Change is in the air

My classroom is DONE AND DONE!

Another year is completed at my awesome school SLE! I can't believe it. I just found out I'm going to be changing grade levels as well. Moving up from 4th grade to 5th grade.

 

I'll miss my new team too! But will enjoy a change. It is similar to the content in 4th. Change is always a bit scary but I'm going to try to embrace it.

 

 

May Madness Teacher Organization

Things to do at the END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR:

1. Go through old files (paper copies, digital, and other resources)
2. Cleanse the room by purging resources you haven't used all year or are no longer valid. Sometimes students love to take the stuff you no longer want!
3. Inventory your supplies
4. Make a to-do list for what the students still need to accomplish and what YOU need to submit.
5. Pick one task a day that you can accomplish so by the last day you will be relaxed and ready to turn in your keys.

Pictures coming soon!

#Wise Words Quote of the Week

Feeling inspired by another creative soul, like myself, Miss 5th. She has a neat Keep the Quote idea but I have modified it to fit my classroom. So I am doing a weekly quote: #Wise Words!

Passion For Teaching on Twitter
https://twitter.com/ms_lstephenson

This year my school is really trying to get teachers and parents involved in TWITTER. Posting pictures, videos, ideas etc. of what is going on in the classroom. I want to post pictures each week of my wise words! It will be a quote written by someone and then the students hand in to me. I will choose 1 quote to write out and for 5 days (Monday - Friday) they get to see who is demonstrating those wise words. We choose together who will get to keep the quote, while I post on twitter! Each week I will choose a quote from the students and write it. This process will repeat so it builds a positive classroom community, self-confidence, and a special bond between the students. My hope is to keep them motivated and inspired to learn each day!

How I use #WISE WORDS in the classroom!

1. Tell your students to think of (or look up at home) a QUOTE that means something to them or gives a positive, motivating message.
2. Have them write it down on a slip of paper and place it in a quote jar, basket, etc... this way you have all the quotes you need for a few months. They can always put in more than one quote if they find a couple they love!
3. You (the teacher) will then select a quote to write in fancy lettering. Tell them that the student who exemplifies the quote or shows the quote the most during the week can keep the quote. They can actually get to take it home with pride.
4. Here's the part that can be time consuming; once you pick the quote, you have to actually WRITE or DRAW IT! Since I love different handwriting ideas and drawing, I will add my own artistic touches instead of just writing it in the handwriting the students see every day. This really excites them!
5. You could choose their quote on Friday's for the next week. So you have to write the quote on a piece of chart paper and then it's ready for the week ahead. Then on Friday, at the end of the week, the class votes on who is demonstrating those wise words! That student will take the quote.
6. You can do this so each student gets the opportunity to demonstrate the wise words. That way, every student can "keep the quote" and feel good about themselves!

See Miss 5th's Instagram for how she does this. I was inspired by her keep the quote idea but changed it for my class to integrate the #hashtag for my school's Twitter kick and the name Wise Words because my classroom theme is OWLS! Get it, "wise" words! :)

Since it is something brand new for my class, I will be choosing the first quote. That way, when the students arrive on Monday, the quote will be hanging up for them to see. Then I can introduce it by explaining how they get to keep the quote at the end of the week. I will also say why I chose that quote, so it means something to them. But the whole point is for the students to take ownership on what quotes are meaningful and touches their hearts. I can't wait to post more pictures once I set this up I my classroom!

Here is the first quote I'm doing, "Be somebody who makes everybody feel like a somebody." By: Kid President 

 

@PassionForTeaching

Remember to check out my Instagram and Twitter pages to see how I use Wise Words in my classroom! Hope you feel inspired to build your classroom community!

*Please link back and post pictures of your #WiseWords to let me know how it goes for you!

My NEW PRODUCT on TPT!

I'm so excited to have made a chalkboard (black and white) homework banner for my classroom! I decided I wanted a change...something completely different! Something, shockingly, NOT IN COLOR!

I'm hoping this is helpful for you too! I can't wait until I get back from Spring Break so my students can see the new design on the bulletin board.

I'm feeling inspired! :)

Click here to get this product on TPT!

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chalkboard-Homework-Banner-2452206

Follow me on INSTAGRAM!

