A New Year--A New Chance to Change Lives

I am always so excited to start a new school year.  It's one of my favorite times of the year.  I am constantly looking for new ways to spark that flame of knowledge for my students.  As I reflect over last year, I am eagerly looking forward to making changes that I hope will increase student achievement.

It all begins with the classroom environment.  So this is what I did for this year!!

Books organized by Author's last name,
colors, and collections.

On top, Easy Reader Picture books
and Clifford collection.

Reading Nook with books mainly related to science and non-fiction selections.  Also, bottom row contains chapter books and read aloud selections that I might choose.

In the center of the room is two book
carts with a big book cart and this will
be the word work station.  

Other side of word work station.  The
yellow bins will contain that weeks
lessons. (The green recycle bin will
be moved to the end--I was painting
shelves :)

This shelf holds easy readers, sight word readers, and all of our literacy games and small group teacher led activities.

This is the writing table.  It is slanted like a drafting table with a roll of primary paper to draw and write stories.

This is the other side of the writing table with all of the supplies to make letters, cards, and other notes.    (if you notice in the background--you can see the other teacher essentials--air popper, coffee pot, refrigerator, and there's a microwave too)

This is the room from the door way.  We have round tables this year.  I am way excited.  I hate desks.  

This is the Smart Board and group instruction area.  The blue binders under the Smart Board are individual data notebooks.  The bins on the shelf to the right hold our mini iPads.  We have 4 of them!

This is our Daily 5 options.  Because of the dynamics of our classroom and student abilities.  I separated the Daily 5 across two content areas.  Part of them are during reading and part are during writing.  

This year I am using a workshop model for math and have three stations for them to visit each day.  They include At Your Seat, Math Facts with iPads, and Meet with Teacher. 

This is our I Can wall.  Above the statements are three circles to help us focus on a number of the day (recognition), sight word of the day, and letter of the day (recognition and sound).

This is on our door.  It is our classroom jobs for the year.  We do classroom jobs on Fridays and they earn Carrico Cash for completing them.  It is one way to keep our room spotless.  :)

This is also on our door.  We have our line order, bus order, and Friday Activity to help build the excitement and promote good behaviors.  

Another group instruction area.  This is mostly used for writing.  The black bins with blue labels hold our interactive notebooks for each content area.  We will be using these in all areas.  I love them!

This is the listening center.  We have cassettes and CDs.  I keep them at home since I have about 300.  I change them out weekly.

This is our data wall.  We will track STAR early literacy scores, sight words, and math fact fluency.                                               

This shelf is right inside the door.  It holds the students take home bins.                                                                                                              

This is a quick glimpse into my space for the year.  Maybe next week I will have more energy to add some links to some great products I used to help.  

Hope everyone has a fantastic first day and super fun year!!

A QUICK WEEK IN REVIEW

Wow!  A 5 day work week...exhausting.  LOL  I was really impressed by how well the kids did during our first long week back from winter vacation.  Just goes to show you how much they need us!

We had an amazing week academically.  My kiddos showed improvements in 3 out of 4 data wall assessments.  Every week we assess sound fluency, sight word recognition, number recognition, and number writing.  We improved in all areas except for number recognition.  Not bad!  That tells me that my changes to our literacy block is helping with sight words and sound fluency.  Gotta keep that trend going.

Donorschoose.org
If you have not checked out this page...it is a teacher must.  I had my 8th project funded this week.  The last $87.00 was funded by two complete strangers, one from IN and one from WA.  It is a great opportunity to get much needed items for your classroom.  There are also lots of funding pages to help out.  The ones I use are:
www.donorschoose.org/specialactsofkindness
www.donorschoose.org/caringclassrooms
http://www.donorschoose.org/Send-A-Smile
http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/viewChallenge.html?id=356310&active=true (All About the Kids on Donorschoose)

They are always running contest to fund projects and have a chance for your project to be featured on their page.  Right now I am on Special Acts of Kindness giving page and All About the Kids on Donorschoose.  For only a $1.00 donation (it usually costs me more because I cannot just choose one project to help, gotta help them all) its a big opportunity to get your project in front of a lot of people!
Take a look at my current project:  Creative Expressions

On a personal note--I start class number 2 out of 12 for my Ed. Specialist in Administration tomorrow.  Hope this goes as smoothly as the last one.  Wish me luck!!

On to my personal book study--Todd Whitaker's What Great Teachers Do Differently.  

