Monday Made It...on a Tuesday!

Hello friends! I'm so excited to link up again with Tara for Monday Made It! 

Although, I'm a little tardy to the party. :) My dad's retirement party was this weekend and we had a lot of family in town visiting.  My dad's party was wonderful, and was such a tribute to his thirty-six years in the fire service.  If you can't tell, I'm just a little proud. :)

For my Monday made it, I created my learning objectives board for the front of my room. :) Here was my inspiration.

Source: via Lisa on Pinterest

I tried and tried to find the original source for my inspiration, but it appears as it was probably uploaded by a user rather than pinned from a blog or website. 

I loved the idea of using frames, but decided not to because next year we are transitioning to the common core, and I don't know what our expectations will be for posting objectives.  If we have to post the actual objective than I'll just purchase this from Courtney and display them in a pocket chart, and then I'll have six random frames laying around. For now, we aren't required to post objectives, but the rest of my new fourth grade team posts I Can Statements for the week, and I loved that idea.  I'm all about making our learning visible, public, and permanent (love Debbie Miller) and thought posting I Can Statements would be a great addition to our classroom.  

 

Instead of using frames, I used these dry erase sleeves that I picked up at Target. 

I purchased enough for each subject I teach, and also purchased some polka dot cardstock and brads at Michaels.  


I'm planning on stringing the sleeves together like so with some ribbon for a pop of color. 

I will hang the two rows of objectives with clothespin magnets from the board in the front of my room, next to my Smartboard.  Or I might hang each one up individually with a loop and a clothespin magnet. That will be decided once I am able to get back in my room and see what stays put the best. :)

I'm sorry that the photo quality isn't the best, I played with the white balances on my camera awhile ago, and the pictures it takes haven't been the same since.  Even after I reset it to factory settings. :(


Oh, the closing date was scheduled for my house.  It's on a what was already a big day for me.
Wait for it.
Wait for it.
The FIRST DAY of school! At first I was like "are you kidding me?" when the title company called me to schedule the appointment. Luckily, it's scheduled after school, but when you teach until 4:00, the time isn't that far after school either.  The movers are scheduled to come the very next day.  So as soon as I hit publish, I'm off to purge in my home office some more. :)

Also, I'm participating in Lacy of Wild About Teaching's 500 Follower Giveaway! Click on her blog button to enter to win some GREAT prizes! :)

My favorite back to school activity: Cooking Up a Great Year Together!

Question time....
What do these popular children's books...

Click on the titles to check them out on Amazon! 

The Rainbow Fish

The Wizard, The Fairy, and the Magic Chicken 

Enemy Pie  

Pigsty 

Chrysanthemum

Ruby the Copycat 

and this bowl have in common?

At first glance one might say not a lot, but those books and this random bowl of snacks make up my one of my favorite back to school activities, Cooking Up a Great Year Together!

In the words of Farley, I puffy heart this activity.  It combines so many of my favorite things: food, children's literature, character education, AND community building! :)  

Each day, I read my kiddos a book about one of following character traits below.  Each character trait stands for an ingredient for a great year together! :)

I hang these posters up in my classroom one by one, once each character trait is introduced, and keep them up all year long. I refer back to them as needed throughout the year. :) 

After reading the book, each student fills out a graphic organizer about the character trait the book was about.  So we know what that character trait looks like, feels like, sounds like, etc. :)

Once everyone has filled out their graphic organizers, we combine our ideas to make anchor charts to hang up in our classroom. 

I love, love having these anchor charts up during the first few weeks of school while we are settling into our routines and expectations. :)  Since I have a tiny room, I plan on taking pictures of the anchor charts and having them available for my friends throughout the year, especially as they forget what each trait looks like, sounds like, and feels like in our classroom. 

After reading the book, filling out the organizer, and then making the anchor chart, I introduce a snack item that goes with the book.  When I read Rainbow Fish, I show the kiddos a bag of goldfish and when I read Chrysanthemum, I show a bag of mini marshmallows,etc. .  Once we have read all six books, we put all the ingredients together in a big bowl and enjoy a special snack together while we review what each ingredient represents.

