Interactive Notebook Linky Party (August 2014)

It's time for another Interactive Notebook Linky Party!  

Are you ready???

Can you believe that it is already August?  Where did the summer go?  I don't know about you, but I have really enjoyed my summer vacation! 

I'm feeling a little conflicted at the moment.  On one hand, I absolutely DO NOT want summer to end!  Then on the other hand, I am REALLY EXCITED about my move to a new school!!! My summer has been a WONDERFUL experience that has left me feeling rejuvenated, refreshed, and ready to tackle another school year! So I say...

And keep in mind...

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As the new school year approaches, I'm reflecting on my effectiveness with the implementation of INBs in my classroom. The notebooks that I had my students create last year were fun and cute, but were they an effective learning tool that promoted student growth and achievement? I feel that they were!  Here's what I'm going to do again this year!

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1.  Always use a two page spread when teaching an INB lesson.

2.  Make sure to present your students with a purpose/focus using a preview question/Quickwrite on the left side of the spread first.

3.  Then move over to the right side and provided your students with the objective and the information that they need.  Including examples.

4.  Close the lesson with a student try-out on the left side of the spread in the process/activity section.  

5.  ALWAYS provide feedback and assist students with correcting any errors in the process side.  This was very important.  The process activity serves as an exit slip/formative assessment of how well your students grasped the concept.

6.  Don't forget to have your students reflect on their own work as well!  

Since it is summer, I don't have student copies.  These pictures are of my notebooks with my lesson notes, but I thought it was better than nothing at all, and you could at least get the idea.  Please keep in mind that I didn't take the time to color mine and make it all pretty. 

You might recognize the above lesson from Nicole Shelby's 4th Grade Reading Interactive Notebook!    I loved Nicole's lessons!  I used this along with other lessons throughout the year.  I was teaching a 3-4 combo class, so my notebook was a little crazy.

 I'm going to have to make a new INB this school year since I'm only teaching 4th grade, and Florida has decided to rename all their Common Core, {cough, cough} I mean Florida Standards...

I'm still brainstorming ways to incorporate Donalyn Miller's Reader's Notebook and other close reading lessons into my INB!  I'm open to your ideas so LINK UP!!   

If you are just joining this party for the first time you might want to visit Week 1 and check out the great ideas from that party...(CLICK HERE)

Lastly, I've decided to only have this party occur once a month, but the Link will remain open for the month, so feel free to link up as many times as you want during the month of August!  I can't wait to read your posts!  

An InLinkz Link-up

Positive Thinking Thursday (Cutting the Mommy Strings...)

Today I'm linking up with Jennifer at Mrs. Laffin's Laughings for her Positive Thinking Thursday (7/31/14)!

I'm so glad you have this Link up Jennifer!  I am in need of some positive thinking today! Please ask me why!   "Why?" I'm so glad you asked!  My son is leaving Sunday for Marine Corps Boot Camp!  That's only 3 days away!!  I'm so very proud of him, but this Mamma is having a really hard time!  It is hard to let go, cut the umbilical cord, and let him become a man!  So I searched for some inspiration and found this...

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I cried...in private, when I found this quote.  My son is tired of seeing me cry, so I have to be stronger now.  When I cry he thinks I'm Not proud of him, and that's just NOT true.  He doesn't understand why this is hard...for me.  I tell him it's a "Mom Thing" and NOBODY can understand unless you are a MOM!!  

Now that I've gotten that out of my system it's time for some Boot Camp Positive Thinking!  

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Erik will attend Marine Corps Boot Camp at Paris Island, SC...Home of the SAND FLEA!  LOL!  Since my husband is a Former Marine Erik is considered to be a "Legacy Marine Recruit" Right now he is only a POOLEE, which is lower than pond scum.  Then he will become a RECRUIT, which is just above poolee, but still lower than pond scum.  He won't be a Marine until he graduates Boot Camp!  

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I'll be able to sleep at night while he is away knowing that my little boy will receive ENCOURAGEMENT from his DI...

My boy will be well taken care of...

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He will learn how to be a strong Leader!

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Erik has a strong faith!  He is following God's path, which was chosen especially for him.  This alone, gives me the comfort and strength that I need as a mom, to let him go...  

Fifth in the Middle's 2,000 Follower Giveaway!

http://www.bloglovin.com/frame?post=3181492363&group=0&frame_type=a&blog=4538111&frame=1&click=0&user=0

Today's post is all about my BBB Diane over at Fifth in the Middle!  Diane is having an AMAZING 2,000 Follower Giveaway!  I mean A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!  Check out these prizes!

I am so thankful for Diane.  She has been an absolute inspiration to me as a fellow blogger.  Diane provides me with support, advice, encouragement, and friendship.  She also invited me to be a guest blogger on her very own little space.  I went from 30 followers to over 100 in only a week!  I am so excited to be able to help promote Diane and her blog! Dedicating this post to her is the least I can do to help her celebrate her blogging success!  

What are you waiting for?  Head on over to Diane's Fifth in the Middle's 2,000 Follower Giveaway and enter to win.  Good Luck!!

Florida Blog Hop June 25-27

Welcome to the Sunshine State! Enjoy yourself as you take a tour around our wonderful large state! Grab some freebies along the way, and be sure to enter to win our Bundles of Sunshine!

I live in Deltona, Florida which is located in Volusia County.  There really isn't anything special about Deltona other than the fact that it has over 90,000 residents!  It is just one great big residential community filled with houses, stores, schools, and more houses...you get the point, right?  

