Back to School Basics Freebies and Giveaway

Do you just love it when you have smart friends?

Cheryl over at Primary Graffiti has organized this great daily giveaway and FREEBIE extravaganza!

Click on the image for more details.

So if you are looking for some back to school items (or a few FREEBIES) stop by her blog for the details!

In Pictures and In Words: Chapter 10 Tone

Katie Wood Ray talks about tone in this chapter.  Although it is related to voice, it is not the word she wishes to use.   On p. 195 she states, "tone refers to the overall blend and intensity of color, light, and shade in a picture, all of which evoke an emotional response in the viewer."

In a oral language, the listener responds to not just the words, but also the facial and hand gestures of the speaker, the volume of the voice, and the intonation.   In written language (and illustrations), the reader must glean understanding and intent based on the words (or images) only.

She goes on to give 3 examples of  email responses to a question she was asked.  One of which was her actual response.  The meaning of all of these three emails were the same, but the tone in each were VERY different.   One was personal, but business-like (the one she actually sent),  the second was a bit snarky, and the last one overly familiar.

Being able to illicit the right emotional response from a reader is clearly important (especially when we are relying more heavily on emails, texts, Facebook, twitter, and ... dare I say it?... blogs to communicate.

Please forgive me, but I am going to use just one book AND I am going to go backward in the book study for additional techniques this book can be used for. There is no way I could include them all.

So, you know I am a HUGE Anthony Browne fan.   This is a book you MUST have! This can be used throughout any illustrative unit of study.

Me and You by Anthony Brown is a modern-day version of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.  It is told from different points of view.

# 10 Creating a Back Story

#25 Building Meaning from One Idea to the Next

 #9   Showing Not Telling

#13 Crafting Details of Expression and Gesture 

#4 Showing Two Sides of a Physical Space

#12 Seeing Through the Eyes of a Narrator

#32 Crafting Tone with Color

#7 Using Scenes to Show Movement Through Different Places.

#33 Shifting Tone by Shifting Color 

I have also updated the cumulative book list from this study...FINALLY!  

You can get your copy below, or grab it at anytime (it will be in the upper right hand corner of my blog).

Thank you Mrs. Jump for hosting this week's chapter!
One more week left friends... can you believe it?

Tell Me More!

I am Linking up with the ever sweet Amy Lemons! 

Click on the image below to check out everyone's story.  So fun!

First I have to say that I am not very exciting so brace yourself!

I am an animal lover! I can't recall a time in my life when I did not have a dog... or two!

I think I was about 6 or 7 in this picture.  My sister,  Susie, is laying down.   That is our dog, Shawn.

This was Sootman, my horse.  It is hard to tell, but he was black and feisty! After school, I would meet up with my girlfriends and we would go on hour long rides and talk about boys.  And laugh? Goodness! Some great memories!

I grew up in San Diego and we enjoyed sailing in the harbor.  

Totally wish I still had those legs!

Mr. and I have been married for 21 years.   Let me just say that we thought we were VERY cool 20 years ago.   Yes, my hair was wild then too... it was all about big hair! The Mr. is sporting his stache!

We have THE most amazing child!   I will talk about him ALL day if you let me! We share the same sense of humor, love of music and affection for cookie dough.   When he was a baby, my mom would give him a bath in her sink (no... that is not the dishwater). She would make some sort of treat and Matt would lick the bowl.

I love Diet Coke!   

Seriously! 

Those poor girls in Vegas had to put up with my deep, deep addiction!

I was in the Navy Reserves for 6 years.  Mr. and I were already married and I wanted to be a teacher.  I went in the Reserves to pay for my education.  Um... I went to boot camp in my 30's.   Hilarious!   I really like my creature comforts, so I have a few stories I could share... but I won't! Lol!   

Those 6 years taught me now to really work hard.  I worked full time as a medical administrator, went to school full time, reserve duty one weekend a month, then mom, and wife... not necessarily in that order. I never could have done it without the help of my won-der-ful parents.   

Yes, I was tired!

We move to Missouri a few years ago and I love it!

What else?  

