The Power of POSITIVE Thinking!

Sometimes we just need to stop and reflect

This year I have been thinking hard about my job. The stressful and the rewarding moments. The good days and bad. The positive and the negative. I think it is time to reflect and here are questions I've asked myself. Now,  ask yourself: What makes you want to go to work every day? Do you want to make a difference in your students' lives? How can you find the positive in a stressful day/week at work? My biggest challenge is finding the balance between work and my personal life. It is extremely important to realize you can't do it all, even if you're used to doing so much every day! Take time to step away. Think about your day and go over the details in your mind. How could you have improved? Is there something you would change or do differently? Guess what... We have Monday through Friday to "perfect" and self reflect. Teach your students that it is ok to make mistakes because that's how we learn! As teachers, it is important not to forget this concept! Strive to be there for your students 100% every day. Do everything in your power to be your absolute best. You can't be better than your best.  

Don't give up on yourself or your students! 

Even if they're not on their best behavior or you are tired/sick/upset, tomorrow is a new day! No matter what, you are shaping their minds. You are giving them life lessons. You are a role model and the person who spends every day helping them learn from their mistakes. We've all had good and bad days. So have your students.  Part of life is learning how to deal, move forward, and let it go. Sometimes it helps to talk to someone. We need our fellow colleagues/family/friends but our students need us. We need to remember we are all in need of guidance and attention. Stay positive because life is short! 

Mid Year, Made It!

It's not the beginning anymore but it's certainly not the end either. There is only one week left before winter break!!!! Here are four things that are on my mind:

1. That means after I survive this last week, with the ERD days, a field trip, McDonald's night, parent conferences, and let's not forget crazy children, I have 2 weeks off. Should I go through and organize my classroom before it's left untouched in it's current state?

2. Report cards are due right after the break...should I start them next week or wait until the break? Not that doing work on my personal break is fair either. I want to think smart but not overachieve. 

3. We still have things to cover in class that requires their full attention. Incentives need to be offered each day so they continue wanting to learn before they turn their brains off for 2 weeks!

4. I know I have "some" parents that are going to want their students to continue to practice their skills over the break. I need to start getting things together so I can make a winter break learning packet.

Phew! I'm sure there are more things that will pop into my mind before then... but for now, these are my top 4 thoughts and priorities.

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Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Break: A WEEK OFF!

Lately, I haven't been feeling like myself. And I'm not talking about being sick with germs. Normally I take my job very seriously and I always want to do my absolute BEST. I'm obsessed with work in a good way. It always seems that we (teachers) work so hard to feel caught up or just getting the work done. I love my students even if they can drive me nuts. I love being able to make a difference in their lives. But this year has had so many changes and challenges: to the actual job, the county, my team, new class, etc. Things are very overwhelming and I don't want to lose my love of teaching. I always say I would love my job if I could actually "do" my job. This break I, of course, could find things to complain about, things that need to be better/changed...but I am thankful for my friends and family. I have a job, even if it is stressful and intense. Even if I am starting to lose my positive thinking and strength, I have to always say things will get better! :) Remember to give thanks for what you have.  

Check out my Pinterest page and TPT store for inspiration if you are feeling this is a needed break from school but you have a tiny voice in your head that says come on, just peak around at ideas! I know you want to see what's out there! :)

Priorities

PRIORITY: a thing that is regarded as more important 

than another.

For teachers:

It is important that we remember to set reachable goals. Don't try to accomplish everything all at once. It's not going to happen and it's going to stress you out. I'm guilty of this. 

Pick something, anything, that you want to get "DONE" and make that your priority for the day. Either grading a stack of papers, finishing next week's lesson plans, putting in copies, etc. 

For me, I try to do "too much" all the time and it sometimes hits me worse than other times. It's a reminder that I'm not superwoman. I have to set attainable goals that I can actually accomplish each day. I try to work ahead or stay late and get things done. It is not worth the stress and extra energy. Just do the best you can that day and move on. There is no need to worry about small things that don't have to be done. Decide what NEEDS TO BE DONE and do it. The rest can wait...write it on a sticky (on make a giant list on a sticky note) and prioritize!!! 

