Formal Observation

I had my formal observation on Friday and I am so glad to be done with it!! Hopefully it went well enough that I won't need another :)

I wanted to share my lesson with you because I absolutely loved it and the kids did SO well with it! We use Marzano for our observations, and this lesson was designed with that in mind--lots of Marzano tallies! ;)

My formal observation was on Friday, but I started teaching about children now/children then on Monday. We always start by going over our learning goal. The learning goal correlates to one of our social studies standards.

 Then we discuss where they feel they are on the learning scale. When I say 'status check' the children reply with 'status check' and then they hold up their hand-displaying a zero, one, two, three, or four depending on where they think they are on the scale. You can find my learning scale HERE for free. As you can see below, on Monday 17 students felt as if they were at a two and three students felt as if they were at a one when it comes to comparing/contrasting children now/then.

 Throughout the week we read Sarah Morton's Day and Samuel Eaton's Day. I only read a couple of pages a day. As I finish reading, I have children turn to their buddy on the carpet. I clap my hands twice and say 'teach'. They clap their hands twice and say 'okay!' When they turn to their buddy they discuss anything new that they have learned. When they are finished I call on different buddies to share what they discussed. I wrote down their new learning onto a post it note and give it to them to 'splash' onto our anchor charts. Here is what our anchor charts looked like by Thursday.

On Monday we also 'splashed' on our new vocab words for the week. Everyday before reading I remind my students of the words and tell them to put their thumb up if they hear a word during reading. If they hear a word we move it over the the left side of the Word Splash and we discuss the meaning. (I don't like to put pictures on the vocab cards because I want students to figure out the meaning.)

Now fast forward to Friday ;)

Friday morning my observation was at 8:15. Before it began I quickly went over the learning scale and reminded students that today was the day we were going to do another 'status check' to see if they moved up on the scale!  I had the children come up with their own goals. They decided that in order for them to hold up a three at the end of the lesson they should know 4 facts. In order for them to hold up a four they should know 6 facts, etc. 

When my observation began I read over the learning goal again. I asked students why that goal was important. They responded with things like, 'the Pilgrims were one of the first to live in America and we also live in America'. Then I reminded them that on Monday 17 students felt they were at a 2 and 3 students at a 1. I told them I can't wait to do a 'status check' today to see if they have gotten better! 

I then said that before we started the lesson for the day I wanted a couple of students to review what we had on our anchor charts. I called on a couple of students to share some differences between children then/children now.

Then I sat down and we went over our carpet rules. You can find these rules HERE. I say 'mirror' and they say 'okay'. As I read the rules, they repeat after me. 

 

I reminded students to listen for a Word Splash word while I read. Then I read one page from the book, If You Were On The Mayflower. The page discussed the chores that Pilgrim children had. (I only read one page because I wanted to make sure I got through the entire observation before my vice principal left!) On the page they heard our vocab word Pilgrim. When they did they put their thumbs up. I paused from reading and had them remind me what Pilgrim meant, then I continued. When I was finished I had children turn to their carpet buddies and discuss whether they learned anything new that was NOT already on our anchor charts. They came up with a couple of things and we quickly talked about it. 

I then told the students that it was time for their challenge! It was time for me to see whether they have met their learning goal!! I explained that I was going to give each group a bag of statements and that group had to decide where it went on the Venn Diagram. 

If you look closely at the photo above, you will see that in the corner of each statement there is a shape. This is so I know what group put the statements on the Venn Diagram in case they put it in the wrong spot. Each group took their bag to their tables. They had to work together to figure out where it went. (Keep in mind...I did this lesson before for practice with bats/birds) Each group had their own tape too. So after everyone agreed they taped their own statements onto the Venn Diagram. At their tables you could hear them reading the statements (one reader in each group), asking each other where they thought the statement went, and finally asking if everyone agreed. If they did, then the 'taper' went and taped it onto the diagram.

These statements are from my November Unit on TPT here.

When everyone was finished they met me back at the carpet. I invited one group at a time to stand up next to me. I read their statements and the rest of the students had to give a thumbs up if they thought the group had placed it correctly and a thumbs down if it was incorrect. We celebrated the groups success and then I called the next group up, etc. 

I really wanted someone to put a statement in the wrong spot so we could have a mini debate, but they got them all right! 

I told them I was so proud of them and then we did our final 'status check'. This time one person felt as if they were at a one, four people at a three, and sixteen students at a four. I then explained to the students that it was okay that 'little Timmy' felt as if he was at a 1 on the scale because 16 students thought they were at a 4! That meant that they knew at least 6 facts AND they could help a friend! So if they can help a friend, they can help 'little Timmy!' 

