Summer lessons

I just finished a couple of summer themed lessons.  I am going to make the noun sort packet free for a short time as a special bonus for my loyal blog followers.

Two different assignments are included.

Students can sort the cards into proper and common noun groups or into person/place/thing groups.

This sentence shuffle center is on the 2nd grade reading level (2.1).

3 writing assignments are included so you can differentiate.

Click HERE to download the FREE noun sort.

Click HERE if you want to purchase the Sentence Shuffle Center.

Memorial Day Freebies & Giveaway

I have some great news!  Some friends of mine have generously donated some Memorial Day lessons for my giveaway. I am going to giveaway all of the paid for lessons to 3 lucky teachers on Monday, May 20th.  I also have a couple of freebies for you, too.

April, a.k.a. the Modern Teacher, has donated the picture above.  You can use this many different ways.  Print it off and use it as a front cover for a class book.  Or you can hang it at the top of chart tablet paper and let your students list the reasons why they are proud to be Americans.

Click HERE to visit April's blog and to get your freebie.

I am making this free during the giveaway.  This packet has 5 picture writing prompts.

Click HERE to download.

You have a chance to win the following:

This first packet is from Hadar also known as Miss Kindergarten.  This is an adorable way that you can honor our men and women in the armed forces.  The great thing about this packet is it can be used for Memorial Day or Veterans Day. 

Click HERE to visit Hadar's blog.

Click HERE to find out more about Hadar's packet.

From Yvonne and Brian Crawford you can win this Memorial Day packet.  It is on the 2nd grade level and is aligned with Common Core.  This is a great way to integrate math and literacy with Memorial Day fun!

Click HERE to visit Yvonne and Brian's blog.

Click HERE to read more about this packet.

You can win this subtraction math center from Fern Smith.  It is aligned with 2nd grade Common Core Standards.  This center is quick and easy to set up and is sure to be a hit with your class!

Click HERE to visit Fern's blog.

Click HERE to read more about this packet.

Teri, also known as "A Cupcake for the Teacher" has donated Heart the Flag craftivity to the giveaway.  This packet is not only cute but is also versatile.  It can be used for Patriots Day, Veterans Day, and Memorial Day.

Click HERE to visit Teri's blog.

Click HERE to read more about it.

You students can learn about the history and traditions with my friend, Arlene's Memorial Day packet.  It is aligned with 2nd and 3rd grade Common Core Standards.  This makes a great social studies unit.

Click HERE to visit Arlene's blog.

Click HERE to read more about it.

You can win my Memorial Day packet.  You read more about it HERE.

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Late Work

Late work . . . it is on the top 10 list of teacher frustrations, right?  After teaching in different districts in different states, I have found there is no universal policy when it comes to late work.  My late work policy is one of those things that kept evolving the longer I taught.  When I first began teaching I was very legalistic.  If a student was absent two days, he or she had two days to make up the missing assignments when he or she returned to school.  I then tried extending it to one week to make up the missing work before the assignment became a zero.

Many times I caught myself telling the parent that I was "preparing the child for life" when the parent took issue with my policy.  But, then I had an epiphany when I really thought about the "preparing a child for life" statement.  What are the due dates that adults have?  Paying bills is a big one!  I can turn in my taxes and electric bills late.  Granted there is a penalty involved, but the IRS and the electric company are still happy to take my money.  There is even a grace period with most companies that allows you to pay your bill after the due date without a penalty.  But, by the same token, there is a line in the sand when the IRS says you have to pay or go to jail and the electric company says you have to pay or we'll turn off your electricity.  So, if I took this same "preparing for life" outlook and applied it to school, what would it look like? I decided that all work must be turned in before the last week of the grading period.  That is my line in the sand.  Beginning on Monday of the last week of the grading period, all missing assignments are marked as zeros.

The next part is a little tricky.  What type of penalties should be given for late work? If a student is absent, he or she should be given a week to make up missing work without a penalty.  I decided to dock all other missing assignment 10%.  I didn't feel like the student deserved full credit for the work, but if the penalty is too severe the student won't be motivated to do the work.  Students who have trouble turning in their work are usually either disengaged with school or they lack organizational skills.  Do I really want to make the student hate school even more by being legalistic?  I want them to complete the work and hopefully learn something in the process.  

Another thing you can do that is like real life is to have an amnesty day.  Even the IRS has an Amnesty Day. You can approach this two different ways.

Approach #1: Don't announce it ahead of time.  This is kind of like a pop quiz.  One day announce that today is "Amnesty Day".  Students are given class time to work on missing assignments.  Work turned in on that day will not be given the 10% penalty.  Here's the best part!  Students who don't have any missing assignments are given free choice as their reward.  They can work on computers, read a book, centers, etc.

