Image Map

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Reading Marathon

This is another idea taken from a 4th grade teacher at my previous school and I love it! It's called a "Reading Marathon" and the students love it!

Materials: (for each child)
-white paper, folded into 6 sections- plain printer paper or white construction paper will do
-leveled text
-crayons, colored pencils, pencil

Time: about 90 minutes

Pass out a book(should be the child's independent level) and a sheet of folded paper to each child. Students may use books that they are currently reading. Explain that they will be participating in a Reading Marathon. Students should  complete each section in the time alloted.

10 minutes: Section 1- Make a new cover for you book. Color the cover, be sure to include the title and author.

10 minutes: students reading silently.

10 minutes: Section 2- Write three important details about your favorite character. Draw and color a picture of the character.

10 minutes: students reading silently

10 minutes: Section 3- Write a quick summary of the book part you just read.

10 minutes: Section 4- Draw a visualization from the book. Write a sentence explaining your visualization.

10 minutes: students reading silently

10 minutes: Section 5- Write 3 questions you've had about the book so far.

10 minutes: Section 6- Draw a picture and write a sentence about your book's setting.

I've done this a couple of times and I've been impressed with the results. I will try and figure out a "nonfiction reading marathon."

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Classroom Tour

Reading Strategies and Skills Posters- Hollywood Themed

Front of the room (student book boxes)

Birthday Poster and Bucket Filler reminders

Writing Materials

Reading Mini Lesson Area

F.A.C.E.S. of a Reader Strategy Board

Classroom Library

Pop Into a Good Book!

More books...


Books, bulletin boards and workstation storage.

Guided Reading and Strategy Group Materials

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Christmas Ornaments

Have you ever made these acrylic paint glass ornaments? They are truly adorable!
Materials:
1 glass ball per child
assortment of acrylic paint (Plaid from Walmart)
assortment of matching ribbon
ornament hooks

Tilt ball and pour paint into top allowing it to run to the bottom of the ball.
I have the students choose two colors and then I always add white.
So for the ornament pictured I poured in pink, white, purple, pink, white, purple, white.
Then the student covers up the opening with a paper towel and shakes it until it is completely covered in the inside. 
I turn it upside down in the tray (writing their class # next to it).
I let it drain and dry for 2-3 days.
Affix topper, tie on coordinating ribbon, wrap in tissue paper and send home!

I hope you understood all that!


Monday, November 7, 2011

Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun

I LOVE this book! I read this book during the first three weeks of school while I was using childrens books to build character. Best of all, the author, Maria Dismondy http://www.mariadismondy.com/ , has an activity packet full of ideas to go along with this book http://www.mariadismondy.com/uploads/docs/Spaghetti-Readers-Guide.pdf.
It's about having the courage to be who you are, and children nowadays need all the encouragment they need in this area. It would also be the perfect Christmas gift for the child in your life how has or needs the confidence to be themselves!

Now for the awesome giveaway... I'm giving away a SIGNED COPY(from the author) of this book. All you have to do is follow my blog, and leave a comment including your email address, telling me how you would use it in your classroom. I will be choosing a winner on Saturday.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Nonfiction File Folder Project

After I review nonfiction text features with my third graders they will each get a file folder (I have already premade 25 file folders and divided them into 8 sections) a sheet of directions and a nonfiction book. I love the Scholastic Vocabulary Readers! I have them for all the topics and they are perfect for my lower readers. After modeling the project the students will be left alone to complete it. Here's a sample of a completed folder.















Here are the directions along with a rubric Nonfiction File Folder Project. Do you think you'll use this project with your students? I'd love to hear your feedback!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

September Books


Since my entire classroom library is sitting in my dining room waiting for me to wisk them away to school, I figured I do some more blogging about books to read. I've already blogged about books for launching reading and writing workshop, I've also blogged about mentor texts for reading skills and stratigies. Below are a list of my favorite September Books. Leave a comment with your favorite book!

Character Building
A Bad Case of the Tattle Tongue
Bully B.E.A.N.S.
My Mouth is a Volcano
Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon
The Boy Who Wouldn't Share
Fill a Bucket
Have you Filled a Bucket Today?
HOw Full is your Bucket? For Kids
Do Unto Otters
Yes We Can!
The Recess Queen
Little Prickles
The Marshmallow Incident
Bullies Never Win
Jungle Bullies
Sweet Briar Goes to School
Sweet Briar Goes to Camp
Chester Raccoon and the Big Bad Bully
Back to School
The Berestain Bears Go Back to School
Brand New Pencils, Brand New Books
Miss Malarkey Doesn't LIve in Room 10
Ready, Set, School!
A Fine, Fine School
What Teachers Can't Do
I Know an Old Teacher
Amelia Bedilia's First Day of School
My School's a Zoo
How do Dinosaurs Go to School?
Library Mouse: A Friend's Tale
Miss Nelson is Missing
Miss Nelson is Back
First Day Jitters
The Kissing Hand
A Pocketful of Kisses
A Kiss Goodbye
Marley Goes to School
Seasonal
Johnny Appleseed- Jane Kurtz
Johnny Appleseed- Alyse Sweeney
Johnny Appleseed- Jodie Shepherd
We All Fall for Apples- Emmi Herman
Fluffy's Goes Apple Picking- Kate McMullan
A Day at the Apple Orchard- Megan Faulkner & Adam Krawesky
How Do Apples Grow? Betsy Maestro
Apples for Everyone- Jill Esbaum
Apples- Gail Gibbons
The Apple Pie Tree- Zoe Hall
Clifford's First Autumn- Norman Bridwell
Leaves- David Ezra Stein
Chipmunk at Hollow Tree Lane- Victoria Sherrow
The Biggest Leaf Pile- Steve Metzger
The Falling Leaves- Steve Metzger
The Falling Leaves and the Scarecrow- Steve Metzger
Little Red's AUtumn Adventure- Sarah Ferguson
Wild Child- Lynn Plourde

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Books to Teach Reading Strategies

So I have a list of books for reading strategies listed here, but I thought I'd share the books that I actually use each year. Do you have an Ollies Bargin Outlet in your area? Well that is where I buy 70% of my books I use to teaching reading strategies with, most of the time it's not popular literature but it's great literature and the students haven't heard the story before! Leave a comment with your favorite teaching book.

