Another novel study- The Hundred Dresses

I didn't know this until I started selling on TPT, but when you put a product out there that you've been working on... like really working on, it's a little like putting your kid on the school bus for the first time.  

I was that mom that followed the bus the first day- just in case there was an accident.  Just saying.   Bee went to the zoo, accident-free. 

Find it here in my TPT store, From The Hive

I've got my next Novel Study ready to go!  It's another unit that I've used parts of in class with my third graders for a few years, but all cleaned up in a tidy package ready to go- and ready to share with others.  Putting my kid on the bus here.

The Hundred Dresses is a classic story- it's sweet and fun with a strong message about bullying and teasing.  Despite the title and the fact that the three leads are girls, it's not a girly story.  I've always found that boys really hang on the bullying and teasing theme in the story and are happy to read past the reason that the girls tease poor Wanda.  

So, this novel study, like my Charlotte's Web Novel Study, guides you and your students through the reading of the story.  It has lesson plans for two weeks, and guided pages to work through the story elements. 

• Characters: Listing Character Traits, Mind Map, Prompted Journal Entries, Guided Reading Response
• Plot: Storyboard Illustrations, Note Taking Sheets, Chapter Questions (2-3 questions per chapter), 
• Condensed Chapter Questions (2-3 questions per 2 chapters)
• Word Choice: Vocabulary, Word Maps
• Setting: Setting Sketch, Setting Map 
• Mentor Sentences: One per week
• Weekly Assessments and Cumulative Activities: Weekly Vocabulary Assessments, Weekly Written Response Assessment, Differentiated Choice Project

                                           Find it here in my TPT store, From The Hive

I like to compile the pages I want to use (there's more in my units than I can use in the allotted time- but more is better right!) number them and assemble them in pronged folders.  That way nothing falls out and the kids can find the right page when needed.  I love working through a novel with my kiddos!

I also have a freebie sample piece, a Differentiated Cumulative Project.  There are six choices for the final project sure to engage even the most reluctant learner. 

Complete Novel Study for The Hundred Dresses

Differentiated Cumulative Project for The Hundred Dresses

Also exciting for my shop, it's on Instagram now! 

Follow From The Hive on insta at @from.the.hive

Charlotte's Web Novel Study

I say it like a dozen times during the year, but this is my favorite thing we do all year.  I love reading Charlotte's Web with my third graders.  I love it because even though they've seen the movie, most haven't read the book.  Even those that have still enjoy another read. There are some sweet and funny parts and I love Templeton's lines- he's the best.  For the past several years we've been using random pieces from various sources and piecemealed our study together.  I decided to create my own resource that contains everything I wanted to use for our novel study.  It's ready and I've been using it and I'm ready to share it in my shop. 

I sorted the items into Plot:

Characters:

Setting:

Word Choice:

Mentor Text:

 Assessment pieces:

and Cumulative Activites:

 I'm super excited that it's done, happy to have a complete (and tidy and rigorous) resource for my kiddos and for my team.  I'm also really excited because next year when it's time for this, I'll be giving this to my student teacher!  I can't say how excited I am to have a student teacher.  We met this week and she is fan-tas-tic! 

I'm breaking this big novel study up into chunks to also list small pieces.  Right now, I have listed the whole inclusive novel study.

Charlotte's Web Novel Study @From the Hive

Prefixes

I took this linguistic class in college that was the hardest class I ever took.  It was part of my reading specialist certificate (a title they shortly later got rid of).  I worked harder than I had in any other class and really learned a lot (and I still mess up more than I should!).  I don't think I earned higher than a B in there, but it was well earned.  I made pretty good grades in college, but I think I was more proud of that B than other better grades.  Isn't that funny about hard work, how rewarding it is? 

Maybe it started in that linguistic class, but I really love working with prefixes with my kiddos. 

I was making up some prefix stuff for my kiddos this year and thought I'd stick them in the shop.  Apparently, other teachers are working on the same skills because they're doing pretty well.

Each set has an introduction activity where you can present these prefixes and delve into the way they change words. 

Then each set has an application activity sheet.  This can be used dozens of ways.  It can be an in-class piece, a daily five tool, or an assessment sheet. 

I have a freebie so you can see what they're like and try it out without risk:

Prefixes that Mean Not  mis, un, dis, im, in

The other sets are available separately and in a bundle:

Prefixes that mean before or again pre, re

Prefixes in, im, il, ir

mid, over, out, bi. de

-or- Save over $3.00 with the prefix bundle!

