Five For Friday May 16, 2014

This week has been an absolute tumultuous week and can I just say TGIF with a great big AMEN?  Friday at last and time to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday.

My week started off with a bang when my principal came up to me 5 minutes before recess was over and said, "We have bad news, we are losing a position in fourth."  I am low man on the totem pole in my grade (since I just moved up this year), so I knew this was going to effect me.  Then she smiled and continued, "We have an opening in first."  

I think first graders are absolutely adorable to look at, but truthfully, I don't want to live there.  If anyone asked me what grade I would LEAST want to teach, first grade would be it.  I have often said, "I am allergic to first graders". It isn't entirely un-true, I spent most of my practicums in first grade (despite requesting 4th-6th) and spent the ENTIRE semester sick!  I have never been so exhausted in my entire life!  I give much props and admiration to those of you who do teach first grade and are amazing at it, but for me, I just couldn't do it!  Add that to the fact that I have now changed grades EVERY year for the past three years, this would be the fourth year at a different grade!  I have no supplies for first grade - I do have an amazing library of chapter books, but I am thinking they would not be useful to the majority of students in a first grade room!  So, my week has been a blubbering mess of me crying (yes I am being a baby about it, but really, how many times should I change grades? When I got my license for K-8 I didn't think it would mean I would teach every grade in that spectrum!  Luckily our contract states that they can't move us more than 2 grades without our consent, so it looks like they will have to juggle around to place me in 2nd or 3rd.  I am hoping for 3rd since I taught that last year, but who knows?  I will keep you updated as soon as I know.

We have managed to get some work done and MAPS reading tests completed in between crying jags (not just about the grade level switch, but the fact that I am losing my kiddos that I have taught for two years in a row is starting to hit me).  They keep coming up to me with little notes that say "I love you, or you are the best teacher ever,"  Every time I get one the waterworks start flowing!

I came in the classroom to see this note of encouragement one of them had written to the whole class today about our school token system.  I couldn't have been more proud!  

It made me want to ask the school next door to create a new position so I could roll up to 5th grade with them!  More tears!

As I said between crying we did manage to get some work done.  We had a Popsicle themed week using this Summer Fun Writing, LA, and Math Activities using Popsicles for Big Kids packet from Cutsey Clickables from Collaboration Cuties.

They each chose one of these prompts and completed a brainstorming graphic organizer. 

Then they were off to write.

After a bit of editing and revising, we completed final copies made to look like Popsicles.

We also did a little math review.

Last night was my third son's last high school theater performance.  It was Senior Night and they all did a brief monologue before the actual play.  Here is a really bad picture of him, but I wanted to show it off anyway, because I am really proud of him!  He will be studying film in the fall at the University of Montana and I am going to miss him a lot.  So, yes, even more tears.

I am hoping this weekend will be a lot more restful with more smiles and less tears!  Hoping yours is great as well!

A Tickler File and Flipping Math

I am almost always looking for ways to be more organized and more efficient.  I have read David Allen's book, Getting Things Done and have wanted to implement a Tickler File for some time.  I just don't like the idea of having it in one place (home vs. work) since I tend to work at both home and work.  I have seen the portable file boxes used, but when I tried that it was too bulky and quite frankly too heavy.  Then I ran across this picture in an article about tickler systems.

That's when it hit me that a bag system would be perfect.  I was just about to go on-line to look for a new bag to buy when I realized I could set up my teacher bag to do this and try it out first.

My teaching bag is a Keep-It Caddy from Thirty-one.  I got the plastic container from the container store.

I put in file folders and labeled them 1-31 for each day of the week.  The first file in the front is the 12th because that was the day I took the picture.  I place the current day's file in front and the last day moves to the back.

Behind the numbered days, I have twelve folders labeled with the months of the year.

And behind that I have placed some to do files (to copy, file, grade, etc).  

As I come across a piece of paper, I either put it in today's file to do today, or file it wherever it belongs.  For example, I always pay my bills around the 20th of the month, so when I get a bill, I just place it in the file labeled 20.  If my boys have paperwork that is due later on in the week, I will put it in the appropriate spot.  I have a few things I want to order for my classroom this summer, so I have put order forms into the July and August folder.  

This system has really helped me become more organized, and barely takes anytime at all.  The best thing? Being able to find things in under 10 seconds!

