Thankful November post one: my students' parents
I operate with the mindset that every parent truly means well and wants what is best for the kiddo. While the parent group may be frustrating at times, when I step back and remind myself that I am with their precious baby for seven hours a day, it's a little easier to deal with when I re-frame my mindset to one that emphasizes they are doing what they think is best (instead of thinking they are doing X, Y, and Z on purpose to irritate me).
Last Thursday, we threw a surprise party for our student teacher. It was her last day in our (general education) classroom before she transitioned to student teaching in the resource (special education) setting. I must say, it's tricky to plan a surprise party when someone is with you all day long! I kept finding excuses to send her on quick errands so the kiddos and I could discuss the party in five minute increments.
I sent home a letter to families explaining our advice book and asking for some donations to our surprise party.
I was blown away by the sheer amount of goodies we received. I didn't have to buy a single snack supply (and for that, I'm grateful).
My students wrote wonderful, heart-felt letters to our student teacher. I glued them into a hard cover book. Students took the time at the party to share their favorite lessons with her and what they'd learned from her. There were a lot of tears all around and it was a bittersweet moment. She's off to a great start in her teaching career.
Parents shared on class dojo how much they appreciated her and their own fond memories of student teachers in elementary school. I was humbled by their generosity in gifting supplies for our party.
We had quite the feast and yet, still had left overs. We had a welcoming party for our new student teacher on Monday. (She'd completed the first half of her student teaching in the autism room.) We had even more donations come in for our fall celebration (because I have students who don't celebrate Halloween).
The kiddos had 3 bags of chips, 3 capri suns, cookies, and more yesterday. I still have boxes of drinks and unopened snack bags of chips. I guess we'll be having a reading picnic soon!
(Yes, I did also thank them on class dojo as well as in person. I know many of them do not read this blog.)
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
Our school participates in our performance zone's initiative of the Reading Rangers program. It's a more structured and strategic approach to independent reading, where students work through book levels and badges, slowly increasing their ZPD and taking monthly STAR tests to track growth.
Like all programs, it has its flaws, but I've definitely seen an increase over my previous school in terms of my students' motivation levels to conquer independent reading.
On Tuesday of this week, we attended a several hour long conference on Reading Rangers.
We picked up some new ideas from other schools, definitely had the cutest boards and staff shirts, and were recognized for our performance.
One of my big take aways was to be a reading ranger myself. So...I did.
Fifth graders have the end of the year goal of graduating Storm at the end of the year, so I gave myself that goal as well. However, they only gave me until the end of January (thanks kids!)
I've got 2 stars done, 33 more books to read!
Since it's October 31st, I should probably revisit my {October goals} that I set earlier this month.
1) For the love of all things holy, I need to finish this dang book:
Um....nope. I did read The Crossover for Battle of the Books though!
2) Purchase and start this highly anticipated book:
In the middle, must finish by Wednesday because of a {competition with a student}!
3) Work on our wedding website.
4) Buy a new computer. We just need to order a case for it.
5) Make the second {DEN ambassador meeting} even more awesome than the first! I've already got a few more teachers interested in attending, which is great. I have to upload some videos and complete homework by December, but I've got time!
6) Attend a cultural event. We're actually going to Greek Fest tonight, so this one will be easily accomplished! One of the great things about Vegas is that there are lots of fun things like this.
7) Visit the {Bellagio gardens}.
Nope.
8) Make something with apples. It might be an apple pie. It might be apple cinnamon sangria. Okay, it will probably be the sangria. A friend just sent me a video of a new recipe and it looks fairly easy.
Nope.
9) Have a girls day. We had a {Jamberry} and {Younique} make up party, so I'm counting it!
10) Catch up with old friends. Yes and no. I have some calls to make.
11) Start Battle of the Books! We've had our first few meetings, we got the kids notebooks, we've got our system structure set, we've got our first fun activity (Paper Slide videos) planned, and I've read my first book {The Crossover}. The goal is to read all 8 by April.
12) Catch up on grading (almost done), finish the next two regions for social studies (the West Region is part way done), and maybe even get ahead in terms of planning (a girl can dream).
I have 33 essays left to grade and enter. The West Region and Great Plains regions are done, I'm just working on the Midwest.
13) Continue to be extra patient with my students. Some of them have a lot going on at home and act out in school because they're having trouble coping. This is totally understandable, it's just taking some additional patience on my end. Patience that I quickly feel I'm running out of. It's hard with 34 students. It's hard when some of them are able to focus for thirty seconds at a time and constantly shout out. It's hard to continue to be patient when I have ten different private hallway conversations with a student on a daily basis about class norms. But...it's necessary.
Yes. I even added another, putting me at 35.
14) Figure out my school costume. We're doing a theme for fifth grade...and the theme is balls. We're not the most appropriate ones, I know. It's more of a joke for the adults. I'm thinking of being a disco ball or a bowling ball. Totally fine costume by itself, but then when the teachers realize that all of the fifth grade teachers have something to do with balls...hilarity will ensue. The kids won't get it. But it makes us giggle.
I was fantasy football. I wore UNLV grad robes and carried a wand and a football. Mrs. H wore a jersey, pink witch hat, and carried a wand. Together we made sense to some. Not everyone got it, but we're so punny.
The rest of the grade level was a magic 8 ball, an eye ball, and a gumball machine.
So apparently my "top ten" got a little over zealous and I now have 14 goals for the month. But...overplanning is how I live my life.
Then life changed, goals changed, and I got only part of what I needed to accomplish. Good thing November starts tomorrow!
What did you accomplish this October?
One of the amazing aspects of my school is the healthy sense of competition between classrooms. This past week, to keep our students motivated before a five day weekend (yes, five days), we had a school wide challenge. In each grade level, the classroom with the highest engage time got to participate in an activity in front of the entire school.
What is this glorious activity you may ask?
The teacher who has the highest engage time gets a pie...in the face...from the student who read the most.
The pie will be mostly whipped cream and trash bags and goggles are provided, but our students were so incredibly motivated to read. The idea of smashing a pie in my face is quite thrilling and I personally have never felt more loved by my students. The idea of public embarrassment is perhaps one of the best motivators for my students.
Unfortunately, a sudden downpour caused our celebration to be postponed. Over nine hundred students (and their families) were outside, in costumes, when a slight drizzle turned into a sudden rainstorm, drenching everyone.
The celebration will be in the afternoon on Wednesday, November 4th. For once, I really, really hope I come in second place.
Over the past few years, I've had the opportunity to participate in several book studies with the focus on improving my craft as an educator. Here is a synopsis of those books:
Questions, Claims, and Evidence
This book really helped me shift perspectives for science instruction. Essentially, this guided me through setting up my students for success and shifting away from teacher driven science experiments. Instead, this is replaced with student created extension inquiry projects and helping them write about science.
Building Academic Vocabulary (Marzano)
Even after reading this, I struggle with vocabulary instruction. It's the highest of the big five components of literacy (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, and comprehension being the other four). It's crucial, especially for my ELL (English Language Learners). I feel successful with teaching academic vocabulary when it's content specific (i.e. math, science, and social studies) but struggle when it comes to what words to teach whole group. I'm wary of just choosing a list and going from that. I tend to teach words that are associated with the novels I'm using and more specific lists with my RTI group. I want to empower my students to monitor their own vocabulary acquisition and give them the space to share these words with their peers.
I haven't quite decided how this will look in my classroom, so stay tuned!
Waiting for Superman
I led this book study at my previous school...and it didn't go very well. Part of it was because I was leading it, not an administrator. Part of it was because I was still quite idealistic about how teaching should work because I had just finished my first year in the classroom and thought I knew everything. This book, while an interesting read, doesn't give enough credit to the teachers who are working really hard to change the system.
Read, Write, Lead
I was really excited to read this book as part of a book study. My group was assigned chapter five, which is all about principal leadership. While I have no issues with my administrators popping in my classroom on a frequent basis, this was a cause of major concern for some of my colleagues. The chapter also talked about celebrating teachers and students, which I don't think is done enough. This was my big take away from this book is that while programs and standards may (and do) change, good teaching is consistent. Good teachers are reflective, collaborative, innovative, and push one another to do better.
Number Talks
This gem isn't really a book review but rather an opportunity to share that this is a wonderful book that should be used wherever possible! While the first few weeks of number talks are rocky, especially if students aren't familiar with the format, the pay off, if done consistently, is amazing. For the past few years, my students have left my classroom with a strong understanding of number sense and problem solving strategies. This book is a large part of the reason why. It's worth the money if your school district doesn't provide this resource.
Up next? I'll be diving into Love and Logic for some new strategies to use with my whole class. I also borrowed The Tough Kid Tool Kit to gain some new tips and tricks for dealing with difficult students. I had a particularly troubled one last year that gave my whole school lots of headaches, but I'm glad next year that kiddo will get the services that are needed.
What books would you recommend? Which ones were educational game changers?