 
The ingredients I use changes each year, due to allergies, but I usually have goldfish (sharing), fruit loops (be yourself), pretzels (be a good friend), marshmallows (kindness), animal crackers (responsibility), and popcorn (teamwork).  This special snack is one of my kiddos favorite things all year long, and it does help the concept stick! Many times when they bring pretzels for a snack they comment that "this reminds me of friendship." 

This really is one of my favorite ways to build community in my classroom, and it really opens the door for some powerful discussions about good character in a non threatening way.  I'm always so amazed by the discussions we have in my classroom when we do this activity every year!

I have uploaded this activity to both of my stores, and I hope you give it a look when you plan out your back to school activities.  I'm not just saying this because it's my product, I'm saying it because it really is a great way to get kiddos to understand some abstract character traits and how displaying good character really does help us have a great year together! :) I have also included multiple options for books for each trait to make finding/securing books easier.  Over the years, I have purchased most of my favorites, but I also check out some from my local library as well. I also included several possible books for each topic because I am departmentalized, so my teaching partner and I both talk about the same trait on the same day.  It's nice for our kids to hear two books about the same topic and discuss it what it looks like in the classroom with both of us. For example, for teamwork, I might read The Wizard, the Fairy, and the Magic Chicken but my teaching partner might read Cook-a-doodle-doo. Some of my favorites are out of print BUT are easily found buying from outside sellers on Amazon or on Half.com. In many cases, the books are used, but I just select one that is in good condition.   I do suggest buying a few weeks ahead of time if you do that.  Most are quick but sometimes media mail can be slow.

Just click on the picture below for to check it out!  If you purchase, I hope you LOVE it! :)

4 on the 5th...

 

Can I just say I LOVE the idea of this linky party that that Ms. M is throwing?  I'm all about keeping things manageable as far trying new things in my classroom.  

My second year of teaching I had so many new things on my list that I wanted to try, got them ready over the summer, and then once the year started, most of them went by the wayside as I couldn't keep up with them all.  Now, I just pick one major thing that I'd like to try and then a handful of smaller things projects, so it's much more manageable and I stick to them.  One year it was my reader's response journals, one year it was my clip chart, and well last year it was learning a new curriculum a week before school started. :)

1. The Daily Five

I've owned the book for years and was a fool and tried to implement parts of it last year in parts without reading it.  Stupid me.  Anyways, I've been LOVING all the book studies going around the blog world this summer.  I'm really excited to implement what will be a Daily Three in my fourth grade classroom. 

2. Whole Brain Teaching

I love, love, love what I've read so far, and while I haven't had much time to read as much as I would like to, but I definitely plan  on implementing the rules, love that they are recited each day, and a lot of the whole group management techniques next year. Again keeping it manageable!

3. A Brand New Curriculum

Enough said.  New grade level, new curriculum.  Thank goodness for blogging friends and Teachers Pay Teachers, I don't have reinvent every wheel. :)

4. Lesson Plan/Cleaning Schedules

I feel that the year that I was most successful in staying on top of  my lesson planning was my second year of teaching.  During my planning times, either before, during, or after school, I planned a rough sketch of plans for a different subject each day.

Monday-Reading

Tuesday- Language/Writing

Wednesday- Math

Thursday- Social Studies or Science, depending on which one I was teaching at the time.

Friday- Finalized the rough sketches and got copies ready for the week, or at least through Monday if I had plans right after school.  

While I do love, love, love scoring the web for new ideas to use with my class, but at the same time, I hate being glued to my computer every weekend.  I really want to be able to get more done at school this year.  I honestly believe if I stick to a schedule, I will. :)

Same thing at home.  I hate spending all weekend cleaning, and not enjoying the weekend.  My hubs and I have both agreed we NEED a simple cleaning schedule to follow during the week and we need to hold each other accountable to following it for more than just a week.  Especially since we are doubling our living space moving to our new house.

