Tag Archives: classroom organization

Primary Teachers are Quirky!

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Primary Teachers are QUIRKY!

HUH???

Quirky is defined as…

” something that is strange/not normal but cool. Unconventional, surprising, odd.”

You mean ME? I am… ODD?

YES! YOU!

Here are the top 5 reasons PRIMARY Teachers are QUIRKY!

Number one reason Primary teachers are Quirky

We like to “DRESS UP”!

Now in most professions, there is a RULE of PROFESSIONAL ATTIRE.

Teacher's dress codes differ from grade to grade and school to school.

Profession attire for QUIRKY teachers?

In Teaching…we are a little “QUIRKY”!

Elementary teachers dress up to enhance student engagement.

Elementary teachers dress up in tutus. QUIRKY?

Minions teacher costumes. Thank You https://teachinginroom6.com

Yo Gabba Gabba! Thank You https://teachinginroom6.com

Elementary teachers dress up for Halloween to enhance student engagement.

Character costumes…QUIRKY? Thank You https://teachinginroom6.com

We tend to “go the extra mile!”

And it’s a GOOD thing!

( May have to add that to THING 1 & THING 2).

You get MY drift!

How many TEACHER Tshirts do YOU own?

Do YOU wear SCHOOL shirts on FRIDAY?

Do YOU OWN a Dr. Suess HAT?

Do you DESIRE a pair of shoes or socks that look like a PENCIL?

See? Just a LITTLE QUIRKY!

AND …HEELS???

Who can chase little ones

or grab the glue bottle

before it puddles

on the floor..

in heels?

You see…QUIRKY!

NUmber two things that teachers do that are QUIRKY!

SMELLS..

Who doesn’t LOVE to walk into a room smelling of…

LAVENDER

COFFEE

FLOWERS

COOKIE DOUGH

etc., etc.

We all DO!

And so we PACK IN THE SMELLY STUFF!

Strategies for making the classroom SMELL sweeter.

Sweet smelling sprays

Air fresheners are NOT QUIRKY!

Quirky teachers make the classroom smell sweeter.

And then …24 LITTLE ONES go outside for RECESS.

AND they come back in…

YUCK! Wet puppy smells need strategies for making the classroom SMELL sweeter.

UGH! Quirky teachers DON”T like the smell of WET PUPPIES!

SMELLING LIKE WET PUPPIES!

UGH!

And SOME of those 6-year-old WET PUPPIES…

NEED DEODORANT!

And so…we retreat to our OLD FRIEND…

Yeah CLOROX!

* in MY district you NOW must obtain a 1 hr. PD and get a “CERTIFICATE” to use CLOROX wipes in the classroom.

A Little QUIRKY!

But…we do what we need to do to survive!

Myself…I prefer cookie dough candles…

JUST ME.

DON’T LIGHT THEM…

JUST SMELL THEM!

Number three for Quirky teachers

Lunch.

A Primary teacher’s lunch is a LITTLE QUIRKY!

First, it has to have pieces that can be held in

ONE HAND!

The Quirky teacher can do more in one lunch period, than most people do ALL DAY!

I always laugh when someone says,

” You HAVE 40 minutes for LUNCH?”

Yeah…after I get 25 kids to the cafeteria.

AND…one doesn’t forget their lunch and we have to walk back & do it AGAIN!

AND…if I don’t have to call a parent.

AND..if I don’t need to run off papers.

AND..if I don’t need to correct spelling tests, prepare the SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS, write a note,

AND…HEAVEN FORBID…

GO TO THE BATHROOM!

( Don’t forget to EAT…it will be ANOTHER 4 hours until you are FREE!)

So…bring a lunch that can be eaten in ONE HAND!

The other hand MAY BE BUSY!

A LITTLE QUIRKY!

Number four for Quirky teachers

DIY? Quirky?

Those DREADED WORDS!

Do It YOURSELF…NEVER! NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!

I don’t think I have EVER started a DIY where I didn’t involve someone else!

Thank YOU to my WONDERFUL HUBBY…

He puts up with my QUIRKINESS!

Spray PAINT!

Quirky teachers LOVE NEON SPRAY PAINT! Raise your colored finger!

Did YOU feel your hands get clammy?

How your heart rate INCREASED?

Do you have a smile on YOUR FACE?

NEON SPRAY PAINT!

Do YOU feel the “NEED”…to spray

SOMETHING?

I know..it’s OK…

I think some people are “wired” with it.

The NEED to PAINT!

And we do…

Reading center storage drawers for guided reading centers.

