Class Dojo

I love Class Dojo.  

The students love Class Dojo but they love it even more this year than last year.  The creators have added a portfolio option.  Students are able to write journal entries, video themselves presenting and take photos.  The students will be able to take these accounts with them for future access also.  I also love how the developers have made it so I can post more than one picture per post.  Can I get an AMEN?!!  

Teachers are able to provide classroom incentives for positive points and parents are able to check on positive and negative points.  I love that the system keeps track for you and parents can log in at any time to see how their child is doing.

Summer Reading List

Summer is Amazing!  

This summer I read!  I read a lot.  Here is a list of books that I read and a brief summary of each.

The Wild Card by Hope and Wade King

  This book was written by educators to inspire other educators to be "The Wildcard" in students learning.  I love their ideas on how to engage students, even when curriculum is mandated by your district.  You can always make learning fun; you just need to find the fun.

Orphan Island by Laurel Snyder

   This book was probably my least favorite of all the books, it was pretty similar to Lord of the Flies or The Maze Runner.  The children are dropped off at the "Island" by a mysterious boat and are limited on the amount of time spent on the island.  While they are there, they must teach other children how to survive the island.

Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai

   I loved this book.  It is a very quick read, maybe a few hours.  It is written in poem form but it is engaging and well written.  The little girl must leave Vietnam and immigrate to the US.  She faces teasing and learning how to speak a new language.  Loved it!

One Crazy Summer by Rita Williams Garcia

    This was also a great book!  The three little girls must travel to California to spend time with their mother who had abandoned them when they were very young.  The girls spend time with members of the Black Panthers during the 1960's.  I recommend this book.

Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

 Do you want to cry?  This is a tear jerker.  The main characters are outcasts and find each other.  There is a little boy with health issues and one with learning issues (and is very tall for his age).  There is death and a parent who is incarcerated in this book.  Excellent read.

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

   Oh my!  This book was so great.  I kept asking myself why I waited so long to pick it up!  This is written during the American Revolution about slave children.  The main character is so fierce and strong, I loved her!  You won't want to stop at the first book in the series-there are three books.

Forge by Laurie Halse Anderson

  The second book in the Chains series.  This book is written about Valley Forge and the way African Americans were treated during the Revolutionary War.  You won't want to put it down.

Because of Mr. Terupt by Rob Buyea

  Wow!  This book was recommended to me by some fellow teachers on Facebook.  What a tear jerker!  It really shows you just what an impact a teacher can make in a child's life.  The teacher teaches the students about empathy and treating others with kindness.

Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller

   This book got me inspired to give my students a 40 book reading challenge.  Students need to remember that reading is fun!   Reading should be enjoyable.  Where has that love gone?  We need to help students find that joy again.

Wellness Room Posters and Passes

In my the district where I work, we are focusing on each student, "Every Child, Every Day."  This includes learning about childhood trauma.  In our school, we have adopted a "Wellness Room" for student to go and learn how to manage their feelings and actions.  These posters were developed to go along with this program and help me understand the program better.  

Wellness Room Posters and Passes

If you need in other colors, let me know!  I love to make products....

 

Fabulous 50-5th Grade Postcard Exchange

I have been busy working on moving my house...

but I have found time to organize the Fabulous 50-Fifth Grade Postcard Exchange.  I am so excited.  We almost have every state represented.  

I am still looking for these states:

Connecticut 
Delaware 
New Hampshire 
New Mexico 
North Dakota 
Rhode Island
South Dakota 
Vermont
Wyoming

If you are interested in participating and are from these states-please fill out this google form:

Fabulous 50 Postcard Exchange

We send postcards to all fifty states and get 50 in return.  There are 10 questions that are answered and anything else you want to add.  I made my own postcard but you can buy them also.

These are the questions:

1. Name of School and your grade level
2. # of students in the class
3. # of students in the school
4. What is your favorite book you’ve read as a class?
5. Average high temperature in January
6. Average high temperature in July
7. Describe major geographical features near you.
8. Something your city or state is known for.
9. If your class/school has a blog, website, or other social media account, please list them.
10. What is your school mascot?

Many of us used these questions to graph or discuss in the classroom.

The front of my postcard.

