IT'S WHIRLYBIRD TIME!

I awoke this morning to what I thought was hail hitting my skylights.  Odd since it was sunny, calm, and beautiful outside.  Then I realized --

Watching this seed dispersal is fascinating and inspired me to write a little poem.

If you follow me, you know that I love poetry and use it extensively in the classroom.  I give focus to poetry elements and appreciation, but I use poetry primarily as a vehicle for teaching an abundance of other subject matter.  

My nod to poetic elements for this poem would be to discuss the theme.  Obviously, the theme is whirlybirds, but more importantly, it's about their movements.  I establish this through discussion.

This leads naturally to an exploration of present participle verbs.  Students are directed to highlight the present participles on their copies of the poem.  Then I challenge them to write a present particple, or -ing poem.  The most intriguing of these poems are composed almost entirely of these verbs.  Thus, I present just such a poem -

We compare the 2 poems; feeling, rhythm, flow, etc., before I launch my young poets to do their writing.

There is an obvious correlation to the science of seeds.  So we study nature's methods of seed dispersal, collecting seeds and classifying them.   

There are so many more lesson possibilities for this poem....

• fluent reading
• punctuation
• alliteration
• rhymes
• rhythm
• syllables
• parts of speech
• phonics
• and so forth

Enjoy!

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CORAL & NAVY CLASSROOM DECOR

During this time of sheltering at home, I've used my time to create resources and refresh existing ones.  It's about time to consider your decor needs when schools reopen (hopefully) in the fall.  Many teachers are shying away from the over-the-top, Pinterest-worthy, busy decor and opting for a more subdued style.  In respect for that, I have created a line of products that feature a coordinated navy and coral color scheme.  The products also boast unBEARably cute teddy bear graphics, all from Alice Smith at Clipart4resale.  

Start with a warm welcome.  Included are:  

• alphabet flags (capital letters only)

• spacer flags (some with bear illustrations)

• ordinal number grade level flags (Kdg – 6th)

• appellation flags (Mr., Mrs., Miss. Ms)

• punctuation flags (comma, period, apostrophe, exclamation point)

• “TO” flag, for WELCOME TO 5th  GRADE

• word wall headers with upper and lower case letters

This product also includes these editable components:

• 10 flags

• 16 fancy frames

• 16 oval frames 

• 20 rectangular frames 

      Displaying your classroom expectations is always a good idea.  This set includes 23 classroom rules and 5 bathroom rules.  Thus, you have plenty of directives from which to choose. 

Use classroom signs to provide information, procedures, and general decor.  The contents are:  

• Travel plans clip chart (dismissal plans)

•  Birthday clip chart

• North, south, east & west direction placards

• 10 table signs

• 2 bathroom passes (boys’ and girls’)

• 2 library passes

• 2 office passes

• 2 nurse passes

• This is a nut free classroom

• A dot is a lot (glue use)

• Fire drill procedures (editable)

• Storm drill procedures (editable)

• 2 name badge masters (editable)

Display these alphabet and color word posters.  Provided are:

• 52 alphabet posters (26 each of 2 sizes/styles)

• 8.5” x 11” portrait posters include the upper and lower case letters, an illustration aligned to that letter, and a word describing the picture.

• 5.5” x 8.5” posters use the same font and illustrations, but do not include the picture label.  They are formatted 2/page, requiring you to cut them apart.

• The vowels are presented in coral, while the consonants are navy.

• 11 color posters 5.5” x 8.5”

These sight word cards are the perfect accompaniment to the word wall headers (found in the welcome product). The complete list of Dolch Sight Words are included, as well as editable cards for vocabulary you wish to add.  The cards are labeled and color coded for each grade level.

Everything you need for daily calendar work is provided in this unit.   

