What We Have Been Up To...

If any one is a 3rd-5th teacher this past month and a half (depending on where you live/work) you have been doing what most of us....test prep! Yes, we are t-minus 1 week. My lesson plans pretty much look like...Review, Review, Review, Test Prep Tubs, Test Prep Tubs, and so on.

I try to make it as fun and interesting as possible. We have been doing some major reading and grammar review. This year my class is a pretty strong math class. They really enjoy it, love doing guided math, and are great mathematical thinkers. This is not a problem at all...but third graders have to pass the reading portion of the test to move to fourth grade.

Well for grammar we have been spending a day or two on each skill. We started with reviewing everything we knew about sentences. So we made an organizer. This one was pretty basic and very wordy...well we are reviewing sentences. But the kids were great and kept up...it did take two days to complete.

Can anyone tell me why blogger turns my pictures some times...Well my example is on the top and I also added a student example. There are eight boxes: 1. Title box  2. What is a sentence? 3. Types of Sentences  4. Examples of types of sentences (the students wrote their own)  5. Subjects in a sentence  6. Predicates in a sentences (both included compound subjects and predicates) 7. Combining Sentences  8. Examples of good sentences (we used magazines to find examples of good sentences in text, cut them out and glued them on).

Next we moved on to nouns. Here is a window organizer with four tabs on each side. We cut the top left one off to make it a title box.

(of course the table was wet right where I laid it!!!) Outside tabs: what is a noun, singular nouns, plural nouns, common nouns, proper nouns, singular possessive nouns, plural possessive nouns. Then we tackled the inside.

 

We wrote the definitions of each and then found two pictures in magazines for each type of noun. I like doing these because it not only helps refresh the minds but they also have something to take home and look over (hopefully).

I also really like using this test prep book (I'm not sure about if there are ones for other states, probably though). I usually copy the page out of it for the skill I am reviewing. After our activity the students will complete it, show it to me to be checked....I use Skittles for motivation...if they do well they get a few Skittles (you wouldn't believe how much harder they try if you are giving Skittles)...if they aren't doing so well I may meet small group, one on one...what ever time allows.

 

The other thing I have been busting my bottom to get done is our SS curriculum! We still have one more person to study and just finally finished Economics. Instead of using interactive notes, we sort of made an interactive booklet. Same concept as the notes, but in a little book.

My cover isn't decorated, but the kids did theirs:

I used my document camera and made one along with them.

So I guess to some of my GA friends...may your last week of review be fun, interesting, exciting, and hopefully FAST! 

Jessica

Organizing Your Technology

I am still alive....I know it's been awhile and I am very impressed with all the freebies and post everyone has done, especially those that posted so much over spring break. I will tell you what, I know some of you also follow my Quite A Pear business, and you all really have kept me busy. I am learning to find a balance and juggle being a mommy, wife, teacher, entrepreneur, and blogger (and for those GA teachers I threw that vocabulary word in there just for you all!). So thank you for hanging in there with me! I have great ideas of posts to make...I think of them all day long. If you blog you know what I am talking about, that constant dialogue that goes through your head as you work, make dinner, fold laundry, etc.

Now I guess I will get to my point today...

I thought I would share with you all how I organized my technology in my classroom. Mostly how I organized my own personal laptop, ebeam (interactive board), and document camera. The problem that I faced and always face when I am setting up my classroom is the location of the Internet cables and projector cables (if you have them). They really keep you limited as to where you place your own work station. I do like having my laptop on my desk, however I use my laptop A LOT to project my interactive board files and use my document camera all the time! I never liked the idea of sitting behind my desk and looking as though I wasn't doing anything, but playing on my laptop. I also didn't like the small personal space it left me when I placed my desk near the outlets and cords.

I will tell you that I have become a great hider of all cords! But when I noticed this one little piece of useless (to some) furniture I got so excited and even did a mental slap (WHY didn't I think of this before)!

So here is that furniture:

 

Don't laugh...you know you have one. Some of you use them for storage, some are collecting dust, others use them as a lamp (now that they have been banned from our classrooms), and even more of you may actually still use them!

Well I must admit I am not one of the latter. I am a tech freak! So I am very very attached to my laptop. I realized that these little carts can be raised up...I know I am probably one of the last ones the realize this, I have seen a few push in teachers using them, but didn't put two and two together (I don't know why). So I decided it was going to be my rolling (well sort of, seeing that I am attached to all the cords) technology cart!

With a little bit of ribbon and approximately 2yds of fabric (2 separate pieces, 1yd each)...this is what I came up with:

I used two separate pieces because I wanted to be able to easily access the shelves underneath (from different angles.

