Friday, August 9, 2013

Throwback Thursday...on Friday...Ha!

Wow!! This is such a busy time of year!!! I have been getting my classroom together, buying school supplies {for both my classroom and the little sweeties}, and not sleeping very much!! There are so many things to think about this time of year!! I just keeping making "To-Do" lists left and right....unfortunately, posting for Throwback Thursday did not make the list, so this is my Friday edition of Throwback Thursday.  :)  Make sure to pop on over to Cara's blog, The First Grade Parade, to join in all of the fun!! :)



                                           

This Throwback post is from March of 2012.  It is a sneak peek at some of the fun things that we do
to prepare the kiddos for the standardized tests we take in the spring.  I love my awesome team! These ladies come up with the best ideas!! Do you do anything fun to prepare for "Testing Season"?  I would love to hear any of your ideas!! Have a great weekend!! :)


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This year, our class has worked so hard and we have learned SO MUCH!!  I am very proud of each and every student in my class this year.  We have had lots of fun learning together and during the month of March we will get to prove our learning by showing what we know on the ISTEP test! Of course, we decided to throw in a little bit of fun to go with our serious preparation..... :)


Right before the big day, we had "Rock Star Day" !! Of my goodness!! Was it a hit!  The students {and teachers} got to dress as Rock Stars for the day.  It was so fun! The students wrote poems about a topic that we had learned this year, and then performed the poems at our Rock Star Concert.  Of course, Pop Rocks were served at this event.  :)  It was a really fun way to get everyone pumped up and excited to "Show What They Know"!  :)  Here are some pictures:

My awesome third grade team....I was probably a little too excited about busting out my hair extensions from my wedding!! Ha! :)


And here are the awesome third grade "Rock Stars"!!!!
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The kids had so much fun, and I think it really helped ease some test taking jitters!! Below is a fun activity for preparing for the written portion of the standardized test!! :)


This little lady, whose real identity will remain anonymous, is who our class deemed as "Mrs. ISTEP", the lady who grades the ISTEP test. We thought this is how she might look like before she had the chance to read about all of OUR AWESOME ISTEP answers.  We printed her picture and the students have been brainstorming ways that we can "charm"  Mrs. ISTEP and make her our new friend.  



We created this chart together.  For number four, we have talked a lot about using  SMART answers.  We have an awesome Reading Coach who came into our room and taught us the following about using SMART answers:

1.  ALWAYS WRITE IN COMPLETE SENTENCES
2. BEGIN BY RESTATING THE QUESTION.
3.  STAY ON TOPIC- CLEARLY ANSWER THE QUESTION YOU WERE ASKED
4. IF ASKED TO GIVE A SPECIFIC EXAMPLE OR DETAIL- ALWAYS TRY TO GIVE AT LEAST TWO.


 We have been practicing this all year.  The students are doing a great job!  

This was a fun adjective activity.  First, we thought of adjectives that described Mrs. ISTEP BEFORE she read our ISTEP test, and then words that described her AFTER she had read our test.  We also drew before and after pictures.  :)
BEFORE picture 


AFTER picture



Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Researcher of the Week and a Freebie!!! :)

I am working away in my classroom!! Somehow, I seem to always leave with a bigger mess than what I started with?  Does anyone else feel that way? This time of the year is so fun, but also so exhausting at the same time.  :)  I thought I would take a second to share a fun little idea I started in my classroom last year- "THE RESEARCHER OF THE WEEK!" Last year, my school became a STEM school, so I am always looking for ways to make my classroom a "little more STEMMY"!!  Haha!


                                                


My Students LOVED this program.  They had so much fun wearing their lab coats in the STEM lab and watching the presentation.  It was also a way for me to incorporate Speaking and Listening Standards, and add a little more parent involvement in my classroom!!


Below is the Schedule that I use for this program.  It is very similar to my "Student of the Week" program!  

I used to use an "All About Me" poster for my "Student of the Week".  However, I could not find a poster for the "Researcher of the Week", so I made my own components and I send home a piece of chart paper for each student before his/her week as the Researcher.  The students simply cut out the components below and then paste them onto the chart paper.  It is fun to allow them a little more creativity this way! 




For the experiments, I purchased several different books from Amazon, and I also found that I was able to use my AMAZING science experiment packets from Deanna Jump!  I used her packet as a whole group activity when I taught first grade. However, now it is PERFECT for students in third grade to read on their own and present to the class!! 





If this is something you are interested in, you may want to hop on over to my Tpt shop and download my Researcher of the Week Freebie!!  This is Freebie is editable so that you can modify the schedule and parent letters for your own classroom! 

Happy Researching!! 
Click below to download!! 

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Five for Friday!!!

