My Classroom

I have been meaning to write a post about my new classroom/office, but it's been a busy time of year so I kept putting it off! Even though many of you just started school a few weeks ago, I've been back at work since mid July! My school is year-round so we have a short summer and breaks after each 9 weeks. My Fall Break is coming in 2 weeks! HOORAY!

I wrote earlier that I have changed positions again. I'm still a Reading and Math Interventionist, but now I work mainly with Kinder and 1st grade students. (The last year and a half I worked with 2nd and 3rd graders.) I enjoyed working with different grades but I am so happy to be back with the little ones. I was a K/1 teacher for six and a half years so that's where I'm truly happy.

In addition to K/1, I also work with students with dyslexia in 2nd and 3rd. I have loved learning more about dyslexia and learning ways to teach them to read. It's amazing to see their hard work pay off! Learning to read is quite amazing! 

Since I changed positions, I moved offices at my school. I love my new office! It actually has windows! WOO! It is separated into two areas. The front area I use as my classroom where I meet with my small groups.

Here's the view when you first come in. I have a small table for my groups to sit and I use the cube bookcase to store my supplies for each group. 

 

Here's the view looking from the other way:

I have a TON of books for my classroom library so I'm glad I have room to store some of them in my classroom. I had to take a bunch home though. I just LOVE books. The kids use this area some when I'm doing a one-on-one assessment. They love to read to my octopus and Dory stuffed animals:

In the back of my classroom is a little office area. I have to do a lot of data entry and RTI plans so this is where I do most of that. I added a little display of my classroom pictures from when I was a classroom teacher: 

 

Hope you enjoyed the tour! I'm going to try my hardest to post more. My plan is to try and post twice a week: Math Mondays and Fun with Reading Fridays. We'll see how it goes! :)

My Classroom

Hey friends!!

I am SO SO SO sorry I haven't updated in so long. No matter how hard I try, my blog always gets pushed down on my to-do list. I'm hoping to do better this school year. Believe it or not, I just finished my third week of school! We are a year-round school so we start in July. Even though we have a shorter summer I love it because we get a long Fall Break and a longer Spring Break. Two thumbs up from me!!

As I said in my last post (which was FOREVER ago....) I am no longer a K/1 teacher. I am actually not even a classroom teacher anymore. My new position is a 2/3 Academic Interventionist. I work with students in small groups supporting them in Reading and Math. I also work with students who have Dyslexia and support their reading growth. I absolutely LOVE IT! It is hard work, but it is work I love. I am very fortunate.

Since everyone is heading back to school (or already there) I thought I would share with you what my classroom looks like. I moved from my old classroom into a small office since I only see small groups. It was hard downsizing but it was also a blessing. It helped me go through stuff and really get organized. I worked all summer organizing and I am really pleased with how it turned out. Here is my classroom/office:

This is where my small groups meet:

I made a place to hang anchor charts next to my small group area. I use this to display the skill of the week we are working on in Math. 

Here's my huge filing cabinet (which is stuffed...next project is to organize that! haha) with all my classroom pictures on display: 

This is my desk area where I do lesson planning and record progress monitoring data for my small groups. I also reorganized my classroom library books and teacher books:

Finally have two bookshelves where I store all my resources and games:

My old classroom had a pirate/ocean theme so I incorporated it into my office. Hope you enjoyed the pics! Stay tuned for more updates and new products!!

Organization and Classroom Management

Once again, I have to do two posts in one because I fell asleep early last night. It's my third week of teaching and I am worn out!

Wednesday's post was all about organizing for instruction. I forgot to take all the pictures I wanted so I'll try to describe what I do the best I can! 

I say this every year, but this year is the "year of organization!" I tend to be the teacher that has a lot of piles and stuff everywhere. I'm trying to cut down on that. It's the third week of school and yes, I still have some piles. But I'm definitely off to a better start than I have been in years past.

