Made it Monday, WINNER, Chapter 5 Guided Math

Made It Monday

the bulge is the back brace . . . I can't help but comment on it :-/

Gushy moment BUT I am SOOO in love with this man :) He spoils me with his love!

Next Monday Made It will show how I transform and "cutesified" some other containers I use!

Review and Reflect Guided Math ch. 5

1. How does using flexible, needs-based grouping affect student learning? How can it affect teaching strategies employed by teachers?
     I believe flexible, needs-based grouping provides students with the best instruction to meet their current academic needs. It seeks to provide students with instruction that is right at their level. It allows the teacher to scaffold the lesson to a limited amount of students. The lower teacher-student ratio also maximizes the students learning because the teacher is better able to assist the students in any way they need. Another awesome aspect of this type of instruction is that the students are grouped with similar needs so they feel more "safe" and willing to ask questions.
     This type of instruction allows the teacher to truly tailor instruction to specifically address students areas of need. 


2. Do you use Guided Reading in your classroom? If so, how can you adapt it to accommodate mathematics instruction? What about it is easily modified for teaching mathematics? What may be more difficult to adapt?
     I did last year but not to its fullest potential. This year I plan on implementing it in a way that fits my classroom needs. I do see many similarities between Guided Reading and Guided Math now more than ever. I've even picked up Comprehending Math: Adapting Reading Strategies to Teach Mathematics by Hyde. This book has really brought to light all the obvious connections that I am just realizing now between math an dreading. I find a lot of the techniques for teaching reading work just as well when teaching math. The biggest difference is the vocabulary. It still needs to be made real world significant. Students still make text-self, text-text, and text-world connections. I find trying to make every math concept connect to the real world is NOT impossible just difficult and takes some thinking sometimes.  


3. What data do you have that can guide you as you create small groups of students for Guided Math?
     Next year I have several things that will help me to group my students. In the beginning of the year I have last years school wide assessment, I have the beginning of the year diagnostic math test, and the topic pre-tests. I also plan on creating topic observation checklists for each math topic to use as an assessment tool to help group students and make sure they understand what is essential. I am planning on using the pre-tests on the computer that we have access to assist with my grouping as well. 

200 Follower Giveaway

I have two winners from my giveaway! Mary and Patti Barker look in your inboxes to enjoy your $25 TPT gift certificate! Thank you to everyone who participated in my giveaway!

P.S.

I'm able to go back into my room for the rest of the summer. I plan on "putting it back together" in increments :) I really want it to be the best learning environment for my kiddos.


Graphics from Maree Truelove: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MareeTruelove

June Currently! & TPT and Amazon Gift Certificate Giveaway WINNER!!!

. . . And the winner OF A $25 TPT AND $20 Amazon gift certificate is:Beth Ann Skelly-Kempf! I will be emailing you shortly with your goodies! Thank you faithful followers for entering my first giveaway. Pretty soon I will need to do another giveaway when I reach 200 followers!


Now onto June's Currently (by the way June is the best month ever)

Wishing to go to the Farm Chicks Show - it's in Washington and it is one of the places I want to go so so so bad!

Went to Disney - two weekends ago went to Epicot, Magic Kingdom, and Animal Kingdom. So much fun - it was my little brothers first time. He loves rides :)

Want to drive up the East Coast - Bed and Breakfasts, antiques, boutiques, history :)

GIVEAWAY! I've reached over 100 followers!

I have passed 100 followers! It's time to celebrate with a giveaway. A $25 gift certificate from Teachers Pay Teachers and a $20 gift card from Amazon is up for grabs. These are my two FAVORITE places to get "teachery" things. I am always perusing these two sites. There are multiple ways to enter! Make sure if you blog about this giveaway you attach the above image! Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! I'm hoping this is all working correctly (here's a secret . . . it's my first time. . .) ;)





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Top Teachers Memorial Day Sale!

I'm also having a sale in my TPT store. . . I know I'm a little late to the game. I'll keep the sale going till Tuesday. (We were busy yesterday buying a new black Pomeranian.) 

A Soon to Be FIRST Giveaway and a Link Up!