1. Why Look Great?
2. It's People, Not Programs
3. The Power of Expectations
4. Prevention Versus Revenge
5. High Expectations--for Whom?
6. Who Is the Variable?
7. Ten Days out of Ten
8. The Teacher Is the Filter
9. Don't Need to Repair--Always Do Repair
10. Ability to Ignore
11. Random or Plandom?
12. Base Every Decision of the Best People
13. In Every Situation, Ask Who Is Most Comfortable and Who Is Least Comfortable
14. What About Those Darn Standardized Tests?
15. Make It Cool to Care
16. Clarifying Your Core

Chapter 3:  The Power of Expectations
"Students are experts at cost-benefit analysis:  If I skip one hour of class, I'll have to go to two hours of detention.  Is it worth it? (How many of my buddies will be in detention?" (page 19)  The purpose of consequences is to encourage positive behaviors.  The consequence should be natural given the behavior and it should be slightly uncomfortable.  That does not mean it should be punishment.  Clear expectations should be set at the beginning of the year for both the students and the teacher. The expectations should never waiver.  The higher the expectations, the better behaved the students will be.

Have a great week!

OMG! Science Kits Are So Much Fun

Just broke out a new science kit...Force and Motion.  It was amazing.  The best part is we completed a week long unit with all projects and only one worksheet, the assessment.  It included activities for literacy, math, art, science, and social studies connections.  We completed an activity across almost every content area.  We also made a class book (and you know how I love those!!).  Here is a picture of one of our marble runs that we did as we discussed push, pull, friction, gravity, and acceleration.

 Students learned vocabulary, we did classroom experiments with ramps marbles and cars, then they created their own marble run using various materials available.  It was amazing watching them make turns, bumps, and tunnels for the marbles.  They also had to decide how much of an incline their ramp needed to be to keep the marble on the track.  Very proud of them!!

Update on New Year's Goals:

• Increase sight word recognition--improving...I made sight word Bingo cards specific to each child; leveled so they can move up when mastered
• Increase fluency--still working on this, too early to tell
• Increase number sense--we have worked super hard this week...been using centers to count objects to 10, add single digit numbers to 10 with manipulatives, and focusing on reading number 11-30
• Increase FUN--Absolutely!!!

Remember my book that I am reading to keep focused on why I do what I do (and how to do it)?  Still referencing Todd Whitaker's What Great Teachers Do Differently.  

1. Why Look Great?
2. It's People, Not Programs
3. The Power of Expectations
4. Prevention Versus Revenge
5. High Expectations--for Whom?
6. Who Is the Variable?
7. Ten Days out of Ten
8. The Teacher Is the Filter
9. Don't Need to Repair--Always Do Repair
10. Ability to Ignore
11. Random or Plandom?
12. Base Every Decision of the Best People
13. In Every Situation, Ask Who Is Most Comfortable and Who Is Least Comfortable
14. What About Those Darn Standardized Tests?
15. Make It Cool to Care
16. Clarifying Your Core

Looking at Chapter 2--we are constantly getting new programs, discarding old ones, etc, etc, etc.  How come great teachers have success with whatever program they are teaching and ineffective teachers struggle with whatever program they are teaching?  According to the book it's because its about the people not the programs.  Great teachers find success in whatever classroom they teach in, whatever students are on their roster, and with whatever resources they have.  Another key phrase in the chapter is:  It's not what you do, it's how you do it.  Classroom management and relationships are very important.  Praise and rewards work well, but it's how appropriately and effectively you do it.  

Just food for thought!!  Loving my job this week!!

 

New Year--New Goals

New Year's Resolutions...Do you have them?  At home or at school or both?  I think about having them at home, even pinned a few ideas on Pinterest.  But how many people really keep their goals until December 31?  I would bet the average person loses sight of their goals by March 1st.  At school, however, I always have goals.  The only difference is they usually run from August 1st through July 1st.  I get one month to readjust for the new year.  HAHAHA!!

Here's my goals for home this year...and how am I going to do it.

• Increase savings.  My plan--52 Week Savings Plan
• Increase healthy eating habits.  My plan--Healthy Snacks and portion control.
• Increase exercise.  My plan--Workout Plan

My goals for the rest of the school year:

• Increase sight word recognition
• Increase fluency
• Increase number sense
• Increase FUN

Wondering how I am going to do that?  Me too!!  Really, I have a plan.  First I had to revisit some of my readings, such as Todd Whitaker's What Great Teachers Do Differently.  If you have never read this book, the chapter headings say enough.

