencing with the teacher and conferencing with peers we had more time on task and more engaging conferences.  This post contains a free download of conferencing forms.

Fabulous Freebie
This week's freebie is 5 Science Prompts. These prompts encourage students to think outside of the box.  Click here to get your free download.

Recipe of the Week
This Stuffed Chicken Recipe from eatingwell.com is my husband's favorite.  We skip the breading part and it is still super yummy. This quick recipe has minimal prep time.  I like to add some broccoli or corn as a side.

Want to save these ideas?  Pin this!

Sharing Sundays - Planning for Perimeter and Area 3rd - 5th Grade

This is the time of year that I like to really focus on Perimeter and Area.  Even if I have taught the standards previously, this is a great review.  Why do I like doing perimeter and area at this time of year? Well I get to teach and review a lot of standards!

- Adding of greater numbers
- Adding with multiple addends
- Shape review
- Critical thinking
- And of course the obvious perimeter and area

Here are a few lessons, freebies, books and blog posts to help you teach perimeter and area.  Just click on the image to access a PDF file.  Download the file and you can click each link you want.

Head back to the Primary Peach for MORE February fun and freebies.
Happy Teaching!

Weekly Notes for January 29 (Books, Freebies, Lesson Plans, and More)

Welcome

Book of the week

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Pena

The current Newbery Award Winner and a Caldecott Honor Book!  Wow, what a book. This is a great book that can be used so many different ways.  The details in this book! This is a great text to use in getting students to dive deeper into descriptions.  You could also use this book to introduce any service projects your school or class may be participating. Last Stop on Market Street is one you can use again and again. 

Lesson of the week

Groundhog Day is approaching. Although it's not a holiday to take up a lot time, I love it. It makes me start the countdown to longer and warmer days. To help teach kids about Groundhog Day I like to use this Poetry Literacy Center. The kids get to have fun while learning.

Fabulous Friday Freebie

Are you still holding on to winter? If so, then check out these Snow Paired Texts created by Ideas By Jivey. She shared this awesome resource on the Primary Peach Blog.

Recipe of the Week
For Christmas my husband got me a bread machine. I have said for years I wanted to try to make my own bread. There is something weird about the way I buy a loaf at the store and a month later it is still hanging around with no mold on it. My daughter loves PBJ sandwiches and I cringe every time I give her a sandwich wondering what preservatives are in the bread. Now I don't have to worry because I know all of the ingredients going into the bread. I found this recipe on allrecipes.com and after two tries (I read the helpful reviews and adding the vital wheat gluten, baked it on white bread setting, and used butter instead of shortening) and WOW! My two-year-old eats the bread by itself. It is that yummy. Check out this bread recipe!

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Click this Image to Pin for Later. 

3 Books You Need to Read Right Now

The past 7 months I have learned so much about writing, creating, and marketing.  I feel like I got a business degree without the guidance of a syllabus.  After months of feeling like my list was growing longer and my mind was racing out of control, I was led to these 3 books.  If you are looking for finding creativity, learning how to connect with others in business, and wanting to find a way out of that giant to-do-list, then you have to read these 3 books.

1. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert
This book spoke to me from the first sentence.  I felt like Elizabeth Gilbert was sitting beside me on the couch coaching me through my need for perfection and my fear of not having perfect words.  I love that she says that creativity doesn't have to be something you are great at and it doesn't have to reach the masses.  I love creating and I feel that I have to be perfect for people to want it. I love the freedom of just being able to create for myself.  No perfection, no marketing, just plain old creating for the fun of it!


2. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
I am horrible at walking into new situations,  horrible at small talk with the cashier at a store, and horrible about starting conversations with strangers. I don't know where this fear came from, how id developed, or why it still haunts me at 39.  But, this book helped me realize how much I am on the right track.  What gets stuck in my head is the right thing to say.  I care deeply about other people, but I am always afraid that I will offhandedly offend someone.  I now know why this book has been popular for almost a century.  I just comes down to making others feel important.  A simple smile, a kind word, a nice note.