I am loving reading everyone's posts linking up to "Another One Bites the Dust. . ." I decided to link up and be honest :) 
The rules are simple: 
1. Grab the linky graphic
2. Link back to this post
3. List three things that were great about this school year
4. List three things that were not so great about this school year


The Great 3

1. My getting completely rid of my teach desk and my desk supply organization. It took me awhile to realize the SUPER DUPER UTTER IMPORTANCE of being organized as a teacher. Not just in the little things or visible things but in everything! 

I use my small group table as my desk when I need to grade or work on something. Otherwise it is used for small groups and conferring with students. Below are some more close up pictures of my desk organization. You can read about it HERE.

2. My labeling system. That may seem really simple to all of you but it has changed the atmosphere of my classroom. Everything is labeled using the same label I just change the size and text. It lets my students know where things are and what is accessible to them. I have discovered it gives my students more ownership of our classroom. If you look at the pictures above you can see all my labeling . . . you can see more in this post and this one or this one. 

3. Getting down to my kids level. As a first year teacher I wasn't quite sure what my second grade sweets would be like. I wasn't sure exactly where they would be developmentally (certainly not from experience ~ a little bit from books). I wasn't certain entirely what I should be. Did I need to be more formal or less formal, more struct or less strict, workbook driven or content objectives driven, etc. . . The list could go on. The best thing that happened to me was talking to one of the administrators and having her tell me to let loose and have fun learning. She told me if I made a mistake a could simply say "Ooops" and change. It changed my teaching style. I was having tons of fun teaching my sweets. We were learning content in creative ways. If you walked in my room (still now) you are almost sure to hear talking in inside, six inch, voices. I hope that made sense to you all!

The Not-So-Great 3

1. Guided Reading . . . I have to chuckle because it seems to be a hot topic on everyone's Not-So-Great list. I also chuckle because my school doesn't require it. I truly do believe in it. Ultimately, I believe in small group instruction. I plan on finishing up Debbie Diller's Making the MOst of Small Group Differentiated Instruction for All. I also need to get my hands on a bit more diverse selection of leveled readers. The only set I have is the Above Level Readers from my Harcourt Trophies basal reader. 

2. Routines. . . If you are about to be a first year teacher and everyone is telling you to take the time during the first several weeks to focus on routines and procedures and less on curriculum you MUST listen. Trust me you can catch up on the curriculum. I am working on making a Classroom Procedures/Routines Binder. At the beginning of the school year we shall be going through them, one by one, over and over and over again. It will also be a wonderful tool for a sub.

3. My Classroom Library was semi-organized during the summer before my first year. I actually put in a TON of time organizing my classroom library. My biggest problem was that I simply didn't know the best way to organize my classroom library because I had never used it as a teaching tool in my own classroom. I'm in the middle of creating library bin labels. I've begun labeling and grouping my books by favorite series (My Weird School House, Junie B. Jones, etc.), favorite authors (Chris Van Dusen, Dr. Seuss, etc.) and the rest will be grouped by groups such as "Books About Marine Life."


Well if you've stuck with me this long you will also know. . . 
that I am OH SO CLOSE to 100 followers. When I get there I shall be doing a giveaway! A $25 gift certificate from Teachers Pay Teachers and a $20 gift card from Amazon. Those are my two FAVORITE places to get "teachery" things!Another One Bites the Dust

Figuring This All Out

Wow! So I believe I have taken for granted all the amazing blog posts I have read. They all look so pulled together and organized with nice pictures of freebies or TPT/TN packets. I must learn how this is all done. I'm sure in time I will arrive to that place (Lord willing). Well, I was super excited to come across this giveaway hosted by Tunstall's teaching Tidbits. Her blog sucks you in and keeps you going back for more and more inspiration. I'm happy to say that I am one of those teachers who gets President's Day off! Of course I'll be trying to plan and create great learning activities for my sweets. How ironic isn't it? A day off and I'm choosing work (and maybe some Hunger Games. . . ) Hope you enter the giveaway!

"Do You Feel Lucky?" Giveaway ~ Hosted by Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits