A few days ago, a fellow former TFA-er posted in a teacher Facebook group that she had books she was looking to get rid of. She accepted a teaching position in Washington and didn't want to haul all of these books up to her classroom since she was switching grade levels anyway.
I posted that I'd love to get my hands on them, especially since they were already AR leveled (HUGE time saver) and were within my students' reading ranges.
She texted and we arranged a time to meet. She brought them to my house and when I tried to pay her, she refused. She said she was glad they were going to be well loved in another classroom and didn't want money.
I insisted she take a Jamberry wrap as a thank you, which she happily agreed to. I'm all about bartering! I'm so appreciative of her generosity.
Thank you Ms. T!
I had to change my classroom calendar.
It's October. Monday starts week 8 of school. I don't know where the days have gone!
Oh wait, yes I do. Devoted to learning. Devoted to place value, powers of ten, rounding, and comparing decimals. Devoted to reading the Lightning Thief. Devoted to their Native American Indian research projects and writing extension projects. Devoted to maintaining a positive classroom culture and celebrating successes.
It's been a busy start to the year!
While B is out having a boys night, I'm enjoying a lazy evening with the DRV, playing with the kittens, crafting, and a tiny bit of grading. I'm such a list maker, so let's make some October goals!
Professionally:
-Implementing another game day for my students to allow them to play with decimals and multiplication, allowing me time to reteach in a smaller group setting.
-Continue to have students be excited about The Lightning Thief. They are so invested in the story and keep trying to sneak the sequel, The Sea of Monsters off the shelf. Sneaky wanna-be half-bloods!
-Continue to build positive relationships with my coworkers, admin, and parents.
My assistant principal popped in today to share that a third grade teacher was struggling with math games and that she recommended he come see me. She wanted to make sure that her suggestion was okay, and obviously it's fine! I'm excited that she sees me as a go-to person on making the classroom environment fun while still standards-based.
I've had some really positive conversations with parents lately and I hope it continues. I had one mom come in after school to learn about the math organizer we're using in math. We had a 20 minute conversation and afterward, both mom and daughter felt better. I sent them home with math games (because that's a way that the student will actually want to practice) and she had her retest today. Guess what? She got a B. Progress!
-Stay ahead of my grading and math planning!
-Add a few more products on TpT. I have a few students that are finishing up novels that I've read, but haven't made chronological order sorts for. When they skip the sort, they tend to get around 80% on their AR tests...which doesn't count for badges. However, when they do the sort, they earn 100%. For me, it's worth a few extra hours to help them be successful.
-Continue to network for Jamberry. I just got my business cards and am excited to pass out pretty samples to friends and family. I love having pretty nails :)
Personally:
-Finish the wreath I started for our front door. Right now it's a styrafoam circle wrapped in burlap. I want to add some embellishments, but I'm not quite sure what. Our door is navy, so perhaps something white or maroon.
-Continue to organize books to take into my classroom...and get a handle on the guest bedroom.
-Finish Christmas shopping. I've got my brother's girlfriend totally done and my mom mostly done...so baby steps!
-Be better at blogging!
-Finish The House of Hades.
What are your October goals?
Anyone who spends five minutes with me or on this blog knows my love of reading.
That being said, I'm excited for a new opportunity at my school site.
I have mixed emotions about starting at a new school. I'm excited for the change and my new grade level. I'm excited that I get to keep teaching fifth grade because I love the content and maturity level of the students. While I think kindergartners are precious, I don't want to teach them and commend those brave souls who do. I don't want to deal with an excess of tattling and other tasks that come with the adorable little ones. I know myself well enough to know I lack the patience that's required for the little ones...although the smaller class sizes would be nice! I like that most of my students are working on comprehension, not blending. I like that we get to read books and talk about them.
I like that my new school has a consistent reading tracking system that is used K-5. I like that the students know their reading levels and the data is transparent. Reading trackers line the hallways and students own their growth, which is wonderful. This does mean I need to level my library...
I've started! Kind of...
Each book will have a sticky label inside with my name, the book level, and the AR quiz number. On the spine will be a colored sticker indicating the book level. The entire school is leveled this way which helps the students pick a "just right" book.
I am excited to move stuff into my classroom (and B is excited to get the spare room back). This is currently our third bedroom:
One part is going to my classroom, part is going in the garage and the rest is yet to be organized. I've got time, right? I don't go back until the 11th...plus I'd rather finish reading The Mark of Athena?
I am so excited to organize and set up my classroom. It was nice to go through all my teaching supplies and weed through the ones I really want to take in and use this year.
