I'm Back!

Guess who's back in blog-land!  Yep, I am!

First of all, let me apologize for starting up this blog enthusiastically during the summer, and then just....disappearing.  There's no excuse, except for the fact that we all know the beginning of the year is absolutely crazy!  I've been able to do semi-weekly blog updates for my classroom blog (you can find it here if you're interested)...but my "professional" blog is definitely lacking.  So, it's time I start making up for it!

Today I wanted to share a few pictures of my classroom.  It's not as neat and spotless like it was this summer, but what do you expect? It's lived in!  With as much as we try to stay organized and picked up, getting twenty-one first graders to take the responsibility to pick up after themselves is a pretty tough feat to accomplish.  Luckily, they're doing pretty good (just don't look inside their desks!)

Here's our mailbox/calendar station right when you walk in the door.  The kids put their O.W.L. binders (home/school connection binder) in the crates to the right when the come in, after taking out notes, homework, etc.

Left side of the SmartBoard...our cutesy frames for learning targets!  This was Pinterest inspired (my team refers to me as the Pinterest Queen...or maybe the Pinterest addict...).  We also have our fun Daily 5 choice posters...since we just began our choices for Daily 5 within the last few weeks.

On the right side of the SmartBoard we have our daily schedule, jobs (continuing the owl theme...the kids who aren't in my class know me as the owl teacher...gonna be hard to shake that!) and a work table with alternative seating.  My Pinterest-inspired ribbon poster has the PBIS rules...and our "secret" door between classrooms has some math tools.

Here's our word wall, bulletin boards (a math focus one, CAFE and VOICES (6 traits) and our book boxes.  You can also see our library (yay! for leveled books!) with our cute owl pillows in the middle for comfy seating during read-to-self.

Here's our Writing Workstation.  The kids keep their writing folders in the black and purple drawers (found at a sale at ShopKo last winter).  The kids always have access to pencils, erasers, four different paper choices, graphic organizers we've worked on to help focus and develop their writing, staples and tape.  I've been using No More I'm Done: Fostering Independent Writers by Jennifer Jacobson to run our writer's workshop this year, and it's been a life saver!  I love it! My kids are so engaged in writing (and actually WANT to write!) and always have awesome stories to tell.  We've been using the 6 traits too, and their ideas are blossoming into thoughtful, detailed stories.  It's so amazing to see the development in just over a month of school!

Here's my desk and guided reading area.  As you can see, it seems to be the most cluttered part of the room, but I'm working on it!  This is where the magic happens...I can't believe that the majority of my students have already jumped 2-3 reading levels! It's crazy, but so exciting.  I've been able to squeeze in my five groups each day (including one 30 minute intervention group) with the help of volunteers in our room on some days.  It's crazy how fast those kids move when we're meeting every day!  It makes me so excited to see where we'll end the year!

Here's our behavior management system.  Each student has a magnet with their name on it, and every day they start on Green--Ready to Learn.  If they make outstanding choices, they can move up: Blue--Great Choices, Pink--Excellent Effort, Purple--Outstanding Day.  If students need reminders or make poor decisions, they will move down: Yellow--Stop and Think, Orange--Consequence, and Red--Note Home.  The best thing about this system is that the kids can turn a bad choice around and move up to a better color.

Here's our fun and comfy reading nook and our Math Word Wall, where we are continually adding vocabulary words we are learning in math.  The wood organizer was a rummage sale find, and the canvas bins are from the Target Dollar Spot---excellent finds :)

I LOVE MY CABINETS!  We have so much storage, and I love that I can close them so even if they're messy inside (which they aren't yet...knock on wood!) I can close them and no one will know!  They are even labeled and completely organized...I absolutely love my Silhouette Cameo for helping me keep my room in order...in a cute way!

Another fun reading area.  The leaves and little table are from IKEA, the rainbow chairs from my wonderful parents who weren't using them anymore, and the pink lamp from my childhood :)  The kids LOVE reading here and playing math games at that short table!

All right...while it's been fun posting pictures of my classroom, it's waaay past my bedtime!  I'm embarrassed to admit that I'm typically in bed by eight...those kiddos wear me down!  So, good night and goodbye! Until next time!

Back to School Forms and Docs FREEBIES!

Hi everyone!

I have been living, sleeping, eating school stuff lately, and what a drag how exciting it's been!  I keep feeling like I should try to enjoy these last few days of no official school commitments by sleeping in, reading and relaxing, but I am constantly distracted by my ever-growing to-do list!  My plan is to get as much organization and planning done as possible so once the year starts I don't have tons of projects to be working on...especially since we will probably be closing on our house soon! (Cross your fingers for us!)

