Morning Meeting Calendar

I found a great site, Mama Jenn, that had a great calendar for morning meetings. I decided to recreate one for my classroom and change a few things for my needs. (click on the Mama Jenn link for original calendar).

I decided to keep the day, month and year (like Mama Jenn)- however I decided for the date to have proper dates instead of numbers. In Australia, our date goes day/month/year, so I also decided to put them in that order on my board. 

I downloaded a 2012 calendar from http://calendars.vertex42.com/pdfs/blank-2012-calendar-portrait-ink-saver.pdf

I got these cute season and weather cards from Mrs Pancake

Read below about how I use 'I wonder questions'. I have just created a deluxe version with rainbow borders and 13 new questions. You can get these in my tpt store on the following link: I wonder deluxe. Scroll down for the original version. 

I decided to add on a question of the week to get my students thinking, wondering and using their imaginations. I have about 45 questions and each Monday I will ask one and the students can discuss their answer with a partner. Each day during the week for a few minutes we can discuss this question, add further questions to the topic and even extend it to a writing session. 

I typed these questions up and printed them. To get all questions click on the following link

I wonder questions

Like Mama Jenn, I decided to keep how many days have we been at school because I think that is a great idea to help students practice their place value on a daily basis.

Thats about it, again- not my original idea, but adapted it to my needs. 

A new tree for my classroom

At the start of February I begin at my new school and I am getting very excited. I have recently been doing some emergency teaching at my current school and in one of the teacher's classrooms I found a beautiful tree that was decorated! I knew I had to have one. So I went onto the zart art  website and found a tree. When it came I did not expect it to be so big but I love it. I am now trying to decide what to do with this tree in the classroom. I have a few ideas such as...

• hanging a photo of all of their faces on the tree and once a week we can have compliment day where they get a face and have to write a compliment for that person;
• during the season of Lent, the students could write their lenten promises and we can hang those of the tree;
• during the season of Advent the students could hang Jesse tree symbols off the tree;
• students could write memories that happen in our classroom and hang them off the tree and at the end of the year we can read all of the memories.

Have a look at the tree (currently at my house) and please comment below with any ideas you have that I could do with my tree!

Christmas ‘Imagine’ creative writing prompts

It's 5 weeks until Christmas which means it's my favourite time in the classroom. Christmas inspired activities. Children are so much more engaged in their learning when it relates to things happening in their life. What better way to engage them in their writing than to use these Christmas 'Imagine' creative writing prompts. 

There are 20 prompts in the pack. You can download a freebie to get the above 4 out of the 20 questions in the pack. 

Download this pack from my tpt store: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Imagine-creative-writing-prompts-3499753

All About Me Lapbook

I am so excited to introduce my 'All About Me Lapbook'. I recently did a lapbook lesson for the first time in a year 4 classroom and I fell in love with the concept. The students were so engaged and excited by this approach to their learning. I then did some research on lapbooks and have created my own ready to use with my new class at the start of next year. At the moment I have the one I made about myself to introduce myself to the children. I will post again with some student examples when they have made their own.

Click on this link or any of the pictures to download the All About Me Lapbook

This lapbook includes 20 'flippies' that can cover at least 2 lapbooks. This enables you as the teacher to make choice over which 'flippies' are right for your class or you could give the students choice and owership over their learning.

I am planning on giving my students choice but planning out before they begin which ones they will use. Here is a close up of the lapbooks:

I would appreciate any feedback or if you have used something similar in your class. 

I have also create a freebie with 2 pages from the bundle in the pack so you can 'try before you buy'. Click on the link or the picture below to get the bundle. 

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/All-About-Me-Lapbook-Freebie-3495251

A huge thank you and shout out to Tangstar Science where I purchased the interactive Notebook Templates and was able to make this product! Check out their blog and tpt store at: 

http://tangstarscience.blogspot.com.au/

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Interactive-Notebook-Templates-1000-Editable-Foldables-Commercial-Use-Okay-1289821

Independent Reading (plus a freebie)

There is so many opportunities for independent reading in the classroom that at times it can be hard to keep up with what the children are reading and when they have finished a book. Read on to see how I set up my independent reading time.

Firstly I begin the year by discussing what books they might be reading and where they can get the books from. They might be borrowing books from the bookshelf in the classroom, school library or bringing in a book from home.

I then use this poster I made called "How to choose a 'Just Right' Book" 

If the students have chosen a 'Just Right' Book I give them the following instructions:

I get the students to fill out a 'Reading Log' every time they read their book. (A black and white version is available in the pack on TpT

Every time a student finishes reading a book I ask them to complete a book review. They can then choose to present to the class, a small group or a partner about what they read.

I always have those students who get up and down 5 times in a lesson and swap over books. I use these instructions and forms to provide accountability for student choices.

You can download this pack on Teachers Pay Teachers by following this link

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Independent-Reading-Time-3491843

I have also included a freebie of the book report in a black and white version:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Book-Review-3491836

Thank you for reading my post. I would love some feedback on how you set up your Independent Reading or if there is anything you would like me to add to my pack! 

Welcome

Welcome to 'Where the Wild Teachers Are'. I am rejoining the world of blogging. 6-7 years ago when I was a graduate teacher I slowly started blogging on
 https://bloggingteachingandsecondgradeohmy.blogspot.com.au/

However the workload became so big that I stopped blogging even though I enjoyed it. Over the years I am still receiving feedback on certain blog posts such as my birthday pencils post:
https://bloggingteachingandsecondgradeohmy.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/birthday-pencils.html

The most popular post was about my morning meeting calendar and the 'I wonder' questions became very popular and I am still having downloads 6-7 years later!
https://bloggingteachingandsecondgradeohmy.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/morning-meeting-calendar.html


I decided to rejoin the blogging world but start with a brand new blog... 'Where the Wild Teachers Are'. I have had such a great journey over the last 6-7 years.
I spent my first two years of teaching in grade 2. I then moved to prep (kindergarten/reception/foundation). I taught prep for 2 years and loved it! I was slowly developing my love for technology and then went to teach 5/6 to be a leader in the use of technology in the classroom focusing on using Google Apps for Education (GAFE).
This year I had a travelling year! I travelled to England between March and August and taught at 15 different schools teaching every primary grade level. I also managed to travel to 15 different countries across Europe! I have also been emergency teaching in Australia before and after this 6 months away.
Next year I am looking forward to a new adventure teaching year 4! I hope I can keep up the blogging and don't let the workload of teaching bombard me again!

I am currently in the middle of making an All About Me Lapbook for the start of the school year in February! Watch out for a post when this project is finished!