Goodies For Sharing

At the beginning of school, way back in September, the Dolphin Team and I created a Book Drive to remember September 11th in the Act of Kindness event. We requested the students and staff of our wonderful school and community donate any books that they were not reading anymore. We collected all ages; everything from infant books, to middle level chapter books, and even adult novels! We were overrun in books and it was a great success! This picture was only about two weeks into the month of September while we were collecting. My back counter was covered in fabulous donations from our community. 

Here are our final book drive totals. You can see that I had to move the books from my classroom and into the athletic director's office for more space. (Thank goodness he is my teammie and allowed me to have some extra room to hold our donations!)

We collected over 1100 books for our community and donated them to areas in need. CLICK HERE to see us featured in a newsletter from a local Intermediate school who benefited from our drive. We gave them close to 500 books in the range from third to eighth grade! 

Below is a picture of myself and Mrs. Crook from Woodhill Elementary. We donated grade level books from kindergarten to second grade to Woodhill. I absolutely loved the blog post from Mrs. Crooks about their experience. I am so touched that so many students were able to benefit from our drive. I could not be more happy with our experience. Check out Mrs. Crook's Blog!

I am beyond proud of the Dolphin team and the support that Cramerton has given our drive :)

Awesomeness That Has to Be Shared!

So I'm being totally random in the post today, but I have stumbled upon two items that I feel are just too awesome not to blog and share!

The first came from Twitter...Remember to follow me here: @SarahStadler20. I was scrolling through looking at the wonderful things educators are sharing and discussing, when I found a link to Lindsey Fuller's Blog. She is also a sixth grade teacher so I was more than willing to check it out! It was wonderful but I fell in LOVE with her latest post about MLK having an Instagram. My students are absolutely obsessed with Instagram and all they talk about is making sure things are put on their accounts. I never thought to have characters in stories, famous people in history, or individuals that we study have "Instagram" accounts. It was genius! Here is her picture of the bulletin board that her students made. It is super cool and definitely gets the students interested in a different way...ways they do not even realize they are learning. I am beyond excited to try this within my classroom. (Check out the original post and her explanation of what she did HERE)

The second thing I fell in LOVE with today was a Pep-Talk that our Language Arts specialist sent us. With the daily stresses and overwhelming struggles that just being a classroom teacher comes with, this little guy really finds the words to motivate. This video is too good to keep for myself. Enjoy :)

The Workday Teacher

It's Thursday and it's my first day this week with students. Our benchmark window has also opened today so we are taking care of business early! Students are working diligently this morning on their Language Arts benchmark. I know they will do wonderful :)

With today being the first day with students, we have had two - much needed - teacher workdays Tuesday and Wednesday. I figured since this was a topic not typically discussed on my blog, I might as well open the door to my classroom and fill you in on the list of things I make to accomplish for teacher workdays.

Tuesday was a busy day! We had a professional development workshop first thing in the morning. It went fabulous! I attended a session called: Promoting Literacy in ELA and Social Studies. (Perfect fit since that is what I teach!) It was held by our curriculum specialists Celeste and Adam. They did a wonderful job and definitely taught helpful information for both of my content areas. They even reminded us of the awesome Gaston County website that they have created with helpful hints and tips. Check out Celeste's LANGUAGE ARTS site; Check out Adam's SOCIAL STUDIES site!

After the workshop we had the rest of the afternoon in our classrooms to get whatever we needed complete. I tackled the lovely timelines that my students did for the four ancient civilizations of Mesopotamia, India, Greece, and Rome. They were fantastic! I absolutely loved them and I feel that my students really enjoyed working on them too. Below is what my desk looked like trying to reorganize and get through them:

Grading the timelines took me to basketball practice at 3pm. So the rest would wait until Wednesday. Wednesday was almost the opposite time-wise compared to Tuesday. Wednesday we had the morning to complete our personal agendas, then moved into a Faculty meeting at 1pm. The morning consisted of the final timelines to be graded, entering grades into NCWise for the 2nd 9 week period, organizing my room, and getting ready for RESEARCH!!! We are beginning our two-week stint in the Media Center to teach students the research process and get them writing their very first research paper! I love this unit and can not wait to get started. However....this takes copies, and copies, and more copies, for students to use, reference to, and get assistance from. Here's just a sneak peek at the multiple help sheets:

To end our workday Wednesday we had a faculty meeting that also double-timed into a mini workshop! It was on a great new website called ClassScape. It is helpful for assessments and students getting specific standard geared questions. You can even schedule assessments for students. Along with students taking the assessments that you assign individually, you can also take the assessment as a class, project it on your SmartBoard, and go over it together! It is fantastic! I can not wait to use it and jump into getting my classes and kiddos interested. If you visit the link above here is a picture of what you'll see and how to get started: 

Hope you enjoyed the glimpse into my busy and always hectic teacher workdays! Now it's time to keep moving on through the regular school days. Have a fabulous Thursday and Friday....until next week :)

2nd Semester?! Already?!

I am still in shock that we are only three days away from the end of the first semester. I can not believe how fast this year seems to be flying by! I absolutely love my kids, we have a wonderful time everyday, and I honestly feel as though I am teaching content better at this time in the year than I was last year (sorry to toot my own horn!).

