Independent Reading - Up Your Game

This past weekend, I had the privilege of presenting a breakout session at the Texas Association for the Gifted and Talented's Professional Development Conference.  I'v done professional development on my own campus, but this was the first time that I presented at a large scale conference and let me just tell you...I. was. nervous!  


The group was really sweet and made me feel very comfortable.  We were trucking right along and then the hand in the middle of the room went up and informed me very sweetly that the second half of my handout had printed in jibberish.  WHAT?!?! SERIOUSLY!?! You can imagine the conversation running through my head!!  I was mortified and wanted to stop right then and beat up our copy machine, but instead I promised to put the presentation on my blog.  


So for your sweet folks that were in my session on Thursday afternoon, here it is: Independent Reading, Up Your Game!

For real this time...

I love how I started a teacher blog and had so many great intentions of posting all the amazing things I was doing and creating during the first couple of weeks of school.  Then those first couple of weeks turned into the end of the six weeks and now it's almost time for progress reports again - I would clearly get a big fat F, should my blogging habits be graded over the past few weeks.


Alas, I am recommitting to continue my venture into teacher blogging through a Linky Party!  Who doesn't love a Linky Party?!


Courtney over at Swimming in Second is having a Favorite Alouds party so we are linking up!


How do I pick just one?!   Since that is not going to happen, I'm choosing my favorite read aloud from this year so far and my all time favorite read aloud.


At the beginning of the year I read The Dot by Peter Reynolds.  I received this book for Christmas last year, because like all good teachers I actually gave my parents a list of children's books that I wanted.  I knew as soon as I read it that it would be one of those "First Week of School" books.  OH THE CONVERSATIONS that came from this ubber easy to read book - ya'll I was speechless, which doesn't happen often in my loud 5th grade classroom!  I don't want to give everything away, but you will not be disappointed if you decide to read this one aloud!

My all-time-since-fourth-grade-when-we-were-introduced favorite is Ramona Quimby, Age 8.  There are no words for all the shenanigans that Ramona gets herself into, my absolute favorite is when she cracks the egg on her head in the lunchroom - I exert big belly laughs every time, probably because I can picture myself doing something very similar.  Ramona and I would be friends. best friends - I know it.

What are your all time favorite read alouds?

Welcome to My Classroom!

It's official - I'm diving into the teacher blogging world!!


I'm a serial teacher blog stalker and thought why can't I do it too?  So here I am!  As my inaugural teacher blog post, I decided what better way than to give you a tour of my classroom.  This is my fourth classroom in my four years of teacher and I have transitioned from the building to the world of portables.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I'm a 5th grade teacher this year (I've taught 7th, 4th and a 3rd/4th split class).  Yes, you read that correctly again - it's my fourth grade level too!  ANYWAY!  All 5th grade classrooms on my campus are in the portables.  I do nothing halfway so when I got the news that I would be banished sweetly promoted to 5th grade I fully took the jump and accepted the challenge of doing an EXTREME makeover to the icky, nasty, funky smelling, 1970's trailer portable classroom.


Welcome to my room!


I'm including before and afters so you can see the transformation - because who doesn't love a good before and after shot :)

Before:

After - When we walk through the door and walk out, we have honorable character!

After: Our calendar area, my ginormo file cabinet, and the lovely built-in storage that comes with said portable.  

(Pretend like you don't see the 4 boxes of consumables that I have had yet to open!)

Before: 

After: Teaching Area, Promethean Board/Smart Board, etc.

Before: 

After: Teacher Desk Area "My Space"

Before:

After: Computer Area

Before: 

After: Critic's Corner (Reading Corner)

Before:

After: Guided Reading Table

Before:

 After: Supply Central 

Even though I'm in the icky, nasty, funky smelling, 1970's trailer portable classroom, I'm really happy with how it turned out! 

theshabbychicteacher.blogspot.com is currently under construction, please check back in the coming days for exciting updates and freebies!