I don't like escalators

Asparagus

or shellfish

One final thing...  Will you stop by Mrs. Lee's Kindergarten and wish her Happy Birthday!

She is celebrating with a contest!

ABC Fluency Book Freebie! And then other stuff!

YAY!   TpT is back on line!  Because it was down most of the day, 

I have extended it until tomorrow 7/26/12!!!  

Onward!

At the beginning of each year I make a fluency book for my students.  This is a great way to teach and reinforce concepts of print AND letter sound association.

Click on the picture to grab your Freebie!

As I teach the letters and sounds, the students color in that letter in their book.   I do not teach the letters in ABC order   (example:  week #1 I teach Tt, Bb, Ff).  After a few weeks, it is easy to tell which  letters the students should be held accountable for. This book goes into their nightly reading bag.  It is also perfect to use on those first few days of school when you are establishing reading routines. Some students can just read the pictures.

 Parents also really like this so they can help reinforce these letters at home.

What does it sound like when they are practicing?  

This student would read, "A apple /a/, B bat /b/... and so on. 

Now I have said this before... so tune me out if you already know this.  It is really important that students have the same "key" words when they are learning their sounds.   So... on the ABC chart it should be A apple /a/, their desk strip should have A apple /a/, the personal ABC chart should be A apple /a/.... (or whatever letter you use as your key word for A)

80% of your kiddos can be flexible and will do just fine if you have A apple /a/ and  A alligator /a/  around the room.  But what about your fragile learners?   They may learn that a goes with apple... but wait a minute!  It goes with alligator too? Confusion!

Now picture these babies headed off to 1st grade... what if they do not have the same key words? I encourage you to talk to your literacy team to be sure there is some consistency.

Back to the fluency books... I made these to go with the ABC chart that is in my SPACE binders.  My school has a district adopted phonics program, so I won't be using these exact books.  I made them JUST for you!

Now you may be interested in extending the learning and adding words to your fluency books.  Check this out! Cheryl from Crayons & Curls made a cute emergent reader!  This set also has some worksheets to go with the reader... C-U-T-E!

Click on the picture to go to Crayons & Curl's Store.

I had some people ask for a few new cards for the station signs... I have added them, so you can get download those!

click on the image to grab your Free set.

One final thing... Life is Sweet .... in Kindergarten is hosting an amazing giveaway!

Check it out on her blog.

Christmas in July Sale! Be Quick!

When it is hot and humid outside, sometimes you have to think cold!

So here is the deal:  Seasonal items have been placed on sale for JUST ONE DAY!  Grab some Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter fun!

A huge thank you to Babbling Abby for making this adorable picture!

Babbling Abby	Michelle Oakes	Erica Bohrer	Cara Carroll
Anna Brantley	Amanda Nickerson	Kim Adsit	Deanna Jump
The Teacher Wife	Kathleen Pedersen	Deedee Wills	Rachelle Smith
Natalie Crockett	Amy Lemons	Hope King	Cheryl Saoud
Sarah Cooley

InLinkz.com

NOTE:  Teachers Pay Teachers will be off line on Wednesday until 9am, so sadly there will be no earlier birds...

Do you want to participate?  Quickly link up over at Blog Hoppin and let everyone know!

Student Organizational Binders, my schedule and Flash Giveaway

So this year we have a school wide theme... SPACE!   

This caused me to want to redo my student binders.  These are nothing new or revolutionary, but it keeps my kiddos organized and me sane!  Semi-sane!

Here is what they look like on the inside.

Behavior Calendar and Money/Note pouch

Daily Schedule

Class list and ABC chart

Word Wall and Transportation notes

Left at home and Right back to school labels

A close up of the behavior calendar. 

 I made these files editable (not an easy task...let my tell you).   You can change the wording, add your student names to the files, add your own schedule...   Get the idea?   The graphics are securely embedded, so I did not violate any TOU agreements... shew!

I do not plan on making any other themes, so if SPACE works for you, you are in luck!

The file is just $4.00.

Or...

I will give one away tomorrow!.

Just leave a comment in the Rafflecopter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Also...some have asked how I "fit it all in." Here is a glimpse of my day.