3. Make it Happen by Lara Casey
So I am sticking with this theme of getting over being perfect.  And this book pushed that issue as well.  I love the freedom of perfect.  That freedom has allowed me to write 23 posts in 23 days and freed me from the fear of pushing publish.  Honestly, what horrible thing could happen?  I write a bad sentence, I miss a word, yep that isn't what a publisher or editor wants, but right now my goal is to write and put my words out in the universe.  Lara Casey has dealt with the demons of being perfect many times.  Her advice is amazing and her tips on tackling a to-do list are life and time-saving!

Weekly Notes for January 22 (Books, Freebies, Lesson Plans and More)

Happy Friday everyone! This week has been a whirlwind of a week. I am always amazed at how a 4-day week can seems crazier and busier than a 5-day week. I hope you have weekends filled with joy and time to relax and enjoy.

Book of the Week

Circus Mirandus by Cassie Beasley

A fabulously woven tale about a boy and his sick grandfather. A belief in magic leads this mystery in discovering the miracle that can save Micah and his grandfather. This is definitely one that your fantasy lovers will enjoy.

Lesson of the week

This week I am looking at Perimeter. This is one of those measurement lessons where you get to review your addition strategies in combination with geometry and measurement. This blog post will give you examples to use in your classroom, along with a practice page download, and a suggested performance assessment.

Fabulous Friday Freebie

This Winter Coloring Book by Krista Wallden is fabulous. It has saved me on cold, rainy days. And my kiddos have something to color other than my walls and floors.

Pin of the Week
I have been working on mastering and creating pins. Here is my newest update on my Poetry Unit.

Recipe of the Week - Seaton Sunday Chicken from Once A Month Meals
A Sunday night repeat in our house. This recipe is perfect for a clean eating night and Monday leftovers. The original recipe for this called for soy sauce and we still use that to combine with the mustard. This chicken is so tender. I like to add carrots, an onion, and small potatoes around the chicken to add to the meal. This one is great for cooking with my kids. They love to help add the veggies and create and pour the sauce.

Weekly Notes for January 15 (Books, Freebies, Lesson Plans and More)

This week was full of excitement - from the National Championship game (hate my tigers lost) to the announcement of the ALA book awards. An interesting twist this year was that a picture book Last Stop on Market Street won the Newbery Award!  Yes, I know I should be featuring the winner this week, but I decided to share the book I had picked to win, Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan.  (This book did win a Newbery Honor). 

Book of the week

Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan

I feel in love with this book from the first page. I usually do with Pam Munoz Ryan books but this one more so than the others. The intertwining stories take you through such different points of view of the rise of Hitler and the Great Depression. As the story progresses I miss the characters who have passed. This is definitely a read aloud for fifth grade. Love! Love! Love!

Lesson of the week - Poetry terms

Testing time is getting near and poems always make it on the test. Take some time to review or teach the important poetry terms and standards. Here is a great blog post with the information you need, plus a free poetry book to use in your classroom.

Fabulous Friday Freebie AND Pin of the Week

Need tools to help teach synonyms? This pin was one of my highest repins this month. The free synonyms lesson by Jen Bradshaw is a great tool to use in your classroom.

Recipe of the Week

The White Chicken Chili from Marty’s Musings is a staple in our household! My two-year-old loves it. It takes 10 mins to prep in the slow cooker and 4 hours later dinner is ready! Some corn bread with a little cheese added is a great side. A little sour cream and cheese on top is the perfect addition, but isn't needed especially is you are going eating clean.

Weekly Notes for January 8 (Freebies, Books, Lessons, and More!)

I am so looking forward to this year. After a few years of fearing the page I have decide to buckle down and get over that fear. One of the poems from the January A Poem Each Week is Life Doesn't Frighten Me by Maya Angelou. I am not going to fear the page and when people ask me what I do I will tell them that first I am a mom and second I am a writer. A writer of children's stories and writer to inspire and make the lives of teachers easier.

Book of the week

Float by Daniel Miyares

What a fabulous book! The images draw readers in and this wordless picture book provided so much detail that my two-year-old could tell the story to me as he flipped through the beautiful pages. This is one I hope to see a Caldecott sticker on soon!

