3rd Grade Fun!!!

COME ON OVER AND VISIT THE LILY PAD.... 

3RD grade is so much fun and you don't want to miss out on our exciting year.  

Please visit me at:

Hopping Into Third Grade! :)

New Third Grade Blog!

hey to all my blogging friends!  I officially have a NEW blog for Third Grade!  Please check it out and following me!!!

http://samsonsthirdgrade.blogspot.com/

NEW BLOG!

HELP!!!!

I want to make a new blog for third grade, but I cant figure out how to make my new blog design.  A sweet blogger friend made my current blog so I am clueless!!!
If anyone is willing to help me make a new blog look super cute with a FROG theme let me know!!!

3rd Grade!!!

Woohooo!!!
I can officially say I am going to be a third grade teacher this year!  I am all kinds of excited for what is to come.  Of course I am three kinds of busy too...
I am going to miss the world of 1st grade but know that 3rd will be fun!
Please share with me any and all the third grade websites you know of...

Also be on the lookout for a new blog for third grade! :)

Habitats!

In Science that last few weeks we have been talking about habitats... Well today we wrapped it up with a fun art project! 

we decided to use the watercolors to paint the background of our beautiful habitats... then we took another sheet of paper and used crayons to draw our animals and plants that went with the habitat we chose!
This art project was an awesomely fun one!  I HIGHLY suggest! :)

Enjoy....
Im hoping to have some EXTRA fun things tmrw.
Good night.... Rest up, Tmrw is Thursday!!!!

Life after spring break!!!

Hi to my blogger friends that are left!  I've kind of slacking on the blogging world... SORRY!
I am so excited to share some things my kiddos have been working on lately...

Ok so I am on this writing kick... probably due to my Masters Writing course.  My kids used to HATE writing and now... they are BEGGING to write!  Its so fun.  We just finished our HOW TO books.   Let me tell you, so cute and fun. :)
A few of the papers we used for these included the following:
Table of Contents!
How To!
Think Pad!
Graphic Organizer!

Im in a crunch for time... so I will update more later tomorrow! :)
Good night all- Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Fun in First Grade!

Wow, well if I have any blogging friends left... Sorry- I have been so busy with graduate classes, report cards and the regular day to day activities!
We have been having LOTS of fun the last few weeks... and now its time for a little break.  Tomorrow we have our FIRST work day all school year.  I am super excited to create some stuff for my kiddos.

Something I started working on this weekend was making some ultra CUTE mod-podge clip boards.  My kids love my walk the room activity, so I figured I would spice it up with the adorable clipboards.

Speaking of Walk the Room... here are just a FEW of my templates!

Walk the Room
November Walk the Room
December WTR
Jan WTR
Feb WTR
March WTR

I have a bunch more templates for Walk the Room... however Im posting them on my TPT site.

Teachers Pay Teachers!

So I decided to break down and finally open my own TpT site...
My first posting is FREE!  Go check it out :)

Dr Seuss Week!!!

Well its only Monday... but our week has gotten off to a great start!  In honor of Dr. Seuss' birthday this week, we are having a different guest reader come everyday and read their favorite Dr. Seuss story.   Today was our first guest reader... who happen to be a 2nd grade teacher at our school.  The kids LOVED it.  What a fun way to be exposed to a variety of Dr. Seuss stories... and what a great way to squeeze in more re-alouds!

I dont have time to go into great detail... but we have a ton of FUN activities planned for this week.  Hopefully Ill be able to capture them for you to see. :)

Math Math Math!

Lately I have been trying to focus a lot of my time on my math stations.  I recently received in the mail, the long awaited new Debbie Diller Math Stations book.... Oh my word- I never knew it was possible to love teacher books more than I love Debbie Diller's!  This book has definitely inspired me to make my math stations improve.

Something we are getting ready to work on in our next chapter is MONEY! I am so excited to pull out the money rhymes!!!

Also in my math stations, I try and have a variety of options on each cabinet shelf...  I continue to hit time really hard.  I also am trying to incorporate a lot of addition and subtraction activities.  My kiddos need this so badly!  Something I put in a station is...

 

Snowman Addition

I love this idea.  

My kids love using the dice... they love it so much that they have "misplaced"(aka- stolen/taken them home!) all of my dice.

Word Work Addition

This is fun too. 

 My kids can practicing their spelling words while also 

practicing addition and subtraction! :)

I am continually working to improve my stations... and for that I need some ideas from you!
Do you do math small groups?  How do you group your kids?  How often do you meet?
Also, for math stations where and how do you store your materials for each station? Baskets? Tubs? Shelves?

fashionable late... or should I say WAY overdue!

