Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits

Teaching with Heart and Creativity

Lunch Linky and The Daily Five Update

I am joining the lunch linky party with Tara!

Here’s my lunch box and contents from today

Carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers and hummus.  Pistachios for my snack later. 

I forgot to eat my pistachios and when I came into my room after school all I had left were shells all over my desk from my son.  He got to them first.  The nerve.

P.S. I am on a diet and I have lost 7 pounds!!!  

So here’s my lunch situation:
We have recess first  10:40 to 11:10 and then lunch from  11:10 to 11:40.  I have to be with the kids for one of the two times.  Our team switches off.  By the time we get to our rooms from one or the other duty it boils down to about a 20 minute lunch.  If you are heating anything up then you get 18 minutes.  Some days it feels like 5 minutes.

But I get 45 minutes every day for specials……….  Moment of silence for the specials teachers. 

Now for an update from

This year the daily five was not going as effectively as I wanted it to.  We have a restless and less independent group than the last two years and I felt like the quality of work being done while not in my reading group was just not good.  My brilliant team leader found a rotation chart on the smart exchange and I changed it up for my daily five groups.  It is PERFECT for my class.

Here’s what the chart looks like.

  It is on my smart board the entire time.  When the timer dings.  We rotate clockwise.

Before this,  I kept finding myself redirecting everyone over my group that was trying to read to me.  It was NOT good.  This changed everything for me. 

Here’s what it looks like in action:

Group at computers is doing raz-kids

She was thrilled they had an astronaut book since we are studying the moon
 Daily 5 Choice group can choose from:
 Read to Self
Read to Someone
My Easter tree looks a fright!
 Word Work

 

Or Work on Writing

 The ipod group can take their earbuds (if they have any) and use the apps designated for their time.

 

My reading group can finally get my attention instead of dealing with me redirecting over the top of them!!!

I made some Daily 5 signs at the beginning of the school year and we still recite the rules about once a week. There are 5 of these.

 I say the first word and they chime in with the rest of the rule.  It’s fun and we sing song it.  So now I can just say, “Sit” and they all say “where you won’t talk!” For some reason this thrills me.

I know it’s the last part of the school year, but it’s never too late to shake em up and show em who’s boss   be sure your kids are getting all they can and back on track if something isn’t working!  Hope this helps someone else like it did for me!

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    Comments

    2. Tara says

      I'm with Jen….LOVE hummus! AND wish I only had 10 pounds to lose….:/ I have more like 50….I know…not cool!!! But I'm on my way….lost 10 last weigh in and that was a few weeks ago…I need to kick up the exercise a notch (or 10). Thanks for linking up girl:) Makes my heart sing:) Love the looks of your Daily 5 board…did you make all the signs?? Love them:)

      4th Grade Frolics

      Reply

    5. Kristin says

      I think you've lost 7 pounds because you're starving yourself. Seriously. I would die. I like the cucumbers and the carrots (the tomatoes would have to be roasted for me) and the hummus . . . but where's the rest of your lunch?????? Congrats on the weight loss, though! I'm happy if you're happy!
      Your rotation time looks amazing: 1) look how small your class size is 2) look at your smart board 3) look at your computers 4) look at your iPods 5) look at your reading group!
      I am so jealous.
      A Teeny Tiny Teacher

      Reply

    6. Kristen says

      Those 20 minutes (in reality less than) lunches are the worst, huh? We have 45 minutes specials on most days too–that is lovely! Congrats on your dieting success, that's always so exciting!

      I LOVED seeing how you run your D5. I think the smart board is a brilliant way to organize it–so, so smart! I am definitely going to keep that in mind, I don't think it's ever too late to tweak things. Thanks so much for sharing your awesome ideas Reagan!

      Reply

    10. Jill says

      Your lunch does look good but I am with Kristin… I would be so hungry afterwards too!!

      I also love everything else you said. I think math stations and reading time would go more smoothly if I had a Smart Board to keep everyone in line… but I agree that it isn't too late to change things up if necessary!!

      Marvelous Multiagers!

      Reply

    13. Becky says

      ok 2 things– Your lunch looks so yummy and healthy! And, My class is the same way this year!! I should have done something a long time ago.. but I love this chart!! I have a Promethean Board so I might just have to make one up myself! Great stuff!!
      Becky
      Teaching, Learning, & Loving

      Reply

    17. Kim says

      Hi Reagan:

      This entry should win a Happy Post Award!
      Healthy lunch, weight loss, cute lunch tote, smiling (CUTE!) kids, organized Daily 5, iPods, iPods, iPods, smart use of SMART board, organization, labeled cubbies in a box (or does that just make ME happy?!), fabulous signs, established routines… All is right in the world!
      I keep scrolling back to the top to enjoy it over and over.
      Now I'm getting kind of carsick from watching the pictures go up and then go down, so I'll stop here and just say: HAPPY!

      Kim
      Finding JOY in 6th Grade

      Reply

    20. Kim says

      I LOVE this idea…, and the HUUMUS with veggies! I am definitely going to use this in September! I don't currently have enough students during our Reading Workshop time to start it now because I have 5 kids who go with our Resource Teacher for reading intervention, and I have another 5-kids who go with my Educational Assistant because they aren't on text yet :(. Right now I use my smart board (during this time) for relaxation sounds and images (crackling fireplace, waves on the beaches) as the kids are cozy in their reading centers.
      Oh ipods, I dream of having you someday!
      For my lunch, we have lunch supervisors who take care of the kids, and all the teachers get a 50min lunch. Somedays it's just what my sanity has ordered(needed) to work throught the afternoon.

      Thanks for sharing!!

      Toodles,
      Kim
      http://gradeonedoodlebugs-kim.blogspot.ca/

      Reply

    21. Sara at school says

      Ok,I had to stop as soon as I read your post and go try to make a timer for my smartboard. I was able to do it, but it won't start automatically. I was adding customized music – do you think that's why? What a terrific idea!
      Sara

      Reply

    22. Lori says

      I was inspired by your Daily 5 board and made my own for my promethean. I tried something like it last year but they were given more choice and this is much easier. I have only used it for 2 days but so far so good. Thursday we had read to self for the whole class and they didn't make a peep for over 15 minutes. I didn't want to stop. It was beautiful. Not sure why it was different but I wish I could repeat it!!

      Thank you
      Lori
      Little Priorities

      Reply

    25. chellebaby123 says

      I love the Daily Five Smartboard rotation. I looked for the template on Smart Exchange but had no luck! Would you be willing to share it by email or a download on your blog?

      Reply

    49. Tom Brooks says

      I too tried searching on SMART exchange for the rotation template and couldn't find it. As a grade level team we struggled with how to smoothly present these in our literacy rotations last year. THIS IS THE PERFECT SOLUTION!! Would you please email([email protected]) or post the link? Thank you!!
      Thank you for all the great ideas!

      Reply

    58. Ana says

      hi reagan, i realize this is an older post, so i hope you see this. everyone here is asking for the smart board link, but i would love to have the link for your daily 5 signs if it is still accessible. it doesn't link to anything on TpT. i love how simple they are and would truly appreciate it your sharing if you can! thanks for all the great ideas you share on your amazing blog! you are an inspiration! thanks so much! ana

      Reply

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