Fabulous Find Friday: Countdown to the Classroom

This Friday I'm linking up with Fun in Room 4B and sharing a couple of things from this past week that I am so excited about.  I have done a lot of school shopping.  What is it about glue sticks and dry erase markers that make me want to clear the shelf?  

Okay, here's part of my shopping for this week:

The travel pillows are from Walmart's clearance.  They happen to match my new chair, 2 metal big tubs, and my beach towel from Target's clearance.  $4 each and will compliment the t-shirt pillows I made.  

This pile of stuff came from Michaels.  The baskets were 70% off plus my teacher discount - so between $3 and $5 per basket.  Everything else was 99 cents in the scrapbook area.  Those black things are each a 15 pack of greeting cards - perfect for cutting in half and using to frame student pictures.  There are 2 other packs of card stock, and those red things are each a 50 pack of bookmarks.  Just plain colored bookmarks that I will use to stick my library labels and book bin labels on before taping inside my plastic shoeboxes.  The other thing is colored filler paper.  I saw them and remembered junior high with writing notes on colored paper.  Ahh, memories...  I'm planning on organizing my whole class notes for Math, Social Studies, Reading, and Science using the colored paper in my example binder.

This pile of stuff came from the Dollar Tree.  I have one plain wall at school, and though I'm planning on using it for my Math anchor charts, I still really want some color to back it up and to hide the yucky walls.  So, I turned to yellow plastic tablecloths.  Pinterest has said that plastic tablecloths don't fade, so I'm going to try it out this year.  If it doesn't work, then I'm only out $6 - and I probably didn't even need 6 of them.  The red tablecloths are going to become a valance of sorts above my 2 windows.  The little trophies will become awards from the clean desk fairy and the cursive fairy.  The foam blocks will become more dice to play a bunch more math games.  

I also wanted to share my tech page on Pinterest - lately I keep finding so many wonderful apps and websites to use in the classroom.  Maybe one of the things will help you as well.  I had every intention of just picking one thing, but there really is a lot of great things out there from downloading You Tube videos (if it's blocked at school), to easy graders, to Reading Rainbow, to Bill Nye, to organizational stuff.  Enough said, here it is:  

http://pinterest.com/esumma/tech-stuff

Okay, okay - it's already Friday!  We are able to get our school keys next Tuesday, July 31st.  The school dreams have already started, and I'm so ready to be able to have my dining room back to being a dining room rather than a craft/organizing station.  My boys have chosen their new backpacks and lunch boxes for this new year, and it's starting to feel like it should be time to start setting everything up.  I really do love summer, I just really love the beginning of school too!

Read More

To Do List (Linky Party)

I'm linking up with Lorraine at Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies with her To Do linky party.  I figure I better write it down since the school nightmares of forgetting something have already started...

At the beginning of summer vacation, I made up my project list.  I've gotten a lot of it completed, but then I added more, and decided that some I didn't need to do during the summer when I could have parent helpers help out with it... and then there is still more to do that I keep forgetting about.  
Here is my list at this moment in time:*Create my BTSN packets - they are copied but I need to put them together with my new business cards that just came in.*Put sheet protectors into my Friday Folders - I still haven't done this yet*Create a welcome letter for the first day and staple on the supply list*Have all copies ready for the first week of school*Get a rug - I really want a rug*Make up a sample Summer Sandwich for the first week*Make up my Star of the Week poster for this year (I'm the first one)*Make up a sample All About Me math doll*Update my August newsletter*Scan in the files from my filing cabinet*Update my school laptop*Update my school website*Update all the files in folders on my home computer*Find a tablecloth for my front table (Anna's Linen's have vinyl tablecloths for $2.99)*Organize all my math manipulatives out of those silly little bags they came in - which means I need to purchase some bins to hold all the stuff*Get more library plastic tubs for more chapter books because I bought 50 more books at the Friends of the Library store - told them I was a teacher and each book was $.25.*Move everything into school and create a classroom*Zip tie all the desks together*Bulletin Boards*Classroom Library*Straighten up cabinets
I'm sure there is more stuff - but at this moment my list is already bugging me with how long it is. *Updated as of 7/29 - so much more to do... 

Read More

CAFE strategies turned to FACE

Just another short post today as I should be on a mini vacation.  Now I'm done reading Daily 5, I have started rereading CAFE.  The Sisters have inspired me and taught me so much through their books.  On their website The Sisters have a Literacy Menu with the different strategies - the goal that students will choose one strategy to work on during the week.  I used it last year and it was perfect to go over during our mini conferences.  I wanted to do that again, but I wanted to tweak it to work with my "FACE of a Reader" board.

  I took the strategies that are in the CAFE book and changed it up to being FACE instead.  Nothing really big, but it will help me to keep things consistent.  
Here is the document that I will give to my students.

Another project complete!

Hope you have a great day!

