#2getherwearebetter: Classroom Reveal!!!

Greetings teacher friends!!! It is Katie from Pop into Primary  I am so stoked to once again be linking up with #angley!! This month...it is classroom ReVeAl!!! {Always my favorite posts to look through!!}

Yesterday was my FIRST day of school...and if you have ever watched one of my periscopes you know that I have what could be argued as one of the world's busiest toddlers...so I made a video reveal to save myself LOTS of time. {And it was fun!} Tune in below! Also, check out the links below the video to find the TpT products in my room!

Phonics Flags by Kristen Smith
Bulletin Board clip art by Educlips & Melonheadz
First day of school brag tag
Teacher Toolkit Labels
Read to Self Stamina Chart
Question Word Cards
First Day Snapshot Writing Activity
Mel D.'s Ultimate Writing Center
What do writer's write pencil

TpT Seller Challenge #3: Make your MaStErPiEcE!!

I am so thrilled to be linking up with Teach.Create.Motivate, Third in Hollywood, Peppy Zesty, teacherista, and Sparkling in Second for their TpT Seller Challenge....how amazingly motivating this has been! For my masterpiece I finished installment #2 of my Word Work Activity Booklets. These are an idea I had at the end of this school year and only was able to use a couple of them with my students....they LOVED them!!!!!

This will be an ever-growing product. (I will be adding short a and short i activities soon!)

Let the motivation juices keep flowing!! :)

Daily 5 Chapter 3: The 10 Steps to Teaching & Learning Independence

Happy Tuesday!! I am thrilled to be back with you all discussing one of my FAVE teacher books...Daily 5-2nd Edition. This study is brought to you by the lovely Brenda over at Primary Inspired.  

Today we are discussing Chapter 3: The 10 Steps to Teaching & Learning Independence. I know that some of these steps are scary terrifying for some teachers. It can be so hard to turn our back and let those kiddos have their independence. 
Let's get started!

Want a copy of this poster?? Click to get a FREEBIE!!! :)

Like the sisters say....it seems simple but think back to lessons you have taught. Did you..just maybe...forget to tell the kids what they will be learning? Simply tell the kids what they will be learning in that (hopefully mini) lesson. :) Simple right? The sisters use Step 1 to introduce Daily 5 choices, but an I-chart and stating the learning objectives works for any subject area. Wait....I-chart you say? Let's get into that now...

I LOVE that the sisters point out that most of us have an internal voice that asks, "What's in it for me??" Don't you agree that our students feel that way? They want to know why they need to pay attention and learn what we are trying to teach them. 

Introducing the I-Chart. The sisters, (Oh..and I am going to MEET THEM in August....eek...so pardon me if I mention them 8,231 times in this book study.)

use I-charts to let the students know what is expected, or the sense of purpose for each Daily 5 choice. Pinterest and TpT are FLOODED with I-charts FREE and already created for you! Click below to see some of the FREEBIES!!! When you DO have an I-chart make SURE to write what they will be learning at the top of it. Keep it up on that cabinet awhile too! :)

TpT

Pinterest

The I-chart is great because not only does it list what the students should be doing during choice time, but also what the teacher should be doing. My students love discussing the teacher side of the I-chart with me. One time a student said, "You should write drinking coffee on the teacher side because you always are." OOPS. :) 

**One BIG CHANGE the sisters made in the 2nd edition of Daily 5 is that instead of having the students brainstorm the "desired behaviors" during choice time, you, the teacher, just simply writes them down and then model, model, model, practice...practice...you get the drill. I like to keep my I-charts up all year. (Believe me..you will revisit them! Especially after Christmas break!!) Since I like them up all year, I usually hand write them when we first learn about it in a minilesson, and then type them up.

I have students model the desirable behaviors from the I-Chart. This is visual learning in action!

