Halloween Bash Blog Hop

I am joining up with The Teaching 2 Step and over 40 bloggers for a Halloween Bash Blog Hop! The prize I have donated is my Ghoulish Math product which features lessons, games, centers and activities for learning about factors and multiples.

 

 

 

The pictures are of my 4th graders from last year and they loved the activities - especially using my iphone to check the QR codes!  If you don't win, or you can't wait, you can get it on sale for 20% off in my TpT store here.

Ghoulish Math

I also have a special freebie for you to download as well!  

 

Pumpkin Relating Addition to Multiplication Freebie

As part of the Blog Hop, we were asked to share a Halloween memory and our favorite candy.  My favorite Halloween costume was when I went as a 1950's roller waitress.  I got to be on roller skates the whole time and even won a prize for best costume!  I unfortunately couldn't find any pictures of it to share :(

My favorite candy is Mike & Ikes.  Not just because of Halloween, but because one little candy (and yes I mean just one) can be so motivating.  When I have a few kiddos that are not working as hard as I would like them to be, I find a kiddo who IS working and place one Mike and Ike in front of them.  Just like magic, everyone at the table becomes more on task and focused.

And now... for the contests!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you for joining The Teaching 2 Step Halloween Hop. I hope you enjoyed our post, did you know you can follow me on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter?

Hop through more Halloween Bash Bloggers below.

An InLinkz Link-up

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

Publishing Party

This year our school has adopted Lucy Calkins' units of study for our writing instruction.  I had used them a little bit last year, but I am seeing even better results this year!  We just finished up our narrative unit and celebrated with our publishing party.  The kids were so excited!  Warning, this post is a bit picture intensive, but I have a few tips for getting your students to self edit and revise.

Students gave each other feedback to make their written pieces better as we worked on revising and publishing.  This year has been AMAZING for revision.  The past two years seemed like pulling teeth when I asked students to revise, but now they are eager to.  One difference  is that we literally cut and paste.  Instead of rewriting a piece, they cut paper and tape it into the story where they need to revise.  They LOVE this!

 

An illustrator hard at work!

 

 We glued our finished pieces into "books" made of construction paper to make them a bit fancier.

 

One thing that I changed this year about editing, is that I had them edit it themselves.  I used to look at their work, make changes, and then have them rewrite (after tons of groans, eye rolling, and protests).  Unfortunately, the corrections never stuck and they made those same mistakes in later pieces.  During our training, we learned that students really need to do the editing in order to learn, and more importantly transfer that skill to other pieces.

 When they came to me to edit their work, I handed them a colored pen and told them to underline any words they thought they misspelled, or places where they thought they had made punctuation errors. They really re-read their pieces and made changes as they found them.  So much better!  For the spelling errors, I handed them a dictionary and showed the ones who were able to type how to use spell check in Word.

 

Look at the concentration.  Remember, the one doing the heavy lifting is the one doing the learning!

 Making changes as she reads.

They were so proud of their work!

When the pieces were done, the students each read 4 pieces and gave positive feedback to the author (on the sticky notes).

 

Then I hung them on our "bulletin board" of lockers.

 

Chapters??? Are you kidding me?  Woo hoo!  Last year some of mine struggled to write a paragraph.

Specific feedback.

It says, "I liked the way you used punctuation."

And what would a publishing party be like without a "little" food.  Getting nervous about our Halloween party though!

 

And the very best part?  I got my first book dedication.  Love it!

Poppin' Place Value Freebie

 

If you are looking for a way to review place value with your students, you will love this adorable Poppin' Place Value I Have Who Has Game. I Have Who... Has? games  are a great whole group activity that can be used for review, test prep, fluency, listening skills, and mental math.

This set includes 30 cards that focus on place value with an adorable bubble gum - poppin' theme. Answer key is included. Your students will love practicing place value with this fun game! 

You can download this freebie here.

The Together Teacher Chapter 11 - Subdue the Backpack Explosion

If your students are anything like mine, you have a few that are, well, organizationally challenged, and when they open their backpacks, there may be an explosion! This chapter in our The Together Teacher book study is devoted to helping your students to become Together Students!  Love that!  Read on to see How to Subdue the Backpack Explosion!

This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission each time someone makes a purchase using one of my links, which helps to support the blog.  All opinions are my own and I only promote brands and products that I have used myself and truly love.

It is time for another chapter of The Together Teacher in our book study. Today it is time for chapter 11 which is all about getting your students organized.  Our hostess this week is Nicole of Southern Love of Teaching.

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

                                                                 

                                                                              Chapter 10

                                                                              Chapter 9  

                                                                            Chapter 8

                                                                            Chapter 7

                                                                            Chapter 6

                                                                            Chapter 5

                                                                            Chapter 4

                                                                            Chapter 3

                                                                            Chapter 2

                                                                            Chapter 1

Maia says that she could easily devote an entire book to the topic of keeping kids organized - (ain't that the truth?).  I know that many of my own organizational challenges in my classroom comes from the collections of student learning (and not learning for that matter - you know, the notes, the pictures they draw, the little trinkets and toys they bring in). Paper lives on my desk, on their tables, in their book boxes, behind the furniture, in the hallways, busting out of their binders, it is everywhere!  Thank goodness this chapter gives us hints for getting it under control!

Contain Student Papers

Set Clear Expectations for Desks and Lockers

Maia suggests starting the year with a diagram of what student desks should look like.  In my classroom I have tables and students keep their things in book bins.  I have explained what should go in them (binders, writer's notebook, unfinished work folder) and what things should not (toys, garbage, returned work).

Avoid the Overstuffed Binder

Teach your students how to use their binders by giving explicit directions of what should be kept in them and where those things should go.

Past and Present Student Work

Students love having their work on display, but you want to make sure it is current and not just a dust collector. Maia gives several examples for displaying work including:

*Using sheet protectors to easily change out work,

* Creating a clothesline with clips strung across the room

* Dedicating a board outside the classroom for displaying work.

* Setting up student files or portfolios

How do you keep your students organized?  Link up below to share your thoughts on this chapter.  Don't forget to head over to our giveaway page to enter our current giveaway!

Next week Amy of The Core of Grade Four will be our hostess!

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.