Really? I'm Not the Only One!!

Okely Dokely, My Artichokelys!
After a solid week and a half of non-teachery stuff, I am back on track-
 {academically- but not physically! I had to take a nap when I got home!
I usually stay  for a bit after school...

....it was nuttin' but taillights at 3:15- cause we were OUTTA THERE!

I was back in my Kajamas (the "K" is on purpose), on the couch, under a blankie....snoozing by 3:30..

I live really close:)

So here's a snippet of our day:


Each week when there is a new story in the basal, I have the students complete a Word Sort.
Words I Knew
Words I Decoded
Not Sure

They usually just skim through the story, put the words in the blocks, bring it to small group and I go over it with them individually.

As the stories have become progressively difficult, there has been quite a bit of reluctance.
I think they are worried that they are going to put "too many" words in the "Not Sure" column.

So rather than doing a regular sort,
I gave them a piece of 12x18 paper.
They folded- making 16 rectangles.

I gave them a few minutes to go through our story and put one word that they weren't sure of  in each rectangle.

Then they cut them apart.

(Taken with phone today- I swear I feel *NAKED* without my camera!)

Then I paired them up.

They had to "hand over" their cards to their partner. They didn't know that these were for other's eyes.

After they switched with their partner, and began looking at what was written, I started hearing:

"Hey! I wrote that word!"
"I didn't know this one either!"
"Oh, you don't know this one? This one is _______."

They were getting excited that they could help each other!

Some of my boys took it upon themselves to set up a "memory game" because they had so many words that were the same!

When they were done sharing it was their assignment to choose two of the cards and write together in their journals.
They had to write about which "animal" (strategy) they used to figure out that new word with their partner.

We do so much in small groups- I guess I underestimated the power of whole group!

They use the animals (strategies) from the Stuck on Word? Poster set I made. Click on the pic to grab it.

It was a great to see them using the tools they had, working together, being supportive, and being soooooo good on the first day back after 9 days off!!!


zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!

Hope that wasn't too boring and didn't disappoint those who were hoping
to "blog on" and read about my regularly scheduled craziness...

I am sure it will resume at it's appointed time tomorrow:)