Let the sleepless nights begin!

Hello blogger buddies! So before I get to school talk, let me just tell you about this little place called Lancaster, Pennsylvania and my love for this place. This is my second trip here and I have officially decided that it will now be an annual trip for sure! I have been enjoying a little get away with my honey visiting with family for the last 9 days! We only have 2 days left and I can't won't even think about it. I absolutely love it here an never want to leave....NEVER! We went to an Amish farm for dinner last night and I had a chance to get a few shots of the farm before it was time to chow down.

 To say this state is gorgeous would be a gross understatement. 

Check out a few of my favorite pics...

       

    

This would be my "I'm excited to eat Amish cookin' for dinner tonight because it's the bombdigity" face! 

Ok.  So. Now on to school stuff and the title of my post.

Here it is almost 4 a.m and I am up thinking about the upcoming school year. What? It's already time for school...AGAIN? Grad school has kept me busy this summer and it has obviously flown by! I "officially" report back to school July 30th....yep that's right....JULY. 

Anywho. Since I can't sleep...why not be productive...right? I created these center checklists that I wanted to share with you all in case you could use them. I follow my own version of the Daily 5 for reading and am planning to follow the Daily 3 in Math. 

Here's a run down of what my reading and math block looks like...

I will have 120 minutes to complete my reading/ELA block. 

* Work on Writing: 25 minutes*

I will begin with a short mini lesson on the writing process and then assign an activity for my students to complete for their checklist. Towards the end of the year I will just quickly review as needed. One once the little nuggets start getting comfortable with their writing, I will give them the chance to choose the topic they will write about.

*Whole Group Instruction: 25 minutes*

During this time I will use my smart board and interactive lesson flip charts to teach the spelling, reading, and comprehension skill of the week.

*Read w/Teacher, Word Work, Read to Self, Read w/Someone: 60 minutes*

This is my absolute favorite part of the reading block! I will complete my small group guided reading rotations while the students complete the other items on their checklist. I have 5 word work groups that usually has 3-4 students in each group. This group stays the same during our math block to avoid confusion. Each day they will be required to complete one assigned word work activity with their group. In addition to word work, they must also just a buddy to complete read to self time and read with someone time. I will also have an early finishers board where they can work on spelling activities, etc.

This is what works for me and is probably pretty standard for each teacher. I chose to only do one word work activity a day to ensure my students have enough time to complete their work at their best abilities. I also change my word work activities each week to reinforce the skills we are learning. 

My math block will be very similar, except only 90 minutes.

Here's what my math block will look like:

Calendar-Number of the day/Problem of the Day: 20 minutes

I use Cara Caroll's Calendar Companion pack for my calendar time. Let me just say that in the two years I have been using this resource, I have seen my students math skills SOAR! This helps me to touch on all the important math topics EVERY DAY and by the end of the year my kiddos are pros and don't even need me anymore! During this time I do many mini lessons on time, money, skip counting, etc. that I feel are important and that our math curriculum doesn't cover. 

For my problem of the day time I use Anna Brantley's Math Journal Prompts. My kiddos spit their page in four sections. In the first section- they write the important info, second section-they draw a picture to represent the problem, third section-they write a number sentence(s) to represent the problem, and in the fourth section- they answer the word problem with a complete sentence. 

Math w/Teacher, Math w/Someone, Math w/Self: 60 minutes

As I mentioned earlier this time is ran very similar to my reading block. I will complete my small group guided math rotations while the students complete the other items on their checklist. Each day they will be required to complete one assigned  math center activity with their group. They will then have the choice to complete a math journal activity, AMSTI game, facts practice, etc.

I created this little check list to help me my students keep track of their work. I also created a rubric to use when giving a daily grade for their activities. Make one copy per student, cut in half, and your done! Once the school year starts, I will include some pics of these little babies in use!

Thanks for reading!

Schoooool's Out for SUMMER!!!

Hello, blogger  buddies! It's been a while...but rather than explain why I have been gone (like my last few posts from last YEAR)...I am BACK and ready to get back into the blogging world! 

I thought the best way to get back in the groove would be to join one of my favorite linky parties...Sunday Smorgasbord!