I then told them that I had an extra challenge for them!!! Since so many students were at a 4 on our scale I wanted them to go back to their groups and write one fact (as a group) that we did NOT put on the Venn diagram. When I gave them their papers some of them were like 'wow this is a challenge' it was so cute! They all got right to work and I went over to 'little Timmy' and asked him a couple questions about children then/now. He answered all of them and I told him that I think he knows more than he realizes and gave him a high-five. 

At this time my vice-principal closed her computer and headed out! She told me it was awesome! HUGE relief!

Believe it or not we did ALL of that in about 40 minutes!

...and I am done! YAY!

Word Work Center

The word work center is now turning into my favorite center and it is definitely because it is NO WORK at all for me!! Everything is set up in the  center, the students know how to use it all, and they have total choice in what they do.

These are some pictures from my October Word Work centers. Students are spelling their CVC words with magnetic letters.

and working on beginning sounds!

 This month SOME of my students are ready to take on the challenge of middle sounds. I introduced this center during small groups to see if any of my groups were ready. A lot of my students had difficulty with this. We have been working on beginning sounds so much that they would read the picture and immediately listen for the beginning sound. I had to keep reminding them to stretch the word and listen for the middle vowel.

 My students LOVED this next center, 'Building Teepees'. They had to match the letter with the corresponding beginning sound picture. My lower group definitely still needs this practice and it is a great review/independent center for my other groups. 

I have to brag a teeny, tiny bit...my students are doing AMAZING at CVC words!! I think they are enjoying the magnetic letters so much, that they don't even realize they are learning!

I am storing the centers for each month in a 2 gallon zip-lock. This way next year, I can just pull out the baggie and I am ready to go!! 

I have my formal observation tomorrow so I will be back this weekend to share my lesson and let you all know how it went! Crossing my fingers for a nice, non-chatty Friday ;)

All About Bats Unit: Wrap Up!

I feel like the worst blogger! I haven't spent nearly enough time blogging and sharing ideas with you this year. I swear I have the best intentions...and then life happens!

This Fall I have totally been on the wedding circuit! I've almost been away every weekend since Labor Day! I. AM. EXHAUSTED. I was actually home this past weekend with no plans for the first time since school started and I barely moved from the couch! But, hey...that gave me enough energy to get through Monday and I am back! (for now)  ;)

Last week we wrapped up our Bat Unit.  I am really trying to make an effort to only have centers that I know my students will be able to complete 100% independently. This way I am not bothered during my guided reading group. 

In the pocket chart center, students put their bat cards in ABC order.

 Then they recorded their letters on their activity sheet.

During my guided reading group, we worked on beginning sounds. I let one student at a time choose a bat. They had to flip the bat over and tell us what the picture was. 

 Then, they all record the sound they heard. They loved this!

At their 'star' table (which is my parent center), they played Spooky Spin and Write! This is another activity that works on beginning sounds.

I have my formal observation coming up this week. Eeks. For it, I am comparing and contrasting children now to children of the past (Pilgrims). I wanted to practice so I quickly made an activity comparing birds and bats.  

First, we read Stellaluna. Then I had the students turn to their 'carpet buddy' and discuss one thing that was different between bats and birds and one thing that was the same. When they were finished I called on different groups to share what they came up with. Then, I showed them 4 different baggies I made. Each bag had different facts inside. I told the students that they would go back to their table group and they would work together to figure out where each statement went on the class Venn Diagram (bats, birds, both).

 I also explained to them that they would have to make sure every one at the table had a 'job'. Someone may be the reader, someone may hold the statements, someone had to get the tape out, etc. BUT they were not allowed to put the statement on the venn diagram until everyone at the table agreed on its placement!

...and yes they are in costumes...it was on Halloween and I made them work! Such a meanie ;)

 When each group was finished we went over the Venn Diagram. I read each statement and I had them put their thumb up if they thought it was placed in the correct spot. If they thought it was placed incorrectly then they put their thumb down. A couple times we had some thumbs down, if that was the case then I made the group stand up and either defend their answer or change it.

I made little pictures in the corners of all the statements- circles, squares, stars, and triangles. This way I knew exactly which group put on which statement.

The lesson turned out great! I love to see my students working together! Now let's hope it goes this well on Friday when we compare children now to Pilgrims children!

Happy Birthday Freebielicious!

Have you heard? Freebielicious turned ONE this month! This last year has been amazing and we are so happy with our wonderful Freebielicious family! This little blog has twenty-five amazing authors...teachers with hearts of gold! Our only goal is to continue be a blessing to primary teachers!
Well, guess what? You could win a prize package valued at over $500, which includes an iPad mini!!! 

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You have three chances to win. Follow Freebielicious on Pinterest, follow them on Facebook, and follow Freebielicious by email. Enter to win by October 30, 2013 at midnight. The winter will be drawn on October 31, 2013 and announced on Freebielicious. One entry per person and entries will be verified. Good luck!!