Keeping It Real…. Simple!

This school-year, I am really trying to simplify and streamline my instruction so that I can take my kiddos EVEN DEEPER!  We have already started journaling like crazy, and I am LOVING every single moment of it.  Seriously, LOVING it! 

As I mentioned on Monday (before our Internet gave out on me for nearly a week), I just created my Just Glue It pack to supplement my existing Interactive Notebook Flap Books!  I immediately worked it into my weekly plans, and I am SO glad that I did! 

First of all, since the journal prompts require higher-level thinking and processing of multi-step directions, I didn’t just pass the prompts out and throw my students to the figurative wolves.  I took the time to read through the prompt after we reread our main selection.  We discussed what the prompt required them to do, and then I created an example of a journal entry for them.  I modeled my thinking process as I wrote, and I pointed out the evidence from the text that I embedded into the entry.  Since my third graders read “What About Me?”, I chose to write about “The Wizard of Oz”.  The story has a similar pattern to it, and since that’s our Depth and Complexity icon and focus this week, it worked like a dream.  🙂 

As a sidenote, I used 3rd Grade Thought’s Depth and Complexity Brochures in conjunction with my own resources, and the kids were really CHALLENGED by the process.  They had to identify various patterns that existed in the story, sequence the events, and consider how the patterns impacted their comprehension of the text.  There were more than a few perplexed expressions at first, but once I said to discuss it in small groups and informed them that I was not going to let them off of the hook, they worked through it, referred back to the text, and came up with excellent and thought-provoking answers.  I have been told that my third graders have “never had to write so much in their lives”, but I will take that as a compliment.  Their personal narratives and journals will be great testaments to all of their hard work in the end!  🙂

Anywho—-I digress!  Back to the prompts!  🙂  We discussed the similarities and differences between the two texts.  For example, in our main selection, a young boy goes to the Grand Master for knowledge, and he meets lots of other people that he decides to help along the way.  As you all probably know, Dorothy goes on a journey to Oz because she wants to go back to Kansas, and she meets other “people” that she decides to help along the way.  In both stories, the main character is confronted with the needs of others and makes the decision to assist them.  As you can see, I didn’t make this anchor chart super fancy!  I wanted the emphasis to be on the content and expression of ideas, so I just did a kind of messy free-write to demonstrate the process for my students.  I didn’t fuss too much about making it perfectly polished.  I told them that, had this been a paper I wanted to publish, I would have reread it and tweaked a few sections to insert more precise language and improve the flow, but for our journal entries, editing isn’t a necessary component.  At any rate, you can see my example below:

After modeling and discussing the process and structure of a journal entry, I released the responsibility to my students.  🙂  I chose a journal entry for our first “Just Glue It” activity because it lent itself to the sequencing of story events which was one of our focus skills again this week.  It also touches on story elements a little bit, particularly character analysis, and we hit that pretty hard in Unit 1.  As you can see, my kiddos rose to the occasion, and they produced quality work!  I didn’t snap any completed entries, but you can see some of the works in progress!  This is a  third grade example using “What About Me?”:

 Here are a few fourth grade examples too!  We read “Grandfather’s Journey”, and the kiddos worked through the same process!  Of course, we also had a chat about point of view during this lesson, and the kids were asked to write the journal entry from the grandfather’s point of view.  I think they nailed it!

In addition to sequencing and summarizing, we have also been working on visualizing this week.  So, I had my students create a retelling board out of large white paper.  We folded the paper into fourths, divided the sections into boxes, traced over the lines, and added sequencing clue words to each box.  Then the students added key details from the text to summarize the story.  After that, they added mental pictures to represent each part of the story.  The third graders used “Owl Moon” since that is our current mentor text for writing, and the fourth graders used “Tea With Milk”… a companion story to “Grandfather’s Journey”.  I’ll be honest… I hit a major rough patch last week.  I was feeling really overwhelmed, so I didn’t take as many photos as I had planned.  As a result, I just have a few works in progress from my fourth grade group.  I didn’t snap any finished products or third grade examples, but I am sure you will get the gist of the activity nonetheless! 

In keeping with the rest of this post, I also want to share a quick idea for vocabulary development that is SIMPLE, quick, and easy to implement!  I call it “Reverse Pictionary” because I say a vocabulary word, and the students illustrate it on a whiteboard.  Now, I should add that I also give them a few other options!  They can write synonyms, definitions, or draw the meaning.  🙂  This is a great formative assessment, and you don’t even have to run off any papers to launch it!  Even better, right?!

As aforementioned, last week was exceptionally difficult for me. There are so many changes going on in Ohio this year with the full-implementation of the Common Core, the Third Grade Guarantee (which is tied to our state-testing and makes the test even MORE high-stakes), and a new teacher evaluation system… among other things.   I just felt OVERWHELMED.  It’s always a lot of work to take on a new challenge, but it’s always really wonderful at the same time.  I am really enjoying my new position and my students.  I’ve just been pulling a lot of 13 hour days lately, and it started to cause a little bit of anxiety.  (Hey, I’m a human!)  So, the best thing I could do for myself was keep it simple and try not to over-exert myself any more than I already have been.  Ha!  These activities were low-prep, but high-yield in terms of what my students got out of them.  So, all in all, last week was a success.

This weekend, fortunately, I’ve had the chance to catch my breath, and now I am ready to tackle a brand new week!  As you can see, last week, I worked so much that sweet Loralei felt a little neglected… and felt the need to force herself upon me.  🙂  This week, I am going to try to make time for ME… and the mister… and my sweet puppies.  Balance is SO important! It’s always so difficult at the beginning of the school year, but I know once I get back into my routine, I will be able to juggle everything much more efficiently!  Whether you are a newbie or a veteran, please remember to take the time for yourself.  You will be a much better teacher and a much happier/healthier person if you take the time to kick your feet up and relax every once in a while!  🙂  Sometimes we just need to remind ourselves that everything will get done… it just (usually) doesn’t have to get done today!  Even in the midst of more teacher accountability and lots of changes, give yourself permission to have a life outside of the classroom.  You deserve it!

Lastly, I wanted to share a little teaser with everyone!  I’m not quite ready to share ALL of the details yet, BUT I am really excited to be working with SDE this year!  🙂  It’s going to be a great way for me to share my love of teaching with even more people!  I’m really looking forward to it!

 Have a wonderful day, friends!  Remember to take care of YOU!  🙂