Read More

Writing Rubric Labels

Hello!  Just a short post today as at this moment I should be (better be) on a mini vacation with my family.  

The other day I was looking up Vistaprint ideas over at Teaching in Room 6, and I came across her sticky labels that she puts onto a student's final draft for their grade.  I'm sure that you can relate how you get into a rhythm with grading writing - you know what their rubric score is and you just want to record it to move on with life.  (I'm just saying what we all think...)

So because I have 6,000 labels available to me to use this year (my Office Max deal), I decided to create a rubric with reasons as to what they are missing.  Hopefully this will save me some time so I don't have to write the same comments over and over on their papers.  Here is what's on the label, I'm sure you could easily change it up if you need to.  The font is LD Elementary.

-----------------------------

Overall Score: 1   2   3   4

*Topic isn't clear

*Needs more details

*Conventions (Capitals, Punctuation, Indents)

-----------------------

Here is the document, hope it helps!  

  

Read More

Monday Made It - Vistaprint, Ink Garden, Tool Kit, and Comprehension Sticks

It's Monday, so I'm linking up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics to share some projects from this past week.  I love seeing all the projects!

Vistaprint!!!

I just got a box in the mail the other day with my new business cards, birthday homework passes, homework passes, encouragement notes, and a door magnet with the typical night's homework on it ...

... then I checked again today and there was the postcard deal that I have been waiting on all summer.  So I had to order more things since they were sitting in my cart just waiting for it to go on sale.  

Postcards (100 free)

Business cards (250 free)

Car door magnet - free

140 address labels free

140 address labels free 

(this was the option they had at check out to add - shipping went up a little)

10 flat invitations that I changed into thank you notes - free

I really love Vistaprint!

Business Card Magnets through Ink Garden

There is a sale going on at Ink Garden to order Business Card Magnets - 50 for $2 (plus $4.99 shipping).  This was the design I created. I'm going to use some of these on the whiteboard to have the kids make their Daily 5 choices.  In the past they moved a dicut to the different pocket chart, now they will just move their own little magnet.  I just have to write the class numbers on them when they come.  Supposedly the sale goes through August 15th, and there is a code on the website to put in to lower the price to $2. 

My Tool Kit

I've been inspired by all the teaching tool kits that have been made on Monday Made It.  In past years I used a smaller one that has held mainly just paperclips, pushpins, and staples.  With the smaller drawers I found I had to use many drawers to fit everything in.  


Last night I was trying to fit all my summer projects back into my garage (trying to clear off the dining room table), when I saw this large container tucked up with the Christmas decorations.  I used this when I taught 2nd grade and only had 20 students.  Back in those days I provided supplies for my students and each drawer was the perfect size to hold their crayon box, scissors, and glue stick.  I kept this on the counter, and students just grabbed out their drawer when they needed it.  


But I don't teach 2nd grade anymore, and there are way more than 20 students in my classroom...


So, I decided to put labels on the outside and I will stick this on my desk to help keep all the little stuff out of my desk (easy to find).  I did try scrapbook paper behind it, but with the larger drawers it isn't a flat surface (there is an angled plastic thing that sticks out), and it just looked weird.  Here's what I decided to do with the 24 larger sized drawers.  If you want the labels, here is the document.  They are just plain Avery labels, since I now have 6,000 of these labels thanks to the sale at Office Max (1 cent for a box of 3,000).  The font is Annoying Kettle.  As for all the stuff that goes inside - well that will be a project when I get into the classroom and unload my desk and cabinet.  

Highlighters		Small Binder Clips		Scotch Tape
Glue Sticks		Push Pins		Staples
Rubber Bands		Large Binder Clips		Small Paperclips
Large Paperclips		Small Post Its		Large Post Its
Dry Erase Markers		Birthday HW passes		Homework Passes
Sharpies		Batteries		Cardstock
Jumbo Push Pins		White Out		Velcro
Zip Ties		Magnets		Blue Tape

Comprehension Sticks

Here is another little thing that I did after seeing Precious Kinder Moments do it for her Monday Made It last week.  Instead of 2 colors, I just stuck with the same blue that I've used all over my classroom.  The blue side will be sticking up in my cup for students that have not had a turn, when they had a turn I will flip it to the number side showing.  Then I still have the option of calling that certain student again if needed by seeing their number.  Such a simple thing but it should work great in the classroom.  

I promise I have done more things this week, but they are basically all paperwork type things... nothing really fun to share that I haven't already on past posts.  Hope you have a great day!

Read More

Newbie Bloggers Blog Hop - Introducing Me!

I am relatively new to this blog thing, so I wanted to link up with Janis from Grade Three is the Place For Me to introduce myself.  

