Ramblings of a fifth grade teacher...

VIP Student Status

2017-08-19T11:08:00.002-05:00

VIP Status students! I am choosing two students a week per class to showcase VIP behavior and hard work. The kids were so excited to be chosen! They get a special table in the front of my room for the whole week, cool teacher type school supplies to use, Mardi Gras beads, and sunglasses to show just how cool they are! I wrote a note to mail each of their parents to brag about their child's VIP status in my room. Every child deserves to be in the spotlight! Looking forward to recognizing each of them for different reasons this year! #eachstudentinyourclassissomebodyswholeworld #spreadlove

A new year around the corner

2017-07-18T09:47:00.000-05:00

Ready or not here it comes! I'm about to start year 15 of my teaching career. It really doesn't seem like FIFTEEN years... that would make me old! 😉 But it also doesn't seem like I should have a 12 year old either...

I've done a lot of reflecting this summer on what kind of teacher I am and where I can improve. Education is constantly changing and we have to be willing to change with it to keep the students excited and engaged.

Here are a few personal positives from last year:

Honored as being a state-level finalist for the PAEMST (Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching). This was a game-changer for me. I went through the application process the previous year and learned so much about myself as a teacher and my students. It's a very reflective process!
Classroom climate- I feel like I truly. Objected more with my students and their parents last year by sending hand written notes. Throughout the year I gave each student a personal letter from me. I sat and thought about positive characteristics I wanted to praise them for and give them encouragement for the future. (100 students). Also, each week as I observed their behavior, I chose one or two students from each of my four classes to get a "Happy Note Home." I mailed a cute handwritten card (complete with stickers 😊) to their parents bragging on their behavior or accomplishments. This created a good rapport with the parents. I was even asked to write a publication for www.gettingsmart.com on positive relationships. https://www.google.com/amp/www.gettingsmart.com/2017/02/3-ways-to-build-and-implement-successful-classroom-relationships/amp/
Creating exciting lessons- we all know how much time and effort anything extra is! Last year I did several stand out lessons and the reward of the students' excitement was well worth the preparation! I created an Escape Game complete with locks, keys, puzzles, test prep, and of course racing the time clock. I set up a restaurant in my classroom with the customers in a dining area, management in another area, and a drive-thru window! The students placed their orders, counted change, wrote payroll checks, and calculated catering events. Some of my fabulous coworkers collaborated on an end of year field day type of lesson to review all subjects before state testing began. This included playground equipment, hula hoops, basketball, building blocks, hopscotch, puzzles, and test prep questions. Sooooo much fun!!
Data- I was a serious data collector this year! But not only a collector, I REALLY USED THE DATA! I had a data wall in my room with several different areas of data on it: weekly Tenmarks class averages, Accelerated Math objectives, Math Facts Fluency, and iReady graphs. The students were very competitive, but it was collective. They always wanted to beat the other classes. I even found an old trophy that I awarded winning classes based on data. I took a picture of the class with the trophy and they had bragging rights for the week. They LOVE bragging rights!!

Goals for this upcoming year:

Go digital! I want to incorporate Google Classroom and other websites as much as possible. This will help with grading as well!
Help build a "Sunshine Committee" to boost school and teacher morale.
Dive deeper into data! Have the students keep an ORGANIZED data folder. Also keep my data wall in my classroom and a folder on my desk.

My super cute room decor!!! Our theme is "We do not hide success, we parade it down the street!"

PAEMST State Level Finalist

2016-08-20T07:47:00.001-05:00

State Level Recognition at MDE

My handsome fellas were able to celebrate with me. ❤️ my family!

This week has been amazing! After 7 months of working on a video and paper, I finished and uploaded my application for The Presidential Award for Excellent in Mathematics and Science in April. I really never expected to hear anymore about it. The end of July, I got a call from the state department of education to tell me I was one of four finalists for our state. I could barely catch my breath... I learned so much after reflecting on my teaching and that's the most important part of the process to me... I never expected to be a finalist for my state. I have learned from so many fabulous teachers and coworkers over the years that have helped form me into the teacher I am. Just being nominated was the biggest honor, but being a state level finalist is the icing on the cake. Now to wait until next year to find out which two of the four finalists will represent Mississippi at the White House. Best of luck to whoever is the winning teacher for the state of Mississippi!

