Ready or Not...

This last week has been more tiring than when I set up my classroom!  We have had a few meetings, but mostly the planning with my team has been tiring.  I hate sitting for hours on end.  Well, I suppose I should say I hate sitting in hard, plastic chairs for hours on end.  I have no problem sitting on my couch all day. :)  We spent Wednesday and Friday planning.  We have pretty much mapped out our year.  It's nice having a guide!

Thursday was Open House.  I thought it was a pretty relaxing, easy day until I found out, 15 minutes before Open House, that I had two new students.  Earlier in the week, I put together folders with all the information that I wanted parents to have at hand.  I thought about making a couple extra folders and didn't do it.  I was kicking myself Thursday afternoon!!  With that being said, Open House went really well.  18 of my 23 students showed up.  Last year, I think I had a total of 5 students come.

Exciting news: The Time Warner Cable news crew was at our school Friday doing an interview.  They spent a good bit of time on our end of the hall.  I'm excited to see what they put together!!  {I'm not sure how I'm going to see it, though... I don't have Time Warner Cable.}  The newspaper will be at our school on Monday taking pictures.  My principal said she didn't know what they would be taking pictures of but to not be surprised if they came in our rooms.  Cool, huh?! :)

Anywho, most of my work in the classroom this week has been making copies, straightening, etc.  Nothing big.  I took a couple pictures before I left last night:

I made charts to graph CFA data and district ClassScape benchmarks.  The CFA's will have pre and post tests, so hopefully, the students (class average) will be able to see growth.  I also added Revised Bloom's posters below the bulletin board.  I don't really like to buy things I can make myself, but I got really lazy about the time I was thinking about Bloom's! :)

Our district provided us with really good math posters last year, but they weren't very kid-friendly.  These posters use kid-friendly language and they're in the form of "I can" statements.  My teammate, Greta, made these.

Finally, what's missing??  The TV!!  I put in a work order to have the TV removed from my classroom.  You might think I'm crazy, but it was never used.  I didn't even have it plugged in last year.  It was just a big black box that took up a lot of wall space!  I put my rules over the spot where the stand connected to the wall, but I'm not sure I like them there.  I might move things around.  We'll see!

School starts Monday!  I'm not sure I'm ready!  Waking up Friday morning was painful.  Literally.  My body told me no! :)  BUT, ready or not, here it comes!

Classroom Tour {Video}

Just a quick entry with little text... I'm tired.  I'm considering this my "classroom tour."  I've included more picture and an actual video of my classroom.  Enjoy!  Please provide feedback and/or suggestions!! :)

I am in love with this set up.  I took the extra pieces of wood from the shelves and stacked them in the middle.

My desk/guided reading table.

Math manipulatives and general supplies.  PS the crayons are not missing a label - I just can't remember to turn the container around.

I made the labels using PowerPoint.

Reading area - the bulletin board will be for book recommendations.  All of the book baskets now have labels. :)

Pennant banners for science and math bulletin boards.

Data bulletin board.  We will graph class averages for common formative assessment.

Jobs chart on the door. 

Ticket out the door - it is hanging below the jobs chart.

Dismissal Checklist - I forgot to get a picture of it on the wall. :)

LadybugsTeacherFiles' alphabet on the wall.

Cups velcroed to the desk for pencils, expos, highlighters.  I've changed the seating arrangement.

Side of my file cabinet.  I'll post class pictures...when I can remember to take them!

 Again, please give me feedback! :)

Day 1 in the Classroom

Today was the first day we were allowed in our classrooms.  I was super excited when the email from our principal was sent out this morning.  SUPER EXCITED! :)  Today, I got all of the furniture in place.  The desks may change depending on how many students I have (I probably won't find out until Meet the Teacher night.), but everything else is where it is staying.  I decided to move my guided reading table from the window area to the counter area.  It is just going to be a lot nicer having that storage space behind me.  I've mentioned before that we are not allowed to have "teacher desks" so we have to get creative with storage.  New in the classroom this year is an actual "teacher desk" that I am using as my computer/SMART camera desk.  I had a huge table last year that just took up too much space.  The teacher desk is the perfect length, plus it has drawers to hide all my junk when visitors come.  We were observed by other schools/teachers quite a bit last year.  I also have a tall filing cabinet this year.  I feel like it will help me better organize student papers, as well as the papers I need to keep from year to year.

Click on the pictures below to see them larger.  In the third picture, I'm not sure about the placement of the rug under my guided reading table.  What do y'all think?

Just a little bit of info about a few items...  the orange polka dot rug came from Ikea.  It was only $19, so I highly recommend it.  The storage ottoman came from Hobby Lobby.  It was on clearance for $16.  

