Giveaway!

So I just saw on Ms. Alley's 2nd Grade Class that she is giving away $25 to TPT because she has 300 followers!  Click the link below and you can earn this! Make sure you follow her AND share about this deal so that you can earn even MORE points and entries!


http://msalleysclass.blogspot.com/

Preparing For Common Core

I feel like this is a blog post that we are going to see a lot but I had to put my 2 cents in.  I am trying to help my charter prepare for common core with ELA and I am wondering, what are YOU doing to get your room and students ready for common core?  I have found so many interesting topic discussions on it, but I have yet to see any actual ideas on curriculum.  Please share any with me that you have!  I will also be sharing what I have been creating so that others may utilize what I did! 

No Stress before the Test!

Hey everyone!

So yesterday I had the day off from school and took the opportunity to make some things for my classroom to prepare for our big state test.

The first thing I chose to make were these folders:

Test Taking Folders! Aren't they super cute!!!

These folders are going to be used to divide my students and keep their eyes on their own paper.  I didn't want to just slap up some white folders that my kids would stare at and be bored with, so I took an idea from pinterest and made it my own.  I used different fonts to write quotes on the folders that I thought my kids would enjoy reading and would motivate them.  I also put a picture of me (bottom) and my co-teacher with something we always say to them so that even if I am not right there giving them a hug, I can support them forever on the folder.  I hope that my kids think that this is super cute!!!

Next, I made this ELA power point that reviews some major skills our kids still need help with.  We start our state testing on Wednesday, and so we can use today to review and have fun!  I am using today as a fun review day to take the edge off!  I do not want my kids to be scared about a test that they have worked so hard for all year long!

Once I can figure out how to attach the power point I will be sure to do so!

Also,  I will take picture of the day so that you can see how we chose to prepare our kids without stressing them out!


-A

Classroom 2011-2012 School Year

Here are pictures of my classroom from this year!  I look at these pictures now and think about how I wish that I had my room this clean!  Keeping up with your students learning is so hard!

Here is a picture of all the bins I have- I am obsessed with organizational supplies but can never figure out how to use them!

 This year I was teaching Grammar/Writing/Guided Reading to 3 Reading Classes.  So we named them by their colleges.  The plastic sheets at the bottom are for the students to put their great grades in!  When ever they want to show it off they put something in!

 Another picture of the HUGE walls!

 Last one!

 My Reading Data wall- notice the Magic School Bus!!! My AMAZING Art teacher made this for a unit we did last year on the Magic School Bus!

 Here is a larger picture of the vocabulary wall that will have words put on it as the year moves on!

 Here is a picture of the start of the library!  This is going to be something good!

 Our Core Values- The Social/Emotional rules we try to live by!

 Starting to set up by board with our daily objectives as well as morning work and homework!

 Trying to think about the desks and how I want them set up!

 Yes- all those binders ARE full of resources!  Still do not have any idea how to utilize them fully!

 Another picture of the vocabulary wall!

 Our Schools big rules and our STAR symbol- we use them when talking about how our students should be sitting.  S- Sitting upright T-tracking the speaker A-Actively engaged R- responding in complete sentences!

 How our computers are set up at the beginning of the year!

 Our promethean board and calendar as well as mailboxes for the students!

 Another shot of my room at the front- SEE all the organizational supplies!

 Pictures of my library organized a little bit more

Classroom From 09-10

 So Here are my pictures from my classroom in 2009-2010.  It was supposed to be around the world in 180 days!  It also ties into our mission of our charter to provide a world Class Education.  This was our writing board.  I used spray paint to make it look like the real building.

 This is obviously Paris.  This was for reading and I titled it, J'Adore Reading! I used a silver sharpie on  black paper to make the eiffel tower really stand out.

 This is the pyramids that we used for science/Social Studies.  I used paper and spray paint again to make it look like sand.  I used scraps of the butcher paper on the inside to make them stand out!

 This is supposed to be Italy.  I made the leaning Tower of Pisa.  As soon as I find the picture I will be sure to show you!

Here is the Great Wall of Words.  I used cardboard and literally cut out little strips to glue on the pieces.  But it was cool because I put simple sight words we learned on the strips as though we were walking on the Great Wall of China.

Almost March Madness!!!!