Lesson of the week

Creating character is one of the first things students should so when planning a fiction piece. Watch this video and download this handout for ideas on helping student create strong characters.

Fabulous Friday Freebie

The January Edition of A Poem Each week is ready to download. This month focuses on four poems to promote higher level thinking and having students make connections to the text. Poems you will need for this month:

Hooray! Hooray! It's New Year's Day by Kenn Nesbitt 

(found in the book My Hippo Has the Hiccups)

January by John Updike

The sky is low, the clouds are mean, by Emily Dickenson

Life Doesn't Frighten Me by Maya Angelou

Pin of the week

I have spent a lot of time lately reading about testing and assessing.  I loved this article by Mandy's Tips 4 Teachers about getting control of student assessments. 

Recipe of the Week

For New Years this year we wanted something warm and cozy. I fixed this white bean and ham soup that I found at Sweet and Simple and a Dash of Crazy. Since I am a little superstitious I added a few collard greens to bring money in the new year.

Apple Books for Toddlers and Preschool

1. Apples and Pumpkins by Anne Rockwell

This book is great to use as a preview or review of a visit to an apple orchard or a pumpkin patch. Let kids tell you about what they see in the pictures as you read. When my daughter and I read this we also painted an apple and pumpkin. 

2. Apple Farmer Annie - Monica Wellington

This book follows apple farmer Annie as you grows apples in her orchard to selling her apple products at a farmer's market. I enjoyed reading this book on the days we would visit the farmer's market. It was a great way to build on our conversation at the market and as we drove home. The font in this book was also very toddler friendly. 

3. Apples by Gail Gibbons

This book was a little more advanced but the detailed pictures allow for great discussion on the types and parts of an apple. This would be a great book to use alongside an apple tasting. You could use the tasting as an introduction into opinions, data collection, and graphing. 

Great Books to Start Your School Year

There's nothing better than a good book to kick start the school year!  Books can set teacher expectations, model writing lessons, and motivate students to read.  I have gathered my favorite school year starters and presented ideas to use for the teaching standards while enjoying the story.

1. First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg (K-5th Grade)

I love irony. It's the ironic story that sticks with me. This picture book finds a way to connect to everyone in the classroom that first day of school. 

Suggestions:

A. For a pre reading strategy have students jot down (on post-it notes or with a chalk talk) what makes them nervous on the first day of school. You may want to share these before you read. A great way to get the students moving is to make a target in your reading area on the floor. Read each post-it note aloud.  Students who stand in the middle are really nervous about that thing. In the second ring they are kind of nervous and the third ring it's no big deal to them. This is a great way for you to get a quick assessment of the personalities in your classroom. I always find that if I participate and let my students know what makes me nervous then they are more honest with their fears and worries. You can always ask students to explain why something is a big deal to them or not that big of a deal. 

B. Completing a story map as you read the book can help preview or review the story elements.
C. Journal Writing Ideas:
1. What was your first day of school like today?
2. Have you ever been new to a school?  Describe your fears and worries.
3. Opinion Piece - Do you think teachers really get nervous about the first day of school?  Why or why not?

2. There's A Boy in the Girls's Bathroom by Louis Sachar (3rd-5th Grade)

This is a great chapter book to help students discuss how to get along with others. Louis Sachar does an excellent job of developing the characters in this book.  Most students can identify with the traits of the students in this book and understand the frustrations.
A. Create a character chart of each of the main characters in the book.  List traits of these characters.  (You may want to do a mini-lesson on character traits as a preview or review).  As you read have the students suggest ways they could deal with the issues presented by the characters.
B. Play charades of some ways to handle situations in the classroom.  (Ex: Someone bumps into you.  Someone hurts your feelings.  Someone moves away.)