Another thing that I tried this week was flipping my classroom.  What is flipping?  Check out this infogram:

I found this video on-line of a 4th grade teacher explaining how to simplify fractions.  That is a skill many of my kiddos are still struggling with, so I thought it would be a good one to start with.

 I had the students watch the video in class with me, so I could explain what I wanted them to do. In the video she talks about writing things down in the boxes on the students' papers.  I did a google search for her name and found the page on her site here.  It is halfway down the page and is called a flipping math homework sheet.  Alternatively you could have them fold a paper in fours to make four boxes.

I paused the video to allow them to copy the vocabulary words and definitions.  There is also a place where she has sample problems for them to solve.  I again paused the video and let them know to do that when they worked at home with it.  The best part came when they started to solve the problem and a few were stuck.  "How do you do that again?" They asked.  "Why just rewind the video and watch it again."  We did just that and most were able to get it the second go round.  It was important for them to know that this was the beauty of the video, they could pause and rewind whenever they need to!

After a practice session I had them watch another video at home.  For those without computers at home, I had them watch on our class computer during Daily 5.  I got some great results and feedback.   A few of the things they shared were:

• They loved being able to rewind and watch again when they didn't get it.
• They liked that it wasn't embarrassing to watch it again because no one knew.
• They liked that their homework involved You Tube and only 4 problems.   

 I am definitely thinking of flipping some of my lessons next year.  Have you done this?  How has it gone?

I am linking up with Fourth Grade Flipper for Tried It Tuesday

Head on over to see other ideas teachers are trying!

Ungifted - Must Read Monday

We just started a new read aloud and it is hilarious!  I picked this book up at our Scholastic Book Fair and I am so glad that I did.  It tells the story of a trouble-making boy who causes trouble at this middle school.  One of his antics goes just a little too far, and he is sure that he is going to end up in reform school or worse.  Instead, due to an administrator's mix-up he is sent to a school for gifted kids, which he is sure that he is not one of.  

My kids were laughing out loud as I read the book.  I have to wait for the laughter to subside to continue reading, but it is so worth it, because this is just one of those books that MAKES kids WANT to read!  

With all of my read alouds I have the students write down reactions as we are reading.  Before this read aloud I asked them to share at least one thing they are gifted at.  I got some really thought provoking responses.  Some were exactly what I expected, but others really took me by surprise.  I love how this book roots for the underdog and I can't wait to finish it with them!

I am linking up with Teaching Maddeness for Must Read Monday - Head over there for some other great book suggestions!

If you haven't entered already, be sure to head over here to win a $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card.  Only 1 day left!

I am also donating my Kicking It Math product to Curriculum To the Core's ,1,000 Follower Giveaway.


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5 For Friday May 9, 2014

The week is over and we only have three more weeks of school left!  It is just flying by!  Time to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for Five for Friday! Well, a day late - the end of the year can get a little crazy can't it?

And in a blink of an eye - this happened!  My third child turned 18 this week!  Let me tell you that it doesn't get any easier from the first to the third.

He helped his friend DJ his high school dance this week (it was an 80's theme) - and they all looked great!  Definitely brought back some memories!

If you can't tell, he is the one rockin' the sunglasses and channeling Tom Cruise from Risky Business - lol!

And speaking of my children, I got the best gift ever from my youngest son, Luke.  I was at the copier during my prep period when he walked in (during his lunch) and handed me this note:

It was so special to me!  I really appreciated it, because sometimes I think I give my students so much of my time, I wonder if my own kids feel neglected, but obviously he is ok with sharing me!  I made sure to give him a lot of extra love in return for his sweet token of love!  I may need to make some Love Coupons for him instead of the other way around for Mother's Day.  If you are looking for any easy way to help your students celebrate Mother's Day (that can be used for other occasions as well), see my post here.

With this week being Teacher Appreciation Week, I have been feeling the love all week.  Here are a few of my goodies from my students:

Pretty flowers and a pretty girl - this little one LOVES getting her picture taken!  I have lots of selfies of her on my ipods and iphone from when she uses them for centers or QR code scanning.  I also have lots of photo bombs of hers in other classroom pics I take.  Love it!

She got me this for Teacher's Appreciation Week.

She knows me so well!  I have a Starbuck's Chai Latte - EVERY SINGLE DAY (serious addiction going on here!)

If you haven't entered already, be sure to head over here to win a $25 Teachers Pay Teachers Gift Card.  Only 2 days left!

And last but not least, I just want to wish all of you fellow mothers out there a very Happy Mother's Day!