State level finalists: Sanders, McKinnon, August, and Williams

My wonderful coworkers and students surprised me as well.

"She makes math cool. She makes math fun. Mrs. Sanders is our #1!"

A bit star struck...

2016-07-23T09:09:00.001-05:00

Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend a conference where Ron Clark was the keynote speaker!

I read his book:

The Essential 55: An Award-Winning Educator's Rules For Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child,

when I was still a new teacher. This book inspired me to create a set of classroom rules with my students. The students got to have some input with creating some of the classroom rules, while I made some of the others. We discussed how to make these rules work in our class and how to hold each other accountable. The students helped set the consequences for those who chose not to follow the rules. The kids had a great time trying to help me watch for rule-breakers. The students would write the rule they broke a set number of times. One of the funniest memories I had was a student I will just call J. My rule number 3 was "Always use your manners by saying 'Yes, ma'am', 'No, ma'am', 'Yes, sir', or 'No, sir'." This was one of the longest rules that was written. I got tired of the students answering with yeah and naw! J broke this rule several times before he realized I meant business. After writing this rule several times, he never missed an opportunity to answer a question with ma'am or sir. As a matter of fact, I saw him several years later and he was so respectful! Sometimes it's the little things that help mold a student into a different person... I'm not sure where this student is today, but I'm sure he remembers Rule #3!

Here is some information about the book that helped me survive a few tough classes early in my career. (Information from book review on Amazon)

Description

From Publishers Weekly

The winner of the 2001 Disney Teacher of the Year Award presents some revolutionary ideas for the classroom: manners, industriousness and accountability. Many of the 55 rules Clark outlines read, at first, like excerpts from a 1950's primer: "If you are asked a question in conversation, you should ask a question in return," says Rule 6; stand to the right on escalators, insists Rule 43; and rule 29 includes 26 sub-rules about polite eating. Clark may seem like a bit of a fussbudget, but closer examination shows his rules go beyond simple politeness: they promote respect for self and others, and help foster a mature and responsible way of living in the world. As Clark explains each rule, he weaves in anecdotes of student projects, class trips (including one to Washington, D.C., where his students sang Christmas carols with the Clintons) and instances in which the particular rule proved invaluable. Clark, a North Carolina native, writes with a warm, Southern friendliness, and his cogent explanations about why he created his rules and his closing tips on dealing with parents and children offer plenty of ideas and much-needed support. Teachers will have to be determined to succeed before any set of guidelines will have an effect in the classroom, he warns-and indeed, Clark's tireless dedication might be daunting to some. And while the content of his lessons is presented only vaguely, for inspiration, this book is a definite winner; it also makes a strong case that students lack only good teachers to achieve great things. Clark's slim but valuable volume will make a welcome addition to any teacher's library.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Now in paperback, Ron Clark's New York Times bestseller that's changing America one child at a time!

The runaway bestseller that's a must-have for every parent and teacher. How many authors would travel coast to coast on a bus to get their book into as many hands as possible? Not many. But that's just what Ron Clark, author of The Essential 55, did to keep his book and message in the public eye. And it worked. After his Oprahappearance, sales skyrocketed: we've sold more than 850,000 copies in six months! The book sat tenaciously on the New York Times bestseller list for 11 weeks. Ron Clark was featured on the Today show, and in the Chicago Tribune, Good Housekeeping, and the New York Daily News--not to mention the calls we've received from teachers and parents who want to get their hands on Ron's guidelines for teaching children.

Now in paperback, The Essential 55 will be the perfect book for parents and teachers to slip into their own backpacks, to read on the train or at lunch, and to highlight the sections that resonate for them. And with an author who is truly a partner in getting his message to the masses, we just can't lose.

