Year End Clearance (Help, please)

     Well HELLO there...I know , I know! It's been quite a L O N G time...I have been busy.
~ You know how Bees are!

     I have been steadily working on my Master's in Literacy Education since last summer. I will finish up at the end of October. I have also been consumed with the CCSS transition and less than 48 hours ago was told that I will be going to 3rd grade...3RD GRADE! I am petrified! The good news is I get to keep my fabulous Sweet Bees from this year! (Well not ALL of them, some are moving on to different places, or have a different teacher in mind)

     In today's blog I just want to catch up with you, let you know what we have been doing in our hive, and in my life....


I was chosen to represent my school as teacher of the year....

We held a Booster-Thon for the first time at our school...that was a lot of fun!

 Our class got to visit SeaWorld

I bought a house...

Went on a Spring Break cruise

We had a great time with Body systems....

We finished the year with every Bee achieving over 20 AR points...the top bee had 150 points and most had over 50 points, needless to say the ice cream party was a HIT!

And we had a special visitor from Missouri show up... a PEN PAL decided since his school was out, he'd come down for a visit, it was an exciting day!

All in all the school year was GREAT! I am proud of my Sweet Bees and we will continue to 'bee' the best next year...however I have never taught 3rd grade..any suggestions? I've been blog hopping...

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for ICE CREAM!

I am a lucky girl! For my birthday my Sweet Bees found me some really cute BEE items!

But that is not what this post is about, it is really about AR (Accelerated Reader). I just wanted to show off that cute bee on my shelf! Oh and since I am showing off....

 

Yes, that IS the Chik-fil-a cow riding a BEE! Each month our school hosts a spirit night at the local CFA, we have won it EVERY month so far this year! Each month our class gets to keep the cow as a reminder we have SPIRIT!

......and now back to A.R!

     The children at our school are encouraged to READ, and part of that encouragement we have bought into the A.R program. The kids read and take a 5 to 10 comprehension question test based on the book. they receive points for answering correctly. Our school has a point reward system too. They give out "dog tags" for 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 35, 50, 75 and 100 points. The children wear these tags around on a chain as a badge of pride. To many, it is fun, but for some they just don't get the "dog tags" or they just don't like the idea of more tests. For this issue, my AWESOME TN (teacher neighbor) and I decided to give AR parties to reward kids for their points too. But alas another problem,  not many kids were attending these parties, (Dance parties, doughnut parties...) getting points wasn't a great motivator so...my TN found yet another GREAT idea on TpT...and here it is....

We both figured out that it really isn't fun to be left out, so instead EVERYONE can come to the AR party, but you come with different levels of fun! You have to earn your way to more fun. So you still get your point "dog tag" AND for 2 points you can come to the ICE CREAM party with a spoon, 5 points you get a bowl, 10 points ONE scoop of ice cream, 15 points = TWO scoops....you get the idea, the more points the more ice cream toppings, and FUN!
     This little change to the system has changed the reading in our room, during the Daily 5 more kids are choosing read to self....

I even had to invent a job, the hostess/host of AR, here they take your number and call your name when a computer is available for you to take your test!

 Reading is at an all time high right now, and my Sweet Bees are achieving their Reading Goals! As of yesterday every child in my class is coming to the next AR party with at least ONE scoop of ice cream! Can't wait to have the party...

Variety with Verbs.

Trying to find hands-on materials for teaching  Reading, English Language Arts is so much easier today than it was ten years ago. I found this wonderful FREEBIE while perusing Teachers pay Teachers looking for activities for Verbs.

 I had the kids first highlight the verbs, this way they could make sure there was one in each sentence. They had the choice to make four sentences, they could invent their own, by mixing up the order on the cut out sheet, or  try to figure out the exact ones from the cut out sheet. (I didn't realize that there was a 'right' way until one of my kids pointed it out to me.)

 My kids really enjoyed manipulating these sentences,so much so that some of them didn't want to  glue them down so they could rearrange them once again at home.

 I showed them the sentences that I came up with, a few had the same ones.

 I am the luckiest teacher, here you can see my fabulous parent volunteer, helping out, making sure kids have the right tools and are on task!

 

Here you can see some different sentences!

 I really enjoy finding little treasures on TpT! I am glad I am working in a time when teachers are encouraged and are willing to share their passion of teaching with others, THANK YOU fellow teacher friends! You all make me look so good in the classroom!