Guest Post With...Flip Floppin' Through 3rd Grade

I am so excited to be a guest blogger here on Third Grade Tidbits.  Thanks to my friend Gina for giving me this opportunity!  I thought a lot about what I might like to share with you all today and I decided to show you my plan for word study in my classroom for the upcoming school year.

We use Words Their Way in my building, so I am guided a bit by that decision.  I have used this study in the past, and I like the flexibility it gives you to be able to differentiate for each student.  What I have found to be the biggest issue is managing the program.  I want to be able to provide students with a variety of ways to manipulate and practice their words, while also providing some student choice.  Recently I created a companion word study pack that offers a way to manage the word sorts for each students:

This pack helps with student organization and parent understanding of the assigned weekly word study. Included in this pack is: 7 each of (orange, red, yellow, green, blue, black, pink, purple) folder / binder cover pages - for a total of 56 choices. Also included is: weekly word take home packet, 3 cover choices, student choice menu boards (5 versions), daily directions, parent signature required section, homework recording pages, and word work sorting mats. Works with any word sorts. 


The word work sorting mats are a freebie that you can download by clicking the image below:

I also wanted to be able to quickly create a set of word study cards for each sort that I assigned to students.  This is my Word Study Sorting Card template that I can pull up, type header cards and word cards, and print. Viola, differentiated word sorts for each student.

Before school begins, I plan to purchase 3 prong pocket folders and laminate a cover page that coordinates with the folder (I plan to use the red, yellow, blue, and green colors that go along with the Words Their Way spelling stages).  This will be the students weekly take home folder for word study.  Each week I will include a student choice menu board and homework recording pages.  Students will take this home each Friday with a list of their new words.  They will have the weekend to become familiar with their new words, and word study activities for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.  Students will return the folders on Friday morning and will take their word study assessment.

I took a lot of time to plan out the management of this pack and I am excited to be able to use it this year in my classroom.  I feel like I am already organized and that once the students understand the process for word study in our classroom, that management will be a breeze.

I hope this sparks some interest in how you plan to manage word study in your classroom.

~Chelsea
www.flipfloppinthrough.blogspot.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Flip-Floppin-Through-3rd-Grade/389533684491155



Guest blogging for:

Teach Like a Pirate Chapter 12- All The World Is a Stage

Let me start by saying I have a love hate relationship with my classroom. Interior designer I am not. And I constantly rearrange furniture. But in this chapter, Dave is telling you how to use your room as a stage for hooks. Here are the ones he teaches about in this chapter.

Interior Design Hook- How can you change your room to create the most fascinating atmosphere for your lesson? I have not often changed the look of my entire class just for a lesson. Honestly, I think that this would work better for a departmentalized teacher who teaches one subject multiple times a day. This way you are getting to use that rearranged atmosphere a few times a day. For me, I would have to rearrange and then undo it to move onto the next lesson or work around it. And sometimes, with a bunch of 8 and 9 year olds, change like that doesn't always work. Could it work for ONE lesson? Yes. But after that lesson, I know my kids would be W.I.L.D wild.

Board Message Hook-What can you project or write on the board to get the students interested in your lesson before it even begins? Sometimes I will project a picture for my next lesson while students are preparing their materials. As soon as one student sees it and starts the buzz, everyone starts asking questions. I use this a lot to get students engaged in their own path of learning. Their questions COULD take us away from my intended lesson but that is half the fun. And if we can't get to the questions that are off the beaten path, we save them for later. The reason I actually started doing this is to get students asking better questions. Instead of just what is that I want them to question specific things. How did that man end up in the water? Why isn't he running away from the flood? Is the house on stilts? (Those are all things kids asked me when viewing different pics that related to wild weather.)

Costume Hook- Is there anything you can wear to enhance your lesson? I haven't done this one much. I want to though. The one time I did it was a sports themed test review and I wore a baseball jersey. The kids bought right into it, which made me realize I need to do this more.

Props Hook- What can I bring in or show students to gain more interest in the lesson? Anything students can hold and pass around or even just see in front of them on the table adds to their interest. You probably do this a lot more than you realize. Instead of just talking about a book, bring it and show it. Display it for students to look at when they have time.

Involved Audience Hook- How can I get the students to be part of the "show"? Keeping students involved keeps them engaged.  I need more work with this one, so if you have any examples of how you do this, please share!

Mystery Bag Hook- How can I engage them by openly hiding something? O.M.G friends THIS is the winner for my class. My kids LOVED anything mystery. We did the mystery box activity a couple times this past year and we did mystery mail 3 or 4 times. Again, it also taught my students how to ask better questions and use clues to make conclusions/infer. If you asked my students what their favorite lesson of the year was, I think these would be pretty high up there.

Stop by and visit our fantastic host Tamera (who happens to love pirates) at

It's my official FIRST BLOGGY BIRTHDAY

My BIG one year blogging bash is coming up soon! My official 1 year celebration is today, but I have too much going on right now. I am planning to have a big bash the week of July 14. It will include giveaways, deal of the day opportunities, a sale, and maybe a flash freebie (that will be posted on facebook). Get yourself ready by following me here and on bloglovin, liking my facebook page, and following my TpT store!

