Today we read Bubba the Cowboy Prince.
This QUICKLY became one of my FAVORITE "Cinderella Week" books when my friend introduced to me to it a few years ago....I JUST LOVE reading it out loud to the kids, and they are always in such awe when I do - ha!
You see....
I may be a Florida girl, but I'm originally from West (by God) Virginia.
Yep.
You wouldn't have thought it, would you've?
Needless to say, I can get my "twang" back - right mighty quickly...hehe!
While we were reading the story, we worked on our Compare and Contrast skill, using one of the activities in my Cinderella pack
I'm tellin' ya - the kids are getting FABulous with this!! We do it a lot - I mean just recently we did during our Goldilocks week and our Three Little Pigs week too...
But today, they were even interrupting my story to tell me all the differences and similarities. I was so proud. I didn't even tell that we were going to be comparing this story to the real Cinderella.
Or the Dinorella that we read too.
But today, they were even interrupting my story to tell me all the differences and similarities. I was so proud. I didn't even tell that we were going to be comparing this story to the real Cinderella.
Or the Dinorella that we read too.
And THIS is why I don't teach out of the Reading series that we have. I can do SO MUCH MORE with my kids teaching the same exact skills...and use ANY book or genre or series or author to do it!!
I don't know if I could ever work for a principal that MAKES you use the series from the district....I don't even use the math or science series (uh - EnVision, anyone??)..lol. Our principal has told us that those are just GUIDES to use.
umm....
Ok!!
I am very thankful to have my freedom to teach using what I want.
So I can do things like this!
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13 comments
I so agree with the "guide" part of the curriculum. I do not know what I would do if I couldn't add in things and move away from such a structured (not so fun) lesson plan.
Laurie
Chickadee Jubilee
Sadly, we are ruled by the "pacing guides" which aren't guides. They're mandatory. If you aren't on the same page as everyone else on your team - Watch out! I began my teaching career creating my own units and such. I loved it. Then, came the pacing guides and FCAT/No Child Left Behind. Nightmare in my district.
Thank God for the Daily 5. I get a little more leg room. Because if it isn't research based - it's crap!
~Andi
I love reading about Bubba! I too, love to use a southern drawl that my kids think is great, but isn't really all that southern when you're from Michigan! I'll have to pick up your activities to use with this. And I too have a principal and curriculum director that gives us the freedom to teach what we need to teach with materials that do the job, not necessarily the basal!
Patty
Second In Line
Andi - we have pacing guides too - and we're all on the same page as each other as to what skills we are teaching. I DO have to teach certain topics/skills, which I do! Just not from the reading or math series. And when I taught 3rd grade - that STUPID 72 page portfolio for EACH kid really put a damper on things...but I'm glad you at least have SOME wiggle room!!
I can't even imagine having to do a 72 page portfolio for each kid. I remember, a long time ago, when teachers would say third grade was the best grade to teach. Not so much now...
I agree- the reading series should be a resource for stories. I am not a program type person. :) This picture book sounds great!
Lori
Conversations in Literacy
LOVE that you have autonomy! I love, love, love our reading curriculum, but we use Envision for math and I am not so fond of it. Let's just say I haven't opened the TG or student workbooks all.year.long. Oops!
I about died laughing when you said West (by God) Virginia!
I was born in WV, but my parents moved away when my dad graduated college. No complaints here. haha.
All of my family still live there though.
Adventures of a Third Grade Teacher
Jessica - I have SO many of those stupid math "worksheets" that come in packs left over...lol
Amber - ha!! I moved away when I was about 6...my mom moved us to FL then...and my grandparents already moved here - my half siblings and cousins and such still live there though!
Our new princpal believes they are just guides too!! I am glad to have more freedom to teach and be creative!
I love that you are so passionate about not just sticking with the reading curriculum. There are so many great books out there that often get overlooked because they aren't included. I just started a blog about using books in the classroom. Stop by and check it out :)
Kaylee
http://basketofbooks.blogspot.com/
I agree our principal bought math books for us, but I never even opened the box. So much more you can do than what's in those silly workbooks!
Tammy
First Grade @ Klinger Cafe
dtklinger@gmail.com
I love that book! Yeehaw! Thanks for your comment. I am enjoying reading through all of your post. Have a great weekend!
Yeehaw! Teaching in Texas
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