I am going to read his newest book ASAP! His speech was so inspiring to start the new year off "RUNNING" to move our schools into greater success for our students!

Product Description (from Amazon)

New York Times bestselling author and award-winning educator Ron Clark applies his successful leadership principles to the business world in this effective and accessible guidebook, perfect for any manager looking to inspire and motivate his or her team. Includes a foreword by bestselling author and FranklinCovey executive Sean Covey.

Teamwork is crucial to the success of any business, and as acclaimed author and speaker Ron Clark illustrates, the members of any team are the key to unlocking success. Imagine a company as a bus filled with people who either help or hinder a team’s ability to move it forward: drivers (who steer the organization), runners (who consistently go above and beyond for the good of the organization), joggers (who do their jobs without pushing themselves), walkers (who are just getting pulled along), and riders (who hinder success and drag the team down). It’s the team leader’s job to recognize how members fall into these categories, encourage them to keep the “bus” moving by working together, and know when it’s time to kick the riders off.

In the tradition of Who Moved My Cheese?and Fish!, Move Your Bus is an accessible and uplifting business parable that illustrates Clark’s expert strategies to maximize the performance of each member of a team. These easy to implement techniques will inspire employees and team leaders alike to work harder and smarter and drive the organization to succeed.

Minecraft Volume Game

2016-07-12T14:08:00.001-05:00

My students loved this online game. http://www.xpmath.com/forums/arcade.php?do=play&gameid=118. I let them play when we were studying volume and after that any free time (before lunch, class change, or ending bell) we had I would pull it up on the Promethean board. We played in practice mode-not timed. This helped the students apply the volume formula for a right rectangular prism quickly while sharpening their math facts. They also enjoyed playing on the laptops and trying to beat other students scores. This game is related to 5.MD.4 "Measure volume by counting cubes". Teacher and student approved fun! The screen shot is from my phone and the game doesn't show up on a mobile device. We used this game before we studied composite figures. Great "building block" to another standard. 😊

Adding and subtracting decimals using menus

2016-07-11T08:50:00.001-05:00

This past year I used several real-life activities in my lesson on adding and subtracting decimals. My favorite was the restaurant lesson. My coworker's mother owns a local BBQ restaurant. She brought menus and order pads for the students to use for the lesson. She taught them not only how to place your order in a restaurant correctly, but also how to get the most for your money. The students were put into groups and each group had a different amount they could spend on their food. They had to correctly write their order, add to get the total, then subtract from the amount they were given to spend. Great lesson and the students were completely engaged!

Famous iPad bulletin board

2016-07-08T14:51:00.001-05:00

I have missed several emails from teachers wanting my icons for the iPad bulletin board door I made several years ago. Sorry! 😔 I have seen it still circulating on Pinterest so I wanted to share the link for you. It's FREE on my Teachers Pay Teachers page. Over 6,000 downloads! Wow!!! https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/iPad-themed-door-and-iPod-chart-780331

I hope all my teaching friends have a restful summer and a great start back to school.

#Inspired2Educate

2016-06-10T13:45:00.001-05:00

I was recently contacted by http://www.insp2ed.org to share their opportunities for teachers to share their stories about who inspired them to become an educator. By sharing your story, you could receive prize money for professional development and your school. "I’m reaching out to you to let you know about #Inspired2Educate, a program designed to recognize and praise educators and the people who inspired them. Each month we will award $2,000 to someone who shares their story -- $1,000 to the person for their professional development and $1,000 for their educational institution." I think this is a great way to honor the teachers who inspire those of us who chose to be teachers because of their influence. I will be submitting my application! Thanks Nina at Inspired 2 Educate for sending me the information and opportunity to participate.

