fREEBIE!!

I have just uploaded a FREEBIE to my TPT and Teacher's Notebook store's called Vocabulary Master. After seeing the pin on Marzano's 6 things students must do to learn vocabulary I put his ideas in to a vocabulary organizer that I could use in my classroom to make sure that I'm doing all parts to ensure the most learning is taking place.  What are you waiting for go check it out!  Click below...

Please leave feedback and let me know what you think!!  Thanks!

Dana :)

tHE rESOLUTION sOLUTION lINKY pARTY

I am linking up with "Teaching Maddeness" on their Resolution-Solution Linky Party. I too am hoping that by recording my resolutions I will hold myself more accountable.
1. Get healthier...my teammates and I decided to do Zumba together after school 2 days a week...luckily one of my lovely teammates is a Zumba instructor so she leads us. I would love to say I have run 5 miles without stopping...to some of you this may seem like a small feat, but I will tell you if you know me I only run when something is chasing me so this would be huge!! 

2. Get more organized at my house...declutter (is that a word?) and keep up with our  laundry would be an awesome place to begin! I have my laundry under control at the moment and believe me I'm very proud!! HA! I would love to hear all of your resolutions! Please share and please hold me accountable!! 

 Dana :)

Celebrate the New Year with a SALE!

Come on over and checkout my Teacher's Notebook store 

I'm having a sale!  

EVERYTHING is 10% off through the New Year! 

Come and get my NEW writing pack aligned with Common Core or my Triple Technology Pack and implement more technology with student in the new year!  

Click the link below to head on over and check it out!

Thanks,

Dana

:)

pENCIL sHARPENER

I need well okay would love this pencil sharpener!!  It seems it is mentioned on every blog that I read!!  Wouldn't it be a great way to begin the new year!   Fingers crossed I win!

Just click on the pic to go check it out for yourself!!

Goodnight blog world!

Dana :)

2012 Blog Best and Brightest

With the year coming to an end I couldn't wait to join "Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge" linky party.

Well to begin I have been very blessed in 2012!  I can't complain a bit!  YAY!  Looking back on the year I have made a couple of huge plunges that I didn't see coming along with a couple of humbling events.  

To begin "Your" favorite post was "Have you ever used Glogster?".  To read click here.   I'm new to the blogging community so all of my post have a few views, but I was ecstatic to see that this one has over 30 views and tops my list!!  The one thing I'm most curious about is an answer to my posed question, but I still don't have many comments there yet!  

My favorite post is "Kids Making Movies" because it was such a hit in my classroom.  How cool is it to get to produce your own movie trailer for a book you have read!  Students gleamed when sharing and were so motivated in creation of the videos I will keep this lesson and activity in my plans for years to come.  

An accomplishment I'm humbly proud of is my entering into the blogging world, Teachers Pay Teachers, and Teacher's Notebook all in ONE year!  I have learned so much from so many people!!  It has been so humbling that you all would even want my original creations and I can't thank you enough for your support! 

Fellow bloggers that I adore from the year are "I teach what's your SUPERPOWER".  At first I fell in love with the name, then I realized how much I admire what she shares and her many wonderful ideas.  Next is "Teaching in Room 6" I love the many ideas she shares and love reading her post!

Can't wait to read your Best and Brightest moments from 2012!!  Please share!

Dana :)

wRITING cOMMON cORE sTYLE

How well do your students write?  What is your favorite writing lesson to teach?  How do you get through to those unmotivated writers?  I ponder each of these on occasion. 

 I have been through portfolio madness, grammar push, and now ELA common core is staring down at me.  I often found that with my 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders a blank lined sheet of paper was either their best friend of their worst enemy!  

Where did they start, what made their writing good, who has that much to say, were all questions that I received when beginning paragraph writing with a blank slate.

 I decided that if I could have them organize their writing using a graphic I could steer some students clear of hating writing.  I selected webs because it was an organizer they were already familiar with and it fit well with having a topic sentence and supporting details.  

My students latched on right away.  It was easy for them because they didn't feel intimidated by the blank lines they had to fill or worry that their writing wasn't good enough.  

Here is a picture of the beginning web...

The students begin with the basic brainstorming web, but then I carry the webs through to writing paragraphs.  I had students who were writing complete 5 paragraph essays and friendly letters in no time.

I have had so many people come and ask me how I teach paragraph writing so I decided that maybe this set of lessons was something you too could adjust and use in your classroom.  If you are interested just click here or on the link below...it is for sale with a freebie in my Teacher's Notebook Store.  I too would love to give it away to the first two people who can share with me why they would like to have it for their classroom!  Please leave me a way to contact you!.

Thanks for your support!! 

Dana  :)

bOXES oF hOPE

Today was such a special day at school!  Of course with it being the LAST day before break everything was hunky dory (do you all use that word?).  

Anyway today was the day that my kids got to exchange their boxes of hope. 

 I give complete credit to author Laura Candler for this activity,

but I absolutely love doing it with my students!  

You can find the link HERE!  

This project is supposed to help students understand the value of a gift

 is not always about the money spent, but more about a gift coming from the heart. 

 My students looked forward to it with much anticipation.  When 1:00 came 

I had all the students to get in a circle and we exchanged gifts one by one.  

All waiting for the last to be exchanged before opening them.  All the students had

 such a twinkle in their eye.  They all tore into their gifts with such excitement all for

 the cost of nothing, but a little hope!  This is the 2nd year that 

I have done this and I believe this year was

 even more special than last!

What do you do for your students?

Dana :)