Novel Studies!!!

I am so excited! I used to teach reading through the use of novels, authentic literature but when I switched school my principal was very strict and she insisted that we use the reading program and nothing else so I had to stop using my novels and start using anthologies. We do ability grouping for reading (we switch classes for reading and each teacher has a different level) With my old principal that's where the differentiation ended. We were all expected to be teaching the same exact thing which made no sense to me at all. Well this year, we got a new principal and we got a new reading program. My reading class consists of the students who are "Bubble Students" which means they are basically on the fence, they could go either way on their standardized reading test. I gave the new program an entire marking period and when my students scores were stagnant from the beginning of the year I went to my new principal and asked him if I could use the novels again and he said yes! I am SO exited to be teaching this way and my students are super excited! I pointed out to my principal that these kids have had "canned" reading programs for the past 4 years and if these programs worked with these students then they wouldn't be Bubble Kids. So now I am now using Matilda by Roald Dahl as our first novel study and my class couldn't be happier! When I told them we would be reading Matilda I had one student say "You mean we are going to read a real book?" Imagine that, reading a real book in your reading class! What a novel concept (pun intended).

We just finished week 1, the first 4 chapters of Matilda and my class average on their comprehension test was an 85.5% the average of their comprehension tests last 9 weeks was about a 68%. My lowest student, who is also learning "disabled" scored a 94% on his comprehension test! His average score last 9 weeks was a 56% I am so excited for them!

I created a novel study pack that I posted on Teachers Pay Teachers (http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Matilda-by-Roald-Dahl-Novel-Study-Graphic-OrganizersThinking-Maps-957068)

I'm on Facebook!

I have launched my new Facebook page to go with my new name!!! Please please please stop by and visit/like my facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SimplyElementary


I am going to be doing a giveaway soon and will be posting the details on my Facebook page first so please head on over like the page and pay close attention for details about the giveaway!

If you don't have a Facebook account - no worries I will be posting details about my first Giveaway of the summer right here on my blog too!

I am working on a big project right now that combines Common Core and Marzano learning goals and proficiency scales so as soon as I have those finished and posted on TPT I will post details about my giveaway :-)

I don't have anything else right now so I hope to see you all on Facebook and back here in a few days for my giveaway!

Class Dojo???

Ok my daughter - who is also a teacher - told me that I HAD to get this app called Class Dojo to use with my behavior management system next year. Are any of you all familiar with this website/app? It seems pretty cool! You input your class and then the kiddos can earn/lose points based on their behavior choices. You can also email parents their child's points and graphs of their points and behaviors. It's totally FREE!!!! This sounds awesome! You can check out the website by clicking on the picture below:

I've already scoured Pinterest and found some great ways to use this in the classroom. I have used the clip chart system the last 3 years and I was thinking about trying to use it in conjunction with Class Dojo but I am wondering if that would be overkill. Plus, in the past I have only had one class of students but next year I will have my homeroom class, plus my reading class, and at my school we do not do substitutes when a teacher is out, we simply split the class so I will also have 2 - 3 students from each of the other teachers who will come to me if their teacher is absent. The clip chart just doesn't seem practical for all those kids. I mean I would need to have 18 - 22 clips for my homeroom, and then probably an additional 10 - 15 for my reading class (if not more) and then I would need to have clips for the kids who come to me for split class. With this program I just program them all in and I'm good to go. I'm thinking about doing a monthly points reward system where they earn a certain reward base don the number of points they have earned. I liked that idea a LOT because the rewards can be as simple as homework passes, lunch with me in the classroom, lunch with a friend in the classroom, a pencil, use of a gel pen... easy peasy stuff. BUT I am wondering if I should have a display of some sort that the kids can use to keep track of their points.

I saw on Pinterest one teacher has a chart similar to a clip chart but instead of clips, when the students earn a certain number of points they simply write their name on that level of the chart, I like that it is a positive display of their progress in behavior but I am wondering if it would also be "overkill." I'm glad we are still early in the summer so I have plenty of time to think about this.

Do you use this program? If so please share how you use it!!