Sterlite drawers

Tool Kits for BRAG TAG drawers

Teacher storage areas for centers, materials, and guided reading books.

Ahhh..organized storage for ALL. Quirky or NOT!

We will SPRAY EVERYTHING!

And…it’s OK!

( I’m sure SOMEWHERE…there is a 12 step program for this!)

QUIRKY?

YEAH!

Number five for the quirky teacher

Are you QUIRKY about BAGS?

No.Not grocery bags.

I mean BIG, LONG HANDLED, BRIGHTLY COLORED, (maybe) on wheels,

BAGS!

“I Like BIG bags & I cannot lie…”

(I think it’s a SONG)

Me dancing…

Lesson plans, lunch, grading papers...bags for teachers

Quirky teachers LOVE big bags…and I cannot lie!

Colorful Big Bags!

Bags that have files for grading papers, lesson plans, balanced literacy materials.

Organized BIG Bags…be still my heart!

Bags on WHEELS! OH YEAH!

But…

LOOK AT THE BRIGHT COLORS!

We will carry 50-80 POUNDS of STUFF in ONE BAG…

GOTTA keep MY hands FREE!

And not think twice about it.

I AM NOT walking BACK to MY classroom AGAIN!

Yes…I can carry it ALL in one trip!

(Why do my shoulders & my back hurt so much?!)

But LOOK at the BRIGHT COLORS! So cute!

No…I will NOT buy 24 folders at TARGET for 17 cents each!

I just bought the CUTEST “31” BAG.. 🙂

A LITTLE QUIRKY!

And so…

Some of us were meant to be PRIMARY TEACHERS.

AND some are NOT!

To those who are…

HOLD YOUR SPRAYPAINTED FINGER UP HIGH…

WEAR YOUR T-SHIRTS PROUDLY…

AND SMELL the QUIRKINESS in YOUR WORLD!

WELCOME to the CLUB!

If you have HUNG in here for this LONG POST…

Keep GIGGLING…

Here is a FREEBIE for YOU!

Back to School Vocabulary Banner from 1stgradefireworks

Check out OTHER fun things from 1stgradefireworks!

Pin IT! 🙂

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The Dreaded BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT!

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How to get ready for the dreaded “PARENT’S ARE COMING!” Night!

Screaming Child

AKA BACK-TO-SCHOOL Night!

We ALL get nervous speaking to a room of parents! I can speak to a group of first graders all day every day…but a roomful of parents?

My palms sweat & my brain “freezes” up!

(Wear good deodorant, use a breath mint, and wear comfy shoes!)

So..THEY are coming.

Today’s tip is about getting parents to sign up for everything you need at BAck to School Night.

CAPTIVE AUDIENCE!

I work in a Title 1 school.

Most parents DON’T WANT TO COME to SEE ME!

So I have to make it very “inviting”.

I tell the kids to “drag” their parents to talk to me.

(Not literally!) Two hands!

I give stickers to kids who “hand their parents the BTS night NOTE!

And then…

Number 1

Have Food at Back to School Night.

A bowl of apples, a plate of cookies, popcorn, Mini bottles of water!

CHOCOLATE CANDY!

They will come for food!

I also put the Class DOJO sign-up link on a BIG POSTER

NEXT to the FOOD! Eat, text, and make the teacher HAPPY!

Number 2

Even though parent conferences are MONTHS away..

MAKE a chart of dates & times YOU are available,

AND HAVE THEM SIGN UP FOR A CONFERENCE at Back to School Night!

(You will send a reminder note as it gets closer..let them choose first!)

Put out sticky notes & pens for those who want to write it down AND

a poster to remind parents to TAKE A PICTURE WITH THEIR PHONE of the conference chart, to remind them!

Number 3

If you have any WISH LISTS or things you might need…

HAVE THEM SIGN UP TO PROVIDE CLASSROOM ITEMS and/or VOLUNTEER at Back to School Night!

( We can always use glue sticks, expo markers, tissues, etc)

AND LAST…

If YOU want volunteers for classroom work, parties, field trips, etc…

HAVE THEM SIGN UP!

This is the ONLY night they will ALL be in YOUR classroom!

USE IT!

Sometimes a CAPTIVE AUDIENCE…is a good thing!

So.. Just a quick reminder

Rewards for students whose family attends. DANGLE the CARROT!
Bring FOOD and/or drinks.
Have ALL Sign-UP charts READY

DOJO, Conferences, Wish Lists, Volunteers, etc.

4. Breathe, bring water for YOU! Smile.

For more info on BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT:

Good Luck!