Then comes the FUN part....every year my kiddos LOVE watching someone model the least desirable behaviors. I like to choose my off-task student. This might give them the attention they crave, in a positive way! Be ready for the laughter during the least desirable time. (This gives that off task kiddo the laughter they desire...but the next part....) Then. that student/performer will instantly model the correct, or most desirable behavior. This gives that kiddo approval and respect not only from you the teacher, but from their peers. Win Win!! :)

Now that your little smarties have seen the correct and incorrect behaviors for choice time, it is time to practice!! In the beginning you should choose where they sit around the room.

I KNOW I have shown this pic before...but I like to have several places around the room to place my students. The deck is one. I also have adirondack chairs, pillows, crate seats, and Christmas lights under the computer table.I make sure to rotate them around so every student finds the right spot for them. 

Stamina is a word your students will learn through Daily 5! We like to put up a stamina bar graph and color in our progress each day. The sisters give 3 minutes for your first session. (This is just meant as a guideline.) I keep going as long as everyone is on task. As soon as someone breaks stamina, we stop. I don't give my teacher glare look at the student who broke stamina, we just go on with our next task. By October/November my 2nd graders are at about 15 minutes of stamina where they complete, quiet, independent work time....giving me a great amount of time to work with my groups or individuals!

This is the one that can be a TOUGHIE for some teachers. Letting go of the reins and letting your kiddos take control of the classroom environment. I don't make eye contact with kids while they are independently practicing the choice time behaviors. I simply flit about the room doing "teachery things" and keeping my super teacher ears in tune to any off task behavior. By staying out of the way you are teaching your students to be independent workers/learners/readers/writers. When I do hear that off task noise, we stop and move on to the next lesson.

I'm not going to get into this too much because there is so much more to say about this with Chapter 4, but you will need a signal to get your students' attention and regroup. I use a small bell, a few friends of mine have a doorbell, some use music wands, still others use a simple wind chime. Start shopping! :)

Lastly,

By having my kiddos check in with me after each choice time, I am holding them accountable! I have them hold their hand close to their heart and give a thumbs up (I did great and am awesome), thumbs sideways (eh...I did alright), or thumbs down (Oh man...I talked to my bestie and played with my bookbox the ENTIRE time.) We then discuss what they did, what the saw, heard...etc.

Click the link below to return to the linkup and read some other amazing posts!

Until next time, thanks for stopping by!

An InLinkz Link-up

Back to School linky-Assessment

Greetings!

I am back for week two of this amanzing Back 2 School Linky party hosted by Mrs. D's Corner and Miss V's Busy Bees. 

Assessment. A pretty big buzz word in education today. However, I am not going to delve into the topic of standardized testing!! (As we say up north, Uffda.) I want to talk about the ways I quickly assess students in my classroom. Those of you that want to use buzz words: formative assessments. (There are a LOT of buzz words in education!!) 

There are many ways to do a "quick check" on student understanding. Below I will share a couple of ways I assess my students, one of them being a hands-on game that my students LOVE.ADORE.ASKTOPLAYEVERYDAY. 

One of the best ways to get an instant check on my students and how they are doing is through the use of individual whiteboards. I have a set of these in my classroom, but I also have them on my small group table......like stuck on the table!! They are the BEST small group resource ever! (Check out a previous post on these whiteboards HERE.) My kiddos think they are cool and these little stick on whiteboards have eliminated the, "Oh wait, I will be right back, I forgot a whiteboard." Also, I keep a basket of whiteboard markers at my small group table so no one can forget their marker, head to their desk to go get one, get distracted by Johnny who is playing a game with dice, etc....(You know exactly what I am talking about right??) You can order these sticker boards for yourself HERE.

Like I said, I also use the traditional individual whiteboards. These are great to use during whole group time. Here are two ways I use them:

1. During whole group math: We often start our math time with a quick review of what we learned the day before. The kiddos copy down a problem onto their board and "hug it" to their chest when they are done. Then, when I say "Show me your amazing work!" They hold it up in the air. The reason I have them hug it before showing me is it gives other kids a little extra time to work, AND it almost completely stops copying. 

