Dressing Down!

I love that on Fridays we can dress down at my school. We have tons of "spirit wear" options, but I love this awesome tshirt that Amy is sharing on her blog. She is giving one away to a lucky follower!! Check it out at Step into 2nd Grade with Mrs. Lemons.

Katie's Giveaway!!

Katie over at Once Upon A Teaching Blog is having a great giveaway to celebrate 5o followers!! Before you head on over to check it out follow me so that I can do the same!!! Thanks:)

Kleinspiration: A Tech-Tastic Give-Away:#c7516515297125661472

Kleinspiration: A Tech-Tastic Give-Away:#c7516515297125661472

Kindergarten Works Raffle

Kindergarten Works is having a raffle on an AWESOME Calendar Pack! Get your ticket to win!

Schedule Schmedule!!!

I am so excited to be returning to my third grade classroom!! We have a lot of changes in store for us this year!! I have been thinking about so many things that need to be ready and in place by August and of course, my schedule is one of them!! That's why I am so excited about this linky party. Here is what I am thinking of for my schedule in the fall. This is, of course, a work in progress:

8:05-8:30 Morning routine/Morning work
8:30-9:00 Word Work/ Vocabulary
9:00-9:45 Specials (PE, Computer, Music, Art, Library)
9:45-11:15 ELA Block (Whole Group Reading, Guided Reading, Speaking & Listening Skills,
and Language
11:15-11:40 LUNCH
11:40-12:00 RECESS
12:00-1:15 Math Block
1:15-2:00 Writing Block
2:00-2:15 Teacher Read Aloud
2:15-3:00 Science/ Social Studies
3:00-3:15 Homework/Wrap-up
3:16 Dismissal

I hope this sample helps. I know it is pretty standard, but it works for me! Looking at it it looks like the days are just going to fly by!!

Teaching with Idioms!!

I am preparing for the switch to the new ELA Common Core Standards. Today I created a great Idioms packet that I can't wait to share with my class next year. I plan on doing a lot of work with idioms to help my students understand the nuances in our language and to learn what figurative language is. If you are ready to tackle the ELA Standards, have a look at my new packet and grab it on my teachers pay teachers site:) Just click on the above picture of my packet.

Thanks for taking the time to look!!

Guided Reading

Hey friends! I am very excited to be returning to the classroom to teach third grade after two FABULOUS years as an instructional coach. I have big plans to do some major overhauling of my classroom, schedule, reading program, EVERYTHING!!! I can't wait to dive in with some of the great things I have learned during my coaching days.

I have big plans to delve into my two feet tall stack of professional books this summer. I know I am biting off more than I can chew- especially since our summers seem to shrink more and more each year like a wool sweater that we just keep tossing into the dryer!! I have so much to do now that I will be teaching in the fall. I feel like I am starting over again. I will have to drag my classroom out of the garage and basement and set up shop all one more time!! It almost feels like I am a first year teacher again- the butterflies are already starting to flutter!!

Currently I am reading Guided Reading in Grades 3-6 by Mary Schulman. I am almost finished!! It has some great information in it and resources to use with my groups but I am looking for more! Do you have any book suggestions for me? How do you do Guided Reading in your classroom?