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I want to thank all of you who were so sweet enough enough to award me so, so, so many awards lately.  I'm so honored that you liked my blog enough to even consider me.  :) For all my bloggy friends that I've neglected the past few days, life has been crazy sauce! Once my daddy's retirement party is over this weekend, I'll have a lot more time to spare. :)

I spent a lot of time today cleaning up and making one of my FAVORITE back to school/character education activities much more visually appealing and teacher friendly today, and I can't wait to share it with you.  For now, here's a little sneak peek. :)

 If you just can't wait to see what this tasty bowl is all about, you can find out exactly what it is {here}

Don't forget, you can find me on Facebook too! :)

Monday Made It

Today I'm so excited to be linking up with Tara's Made It Mondays.  I haven't really crafted a lot this summer for my classroom because we aren't allowed in our rooms yet and I will be in a different room this year, which has a different floor plan/layout than my room last year.  It's hard for me to really craft/create things for a space that I haven't really spent time in, other than dumping my stuff in it the last week of school. 

However, Hobby Lobby's finally put their scrapbook paper backs on sale, so I picked a up a pack of primary colors, and got busy. :) 

 

Ever since I first pinned this from kbkonnected , I have been in LOVE.  I plan on putting it right outside my door, so the students really have to look at it every morning when they come in. :)

This sign pretty much sums up exactly how I would like my students to feel when they walk into my room.  I want my classroom to be a safe place where they feel loved respected, valued, and cared for.  My parents went through a pretty nasty split up while I was in elementary school/middle school and school was always my safe haven.   I could walk into the doors of my classroom and just escape the nastiness that was my home life.  I added a few terms like mathematicians, readers, and writers because I am a self contained classroom.  Then as walking the dog I realized I should probably add historians because well I do teach Social Studies.  I'll probably go back and make "When You Enter This Classroom" in a bigger font too. 

In other news, my Guide Math book should be arriving today, finally! My package got lost somehow in the facility and I'm just now expecting to get a package that I ordered June 20th.  Poor played, Amazon.  Poor played.  I typically LOVE Amazon, but I think they are punishing me for selecting Super Saver Shipping.  HOWEVER, there is a Amazon facility within 45 minutes of my house, super saver shipping is usually about the same as normal shipping for me. ;) 

Make sure you stop by Tara's blog for lots of other Monday Made It projects! :) 

July Currently

It's time for July's currently! :) 

This summer is kicking into straight up crazy mode starting now! Our house is about fifty days away from closing, hooray! I start teaching summer school in the middle of July, and my dad's retirement party is this weekend.  Since moving is coming up soon, the purging process should have started weeks ago, but I'm just now getting my act in gear.  Like I've mentioned on the little ole blog before, I love being organized, but getting there is not my strong suite. :)  

As far as the reads sections, I read Sideways Stories From Wayside School to my kids every year and they love it, I love it, everybody loves it.  It's just a big ole love fest of goofy stories. This year, I may or may not have downloaded some of the cartoons for my kiddos.  Really not like the book at all, but they LOVED them. :) This year, I discovered Mercy Watson and my second graders ADORED them.  I think at one point, my class had every copy of the series checked out from the local library.   I reread Teaching With Intention before school every summer, I just love, love, love it. 

Make sure you head over to Farley's blog to check out everybody's Currently posts.  I know I'm heading there as soon as I hit publish! :)



 

Math Fact Fluency In My Classroom {Incentive Freebie}

Since posting my math contracts for addition and subtraction facts, I'd gotten a lot of blog comments and questions sent to me through TpT about my fact fluency routine and how I use the contracts in my classroom, so today I'm answering those questions for y'all. :)

I teach in a district that has used Investigations for many years, in fact we are still using one of the very first editions in our rooms today.  When I first started teaching in the district, as a student teacher, seven years ago, there was not a lot of focus on mastering math facts at all.  Everything was inquiry based and focused mainly on problem solving.  Which isn't necessarily bad, expect when you're trying to teach higher level concepts that really require a solid foundation of fact knowledge.  We got a new math curriculum specialist in our district who implemented a math fact fluency program a few years ago, and then tons of focus was put on math facts.  I felt sometimes, I was teaching math facts more than my math curriculum.  Through trial and error, a more balanced math fact diet is now occurring in my classroom.  

