Blog Hoppin' Day 4

Day 4 is all about the how I get through the DAY {Insert bottle of wine here } so I'm going to share with you my Daily Schedule, a peek into my plans and some ideas for Classroom Management.  Buckle up!


SCHEDULE . . . .

(Side Note: I swear I'm losing my vision and EVERYTHING has to be bigger so I can see it!)

So here is a peek at my Daily Schedule.  Not much there huh?  Well that's because this is my first year as a Special Educator. Although I know my actual schedule, I don't quite have all the details put in yet. Our school is implementing a mandatory 30-minute intervention block this year, which is great for my kiddos.  We will receive information on that during PD this week and next.  We'll get info on what exactly it should look like and how it should be structured.  I also know that during the 2nd L.A. block, only some of my students will participate in Making Meaning while others will be pulled during that time.  I'm kind of happy I have something down on paper but I'm excited to get more info on what my day will look like.  

PLANS . . . .

Up next is a look at my plans. Well, I can show you a template with some rough information on them but that's about it :(  It has been very hard for me this year since I am a TOTAL planner.  I usually have all of my "i's" dotted and "t's" crossed by early August.  I'm SO out of the loop this year and I don't want to bug my Team too much so I'm trying to practice a new thing for me called PATIENCE.  So far, I think it's totally overrated!

As you can see, lots of the unknown.  As I meet with my team, I'll find out more about my scheduling.  The first week, I plan to push-in most of the time with periods of pull-out to get them acclimated to my room as well.  We'll go over classroom procedures and routines, expectations and all of that good stuff.

If you like the lesson plan template, it comes from "The ULTIMATE Binder" in my TpT Store. Just click on the picture or the title to preview / download.  It's one of over 10 different templates provided in the product.

MANAGEMENT . . . .

I am starting the year with a clip chart, mostly because that is the method my new team uses.  I have it for free in my TpT Store (just click on the picture to download.)

I did a whole post about my reasoning for this clip chart.  You can read about that HERE. 

After the kids get settled, I plan on switching it up a bit.  When I taught Kindergarten, I used a "Gold Ticket" system which we all loved!  The kids would earn tickets for good behavior or being a positive role model.  They would accumulate tickets all week, then redeem them on Fun Friday for choice activities.  Since I'm now in 5th grade, I plan on introducing a similar, incentive-based management system where the kids will earn points to redeem for choice activities.  I'll have more details about that in a later post.

Well, Day 4 is in the books!  Make sure you head back to Blog Hoppin' to see what other teachers are doing in their classrooms!  Thanks for stopping by.  Don't forget to follow me for other offers and exclusive FREEBIES!

Blog Hoppin' ~ Day 3

I hope you are getting to know other bloggers and enjoy their stories!  And how about those classroom reveals?????

Well Blog Hoppin's 2014 Back-to-School's next stop is one of my FAVORITE'S!!!!  In fact, you could definitely say I'm a little bit OBSESSED with today's topic.......

A A G I I N N O O R T Z

You haven't figured it out yet???  It's ORGANIZATION.....but I put it in order......alphabetical order!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to organize.  I organize my pens, papers, classroom, files, documents, clothes....you name it and I do it!  So when I read about today's topic, I did a lil cabbage patch dance.  Good thing I was home alone!

So let's get started!  I will first tell you how I stay organized for school.  I will apologize in advance because I created products to help keep me organized so I'm not officially "plugging" here.....but I kind of am.  

My first organization tool is "The ULTIMATE Binder."  This document has EVERYTHING I need throughout my day, all at my fingertips.  You could choose to split this up into multiple binders but I've chosen to keep it all in one.  I travel a lot throughout the day (meetings, etc.) so I like to have one thing that I need to pick up and go.  

I have all of my lesson plans, my monthly calendar and my year-at-a-glance, templates for notes to send home, IEP data, caseload templates, attendance forms, grade book, TpT/Pinterest templates, communication logs, important phone numbers, meeting schedules, student information sheets, volunteer forms......literally everything is in there.  The document is 245 pages of EDITABLE templates and forms.  Let me say that again.....EDIT-A-BLE forms and templates.  That means, you can input your own information, print and put it in your binder.  Never lose a document again!  I know I'm biased on this one but I've shared it with people I work with and got great feedback so I know it's not just me. 