#Inspired2Educate

Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching PAEMST

2016-04-28T18:34:00.001-05:00

After 7 months of working on a video and paper, I finished and uploaded my application for The Presidential Award for Excellent in Mathematics and Science! I learned so much after reflecting on my teaching and that's the most important part of the process to me. I learned there are always ways to keep improving!!! I have learned from so many fabulous teachers and coworkers over the years that have helped form me into the teacher I am. Teaching is one of the most challenging and rewarding careers. Just being nominated is the biggest honor!! Best of luck to whoever is the winning teacher for the state of Mississippi! #PAEMST

Parking lot coordinate grid

2015-11-10T17:32:00.001-06:00

I found a new take on an old favorite lesson of mine. In years past, I taped off my floor using painter's tape and had my students walk off ordered pairs. This year I found a blog about a teacher that used toy cars with the coordinate grid. (http://forsuchatimeasthis.blogspot.com/2013/02/giant-floor-graph-city.html?m=1) Taking that lesson along with the experience of watching my police officer husband recreate accidents using the computer for accident reports I created a lesson that my students loved today. I made four stacks of color coded ordered pairs and had a pile of hot wheels my son let me borrow. I had students in centers working on the skills from our chapter and this was my teacher center. I reviewed the coordinate plane on my Promethean board whole group before we broke off into centers. Then I had the students in my group choose four cars and a stack of cards and sit by the coordinate plane I taped on our floor. Taking turns, they brought their car and a card to the origin. From there, we discussed where they needed to move their car to match the card. I purposely created several of the same ordered pairs so the students would have a point of impact or intersection. It worked great! The students would redirect their teammates if they saw they weren't traveling in the right direction anticipating when the next "intersection " or "accident " would occur. This is a great hands-on activity for the students to be engaged in. It also fostered teamwork on my groups. Even though at the end of the day sometimes I'm frazzled and preparing for centers takes a lot of planning, the students really learned from the activities we did today. That's what counts!

(This picture was from a practice run at home... I was too busy working with the kids to get better pictures today)

Renaissance Distinguished Educator

2015-02-01T08:11:00.001-06:00

I'm so blessed to have received the Renaissance Distinguished Educator award from Renaissance Learning! I love working with their products to help my students be successful. My goal this year is to certify some of my classes in Accelerated Math and Math Facts in a Flash. I also want to use our school data to help certify other classrooms in AR, AM, or MFIAF.

Changes

2014-09-03T19:18:00.001-05:00

It's been a while!!! Things have changed very much for me since my last post.

1. I moved to a new district.

2. My son now goes to the same school I do. This has been a big difference because not only is he now a "teacher's kid" but he's right down the hall from me. He has made a big transition from a private school curriculum to public school Common Core. Even learning how to get your lunch tray was a change for him. He went from being able to order chicken nuggets every day to getting what is being served in the cafeteria.

3. I teach only one grade and one subject... 5th grade math. Makes planning so much easier!

4. Now instead of learning 24 names, I have learned 91.

5. I went from having a 5 minute commute to a 30 minute commute. I love the time I get to spend with my son on the way to and from school. Most mornings he takes a cat nap though. :)

6. I miss my friends from my previous school and district terribly, but I already love the new school and district I'm at.

7. I'm teaching with a friend that I taught with 10 years ago. We were both pregnant at the same time when we taught together ten years ago, and now our boys are in the same class. This was a tremendous help in our transition!

8. I definitely appreciate all the junior high and high school teachers out there because I only have 4 class periods. By the time the last class comes to me, I think... Do I really have to teach this lesson again? Of either, Now I know how to teach this lesson more effectively.

9. I am a little lost without all the technology I used to have. Last year I had 1:1 iPads in my class, a SMART board, a NEO cart, 4 computers, and Nooks. Now I have a Promethean board, 4 computers, and the NEO cart I borrowed from the library.

But all in all I can say change is a good thing. Sometimes I get too comfortable and need a change in some way to challenge me. I absolutely love the 5th grade age though. I believe it is my niche.

I guess a name change for my blog is in order since I guess I will only be rambling about 5th grade. :) Suggestions?

Have a fabulous week!!!!

Easter egg math

2014-04-17T14:54:00.001-05:00

I hid eggs in my classroom today that contained some math problems and a few prize eggs. The kids love homework passes and free Dojo points!!

