Well there is! I didnt have my camera on me today (duh!) but our chrysalis 'cage' and live chrysalis arrived yesterday while I wasn't there. We were lucky enough to be in class when the chrysalis opened today and my kids went nuts! I will post some pics tomorrow :) For the Aussie teachers out there, we ordered them through http://www.butterflyadventures.com.au/butterflychrysaliskit.html and there weren't that expensive. once you have bought the kit, the enclosure is yours to keep and you can just keep 'reordering' the chrysalis. Give it a go!
I'm also thinking about inviting YOU to blog here! If this is something you would be interested in, leave me a comment here or send me an email b_beynon@hotmail.com
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
Freebie Friday
Well apologies for posting twice in one day. But when I posted Therapeutic Thursday it was Friday here and now its Saturday so I'm posting Freebie Friday....I know it all sounds a little confusing but I find it hard to sometimes keep on blogland time.
But to the freebies. I thought I would post my current freebies all in one spot!
Friends of Ten Freebie - from my Sweet Shop Maths Pack
Word Wall Cards - Superhero themed (googledocs)
Division Mats (googledocs)
Magic Pot - A patterns activity
Making Groups and Arrays - a SMART notebook file
and finally!
Fraction Pizza Task Cards
I hope you can find something that you can use in your classroom! Happy Teacher Week!
Therapeutic Thursday
Hmmm, in the title I nearly wrote Therapy thursday (you all know that some days we feel like we need it!)
What do I do for therapy?
Pinterest! - enough said!
Texas Holdem poker
The Real Housewives of Atlanta or Beverly Hills
And last but not least I hug my beautiful kiddies :)
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Community Building Books - Linky
When I saw this little linky over at Funky First Grade Fun, I thought it would be interesting to see what other teachers had to offer. I put a lot of time at the beginning of the year into stressing that we are a "team" and when one member of the team is not doing their job the whole team will suffer. I even named our class blog Team 2B to get that sense of team moral going.
I also talk a lot about risk taking. I know this is a hard concept for my Year 2s to get and know that it is definitely a behaviour that is hard to demonstrate.
My favourite book to read to get students thinking about their choices is
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...”
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Go link up!
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Today we went on a bus and a FREEBIE
That's it! My (personal) children had been bugging me for aaaaggggesssss to go on a bus. So bus we did go. We traveled on the bus to the next suburb - all up about 10 minutes. Got off, walked around, bought a coffee and then jumped on a train and traveled 5 minutes back home.
And the result?
Much thanks from my babies
The freebie is two motivational signs, perfect for back to school. At times, we know kids can get a little down because people tell them they can't do things - or they tell themselves the same thing. These two cute signs feature sayings that I found motivational back in my competitive swimming days. Click HERE to go grab them from googledocs.
And the result?
Much thanks from my babies
The freebie is two motivational signs, perfect for back to school. At times, we know kids can get a little down because people tell them they can't do things - or they tell themselves the same thing. These two cute signs feature sayings that I found motivational back in my competitive swimming days. Click HERE to go grab them from googledocs.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Daily 5 (a little late to the party)
Well I know that this is not a new thing for a lot of people. But for me it is!
Here in Australia, I have never once heard this literacy program mentioned. We have numerous literacy programs available, depending on which one your principal signs your school up for. At my school, we participate in a program called ALERT. There is also Accelerated Literacy, Best Start, Focus on Reading, Key into Comprehension....the list is very very long.
But I thought with everyone posting about the Daily 5, that I should find out why it is so popular.
I have only read through the first 4 chapters and already I can see ways to make my reading time more meaningful. The first thing that really got me thinking was 'good fit books'. I have a fairly sizable class library. I have just taken the step of separating non-fiction from chapter books, picture books from joke books. They are all in separate boxes so that the kids can figure out what they want to read and access it easily. But I had honestly never thought about teaching them HOW to choose a book and what a good fit book should look like and feel like. We started talking about it in class yesterday and I really appreciate the concept and definitely will implement this into the classroom, especially with my less confident readers.
The second bit a have taken on board straight away is the modelling aspect. The book said that as teachers, we model what we want from students but usually only once or twice and then we expect our kids to know what to do. But modelling needs to be practiced repeatedly in order to get the results you are looking for. This is something I am definitely going to begin with next week and not just in reading lessons but in all small group activities.
At the very beginning of the book, the sisters laid out why they came up with this program and the reason was because they were spending too much of their instruction time on things that took them away from the reading instruction. I could have said those very words myself! If this program helps me to actually FOCUS ON READING rather than correctly behaviours or settling kids, then I will be a happy teacher.
What are your Daily 5 experiences? Do you feel that it gives you more time for the instruction side of lessons? I'd love to hear your stories.
On something else, Tammy at 1,2,3 Teach with Me is celebrating her 400 followers with a giveaway! I'm donating an item from my TpT store along with lots of other bloggers! Click the pic to visit her blog and get your entries in.
Here in Australia, I have never once heard this literacy program mentioned. We have numerous literacy programs available, depending on which one your principal signs your school up for. At my school, we participate in a program called ALERT. There is also Accelerated Literacy, Best Start, Focus on Reading, Key into Comprehension....the list is very very long.
But I thought with everyone posting about the Daily 5, that I should find out why it is so popular.
I have only read through the first 4 chapters and already I can see ways to make my reading time more meaningful. The first thing that really got me thinking was 'good fit books'. I have a fairly sizable class library. I have just taken the step of separating non-fiction from chapter books, picture books from joke books. They are all in separate boxes so that the kids can figure out what they want to read and access it easily. But I had honestly never thought about teaching them HOW to choose a book and what a good fit book should look like and feel like. We started talking about it in class yesterday and I really appreciate the concept and definitely will implement this into the classroom, especially with my less confident readers.
The second bit a have taken on board straight away is the modelling aspect. The book said that as teachers, we model what we want from students but usually only once or twice and then we expect our kids to know what to do. But modelling needs to be practiced repeatedly in order to get the results you are looking for. This is something I am definitely going to begin with next week and not just in reading lessons but in all small group activities.
At the very beginning of the book, the sisters laid out why they came up with this program and the reason was because they were spending too much of their instruction time on things that took them away from the reading instruction. I could have said those very words myself! If this program helps me to actually FOCUS ON READING rather than correctly behaviours or settling kids, then I will be a happy teacher.
What are your Daily 5 experiences? Do you feel that it gives you more time for the instruction side of lessons? I'd love to hear your stories.
On something else, Tammy at 1,2,3 Teach with Me is celebrating her 400 followers with a giveaway! I'm donating an item from my TpT store along with lots of other bloggers! Click the pic to visit her blog and get your entries in.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Guest Blogging and Sale extended!
Hi all
Are you exhausted from all the BTS shopping! I am pretty sure that I spent wayyyyy too much money! But it is sooo much fun! My store is on sale for ONE MORE DAY for 20% off. Go a grab that bargain with your TPT credit points you have built up. Click HERE to go and have a look.
I am guest blogging about classroom management over at Second Grade Sugar and Spice today and there is a cute little freebie for you. Thanks so much Christina for letting me crash your super cute blog!
Are you exhausted from all the BTS shopping! I am pretty sure that I spent wayyyyy too much money! But it is sooo much fun! My store is on sale for ONE MORE DAY for 20% off. Go a grab that bargain with your TPT credit points you have built up. Click HERE to go and have a look.
I am guest blogging about classroom management over at Second Grade Sugar and Spice today and there is a cute little freebie for you. Thanks so much Christina for letting me crash your super cute blog!
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