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Jul 26, 2016

TCRWP Reading Day One with Lindsey Wilkes~ June 2015

This blogpost is from my small group session with the amazing Lindsey Wilkes. I had so much fun with her and her enthusiasm is contagious! 

Charts in the Room 


She has a map for the reading spots in the classroom. This is such a great idea for teaching mapping skills.



Below is an example of the folders Lindsey uses in her classroom. This is the inside left hand side. All the books are placed there at the beginning of reading workshop. This helps the children begin to make a plan. Some directions you can give are: start with your favorite book, your newest book, the easiest book. etc. if you feel they are beginning with the same book every day. 


As the children complete a book, they place it on the right side of the folder as seen below. This is an early example of a reading log. It helps the children keep track of how many books they've read. 
We don't want children to write much at these levels. We want quality over quantity... or children do not want to read. Children that read on a Level M would only need to write like 2 titles a week, while those reading on a Level D, would have to write tons a day! Not fair! You want them to read during reading workshop... not write titles! 


The front of the folder looks like this... 
The children really need to know what a habit is- Lindsey teaches her children that a habit is something you do all by yourself... a teacher doesn't have to remind you. 
A sticky note with each goal the child is working on goes on the "I'm Practicing This Strategy" side. After the strategy is made a habit, the sticky note goes on the "I Made it a Habit" side. 
The stars along the right side help with shopping for book levels. Simply use a vis-a-vis and mark how many of each level they need in their folder. 



Reading workshop is composed not just of children reading but a compilation of Balanced Literacy. It is also shared reading and read aloud. For shared reading, choose a text slightly above the level where most of the children are! You should begin with a warm-up (song, poem, chart, the daily schedule, etc) Make sure to tuck in some sight words and read and reread these! 


Another Great Chart Idea~

What's the Plan for Today During Partner Time? 
1. Echo Read
2. Read together
3. Play the What's Next?  Game (making predictions) 
4. Play the Do You Remember What Happened?  Game (carrying the comprehension)
5. Get on Stage! (act out what happened)

Stay on the lookout for more from Lindsay and my small group sessions later this week! 






Jul 25, 2016


Teacher's College Reading and Writing Project 

Reading Workshop June 2015


Hi everyone! I've been meaning to get over here to document my Teachers College visit since last summer! I got to experience it all again this summer and needed a place where I could document all the wonderful things I learned, so I decided to do it here, in order to share it with you! 

Monday, June 22, 2015 was the first day! We met at the gorgeous Riverside Church, which is adjacent to the Columbia Teachers College. In the above picture, you can see Lucy Calkins giving her welcoming speech. One of the quotes I took away from her speech was "what did you learn today? NOT what did you teach today?" Just think about that one for a few minutes! Then Lucy posed the question, "How do we get kids to 'read up a storm?" That is exactly what this reading workshop week is about. Getting kids to read and love it! Lucy studied teachers as readers and she wants to invite children into those habits.

Quotes and Ideas~


  • "When you are on fire to teach, things change!"
  • "You have to be open... most of us are fearful and/or anxious".
  • Must watch Brene Brown's Ted Talk called "Daring Greatly to Be Creative" 
  • "When there is 'fear-based' leadership, you go through a physical change and you lack peripheral vision. You are less able to be intuitive".
  • "If you're not failing, you're not aiming high enough!"
  • Lucy discussed teaching details through current events and theme. Very cool! 
  • "During Independent Reading, we think 'reading' is the keyword, but nothing is as important as 'independence." 
  • At the end, Lucy sang "This Little Light of Mine" and urged us to "take the light, and pass it on!" 


Sep 9, 2014

Have You Seen the new Rhonna Designs app?

I'm in love with the new Rhonna Designs app.... I can't wait until I have time to sit down and really experiment! It's on the App Store! 
She must be an amazingly talented lady. I'm following her now on Instagram! In her Instagram info is a link to Vimeo where she tells you all about it! I'll only have to watch it 50 times to get halfway  good. I can't wait to try! Let me know if you try it. People are using the #rhonnadesigns and #rdmagic


 

Aug 15, 2014



Since I'm new to blogging, I thought I'd link up with  http://fallingintofirst.blogspot.com/ 
and tell you a little about myself. 

I'm mom to Evan 


and Davis Clare and am expecting my first granchild (a girl) next month. I can't wait to smell that sweet baby! 

I have a sweet 15 year old poodle, named Bell 


new kitten, named Betty Pearl...


 THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS...
poodles, kittens, knitting, reading, mysteries, Ipad, walking, the mountains,
the beach, and my mom and dad! 

IF YOU WEREN'T A TEACHER, WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO BE?
Well, when the going gets rough at school, I always say I want one of the jobs where I can think of nail polish or lipstick names. :) 
Sometimes, I think since I like mysteries and computers so much, I would like to be a forensic computer technician or a forensic artist. 

THREE LITTLE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE YOU.
Funny, Loyal, Sleepy

FINISH THE SENTENCE, "________,  SAID NO TEACHER EVER!!
"Please let me fill out some more Personal Education Plans!"

Q: IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY AND YOU CAN INVITE ANYONE {DEAD OR ALIVE} TO THE PARTY. WHO ARE YOU INVITING?
Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe, and Pat Conroy

IF SOMEONE WROTE A BOOK ABOUT YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD BE THE TITLE?
You know the beach music song, about "give me just a little more time?" More time during the summer, more time to sleep late, to knit, to walk.... just not enough hours in the day! 

YOU GET TO PICK ONE SUPERPOWER. WHAT IS IT?
To be two, three, or even four places at the same time. 

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE QUOTE OR SAYING?
"Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen," Fred Rogers, 
and of course~
"If I'm honest, I have to say I still read fairy tales, and I like them best of all," Audrey Hepburn. 

IF YOU HAD TO SING ONE SONG ON AMERICAN IDOL, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 
I Surrender All... (hymn) with my mama singing back-up. Do they allow backup singers?

ARE YOU A MORNING PERSON OR A NIGHT OWL?
Without a doubt a  night owl. I go to bed early because I have to get up so early. I think my normal sleep pattern would be to sleep until 10:00 am and still up until 1:00 am every day! 

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE RESOURCE THAT YOU'VE CREATED IN YOUR TPT SHOP?
I haven't posted any yet, but I think I have some good stuff up my sleeve! 

SHARE SOMETHING WE MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU!
I spent six months in a body cast in ninth grade and it was gross...







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Aug 14, 2014

And... Ramona is off!

I've played around with the idea of blogging for quite some time. Finally this summer I realized I'd been thinking too long and it was time to take the plunge. With encouragement from my cousin, (visit her at livinthekindergartenlife.blogspot.com) I sat down today and started. 

To begin, I thought I would start posting pictures of my beautiful new classroom in the mountains of North Carolina. Last year I was at a year-round school and decided the traditional calendar suited my lifestyle better so I requested a move.
Just a small reading area for right now... still so much work to do! 
This is the view from beside the hallway. You can only see this from inside the classroom if that makes sense. I'm thinking this entire whiteboard and two bulletin boards will be my word wall. I really want to focus on those word wall activities this year! 
This is the other wall next to the door. This and the word wall make an "L" shape. Look at that full kitchen! Years ago, the kindergarten classrooms were built with full kitchens. I would like to be able to bake some with my firsties but I think the oven has been disconnected. 


Ya'll look at this cubby area! I've never seen so much storage in my life! 


Thinking I like these bright colors this year. They seem to really be the trend.

I'm still trying to decide what to do about my windows. Can't decide if I should sew curtains, add a bunting, 


or....


Be sure to let me know what you think!