Here is what people are sharing:  

    1.  what state you are in
    2.  your current teaching position

    3.  your teaching experience

    4.  when you started blogging

    5.  share a blogging tip / blogging resource

1.  I am a native Californian - but I don't go around saying "dude" and "cool" all the time.  I am not blond, I am not ditzy, I'm not liberal, and I don't own a convertible.  I do love the beach, but it's not often that I get to go visit.  The truth?  I'm brunette, own a mini van, am pretty shy and conservative, and I wish I could live by the ocean - but those houses are way out of our price range... instead it's a 4 hour drive to the beach town I love (which my middle son gets car sick every time we drive to it), and I live in a town that is almost constantly windy and makes my allergies go nuts. 

2.  I am currently teaching 4th grade.  I love 4th graders, really really love this age level.  They can be independent, can "get" a joke, and still love their teacher.  I love the curriculum of 4th grade in California.  I love the history behind our state.  4th grade was the age level that I had wanted to teach since my student teaching days, and I'm so glad that it worked out.  

3. This will be my 13th year of teaching.  The number 13 has always been a good number for me, so I'm expecting a terrific year.  I have taught in 3 different school districts teaching everything in some manner from Kindergarten to 8th grade, including being a Special Education teacher and a Science teacher for 2 of those years.  At one point I was given the honor of District Teacher of the Year.  I really love teaching.

4.  I started my family blog this past Spring Break.  From that the teaching aspects kind of took over and I started up I Love My Classroom.  I just turned on the "Follower" option a couple of weeks ago, and it has definitely become more interactive.  I love blogging!  

5.  I don't know what type of blogging tip I can share that you don't already know.  I guess what's working for me is seeing the different linky parties going on and joining in on the fun, adding my blog to Teaching Blog Addict directory (just added to the Teaching Blog Central), making sure that I have an image on each blog post so it can be pinned onto Pinterest, creating a Facebook page for my blog so I have a place to talk directly to people when I have those random pictures and wonderings (I love to socialize), and posting the links on both my own Facebook page and I Love My Classroom's page.

Thanks for visiting me!

 

Read More

Word Work and Work on Writing

As you know I've been reading Daily 5 in preparation for this coming year. Chapter 6 was about Word Work and Work on Writing. I just wanted to share what I did for these choices in my classroom last year, and what I've prepared for this coming year.  If you want to see my past Daily 5 posts, just look in the Labels area - Daily 5 is there for you to click on. 

Word Work

To be honest last year when I first read the book I didn't think my big kids were small enough to need Word Work. I changed my mind when I started realizing all the different words they encounter and learn throughout the day and week. Here are the types of activities that I did:

Vocabulary games using the glossary and thesaurus

Spelling games using our spelling words

Spelling pattern games (weekly pattern)

Vocabulary of the Day (Ladybug's idea)

Scrabble

Mad libs

Grammar games on a specific concept

Computer games- Internet 4 Classrooms

Work on Writing

On Mondays my class usually begins the weekly writing assignment.  We go through the brainstorm together on that day, and then the kids start on the rough draft themselves and go through the process the rest of the week.  I usually take my writing assignments from what we are learning in Social Studies, Science, the Reading unit, or Holidays.  For Work on Writing, my students have to work on the assigned topic, but once it's completed they have choices of topics.  

(This was my bulletin board from last year - it will be different this time around.)

I set up a VOICES board with the different skills that we learn together, and we create a "Heart Map" of their interests.  I also have used option dice and picture prompts that they choose from to write.  Then there is also the Whole Class Journals that they enjoy writing and reading with.  They also have the choice to "Fill Someone's Bucket" with an encouragement note or compliment.

  It keeps them happy and writing!

VOICES in my class equals

Voice - Author's Purpose, Point of View

Organization - Different types of writing

Ideas - Interests and Heart Maps

Conventions - Capitals, Punctuation, Indents, and Spelling

Excellent Words - Vocabulary, Adjectives, Details

Sentence Fluency - Use different ways to start sentences, does the sentence make sense?  

What I'm adding for this year?

This summer I created a Boggle Board to keep them spelling, and have printed out Word Games from Tara at 4th Grade Frolics.  She has an entire page dedicated to everything Daily 5 related.  I created a Journal Jar, but as of yet I haven't printed off any journal prompts to go inside.  I'm planning on handing out slips of paper to my students that first week back, and have them think of one or two words to write on the slips before they stick them into the jar.  Just thought that having them create the papers might make them more interested in using the jar to see what else someone thought of.  To make my Journal Jar I used a Pub Mix container from Costco.  We have quite of few of those handy since my boys are addicted to it!  It's large and with a dicut stuck on the front it was very easy to pull together.  I think washing it out took the longest amount of time.  

Here are some Pinterest finds that I'm considering starting up this year:

Click the pictures if you want to go to the source!

  

This pin didn't go to anything.  Thank you for sharing whoever you are!










Uncommon to the Core Teacher - Magic Cube

Teacher's Notebook Free Download



Ladybug's Teacher Files mentioned www.morewords.com for other words for a specific pattern


Hope this helps someone!

Read More