MAGC Conference & a Fall Giveaway!

On September 26-28 of this past week, I attended the Mississippi Association of Gifted Children (MAGC) conference that was held this year at the Mississippi State University (MSU) Riley Center in downtown Meridian, MS . First of all, this facility is so beautiful. Everything was so nice and comfortable. All of the staff were friendly and so helpful.I truly had a terrific time while in Meridian.

In Mississippi, it is mandated by state law that services will be provided to students in grades 2 - 6 that are identified as intellectually gifted. The education provided by the gifted/talented program must be in addition to and different from what the child receives in the regular classroom. With the institution of Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in our district, I was a little afraid that what I do in the gifted classroom might seem to be unnecessary. However, after talking with many teachers of the gifted, Carol Paola the Executive Director of MAGC, and Chauncey Spears, Director of Advanced Learning and Gifted Program at the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) the past few days, I realize that what we do will always be more and different from what the children get in the regular classroom. While the CCSS will boost the level of education for them on a regular basis, I will still be needed. That is really a HUGE relief for me.

OK...I said there was a giveaway, too! There is.....over at Tanya Rae Designs. She has corralled several of us and we are all giving away some of our products that can be found on Teachers Pay Teachers (TpT). Jump on over to Tanya Rae's blog and check out all of the great items that you could win....then be sure to register for the giveaway!

I hope everyone has a fabulous rest of the weekend!!

 Dee

Fall is in the Air - Happy Fall Ya'll Linky Party

I just felt the need to post about how much I am loving this cooler fall air. The leaves haven't started to turn yet. But, I sure can't wait to see all of those red, yellow, and gold leaves floating around. I don't even mind seeing them piling up in yard. To me, it just means time is getting nearer for hot chocolate, sweaters, and a warm, glowing fire in my fireplace.

Cynthia over at 2nd Grade Pad has a Happy Fall Ya'll Linky Party going on and I thought since I was in a FALL kind of mood....that I would link up with her! Come on over and check out all the fall items!

 

Because I have caught the fall "bug"....I made a small 20-card set of Autumn Writing Task Cards for you to use in your classroom writing center...or any other way you can imagine to use them. My students love to do creative writing and I can get some of the best stories when I turn them loose with a creative prompt. I bet you can, too!

Just click on the picture...it will take you to my store!

I have been purchasing items through Teachers Pay Teachers for quite some time. I only recently...actually very recently...this school year to be exact..set up a seller account.

From now through September 30....you can purchase the Autumn Creative Writing Task cards for $1.00 from my TpT store. Hop on over there and grab you a set. Just laminate and go! I am sure your kiddos will love using them...just like mine do!

Now...as a little added bonus....I have made a cute little writing paper that coordinates with my autumn task cards....It is yours for FREE...now who doesn't like free?

I hope that you and your kiddos enjoy this!

Thanks so much for stopping by....I hope you have a fabulous week!

 Dee

Writing the Classroom -& - A Giveaway!!

I was out browsing some of the blogs of teacher friends this morning while thinking I need to go look for some more things to help my kiddos with writing. Writing is a very important part of the learning process to me. So off I went searching.

I ran across this wonderful give away posted by  Kelley at The Teacher Idea Factory. You know I entered....but I also wanted to give a heads-up to all my blog followers and teacher friends out there who may not follow Kelley's blog! Hop on over and enter for these wonderful prizes!

Now off I go to find some other noteworthy writing ideas and activities!

Happy Blogging and TEACHING!!!!

Dee

Recent Revelation & Self Recrimination

Let me explain about this title......Recently, I discovered that one of my gifted students was having a very difficult time reading on grade-level. It truly came as a shock to me because this child didn't seem to have a lot of trouble comprehending things in my classroom. However, I must add that we don't do a lot of read-alouds in my classroom.....at least we didn't. We WILL now. I do not ever want to have something like this pop up in front of me and catch me unaware. I feel so guilty that this child has gone all through last year and already has 5 weeks of school behind her before someone noticed her problem. I spoke with her grade level reading teacher and was told that some of the other students would laugh at her when she read aloud in class. I felt so badly for this child. It isn't her fault and we have let her fall through the crack....but she isn't going to fall any further, if I can help it!

I administered an ARI and took my results to begin a tutoring regimen to help her become a successful reader. I know deep down that it isn't just my fault for missing the fact that she only reads two grade levels below her current grade. I only have her once a week for gifted classes. However, I still feel badly for her and it really irks me that I could have been having read-alouds in my class and would have noticed this much earlier and she wouldn't have been so far behind.

The great thing is that she wants to improve and be a successful reader so she is working hard to make it happen. I am so proud of her. I know with her attitude she will beat this problem and come out on top!

Am I the only person that has had this happen? What do other teachers do to try to prevent events like this from occurring? Does anyone have any other suggestions for preventing problems like this?

I am really looking for answers to my questions as I don't want others like her to have the same issue with allowed to fall through the cracks because they are quiet and don't make a fuss.

Hope everyone has a terrific week!!!!

Happy Blogging & TEACHING!!!!

Dee

Monday Made It - September 2012

Happy Labor Day!!!!

I am so happy that Tara over at 4th Grade Frolics has decided to continue the Monday Made It as a monthly event. I just love roaming around blogland and seeing what all the other teachers out there are making and doing in their classrooms. Don't you?

Because I love this so much, I am linking up this month for the Monday Made It.  My first item for this week is something that I have been seeing all over teacher blogs and Pinterest for weeks...but for some reason, this week when Nicole over at Rowdy in Room 300 posted her Monday Made It and I saw hers....well I just had to have some for myself! You can find Nicole's post HERE. Here is the inspiration photo from Nicole.

 

Here is my own READ letters for my classroom (well at least one of the classrooms that I have).

 

They are not as large as I would have liked....but I don't have a Michael's or a Hobby Lobby within 100 miles of me....so I had to depend on Wal Mart and I was a very LUCKY girl to have gotten all of the letters needed. Don't laugh...all of you know what I'm talking about. You just can't depend on old Mr. Wal Mart and Dollar Tree doesn't have them!

Now on to my next creation....which obviously I didn't come up with. I saw these Jumbo Paperclip Bookmarks last week when MissT from Journey of a Substitute Teacher posted her Monday Made It. I knew when I saw them, I had to make some! They are just too adorable. Here is the original photo from Miss T.

 

I have only made three so far, because I can find my ribbon stash...so when I find the ribbon, I will finish off the other 5 jumbo paperclips that came in the package! Here are mine.

 

I feel the need to add, that after looking at Miss T's photo again, I will be going back and redoing the ribbon and using longer pieces....I just think it looks better!

Now for my third and final (finished) item for this Monday Made It.  First let me say this....as you can all attest, this is not my idea. I know I've seen this all over Pinterest and on other teacher blogs. I even downloaded the a freebie off someone's blog to do this. But for the life of me, I cannot find any indication as to who the download came from nor can I find where I first saw the idea. So....if it is yours or you know whose it is....please let me know so I can amend this post and give them credit.

My Whole Class Journals (thanks to someone's hard work for the topic sheets.).

 

That does it for my Monday Made It. Now I can start hopping around and seeing what else I NEED to add to my crafty list for my classroom. I hope everyone has a fabulous week!

Happy Blogging & TEACHING!!!

Dee

My Top 10 Teacher Survival Kit Items

I am taking a leap and linking up with Corrina at Mrs. Allen's 5th Grade Files for her Teacher's Survival Kit Linky Party.


So here are my Top 10 items that I just can't live without! This list is no particular order....I really NEED them all!

1. Water - and plenty of it. I drink so much water throughout the day it amazes me and my students.
2. Coffee or Tea - for that relaxing afternoon pick me up while I'm scoring work or writing more units.
3. Nail clipper & nail file - I absolutely cannot stand to have a rough nail...I will chew on it until I don't have one left. Much nicer to take care of it before the inevitable takes place.
4. Dark Chocolate - a definite must to have on the ready one of my favorite "food group items". Besides...dark chocolate is supposed to be better for your health!
5. Nutella & Graham Crackers - a real necessity for those afternoon droopy feelings.
6. Gum & Altoids - I can always find a reason to need a fresher mouth!
7. Wisp Mini Disposable tooth brushes - these are perfect to freshen your breath before those afternoon meetings.
8. Ibuprofen - for those possible headaches or other aches and pains.
9. Deodorant - Who doesn't need a little spruce up on most days?
10. Lotion - I just can't do without it with all the washing hands. I would feel like my skin was cracking off if I didn't have it!

So this is what you would find in my Survival Kit....what would we find in yours? Go on over to Mrs. Allen's 5th Grade Files and link up and tell yours!

Happy Blogging!
Dee

Blog Hopping Day Oh Yeah...and a Give Away!!

I have been so busy trying to get back into the swing of the new school year, I haven't made a post since August 20....that is crazy...but true!

So this morning, I decided it was "Blog Hopping Day" and I have been hopping around to many of my teacher friend blogs and oh what a terrific time I have had!

I have found so many new crafty items that I need to make for my classroom that surely I will have something to post tomorrow for Tara's "Monday Made It" at Fourth Grade Frolics. So be sure to check back tomorrow to see what I made.

I also would like to announce that I am in the process of writing units for Writer's Workshop for different grade levels that all are aligned to the common core. Within these units will also be anchor charts that can be printed and used along with the unit. Stay tuned....the first ones will be posted soon!

Oh Yeah!! Crystal over at Ms. Jones Junction is having a 100 Follower Giveaway and you don't want to be left out because there are some really AWESOME prizes. Hop on over there and get your entries in.

Okay...it is time for me to go back to my blog hopping. I am not quite finished!

See all of you tomorrow with my Monday Made It!

Happy Blogging!!!

Dee