My Classroom
Mrs. Houser's Classroom
I am lucky to have worked with many wonderful students and teachers in my career so far. Please explore this page to get a feel of some of the types of activities that I use in my classroom.
Math Tasks
Here are two examples of math tasks that I did with my second graders. Math Tasks are activities in which students need to apply their math skills. In the first two picures students needed to measure the flowers in inches and place them in order from the shortest to the tallest. The last picture is where students had to trace their own foot or shoe, then measure using centimeters or inches how long and how wide their foot is.
Research, Technology and Art
My 2nd Graders used iPads to find and locate information about animals. They then had to fill out a graphic organizer using the information in which they found on the different websites. Last, we incorporated art into the classroom in which students used water color paint, colored pencils or markers to illustrate a picture about their animal.
Guided Reading
I use guided reading in my classrom to give students reading instruction based on their individual reading level. Students are grouped with students that have similar needs. Groups are always flexible as students reading levels change throughout the year.
I also use fry phrases and sight word flash cards to help improve students reading fluency.
Daily 5
Using Daily 5 in my classroom allows me time to meet with my guided reading groups while students are practicing independant learning activities.
Daily 5 consists of 5 stations:
- Read to Self
- Read to Someone
- Listen to Reading
- Word Work
- Work on Writing
CAFE goes hand in hand with with Daily 5. This is where reading strategies are broken down into 4 categories, Comprehension, Accuracy, Fluency, Expanding Vocabulary. Mini Lessons are given on different strategies and placed on a board for students to refer to when reading.
Hands on Learning
I try to incorperate hands on learning whenever I can into my classroom. This may include science experiments, math tasks, math games, literacy centers and other activities. Below you can some examples in which I have used hands on learning in my classrooms.
Creating Activities for the Classroom
I often create activites for students in my classroom in order to improve their learning experience. Below are some examples of games that I have found to use in my classroom or created for my students.
Dolch word flash cards that were made and sent home with each student based off thier individual needs and what words they needed to practice.
Students in 2nd grade are just learning multiplication. I created a game in which students selected a flash card and they had to build an array using unifix cubes. The answer to what the array should look like was drawn on the back of each flash card.
I found these addition gameboards online and printed them out put them on construction paper and laminated them for durability in the classroom.
Engaging Students
Below you will find some pictures of me and my students to get a better idea of my passion for teaching.
Using Read Alouds to teaching concepts and engage students in new learning activities.
Dressing up with other Kindergarten Teachers to kick off the celebration of March is Reading Month and celebrate Dr. Seuss' Birthday. Our goal was to engage students and encourage them to read more.
Banner to celebrat 100 days of school.
"We are 100 days Smarter"
Kinderlicious Day
Dress like your favorite book character. Celebration to end March is Reading Month.
Pajama Day
March is Reading Month Friday Celebration in Kindergarten with Pajama Day and the book Llama Llama Red Pajama
Practicing Fry Phrases
Guided Reading Practice
Playing a literacy game during Daily 5. Game is from the Florida Center for Reading Research
Students practicing vobaulary skills through a game during Daily 5 Word Work
Students using magnets to build spelling words and vocabulary words during small group instruction and RTI time (response to intervention)
Science Experiement combined with our math standard - Measurement
Building 3D Geometry Shapes
Growing bean plants in science
Thinking Maps
Thinking maps are a great way for students to organize information. I participated in professional development for this while student teaching in Pontiac Schools. These maps can be used in all subject areas and are great visual ways for students to organize information. There are 8 differnt types of thinking maps.
Brain Breaks
Giving students brain breaks helps them get their energy out and be able to better concentrate on their learning. One of my favorite sites for brain breaks is Go Noodle.