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The END Of the School Year is NEAR!

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The End of the school year is coming up fast!

May 1 begins the RUSH to the Finish Line! As of May 1, we have 23 school days left!

After the calendar changes, I start getting ready for Summer vacation.

Spring Fever is kicking in.

I daydream of the beach, family barbeques, gardening… Ahhh…

I am thinking BEACH! Spring FEVER is here!

But WAIT! I am NOT ready for the end of the year.

I have things to do!

STRESS is kicking in! So what? What do I need to do?

End of the Year Report Cards.

All end of the year paperwork for my students needs to be completed. We have to sign off on cum files. Put papers in files. Purge student portfolios so the second-grade teachers only get current information.

PURGE those files!

OPEN HOUSE

Our Open House for parents is in May. The end of the year is a good time for them to visit our classroom, see their child’s projects, and let their child “teach” them. I step back and become the “visitor”. The kids run the show. I teach them how to properly introduce their parent to me. “Mrs. McCarty, I would like to introduce you to my mother, Maria ” and we shake hands. ( Practicing good manners ALL the time!) The kids are the “guides” and they WALK THE ROOM (start at the door & show them ALL the things we do and then to their clean desk ( cleaned that day). EVERYTHING ON their desk goes HOME with them. MAKE SURE NOT TO PUT ANYTHING ON THEIR DESK THAT YOU WANT TO STAY. We have ALL of our end of the year projects completed and ready to go.

Clean classroom desks for OPEN HOUSE

ASSEMBLIES

Our End of the Year assemblies are WONDERFUL! Our school talent show, sing-alongs, class sharing, etc. happen this month.

PARENT INVOLVEMENT

At the end of the year, we celebrate our families. We have a LUNCH on the LAWN for our families. They can bring a lunch (McDonald’s is ALWAYS a favorite), a picnic blanket, and have lunch with their child. They can bring Grandparents, siblings, cousins, whomever. It’s at their regular lunch time, just a fun time for all. ANY student whose parent cannot come, ( like ME..I was always working..dad went) they get to sit on MY picnic blanket and have lunch with ME!

Picnic lunch with families. Photo thank you to http://allaboutgracie.blogspot.com/2011/06/school-picnic-lunch-with-gracie.html

We also have our end of the year BOOK FAIR! Families are encouraged to purchase books for their child to read over the summer. We usually have a good turn out. If you have NOT had a Book Fair at your school, try it!

Scholastic Book Fair

CLASSROOM

We are winding down with our books and curriculum. Workbooks are almost empty, journals are full, and the crayons and markers have had it! The end of the year has taken its TOLL on student materials! 🙂 But, I have to get ready for NEXT YEAR!

The books need to be sorted before the end of the year.

Before the end of the year…START NOW!

Have students sort through classroom library books. THEY CAN SORT! Add labels to any books not labeled and have your books ready for next year.
Sort writing center materials ( papers, markers, etc) and make sure everything is in working order. Have your students check markers. Any that don’t work..TOSS!
PURGE your FILES! ( Yes…I said IT!) If you haven’t used it, seen it, or are not even sure where it came from…RECYCLE IT!
OPEN YOUR CUPBOARDS! If you have NOT opened the cupboard this year…YOU DON’T NEED ANYTHING IN IT! Don’t store stuff because you MIGHT need it. If you aren’t using it… BYE BYE!
Take out EVERYTHING from drawers and closets. DON’T PUT IT BACK, if you haven’t used it! ( I found 10 computer cables for the technology we don’t even have anymore!)
Have students CLEAN! I give them a paper towel and SANITIZER! Wipe everything you can touch! NO PAPER OR BOOKS! Chairs, stools, door, tables, desks, TOPS & BOTTOMS! CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN!
Think about YOUR bulletin boards for the beginning of the year. Put ALL of the things you will need in one box. Don’t forget a stapler, tape, etc. MARK IT for TEACHER IMPORTANT! Keep it with YOU.
Don’t take home a ton of stuff over the summer. I allow myself ONE box. THAT’S IT! You are NOT going to do a lot of school work over the summer. Don’t FAKE IT!
I begin to pack at the end of the year, as soon as OPEN HOUSE is over. A little EVERY day. My goal is to fill one garbage can a day for the rest of the year. Purge a little every day. You have digital files…use them!
Runoff your first-week materials. Have them in a box ready to go! I am working on my lesson plan frames for next year. I do mine on the computer. Wouldn’t it be nice to open the lesson plan binder and already have the first week DONE??!!! I already have my year-long plans for ELA and MATH. My BFF teaching partner has done that.