                          fiveforfriday2

Oh my....I feel as though my poor little blog has been neglected as of late!!  I am thankful for Linky Parties to to help keep me on track and update this blog a bit!!:)  Today I am linking up with Doodle Bugs Teaching's Five for Friday Linky!! :) Here is a little look at what I have been up to as of late:

                       


1.  BASKETBALL on the LAKE!


The girls had a basketball tournament in South Haven, MI...Right on the BEACH!! This was literally the view from their court!! Beautiful!! :) 



2.  WEDDINGS!
We loved celebrating the wedding of one of my darling teacher friends!! Congrats to Courtney and Will!! :)

3.  Learning to do BACK FLIPS! :)
                                                 



AND.....I have been relaxing with my sweet friends and watching LOTS of back flips!!  :)




4.  Setting up my classroom!!!  


Miss Kennedy sewed this cute Chevron curtain for me!!! She is so talented!! :)



             5.  TpT- Classroom Kit!!

I finally finished this little kit!! This one is dedicated to my husband, who BLESS his heart, thought that all teachers were given pre made classroom kits to set up a classroom.  He thought that teachers probably spent an hour or two getting their classrooms ready......ummmmmmm....NO!! :)  Hahaha!!  This little kit has some cheery chevron decor ready for you! check out my tpt shop for more details.  :)  http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Aynsley-Patton
        



Happy Friday!! Have a great weekend!!

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Throwback Thursday and Earthworms!! AAAHHHH! :)




Yea!! I just love Thursday!  I love reading all of the posts from Cara's Throwback Thursday Linky.  Pop on over to The First Grade Parade to join in on all the fun!  :)

My Throwback Thursday post is from Earth Day 2012.  On Earth Day, I always have an "Earthworm Day". We take the day to learn about Nature's Recyclers!  :)  The students just love this day.  After our observation, we release the earthworms into our school's garden. We finish the day with...WHAT ELSE???...DIRT PUDDING!! :)  Have you ever tried having an Earthworm Day?  I have used this activity with both 1st and 3rd graders!!  The students LOVE it!  :) 



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Earth Day is such a fun day!   And.....Believe it or not......WE LOVE EARTHWORMS!!  This is one of my favorite days. The students love learning about this wiggly, squiggly recyclers!  :)  Friday was Earthworm Observation Day.  The students each received their own earthworms to observe, measure and then release into the school garden!  We learned about earthworm anatomy, and how earthworms help the earth.  This unit fit right in with our Earth Day activities.  To purchase my Earthworm Day Unit for your classroom, click here!

Our squiggly worms!! 


Measuring!
Taking a closer look...









Releasing our worms!!



A fun snack to enjoy during Independent Reading Time!


           






                                     






Saturday, July 13, 2013

Christmas in July...Final Weekend!! Everything 20% off!!


Merry Christmas in July, everyone!!!  To conclude my Christmas in July Sale, I am offering 20% off of everything in my TpT shop this weekend!!! Thank you so much!! :)  

Also....I just joined all of the Teacher fun on Instagram!!!  Oh my goodness! It is another fun to connect with other teachers and discover new tips, tricks, and ideas for your classroom!!  Please click below to follow me!!  {mrspattonsclass} Also, remember to check out #teachersfollowteachers to find all of the teacher ideas in one place!! :) 




I hope you have a WONDERFUL weekend!!  
  

Friday, July 12, 2013

Favorite Pins Friday and Christmas in July Day 6!


Hey Everyone!! Happy Friday!! Today is Day 6 for Christmas in July!! Today's theme is editable!!  Please enjoy 20% on these two products today in my TpT shop! :)

Editable Student Planner for 3rd Grade!
Editable Parts of Speech Posters!





Today, I am linking up once again with Cara from The First Grade Parade for Favorite Pins Friday!!   



~NEAT PRODUCTS/DIY IDEAS~


A week or two again, I was at my sweet friend Michelle's house, and she this cute little piece of artwork framed in her house...I LOVED IT!!  Then, I found Special Dates Artwork on Pinterest!  I love the idea of framing all of the special dates for your family!! :)

Our Special Dates!!!!!

LoVe this table from Nine Red!  This is such a cool blog with a lot of great tutorials!  


ObSeSsEd with this color scheme...and such a fun idea!! From Pins for Your Health




~RECIPES~

Okay....I took this Strawberry Salsa to 2 4th of July Parties because my family LOVED it so much!!! Serve with Cinnamon/Sugar Pita Chips...OH MY!!  It is DEEEElicious!! Thanks Sole for the Soul for the recipe! 
Stawberry Salsa 1lb strawberry 2 golden delicious apples 8 oz raspberries 2 T white sugar 1T brown sugar 3 T strawberry preserves  Mix and chill 1 hour ... I am thinking this would be great with cinnamon sugar chips


~SCHOOL IDEAS~ 

I love this simple little reminder from The Applicious Teacher! So simple, but effective!  

good reminder for kids...what a great idea!


How cute is this idea from Fall Into First?  Perfect for Parents waiting for Student/Teacher Conferences!  :)

Such a super cute idea for parents waiting for conferences! Offer a door prize for the parent who gets the most correct. Love it!


~Verses~
Love this from HomeGrownHospitatlity

Bible Verses, Quotes, Words  
Unfortunately....there was not a link for this pin! 
Proverbs 16:24


Thanks so much for reading!  I would love it if you would follow me on Pinterest! Click Below to Follow!  Happy Friday! 



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