Thursday, January 10, 2013

Pockets? People? What?!

I am really excited to share this blog post with you! First of all, I've had Parent/Teacher Conferences - Round 1 until 6:30 tonight. *Sigh* I am P-O-O-P-E-D out. Round 2 is tomorrow (FRIDAY...boo! hiss!) until 4:30. Thankfully, we have super kids and great parents but the hours are draining, ya know what I mean jelly bean?!

So, what do I do to chill out and relax?

Yes. Blog. NERD ALERT! NERD ALERT!

Whatev. You're the one reading it, right?! LOVES!

Ok. wow. Shiny object. Back to the post.

So, I blogged the other day about how we have started our new inference unit. Monday-Wednesday of this week, we read an excerpt of Charlotte's Web from our textbook. Eww. Just saying that word makes my stomach hurt. I am not a textbook fan at all. This was literally the second time this year we have used it. However, this excerpt worked well with making inferences and the kids love the story so, eh, why not?!

Well, today and tomorrow because of PTC, we have half days. I only meet with each of my groups 50 minutes {we normally have 90 minutes for reading. I know...don't hate me...we are super lucky!}, and we know in teacher realm that basically is about 5 minutes (or so it feels). Even still, I wanted today's learning to be meaningful and most importantly, engaging. Therefore, I pulled out one of the inference activities I created before Christmas in anticipation of these few days when I knew we'd be focusing on making inferences. I must say, it was a {HUGE} success. The kids LOVED it! I mean...seriously...Loved. It. I had two parents tonight at conferences say that their kids had so much fun in reading today matching pockets with people.

Wait. WHAT?!

Yes. I did just say, "Matching pockets with people..."












:

Keep reading. It make sense.

This was my intro to today's lesson once the kids planted their hineys on the rug:

"So, this morning when I got to school, I had 8 people standing outside of my door. {The kids were so confused, but soaking in every word. LOVE when this happens.}  They said, 'Hey, Mrs. Flood, have you seen any pockets laying around lately?!' and I said, 'Yes, actually I have. I found 8 pockets in my library with things in them. Whose pocket is whose? Do they belong to ya'll?' and you know what they said to me?" {At this point, the kids eyes are as big as saucers by now...for real. Hysterical.} "They said, 'Mrs. Flood, you figure it out!' BOY! Was that going to be hard, BUT I realized all I had to do was use my schema, plus the clues in each pocket to match the pockets with the people so I figured you would like to do this too since I had so much fun doing it!"

With that, we jumped straight into matching pockets...using our schema...solving mysteries...charting our schema and text clues on graphic organizers...collaborating...questioning...answering....yada, yada, FUN, FUN! :)
Take a look at what they did today in our lesson! They are super cute and had lots of fun! :)








Tomorrow, after our mini inference quiz, we are going to make the inference pocket craftivity that comes in this pack called "Stitching Together the Clues"! It will be so cute and I know they will have a blast!

I feel better now that I have shared our super fun day of learning. Check this pack out! Your kids are sure to love it! :)

AND...if you're still reading and you're the first person to:
1) have survived made it through another day of school
2) follow my TpT store
3) Comment below... and you, my dear, will be receiving an e-mail that has an attachment to it that is much like the activity described in this post. {Did you infer I'd be sending this pack to you?! Did you!?! Or is it too late, and you're like, "Shut up, Lindsay. Send me the pack!?" haha}

Have a happy Friday, friends! I'm stopping by Mickey D's and picking up a Mocha in HONOR of Friday on the way to school tomorrow. It's a special Friday treat. You gotta have those every Friday like I do sometimes.

Until then,

16 comments:

  1. This looks like so much fun! I love teaching inferring.

    Krazy Town

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    Replies
    1. I need your email so I can send you the pack! :) Thanks for checking out the blog! :) Yours is too cute! :)

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  2. AWESOME! Activity! Love it! Inference is one of the hardest reading skills to teach and this makes it look like fun!

    Christina :)
    Apples, Books, and Crayons
    applesbooksandcrayons@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Christina! Thanks for stopping by! I LOVE your blog! Since the last person didn't leave their email address, then you get this pack! :) Lindsay

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  3. Great to have found your blog.
    I'm going to add this pack to my wish list, it looks great.
    Rebecca

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  4. so awesome! (and yes, burn the textbooks!) :)

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  5. Hey! You have a cute blog design as well. I adore any and things polka dots! My daughter will be a 3rd grader next year so I will be picking up some of your items at your TpT store for her to get a heads-up on 3rd grade and of course visiting your blog. Thanks again.

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  6. That is just the cutest idea! I teach inference next week and need I say....it's in my cart!

    Stephanie Ann
    Sparkling in Third Grade

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  7. I LOVE this pack! I added it to my TpT wish list. I go back to work in two weeks after a 6 month maternity leave :( so I need some cute activities to look forward to. Excited for this one!

    Andrea
    Pennants & Polka Dots

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    Replies
    1. Andrea,

      Thanks for your interest in my product! :) My friends is returning tomorrow from her maternity leave... I hope your transition back to work is easy and seamless! :)

      Lindsay

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  8. Just found your blog and can I say how stinkin' cute it is?!? I love your inference post. We do an activity similar to this during our mystery genre and they eat it up!!! I love your grand entrance, though...I may have to steal that! :)

    Amanda
    Teaching Maddeness

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    Replies
    1. Wow! Your compliment means so much! I LOVE your blog! SO cute!!! Thanks for stopping by, and feel free to steal away! :)
      Lindsay

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  9. I'm so glad I found your blog. Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas.

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  10. I just discovered your blog and downloaded this file from TPT. Thank you for sharing this awesome idea!

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