Remember these? Carpet Bags….

You might have been to a workshop where I have talked about my carpet bags or you might have read about them in a previous post. I have updated this post to contain the newest information and photographs. You can find all of the details about carpet bags in this new post.

Easy Steps to Teach Fairy Tales

“Once upon a time...and they lived happily ever after.” It’s time to finish up another year of reading workshop! And that is just what Unit 9, A Fair Tale Ending, is all about!

I am still finishing up the last minute touches on the I Teach K and the Common Core Academy, I haven’t been on my facebook, it’s been too long since I did a blog post, my yard is a mess, my house is only clean because I have a fabulous housekeeper…..but it has all been way worth it! I have been having so much fun being a “Gam”! I am out of this world in love with this little guy! It is hard to believe that a month has come and gone. I might be pretty partial, but I think he must be the best, cutest baby ever! He hardly ever cries and is already showing a sweet personality! I am one blessed Gam to have him, and his parents of course, living with me and his Pops! I get him any time I want him, which is quite a bit (except at night! ) But, I finally set down this week to get some work done. No snuggles until I finished at least one thing! So what is done? UNIT 9 for Reader’s Workshop. Thanks to everyone for being so patient, as we know babies can’t wait!

Reader’s Workshop Unit 9-A Fairy Tale Ending

 Michele and I had so much fun planning this unit.  This unit of study focuses on the fairy tale genre while reviewing characters, settings, retelling, beginning, middle, end, problem and solution and introducing the element of magic. This unit is structured so that students are learning about a particular element of fairy tales and then using that element to retell fairy tale stories. Because retelling is such a difficult skill for our youngest readers, it will be beneficial for the students to have multiple opportunities to practice retelling.
We broke the unit down into four weeks:
*Week one- Introducing fairy tales and their elements/ retelling
*Week two- Fairy tale elements & retelling
*Week three- Fairy tale elements & retelling
*Week four- Fairy tales and folktales/end of unit celebration (Reader’s theater)
What a fun way to finish up the unit with a reader's theater for Jack and the Beanstalk.

These lessons will have your little fairies magically ending up a wonderful year!
Here are some slides from the pack….

There is a great anchor chart to use to help remind the kids of the important elements in a fairy tale.
There is also a fun craftivity where the kids make this castle. Then, on the inside, they sort characters-good characters and evil characters.

We made a chart where we listed each fairy tale as we read them. We added the elements for each story.  The kids had fun making this fairy tale dog where we sequenced the story.

We did a reader's theater of Jack and the Beanstalk. I made them a bookmark of the elements of a fairy tale. The kids can keep that with them while they are ready to remind them of the elements they are looking for.  We also made sorting cards for each of the elements of a fairy tale.

This unit contains an overview of the month, a monthly spreadsheet, a suggested book list, a weekly overview and prep sheet for each of the 4 weeks, 20 mini lessons written in ready to use lesson plan form, 1 anchor chart1 with all the pieces made and ready to reproduce, 1 circle organizer, a tree map to organize text features, a set of character cards, a set of settings cards, a set of magic cards, a multi flow map for problem and solution (student and teacher versions), a reader’s theater script for Jack and the Beanstalk, character bibs for Jack and the Beanstalk, retelling pieces for Jack and the Beanstalk (student and teacher versions), two craftivities...one for sorting characters and settings and another for beginning, middle, end, and a book mark of features for retelling (student and teacher versions).
Now back to some more snuggle time…..

Take Me Out to the Ballgame…Tball Style!

This past Saturday I headed over to the tball field to watch my sweet niece, Emma Rose, play. Let’s just say, they have a lot more style than when my kids were playing! Each player had their own decorated bucket to hold all of their belongings. Then, the coach lined them up along the fence in the dugout. That way, they knew when it was their turn to bat! Great organization, don’t you think?

They also had matching socks! They were the cutest players ever! It was fun to once again get to sit in the bleachers and watch them play. (One day I am sure my little Matthew will be playing as his dad is a Braves fanatic!)

While at the ball field I was thinking, “How fun would it be to do a baseball unit if you teach summer school?” Then, I remembered a unit that I saw by Katie at Little Warriors. I went to her blog and there it was! I sent her an email and asked permission to share some of her photos in my post. So here are a few pictures and the posts where you can read all about it and see more cute pictures!

Picture 1: Post one

Picture 2: Second Baseball Unit post

Picture 3: Third Baseball Unit post

Picture 4: Fourth Baseball Unit post

Happy Summer!