Hello to my blogging friends!
Oh how I have missed updating my blog, and reading all of your AMAZING posts.

The last 3 weeks I have been one BUSY teacher, between conference and becoming a homeowner!  I have been busy decorating and organizing my new home, I kind of forgot to blog/didn't have internet!  WOW how nice it is to be back (somewhat) into my routine.

While I was away, I received the STYLISH AWARD!

Thank Sarah at http://snippetsbysarah.blogspot.com/ for giving this award.  :)

Here are the rules for receiving this award:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded you this award.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Award 5 recently discovered great bloggers.
4. Contact these bloggers and tell them about the award.

7 things about myself (in no particular order): 

1. I was a cheerleader for 7+ years- high school and all star teams.

2. I have had 3 knee surgeries, and my knee is still messed up!

3. I have 2 wonderful sisters that I love dearly.

4. I love sushi.  My friends and I get sushi weekly! :)

5. I am a Starbucks addict. Ahhh I love coffee!

6.  I absolutely love summer.  I cant wait for this winter to end. 

7. I am officially a homeowner! :)

Point to the Word...

Small Group Reading: 

In my reading small groups, we do a lot of echo, and choral reading.  I like to have my kiddos following along pointing to the words as we read/they listen. I along with them find it BORING to use their fingers... since I am so creative this weekend- haha.  Ive decided to make these lil guys- 

I know my kids are going to LOVE them- with the little wiggly eyes and the fun little pom pom ball.

Simple cheap and fun... My kind of thing!

Enjoy! :)

Sadly I probably wont be posting for a few days... I start conferences tomorrow and we all know how BUSY AND TIRED we are after those!   Hope to post some new ideas soon- maybe Wednesday or Thursday.  Hope my blogger friends have a great week. 

Brain Feelers!!!

Here are the long awaited pictures of the CUTE brain feelers aka brain feelies as I've been calling them all day!

Attached also is a list of labeled questions I used on my brain feelies! 

List of reading brain feeler questions!

NOW FOR THE SURPRISE... don't get too excited, because it isn't that cool- 

I am a sucker for new fun cute things that can be used in my classroom, and today I have the brilliant idea of making NEW pointers!  These are only the first few that I've made- cute, not the best but a start! I bought a cheap package of dowels from Walmart, and the fuzzies are from there as well. :)

arent they cute?!! 

I know my kiddos are going to love them!!!

excuse the horrible picture of myself! haha... 

Hope you all love the new fun brain feelies and cute pointers! :)

Something new is coming....

You all have something to look forward to!!!
Ok so like I promised, on my TO-DO list are the brain feelers.
Tonight I made my questions on labels.  Tomorrow after I the finished product is done, I will attach the questions for your use, along with my pictures- requested by some blogging friends! :)

(Dont worry this is just a screen shot...) 

Brain Feelers

Ok so I am totally LOVING the brain feelies that Miss Knight has shared with us....

Im always coming up with questions to ask, but having these fun little sticks with questions already typed up and ready to go- looking cute might I add!
Ahhh so fun.  Certainly on my TO-DO list this weekend :)
That TO-DO list is getting a little ridic!   Oh well, the life of a first year teacher is always crazy right?!!

Do you have anything fun you do to strike up the comprehension after reading a story to your kiddos???

MY NEW BEAUTIFUL BLOG!

Ok so who loves my new beautiful blog?  I DO! I absolutely LOVE it.  This is was not my doing....
I have to say a special thanks to Miss Claire Knight!  What an awesome job she did- wow... total blessing.
and... its a crazy world, but we have mutual friends/we both worked at Kanakuk and didn't even know it! AMAZING! SMALL WORLD- but God sure knew what he was doing! :)

I dont have anything AMAZING to share tonight- a few teachers and I volunteered at the Homeless shelter so I am just now getting home sitting down on the couch in my comfty clothes! :)

TEACHERS... DRUMROLL PLEASE.... THANK GOD ITS FRIDAY!!!!!


FYI: check out Miss Knight's amazing cute GIVEAWAY!

Pop!

Kids love games... especially when they get to play a game at school.  A friend and I play this game in our first grade classroom ALL the time.  The game I am talking about is POP!  Ok so you all know those popcorn buckets in the $ section at Target (my favorite store!).... I use these for my players to keep track of their cards.

Attached are the POP rules, and POP playing cards. The first set is lower and uppercase alphabet letters.  I am currently working on our high frequency words to play POP with.  I'll post them when their done. :)

Enjoy... I know your kiddos will love it!  Put it at a station, play it in small groups, or even play it to review spelling words.  

Pop Directions

Pop Rules

ABC Pop Cards

Here is the second form- again lowercase and uppercase cards... these are football.
Football Whistle Cards!
Football ABC CARDS!
Football Rules!

