Me on the Map Project (1st & 2nd Grade)

this is the Pinterest project from, well, crazy teacher brain...

Remember this post? (http://www.msbooklady5280.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-name-is-ms-book-lady-and-i-have.html)

(aka, how I spent two nights in a row cutting out 900 construction paper circles)

The first step is admitting your problem right?  A couple weeks ago I found this:

http://kidworldcitizen.org/2011/11/26/my-place-in-the-world-project/ 

It looked like such an awesome project, and it meets standards for first and second graders about understanding their place in the world so I couldn't pass it up.

The steps to produce this project included: A) I (plus my para and a parent) spent almost a week tracing and/or cutting out circles for this project.  B) Now that classes are finishing up, each has to be hole punched and string tied (oy vey).  Thankfully next year only 1st grade will do the project, because doing this times 200 is getting ridiculous. C) I had to grade these all of them, checking all of the options.  Here is a snapshot of each of the projects (awesome examples from all 8 first and second grade classrooms):

Most students did a great job...I also used a checklist:

...while it obviously didn't help all students, it made a big difference for some--especially with punctuation, and making sure they capitalized/spelled correctly the proper nouns.

This was an amazing project.  I truly recommend it, especially if you are in the classroom (aka, not creating 200+ of these, and only 30).  It meets 1st and 2nd grade standards beautifully.  (See below.  These are Colorado State Standards, since CCSS hasn't expanded to Social Studies.)

Content Area: Social Studies
Grade Level Expectations: Second Grade
Standard: 2. Geography
1. Geographic terms and tools are used to describe space and place.

Content Area: Social Studies

Grade Level Expectations: First Grade

Standard: 2. Geography
1. Geographic tools such as maps and globes represent places.

Ms. Book Lady's Summer Reading Challenge

So I failed at the #shelfchallenge from April for School Library Month.  I read like, 5 books.  Maybe.

So I'm creating a Summer Reading Challenge.  For myself.  Read a book a (summer) day.  I have 75 days of summer this year (kiddos have longer, but I'm only counting the teacher summer), so my goal is to read 75 children's books from June 6th - August 19th.  Who wants to join me? One of my other friends who is also an elementary school librarian is doing this with me and we actually are going to create book talks to then use to roll out throughout the school year.  Because who has time to read during the school year?

I'll try to create a list, or at least screen shot my GoodReads proof.  I'm starting with Children's Book Week finalists (2011 Finalists, 2012 Finalists, 2013 Finalists) from the past few years.  And then, with the most popular check-outs at my school.  If you have suggestions, I'd love to have them!

Ms. Book Lady's Summer Sanctuary

fresh snow and rice krispies treats

This post is from forever ago...but it could have been from a week ago.  Gotta love Colorado.  Wanted to share the Rice Krispies recipe at the bottom...because it's awesome.

--written mid-March--
While I know everyone doesn't feel this way...I actually love the fresh snowfall, especially the snow that we got today both this morning and afternoon.  March is Colorado's snowiest month, and we need all that we can get this year...(I mean have you seen Lake Dillon lately?!)  Plus, when it comes after I get to work, not during lunch hour (meaning we can have an outside day for the students), and before I have to leave work but without sticking to the roads, it's definitely got my vote.

While it came a little unexpectedly and definitely was more than was expected, driving home was gorgeous.  The trees had a fresh coating, and best of all, all the old, dirty snow that has half melted, is coated as well.  Thank you Mother Nature.

And even though they have nothing to do with each other, something has me in a Rice Krispies Treat mood.  I have always loved the homemade kind, which I'll blame on my little brother since he hated cakes and for his birthdays, etc. mom would always make Rice Krispies for him.

I tweaked the normal recipe (Original Rice Krispies Treat Recipe), by adding at least another tablespoon of butter (mostly because the half sticks are 4 T of butter), another cup or so of marshmellows (I use mini's).

The most important part is adding about a tablespoon of Cinnamon and a teaspoon of Chinese Five Spice.  Lemme tell you about Savory Spice Shop, the most amazing place in the world.  (Okay, maybe not really, but it's awesome.)  They have fabulous spices, and best of all, if one isn't in your area, you can have them shipped to you.

So next time you feel like cursing the snow, remember that it can actually help to make the world a pretty place.  And remember when you are craving Rice Kripies Treats...add some extra yum and be amazed!