SEND HOME STUDENT MATERIALS

I send ALL workbooks ( with pages we didn’t get to), BRAG TAG necklaces, student-made books, etc. on the last week. If I change the routines, I must deal with behavior problems. AND WE DON’T WANT THAT! We have a game day the last day. They can play our rainy-day classroom games. Then we write a letter to the kindergartners telling them about First Grade.

The end of the year is a fun time, a stressful time, and a time to organize for next year. Don’t “over-do” it. Remember…it’s YOUR vacation TOO!

When you are getting ready for Back To School… check out these HELPFUL resources:

Check out this great BLOG POST from LAURA at www.thecoreinspiration.com on setting UP your classroom library.

How to Set Up Your Classroom Library www.thecoreinspiration.com

My friend, CHRISTINA DECARBO will help YOU get organized for the END of the YEAR!

https://www.missdecarbo.com

end of the year organization tips & tricks

End of the Year Organization https://www.missdecarbo.com/

Balanced Literacy

BALANCED LITERACY

Be A Reader Blending Lines for FLuency

BE A READER… BLENDING LINES FOR FLUENCY

Write On Journal Pages

WRITE ON

Back to School Word Work BACK TO SCHOOL WORD WORK

CA JOURNEYS MEGA BUNDLE…

CAN WORK WITH ANY CURRICULUM

YOUR WHOLE YEAR… DONE!

JOIN THE BOOK CLUB

These posts will help ease your stress:

How to Prepare for a Successful Reading Workshop in First Grade

How to do GUIDED READING in 20 minutes or less..(FREEBIE TOO!)

How Do you Fit It ALL in? Balanced Literacy.

HUG your kiddos. BREATHE. Think ahead. Enjoy your SUMMER VACATION!

Wendy 1stgradefireworks

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How to Prepare for a Successful Reading Workshop in First Grade

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Reading Workshop

“Creating a Community of Readers”

via…LUCY CAULKINS!

This is my newest FAVORITE thing!

I LOVE Lucy Caulkin’s

READING, WRITING,

COMPREHENSION LESSONS

If you get a chance to hear her, see her, and/or youtube her…

DO IT!

When I teach reading, I don’t want my students to stop and ask for help.

I want them to have skills to be independent readers.

I want them to be problem-solvers.

So, I am…

How to create a community of readers

How?

What do you do BEFORE reading?

Take a picture walk.Cover the words.

Make them use the visual cues in the story.

Frontload any vocabulary that may change thinking,

distort comprehension, or unfamiliar to them.

Have them make predictions PRIOR to reading.

After reading, check their predictions.

When you finish reading, do something!

I LOVE this!

After reading..then what? DO SOMETHING!

Reread it for NEW information. Retell it to yourself or a friend. We use our 3 fingers retell. I love this part…DIGEST IT! Just as a good meal…when you are finished, appreciate it. Think about it.

ENJOY IT!

You are NEVER done!

When you finish…read more! My kiddos love to stack ALL of their books on the left..as

they finish reading a book…place it in a pile on their right. Keep reading! Their goal is to

read more every day! STAMINA! Reading MATS are used to make goals.

Our goals are to read MORE!

Read with your eyes. No need for fingers.

Use your eyes to read…not your fingers.

We want kids to quit using their fingers to read.

Good readers use their EYES!

“SCOOP” up words (phrases) with your eyes. When reading, put 3-4 words together

and read the phrases! GREAT time to teach prepositions & prepositional phrases!

When reading, always reread the text for comprehension.

Always reread text

Always, always…reread!

You will see more, read more, and understand more when you reread a story. Read it to a partner, a

parent, a friend. The same book can sound new when you are reading it the second or third time!

Lucy Caulkins Thank You

A HUGE THANK YOU to Lucy Caulkins!

So there you are..

GET READING!

Remember….

When in doubt…

ALWAYS make it

BALANCED LITERACY

For more early literacy reading and writing resources

Check out

1stgradefireworks

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Classroom Management..from Harry Wong to Brag Tags!

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Classroom Management.

I know. I said it.

WAIT! DON’T LEAVE!

Classroom Management isn’t a BAD thing!

It’s how to create a CALM…so you can teach!

And isn’t THAT our GOAL?

There are a GAZILLION places to learn how to do

classroom management.

When I was beginning my career,

HARRY WONG

was the JEDI of Classroom Management!

It’s a good read for ALL of us!

After a trillion different management attempts,

retries,

changes,

changes again..

I think I have found classroom management

that works

FOR ME!

