DIY for the Classroom

Can you believe it is already the middle of July? My goodness... where has the summer gone?

Have you been getting things checked off your to do list?

Remember mine? Unfortunately I haven't gotten too much checked off. Instead, I added things after I completed them in order to check them off. :) Somehow sorting through EVERYTHING in the apartment before we move and pack has kind of taken over my life...

One thing I have been up to is posting on a new collaborative blog called Classroom DIY. There are some great ideas on there that you might just want to add to your to-do list!

Here are a few of my posts from this summer:

Question Word Sticks for Writing Workshop

Sight Word Bottles

Summer Writing Notebooks

If you've been following my blog for a while, you may recognize a couple of those, but these posts have step by step directions. I've got a few new things up my sleeve for my next two posts, so I'll let you know when they go live in the next couple of months.

Hope you are relaxing and checking things off your to-do list!

Guided Math Chapter 7: Conferring With Students

I'm so excited that I get to co-host this chapter of Guided Math!

This book study has been a lot of fun so far, and I am so thankful to Brenda over at Primary Inspired for setting it all up!

Although I've been doing my own version of Math Workshop for a while, this chapter really opened my eyes to the importance of conferring. It's definitely something I can't wait to include next year!

I decided to try something new and create a little video for my reflection and thoughts on this chapter. Hopefully it will come across the way I wanted it to. Something about speaking into a microphone for the whole blogosphere to hear was a little nerve racking... :)

The only technical difficulty I had was the volume on the mic. So... you may have to turn your speakers up a bit to hear it.

Here is a free recording sheet for you to keep track of your conferences:

Guided Math Conference Record -  

Here is a sheet I plan to print and cut out. I made it small so it could fit in the bottom corner of my clipboard. I figure it will be a good reminder to help me stay on track during those all so important conferences!

Guided Math Conference Structure -  

We only have two more chapters left, so you can check our  calendar below to see where you should head next!

If you missed any of the chapters before, click the links below to catch up!

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

And of course, don't forget to check out Beth's post at Thinking of Teaching. So excited to co-host with her! 

Don't forget to comment or link up to post your thoughts about the chapter.

Thanks!