The biggest help so far has been my three binders: yearly binder, student data binder and student information binder. I bought an adorable teacher binder organization pack from Little Lovely Leaders on TpT. Here's the cover of my main binder: 

Yearly Binder Contents:

* Weekly lesson plans

* Monthly author study lesson plans

* Quarterly at-a-glances for all subjects

* Proficiency scales

* State standards (TEKS)

* Meeting notes

Student Data Binder Contents:

* Guided reading group schedule (see picture below)

* Guided reading plans (see picture below)

* Student tabs - where I file running records

* Writing conference notes

Student Information Binder Contents: 

* Student information sheets

* Parent contact record sheet

* Student emergency information

* Pocket dividers to file notes and tardy slips 

So that is how I keep track of my lesson planning and paper work. As far as materials go, this is the teacher corner of my classroom and it's where I keep the majority of what I need to teach. My wonderful teammate, Kristi, made me the table skirt so I can store a ton of stuff under the table and no one can see it. Muwahaha! :) 

 

I use these awesome drawers to keep all my copies for each day. I got the sweet labels (and more resources and ideas) from Deanna Jump's organization guide on TpT. 

I also keep first aid stuff,  snacks, chapter book sets, story telling materials, colored paper and student data back here as well. I made some labels for each thing to keep things organized. I have about 20 plastic drawers in my hallway where I keep reading, social studies, science and art supplies.

Directly behind my teacher table I have a bookcase filled with teacher resources and guided reading books. This year I organized my books by subject and I'm continuing to try and organize my files in binders. I got rid of my file cabinet this year and I haven't missed it at all! 

This is not really about organization but I put a ton of pictures above my desk of my past classes, family and friends to help brighten up my teacher area. If I'm having a rough day it helps to have wonderful reminders of the many blessings in my life right in front of me. Plus the kids love to look at the pictures of my family. :) 

Now on to today's post, which is all about classroom management! Hoo boy! This is my sixth year of teaching and I still feel like I struggle with it every day. 

At my school, we use program called Love & Logic which basically advocates for treating kids with respect and empathy and the use of logical consequences for misbehavior. For example, if a child disrupts the class and wastes our learning time, my consequence would be for them to do that work during their free center time. Another example would be if they are disrespectful to the lunch monitor, I would have them write a letter of apology to her and deliver it to her the next day. 

Each student has a take home folder and I put a monthly calendar in it on the first day of the month. If the student has a good day, they receive a sticker. If they are constantly being redirected or causing major disruptions, I will write a note home in the box for that day. My parents have to initial each night that they looked at the calendar. I will periodically allow students to get treasure chest when they have gotten a sticker all week.

I started using a fun behavior management online program called ClassDojo. Basically each kid gets an avatar and I display the full class up on our class TV. Each time I see a student on task or following directions or being a good helper, they receive a point. It makes a little ding and their name is displayed on the screen. You can also take away points, but I don't have it make a noise. The program keeps track of what each child gets so it's a great way to keep documentation (You can set it up so parents can see how their child's day was). The kids love seeing their name on the TV and it's amazing how hard they will work to earn a simple point. I just like it because I can easily give positive reinforcement without stopping what I'm doing. My teacher table is write by my computer so I can be teaching a small group and quickly give a point to someone working independently without missing a beta. It also has a timer and a name randomization tool. Oh, and it's FREE! 

For a class reward system, I have a small glass vase I call the warm and fuzzy jar. I have a bunch of pom-poms that I have glued googly eyes on and I call them warm and fuzzies. I tell the kids that each time they do something that makes me feel good (warm and fuzzy) I'll put some warm and fuzzies in the jar. For example, if everyone is on task during Daily 5 - in goes a warm and fuzzy. If they get a good report from specials teachers - in goes several warm and fuzzies. When the jar is filled, the whole class gets a prize. I try to mix it up. Some of my favorites are: treasure box, dance party, popcorn/movie and no shoes for the day. 

Finally, I have found that giving my kids jobs greatly helps with classroom behavior. Some of my toughest behavior problems love to have more responsibility in the classroom and will do whatever they can to earn a job. I have a Classroom Jobs chart (see picture below) with ten different jobs. Every Monday I rotate the kids name cards so they get a chance to do something new each week. 