I spend probably about ten to fifteen minutes a day on math facts.  Some days, we play a review game during morning meeting involving our math facts.  Some days,  one of our brain breaks is quiz/quiz trade with flashcards. Below is a You Tube video of quiz, quiz trade in action. This is not my classroom, fyi. :)

Basically with Quiz, Quiz Trade, every student in the room gets a flashcard.  I set the timer, and they start pairing up.  Student A shows Student B their flashcard.  Student B answers and Student A lets them know if they are correct, or incorrect.  Correct answers get a simple praise, incorrect answers they might prompt them on a strategy to use to get the answer.  Then Student B shows Student A their card and Student A answers.  Once Student A and Student B have correctly answered each others flashcards, they switch cards and find new partners.  This process of quizzing and trading continues until the timer goes off. I love Quiz, Quiz Trade because it gets the kiddos moving, it encourages cooperation, and exposes each student to a wide variety of facts quickly.  Amy Lemons has some great addition and subtraction flashcards  as well as multiplication and division flashcards that I used in my classroom this year. 

At the end of math, we spent about five minutes working on fluency packets for either addition or subtraction, I taught second grade last year, but I wasn't super crazy about them.  I felt they wasted a lot of paper and it was hard to manage as a teacher, as I was the one checking them.  This upcoming year, my fourth grade team and I will be spending about ten minutes a day on Rocket Math.  They love it, but honestly I don't know much about it other than the apps look like a lot of fun. I hope to share more about this later in the school year. :) 

I also try to incorporate math fact practice in my centers as much as I can.  There are so many great ways to do this.  One of my favorite ways to do that is with spinner games!  I LOVE spinner games because they are so easy to prep.  All your kiddos need is the board, a pencil, paper clip, counters, and a recording sheet. :) Easy breezy, nice and easy. :) 

In fact in my classroom, I have my kiddos put the spinners in clear sleeves and use their dry erase markers to play.  This way they can play without getting out markers/counters when they finish work early.   

Not only do I love spinner games for centers, math rotations, and early finisher work, I also love them for parent helpers.  I just jot down the boards I'd like for them to work on with each student. This works out perfectly, because they get to work with kiddos and I don't have to spend lots of time prepping for their visit.  

I have two spinner games available in my store right now, and I hope to add subtraction and division before the summer ends. 

 *NEW PRODUCT!*

There are lots of websites too that you can use to for workstation rotations with your class as well.  My favorites are Fun4theBrain and  Arcademic Skill Builders. It is my understanding that these websites have Apps as well for Apple and Android products.  I have heard really great things about XtraMath but I have not used it in my classroom.  My district has a subscription to FasttMath, and I'll usually let kids on that as well to practice their facts.  Although the appealing thing about XtraMath is that they can practice at home too! :) 

Obviously my math contract homework encourages math fact practice at home.  I send the contract home on Tuesdays and they are due the following Tuesday, so my kiddos have a week to complete the three activities.  Even though I have math fact homework routine, sometimes it's nice for my students to practice their facts even more than that, especially those pesky multiplication and division facts!
When I taught third grade, I'd have my kiddos fill out raffle tickets when they practiced their facts at home, after they had completed their math contract homework for the week. I'd try to pull raffle tickets each day to pick from the Treasure Box, but that got costly and I didn't always remember to pick kiddos.  While I liked the concept of rewarding extra practice, the system was easy for me to manage and it only excited a handful of kids.  I just uploaded a freebie to TpT that I hope gets my whole class excited about mon "star" ing their math facts. :) 

Anytime a kiddo gets extra math fact practice, in addition to weekly homework for me but you can make the rules in your own room, they will fill out a link and bring it into school.  We will hook our links together and once we reach our goal length, the class gets a treat.  I plan to start off with a small length a first, and earn a special snack during math, and then work to a big length, like around the room for a pizza party/ice cream/etc.  I hope these incentive links gets all of us excited to practice our math facts, rather than just a group of kiddos, because they will really need everyone to participate to earn their treats!

