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

Back To School Rush

Hey friends. I'm kinda of *stressing out*. We officially go back August 20th...that's not that long way, so I should be enjoying the last few weeks of summer...right?!?! Well, I would be, but my entire classroom is in boxes..on our STAGE!! They had to do some work in and around my classroom, so I had to pack everything up! And I'm totally worried about not having enough time to get it ready..but I gotta quit stressing' and hand it over to God. That's my plan. I'll let you know how that works haha!

So in the meantime, I've been working on things from home that I know I'll need. One classroom management system I wanted to implement is checkpoint take home folders.  In our district, we give checkpoints for Math, Science and Social Studies. I wanted an easy way to document that parents were aware of these scores.  I made these little folders for each student so that I had a quick and easy way to send home grades.  I added these to an existing product, my Classroom Forms Mega Binder. The ones shown use SOL's, but if you are not in VA, I've included a blank one to fit your needs :)

Grading System and Documentation 

Check out my Classroom Forms Mega Binder!

Classroom Decor  

My next little project is a little cosmetic surgery to my old "catch all" bin :) I just used Chevron Duct Tape that I found at Target for $1.99 in the Back To School section!!

After that, I redid my table caddies. I found these little dolls at Wal Mart for $3.00!!! I use so many of Erica's Chevron resources, so I just used a little washi tape and her Bright-Chevron-Table-Signs! I LOVE how they turned out! 

You can check out Erica's Labels Right Here!!!

Now I'm on a mission to add to me ever so growing center  collection! 

I'm lovin' my  latest creation--Back To School Literacy and Math Fun! It's loaded! This one shown is an ABC Order activity! My kiddos always love these! 

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I gave my Place Value Centers a little face lift!

I was cutting these out and my little one said he wanted to put them together--I was kinda of shocked..but I said "sure, go right on ahead"!!! He loved them! 

My little Trixie girl decided to get in the action! 

Trixie girl is holding down the fort with our Place Value Centers. 

Thanks for stopping by!

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??

Summer Giveaway

This week I read an article discussing how *some* teachers receive $400.00 to purchase their classroom supplies. I thought, *WOW*, I wish I received THAT much. But in hindsight, $400.00 is A LOT of money, but do you think it's enough to cover a YEAR of items for your classroom? I'm not sure about that!We all spend SO much of our own money year after year. I am thankful for TpT though. Because now I can purchase resources and they are always just a click away, year after year. If a center gets messed up, I can just reprint it! 

My sweet friends and I decided that our fellow teachers deserved more than what we get. We thought a little giveaway from our store might help ease the burden. We all appreciate you so much and understand that most of your purchases come right out of your own pocket!

Enter Below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spicing Up The End Of The School Year

Hey friends! I wanted to take a minute to chat about our last few weeks! The last two weeks, we've done Cara Carroll's Camping Unit! My kids LOVED this unit. I actually didn't even get to my favorite part--the skunk creativity! I wanted to take this time to review all our writing traits that we've learned this year. 

We made these adorable little camping books! My kids LOVED doing this. It was a win-win because I gave them several prompts and they just had to pick three to include in their books! You can get your free copy here

 I left a few pages blank so that you can use this product to fit your classroom needs better :) 

To spice up our guided math centers-- I whipped up these easy bottle cap math mats. I used different colors for odd and even numbers for spiral review. I have the students draw their math sentences in their journals and write a sentence telling me which numbers are even and odd.

Click HERE for your guided math freebie!

What are some ways you spice up the end of the year??

Guided Math: Word Problems and Spiral Review

The end is near friends! We have about 15 days of school left! I'm currently in that review status..but I wanted to talk a little bit about guided math and the benefits.

We have benchmarks twice a year. Our first one was in the fall (pre-guided math). My kiddos did not do well at all! It was very sad. I hadn't yet started my "guided math". In fact, I'd only had the kiddos for about two weeks (remember, I started in November). But I still hated seeing them struggle so much. So around Christmas, I implemented a full guided math program. 

I have five or six stations: technology, math literacy, manipulatives, spiral review, puzzles and hands on centers are just a few of the staples I use. 

 For one of my spiral review centers, I used my data to decide which centers my kiddos needed more of. I went with word problems. This is an area that my kiddos struggle with consistently.  What I loved, is that my kiddos were reading and doing math at the same time! I love being about to combine the two subjects! You get more bang for your buck that way! My kiddos loved using my word problem cards in guided math!

These cards are a great tool any time of the year! I'm working on a second set that I intend on sending home for summer review :)

Lego Birthday Party

This post is so NOT teaching related  but I have to share! My little guy (who is really not that little anymore ) wanted a Lego Movie themed birthday party! I thought that shouldn't be too hard considering Legos are all the rage these days...well I was WRONG! I had SUCH a hard time finding "Lego Movie" things! So thanks to Pinterest  and Etsy I was able to pull it off! My printables came from E &L Designs! They did SUCH a great job! And included a LOT of printables! I was able to print everything I needed! 

My little guy and his friends all LOVED it! My husband even joined in on the "Pinterest Fun" creating a "Lego Toss" game! 

He used a foam presentation board and just cut the circles out. My favorite part was that he hot glued Legos (Duplo Size) together to create six different pieces for the kids to toss. They loved it! 

It was a simple and easy game to create. He also hot glued the sides to be sure they would stand up :) 

My sister is known for amazing cakes. She said this wasn't her best "work" and that it's my fault because I bought the wrong materials...haha! Seeing as I called her FROM the cake isle, I will hardly take the blame haha!! But they were delicious none the less! I always wanted to be the mom that had all the homemade treats--execpt--I'm the world's WORST baker! I mean it! I stink at it!!! So my little sister has made just about every birthday cake for my children! She is amazing! She comes to where ever we are just to essentially bake a cake...and be there for the celebration of course!! 

My neighbor made the fabulous cake pops! I just printed the labels from  E & L Designs

These were SO easy! Construction paper, circles and Lego stickers! Boom! Cheap and EASY Decorations! 

Not the best pictures--my camera went wacky on me :) But you get the idea! Lego candy was a HUGE HIT!! 

My next favorite thing was the  Homemade PHOTO BOOTH! I'm totally taking this to school to use for parties and fun Friday!! 

I can't explain this picture. But it sure is funny!

He refused to take a normal picture haha!! I loved my "Lego Movie" Shirt find at Target! 

All and All--it was a blast! Had a great time with family and friends!!