The Candy Dish

Love Your Planet

Every day the inspiration for my posts comes from a unique place. Today’s post comes from a student’s t-shirt. As a society we have become more aware of the impact we have on the earth. As a student in elementary school, I never remember talking about caring for the earth. The only thing I ever remember learning about is animals becoming extinct and that was because of various poaching or chemicals. I never learned that I was having an impact on the environment.

Now as an educator, I have a responsibility to teach children how to properly care the planet. I have to teach them to get into the ‘Green Groove’

Rethink Habits
Reduce Waste
Recycle Daily
Replenish Nature

Ask yourself these questions…
Do you love your planet?
Do you love yourself?
Do you love our children?

If YES!! Then Care for the Earth!!!!

A Native American Proverb says, “ We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors we borrow it from our children.” Let’s care for the earth so our children will have a better future and teach the children of the future how to get into the ‘Green Groove’. Remember “Every day is Earth Day.”

Marvelous Math

I love teaching MATH! It is so much fun!
We have been working on creating addition stories, different addition number combinations and talking about mental math strategies.

Here are a few photos from my room!

This flip book seems to be all over Pinterest!
I just added the dominos for students to see
doubles as two equal parts.

The students had to make two flip books to include the doubles all the way to 10+10

Our different combinations posters as we learn about all the ways to make a number.

And of course, learning about doubles would not be complete without a few songs from Harry Kindergarten!

Writing Mini-Lesson

As I return back to work on Monday, we will be continuing with our Writer's Workshop.

I just love Lucy Calkins! I will be reminding the students about the difference between A Watermelon Idea and a Seed Idea! I want the students to share one small moment during their Winter Break. I have made this small poster as a reminder.

Watermelon Topics/ Seed Ideas Poster

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Book Organization

A new year meant to finally organize my books. As I have been blog hoppin' there seems to be many of us willing and wanting to do some 52 week organization.

As my classroom is super small, I need to store most of my books at home that I use for read alouds, science, social, math, character education, art, reading and writing mini lessons. Pretty much EVERYTHING!

The only books that I store at school are my levelled readers and the books the students use during Daily 5.

I knew I needed to get started NOW, or I might lose momentum.

2) Piles starting to form with some sort of organization

1) So this is how I started- bins and boxes with no organization!

3) Books finally organized into bins- just awaiting labels

4) All bins labelled and stacked!!

Sorry, for the bad pics, they were taken on my iPhone
and of course in the basement!

As I was organizing, I was wondering what others do when a book might fit into two different categories.
For Example,
Ten Little Fish could go with my theme bin for Sand and Sea
or I could put it into my Math Concepts bin.
Or
PIGS by Robert Munsch could go with my bin for Munsch books or in my Character Education bin for Responsibility.

Would love to hear about how you organize your books?

Home Reading

Why have a book as a buddy?

A book is always there for you! Day, Evening, Night. Just pick it up and READ!!
A book is smart. Books contain pretty much all the knowledge and wisdom in the whole world – not just for today, but for all of history.
A book keeps your secrets. You can read/write/tell your secrets and it will never tell anyone.

At the start of the school year, I had each child bring to school their favorite book from home. It took us about two weeks but I read every book to the class. I loved reading the child’s favourite book. Often as I read the book, the child would read the entire book along with me, while the other children just listened.
This activity continued to promote my love for literacy and the connection between home and school.

Family literacy is essential for a child’s success. It can happen in so many fun and exciting ways, from enjoying a storybook together at bedtime or during the day, to playing word games, singing, writing to family and friends, sharing day-to-day tasks such as making shopping lists or using a recipe or surfing the Internet for fun and interesting sites.

As teachers we see the benefits of encouraging and developing family literacy with our families and students.

Here are some interesting literacy facts we already know but are a reminder to us to encourage literacy, family involvement and the love for books!!!

Research shows children have a better chance of becoming fully literate adults if reading is encouraged in the home (Literacy BC).

Studies show beyond dispute that children’s achievements in school improves with increased parent involvement in education (Henderson, 1998).

Children raised in literate households are likely to enter grade one with several thousand hours of one to one pre-reading experience behind them (Literacy BC)

For a child, the more time spent with a parent reading aloud increases his or her level of attachment, enhances a sense of security, and imparts the knowledge that their parent feels they are worthwhile people with whom to spend time (How to Raise a Reader, 1987).

Having a parent or other caring person read aloud with their children helps children learn listening skills, vocabulary and language skills, as well as develop imagination and creativity (Family Literacy Foundation, 2001)

Pick up a book and READ!

Portfolio / Blue Book

2012 is upon us very shortly- a great time for reflection and resolutions. Way back when I was in university (many, many years ago) , we were required to create a portfolio for job interviews. Although portfolios do not seem as common during interviews, I still believe it is great to always have, just in case a question arises and you can SHOW OFF!

However, if you don't have a portfolio, I do encourage you to have a Blue Book or in my case after many years of teaching a Blue Box. This is a place to keep all of your treasured memories from teaching. Thank you cards, Awards, Pictures of your Best Units, Letters of References, Accomplishments - Anything that will put a smile on your face after a bad day. Keep it handy and update it regularly. You will be amazed by the items you collect and the pieces you will cherish the most.

I love this one quote about a portfolio because I have seen so many different styles and presentation formats - a portfolio truly is a reflection of YOU!
"Portfolios are a marriage between science and art; the science is synthesizing and evaluating the artifacts coupled with effectively illustrating the art of teaching. While it is used as a vehicle in which to showcase one's strengths, achievements, philosophies and growth, the criteria for success weighs heavily on the ability of being authentic in the portrayal of one's true self" (Ruban & Gauthier, 1998).

So if you are just starting out on creating a portfolio or you are updating your current one, here are some great things to consider.
1) Pictures, Pictures, Pictures - They are a must and everyone loves looking at them.
2) Professional Information - Resume (yes, make sure you always have an updated one), Letters of Recommendation, Formal Evaluations, Transcripts, Awards
3) Autobiographical Statement and Educational Philosophy
4) Teaching Practices and Artifacts - highlight some of your favorite units/lessons/examples of student work.

Remember your portfolio or Blue Book is a great way to continue to grow professionally and highlight how we continue to learn, develop, grow and update our knowledge, skills and attitudes as educators.

Possible Sections:

Examples

And my most recent addition!!

Have a great time working on your portfolio or just looking through your blue book with a hot cup of coffee!

11 in '11 Linky Party

The years seem to pass by so fast and sometimes we never really reflect. Thank you to Hadar and Kristin for hosting this Linky Party.

11. Favorite movie you watched:

I hardly ever watch movies and if I do, I forget them the next day. But one I watched recently that was cute was Friends with Benefits.

10. Favorite TV series:
Blue Bloods! I love this show and it is a great way to relax on a Friday night after a long week at school. I love this show so much that I had to buy two episodes this season from iTunes because the PVR was full.

And of course watching Donnie from NKOTB doesn't hurt either.

9. Favorite restaurant:

I don't really like cooking so I will go out every chance I get. One of my favorite restaurants is Sorrentino's. YUM!

8. Favorite new thing you tried:

BLOGGING!!! I started Blog Hoppin' in May just casually. By June, I was completly hooked. And by August, I started two blogs. I love the blog community! All of you are so talented, caring, and amazing!

7. Favorite gift you got:

This is super easy! I finally got my first Burberry bag! I absolutly love it! It is big enough to hold all of my teacher stuff!