Before I get into this post two quick things:
- Don't forget about my giveaway.       Leave a comment on the giveaway post      before noon tomorrow for a chance to win a portfolio from Doodle Bugs Paper.       I'll be posting a winner tomorrow evening.
 
- Walgreens is offering a free 8X10 collage.  I just      ordered mine...last Friday we had Camp-Read-A-Lot in our class.  (I      plan on posting about it later.)  I took a picture of each of my kids      eating their smore.  They turned out so cute!  So I used those      photos to make my collage.  I'll pick up a cheap frame and then place      it in my room.  If you're interested in creating a collage the promo      code is:  CLG8X10.  Super easy.  
 
 I had a few questions about the fluency giraffe  in my room.  
 I use this little guy to keep up with my kids' individual fluency rates.  
Each child has a small car with their name and their August Words Per Minute Rate.  I would like to say I test them weekly but it usually turns out to be more like every two weeks.    
 After being tested if their rate improved I move their car up.  I really stress to the kids that it's not a competition against others but against themselves.  They really don't pay much attention to it anyways.
  Occasionally I'll have a rate go down, but I do not move the car down.  Typically this is because the story was low interest for that kid or they were just having an off day.  
 Last year I used bright colored strips of card stock that had been laminated.  This year I made the giraffe to fit my safari theme.
Easy peasy and cute!