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Showing posts with label Organization. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Organization. Show all posts

Sunday, August 10, 2014

Breezing Through Back To School



Hey friends! My blogging friends and I have put together a little Back To School Blog Hop for you!  I know you enjoyed what Kristen from A Day In First Grade had to share!!!


Last year, I really focused on getting myself organized. Organization is one of the HARDEST parts of teaching, but with the right tools, it's so much easier. We have to keep a data binder, so these inserts made my  life SO much easier!! I have to stay on top of my to do list and use my time very wisely. 
In order to make the most of my time, I try to work during lunch four out of five days a week. I take one day to enjoy lunch in the lounge or with a friend. This way, I am able to get somethings accomplished and not go crazy at the same time :) One thing that I do during my "working lunches", is I always play music softly. It helps me not feel so alone or like I'm never getting a break. I do simple but necessary tasks. I do not try to run around like my head is cut off. I'm either grading papers, sorting things or looking for lesson ideas for the next planning cycle. 
Data collection is the new driving force in education. The trick is to keep adequate data on each student without losing our minds :) I use my  Classroom Forms Binder for several things. It makes things so much easier!! I've separated my lesson plans, class roles, parent contact documentation, important IEP Information and data collection. These are key elements to my day and I have to know exactly where they are!  This way if I need to jot something down real quick, I just go to my binder, not some random sticky note that I *will* lose! I used to be the WORST at that! By having a documentation system, I'm eliminating the waste of paper and creating an environment that I can always find what I need when I need it!! 

This form is something I use during guided reading . I jot down little observations of each student as I can. It seems like a lot, but it's so much easier to write it as you are observing than to go back to it. I try to document on Tuesdays and Thursdays....in the perfect world  :) This form is separate from my running records. If we are doing a sight word activity and little Tommy has trouble with a word, I just write that word down with the date. I keep an eye on it and when he masters it, I can record the progress. This is a LIFE SAVER come parent conference time. It shows your parents that you look at each student individually and you really know and understand where each student is. 







You can check out this binder right HERE!!!


Another form I included in my binder packet is my parent communication forms. . I wanted to have documentation that my parents saw their child's grades! I use these little forms for assessments at the end of a skill. I've created several versions of this form to fit your needs. The one pictured is sorted by SOL. These are the standards we use here in VA. I have blank templates included for those of you in other states. The best part about this, is that it doesn't take up much space. I just have one bin that I keep them in. In the beginning of the year, I teach my kiddos to take these out  as well as their homework folders and put them in the bin each time they go home.  (I will show pictures once my room is set up)  If you've already purchased Classroom-Forms-and-Binder-Mega-Packet-, just visit my purchases to receive the update!

Another organization tip, is each planning day I add a new paper file to translate into binders or digital storage. I'm doing this to eventually get rid of my filing cabinet. I've arranged my binders by themes or seasons. This is so helpful because I can nicely store my binders on a shelf and the filing cabinet is no longer a dumping ground!! 

Thanks for stopping by! I just recently added a little Guided Reading FREEBIE! These little readers will make great take home books!!! Another great freebie that I found from the wonderful Jen from Teacher By The Beach is this little First Day Activities!!! 

Head on over to the ever so cute Mrs. Stanford





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Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Back To School Projects

I don't know about y'all but the end of summer is sneaking up on me! I find myself so wrapped up in what I need to to prepare for the beginning of the year that I am forgetting it's *still summer*. So I am trying to slow down just a bit! I wanted to share a few projects that I've been working on...and then I'm headed to the pool ;)
My wonderful husband offered (haha) to *help* or completely make this cute bench! First, he used left over wood to make a bench frame! 


Next, he painted the frame an off white color. 


Then, we went to the local craft store and purchased fabric and a cushion! With my teacher discount, I only spent $21!!! 
 He placed the foam on top of the board and secured it with a tad bit of contracting glue. Then he wrapped the fabric around the board and began to staple it (using a man's stapler haha).



This is the finished project! A side from letting the paint dry, it only took about 45 minutes! My husband is amazing and I can't wait to put this cute bench in my classroom! He measured it out so my fabric bins could fit right underneath it!! 



