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 7

                                                                             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!

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

 

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

 

 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

The Together Teacher Chapter 10 - Arranging Your Classroom to Run Like Clockwork

It is time for another chapter of "The Together Teacher" in our book study. Today it is time for chapter 10 which is all about taming your email.  Our hostess this week is Ellie from Middle School Math Moments .

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

                                                                             Chapter 9  

                                                                             Chapter 8

      Chapter 7

                                                                             Chapter 6

                                                                             Chapter 5

                                                                             Chapter 4

                                                                             Chapter 3

                                                                             Chapter 2

                                                                             Chapter 1

We have all had those days when the bell rings at the end of the day, we smile at our students as we say goodbye, only to turn around to notice that our classroom looks as if a tornado has hit it!

This chapter helps us to organize all the stuff (and boy do us teachers have a ton of STUFF!) that is in our classroom for both us and our students. Maia describes various stations that can be set up around your room no matter the size of your classroom.

A few of these stations include:

Teaching Station

This is your home base where you keep all of your teaching materials for the day.  It should contain all the days handouts, supplies, etc, that you will need throughout the day.  

The Entry Way

Much like at your home where you might keep your car keys, purse, etc. this should be a place where your students can start off either picking up supplies for the day or dropping off items such as homework or notes.  Now that I teach elementary, I don't really have this set-up because my students enter the room at the same time and it would just be a mess.  However, when I taught 7th grade math, I kept my Do Now sheet at the door for the students to grab as they came in.  This made the transition to getting started seamless.

In this section, Maia mentions student mailboxes as a place where you can distribute papers to individual students.  When I taught 7th grade math, I used milk crates with hanging folders in them for this purpose (each period had their own crate).  I still use this system in my elementary class.

Having a Well Stocked Pantry

Well, not really a pantry, but you want to have all of your "ingredients" on hand as you teach.  No more searching for a dry erase marker or hunting down dice for a math game.  Have your supplies ready to go and easy to find so you don't waste time looking for them.  I keep my supplies in buckets on an easy to get to shelf.

I also keep my teaching books and small group work supplies behind my desk where I do most of my small group teaching.

Classroom Calendar

Students love knowing what day it is and what to expect.  I keep a calendar where they can see all of our upcoming assemblies, important days, birthdays etc.

Classroom Library

Students are encouraged to read when they can find books that interest them.  Maia suggests organizing your books either by level or by genre so students can find them easily.

Cleaning Supplies

Let's face it, learning is messy and sometimes you just don't have time to wait for the janitor.  Maia suggests stocking up on a few cleaning supplies for those occasions when you need to do a little tidying up.

A few of her suggestions:

*Paper towels

* Regular cleaning towels that can be laundered

*Clorox wipes

*Dry-erase board cleaner

*anti-bacterial spray

What things do you do to keep your classroom in order?  If you are following along link up below.  And don't forget to visit our hostess, Nicole of Southern Love of Teaching for chapter 11 next week. 

 

The Together Teacher Chapter 9 - Tame The Email Beast

 It is time for another chapter of "The Together Teacher" in our book study. Today it is time for chapter 9 which is all about taming your email.  Our hostess this week is  Sara from Dare to Be Different - Teach.

If you have missed my previous posts from this book study you can find them below:
   
                                                                             Chapter 8

      Chapter 7

                                                                             Chapter 6
                                                                             Chapter 5
                                                                             Chapter 4
                                                                             Chapter 3
                                                                             Chapter 2
                                                                             Chapter 1

I think this chapter of The Together Teacher was written just for me! Why do I say that?  Because at this very moment my email inbox has  3,885 emails in there!  Beastly just a bit don't you think??

According to Maia, email is not the enemy, bit it certainly can become out of control when your in-box is full of hidden to-do's that are not accounted for in your Together Teacher System, which means they are in danger of not getting done.

Many of us spend way too much time scrolling through our in-boxes, re-reading messages trying to determine what to do with them with no real system.



Intervention Time - Declare Email Bankruptcy


If you are anything like me, it is time to stage an intervention! The goal is to get our in-boxes as cleared as possible.  Maia has a few tips for getting there:

1. Limit your total number of email accounts. (I do pretty well with this, I have 2 - one for work and one for home).

2. Unsubscribe - you know all those newsletters you really don't read anyway.

3. Sync it up.  If you have a smartphone, you should sync up with emails so that you can delete when you have downtime.

4. Get friendly with the delete button  Make your life simpler by getting rid of the clutter.

5. Email Bankruptcy - Just like ripping off a band-aid, get rid of all of your emails at once, then start using the strategies for keeping it maintained.