On the subject of this year, I'm excited for a new opportunity. My principal asked if I'd like to be a math site leader. I jumped at the opportunity to learn more about math instruction and the leadership opportunity. I held a lot of responsibility at my last school and had to learn to share the work load (once I had a team I could trust to not only do their jobs, but do them splendidly). At my new school, I know my new team is qualified. I don't want to step on any toes, but I also don't want to come off as a slacker. So I'm excited that I get this chance. I report to training on the 11th and have four days of six hours of math instruction and strategies. I'll also have eight Saturdays throughout the school year and lead trainings at my school. While the trainings start at seven am, I am excited that the training site is about ten minutes away!
This year is the first year I actually have to organize my classroom library. I'm excited and a little terrified about this daunting task.
My expected end result is something like this:
But on a larger scale (and with a polka dot rug of course!)
I want to see what books are at my school and in my classroom before I begin hauling over boxes. I want to meet my students and learn their book levels before stocking my shelves so I know what books to bring for which students.
I did revise my checkout list:
Which you can snag for free here! (Just please give feedback)
I will be organizing my library by AR level using this super helpful website. To make my life easier, I am putting sticky labels on the inside cover with the AR quiz number, AR level, and a helpful return to Ms. Vice sticker (just in case).
I have some super cute striped bins that I'll be using to sort by AR level (and author).
Some other ideas for your classroom library:
1) Using plastic bins, color code for informational and literature.
You can find bins at dollar stores, then use spray paint to make them match :)
2) You can also use these plastic bins to color code by AR, DRA, or lexile level. That way students know which books are "just right" for them!
3) You can also organize thematically:
4) Use stickers on the spine labels to color code your books with your management system. I'll be using AR levels but you can do DRA, lexile, author, etc.
Of course, you'll want to make your classroom library an interactive place where students want to be.
One of my favorite ways to do this is with a quote wall:
Black butcher paper (or poster board), cute border, and metallic sharpies = perfect place for students to record their favorite quotes from their books. In doing so, they're encouraging others to read that book as well!
I also want to make this print:
Because who doesn't love a Harry Potter reference?
Good luck!
I'm finally feeling the sense of relief that accompanies summer. With the exception of a guest bedroom where I dumped my classroom (specifically several thousand books), my new home is decorated and unpacked. Over the course of my summer break, I painstakingly painted thirty seven cabinet doors to give my kitchen a complete makeover. We also painted our master bedroom and bathroom because olive green wasn't my preferred shade. We patched the doggie door so our kittens won't try to be adventurous and explore outside and patched several dozen wall nicks from picture frames. We had our friends and family over for our house warming and I can now finally relax.
By relax, I mean spend a few hours on pinterest finding ideas for next year and tackle the pile of books I've been dying to read! My boyfriend asked what my plans for tomorrow are and was a bit shocked when my response was simply to read. I've got The Throne of Fire and Mark of Athena just waiting to be devoured!
I also need to start figuring out my classroom theme for next year. What I love about my new school is the fact that every classroom is cute and organized. It makes me feel accepted and not like a strange person for wanting my classroom to be organized with coordinating colors.
One of my former neighbors is moving to teaching sixth grade science and gave me her entire cube collection that she used for her classroom library. I'm excited to get to actually organize my books by AR levels and author rather than just throwing them all on the shelf and crossing my fingers that students find ones they like. Granted, the first few weeks in August will be spent organizing my new classroom but it's a great thing that my new school is only 8 minutes away!
Now that my home is done, I can leisurely enjoy my summer and catch up on reading!
Yesterday, I attended my first staff development not at my current school. After five years, I was ready to venture out and try a new school. I'm so excited for this change but was super nervous because I don't know anyone.
I arrived early and got to check out my new classroom. I will definitely need to find more bookcases, but I like the layout! I will definitely use table teams instead of rows, but that's the only major change I'm making.
I hope the 12 x 12 ft carpet stays in the reading corner!
We then learned about the NEPF (Nevada Educator's Performance Framework), talked about SBAC (standards based assessment consortium, how we'll be tested next year) and went over expectations. We had some computer based training on our new grading & attendance system but had plenty of time for a team bonding task and lunch. I also found time to tour the school, talk with the librarian about Battle of the Books, and found stickers to level my books (since we are an AR school). Overall, it was a very positive and productive day!
I absolutely loved the energy of my new school. I felt so welcomed, appreciated, and valued as an educator. I feel rejuvenated as a teacher and that's such a wonderful feeling!
I also get an entire day to shadow my new grade level tomorrow to see how they operate, which is a pretty awesome opportunity! I love learning from others and these ladies seem full of great ideas!
Onward and upward!