Today I wanted to share what I've spent the majority of the past few days working on.  I've been doing a lot of pinning, downloading, and re-creating of back-to-school forms that will fit my classroom.  I'm going to have a packet of information for parents for our Back-to-School Night on the 30th...(is it really only TWO weeks away?).  This packet will include:

-Welcome to Open House Letter
- Personal Letter
- Important/Quick Information sheet
- Blog info (like this blog...I've created a blog specifically for classroom use/updates for parents)
- Snack Info (asking for volunteers to bring snacks)
- Parent's are Teachers brochure
- Student info form (transportation and contact info--to be handed in that night)
- Photo/Video Release form (to be handed in that night)
- Volunteer form (to be sent back the first week of school)
- Student interest forms 1 & 2 (to be sent back the first week of school)

Click on any of the links above to grab your own copy!  These are the PDF versions...if you need an editable version let me know!

I've got most of my copies made and sorted...just need to finish my personal letter (waiting to get my email address and extension) and put together the packets now!

Other parts of our Back to School Night:
- Questions and Comments forms/bucket so the parents won't have to wait to ask me all their questions
- Form for parents to sign up to bring treats for parties
- SmartBoard Program for kiddos to choose their favorite thing about school
- Buckets for sorting the myriad of supplies students will be bringing in.  Here are some signs I'll be using for them.

Well, I hope everyone is enjoying their last few days of summer!  In a day or two I'm going to share about my new-found classroom management idea...so stay tuned!


**Disclaimer** I did not create all of these forms (the brochure or student info form) and the ones I did create were inspired by other ideas on Pinterest.  If the person who created these happens to ever read this, please let me know so I can give you credit!

A Few Project Photos!

         
Hi everyone!

I went into school today (for maybe about the zillionth time this summer!)  Even though I've spent a lot of time in my classroom this summer, it still amazes me how much work I have left to do!  It's coming together, though, and I'm so excited to meet my new set of kiddos!  So, my post today is dedicated to a few of my summer projects!

The first project I want to share are my crate stools!  I'm sure you've all seen them on Pinterest, which is where my inspiration came from.  I got the crates from Target...they had the cheapest prices I found.

The fabric I chose is from a Joann's shopping excursion with Katie and Mandy at the end of the school year!  It fits my owl theme perfectly and are super cute and comfy!  

I think my Dad really liked this project because my craft obsession is leading into "construction" (probably as close as I'll ever get!) by having to cut and sand down the wood for the seats! Here's a picture of all the crate seats at my Guided Reading table.  I think the kids will love them!

Another project I worked on were dressing up my Sterlite Drawers a bit.  I saw the link to this website on Pinterest and wanted to do this to mine, too!  

So I used my stash of cutesy scrapbooking paper and went at it.  It took a long time to get all my drawers done (I have 5 different sets) but they look super cute in my classroom!  

I'm thinking though, that since I used tape on them and they aren't super sturdy, I won't let the kids use them...they'll be for teacher-only use :)  And the cute Owl Nametags I used on them are from my amazing sisters-in-law as a birthday gift!

Sharp/Dull pencils and eraser buckets...$1 from the Target Dollar Spot and some cute vinyl cut out using my Silhouette Cameo...I love it!  I got it originally for scrapbooking but I've been using it SO much for stuff for school!  I'm worried it will wear out or break from overuse...but so far so good.  It was definitely a great purchase!

Next are some cutesy jumbo clothespin magnets.  These are also from the Dollar Spot at Target.  All I did was add two magnets to the back.  I plan to use them to hold up no-name papers, homework, or other random papers.  In this picture, you get a sneak peek at part of my behavior management system...that project is still in progress, but as you can tell, I'm totally loving the owls this year!

Last picture for the day is of my classroom library.  I made the level labels with my cutter and used contact paper to adhere them.  And, in the middle, are the adorable, super comfy and fun owl pillows. Katie and I made these the day after school this year.  As excited as I am to start a new year at New Berlin, I'm going to miss being across the hall from Ms. Frank (oops...Mrs. Beckwith now!) and sharing our fun ideas and working on crazy projects together, like pillows and decoupaged clipboards!



Thanks for stopping by and taking a look! I'm excited about all the things I've already gotten done for the start of the year, but still have a huge to-do list left!  I'll be sure to post more pictures as projects get finished, and some of my whole room once it's not such a disaster area!

Welcome!!

                           
Hi everyone!  I wanted to start this blog before the start of the school year so I can share with you my journey of beginning to teach at a new school in a new location!  I thought it would be a great way to share my experience, ideas, and pictures of my classroom and other fun stuff with my "Barabooian" friends and other teaching friends!

I don't have any pictures to share yet, but I'm in the process of a bunch of projects that I'm excited to share with you soon!  A few pictures of my classroom to come later this week, and hopefully my cute "teacher chair" will be finished later this week too!

I'd love it if you'd become a "follower" of my blog and comment often!  It will be a great way to keep in touch and share ideas!  Love you all!