Share the Wealth THEMED Linky Party! Summer Sun and Fun!

Welcome to the quarterly THEMED Linky Party! You won't just find ANY resource linked below! No, you will find fun and exciting summer themed ideas to keep you going.
Now, you might be asking yourself, "Why do I need these, Mr. Hughes. School is OVER! OUT! DONE!"
Simple- Grandkids, kids, neighbors, summer tutoring, summer school, OR, "stuff" you can use during those first few days back to ease the kiddos back in to a routine!

As you browse (or link) below, please notice there are TWO CATEGORIES! FREE and PAID!

Enjoy browsing and remember to use the social media buttons (Facebook, Pinterest, Google +1)  below to Share the Wealth!

Cheers!
-Mr. Hughes

If you are linking up, please read these guidelines. If NOT, skip to the links below!

Linking Guidelines:
1-Please add free or paid to the CORRECT linky! This is very important as we don't want paid items in the free section and vice versa.
2- No more the 3 items PER SECTION. So, on this linky party, you COULD link 6 items if you choose.
3- Please keep your items in the theme of Summer Sun and Fun! Fall and Winter items do not belong in this linky.
4- Enjoy sharing and gathering resources.

FREE RESOURCES HERE

PAID RESOURCES HERE

SUMMER: Relax or Regroup?

So...

The kids have left...

The classroom is sort of put away for the year...

You take one last look around and then you walk out your classroom door for 80+ glorious days of summer vacation.

No students...

No grading papers...

No school on the brain...

STOP!

If that last statement fits you, then you are way ahead of me. I don't think that I EVER stop thinking about how to make my classroom a better place, how to tweak a lesson for next year, what book I need to read over the summer so that I can be a better prepared teacher in a given topic (currently, my assignment next year is that I am teaching writing to 64 student, and all the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade science).

Summer time for me, is a chance to rethink, re-plan, revise, revisit and "re-" just about everything I can think of. I tend to spend a fair amount of time in my classroom over the summer. I like to clean out my filing cabinets, my desk drawers, poster drawers, storage room shelves, and my computer files. (This year our school is getting new computers school wide, so I should be able to carefully select what I add back on. I just backed ALL my files on to a portable hard drive. That way they are backed-up AND I don't have to worry about putting all the files back. YEA!)

After I get my room all cleaned up, I turn my attention to my classroom library. If you haven't had a chance to see it, click HERE to see a post on my classroom. I currently have over 5,000 books that belong to me personally and I provide for students grades 4th-6th grades. I even have parents that will come and borrow books from me. I know it is bragging, but I have books from guided reading level J all the way up to high school. It has been quite the process to maintain and track them. I acquired a library system program that our school no longer used. It took quite some time but all my books are barcoded and in the program. Now I just check the books in and out by name. PERFECTION!

Okay, so that was a detour. Sorry. During the summer, I go through my library and repair damaged books, add the box of books that tends to build up near my desk during that final crazy month of school, and dust the shelves.

Once all THAT is done, I turn to my curriculum. Last year our school started rotations in the upper grades (4-6). That was quite the change and I was scrambling to find materials and lessons. I feel the year went pretty good. This year we are using Scholastic's writing program. I am excited about that. The curve ball this year will be learning 4th grade science from the ground up. I taught 5th grade for a few years and have a lot of materials that I saved. Now I know why I was hoarding those files for 8 years... ha ha. So, I am not too stressed about 5th grade science, and I already teach 6th grade science, so that will be a piece of cake. WAHOO! :)

This summer I am adding a new component as well. I am going to be the host of an on-line book club. If you are interested in joining a few friends and I as we post questions and reflections (of which we would LOVE your input too) then you need to order THIS BOOK:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1462507913/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I know this book say PreK-2, but the link will take you to the 3-5 book, which is the one we are doing!

More info will be coming soon right here on this blog with a schedule for reading and which blogs you will need to visit to participate in the discussion. Let me know if you are interested by leaving a comment below!

As far as relaxing, yes, I do that too! From little league games, traveling to see family and friends, vacation, and summer cinema night hosted in our backyard, there is plenty of time for rest... but school is always on my mind.

Have a great week! Don't miss the Share the Wealth Freebie Linky tomorrow- I encourage you to share up to THREE FREE RESOURCES!

-Mr. Hughes

The Sun Has Set on Summer...

Over the course of the past few months, I have been "collecting" sunsets. Well, I guess I should say pictures of sunsets. I knew months ago that I wanted to a post that only featured pictures of sunsets around this amazing desert where we live! So, below is my novice hand at photography. Enjoy!

I love the hope that a sunset provides...

That tomorrow is a new beginning, a time that I can start a new. Here is to a new day, a new hope, a renewed soul.

Later...

P.S. If you choose to use the above pictures, for any reason, you are required to add a link back to my blog and give credit to MrHughes Copyright2012.

Summer Literature Groups With Students

Summer To Do List:

-Survive Heat (Double-check- BLAH- HATE THIS PART)

-Plant Garden (check)

-Add sod lawn to back yard (check)

-Swimming(not my favorite, but- check)

-Lazy (sorta- check)

-Ice Cream (Quadruple check- YUM!)

-Literature Circles with Students (check)

-Vacation with my family (check)

Whoa! Did you just say literature circles with students...DURING THE SUMMER?

Actually yes. Yes I did.

Thanks to an amazing parent helper I run a book club/literature circle/book talk (and any other name that has been used to re-purpose  and make money on) every other week. The students are given a book to read (with their input) and then have 2 weeks to read it, write in their book club journals (we asked for every 40 pages or less for them to make an entry), and be ready to discuss. 

