Monday, January 19, 2015

Retelling

We've been working on retelling HARD and HEAVY the last two weeks.
 I'm trying to get my kiddos ready for the winter DRA testing.
I put together a little retelling packet with an ice cream chart and rubrics.
It's been a fun resource. I like to use the "to-with-by" model of teaching. I read several stories aloud and demonstrated how to retell. I showed them the rubric and what a great retelling should contain. Then I had my students score me according to the rubric. Sometimes I left a part out or mixed up the order to see if they could catch my mistakes. Then I read a story and had them help me do the retelling. After that, I had them try it with a partner. The packet has 2 cute little stories, one is called 'Anna's Book'. I put it on my document camera and we read it together. Then with a partner they got together and retold the story to each other and gave each other a score on the recording sheet. We did more stories on other days the same way from their leveled reading books. My firsties are loving it!

A few days later, we discussed Important Events and Connections. Then we did the whole activity again with the other rubric that added these components.

Next week I'm going to have my more advanced readers do a writing response to their guided reading books so they can get ready for the 2nd grade testing.

This is a great activity I'll use for the rest of the year to review retelling.

It's been fun to see how much better they are at retelling. I'm getting excited to give the DRA and see how well they do.

You can check out my new retelling packet HERE.


Saturday, January 17, 2015

Hearts for a Heart Warrior Fundraiser

If you want to support a REALLY good cause and get some REALLY great clip art, you need to CHECK  this out.
Natalie over on What the Teacher Wants has put together a wonderful fundraiser for an AWESOME family.
Jessie Cannon is a sweet and very talented teacher that I got to work with at Meadow Elementary when I was there several years ago. If you go to Natalie's blog HERE you can read Jessie's heartbreaking story about her darling little Ryder who was born with a Congenital Heart Defect. 
The financial burden has been huge and the bills keep coming in.
 There's nothing better than teachers helping teachers.
For your $25 donation, you will receive "The Ultimate Valentine's Day Heart and Love Inspired Graphics Mega Bundle with over 300 graphics! Natalie got several of her TpT friends together and put together this amazing bundle.
You can go to TpT and check it out HERE.