tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68762984901671306372024-02-21T11:29:53.328-06:00Krazy TownHi! I'm Suzanne, a retired teacher sharing ideas in the areas of ELA (reading, writing, word study, and grammar) and classroom management in the elementary school classroom. I believe in utilizing the reading and writing workshop approach to teaching those subjects and in teaching grammar in the context of reading and writing, not through worksheets.Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-25767104084793715702020-02-15T05:00:00.000-06:002020-02-16T21:46:43.420-06:00Standing Up for Victims of Bullying<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Gc7d0UhdECMaDuElOo3A_V9R_JOQxwX5WulZAjVkpQ-abaFl_iSShQWr3StC-bgMBhf2K-AxFFbrZ7HsjiUvxI2vEsMjjv2PhfyiNkrhj9Z12w9oR7LY4cDNNb5C_CVeXHvjYs437KE/s1600/bullyingfb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Don't be a bystander! This free resource teaches students 5 strategies they can use when they see bullying happening." border="0" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Gc7d0UhdECMaDuElOo3A_V9R_JOQxwX5WulZAjVkpQ-abaFl_iSShQWr3StC-bgMBhf2K-AxFFbrZ7HsjiUvxI2vEsMjjv2PhfyiNkrhj9Z12w9oR7LY4cDNNb5C_CVeXHvjYs437KE/s1600/bullyingfb.jpg" title="Standing Up for Victims of Bullying" /></a></div>
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We’ve
all been in a situation where we witnessed bullying behavior. Think about how you reacted. Did you speak up or take action? Were you in shock so you simply stayed out of it? Did you get mad at yourself later because you didn’t say or do anything?<br />
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These situations are hard for adults, and they are even more difficult for our students. So often our students are told to stand up to bullying. We encourage them to speak out against it, or we ask them a million questions about what they did when they witnessed it. Then we tell them what they should have done instead.<br />
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A better solution is to give students the opportunity to practice what they might do when they witness bullying behavior. This empowers them to take action instead of being a bystander.
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I've created a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Dont-Be-a-Bystander-Teaching-Kids-How-to-Stand-Up-for-Victims-of-Bullying-2969191" target="_blank">free resource</a> that helps you teach students five strategies that they can use when they see bullying happen. It provides an explanation of each strategy along with suggested dialogue or action. There is also a poster for each strategy to display in the classroom.<br />
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/6262886962754910/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUkKrFNT7O2H29PHCzKY1ZzHdaFZc9Dms2CGNEtUQPvGApYuegJ16IR0cIEfuiOv_ieLgCbFHpHR7YPIeRAsJ5teTv0jQ6ZaLgFBkP3LlarbDl-cfWnocxZJc2TyVIdgbeynYV3WxanE/s320/bullyingpin.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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This <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Dont-Be-a-Bystander-Teaching-Kids-How-to-Stand-Up-for-Victims-of-Bullying-2969191" target="_blank">resource </a>is a forever freebie, created in conjunction with many Teachers Pay Teachers in an effort to promote kindness and help reinforce values that many of us feel are significantly important at this transition time in our history. You can find all of these forever free resources by going to Teachers Pay Teachers and searching for these two hashtags:<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:%23kindnessnation" target="_blank"> #kindnessnation</a> and <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Browse/Search:%23weholdthesetruths" target="_blank">#weholdthesetruths</a>. Some of these wonderful products are also linked below.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="77" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8wod6ia2PLLwN7FnZyaJg-f_xgq1SpFEh4P-L2W-av76CzALS2lir8UMGYjFTvl5-jDvh_pX5FFovAVdDE1QWioqVe1uXVkRLqDDjcvNzZPBuh1ZtJQtTsvWDI9koQN8t8yQi-aKUTA/s320/Signature.png" width="320" /></span>Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-81926845787786858542020-01-06T21:00:00.000-06:002020-02-16T21:45:44.523-06:00Spreading Kindness on Valentine's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnH5OV_uL09OQYuIy_U5SEkQj0n2deNd5zuj020AgXgKSLVxWhUhnGuTkbpb1vq235K4W1689UFLbkAMXkfVDXC9-4QrejyqmTt41AMHqX28v6UktI9h6T9fviag_ge-srivmcm8EM1E/s1600/somebodylovesfb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Take the focus off the Valentines the students are receiving and put it on the kindness and empathy they can share." border="0" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnH5OV_uL09OQYuIy_U5SEkQj0n2deNd5zuj020AgXgKSLVxWhUhnGuTkbpb1vq235K4W1689UFLbkAMXkfVDXC9-4QrejyqmTt41AMHqX28v6UktI9h6T9fviag_ge-srivmcm8EM1E/s1600/somebodylovesfb.jpg" title="Spreading Kindness on Valentine's Day" /></a></div>
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Valentine's Day is almost here. I thought I'd share an easy way to take the focus off the Valentines the kids are receiving and putting it on the kindness and empathy they can share.<br />
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This is one of my favorite books. (Clicking on the link will take you to Amazon, where you can purchase the book. Note - I get a very small commission when you use my link to purchase, but it doesn't cost you anything.)<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20rel=%22nofollow%22%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0689718721/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0689718721&linkCode=as2&tag=kratow-20&linkId=MPXIDTSZFRPI4IMM%22%3ESomebody%20Loves%20You,%20Mr.%20Hatch%20(paperback)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=kratow-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0689718721%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E"><img border="0" height="320" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuXlilC5nq1hyphenhyphenWI73wOVRGHXFA-npM0oFQFJyF90tWL6PYJHdK3-dJduXNKli-wF62bAXYbWtSk3T-ygCl0bhT03xmg-O8fS7o8UurzOI5Ckj3BPv2nN0VfPfXUpj4d94ztvSD1vsDc4/s320/516fKOEqELL.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
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I loved reading the book to my students. They could easily identify with Mr. Hatch since there were times when all of them had felt lonely. We talked about how he felt after he received the anonymous gift.<br />
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Then I talked about how wonderful it felt for us to get Valentines from our classmates and our friends, how that made us feel loved. I said I loved the Valentines I got from my class, but that not all the adults in the school had a homeroom class to give them Valentines. We brainstormed a list of everyone that might be in that position - custodians, people who worked in the front office, cafeteria workers, teachers who provide pull-out services. Then each student selected one of the people from the list and made a special Valentine for them. We decided to sign them with this closing - From Someone Who Loves You. We thought that might make them think of all the people in the school who truly cared about them, like Mr. Hatch did.<br />
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At the end of the day, I slipped the Valentines into the mailboxes of the people who were to receive them. I lingered in the area so that I could hear any comments made and relay them to the students. My class was so excited to hear that they had a hand in making some of our special employees feel the Valentine's love.<br />
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/6262886962908003/" target="_blank"><img alt="Take the focus off the Valentines the students are receiving and put it on the kindness and empathy they can share." border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsSTOZ4opF29kVqWRmzbTlJc9dYBuU93-EGYHSV6dcCeyEcF8TINRlVV-9ZXlW2mJbnA62nHTdtb04C-dq6bvW_v7yKGLXRHerSEBFrymkBn-DMJlXHd0IdtW2AbkeBWO8MUDgVW4DeKs/s400/somebodylovespin.jpg" title="Spreading Kindness on Valentine's Day" width="266" /></a></div>
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If you try this with your students, please let me know. It will make me feel loved.<br />
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-85134922932576005942016-08-27T14:46:00.001-05:002016-08-27T15:59:02.179-05:00Student Conferences in Reading Workshop<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUI-G_NU0jgzMQOJBfnSbPIzW26exfHs975uH-Bz4KQl0mm5PawX_oLTPztVTYoYzM2grwQE6NY4h2aoqyf2nMJjJDekYQfJS3cPOyMFuBbb-rrbqsgtgwZdMd62O7zOV6UkHvrc-1v18/s1600/conferfb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tips and resources for conducting student conferences during reading workshop." border="0" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUI-G_NU0jgzMQOJBfnSbPIzW26exfHs975uH-Bz4KQl0mm5PawX_oLTPztVTYoYzM2grwQE6NY4h2aoqyf2nMJjJDekYQfJS3cPOyMFuBbb-rrbqsgtgwZdMd62O7zOV6UkHvrc-1v18/s1600/conferfb.jpg" title="Student Conferences in Reading Workshop" /></a></div>
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When I first started using the reading workshop approach with my students, my biggest worry was determining how I'd know students were understanding what they read. The answer to my worry was individual conferences with my students. Today I'd like to share some tips and resources for implementing student conferences.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>After the completion of the mini-lesson for the day (you can read more about mini-lessons <a href="http://www.krazytownblog.com/2013/08/readers-workshop-mini-lesson.html" target="_blank">here</a>), I'd send students off to read on their own. Once they were settled in their reading spots, I'd begin conferring.<br />
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Every day I set up my clipboard with the record keeping sheets of the four or five students I planned to confer with that day. You can find the conference note-taking form I used <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Workshop-Conference-Form-1205924" target="_blank">in my TpT shop</a>. Here's what it looks like:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxtLC2rj5Ig-Rx00TsTAOWZb-xJfM-9xysdO2TCico1w_WENHSNdYZp1J8FyGURwxBAjs5eZumnC-2eoXbUXC39_gLxzbkTjvYc-mnoHD-MvyJKP6JDFFSotCMDXMYt4k-01TMiWUtpk/s1600/Conference+Form+single.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Record your observations from your reading conference on this sheet." border="0" height="492" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDxtLC2rj5Ig-Rx00TsTAOWZb-xJfM-9xysdO2TCico1w_WENHSNdYZp1J8FyGURwxBAjs5eZumnC-2eoXbUXC39_gLxzbkTjvYc-mnoHD-MvyJKP6JDFFSotCMDXMYt4k-01TMiWUtpk/s640/Conference+Form+single.jpg" title="Student Conferences in Reading Workshop" width="640" /></a></div>