The next organization tip I use in the classroom is a huge TIME-SAVER for me!  I am the type of person that if there is something I can bring home to work on, in the comfort of my own home, then I do it!  I would much rather mark tests & assignments at home in my pj's than sitting behind my desk at school.  I simply pick up the stack of tests / assignments, throw them in my bag and head home!  I created these templates to use so when I'm done grading the tests, I can record the results.  I decided to clean up the document I use and make it a FREEBIE for you!  Oh, and did I mention I made it EDITABLE for you?  There is enough room for 30 students.  The picture below is an example of how I use this tool:

The document has two of these per page. I use the first column to mark the grade for the assessment / assignment and I use the 2nd column to record a few different things.  I may put a star there to remind me to reteach something, or to conference with that particular student.  You could also keep a running average for that particular student in that column.  Whatever works for you!  You can download it in my store by clicking the picture or HERE.

Blog Hoppin' ~ Day 2

WOW ~ I got to read about some amazing bloggers yesterday!  Who knew!

Well I'm at it again today.  It's Day 2 of Blog Hoppin's Back-to-School 2014 Hop.  Today is all about the WHERE!

Those of you who have been following know I just left Kindergarten for Fifth Grade Special Ed.  BIG JUMP!!!!  Although Kindergarten was great, I am so excited to work with the bigger kids.  I put a lot of thought into making a room that they will enjoy, want to be in, and feel comfortable in.

I also share a room with two other people.  Picture a square room cut in half.  Now cut the bottom of the half off.  That's my room!  We are maxed out at my school so any space is prime real estate! Although I still have a long to-do list, I feel comfortable sharing pictures at this point.  I mean, I'm certainly no Reagan Tunstall, but I aspire to be :)

I work in a suburban school district just outside of Philadelphia, PA.  I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my school.  My co-workers are some of the best people I've ever worked with.  And my Principal......FAB-U-LOUS!  I'm {insert the most drastic word known to man} that she is leaving at the end of September.  I cannot even tell you how much I will miss her :(  She is by far the best principal I've ever worked for!

This is obviously my area of the room. I tend to work very long after the kiddies have gone so I wanted an area that I can work comfortably in.  Next to my desk, I have an area designated for students.  They will turn in their homework & any assignments into the bins, I keep my Homework Punch Cards in the small yellow container (Click HERE to download.)  I keep tape, a stapler, hand sanitzer, etc. on the table for the students.  In the colored file holder on the wall, I keep all of my copies and materials I'll need for each day of the week.

This is the area behind my desk.  I keep my Teacher's Toolkit and anything I need to access here.  There is an additional shelving unit to the left but you can really see it.  I keep all of my curriculum materials there.  Can you tell I'm not quite done? I still need to change out the drawer covers on that last rolling cart.  I have labels for both carts laminated and ready to go.  I just LOVE my little lamp there.  Nothing like some additional lighting!  And you really can't tell from this picture but I covered the backs of my shelving with contact paper.....ZEBRA contact paper!  You can read about that HERE.

Here's a closer view of that area.  I love the accessories I've been able to find.  And, btw, I am CHEAP!  I look for the bargains and get ridiculously excited when I find them.  The "D" initial was only $3.00 at Michaels.  The Chevron bins....yep, $3.00 at Walmart.  And YES, the picture frame was $3.00 as well!  When you factor in the toolkit, this ENTIRE AREA was less than $12.00!  I had the toolkit from last year.  Read all about how I gave it a make-over HERE.  I love this lil area!  To the left is a fan (a MUST for me, and my radio for when the kiddies leave.)

Well, this picture kinda says it all, huh?  My tables are still loaded up with decorating supplies but honestly, I only have a few more hours of work then it all gets shoved in a closet neatly put away.  This will be my small group workspace.  I have a shelf behind my table, as well as two more rolling carts, to house everything I need for small group work.  This year, everything will have a "designated area."  Those two words are going to be my mantra this year!  Any bets on how long that lasts???

This is my CLIPCHART  (<---- You can download it for FREE) and the ever-popular "READ" sign all over Pinterest.  I still love them though!

I love how the Library area is shaping up.  My Instructional Assistant stored all of her files (black bags) and I don't want to disturb them. She'll be in this week to get those moved.  I'm having to start my classroom library all over again so there isn't too much there yet.  A couple of books each month and it will fill right up!