2. During whole group reading: I most often use the mini whiteboards during phonics and spelling reviews. For example, if our sound of the week is "ch" I will have the kids write some words that include that sound. (Same with spelling, we review our words.)

The kiddos DO get sick of taking tests....and more tests....and still MORE tests. I mean, can you blame them? Like I said above, individual whiteboards are a great way to quickly assess students, BUT they will get bored of it if you use them too often. I was thinking about this one night (because a teacher's brain NEVER stops thinking of school!) and decided to create a review game for my students to use in math the next day. We were learning about grams and kilograms and my littles needed to be able to determine which unit (g or kg) they would use to measure an object. What popped out of my brain was "This or That?". In this game, students each get a "g" and "kg" circle (pictured below). We glue (or tape) these onto popsicle sticks, and when I say an object, "fridge" the students show me either g or kg. (After naming a few objects, I know INSTANTLY who gets it, and who needs a review in small group.) The kiddos LOVE this....they kind of feel like it is a game show. 

I have two versions of this game in my TpT store....so far. :) You can get my grams or kilograms version FREE! I also have an inches or feet version. Click on the pictures below!

Thanks for stopping by!

My first Monday Made it!!

Happy Monday!!

I am thrilled to be linking up with 4th Grade Frolics for her amazing weekly linky party, Monday Made It! 

I LOVE and I mean LOVE reading Monday Made It each week.....what inspiring ideas!!! So, here we go!!

I have wanted a teacher's toolbox for a LONG time. Well this year, thanks to some great suggestions made from my great followers on my facebook page, I have decided to go deskless!! Yes...I do mean get rid of my teacher's desk! DUN DUN DUN!! The idea made me very nervous at first, but the more I thought about it, I realized my desk always ends up becoming the dump it, do it later, don't want to/have time to look at it right now disaster area. I swear some days after school I spend half an hour organizing the paper pile. My new classroom has a built in desk that faces the wall. (I am moving to a new school four hours away from where I have been teaching for the last six years......BUT it is right by my hometown!! Yay for moving home!) 

So...here is the desk area in my new classroom. Yes, there sits the traditional desk, but behind it you see the built in!! 

So....since I won't have desk drawers to  lose keep all my supplies in, I decided to create one of those amazingly organized and handy teacher toolboxes. I got in the car, told hubby we are going to his favorite store (Menards) to get a teacher's toolbox. He gave me a look, but shrugged it off. I had him at Menards. Here is what I bought:

I then created my labels. They are available here, or by clicking on the picture below.

I am loving the toolbox....I hope it will help me stay organized, and it fulfills my need for all things chevron and birdie!

Not a GREAT photo...but you get the idea. :)

The other day I was at Target, and happened across this little ditty. 

IT LIGHTS UP. 

Immediately my wheels started turning. Each year my students have trouble identifying which words signify a question versus a sentence. 

What better way to get their attention than with LIGHTS?? I will be hanging this up on my classroom wall with the question words I just created. 

Want a copy of my freebie question words? Click below!

Until next time!

Thanks for stopping by, 

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Back to School Linky-Behavior Management, new clip chart & a Freebie!!

Greetings!! 

I have definitely been outta the blogging world for TOO LONG. BUT....I was busy interviewing, cleaning up the flooded basement, and MOST importantly...taking care of my cutie patootie. He is cruising around furniture now and ON THE GO. I am exhausted, but it is so much fun!


AND....new school! I am ELATED to have accepted a teaching position so close to my hometown...about 20 minutes away!  SO..new school means new classroom!! It is a nice room and my super OCD is kicking in mind is going a million miles an hour with ideas of how to manage and set it up.

 Luckily, Mrs. D, over at Mrs. D's Corner, and Mrs. V over at Mrs. V's Busy Bees are hosting a ten week (yes I said 10 people!!) linky party. 

Each week focuses on a different part of our wonderful career we call teaching.

