My First Week

Want to read all about my crazy, busy first week in fifth grade? Come visit Life in Fifth Grade :) There's some freebies, too!

Inferring mini lesson

Teaching the skill of inferring in 5th grade is not all that different than teaching it in 1st: it's still a hard skill for the kids to grasp. I create a weekly lesson on the mystery of Harris Burrdick for this week (which I will blog about later, because the kids LOVED it!) and one of the first activities included making an inference about each picture. Every one of my classes kept asking what to do for that part so I knew I need to rewind and review inferring with a mini lesson. I found this fantastic packet on TpT from Blair Turner. It was exactly what we needed. In the pack, Blair created these flashcards that contain short passages that describe a person or a setting. I took those passages and made reproducible copies for my students. Then I put each passage in a powerpoint slide. Since my kids are 5th graders, figuring out what/who the passage was talking about was no problem, but it allowed us to go back and really identify the text clues that helped them infer. This activity was exactly what we needed. Thanks, Blair! :)

It's here, It's here!

The TpT Back to School Sale is Here!!! Click here to visit my shop! :) I can't wait to share with y'all what's in my cart! 

A Back to School Activity

One of my favorite authors has got to be Paul Schmid. He wrote A Pet for Petunia and a few other books, but after reading his newest book, I have a new favorite. :) Click the picture to read about Oliver and His Alligator

 

This is the sweetest story about a boy who is nervous about his first day of school. This would be the perfect book to read to your kids the first couple of weeks of school. I've included several activities you could use with the book, along with the patterns for this cute little alligator, in my newest literary companion:

You can get them by clicking the picture below:

Want to win a copy of the book??? Enter below! Contest goes through Monday night and I'll announce the winner Tuesday. Good Luck! :)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teacher Week: Meet My Classroom

Yesterday you met me. Now it's time to meet my new 5th grade classroom :) 

Be sure and link up with us over at Blog Hoppin'!

Teacher Week: Meet Leslie Ann :)

I just love teacher week! Be sure and join in the fun by linking up with us over at Blog Hoppin'!

Today's topic is all about me :) Here are my 10 random facts:

{1} I've taught 1st grade for 4 years and this year I'm transferring to 5th reading. I'm really excited to experience a new age group! You can read all about my 5th grade adventures on my new(ish) blog, Life in Fifth Grade

{2} I have recently become obsessed with Mindy Kaling. If you don't know who she is (shame on you!), she played Kelly Kapoor on The Office and now has her own show, The Mindy Project, which she also writes and produces. She is so funny! I just love her :)

{3} TV shows are my guilty pleasure. My favorites are: Gossip Girl (is Blake Lively not the most gorgeous girl? I would kill for her hair), Glee (I love Rachel Berry), the aforementioned The Mindy Project (my new favorite show!), and The Office (Is Jim Halpert not the cutest thing ever?)

{4} I can quote the movie Titanic in its entirety. I was in 5th grade when the movie came out, way back in 1997 and I was obsessed.

{5} I'm a huge Harry Potter fan. I've read the books countless times and love the movies. 

{6} While creating things for my classroom, I like to listen to the soundtrack from Wicked. Such a great musical. 

{7} I love watching beauty gurus on Youtube. My favorite is Missglamourazzi. She has wonderful makeup tricks and hair tutorials. 

{8} I have a personal/fashion blog: Southern Belle Inspired. Fashion is a huge part of my life and I like to talk about that, along with all other things southern, over there. 

{9} I am obsessed with Instagram. Follow me! msleslieann01

{10} My little Maltese, Reese (named after Reese Witherspoon) is so camera shy! I can hardly take her picture without her hiding her face. I have to sneak around with the camera and quickly snap a picture without making any noise. She's funniest little dog. :)

Have you linked up yet?! Come join in the fun!!