I let the kids pair up with a friend and set the class timer on 30 minutes. The kids went around the room finding eggs. They would work the problem on their notebook paper then place the egg back where they found it. Then move on to another egg. The first pair of students who finished first with the most correct answers earned a free 100 in math. I hid two homework passes and two +5 Dojo points in my surprise eggs. The kids love collecting Class Dojo points. The student with the most points at the end of class gets a prize from the treasure chest. If I would have given the students a worksheet with 15 math problems today... They would have not been so excited to see test prep on Easter party day, but this way they had fun, worked together, and learned from each other.

Grandfather Tang: Tangram activity

2014-03-04T09:07:00.002-06:00

This week we are giving our nine weeks test. The students and I took a much needed break from test prep yesterday to read Grandfather Tang's Story written by Ann Tompert and illustrated by Robert Andrew Parker.

After reading the story to my fifth and sixth graders, I passed out the tangram manipulatives for them to explore with. We reviewed transformations and attributes of polygons while they were "playing with their puzzle." They tried to make a square using all seven pieces, but only one was successful. I found some wonderful activities on CREATE for Mississippi (link here) to work with my students this week. I downloaded some free apps for our iPads to let the students play. Yesterday the fifth grade each picked a character from the book, created the tangram animal with their manipulatives, traced and colored the pieces, and wrote which character changed into that animal. When they finished, we used their art work to create a quilt that would tell the story in order. The students arranged the pictures in the order they happened in the story and taped them to bulletin board paper. We hung the quilt in the hall to display for the other classes.

My sixth grade class also created the characters from the story using their tangram pieces. After testing this week, they will continue working on their project. I am going to have them create a book using the pictures and summarizing the story. They will type their summary for the character they chose and I will publish each student a copy using our binding system. My colleague and I have been discussing how much trouble the students have with summarizing. Hopefully I can help with this skill as well as their writing skills with this lesson.

Using iPads with a science lesson

2013-11-09T12:48:00.001-06:00

This week I was teaching a lesson on weathering and erosion in my sixth grade science class. I decided to incorporate our classroom set of iPads. We use the iPads daily for math and I'm trying to find more ways to use them in science. I found a good kid friendly site (www.geography4kids.com)that we read from on the iPads rather than using the textbook. We discussed the different types of weathering and I let the kids "google" images of each type. They then took screenshots and imported them into the PicCollage app. From that app (which is cute and free) the students typed a definition for each type and labeled each picture. I have had students make PowerPoints in the past, but this was a quicker way for them to display what they know while utilizing our iPads. I let the kids choose their own background and text font. They had a great time and learned something. I uploaded their picture collages to our school website and printed them out to send home with the kids. I love how the kids got to use their creativity and technology to learn our objective in science.

Math: Technology and Manipulatives!!!!

2013-09-10T19:15:00.001-05:00

I discussed the ruler and equivalent fractions with my fifth grade class today. I did this lesson a year ago as a small group activity. I thought it was a good introduction to the ruler. You can read the original post with directions here. This worksheet came from Laura Candler's website. I LOVE her resources!

Love Laura Candler! Also this week we have worked on function tables, rules, and equations with my sixth grade. I found these function tables for the kids to work with their cooperative learning group. Then we made these awesome windsocks with a function table on each face and the rule dangling from the windsock. I made a trifold out of construction paper and we discussed that it was in the shape of a triangular prism with the exception of the invisible bases.

I found this fabulous resource on TPT at Richelle Votow's store. (pssst...it's FREE!) The kids loved scanning the QR codes to "partner check" each other's tower. When they finished, they followed the directions to cut, paste, and construct the towers. I hole punched them and hung them on a string to display in the hall.

This awesome freebie came from Flapjack Educational Resources. The kids could practice basic math facts and GCF/LCM. They read the directions that came with the resource and had a BLAST playing!!

This is a picture of my students doing their daily 3 Minute Math quiz. I use this to review basic facts, measurement conversions, percent/decimal/fractions, algebra properties, etc. The PowerPoint is timed and all I do is call out the number of the slide. The students quickly write down their answers, then when we have finished, we "trade and grade."

