Clik here to view.
Google's Newspaper Archives {Social Studies Mentor Text}
I do love Sundays! A day with my church, my family, and Collaboration Cuties Mentor Text Linky Parties! A perfect day!Do you use Google News in your classroom? Google has a collection of primary...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Five for Friday! It's been a busy week. :)
By the time you read this, I'll probably be on my way to have lots of fun with collaborate with lots of fabulous blogger friends! ;) Can't wait ladies!Yay for the Carolina Blogger Meet-Up!...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Building Ideas from "Nothing" :) Creative Writing Mentor Text
Happy Sunday Friends! Today I'm linking up with Collaboration Cuties to share a mentor text with you. As many of you might know, I focus a great deal of 6+1 Traits of Writing in my classroom. It...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Building a Firm Foundation for a Literacy Workshop
Hello, hello, hello! Thanks for all the sweet emails checking on me! I took the month of August off from blogging simply to get my feet on the ground for the new school year! We are off and running...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Celebrating Authors
Happy Saturday Teacher Friends! I wanted to check in with a quick post today to tell you about a wonderful experience my class and I shared yesterday with our parents. I think it had a big impact on...
View ArticleClik here to view.
World War II~ A Peek at my Week
Hi Teacher Friends! Apparently I am going to be much more of a SUMMERTIME blogger than most! I don't know how you guys do it. Although I would love to say that I have kept you guys updated on the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Books, Books, and more Books! :)
Spring Break has been wonderful! You have to know that I have been on break, or there is no way I would have found time to blog. Haha! Sorry about that...I am trying to get back into the swing of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The Other Side and Freedom Summer {Social Studies Mentor Text Linky}
Hi Everybody and Happy EASTER! I'm dropping in for a quick link up with the ladies from Collaboration Cuties to talk about 2 Social Studies Mentor Texts this week.The 2 books that I've selected today...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? {Test Prep Workshop}
Hi Teacher Friends!Welcome to Workshop Wednesday. I’m linking up with Jivey from Ideas By Jiveyto talk about TEST PREP! Yes, you heard me right, the dreaded TEST PREP words. I have never been very...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Facing Everyday and Every Student with Positive Thoughts
Hi Friends,Apparently I was into positive thinking today and decided to join two other groups of bloggers to share my joy!I'm linking up with Comprehension Connection and Mrs. Laffin's Laughings to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Who's Going to New Orleans?! :) #IRA14
Not only am I super excited to be presenting this year, I can't wait to attend other sessions and learn from all of you! Come see us at Cutting The Ties to One Size Fits All Literacy Instruction and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Picture Books in Fifth Grade? Of Course!!
How many of you love a great picture book that makes you think? How many of you think that today's kids spend too much time with technology? If you answered yes to either of those questions, this...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Sparking Reading Motivation in Big Readers and Little Readers
Yesterday was a great day! Heck this entire week has been fabulous. I returned from New Orleans in the middle of the night on Monday and crawled to school to volunteer on a field trip...there was no...
View ArticleClik here to view.
The "All-in-One" History Book!
How often do you spend time looking for historical short stories to use for small group instruction, work stations, or close reads? This book has it all! 500 years of American History through the eyes...
View ArticleClik here to view.
I Need Picture Book Suggestions for Social Studies!
Big News! It is official! I will be teaching one block of ELA/Social Studies in FIFTH grade and another block of ELA/Social Studies in FOURTH grade!How is this going to work you ask? I have no idea!...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Literacy Block Organization
Happy Sunday! This morning I stumbled onto a fun little party over at Where the Magic Happens that apparently has been going on for quite some time and I've been so busy that I've missed the boat. :(...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Integrated Literacy Block Notebooks
Hi Teacher friends! Recently I've had a few questions about NOTEBOOK ORGANIZATION! I must admit...I am an ORGANIZATION~AHOLIC! Things must be organized or I feel completely lost. I imagine that my...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Guiding Text for ELA/Social Studies Integration
What the heck is a GUIDING TEXT? Frankly, I'm not sure "GUIDING TEXTS" is the best name for this document, but this seems to be what I always end up calling it! Yes, it's our NOTES. It's our...
View ArticleClik here to view.
"Stuffing Turkeys" during a Social Studies and ELA Literacy Block
I must admit, I did not come up with this name. A sweet student started calling one of our small group activities "STUFFING TURKEYS," and because I'm a bit crazy like that, I asked her why?. Here's...
View ArticleClik here to view.
You Don't have to Teach Grammar in ISOLATION...There's another WAY!
As teachers, there is never enough time in our day! I try to combine lessons as much as possible and get as much "bang for my buck" with each activity as I can. I read a lot of picture books to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Author Celebrations and STRESS-FREE Portfolios
I've blogged before about AUTHOR CELEBRATIONS. You can read about them here if you would like more information. :) Here's the short version so we can get to the STRESS-FREE PORTFOLIOS.We spend about...
View ArticleClik here to view.
PIC-TORY {A Close "Reading" Strategy for Social Studies}
While riding with my family to and from DC (8 hours for us), we decided to make the most of this educational trip and download an audio book about American History. YAY! (Okay, I decided!:) )My search...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Fun Fridays CAN be PRODUCTIVE in an ELA/SS Classroom!
I have a FUN plan for FUN FRIDAYS this year. In the past, I have struggled with how to make FUN FRIDAYS productive, and yet still allow FRIDAYS to be something that is looked forward to and...
View ArticleClik here to view.
ELA/SS Integration GIVE-AWAY!
Hi teacher friends! I'm popping in today to share a great GIVE-AWAY that I simply couldn't live without. My dear friend Lauren, from The Sweetest Thing just completed a bundle of Nonfiction Leveled...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Speed Blogging! PowToons, IRA Conferences, a GIVEWAY, and much more!
Hello teacher friends! Happy Election Day! YES, I am blogging today. :) I know it's been a while, but I've been a bit busy. Let's call this "SPEED BLOGGING," shall we?On your mark, get set,...
View Article
