Thursday, July 28

Another Giveaway!

Since I'm at 199 followers, I'm sure I'll be at 200 in no time:) I'm giving away some content related items from The Teaching Oasis...
Writing: Informational Book
Reading: STOP Signs
Word Study: Word Explorers
Math: M&M Math
Science: Magnet Unit
Social Studies: Black History Unit

If you would like to win these items please follow my blog and leave a comment below along with your email address. I will pick a winner Monday night!

Wednesday, July 27

FACES of a Reader Strategy Cards

I was inspired  by these two blogs
http://firstgradeowls.blogspot.com/2011/07/dont-you-just-love-freebies.html
http://www.eduperry.com/2011/03/face-of-reader.html
to type the strategy cards this year instead of write them out. The strategies for test come from test taking strategy posters I have and from the book Test Talk.

FACES Menu Strategy Cards

FACES of a Reader Menu

I was back in my classroom today and I feel pretty confident that'll all come together, just need to get the rest of these 50 boxes out of my dining room and into my classroom! I blogged yesterday about the FACES of a reader. I finished the menu. I will be working on the strategy cards next.

FACE Menu 3rd Revised

Tuesday, July 26

FACES of a Reader

So after some discussion with the wonderful ladies of the 2nd Grade Teachers Club I added an "S"  for strategies for test taking and changed "E" back to extended vocabulary and made new posters. I am in the process of revamping my FACES Menu and adding pretyped strategy cards to go with them. I will post when I'm finished.
FACE Menu Headers 3rd Revised

Monday, July 25

Exhausted...

So I am mentally and physically exhausted! I ended up in the ER last Sunday from dehydration, low iron and low potassium, then I had a full week of VBS and I'm still not at 100% but I hope to get there soon. I picked up some vitamin supplements from GNC (only to see them in Sam's Club for cheaper... go figure!) and hopefully with vitamins, balanced meals and much rest I'll be back to my old creative self in no time!

On another note, some of my new coworkers are meeting at school tomorrow, most of you know that I have transferred to a different school, different grade level and all my school stuff is sitting in my dining room staring at me... but I'm not trying to move all this stuff just yet! I'll just take my bulletin board stuff and maybe the baskets for my classroom library and take it easy tomorrow.

Tuesday, July 19

Giveaway

When I reach 200 followers (right now I have 127) I will be doing another giveway. It will be something from The Teaching Oasis of course! Now to come up with something really special this time. Spread the word!

Monday, July 18

VBS Break

Today was the first day of VBS: Pandamania at my church. As the director, I've been swamped with planning and executing of the activites. So I will be taking a break this week and hope to get back to blogging about all the various ideas I have running around in my head next week. Oh by the way... do you like my new blog template? Kristen from Ladybug Resources made it for me:)

Friday, July 15

FACE of a Reader & Test Talk

Last year I did my version of the CAFE, it was called FACE of a Reader
(read about it here http://www.mswinston.com/Reading%20Workshop.html)

With my transition to 3rd grade and standardized testing I am reading a book called Test Talk that incorporates testing taking strategies into reading workshop. I am pleased to find out that this book was written by two Virginia Teachers!

I'm thinkin of continuing to do my FACE of a Reader board but I was thinking about changing Extending Vocabulary to Expanding Test Taking Strategies. And list the strategies that I'm reading about under this section.

That means I needed to make some slight changes to my FACE posters.
FACE Menu Headers 3rd
How do you display test taking strategies in your classroom?

Wednesday, July 13

Test Talk

I just received a new book I ordered called Test Talk: Integrating Test Prep into Reading Workshop. Most of you know that after 7 years in 2nd grade I am finally entering the world of standardized testing. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. I my biggest fear is for me to teach my new 3rd graders an entire year only to have them fail their end of the year assessments. I can't wait to dive into it, after I finish with Vacation Bible School next week I intend to dive head first into this read. Have you read the book? Tell me what you think in a comment below!

Tuesday, July 12

Launching Reading Workshop

I have a collection of books that I read the first couple of weeks of school to get students excited about reading. If you have any other good ones please share by leaving a comment!

I Hate to Read!- Rita Marshall & Etienne Delessert
The Best Book to Read- Debbie Bertram & Susan Bloom
Goldie Socks and the Three Liberians- Jackie Mims Hopkins
The Best Place to Read- Debbie Bertram & Susan Bloom
A Quiet Place- Douglas Wood
The Best Time to Read- Debbie Bertram & Susan Bloom
Read All About It- Laura and Jenna Bush
Born to Read- Judy Sierra
Wild About Books- Judy Sierra
Miss Malarkey Leaves No Reader Behind- Judy Finchler & Kevin O'Malley

Saturday, July 9

Winners!

