Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Spooky Spiders Close Reading

I attended a fabulous professional development yesterday, which inspired the creation of this jewel.  I plan on reinforcing the areas of author's purpose this week, and will use the PowerPoint to introduce close reading strategies as well as emphasize how questions can help you identify the area of author's purpose.  Please check out the TpT description for more information on this procedure.



Monday, August 11, 2014

Happy Birthday Resource In Use!!! Just Love It!

Well, today was my 4th day as a third grade teacher.  I have been a 5th/6th grade reading teacher since my first year.  I finally got to use the Happy Birthday Resource Pack that I made to display student birthdays in the Learning Stripes classroom!  I must say, I just love it.  The pictures turned out adorable!  I will be placing them on a bulletin board in the classroom, and it will definitely help me to keep track of the special day for each student!!!  Check it out!




Sunday, August 10, 2014

Scott Foresman Reading Street Common Core Grade 3 Amazing Word Wall

This set includes posters of all Amazing Words for all units in the Reading Street Common Core Edition for Grade 3.  These posters can easily be uploaded to a print shop and will print beautifully on 11 x 17 copy paper.  I display these by unit in my classroom due to limited bulletin board space, but may be all displayed for a fabulous word wall.  Snag your copy at the link below!



Grade 3 ELA Learning Targets

This is a full set of Grade 3 ELA Learning Target Posters.  These are written in student friendly language and will brighten your classroom while capturing the attention of the students. Please click below to get your copy!



Thursday, July 31, 2014

Scott Foresman Reading Street Common Core Grade 3 Unit 1 Week 2 Focus Wall Posters

These are display posters for your focus wall that will print on 8.5 x 11 paper. This includes posters or half posters for the following: 

Weekly Question
Genre
Vocabulary Words
Language/Grammar
Comprehension Skills
Vocabulary Strategy
Phonics

Go Check Them Out!! 

Get Your Copy Here!

Scott Foresman Reading Street Common Core Grade 3 Unit 1 Week 1 Focus Wall Posters

These are display posters for your focus wall that will print on 8.5 x 11 paper. This includes posters or half posters for the following: 

Weekly Question
Genre
Vocabulary Words
Language/Grammar
Comprehension Skills
Vocabulary Strategy
Phonics

Check them out on my TpT store!  



Happy Birthday Display!

This is a great display to display for student birthdays. You can print off numbers and have students hold them or attach to a craft stick for them to hold representing their day. Then get all of the students born in a specific month together holding their numbers and take a picture. You can either add the month header behind them in the picture, or place the photograph under the header when you display. Then add the Happy Birthday Header and you are ready to go. You can either display every month on one big display, or change monthly to conserve classroom wall space. I hope you enjoy!




Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Clip Up, Clip Down Chart Interactive Notebook Lesson

This notebook lesson is a great one to do the first day of school.  After discussion of the clip up, clip down management chart, you can have students add information about the consequences, rewards, and associated behaviors under each flap.  I would also have the students color the white space in a color that corresponds to your classroom chart.


Assess Yourself Interactive Notebook Activity

It is very important for our students to know and understand what the various levels of mastery look like.  I have a display in my room, which describes each level of mastery.  I snagged this idea from Young Teacher Love's TpT store.  I of course had to make one with zebras to match the Learning Stripes Room, and now have created a flip to add to the Interactive Student Notebooks during the first days of school.  I think this will be a great activity for the beginning of school.  You can get your own copy by clicking the link below.

This is the class display I created, I just Love, Love, Love it!



These are the ISN flips for the lesson!




Saturday, July 26, 2014

Give Your Writing A Hand!

This Give Your Writing A Hand Display is an awesome way to introduce and remind students of what is required when they are writing a five paragraph letter, essay, article, etc.. The hand organizer really sticks with the kids and helps them to remember what is necessary in each part. I have found great success with this and would recommend to anyone! Please note I have these set up to print on 11 x 14 paper to make them large enough for class display use. I usually upload to Staples or other print service and have them printed for less than one dollar each in color, then laminate!  



A Sneak Peek Into Learning Stripes Classroom!

I just love, love, love getting my room prepared for the upcoming year.  There is nothing better than a clean, organized and prepared classroom.  After several trips to the Dollar Tree and after scoping out Pinterest for new display ideas, then heading off to Hobby Lobby to make all of those ideas a reality, things are finally coming together for the upcoming year.  I will put more detailed pictures up of specific things soon, these were just snapped quickly on my way out, after a very long day! I love seeing pictures of other's classrooms, there is something about it that is refreshing and inspiring!  












Back To School Welcome Postcards!!!  


So do you hand write each postcard welcoming back your students?   If so, I know you are feeling the cramps or the beginning stages of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!  There is a much easier way to accomplish this task!  You can actually type your message and mailing address, then print them out.  After your first message is typed, just copy and paste, that makes this process even easier.  It took me about five minutes to complete and print 26 welcome postcards for my kiddos!  The postcard packs you find in most teacher stores are the size of 4"x 6", if you do not want to use the template that already has these settings embedded, then simply go to your page setup or size setting and change to match your postcard size, then setup as two column document and begin typing!  To make things easier, I am including the word document below.  There is an example for the first page, to add more pages, just hit enter for a new page, then copy and paste the information from the first!