And it HAS to WORK ..

FOR YOU!

What the teacher next door is using

maybe the best thing,

“since sliced bread”.

BUT

If it doesn’t work FOR YOU,

it’s USELESS!

So WHAT do I use?

Three step program.

(NO… not a 12 step program…ONLY 3)

As every primary teacher knows,

Consistency is the key to success.

Young kids like to know what is coming next.

They like to know ” IF THIS…THEN THAT!”

And they keep ME on my toes!

And pulling my hair out!

I start my school year with group points.

It lasts about a month.

After they figure out which “friend” is going to be a problem in THIER group…

points don’t count.

I used to use “CLIP CHARTS”.

Great kids move up.

Those who need more “attention” moved down.

I had a great visual

of the “cans” and the “cannots”.

Not for me.

And so began ..

MY 3 STEPS to MY SANITY!

1. CLASS DOJO

2. GOLDEN TICKETS

3. BRAG TAGS

These 3 management strategies work for me.

If they help YOU…JUMP ON IN!

CLASS DOJO!

* I am NOT receiving ANYTHING from DOJO…

I JUST LOVE IT!

Class DOJO has allowed me

to connect with

students

and PARENTS

quickly and effectively!

Isn’t that the point of classroom management?

To effectively

“manage” a situation

and correct it,

or support it,

immediately?

YES!

Dojo is an online program where each student has an avatar. They gain or lose points as they follow the positive or negative

attributes that YOU set up.

I had a BIG problem with tardies.

8-10 kids tardy…daily.

One of my positive attributes is

ATTENDANCE ON TIME.

Every student gets a point for being in their seat,

ready to work when the bell rings!

I am down to 2 tardies..average..daily.

FOR me? Success!!!

Dojo also sends an automatic email to parents on FRIDAY, detailing their child’s points for the week!

INSTANT PARENT NOTIFICATIONS

..and I didn’t have to do ANYTHING! 🙂

AND…

After parents have signed up for texts

THAT IS THE HARD PART…GETTING THEM TO SIGN UP

(I AM RELENTLESS…I BUG THEM OVER & OVER)

I can text them at a moments notice.

AND I DO!

I also do class messages and send pictures.

I am just learning DOJO, too.

#lifelessons #newtechtolearn

#2 Golden Tickets

THIS IS MY “GO TO” PROGRAM!

IT WORKS LIKE A CHARM!

Simple.

Run a copy of Tickets on YELLOW OR GOLD PAPER.

CUT UP into tickets.

Keep in a box.

Kids earn them for ANY positive interaction, action, or reaction.

Help a friend? TICKET!

Pick up the floor? Ticket!

Say kind words? Ticket!

A friend helped YOU? Give them a TICKET!

And so MY STUDENTS start looking

and listening

for ways to give positive feedback

tickets,

to each other.

They have to tell their classmate what

they SAW or HEARD

that earned their ticket!

SO engaging!

After they get their ticket,

they write their name on the back.

No…sticky fingers.

Twice a week we COUNT tickets.

If they have 10

they can choose

their reward!

I am NOT spending ANY $$$$$$

on rewards!

NO need to!

Here are there rewards…

Reward CHOICES:

Tech Time …15 minutes on the ipads!

They can choose whatever app they want!

Friendly Lunch..ALL TIME FAVORITE:

I purchased 8 plastic placemats – 4 sets of 2

They choose 1 friend to give a placemat to, and they sit next to each other at lunch in the cafeteria, and eat lunch with their placemat and their friend. AFTER lunch, they sanitize the placemat, and put it in the office so I can pick them up after lunch.

ROYALTY for A DAY..

Students can choose to WEAR A CROWN, and be KING____ or QUEEN _____ for a day. The crowns? BULLETIN BOARD borders I have

used, scrounged, saved, begged for from others,

on hand. Measure, staple, VOILA..instant CROWN!

Wear it, take it home. I DO staple a golden ticket to the front. EVERYONE will ask WHY DID YOU GET THE CROWN?

They can explain about GOLDEN TICKETS.

Teacher chair:

They get one of my BIG SQUISHY chairs at their desk for a day. They will spin, moved, be tall, and LOVE their BIG chair.

SWIP SWAP:

Change desks with a partner FOR A DAY!

Use their books & stuff and THEY use YOURS!

Must clean each others desk

( put things back better than they were

when YOU got there..)

at the end of the day.

FREE Homework PASS!

NO homework for 1 night!

I write a note and put it in the HW folder so parent’s know.

FLUFFY FRIEND:

They can bring a stuffed animal to school for 1 day.

