Five for Friday!

Wow - it's been a really long time since I've managed to link up with  Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday! 

This week has been half term though so even though I have pretty much done school work all week, at least it has been on the sofa watching Netflix at the same time and I have the time to share a little of what I've been up to!

Planning

I can't plan on a weekly basis. I am way to busy once we are into a school term to plan after school or even at the weekends in any great detail - that means I HAVE to binge plan each school holiday. I do try to make time for myself but half term (just one week off) for me tends to be pretty much based around school work.

I've been getting ahead with all subjects but the one that I usually least enjoy planning (guided reading) hasn't been such a chore this time round due to the new books we ordered and that arrived before we broke up:

New books make me happy!

Hide and Seek

I realised I hadn't seen one of my cats for a while this morning and wondered what mischief she might be up to. I went hunting and saw this...

She could have easily have been squashed if I had decided to jump back into bed! 

Learning Grids

Tomorrow you can check out my post over on Adventures in Literacy Land on using learning grids in the classroom as an engagement strategy in lessons. 

I've made a freebie which I hope you find useful!

Click to go get it!

Level up your Learning!

A few weeks ago I came up with a behaviour learning ladder with my class. I asked them what they thought made them a great (level 1) learner, and the types of behaviours that a poor (level 5) learner would show (of course, none of them ever do any of these!).

I noted down their ideas (almost) word for word but there are far too many.

When we are back at school on Monday, I plan to revisit this as ask them what they think the main 3 learning behaviours would be at each level to slimline it a little.

What would be on your level 1 or level 5 behaviour learning ladder list?

 Please leave a comment below as I'd love to lear your ideas!

Giveaway

The lovely Kristin at My Carolina Classroom is having a giveaway to celebrate her one year blogiversary! Don't forget to head on over and enter her giveaway for a chance to win some amazing prizes!

That's all from me this week - have a great weekend!

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Sunday Scoop 15-2-15

Hello and Happy Valentines Day for yesterday!

School has been crazy these last 2 weeks but we have reached half term so I get to relax a little (and catch up on school work of course!) for a week. I'm going to be a better blogger and am starting that by linking up with the Teaching Trio for The Sunday Scoop!

Here's my scoop this week!

Fingers crossed I manage to cross all of those things off my list this week. Especially the marking, planning and watching The Walking Dead (I've seen none of this season so far and keep planning to catch up but never quite manage to!). Good luck crossing things off you to do list!

Have a great week with whatever you have planned and remember to link up your scoop!

Sunday Scoop

Wow!

2 posts in one day because there are 2 great linky parties to join in with today! 

You can check out my Currently post here and just keep on reading for my Sunday Scoop with the Teaching Trio!

Here's my scoop this week!

All fairly self explanatory I hope!

Don't forget to link up your scoop too!

February Currently

February already - surely not! A whole month has flown by and there are only 2 weeks until half term break! That part is good but it's scary how quickly January has come and gone...

Thank you Farley at Oh Boy Fourth Grade for hosting this great linky each month!

Here is my Currently for February:

Listening: I don't really know why I'm listening/watching the tennis as it's not really a sport I am interested in but it's on and it's background noise while I check out what everyone else is currently up to!

Loving: I use phonics play all the time in my classroom but it is seriously lacking when it comes to games teaching the spelling rules. So I've decided to make my own based on the ones my kids love from the site and am very impressed with myself! As soon as I posted this picture to IG last night I spotted the mistake - don't worry - it's not finished yet!

Thinking: MORE observations this week on Wednesday. That means lots of stressed colleagues and lots of pressure. Not fun.

Wanting: We haven't had a single snow day this year. Lots of snow on Tuesday night would be perfect...

Needing: Was science book marking on my currently in January? I feel like they probably were. 

Pageant title: I am sure I am not the only one who is claiming this title!

What are you up to? Don't forget to link up with Farley!

Have a great week ahead!

Making Writing Special

Today I have written a post as part of the Adventures in Literacy Land team all about making writing special in the classroom in an attempt to motivate reluctant writers and get the best out of every child. There are tips on creating a calm atmosphere and some thoughts on self assessment and targets.

Make sure you head on over there and don't forget to leave me some comments letting me know what you do to make writing special in your classroom!

Sunday Scoop 18-1-15

Sunday evening has arrived already...

I've had a lovely weekend visiting the spa with my sister and finally exchanging christmas presents with my Dad (even though his gift from me was not working) but I'm not ready to go back to school tomorrow! I need more time!

So much to do means I need to link up with the lovely ladies at:

for one of my favourite linkies:

I think my list is fairly self explanatory this week. 

I'm really excited to be writing my first post as part of the Literacy Land team tomorrow. Make sure you stop by to find out how I try to make writing special for my reluctant writers. Hopefully you'll find lots of tips and ideas there and will leave me some comments with your ideas so I can use them in my classroom!

Thank for visiting today!

Sunday Scoop 11-1-15

It was a long and tiring first week back at school last week - so why has the weekend flown by so quickly!?

Sunday again means it is time to link up with the Teaching Trio for the Sunday Scoop.

Here's my scoop this week!

A week of being on edge waiting for a drop in observations is not a fun week! I need to make sure I am extra prepared to minimise the stress in the week but can't get motivated at the moment... No doubt I will leave it till tonight then be rushing to get everything sorted!

I must also work harder to get to 10,000 steps each day. I managed it once last week and then failed at even coming close for the rest of it! I'll aim for at least 6000 each day and 10,000 on at least 3 days before Friday. I'll let you know how I get on back here next week!

One good thing is that I saw someone on IG mention their favourite book was a Veronica Mars one by Rob Thomas and was so excited! How had I missed that he had written books following on from where the film left off?! I ordered it immediately and it should be coming tomorrow - I can't wait to read it!

Don't forget to link up your scoop with the lovely Teaching Trio and to check out what everyone else has planned for the week ahead!