Field Trip to Cranberry Marsh

So, it has been a while since I have blogged and I have a lot of stuff to catch up on.  School has been pretty busy so I plan on taking the next week and updating my blog with activities that we have done and pictures I have.

First, today I have pictures from our trip to the Cranberry Marsh.  As part of the 4th grade curriculum, the students learn about the process of growing cranberries and how they are harvested.  Part of the curriculum is visiting a Cranberry Marsh to see how the grow and are harvested first hand.  This is a great trip and the students learn a lot, I even learned a lot, who knew that cranberries did not grow on top of water (the commercials are so deceiving)!

Walking around the marsh.

More walking and looking at the bogs to the right.

Harvesting of the cranberries.  That big machine sucks up the cranberries off the top of the water and separates the berries from the leaves and stems.  The trucks then bring the cranberries to the Ocean Spray plant for processing.

Eating lunch in a park after visiting the marsh.

Tomorrow is our Cranberry Fest at school.  More pictures to come...

Guided Reading PLUS

This year, I have decided to use Guided Reading Plus as a framework for my guided reading intervention groups.  So far I really like having a specific structure to follow, especially that I am still a new teacher.  I feel like I learn more and more about Guided Reading each day and this has really helped give me an easy framework that I can follow. 

Guided Reading Plus is also a research based RtI intervention so I feel better knowing that I am doing something that has been proven to work. 

Here is the lesson planning sheet that I have made.  I have a different sheet for each of my groups (3 right now) and I keep them at the back of my lesson plan binder.  This has really helped me become more organized and not like I am grabbing at straws during Guided Reading. 

Please use if you can! Lesson Plan Sheet

Labels

Each year, I try to figure out how I can become more organized and to make sure everything I need for the day is in one spot.  I hate when I am running around my classroom like a maniac trying to find the lesson I am looking for, a misplaced book, a file folder game, or a worksheet. 

This year I invested in a hanging file folder thing with pockets.  So far, this has worked to help keep me organized.  I made these labels to keep each day organized. 

Hopefully this works this year...

I will add a picture of my new setup as soon as I can.  Please use if you can!

Another Daily 5 Poster

Here is another poster I made to help my students remember what we are learning during the Daily 5 lessons.  These posters really help make our classroom library look more welcoming and they are a good reminder to the students. 

Here is the poster for the I Pick lesson on helping students choose good-fit books.  And it matches our jungle theme in our classroom!

Moving Monday...CATCH!

Here is the next active learning strategy.  This is a great review activity after a daily lesson, unit, or important concept.

CATCH

From: Udvari-Solner, A. & Kluth, P. (2007). Joyful learning. Active & collaborative learning in the inclusive classroom. Corwin Press. See www.paulakluth.com for related content & ideas.

Daily 5 Poster

We are getting deeper and deeper into the Daily 5 and my students are loving it.

Here is a poster I made to help my students remember the 3 Ways to Read a Book.  This poster will hang in our classroom library.

Currently...October

Another month has passed already...wow!

Oh Boy 4th Grade is having another Currently Linky Party!  I could not agree with Farley more...I LOVE October and everything that is associated with October and Fall (including my Birthday...yay!)

So, here is my Currently for the best month of the year.