Sits on their desk, works in teh classroom, cannot go outside.

If kids don’t have one..they can choose 1 of mine.

LINE Jumper:

First graders LOVE to “cut in line”. The LINE JUMPER can cut in line ANYWHERE they want, for 1day. They MUST tell the person behind them…”Excuse me, I am a LINE JUMPER!”

(You can NEVER step in front of someone

without using the words EXCUSE ME

..and tell them WHY!)

#manners

Here we are in action.

LONG POST… sorry

BRAG  TAGS!

We LOVE BRAG TAGS!

Many THANKS to

Angie Olson @ Lucky Little Learners

We started using the LINK necklaces for Brag tags.

TOO HARD to OPEN for our little fingers.

#toomanyforteacher

BRAG TAG storage 🙂

Now we use RINGS instead of link chains.

At the end of the MONTH,

we take ALL of our Brag TAGS and BEADS

OFF of our RINGS

and string them on a STRING.

Make a BRAG TAG necklace to WEAR HOME!

Most kids say they save them

at home for the whole year!

Great HOME connection!

WHEW! Long post…SORRY.

I just want to give you all of the details so

YOU can choose

what works for YOU!

Here are some other posts I have on

classroom management:

BRAG TAGS

What’s Up in Room 3?

Get YOUR Golden Tickets HERE:

Brag Tags and Golden Tickets

For your time…

Here is a FREEBIE

from ME..to YOU!

So let me know…

What do YOU use for YOUR classroom MANAGEMENT?

Share your story in the comments.

I will choose 1 person this week

for a FREEBIE.

I will choose from my comments!

Leave me your email! 🙂

ENJOY!

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I Have an OBSESSION!

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I have an obsession

I used to think it was only a “hobby”.

I thought I only had a “few”.

I was using them for good.

I can give them up at ANY time..right?

Well…I have heard the first step

to a

CURE

is to

ADMIT

you have a

PROBLEM.

I am OBSESSED by…

STERALITE DRAWERS!

You know… you have done it!

Amazon, WalMart, Target…

We walk in…they have them stacked so neatly.

They are EVERYWHERE!

YOU…Yes YOU…

YOU need to be ORGANIZED!

Classroom, kitchen, bathroom, office, bedroom, etc, etc.

OK.

Here is my WORLD.

My Classroom.

Don’t judge. 🙂

Where I “FILE” my “STUFF”.

After I got rid of my teacher desk…

YOU gotta have a place for the “little things”!

Guided Reading Drawers…I use them daily!

If you need some guided reading resources…

check out my

BALANCED LITERACY BINDER

Word Work “EXTRAS”..

I am noticing a trend. ( “STUFF, “EXTRAS,…”)

I think I need to PURGE!

More “stuff”…

you know…stickers, scissors, boxes of “stuff”,

TAPE! LOTS of tape!

BTW…I LOVE washi tape.

Might be ANOTHER obsession!

I KNOW… more stuff.

And I could NOT LIVE without my curriculum drawers!

Centers & “stuff” for each month!

Both MATH (Dark Blue) & ELA Blue/Green

Skills & Standards for each MONTH!

OK.

I might have a LOT!

BUT…

They keep my “Stuff” where I can find it

AND

THEY LOOK SO GOOD!

If YOU are in need of some

ORGANIZATION…

( I can help spread the LOVE)

Here you GO!

So I have and ORGANIZATION obsession.

I guess it could be worse…

Could I be a hoarder, too???

Nah!

I just have a lot of “STUFF”,

I might need some day!

What teacher isn’t?? 🙂

Enjoy!

Give from the…HEART!

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Teachers are givers.

Kids are TOO!

We want EVERYONE to have

ALL of their WISHES come true!

BUT….

So how?

How can we teach curriculum, maintain sanity,

and MAKE WISHES COME TRUE?

Give!

GIVE FROM THE HEART!

In our classroom we make ornaments.

NOT all of the ornaments are for CHRISTMAS.

Some of my kiddos don’t celebrate Christmas.

BUT…

They create. They inspire. They give.

From the Heart.

My favorite things are HANDMADE.

( Sniff… from the heart) 🙂

Where do we get our ” inspirations” ?

PINTEREST!

(You can follow me here…)

No stress…pictures…some directions…Ahhhhh.

My happy place!

Here are some of MY favorite ideas!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AauKHq04s3VIDuE8bceSrLCmvzxEHKxLIV9dfmZwn2y-Qrg2qgtIP88/

Popsicle sticks!

Glue! Paint! Decor!