This would be from the "front", because when it is put away and not being used I can still access my "stash". I keep all my teacher's manuals in there, a drawer set with copy paper and cardstock, tissues, wipes, and any current items that we may be in the process of making/using.

This is the "side" view.

 

This is what it looks like when it is put away and not in use.

So now to see what it looks like when it is actually being used as my Technology Cart!

Notice the MASSIVE amounts of cords! Let's see I have a cord from the document camera, one from the Mimio device (interactive board), Internet cord (we have wireless, but are limited to what we can use while on the wireless), and then the large one that keeps me "tethered" to the wall is the projector/sound cord.

I simply wrapped the card using hot glue on both the fabric and ribbon. I would say I stand behind it and walk back and forth to the board for most of the day. However when I am using the document camera and making an organizer or something with the class I found that my tall director's chair is the PERFECT height! 

So there you have it, my Technology Cart!

On another note I am in the process of changing my original FB page of Dandelions and Dragonflies back into a page specifically for my blog. If you have been following me from the beginning my FB page was combined with my buckets....when the buckets took off and the blog when a separate direction (more toward teaching) I felt the need to separate the two. So with my business partner joining me we created Quite A Pear...where you will find the buckets I use in my classroom and such for sale. Since then Dandelions and Dragonflies FB page has set dormant for some time. I am going to attempt to use it in correlation with my blog. Could I have any more balls in the air???? Hey I'm young,  kind of...and you only live once. We will see how it all goes.

~Jessica

It's raining, it's pouring...

and yep I am happy about it...we got teased last night with thunder, lightening, but NO rain. We need it, the pollen has been horrible! So I am ecstatic to hear the pitter patter...more like sploshing if rain on the roof, just hope the little one stays asleep.

I also can't believe my Spring Break is almost over...where did it go?!? I have to admit I have not done much...okay nothing "teachery" unless you count making buckets for teachers. I am so thrilled to be so busy! My husband joked, what would I do if I didn't have these breaks to catch up and get ahead on these orders?!? Well I don't think I would have even started my other business had I not been a teacher. This week does mark my "year anniversary" of making my first bucket...and I can't believe how far this little business has come!

I brought home my school laptop so that I could look through my files and see what I would like to update to post on my TPT and TN site (way behind on that stuff), as well as see what I would like to share with all of you, and BINGO...I found it! I don't know why I didn't think of posting/writing about these things before?!?!

I am sharing with you two of my favorite checklists that I have made and used. I usually put these into place for a student as an intervention. This is considered Tier I in our complicated, massively confusing, and drawn out RTI (Response To Intervention) process. But I am a firm believer in checklists! When a student is struggling to stay on task or keep up one of my first interventions is checklists. These help keep the students on task, organized, and help with behaviors. Not to mention how it helps with your "documentation".

So the first one is an organization schedule...I find that the transition from second to third can be very difficult for some...and even the agenda isn't helpful, they need one more step...an little more organization and a few reminders. (the picture is cut off a little on the side, but the document is good!). I would set up a few incentives for the student sometimes daily or weekly, depending on the student and situation. The students would keep these in their binders inside a page protector. (click to retrieve)

The next checklist is very effective! It is a task list checklist. There are two per sheet and and you use one per week. I would print and cut a few of these, cut a file folder in half, and staple them inside. This way once all were used I would simply file the "booklet" into my files and give a new one. This would also keep the checklists in order, one place, and somewhat neat.

The way it works...directions are also located on the sheet itself. For every subject or activity the student can earn a green dot (used a marker) or a red dot. They earn a green dot for completing HW in that subject (if assigned), stay on task (not to be redirected), and complete any classwork assignment during that time. If they do not complete one of these things then they receive a red dot and the teacher can make a comment on the lines provided below. I discuss these with the parents and get them involved as well. The parent can make daily or weekly incentives with the student for earned green dots (space provided at the bottom of the list). I usually make a weekly incentive with the student for earned green dots. They point is to increase the amount of green dots the student tries to earn daily/weekly. There is also an area for the parent to initial daily.
(click to download)

Hint for viewing/downloading. Once you click on the image and it takes you to Google Docs, on the right side click on File then Download...it will let you open/view it as an Adobe file and it will look right...with lines and all!


Thanks for stopping by!
Jessica

Heavy Heart

Today when I was working around my house and working on buckets there wasn't five minutes that didn't go by that I didn't think of the Needham family and little Piper (as mentioned in the previous post, Perspective). It's been that way for the past few days. Every time I was getting frustrated with my daughter or simply playing outside chasing caterpillars and lizards I thought of them, I thought of how fortunate I am to have my daughter...yes there are struggles and sickness but I am so lucky to have those! 