Working a lattice multiplication problem on the SMART board with a student.

One of my students using the iPad to practice Math Facts in a Flash from Renaissance Learning. If you are not familiar with this company, they also have the Accelerated Reader and Accelerated Math programs, STAR reading and STAR Math testing programs, and more!

We used the Geoboard app I downloaded from the App store to build patterns as a preface to my function tables lesson.

I am LOVING all the technology I have been blessed with in my classroom!!! What technology do you use in your room?

3 Minute Math: Bundled up!

2013-09-02T15:25:00.002-05:00

I have been revamping one of my favorite teaching tools today. I have made a bundle of four different versions of my 3 Minute Math PowerPoint. I have used this several different ways in my class. When you click begin slide show, it automatically changes to the next slide. It is timed to last only 3 minutes, because time is precious. Sometimes I start the slide show and let the students call out the answers. I confirm their answers or we discuss why their guess is incorrect. Other times, the students write their answers on an index card or post-it note. Then we trade and grade. This is a fabulous way to get their blood flowing and get their mind on math. I have placed this bundle in my Teachers Pay Teachers store. I would love to know how you use this product in your class if you have previously bought this in my store.

Happy Birthday to me!! ( and you!)

2013-08-28T18:32:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow I will be another year older... Sigh. When you get out of the twenties, it's just not as much fun counting. :) But, I am blessed to have been on God's beautiful creation another year to love and take care of my family, enjoy spending time with my friends, and teaching my sweet students at school.

Most remembered birthday...

I am thankful that I am not getting a hurricane for my birthday! August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit the coast. I was at home with a five month old and my hubby was helping law enforcement in New Orleans. Such a devastating thing to remember. I guess that would be my most memorable birthday. Or a day that is hard to forget...

Looking forward to spending the evening tomorrow with my hubby and son. Hubby is cooking supper! Yum! :)

Celebrate with me and enjoy one of my favorite products 3 Minute Math from my TpT store for FREE! Also my whole store is on sale for 20% off!!! Have a happy day!!!

Science Meeting FUN Activities!!!

2013-08-21T16:20:00.001-05:00

We had so much fun at science grade level meeting today! I absolutely love getting to attend fun and informative lessons. I'm blessed that our district brings in consultants for Language, Math, and Science. I always learn so much and am rejuvenated to go back to the classroom with hands-on activities I know the kids will enjoy and learn from.

This 9 weeks our focus in science is on the inquiry strand and life science strand of the curriculum.

We started out the morning with our NASA teacher who did a lesson with us on how to calculate the number of calories we should take in per day. Great use of multiplying and dividing decimals!

Next we made a word wall using science prefixes and suffixes. I'm hoping that the prefixes and suffixes will help the children break down unknown science terms. I can't wait to make this word wall in my room. ( I knew I left a blank bulletin board for a reason! ) Vocabulary is always a struggle for children to learn and I hope this will help.

Moving on... CANDY!!!!

We were given four different types of candy to crush and dissolve in water. Then we added a spoonful of baking soda to see which candy had the most acidity. We hypothesized that the lemon drops would have the most since lemons are acidic. Surprise! They all bubbled!

The other group of teachers preformed a density these on chocolate. They found that the 3 Musketeers and Kit Kat floated in their cups of water.

In discussing adaptations and habitats, we created our own species of bird and it's habitat based on the type of beak and feet we selected. Some were pretty funny looking!

I found an app on the iPad called Biobots Sea Rescue. It is a neat game to incorporate with adaptations. The students build a fish and make choices as to body type, what it eats, it's locomotion type, circulatory method, and defense method. The students then go on a mission using what fish they created.

In reviewing cells, we put together a puzzle by matching the name of the part/person with the definition.

We sorted animals into bags with biome names on them.

And last but not least, we created the body systems with cardstock people cutouts.

I am guiltily of putting science on the back burner because I also teach math. But this year I'm challenging myself to make better use of my time. I set the timer on my classroom iPad for everything! I know then it's time to transition from Renaissance hour to math and then move on to science, switch classes and start over with my schedule again. Otherwise, I get too involved in one thing and leave out others. How do you manage your class time to fit everything in?

