Books to help you recharge over the Summer

Hello Friends, it's Erin from The Elementary Darling. The countdown is on! I have about four weeks left before the end of the year, and this is the time that I start planning for the summer and organizing for the beginning of the year. I know some of you are thinking, "She is crazy!" and I might be a little bit, BUT the end of the year is the best time to organize and plan.  Last year, I wrote this post about what I do a the end of the year, and Kristin wrote this post, about planning during the end of the year.

But TODAY, I am going to show you my favorite professional development books. Obviously, I would recommend checking out one or two based on your needs, however they are ALL amazing!

For the teacher that needs to RECHARGE

I love anything written by Ron Clark, but Move your Bus is my favorite. I reread it often to remind myself to be a runner! If you don't know, his co-owner of The Ron Clark Academy is Kim Bearden, and her book, Crash Course will remind you why you went into teaching. It is my ultimate favorite! I also recently found the book Conscious Discipline, thanks to my friend, Theresa from True Life I'm a Teacher. This book is all about teacher mindset. I just started it, and I am loving it!

Throughout this post, you’ll find Amazon Affiliate links. This means I receive a small commission if you purchase something through that link, at no extra cost to you, that helps keep my blog running and helps fund giveaways!

For the teacher beginning Reading Groups

These books are good for reading groups, or ideas for your groups. Even if you have been implementing reading groups for several years, I know you will find something useful in them! These two books are my everything when it comes to Guided Reading. Jan Richardson has everything you need, including strategies and printables in this book for every level of guided reading. The Daily Five book is great for anyone who uses a grouping method for reading.  I also LOVE Word Nerds. This book has amazing ideas for vocabulary instruction. While I would recommend it for 2nd grade and above, it could be modified for Kindergarten and 1st grade.

For the teacher looking for Math Group ideas

I LOVE this book! Debbie Diller is an amazing math group guru, and she has fabulous ideas in this book! It is for grades K-2, so if you have a book suggestion for 3-6, I would love to hear it!

For the teacher looking for Differentiation Ideas 

If you are a GenEd teacher and you have a huge range of student abilities in your classroom, these are my top picks! I got my gifted endorsement several years ago and the book, Teaching Gifted Kids in Today's Classroom is my all time favorite. It has so many suggestions to extend the learning of higher level students.  Advancing Differentiation and How to Differentiate Instruction for Mixed Ability Classrooms are both amazing and so helpful when your classroom ranges in ability levels.

For the teacher looking for IDEAS or Strategies

How many times have we all run out of ideas or needed new fresh strategies for teaching a topic?  I recently found these books this year, and I never knew what I was missing. THEY ARE SO GOOD! You can use these books no matter what ELA format you use. It is literally a book full of strategies for every level. They do cost a little more, but honestly, they are worth EVERY penny. You can find the reading one here and the writing one here. These two will be the ones that I will be reading over the summer!

What professional development books will you dive into this summer? Whether you are reading to recharge, learn new strategies, or try a new method, these books will help you achieve your goal! Do you have an awesome book that I didn't show, leave it in the comments below! Happy Reading!

Finish the Year with a Bang: What I Like about YOU!

I'm closing a chapter with the 2015-2016 school year coming to an end.  I am officially moving out of the elementary school and into an office at the district office for next year.  I've had a hard time for many reasons with this move, but there is SO much to celebrate!  Our theme couldn't be more perfect for me:  Finish the Year with a Bang!

My very first group of students that I taught in both 3rd and 4th grades will be graduating this Friday.   I'm so happy for them and proud of my honor graduates.  

Now that I've teared up, I want to share with you something special that I have done with my students the past five years.  I wish I had started this with my very first group of students 10 years ago.  What I Like About You is a day where I want my students to leave my room with a full heart and knowing how much I love them.  

For each student, I prepare a slip of paper with a fun or sweet memory, tell them what I will miss about them, tell them why they are a great learner, and what I love about them.  I then pull each student aside during the day and talk to them about their card.  I try to also snap a picture of the two of us together to send their parents as well.  

This is one of the best things that I do all year, because they take such pride in their little piece of paper and they walk a little taller the rest of the day.  If you would like to use my template, download it by clicking here.

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Thanks for reading, Meghan from Keeping Up with Mrs. Harris.

Finish the Year with a Bang: Classroom Campout!

Classroom Campout

Hello!  I am Tami from Kamp Kindergarten.

Having a classroom campout is a fun end of the year activity for your little learners.  In this post I am sharing a fun camping book suggestion, an easy recipe for S’mores Snack Mix, and a Camping themed math FREEBIE for your little learners to enjoy during Classroom Campout.

A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee

 

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A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee is one of my favorite books to share with children about camping.  The delightful illustrations and rhyming words whimsically tell the story of a camping adventure that will capture your little learners’ attention.  The story begins with Mr. Magee and his dog, Dee, setting off in their vintage Rambler convertible and canned ham camping trailer to camp in the mountains of Maine.  Though their camping plans are adjusted after the excitement of an encounter with a bear, the two make the best of their situation and still have a great time.  

S'mores Snack Mix

What's a campout without S'mores?  This simple, fun, and tasty snack mix is a great follow-up activity to the Mr. Magee book.

1. Ingredients

I tell students the bears are the bear in the story, the chocolate is the rocks, and the marshmallows are like the ones Mr. Magee and Dee roasted over their campfire.

2.  Put ingredients in bowls.  Learners follow directions and count out a given number of each.  Ten or twelve of each item works well. 

3.  Put the ingredients in a bowl or cup.

4.  Enjoy!
  

FREE Ten Frames Math Activity

Campfire Kids Rock! Count and Clip Cards

Here is a FREEBIE to accompany your classroom campout activities.

Campfire Kids Rock!  Count and Clip Cards

Little learners practice numerals to 20 and address fine motor development with the fun ten frames clip cards.  Use all 20 cards or select only the ones for the quantities your little learners need to practice.

Click Here to Get Campfire Kids Rock! Count and Clip Cards!

 

I hope you and your learners enjoy Classroom Campout Day! 

Happy Camping!

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