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To begin the conference, I'd approach the first child on my list and sit next to them. I had previously taught them to start reading aloud from wherever they were in the text when I sat next to them. Listening to them read aloud gave me a quick check of their fluency. As they read, I noted fluency and any strategies they used while figuring unfamiliar words on the recording sheet. I stopped them by placing my hand on the book when I had a sense of whether the text was a just right book for the student. This took no more than a minute.<br />
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Next I asked them to tell me about what they had read since the last conference. This was my chance to check their comprehension. I recorded information about the retelling on the recording sheet. If students were reading a book I was unfamiliar with, I would quickly read the blurb on the back to get a sense of the plot. You'd be surprised how much you can glean from the blurb!<br />
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The next step was to dig a little deeper into their comprehension. I used this time to check how well they were applying the information we had practiced during the mini-lesson. For example, if we had worked on describing character traits, I'd ask the student to tell me about the character traits exhibited by the main character in the book he was reading.<br />
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Knowing what questions to ask to spark this conversation wasn't easy when I first began conducting reading conferences. To help me, I developed these conferring cards that I carried with me when meeting with students. I printed them, cut them out, and put them on a binder ring. I could flip to the card that addressed the skill I was checking up on and have an assortment of questions to pick from. The cards have questions for both fiction and non-fiction. This resource is available <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Workshop-Conference-Cards-1169508" target="_blank">here in my TpT store.</a> Here's an example:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbEZY7Bho10eM4mCsaW7N0_ImscmzZrVjnk5KAgM64zZFty3olxyJdvzdQwaVPx5GC1IzhEi08dqpYJOUCHew13QFFfinPkL5lkqZbneYwXM-lalrXvtB2uEMD8H3hcRcuSe0Wx-mPVk/s1600/edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Use these conference cards to spark conversation with your students during a reading workshop student conference." border="0" height="266" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbEZY7Bho10eM4mCsaW7N0_ImscmzZrVjnk5KAgM64zZFty3olxyJdvzdQwaVPx5GC1IzhEi08dqpYJOUCHew13QFFfinPkL5lkqZbneYwXM-lalrXvtB2uEMD8H3hcRcuSe0Wx-mPVk/s400/edit.jpg" title="Student Conferences in Reading Workshop" width="400" /></a></div>
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When I had the information I needed, I thanked the student for talking with me, jotted down any more notes in the comments section of the recording sheet, flipped to the next sheet on my clipboard, and went to meet with the next student I had targeted for a conference that day. Each conference took me about five to seven minutes.<br />
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At the end of the day, I returned the recording sheets to my data binder and got out the sheets for the next day.<br />
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These anecdotal records were invaluable when meeting with parents and when referring students for intervention or extension. They also helped me identify teaching points for future mini-lessons.<br />
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If you are interested in either of these resources, just click on the picture and it will take you right to it in my TpT store.<br />
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Workshop-Conference-Form-1205924" target="_blank"><img alt="Use this recording sheet to take notes during your student conferences in reading workshop." border="0" height="200" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4vGDR_0dWD9lzahlT5aXDwpPymNwDsISZnezPmUDN5B74fpiu86ymgVlU9YGgHjiKxLaveNQixLB6s_q4YvFKu666qTp4x_nhLOQZJ9SHFfZkzFJRtkjM-xAUF8Fe4jLhQCbcg44EP0/s200/Slide5.JPG" title="Recording Sheet for Student Reading Conferences" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Workshop-Conference-Cards-1169508" target="_blank"><img alt="Improve your student reading conferences with these handy conference cards." border="0" height="200" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBPWGD5xekz-kQHdidukBDVbqW8BdGv_qqlXKhOHgkm2FaaSIhneDxSYDpcDyhSJYMZ4ois9uWmGGi6Xo8zAvaMz1Py7FWxMSC_6X_XK0NM7gL-0leUCEYOZ5dPSwvxsNxfnyDjTWxB0/s200/Slide18.JPG" title="Conference Cards for Reading Workshop" width="200" /></a></div>
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If you are implementing reading workshop, I'd love to hear what is working for you!<br />
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/6262886961822788/" target="_blank"><img alt="Tips and resources for conducting student conferences during reading workshop." border="0" data-pin-description="Tips and resources for conducting student conferences during reading workshop." height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqdbdtH-vHKpsmjkvjiK8MXYPEHEVbM0OMqgtcyetMzFdYiQBaiD-C-zEFG_9uZ5qsXS6aVWQnFZsWQZQLKBvTBaK52kBu9aZwCm8OH-BnDB01Gew-yYIHyIMC7oxOIKDrkg16AmEw-8/s400/conferringpin.jpg" title="Student Conferences in Reading Workshp" width="266" /></a></div>
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<img border="0" height="77" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8wod6ia2PLLwN7FnZyaJg-f_xgq1SpFEh4P-L2W-av76CzALS2lir8UMGYjFTvl5-jDvh_pX5FFovAVdDE1QWioqVe1uXVkRLqDDjcvNzZPBuh1ZtJQtTsvWDI9koQN8t8yQi-aKUTA/s320/Signature.png" width="320" /></div>
Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-27162833072407394032016-08-09T14:16:00.002-05:002016-08-15T14:12:51.630-05:00Topic, Theme, & Prompt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyv_7ajgNP-H5VbDyEhCroaMIt8zPjlnxzBfVrfXqZWsoCuSNjVi6PHuzi3EW7hOi3PqrkU7SbRXms8lxMaqN7sqT31rDUiDK0Z0pcWDsB12Qbq0HfHcxG1OQje2xwKedhPUIr7P117k/s1600/ttpfb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Get more out of your teaching time by using children's literature to spark writing prompts." border="0" height="336" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyv_7ajgNP-H5VbDyEhCroaMIt8zPjlnxzBfVrfXqZWsoCuSNjVi6PHuzi3EW7hOi3PqrkU7SbRXms8lxMaqN7sqT31rDUiDK0Z0pcWDsB12Qbq0HfHcxG1OQje2xwKedhPUIr7P117k/s640/ttpfb.jpg" title="Use read alouds to spark writing prompts" width="640" /></a></div>
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One of the best ways to get more out of your teaching time is to incorporate reading and writing by using good children's literature to spark a writing prompt. Here's an example of how I did this to reinforce teaching about theme.<br />
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With each read-aloud following an initial introduction to theme, I'd ask students to list the possible themes in the book. This allowed me to continually reinforce the idea of theme.<br />
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Occasionally I went further and asked them to respond to the book by using this chart.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4auZ-dv5-ZXgWpRPNoP2pH8LiDk5Z1SLqEkVQg7sEKyE55QGtjLe6mpq30bbu6jBCQH-4ZdqY2QFfYoVTBlgya1s4HDsWGhdGSoDExP79W8XDDtRRtRYgbWAsfxiev1xJV2pi6nFFEY/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4auZ-dv5-ZXgWpRPNoP2pH8LiDk5Z1SLqEkVQg7sEKyE55QGtjLe6mpq30bbu6jBCQH-4ZdqY2QFfYoVTBlgya1s4HDsWGhdGSoDExP79W8XDDtRRtRYgbWAsfxiev1xJV2pi6nFFEY/s640/Slide1.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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In the first column, we'd list topics - one word that the book might be about. Topics are broad ideas like school, friendship, or pets.</div>
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In the second column, we'd list a theme that related to each topic. Themes are statements. Please don't teach your students that themes are one word. That will really mess them up in higher level classes!</div>
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Finally, in the last column, we'd generate a prompt that flowed from the topic and theme.</div>
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Here's an example using this fabulous book by Eve Bunting. (Clicking on the book cover takes you to the book on Amazon using my affiliate link.)</div>
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<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=kratow-20&l=am2&o=1&a=0618434771" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/One-Green-Apple-Eve-Bunting/dp/0618434771/ref=as_sl_pc_qf_sp_asin_til?tag=kratow-20&linkCode=w00&linkId=0a76cbd7daa466d12be3fc8a3f80caa6&creativeASIN=0618434771" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="320" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOWejpV-beK51exSBcocoxttH4aRY9w4gS5-pZ77bVWFKkSvNLlro0HrO-Px98nCQ08iDU_vhyNUAkMkScpUqiFfduYET8F3jaSEUQhc63fup9HOCPLmLet0TXgMFl1L32RniCKf6eww/s320/616LKQoFFaL._SX420_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
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Eve Bunting writes wonderful books for discussion, and this is no exception. The main character is a Muslim girl who is new to her school and doesn't speak English. Her class takes a field trip to an apple orchard, and when the apples picked by the students are used to make cider, Farah starts to connect with the other students and begins to feel like she belongs.</div>
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After reading the book, we completed the chart above. It looked something like this.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKnmLwlNJgz1aigWw17peuKNBev_fhq14ENPy4nVqgb4CrDjdC4l7ZeKN-0cksVFekioYQ3C2IKKJQ1J-9HItj__SGYmK6wCicFVy6yqgHVRGHQaNwHTEb3GLN5ak5ULH97oJT9MxA0w/s1600/topic+theme+prompt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJKnmLwlNJgz1aigWw17peuKNBev_fhq14ENPy4nVqgb4CrDjdC4l7ZeKN-0cksVFekioYQ3C2IKKJQ1J-9HItj__SGYmK6wCicFVy6yqgHVRGHQaNwHTEb3GLN5ak5ULH97oJT9MxA0w/s640/topic+theme+prompt.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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For the sake of brevity, I only included a few of each element here, although your students will quite likely list more.</div>
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You can see that the topics listed are broad ideas and the themes are statements. For each theme, we generated a prompt.</div>
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The final step involves inviting students to choose a prompt and write. Sometimes we'd take this response through the writing process and sometimes we just stopped here after having some sharing time.</div>