Classroom Jobs:

* Line Leader (first in line)

* Door Holder (second in line)

* Light Inspector (last in line, turns off lights)

* Teacher Helper (helps me with whatever I may need)

* Supplies Manager (picks up any supplies off the floor at the end of the day/organizes tubs)

* Trash Collector (picks up trash on floor at the end of the day)

* Librarian (makes sure all books are back in classroom library)

* Messenger (takes notes/materials to other teachers for me)

* Calendar Helper (changes the calendar/weather chart each morning)

* Chair Stacker 

Please let me know if you have any questions! Click on the buttons below to check out some more fun ideas!! 

Teacher Week 2013: Meet the Teacher and Classroom Tour!

Welcome to Teacher Week 2013! (Check out Blog Hoppin' to link up!) I totally meant to post last night, but I fell asleep as SOON as I got home. Yesterday was the start of my third week of school and needless to say....I. Am. EXHAUSTED!! Since I slept through Monday night, I'll do Monday and Tuesday's post TOGETHER! :)

Monday is  Meet the Teacher so here are 10 things about me! (I'll try to be quick...)

1. I'm a first grade teacher, but I loop with my kids from Kindergarten so I get to switch grades every year! I love teaching both K and 1st because I get to see such amazing growth in my students. It's so incredible to have my kids for two years. 

2. I work with the most amazing team on the planet. Like seriously, my team is awesome. We have been together for four years and have just started our fifth year together! Aren't we cute??

3. I am the goofiest, craziest teacher. It's just my style. But I also tend to be very firm and strict in my classroom management. Not sure how that works together, but it seems to work for me. Here's a pic of me dressed up as a firefighter during our field trip to a fire station last year. I think it sums up my teaching style quite nicely! :) 

4. I have wanted to be a teacher since I was four years old. My parents said I would line up my stuffed animals for "school" and read to them. In fourth grade on career day I dressed up in an apple jumper (see picture below), wore apple earrings, an apple necklace and carried around a grade book. I graded all my friends. :) 

Oh, and did I mention my mom had a matching one? Yep. This happened. 

5. I went to Southwestern University in Georgetown,TX (Go Pirates!!) where I got my undergraduate degree in Education. I am currently at The University of Texas at Austin (Hook 'em!) where I am in the process of getting my Master's in Education. Hopefully I will be graduating in May! Almost done! I decorated my classroom last year with a pirate theme in honor of SU! 

6. My two best friends, Sarah and Allison, are the sisters I never had but always wanted. We met in college and have been inseparable ever since.  I was blessed to be a bridesmaid in both their weddings! I seriously would not have made it through college and into adulthood without them!

7. Just so you know, I have the best family in the world. Sorry, I won the jackpot. My parents are just incredible and have supported me through life's ups and downs. I also have one younger brother who I miss terribly since he moved to New Orleans. Here's some fun family pics from long ago (and not so long ago)....

(Aren't they just precious??) 

8. Speaking of family... I am very thankful to have such an amazing little brother. Here we are in our younger days...

And here he is now after he graduated from college OVER A YEAR AGO! He is now an engineer and engaged to be married! GAH! I adore his fiancee (they are high school sweethearts) and I can't wait until she is officially my sister-in-law! My baby brother is no longer a baby...

9. I have a major sweet tooth. The best way to my heart is through chocolate. :) I have been this way since probably birth....

10. My faith in Jesus is very important to me. I struggle constantly with my faith, but I am amazed at how God pursues me and draws me closer to Him. I am so thankful He led me to be a teacher. Although I don't directly talk about God to my students, I strive to show Him to my students through my actions each day and through my love for each of them. 

OK, so there is post # 1! On to #2!

Tuesday is all about the classroom. Please check out my previous post which has a full tour of my classroom this year. It's ocean themed! Here's a few pics from that post! 

Here's a view of the whole classroom!

Our front meeting area

The library and student work board

Close up of our classroom library

My teacher area

Word wall, writing center and art center

Class mural we made on the first day

Class bulletin board we made on the second day

I love my room! I finally feel like I have it the way I want it! Only took five years! :) Of course, I'm sure I'll be itching to change it around December...

If you want to link up, click on one of the pictures below!! :) Stay tuned for more posts!