Let the imagination go!

NOT ALL OF MY KIDS MAKE THE SAME ORNAMENTS!

Let them have choice!

I show them the pictures.

I share the BASICS.

I let them GO!

MY choices and their choices MAY BE DIFFERENT!

Different is good!

Give from YOUR heart!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/101260691599483836/

SALT DOUGH!

Who doesn’t like DOUGH?

Squishy, squeezy balls of FUN?

I LOVE handprint ornaments.

(GMA HERE) 🙂

Our kiddos are small for such a short time.

Make those MEMORIES!

I bring out ALL the cookie cutters I can find, borrow, beg for.

SUGGESTIONS…

Don’t let them be too THICK.

Let them dry FOR A LONG TIME ( 3-4 days )

before PAINTING!

Hot glue string on the back after dry,

Poke a hole on the dough with a straw BEFORE drying.

MY newest LOVE!

HANDPRINT SNOWMEN!

ALL of MY kiddos make this one!

I make these in small groups

( I can only do 3-4 kiddos at a time)

If you have a PARENT HELPER…

this is a PERFECT craft for them!)

Paint on day 1.

DRY day 2.

Faces ( I suggest BLACK SHARPIES ) Day 3

Scarves ( felt, material/ paper scraps…srapbook paper works great!) Day 4

Let EVERYTHING DRY

& then

add a string for a hanger!

BE SUPER CAREFUL when sending these home!

( No dropping )

Place in a gift bag

( we use hand decorated lunch bags)

with LOTS, LOTS, LOTS

of tissue !

So…we GIVE FROM THE HEART!

It’s not about the $$ amount

when giving.

It’s about the thought, the effort, and the LOVE

that goes into it!

Here is another gift I do FOR my kiddos.

See the blog POST here.

I hope you have a WONDERFUL Holiday SEASON!

Make memories.

Share the LOVE.

And

Give From the HEART!

Are YOU a “Stressed OUT” TURKEY? Giveaway!

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Are

YOU

“STRESSED OUT”

TURKEY?

Are you starting to get that…

OH NO!

“I’ll never get EVERYTHING done!”

FEELING???

RELAX! BREATHE! Close your eyes! Find your HAPPY PLACE!

I can’t help you make turkey dinner..

or deal with grocery lists, family, cleaning house, etc.

BUT…

I can help with

classroom materials

to help relieve SOME of the stress!

For the next 3 days.. Nov. 14-18, 2016

I am having a

THANKS TO YOU

Giveaway!

1 WINNER

will receive their CHOICE

of $15 in products

from my TPT store!

Check out your choices HERE.

You can CHOOSE

what will help

YOU

the most!

Enter in the rafflecopter below!

Good LUCK! 🙂

Happy Thanksgiving

from our house

YOURS!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What’s UP in Room 3?

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Have I mentioned…

I LOVE FALL

OK…Many times.

I live in NORCAL.

We don’t have the TRADITIONAL

4 seasons.

DID YOU KNOW THERE ARE 4 ????

In NORCAL…

we have

Summer ( 90-100 degrees )

Fall ( 80-90 degrees)

Winter ( foggy… 60-70 degrees…sometimes cooler )

Spring ( 70-90 degrees )

It’sOK…I LOVE my HOMETOWN.

Sometimes.

OH…well… 🙂

And so on.

SO now that it’s 80 degrees & FALL..

What’s UP in ROOM 3??

BRAG TAGS!

We use Brag Tags on rings during the month.

They earn BRAG TAGS

for

following classroom / school rules

AND

Lifeskills

At the end of each month…

They transfer their earned BRAG TAGS from RINGS..

To string necklaces.

They get to wear their necklaces ALL DAY AT SCHOOL

and then

HOME!

( Parents are told at BTS night

to REWARD their kids for necklaces

at the end of the month!) 🙂

English Language Arts

Word Sorts…NO GLUE!

Pick 3 crayons.

Color the words according to the KEY!

Write!

Back from 2 week vacation.

TEACHER…..CLEAN YOUR TABLE!

I don’t have a teacher desk. #bestdecisionever

Reading ROCKERS! #alternativeseating

Birthday Books.

On each student’s brthday ( or close to ),

We make a class BIRTHDAY BOOK!

We do these during MUST DO TIME!

Independent work.

We have a “FRAME” style we use.

Everyone makes a page.

We STAPLE together and VOILA!

CLASS BIRTHDAY PRESENT!

We sing and dance as we PRESENT ( haha ) it to the birthday student!

LAST..( whew..what a week !)