I don't have too much to say today.  So instead, I am going to ask some random questions for your to answer. :)

1. Do you watch Big Brother? I was pretty excited to hear it was starting earlier this year! It is my favorite summer tv show! I am not happy that Rachel's sister is on. And Miss Staten Island needs to go too. (Please don't post any spoilers because I never watch live.)

2. When you comment on blogs do you prefer that the blogger reply right on the blog post or in email? I usually reply to the email that comes to me when you comment. But then I feel bad because people who don't know that I do that, might look at my comments and think I am a meanie that doesn't reply to people. But I do. Unless you are a noreply blogger (which means I have no way to email back to you), then I just come to the post and reply. But if you don't check the little box to get replies sent to you, you might never know. What an ordeal huh?

3. Do you do Daily 5? I used to be completely against it. But I think I am going to give it a whirl this year. Once I get everything done, I have some really good freebies to share with you.

4. Are you following me on bloglovin? I don't want you to miss out on anything I post, so make sure you follow along with the button over there on the right. And then go to my post from Wednesday 6/26 and enter my giveaway. I think I have it set up to go until July 6 or 7.

5. Would you please show some love and click on the Top 25 logo over on the top right sidebar and vote for Third Grade Tidbits?

6. Are there any questions you have for me?


Frame from Jen Jones
Font from Kimberly Geswein
Mini me from Crystal Fox

Teach Like a Pirate Chapters 10&11- Long Live the Arts and What's In It For Me?

Oh the arts- certainly NOT my strong suit. But the best thing about kids (at least 3rd graders and under) they don't care how bad you sing or how awful your drawings are. They LOVE it. And even if it is a terrible drawing of an animal that looks like a blob, they will compliment it. And so, I must say that I agree with Dave when he says "Music and art can be incredibly powerful ways to engage our students and enhance our lessons." My kids LOVE to sing. So as bad as I am at it (I mean BAD- hold the windows they might break I am so bad) we will bust out in a grammar or science song any time I can find one!

Here are the types of artistic hooks:

The Picasso Hook- incorporate art- anchor charts, foldables, craftivities- those are all simple ways to incorporate art that doesn't take a lot of time or stress. 

The Mozart Hook- add music to your lessons- sing a song, have the students make up a song, use music for transitions. Jenn does this and I envy her. My kids would be crazy. I don't do that. BUT I do use some Disney music (the Good Morning song from Magic Kingdom rope drop show) to signal that it is time for a morning meeting. We also listen to instrumental music during times when they are working independently. 

The Dance and Drama Hook- acting and dancing. We love to make up dances. I never really incorporated the drama part until the end of last year. Last year when I started implementing fluency time, my kids got kinda bored of the partner skits. Until I told them to use voices and make it fun. THEY took it upon themselves to memorize the lines and come up with some acting to go with it. I was so proud of them! After seeing that, I started incorporating acting things out and writing plays into some of their choices on choice boards. They almost always chose that one!

The Craft Store Hook- WHAT Dave?! Are you giving me permission to go the craft store? Could you alert my husband?! Oh. I supposed craftivities go here. Well regardless. Get your craft on!

Another favorite blogging buddy of mine is hosting this chapter- stop by and visit Faith!

 

Monday Made It- Pirate Style

I am linking up with Tara again for

But before I start, make sure you hop over to another book study I am participating in.

I was so busy last week that I didn't even post. Bad blogging friend! But I am back to share with you something that took me an eternity forever. As you may have read/figured out, I am doing a pirate theme next year. But everything I found was red and black. And that just wasn't enough color for me. You have seen a couple pieces of my pirate theme set, but it is finally.all.done!

In a few other posts I shared some of the pieces to this set, already put together. If you missed those, I will link them at the bottom. On top of what I have already shown, there are 2 sets of calendar cards- one with seasonal art, one with no art. I included 3 sets of calendar numbers so you could practice patterns on your calendar by mixing and matching the cards. There are also days of the week cards (I used them on my drawers that will be linked at the bottom) and cards for today is, tomorrow will be, and yesterday was.

The next batch of fun includes subject cards and blank cards. I used the subject ones in drawers (post at the bottom) but they could also be used for schedule cards. I included blank ones so you could write subjects in that maybe I didn't include or to use them as group labels. I also included 8 desk name tags. My kids loved these last year and utilized them a lot. I just suggest covering them up when you are doing tests on facts (multiplication facts). 

 

This next picture shows an example of the alphabet cards that are included. There are 2 more sets of numbers but these are not calendar numbers. These can be used for many other things. I am using one set for my library check out system (post about this coming soon) and the other set is being used for my computer rotations.

There you have it. I love the way it all came together. The first picture will take you to the listing on TpT. Oh! I forgot there is also a student binder cover included!! I can't wait to get in and decorate!

Links to posts referenced here:

Labels for days of week and subjects and word wall

Noise and Sound Check

Southernisms

You're from the north? "Well Bless Your Heart"

While talking to some southern blogging friends, a discussion came up about how different things are in the north and the south. Ok, maybe I started the discussion. And it got me thinking, this would be a fun blog post. So with that- here are some of my favorite or most confusing southernisms (or things that are big no-no's in the south). Letterman top 10 style...

