Score!!

So I woke up early this morning to hit up a garage sale all the way out in Hawaii Kai!! I know that I'm on a hunt for books since this lady is a teacher. When I get there I find out that she is also a third grade teacher!! She had about 6 boxes full of box. I walked away with a HUGE bag of about 30+ chapter/picture books for $14. Talk about deals!! I also got suckered into buying a class set of brand new clipboards for only $10!! I was so excited!

THEN, things get even better!! I head back to town and see a sale in an apartment on the same street that I live on. My BF doesn't want to go because it looks a little 'ghetto' but I decide we should just look. BOY am I happy I did. I scored hard cover picture books (tons of new Dr. Seuss books) 2 for 25 cents!! Can you believe that?? I also walked away with a few chapter books that were in great condition!! I got 15 books for $1.75. Boy am I one happy teacher...Only a teacher would understand this joy of buying books :)

Well it's almost 6:00 here and I have really got to get some work done. I was planning on using this day to plan, grade, and begin report cards but that hasn't happened. I've only managed to finish a book and take a nap :/ Better get going before the BF finishes work. We're off for a late date night (which is why I needed to take a nap!) to watch 21 JumpStreet.

Symmetry Art and An Award!!

Whoohoo! It's Friday!! 

Okay so this week was the start of fourth quarter here in Hawaii. In the third grade we rotate classes for science, social studies, art, and health. This is so helpful when it comes to planning and grading (although after seeing such wonderful ideas on other blogs, it makes me want to teach all subjects to my kids!). Anyways..This quarter I'm teaching Art. I love to incorporate math into art! My kids worked on using pattern blocks to create pieces of art that had rotational symmetry.  Here are a few examples:

This took awhile though, because they needed to explore with the blocks then transfer it to a piece of paper by tracing, outlining, then coloring. 

SO I was in search of a simpler option. I then remembered a project I had done in high school and I got an idea for my art project. Playing off of the pattern block rotational symmetry, the students are going to be creating mandalas to show rotational symmetry. 

I used a circle template I made and cut them up into fourths (great fraction review with kids). Then guided the kids to draw designs on their 1/4 piece (not too detailed) They then need to outline both sides with a sharpie (thick sharpies work best). Once this is done, they get their own circle template that they must cut out neatly and carefully. Once this is done, they fold it into fourths. They must now use the 1/4 piece as a template and put it under their circle so that they can trace with pencil. Once done, FLIP the template over, place in the next space and trace. FLIP again, trace FLIP again and trace your final piece. When done it should look like this: (well these aren't the complete versions but works in progress)

I was hoping that we'd have time to finish today but we ran out of time :(

In other news, I got hit by two wonderful bloggers with an award!! 

Amy at The Crazy Adventures of a University Grad and Heather at Beg, Borrow, and Teach awarded me with The Lovely Blog Award!

 I want to thank these wonderful ladies for making my day!! I happened to check my blog at lunch and wanted you to know that you brought joy to my heart, I was so excited!! 

I only recently discovered Amy's blog and learned that she is working as a teacher on call!  Her blog posts are already great, and I can't imagine how lucky her future class will be. Amy, will you please come and be my on call teacher?! haha. 

Heather is a fellow third grade teacher :) I recently found her in the upper grades linky party! She is another amazing blogger who shares tons of great ideas and resources! 

If you aren't already following these two ladies..please rush on over and do so now :) 

Just as we expect our students to do, blog awards also have rules to follow:

1. Link back to the blogger who awarded you.

2. Follow the blogger who sent it to you.

3. Pass the award onto 15 other lovely bloggers.

Well, as all avid blog stalkers readers know, there are so many great blogs out there and this is a TOUGH job but here they are: 

1. Amber at Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher

2. Dana at 3rd Grade Gridiron 

3. Christi at Ms. Fultz's Corner

4. Abby at Third Grade Bookworm

5.Courtney at Swimming INto Second

6. Hope at 2nd Grade Shenanigans

7. Melissa at Life's a Teach!

8. Heather at Heather's Heart 

9.Patti at A Series of 3rd Grade Events

10.Lorraine at Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies

11. Mrs. Tolbert at Daisy Days for Learning

12. Katherine at Third Grade Teacher Files

13 Meghan at Third Grade in the First State

14. Nicole at Teaching with Style!

15. Wendy at One Happy Teacher

Stop on over and start following these lovely ladies and their lovely blogs :D I'm off to cook some dinner...

