Fluency Practice and Laryngitis

Hi, friends!

I just wanted to share with a fun activity that I created to use with my third graders during guided reading.  I have noticed lately that they are struggling hugely with fluency.  Even my higher readers seem to be reading word by word pretty often.  Here is one thing I am going to try with them.  Halloween Silly Sentences!

This is a two page activity--one which the kids will cut out different phrases, and then glue/paste them onto the other page to create silly sentences that they will then read to each other, "scooping" their words together to sound nice and smooth.   So instead of 

"The.  scary.  mummy.  ran.  outside.  to. eat. pizza. ",  They will all very quickly sound like fabulously fluent readers, as they say, "The scary mummy" ... "ran outside"... "to eat pizza."  or even strung all together in one big scoop of words.  

This could work great for a center, or as a seatwork activity while you are working with reading groups. If you try it out, let me know what you think!  

I also have a freebie if you teach K or 1st, a similar activity, but with sight words!!  

Come back soon, as I have some more fun things to share with you!

Here's what made my heart dance today:  one of my students asking me if I had my voice back today (I've had laryngitis for a few days now), and then saying "awww.." and giving me a big hug when I hoarsely told her "no!"

What made YOUR heart dance?

LOVEMUCH,

Jess

Joy (Again)

I first blogged this a year and a half ago, and then I completely ignored the blog (AGAIN.)  In my defense, since then I went through another pregnancy while working and had our third and final child, who is now a beautiful six month old.  As I read this, I realized it still has some truth for me, so I'm adding some edits and reposting.

I don't seem to be very good at this blogging thing . . . it is something I always intend to do and forget to do. Plus I'm not sure if anyone even cares! :-) Back when I was stamping, I was a pretty regular poster on my stamping blog, and I felt good about that because I was sharing my creations! I'm not sure if I believe that my words are enough.

Eh, I'm doing it anyway.

I am wanting a change in my life, but I'm not sure what. I need to get healthy first (this darn cold is hanging on forever.) {9/23/12: Have a cold again now!} Then I need to get moving . . . cleaning out the junk of my house and my life, and filling both with only "things" that bring me joy. {9/23/12: Sadly, this is how my life seems to continue on, year after year, with me desiring to unclutter my house and my life, and still not knowing how or where to begin.}

My children and husband are kind of the only thing that bring me joy right now. I love them. But a bit of me wants to be selfish and have something else, something that is just mine . . . I just don't know what? Do I start stamping again? Multi-media art? Writing? Photography? I need to learn to use my new camera and get it off the auto mode!!! {9/23/12: A little more is bringing me joy now.  We have found a new church that we are really enjoying, and I'm meeting some new people that I really like.  I am back to work and mostly enjoying my job.  Our baby girl is the happiest baby I've ever seen, and she just makes me smile constantly!  But I'm still longing for something that is ME, but not ME AS MOM OR WIFE... does that make sense?}

{9/23/12: Some days it is a struggle for me to remember to not take for granted the great things in my life.  Especially when they become overshadowed by stressful situations like the fact that I may or may not be losing my job in January, and no one is able to give me a straight answer about that!  I'd like to try to get back to this blogging thing and maybe that will help me sort things out.}

What brings you joy?

Soul Restoration

So, I've started on this journey... this amazing class called Soul Restoration, offered by Brave Girls Club and Melody Ross... it is a kind of soul-searching, journaling, creating, thinking, changing experience... and I can't really even put it into words. I will say this. I haven't really written about anything much in YEARS. Last night I started writing for a Soul Restoration journal prompt, this one in particular:

What are some of the lies that have hurt my soul?

and I suddenly couldn't STOP writing. If this is any sign of things to come, I'm going to be doing lots of good work on/for myself in the next five weeks!

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Jess

Almost a New Year

So...

Tomorrow is the last day of 2010, which was a great year for me!

and I'm here to say---

2011 will be EVEN BETTER!!!

To begin with, I'm taking a fantastic online class called Soul Restoration. Check out the link on the right. I am also going to take a photography class to learn about my new camera and how to use it! Yes, my Master's classes are over--DONE!!! So now I can take classes JUST FOR ME!!!!

and in case you couldn't tell, I'm very excited about it!

Today you...

Isaac,

Today you ate mini pizza bagels for lunch and got them all over your face. You helped me cook them by putting them on the baking tray and counting them. You loved them.

Today you snuggled with me at naptime and wanted me to tell you a

story about your puppy. I did.

Today you wanted me to help you build a tower with dominoes. We couldn't get it very tall.

Today you lined up the wooden blocks and made a wonderful road for your cars. You lined them up very straight.

Ada,

Today you slept until 8 am. You woke up smiling.

Today you were wearing your brother's fuzzy giraffe sleep bag. I loved seeing you in it, because I remembered loving Isaac wearing it.

Today you managed to scoot all over the living room floor, even in your sleep bag. You will be crawling soon!

Today you were teething still. I feel so helpless that I can't m

ake you feel better.

Two!

I still can't believe we have two kids! Ada will officially be five months old tomorrow!! Which means Isaac will be three exactly two months from tomorrow! How is that possible? Isaac just invited himself over next door to play with the neighbor boy. Luckily, we have a very nice neighbor who finds Isaac irresistible, so she doesn't mind that Isaac is obsessed with her whole family! Ada is still napping, so I have a moment to myself. Ahh.... here is some eye candy for you:

Bye for now!