Developing Characters with the Fiction File!

 I posted my Fiction File yesterday, and I couldn't wait to use the new posters with my kiddos!  We spent some time talking about flat and round characters, and the kids made a chart to sort characters they found during independent reading into the two categories.  They will continue to add to the anchor chart throughout the week as they find more examples.  The students are currently working on developing round characters in their realistic fiction stories.  So far, I am blown away by their understanding of the author's craft!  Yay!

Fiction File: Story Elements Posters!

My Reader's and Writer's Workshops overlap A LOT.  Right now, we are working on reading and writing Realistic Fiction.  I made posters for my class to use as anchors throughout this study, and they are cute, cute, cute!   You can find them HERE, if you're interested in seeing more of the file!

Win Two Units from Deanna Jump!

I think we can all agree that Deanna Jump is a rock-star in the world of teaching! She is an absolutely masterful kindergarten teacher and her units are superb! Deanna has offered to give away two products from her TpT store... any two products you choose! How exciting!

To win this contest, here is what you must do:

   1. Follow my blog: One Extra Degree
   2. Follow Deanna's blog: Mrs. Jump's Class 
   3. Follow my TPT store: One Extra Degree TPT Store
   4. Follow Deanna’s TPT store: Deanna Jump's TPT Store
   5. Leave a comment for each of #1-4 indicating that you follow.
   6. Re-post this on your blog and comment below with a link for an extra entry!

I will randomly pick a winner on Sunday, March 6th.  Good luck!

I also want to throw in a plug here for a new blog: Oh' Boy 3rd Grade! She was thoughtful enough to give a shout out about my blog, so I wanted to return the favor! Maybe I'm biased since she's posting pictures of what she's doing with my Chris Van Allsburg Author Study, but I seriously can't wait to see the ideas she posts.  Definitely loving her spin on the unit and her adorable To-Do List. Check it out!

Classroom Snapshots: My Educational Oasis!

I have a slight beach theme in my classroom.  Nothing over the top, because I prefer simplicity.  I also really believe in making my classroom as cozy as possible.  I use elements that lend themselves to the beach theme without totally transforming my room into a sand dune or boardwalk.  I try to use the same color on all of my bulletin boards (teal makes me think of the ocean), and I stick to a color theme for everything that goes into my room.  (Yes, my color theme matches my blog scheme.) I, of course, need a gathering place for read alouds, and I set up several areas around the room that are conducive for group work. The following pictures were mainly taken right before school started before we added anything to our word wall, CAFE menu, or book recommendation board, but you'll get the idea!  Rather than writing a narrative about how I set up my classroom, I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves.  Someday, I swear I'm going to figure out a way to fit a loveseat into my classroom.  Until then, this is what I'm working with.  What's your theory on classroom design?  What works for you?

Computer Center

Eventually, I replaced the store-made poster (top) with a fluency poster.

The Book Recommendation Board and "Must Reads" bucket before school started!

Classroom Shot!

Books in the Spotlight for Recent Read Alouds!

Word Wall and Wondrous Words List... ready for additions!

Library

Check-In Area

I have 5-6 pails that I use as decorations... and for several lessons.

Two reasons why I love The Flower Factory.

Place mats make me happy because they make my room less institutional.  This mailbox was found at the Salvation Army five years ago for a dime!  It's my tattle box... but I get a lot of love notes too!  Luckily, Target had a slightly smaller version this year, so you can all use this too!  It's such a life-saver for me.  I don't think I'd ever trade it in.  Ever. 

Bucket Filling Buckets are placed above each kid's cubbies.  I have numbered them with student numbers since this picture was taken so that they can be reused year after year.  They are filled with  Bucket Filler Forms and pom poms!

 

 

I hate jellyfish, but I love this wind chime. So perfect for The Daily Five and rotations!

Just a random picture to prove that we actually use our bulletin boards!  Haha!

Expanding Vocabulary and Minds!

SNAG A FREEBIE! I spent Snow Day #7 at home working on word work activities, cleaning the house, entertaining my two fur babies, and praying for Spring!  Make sure you click above the first picture to download a copy of my word investigation sheet.  If you're interested,  you can check out my 25 page Expanding Vocabulary Bundle on TpT!  It has lots of ready-to-use activities and everything you need to create a WOW Words Word Wall to expand your students' vocabularies across content areas! It has printables for syllables, rhyming, inferring word meanings, homophones, synonyms, antonyms, "retired words", idioms, strong verbs, open-ended phonics searches, wow words, and tuning into interesting words!

 Click to Download!

If you want to see the rest of the unit, head to TpT to view the full preview!

"Ice Cream" Math Manipulatives!