Look forward to my garage sale finds tomorrow...I found a retired teacher who is selling her lot!! Can't wait!!

Summarizing Breakthrough!! and Touched by TTCT project!!

Really, is it only Tuesday?! Monday (our first day back from break) FLEW by. My kids and I both could not believe how quickly the day had gone. Unfortunately, today seemed to drag on quite awhile :/ BUT with that long seeming day we had a breakthrough!! My students have finally got down SUMMARIZING!. I don't know about the rest of you but this is always so difficult! I get summaries that go on and on and on, contain all the tiniest details and have a billion ANDS. Today I was so proud of them I wanted to jump and scream for joy!

For those of you who are familiar with thinking maps, I had the students use a flow map to draw pictures in sequential order.Before drawing though, we talked about what it meant to summarize. Since we read the Lorax for Dr. Seuss day and most of the kids watched it over break we used the movie for an example. Since it was break some of the kids got to go with their friends. When they went home their parents asked "how was the movie?". I asked students if it took an hour 45 min to retell the movie? They laughed. We talked about how a summary is short version of the story with only the MOST important events (in your own words of course). They were then asked to think of 5 pictures to draw that will show the most important things that happened in the story (in order). Of course they were thrilled to do this!!

Sorry for the poor quality. I'm using my phone. Also, I didn't realize how small these boxes would be for the kiddos to draw in :/ 

Part 2 of the flow map.

After picture drawing was done I then had them write a sentence that would tell about the picture. Then they go onto their next picture. Their summaries turned out amazing, I was so proud of them!! This dear boy has struggled since second grade in re-telling stories. He doesn't answer when asked orally, and his mother has come in multiple times distraught because she doesn't know how to help him. He is one of those kids that write: He planted a garden because he planted a garden he wanted to plant a garden because it was nice. Can't wait to send this one home to mom!! 

I also gave them the option of doing their flow maps in their notebook since Miss Mizufuka made the boxes too small :/ 

The best thing about it is that they now LOVE doing summaries (especially since it involves drawing!!) 

Okay. I know that this post is getting long but I just had to share. For those of you taking part of the Teachers Taking Care of Teachers Project I was wondering what you all were doing?? I decided to share the project with my students. I told them about what was happening and some of the kids wanted to cry! Today kids came in with their own books to donate. We made cute little labels to put in the inside of books. I also had a parent that came by to drop of TON of supplies: books, pens, pencils, glue, crayons, etc. She also insisted on helping out with shipping costs!! How sweet.

I was so touched with how generous the kids and families were with this reaching out project. This whole lot came from only 4 students (and a few of my shopping add-ins)

The rest are bringing more in tomorrow. I have decided that we are actually going to adopt two classes, since our original class no longer needs any supplies. (I had already went on a crazy spree of buying post-its, pens, highlighters, sharpes, staplers, etc to donate).

Alright, I'm done. Promise. For anyone that is still here reading..THanks!!

Awesome Giveaway!!

Head on over to Daisy Days for Learning. She is a wonderful third grade teacher who is hosting a pretty awesome giveaway for hitting 100 followers! Congratulations! She will be giving away EVERYTHING in her TPT store to ONE lucky winner. This is a giveaway you don't want to miss. Head on over to her blog to check it out.

She will be choosing a winner on Tuesday so head on over now! Good Luck :) 

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

Spring Break is OFFICIALLY OVER :( and a re-do of my Freebies!