1. Why Look Great?
2. It's People, Not Programs
3. The Power of Expectations
4. Prevention Versus Revenge
5. High Expectations--for Whom?
6. Who Is the Variable?
7. Ten Days out of Ten
8. The Teacher Is the Filter
9. Don't Need to Repair--Always Do Repair
10. Ability to Ignore
11. Random or Plandom?
12. Base Every Decision of the Best People
13. In Every Situation, Ask Who Is Most Comfortable and Who Is Lease Comfortable
14. What About Those Darn Standardized Tests?
15. Make It Cool to Care
16. Clarifying Your Core

Chapters 2-15 are the 14 Things That Matter Most.  The one I am focusing on the most right now is Chapter 14.  Standardized tests are important, but most important is teaching missing skills.  I am focusing on the real issue of student learning.  I have changed my schedule and created centers and groups.   My focus is literacy.  Starting with sight words and fluency through small group direct instruction, listening centers, and guided sight words centers.  I will keep you posted on how that turns out!  I am giving it 3 solid weeks and reevaluating my plan.  The second chapter I am revisiting is chapter 12.  With all of the changes in our building, it is a great reminder to make decision based on great teaching!!

Just a little reminder of how important planning and thinking is every day, even during breaks.  Yes, relaxation is good, but I relax better when I have everything planned!  Happy New Year!

1st Quarter Blues

Is it true?  It can't be?  1st quarter already nearing the end????  It seems like you spend so much of first quarter setting the path for the rest of the year...and you should too, BUT then it comes time for the first quarter grade reports and I am wondering how I am going to fill them in.  Grade cards have changed so much this year.  I feel like I will be winging it this time around.  Never mind that I feel like I am not ready to grade on much of my units, especially in Social Studies.  Writing and reading are so much easier to grade.  I spend most of my time on this and work samples are readily available.  Oh well, gotta do what I gotta do.

Now on to better thoughts!  I just went to a CPI conference on Enhancing Verbal Skills.  It was fantastic!  I learned so much and validated even more of what I know.  It's almost frightening how much power just our verbal skills have when dealing with students.  We have the power to de-escalate or escalate any given situation at any time.  It is going to be exciting sharing this new information with staff.  I just can't wait.  Some of my favorite phrases I heard this week were:

Be quick to listen and slow to speak when intervening in a crisis.
You think you know what I said.  But what you don't know is, what I said is not what I meant.
Crisis reveals character...ours!


Just some food for thought!

Busy, Busy, Busy...

The first weeks of school are always so busy.  Meetings, planning, meet the teacher night, curriculum night, professional development...the list goes on and on.  To top it off, I am out in the back this weekend.  Last training must of did me under.  Bummer.  So much to do today and so little done.  Guess it will have to wait.

So the best part of school so far--Daily 5 and departmentalizing our classes.  I absolutely love being able to focus on Reading, Writing, and Social Studies this year K-5.  I began using Daily 5 and love it! The kids seem to enjoy the opportunity to choose their own learning for that day.  Here are some links to my favorite resources:
        Daily 5 Rubric
        Daily 5 Posters--I use western theme but they have a huge selection of free themes available.
        Favorite back to school bulletin board.
        Pen Pals with my Joplin friends.
       
Hopefully I can get back to blogging every Sunday starting next weekend.  Have a super fun week, I know we will :)

Looking Good, Feeling Great!

The start of the year is always so exciting.  The transformation from blah to spectacular is amazing.  New carpet has been a blessing to help decrease sound.  Students are loving the new schedule of rotating teachers for specific subjects.  I am loving teaching reading, writing, and social studies only.  I enjoyed math and science, but it is sooooo nice being able to focus on fewer subjects and digging deeper in those areas.  I don't feel nearly as stretched.

For some reason I am unable to add photos of the before and after transformation, but trust me...quite a difference.

Best Pinterest idea I have used so far this year...new student packets.  I prepared two of them, just didn't expect to have to use them the second week of school.  Normally students aren't placed in a district program so soon, but we have had some transfers from other districts.  Glad I was prepared. Thanks for the idea!!

This year, I am looking forward to starting Pen Pals with some friends from Joplin.  I hope the kids enjoy this as much as I am going to.  I will keep you posted on how this goes.

Today's TPT find was daily behavior sheets hourly and by subject.   We have made some significant changes in our elementary classrooms this year.  I am hoping these help those teachers with our most needy kiddos.  They are completely editable and best of all...FREE!

Hope you all have a fantastic year.  So far it is starting of great for us :)