Back to School Expo

Hey folks! I stopped by Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits, and found something really interesting she posted about.

The Back to School Expo has 5 virtual presenters on 5 different topics in education.

I wanted to check it out for myself. Seems like a pretty neat idea. Since I can't attend any conferences in the United States physically, I am totally psyched that I can do this online.

There are only 14 hours left to buy your ticket for just $10. Tomorrow the price goes up to $19.95.

Check out the details and decide for yourself. I'll definitely tell you my opinion afterwards.

First week back

Woo hoo! One more day and the first week is over.

As I have mentioned before, we have started a new system called Flexible Start for first graders. I tell you what, it has sure been hectic this week. But today started to have a feeling of a good routine.

Basically the first 5 weeks of school, we combine all first graders together. Once a week we randomly divide them into two groups, and I get one group and my co-teacher gest the other group. Then we divide the students still into 7 smaller groups, and we have 6-7 teachers teaching each group 3 times a day in centers (rotating through the centers over 2-3 days). The center themes are all academic, for example math, language arts, etc. The idea is that we get to know the students better and the students get to know us and each other in smaller these smaller groups. It's been really great so far!

I have lucked out with a great co-teacher for first grade, and our team work is making the start of school very nice!

I will try to take pictures tomorrow of my classroom, although it still isn't finished by any means.

Happy Friday to you all!

20 followers and a Reading Response Sheets

I have 20 followers! Yippee!
This is a small achievement, but it definitely feels good! Thank you!

I think it is time to start training my body to fall asleep before midnight. I went to bed at 11.30 last night, and I was back up 30 minutes later! I tried again at 12.45am, and fell asleep. Our first school day is in 3 weeks.

I have been reading that many of you have already gone back to organize your classrooms. This totally stresses me out. You wonderful teachers NEED your summer breaks too!  I don't plan on going back to peek in yet, even thought I really would like to. I did see last week the cleaners on my end of the school, as we walked to the park. So I know it's clean, but I don't want to get sucked into work just yet!

Speaking of work, I was doing my best to create this Reading Response Book. I think it turned out pretty good, and I am slowly becoming a whiz at Word. I can see myself soon buying fonts and graphics as this becomes a new hobby.

Click here to view. 

Please leave feedback on this, and if you have any suggestions, I would gladly accept them! I take this opportunity as a learning experience. Also, I feel like I could have continued it past the 10 sheets, but stopped for now. If you have some ideas what could be added, I could tack on more sheets.

I'm off for a jog, because it's good for my health (I thinks that's the only excuse I can come up with to TRY and keep me motivated). Anyone else out there hate running? Blah...

Newbie Bloggers Blog Hop

YEAH! How fun is this? I am super excited about finding new bloggers out in blogland.
And really, who wouldn't be??

Thanks to Third Grade is the Place for Me for staring this fun linky.

Here are the questions that need to be answered:
    1.  what state you are in

    2.  your current teaching position

    3.  your teaching experience

    4.  when you started blogging

    5.  share a blogging tip / blogging resource

1. I currently live outside the United States, in Finland. 

2. I have been rotating from first to second. This autumn I start with a new group of firsties!!! I'm super excited!

3. This is going to my 6th year teaching at my current school. My first year I taught 6th, and then from there jumped to first and have loved lower elementary ever since!!

4. Last summer, in August, I started my blog to help document my teaching. I had been somewhat active. Mostly stalking than blogging myself. 
5. Please comment on other blogs. When doing a linky, I like to do as Farley over at Oh' Boy 4th Grade said "Rule of Three". Look at the 2 in front of your link and then come back and look at the one behind yours...  and COMMENT on all three.


Join in the fun! 

Sweden Cruise and Reading Log

I've been trying to enjoy summer, so therefore I've been absent from here. We managed a cruise to Sweden for a few days. It was great and relaxing, even with the kids in tow.

Our Cruise Ship

Sweden is a beautiful old city. I could have stayed longer.

Leaving Sweden

Another cruise liner in front of us, leaving Sweden

Now I have been trying to put together some reading sheets for next years use.
I usually have students just use a log in the start of autumn. This helps them focus on the reading together at home for the first time. Students here don't start their school career until age 7. Plus, they are reading in two languages at home for homework, so it can be a bit overwhelming for busy families to find the time. I have first hand experience with this with my eldest! So start easy and build up from there.

Click here to view.

I know I will have some students that will be ready to read and write,  and I want to have some more detailed response sheets for them them. I am thinking of making a packet for them. That way they stay together and there are no floating papers on my desk. I'll be back with more.

Reindeer in July!

If your just tuning in, I currently live in Finland.
Today we went to a local reindeer ranch. They had 9 adults and 2 calves. 
FYI: Reindeer live in Lapland in Scandanavia and the native Sami people heard them.
Luckily we didn't have to travel all the way up north (which takes a day by train).
This woman grew up in Lapland and moved south, and brought with her the reindeer. Only two of her current reindeer had been born outside of Lapland.

OMG! If you can't tell by the pictures, they were SUPER cute! Did you know that when you feed them, they only use their lips to grab the food?? I had a hard time NOT feeding them the whole time (and pushing my own kids out of the way), because it was just too CUTE. I can hardly bare it now, thinking back.
Oh and the antlers were fuzzy and warm, because they are growing 2cm (0.78in) A DAY during the summer! WOW!!

I am so excited still about the reindeer that I am thinking about doing a reindeer theme in my classroom. Hmmmm, wonder if it's possible? Anyone seen reindeer clip art that isn't Christmas related? Keep an eye out for me!!

Reading Records

So I am reading Conferring with Readers, and I just finished up chapter 4.

(By the way, I am taking my sweet time reading this book. Anyone else having 

difficulties reading their books this summer? I will try to improve...)

In this chapter it discusses checking student reading levels. Most of the information in the chapter, I felt I already did in my own style. Running records are normal routines for most classrooms. We all have our own style of keeping them, I'm sure.

Something I did take note of in the book was that don't only check for accuracy during reading records.

1) the first 100-200 words you check for accuracy
2) the next 100 words, check for fluency: just listen and check for punctuation pauses and intonation

(Aren't I already doing this while doing the running record? I suppose stopping 
and just listening for fluency, and not marking accuracy couldn't hurt. I most 
definitely tell students if they don't pause between periods, but I can't 
say I have supported intonation differences between
 narration and dialog. Note to self!)

3) student must then recap what has been read to show reading comprehension

I only have 5 (45min) lessons a week with my kiddos for English. Talk about organizing and figuring out what is essential!! At times it can be daunting to meet with each student, but it really is essential.

Post It notes
Don't you just love them?
This book also has some really good ideas on how to keep students engaged in their independent reading time in class. One idea I really love is using Post It notes. Students use Post Its to write down any ideas that come to their mind as they are reading. They then stick them into the book and can share them at the appropriate time given. Great! What kid wouldn't love to use Post It notes???