 

::Numero Uno::

This weekend I have been working on my first of MANY summer projects. I have been searching for this cabinet for FIVE years. Yes, FIVE. I came across this beauty on Craigslist this week and knew she was THE ONE! With a little TLC she is now the perfect little accent piece in my living area. I am in LOVE, y'all! I am planning a little Home Goods trip sometime soon to find some cute 

little didi's to add to the cabinet.  What do y'all think?

 

 ::Numero Dos::

I took the plunge and applied for a graduate program in January and guess what... I got in! YAY! I started classes this week and absolutely love my program and my professors so far! My program is a little different than your typical, but I think it is going to be just right for me. I have two classes that I will complete in June and one in July. It is a cohort program that is held in the county that I teach in and all of the students and professors are from our surrounding area. I am so excited to begin this journey. Now I many not be quite so excited in a few months 

once all the papers roll in...but here's to hoping! Wish me luck! :)

::Numero Tres::

Speaking of grad school, I just bought this little piece of technology and can't wait until it comes in! I am normally and Apple kind of girl, but several teachers at my school have this and LOVE it! 

::Numero Quatro::

A friend of mine just started selling Younique. I have been looking for a new mascara so I thought I would try the 3D fiberlash mascara she sells. Hmm...now that I am writing about my recent purchases...I think it's time to cut myself off from buying anything else for a while!! Stay tuned for my own review of the mascara! Look how pretty those lashes are!

::Numero Cinco::

 

HA! This Someecard OWNS me! I have a whole board devoted to "Operation Hott Bod" and I can honestly say that I have not done ONE single thing off of it! I am bound and determined to get back on the workout bandwagon. This year was a tough one with adjusting to raising a 16 year old (my brother) and a challenging class. But hey, I made it and things are great now! Mark my words, I vow to do some sort of physical activity at least 3 days a week this summer.  

Last but not least...

Father's Day is upon us and this has been a very difficult day for me the past few years. I lost my sweet daddy very unexpectedly almost 3 years ago. Rather than feel sorry for myself, which is SO easy to do, today I want to honor my amazing dad. I was so blessed to have called him mine and although I miss him every.single.day, I know one day we will be reunited! Oh, what a glorious and sweet day that will be! I love you to the moon and back, Big T!

 

I hope you all have a WONDERFUL Sunday!
If you're a blogger, head on over to Fabulous in First and link up your Sunday Smorgasbord blog!

Thanks for reading!!

New TPT Product and Craziness

Hello friends! I'm sure you all have seen this picture before, but I had to share because it brought me a good laugh.

WHEW! This year is flying by. Is it really almost Thanksgiving break?? I have been feeling a bit overwhelmed...sort of like the last pic above! Which reminds me...I left the MOUND of papers I  need to grade at school. CRAPOLA! Oh well, there's always tomorrow! Anyways, due to the lack of time and energy, this little blog has been greatly deprived!

Anyways, I wanted to let you know just uploaded a new product to my TPT store. If you are a first grade teacher and use Scott Foresman Common Core, you may be interested! I use it as a fluency activity in my classroom in a variety of ways. Click the link below to check it out!

Thanks for reading!  

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Don't y'all just LOVE Fall? I love EVERYTHING about it! Cool air, pumpkins, baking, warm soups in the crock pot, Halloween, CANDY,  hot cocoa, leaves turning...man I could go on and on! It seriously gives me the warm fuzzies! At our school we have a huge fall festival each year. Friday our fabulous PTO members decked the school out in Halloween decor! Although the kids get a little crazy and from Monday on I will be asked every day "Miss Nelson!! Is tomorow Halloween?!?!" or "Miss Nelson!!! Is tomorrow the fall festival?!?!?", I love it! With all the hard work and expectations we have for our little kiddos, they deserve to have a little more excitement around the school, and by golly if Halloween decorations is what does it for them, I'll take it! I included this picture because it listed many of my favorite things about fall and it ended with thankful. We have so much to be thankful for and 'tis the season to be reminded of that!

Well I would make another excuse for why it's been so long since I've posted, but I will give you a freebie instead! Head on over to my TPT shop to pick up a free leader in me themed Notebook Cover. I have included covers for grades K-8. All I ask in return for this freebie is to rate my product!

 Click here for the FREEBIE!

It has been a busy few weeks in Miss Nelson's classroom! I plan to include lots of pictures in my blog post tomorrow of what all we have been doing in first grade. I am also working on a new TPT product that I will include a link for too! :)

Happy Saturday and thanks for reading!