All the products in this posts are linked to my TpT store and the incentive chain links are FREE. :) If you like them, don't forget to leave me a little note either here or on TpT.   Since it's so hot, hot, hot, I'm throwing a little beat the heat sale today and tomorrow. :)

Parent Communication Freebies

I'm going to take a tangent here for a minute before I get to your freebies.  I hope ya'll don't mind. ;) Building a house is really stressful.  People warned me, "Building a house is one of the most stressful things you'll ever do." The whole process of picking the fixtures, the financial paperwork, and drafting of the contract was pretty painless.  The actual construction, tests my patience every day.  I'll drive by and see crews working on every house on our street but ours, or multiple contractors working on other houses, while only one contractor works on ours.  Then you see houses that started after you get ahead, and well you feel frustrated.   It's hands down the most stressful thing I've done other than job searching for my first teaching job six years ago, and I'm more than ready for it to be over.  Originally, we were given a projected closing date that was before my school year started.  Now, we are looking at closing after school starts.  :( Taking time off, for closing and a final walk through, is just not something I'm really looking forward to right now, even if that does mean I get the keys to my very own house at the end.

Okay, rant over, I just had to vent for a second to people other than my husband...  :) You want to know another thing that stresses me out? Parent communication. I'm talking about the parent communication outside of newsletters and conferences, you know the difficult phone calls, the small talk while they volunteer, classroom parties, etc...  Maybe it's because I'm not a parent and I can't connect with them on the parenting level, or maybe it's just my personality, I'm very much an introvert. 

Parent communication got easier as time went by at my old school, because I had a rapport with many of my parents from either having one of their other children previously and because I had been in the building for a while.  Even though now and again I had to make some really difficult phone calls and deal with some uncomfortable situations, most of the parents I dealt with were very kind and respectful, and I felt overall I had a really good relationship with the parents of the kiddos in my class. 

Moving to a new school this past year was hard, because I didn't have that rapport.  Many parents thought it was my first year of teaching ever, even though it obviously wasn't. I even had one parent this year pretty much bully me with very mean notes almost daily. Thankfully, I have a great principal who is very supportive of his teachers and who basically told her "if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say it all." 

Since parent communication can be a source of stress for me, I try to keep it as organized as possible.  I have a binder with tabs for all my students, numbered so I don't have to change them each year, with the forms pictured below for each of my kiddos. 

 

I run these two forms 1-2 sided on the copier and have them on my students desk at Meet the Teacher Night.   These forms are super helpful, because I know exactly how the parents want to be contacted when I need to communicate with them and I have a place to record notes of our communication, this is especially helpful for phone calls and little school chats about various issues.  If a parent sends in a note/email, I place a copy of the note/email, as well as my response, in their child's spot in my binder as well.  

I give my parents this form at Meet the Teacher, but encourage them to take it home, and really think about their answers.  I tell them to write as little, or as much as they would like, but this form really does help me get to know my students so well from the people that love them the most, their families.  I also refer to the goals they have for their child/any concerns they have for the school year during our first conference as well.  

I have upload these forms to Google Drive for you, so strange to not say Google Docs.  Just click on the pictures to download.  The parent contact information sheet and the parent survey are in one PDF, and the log is a separate PDF file. 

What tips do you have for organizing parent communication? Do you have any tips to share for dealing with difficult parents? Share in the comments below, so we can all learn from each other! :) Oh, and don't forget you can like Fourth and Ten on Facebook, my page has been feeling a little bit lonely. ;)