Which is Best: Reading Workshop or Daily Five and a Giveaway

I can't believe it is already March!!!!  When did that happen???  I have been so excited about going to the Lucy Calkins Writer's Workshop Conference, that I didn't realize it was next week!  I am going down with Amber, from Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher, and 2 other Instructional Facilitators in my district.  I was in charge of getting the hotel, and dang if it didn't sneak up on me!  Don't worry, I booked one last night!  Whew!!!

This week is slam packed for me!  Our school is doing both Reading Workshop and Daily Five structures depending on the grade level.  For next year, we are choosing 1 school wide structure.  To help with the choices, our teachers are visiting 2 different classrooms that are doing these structures.  2nd grade will visit a Daily Five class this week, then have a planning day upon return.  Next week 1st grade will do the same.  Then we gear up for a Reading Workshop visit in a neighboring district.  I can't wait for my teachers to see these in action!!!  They learned about them this summer, but we all know that being taught a structure  being talked at, isn't the same.  Which one is your preference and why?

Me personally, I am a die hard Reading Workshop FANATIC!  I love running my room using that structure.  I did a training last year district wide, and will offer 2 this year broken down into small grade level sections.  

So onto the giveaway!  I am FINALLY done with my St. Patrick's Day Math Centers for K-1 (and some 2).  These are great for reviewing skills and remediating skills that are still lacking.  It has the following games in it: 

1. Number Concentration and Ten Frame Concentration
2. Number Bump and Addition Bump
3. Collect 20 and Collect 50
4. Collect 10: Add or Subtract and Collect 20: Add or Subtract
5. Number Cross Out and Addition Cross Out

CCSS Addressed in this Pack:
K.OA.1
K.OA.
5K.CC.1
K.CC.4
K.CC.5
1.OA.6
1.NBT.1
1.NBT.2

I have worked so long on this pack, that I am excited to have it done in time for St. Patty's day!  If you would like to have this pack, its your lucky day!  I am giving it away to 3 lucky bloggers!!  Just enter below. I will pick a winner on Sunday, March 10.  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you feeling lucky?????

Wicked Weather, Technology Fun and a Freebie!

This weather is Cray-Cray!  Here in the good ol' NC we usually have a Winter season that involves a few good snows (by southern standards). It is nothing like your northern peeps who are still digging out!!!  We have had the craziest Winter this year.

 Here is a sample week: Monday 65, Tuesday 32 snowy, Wednesday 70, Thursday 45, Friday 60.  OK so maybe it isn't as bad as I put out there, but it has been a rollercoaster of temperatures.  Because of this I have been deathly ill sick for the past 2 weeks.  I am finally getting it over, but it has been slow going!  My girls both had a sinus infection last week when I took them to the Dr.  As if that wasn't bad enough, Raegan had a double ear infection and Kenley had an eye infection.  Now they are calling for MORE WINTER WEATHER!!!!!!  Stop the madness!!!!

In other teachery news, I have had a great week.  Let's hope Friday doesn't ruin it!  I completed a guided reading model for one of my newer teachers and it was so awesome to get back to teaching.  I showed her how to add the 5 domains of reading (phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, reading comprehension) to each group lesson and still keep it at 15 min.  She was way impressed at what she could  accomplish.  Success!!!

This week at our staff meeting our Tech Facilitator showed us how we could use an activity called Paper Slide in retelling across the curriculum.  We used the NC Essential Standards for 1st grade for Plants.  She gave us a poem that discussed the parts of the plant.  We then each drew a "slide" on paper that represented a part of the plant.  Using a digital camera, we created a creative way to retell the main points of what we read.  It should have sound, but it doesn't, so you can make it up as it's playing!  What a cool way to retell!!

 

I am also working on a new St. Patty's Day Math Games pack.  It might should be done next week!!  It will include subitizing tasks, one to one correspondence, Number and Addition Bump and who knows what other games.  In the mean time, I have a freebie to share with you!  Please enjoy Initial Sound Go Fish.

Head over to my TpT or TN to pick this freebie up!