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Common Core State Standards Pacing Guides
I apologize for my lack of blogging lately. I have been busy with one thing after another. One of those tasks was partaking in developing pacing guides for K-3 for my school district. This was a...
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My New Blog!
So what do you think! I am absolutely thrilled with my new blog design! With a new design, also comes a new name, "KIDS ROCK!" Christi from Design by Christi, was so quick and helpful to help me get...
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Comprehension
I recently attended a CCSS training on ELA for reading coaches. During the 2 day workshop we got some really great strategies to use during reading instruction. One idea was to use a retell glove. It...
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Literacy Wheels
At my recent ELA training the presenters talked about Literacy Wheels. They are made with cd's, and are used for discussing story elements in fiction as well as nonfiction. You write on them with...
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Word Building Folders
I'm back with another idea from my recent workshop! This idea is for making individual Making Words Folders for you class. It's easy to make and so useful!. All you need are file folders and small...
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Fluency Bags
At the NM Reads to Lead workshop that I recently attended, the wonderful presenters just kept giving us idea after idea! This next idea that I'm sharing is for making class sets of fluency bags. To...
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Reading Instruction Ideas
I'm back again today with another idea to use while you are reading with your students during guided reading, in small groups, or during shared reading. It's important to keep variety in the way we...
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Magic Panel Foldables
So today I wanted to share a really cool foldable that I recently saw. I haven't actually had a chance to make one yet, but it's on my to do list. This one is called a Magic or Mystery Panel...
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Guided Reading Tool Bag
I have recently shared several strategies to use during Reading. Today, I wanted to share a great way to organize all of these ideas. It's a teacher's reading tool bag. This is a bag that one of the...
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The Leader in Me
This summer my school has been participating in a book study on the late Stephen R. Covey's book, The Leader in Me. I was saddened to learn that he died at the age of 79 at the beginning of this week,...
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Technology Tailgate & a Few More Too!
I recently came across the blog Technology Tailgate. Have you heard of it? If you haven't check it out! There are so many great tips on this blog.Here are a few posts that I found really useful...
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Useful Websites for ELA
Hi everyone! I have a list of useful websites piling up, and thought I would pass them on. This first one comes from one of my teamies who recently left our school to become a middle school...
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Active Learning and Engagement Strategies
I was recently given the opportunity to review a copy of Active Learning and Engagement Strategies by Paula Rutherford fromLet me say, this book looks wonderful! It is full of strategies and exemplars...
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Random Name Generators
Hey everyone! Back in April I remember seeing Shannon fromwrite a post about using various random name generators. She has some really cool ones that you can use in your class. Click on the picture...
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Reading Street's The Twin Club
Hello everyone! Long time no see! I've been in training after training it seems all month long. Although I am now an Instructional Specialist, I will still be working with 2nd graders in Reading. I...
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Cool Screen Saver
Hi everyone! I just wanted to share a screen saver that I thought was too cool! Another colleague showed it to me this summer. I finally got around to finding it online the other day. What I really...
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Exploring Space with an Astronaut
Here is a weekly game board that I have created to go along with Reading Street's story Exploring Space with an Astronaut from Unit 1 Week 2. It's focus is on long vowels. Please click on the picture...
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Henry and Mudge and the Starry Night Game Board
Hi Everyone! This one is short and sweet. Here is my latest game board that uses consonant blends. It goes with Reading Street 2nd grade Unit 1 Week 3.Click on the picture to download your own...
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Classroom Walk Throughs
Now that I am an Instructional Specialist, my focus on classrooms has taken on another meaning. As a part of my position, I am responsible for conducting Classroom Walk Through's each week. They are...
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Creating a School Master Schedule
Yep! Just like the title says, I've been working on a rapid reset for our elementary school of about 565 kids. This year, due to the fact that I am teaching reading instruction for two hours daily,...
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Sign Up Genius
Now that I am no longer teaching in the classroom, I find that my administrative duties have given me a different view. It's often more difficult to find topics to blog about, unless you want to hear...
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Nancy Fetzer Literacy Connections
Back in December I took part in a three day training on Nancy Fetzer Literacy Connections. We were very lucky to have Nancy Fetzer herself as our trainer. My district had adopted her writing program...
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Harlem Shake
The staff at my school are very creative! A few years ago they made a video to get kids pumped up for our NMSBA standardized test. You can see that video from my previous post {here}. Now they are...
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Reading Street Trifold Templates
My days as an Instructional Specialist are busy conducting data meetings, analyzing data, reporting out the data, and participating in lots of professional development. I recently had a request...
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We are Super Heroes!
So I know I haven't blogged in quite some time... I changed schools last year, and it was one busy year! This year we have a Super Hero theme. I am still an Instructional Specialist. As a part of my...
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