Volcano Unit Proofreader Needed!

Hey blog friends! I need two people to proofread and check over my 85 page Voyage to the Volcano Unit. I have already looked over it, but it's always good to get a second set of eyes! 

I need them to be checked out within the next hour or so! The first two people to comment with their emails will be my proofreaders! You will keep the unit I email you as a token of my appreciation for helping me out!

I hope to have this posted in both my shops this evening! 

Happy Mothers day to all those wonderful mamas out there!

Novel Study and Mother's Day Activity

I know I am posting again, but I had to share the CUTEST mothers day activity I found on Stickers and Staples last night! 

How adorable right!? The kids draw pictures of things they would do for their mother on each app block and then write an explanation of each. Finally, they write a sweet letter on the last page! They give it to their mother as a present! My kids were so excited doing theirs today! I wish I had thought to take pictures so you could see theirs! The images are from Stickers and Staples when she did the activity with her class! 

Also, I have been working on a new project! I ordered two novel sets this year through Donors Choose and haven't been able to read one of them with my class yet. I thought it would make a fun end of the year unit to study all about volcanoes. The unit will be jam packed with activities for ALL content areas. I have only just begun, but here is a sneak peak! I have so many ideas for this unit, I don't have the time to sit and list them all because after all, it is the Friday after our state testing and this girl is freakin' pooped!

 I hope to have it very soon if you are interested! And, as always, if you have any ideas for the unit, please let me know and I will be happy to include them! Let me know what you guys think!

Have a happy weekend!!!

Learning Resources Giveaway: Part II

Hey friends! I am excited to bring you another giveaway from Learning Resources. But first, let me tell you a little bit about this amazing tool! It is called an Easi-Speak Recorder and it looks like this:

Seriously, this thing is awesome! The kids think it is too because it's a microphone and they all think they are rock starts while they are using it! HAHA If that isn't motivation enough to use it, I don't know what is...

I just recently acquired a new student from Oregon. That's pretty far away from South Carolina and she's totally shy, doesn't know anyone, and I have only heard her speak a couple of times. I needed to benchmark her to put her into a reading group and I didn't want her to feel too uncomfortable or put on the spot so I whipped out this bad boy and asked her to read the story into the device. I instructed her to read the questions from the story printed on the sheet I had given her and answer them orally into the microphone after she read the story. I showed her how it worked (which was short, sweet, and easy as pie!) and then I walked away and left her to it to attend to the rest of the class. She raised her hand when she was finished and played it back for myself later in the day when I was by myself. I was able to assess her fluency and her comprehension, ALL without making her feel overwhelmed, judged, embarrassed, etc..

I often find it difficult to find students who are willing to share their writing aloud with the class, but this is great for your reluctant readers because you just let them step into the hall or in a private part of the room and read it into the recorder without feeling like all eyes are on them. Then, you can embed the sound file into a powerpoint or slideshow with artwork or pictures and enjoy a fun presentation of students oral readings!

You can play it back right then and there or you can upload the file to your computer and listen to it that way. AND it doesn't even need batteries! I hate batteries! All you have to do is plug it into your USB and it charges!

There are so many other ways you could use this, I can't even list them all. All I know is it totally has a special place in my classroom from now on.

For more information on this resource, please visit  this youtube link HERE. 

You can WIN this amazing resource by doing these four simple things:

1) Follow my blog and leave a comment (WITH YOUR EMAIL) letting me know how you would use this in your classroom.

2) Follow Learning Resources on Facebook.

3) Follow Learning Resources on Pinterest.

4) Follow Learning Resources on Twitter.

Please use the Rafflecopter for your entries to be counted! If you do not see it below, please click Read More. You blog comment will not be counted if you do not enter it into the Rafflecopter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rockin' End of Year Unit

Hey everyone! I finally finished my Rockin' End of the Year unit! 

It is available for purchase in my TPT shop right now! Click my button below to go get yourself a copy!

And, I am giving you a couple of freebies from the unit in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week!

Click HERE to download these copies!

And congrats to Sally from Elementary Matters for winning the Hear All Assessment Recorder giveaway!

A new giveaway from Learning Resources will begin tomorrow so check back!

End of the Year

I have survived day 1 of our state testing! It is always so exhausting! I cannot wait until it's over and we can begin the fun end of the year activities!

I was thinking about the end of the year and I thought it would be cool to do a Rock Star themed end of the year unit! Initially I was thinking of a Space theme, but them I realized Rachelle from What the Teacher Wants beat me to the punch!  =)

I literally just started working on it tonight, but here is what I have in store:

Rockin' Memory Book (including the band - your class picture, your groupies - friends, and don't forget the lead singer - your awesome teacher, tour schedule - your year of fun events)

ipod playlist - Favorite songs from this year

How to Rock out the _____ grade writing prompt

Next year, I hope to Rock out ______ grade by writing prompt

Rock Star Classroom Awards (RSCA's) 

Thank You Speech - students thank all of the people who contributed to their success this year

My summer playlist - students list things they wish to do

Word Search

You're a Rock Star note from teacher

Rockin' Writing Portfolio

Guitar Craftivity

Boom Box Venn Diagram

Here is a preview! 

It's not much yet, but stay tuned! HAHA Get it?

I hope to have this finished this weekend, but who knows!?

What do you guys think? Any suggestions? I am still in the brainstorming stages so I welcome suggestions!

Don't forget my TPT sale ends tonight and the Hear All Assessment Recorder giveaway ends tomorrow night!