Before we got out for Christmas Break I got a chance to meet with the wonderful members of my Pinnacle group. (Pinnacle is our Technology program in Gaston County..that I absolutely love. Pinnacle's purpose, from the application, is to:

1      Enhance existing 21^st Century professionals to work in Gaston County Schools who will demonstrate the integration of proven technology into the Common Core and Essential Standards.

2      Train participants in creating learner-centered classrooms where technology is a common tool for instruction and learning. 

3      Create a cohort of teachers who will serve as technology leaders and mentors in their respective schools and assist the instructional technology facilitators in professional learning.

4     Provide enrichment for existing technology leaders in our schools.

I was accepted into Pinnacle in the summer of 2011 and am so thankful! It has taught me so much and definitely broaden not only my use of technology, but also the students within my classroom. Without Pinnacle I feel as though I could not have opened my students' eyes into the wide range of technology we use! (Not to mention the sweet technology use we get! Check out my bonuses below!)

At our Pinnacle meeting in December we were to relate the beginning of our school year to a Christmas movie. I picked The Polar Express. I felt as though the year was flying by and I was constantly picking up students, content, material, and other joys along the way! Thinking about the ending to The Polar Express and entering the second semester, I feel as though I would like to take a minute to smell the roses. I would love for things to slow down and allow some real exploration into some topics, ideas, content, and even technology that the students are interested in. My students absolutely love our conversations and content material, but there are times when they want to dive so much deeper and we are unable to. Due to time restraints and the speed at which our Pacing Guide is taking us, I would love for our Polar Express to chill out and slow down it's speed! 

One thing students really enjoyed was their timeline creation. Here is the guidelines and rubric for which students took Ancient Mesopotamia, India, Greece, and Rome and created a timeline of events showing five significant details from each. Students really got into the project and really enjoyed showing their creativeness through Social Studies. Here are some examples: 

They turned out great! Well it is about time for me to hop on that Polar Express again! Until next time..don't forget to follow me on Twitter for daily tweets about my wonderful class, my awesome basketball team, and just amazing Cramerton Middle! 

Getting Crafty!

After the winter Christmas holiday break we are back in full swing on the Dolphin team. Students were a little tried and worn out Wednesday (our first day back), but after a few sets of jumping jacks in the middle of grammar sentences, they were ready to rock-and-roll. 

The pictures from our last post, It's That Time, are finally uploaded and ready to be shared! It was a wonderful way for students to use their writing skills in a fun and crafty manner. Students enjoyed it and totally asked to spend another day in the same way!. Below are some pictures of our exciting day and the too-cute crafts students made :)

Making Christmas Ornaments!

This was new this year! Lava Lamps!

Snowmen 

Painted Christmas ornaments

The classic Christmas cookies!

Super cute wreaths! 

Love the creativity!

Another set of snowmen!

Tasty Christmas Trees :)

Gingerbread Houses

Gumdrop Trees!

Yummy cupcakes

Very impressive pillows!

A mini gingerbread village!

Final Products!

Reindeer Rugs!

It was definitely a wonderful day for the Dolphin team! We had a great time and learned how to create "How-To" essays in the process! It's such a wonderful day with the kiddos.

Now that we are back in the groove with January rolling-in, Don't forget to check out the Dolphin Team January Newsletter for what exciting things we are getting into this month. Research is on our brains ;)

It's That Time of The Year!

It is that wonderful time of the year where it becomes CRAFT SEASON! I am making sure the Dolphins get in their crafty-ness before they leave me for Holiday break. Every year the 6th grade Language Arts teachers at Cramerton hold "Craft Day" the day before we get out for Winter Break. It is an absolute blast and the students LOVE it! Here's our process:

In order to prepare the students for "Craft Day" students are introduced to the lesson by having to give oral directions. Using THIS SMARTBOARD LESSON students have to give myself, students, or Mrs. Nault (Power of 2 Teacher), step by step directions on how to create a picture. I begin by telling students I have never seen Spongebob Squarepants, a Christmas Tree, or a cat before; in my entire life (fingers crossed). The first picture we create is Spongebob Squarepants. Students give directions and I totally go crazy with them! If the "draw a square" direction is given, I draw one of two extremes. Students get either a HUGE square or tiny square drawn by yours truly. Students then get the idea that I have "no idea" what I am drawing and begin to give more specific directions. Once students have taken turns and given precise directions, we move onto the second and third pictures. Students really get the idea of how exact directions have to be relayed in order for me to draw what they are intending. I get directions that even sound like "Draw a circle on the top middle of the square that has a one-inch diameter." <~ Pretty specific!

Mrs. Nault getting directions for a Christmas Tree.

The Blue Dolphin finished tree!

The finished cat from the Blue Dolphins and Mrs. Nault!

Riley getting directions on the Gray Dolphins' tree.

Great job Gray Dolphins!

After we create all three pictures, I tell students that they are going to write an "essay" for a partner on how to make a craft that they are familiar with. Students can choose any craft! I have seen everything from Christmas ornaments, bird feeders, tie dye t-shirts, and gingerbread houses. Students then decide on their craft, give it a title, and list their supplies. They take home THIS LETTER to get parental approval for their craft, as well as a written reminder of when supplies are due.

