Hello Mrs Sykes

Welcome back!  :)  Here's the latest installation of the Work on Words Wednesday series.  Today we are focusing on an easy strategy you can use for 5 minutes per day to teach Greek and Latin stems. Looking for more Work on Words Wednesday posts?  Click here to see them all!      Understanding common Greek and Latin stems increases both vocabulary and comprehension, and is specifically cited in Common Core standards L.4.4b, L.5.4b, and L.6.4b.  This is a strategy I have used effectively both in the classroom and as a Literacy Specialist to ensure my students have a solid understanding of common Greek and Latin stems.  This strategy requires 5 minutes of whole group time daily, and can be tweaked to meet the needs of your classroom.  Consider using this strategy as a part of your daily meeting, an activity after you return from lunch, or even at the end of the day as students pack their backpacks. Please remember: you know your students best, and will add to or change this str

I'm a parent of two amazing children.  I'm also a teacher.  I have been working with kiddos since I was in fifth grade (no kidding; I was an assistant in the Summer Program at our church that summer!) and I have experienced the communication breakdown that can happen between parents and teachers from both sides.  Here are 6 tips to use when you talk with your child's teacher: Font and Frame: Kimberly Geswein Fonts

Y'all already know that I'm not terribly talented in the housekeeping department, right?  I've wished for the "Laundry Fairy" to visit my house repeatedly, but to no avail.  I'm getting better, though.  The main thing I've learned is that I need to train the other people who live in my house to put things away after they use them.  You know: dishes; clothes; games; toys; etc.  The difficult part is convincing my new fur-baby to keep the shedding to a minimum, but I don't mind too much... Our new fur-baby, Mavis. Mavis has been trying to help, particularly with cleaning off our faces!  :)  She had to get out of my way when I went to work on the goodies for the NC Blogger Meet Up on Saturday... Click here to view the invite on Facebook! I'm happy with the way they turned out... (even with Mavis' help!) Want to get your own?  Click on the picture below for a freebie!  (Frame from Glitter Meets Glue Designs , Font from KG Fonts )

I teach with the door open... really.  {Just ask my teaching buddy, Casey !}  One question I get all the time - "How come you always get the class with the great vocabulary?"  Here's the secret  not so secret answer:  Use interesting words. Looking for more Work on Words Wednesday posts?  Click here to see them all! Simple, right?  In theory, it is quite simple.  In practice, it takes a bit of planning and forethought to use interesting words as you teach.  I had an amazing "Light-bulb Moment" 6 or 7 years ago when I had the pleasure of attending a seminar by Dr. Rick DuVall .  (If you ever get the chance, I highly recommend his seminars!)  One point he made was that you can't just walk in and start using a huge vocabulary with second graders - you ease them into it by adding in a few words or phrases at a time. For example, at the beginning of the year, you would say, "Please line up for the water fountain."  Later you might say, "Crea

Y'all, I'm so excited to share a bit more about Working on Words with the group!   Last week, we took a closer look at Word Games , and how to use them in your small group instruction.  Today, we'll look at Cheap Manipulatives. Font:  KG Fonts , Digital Paper:  Sassy Designs First, let's address the fact that most teachers (myself included) are basically broke.  The schools don't have enough money to purchase all of the manipulatives our kiddos need to have true opportunities to manipulate letters/sounds and practice building words in a kinesthetic way. Next, let's just talk about our students.  Yeah, we know the state/county/insert-your-official's-name-here expects students to spend two or three days on a topic, master it, then move on... only to be tested on it in a standardized format months later.  These people are not educators - you are.  As an educator, you have the understanding of child development to know the importance of time, repetition,

Today's confession: I am decorating - deficient.  I think the gene must have skipped a generation .  Y'all may have figured that out since I only have a very limited amount of "cute - gotta get my craft on" kind of posts...  Well, this applies to my home as well.  I aim for clean enough to keep any smells to a minimum and to keep the piles of laundry small enough that we can tell which ones are clean and which are dirty.  (Mostly kidding - mostly!)  Anywhoo, I love, love, love subway art , and have used it for years in my classroom.   I recently was contacted by Katie from Wise Decor about trying their Wall Words , and it felt like it was meant to be!  I thought, "This is the kind of decorating even I can do!"    Frame: Mr. Magician {Wall Words from Wise Decor} {Wall Words from Wise Decor} This is the one I picked: {Wall Words from Wise Decor} It arrived! What it looks like in the box... Wow!  I can't wait to use this!!

Can't remember if I've told y'all about the very cool Math training I went through last year.  Very intense.  I learned a lot.  I spent at least 3 hours a month all year learning about 2nd grade math.  Best part: the class was split into 2 equal shares - mathematical thinking and fostering math talk. For real, it has changed me, as both a teacher and a mathematician.  Example: I now always calculate tip in my head.  (Really and truly, I was one of those folks who used the tip calculator on my phone... Not proud of it, just sayin.')  Another example, I never ever tell kiddos they "can't" take a larger number away from a smaller number.  Everyone know why?  Because a few years later, they'll be expected to learn about negative numbers!!  We'll be discouraging their mathematical thinking before it even begins.  Now I say, "If you subtract a larger number from a smaller number, you'll have to work with a negative number, and you won't be

Time to link up with Farley for Currently ! Ok - about the foot.  Apparently, I broke a toe.  Again.  I really need to come up with a good story, but truly, I was vacuuming and I stubbed my foot on a chair.  This was over a week ago, and it still hurts, so I ice it daily. My B2s must haves: 1) nuff said... 2) Love my Mystery Word of the Week sets, and I'm creating new sets using Science terms this year. 3) Comfy shoes - I think I'll try some Toms.  What do you think?