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Later in the year, after I'd taught about citing evidence from the text, I'd require that in their response. Students could cite Farah's feelings or events from the book that supported their ideas.</div>
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Is this something you could try? I'd love to hear your ideas about it!</div>
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/6262886961703071/" target="_blank"><img alt="Get more out of your teaching time by using children's literature to spark writing prompts." border="0" data-pin-description="Get more out of your teaching time by using children's literature to spark writing prompts." height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf-1n3VedbUSedpTaZQWqf_PpJeWLLZ4j4rbdROU6rLaVmyIX-fnsAicgpkIF2kT_WXuzi12tfSFZxVaXSO_yIY8QAdS5QfBUCwxUlK41Oond35NdZBjvHr-huhIIayJtBzFm_ubXvXhU/s400/ttppin.jpg" title="Use read alouds to spark writing prompts" width="266" /></a></div>
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-42318411172687640902016-07-10T09:00:00.000-05:002016-08-03T15:23:11.973-05:00Teaching About Abstract Nouns<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRZXoBjKRRtRVj9Uh9eVrPhbVHMLxUWGkdf63vCBDF8JKSdZXVf6Xr7Ok45a5G4Jt0mQy2o1JWfO-Uc7mvwiT3oapRimTNF2ZGzaE9rFhGEfd-lh7fS8vl8DWFCO84hufhKF1JLdMkMI/s1600/abstractnounsfb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="There's more to nouns than just people, places, and things. Learn how I teach about abstract nouns, incorporating a project to show off student learning." border="0" height="336" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRZXoBjKRRtRVj9Uh9eVrPhbVHMLxUWGkdf63vCBDF8JKSdZXVf6Xr7Ok45a5G4Jt0mQy2o1JWfO-Uc7mvwiT3oapRimTNF2ZGzaE9rFhGEfd-lh7fS8vl8DWFCO84hufhKF1JLdMkMI/s640/abstractnounsfb.jpg" title="Teaching About Abstract Nouns" width="640" /></a></div>
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Teaching grammar is not hard, but making sure students connect the lesson to their own writing is. I like to make sure that students create a project using the grammar concept we've learned to help cement the knowledge. Today I'd like to share how I teach about abstract nouns.<br />
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Abstract nouns are difficult for students because so often they have heard that a noun is a person, place, or thing. All of those things are concrete, so it's easy for students to create a mental picture of them.<br />
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It's important to teach students that there is another type of noun - an idea. These ideas are called abstract nouns. Here's how I go about it.<br />
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Step One</h4>
I introduce the concept by reading this book. (I can only find it available used. Click on the picture and it will take you to used book sellers on Amazon who are offering it.)<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Serendipity-Tobi-Tobias/dp/0689833733/ref=sr_1_25?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1468096780&sr=1-25&keywords=serendipity" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="270" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlNqUBs6tnygXaFYtGQwqwG_A6YyH3O7pm6jGZeu5d3g9P7LUMQTHz3r7fp_z3eXuMQ-xAeOCA3gpKMF-RgyDx_N8PUWK46NI9qZE1SuqN_WajELUh6EV_CtuOV9CtmDjbGlruAKO9ko/s320/images.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Each page of the book defines the word "serendipity" by giving examples of it in use, without ever giving the dictionary definition of the word.</div>
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Step Two</h4>
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I have students draw a slip of paper labeled with an abstract noun from a bowl. I prepare the slips of paper beforehand by printing and cutting up this sheet. I fold each slip in half so students draw at random. You can grab a copy of the list I use <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/cdyht0ruol2ww6g/abstract%20nouns.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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Step Three</h4>
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Allow students time to brainstorm examples of the word, modeling after the examples in the book. I usually have students list these examples in their writer's notebooks. If students don't know the meaning of the word, they use the dictionary to help them gain an understanding.</div>
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Step Four</h4>
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Have students choose three of the examples from their lists. I have students fold a sheet of paper to make a 4-page book. The first page is the title page and then they put one of their examples on each of the other pages. I also ask them to complete an illustration for each page.</div>
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Step Five</h4>
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Allow students time to share their books. This can be accomplished by doing a gallery walk or by having students read their books to the class over several days.</div>
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Step Six</h4>
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After we have shared our writing, we create an anchor chart for Nouns, showing that they can represent a person, place, thing, or idea. I have students recreate the anchor chart in their writer's notebooks, as I do with every anchor chart we create.</div>
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/6262886961476201/" target="_blank"><img alt="There's more to nouns than just people, places, and things. Learn how I teach about abstract nouns, incorporating a project to show off student learning." border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHFwB8JdZ4s2NSJIZr7-s4q5Z4v1ChKkmrEafAQKESYz6-TucnZojS3nJcoKQinQg5BNhCxE7g79SwMducHiXLMDDoxBPEhsx6RtLF0YA7g-6rR519CTHPc_YASdojIPNYdrtDP8SS6ic/s400/abstractnounspin.jpg" title="Teaching About Abstract Nouns" width="266" /></a></div>
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Every single time I teach a grammar concept, I ask the students to try to incorporate it in their writing. During the week following this lesson, I ask students to include a sentence with an abstract noun in their CUPS. (You can read more about CUPS <a href="http://www.krazytownblog.com/2014/07/throwback-thursday-revisiting-cups.html" target="_blank">here</a>.)<br />
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How do you teach grammar concepts to your students? I'd love to hear from you!<br />
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-88589264596816075252016-07-03T10:36:00.000-05:002016-08-03T15:23:20.202-05:00Teaching Students When to Start a New Paragraph<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3gJ9gEkrDWblwxAuoFT30Urbf7avfKz4q6u6BYiW8ScxQPP2135-Nq-7GBdV4DUKz3XHujewbVS4I7giX0kiz6Mv-F9JnkzNTiO1RtfkWEE7k-Dfayid4OXX9eOe2fqE56vxc9BtOso/s1600/paragraphfb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teach your students when to start a new paragraph using an easy to remember rhyme." border="0" height="336" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha3gJ9gEkrDWblwxAuoFT30Urbf7avfKz4q6u6BYiW8ScxQPP2135-Nq-7GBdV4DUKz3XHujewbVS4I7giX0kiz6Mv-F9JnkzNTiO1RtfkWEE7k-Dfayid4OXX9eOe2fqE56vxc9BtOso/s640/paragraphfb.jpg" title="Teaching Students When to Start a New Paragraph" width="640" /></a></div>
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I don't know about you, but my students had no idea about paragraphing. They just wrote a story or essay that was one long paragraph. That is, they did until I taught them this little rhyme.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyiFsMjMPVCmQ4UG2Ysf8m4crV5iWZa0cm4L5DD3C4cxKRXpzSOgcRzB101_jvA3lOSxR53cQMWypGOlqJ1IhW0nlhQX_rsC4DFlDu6XVwgU9quD1WNSeefLIlppSdJvzaeZH90srw40/s1600/writing+rhyme.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilyiFsMjMPVCmQ4UG2Ysf8m4crV5iWZa0cm4L5DD3C4cxKRXpzSOgcRzB101_jvA3lOSxR53cQMWypGOlqJ1IhW0nlhQX_rsC4DFlDu6XVwgU9quD1WNSeefLIlppSdJvzaeZH90srw40/s400/writing+rhyme.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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There are four things you need to explain in the rhyme:<br />
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Topic</h4>
the topic or subject changes<br />
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Territory</h4>
there is a change in setting or location<br />
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Talker</h4>
the speaker changes, usually in dialog<br />
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Time</h4>
a period of time passes, i.e., the next day, later that afternoon<br />
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I like to have students glue a copy of the rhyme into their writer's notebooks. I've provided this <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/7w0kqvxsqsy4yr8/writing%20rhyme.pdf?dl=0" target="_blank">download</a> for you. Just click on the link to get the document.<br />
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After introducing the rhyme, practice noticing paragraph changes with your students. You can use your current read-aloud, the books students are currently reading, or you can select a specific piece of text. I projected it and asked students which of the four conditions the paragraph change met.<br />
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The rhyme provides language for you to use when you hold writing conferences with your students. For example, you might say, "There's a change in setting here. What do you need to do when that happens?"<br />
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/6262886961426550/" target="_blank"><img alt="Teach your students when to start a new paragraph using an easy to remember rhyme." border="0" data-pin-description="Teach your students when to start a new paragraph using an easy to remember rhyme." height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilcKKqAgvffe3W8NYYbzTnBmaobOHhxSnxbsDyAVq-ZhPhIq_05TZiUMZCy9rzGncdhyjjFkb50AmZ5PJuoRQkzTgh7MR_RovhQu76LGhJJ5ASFmm4GyXjO-L_hgkOFSllGgOZPsxmds/s400/paragraphpin.jpg" title="Teaching Students When to Start a New Paragraph" width="266" /></a></div>
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I love tying reading and writing together. Do you have suggestions for teaching how to start a new paragraph? I'd love to hear from you!<br />