Setting Up Your In-Box For Success


1. Create Folders for Filing- Maia provides a few folder ideas including:

* Follow Up
* Projects
* Meetings
* Administrative
*Processed
* Other - (If you have other functions such as PTA, department chair, etc.  I have a Twitter and TpT file set up)

2. Admit you have a problem - Create Better E-mail Habits - This is probably my biggest weakness.  When I don't want to get things done, I often revert to checking my email.  Maia suggests checking your email only a few times per day, and scheduling WHEN you will check it.

3. How to Check E-Mail
Use the STAR methid
S- Scan
T - Trash
A- Archive
R - Respond

How has this chapter helped you tame your email beast??

If you are following along with us, be sure to add your link to the linky below.

Don't forget to visit next week's host, Ellie from Middle School Math Moments for Chapter 10 which is all about setting up your classroom for success!

The Together Teacher Chapter 8: Keeping Your Organizational Muscles Strong!

I hope you are enjoying becoming a "Together Teacher" with us through this book study - I know I am! Today it is time for chapter 8 and our hostess is Stephanie from Technology Timeout.

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

      Chapter 7

                                                                             Chapter 6
                                                                             Chapter 5
                                                                             Chapter 4
                                                                             Chapter 3
                                                                             Chapter 2
                                                                             Chapter 1

 Chapter 8

Just like trying to eat healthy or exercise every day, when it comes to being an incredibly organized person, no one is ever perfect 24/7.  In this chapter, Maia Heyck-Merlin addresses the common pitfalls that you may find along the way of becoming a Together Teacher - and most importantly, how to find your way out!

A few of the bumps she mentions:

1. Forgetting to carry our system with us.

2. Forgetting to look at our system. (So guilty of this one!

3. Not writing everything down (Again, one of my weaknesses!)

4. Forgetting to look beyond today (yep)

5. Choosing the wrong tool

Have you ever experienced any of these bumps while trying to become more organized?

What to do when your to-do's are not getting done

When you just don't feel like doing it.

1. Bring on the extrinsic motivation and give yourself a treat when it is completed.

2. Set a deadline - even better is someone else helps keep you accountable.

3. Tackle that task first thing in the morning - Get it over with!

Does It Really Need To Be Done?

1. If not, cross it off your list!

Monster Projects

1. Break it down into bite-sized pieces.

What Do You Do To Keep Your Self On Task?

If you are following along add your link below.

The Together Teacher Chapter 7 - Automate: Create Routines and Planning

This week Sarah from

 is hosting chapter 7 from The Together Teacher which is all about creating routines and planning. You will definitely want to visit her blog today, not only to read her thoughts on chapter 7, but also because she is hosting a GIVEAWAY!

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

                                                                             Chapter 6
                                                                             Chapter 5
                                                                             Chapter 4
                                                                             Chapter 3
                                                                             Chapter 2
                                                                             Chapter 1

 Chapter 7

By now if you have been following along with us, you should have developed 5 key tools to help you:

1. The Comprehensive Calendar to meet your deadlines.
2. The Upcoming To-Do List to list all of your to-dos
3. Thought Catchers to track your ideas and thoughts
4. Meeting/PD Notes to follow up from meetings and PD
5. Weekly or Daily Worksheets to plan your schedule

If you haven't already bought the book to follow along, what are you waiting for?  It is your time to be more organized!

This chapter talks about putting all of the tools above into use on a regular basis.  It tells you how to plan ahead and make the greatest use of your limited time - all in the interest of taking home less work!  Can I get an Amen on not taking home more work? I thought so!

The Weekly Round-Up
This is what Maia coins the time that you take to plan ahead for your upcoming week.  What, you aren't planning ahead?  You should be!  Maia even gives you an agenda of what to do during your time so that nothing is forgotten!

You can find a copy on her website here.  You need to register, but it is free. Maia says you should ideally conduct a weekly round-up on either Friday morning or Friday afternoon in preparation for the following week.  I have been working on mine on Sundays, but Maia says that you should conduct it BEFORE the weekend in order to reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed during the weekend.  I am going to give this a try this week and let you know how it goes.  We have an early release day on Friday, so the afternoon should work out perfectly.

Your weekly round up should take between 30 and 90 minutes depending on how much work you need to process from the previous week.

Daily Routines: Making the Most of Openings and Closings

Just like your morning rituals of waking up, showering, brushing your teeth, etc. your time when you arrive at school has a set list of things that you need to get done or prepare for your day ahead. Maia says that there isn't one right way to have a morning routine, as long as it is one that is clear to you.  She shares a few examples from various teachers. Likewise, you should also have a closing routine at the end of the day to set you up for success for the next day.

