A little while ago, I was contacted by MPM School Supplies and I had the chance to do a little shoppin’ for my classroom! Squee!
We heard the group coming to us this year would need a significant boost in reading comprehension. When I peeked at their reading levels, I started gathering resources for strategy groups, RTI, and guided reading.
Here are a couple of gems I found:
I started using this bad boy last week as we finally got past our rituals and routines lessons in Reader’s Workshop. I have several kiddos reading on a first grade level, and I want to determine early on if they need extra instruction or if something more needs to be done for them. This is perfect for that! I love having sequential resources that I can maneuver into guided reading and strategy groups that don’t take up my entire segment with a group.
I started using this book as a homework practice page once a week. I shrinky dink the page to 85% and it works great! I ask my kids to use a couple of strategies (underline the evidence and slash the trash) so that I know they aren’t just circling random answers. I also love the written component with each story. It’s good practice for our CCSS assessments!
I haven’t had a chance to use these yet, but I know it’s coming soon! When we introduce informational text, one of the first standards we’ll teach is finding the main idea and supporting key details. I love using task cards in small groups and as a SCOOT assessment. Small groups are probably my favorite because I can check in with more students than during a whole group session.
I somehow lost my grade tracker during the pack up and unpack season at school, so I added in one of these as well. After teaching literacy for 6 years, my math skillz aren’t quite as quick as they used to be! Plus, with 40+ students each year, I need something to make the grading process go by a little quicker whenever I can!
Oh, be still my smelly-marker-lovin’-heart! I love me some Mr. Sketch. They are my FAVORITE chart markers. Hands down. So when I saw these on MPM’s site, I absolutely had to get them. I wish I had gotten several packs because when I went to order more… WAAAAAAH! They are gone! NO MAS! If anyone knows where to get them, please let me know. I am in serious Sadsville over here! They are absolutely perfect for grading, doodling, and putting yourself in a better mood!
So here’s the delicious part for you!
Since we have all survived this blogger d-r-o-u-g-h-t I’ve been in, I’m giving away 1 copy of BOTH comprehension assessment books that I’ve used. I’m also throwing in $10 to my TPT store to the winner. It’s going to be a quickie so I can get the books out to the winner ASAP, so get on it! ๐
Good luck!
Cecile says
Favorite Back to school book: Don't Eat the Teacher
Lisa Sonenshine says
The Giving Tree
ceehce says
This is my first year teaching 3rd grade! These would be wonderful. Thanks.
ceehce says
My favorite read aloud is Enemy Pie. It leads to great discussions about making new friends.
stephanieb says
My favorite read aloud is Have You Filled a Bucket Today? It is great for establishing good behaviors and being a good friend.
Stephanie
stephb_2001@hotmail.com
Teaching Reef says
3rd grade is all new to me this year since I looped up with my students! We also just implemented Common Core this year! Tons of new in my world this year, so I would love some resources to support this new grade level experience! =)
Fran Long says
My favorite read aloud is Thank you Mr. Falker!
Jennifer says
Pigsty – helping keep our room clean ๐
Karyn says
Did you try Amazon for the Mr. Sketch markers? I know they had them this summer. :o)
Marie Madden says
I like to read First Day Jitters!
Sherie says
Favorite read aloud is a chapter book called Christopher Mouse: The Tale of a Small Traveler. It is told from the point of view of a pet mouse. It really gets the kids thinking about how their pets feel. Great for teaching responsibility about pets. I read this the first two weeks of school. After much discussion, the kids get to meet our class pet, a bearded dragon named Rex. ๐
Ryan Graber says
Favorite read aloud for back to school is definitely First Day Jitters. This year I also read Brand New Pencils, Brand New Books by Diane deGroat. We had a great time using a Venn Diagram (for the first time for some of my kiddos) comparing the first day of school for the 2 main characters.
For the fall itself, I really love Frankenstein Moved in on the Fourth Floor. It's an easy chapter book from the 90s. I read it for the first time last year as our first literature circle and just loved it. My kiddos liked it, too!
Alissa says
I love Bad Case of Stripes and The Kissing Hand…
Andrea L. says
I love reading to my kids! One of our favorites is (not so much a teaching one, but more of a fun one) Sideways Stories from Wayside School. I try to throw some "lesson-type" stuff by talking about how everyone is looks different, has different gifts, etc., but it's really just for fun. ๐
Toni Nicholson says
Favorite read aloud for back to school: A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech.
Toni Nicholson
chief9937@Yahoo.com
Suzy Q says
I like First Day Jitters and then for my longer read-aloud, Miss Daisy is Crazy. (There are a zillion of them in the series, but I only really like the first couple…then they aren't quite as good.)
Candi says
I just started 3rd grade yesterday, after taking over for the teacher on medical leave. (They've already been in school 8 days.) I'm learning and at this point have no idea what read alouds or anything to do. haha! ๐
- Michael's Wife says
My favorite read aloud is Wayside Stories!
Cherie says
The Kissing Hand for back to school!
Tracey Schimke says
First Day Jitters is always fun on the first day.
Tracey
Third Grade All Stars
Sally says
These are all great! I also read The Seven Habits of Happy Kids as we build our classroom community. The kids absolutely love this book, and there are loads of activities you can do to reinforce the habits you are working on.
Confessions of a Teaching Junkie says
My favorite read aloud for the beginning of the year is The Memory Bank (just finished it yesterday!)
mrhein says
I always start readers workshop by reading The Bee Tree by Patricia Polacco. I also begin our chapter book read aloud for the last ten minutes of each day with Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Clearly. That is such a classic third grade book that they all can relate to with pesky younger siblings.
Debbie says
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Debbie says
I find the hardest part of teaching is making sure to have just right lessons for every level student. Sometimes my third graders range from 1st to 10th grade reading levels! These books sound great for guided reading and skills groups. I like to start the year with "Muggie Maggie" to get kids in the mood to start writing in cursive.
Julia Cosgrove says
First Day Jitters is my favorite.
Roberta Martin says
This comment has been removed by the author.
Melissa says
I love reading First Day Jitters as well, but in my class we always use Wayside School Gets a Little Stranger as our first read aloud. The class reads the first Wayside School book over the summer and they are always begging me to read more.
Stacy Rossio says
Staples and office max has mr sketch markers….and surprisingly Walgreens advertised them in Ohio 2weeks ago
Ursula says
Favorite back to school read aloud: Mr. Peabody's Apples by Madonna. Such a great message.
Thanks for the opportunity to win these two books. They look awesome. They are in my shopping cart already!!!
Kelly says
I love First Day Jitters, Recess Queen, and Goldisocks and the Three Libearians
Jackie Hanlon says
I love Mean Jean the Recess Queen, we then talk about making friends.
Nicole Shelby says
I love First Day Jitters and Enemy Pie!
cindyhornyak says
We love Gooney Bird Green…perfect for introducing narratives!
Markisha says
First Day Jitters
Shelley says
First Day Jitters, Teacher From the Black Lagoon, and Yertle the Turtle are some of my favorites!