Time will Tell

All puns aside, we've been working on time this week in math.  I knew from my pre-test and from classroom observations that very, very few of my students retained telling time from their second grade teachers.  Now this is by no means a reflection on the second grade teachers, but rather an observation...and it makes sense.  As a society, we don't really see large analog clocks on a frequent basis (unless you're in a classroom or you've decorated with a statement clock, as I have) but see lots of digital clocks.

We spaced out learning about time into three days.

Day 1

We did a KWL chart on what we knew about time and cut out these clocks:

They were a {free download} from a fellow TpT seller.  We color coded the different hands and labeled them.

I also had to explicitly teach how to use the brads:

 

Our goal for the first day was to learn the difference between the hands and tell time to the hour.

Day 2:

Today we used the second page from the above download.  We zoomed in on the phrases half past, quarter past, and quarter til.  This was a little tricky for them, so I'm glad we spent a day focused just on this skill.

They did notice I snuck in a mini lesson on fractions with the clock.  Hey, testing is soon!

Day 3: 

We made an anchor chart together:

We zoomed in on telling time to the exact minute.  We warmed up with a {matching game} with analog and digital clocks.

Day 4:

We took a standardized test in the morning, so math today was just a short quiz and this {I have, Who Has?} game to review with table teams.

Up next? 

We're going to make our schedules and focus on elapsed time. I plan to spend 2 days on this, one day focused on elapsed time under an hour and the following day events that are over an hour long.

The next lessons will focus on rounding, adding, and subtracting before starting a modified (shortened) version of Module 2 from Engage NY.

Second Semester, Day 1

We got through roughly half of what I'd planned for the day.  We did a lot of goal setting today.  But I don't necessarily think that was a bad thing.

We talked about the difference between goals and dreams.

From there, we talked about a goal vs. a SMART goal.

(This image is from my daily morning journals, available {here} and currently on sale). 

We set reading, math, school, and life goals.

I modeled the differences between a goal and a SMART goal:

Yes, taking attendance on time is one of my goals. The office is quite pleased.

We then recorded our goals in our {flip book}.

We also reviewed the difference between daily, weekly, and monthly goals:

It was a busy, busy first day back. We also went to library, looked at our 50+ new books (I've been doing some cleaning), took the math pre-test, talked about our upcoming field trip, and got on the computer for Lexia practice.

Centers Hack

It seems silly, but starting in a new grade level is quite similar to being a new teacher all over again.  I don't necessarily know what misconceptions my students will have, I don't have a drawer full of manipulatives or centers for review/extension activities, and there's a lot of learning curves.

One of our most recent grade level meetings focused on math planning and the upcoming unit.  One of the benefits of these meetings is that I can pick the brains of the other teachers who have taught this math unit before.

Here were the take aways:

Elapsed time and telling time apparently is extremely difficult for the kiddos. 

A pre-test for this unit is highly recommended.  (The Engage NY Module covers addition and subtraction with regrouping to the thousands, elapsed time, telling time, estimation, and rounding.)

Pre-teaching is recommended because not all the second grade teachers use Engage NY curriculum.  With computers and phones, telling time on an analog (traditional) clock is a lost skill that's not necessarily reinforced at home.  Very few of my students can read the analog clock in our classroom and often interrupt my teaching to blurt out a question asking about the time.  It's a skill we're working on.

So we're going to do some hands-on practice with telling time and reading clocks before jumping into our next math unit.

We're going to physically build clocks, courtesy of this free {TpT download}.

I also prepped these {I have Who Has} center and {What Time is it} centers for each table.  Both were freebies (my favorite) from TpT.  If my students like them and they're valuable, I'll reprint on colored cardstock and laminate.

 

To stay organized, I make each table their own set and place it in a sandwich sized bag.  I then place all the smaller bags in a gallon sized bag, along with the answer keys.  It's the little tricks that make the difference.

Prepping for Day 1, Round 2

The first day back from Winter Break is basically the first day of school all over again.

While it's important to jump back into the swing of things, it's also important to take into account the emotions of my students.  Some are upset about being back to school, but others have missed the stability and consistency that school provides.

I'm treating the first morning back from break like August all over again.  

We are going to change seats, re-establish class jobs, share about our breaks (while respecting that not everyone had epic adventures),and do some goal setting:

This {freebie} is perfect for our morning and I managed to get it copied before winter break.

We will be doing a pretest for our next math unit, a sort for our new reading unit, and having some computer time. 

After the kids leave, I'll prep the rest of my materials for the rest of the week.  One day at a time!