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-78111810191513975982016-06-21T08:30:00.000-05:002018-08-15T09:52:26.695-05:00Introducing the Writing Process<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZmNlFjKjC8_qm82fX1BrYqcmbLezzeF4nrs7y7KcaF58kQoMG6jjiSIEbD5I9iuXbuO4O31pj_YBL9Uae4AWeQSDJMBY8Bz0bNyNW3na7pkwevUjKgoGS_etYaW4YzMRMK2jCzU-elk/s1600/writingprocessfb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="435" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZmNlFjKjC8_qm82fX1BrYqcmbLezzeF4nrs7y7KcaF58kQoMG6jjiSIEbD5I9iuXbuO4O31pj_YBL9Uae4AWeQSDJMBY8Bz0bNyNW3na7pkwevUjKgoGS_etYaW4YzMRMK2jCzU-elk/s640/writingprocessfb.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Following the writing process is a key component of teaching writing through the writer's workshop approach. Many of my students came to me without any knowledge of the writing process, so I made sure to expose them to it during the first week of school. An easy way to do that is with the One Sentence Writing Process.<br />
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<b>Step 1: Pre-Write</b></h3>
Prepare in advance a variety of topics you could write about. Some ideas might include your favorite book, your pet, something you did over the summer, or something you are good at. Share these topics with your students through a think-aloud. Then give students time to turn and talk with their table groups about other topics they might be interested in writing about. Invite the table groups to share. Ask students to select a topic for the activity.<br />
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<b>Step 2: Draft</b></h3>
Ask each student to write one sentence about their chosen topic. Write yours on chart paper as students write theirs in their writer's notebooks. (It's incredibly important that you write alongside your students.) Provide time for students to share, either in their table groups or whole class.<br />
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<b>Step 3: Revise</b></h3>
Model revising your sentence using ARMS -- adding a word to clarify, removing something unnecessary, moving an idea or word, or substituting a better word. (I use ARMS throughout the year, so this is a good time to introduce it.) Allow students time to revise and time to share their revision.<br />
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<b>Step 4: Edit</b></h3>
I teach students to use CUPS to edit - check for Capital letters, Usage, Punctuation, and Spelling. You can find a post on that <a href="http://www.krazytownblog.com/2014/07/throwback-thursday-revisiting-cups.html">here</a>. You can also have them simply check for beginning capitalization, ending punctuation, and correct spelling for this first writing activity. Have students check with one other person to make sure there are no errors.<br />
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<b>Step 5: Publish</b></h3>
Allow students to publish their wonderful sentence. I always gave my students a sentence strip (or two, if needed) for them to write their sentence on. I made them use pencil first, reread to make sure they wrote correctly, and then trace over with marker. Publish your sentence, too.<br />
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Finally, I posted the wonderful sentences in a display for others to see. This made a great first week bulletin board and set up the students to use the writing process for the rest of the year.<br />
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<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/6262886961413104/" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-pin-description="Introduce the writing process to your students by having them take just one sentence through the 5 steps." height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVqWnr7jCx4R8MUXZCqlYjYBeDnu9A_2IxejyThvngZbC6JbT9MdQpa5APUVhjbcfCOBoFg1p4UPcOrl-cup_HDlsz2r0d_Yi6_VmCmj0QkoEdHDKH2KNh3M6bGjD6Unv3Ii-7xT0QIQ4/s400/writingprocesspin.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Is this something you see yourself using in your classroom? Do you have any other ideas for introducing the writing process? I'd love to hear from you!<br />
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-90456655408765948272016-05-01T09:00:00.000-05:002018-04-02T18:07:51.344-05:00A Tip for Packing Up Your Classroom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.72px;">It's that time of year. School is almost out. All you can think of is being ready turn in your keys as quickly as you can after you wave goodbye to your kids that last day. </span><span style="line-height: 27.72px;">Here's a tip for packing up your classroom that will make life easier when you return after summer break.</span><br />
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<a name='more'></a>Where I taught, we had to have all materials except desks and chairs up and off the floor, and all moveable bookcases emptied. Built-in bookcases had to be covered in paper. Then we could finally turn in our keys and start our summer.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.72px;">I always started packing up my room the last couple of weeks before the end of the year. I'd slowly put away things that weren't crucial to instruction. Then that last day, I'd <strike>throw everything else into boxes labeled Miscellaneous</strike> finish up. I figured out one tip right away. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.72px;">Before you are pack away materials this year, grab a box and label it "Open Me First." Then, as you pack, put in those things that are vital to setting up your room.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.72px;">I included a stapler and staples, scissors, tape dispenser, blank labels for labeling student materials, file folder of back to school ideas, Kleenex, bulletin board decor for beginning the year, writing utensils - markers, pens, pencils, pencil sharpener, and so on. I'm sure you can think of plenty more.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.72px;">Once it is full, make sure it is placed somewhere you can easily find it when you come back in the fall. Then you'll be ready to go without ransacking all the other boxes.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.72px;">For more bright ideas from different bloggers, please browse through the link-up below and choose a topic/grade level that interests you. Thanks for visiting!</span><br />
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-62263069492099912492016-04-26T16:31:00.001-05:002016-06-30T17:06:13.335-05:00Vocabulary, Dialogue, and Context Clues - Triple Duty Resources<br />
The biggest struggle in teaching is that there's never enough time for all you need to teach your students. With all the demands on your time with students, it's so important to, whenever possible, use resources that do double or triple duty.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bxIIlBlgp2mJWm07LXXy_EpCgCK9CWIisbP6CflMdl1sn2Dx4SkLtwiPNAjQcgxQRGL10UPjjvUpRWWsh3m9Nrj5m5X7UDrM8uELo9oR2SM_4SJpddOQ880BO9-sSlvd9zvTykzBQ7k/s1600/tripleduty+pin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Triple duty resources help you make the most of your classroom time. Incorporate vocabulary, dialog, and context clues in one resource!" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bxIIlBlgp2mJWm07LXXy_EpCgCK9CWIisbP6CflMdl1sn2Dx4SkLtwiPNAjQcgxQRGL10UPjjvUpRWWsh3m9Nrj5m5X7UDrM8uELo9oR2SM_4SJpddOQ880BO9-sSlvd9zvTykzBQ7k/s400/tripleduty+pin.jpg" title="Triple duty resources help you make the most of your classroom time. Incorporate vocabulary, dialog, and context clues in one resource!" width="261" /></a></div>
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Back in the day, I had a morning routine that my students followed. When they entered the classroom, they put away their backpacks, signed in for attendance, and got started on CUPS. (Read more about CUPS <a href="http://www.krazytownblog.com/2014/07/throwback-thursday-revisiting-cups.html">here</a>.)<br />
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When they finished CUPS, they started on a vocabulary activity. I've taken that activity and translated it into a resource you can use easily. It incorporates vocabulary, context clues, and dialogue.<br />
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Each resource includes a set of 20 task cards. Each card contains a set of dialogue that provides several context clues to help students define the word. Here is a sample:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqGD8L0yHELK0rXOUf_Sj2iLghxaugQoRl0GHqTnnCLcQOzi__hKQf1xiz8Q7fL9l7YBD6jHU0M2dPpAuteLeYuXk-Rb6SWvEL8kacYW8kD2MJZxEyxMuXeGsajBWdhrKU0bXFYnzkqE/s1600/sample.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqGD8L0yHELK0rXOUf_Sj2iLghxaugQoRl0GHqTnnCLcQOzi__hKQf1xiz8Q7fL9l7YBD6jHU0M2dPpAuteLeYuXk-Rb6SWvEL8kacYW8kD2MJZxEyxMuXeGsajBWdhrKU0bXFYnzkqE/s320/sample.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've included all three types of dialogue - tag at the front, tag at the end, and interrupted dialogue. Punctuating dialogue is a difficult skill to master. Seeing it presented several times can help reinforce the rules.<br />
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You can also see that I've provided several context clues. Those on the card above happen to be synonyms for the vocabulary word. Other cards include more types of context clues so students have practice in multiple types.</div>
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An answer document for students to record their answers and an answer key are included. Keep in mind, though, that student definitions may vary from the "official" definition. As long as they get the basic meaning, I'd count it as correct.</div>
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You can use these cards as an independent review activity or or with a group of students for a concentrated reteach on context clues. </div>
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Each set comes with both color and grey-scale backgrounds.</div>
