Today I am linking up with Tara from Fourth Grade Frolics and her always fun and inspiring Made it Monday.
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| I know I am not the only one who thinks this… |
I have been one busy bee! I am feeling the pressure and the inspiration of school starting. Now don’t get me wrong, I am still enjoying my summer- full of play dates, swimming, date nights, friend hang outs and naps… but I go in full Back to School modes during the the in-betweens!
Project #1: A few weeks back I made some owl trackers for AR points. Well, these are the ribbons that they will go on! I found cute ribbon that matches my owl theme at Michaels. Each student will have an AR ribbon. Once they earn 5, 10, 15…etc… points they will get to add an owl to their ribbon. This is an interactive data wall that tells the students, me and ANYONE who walks into the room where they are at. I think that 4th graders love competition, so this will be a great bulletin board for my classroom. At the end of the year the students will get to take their ribbon home as a trophy of their accomplishments.
Project #2 and #3: I fell in love with the idea of whole class journals earlier this summer and I created a bundle of personal and imaginative narrative topics. I got rave remarks on these bad boys and some requests for other topics. This weekend I made a set of Compare and Contrast and Persuasive Writing set. Fourth grade is a big writing year. We cover all genres of writing. These Whole Class Journals take a little stress off of them because it isn’t a full 5 paragraph essay, and it is fun for them to see what their peers write.
I usually wait for persuasive until the middle of the year, because students need time to learn the concepts of counter argument and strong persuasive language. I have included sentence stems in both of these sets to help the students stay on topic and focused for their topic. It is my goal to start the year off with the narrative bundle, move to compare and contrast and then persuasive. I have some other ideas in the works too…. but for now, this is my plan.
You can find these journal covers at my TpT store. They give great pointers and directions to students and it will enhance your Language Arts hour immensely!
Project #4:
You can find these here, at my TpT store.
I can’t wait to see all the cute things you all have made! I think Mondays are the best! Later today, Michelle from Apples and ABC’s is coming over and we are going to make our Teacher’s Toolboxes and work on some other fun projects. I love blogging!
I think the idea of classroom journals is really neat! 🙂 I just might have to look into it myself!
Ashley @Fierce in Fourth
I agree with Ashley above! I think I need to check out these classroom journals!
Nichole
Craft of Teaching
Layla, I am a newbie follower of yours and I love your posts! I have chosen to award you with the Versatile Blog award! Come check it out!
Caralee
Confessions of a Teachanista
I have shared journals on my to do list for this year. I love your design and the persuasive choices! I am going to check them out a little closer. Thanks so much for sharing!!
~Holly
Fourth Grade Flipper
Love your owl tracker!! Love shared journal time!! Just found your darling blog!
Robynn
BusyBees
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog. I am your newest follower!! Also I am awarding you with the Versatile blog award!!! Come on over to my blog and check it out!!
~Michaela~
http://ofishallylearning.blogspot.com/
Wow! You have been busy!! I love everything that you've created. 🙂
Lisa
Learning Is Something to Treasure
I want to do shared journals too!
Jessica
Teach on a Limb
I'm your newest follower!
Meagan
oodlesofteachingfun
Boy were you busy this week! What great ideas!
✿Lynn
Inside this Book
Layla,
New follower here. What a busy summer. I've been doing the occasional Monday Made Its, but I haven't posted about any of them online. Actually, I guess I have. I just posted a project on my blog today. Anyway, I love the ideas, and I LOVE the eCard! I feel exactly the same way!
Kristin
Teaching In A Nutshell