I'm on Instagram

I had to get my middle-school son to show me how, but I joined my teacher friends on Instagram. You can find me at smartkidsgammons. I was inspired by....



 

 Here is my home page:

Here is a picture of what my smart kids are working on:

Finally, here is the link for the memory book:

My twelve-year old is so proud of my new technology skills!

Cindy Moo

Title: Cindy Moo

Lori Mortensen (Author)

Jeff Mack (Illustrator)

Comprehension Strategy: Questioning                       

Art Modality: Creative Movement

Summary:

One night on the farm, the cows overhear a fantastic tale. “Hey Diddle Diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon!” Inspired by this classic rhyme, a plucky cow named Cindy Moo sets out to prove that cows really can leap over the moon. The other cows laugh at her, but that doesn’t stop Cindy from trying—and failing—night after night . . . until a trick of nature shows Cindy a way to triumph. As delightfully silly as the original nursery rhyme, this hilarious picture book will have readers of all stripes (and spots) cheering for its determined heroine. (HarperCollins)

Materials:

Cindy Moo

hula hoops

white paper plates

Lesson:

It’s time to get your kids “moo-ving!” All you need is a copy of this book and some hoops. (Real rain puddles would be best, but...well, they’re wet.) Begin by making sure that all of your little ones are familiar with the nursery rhyme “Hey Diddle Diddle.” For fun you can check out the many versions of the rhyme/song on YouTube. Here are two I liked. The first has the words and a pleasant version of the tune. The second video is from vintage Sesame Street.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSELJdLRwz0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAhhZ0w0iQU

And now introducing...Cindy Moo! She’s the determined cow that is going to help your young readers practice our comprehension strategy of the day: questioning. After all, Cindy Moo wouldn’t be where she is today (famous) if she hadn’t asked the question, “WHY can’t a cow jump to the moon?” Let the questions begin before you even open the book. Just look at the cover. WHY is the cow jumping? WHAT are the three cows on the back thinking as they look on? 

Now on to the first pages...WHY is the cow peeking out of the barn? WHAT is the girl reading? And before too long, the burning question..."WHY can’t a cow jump to the moon?” Give your listeners time to discuss the issues, just as the cows in the barn did that very night. To really stretch their thinking, insert a question that isn’t in the book. Ask students to problem-solve with partners. If a cow wanted to jump over the moon, HOW could it be done? You might get some pretty creative answers! Continue reading to find out how Cindy Loo finally makes it over the moon.

After the book, show your kids a mighty-fine, bovine time with this movement activity. First locate some hoedown style music on the internet. I found this fun music

http://www.pond5.com/music/1/hoedown.html and also songs on this site that I could download for free http://www.mediamusicnow.co.uk/royalty-free-music-loops/country/hoedown.

Take your kids to a gym or open area. Arrange your hula hoop puddles throughout the area. Place a paper-plate moon in each puddle. Now just play the music and encourage the kiddie cattle to start jumping puddles. Yee-Haw!

For an inside peek into the book click here!

New Blog!

So here's the scene...I've posted my kinders' work all over my assigned parking space in the hall outside of my classroom. I've even bravely stretched out to put their work on a nearby hall that was empty. (No one was using it after all and it seemed like space for rent....) Anyone that happens to walk in my room for any reason (you know, like to drop off toilet paper or the lunch envelopes) gets "Did you know how smart my kids are?" and "Have you seen this chart they made?" or "Here! Just read this journal entry!" Sometimes we make visitors sit down and we tie them up with lacing beads strings so they can't escape. I've even been known to pick up the phone and call a teacher from the upper grades..."Hey! When you get a break, come down here and see this!" (Like she would use her 5 minutes with us instead of going to bathroom. Really.) Soo....

I'm trying a healthier, less desperate approach. I created a sister blog for my "ABCs of Reading" blog. I wanted a place to celebrate my special Ks super smart work. So here is your invitation to visit. Come on over!

The Little Little Girl with the Big Big Voice

The Little Little Girl with the Big Big Voice

Kristen Balouch (Author & Illustrator)

Comprehension Strategy: Inferring                  

Art Modality: Drama

Summary:

There once was a little, little girl... with a BIG, BIG voice.

One day she went to find someone to play with.

In this vibrantly illustrated picture book, one loud little girl looks for a friend to play with. She searches the jungle high and low for a pal, but her BIG voice scares all the animals away! One by one, an elephant, a snake and a croc quickly retreat away from her booming vocals, until at last she finds the perfect playmate-whose "roar" is even louder than hers! (Summary from Simon & Schuster.)

Materials:

The Little Little Girl with the Big Big Voice

Lesson:

Let me say this loud and clear. “THIS IS A FUN BOOK!” In fact, when I saw this book it screamed, “BUY ME!” This simple story is useful at the beginning of the year when you are teaching appropriate voice volume and you are focusing on classroom management. It also works beautifully if you want to zoom in on inferring. So if your classroom sounds like a jungle, open the book and try this lesson.

Before reading, place a sticky note over the little girl on the cover. Without showing the illustrations, read the beginning of the book in which the little girl attempts to make friends with the elephant, snake, and crocodile. Ask students to make inferences about what might be scaring the animals away. Read the beginning again, this time showing the pictures. Allow students time to continue making inferences. Continue reading, making sure to pause after you read, “But the lion looked at the little girl...” After sharing predictions. continue reading, but pause again after, “And the little girl looked at the lion...” Your students will love the surprise that follows and will join in laughing with the girl and the lion.

Now I just bet that you already have in mind a little, little child from your own class that as a big, big voice. Give that child a chance to use that voice in a dramatic retelling of the story. Invite students to play the roles of the girl, the elephant, the snake, the crocodile and the lion. Prepare the actors by talking about how each of the animals would move and what they were doing in the story. For example, the elephant is blowing bubbles and the snake is swinging. How would the elephant run away? How would the snake escape? As you reread, invite the students to act out the story. Repeat with additional groups of five children.

Want to make sure your voice can be heard? Need to make your little “loud mouth” even louder? Here’s a link for a printable megaphone:

http://books.simonandschuster.com/Little-Little-Girl-with-the-Big-Big-Voice/Kristen-Balouch/9781442408081#graphic_excerpt_carousel

Finally, here’s an analogy map to use with the story. Use it to make a class chart or provide copies so the students can make their own.

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxZ0GKEr7Xl_d2JnODVNQWVmN0k/edit?usp=sharing