Monday Made It!

I am so excited to be linking up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics for her Monday Made It linky party! I have missed these so much and am super excited to be able to share!

Even though I am only on my first week of summer break I have been busy thinking, planning, and making things for my new 3rd (or 4th) grade classroom. I have decided that I am going to do a Jungle theme for next school year and I have been busy making all sorts of goodies for this theme! 

Here is what I have made so far! (I have put it all up on TPT as well so if you are doing a Safari theme feel free to pop over and pick them up by clicking on any of the pictures!)

First up are my Common Core Learning Goal posters! I have only done 3rd grade so far but will also be created a 4th grade set as well just in case I get moved to 4th grade. 

Next up is my clip chart! I have been using a clip chart as my behavior management system for the past 3 years and LOVE it! I have used it in both 4th grade and kindergarten and it has worked wonderfully in both grade levels! 

 I also made a set of class rules for my classroom. I use parts of the Whole Brain Teaching program and one of the things I use are their class rules. So I made these to hang in our room!

Finally... last year I loved all the triangle banners I saw on Pinterest and totally wanted to do one for my class for next year so I made one that says "WILD ABOUT 3RD GRADE" I also created a triangle for each of the other grade levels (1st - 5th) and the letters to spell out "kindergarten" as well as some with just some cute safari animals :-)

Well that's it, that's what I have been working on and what I made this today (and this weekend). Now I just need to buy the card stock, extra ink, ribbons, and laminating pouches to get them all printed out and ready to go... I have until August so I think I'm OK for now LOL

New Name and URL

Well the 2012-2013 school year is in the history books. I closed out my 13th year teaching as I said goodbye to by 10th (and final) kindergarten class. Now I am officially headed back to the "big kids" 

Now to celebrate my return to blogging and my return to the big kids I am changing the name and url of my blog. Originally my blog was "Fun in 4th Grade" and since there is a chance I won't be teaching 4th grade next year I wanted to change the name of my blog to better fit whatever grade level I may be teaching. I also changed my url since it also had "fourth grade" in it. my new url is http://mrsforeman4.blogspot.com so if you have me saved in your favorite or your Pinterest please make sure you update. 

Also I am thinking about finally getting a professionally designed blog layout but have no idea where to start or what is a reasonable fee to expect so anyone with any advice or recommendations please share them!

June Currently!

With only 3 days of school left I am SOOOOOO excited to be finishing this year and getting out of kindergarten and back in the "big kid" grades! With being in kindergarten and losing my dad I have not had time for blogging but I plan to rectify that this summer and this upcoming school year! Right now it is sort of up in the air about whether or not I will be teaching 4th grade or 3rd grade. As of right now I am assigned to 3rd grade, but my principal has told me that if a 4th grade position opens up then she will move me to 4th grade. I am excited about either one but I am just not thrilled with the uncertainty right now. So I will just prepare for both :-) My husband and son will be moving all my stuff out of my kindergarten room and into my new 3rd/4th grade room later next week and I don't want to move again over the summer - actually I think I would have to force my son to help me move a 2nd time within a few weeks/months. He is already complaining that he JUST helped me move from my old school to my new school and that was last year at this time.

When I came back tonight to  resuscitate my blog, I saw that I was just in time for Farley's June Currently! Yay! I have missed these!!

You can check it out yourself at her blog HERE

In the mean time here is mine!

LISTENING - I am blessed that my sweet hubby is making me dinner tonight so I am listening to the sound of him doing this as I sit at the kitchen table. Our boys are out with friends so the house is very quiet which is nice, some times.