2/2

Earlier this month, I shared about my desire to {reclaim my weekends}.

Working all the time doesn't make me a better teacher. It drains me.  It doesn't make me a good wife, a good partner, a good (pet) mom, or a good friend.  

There needs to be balance and this is something I've struggled with for most of my career. 

I'm getting better at this balance.

I left work at 4:15 on Friday.  I stayed after to quickly grade their math quizzes, prep Monday's smart notebook, and run copies for language.  More importantly, I was having dinner with a friend and couldn't arrive too early, so I kept myself busy with some small tasks.

Friday night we went to the craft store to get stuff for her daughter's upcoming baby shower. I'm making a scrapbook and wanted her input on the album.  We stopped by Target for some very exciting items (batteries, carpet cleaner, and command hanging strips) before stopping by Panera.

She just completed her second week of teaching and needed to process the events.  She's subbed for me before, she completed her student teaching, but now she's in the classroom full time.  It's an adjustment and there are lots of growing pains when starting at a new school with a new team.

We had a nice long dinner and it was nice to catch up.  The rest of Friday night included going to bed early because teaching is hard.  I did come home to these:

Saturday brought about sleeping in and then attending a friend's bridal shower.  

We met up with friends for dinner and then played games at the house afterward.  I clearly made great choices at dinner:

My hubby did very well at picking out a birthday cake:

Sunday meant more sleeping in, lunch with family to celebrate birthdays (his mom and I are two days apart), a Target run, a nap, a bubble bath, decorating for fall, and talking with my momma on the phone.

I did manage to squeeze in a little school work this weekend.  I cut out photo booth props (shout out to Teach Create Motivate and her cute {freebies}), graded one of their beginning of the year math probes, and finished grading their diagnostic Words Their Way spelling inventory.  In total, this all took maybe an hour out of my weekend.  

I'm ending Sunday night with reading, touching up my pedicure, and heading to bed before 9 pm.  I'm walking into Monday with lesson plans done (for Monday), materials prepped, and no meetings.  I'll spend before school and prep getting ready for the rest of the week.  I have happy hour plans with friends after work (because it's my birthday) and plans lined up for next weekend.

 

Classroom Prep

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

Looking Ahead

Next year we're trying something new.  

Well, not new, we're going "old school".  We're going back to units of study.

We haven't discussed it as a grade level because not everyone wanted to meet over summer to get ahead for next year.  Not that I blame them, especially since one has been subbing (year round schools) on a frequent basis.  However, since I've got to completely move back into my classroom (because of summer school and my room being painted), have no prep periods, and am still (tentatively) scheduled for sinus surgery in early August, I want to get a head start on next year.

We want to blend reading, writing, language arts, science, and social studies into units to make learning more authentic for students.

We've got the backbone of one of our four units mapped out.  We decided to cluster all the standards into social studies units.  Next year we'll be focusing on Native Americans, Explorers, Colonies, and the American Revolution.

Social studies standards allow us to use both informational and literature standards, blend in all types of writing (narrative, expository, and persuasive), integrate language mini-lessons, and imbed technology and science content.

We're using a modified version of Engage NY's curriculum for math which is why that subject isn't included in our planning.

You can snag our unit planning template guide {here} for free!

We left ourselves space for including vocabulary, primary source documents, ideas for close reads, and more!

...I was not ready

I wasn't ready for what this week brought in terms of classroom instruction.  Biggest Loser at work started, which meant a weigh in first thing Monday morning.  After eating like a queen for two weeks, that was a little devastating.  But there's only one way to go (and that's down in terms of weight loss!)  Going cold turkey on caffeine didn't help the week, but I'm just glad it's the weekend.

Monday

Almost every other teacher in the lounge spent Monday's lunch period praising how quiet their students were.  Mine? Mine came in noisy and we had to have not one, but three different reminder conversations to re-establish classroom norms.  The biggest struggle?  They wanted to talk over me when I was giving instructions.

I gave them catch up time with their tables after break.  We shared out as a group and welcomed one another back.  We spent Monday reviewing concepts learned before break.  We didn't start division with decimals until Tuesday, finished our novel The Lightning Thief,  made these adorable foldables for goal setting during writing time:

(A free download from a fellow TpT seller, available {here})  

Despite planning a relatively easy review day with fun activities, they were still extremely loud and a tad disrespectful.  I tried to shake it off and frame my thinking as they were having an adjustment period.  After two weeks without the classroom structure, some of them were a bit off in terms of behavior.