3. Love That Dog by Sharon Creech (3rd-5th Grade)

This is the perfect book to kick off a year long poetry unit. The narrator is a boy who doesn't like poetry, however he comes to love and appreciate it.  This book is good to use at the beginning of the year because it doesn't have a lot of words.  I always found poetry to be the best way to start the year and assess my students reading and writing abilities without the stress of reading a lot of words (especially in 4th and 5th grade).  Another great thing about this book is it is written in free verse and for students who have trouble reading, this is great!  Why?  Because there are no rules!
1. Have students keep a summary journal where they reflect or retell what you read that day.  Have them write the reflection in free verse style.
2. Study the poems that were used and are located in the back of the novel.
3. Kick off a poem of the day activity.
4. Use along with a poetry unit.  Check out my second, third, fourth, and fifth grade units on Teachers Pay Teachers. 

4. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo (1st-5th Grade)

This is my all time favorite book. I have read it aloud to students from first through fifth grade. I would have thought a story about a china doll rabbit would not interest my boys, but the journey of Edward Tulane brings in all of my students. I have recommended this book to many other teachers and they say their students are immediately drawn in.
Suggestions:
A. For second and third grade this would be a great book to make a story map.
B. You could also look at the sequence of events  as both readers or at looking at how to organize a story to write.
C. With the upper grades I uses this to introduce theme. It doesn't take long for students to understand that this book is trying to teach us to love and think of others. And of course a book where the ending makes your students gasp is always a huge bonus!
D. I also found this great FREE resource online at http://www.edwardtulane.com/.

5. My Garden by Kevin Henkes (K-3rd Grade)

The beginning of this book is pretty realistic and then the imagination of the narrator takes us into a garden that is truely her alone.  

Suggestions: 

A. This a great book to use for a beginning of the year writing lesson.  Students can write about what they might find in their garden.  I found that this was a great piece of writing to allow for students to add artwork and complete pretty quickly.  I typically used this as the first writing piece I posted for a display of student work. 

B. Use this book to begin an author study on Kevin Henkes.  I am still amazed at how many different populations of students love Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse. 

6. Sideways Stories From Wayside School by Louis Sacher (2nd-5th Grade)

The characters in this book are ones your students will love. The great thing about this book is you don't have to read it in order to follow what is happening. I find each time I read this book all my extra copies get checked out. Many times this is the dollar book in the Scholastic book orders.
Suggestions: 

A. This is a great book to use for character traits. You can create a chart with adjectives describing each character.
B. Teach students how to summarize by modeling (with student help) writing summaries of each character.  At the end of the book, students could make trading cards of their favorite character. On the front draw a picture of the character.  On the back list character traits and have the students write their own summary of the chapter.  Remind students that summaries are not long and only focus on the important points.  

7. When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead (4th-5th Grade)

I'm am not a science fiction lover. The only other scifi I really enjoyed was A Wrinkle In Time. And lucky for me the main character of this book always keep a copy of it with her. A book to motivate and keep you students on the edge of their seats.
Suggestions:
A. Just read and enjoy. The book itself will keep students engaged and spark discussions.
B. Read back to back with A Wrinkle In Time and compare and contrast the stories.
C. Record characters, setting, and plot with specific details.  

8. Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos  (3rd-5th Grade)

I loved the audiobook version of this story. The author is the reader and he makes Joey jump off the page! In my opinion the best audiobooks are the ones read by the author. They know the characters better than anyone.  Joey works really hard at being his best, but spending the summer with his dad makes it really hard.  The dad is this book has a drinking problem, so you may want a heads up on this topic in case questions arise.
Suggestions:
A. This would be a great book to use along with There's a Boy in the Girl's Bathroom.  Students could compare and contrast Joey and Bradley.
B. Several sections of this book show the worries and anxiety of Joey.  This would be a great chance to discuss ways to deal with worry.  Create a chart or slide with student suggestions of how Joey could/does deal with worry.  Health seems to have taken the backseat in the curriculum these days.  With more and more pressure put on some students this would be an important talk for students.  

If you need time to squeeze in running records or organize all of the paperwork coming in, preview the audiobook of each of these books and let an actor read aloud. I always found adding some audiobooks allowed my students to hear more readers so they could enhance their fluency and expression.