Pumpkin Book Reports

One of my favorite projects each year is the pumpkin book reports. Its also a way to do something slightly Halloween themed even if we can't celebrate it! You can find that here from Simply Kinder. The report itself has enough meat to it that I think it works well for third grade. Here are some of the fun pumpkins my kiddos did this year.

My class sharing their pumpkin heads. 

Bad Kitty and Clementine. 

Grumpy Smurf and a Dragon

A Fisher Man

Motorcycle Mouse

Proudly on display in the library. 

Andrew's Lost

Mummy and Hypnotizing Fish

I hope you enjoyed the adorable reports by my kiddos! Happy Halloween!

3-2-1 Sunday Scoop

I am linking up with the ladies at Teaching Trio while enjoying the AWESOME Bronco win! 

Now we just hope for another Broncos win Thursday night! It will make this week wonderful! Check back with me this week about my treat post and to hear more about me going back to teaching part time! (I CANT WAIT!) 

iPad Tips

I have had iPads in my classroom for 5 years now. I used to feature iPad info on this blog often and I kinda got away from it so I thought I would share some tips. I came up with this idea because my SLANT box buddy asked for any tips I had for using the iPad if you don't have a class set. Then I asked around my building. The first and foremost was take the time to explore! Then focus on the one app you learned well and use it. Then add in the other pieces. Sometimes people ask me if I still use paper and pencil in the classroom. I do! I also post assignments on Google Classroom. I think both the iPad and pencil and paper are SUPER important.  Here are some tips for you!

If you have questions about using an iPad in the classroom or a class set comment below! 

Five For Friday

This week was conferences. They were great! I have such a small sweet class this year that it was fun to meet with the parents. The bonus about this is how great my principal and school was. They really tried to appreciate us and make conferences as fun as they could be.  We had an hour dinner break scheduled into our conference night. In that time they ordered us staff t-shirts and fed us a delicious soup and dessert bar. Look how cute these cupcakes are. 

Our PTCO president made them for us. The stems are rolled chocolate and there was awesome frosting (I am a frosting girl.) They raffled off gift cards during this time too! ( I didn't win.) To top all of this greatness off our principal came around with a pitcher of ice water for us during conferences and said we only need to be here during our conference times. So I had a two hour work day! 

Do you use IXL? This tool has been so helpful in the classroom. I love the math app and I really can't wait for them to turn the literacy component into an app. I use this in my class daily. The kids are able to work on just the skills they need and I can send it home for the parents. It is a paid subscription but you can do some free problems each day. This is the only math homework I assign. The kids LOVE it and they are always trying to earn medals. If you haven't tried it you should look into it. 

This year I am part of the character education team at my school. This summer we met and came up with the character traits. The program is going so well! It is great to see all of our hard work really paying off! You can grab the whole program here. I am also so excited about this because my awesome PTO gave me a grant to help the character ed program. Here is the kicker.... they more than doubled what I asked for! 

Here is the character wall in my classroom. 

Here is the school bulletin board with all of the awards listed! 

I am the maid of honor in my friends wedding. I guess I am technically the matron of honor but doesn't maid sound better? I met her when I was student teaching and her and I became fast friends. We have so much in common and just click. I am so happy for her and ready for some wedding fun. My non-teaching time is now dedicated to finding the best wedding stuff on Pinterest and helping where ever needed. I love being apart of weddings and supporting those close to me! We are getting ready for a planning party tonight! I am so excited! 

SLANT Box! Have you ever done this or heard about it? I am so excited! I have been hearing all about them so I decided to do one! Do you like connecting with new teachers? Do you like mail? Check it out here! Michelle does a lot of hard work matching and organizing each month! I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am paired with Carrie at Being Lady Like and Jocelyn at Room 3 oh 8!

DATA DATA DATA

Do you enjoy crunching your student data? I feel like this is such an important part of teaching. Its not the best part but it leads to those light bulb moments and it allows us to target instruction. I have been working hard to analyze data lately and target instruction. My class this year is teeny! I love it! The other plus side I have 3 levels I am directing instruction to. I feel like this is my most true "third grade" class.

Our school offers tutoring after school to give those who need it a little extra push. I usually hate doing it! Who really wants to teach after the bell. I am taking a different approach this school year. I chose 4 kids based on MAPS data and I am targeting reading. I feel like this is the best because it is hard to fit too much into 30 minutes. We are going to have some fun with it and LEARN!!!! My kiddos chose to read Frog and Toad Together by Arnold Lobel. We are going to do some of the things frog and toad do and make some meaningful crafts. Here is a sneak peak:

Each skill is based on MAPS data!