Clarify:
The Emperor's Egg- Martin Jenkins
Deep in the Swamp- Donna Bateman
Making Connections: there are literally tons of books that can be used for making connections to self, world and text. Here are my ones for text to text connections.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs/Pickles to Pittsburgh- Judi Barrett
Too Many Frogs/What a Party- Sandy Asher
Amazing Grace/Boundless Grace/Princess Grace- Mary Hoffman
Jimmy's Boa Ate the Wash/ Jimmy's Boa Bungee Jump Slam Dunk- Trinka Nobel
Visualizing:
The Gruffalo- Julia Donaldson
Lily Brown's Paintings- Angela Johnson
The Salamander Room- Anne Mazer
Questioning: again there are literally tons of books that can be used for questioning but this is my favorite it!
Tuesday- David Weisner
Predicting:
The Black Snowman- Phil Mendez
The Story of Ruby Bridges- Robert Coles
Lucky Pennies and Hot Chocolate- Carly Sheilds
The Frog Prince Continued- Jon Scieszka
The Nutty Nut Chase- Kathryn White
Seven Blind Mice- Ed Young
My Lucky Day- Keiko Kasza
Inferring:
Where are you going Manyoni?- Catherine Stock
Tadpole's Promise- Jeanne Willis
Sequencing:
When the Leaf Blew In- Steve Metzger
Ming Lo Moves the Mountain- Arnold Lobel
There Was an Old Lady Series- Lucille Colandro
Fact/Opinion:
Dear Mr. Blueberry- Simon James
Fluency:
Wolf!-Becky Bloom
Other:
Testing Miss Malarkey- Judy Finchler

Wordless Picture Books

So I've learned over the years to begin teaching a new reading strategy with a wordless picture book. I find that it works best with the following strategies...
  • making connections
  • questioning
  • predicting
  • inferring
  • synthesizing
  • summarizing(this is a key strategy using wordless picture books will enhance for your students)
Below is a list of books I use each year for various strategies.
Deep in the Forest- Brinton Turkle
10 Minutes till Bedtime- Peggy Rathman
Looking Down- Steve Jenkins
Carl's Summer Vacation- Alexendra Day
Tuesday- David Wiesner
Chicken and Cat- Sara Varon
Do You Want to Be My Friend- Eric Carle
The Snowman- Raymond Briggs
Anno's Counting Book- Mitsumasa Anno

I also found an artile here about them.

Launching Writing Workshop

I have a collection of books that I read to get students excited about writing. If you have any other good ones please share by leaving a comment!

The Plot Chickens - Mary Jane Auch
Aunt Isabel Tells a Good One - Kate Duke
Arthur Writes a Story by Marc Brown
Mr. Putter and Tabby Write the Book by Cynthia Rylant
What Do Author's Do by Eileen Christelow
The Alphabet Tree by Leo Leonni
Library Mouse- Daniel Kirk
The Best Story- Eileen Spinelli
Library Mouse: A World to Explore- Daniel Kirk
Show, Don't Tell! Secrets of Writing by Josephine Nobisso

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Test Talk

I just received a new book I ordered called Test Talk: Integrating Test Prep into Reading Workshop. Most of you know that after 7 years in 2nd grade I am finally entering the world of standardized testing. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. I my biggest fear is for me to teach my new 3rd graders an entire year only to have them fail their end of the year assessments. I can't wait to dive into it, after I finish with Vacation Bible School next week I intend to dive head first into this read. Have you read the book? Tell me what you think in a comment below!

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Launching Reading Workshop

I have a collection of books that I read the first couple of weeks of school to get students excited about reading. If you have any other good ones please share by leaving a comment!

I Hate to Read!- Rita Marshall & Etienne Delessert
The Best Book to Read- Debbie Bertram & Susan Bloom
Goldie Socks and the Three Liberians- Jackie Mims Hopkins
The Best Place to Read- Debbie Bertram & Susan Bloom
A Quiet Place- Douglas Wood
The Best Time to Read- Debbie Bertram & Susan Bloom
Read All About It- Laura and Jenna Bush
Born to Read- Judy Sierra
Wild About Books- Judy Sierra
Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind- Judy Finchler & Kevin O'Malley

Monday, July 4, 2011

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Contact Me

2/27/22- Documents are in the process of being transferred over to Teachers Pay Teachers

About Me


Cash App: $teachingoasis


My name is Jessica Winston Saunders. I have lived everywhere from Heidelberg, Germany to Colorado Springs, Colorado. I was born in Ft. Bragg, NC. My mother is a Gulf War Veteran and is retired from the Army. My father passed away January 25, 2010. I have a sister who is a Registered Nurse and a Brother-in-law who is a contractor. They live in Caroline County with my nephew Jimmy-Sayvion (19). Their oldest, Chance (22), is a Chemical Engineering graduate of Virginia State University and is now a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army.  Through marriage I've obtained two nieces Bryana (22) and Jordyn (10) and a nephew JD (8).


I graduated from Chowan (College) University in 2004 with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education. I taught second grade for 10 years and third grade for 7 years. Two years ago, I had the honor of opening my second elementary school in my district! 






I was engaged on Valentine's Day 2012 and married on December 1st 2012.

To view my profile click here.