Do You Take Advantage of Your Public Library? (and a 5 for Friday)

I'm linking with Doodle Bugs for another Five for Friday! 

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1. Public Library Fun

With Daily 5, I have two reading sessions, Read to Self and Read to Someone. 

Here is a picture of my current library in my classroom. 

To the normal teacher and student, this is a lot of books to choose from. (It sure feels like a lot to me after I've spent all the money on them). However, my students are zooming through these books because they read SO much all the time! During Read to Self and Read to Someone, they are average 2-3 books a day, unless they are working through chapter books.

So, my students are somewhat bored with these books. Since September, I've taken a monthly trip to my public library. They will let you check out 50 books each visit, so I am offering 2+ books extra a week for each kiddo.

Check out my February haul.

Here is the full stack.

A few Valentine's books (of course).

Preparing for Career Day focus at our school in March...

My President's Day unit starts next week, so these will fit perfectly.

My students LOVE leveled readers. 

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2. Snow Day Fun

Last Friday and this Monday, I had snow days! This gave me two four day weeks in a row, and while that throws off my lesson plans and messes up my entire schedule,  I sure did love staying in bed to blog and create TPT products! 

It has been 45-60 the last couple of days and will continue to be unseasonably warm through next week. These ups and downs are killing my sinuses! 

But all of my snow in Kentucky doesn't compare at all to what the north is getting right now! Stay safe. 

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3. Popcorn Party

I blogged a week or two ago about my students getting new pens because they earned it through their owl reward chart! Well, they got the GRAND PRIZE today! They finally got to a Popcorn Party!! Our P.T.T. bought a popcorn maker for the school, so I decided to utilize this fun tool. 

We have been learning about the solar system for the last week, so I showed them a Magic School Bus about stars during their end of day bus dismissal while they ate their popcorn! 

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4. Favorite New Windows 8 "App"

So, I have come to hate Windows 8 because it just doesn't work as easily as any of the past Windows systems, but I am getting used to it and there are things that I do like about it. 

One of my favorite apps they have on Windows 8 is the Snipping Tool.

I have been able to blog about things from my computer and give fun new tutorials! 

Check out this blog I did on a PBS website...

Or this blog I did on how to make a blogger header...

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5. Valentine's Day Prep

I am starting to get together my centers and what not for next Thursday! Can you believe it is already here??

  

  

  

GRAB THIS FREEBIE SAMPLE.

It goes along with the clock game in my centers pack, BUT can be used outside of the centers for a review! 

Also, a huge hit in my classroom are the comprehension packs. My kiddos love using these for homework, morning work, or read to self/someone activities.

Here is a sample story from the pack. It comes with 5. This one is called "Whose Valentine?"

Here is a sample comprehension page from the pack. This one is from the story "A Valentine For My Brother".

FREEBIE!!

Here is a sample writing sheet...

And grab this freebie writing sheet!! It goes along with 'The Valentine's Baker', but you could use it in a general writing setting! 

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Doodle Bug's Friday link up is always fun! 

Check it out here!