Did you know that you can earn 5% back in TPT credits when you leave feedback!  I just got caught up on leaving feedback and now have $3.00 ready to go towards my next purchase!  Sellers love feedback (especially the good kind).  That's a win-win!

Prefixes that mean NOT (mis, un, dis, in, im) 

prefixes that mean before and again pre- re- 

prefix- mid, over, out, bi, de 

prefixes that mean not (in, im, il, ir) 

Bundle Pack

artifact investigation- hands on primary sources activity

We did one of my favorite social studies projects at school.  My third graders love this.  They are old enough to come up with good, thoughtful idea, but not so old that they figure out all of my artifacts too quickly.  

This is super fun and easy and you can bring it to your classroom too!

After learning about artifacts being a primary source in your social studies curriculum (we use McGraw Hill in my 3rd grade classroom) students are ready to become archaeologist. They will explore one of your collected ‘artifacts,’ record information and details about it, and make a guess for the item’s intended use.

                                      

I usually group my students in partners for this. Each does their own paper, but they share an artifact and talk about their ideas together. I love to listen as they talk it out. 

                                                     

You will need to do a little digging and collecting to find some items to use as artifacts. Keep an eye out at garage sales, search your kitchen drawers, sewing box, garage, yard barn, craft room, tool box, etc. I found most of my items during an initial search and have added a few new pieces slowly over the past few years. 

Here are the items in my artifact box:  
                  

One of my students’ favorite parts is when I tell them what the item really is after they present their ideas.  You can sure create the items you need for this project on your own, but I've got everything you need all put together in a product in my shop, From The Hive.    

Artifact Investigation- a primary sources project

You find the artifacts and I've got the rest covered.  I've included detailed teacher's notes, an informational piece about artifacts as primary sources, and a recording sheet.

Artifact Investigation- a primary sources project

wax museum- plan your own!

This year's Wax Museum was as fun as ever.  My team decided to go as characters from Matilda.  I was Headmaster Trunchbull.  

The Trunch is a meanie.  My students thought it was hilarious.    Becuase seriously, I'm the third nicest person they know.  I'm always telling them that... I don't know who the first two are, but I'm probably third 

One of our teammates was on outside morning duty- she missed out on a few pics!  Here's Matilda's mom- Mrs. Wormwood, me as the Trunch, and Miss Honey.  

Third-grade teachers rock!

And here's Matilda joining us for a group picture.  

This was my last year to have one of my own kids involved in Wax Museum.  Here's Lou, my fifth grader, as a character from the early 1900s. 

Lou won best costume!  Finally!  I've been handmaking Lou and Bee's costumes for years and we finally brought home some hardware!  Lou is wearing a pair of his own shorts, a women's striped shirt (don't tell him it's a ladies shirt!), hat, and black shoes from the thrift store.  We borrowed suspenders from a Miley Cirus costume from a friend (again, shh...) and black soccer socks from his sister.  

He's come a long way in willingness to wear costumes.  

Wanna see other years?  Here's 2011, 2012, 2015,  2016, 2017

Our School's Wax Museum is a highlight of the year!  

So much hard work goes into it, but the product is super impressive.  

I now have  For sale in my shop is all the info you need to plan your own Wax Museum.

Inside you will find everything you need to organize your own classroom or even school-wide wax museum.   There are lots of pictures and even more teacher notes.   

Contents:

Teachers Notes

Project Description

Timeline

Other Ideas

Sample Speeches

Pictures

Research Planner for Students

Parent/Studnet Information Sheet

Rubric

 Here's the overall assignment for the kiddos: You will read a fiction book, then write and present a report about the author from a main character’s perspective. You will present their report in first person, as if you are the character, speaking about the author who created you –like you are a part of a Living Wax Museum.  

Here are a few favorites from this year. 

summer in a nutshell

We're ready for the 5th week at school already. Another summer over and out.  Another summer for this poor neglected blog.  I do try to keep some things on it, I love taking a second and looking back over the years.  It's like looking through an old photo album.  Surely someday, the kids will want to look back too. 

Here's what you've missed:

Lou and Bee cleaned up at the end of the school year awards ceremony.  It's fun when you get to be on stage when your kiddo's name is called.  Who else gets this view for a much embarrassing photo? 

We opened up our favorite local theme park.  Daddy must have taken the photo.

We helped open up our school's new high school.  Here we are signing the gym floor before the top layer was laid.

