OMG! You won't believe the fabulous fonts I found!!

While looking for some cute fonts to use in the classroom this year, I found Kimberly Gerswein's website.  Head on over there, and I'm sure you will be amazed!  In addition to print fonts like Primary Penmanship, Lego House, and Change This Heart and cursive fonts such as Janda Elegant Handwriting and Janda Celebration Script there are several "fonts" that specific for the classroom.  For example, there are four sets of frames, two sets of fractions (one is numerical form and the other is picture models - squares and circles), and, perhaps the best, teacher helpers which includes letter boxes, base ten blocks, touch numbers, number line, and dotted line writing options.  Check out her catalog of fonts to see ALL the free fonts!

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Just Stumbled on This

While roaming around the web tonight, I stumbled on a GREAT website!  There are many posters to print as well as bulletin boards, games, subject level activities, 100 Day items, calendars, certificates and bookmarks, and seasons activities.  I'm going to print out some posters to put up in my classroom!  Head on over to TeachWithMe.com and check it out.

Two New Books

My two books just arrived in the mail!!  Yahoo!  
While I was at common core training a few weeks ago, I heard about these books and knew I had to order them.  I'm just sorry I only a have a few days to look through them before I have to be back at school.

The first book is Notice and Note.  This book is great for explaining close reading.  It explains six specific strategies/signposts for close reading and gives anchor questions to accompany each strategy.  Specific examples of lessons for six strategies and excerpts of classroom conversations are also included.
I can't wait to dive into this book and then incorporate the strategies in my classroom!


The second book is The Common Core Guidebook: Informational 
Text Lessons.  This book has lessons for the nine nonfiction reading standards.  It begins with explaining how the standard differs in third, fourth, and fifth grade.  It then explains how to introduce the standard and gives specific ideas on how to model strategies in the classroom.  Anchor charts, graphic organizers, and recommended text lists are included for each standard.  A bit pricey?  Maybe.  Something you can take and directly use in your classroom?  Definitely!

My First CURRENTLY!!!

I've been blog-stalking for two years, and started another blog a year ago. I just couldn't keep up with it, but I promised myself I would do better this time.  So it's time for me to step up and link up with Farley.  So here is my first "Currently."

I know there isn't much here now, so if you are visiting, please check back in a bit and let me know how I'm doing.

Websites for Leveling Books

As a part of my summer project, I've had to search for website that will level my classroom library books.  Our school system uses the Fountas and Pinnell Guided Reading levels, so I tried to find a few sites that would level as many books as possible. Being the frugal teacher type, I was looking for free sites.  This is what I found:

Beaverton Leveled Book Database - The Beaverton School District has a fantastic site that allows you to search by title, author, or publisher, as well as guided reading, DRA, or Lexile level.  Searching by each of the six traits is also an option.

A to Z Teacher Stuff Leveled Book Database - Another great leveling site where you can search by title, author, keyword, guided reading level, or reading recovery level.

Scholastic Book Wizard - Enter a title, author, or keyword and you can find the guided reading level, DRA, lexile measure, or grade level equivalent.  You can also search for similar books or books by reading level.

Fountas and Pinnell Leveled Books - $25/year to subscribe to this website, so I can't tell you exactly what it's like, but it IS the official F&P book leveling site.

Leveling the Classroom Library

As a summer project, I am leveling my classroom library.  As a fourth grade teacher, my class library was organized by genre.  I had colored smiley stickers on the spine of each book that corresponded with the color of the book basket.  Each genre had a different color sticker/basket.  Now that I'm moving to third grade, I have decided to level the books instead.  Each book will have a sticker on the front that has the level written on it, each level in a different color.  Books will be in matching basket color, of course.  Pictures will follow as the project progresses.

Crochet ADD

Apparently I have crochet ADD.  As I was looking through my crochet basket, I found 5 (yes FIVE) crochet afghans that I started and haven't finished.  I find all these different patterns and projects that I just have to try, so I do.  I start them . . . and I get about halfway done. And then I start another one.  So I'm promising myself that I will do my best to finish these projects.  And to make myself do just that, I will post pictures of the finished products here.  That should put some pressure on me!

Welcome to the blog!

Welcome to my new blog!  I've decided to combine my love for teaching with my love of crafts, especially crocheting.  I hope to share teaching ideas from my 4th grade classroom and craft projects, both in progress and when they are finished.  So come on along and join the ride!