LOVING - On Thursday the hubs and I will celebrate our 21st wedding anniversary and I am love love loving my anniversary present which is my new MacBook Pro. A couple years ago he bought me my first Mac, the MacBook Air which I loved. I swore I would never go back to a PC but my little Mac Air only has a 60 gig hard drive so I was having to store everything on an external hard drive or a flash drive which was very inconvenient and was contemplating going back to a PC laptop for the larger hard drive. So when Hubs surprised me with my MacBook Pro with its 500 gig hard drive I landed right in Heaven :-)

THINKING - Well for me school is still in session for 3 more days with the kids and then 2 for post planning, but that has not stopped me from thinking about next year already! That's how excited I am to be moving back up. So I have been thinking about what theme I want to go with for next school year so I an start planning it all out now :-)

WANTING - I want to know what room I am in next year! At my old school (I always feel like Phoebe from Magic School Bus when I say that) we had our grade and room assignments by mid May! My current school is great, don't get me wrong, but my principal is retiring in October so there are some areas where we could use a little work. I am hoping and hoping to get my room assignment soon because my husband is taking Friday off to help me move and if I don't have a room assignment that could make things a little tricky :-)

NEEDING - Being in kindergarten this year and dealing with my dad's illness and eventual passing I have gained back about 5 pounds. Now that might not sound like a lot but I worked really hard to lose about 35 pounds a couple years ago and have been trying to keep it off. So gaining back 5 pounds has been really bugging me. Being in kindergarten has meant being downstairs so I don't get the daily exercise of several trips up and down a flight of stairs, plus in kindergarten there is a snack time and its difficult to pass up some of the yummy snacks the parents bring in on their snack day. Plus I am a stress eater so the stress of my dad's situation made those snacks even more appealing. So I need to lose the 5 pounds I have gained over the last year :-)

3 VACAY ESSENTIALS - Oh yeah!!! Super excited about this one!! Since I live in Florida and only about 45 minutes from the beach, we spend a LOT of weekends on the beach during the summer so of course I need a great book to read (My current favorite author is Francine Rivers - just finished Redeeming Love and HIGHLY recommend it!), a nice comfie beach chair, and a great new pair of flip flops!!

Well there is my June Currently! I hope you head on over to Farley's blog (link up top there) and join the party!!

PS I am SO glad to be back and that I still have 150  followers. I will be doing a giveaway pretty soon so watch for that! I'm going to give away your choice of any 3 items from my TPT store! Details will be posted soon!

I'm Baaaaaack!!!! (and I have a new blog)

Yep, after spending this last school year teaching kindergarten (we still have a whole quarter to go) I have decided that I needed to teach kindergarten this year to come to the realization that I am no longer a Kindergarten teacher, I am a 4th grade teacher!

I feel like I was supposed to teach kindergarten this year because this year has been a very difficult year. If you have followed my blog for a while then you may recall that a little over a year ago I had to put my sweet daddy in a nursing home after he fell and broke his hip which lead us to realize how bad his Alzheimer's had progressed. Well my sweet daddy lost his battle with Alzheimer's 3 months ago tomorrow. He went Home to be with Jesus on January 3rd. My older sister and I were so fortunate to be by his side and holding his hands when he peacefully drew his last breath. It was a very stressful year and I am so thankful that my daddy is no longer lost in his own mind and he knows us all again.

So anyway I have asked to return to 4th grade next year and my principal has said she will honor my request and she is very happy to have me in 4th grade again. Once I get back in 4th grade I will hopefully be posting here more and more.

Now I also want to let you all know that I have started a new blog and beginning Monday April 15th I will be hosting an online Bible Study through my new blog. It is going to be based on the book A Confident Heart by Renee Swope. You can get all the details from the opening post on my new blog called "A Walk in the Word" and can be found here - http://psalm119105.blogspot.com

Please feel free to stop in and check it out and feel free to join us! This is hopefully just the first of many more Bible studies I will be leading.

Celebrating with a giveaway!!

Hello all my 4th grade friends! I am slowly closing down this blog and slowly establishing my kindergarten blog and I am so excited to have 25 followers on my new blog! To celebrate reaching 25 followers I am doing a giveaway and you have a chance to win TWO items of your choice from my TPT store!!! Head on over to my Kindergarten blog (by clicking on the picture) to see what's going on and what you have to do to enter (It's really painless I promise)

ONLINE Thirty-One Party!!!!! Join the Fun!!!