My next project has been trying to get myself completely organized for the new school year! Last year one thing that I struggled with is sending grades home after each check point. I added these forms to my Classroom Forms packet. 


I created a check point sign off sheet for each subject. This way, I have data that my parents saw their child's grades! I use these little forms for assessments at the end of a skill. I've created several versions of this form to fit your needs. The one pictured is sorted by SOL. These are the standards we use here in VA.   I use these check point folders to send home to parents to notify them of the grade their child made. This helps with my documentation because parents have to sign next to each score for their child. This way, if a parent ever claims "they didn't know" their child was performing poorly, I have documentation protecting me :)  I attach the forms in my packet to a file folder for each student, then I record their score, and send it home. The child returns the folder to me with a parent signature next to the score :)If you've already purchased Classroom-Forms-and-Binder-Mega-Packet-, just visit my purchases to receive the update!




What new ideas are you working for the new school year??

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Sunday, September 8, 2013

First Week of School and Tips for Co Teaching


Well, y'all know I've been praying about a position to come a long! School started for us last Tuesday!!! Thursday before the long weekend, I received a call, they need a long term teacher ASAP. Not a permanent, full time position, but how could I say no?!?! It was a position, working with children and that's all I've been asking for!

So it's been zero to 180 since then! I'm co-teaching 4th grade inclusion! I LOVE IT! As a primary teacher, I was SO NERVOUS about this switch. I just didn't know how I would handle the "Big Kids"!!!  I have the best teaching partners and team!!! I work with two other teachers, so technically I have two classes I'm in.  We are doing SO Many different things! I love how the students are independent yet excite about learning. 

I wanted to share with you a few tips that we are trying this year for co-teaching!!!

STAY ORGANIZED




This week, I have had to create SO many forms for documentation! I have to be organized! Organization is one of the HARDEST parts of teaching, but with the right tools, it's so much easier. 
So what did I do? I made a binder and included all of the things I need on a daily basis. Teachers these days have to document SO MUCH, and this is hard to keep up with! So I made a Classroom Forms Binder! It makes things so much easier!! I've separated my lesson plans, class roles, important IEP Information and data collection. These are key elements to my day and I have to know exactly where they are!  This way if I need to jot something down real quick, I just go to my binder, not some random sticky note that I *will* lose! I used to be the WORST at that! 







You can check out this binder right HERE!!!

It's on sale until tomorrow! 



DIVIDE UP PLANNING RESPONSIBILITIES

With co-teaching, don't forget, there is *two* of you! If one person is doing all the work, then
it's really not "Co-Teaching". My co-workers and I are trying hard to divide up the tasks. They were not sure if they would get an extra teacher, so they were used to doing everything solo! So we are now trying to work together, I just want to help them and take a load off! It's so overwhelming sometimes. So I am focusing on hands on learning activities and data collection. Data is the drive behind our instruction and it's important to know where each student is at all times. How can we effectively teach them without knowing the areas they need the most help in? We have the subjects divided up for areas that they need hands on materials. I  created a form to help me keep my activities straight and understand when and how to use each activity. We are doing a introduction lesson of whole group, then small group activities the rest of the week.  


Equal Partners

Both of my co-teachers are great at this! They don't treat me as an "assistant". The treat me as a teacher. I think this is the number one reason why our system is working! From the very first day, they've allowed me to be an active member in this process we call "education". They haven't treated me as if I was just a "temporary teacher", even though, I sort of am! They ask my opinion, advice and we work TOGETHER. We teacher TOGETHER. We help each OTHER when they other one needs it. This is KEY to Co-Teaching! You have to be a TEAM, or the students will see it, I promise you!!!




On to our lessons for the week!!! 

Author's Purpose



This  week we are focusing on Author's Purpose and Fact and Opinion!! Here are a few things we are using this week:
















Fact and Opinion







Visual Aides

I am using my chalkboard poster kit for visual aides this week!!




I'll let you know how all of these activities go, 
but that is a touch of the things we will be doing!!! So far, I'm loving 4th grade and I can't wait to share this adventure with you!!! Thanks for stopping by friends!


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