Weekly Planning Guides

Like I have said before, my summer vacation includes quite a bit of school work and planning for the upcoming school year.  I have been working on getting my first semester goals written for each subject that I am going to be teaching.  A planning guide help me see what I need to accomplish in order to have my students ready for the state assessment in the spring.

There are some important parts of the first semester that drive my planning, such as the first and second quarter math common assessments that are given district wide.  Another guiding force are the reading fluency passages, SRI reading tests each quarter, and a writing prompt that all of my students need to complete.

Here is a peek at the first 5 weeks of my Weekly Planning Guide:

Click on the picture to see a larger version that is much easier to read.

~ Mrs. Dean

Summer Reading List

This summer I have dedicated myself to reading the twelve Mark Twain Award nominee books. The award is presented by The Missouri Association of School Librarians.  Students in grades fourth through eighth can vote for their favorite title that is nominated for the award.  Some past Mark Twain Award winners have been: Sounder, How to Eat Fried Worms, The Dollhouse Murders (the book I picked to win when I was in the fourth grade) and The Man Who Loved Clowns.

The 2012-2013 award nominees are:

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs

The Clockwork Three by Matthew J. Kirby

Drizzle by Kathleen Van Cleve

The Familiars by Adam Jay Epstein

Ghost Dog Secrets by Peg Kehret

Half Upon a Time by James Riley

Hide & Seek by Katy Grant

Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper

Palace Beautiful by Sarah DeFord Williams

Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

Twenty Gold Falcons by Amy Gordon

So far I have loved the three books that I have read.  I can't wait to suggest them to my students who love to read when school begins in the fall!

~Mrs. Dean

Back to School Bulletin Board Ideas

Right outside of Room 209, I have a large rectangular bulletin board that I traditionally decorate welcoming my students to their new classroom on Meet the Teacher Night.  Every student can find their name on the bulletin board welcoming them to their new home.

I know it is only the beginning of July, but does a teacher really take the summer off?

Here are a few of my favorites:

(Click on each of the pictures to learn more from the website where I found these awesome ideas)

  

 

Other great bulletin board tips
(Click on each of the pictures to learn more from the website where I found these awesome ideas)


Use old frosting containers to store your bulletin board boarders.  Cut a piece of the boarder and taper it to the front of the can.  Why didn't I think of that?

Another great boarder storage tip uses binder clips and 3M Command hooks to hang them in your storage closet.

Keep your holiday bulletin boards ready to use again the following year by placing all of the parts of the bulletin board (boarders, letters, fabric,  into a gallon size Ziploc bag and store.

~ Mrs. Dean

Mentor Texts

Every year my summer break includes plenty of hours spent napping, relaxing on the deck, long walks around the lake, and soaking up the sun.  I also cross a few professional books off of my summer reading.  These books help me to gather some new and creative ideas for the upcoming school year.

This summer I have been focusing my professional reading on learning more about how to teach writing lessons using mentor texts.  Two of the books I have been reading are:

Mentor Texts: Teaching Writing Through Children's Literature, K-6
by Lynne R. Dorfman & Rose Cappelli

I Can Write Like That! A Guide to Mentor Texts & Craft Studies for Writer's Workshop, K-6
by Susan Ehmann & Kellyann Gayer

In the fifth grade, students focus on three writing projects: a personal narrative, a persuasive writing piece, and an expository writing piece.

I have found a few great anchor charts and other resources  that I am planning to use while introducing each of the pieces of writing. 

(Click on each of the pictures to learn more from the website where I found these awesome ideas)

 

Persuasive Writing Resources:

  

Personal Narrative Writing Resources:



 

Expository Writing Resources:

   

~ Mrs. Dean

Mrs. or Miss?

My name is Mrs.Dean.

All of my students all call me, Miss Dean. 

I am now a blogger...

Here is a list of ten random facts about me:


1.  I live on a lake.  I learned how to drive our pontoon last summer just so I can take peaceful boat rides with my dog during the day when my husband, and the rest of the community, are at work.


 2.  I am married to my high school sweetheart.  In December. we will mark our fifteenth wedding anniversary - hopefully on a beach in Mexico.


3.  I have a very spoiled, eleven year old, Labrador/Blue Heeler named Timber. We love early morning walks, mid-day boat rides and lounging on the deck in the summer time.


4.  I used to be a wedding and event planner in Kansas City.  One summer I orchestrated four weddings in one day!


5.  I am addicted to the Real Housewives of (fill in the blank) on Bravo.  I DVR every episode and secretly watch them while eating popcorn curled up on the couch.


6. I love antique & vintage stores, garage sales, and the first weekend under the 12th Street bridge in downtown Kansas City. My sister and I have a monthly tradition of eating crepes at Chez Elle and then shopping for treasured vintage finds.  I collect vintage linens, aprons, salt & pepper shakers, clocks, and vintage juice glasses.


7.  I consider myself a "foodie." I love to cook, take cooking classes, watch cooking shows on Food Network, and try out new restaurants around the city.  I have eaten gluten free for the last three years.  It has not been an easy journey, but Kansas City is becoming more, and more, gluten-free friendly.  I love to experiment with recipes that I used to love and make them so I can still enjoy them without the gluten.


8. I love craft projects and have about 10 projects I hope to complete before school starts in the fall.


9.  I am going to be "favorite aunt" any day now!  I am just days away from finally meeting my first nephew!  (Take my word for it...he will be spoiled!)


10.  I was made to be a teacher. I never stop thinking about lessons and activities I can incorporate into my classroom. I spend all summer building my "year-long classroom plan", shopping for discarded children's books (and games) to use in my classroom library, and scouring Pinterest for new bulletin board and lesson ideas. I am currently reading all of the Mark Twain Award nominee books so I can suggest them to my students (or not) during my Literacy Studio block.


Please come back and visit me again!  You will find lessons, ideas, and some of my amazing creations!

~Mrs. Dean