Teaching Gratitude

I can't BELIVE it is November!!!!!  When I was thinking about what I wanted to blog about this week GRATITUDE kept popping into my head.  First, I am so grateful for all of you and what you have done for our students & each other this school year. It hasn't been easy but we have made it this far supporting each other! 

This month, let's make it a conscious effort to model Gratitude for our students. One way to shake yourself out of a funk is to think about what you are THANKFUL FOR.   

This video says it all.  You all are doing more than you will ever know for our students but also for each other.  You are what makes Park View a special place.  Do we have bumps in the road?  Yes, but deep down our Patriot Family is one of a kind!  Kids know this too!

 Here is a book list of books that help teach Gratitude!  

Here are some videos that support Gratitude!

This book, The Gratitude Jar above is awesome!  The 2nd reason for the Gratitude Jar is spot on! 

This Google Slide Show activity would work perfectly with it!  Or have students create their own out of small jars!

Love these activity sheets to support Gratitude in your classroom!

 

 

*How fun is this Gratitude Journal?

Check out this blog all about Gratitude Rocks!

I love the idea of making a Gratitude Garden of all the rocks that the students create!

These Gratitude Pumpkins would be such great visuals for our students in the classroom! *Plus, you can probably get them for a great price or even FREE after Halloween! 

More great ideas to bring gratitude to your classroom!

This Gratitude Scavenger Hunt would be a great way to get the kiddos up and moving!

Here is a simple Gratitude Game!

Thank you again for all that you do! 

 

This past week in PLC we discussed adding in more nonfiction text to support out F & P text sets and our Science and Social Studies. This Quarter, we will be jumping into Text Feature and Text Structure so I thought touching back on this topic wold be helpful.  

 

One of my very favorite strategies that supports text features & structure is text mapping!  It is a visual way for students see how information is organized.  It allows them to see the flow of the text and reinforces vocabulary & text features.   

Text Mapping can be used to teach Reading Comprehension, Writing skills, Study Skills and Course Content. The text is presented on scrolls and the mapping that the students will do is explicit based off of teacher modeling. 

• The text will be shown as a whole.
• Students will have random access to all parts of the text all at once. 
• Student will use concrete, multi-sensory thinking skills to manage abstract thinking tasks 

Text mapping teaches students to be strategic thinkers and active readers through the following:

• Text mapping & the scrolls force students to move forced  They will walk back and forth along the length of the scrolled text.  Reading becomes a physical, as well as mental activity.  (I LOVE THIS!)
• The marking of the text can simply be done using pencils, pens, colored markers, highlighters, etc. This act forces students to physically interact with the text.  This process of marking forces students to think and to make decisions.

Tips: 

• Choose a text that connects to a fiction story from your mini-lessons. 
• Color code the text features.
• Allow them to record what they discovered. 
• Model, model, model!
• Display their work!

Here are some of my favorite videos:)  

This is a great blog about text mapping!

CHECK this OUT from the Creative Core!

Text mapping is such a fantastic way to get students reading closely with a text! 

Fall BREAK FUN!

Welcome to Fall Break!  I hope you all have some relaxing and fun activities planned!  You absolutely deserve every second of this break.  I am so very proud of the work you have done so far this school year and our students are going to GROW like crazy! 

BUT...this is your time now!  This post is for you!  Lots of ideas for relaxing and enjoying the Fall season!

Know that you are appreciated!  BIG Time!

So let's start with a craft!  I am totally making these!!!! How adorable would these be around your house???? Click the picture to find the directions. 

And a little self-care...A pumpkin face mask! Grab the recipe over at at Jenni Raincloud.  

Fall Family Bucket List!  I love all these ideas for fun with the whole family! Click it for a printable version. 

Or a bowl of warm SOUP!  This is a Schroeder Family Favorite!  It doesn't take many ingredients but it is sooo yummy with some cheese and bread! Lily has already made it for her roommates!  (I use half spicy and half regular sausage.) 

Watch a movie and grab some Scarecrow Crunch! 

Here is a list of October MOVIES! My kid's favorite was the Heffalump!  

This is a Fall Favorite in our neighborhood!  Boo your neighbors!!!!!! This blogpost tells you all about it!  We put a white grocery bag over the top of our mailbox and turn it into a ghost to show we have been booed!  Kids LOVE it and you can totally Boo and adult too! 

Heck, just spent some quiet time enjoying having no PLC, no papers to grade and NO ONE calling your name! I appreciate you!