Hello all!! I am so excited I am hosting an ONLINE Thirty-One party!! It closes 1 week from today on Wednesday the 20th (the websites says it closes on the 13th but that's incorrect I promise it is open until the 20th!). 

There are all sorts of super cute bags, purses, lunch boxes, and organizational tools!! I have what I call the Ultimate Teacher Bag but they call it the Organizing Utility Tote (pictured below) but it is the PERFECT teacher bag! Lots of pockets, plenty of room for books, pens, markers, all sorts of goodies!! 

If you want to place an order follow these simple was steps

1. Click on the picture of the bag below (or go to www.mythirtyone.com/Afox)

2. Click on "MY PARTIES" (You can also browse through the catalog from this page too)

3. Then find my name - Cindy Foreman - and click where it says "SHOP NOW" 

4. VERY IMPORTANT if you place an order make sure that you choose to have your order shipped directly to you otherwise it will be sent to me and I'll have to send it to you and it will take longer for you to get your stuff. 

Also if you order please leave me a comment and tell me what you ordered!! I love to know what everyone likes (and that way if for some reason your order comes to me I can get it to you)

Graphics??? Where do I get them?? HELP!!!

I see so many cute things on Teachers Pay Teachers and I have a ton of ideas I want to create and put in my store but I don't know where to buy graphics and pictures and all that to make them with. I know all you great ladies have awesome stuff that you put out there do can someone please tell me where to find graphics???

My first giveaway!!!

Hello all, as I have mentioned, next year I am leaving 4th grade and returning to my first love... Kindergarten! I have created a brand new Kindergarten blog called "Krazy Kindergarten Teacher"

SOOOOOO to introduce everyone to my new Kindergarten blog I am having my very first giveaway!!

Head on over to my new Kinder Bloggy home (just click on the picture) to see the details!!
See y'all over there!

New Blogger give away!!

Hey all, I am posting this on my 4th grade blog since this is for a new upper grades blogger! Every New Beginning is having a great giveaway for a Target gift card!! She is new to the bloggy world so head on over and show her some love!! Click on the picture below to check it out!!

My new bloggy home!!!

Hello all!! As I mentioned in my post on the 15th I am going to be moving from 4th grade back to Kindergarten next school year. Since we are only 13 days away from the end of our year I wanted to create a fresh new blog to go along with my fresh new grade level assignment! I couldn't be happier to be returning to Kindergarten after spending 2 wonderful years in 4th grade. I didn't realize how much I have missed teaching kindergarten! I guess deep down I am a kindergarten teacher at heart and not even 2 years of teaching 4th grade has been able to change that.

Anyway I want to invite all my followers to come on over to my new bloggy home at THE KRAZY KINDERGARTEN TEACHER I look forward to seeing you all there!!

Change is a good thing!

I am SO excited!! Today is my birthday and I got the BEST birthday present! I was offered a position at a very nice school just down the road from my current school! I am SUPER excited BUT I will need to change the name of my blog to Fun in KINDERGARTEN!!! I am going BACK to teaching Kindergarten!!! I taught Kindergarten for 8 years before I moved to 4th grade and I am excited and not just a little bit, but a LOT freaked out to be going back! BUT I am so excited to have the opportunity to teach at the school I am transferring to. It is an AWESOME school with an AMAZING principal!!!

I interviewed on Friday for a possible 4th grade position and the principal told me that at the time the 4th grade teacher was on medical leave and she wasn't sure if she was coming back or not. She was very complimentary to me and she was very interested in hiring me and she said she really hoped she would have a position to offer me in near future. She called me tonight and told me that she had a teacher come in to her today and tell her that she was leaving and that she wanted to offer me that position and then she told me it was KINDERGARTEN!! She said she immediately thought of me because of my experience teaching kindergarten and my National Board certification in early childhood and she wanted to offer me the position! She said that if she has an upper grade position open up that she would move me up if I want.

I am SO excited but so nervous about going back to kinder! I mean it was my passion, I love teaching kids to read and I feel like I was at my best when I was teaching kindergarten. Ever since my interview on Friday I have been praying that God would lead me down the right path and maybe He wants me back with the little ones. Oh boy, He definitely thinks I am strong LOL Moving up was easy, moving back down is going to be a challenge but I am always ready for a challenge!