10. 

 Bless your heart- is this just a way to say I am sorry you are so clueless. Add the southern accent (yes southern friends YOU have the accent, not me) and you have the sweetest sounding insult on the planet. Look, even Urban Dictionary says so!!

9.

 Ya'll. No thanks ya'll! It is "you guys" all the way. Even if you are all girls, I will still say what are you guys doing instead of what are ya'll doing?

8.

 Ink pen- because what else would be in a pen? (I was told this is because the southern accent sometimes makes it sound like pin.. and well, we don't want people to think we are are writing with something we use to hold our pants up.."

7. 

Snow skiing- Someone said this to me once and I said WHAT?! It is just skiing. If I tell you I am going skiing, regardless of the location I am in, it means I will be on the snow. If I wanted to do this sport in water, I would tell you I was going water skiing. No worries- you won't find me skiing on snow or water. It would be a disaster!

6. 

Fixin' to (or shortened to finna)- no. I am sorry. If it isn't broken I am not fixin' anything. I am going to get ready for the party, but I am not fixin' to get ready for the party. Too many words.

5. 

Buggy? That is a word for a stroller. The thing babies go in. Not a shopping cart. But I do hear it. My friend Crystal at the Library Fox has this story, and I laugh every time I think about it... " I went to WalMart with one of them and I asked him if we needed a buggy. He looked at me like I'd just sprouted a unicorn horn and tail. I pointed and he said, "You mean a cart? Buggies are for babies." Yes Crystal's step brother- I am with ya!

4.

Yuck Yuck and more Yuck. It isn't too sweet, it is just awful. Awful awful. I have to be the only person who doesn't like it! (Well except my husband, he doesn't count because he doesn't like any kind of iced tea.)

3. 

Yes- saying yes is what is expected. Apparently saying yea instead of yes is a no-no. And I say yea...all the time. (I do, however, say please and thank you. THAT is just common courtesy no matter where you come from.)

2.

Excuse me? If you can't hear something or need it repeated to clarify, in the south you should say excuse me. Me... I say Huh?! THIS is apparently a big no no in the south. I say it ALL.THE.TIME. I am not being rude, I am just either saying "I didn't hear you" or "I have no idea what you are talking about". And you can tell the difference between them in the tone in my voice. A simple "huh" means I didn't hear you. A "hu-uh?" means I have no clue what you mean. Huh can also be used like huh- isn't that somethin'? It is a very versatile word. I can't let it go!

1. Ma'am and sir- 

The epitome of sounding polite. Notice I said sounding. Because even criminals in the south will say ma'am and sir. Me- No, I never say them. It doesn't make me rude I promise. It just isn't typical to hear it in casual conversation up north. I have the hardest time saying it because it sounds so foreign to me.

Hi- my name is Gina and I am a northerner. All together now "Hi Gina!" I really am not rude, but sheesh some southerners might think so. So to all my southern friends, readers, etc- I apologize for my lack of southern! And my poor daughter is going to have a tough time of it when she goes to school because we don't say

Oh and I forgot one- having your picture made. I have my picture taken, not made. :)

DISCLAIMER- this is all in good fun. I love each and every one of you, no matter where you are from!

Teach Like a Pirate Chapters 8&9- A Crash Course in Presentational Hooks and I Like to Move it Move it

Today we are focusing on two chapters. And it is all about the hook! Dave says "Much of your success as an educator has to do with your attitude towards teaching and towards kids." Well, lucky for me, if you take away all the stress that ISN'T my kids or teaching (all the OTHER stuff), I have a fantastic attitude about those two things. He then goes on to say "The rest of your success is based on your willingness to relentlessly search for what engages students in the classroom and then having the guts to do it." I would give myself a B- on this one. I am always trying to find ways to engage my kids, but sometimes if the strategies are outside of my normal box, I chicken out. Why? Because I am afraid to fail. But I have to get past that, because as we found out in an earlier chapter- failure is a form of feedback. 

In chapter 8 we find out about the three types of physical hooks: Kinesthetic, People Prop, and Safari. Here is my mini rundown.

Kinesthetic- incorporate some kind of movement. Even simple gestures. Whole Brain Teaching is great for this. In the beginning of the year last year I made up some random gesture for subject and predicate. And until the very last day of school, if I asked my students what a subject or predicate was, they would use their gestures when answering. 

People Prop- Use students as PART of the lesson- props, human graphs, etc.

Safari- How can we get OUT of the classroom for any part of this lesson.

Dave ends the chapter with something very simple, yet thought provoking- "You have freedom to do all sorts of activities outside the confines of your classroom, so get outside!"  I often to try leave our classroom, even if just to do a hallway hunt or task cards in the hall. The kids enjoy it, I enjoy it, and it really is a nice change of pace. But- it is VERY rare that I ever see any other classes outside of their classroom learning.

Stop by and Visit Daina who is hosting these chapters! (Who doesn't love some sticky notes and glitter?!)