Use Those Preps To Their Fullest

Sometimes it is so easy to waste our prep times when we don't have a plan for how we want to use them.  It is very easy to get sidetracked in a conversation in the copy room and before you know it 45 minutes has just flown by.  Maia suggests mapping out your prep periods with an ideal plan of what you want to accomplish, things might not always work as planned, but at least you have a plan of attack to start from.

She also suggests keeping like items with like items.  For example, you might want to set one prep period for making copies for the following week.  Another day might be dedicated to planning or parent phone calls.

Next week Stephanie from Technology TimeOut is hosting chapter 8!



If you are following along with us, be sure to link up below:

The Together Teacher Chapter 6 - A Week's Worth of Readiness

This week, Sara from 

 is hosting chapter 6 from The Together Teacher which is all about creating routines and planning.  If you have missed my previous posts from this book study you can find them below:

                                                                             Chapter 5
                                                                             Chapter 4
                                                                             Chapter 3
                                                                             Chapter 2
                                                                             Chapter 1

Chapter 6

This chapter is all about your weekly or daily worksheet. This is a tool that allows you to create a clear view of your week or day, allowing you to plan ahead, get stuff done, and capture incoming work.  Maia emphasizes in this chapter that the process is more important than the product.  Just as in previous chapters, she says it doesn't matter whether you are a digital person or a paper person, as long as your system works for you.  The tool of your choice should allow you to:

* Plan the week or day in advance by mapping out how you will spend your time
* Look ahead at what is coming up
* Do the work by ensuring that it is clearly organized
* Capture incoming to-dos and thoughts

The Together Teacher Website features templates for both Daily or Weekly Worksheets.  You have to register to access them, but registration is free. Maia suggests using only one of the two, not both.  The Daily worksheet is for people who like more space.

I use a daily worksheet myself, but I use this one from Andrea Dekker.


Don't forget to enter to win a $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card if you haven't entered already!

Next week's host is Sarah from
If you are following along with our book study, share your link below!

The Together Teacher Chapter 5

This is my first week back at school with the kiddos and I am feeling anything but together!  Thank goodness we have been working on The Together Teacher Book Study!  Even though I physically feel as if I have been hit by a truck, I feel more prepared than I ever have at this time of year.  One example - we have to administer common assessments the first week.  Usually, I spend the night before the scores are due frantically grading them.  This week they have been administered and I have 80% of them graded and they aren't even due until Monday!  Woo hoo!  

Unfortunately, my blogging is seriously lagging, but luckily for me, Michele from Jackson in the Middle has done an amazing job as host for this week's chapter all about taking notes (and most importantly keeping track of them) during meetings.

Head over to view her post and hopefully I will be back to normal by this weekend.  I am enjoying my new little community of learners - I just forgot how little third graders are!

And, don't forget to visit Sara from Dare to Be Different - Teach next Wednesday for chapter 6!

The Together Teacher Chapter 4 Never Forget! Capture Your Thoughts

Time for another chapter from our book study of The Together Teacher by Maia Heyck-Merlin. If you missed the previous chapters, you can find them here:

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Today our guest host is Jenny from Owl Things First.    Head on over to see her take on chapter 4 and to enter to win a $20 Amazon gift card - perfect for buying those back to school organizational must haves!  In addition the winner will also win a set of stuffed elephants which will be perfect for classroom decor!  Even my older students love reading with a buddy!

My thoughts on chapter 4

As teachers, we have a million things a day coming at us from all directions!  Things we need to remember to do, things we need to remember to tell others (principal, school secretary, parents, etc.), things we need to copy, things we need to grade, and on and on and on!

Maia's solution to keeping it all together is through the use of a thought catcher.  It can be something as simple as a piece of paper divided into fours, or as complex as an electronic notepad or file for each section of our lives.

Prior to reading this book, my thoughts were often scattered everywhere - on sticky notes, scrawled on my calendar, scribbled in a notebook, or just swimming around my head.  The big problem with this is I can't always find these notes when I need them, or even worse, I forget about them altogether!

With thought catchers kept in your planner, you can keep track of them in one place!  You can set up your thought catchers by action (i.e. emails to send, calls to make, items to copy, etc), and or by person (principal, spouse, teammate, etc.).

You can find some free thought catcher forms on Maia's website here.  You will have to register for the site to access them, but registration is free.

Don't forget to visit next week's host, Michele from Jackson in the Middle!

If you are following along with us, be sure to link up below!