GUIDED MATH

My newest & favorite time of the day!

We are doing

MATH MUST DO’s & MAY Do’s

( Same format as ELA centers in the AM )

KEEP YOUR ROUTINES THE SAME!

We go the the MATH Calendar ( next to ELA Calendar )

after lunch.

Math Calendar

After we go through the “math board”…

We NOW ( Quarter 2) do MATH MUST DO’S.

( Approx. 45 minutes )

Must DO’s

#1 MATH JOURNAL

Story Problem with illustrations & number sentence.

#2 Math Paper

A Workbook Page FROM YESTERDAY ( review )

#3 MATH TUB (center) with a PARTNER

I do the whole class MATH lesson BEFORE centers.

SOMETIMES we do the workbook page together…sometimes they do.

Depends on the Lesson. We have a district curriculum to follow.

( Approx. time 45 minutes )

What am I doing?

GUIDED MATH GROUPS!

I meet with 2-3 kids at a time.

We work on a STRATEGY.

NO worksheets!

They need to have independent strategies to do ON THEIR OWN!

I can’t take the assessments FOR THEM!

So…

Here is what’s UP in room 3!

Need supplements for ELA or MATH?

Check out my store for GOODIES!

1stgradefireworks

Balanced Literacy in First Grade! Let’s start with READ ALOUDS!

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I can’t believe this is year 26!

MY own twins were in first grade MY first year of teaching!

( NOT in my class…TG…)

Each year things CHANGE!

CHANGE is NOT a BAD thing!

It can make you rethink, reevaluate, redo, remake, revitalize!

After 26 years…I can HONESTLY say..

I will NOT throw out the BABY with the BATHWATER!

WHAT????

OK…We have a new curriculum. AGAIN!

EVERY 7 YEARS..

Whether you want it …or NOT!

And so, here we go again.

It really doesn’t matter what “program” you give me.

BALANCED Literacy

My “STRESS” level rises when I try to plan .

HOW TO FIT IT ALL IN?

What is a BALANCED LITERACY Classroom? This resource will show YOU!

Reality check…

Some days I can…some days I can’t.

It’s ok.

Life won’t end if you don’t do it ALL!

BUT..

TRY!

Let’s start with

READ ALOUDS!

I start my day with a READ ALOUD.

AND

I end my day with a READ ALOUD!

( I try to make ONE of those Read Alouds

a SCIENCE,SOCIAL STUDIES, or HOLIDAY story)

INTEGRATE whenever YOU can!

After EVERY story…WE Discuss.

Characters.

Setting.

Problem.

Solution.

EVERY Read Aloud.

Discuss for 10 minutes …MAX!

Highly Effective!

When students THINK about a story, “turn & talk”

about it, use the “academic language” from the story they are engaged!

They might NOT take it on for themselves the first time…..

but…over time, they will!

This week I heard some “reading partners”

discussing our anthology

story.

I heard “MAIN CHARACTER”, “Beginning, Middle, END”,

“How did they SOLVE that Problem?”

WOWZA!

Teacher Happy DANCE!

If you need suggeastions for Read Alouds…PINTEREST!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/31806741095305481/

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AZwmwPgKXX2QSsHj0Dpl_ViGF2rF1LZWD7NtyOCvy6BCp-jw7W8kwOg/

I use ANY Science Books,

Scholastic News,

MY Classroom Library,

MAGAZINES ( use Non-Fiction also ),

and One Week a MONTH…

We read a chapter book!

Their current FAVORITE!

How do we ask kids to “SEE THE PICTURES IN YOUR MIND”…

If we never teach them HOW TO?

Chapter books are GREAT!

LOTS of dicussion. Review what you read.

Make connections.

Change YOUR Speed &TONE as you read.

Remember…this generation is VISUAL & ACTIVE!

( Think Video games & Movies…)

So …draw them in with your VOICE, FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, & Reading SPEED!

THEY will LOVE IT!

They ask if it’s a chapter Book week on MONDAYS!

Read Alouds bring children into the WORLD of Imagination!

It allows them to go outside of their daily world,

into new & exciting places!

Think of reading on MOMMY & DADDY’s lap.

NOT all kids get to do that!

( Sniff..sniff)

YOU

May be the ONLY one who does that!

DO IT!

And do it WELL!

Your kids WILL LOVE YOU for it!

If you need a BALANCED LITEREACY RESOURCE…

This 154 page resource binder is AMAZING!

It has ALL of the resources you will need to

create a

BALANCED LITERACY

classroom!

Happy Fall ‘YALL!

From NorCal 🙂

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