I May Have a Problem...

The first step is admitting it, right? HA!

This was my first week of summer vacation and I spent time working! 

I know. 

What is wrong with me?

I just couldn't help it...

Actually, it started last Friday evening after the last day of school as my family was watching yet another superhero movie. 

You see I had brought home some things, knowing I would be inspired to work this summer at some point. As I was putting things away, there was next year's calendar which is filled with changes. I can't even begin to explain it to you, and I know you don't want to hear it so I'll just skip right over that part. I figured I should just jot out my yearly reading and math plans at least. Not too taxing, and I would feel like I accomplished something big.

Then on Tuesday (I think, the days are already running together without a schedule), my daughter's softball game was postponed (again) and I was putting away more school stuff. 

This time my Reading Wonders samples...

We are getting Wonders for next year.

 I cannot wait!

We had Reading Street from what seems like forever ago--actually I think 9-10 years.

I know some people don't like using a basal series.

I love using a basal series.

And no, I do not follow it religiously.

It is a resource that I use to guide my instruction, and my students love reading stories from what we call the "big books."

So my head is already filling with how I will use all of the wonderful resources...

As I was admiring the samples once again, I realized I would need new "I have...who has...?" games!

Here's how (and why) I use them with a reading series:

I take the high-frequency words from each unit and make a game. Each unit is five weeks long, so I pull out the game in week 1. 

We play the game once or twice a week (usually in small groups during Daily 5) so the students are exposed to the all the words from the beginning of the unit. By the end of the unit, even my lowest readers have those words mastered!

 As you probably guessed, I got busy right away creating my games. 

One new thing I am definitely doing next year is data notebooks, so I also made assessment checklists to go along with the games.

I cannot wait to get them all printed and prepped for my classroom!

If you're interested, you can check them out in our TPT store: 

Buy the bundle and save $10!!!

Set 1

Set 2

Set 3

Set 4

Set 5

Set 6

This week was not all work though!

We celebrated my daughter's 15th birthday...with superheroes!

What else?

 

I've decided her fascination with superheroes--Captain America, especially--is not unlike my fascination with action movies at her age (think Bloodsport, Kickboxer, The Terminator...).

She insisted we take a picture with her cake to prove how dorky I am...what can I say?

13 + 2 =15

And that works when you realize you don't have anymore candles.

:-)