Here is the last one for today...  This is baseball themed.  Instead of ABC, these have simple words.
Homerun Rules!
Homerun Cards!

Sorry pics still wont load... :(

If you would like the doc on word feel free to email me... I know how it goes and your might want to tweak things!  Id love to do that for ya.  :)

The Blogs NEW LOOK

Ok... So I want to make my blog cute like all yalls!  However, I just cant seem to figure it out.  Can someone please tell me how to either use a Leelou blog template or how to make a blog header with my blogs title in it?!  Or better yet, can someone just do it for me!? haha.

Let me know because I would love to make my blog look cuter!!!!

Meet the Teacher!

My bloggy friend is doing a fun Teacher linky!!!  And I'm playing along, too :)

If you want to link up, check out  Cara at The First Grade Parade.

To start off... (sorry no pics the uploader still isnt working :( )

My name is Brooke.

I am a first year first grade teacher in Nebraska.

I went to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and received my bachelors in December 2009. GO BIG RED!

I recently bought a home and move in about 2 weeks... so excited! :)

I am the oldest of three girls.  Im 24- yikes!  My birthday was on January 30th so Im still not used to that number...

My family has 4 dogs- two labs and two tiny yorkies.

Want to know more... Just ask!  Im an open book!

Q: What would you be doing if you weren’t a teacher?                                            

A:  Right now, Id love to be a cheer coach.  I cheered for 7+ years and still love every bit of it!  When I get married and have children... I would love to eventually some day be a stay at home mom!

Q: What are your hobbies?                                                                                   

A:  Ummm…its weird to say that teaching feels like a hobby sometimes!  Working out, going to cheer competitions to watch my sis.  Attending Church and Bible Study.

Q: When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?                    

A:  I always said I wanted to be a teacher!  I have dreamed of being a fourth grade teacher... however now- I could never see myself doing so!

  

Q: What are your guilty pleasures?                                                                  

 A: Starbucks, Baby Blue, Red Mango, The Bachelor, Biggest Loser, One Tree Hill, Pretty Little Liars!

Q: What is your biggest fear?!                                                                        

 A: Spiders!  ICK... those things scare the crap out of me.

Q: When you’re on vacation, where do you like to go?                                   

 A: I love to go anywhere warm!  My favorite place however would have to be Atlantis- Nassau, Bahamas! ahhhh paradise on earth.

                                                          

Q: What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?                                                 

A:  Let go and Let God!

Q: What do you value most in others?                                                                  

A:  Honesty, Kindness and Loyalty!

Q: If you could have lunch with anyone in the world….living or dead…who would it be?                                                                                                               

A:  Jesus, and my college friends!   And then I’d love to jump into the bloggy friends lunch with Babbling Abby, First Grade Parade and Fabulous in First!

Now tell us one random thing about yourself:

I won first place in the science fair in 8th grade!  I am far from being a sciency person... it is prob my least favorite subject!  haha...


Now it’s time for YOU to join the party!!!!  Here’s what you need to do:  Write a post titled “Meet The Teacher”.  Start with a brief “biography” and then copy & paste the Q&A {using your answers, of course!} 

                                              

R to the RANDOM!

Ok so I havent exactly spent my snow day as planned... I slept in- woohoo!  But I have been quit the lazy girl today!  I've been sitting on the couch for hours today... working on grad school homework.    Now Im getting to some new things for stations.
I guess I hadnt realized till yesterday that I needed to update my stations... and I only realized because one of my sweet boys said "Miss Samson when are we going to get new fun stuff for stations?"  haha!!!

So here are a few things... sorry there are no pictures... the blogger pic is not working!  As the title above says R- to the Random... I am very random on my stations ideas today.   Not feeling real creative!

Todays first NEW addition to stations is for the Word Wall station... Word Wall
This second worksheet is Clap the Word, this is a great one for kiddos struggling or needing extra help with syllables.  Word Work
The third worksheet is a BIG BOOK worksheet- my kids need something to keep them stay focused and to make the station have a purpose, so here is one really good one. Big Book Form!

Maybe Ill gain a creative spark in the next few hours... stay tuned :)

Spelling Idea...

This week we are working on the long a -/ai/ and /ay/ sounds.
My kids LOVED this activity using the train for their spelling words... ENJOY!

Train Spelling!

Snow Day!

Well once again it is snowy and icy here in good old Nebraska...
Soooo what do I choose to first do with my spare time?

WATCH THE BACHELOR!  If you dont watch it, you've got to get plugged in NOW!

I absolutely LOVE Emily- what a sweetheart!