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Click on the product cover below to see them in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.</div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Context-Clues-Task-Cards-2518757"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGmRxxx3U5LpNJvgTJWMfjC-0Jt5gU26mRfp5SWny7Ym-BnraP1YTfuaAWfO7kEi6YTJMmc-D_Lzcsaq3VjWRaM2BFkwyYYY2CbMdIM3YckmG0dA1LKv-VxG25zRFqs3PuS-myL3v4ks0/s200/covers.jpg" width="200" /></a> <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Context-Clues-Task-Cards-Set-2-2519134"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDS0nbNF70uFYskS7-3ofarmDl8faQ2G_3Ys3KRvkAJZh8u7bQPvLonb-KIhbhvO1ceeIQv5XzVMHV4zHTkiVydg9RNDjdnKRkHXIeT9XwJc9HnZ_UfPP3mkStannFIAp33ptv5AbRrPQ/s200/cover2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-86841259626255093992016-04-01T20:21:00.003-05:002016-05-24T11:00:00.493-05:00Currently April<span style="font-family: inherit;">Gosh, I've been gone from the blog for a while. I'll explain in the Currently below!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9lNrehQAHM5qPziY2xI0nQk5FjvGKjDzeaFGz2HgFXsWak1BxHfT5XV_61OKufk4g_-3mhf9mrqi3CoEZWdTiK4UNpdPj_RfFDJ27oa3HPU02No9dz21dzsMv6LzHXcNIoJaIcZSnM8/s1600/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9lNrehQAHM5qPziY2xI0nQk5FjvGKjDzeaFGz2HgFXsWak1BxHfT5XV_61OKufk4g_-3mhf9mrqi3CoEZWdTiK4UNpdPj_RfFDJ27oa3HPU02No9dz21dzsMv6LzHXcNIoJaIcZSnM8/s400/Picture1.png" width="310" /></a></div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>listening </b>to The Amazing Race. I love this show. I could never be a contestant because I would have no patience with my partner. Nor am I athletic enough, although I can swim and drive a stick shift.</span></li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>loving</b> the weather. Not too hot, which I just can't. </span></li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 27.72px;">I'm </span><b style="line-height: 27.72px;">thinking </b><span style="line-height: 27.72px;">about </span><span style="line-height: 27.72px;">April Fool's Day when I was a teacher. I loved to prank my kids. </span><span style="line-height: 16.08px;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'd deliberately swipe a green marker on my cheek. When my students told me about it, I said, "Sure, sure. You just want me </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; line-height: 16.08px;">to go look so you can say A</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; line-height: 16.08px;">pril Fool!" The ensuing begging and pleading to listen to them was too funny. I had trouble keeping a straight face. They tried to rope in other teachers - tell her she has marker on her face! I held firm. Tee hee!</span></span></span></li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>wanting </b>to <span style="line-height: 27.72px;">win the lottery. I had surprise gall bladder surgery last month and then we had to replace the heating/air conditioning unit in our house. Ouch.</span></span></li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>needing </b>to get back on my exercise bike. 'Nuff said.</span></li>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I love KG Fonts and it really hurts to use Comic Sans on this Currently, but I'm going with it!</span></li>
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<span style="line-height: 27.72px;">Okay, it's your turn! Go on over to Farley's blog and check out some other posts!</span></div>
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-70007074943259796042016-02-11T13:19:00.004-06:002016-06-15T09:39:12.061-05:00Revising Fragments and Run-Ons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SOS-Revising-Fragments-and-Run-Ons-2384148"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2e15KNLX7rYybK3oiZs9mG4Y4ejUS4e-JxnHr7pSltsRSy80UI5fAYQMO9lCZ_j8vtT_YlzBhASgQOZ7rHenLQxr-yOLQ4GGeSt1QUjdY-Q543CDbwKXeh4kmlPqZGbFaYhgZSf8LzGM/s400/SOS.jpg" width="308" /></a></div>
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After talking with a former colleague yesterday about the upcoming STAAR Writing test for Texas fourth graders, I decided to take this idea and put it in my Teachers Pay Teachers store.</div>
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My students always struggled with the revision questions on the test, and it was because they had difficulty recognizing sentence fragments and run-on sentences. I came up with the idea of SOS. Students are given a set of three "sentences." They have to identify whether each one is a fragment, a run on, or a whole sentence. Then they have to fix the fragment, repair the run on, and spot the sentence.</div>
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We did this every Friday for several months before the test, and my students aced the revising questions. An added bonus was that I saw a lot fewer fragments and run ons in their essays.</div>
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Click on the picture above and it will take you to my TpT store.</div>
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<br />Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-58671513256768767832016-02-08T11:02:00.002-06:002016-06-16T09:36:12.744-05:00Valentine's Empathy and KindnessOne of the lessons I always tried to teach my students was about having empathy and showing kindness towards others. Valentine's Day offered the perfect opportunity to do so.<br />
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This is one of my favorite books. (Clicking on the link will take you to Amazon, where you can purchase the book. Note - I get a very small commission when you use my link to purchase, but it doesn't cost you anything.)<br />
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<a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20rel=%22nofollow%22%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0689718721/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0689718721&linkCode=as2&tag=kratow-20&linkId=MPXIDTSZFRPI4IMM%22%3ESomebody%20Loves%20You,%20Mr.%20Hatch%20(paperback)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=kratow-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0689718721%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxuXlilC5nq1hyphenhyphenWI73wOVRGHXFA-npM0oFQFJyF90tWL6PYJHdK3-dJduXNKli-wF62bAXYbWtSk3T-ygCl0bhT03xmg-O8fS7o8UurzOI5Ckj3BPv2nN0VfPfXUpj4d94ztvSD1vsDc4/s320/516fKOEqELL.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
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I loved reading the book to my students. They could easily identify with Mr. Hatch since there were times when all of them had felt lonely. We talked about how he felt after he received the anonymous gift.<br />
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Then I talked about how wonderful it felt for us to get Valentines from our classmates and our friends, how that made us feel loved. I said I loved the Valentines I got from my class, but that not all the adults in the school had a homeroom class to give them Valentines. We brainstormed a list of everyone that might be in that position - custodians, people who worked in the front office, cafeteria workers, teachers who provide pull-out services. Then each student selected one of the people from the list and made a special Valentine for them. We decided to sign them with this closing - From Someone Who Loves You. We thought that might make them think of all the people in the school who truly cared about them, like Mr. Hatch did.<br />
<br />
At the end of the day, I slipped the Valentines into the mailboxes of the people who were to receive them. I lingered in the area so that I could hear any comments made and relay them to the students. My class was so excited to hear that they had a hand in making some of our special employees feel the Valentine's love.<br />
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If you try this with your students, please let me know. It will make me feel loved.<br />
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<img border="0" height="77" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8wod6ia2PLLwN7FnZyaJg-f_xgq1SpFEh4P-L2W-av76CzALS2lir8UMGYjFTvl5-jDvh_pX5FFovAVdDE1QWioqVe1uXVkRLqDDjcvNzZPBuh1ZtJQtTsvWDI9koQN8t8yQi-aKUTA/s320/Signature.png" style="text-align: center;" width="320" />Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-77535601574637824312016-02-03T12:01:00.004-06:002016-06-16T09:50:01.982-05:00Fish Bowl! A Party Game for the Classroom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This party game is totally adaptable to the classroom!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyZCOQEqGUVgQe-pLR4Aj7Iplyq7xPJ6ZT1vlqx9oh9S_z0ehujiM5GQbL-w_tMHKKRfx_9C5nkGRpHFlh48kSWreodi0pSTnzKlqC4814idvc8-jJ4echmOxd53MUFo08Go0Cxw6v00/s1600/fishbowl1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fish Bowl! A fun game that can be adapted for the classroom. krazytownblog.com" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwyZCOQEqGUVgQe-pLR4Aj7Iplyq7xPJ6ZT1vlqx9oh9S_z0ehujiM5GQbL-w_tMHKKRfx_9C5nkGRpHFlh48kSWreodi0pSTnzKlqC4814idvc8-jJ4echmOxd53MUFo08Go0Cxw6v00/s320/fishbowl1.jpg" title="Fish Bowl! A fun game that can be adapted for the classroom. krazytownblog.com" width="243" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We hosted some of our good friends for a game night a few weeks ago. We have played Taboo, Loaded Questions, Cards Against Humanity, and some other games in the past, so I wanted to try something new. I put my Google skills to work and located a game called Fish Bowl! It was a blast!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We started off the evening with food. We set up a make-your-own-chalupa bar and our guests brought an appetizer or a dessert. While we were eating and chatting, I told everyone to take 3 slips of paper I had cut in advance and write the name of a famous person everyone in the room should know on each slip. Then they folded them up and put them in a bowl.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">When we were ready to play, we divided up into two teams. </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">This game has three rounds.</span><br />
<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></strong>
<strong style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">Round 1: Taboo</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;">
Team A needs to select someone to go first, while Team B needs a volunteer to
watch the timer (set at one minute). We used the timer on someone's phone. The person from Team A grabs a piece
of paper from the container and tries to have his/her teammates guess the word on
the paper using only words and sentences as hints, without using any
motions, "sounds like..." hints, or spelling hints. The person tries to
have their team guess as many words as they can in one minute. It's important for both teams to pay attention because you need to remember the guessed words/phrases for subsequent rounds.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">If the team is unable to guess the word/phrase, the person has
the option to "pass", put the word/phrase back into the container
and continues with a new word/phrase. The person can only pass once during
his/her one minute.</span><br />
<div class="style5" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="style5" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">After one minute, Team A counts the number of successfully
guessed words/phrases. Each guessed word/phrase counts as one point. Team B is
next, and selects a volunteer from their team to start. A person from Team A
will watch the timer, set at one minute. This alternating process
continues until all of the words from the container have been used. When the words run
out, place all the words/phrases back into the container for the second round.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="style5" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="style5" style="background: white;">
<strong><span style="color: #333333;">Round 2: Password</span></strong></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="style51">Following the same process as the first round, the next team will
select someone to go first, while the other team sets the timer for one minute.