So I've done two giveaways. Colleen McCabe won free materials from The Teaching Oasis on Facebook.

Keys4Education won the giveway on my blog. Please email me at owner@teachingoasis.com so I can get your materials to you:)

Thursday, July 7

Classroom Website

Have you checked out the Teacher's Section of my classroom website? If not, check it out... its a plethora of files and information!

$10 in Teaching Oasis Materials


To celebrate reaching 400 fans on the Teaching Oasis Facebook page I am doing a giveaway on my blog. I'm also doing a giveaway on the Facebook page so you could possibly win twice.

Directions:
Become a follower of my blog.
Comment on this post and tell me...
1- What would you choose for your $10 worth of freebies?
2- What would you like to see us add to the Oasis website?

I will choose a winner (by random number generator) on Friday evening! Good Luck!

Tuesday, July 5

The Teaching Oasis Giveaway!


We currently have 338 fans on The Teaching Oasis Facebook page. So all of the contributors have decided to do a giveaway when we reach 400 fans! Come like us on facebook and stay tuned!

Visit Our FB Page

Behavior Documentation

Just created another tool to use for keeping track of student behavior.
Behavior Documentation

Parent Communication Log

I've been quite busy today... making and posting things for The Teaching Oasis and trying to create documents I'll need for school. This will be the first year that I actually use this type of documentation.
Parent Communication Log

Monday, July 4

Assessment Checklist

I've taught 2nd grade for 7 wonderful years! But I also recognize that that season in my life has come to an end and a new season is beginning... in 3rd grade! So for the first time as an educator I will enter the world of standardized testing. I'm a little nervous but that's to be expected. To prep my students for the Virginia SOL Reading 3 Test, I created this checklist for them to complete after every reading test or cold read.

Assessment Checklist

Conference Calendars

You can read all about my Data Binder on my classroom website http://www.mswinston.com/data%20binders.html . Last year I used a monthly calendar to schedule my math, reading and writing conferences and lets just say that calendar got a little crowded by the end of the month! I kept telling myself I would make separate calendars for the various subjects but I'm just getting around to it. Hopefully these 3 simple calendars will keep me much more organized next year!

Conference Calendars

Apple Themed Reading Skills and Strategies

My intention was to make these posters in various themes to sell on The Teaching Oasis, but I decided against it. If you are a member of the Third Grade Teachers Club or Second Grade Teachers Club on the Ning Network then you will also find these posters in the Baseball, Bee, Bugs, Camping, Carvinal, Frog, Hippie, Hollywood, Monkey, Race Car and Western themes!

Apple Reading

Giveaway

So I've noticed that a lot of teaching blogs have give aways to encourage people to comment and follow them. I'm slowing entertaining the thought of that. My question is... what is it that you would like for me to give away? Leave a comment with your response.

Positive Postcards

So I have all these really cute postcards from The Teaching Oasis (the apple themed set is a freebie, but you can purchase them to match your classroom theme if you want) and I was wondering what I could do with them. I had read about the idea of sending postcards to your students somewhere on the internet and decided that's what I'd do!
I've already printed out a classroom set. When school starts I will type all my students addresses onto labels and secure them to the post card in advance. My goal is to mail 3 postcards per month to various students in the classroom. I will be spotlighting Bucket Filling, Positive Behavior, Instructional Goals Met or basically anything positive that I can say about them. I think(and hope) that they'll be a great success!

Happy 4th of July

I've offically entered the world of blogging!

Sunday, July 3

Contact Me

shainquiet@msn.com
owner@teachingoasis.com




My Websites:

http://www.mswinston.com/
http://www.teachingoasis.com/

About Me


My name is Jessica Winston-Saunders. I have lived everywhere from Heidelberg, Germany to Colorado Springs, Colorado. I was born in Ft. Bragg, NC. My mother is a Gulf War Veteran and is retired from the Army. My father passed away January 25, 2010. My mother is an ordained minister and she currently resides in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. I have a sister who is a Registered Nurse and a Brother-in-law who is a contractor. They live in Caroline County with my two nephews Chance (14) and Jimmy-Sayvion (10). I also have two God-Daughters, Jaida (8) and Amara (5). I love spending time with friends and family.

I graduated from Chowan University in 2004 with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education. I taught second grade for 2 years in Norfolk Public Schools. I relocated to Chesterfield and started teaching second grade at Harrowgate Elementary before redistricting led me to Scott Elementary. I have been teaching 2nd grade for 7 wonderful years! I transferred to Watkins Elementary for the 2011-2012 school year. I have officially survived my first year in 3rd grade and my first year teaching a testing grade.


I'm excited to announce that I got engaged on Valentine's Day 2012 and married on December 1st 2012.

To view my profile click here.