It's almost March Madness!  That means we are at the stage where we are no longer enjoying life- just working!  I am trying to make things as fun as possible.  We started looking at probability this week and so we are using tickets for behavior systems and discussing the fractions of students who were chosen/not chosen as well as the probability of who is going to be picked vs. not picked.  I am also trying to teach serious reading comprehension and at least 2 guided reading lessons a day.  I am looking for some ways to incorporate fun into our lessons.  My 8:30 block of ELA students (I do only small group in an inclusion classroom- and yes I have a full time SPED co-teacher since we have 9 SPED students in one class) wants to fall asleep during my lesson.  And while I know it is not totally boring, I do know my students are just thinking about their crazy day!  I am trying to think of ways that I can get them started on their engagement.  Maybe a fun word search of vocabulary?  Maybe a song about pronouns?  What do you suggest?

In other news, my students do not get a chance to write!  I am trying to find time/ways to incorporate writing into our block in March!  With testing around the corner our district has pushed aside all learning that is not directly related to the test, but I yearn for a lesson on animals where my kids can learn about how animals live and where they eat.  I can not help but think back to my student teaching all the time where I did a huge unit about animals and their habitat.  I am thinking about calling my teacher up and asking her for what ever materials she might have.

What do you use if you do not have a designated science unit for the students?  What about Social Studies?  How do you incorporate fun experiments into the lesson?

One last thing,  I am trying to expand my blog and include things I actually do so please be on the lookout for when that start to happen (Hopefully soon!)!


Follow my blog on NetworkedBlogs

Organization SOS!!!!!

So I am still new to the blogging scene- but I have stalked many blogs for a long time!  I wanted to get myself out there more so I am offering a link party- where I want people to post about organizational ideas they use in their classroom that is a must have and used all the time.  I need help seriously managing the paper clutter.  By the end of the week my room looks a mess.  I am willing to put the time in upfront but I need some way my students manage their own papers and portfolios.  This way I can spend time managing my own papers and portfolio!  I am thinking something where my students go in the morning or afternoon and take any papers they have in their folder and put them in their portfolio (this is basically where I store all their work for documentation- a title 1 must have).  PLEASE share any ideas you have or any ideas you have at all that will help my room look as amazing as some of the ones I see out there!

Week 1 Done

Ok- so week 1 is now done and while I have not written every day I do have some new things I wanted to share!  In case I never told you all I have a full time SPED teacher in my room (because of the serious behavior needs in my room).  It is AMAZING having someone in your room that not only specializes in a different area but can support all children.  We recently discussed changing our days to meet the needs of more students and I wanted to let you all know about an idea you should all try if you can ever get someone in their to be supported.

This would take a total of 2 hours.  You can use this for ELA or Math.


Time Frame             Group 1                       Group 2                           Group 3                      Group 4
15 minutes               Teacher 1                  Teacher 2                       Independent Work         Computers
15 minutes               Teacher 1                   Teacher 2                       Computers                       IW
15 minutes               Computers                 Independent Work           Teacher 1                     Teacher 2
15 minutes           Independent Work         Computers                        Teacher 1                     Teacher 2


How this works:
The teachers spend 30 minutes with the same kids teaching the same lesson- but differentiated to what the group of students in your group need.  This gives you enough time to teach a reteach lesson as well as model a small lesson on the topic of the day.  Then the students can practice it independently during the independent work portion of the rotations.

The Computers:  This is where your students can go on different skills based on what they need.  Or if your district has computer programs for the kids you can use that time.

Independent Work:  The students complete any necessary work and then can work on skills that they need based on their academic strengths and weaknesses.

As I start to unroll this process I will take pictures and let you all know how it is going!  If you have any advice please feel free to post it!

Welcome Back!

So it has been a LONG time since I Wrote on here- but my new years resolution is to try and put stuff on here more.  I have made a lot of awesome things thanks to blogs and I want to share them out.

First, let's start with our new years resolutions.  I have categorized them into several different things:

Personal:  To run a half marathon.  This is going to be a major feat considering I barely get on the treadmill.  We will see what happens lol.

Professional:  To ensure all my students get a rigorous education that will push them beyond their grade capability.  No more teaching because there is a test- just teach to mastery regardless of how long it takes.

Student:  I always make a goal with my students together so that we can hold each other accountable.  Our Class goal is to keep our room ORGANIZED.  I have so much going on that it is so hard to keep it clean.  But I am going to try and push through!

Stella and Dot For those of you that do not know, Stella and Dot is a jewelry company that I work for.  My goal is to have at least 1 trunk show a month.  Again, I don't know how but I am hoping I can figure it out on the way.

So my new year's resolution(s) are a lot but I hope that with the 366(leap year) days that I have, that I can figure it out as I go- and you are here on the Journey!  I will post pics today of how it all starts!