• 4.25” x 11” month placards (12)

• 3.2” x 3.2” days of the week headers (7)

• 3.2” x 3.2” date cards (1-31) in 5 designs (155)

• 3.2” x 3.2” special day cards (24)

• 3.2” x 3.2” editable day cards (6)

• Interactive signs – Today is…, Yesterday was…, Tomorrow will be… (3)

• Day of the week placards for the interactive signs (7)

• Days in School interactive sign (1)

• Number cards (0-9) for the Days in School sign (21)

Coral and navy number posters provide: 

• 21 cardinal number posters (0-20) with visual representations

• numerals

• number words

• tally marks

• ten frames

• 20 ordinal number posters (1st–20th) with visual representations

• numerals

• numeration words

• ten frames

This coral and navy number line supplies:  

• 71 color posters of the numbers 1-120 in landscape orientation

• posters have 2 numbers per page for 1-98; 1 number per page for 99 – 120

• odd numbers are coral; even numbers are navy

Create a math word wall with these elements:

• 26 alphabet headers

• 242 vocabulary word cards

• 12 editable word cards

These 43 Math Concepts posters provide visual reminders of math concepts in numbers and operations, geometry, and measurement. Each poster includes a graphic representation of the concept, as well as a brief, written description.  Add them to your math focus wall.

Hone higher order thinking skills with these classroom quotations posters.  They provide:

• 45 letter size, quotation posters in a coral and navy color scheme

• Quotation Quest task card activity

• 1 direction placard

• 12 task cards

• 1 Quest Grid master

In case you are as in love with this décor as I am, you can score all 11 products in this economical bundle.

Stay safe and healthy!

Distance Learning Pinterest Board

It's about time, teachers, for distance learning.  These historic times have us all scrambling to find teaching material appropriate for our students while they cannot be in our schools.  To help with this, I created a collaborative Pinterest board dedicated to distance learning resources.  

If you would like to join this board, send me an email at: itsabouttimeteachers@gmail.com

COMPOUND WORDS LITERACY CENTER for COWPOKES

It's about time, teachers, for compound words!

Check out this adorable literacy center that celebrates compound words COWBOY STYLE!  All of the words are related to cowboys to delight your little cowpokes.

This literacy center is self-correcting.  Just flip the pairs over to reveal a cowboy picture.  Your little buckaroos will shout, "YEE-HAW!"

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Chinese New Year Poetry Possibilities

It's about time, teachers, for 

That means it's about time for some Poetry Possibilities to help you celebrate.

Included in Poetry Possibilities: Winter Edition are 2 poems and many possibilities for teaching with them.  

The possibilities include teaching points about poetry, but also include lessons from multiple subjects.  They even include several craftivities.

GUNG HAY FAT CHOY!

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It's About Time for FREEBIES!

It's about time, teachers, for 

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is almost here.  This FREEBIE is perfect for upper grade classes.

POETRY POSSIBILITIES for MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY contains 2 poems. Each poem is accompanied by custom designed teaching points covering a variety of skills. These poems are copy ready and, thus, may be added to your students’ poetry anthologies. The range of reading levels in these poems makes them appropriate for all intermediate classrooms and provides for differentiation.

It's also the time of year that classes celebrate the 100th day of school.  Primary teachers will enjoy this FREEBIE!

There are 4 poems in Poetry Possibilities -- 100th Day of School Edition. Each poem has a teaching point related to poetry and teaching possibilities from multiple disciplines that are custom designed for them.

It will soon be Groundhog Day.  I have 2 FREEBIES for that special day.

Groundhog Day Hink Pinks, Hinky Pinkies, & Hinkity Pinkities are the perfect way to celebrate this just-for-fun holiday in your intermediate classroom.  Your students will work on language arts skills, critical thinking, and problem solving with these fun word riddles.

Groundhog Day Scrattle is a differentiated, math and  literacy, learning center activity that combines word work with computation; individual effort with competition. As in Scrabble™, students use a set of letters to create words. After recording their words, they calculate each word’s score using the letter values. Then they engage a friend in a battle wherein they compare their scores using >, <, and =. The student with the most >s wins the battle! (SCRAbble + baTTLE = SCRATTLE!)  Because this FREEBIE is differentiated, it is appropriate for ALL elementary classrooms.

Enjoy the FREEBIES!  Coming soon will be more FREEBIES just for Valentine's Day.

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HINK PINKS & HINKY PINKIES for KINDERS

It's about time, teachers, for a new bundle!

And, it's 50% off for 48 hours!  

This bundle includes 4 products that promote critical thinking and boost vocabulary.

These visual clues lead your learners to a two word phrase that rhymes.  For Hink Pinks, each word must have just 1 syllable.  Hinky Pinkies have 2 syllables each.  Because no reading is required, these activities are perfect for pre-readers, ELL, and speech and language students.

Want to try them before you buy them?  Download this FREEBIE!