Super September

So HAPPY to have made it through the first 3 weeks of school!

Here is my latest project: Updating my beach chairs under my umbrella for silent reading. And, adding the literacy VOICES and CRAFT strategies to my cabinets. It is acting like a bulletin board for my students to refer to throughout the day. I also am using the RACE reading response strategy with them. These 5th graders are incredible and have accomplished so much already!

As promised, I will be uploading pictures of my classroom. I am in love with certain bulletin boards, reading nooks, signs, décor, and other areas of my room! I hope to continue to find my groove and improve the set-up. This year is off to a great start. I'm remembering one key thing - prioritize! Remember what is MOST important to tackle first and then add the rest to a "to-do" list. It's so helpful and keeps me sane! :)

Meet the Teacher 2016-17

New school year, new grade level, and new team!

This week is my pre-service week. It's the week before school starts for the students. Teachers are running around unpacking and setting up their classrooms, while going to meetings, putting in copies, and writing lesson plans in between. Tomorrow is meet the teacher and I wanted a new template that I could just fill in. I love that Pinterest is my go to teacher search engine. I found this beautiful FREE template (credit: At Whit's End).

Just wanted to share! Classroom pics coming :)  

 

 

Proud to announce I just finished my blue and green classroom banners! Check out the new product on my TPT Store. Click HERE for the editable PowerPoint.

Summer Read - MUST!

If you can believe it, my favorite book - HARRY POTTER - has finally produced another story!

I'm thrilled to have been a part of the HP movement. It really touches a part of me and I will always LOVE the HP adventures. I went to Barnes and Noble at midnight to purchase the new release: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - Parts 1 & 2!

For me, the love of reading started with this series. I also liked the Twilight series, but this transported me to the most imaginative place. It made me wish to my bones magic exists and that I could be a part of the wizarding world. In my heart, magic will always be whatever you believe in. I highly recommend this book, which is a screen play, for all Harry Potter fans or those who enjoy fantastic stories. My students, and future children, will hear about all the wonders and stories these books encompass. I hope to instill a love of imagination, or love of reading, to anyone who hasn't found it yet. It was truly wonderful to see a line wrapped around the entire second floor at Barnes and Noble. People of all ages from grandmas to grandchildren, and everyone in between. These books have made a huge difference in my creative thinking and excitement for fantasy. I hope the excitement NEVER ENDS...

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