If you didn't get a chance to read their blog, you should...not to feel sorry for them, but to read of their strength, courage, hope, and tenacity. Susanna (mother of Piper and author of the blog) is an eloquent and amazing writer. If you do have time to read it, start from the beginning. http://needhamcrew.blogspot.com

Today the family had to let go of their Piper. This little life had such a HUGE impact on so many people. She touched the lives of so many people who, like me, never even got the chance to meet her. Piper is now in a place where she is no longer in pain and she can be at rest. Tears flood my eyes as I think of her amazingly strong family during this time, I can not even begin to fathom the emotions. 

Below is a picture of the family saying good-bye (their other daughter Linley shaved her head two days ago at a fundraiser...in support of her sister)

Very PINTERESTing!

Day one of Spring Break finds me catching up on laundry (finally), making buckets (excited), catching up on all things bloggy and pinteresty, and of course my DVR. I'm not to the point of making anything or pinning anything yet, but what I am finding interesting is following my pins. If you are familiar with Pinterest you know that if someone repins your pin you get notified, what I usually don't follow up on is the comments that others (complete strangers) make on my pins...that others repined. Did you follow that??

The pins I am referring to are the ones of my own classroom. Most of them I originally pinned and others have been pinned from my blog (with my permission of course). Curiosity got the better of me, and therefore I spent some time reading the comments others had left on my pins that others pinned. Have you ever done that? Overall, I can't complain...I blush at the compliments.

But the one thing I did find, that was a constent, was people really questioned the fact that this was really my classroom, that it was unrealistic and probably never looked that way again, that I have a HUGE classroom, and very little students. The top two was that a classroom should not look like mine, that the students need to take ownership of the room and I should have their work and things hanging all over the room...the second I believe was an actual comment on my blog or maybe email....it had to do with the color of the room and how red has been studied to invoke anger and hostility...had I noticed that in my room??

So I decided to possibly answer some of these comments and questions. Not that those who made the comments would link back to my blog, but maybe just to give myself peace of mind. I keep telling myself that because I decided to blog, have a business, and participate on pinterest I have to take the good with the bad, that not everyone would agree with what I had to say or how I do things....and I'm okay with that...I think. But the reason I chose to write this post was to possibly answer some of the questions, comments, or concerns (sounds good right?!).

First of all I have 23 students in my classroom. The picture that most are questioning is the one from my first classroom reveal. Yes I had fewer students, and that is why I ended up volunteering to be displaced.

This set up was for 21. I only had 17 at the beginning of the school year, and again this was at the school I taught at for 7yrs prior to volunteering to be displaced. In that school I was in three different rooms, some smaller than this but because of my minimalistic approach and how I organize my room, it tends to look/feel much larger than they are.

Here is my new classroom (second classroom reveal)

I tend to have everything in bins, buckets, containers, etc. And all of my furniture is placed against walls...therefore giving me maximum floor space.

The other thing that I felt I just "had" to address was posting the student work...well I do post and keep anchor charts, notes, and other things as we are using them. However with all the testing, fire marshallness, and because I put my furniture against the walls I don't have much wall space to use. I do hang A LOT of things outside in the hallway. But I assure you that there is A LOT of learning going on here :) 

The other thing was that people couldn't believe that my room would stay like that and how it would look like once the students "took over". Well...not much different. I do set very high expectations for how my classroom should look and run. I have a lot of procedures and as my students will tell you...the first day I meet them I let them know that "Mrs. Falkenhagen is a neat freak".

I think it really started with me when I took a class in elementary school called "Where There is a Will there's an A". It taught students how to stay organized, the importance of using your agenda, keeping your notes neat, how to take good/neat notes, and so on. It really clicked and worked for me! So I try to pass that along. I'm not saying my classroom is sterile and students are scared to learn, create, and be kids...but when we are done doing all of that...they know how to leave the room, then next time we can find what we need. So I took some pictures of our day. Take a look at how my classroom is used, cleaned, and "lived in".

Here are pictures of our Math and Reading block...we are currently in CRCT March Madness Review time. Not pictured is the back table that I was meeting with small groups.

And here are some pics of the end of the day, the kids did all the picking up, stacking of chairs, etc.

As for the comments about the color red, well I did not study colors and how they effect student behavior. For nine years my color theme was blue and green, it was this year that I chose to change it. I have not seen any difference in how my students behavior or react in my classroom. I still have the same daily struggles, behavior situations, and third grade drama that I have had in the past.

Okay so now that I have put the questions and comments "to rest"...I know I know they will still be there and more will be made, but I hope you can also see that my classroom is real, it is "lived in" and used...I am normal :) well sort of.

Have a great Monday,

Jessica