So why does my family stay here?  Well, because Deltona is close to everything!  That's right!  Drive 30 minutes west and you are in Orlando and all of it's glory.  Drive 30 minutes east and you run into the ocean!   I think it's perfect!  

I first moved to Deltona in 1984 from Ohio.  I was only 14 years old back then.  Shhh!  Don't tell anyone how old I am.  Then after I married my husband Al, I had to move to NC where he was stationed in the Marine Corps.  Al and I lived in NC for over 13 years.  Then his parents became ill so we packed up and relocated back to good old Deltona in 2003 in order to assist with their care.  Since then we have established our educational careers, raised our children here, and eventually plan on retiring here.  If you need me, I'll be out by the pool!

    

This weekend, we have freebies for you to enjoy! Stop by each of our blogs for an activity or idea to use in your classroom. To grab my freebie from my TpT store, just click the image below!

  This freebie will get you started with covers for each of your INB's that you use in your classroom.  There is one for ELA Reading, Writing, Math, Science, and Social Studies. I've even started an Interactive Notebook Linky Party! I would love for you to share so don't forget to Link up with any and all of your INB ideas here!

In addition, I've placed all of my 2014-2015 Teacher Planners on sale for this weekend only!  I know it's hard to believe that school starts in a few short weeks, but hopefully a pretty but functional planner will help you get the ball rolling!

The Florida teachers below have two fantastic giveaways for you! You can enter once from each one of our pages. All you have to do is follow my blog! Hop around to all the blogs listed below, and be sure to follow them to get more entries. The more entries you have, the more likely you are to win! Each pack also includes a Starbucks gift card (because, well, a teacher's gotta have a coffee!).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Come find out more about the beautiful state of Florida by reading about these other sweet teachers!

An InLinkz Link-up

Interactive Notebook Linky Party Week #1

Hello!  Welcome to my very first Linky Party!  I love a good party, don't you?

That's Right!  I'm starting my own Linky Party for Interactive Notebooks!  I love them and want to share my ideas with you.  I also want to learn more ideas from others.  I know many of you have experience using Interactive Notebooks and have super fabulous ideas that you are just dying to share with me, Right?  Well, I hope you are because I am ready to learn from YOU!!

To start this party off let's share what we use for Interactive Notebooks.  Do you use Composition Notebooks, Spiral Notebooks, 3-Prong Folders, or 3-Ring Binders?  

Diane, from Fifth in the Middle, asked this question on her Facebook page back in April or May...

"Do you prefer spirals or comp books for ISN's?" 

My Answer:

 Well,  I prefer spirals because there is less cutting involved!  Many prefer comps because spirals can become twisted, and catch on everything.  I have the perfect solution!  DUCT TAPE!!  Yep!  See pictures below!  

I posted about this earlier.  You can read more about using duct tape here!

There are so many fabulous Interactive Notebook ideas floating around that we need a place to share and celebrate.  I believe that it is time for a party!  Since this is my very first Linky Party I have a few rules.  Mostly because I'm a newbie and need to build my following.  Here's how you can help.

1.  Grab my new INB Party Button and link up with a fabulous interactive notebook idea!  

2.  Notify your own followers through a tweet, Facebook, or pin that you are linking up and they should join the party too!

3.  Promise to visit and comment on at least two other link ups!  Of course you may visit more...

4.  Follow me on at least two of my social media sites: Bloglovin', Google, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or Twitter!  Goodness!  Wouldn't it be crazy cool if you followed me on all of them?  Just a thought...

July Currently (2014)

I can't believe that it is already July!!!  Summer, please slow down you are going by way to fast!  

I'm linking up with Farley @ Oh Boy 4th Grade for her July Currently Linky Party!

Listening:  I'm listening to another soccer game.  For those of you who don't follow soccer it is World Cup Time!  It happens once every 4 years like the Olympic games!  The Men's and Women's World Cups are on different cycles.  Different cycles, hahahaha!  Yes, Men have their own cycle and everyone knows it!  

Anyhow...it's currently the Men's World Cup.  Both of my children have grown up playing soccer and my husband coaches.  

 Erik (White Jersey)

Super Youth Nationals Summer 2012.  His Team placed 4th in the Nation.  They lost in the Semifinals...heartbreaking.

Elizabeth's Senior Year

of High School, 2010.  Her team won the Atlanta Cup Tournament.  Game went to down to a PK Shoot Out!  It was too exciting to take pictures!  I wanted to throw up!  The most nerve racking soccer game ever!!  Her performance on this team lead to College Scholarships!  She even had an Official Signing Day!  We are very proud!!!

USA Men's National Team plays again today!  GO USA!!!

 Loving: I love everything about summer vacation!  Especially not having to set the alarm clock.  I love not knowing what day it is!!

Thinking:  I really should start at least one project that is on my summer list, but I just keep floating around the pool, reading a book, or blogging!!

Wanting:  To go outside right now and float around my pool, but it is raining!  Boo!

Needing:  To go to the grocery store and buy more food!  I also need to mop the floors, but cleaning is the last thing that I am motivated to do. Floating around the pool beats out mopping every time!  Maybe if someone comes over to visit me I'll feel more motivated to mop first...

4th Plans:  I don't have anything special planned except to enjoy my family.  We will swim, have a cook-out, and enjoy!  Maybe we will buy a few fireworks to set off in the street.  The kids are grown, so we don't go to the park for the big display anymore.  My kids will most likely go out at night with their friends and my hubby and I will cuddle up with our 4-legged family members.  Our pups don't like all the neighborhood firework noise and will need to be comforted well into the night.  

Happy 4th of July!!  Go USA!!