Please share any other ideas you have for math or science! I love learning new things from other teachers.

Wishlist Fun & Back to School Sale on TPT

2013-08-17T14:35:00.005-05:00

I'm jumping on the bandwagon for Wishlist Fun!

The Teachers Pay Teachers much awaited sale is this weekend! 13 products from

my store will be 20% off. These are my newest creations and some of my best sellers. Enter code BTS13 for an additional 8% off Sunday and Monday.

I'm joining Jivey's linky to share the TOP 2 products in my store that are wishlisted by prospective customers and 1 of my personal wishlist items.

My number 1 most wishlisted item in my store:

Decimal of the Day

I use this at least once a week in my 5th and 6th grade classes as a bellringer. It covers all operations with decimals, place value, and rounding.

My number 2 most wishlisted item in my store:

3 Minute Math

I use this as quick bellringer, time-filler, or as a competition with my students. It is a 26 slide PowerPoint presentation that is timed exactly to 3 minutes, so all you have to do is hit start! The kids can quickly write down the answers, or call them out as a competition. there are so many ways to use this! This uses mental math for computations with basic operations, incorporates algebra, measurement, fractions, and decimals.

1 of my personal wishlisted wants:

Standards Based Assessment Bundle for 5th grade math from Miss Nannini

Hope you all have a fabulous year!!!

Check out Jamie's Giveaway!!!

2013-08-14T18:22:00.003-05:00

Ok friends, I want you to check out Jamie's blog Sixth Grade Tales! She is having a 200 follower giveaway and I'm donating a product from my Teachers Pay Teachers store-WINNER'S CHOICE. If you aren't following her blog, head on over and click her "Follow On Bloglovin" button and enter the giveaway. You have 25 chances to enter!!! There are some fabulous teachers who have donated to her giveaway and you don't want to miss it!!!

Monday Made It...Homework Club Clips

2013-08-12T20:17:00.003-05:00

Things have been so busy since we started school, but I did have time this evening to make my version of a Homework Club Clip Chart for Monday Made It with Tara at Fourth Grade Frolics. I opened up these cute file folders, laminated them, and cut the tab off the side. I wrote the students numbers on these clothes pins so I could reuse them from year to year for whatever reason. The kids will turn in their homework and move their clip from the side that says "Are You In?" to the side that says "I'm In!" It's an easy way to see who has their homework quickly. (These are tacked to the wall close to the homework turn in area.) Then I will grab the clips of the students who didn't turn their homework in and put them on my desk so I can document it during planning time.

Tour My School Thursday

2013-08-08T18:03:00.001-05:00

We started school on Monday and our kids came Wednesday. Whew! Busy, busy, busy!!! I'm loving my classes this year and looking forward to a wonderful year. Thought I would share pics of my class and a walk down the halls to see all the decorations. We tend to overdo it a bit. :)

My classroom:

Back of my room

My desk area

My computers, printer, and iPad carts

Front of the room

Front of the room as you walk in

Exit ticket outside my door

Charts for tracking progress in Renaissance Learning

My iCan statement wall

Now... On to the classes down the hall...

My co-teacher's room

3rd and 4th grade math and science class

3rd and 4th Language Arts and Social Studies

3rd and 4th Renaissance Learning charts

2nd grade

2nd grade Angry Birds I Can statement wall

1st grade

Pre-K and Kindergarten

Resource room

Resource room hall

Library

My very first "Currently..."

2013-08-01T16:26:00.002-05:00

Today I'm finally linking up for the August edition of "Currently" form Farley at Oh' Boy 4th Grade.

Y'all have a great weekend!!!

Last Day Sale!

2013-07-31T13:41:00.001-05:00

Don't forget to check out my TPT store today for the last day of my sale. Pick up my new school year planner, the 5th grade and 6th grade CCSS I Can statements, math journal topics, 3 minute math, and some of my other best sellers!