Monday ended with Battle of the Books and several more students dropping out.  I think they expected it to be easy...it's not.  They have 8 books (they have to read four) and will have to answer trivia questions.  It's a little disheartening that over half the students who initially signed up have quit.  

I'm also trying to be positive and keep in mind that it's the first year (in about eight) that we are competing.  Next year, hopefully, will be better.

Tuesday

Tuesday brought this surprise:

I requested a kit months ago and it finally arrived!  Inside is a teacher kit and enough track components to playfully test velocity, speed, force, and friction.  

Of course, my students wanted to play with it immediately.  I said we're finishing our social studies unit first, then will switch to science.  I explained that we needed to know science terms first and have some background because this wasn't for play time.  This was for science.  That explanation calmed them...to a degree.

Wednesday

Wednesday was rough in terms of student behaviors, so instead I'll share two positives:

This was the view Wednesday morning from the playground of my school.  My phone doesn't do it justice.

We also had an IEP meeting where we exited the student from special education.  She made enough growth this year and met all of her individual goals.  This doesn't happen often and it was quite the cause for celebration.  Her dad cried tears of joy.

Thursday

Surprisingly a super productive day, possibly due to afternoon prep.  I always seem to get so much crammed into the morning when I have three straight hours with them.  We conquer social studies, math, reading, and RTI block.

We also had a guest speaker, Ms. L, come in to talk about upstate New York.  She's a neighboring kinder teacher and my kiddos loved hearing about other places.  We'll have more guest speakers soon. I'm super blessed to be at a school where so many colleagues are willing to give up their prep periods to come talk to the fifth graders.  

 Half a dozen students stayed after school until 5 pm retaking summative assessments, since report cards are due next week.  That made for another long day, but I left when they did!

Friday

Friday morning, I learned some devastating news.  I thought I was at Masters +32, but I'm only at +29.  That means I need one more class by May for a substantial increase on the school district's pay scale.  Totally manageable.

Except...it's not.  We will be getting a new contract in March.  This does not count education credits the same way.  Since my previous 13 grad credits were completed before the new contract, they won't count toward advancement.  Since I didn't finish the last class before September of 2015 (because I had the goal of May, 2016, because that's when credits are due), I won't be earning the pay raise.  I was told "bummer" by the HR representative, that there's a tentative appeal process, but that I should be pleased the last class I'm taking will count as 15 hours on the new payscale.  15 of the 225 I'll need for salary advancement. 

I tried to keep back the tears because nothing is set in stone.  Still, it's hard to feel valued as a teacher when I'm so completely screwed over by my employer.  Let me make that clear: my school is amazing.  My school district is disappointing.

Behaviors escalated.  I wrote two citations on Friday.  One student did nothing during math time, then when confronted, tried to say it was my fault because he didn't have a pencil.  He didn't ask to sharpen a pencil, nor did he ask to borrow one.  He just decided to assume I'd so no and that it was better to sit and do nothing, then try to say it was my fault.  This nonsensical back talk is not needed.  I flat out told him it was his fault, to accept responsibility, and stop trying to place blame on others.  He then continued to be rude and argumentative.  After lunch (and the fourth hallway conversation), he once again tried to tell me it was my fault he was talking to another student because I wasn't clear with my directions.  Holding back laughter, I flat out asked how "separate, find a different partner, and stop talking when I'm talking" could possibly be misunderstood.  Again, instead of apologizing, he spat arguments and attitude, so  was removed to another classroom.   A second student, who'd tried to pull the fire alarm earlier in the week, wrote "thug life" all over the thank you card I wrote his mom, and was absent two days, decided to back talk our new paraprofessional (support staff, or teacher's aide).  They were outside reading and she shushed him because it was reading time.  He shushed her right back and when confronted, claimed she started it and refused to apologize.  

Needless to say, I left school at the bell on Friday.

The weekend

I cranked out a 41 page report in a little over twenty four hours.  I worked for two hours on Friday and wrote the rest this morning.  It's being peer reviewed before being sent into the district.  I also finished my report card comments (27 pages)...all without the help of caffeine.  If I could bottle that type of productivity and have it constantly, I'd be unstopable.  When I needed a break, I turned to chores.  The Christmas tree is now un-decorated and put away, along with all the other winter decor.  Laundry also got folded and put away, in addition to making a new crockpot meal and cleaning the house.

Then I took a well deserved nap.

Tomorrow brings family pictures with B's side, working on a regions powerpoint, and finishing grading retakes.  This week brings a lot of different activities...but I'm counting down until Thursday night when my mom arrives for the weekend!

How was your first week back? Hopefully less traumatic than mine!