You can read about how I made those T-Shirt pillows HERE.

Hang in there.....we're almost done!!!

This shelf houses most of my manipulatives.  Most of my kiddos learn better using manipulatives so I have LOTS of them!  This shelf is a gross, ugly district shelf.  I can't do too much to it, so I just took out the shelves and lined the back with black paper.  It helps the bins to really pop with color.

This is my area where students who have been absent can pick up any missed work.  This is a HUGE time saver!  When I'm handing out anything, I simply put the remainder in the designated pocket (Mon-Fri) then at the end of the week, I move them back to the file for next year.  I will also have a handout detailing any missed assignments.  Above that is my "You Forgot to Write Your Name AGAIN?"  "No Name"sign.  This is posted as you leave my area of the room so students can easily identify their work on their way out.

And last but not least.........

These are some posters / rules hanging above my white board.  I don't really have classroom "rules" listed anywhere.  These posters summarize everything I want the kids to follow:

     ~ Take PRIDE in your work!
     ~ We are a TEAM!
     ~ NEVER give up trying!
     ~ Always do your BEST!
     ~ READING is key!
     ~ TRYING is hard work!
     ~ Words are Powerful!

These posters will help to jumpstart conversations about what our room should look like and sound like.

Well, you deserve a medal for hanging in there with me.......but I don't have one to give you.  I can say a big THANK YOU for checking out my blog.  I hope you were able to get some ideas for your own classroom.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  Don't forget to "Follow" me while you're here!

Head on back over to Blog Hoppin' to check out some other great ideas!

Blog Hoppin' ~ Day 1

I'm SOOOO excited to be linking up with Blog Hoppin' for their 2014 Back-to-School HOP!

So today, Day 1, is all about the WHO!  I figured I would give you some history on how I got to be where I am today.  Hope I don't bore ya :)

I decided after having my two children that I wanted to go back to school to become a teacher.  I loved teaching my kids new things each day, and the process that went into deciding what to teach and how to teach it.  Luckily, I was young when I had my kids so at the ripe old age of 25, after my son was born, I decided to jump head first into the college life.  It took what seemed like FOR-E-VA to finish my degree but I did so in 2005.  

My first job immediately after was teaching 1st grade in an urban school setting.  It was a great experience because I was able to co-teach with someone who became my life-long friend.  It was the first year for both of us and I have to say, in looking back, we did a pretty darn-good job!  We were given the "dumping" room.....you know, when all the teachers in the grade below try to piss off one particular teacher, so they give her all the problem students?  YUP, that was my first year of teaching.  By the end of that year, 18 out of 31 of my students had an IEP!!!!  My administrator joked with me that he was going to label the chair with my name since I attended so many initial IEP meetings that year.  My co-worker was amazing!!!  She is a natural-born teacher, through and through.  We really worked so well, and so hard, together that year that I will always look back with great pride at what we accomplished!

Unfortunately, there were MAJOR budget cuts in that district and I was laid off.  I again was incredibly lucky to land where I am today.  I interviewed for a suburban district near my home and was hired on a one-year contract.  The assignment I was given was 1/2 day Kindergarten.  Great you say????  It was great, except I taught morning Kindergarten in one school then had to drive to another to teach afternoon Kindergarten.  I maintained two full classrooms, had 48 students total and was completely exhausted at the end of that year!  But my current principal hired me permanently after that year so I must have done something right.....or she took pity on me :)

I taught Kindergarten for the last 4 years and just moved to 5th grade Special Education.  I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am.  I really feel like this is going to be a great fit for my style of teaching.  

My teaching philosophy is for learning to be as FUN as I can possibly make it.  I want my kids to develop a true love of learning.  Given their experiences, I think there may be some initial resistance but I'm certainly up for the challenge.  I can't wait to get started!!!

Today, my kids are 19 (daughter) and 16 (son) and they are my WORLD!  I was married last summer to my best friend!  I am so lucky to have found him and have him be in my life.

So, that's me in a nut-shell!  Hello.....are you still awake????

Well don't forget to "HOP" back over to Blog Hoppin' to read about some other awesome bloggers.  Also, don't forget to come back here tomorrow for Day 2!  You're going to want to see that one!

While you're here, please make sure to "follow" my page to receive exclusive, blog-only special offers and discounts!  Thanks so much for stopping by!