Text Message Spelling Station Activity - Digital Download

I'm constantly on the lookout for a Spelling station activity. Every week I change the activity that my kids are doing at that station and I have this ridiculous (almost impossible) desire to not repeat an activity...once.

Go ahead and ask me how that's working out.

Okay, guilty; I've actually managed not to repeat yet, but it's turned into something really stressful at times.

Just a couple of weeks ago I was racking my brain for an activity for the week. As always, I wanted something that I knew my students would enjoy doing, but it needed to be something that didn't take a lot of preparation on my part.

Fortunately, my creativity was on my side that day and...

Wahhhlaaaahhh! Text Message Spelling!

My students L-O-V-E-D it! This activity requires the students to write down each spelling word once and then determine what the "secret text message code" is by using the keypad on the iPhone. (Bonus points awarded to me (and you!), the teacher, for this being an iPhone which is SO COOL to them!)

{Click here to download the Text Message Spelling Station Activity} 

Literacy Station Menu - Digital Download

Well, I've survived the first nine weeks of school...barely.

It's Saturday and I just got back from working in my classroom for the second weekend in a row. The sad thing is that if the school was still open, I'd still be there.

I desperately keep trying to get ahead, but I'm slowly getting the feeling that getting ahead won't EVER happen. Someone please tell me it's not true...

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So far, I've been really proud of my students during literacy stations. Most of them stay right on task with each activity and everyone is getting the hang of the dos and don'ts of literacy stations...yay!

This past week was a stressful one because we were observed by people from our district. We have some improvements to make on our campus, but thankfully we also received a lot of positive feedback, too. I stressed and stressed over this visit, but I was counting my blessings that they came during our literacy stations...

My kids ROCKED it!!!

I did forewarn them about the visit - mainly because I wanted my students to know that if they're asked a question, it's OK to talk to these people. You know kids, they have a tendency to give that "I'm not supposed to be talkin' to you!" look and zip their lips (of course, during instruction they're chatter boxes though)!

Despite the stress everyone felt, my kids did their everyday routine perfectly. They worked at their stations, showed off their work, and stayed right on task just the same way they always do!

Part of the reason I feel my kids do such an awesome job at literacy stations is because we call it "Literacy Menu." 

{Click to download a Literacy Menu for your class.}

What's so different about that?

Well, it's just that...it's different. And my kids thrive on working differently.

I give them a Literacy Menu that they must keep in a folder all week long. In that folder, they also compile any activity sheets that may be at a station. At the end of each week, they turn in their Literacy Menu and receive rewards if they were on-task and completing the stations as expected.

It makes literacy stations so easy to run and keep track of! And? It's all because it's "different" that the kids like what they're doing and do it well.

If you'd like a Literacy Menu for your classroom, you can download one from my Teachers Pay Teachers account. I'd love to hear your feedback, too! 

End of the Year Memory Book - Download

Even though I haven't been with my kids since day one of their Third Grade year, I still find it hard to believe that the school year is coming to a close for them.

We're rushing to get research projects done, preparing for final tests, and getting ready to send them off for their summer vacation.

For the last couple of days of school, however, we wanted to give them a chance to slow down and reflect over the year they've had. I still remember doing these when I was in school, too!

Click Here to Download the End of the Year Memory Book

This End of the Year Memory Book (for all grade levels) includes pages for: facts about the student, the students' favorite things, summer planning page, and even more!




I can't wait to have my students complete this and run around getting their friends' autographs! Bring on sweet, sweet Summertime!!!