The next big accomplishment will get getting all of those little things in place... that takes an eternity!! Alright, that's all I can think to talk about right now.  What do you think??  Leave a comment with any questions you may have! :)

B2S Must Haves:
1. A Plan - you never feel good when you're not prepared!  Plan for it!
2. Organization - self explanatory!
3. Lamps - I don't use my overhead lights EVER.  Lamps are easier on the eyes and they make the room feel homey.  If your fire marshall allows, I would definitely invest in lamps!

Link up with Farley and the August Currently!

Great Things are Happening! (November Currently, too)

It has been a great week! :)  Tuesday, we had a Math Parent Night.  We had an average turn out, but it was fun!  A few of the teachers dressed up, and some students dressed up, as well.

Friendship Bracelet Update:

When I introduced the bracelet to my class, I decided to call it a "friendship band."  It has been amazing.  I can see and hear a noticeable difference with the way my students have been interacting.  They are saying nice things and really giving words of encouragement.  It's great!  I don't remember if I put this in the initial post about it, but I've decided to graph our progress (the number of students who wear it), so I'll be able to hit on graphing/charting skills.  Woot!  

Matter Unit:

I am so proud of myself!  I made it through the matter unit I planned.  My class tested yesterday, and I graded the tests last night.  THEY WERE GREAT!!  Wooooot!  I'm proud of them, too! :)

Importance of Fun:

I feel that when you have good classroom management and your students know your expectations, it's really easy to have fun with your class.  Yesterday was one of those days for me.  Thursday night, I went around and put "Go Tigers!  Beat Duke" posters on several teachers' doors.  (Clemson is playing Duke tonight.)  One of those teachers decided to put the Duke mascot in my room yesterday morning.  Some of the kids and I were going back and forth about who would win.  It was fun and funny. :)

I also decided to put my tiger tail and ears on my TV and told the kids that the Tiger was watching them and would pounce on any inappropriate behaviors.  They ate that up! :)

I hope everyone has a great weekend!  We're getting close to Thanksgiving!! :)

November Currently!

Giveaway Alert! :)

Go over to Amanda's Blog (Teaching Maddeness) and enter her giveaway for a CUTE "Maggie Tote".  I would actually prefer you don't, but if you're interested you definitely should! :)

Classroom Tour!

Well, folks, tomorrow is the first day of school, so I suppose I am finished with my classroom, for now.  I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out.  This is going to be a quick entry, because I'm sitting at Goodyear having new tires put on my car, so I'm not sure how much time I have.

Picture tour:

This is what was on their desks for Open House.

My closet doors: Ron Clark Essentials and Behavior Clip Chart.  5th grade also painted our back doors with chalkboard paint! :)

Ron Clark Essentials

Shelf Cart: Pod Book Boxes and a shelf for their Data notebooks.  The other side has book baskets on them.

Library:  I forgot to take a picture of the book basket labels I made. :(

Inspiration/Quotables Wall:  I thought of the mirror and graduation cap over the summer.  Everyone at school seems to love it!

Inspiration/Quotables Wall

College Wreath: We are required to have this... it's a good idea, but I need to actually put my college name somewhere on it.  It hasn't been a priority this week.

View of the room from the door

Homework (magazine) Rack :)

Information Center:  I'm loving my lunch count/attendance area.

Meeting Area

That's my room!  What do you think?  The walls are pretty bare, because we put up tons of anchor charts...  Any suggestions?  I can't wait to hear your comments! :)

 

Classroom Pictures (so far)

I'm exhausted! I wanted to take a nap my entire drive home. Thank goodness I'm moving closer to school this weekend. Ok, so I have been working in my classroom most of the week. My team had planning yesterday, so I didn't get much done. Once I get started, I can't seem to stop... Even if it seems like I haven't accomplished anything. I realized this afternoon that I CANNOT work tomorrow. As in, no one will be in the building and we don't have keys, yet; however, that is probably a blessing in disguise. I HAVE to finish packing my apartment. Without further adieu, I'll show you what progress I've made so far. I'll start with pictures of how the room looked when I walked in on Tuesday.

From the entrance. 

From the back of the room. 

Other side of the room.

Progress pictures:  You will notice that my overhead lights are off.  I don't use them unless I absolutely have to.  They give me a headache.

 Again, from the entrance.

 From the entrance across the room.  I took this room over from a 4th grade teacher.  I will be helping get her stuff out starting Monday.

 From the side of the room.

 My "desk" area.

 Writing table/VOICES wall.

 Library... a big work in progress.

 My computer area and another GR table for Reading Specialists.

 From the back of the room.

 I love this! :)

 My mess...

Curtains up! :)

I'll most more pictures next week!  I'm really tired and I can't think of anything else to say.  Wish me luck with moving this weekend!