Feeling FRUSTRATED! NEW BLOG PAGE IN THE WORKS!!!

After simply wanting to change the background on my blog, I was met with defeat;(  

So...please excuse the look of this page!  I will leave the content on this page until I have time to transfer it over to my NEW BLOG!

Please visit me at:

http://stellarsweethearts.blogspot.com/ 

A Relaxing Weekend...and some VOWEL TEAMS!

As another weekend comes to a close, I am feeling grateful for a little downtime.  I read my book, took a nap (sigh!), and went to see The Lorax!  The hubby and I loved it...our little girl on the other hand was afraid of the Once-ler:(  The bright side:  She cuddled on my lap during the whole movie!

Last week was a whirlwind with conferences, report cards, and meetings.  I was only in my room two and a half days!  I'm looking forward to a "normal" week this week...whatever that means!  That is, until Wednesday comes along.  I have 18 parent-teacher conferences back to back from 4:00-8:30.  Wish me luck!

As I head into the classroom tomorrow,  I wanted to share a little something I've been working on for Vowel Teams.  I really wish I would have started this earlier in the school year...better late than never, right?!  We use the Treasures reading series. I started the list with Week 22.

The vowel teams and digraphs included are:
ui, ue, ew, oo, oe, aw, au, ow, ou, oi, a (with the "uh" sound as in alone and awake), gn, kn, wr, c (hard and soft), and g (hard and soft)

You will notice that the slides for ui, ue, ew, oo, oe have some words in a larger font than others. These are our spelling words, yet I wanted to include a few other examples of words I know the kids commonly misspell as well.

I'll have to back track to create posters for the sounds already covered this year at some point!

Click {HERE} to download the vowel team and digraph posters!

Here are a few samples....


Have a great week!

Nichole

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Fluency Poster...AGAIN! A little better this time around:)

Download the display images {HERE}!

So...I created my Fluency Poster last week, printed it...and didn't like it:(  It was too small!  So, I decided to create larger images of each component of the poster.  I printed these in color, trimmed around the edge of the border, mounted each one on black cardstock, and then trimmed the edges again, leaving a decorative edge around the image.  They're sitting at school waiting to be laminated!  The image on the "mood" poster is a stock photo, so it has the little watermark image on it.  It is so faint you can barely see it when you print it out.  I'll post pictures of the display once it's complete!

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A Fluency Reading Log

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I took a much needed personal day today.  The hubby and I went to a movie (Reese Witherspoon's new movie:  This Means War)  It was very funny!  I highly recommend it for a date night;)    Now, tomorrow will be Tuesday.  A very BUSY yet much shorter week is ahead.  Today was full of fun...

But...I did do a little work today...

Once I get an idea, I just have to start working on it right away!  Conferences are approaching and my kiddos need a little extra help remembering to read each night.  Since they're all working on their "storyteller voice" I thought I'd create a reading log reflecting that focus.  My goal is to send it home every Monday. During the week students can record the number of minutes read and choose a specific fluency goal.  Reading logs are to be returned the following Monday for a new one.  If anything, perhaps this will help guide their reading time in the evenings!


Click {HERE} to get the reading log.

The Fluency Reading Log is formatted for 2 weeks.  I plan to cut the sheet in half for a 1 week version:)

Readers Use Many Strategies So They Don't Sound Like Robots!

Happy Sunday!  Most of my report cards are complete and I have scheduled a personal day for tomorrow.  Not a bad way to start a busy week of report cards and conferences!

Last week I created bookmarks for my students to use at home and school reminding them of the ways they can work on their fluency.   After listening to several of my sweeties read aloud last week, I decided to make a poster to hang in the popular curl up and read areas of my room to gently remind them of the qualities of a great reader!  See an earlier entry from last week for the bookmark.

Have a wonderful week!

Click {HERE} to download the fluency poster!

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Follow Your Heart!

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Following the ever popular Heart Map from Pinterest, I created a sign to use with my students' heart map display.  Feel free to use it in your classroom, too!

Click {HERE} to download the Follow Your Heart sign!

Fluency Bookmark

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Just a quick post tonight!

My students are working on fluency skills...as are most second graders!  After reviewing qualities of a fluent reader, I sent my kiddos off to practice with a partner.  One student asked, "Mrs. Meurlin, do you have a bookmark with the clues for me to follow?"  At that moment, I did not...but I do now!  I already sent these to the copy center for tomorrow!

Click {HERE} to download it!