Reading Classroom Adventures

OHHHH Benchmarking …           Ohhhh the beginning of the year.  There is so much to do from setting up our classrooms, to meeting our new kiddos, Back to School Nights, ETC, ETC.  Andddd one of the things that we all should be beginning {if not already done}, is benchmarking.           Andddd this week, I began the tedious {although EXTREMELY NECESSARY} process of benchmarking ALL of my students.  In addition to benchmarking all of the students that I had last year {although I benchmarked in June, sometimes, I encounter the dreaded SUMMER SLIDE … ahhhhhhhh), I also assess all 3 rd grade students that were below grade level expectations in June.  As a Title I ELA teacher, it is very important that I not only understand my students’ strengths and weaknesses, but specifically, where they are at the beginning of the year.  One of the ways that I assess my students is by Fountas and Pinnell {F&P} benchmarking.  Throughout the year, I assess my students using F&P 3 times {b

Ready…not ready.      I am SO ready...not ready.   All summer I have been preparing (just as every teacher has been doing), but I still feel like I am not ready.   Over the summer, I have gone to the Target Dollar Spot, I have been to my local teacher store (I spent less than $10 at that store by the way-I'm very proud of myself by the way, that's the least I have ever spent there), Amazon, and numerous other places I don't even remember.   YET...I do not feel like I am ready.      Maybe, its because I only truly had one month off.   This summer, in addition to starting my TPT store (check it out   here ), I rewrote 5th grade ELA curriculum, and I was a "paraprofessional" for our summer program.   THEN, in the month of August, I chose to start a gym routine (going to gym 6 days a week), and I feel great! BUT I still do not feel as if I am ready to go back.      Friday, September 1, was our first day back to school.   After a district wide meeting, a u