Alright...let's get down to the nitty gritty:

Strong behavior management is ESSENTIAL in order for your students to learn and feel safe inside your little space. (Maybe yours is a big space!) I have tried several different things over the years....I mean I used a music box as a management tool with one class!! (A story for a different time!) and have finally settled into a few behavior management strategies that work best in my classroom. Let's get started.

My teaching life changed as I know it the instant I learned about the clip chart. I mean the MINUTE. I switched to it mid year as soon as I figured out how to implement it. I have never turned back. #bestbehaviortooleverIswear  

The past three school years I have used a very basic version that I crafted one late Saturday night in the teacher's lounge. (Like I said...I wanted it the minute I found out about it!) Here is my "basic" version.

Stanley makes his debut on the blog. :)

What I LOVE about the clip chart is it doesn't just call out negative behaviors like some other color change systems do, but it also calls attention to positive behaviors! Quick explanation: All students start (I mean they put on their marvelous name marker...or a clothespin...yup that will be your big purchase for this system!!) on Green-Ready to Learn each morning. (Clean slate for all every day!!) If they make good choices they clip up. Bad choices=clip down. I have a symbol I do with my kids to tell them to clip up or down, that way it is private and doesn't disrupt the rest of the class. The "clip" action is two fingers making scissors motion and then I either point up or down. The kids love this little "secret" language we speak! :) In most clip charts there are 7 sections. Clicking HERE will take you to the official clip chart website where you can download a free booklet on how it works!

Blue-Outstanding-This kiddo had a GREAT day and they get a marker dot. (Some teachers use stickers...I just could NOT get them to stick!) Once they get 5 dots, it is off to the next color clip for them!! I do ROY G BIV. Once they have made it through the rainbow, we get a glitter clip. Then, we are back at a red clip, but I have a bin in my cupboard labeled "Design Clips". The kiddos choose something red and I hot glue it to their new, fashionable, envious clip. (Seriously...this is HUGE to my 2nd graders!)

Pink-Great Job-They have made great choices...great day!

Purple-Good Job-It was a pretty good day. :)

Green-Ready to Learn-Our starting point for the day. Even if a kiddo ended up on Red, they get a fresh start. Phew!

Yellow-Think About It-This is just a warning section. They can still clip up from this place!

Orange-Teacher's Choice-a consequence that fits the crime...just be sure to be consistent. If always making bad choices Johnny has to write an apology letter to the Spanish teacher for stealing her puppet (true story) then so does little Miss Jane, even though it is her first offense. If  a student clips down to Orange, they do not get to clip up from there.

Red-Parent Contact...just what it says. That kiddo had a tough day! If a student clips down to red, they cannot clip up.

This year I have developed OCD a love for all things bird and chevron, so I created my own, new clip chart. (Bye bye basic.) Check it out here, or by clicking on the picture below. 

I use the clip chart as an individual management tool. This next tip is a whole class motivator!

Behavior BINGO. Yes..you heard me right. I play an ongoing bingo game with my class depending on whole group behavior. My class is playing bingo to win a prize we voted on earlier. (Usually gum day, hat day, eat lunch in classroom, etc.) Here is how it works:

It is basically a 100's chart. I print out a second copy of the chart, cut it up, laminate it and put it into one of my cute little buckets. (I have two buckets. One holds the numbers we have not pulled out and colored in yet, the other one holds the used numbers.)

So the picture above isn't GREAT...but there is my bingo board in the lower left side, with one of my buckets visible. If my class has made a great choice (walking quietly in the hallway, working hard during Daily 5, etc...) I will say, "Wow! We have had a great morning. I am going to pull five (up to you!) bingo chips!" I will then take out 5, color those squares in, and then put those five tiles into the "used numbers" bucket. 

We get the prize when we have a row filled. (That takes ten numbers in a row, so you will only need to think of a few prizes for the year! LOVE it.)

Click HERE or on the pic below to download a FREE copy of the Behavior Bingo chart.

I hope these tips can help you in your classroom this year!! 

Do you have any tried and true behavior management methods? Leave me a comment if you do!! 

Stay tuned for next week's Back 2 School post! 

Thanks for stopping by,