Approach #2: Announce ahead of time that ___ day is going to be Amnesty Day so students can work on missing assignments at home.  All missing assignments turned in on Amnesty Day won't receive the 10% penalty.  Students who have cleared all of their missing assignments will get to participate in free choice.  I'm sure you will have some motivated little workers with this approach!

Check out my Late Workitis for more ideas for dealing with late work.

Click HERE to visit my TPT store.

Fluency Fun

Fluency lessons are often neglected in a reading program. Phonics, phonemic awareness, and comprehension are typically the lessons that get the most instruction time.  We often rely on parents to read with their children 20 minutes a night to strengthen students' fluency skills.  Poor fluency skills often do not affect students until they go to middle school.  These students are expected to large amounts of material in a short period of time. Even though they can read and comprehend the words, they fall behind in their studies due to their limited fluency rate.

The bottom line is a quality program needs balance.  Where do you find more time in an already hectic day?  My answer was to work smarter.  We incorporated some fluency activities during our reading group lessons and I added a fluency center that students could work independently each week.  My students' fluency rate improved when I became more balanced in my approach to reading. 

Some of you may have already discovered my Fluency Center page on my blog.  It has fluency centers that are aligned with Common Core.  There are centers on reading levels: K-5.

If you have a small classroom, you can set these centers up as a file folder game.  This post has tips.

I just updated my 1st grade Fluency Center bundle today.  I added a new writing assignment to each center plus when you purchase the bundle you get 4 Paper Saver mini books.  The mini books are only available with the bundle packet.  You save $4 when you purchase the bundle.

The bundle includes:

Space themed fluency center
Reading level:  1.0

Fluency center #1

Reading level:  1.0

Pet themed fluency center

Reading level:  1.5

Fishing theme fluency center

Reading level:  1.2

4 Paper Savers mini books.  This is the Fishing mini book.

I just added this writing assignment to each center.

If you previously purchased this packet, you may go to "my purchases" to download the new writing assignments and mini books.

Click HERE to visit my TPT store.

Oceans Bundle

Are you a bargain shopper?  I am always on the look out for a way to save money.  If you are like me, you are in luck!  I just bundled 3 of my ocean-themed packets which is aligned with 1st and 2nd grade Common Core Standards.  You can save 20% when you purchase these packets as a bundle.  What is even better is right now is the Teacher Appreciation Sale so you can save even more money.  

This fluency center is on the 1st grade reading level.  You can read more about it HERE.

Students will practice their measurement skills with this center.  Read more about it HERE.

This Oceans of Fun packet is full of ocean-themed activities for your students.  Read more about it HERE.

Click HERE if you'd like to purchase this bundle packet.

TPT Sale

Have you heard the news?  Teachers Pay Teachers is having a sale on Tuesday and Wednesday!  If you use the code, TAD13, you can save 10% on anything that you purchase on the site.  Many sellers are also making down their lessons for additional savings.  My entire store is marked down 20%.  

I also have a new packet that is free until May 8th.  I wanted to show my loyal blog followers a little appreciation during the TPT Teacher Appreciation sale.  Click HERE to download your freebie.

Free until MAY 8TH.

Click on picture to visit my store.

Fabulous Feedback

I am joining Christina @ Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge for her Fabulous Feedback linky party.

If you are the person who left the feedback below, email me (teach123.school@gmail.com) and I will let you choose one lesson packet from my store.  

I really enjoy getting feedback.  I loved hearing how Matthox used this packet for sub plans.  Great idea!

You can find this first feedback HERE.

Stedmoo really made me smile with this feedback!  Stedmoo is my own personal P.R. department.  I love it!  Thank you Stedmoo!

You can find this feedback HERE.

If there was an award I could give for the early bird buyer, this award would go to salliehoosier.  Sallie is one of my most faithful shoppers who is the first one to purchase my new fluency packets.  Thank you Sallie!

You can find the feedback HERE.

Don't forget!  The 3 shoppers above need to choose a packet from my store and email me (teach123.school@gmail.com).

Sale @ Teachers Notebook

Have you heard the news?  The Teachers Notebook site is having a week long sale to celebrate Teachers Appreciation Week!  All week long you can save 10% on everything on the site.  Each seller is offering additional savings, too.  There will also be a daily giveaway for a $100 Oriental Trading gift certificate.

For two days on May 4th and 5th, you can shop at my TN store and save an additional 40%.  With the 10% Steve, the TN owner is giving, you will save 50% during these two days.  Who doesn't love a good bargain?!!!

This is the perfect time to stock up on those big bundles that you've had your eye on for a while.

Mother's Day

I have a special treat for my loyal blog followers!  I just added a new Sentence Shuffle fluency center that is about Mother's Day.  This fluency is free until May 8th.  This is my special treat to all of you moms who are also teachers!

This center is on the 2.8 reading level.  There are also 2 writing assignments included with this packet.  Click HERE to get your packet.