Happy to ANNOUNCE:

https://www.instagram.com/passionforteaching/

I now have a teacher Instagram account! I'm going to try my best to finally post those pictures of all the things I'm doing in my classroom! I want to share but it's so hard to find the time. I honestly have no idea how so many amazing teachers can write on blogs daily, create new items on TPT so frequently, keep pinning new ideas, and post pictures on Instagram showing all of the cool things they are doing. TEACHERS ABSOLUTELY AMAZE ME! #teachersfollowteachers

I'm proud to be a teacher. There is so much hard work involved in the day to day routine. There are times I've had enough and I'm stressed out to the max. But there are also times, like while on a nice break, where I get inspired again. I can't believe how many resources, encouragement, creative ideas, etc. teachers are sharing these days. I've always thought of myself as an overachiever but I am NO WHERE NEAR as far along as some of the bloggers or TPT'ers I stumbled upon today. I'm doing this more for me but want to be able to help or inspire other teachers too!

I'd love to reach so many people and constantly be writing on here (and my MANY other social media sites) about what I'm doing with my students and in my classroom, then posting pictures. It's truly incredible! I don't know why there aren't more hours in a day. If there were, I'd probably have time to do all the "extra teachery" things I aspire to do in the back of my mind. I may be just starting out here but I'd love to start sharing what I'm doing in my classroom. I pride myself on my organizational skills and how efficient my routines are. I'm constantly creating new things and using them with my class and other classes. For now, all of my resources will have to be released when I find the time (which is on my to-do list). Hopefully if I can make this my hobby when I get home, I'll feel more enthusiastic every day going to work instead of so-so or burnt out.

*It is that time of year when things are starting to settle down a bit though because we're about to start the last quarter. At least that's how I'm now feeling. Yay for breaks! :)



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YOUTUBE

Keep Calm, Spring Break is ALMOST here!

It's that time of year again!

All of the teachers I've talked to have told me how tough this year has been. I can definitely agree. I've been pushed to my limits but I'm still going. It's supposed to be hard...it wouldn't be worth it if it wasn't. Hard work pays off in more ways then one. For me, I can't wait until I have a week off to rest and rejuvenate. I hope that this year I can think of some new organizational ideas for my classroom (which I do all the time), de-stress a bit (which I need to do desperately), and realize that everything I've been doing with my students is paying off (even if it's hard to tell sometimes)! Hopefully if I get inspired I will add some new items or freebies to my TPT store to share with you. 

For now, I see the light at the end of the tunnel and I can make it through all of the busy teacher duties/responsibilities. I want to keep up my energy even if I've been battling the flu or parent conferences. There is a reason I keep going to work every day... it's for the kids! I dedicate my life to helping my students succeed and teaching them lessons, including values, so they can survive in the "real world". I need to remember that this job is not easy and even when it gets crazy, I've got this and I can't ever give up because I've got people counting on me to be there for them. 

Life only happens once! 

Tracking Student Data

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Why should students track their progress?

This school year I made student data binders for the first time! On the binder spine, I labeled them with numbers (i.e. Student #1, #2, #3 etc.) that way I don't have to change the names EVERY YEAR thereafter. I also created a Table of Contents page that helps the students stay organized under each divider tab. For each tab, I have created a student tracking sheet. This allows students to write their test score and then create a bar graph for each assessment/assignment. I made one of these tracking sheets for each subject that I teach. It is a "work in progress" because I have it labeled with "Test 1" (the name of the test) not the Standards/Learning Goals per quarter.

On graphing day, students will receive their graded tests back to see their scores. They will be able to file the assessment under the correct tab and then create a bar graph on their tracking sheet. At the end of each quarter, they will have a binder full of tests, quizzes, and other assessments used throughout the year per subject. That way they don't have to keep them in a disorganized pile of doom inside their desks or other sloppy filing system that takes up counter space! The binders seem to be working pretty well for my class so far. 

In my experience so far, the binders were great for student led conferences, parent conferences, IEP meetings, PLC meetings, and other data progression discussions. It's very simple to quickly grab the student binder I need since it has ALL the test scores for every subject! 

Pictures: I will be posting pictures of how I am using data binders and tracking sheets soon!