Tune-Up Your Turn-In System

I still have nightmares about the overflowing mess that was my turn-in basket.

Papers going all different directions, spilling out every side, forgotten by me for days...

Scary.

Hmmmm, what can I do to eliminate this black hole where papers go to die.....

Finally, it hit me.

Google Forms: Work Smarter, Not Harder

I love easy.

Especially when it comes to my classroom. Who doesn't?!

When I first started teaching years and years ago, technology was not a big part of the classroom. All of my data and meticulous notes were kept in a giant 5 inch binder.

Seriously.

It had all kinds of papers for each student: reading conference forms, writing forms, math data forms, anecdotal notes, behavioral notes, parent contact, and more I'm sure I'm forgetting. It was giant but it was necessary. My favorite part was getting to lug it around to all my meetings...

Luckily, technology is our friend (most days) and I have been able to replace all that paper with a simple, useful, personal system.

GOOGLE FORMS!

#CharacterTraitOfTheDay

Character traits. Always a huge part of learning targets, and rightfully so. But it can be so hard to get kids to identify beyond
"He is nice."
"She is kind."
"He is nice."
"She was nice."

On top of that, we work so hard to incorporate social skills, 7 Habits, positive interactions, and work ethic. If only there was a simple way to incorporate daily practice....

Enter CHARACTER TRAIT OF THE DAY!

My Classroom Library: The Sequel

So, you have may have read my post about my classroom library. You can see what I use and how I organize them all here. It has been so great to hear from so many people! I love seeing all kinds of library ideas and how unique they are.

As it seems to go this time of the year, Back To School brings lots of new: new supplies, new backpacks, new rooms..... new grade levels!

After three years in first grade and seven years in second, this year I am moving to third grade! And as all of you know, with a new space comes new challenges opportunities. This means I made some changes to my classroom library.

Whistle While You Work: Let Music Run Your Classroom

Music is one of the best tools I have in my classroom management tool belt. It is great not only for work time but transitions, brain breaks, class building, and learning new content. Sometimes I stream straight from YouTube, but mostly I use files on my computer that is connected to my Smartboard.

Think about it... how often do we have music going in our lives? In the car, working out, grading papers {ok so that's typically Netflix, but you get the idea}. It can change our mood, help our focus, relieve anxiety, and boost productivity. Here are some ways I use music in my classroom.

Easy Summer Work Packets

Oh, the end of the year. SO. MANY. THINGS. TO. DO.

Well, I'm always looking for short cuts and here's a great one!

There's always a few kids I want to send summer work to. There are many great packets on Teachers Pay Teachers, but I don't always want to spend more money or use up more copies.

Plus, I always end up having extra copies throughout the year. So, I put the two together!

Have you filled a bucket today?

Kindness.

Empathy.

Integrity.

These are such important qualities we want kids to grow up with, yet we just assume they will come to school with them. All too often, they don't.

So,
What do we do when a child doesn't know how to read? We teach them.
What do we do when a child doesn't know how to add? We teach them.
What do we do when a child doesn't know how to treat others kindly?

Social skills are, in my opinion, one of the most important things I can teach my students. Kindness, empathy, and thinking about others are qualities that will shape them as people and carry them through life. So it is vital to teach these as often as I can.

Happy birthday to....... every student I've ever had!

The most important component of my classroom is a strong class family.  Connections with kiddos is a MUST. But what about after they have moved on from my classroom?

Everyone loves a birthday. 

It's so fun to get cards, emails, comments, and well wishes on your special day. It's even more fun when it comes from someone you don't expect, like your old teacher.

As part of my "Once a family member, always a family member" motto, I send a birthday email and/or card to as many of my former students as possible. I have taught for ten years. Do the math.  You might be thinking "That's a ton of kids to keep track of!". You're right.


Luckily, there's a solution.

Thank you, thank you notes!

As teachers, we are lucky in so many ways. One of those ways is being on the receiving end of generous gifts!  I go through SO MANY thank you cards during the year. It's always important to give thanks for gifts, but it can really add up!

This is where my obsession with VistaPrint.com comes in handy! VistaPrint is a website you can order lots of personalized items. It's mostly thought of as a promotional or merchandising website for businesses, but there are so many ways it can work in the classroom.

My Classroom Library

Oh, my classroom library. It's by far my favorite part of my room. All the books! All the possibilities! All the pillows! It's so nice to have such a comfy, cozy place to spark a love of reading in my students. Here's how I organize it all...

Student Book Boxes

Ahhhh, book boxes.  Such wonder!   Such joy!   Such... a mess?? 😮

If you're anything like me, you have a shelf full of student book boxes. Some are tidy, organized jewels of reading wonder.

And some..... "Wait, why do you have three pennies, a keychain, and a Pokémon card in here?!"

Over the years, I have constantly tweaked how my students utilize their reading book boxes. As with anything, I'm sure I will continue to tweak them, but I wanted to share my current installment.

Gmail is my HERO!

Can I just say- I LOVE all things Google!

Our district is a GAFE (Google Apps For Education). This means that our staff and students all have a Gmail account that is tied to all the wonderful things that go along with the Google Suite.

These keep me organized, people!