However, in this round, the person can use only <b>one </b>word as a hint for their
team to guess. The team needs to recall the words/phrases in the previous
round. Once all the words in the container run out, place all the words back
into the container for the third round.</span></span></span><br />
<strong style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></strong>
<strong style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;">Round 3: Charades</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span class="style51">In this final round, the person needs to act and use
motions as hints for their team to guess the word/phrase. You are not allowed to speak or make sounds. When all the words
run out, tally all the points. The team with the most points wins the game.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">We had a blast playing the game. Some of the names in the bowl included Kim Kardashian, Hitler, Tim Duncan (plays for our local NBA team, the Spurs), our much-detested former school superintendent, and Albert Einstein.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">After we finished the game (my team won!), we talked about ways this game could be played in classrooms. You could use vocabulary words for the words in the bowl. Wouldn't it be fun to play with the names of people you honored during Black History Month? What about science or math concepts? Spelling words? Let me know in the comments if you think of a great way to implement this!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">I've made a freebie for you with the directions. You can download it </span><a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/rlidkjx8yg4svww/fishbowl%20directions.pdf?dl=0">here</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;">. Have fun!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="77" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8wod6ia2PLLwN7FnZyaJg-f_xgq1SpFEh4P-L2W-av76CzALS2lir8UMGYjFTvl5-jDvh_pX5FFovAVdDE1QWioqVe1uXVkRLqDDjcvNzZPBuh1ZtJQtTsvWDI9koQN8t8yQi-aKUTA/s320/Signature.png" style="color: black; text-align: center;" width="320" /></span><br />
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-533526804316198492016-02-01T21:32:00.001-06:002016-05-24T11:01:24.544-05:00Currently February<div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Can
you believe January is over and it's time for another Currently? I didn't do
very well with my resolution to blog more, did I. Sigh. Well, anyway, here is
my contribution to the linky.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4PDEMT6fX6HyCEB9IF_yKIulJ2zwiJ-0ER6IsisZf7l4IrHBDAVCVamjUFTFbYNOn8MdtABjorspfebs6B5agETf3i0-D7E3jM_JVfP7CCCpLLrtdQFOK9-E-yfvRpIOelmH8UWMdqg/s1600/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4PDEMT6fX6HyCEB9IF_yKIulJ2zwiJ-0ER6IsisZf7l4IrHBDAVCVamjUFTFbYNOn8MdtABjorspfebs6B5agETf3i0-D7E3jM_JVfP7CCCpLLrtdQFOK9-E-yfvRpIOelmH8UWMdqg/s640/Picture1.png" width="491" /></span></a></div>
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<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.72px; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>listening </b>to reruns of The Big Bang Theory. It is probably my most favorite show. I always watch reruns of it if there isn't something new on that I am dying to see.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>loving</b> that the primaries have started. I have very strong opinions about politics. Don't worry, I won't share them here.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm <b>thinking </b>about </span><span style="line-height: 27.72px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">the Krispy Kreme doughnut I just scarfed down. We went to a birthday dinner for a good friend, and the restaurant happened to be near a KK store. I </span>am powerless to resist when the light is on. The struggle is real, y'all.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>wanting </b>to empty out the storage unit I am still paying rent on. I'm embarrassed to say that it's been half done for quite a while now. First it was too hot, then it was too cold. We have beautiful weather right now, so I need to be like Goldilocks and get it done.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>needing </b>a clean house. Again. Ugh. I just don't understand Why won't it stay clean after I get it done. We are having a few people over to watch the Super Bowl, so that is giving me motivation.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm <b>swooning </b>over all the new blog designs out there. I just took the plunge and asked Kristen from <a href="http://www.chalkandapplesdesign.com/">Chalk & Apples</a> Design to give mine a makeover. I'm loving the sleek, modern approach.</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="line-height: 27.72px;">Okay, it's your turn! Go on over to Farley's blog and check out some of the other folks who linked up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://ohboy3rdgrade.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow" title="Oh Boy It's Farley"><img alt="Oh Boy It's Farley" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRcGvVgpi4J5OczrfXlqH-4lkTLVb5BR3QogM3UVZJV2mIHWyX8Tn0C5Fzy1X7NhTTZ7VbozVlwEC_dW2HPEL7LF6y6aCNIQOSrdG1P1CADE6muauoMirdciJ373S7BNKXS7JZ68h70Q/s320/Large-Button8.png" style="border: none;" width="320" /></a></span><br />
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<img border="0" height="77" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8wod6ia2PLLwN7FnZyaJg-f_xgq1SpFEh4P-L2W-av76CzALS2lir8UMGYjFTvl5-jDvh_pX5FFovAVdDE1QWioqVe1uXVkRLqDDjcvNzZPBuh1ZtJQtTsvWDI9koQN8t8yQi-aKUTA/s320/Signature.png" style="text-align: center;" width="320" /></div>
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-45182326631244204362016-01-01T12:57:00.003-06:002016-05-24T11:01:43.913-05:00January CurrentlyOh, my goodness. Can you believe it is already the new year? It seems like 2015 just flew by!<br />
<br />
Here is my contribution to Farley's Currently.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONmN21dVGJoRl6KUwlsoPtFZaSxw1Alqg6xCueEIVOqY3Jsba4IJzSRqAE1ReLC07mYsmQznq3XC1t6njXTLGpLoGvwyeLuHjkNIXEDlVjtXGKRO6x2pGQd3PSK2qjzi9MDc_yEUNPu8/s1600/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONmN21dVGJoRl6KUwlsoPtFZaSxw1Alqg6xCueEIVOqY3Jsba4IJzSRqAE1ReLC07mYsmQznq3XC1t6njXTLGpLoGvwyeLuHjkNIXEDlVjtXGKRO6x2pGQd3PSK2qjzi9MDc_yEUNPu8/s640/Picture1.png" width="507" /></a></div>
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<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.72px; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>listening </b>to football. I am not a football fan. If given the choice, I will change the channel. Today I don't have the choice.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>loving</b> the cooler weather that finally arrived. It feels more like winter. I don't like the terrible storms that damaged Texas north of me, though. Such destruction right after Christmas is unbelievably sad.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm <b>thinking </b>about the game night we are hosting tomorrow. We have a great group of friends who are coming over. We will serve a make your own chalupa bar and play a couple of new games. Maybe I'll post about it after it's over.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>wanting </b>nothing. I am truly lucky to be so content in my life. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>needing </b>a clean house. See Game Night above.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">One Little Word.....</span></b></li>
</ul>
I've been thinking a lot about what I want my One Little Word to be for the upcoming year. After much contemplation, I've decided that my One Little Word is more.<br />
<br />
Not more things - I don't need more material possessions. No, this is about a change in frame of mind.<br />
<br />
In 2016 I want.....<br />
<br />
More blogging<br />
More working on TpT<br />
More collaboration<br />
More gratitude<br />
More patience<br />
More kindness<br />
More forgiveness<br />
<br />
I am determined to follow through this year.<br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "indie flower"; font-size: 20px; line-height: 27.72px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; line-height: 27.72px;">Now go visit Farley's blog and check out the other posts this month! Don't forget the Rule of Three.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "indie flower"; font-size: 20px; line-height: 27.72px;"><img border="0" height="77" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8wod6ia2PLLwN7FnZyaJg-f_xgq1SpFEh4P-L2W-av76CzALS2lir8UMGYjFTvl5-jDvh_pX5FFovAVdDE1QWioqVe1uXVkRLqDDjcvNzZPBuh1ZtJQtTsvWDI9koQN8t8yQi-aKUTA/s320/Signature.png" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: medium; line-height: normal; text-align: center;" width="320" /></span>
Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-78927985940883484532015-12-01T22:25:00.005-06:002016-05-24T11:02:10.682-05:00December Currently<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 13.5pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It's
hard to believe it is already December and the year is almost over. Can you
believe 2016 will be here before we know it? </span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />Here is the December Currently!</span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "indie flower";"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 27.72px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicfgv33eQ03775MNDBWSJSP2-z31kZJ-RPOZMspU2-ElMDhbnVZGp4UCo1C-drUd6tchw1OSEZKB2A09F2j6DMkbAH3y6t-Z4fEhlPZTsukoBq6Bk6PszzF2WftvYJKdM2DbYy_qEEfI/s1600/currently.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicfgv33eQ03775MNDBWSJSP2-z31kZJ-RPOZMspU2-ElMDhbnVZGp4UCo1C-drUd6tchw1OSEZKB2A09F2j6DMkbAH3y6t-Z4fEhlPZTsukoBq6Bk6PszzF2WftvYJKdM2DbYy_qEEfI/s640/currently.png" width="480" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "indie flower";"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 27.72px;">
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<span style="font-family: "indie flower";"><span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 27.72px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.72px; margin: 0.5em 0px; padding: 0px 2.5em;">
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>listening </b>to Chopped. I love that show. I've watched it for so long that I'm getting pretty good at figuring out who is going to be chopped.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>loving</b> that I got to spend Thanksgiving with my sister's family in Alabama. I have 2 nephews there and a great niece and a great nephew. I don't get to see them nearly enough. It was lots of fun hanging out with a 6 and an 8 year old.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm <b>thinking </b>about the basketball meet and greet I attended tonight for our UTSA Lady Roadrunners. It was great to hang out with the team and the coaches. </span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>wanting </b>to start writing more on my blog. I've been such a slacker.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>needing </b>to <span style="line-height: 27.72px;">finish my Christmas shopping. I'm almost through, but I need a few ideas for my mother-in-law. It doesn't help that her birthday is Dec. 23, so I need 2 gifts.</span></span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Real or Faux: </b>Somebody around here (not me) is allergic to real trees, so we have a faux one we decorate with patriotic colors and stars.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.72px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 27.72px;">Now go visit Farley's blog and check out the other posts this month! Don't forget the Rule of Three.</span><br />