And signing the floor of the kid's future language classroom. 

The last day of school took us on our traditional IHOP early morning breakfast trip. 

The teachers (and their own kids) took an end of school year field trip to the local fro-yo place after the last day.  We rode a school bus and everything!  

The shop gave us a great set price deal and we didn't have to weigh our bowls.  Bee and Lou had permission to go all out... and they did!   Lou was just about first through the line and I didn't even get to see his bowl before he started in on it.  It was well deserved at the end of the school year. Goodbye 4th and 6th!

Our favorite nephew came for a visit.  He brought my sister along too. 

Hubby and I took a long weekend to Alabama without the kids. 

There was a lot of time spent on the water.

The kids found some new hobbies.

Luke pulled out my old stamp collecting stuff. 

We spent a lot of time in the wave pool- I spent a lot of time reading pool side.  My goal was 10 books this summer... I think I ended on 9. 

Lou and I  went on a little exploration of some nearby caves. 

This boat tour was a little too scary for him though, unfortunately we were committed for the whole hour before we realized it.  There something about the tour guides on cave tours...  Every one we've ever had has acted as though he's at open mic night- but not funny enough to go beyond that.  

The caving was while Bee was at camp. The weary camper arrived home.  

Lou spent the summer doing sports training.  The leg is strong again!

Those kids are getting so old!

Bee and I kept spying this colored wall downtown, on our way to take Lou to sports training. We passed it while we were on an overpass, so we had a general area, but didn't know exactly.   One afternoon we tracked it down.  

My dedicated workout parter and I kept our morning appointment together.  I love being able to stream my workouts on demand.    I met my summer goal of 22 consecutive pushups.  I was at 11 going in and made my goal on the last day before school started! 

There was a good deal of reading.  However, Sherlock Holmes did not get finished....

Bee and I tried some tomatoes this year at the new house.  Nothing like the old house!  To find a spot away from the woods (and deer) and with enough sunlight, we planted them down at the end of our long drive.  She had to get creative with watering.  We did not do well.  I have now gathered that the former owner used a large amount of weed killer in the beds.  Maybe a small raised bed next year?

We tried to spend time outside.  

This boy is sweet as ever. 

We took a trip to see the Cubbies.  

Didn't make it to Chicago, but we did weekend in Cincinnati with friends for the game. 

This photo is shortly before we lost one of the boys we were with and the police had to help us find him. It was eventful!  He just wanted autographs. 

We also went to the aquarium and Lou met a friend. 

Bee met a friend too. 

We ordered a pirate summer mystery from mail order mystery.  It was fun, what kid doesn't love to get mail?  It was spread out over 6 weeks, so we got to work on it for awhile. 

 It was a little pricey, but would make a cool gift for an elementary aged kid.   I used my tutoring money, so I didn't feel bad.  

We tried our hand at Ninja Warrior training.  I must say I really enjoyed it myself.  The warp wall is my new personal challenge.  

The kids enjoyed many programs at our library.  They offered a bunch of cool ones like Minecraft club, video game design, digital art, etc.  I signed them up for every one I could and they had a great afternoon while I worked on school stuff in the next room.  

 I like to take advantage of every professional development opportunity I can, especially ones my building will pay for.   I love learning new things. I feel like it's a perk of the job!  Here I am with Lou's math teacher from last year and his math teacher from this year.  They met at our house at 6:30 am to leave.  He was a little embarrassed to see teachers at his house while he was in his jammies.  It might have embarrassed him even more when I called them jammies. 

Hubby worked a ton this summer, so the kids and I were left on our own for fun.  We did surprise him with treats sometimes though. 

I really worked hard on my classroom library this summer.  I don't think you can ever have enough books!  I decided this summer to organize them all in tubs.  They are easier to access and the kids are using them more.  There were shelves that were totally ignored in the past.  No longer. 

First day of school 2017-18.  Bee is in 7th.  Lou is in 5th.  I'm still teaching 3rd.  Daddy is still in the office.   He didn't get a summer break, so I'm not sure he's really smiling here.  It was same old, same old for him on this morning. 

My lovely team makes coming to work a joy.  Even on the hard days.  This is our third year together and I think we have our work cut out for us this year!  

Bee started up another season of soccer. 

This super cute dude learned to walk.  

These cute ladies moved in.  Turns out the guinea pigs might be a more expensive pet than the dog.  Who knew? 

Well that gets us caught up.  See you again at Christmas?  No, really...