New Reading Strategies and classroom pics

Good afternoon, y’all!  Is anyone else feeling the pain of this week so far?  It really has nothing to do with my kiddos, they are behaving/working just fine, but it seems like I can’t make it through the day without getting a headache or scratchy throat!  Must be this nasty weather we got goin’ on here in the Dallas area!  Can’t let it slow me down though, because I have only 6 more school days until Open House!  Lots to get done.
Not sure how familiar you all are with the Texas state assessments, but we are changing to STAAR this year from TAKS, which comes with some new challenges (thank the Lord I teach 2nd!).  Starting this year, students will have to complete their test within four hours.  Four hours seems like a stinkin’ long time to me, but since they’ve been used to having all day, it will for sure be an adjustment.  So, it was time for me to change my reading/math strategies, and make them more simple.  I’m all for simple!
Last year, my class used PLORE, which you can find HERE!  Some upper grade teachers suggested we narrow down our strategy steps, so here’s what I came up with:
You should be able to click on the pictures above to download.  Or you can click {HERE}
I also took down the problem solving strategy that I had on my math board:
I can honestly say that I have not referred to that board once this year, so it was more than pointless anyways!
I put up these addition and subtraction key words that you can download for free at The Teacher Wife
I’m not super excited about the way this looks… I should have changed the background and whatnot, but I am way too lazy for that midyear!  I do LOVE the addition and subtraction signs, so I’ll jazz the board up more for next year!  The addition/subtraction with regrouping posters are from my units on TPT.
A few more pictures to show what we’ve been up to:
These two addition with regrouping activities can be found HERE
Sorry for the blurry picture 🙁
Winter friends activity can be found HERE 
And, lots of my kiddos have conquered the 1000 challenge!  Several are still working, but I’m super proud of the ones who finished, cramped hand and all!
Now I’m even more tired from just looking at what all we’ve been up to, haha!
That’s it for me!  Tomorrow is Career Day, and I am dressing up as an aerobic’s instructor… yoga pants, and tennis shoes?  YES, please!  And, I will definitely be rockin’ a head band, no worries!
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Hi, I'm Amy

Hey, y’all! My name is Amy Lemons and I am passionate about providing students with both engaging and effective standards-based Math and ELA lessons.

FREE SAMPLE OF ROOTED IN READING!​

Sample a day of Rooted in Reading with these lesson plans and activities for Reading Comprehension, Vocabulary, and Grammar!

19 Responses

  1. To be honest STAAR scares me a bit…I'm so thankful I teach 1st..but I feel bad for my own children..they're going to have to take that dang assessment! Ugghh!

    P.S. Enjoy being an aerobic's instructor for a day!

    Gladys
    teachinginhighheels.blogspot.com

  2. Too funny, the head band etc. My husband is a car guy so don't talk to me about toys 🙂 He also loves his chainsaw, good stories there. I love all the ideas, especially the signs. Thankfully, we only do the govt. testing in Gr. 3 and 6 so Grade 2 is lovely to teach ! These signs will be perfect for preparing them. Thanks, a great way to start my evening….my husband made the best pasta tonight. I LOVE husbands who cook !!!! Have to run and drive my daughter to dance….

  3. LOVE LOVE LOVE the 1000 challange!! Might have to do that with my first graders- if I do I will share my pictures with you! what a great idea! thank you for sharing!!

  4. Really great pics!..I love the mystery genre!! and yep my hubby still spends $$$ on toys! DJ equipment, video games and once he was into bowling for a while!! LOL they are an interesting breed!

  5. I bought your winter friends activity today and had my 3rd graders do the art project. It turned out darn cute! Thanks for sharing it on TPT. As a matter of fact, my kiddos saw I got the idea from you and started quizzing me about plagarizing. I, of course, ensured them that i bought the rights to use it. They were cracking me up!

  6. Stephanie… too funny!!! So glad they turned out cute!!!

    I feel all of your pain… my hubs does XBox, remote control helicopters, air soft guns, ping pong, drums, etc. etc. etc.!!