This week we are working on our actual Craft Day essays. Students are writing an introduction about their craft, where they learned to make it, and why it is special to them. Then students list their materials along with their step-by-step specific directions. Last but not least, students finish up their essay with a conclusion paragraph about cleaning up their area and using their created craft. Students will get with their partner the last day of school before break, Thursday the 20th, share essays, and create crafts.
I am definitely sharing pictures of that day ;)

Time Is Flying!!

This year is by far the fastest year of my teaching career I believe I have had. I can absolutely not believe that this year has just flown by. I mean goodness ... It's already DECEMBER next week!!

As this 2012 year comes to a quick close out, I would like to take a moment to enjoy the Christmas lights and reflect on how this amazing year is going :)

Learner-Centered Teaching - I have absolutely loved having the laptops with my classes. They have definitely been helpful and effective in my classroom. Students have enjoyed working with Google Docs and Google Presentations. With Google Docs students have worked individually to type and finalize their Peter Pan Essays along with an Ancient Mesopotamia writing prompt. Google Presentations have gone great with both the Blue Dolphins and Gray Dolphins. Blue Dolphins have focused their attention in small groups, of four or five, with presentations on Peter and the Starcatchers. Gray Dolphins are beginning to work in partners with Vocabulary Webs in presentation on key literary terms. I definitely believe Google Apps have my students mesmerized ;)

Relation to Common Core & Essential Standard - Using technology with the new curriculum and Common Core is a BREEZE! It fits so well! Students are able to do research more regularly with technology and the curriculum, students are able to interact with text through NOOK and Kindle Apps for PC as we read as a class, all sort of goodies within the classroom! I feel like my students are using technology on a daily basis, either as a class or small group, individual work!

21st Century Skills - Students have used Google Apps multiple times throughout this year, as well as for various projects. Students have also been able to realize the difference between credible and un-credible sources through our research processes. Students are able to realize valuable websites and understand which can be factual, and which can be "useless." Students are also learning how to interact with text in a way that they have not been previous used to. Students are able to write on books (through NOOK and Kindle), highlight passages, key words, etc. Students are also using KidBlog to communicate with the entire Dolphin team in order to relate and continue classroom conversations on our content topics. Students are learning proper Blogging and communication techniques through the internet.

Student Work Samples - Click Here for Google App Wonderfulness :)

** Peter and the Starcatchers Google Presentations **

** Peter Pan Essay **

Two Day Stations

The week before the Thanksgiving Holiday break is here. What to do, what to do, with two wonderful days with the Dolphin Team?

Well, as any other teacher across the country, I am a little behind in my pacing guide. (But that's part of teaching right?) Therefore, we needed to cover A Lot (maybe an understatement) in the these precious two days before break. What better way to cover a lot of content, review, practice, and research than through STATIONS! They are a fan favorite am I right?

Here's my station break down for today and tomorrow:
Station 1: We are working on our writing prompt for the state on Mesopotamia achievements. Students picked one of the following: transportation, irrigation, or weaponry to write an essay on. Students are writing a magazine article on that topic that explains how and why it was invented, how it has influenced other civilizations and societies over time, and how it has created a lasting impact. In this station students were using articles from NC Wise Owl to gather information answering those questions.

Station 2: Basically like station one, students are gathering information using a variety of books from our lovely Media Center!

Station 3: At this station students were completing their Ancient Mesopotamian Government notes, as well as their Mesopotamia Part 2 Study Guide. We will be testing Friday the 30th!!

Station 4 (Blue Dolphins): Students were working on their Peter and the Starcatchers Google Presentations at this station. Students were logged into their Google accounts and working on their Presentation displaying characters, setting, feelings, and key words throughout the novel as we read! (They loveee the laptops!)

Station 4 (Gray Dolphins): Students were catching up on some reading in Peter and the Starcatchers. Reading chapters 11 through 14, students would have a little literature circle and work on their Character Trait worksheet. (I tweaked this page from a Pinterest site...Check it Out! Don't forget toFOLLOW ME while your there!!)

Station 5 (Blue Dolphins): Following our culture lessons on Mesopotamia, students were creating Ziggurat Pop-Up books for Ancient Mesopotamia. Students created these adorable books and then took notes from the SmartBoard in order to realize the key characteristics of Ziggurats, as well as their importance. (Too Cute Template Here!)

Station 5 (Gray Dolphins): Students have completed their Literature Circles on the novels Manaic Magee, Long Way From Chicago, The Watsons Go To Birmingham, The Bridge to Terabithia, and A Wrinkle In Time. At this station students were creating a 555 Title Page with 5 sentences, events, or unique characteristics, 5 pictures displaying those 5 sentences, and then 5 colors to make it creative. Students love making these 555 Title Pages as ways to show me that have comprehended the material and made the necessary connections.

Those stations were a hit with students! I got the classic "Class is over already?" "I love making the pop-up!" "Can we do stations again?" Well my lovely little students...the answer to the last question...Of Course!! How about TOMORROW ;)