Tuesday, July 15, 2014

In Our Class We....

This is a great classroom display. Please note this document is set to print at 11 x 14 size.  I usually send all of my things to the local print shop and have them printed in beautiful color at less than $1 per page.  Staples, Office Depot, etc., all do this.  You can upload to their websites and pick up or even have sent to your home!  Please click below to get your copy. 


Freebie!!!

Class pennants that you can personalize and print!!

Please note these are to be printed on 11 x 14 paper.  I usually upload to a print shop and have them printed for $1 or less per page!!  Personalize, Print, & Enjoy!!!

Downloadable Desk Nameplates

Click below to download the nameplate.  Please note these print in 11 x 14, so it is best to send to Staples or your local print shop to print.  Most of these will print a color page this size for $1 or less, so this is still a  good deal because you can customize by typing in your student's name, then save as a file to upload to print shop.  For example I create a folder and save these as Nameplate 1, Nameplate 2, etc., then I upload all files, have them printed and pick them up.  Voila, I have custom nameplates for $5!!!

To add your students just highlight student's name, then replace with your student's name!

Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Trashcan Makeover!!!  

I just love to use my Cricut to embellish items around the classroom.  Most of the trashcans in my classroom have polka dots all over them, one of which broke at the end of last school year.  This is my latest Cricut project!!


Who doesn't love IKEA and Michael's?????

I absolutely love them and of course my Sunday afternoon trip with my husband turned into a school shopping trip!!!  I just can't help myself.  I found these adorable chalkboard labels, sparkly clothespins double sided frames, which I plan on using as center direction holders, some really cute bulletin board border, which was buy one get one half  off, giant clothespins, and some adorable thank you note cards (I always keep these around because I give one to the kids when they do something for me.)  I have big plans for these purchases :) I'll be posting pics soon of the finished creations!! :)

Oh, I also snagged this adorable rug for $15!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  


Sunday, July 6, 2014

Zebra Clip Up Chart!!!

I added another clip up chart to the TpT store.  This is an awesome zebra theme of course!!  This is the one that will be added to the Learning Stripes Classroom!!  Please see the chevron clip up chart for ways to use this system in your own classroom.



Saturday, July 5, 2014

Clip Up Chart!!! :)

Snag your clip up and down chart at my TpT store.  Chevron and bright colors that will match any classroom.  Add clothespins and your off to a wonderful foundation to classroom management.  Send a letter or key home to parents explaining each level and then have students write color down each day in their agenda, planner, etc.  You can add in other incentives such as giving students a jewel or a sticker to add to their clothespin each time they reach the top!



Friday, July 4, 2014


Data Notebooks--  Love Them!!!

I have just uploaded the standard sheets included in my third grade data notebooks.  I love using data notebooks and these sheets help to make student levels of mastery clear to students, parents, and administrators.  I love using Kristine Nannini's standard based assessments to monitor student growth.  You can find them at www.youngteacherlove.blogspot.com  After the unit has been taught, I assess using these amazing assessments, which I feel were heaven sent, to monitor the student's growth.  Students then monitor their growth by placing scores on the standard sheets in their data notebooks as well as a checkmark indicating their current mastery level (mastered, still working, or struggling.)  These data notebooks and monitoring sheets are a lifesaver during parent and administrator meetings.  I will also be uploading writing and language standard sheets.  Please click TpT store beside the image to go to tpt store and get your copy today!!!  

Happy Notebooking!!! 




                                A peek inside Learning Stripes.  The Room will be updated soon!  :)

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

Day 1: Entering the Blogging World!

As a third grade (formerly fifth grade) reading teacher, I am anxiously awaiting the first day of school.  As teachers all over the United States can tell you, summer is a time to recharge your batteries, but the mind is constantly thinking about the upcoming year, as well as the new group of students, new lessons, classroom decor additions, discovery of new techniques, upcoming professional developments, graduate classes, the list goes on and on.  This will be my very first year in third grade.  As a fifth grade reading teacher in Kentucky, I have been responsible for teaching reading, language skills, on demand writing, as well as speaking and listening skills.   This past school year, I began using interactive notebooks and data notebooks with my students.  I fell in love with the organization and the student use that was developed through the use of these two amazing resources. I have decided to enter the blogging world for two reasons:  1) I want to share what goes on within the walls of my classroom because I LOVE teaching and learning and I think this is a wonderful way to share my experiences with others, as well as learn from their experiences.  2)  My family and non teacher friends really get tired of listening to me go on and on about teaching and education, so blogging will offer me an arena to share all of the things I would like to say with people who actually want to participate in the conversations and are as passionate about the field as I am!!