Spring Break is officially Over and I am very sad. It really did go by too quickly. I am going to be very envious of those bloggers who will just be starting their breaks :p 

Anyways I'm reposting two of my freebies- Some library book bin labels and morning math work for the remaining weeks of march. I posted it earlier but oopsie, newbie me forgot to share it. Soo if you tried to grab a copy earlier, I apologize it should work now!! Head on over to my original post to read more about it!

Click the picture below (and cross your fingers it works!) for your copy of my library book bin labels. Again, I'm a new teacher so my library isn't as large as I wish. If I'm missing any labels that you would like to match your library, please let me know and I'll create those for you when I get the chance! 

And here are the morning math sheets:

I'd also like to send a big THANK YOU out to Lorraine at Fabulous Fourth Grade Froggies for hosting the upper grade link-up! If you're a new blogger like myself, this is a great way to get your blog out there an up you following list as well as find some other amazing blogs!! Head on over and check it out if you haven't already done so. I'm off to finishing my planning for the week! 

Leave a comment if you decide to grab a copy of any of my freebies. Hopefully you can use it in your classroom as well :) Have a great work week fellow bloggers!!

[Glitterfy.com - *Glitter Words*]

Calling All Grade 3-5 Bloggers!!

So I recently found this linky party that Lorraine at Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies is hosting. She is calling all upper grade bloggers to link up, so we can all find one another and share even more awesome ideas! This is a great opportunity to find other blogs in your specific grade level or snatch ideas and modify from other grades.Hop on over to her blog to check it out!

 

Spring Break Recap and some Freebies

I can't believe how quickly Spring Break has come and gone. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get started on report cards as I had hoped. My mom flew in from Maui for a short stay since she was on break too (she is a pre-school teacher). We did a TON of shopping. My brother is getting married in May so we took her around to find an outfit to wear to the wedding. We completely decked her out with blinded out earrings and a necklace that matches her blingy (yet elegant) jacket. It's safe to say that I am completely shopped out. It was nice to spend some quality time with my mom. My boyfriend is the sweetest and treated us to a spa day at Heaven on Earth Salon. It was so nice and relaxing!! 

I did manage to get some partying socializing in :) The day school (and after school tutoring) let out for break I went out for some very much needed happy hour drinks with some lovely ladies from school. We had such a good time enjoying each others company, having some good food and drinks that we surprised ourselves and stayed out till 1 am! I also met up with my future sister-in law's sister to plan a surprise bridal shower. I'm very excited but this is the first shower I'm throwing!! If any of you have any ideas or advice..I would LOVE some help :)

Anyways, since break is just about done and I feel guilty for not starting/finishing report cards I needed to get at least some work done. I created my morning math work for the remaining two weeks of march. There are three problems that the students work on for each day. The problems are all review on math concepts previously covered such as multiplication, addition, place value, division, subtraction, elapsed time, etc.  Below is your copy, if you want it! Just click on the picture and it's yours!

Awhile back I posted about this awesome website that organizes your entire classroom library. All you do is scan the ISBN code using your smart phone (or you could manually enter it on your computer). Students can then check out the books. {CLICK HERE} to check my post out about this site!

Here's what the site looks like. It's pretty easy to use as well. Click Here to link up to the site.

Since I have inputted all of my books I wanted to reorganize my library as well. The site allows you to even specify where your book is located (basket k, or chapter series: amber brown). My library is currently organized by AR levels but I wanted to change it up and go it by genre, chapter series and favorite authors. My library isn't anywhere near the size I would like it to be so I don't have too many full chapter series yet. Today, I've been working hard on making labels for my library bins. 

If you have an extensive library, this may be missing some titles or series that you may need. Feel free to grab a copy here. If you would like me to add something to this, please leave a comment and I'd be more than happy to make it and send to you! Also, if you decide to grab a copy..please leave me a comment :) I'd like to know all my hard work can be put to used by somebody else as well. Enjoy!!