Wednesday, October 8, 2014

The Together Teacher Chapter 12 - Deal With Your Paper and Stuff - Giveaway!





It is time for another chapter of "The Together Teacher" in our book study. Today it is time for chapter 12 which is all about dealing with your paper and stuff.  Our hostess this week is  Amy of The Core of Grade Four!


If you have missed my previous posts from this book study you can find them below:

                                                                             Chapter 11
                                                                             Chapter 10
                                                                             Chapter 9  
                                                                             Chapter 8
                                                                             Chapter 6
                                                                             Chapter 5
                                                                             Chapter 4
                                                                             Chapter 3
                                                                             Chapter 2
                                                                             Chapter 1

I have LOVED the accountability of blogging as I am re-reading this book because I have actually had to implement the strategies - not just read the book!  I am really starting to feel like a more Together Teacher!  Last week we had a professional development session and the facilitator asked us to plan our small group writing lessons for the next week.  One of the teachers across from me said, "As if we all have our class lists and their writing levels with us?"  I was able to say, "Actually I do!" I pulled out my flexi and there under my school binder was everything I needed.  I DID let her know that it was all because of this book study.  Last year I would have been in the same boat as her!

So let's dive into this last chapter, and be sure to read on down to the bottom because we have a great giveaway for you!


What to Carry When You Are On The Move:  Your Together Teacher System And A Teacher Clipboard




A Teacher Clipboard

 Many  of us already carry a teacher clipboard, but Maia points out the problem with it is that we carry EVERYTHING with us on the clipboard.  From late slips to lesson plans, it often becomes a jumble of mess and you can't find what you need easily.  She gives some suggestions about what should be on there and how it should be arranged.  She suggests using your Together Teacher System for maintaining your time, your to-dos, your thoughts, and your notes.  Your clipboard should hold your lesson plans, behavior/homework trackers, and mastery trackers.   If your Together Teacher System is easy to hold, you could also keep these things there as well.

Academic Observation Charts

As a teacher you NEED a handy place to capture and record valuable data about your students to inform you instruction and planning.  When Maia was teaching, she says that she would make a chart each week with the students' names on the vertical axis and the learning objectives for the week across the horizontal axis.  During each part of her lesson - (warm-up, guided practice, or independent work) she would circulate around the room noting who had mastered or showed partial mastery of the objective.  She would also make notes of students who were struggling to remind herself to return to the students for extra help later during the day or week.
Behavioral Data Logs

Just like academic data, you may want to keep track of behavior as well.  Who is participating and who is not?  Are certain students having difficulty staying on task during a certain subject? 


A Writing Tool

You can't keep this data if you don't have a pen or pencil to write it down!  I have been so guilty of racing around my classroom in search of a writing tool.  Maia suggests keeping it with you at all times whether in your pocket, attached to your lanyard, or clipped onto a clipboard.
 
Use Your Desk For Something Other Than Storage

Establish and In-Box
Maia suggests setting up a stackable file bin with the following labels:

  • Action
  • Grade
  • Return
  • Office
  • Copy 
  • File  

Portable In-Box

Maia suggests keeping a place in your Together Teacher system to hold the papers that come your way when you are out and about.  Just make sure you go through that in-box as part of your daily routine.
My Portable In-Box


Transporting Your Materials

It seems like taking work home is just part of the teaching territory.  Maia suggests using a five or seven pocket accordion file that matches your in-box file on your desk.  I use my 31 bag with dividers in it as well.


               

Although this is the last chapter, there are a ton of other resources including books, blogs, apps, and more.  Maia has included a CD for you to access the items she refers to in the book for creating your own Together Teacher system.

Now... time for the giveaway!



Every month I give away a $25 TpT gift Card.



This month I also have donations from the hostesses of this book study as well! And... I am also throwing in an item of your choice from my store, along with a copy of The Together Teacher!



Kovescence of the Mind

Sarah is donating an item of your choice from her TpT Store.

 Middle School Math Moments

Ellie from Middle School Math Moments is donating her Footloose Comparing and Ordering Fractions.

Comparing and Ordering Fractions Footloose-Task Card Activ





 Laura from Luv My Kinders is donating her Spider Math and Literacy Activities K-1 packet.



Kathleen from A+ Kids is donating an item of your choice from her TpT Store.

Enter below
a Rafflecopter giveaway




21 comments:

  1. Thanks for hosting this giveaway! My biggest organizational challenge is probably setting time aside to get things organized. I feel like I need a whole day to do it, and can't just do a little here and there. Definitely a challenge :)

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  2. My biggest challenge is guided reading materials!

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  3. My biggest organizational challenge is leaving my plan book at home or at school when I need it in the other place! I'm slowly moving over to digital but until then... :)

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  4. Thanks for this giveaway- the book sounds very helpful. My biggest challenge is finding places to put everything, especially papers.

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  5. I struggle with organizing the layout of my room. I've changed it a bunch of times already and I've only been teaching for three years!

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  6. Organizing all of my TpT materials!!

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  7. My biggest struggle is how and where to keep all of my units .Space is a problem!

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  8. My biggest organizational challenge is keeping my desk tidy enough during the day...we don't have a break till the very last period, so things stack up till then and drive me crazy!

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  9. My biggest challenge is remembering where I put things after I get organized! It seemed logically to put things in certain places but somehow I forget.

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  10. I HATE to file! My biggest challenge is putting this BACK after I have used them! I need a secreatary! HAHA Great BOOK! I WOULD LOVE IT! Wendy 1stgradefireworks@gmail.com 1stgradefireworks

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  11. Thanks for the informative post, suggestions, and giveaway. Papers, papers, papers and space to file it all! Love that students are starting to do more and more on laptops. Have a teacher pen necklace that is AWESOME!

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  12. My biggest struggle is organizing / throwing papers and files!

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  13. Paperwork! No matter what I try, I can't seem to get it all organized.

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  14. Papers and where to store them. Have to save lots now with new guidelines in place. Thank you for the giveaway.

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  15. What a great giveaway:) So excited to follow you and your other friends in this giveaway! My biggest challenge is where to put everything and where to store them.. my apartment and classroom are very very small! Thanks for the chance!

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  16. This is great. My worksheets that I've used are the biggest things I have difficulty keeping organized.

    I accidentally clicked that I follow Southern Love of Teaching...but I cannot figure out how to follow. Any suggestions?

    kellybrown28021@gmail.com

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  17. Putting materials away... so I can find them next year!

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  18. Thanks for the great giveaway!!!! My biggest struggle is finding time to put things away when I am done with them. Things seem to pile up way to fast in corners and on flat surface, lol.
    Julie

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  19. Thank you for this great giveaway! My biggest challenge is keeping my desk tidy. I always manage to dump all the stuff I'm using during the day on it! :S

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  20. Thank you for this Giveaway. I work with so many grade levels, and I just tend to make stacks on the extra desk in my office, on my desk at home, and anywhere I am working. I get done, and I'm tired so instead of putting things away, they just stay in the stacks. Yuck!

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  21. Thank you for the giveaway everyone! Gotta say papers/paperwork. Yuck!

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