Ok sooooo if any of you know of any great Kindergarten blogs please please please share them with me!! I will be looking for all sorts of ideas since I'll be a "newbie" again

Homework Woes

OK, as we wind down this school year (only 18 schools days left) it is time to reflect on the year and start thinking about things I want to do differently and/or better next year. Considering this is the end of my 2nd year in 4th grade I still have quite a bit to reflect on but I feel like the area that I just can't figure out is homework. Actually checking homework to be specific. I have no problem assigning the homework its just finding an easy and quick way to check it and see who has their's completed and who doesn't.

I have had the kids turn it in daily and weekly but turning it in just doesn't seem to be working for me. I would like to figure out a routine to establish first thing in the morning that allows me to quickly do a homework check and then move on with the day. Also one of our "social Development" grades is "Completes homework" so I need to have a system that allows me to keep track long term.

Sooooo Here's what I am thinking - and I would LOVE some feedback or ideas.
1 - Get a small notebook
2 - Print off a weekly class list spread sheet with a daily column each for Spelling, Vocab, and Math
3 - Set up the routine that when the students enter the classroom in the morning they unpack and put their homework on their desk
4 - as they write their new homework assignment in their agenda I can walk around and check off who has their homework and who doesn't.

This sounds simple in writing but will it actually work? Please share how you check your homework I would love to have some ideas for next year!

Please vote for me (starting 5/14)

I was so surprised when I opened my email today and found out that little ole me had been nominated for the 2012 Fascination Award for Elementary Teacher Blogs. I was nominated because of my post back around Valentine's Day title "Feeling a little better" (click on it if you want to read that post).

Anyway, I am SO excited that I was nominated!! If I win I get a $100 restaurant gift card! Voting opens on May 14th (the day before my birthday) so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE vote for me! You can use the button above!

Field Day 2012

Today we had our annual 3rd - 5th grade Field Day. Our theme this year was the Olympics. Each class chose a country to represent and then we designed banners and flags and "uniforms" to go with our country. We chose Egypt and my class decided they wanted to be The Mysterious Mummies of Egypt! LOL! So I enlisted the help of my extremely talented and artistic son (something he did NOT get from me LOL) to help us out. He made us 2 banners and he drew a picture of a mummy that I then copied onto iron on transfer printer paper and ironed on to our shirts. Here are a couple pictures of our finished products:

This is a close up of the kids' shirts - my baby drew that picture!

Here is my very talented and artistic son holding one of the shirts, standing in front of the banners my class made for him. His birthday is Tuesday so we had a surprise "Thank You/Happy Birthday" party for him yesterday

Not a very flattering picture of me, but this is my shirt, and my son had one just like it

Today was the big day and the kids were so excited! We always have an opening ceremony that includes a parade of classes and gives the judges a chance to see all the costumes and banners the classes have made and at the end of the day they choose a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner. The winners are judged on their costumes and creativity but also on their sportsmanship and their respect for each other and the other teams. I am very proud to say that my class won 3rd place out of all the 3rd - 5th grade classes (about 22 classes) Here are some pictures of our parade "gear" and some of the kids participating in the activities

2 of my little mummies holding the Sphinx

The flag of Egypt

a scene from Egypt including the pyramids and some camels

my mummies

more of my little mummies

more of my little mummies

My son is awesome! He let us drape him up in linen cloth like a mummy!

Me and my baby boy!

Getting ready for the parade

my group with all their banners

my son doesn't give us time to pose, he just starts snapping pictures LOL

Now we're ready! 

Scooter races

cone/ball race - hopping on 1 foot

Belly Ball

My son has a heart as big as the Egyptian Pyramids - this young lady is a 4th grader from another class and none of the kids would be her partner for belly ball so my son stepped in there and was her partner - he encouraged her all the way! I am SO proud of the young man he has become.

Here they are coming around to the end of the course

getting ready for the foot races

Lets go girls!

There goes the boys!

bat relay