Monday, January 28, 2013

The WONDERFUL Inference of Oz

Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved "The Wizard of Oz" the movie...I mean, who doesn't, right? Well, if you don't, don't tell me. You need your hiney spanked.

Each year at Christmas, my Mimi and Papaw would get my sister and I a collectible Wizard of Oz memorabilia set. They would sit pretty, collect dust on our dressers and sometimes I'd secretly play with them even though I wasn't supposed to. Ooops.

One of my favorite pieces they gave us were the Wizard of Oz stuffed dolls. I actually took them to school, and displayed them during the unit, but forgot to get a picture of them to show you. I will have to do that soon, because I love them so much and they remind me of when I was just a tiny tot myself.

Ok...moving on...back to now when I have dust collecting on my shelves at home for no reason at all, other than I just hate dusting.

So, last week we dove right into this beloved story.

I must say, there were literally some days when the little muffins were so excited to read this story, they could barely contain themselves and they had a hard time planting their hineys on the carpet. Whew. Like. It was nuts. {Is it weird now that I'm *complaining* how they were too excited about a story?!? Women.}

Anyways, this is the abridged copy that I used...


This version was perfect for my 3rd graders. The pictures were beautifully engaging and whimsical. They aided in making inferences, as well as building the students' background knowledge because, let's face it, I had literally 4 days to to do this unit and there was no way I could read the entire book, even though I wanted to terribly.

My teacher partners did not have this version, so I had two other abridged chapter books (the Junior Classics that you find in the Target $1 bins from time and time again?? Yes...those). These chapter books worked fine, also. D and H would read excerpts (like I did) as we focused on each character daily.

Pretty much any abridged version will work just fine for this unit.


Anyways, here's kind of the breakdown of the lessons and sample activities we completed with this unit. I did not use all worksheets in this pack, but next year I've decided I'm making a two week unit out of this because it was so fun and the kids LOVED it!! (But, thanks to district assessments, we must move on. Boo, hiss district assessments!)








Also, these characters tied in great with our Writer's Workshop last week! We were focusing on (and still are) fictional narratives, and adding good descriptions. So, whatever character we focused on in Reading Mini Lesson, I would bring back up again for Writer's Workshop Mini Lesson (and by the way, I must pat myself on the back *ah-hum*...they were true mini-lessons of 10 minutes!!! GO LINDSAY! It's your birthday!), and we'd discuss physical traits, personality traits, and feelings. It was a great tie-in and the kid's transferred their learning from reading into writing which is always an exciting thing!!

So, I hoped you enjoyed this show and tell!

As always, the first person to comment and leave their email below, will receive this pack all for 'yo little self!

Have a wonderful week, and remember, there's No Place Like Home, unless of course you need a vacation and then that's an awesome place to be, too!

Until then,


Friday, January 25, 2013

Five for Friday {Linky}



Hey, frands!

Hope ya'll had a great week! I wanted to link up with Doodle Bugs for a super random Five for Friday. Be prepared to get blown ah-way with these 5 random facts.
[fiveforfriday5.jpg]

1) I got new, snazzy polka dot glasses.

Hi, my name is Lindsay.
{Hi, Lindsay}
I am addicted to all. things. polka dot.

Exhibit A. Black and white polka dotted glasses. Yes.
2) My first ever Awesome ELA Giveaway ends TOMORROW at midnight!

HURRY! Register to win some awesome prizes!


3) I wore blue jeans 3 days in a row this week. It was awesome. We get blue jean passes for going "above and beyond" for serving on different committees and such from our principal. I used one on Wednesday and one on Thursday. Of course, we get to wear jeans each Friday anyways!

I randomly created this blue jean image last summer. Why? I don't know.  But it was fun.
4) I was featured in last Sunday's Teacher Pay Teacher newsletter! I was so excited! I felt like a grown up!!

Check it out here
Third, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth - TeachersPayTeachers.com

{Nuts, right?!}

5) It's 8:43 p.m. on a Friday evening. My husband and I are both p.o.o.p.e.d. We are going to bed!

