I had every intention of being super productive over the weekend, but a nap happened instead. (We spent most of Sunday visiting B's aunt who had surgery yesterday, so I in no way feel bad about that.)
Here's where I'm at in terms of classroom set up. Our official first day back is this Wednesday, but since I'm still not 100%, I needed extra time.
The classroom itself...
B was kind enough to come in on Friday afternoon and help move furniture. He even helped the teacher next door, which just solidifies that he's a stand up fellow.
I have all of my bookcases along one wall and really like how the room feels open. Granted, it's easy to feel open when I'm the only one in the room. My two wardrobes line the back wall near the kidney table. The long, rectangular space will be our classroom meeting space for read alouds.
Command station...
I try to set up a command station for my students to be self-sufficient.
I've found the easiest space is right inside the classroom door. It's not complete yet (because I can't find my electronic pencil sharpeners) but it's getting there.
The teal crate is where students will get back their returned papers. I haven't put names on tabs yet because my roster keeps changing. The sharp & not sharp pencil buckets are this {freebie from TpT} attached to dollar store polka dotted bins.
The Batman cup will hold pens for the bathroom sign out, which will also be found here. Inside the desks will be where I keep my Lakeshore {privacy screens} for testing times.
The football holds my keys, the open library pass, and my simplified version of brag tags. The black lanyards are my "math coach" badges for students to be clearly identified as helpers. The other lanyards say "ask me about the goal I met today" to encourage praise from others about growth. I have two other Reading Ranger lanyards (our zone's reading program) that I'm going to transform into graduate and half-graduate brag tags.
My desk space...
I've decided this is one of the few areas that I will let be "cute" and decorated. Most of the classroom is bare because I fill the walls with activities or charts that the students and I make together.
The bulletin boards...
I have three: one outside and two inside.
The outside board isn't quite done. I'm finalizing the sign that says "writers on the move" on white and red chevron print paper.
The border is made up of overlapping post cards.
I was given them by a friend and had way too many, so I donated the extras to friends in kindergarten to use as a writing center.
I changed my mind about the inside boards (naturally), but here they are:
My Reading Ranger Board
It's an expectation that we have a board set aside to Reading Rangers.
I've included graduation tickets (I assume we're doing them again, they were very successful last year), graduation expectations, and the key for how book colors correspond with ZPD ranges.
The white board will say "under five" club and students will place a clothespin (with their names) on it when they're close to graduating. I saw something similar in another room, so I'm going to give it a try.
The rest of the board will have printed out badge reports for my students (I think) or some similar data display.
Underneath is where I have my 3 drawer tubs of math supplies, construction and lined paper, extra supplies, clipboards, etc. To the right of this board is our 8 math practices, another {freebie} from TpT.
The other board
This one will display anchor charts that we've used in (and made) in class. I originally snagged these gray tubs at Joann's for the purpose of supply table buckets, but I think I'd rather use them for books.
We're picking up another black organizer this afternoon and then these will be filled with books. The black storage racks will line up with the bookcases to have a room bursting at the seams with books (no apologies).
I've also hung my chart about {responding cups} at the front of the room on one side of the white board. The nearby white board contains my never ending classroom to do list.
The other side...
Is where I have a classroom motivator (10 10's in specials leads to a 10 minute recess, which is a free and healthy reward), a class sign, and where I'll (theoretically) post our standards.
The white board (lined in burlap) is where I'll put our class daily schedule.
Instead of using a bulletin board for our class business, I decided to put everything on the white board behind my desk.
I'll have their GATE/TAGS schedule, specials schedule, and other need to know forms up front for easy access.
Paperwork...
Business Cards
I've redone my business cards to include my new last name. I'll be printing them on pink card stock and laminating them for parents. I intentionally didn't include my classroom work number because I don't like answering the phone nor do I like listening to messages. I know I have to include the phone number on my class welcome letter, but that doesn't mean I have to include it on my polka dot business cards:
Like them? They were free and you can snag them {here}. Just be sure to leave the creator nice feedback. The shop also has some colorful options if black & white isn't your thing.
I've also already made a lot of copies...and had a fight with the copier.
Half Grads
I made a half grad sheet last year, but don't love it.
So I redid it!
Then I tweaked it for fellow teachers to fit their classroom themes:
Today's agenda?
I've got a planning meeting with the other coaches this am, another visit to the ENT, and then a planning session with Mrs. H at school. B is coming in to help this afternoon and then we're going out to dinner.
My goal is to have my classroom be totally done tomorrow so I can focus on planning and copies on Thursday.
Less than a week 'til I meet students!
#year8cantwait
I'll be the first to admit that sometimes I spend too much time on Buzzfeed.
However, today I stumbled upon {an article} about 35 DIY classroom crafts and was hooked!
Here are my recap thoughts:
1) Who is Where Board
Most of the ideas would take up too much space in my classroom. It's not that I have a small room, but it's that fifth graders are much larger than first graders. Higher numbers also mean that I'd need double of various things.
