Just posted a big package of phonics centers with a cute fall theme.  The centers directly support Reading Street 2011/2013 Unit 1 3rd grade.  There's a colorful, easy to use activity for vc/cv words, vowel dipthongs, base words and inflected endings (ed, ing, er, est) and more.  Stop by my Teachers Pay Teachers Store and check it out!

Having a blog sounded so easy back in July.  THIS YEAR IS INSANE!  We have a new ELA series and a new Math series.  Both are Pearson products and I wonder if anyone at Pearson has ever actually taught.
I've put a few Reading Street Resources on Tpt so look for my freebies.  More to come soon, I promise. Working through the first topic in enVision math has given me a ton of ideas for how to do things better than they are presented in the T.E. Now I just need a day to work on things!  Does anyone else feel like they are just fighting fires all day?  In the meantime here's a short writing activity to help kiddoes think more deeply about character.  I used it with the Reading Street selection: Kumak's Fish.

https://docs.google.com/open?id=0BzYJvewabh0nUTlBUmh4S19NZFE

OH MY WORD! We had training all day today on the teaching model that will be used for APPR in our district. Here's the thing that I found truly puzzling: No one at all is expected to receive a top rating.  It is likely that every good teacher will be rated at the top for some things, but no one at all will be considered "distinguished" as an overall rating.  Teachers, that means there is no way to be better than "proficient" overall.  In Olympics terminology, there is no gold medal. Does that seem as un-motivating to you as it does to me?  Would we ever tell our students they can't get A's or 100's or 4's on their state tests? Never!

OK, done ranting.  Here's a previewof my newest classroom fun pack: I've used it for years and it is always a hit.  If you like it, check out THINGS THAT ARE on my Tpt page.  ENJOY!

THINGS THAT ARE Writing activity 

I've really been trying to figure out what will help me work with our new reading series, Reading Street 2011.  Here's a little freebie that I will be using for homework each week.  This is the first week of the year to help you get going, too!  If you like it, I have all of units 1 through 3 in Teachers Pay Teachers.  Enjoy!
Charlie McButton Lost Power Homework Packet

I officially hate my netbook and long for a big screen memory and speed monster computer. Just making these cute little freebie checklist took forever!  I'll be posting soon with more!
Cute "owlie" student checklists

Well, here we are, a few weeks before the start of the school year.  My district has purchased a new reading series but I haven't gotten any of my TE's.  Wouldn't it be nice to be familiar with the curriculum before we had to teach it?  One day of professional development isn't going to slice the poupon for a whole new series.  Why does it seem that circumstances so often work against the classroom teacher?  Where's the warehouse? I'll go get my own books!

My first post! Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to begin this new adventure!  I've been really busy trying to finish my last class for the summer, getting my classroom 3rd grade-ready, getting my Teachers Pay Teachers store going, setting up my blog, and oh-yeah ... having a summer. The switch from first to third was more work than I though it would be even though I didn't have to change rooms.  Not complaining though... in this economy at least I have a job!