Budding Bloggers Showcase: Where the Wild Things Learn

 WOW!!  All I can say is I'm sorry!

I have been MIA since LAST Wednesday!  I came down with a nasty cold Friday and it kicked my rear!  I am JUST now feeling like myself!  I even missed Friday Flashback last week.  {sad face}  I will have a TON to share this week....so much so that I'll try to post again tomorrow, too!

Since I'm such a horrible blogger {I swear I'm back on track now!}, why don't you visit someone who's doing a much better job at it!

Let me introduce you to Amelia....who has the best blog name EVER!!  "Where the Wild Things Learn" - how cute is that??  Read on to find out more about her and then hop on over to visit and become a follower of the blog with the best name EVER! 

Hi! I'm Amelia Capotosta and I blog over at Where the Wild Things Learn.


I live in Ohio with my husband, Joe. We were high school sweethearts and have been together for nearly 9 years, married for a year and a half. We just bought a new house in December and love it! We don't have any children yet, but definitely forsee many in the future! For now, my 56 students certainly feel like my children :)  Here's hubby and I on our wedding day!

This is my first year teaching 4th grade and I {L-O-V-E} it! I know, I know, we all think our grade is the best... but my fourthies are simply FABULOUS! I love this age. They are starting to become little individuals with responsibility and personality, but they still think their teachers actually know something and are cool.. who woulda thought that's true?! ;) Plus, they still give hugs!

I've been teaching for 3 years. I taught 6th grade for two years at a different district. I loved my experience there, but I think I made the best move when I switched to 4th grade in my hometown district. The staff here is da bombdiggity (did she really just say that?!) Yes, I did. Sorry, but they're that great:) Plus, my teacher partner and I work so well together. We're both loud, obnoxious, and outgoing teachers, and we mesh so well!

My absolute favorite subject to teach is Reading. I have been getting lost in books since I was a youngin', and I love instilling the love for reading and adventure in my kiddos. There's nothing better than sharing a good story and learning lessons from a good book.

If someone popped into my classroom unannounced, they'd see one of two things. Either a.) Me making a fool out of myself in some way: singing, dancing, jumping up and down, doing cartwheels (hey, whatever works) I have lots of energy and I'm always finding ways to keep my students attention. or b.) You may not be able to find me. Most of the time we are in a Daily 5 setting, and I am either sitting on the floor or at a table with a group of students.

When I have one of "those days" Diet Coke, chocolate, and reading get me through. I don't drink coffee, so Diet Coke is my caffeine "drug of choice" and chocolate makes me happy :) When things are real tough, I think of curling up with a good book when I get home, and it's all good.
The teaching tool that I couldn't live with out is my Smartboard. It is just such an oportunistic teaching tool! Whether I am displaying timers for Daily 5 stations, interactive games for review, videos, or even letting the kids build and practice on it, it is a staple in my room. I LOVE that I can just pull up teachable moments as easy as 1-2-3!

My favorite unit that I teach I call my "Fabulicious Fantastic Folder Unit." The past 2 years, I have taught this using the book "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe." We read the book as a class, and complete a lapbook using two manilla folders glued together. There are flipbooks, charts, 3-D objects, and all sorts of other components. The entire unit takes about 6-7 weeks, and covers ALL of the 4th grade ELA Common Core standards, and even touches on some SS ones. My kiddos have LOVED this in the past, and so do I! I will be starting this in about 5 weeks and I can't wait. Here's pictures of previous ones:

My blogging goals this year are to share, collaborate, grow, and learn! This journey has already brought me so far and taught me so much. I feel like I've only touched the surface of the opportunities and learning this blogging world has to give me. I want to build lasting relationships with all of you wonderful teachers out there. I absolutely adore the idea that teachers are using my lessons and ideas in their classroom, and I love getting ideas from all of you. I hope the journey continues :)

6 comments

  1. Glad to hear you are starting to feel better. Totally missed you last Friday, was waiting and waiting to hear about your week!

    Looking From Third to Fourth

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  2. I was wondering where your little thumbnail was on my "blogs I follow" section! :) glad you are feeling better and can't wait to get caught up in pics!

    I LOVE that you do this, btw!

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  3. Thank you so much for doing this each week!! I did miss you last Friday for sure!! :) I hope you are feeling better. I'm so glad to meet Amelia, another 4th grade teacher blogger! :)
    Jivey
    ideas by jivey


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  4. I've been an awful blogger, too! :/ Glad you are feeling better!

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  5. Thank you SO much for doing this amazing Budding Blogger Showcase!! I feel so honored to have been featured:) Thank you for the compliment on my blog name.. I love it! My hubs actually came up with it because he knows I LOVE the book :) And you are an amazing blogger!

    Amelia
    wherethewildthingslearn

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  6. Glad you are feeling better! I loved Amelia's Narnia lapbook, so cool!
    Kelly
    I'm Not Your Grandpa, I'm Your Teacher

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Thanks for visiting my blog and sharing ideas! I love to read your comments. I like to reply back by email, so make sure you have that option enabled so we can chat! :)

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