Is it successful, with only a couple of students attending?

I would say yes. So only a couple of students are currently participating. That is a couple more that will read over the summer. The rest of my class from last year just doesn't know what they are missing. I also think would more come if they remembered. This parent helper, Mrs. M., brings themed treats for the book. 

For example, because we just finished The Lemonade War,  she brought lemonade to drink, lemon flavored candies to eat, and sherbet flavored Oreos as well. Then, she brought extra treats and for every extra book read during the two weeks, the students were given an extra reward. Mrs. M is also making mini-book covers of each book for the students to glue on their reading journals (an idea that I am going to use with my students this coming year in writing- more on that later when I have all the details worked out). So the students will be able to see all the books they read over the summer. (She even makes them for the extra books they have read during the two weeks).

What are you reading for this coming meeting?

We are reading: Among the Impostersby Margaret P. Haddix. It is book 2 is the Shadow Children Series. If you haven't read that series, then NOW is the time... Wow they are an amazing read. I am excited to sit down tomorrow with my students and Mrs. M and discuss this book. There are so many things that can be drawn out- bullying, being yourself, having pride, etc.

So, Mr. Hughes, where do you hold your book chats?

Good question. I am lucky enough to hold them right in my classroom. Yes, desks are stacked everywhere, and my room is a wreck, but we all just look past that for the time being and gather around a single desk in what ever chairs are around. I love it.

What if I can't use my classroom?

I would check with your local library and see if they will let you use a room or space there. I wouldn't dare hold it at my own home, not even in the small rural town where I live. I might know everyone here, but I will not take any chances.

Closing Thoughts...

Summertime really is a time for teachers to relax, formulate ideas for the next year, and reflect on how the past year went. However, if you are anything like me, I NEVER stop thinking about how I can be a better teacher. Some ideas work, and lots do not.  But, summer book talks are an easy thing for me (every other week for an hour is doable) and I enjoy knowing that at least a couple kids will be on level when they hit 7th grade next year.

What are your thoughts on this?

Later...

Summer Fun

I must say that the past few days have been CRAZY and WONDERFUL!

Tuesday-

The day that Venus passed in front of the sun. It was amazing to see just how small we are compared to the sun. I am glad that we got to see it (my family) because it won't happen again for another 200+ years. Thanks dad, for letting us use your welding mask!

Later that same evening, my son had his second to last little league game. We had a good time watching. Here is my daughter being silly. She got a bit cold from the Northern wind that had picked up.

Wednesday-
Woke up early and watered the new back lawn. It has been fun to watch the roots come in and start to glue the grass to the ground. I was watering the garden and noticed that my son's pumpkin plant he started at school had flowered. He has been missing the blooms because the flowers open so early in the morning and then fade before he can get out there. So... Here you are buddy.

My oldest is going to scout camp on Monday (I even get the pleasure of driving him and a few other of the scouts to their camp- Yee Haw!). He was worried because he didn't have a tent and he didn't know who he would be able to share on with. SO....
Of course grandma and grandpa hooked him up with his own tent. He was was very excited and had to set it up and try it out. The family helped set it up (notice our baby girl helping out so well).

Thursday-
Okay, this picture is a bit creepy. I was standing by my wife in our garden and looking at our amazing work when I noticed a huge green patch by our apple tree. When I went to see if it was weeds that I could pull, I found that it was pod of newly hatching grasshoppers. They were all tiny and almost cute. But...yeah.

Later that day, my wife and I decided to make a couple of additions to the kids play area. My oldest daughter had been drawing hopscotch areas all over the patio, so, we decided to add a couple permanent ones. Below are the pictures to show our adventure.

 I think they turned out really well and they kids LOVE them!

That night we had my son's last Little League game. We did one last BBQ at the park. That would be the Olympic looking flame is all about in the background.

My son won his game. They called it after the 4th inning because they were more than 10 runs ahead. After we got home, I had to water the new lawn. This is my little princess being all silly about going on to the new lawn. She was totally cracking me up. I love that little guilty look she has.

I also spent a good portion of the making this resource I have used for years in to a more presentable format for my TpT store. You can click on this picture and be taken to the site where you can read more about it. I think it turned out really well.

Friday-

Woke up early and watered the yard while my wife did her morning walk with her friends. It was nice to be up and going early. After we finished outside, my wife and I started cleaning the house while the kids slept. We got it all finished up and then I headed to the school to work. I have this scheme to rearrange my room again. I figure two years in the same formation is long enough. I am getting rid my corner table. I think we will sell it. My wife brought the kids for free lunch at 11:15 am and we left the school around 4:30 pm. We got a ton done and I am really enjoying how my room is turning out.

We also went on a bike ride this evening. Before we left, I let the kids get on the new lawn and play for a few minutes. THEY LOVED IT!

 My youngest son was cracking me up. He got upset because he wanted to play with the kids but there wasn't enough of the paddles, so he was pouting. I told him I was going to take a picture of his cute apron. He turned around so I couldn't see it.

 Then I told him I was going to take a picture of his cute little butt. So, he backed up to the table and stuck it under it.

 I then told him that I would just take a picture of him.

 He backed around the table. I told him I could still see his feet. He tried standing on one foot at a time and switching them back and forth.

 Then he did this:

 He is so silly.

My baby girl found the boys plastic golf set. Apparently, she has a knack for golf. Watch out golfing world!

I love the black and white look of this one! She is such a cutie. Love you baby girl!

Well, as you can see, it has been a busy week. 

I am excited to see what the rest of the summer brings...

Later...