This "who is where" board for example:
Love it, however, it's not going to reasonably fit 34 magnets on it with student names. My students struggle with remembering their numbers. In case of an emergency, I'm not going to quickly remember who #18 is, so I'd want to put their names on the magnets...which means larger magnets and more space. Realistically, I'd need two and then students would not put their numbers back on the right boards and then waste time finding their number...sigh. So many different ways for this to fail with my fifth graders.
It's cute...just not practical.
2: Ziplock bag pockets
This I can get behind! It'd be great for students to store flash cards or little reminders that go home to parents. They could choose the duct tape and if it rips, there wasn't a large time or financial commitment to the task.
3: Detergent Caps
I struggle with students and their pencils. I'd love for each student to have a pencil box, but am unwilling to buy 34 of the same sized ones. Plus pencil boxes tend to accumulate pencil shavings and secret notes, so I don't love them. These however, could be a solution!
(If you'd like to contribute detergent lids to my craft project, I'd appreciate it!)
4: Crystal Lite Containers
They've been recovered and magnets have been added. I like the idea of storing my markers horizontally to help them last. I don't like the idea of permanent markers being stored so close to my white board because I see me using the wrong one.
5: Old Tee Shirts
Oh yeah, did this my first year! I've got ASU ones in my classroom.
6: Frosting Containers
The blog mentions using them to hold small items. I'd use them to hold bulletin board borders!
7: Metacognition Paint Chips
I use colored {responding cups} instead!
8: Pom Pom Erasers
Yeah...these look good for about thirty seconds. I just have students use a sock instead.
What craft projects do you have in your classroom?
I'm all about gallery walks and collaborative learning. I've blogged about using cups as a response strategy and having students solve problems together for math review.
However, I'm excited to take this to the next level with kahoot!
I signed up for a free account and will create quizzes for my students. They'll answer with the iPads and as a table group. All they'll do is go to kahoot.it and log in with the code I give them (that I generate to go along with a specific set of questions.)
It looks like this:
There is literally no way for them to mess it up other than typing in the code wrong.
From there, we'll make teams (usually the table teams since they're Kagan structured anyway). From there, the game begins! The quicker they answer will lead to more points for their team.
Here's what a sample question looks like:
I'm also excited about using this to build metacognition for my students. I can have them create questions for the class. I can have them answer if the questions were too easy or too hard, and have them give feedback to me and to others.
In the fifteen minutes or so we played with kahoot, my brain began buzzing with possibilities. This could be great for inspiring students to create really thoughtful, deep questions for one another about what they're learning. They'll get to take charge of their own learning.
Will you be in kahoots with me this year to try something new to get your students excited about learning?
My day of frustrating them didn't end with math.
Later in the day, we went over sorts. They did "no way Jose and that's a fact, Jack!" first. In this sort, they separated statements about fifth grade into true and false statements.
They also learned the procedures for gallery walks, where they critique the reasoning of others without touching the other team's sort. It's a great opportunity for them to also practice using the accountable talk stems that we brainstormed together.
I color coded the stems to help my visual learners.
They also did an editing and revising sort which I used as a formative assessment. They're still a little fuzzy on the differences between the two, so that's a teachable moment for me in the next few weeks. We didn't provide any instruction on their writing task this week because we wanted to use it as an informal benchmark. This week they wrote a letter to their future selves, which they'll get back the last week of school.
They were pretty good with the first two sorts, but then I gave them a syllable sort.
They were completely stumped. Some groups used their responding cups to ask for help, one group tried to bribe me (both with food and a dollar), some made piles of what they thought they knew and what was confusing, some started sounding out the syllables, and others were on the right track. They asked for help, but I let them struggle. Struggle is a good thing. When we came back together, I had a lot of grumpy students. I told them that this activity helped me to see where I need to start phonics instruction (with what is a syllable), and showed me that they knew to ask for help, were comfortable asking for help, and could work together. No groups quit during their struggle time (which was five minutes, I'm not that mean).
They wanted to know the answers. I said no, they don't get to know that yet. We'll start instruction next week, but I'm not just giving you the answers without the practice.
This was very irritating to many of my students, especially the higher ones. I told them they won't always get the answers right away. They won't know everything right away. Learning is a process and it takes time. They aren't used to not getting the answers right away and I told them this will be an adjustment. They'll have to work through things. They'll struggle. In the end, it will make them stronger thinkers.
I think some of them get it, but it doesn't mean they like it.
Best part of day 3? This happened:
Oh yes, it happens in real life.
I've done a lot of Target trips lately...but my classroom is coming along nicely! I'm trying not to be overwhelmed...
Our book hospital:
Next to it will be my large collection of informational magazines:
There are labels on the book bins:
Here's an overview of the library:
I'll put these cute Harry Potter CAFE signs up as well...
I'm just waiting to go over the components with my students before hanging up the signs. That way they have ownership over the content as well.
I hung my bathroom log by the door.
I've learned the importance of making sure a writing utensil is nearby. The twine prevents the pen from walking away.
I finally finished my bulletin board:
I'm happy with how it turned out!
I used washi tape to distinguish certain supplies as mine:
I set up their supply buckets:
I hung my poster about how they're learning:
I like to put it on the board so I can move the magnet to the appropriate spot.
Here's our daily schedule:
I also excited about my board:
I'm excited with how it's coming along!