I'll prob post some new fun ideas tmrw... I gotta work on my grad class homework!
Stay tuned!!!

Debbie Diller Plug...

Ok so as I started this year, I had NO idea what I was getting myself into as far as stations go.  I had previously had no experience with literacy or math stations.  Something that REALLY helped me as I started to embark on the stations and small group adventure were these two extremely helpful books.
I am a huge fan of Debbie Diller.  Her literacy stations, small groups and spaces and places books saved my life!
If you don't have a copy, you for sure need it... your life will be changed!

 

Debbie Diller, is coming out with a new Math stations book in February!!!!  I am so excited for this book- I know that it is going to be an awesome addition to my collection! :)

Some fun Guided Reading ideas!!!

So being a first year teacher, Im not the best guided reading teacher in the world.  This my first year to ever do such a thing, so Im learning as I go.  All the ideas I know and come across are wonderful.  If you have any ideas please share! :)
I love to use some new and fun ideas for my guided reading groups.  My kids are always in need of something fun and different...

I recently introduced our new whisper phones!  You would have thought that these kids have never used a phone before, because they are in HEAVEN!!! Its so cute how one little new thing can excite my kiddos.

I also LOVE to use highlighter tape- to highlight our spelling words, AMAZING words or our fish words (high frequency words!)

My last all time favorite idea is using either highlighter bookmarks OR color transparent folders cut into strips.  This really helps my kiddos focus in on the sentence we are currently reading!

My guided reading lesson plan template is also something I love!  I cant take credit for it because my bffe sent me hers. Use it if you like, ditch it if you dont!

Download (16 KB)

wow what a day...

Today has been one of those days where you just want to pull your hair out and wish you could start all over.  My kids are bouncing from left to right, using their voices non stop!  Of course on this type of a day, all I want to do is rearrange desks, re-do line order, seating arrangements on the carpet etc etc etc!
I came across this really fun idea that requires less talking in the classroom and more working... and thats exactly what I need!
Hope you all enjoy this.  Maybe this is change me kiddos- haha who am I kidding!

Download (251 KB)

Just a quick fun idea...

My kids LOVE to do practice their spelling words in a variety of different ways.... here are just two that we have done.  Im short on time..

Download (44 KB)

Download (74 KB)

Classroom Cheers!

Soooo being a cheerleader for 7 years, I would have to agree to the saying "Once a cheerleader always a cheerleader!"
With that being said, I LOVE to cheer in my class with the kiddos!  We do a variety of cheers, and dances to Dr Jean music.

Today Ill be sharing some of the cheers we do in my classroom... I did not make these!  One of my good friends from college who happens to be teaching first grade as well sent them to me.
Enjoy!

Download (285 KB)

Download (259 KB)

Download (268 KB)

Download (492 KB)

Happy Sunday!  Hope you all have a great start to your NEW week.  :)

Word and Chunk Helpers!

Ok so tonight Im extremely warn out and cant wait till Friday at 3:30... Im sure there are more of you like that out there! :)

I am going to share two things that I cant take credit for... one my bffe from college sent me, and the other I recieved from a fellow teacher.
I love these both!

The first are word helpers- my students LOVE these... they really help with their reading.

Download (381 KB)

The second upload is a set of chunk posters.  I am in the process of incoporating these into my daily routine this week/next!  But they are the cutest things... I know my kids will love them!

Download (3 MB)

Enjoy! :

TGIF!!!!!

Literacy Stations planner

This is a literacy stations planner I use.  I like it a lot because it helps me keep track of exactly what is in each stations bucket.  Also, its helps me have a purpose for every stations activity!

Download (10 KB)

Hope you enjoy these documents.  If you have any questions feel free to comment or email me! :)

Happy Wednesday!
P.S.  Yesterday's documents didn't post correctly so here they are again!

Download (179 KB)

P.P.S.S.:  Im having difficulties! :( if you have any experience in uploading google docs with pictures help me out!

Yayy!!! I have a blog!

Yay I have a blog!!!

I've discovered so many awesome blogs over the past few months.
 I love being able to see what other teachers are doing in their classrooms.
I love my website and I plan to keep it updated. 
But I love the idea of being able to share what we are doing in our classroom each week. 

Today I will share a few ideas from Literacy Stations that I use... 
Unfortunately I don't have any pictures because 
we had snow days the 2 days!


https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=165tAcvN2DO_VKTFYnbDGO-FlO_fBykZWnyvoQ55ghAE


This something I use for Literacy Stations. Each student has a stations folder in which all papers go in. Once they have completed one paper they color one crayon. When three crayons are colored/three papers are finished they turn in the crayon/paper stapled together for me to check over!


Thats all for now... I will upload more tomorrow!