 I have a few kids that really rely on manipulatives to do division and multiplication, but I think that this idea could easily be adapted for all of you K-1st grade teachers!  You could very easily use it for addition and subtraction with a few minor tweaks.

I found these adorable ice cream cones and scoops at The Dollar Tree a while ago.  Like months ago.  Of course, being an elementary teacher, I snatched them up.  I knew I'd think of something sooner or later.  Well, it wasn't sooner.  It was definitely later, but an idea finally hit me.  Division.  Some of my little peanuts still struggle with it... and multiplication too.  If you come across something similar at your nearest Dollar Paradise, you may want to pick up a few sets of these beauties, because you can use pom poms to work with "ice cream" and solve math facts.  I love this manipulative, and it really makes me UBER excited for summer. Unfortunately, we have ANOTHER Winter Weather Advisory tonight.  Bah humbug!

I'm pretty sure this bag used to hold valances... now it holds "ice cream".  The Lorax would be so proud of me...

Lastly, I have to show you my "Prediction Box".  Abby from The Inspired Apple... gasp!...  inspired me to spruce up my existing box.  I already had a bright pink label on it, and I already LOVED the pattern on my box, but I totally fell head over feet for her cute labels.  I bought the kit on TpT, and I am a seriously happy camper.  Highly recommended!  The first picture was taken sometime last fall...  BEFORE the makeover transformation!  The rest are of the revised box!  It's definitely an improvement!

Math Munchers, Force Fields, and Robots! Oh my!

   I had posted my Math Munchers game on my blog and TpT a while ago, but I wanted to post a few action shots!  Of course, my third graders are working on multiplication, but the addition game works essentially the same.  I realize that my heart-covered tablecloth makes it a little difficult to see... but you'll get the gist of it.  Basically, the kids work with partners and draw two cards from the deck.  They multiply them together and make arrays for their product.  Then, they decide which product is larger together and use the Math Muncher to compare values.  The kid with the largest number gets all of the cards, then they draw again.  The kid with the most cards at the end of the game wins.  :)  It's so fun, and the great thing is that it can be used for addition by switching out the directions for the other sheet in the packet.  Nothing else really changes.  Instead of making an array, you just have them use the pom poms to add and find their sum.  Everything else works in the same way, so it's easy to adapt for kids who need practice with either skill. 

Math Munchers in Progress...

7 x 2 array with pom poms

Another array...

The Math Muncher always wants to eat the largest number!

Also, here's a peak of the Simple Machines picture sort from my Inventors bundle. 

We discussed how problems fuel inventions.  We discussed why we think silverware and chairs were invented, as well as many other "common" objects.  We discussed how we are still faced with problems that are currently unanswered.  The kids chose one of five problems to brainstorm solutions for and then toy around with solutions for these problems. The task cards are also included in the Inventions bundle.  Unfortunately, the teal construction paper didn't photograph really well.  I just wasn't at the top of my game today with photography! Sorry ladies! :)  Beyond that, their posters are unfinished, so we will be working with them again tomorrow to wrap this lesson up!  You can click on any of the pictures for a closer look...

This group is working on a force field to help the military protect U.S. citizens.

 I'd like to introduce you to K.C, the "Helping Hand Robot".   Here's a little advertisement for this hardworking gizmo by my little sweeties... just in case you can't read the print on the page.  "This is a helping hand robot.  We all named it K.C. There is a remote that says on and off, so you do not have to listen to it all day.  You should buy the fun Helping Hand Robot, because he/she can do anything like (it is allowed to get wet) washing your car, dishes, take out the trash, even your dogs doo doo, and anything else you can think of."  Oh third graders... they certainly have a way with words.

This group created a robot to take out the trash and do other household chores.

Whatchamacallit Workshop and Engineering!

    We are getting ready to start our Engineering unit tomorrow, and I'm excited!  I love teaching the Engineering Design Process, simple machines, and concepts like the assembly line.  We use a curriculum called Engineering is Elementary, and I really love it.  It has a great book called, "Aisha Makes Work Easier" that is a wonderful complement to the unit.  Beyond that, I am even more excited about teaching it this year, because I just spent all weekend creating fun supplemental resources!  Yay!

     I am most excited about our Whatchamacallit Workshop.  I have done this in the past, but it hasn't been nearly as pretty on paper!  Haha!  It's amazing what kids can make with household items that usually end up in the trash.  It's also amazing that kids can include simple machines in their designs using these objects... like pulleys, inclined planes, and levers!  If they can apply it, they understand it!  I'm including a few pictures of the unit, if you're interested... and I'm also going to share a few projects from a few years ago!

A piggy bank! (It looks like the wild pigs I saw in Mexico with that snout!)

A bird feeder with an inclined plane!

A ship with a pulley and "Captain Charlotte" who was made out of a clothespin.  Love his moustache!