Until then,



Sunday, January 20, 2013

Awesome ELA Giveaway ExTrAoRdInAiRe!!


I am so excited for ya'll! I have an ELA give away that will blow your socks off! {Notice the use of an idiom here...because it's an ELA give away...and an idiom is a literary device...too much?!...yeah...}

The reason for this give away is simple:
1) Ya'll are AWESOME to follow my blog and read along!
2) I reached OVER 600 followers at my TpT store {which feels like the biggest accomplishment evs!}
3) ...and I'm so close to 200 followers on my little ol' blog!
4) ...and because who doesn't love a give away?! I mean, for realz?!

So, check out the products that you could WIN just simply by registering below using Mr. Rafflecopter himself! {ohmiword. I can HARDLY contain the excitement...you're going to pee in your pants...I mean, that's what I'd do...squeal at the possibilities of winning these awesome products!}

There are three...count it...1, 2, AND 3...different ELA Giveaway Packs to WIN! Of course, you could enter to win ALL 3!! Are you ready for this?!

Awesome ELA Giveaway Pack #1:
My friend Carmen from

is giving away a $10 Starbucks card...WHA-what?!?!


My sweet friend Lindsay {don't you love her name?!} from My Life as a Third Grade Teacher is going to give away an awesome product of your choosing from her store!
My Life as a 3rd Grade Teacher
Lacie from 
Polkadots and Pencils
 is giving away one of her Genre Poster Sets for your classroom {Your choice of design!}
Set #1, or Set #2
Those cute gals Christy and Tammy have a super cute February Writing Pack!
Fluttering Through First Grade



Gina from Third Grade Tidbits is giving away a precious Verb Tense Mini Unit!
Third Grade Tidbits


Tessa from Tales from Outside the Classroom is offering up her Open Ended Questions!

Jen from Hello Mrs. Sykes will be giving away an awesome product from her store!

Tara from ...And they all fall Down... has a precious Judy Moody pack for you!

AND...any two products from my TpT Store
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
Awesome ELA Giveaway Pack #2:

Ladybug Teacher Files has two SUPER DE DOOPER Syllable Games

 
Surfin' Through Second has an Opinion Pack

Surfin' Through Second

Tanja at Journey of a Substitute Teacher has a cute Reading Activities pack that works with any book!

My favorite bloggy-gal-pal Kate from Second Grade Sparkle is sharing any product of your choosing from her store!
Gina has a super awesome Common Noun and Proper Noun Practice Pack that is to die for!

Cheryl from Primary Graffiti is sharing with you some super cute Comprehension Skill Posters!
Primary Graffiti

Kim from Finding Joy in Sixth Grade is offering up a $10 Gift Card for KPM Doodles, my favorite clip art artist! HOW cool is that?!

joyin6th Homepage

AND...any two products from my TpT Store
Photobucket

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Awesome ELA Giveaway Pack #3:
Deanna from Primary Punch is giving away any product of your choice from her TpT store!
Primary Punch


Teresa has a cute adverb pack for the winner!
2nd Grade Pig Pen
Lisa from Fourth and Ten wants to give you any product of YOUR choice from her TpT Store!
Elizabeth from Fun in Room 4B has a cah-yute Figurative Language Pack just for you!

Denise has offered up any product of your choice from her store!

Sunny Days in Second


My friend Nicole from Teaching with Blonde Ambition has also offered ANY product of your choice from her AH-MAY-ZING TpT Store!
Teaching with Blonde Ambition
Tracy from Creekside Teacher Sales has a SUPER States Pack that will blow you away!


And saving the best for last, {I kid, I kid...they are all awesome to donate to this giveaway} Christina from Bunting, Books, & Bainbridge has offered up any product of your choosing from her store, as well!
Bunting Books and Bainbridge
AND...any two products from my TpT Store
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So, did you enter all three give aways?? Come back anytime between now and Saturday, January 26th at midnight (Central Time Zone) to enter to win all three awesome packs in this Awesome ELA Giveaway Extraordinaire!!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK! Come back on Sunday to see the WINNERS! :) Have an AWESOME week!

Until then,