Carson-Dellosa Anniversary Sale BOGO

Do you need anything from Carson-Dellosa?  Code is Carson50, Ends June 30, 2018 so you better hurry.

Carson-Dellosa

Math Dice Set

If you teach math.... you need this math dice set!  There are so many fun dice games in math.  

Summer is the perfect time to research and plan these out.  Grab your own set.

 Amazon Link

On sale right now for $6.79 from $9.99.

Some of My Favorite Programs in Technology

I am going to tell you about some of my favorite technology programs I have found.

Reading:

  I love NEWELA and Readworks.  I have the free subscriptions and find so many useful materials to use in the classroom.

  I will be using WhoosReading this year.  It is like the Accelerated Reading program but FREE!!

Epic is another great website.  It is free for educators and free for students to use while in the classroom.  They are having a great summer sale for families also.

Math:

  Prodigy .   Students earn rewards and can battle each other just for practicing math facts!

Behavior:

      I use ClassDojo and love how interactive this program is.  The writers are now including a portfolio aspect and students think it is really fun to add pictures and journal entries.

GONOODLE, such a fun program to get moving and those wiggles out.  It is free and amazing.

Science:

   MysteryScience.  Teachers can get a free year of cool science interactive lessons!  I had it this year and it was amazing.

Social Studies:

Seterra, such a fun program for kids.  This site has lots of interactive geography games.

Carson-Dellosa is having a Buy one get one 50% off sale!

Carson-Dellosa is having a buy one get one 50% off sale! Plus free shipping with $25 purchase.

Carson-Dellosa is having a Buy one get one 50% off sale!

Time to shop!

Let's Talk Pencils

 Why, or why do students go through pencils like crazy?!

This year I even tried a pencil parking spot on each desk, swapping out short pencils for brand new ones and rewarding students for keeping their pencils.

Pencils are a necessary supply and I have never worried about giving pencils to students who needed them.  My frustration came when I saw a box of brand new pencils broken in the garbage!

I feel like students take better care of better pencils.  

Ticonderoga are my favorite pencils!   These pencils sharpen well and stay together longer!!

My Favorite Pencils

NAIR-BEST KEPT SECRET

This website is amazing for teachers.  

If you buy in bulk (isn't anything over a dozen "BULK"?) then this site is for you!  

You have to set up your account and then you can shop for deep discounts.  

You pay for the shipping and use the products in your classroom.  I love this website!!

http://www.naeir.org/

Flair Pens? Yes!!

I love Flair Pens.  This is a great sale!  The only problem is trying to keep the students from walking away with these pens.  They write so smooth and the ink stays crisp for so long.  LOVE!

Flair Pens

Establishing Routines

With the beginning of the school year right around the corner, I thought it would be great to talk about how important it is to establish your classroom routines with your students.

Students need to know what is expected of them in your classroom. To ensure that you have smooth transitions throughout the day, think carefully about the routines for which you must plan. Clarify them in your mind. It may be helpful to make a list of transitional times throughout the day (see the list below to help you get started!). Other teachers or your mentor can serve as resources by sharing their own classroom procedures and routines.

Before establishing specific procedures or routines, it is necessary to have a discussion with students about their importance. During this discussion, you should be able to talk about the rationale behind various routines. When possible, invite students to create procedures with you. This process can nurture a sense of ownership and community in your classroom.

In establishing procedures or routines, it is important to:

• Ensure that students understand the reason for the routine.
• Clarify the procedure through modeling.
• Allow students opportunities to practice the routine through rehearsal.
• Try not to overwhelm students by teaching too many routines at once. The process of establishing routines and procedures may take several days.
• Remember that it will probably be necessary to revisit this process as you see the need.

The following list may help you get started in thinking about times during the day for which you may want to establish procedures and routines:

• Entering and exiting the classroom
• Labeling papers
  
• Beginning the day
• Collection and distribution of papers
• Signaling for quiet and attention
• Appropriate times for moving around the room
• Emergency drills and procedures
• Going to the restroom
• Moving throughout the school
• Late arrival
• Grading and homework policies (including make-up work)
• Asking questions
• Finishing an assignment early
• Dismissal

I am excited to start the new school year. I know that routines are a lot of work to establish but well worth the effort. It will save you a lot of time in the long run.