This Week:

1. Homework Club (Rewarding students who actually consistently do their HW)
2. Positive Referrals (Don't forget those good kids)
3. Parent Conferences (Now let's not forget to remind the parents they need to do their job too)
4. As always, keep things organized. Don't leave things untouched in a pile. File it, save it for later, do what you need to do. Just keep things where they belong and add it to the "TO DO list"

Teachers Work Hard!

New 4th Grade Team:

I will be posting ways that I am trying to manage my teacher tasks, lesson plans, copies, data, and more! :)

VISIT MY STORE FOR IDEAS: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Passion-For-Teaching 

Managing Stress At Work

This is something I have always had a difficult time with!

• Teacher Stress TIPS click here!

• 15 Stress-Busting TIPS click here!

• Interesting article click here.

The hardest things for me are SAYING NO (because I'm a helper and I like to go above and beyond)  

&

HAVING A BALANCE between work and personal to do lists. I always do too much "work" at once.

Sometimes I worry that I LOVE my job a little too much. I stay late EVERY DAY... just about. I put in extra activities and lessons for my co-workers. I share resources constantly and sometimes make them from scratch. I enjoy helping my colleagues, putting in extra effort for students, and organizing my materials... But I need to learn when to STOP and understand that everything DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT! 

Literacy Centers & Guided Reading!

Dollar Tree and Target are my best friends for school items! 

I'm so excited I found Elmer's paint pens on clearance for 98 cents a piece at Target. So, I bought every color. I use these to write their names on the desks instead of using name tags that are ruined after a month of school. The paint pens come off easily with Lysol and last all year long!

Center and Guided Reading BASKETS!

I have to have an organizational system for

 everything! Since I have 4 guided reading groups, I use colored bins from the Dollar Tree to make things easier on everyone. Sometimes I change the colored bins but here is what I'm using this year:

Panthers --> Red bin

Bulldogs--> Orange bin

Sharks--> Green bin

Eagles--> Blue bin

These colorful bins help the students know where they can find books at THEIR LEVEL. Each guided reading group has a specific color. When I call each group, I use one set of these bins to hold their guided reading materials and books at my table. I use a second set of these bins (on the other side of the room) for their center books. This system is so helpful because it allows me to differentiate centers and gives the students practice at their level without interrupting me during guided reading. 

Center Rotation Schedule 

I use a PowerPoint slide, that I update weekly, to help students see what center they should be working on for that day. The first few weeks it displays the students who are in each group until they remember their group name. Monday through Friday each group is assigned ONE CENTER EACH DAY. I color code the 4 groups so the students know which part of the chart belongs to them. For the leveled readers center, I use the same colors as their guided reading bins!

Here are typical weekly centers:

1. Computer (Pearson)
2. Word Work (Spelling)
3. Vocabulary NB (Reading Words)
4. Writing (Journal and other)
5. Leveled Readers (Reading Street)

On the computer, I can assign activities from Pearson, a program we use to access their reading textbook and other resources. Word work is a front and back word sort page that goes along with their weekly spelling words from Pearson. Vocabulary notebook is where they write down the definitions and examples of their reading vocabulary. They need to practice using the glossary to find the definitions and then think of a creative sentence to use the vocabulary word. Writing is usually a journal prompt that I give them. They write down the prompt and answer it in their center notebook. Example Prompt: If you were the teacher, how would you run your classroom? Be specific and provide examples. The writing center can also be more time to work on their writing from classwork. Leveled readers are mini books that go along with the Reading Street series we use. I have readers for ELL, concept, below, on, and above level. All I would do is select the appropriate level that would go with that group and put a set of books in their COLORED center bins. 

Guided Reading Schedule 

I only have one hour of guided reading/centers allotted in my schedule. So each group would only have 15 minutes if I called all the groups daily. I try to call my below and medium level groups daily. And my high group a couple times a week. The first two weeks of school I go over how to complete the centers and what to do when their guided reading group is called. PROCEDURES ARE VITAL TO SUCCESSFUL CENTERS. I make my students tell me every day that they may NOT come up to me while I'm at the guided reading table. They can ask 3 before me if they need help. I also allow them to work with their group if they are getting stuck. It is important that they know I have high expectations for them so they are not wasting an hour of center time socializing instead of completing a valuable practice center.

I hope to keep this system going. Classroom pictures are coming soon! :)