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-17303128900152733532015-11-21T09:00:00.000-06:002016-05-24T11:02:51.097-05:00Bright Ideas Year in ReviewWelcome to the November edition of the Bright Ideas Link Up. This month is a special one. Over the past year, teacher bloggers have shared hundreds of great ideas through the monthly Bright Ideas Link Up, and now we are sharing a recap of some of the great ideas that were published during the year. Below are some of the ideas I shared.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xdKbeVJ33OHBOYHM1amSoboDMg2voaFK-pGqU9PN5x2ghIoh-8_iomHjU_MhyphenhyphenZRRmHIF8nDxsByZoQ-8untfV0RWR1uVpQpj0vTpcxAlezElHTspga1skKNbHnJ8O4g3bemaZX5OjF8/s1600/12241445_10206738879822401_7440372330275532206_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xdKbeVJ33OHBOYHM1amSoboDMg2voaFK-pGqU9PN5x2ghIoh-8_iomHjU_MhyphenhyphenZRRmHIF8nDxsByZoQ-8untfV0RWR1uVpQpj0vTpcxAlezElHTspga1skKNbHnJ8O4g3bemaZX5OjF8/s400/12241445_10206738879822401_7440372330275532206_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In <a href="http://www.krazytownblog.com/2015/02/february-bright-ideas.html">February</a>, I told you about using mini class lists to help keep you organized.<br />
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In <a href="http://www.krazytownblog.com/2015/03/march-bright-ideas.html">March</a>, I shared a way that helped me remember to take things with me when I left for the day.</div>
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In <a href="http://www.krazytownblog.com/2015/05/may-bright-ideas.html">May</a>, I brought you an idea to give positive feedback to students.<br />
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And in <a href="http://www.krazytownblog.com/2015/07/july-bright-ideas.html">July</a>, I shared a way to help you have a perfectly straight and aligned bulletin board display.<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 27.72px;">I had a lot of fun putting together this short recap. You can find more of my Bright Ideas by clicking on the Bright Ideas label in the column to the right.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 27.72px;">If you enjoyed reading this recap, please consider visiting my </span><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Krazy-Town" style="color: #78d4da; line-height: 27.72px; text-decoration: none;">Teachers Pay Teachers store</a><span style="line-height: 27.72px;"> and joining me on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/krazytownblog" style="color: #78d4da; line-height: 27.72px; text-decoration: none;">Facebook</a><span style="line-height: 27.72px;"> or </span><a href="https://instagram.com/krazytownblog/" style="color: #78d4da; line-height: 27.72px; text-decoration: none;">Instagram</a><span style="line-height: 27.72px;">, </span><span style="line-height: 27.72px;">where I share more great ideas.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.72px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.72px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.72px;">For more Bright Idea roundups from different bloggers, please browse through the link-up </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.72px;">below. Thanks for visiting!</span></span><br />
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-76094574701742847252015-11-01T11:14:00.002-06:002016-05-24T11:03:10.249-05:00November CurrentlyIt's already November and I have been a bad, bad blogger! No posts since Farley's last Currently!<br />
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>listening </b>to Flea Market Flip. I am amazed that people at a flea market will pay that kind of money for the stuff these people make. I'm convinced the buyers just decide to pay that for the privilege of being on tv.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>loving</b> that we got some rain. We've had such a drought here. But I do feel so bad for the people who were flooded here in central south Texas again. I can't even imagine how hard that must be.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm <b>thinking </b>that I am glad college basketball is starting again. This year, I came up with the idea to write notes of encouragement for out UTSA Lady Roadrunners to read before away games. Five of us season ticket holders created three notes each so the team can read one before each road game.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>wanting </b>willpower. I definitely ride the struggle bus when it comes to holiday food, starting with Halloween candy. 'Nuff said.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>needing </b>to start Christmas shopping. I'm going to my sister's house in Alabama for Thanksgiving and plan to take the Christmas presents with me instead of trying to mail them. Yikes! That's only three weeks before I need to be ready.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Yummy: </b>I am in love with homemade cranberry sauce instead of the canned stuff. And it's so easy to make. <a href="http://www.krazytownblog.com/2012/11/thanksgiving-recipe.html">Here's</a> where you can find the recipe.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 27.72px;">Now go visit Farley's blog and check out the other posts this month! Don't forget the Rule of Three.</span><br />
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-55252232872317239702015-10-01T22:50:00.002-05:002016-05-24T11:03:28.228-05:00October CurrentlyCan you believe it is already October? Time for Farley's Currently linky!<br />
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>listening </b>to Worst Cooks in America. I like to cook and am amazed at how these people have no common sense and are horrible at following directions.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>loving</b> that we finally have cooler weather on the way. My electric bill will be grateful.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm <b>thinking </b>that I need beach time. I didn't make it there last month.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>wanting </b>a pedicure. My feet are looking rough!</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>needing </b>motivation. I have a lot of things I need to get done but no motivation to do them.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Bootiful: </b>I love a good sunset. Maybe I'll see a pretty one at the beach!</span></li>
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<span style="line-height: 27.72px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Now go visit Farley's blog and check out the other posts this month! Don't forget the Rule of Three.</span></span><br />
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-19918746594865772992015-09-11T11:35:00.000-05:002016-05-24T11:03:53.748-05:00Remembering September 11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;">Fourteen years ago, I was teaching third grade in San Antonio. San Antonio is known as military city. At the time, we had four military bases here. The school where I taught had many, many students who were children of service members.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;">We were in the middle of reading workshop when someone came to my door, beckoned me into the hall, and whispered what had happened. She passed on instructions not to tell my students. I went back into the classroom, shaken, but trying to follow directions and act as if nothing had happened.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;">But kids are smart. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;">During the next few hours, they saw parents come to the door to peek in the room, reassure themselves their precious children were ok, and leave again. They heard whispers from other children who saw their teachers trying to hide their emotions. They knew something was horribly wrong, and they were afraid. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.32px;">After lunch my students returned to class, repeating the rumors that were spreading. They were worried about their families. Some were in tears. I finally did what I should have done at the start - I disobeyed the orders and told my class what had happened. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; line-height: 19.32px;">I didn't care if I got in trouble. I couldn't let them go on wondering because I knew that what they were imagining was even worse than the terrible truth.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;">I promised I would do everything I could to keep them safe. I assured them their parents were giving their all to protect our country. I told them that the best thing we could do was to go on with our learning, that keeping with routine would hold the fear at bay, the fear that our city might be next.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;">So we continued with our day. We did our math facts practice. We worked on our math menu activities, and we did our science experiment. We wrote in our agendas and packed up to go home.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;">At the end of every day, our usual procedure was to walk out of the room, each student choosing to receive a hug, a handshake, or a high five. That day, every single kid wanted a hug.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;">I saw each of them safely out of the room.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;">Then I went home, watched the news, and cried.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: inherit; line-height: 19.32px;"><img border="0" height="77" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8wod6ia2PLLwN7FnZyaJg-f_xgq1SpFEh4P-L2W-av76CzALS2lir8UMGYjFTvl5-jDvh_pX5FFovAVdDE1QWioqVe1uXVkRLqDDjcvNzZPBuh1ZtJQtTsvWDI9koQN8t8yQi-aKUTA/s320/Signature.png" style="color: black; line-height: normal; text-align: center;" width="320" /></span><br />
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-88141368508966000412015-09-01T20:57:00.000-05:002016-05-24T11:04:15.893-05:00Currently SeptemberIt is time to link up with Farley for her monthly Currently!<br />
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>listening </b>to Tiny House, Big Living. Am I the only one fascinated by the tiny house movement? I think if I were by myself, I could downsize quite easily. But no lofts (bad knees) and I'd need more than 200 square feet. Our house is almost 1600 square feet. That's a lot for two people and a dog.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>loving</b> that our local university is starting fall sports. We have season tickets for volleyball, women's basketball, and softball. We love to go support our young ladies' teams.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm <b>thinking </b>that I want to plan a trip. Maybe some beach time...</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>wanting </b>to do some more decluttering. We had to have our washer repaired, so I cleaned out the combination pantry/laundry room. Now I have the fever. I think the linen closet is next on the list.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>needing </b>to get back on the exercise bike. I slacked off after Vegas. It's time to get with it again.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3 Goals: </b>I need to work on being more kind. Karma is going to get me if I don't. I need to focus more on my health. And I need to take care of some legal stuff. Since I got married in July, I need to update my will and all that goes with it.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 27.72px;">Now go visit Farley's blog and check out the other posts this month! Don't forget the Rule of Three.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 27.72px;"><img border="0" height="77" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8wod6ia2PLLwN7FnZyaJg-f_xgq1SpFEh4P-L2W-av76CzALS2lir8UMGYjFTvl5-jDvh_pX5FFovAVdDE1QWioqVe1uXVkRLqDDjcvNzZPBuh1ZtJQtTsvWDI9koQN8t8yQi-aKUTA/s320/Signature.png" style="line-height: normal; text-align: center;" width="320" /></span></div>
Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-16002358766629700232015-08-22T09:00:00.000-05:002016-06-15T13:24:00.527-05:00Student Labels Save Time - Back to School<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; line-height: 27.72px;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 27.72px;">Welcome back for another tip from the Bright Ideas Link Up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 27.72px;">This month, I'd like to share a little tip that saved me time and energy during the hectic first few days of school. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 27.72px;"><br />I used to have Sharpie markers available for kids to use to label their materials. That took a sweet forever. Ain't nobody got time for 25 kids to write their whole name on all their crayons, folders, and composition books.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 27.72px;">Instead, grab some return address printer labels, the ones that have 80 labels per sheet. Take your class list and create labels for each student. Give each kiddo 20 labels - one column. If you assign your kids student numbers, you can add that. You don't need to make these fancy. If you're like me, you never have your class list until the last minute before school starts any way, so no time for fancy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 27.72px;">Peel off the excess sticker paper around the labels and cut the columns apart. On the first day of school, pass out the labels. Let the kids go wild labeling their supplies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 27.72px;">Boom! No lost supplies and no tearing out your hair wishing kids would hurry up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="line-height: 27.72px;">If you enjoyed this Bright Idea, please consider visiting my </span><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Krazy-Town" style="color: #78d4da; line-height: 27.72px; text-decoration: none;">Teachers Pay Teachers store</a><span style="line-height: 27.72px;"> and joining me on </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/krazytownblog" style="color: #78d4da; line-height: 27.72px; text-decoration: none;">Facebook</a><span style="line-height: 27.72px;"> or </span><a href="https://instagram.com/krazytownblog/" style="color: #78d4da; line-height: 27.72px; text-decoration: none;">Instagram</a><span style="line-height: 27.72px;">, </span><span style="line-height: 27.72px;">where I share more great ideas.</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 27.72px;">For more bright ideas from different bloggers, please browse through the link-up </span><span style="line-height: 27.72px;">below and choose a topic/grade level that interests you. Thanks for visiting!</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 27.72px;"> </span></span><br />
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-38392570548316931282015-08-01T20:33:00.005-05:002016-05-24T11:06:30.398-05:00August Currently<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Can you believe it's already August and time for Farley's monthly Currently linky?</div>
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<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>listening </b>to Celebrity Family Feud. Not a fan, but I'm not in control of the remote.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>loving</b> the dinner we had. Grilled ribeye steaks, corn on the cob, green beans, and fruit salad. Banana pudding poke cake for dessert. So yummy!</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I'm <b>thinking </b>about writing. I'm working on some products for TpT that will help with writing personal narratives.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>wanting </b>nothing. I'm very happy nowadays.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I am <b>needing </b>organization. I'm working on a system to help me keep track of blogging and business.</span></li>
<li style="margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>RAK - </b>I donated some supplies that I am not using to my last campus for the principal to use as door prizes. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; line-height: 27.72px;">Now go visit Farley's blog and check out the other posts this month! Don't forget the Rule of Three.</span></div>
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-83547029229826651052015-07-30T11:54:00.002-05:002016-05-24T11:07:13.109-05:00Getting Started With Reading WorkshopI feel very sorry for the students I had when I first started teaching. Despite one whole class in college on teaching reading, I had no clue what to do. I think they learned despite me, not because of me. I knew what I was trying to do wasn't right, so I kept searching for the perfect answer. My journey took me from a basal reader to whole language to whole class books and ended with reading workshop.<br />
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Why did I feel reading workshop was the right answer?<br />
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<li>My students were reading at their own ability levels.</li>
<li>Students are able to choose the books they are interested in, which motivates them to read more.</li>
<li>Students can read at their own pace.</li>
<li>Students apply the instruction from the mini-lesson in the context of their own reading, making them successful.</li>
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I got started with the idea of reading workshop (I was already using writing workshop thanks to some fabulous professional development) with this book. It's out of print now and there are much better resources available, but it gave me the idea that I could have students reading different books and still be able to teach the skills and concepts required by my curriculum.<br />
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These days, I recommend the following resources for anyone who is implementing readers workshop.</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0325003106/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0325003106&link_code=as3&tag=kratow-20&linkId=SCGCVBSR57VHB37Z"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTixm_cAxpM_6vN94tH1Xh0rfElbpGETkEDkxHYyENSzkcexhtc_2M22pGxwuJ5UhajkNyBCVkS2iPaZo-WQawr77tBp0E8iqsSifacHgGYe3zo5UhvOgUOWhmzxpxzTJ-QvP4YG2kKi0/s320/41VAy60xAjL._SX376_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="242" /></a></div>
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This book is a wonderful resource for teachers in grades 3-5. It includes lessons for the first 20 days of starting with independent reading. </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0321080599/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0321080599&link_code=as3&tag=kratow-20&linkId=R4EAYXB72Z3V3GOK"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAgZarHQipCUcHte4J7CgwMOFW8UGhH_PCpZUaNvSt6SI7JZ_l3tpGu3-idW1Z5hCeIYjiXQP2d3GN7h4OKbEKTAXS_IvHZZqGeZJ_PjuGc8SGdccJ9uBII3FStXGYPTT82rZ7c_GsQsc/s320/51919Y161PL._SX258_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="259" /></a></div>
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I am an unabashed Lucy Calkins fan. This book is key to understanding the underlying principals of reading workshop. </div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0982664435/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0982664435&link_code=as3&tag=kratow-20&linkId=NCJ6LULWRSRWTGMD"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCuAUqLoVigBJD5D90Gx3jDEl2Z4Qg8PCZOMiGzENULHr7wjSmuqYSXBJyKftbN8Q4U3BHUpIoKDhX_lh8QVeCyq4qFgaioHX3eMFFKf0IACNID7bD6FkhH9x244mZRfnDmg_kb7hZD4/s320/51IUPD5D7rL._SX386_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.lauracandler.com/">Laura Candler</a> is a fabulous teacher/blogger. In addition to lessons to get you started, this book has some wonderful forms and lesson ideas that will enhance your reading workshop.</div>
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I struggled at first with conferring with students. I was used to checking for understanding by giving a quiz. In reading workshop, I needed to meet with my students and hold a conference to determine if they were "getting" what they were reading. I developed these two products to help.</div>
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The first is my Conferring Cards. These cards provide questions to help you have meaningful conversations with your students about what they are reading. They include questions about features of both fiction and non-fiction texts. I printed, laminated, and stored them on a binder ring. I carried these with me as I conferred, and I was never again stuck for a way to interact with my kiddos during conferences.</div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Readers-Workshop-Conferring-Cards-1169508"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8bZL16JECk3kWf1s6HEA2hexzfzJx5xCWXc7offhqVAtitagA_vGRfz39VC66QQwRyrm8cHMoyLFeOcc_dLQJrq7NYr4-EQgU-AYWCaeOnsgdKvc3f8hCrPmJZnTFVkVgYG6891rjK0/s320/Slide18.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The next product is my Note-taking Form for Conferring in Reader's Workshop. This form is designed for you to record anecdotal data gathered during your conferences. I printed one for each student and kept them in a binder. Each day I pulled the forms for my targeted students and carried them on a clipboard as I met. These forms provided information for mini-lessons I needed to teach or strategy groups I needed to pull. I found these forms extremely valuable when talking with parents and when referring students for intervention.</div>
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<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Workshop-Conference-Form-1205924"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaQCu06IEsLx-khO-KwVTs8bbfVXeDRKoFQjG_NLi5Re_xHTsUw4G-lyORGpyJ_aUbn1HUjKxdN2GbyzNPRS13-3xqtTWLQ_88zRmg7pbH_sqOee2DFjCNj-984WB9-TLo6nPuX9a2dc/s320/Slide5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Each photo is linked to the product described so that you can click and go read more information.</div>
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I hope this information is useful. Do you have a favorite book about reading workshop not listed here? Please tell me about it in the comments!</div>
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<img border="0" height="77" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8wod6ia2PLLwN7FnZyaJg-f_xgq1SpFEh4P-L2W-av76CzALS2lir8UMGYjFTvl5-jDvh_pX5FFovAVdDE1QWioqVe1uXVkRLqDDjcvNzZPBuh1ZtJQtTsvWDI9koQN8t8yQi-aKUTA/s320/Signature.png" style="text-align: center;" width="320" /></div>
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6876298490167130637.post-13379378025011450382015-07-20T14:46:00.001-05:002016-05-24T11:07:33.399-05:00Monday Made It - ClipboardI'm excited to link up with 4th Grade Frolics! It's been a while since I made anything, but I was inspired this week!<br />
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<a href="http://4thgradefrolics.blogspot.com/2015/07/monday-made-it-july-20.html"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCmNnT3fBtsOof01Ymgh5upBMse6izDPEJjbOd7eTAy7cI8cajW1jMYw6G8lYuv9hqVjtdUYrvyzLd_iCurUzfAtBZ7h6Qfzbf0ParKNcGLzRThcGdeHLTTN070XgcDNZpgIBF1OT8BuM/s320/Monday+Made+It+1.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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I wanted a cute clipboard to house my planning materials for my blog and TpT store. I've made many of these before and think they are easy. Here's what I did...<br />
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I started with a plain brown clipboard and used a cheap foam brush to paint the whole front and about two inches all the way around the edges of the back with black acrylic paint. The paper will cover the part that isn't painted on the back. I gave it 2 good coats. I left the front all black because my materials will get clipped onto the front.<br />
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Next I made a graphic using my blog elements and printed it on card stock. (Card stock doesn't bubble as much as lightweight copy paper does when you apply the Mod Podge.)I used spray adhesive on the back of the card stock and then smoothed it onto the back of the clipboard.<br />
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Then I applied 2 coats of Mod Podge (I prefer the matte finish) with a cheap foam brush, letting it dry several hours between coats.<br />
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Finally, I applied matte spray acrylic sealer to protect the paint and Mod Podge finish.<br />
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The finishing touch was adding ribbons to the clip.<br />
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Here's the finished product!<br />
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<img border="0" height="77" nopin="nopin" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8wod6ia2PLLwN7FnZyaJg-f_xgq1SpFEh4P-L2W-av76CzALS2lir8UMGYjFTvl5-jDvh_pX5FFovAVdDE1QWioqVe1uXVkRLqDDjcvNzZPBuh1ZtJQtTsvWDI9koQN8t8yQi-aKUTA/s320/Signature.png" style="text-align: center;" width="320" /></div>
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Suzannehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15099465523731040640noreply@blogger.com3