Thank Goodness for the Help of Loved Ones!

When it comes to my classroom, I prefer to "putter."  I like to take little bits of time to get my classroom together and fortunately I am allowed in the building over the summer -- though heat can be a problem, depending on if the air is on.  I was also fortunate because our wonderful custodians cleaned the 4th grade rooms and carpets first. :)  So, I have been to my classroom several times over the summer to move furniture into its place, put up new borders on bulletin boards, do a little laminating, etc.  My husband and my teammate's husband even spent time in there doing the heavy lifting, hanging fishing line from the ceiling, etc.

My sister and great-niece are visiting this week and we pretty much had a "family afternoon" at the school - lol.  My sister helped organize my bulletin board letters, my niece helped organized some of my junk supplies, my husband and son hung stars from the ceiling and helped move heavy boxes or books from place to place, and my sweet daughter got my classroom library unboxed, organized, and on the bookshelves (this has been her job all 7 years of my teaching). 

So while my classroom is far from "finished," I wanted to share a few photos showing progress and giving a "shout out" to my wonderful family, who always pitches in to help.  I couldn't do it without them!

My sister, Annette, and my husband, Trey, hanging stars.

My sweet niece organizing that mess.  (Forgot the after picture :/)

My darling daughter trying to organize the library.

We need a few more baskets and I will label, but YEA!

Really, he DID work, but my son is taking a reading break :)

Job Board and Family Board are done!

Many more hours to spend, much more to do, but progress is taking place and we had a few laughs along the way.  Thank you to my amazing family!!

You Say You Need A Writing Freebee For The 1st Week of School??

It is time to start gathering ideas, writing lesson plans, making copies, BUYING SCHOOL SUPPLIES (I LOVE SCHOOL SUPPLIES!!)  It's the most wonderful time of the year (feel free to sing along)...when we are all full of new ideas, positive energy, and BIG plans for the school year to come.  We are relaxed (hopefully). Well, actually new teachers are probably not so relaxed as petrified... and ready to start a new year fresh -- gonna meet your new "Babies," "Kiddos," "Chickadees. :)

Anyway, I thought I would try my hand at this whole "Freebee" thing.  I hope I can figure it out so I can share like so many of you do :) 

A Bio Poem is a perfect way to get to know your students and have them get started with the Writing Process.  Be sure to model for your students before they begin, or better yet, fill yours out (overhead or document cam) with the students as you go.  They need to see you as a writer!  Don't forget to "make a few mistakes" along the way, so they can "catch you" and you can model how "everyone makes mistakes" and that is OK in your classroom.  (I normally don't have to TRY to make a mistake - I'm pretty good at it - lol.)  You are wanting to create an environment where everyone feels safe to be his or herself.  Next, use whatever tools are customary in your classroom to model and have students revise and edit their drafts.  This is an excellent time to hand out those "personal spelling dictionaries," or teach a mini-lesson on dictionary skills, editing marks, or just about any revise and edit lesson that is appropriate for the first of the year.  MODEL EVERYTHING - I cannot say this enough!

The next step is VERY important for your first writing assignments of the year:  Set your expectations HIGH.  Be sure your students know that when they publish their writing, they always do their Personal Best!  They use their best handwriting, they focus and copy correctly, and one of our writing mottos in my class:  BEFORE I TURN IN, READ AGAIN!  They are authors and authors would never publish something that wasn't their best. 

Finally -- SHARE!!!  At the first of the year, I am careful not to MAKE students read their writing aloud if they are not comfortable, but of course I pull out the author's chair and give those who want to share the opportunity.  This is the time to set those HIGH expectations again for how we share, and how we LISTEN and RESPOND when someone else shares.  One way I have done this is "Comments and Questions," where I allow a certain number of comments and a certain number of questions after each student shares.  I will blog about this and other sharing ideas in a later blog at some point. 

I have included a "Final Draft" page for students to use to publish their poems.  You can display these or put them in the students' portfolios.  Parents LOVE to read them at Curriculum Night or Open House.  I keep all final drafts at school and send them home in the students' writing portfolios at the end of the year.  They love looking at EVERYTHING they have written when the end of the year comes.

Click HERE to get your copy of my Bio Poem and Happy Writing!

=) Beth

Hellooooo Dollar Tree!!!

So...I've bought quite a few items due to all the inspiration I have gotten this summer. I've been to our local teacher store "Jacque's," 3 different "Dollar Stores," "Michael's," "Hobby Lobby," "Card & Party Factory," "Ikea," and of course the teacher fave: "TARGET" more times than I can count.  I kept meaning to share all of my finds, but never got around to it.  I imagine I will be posting various items as they are put into place and in use during the school year.  I figured I was about done with my purchasing, UNTIL...I dropped by the Dollar Tree to pick up some beads.  You see, my team and I decided  to have students complete a version of this adorable activity on the first day of school.  I ran across the idea at  Sunny Days in Second Grade




 Yea!  I found my beads!

But I also found other teachery (new word) treasures, so I thought I'd share my finds!  Because well, they were only a DOLLAR - lol

Adorable plastic containers to finally get all my junk supplies organized!

What teacher doesn't need these? =)

They say "center sticks," but I can think of several uses for these!

Cute tubs - love these colors!

My favorite find:  Word Cards - Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs - OH, the POSSIBILITIES for L.A. activities!!!

So you see, there are many more bargains to find out there, fellow teachers.  Go shop and get inspired!  Happy weekend!