Thanksgiving FREEBIE!

With Thanksgiving just around the corer I thought it would be fun to do a little photo booth fun with my class.  We don't celebrate Christmas at my school so I'll print a photo off of each student and send it home before Thanksgiving break.  I don't think you can ever have too many photos!  

I will write a little card for each student and I will also have each student write a little card for another student in the class.  Hopefully you can find a use for these in your room too!  Click any photo to download!  

2017-2018 Classroom Tour

It's November 1st and I'm just now getting around to sharing my 4th grade classroom!  I try to be intentional when laying out a classroom and I LOVE open spaces.  I always start the year with blank walls so my students can add their own touches to them and we can fill them with anchor charts and resources.  So without further ado, here's a little peak into my home away from home. 

Here's a view from the back of the room.  I don't have a window and I have a wall that could use some serious TLC so I used flat twin sheets from Wal Mart to mock-up a window! 

A quick peak into the library.  Now those boards are full of charts and student work! 

People, these chairs were SO easy and CHEAP to make.  And they are a FAVORITE spot in the classroom.  Stop by Ikea, and grab yourself one for only $6.  I applied vinyl cut out circles to them to add a pop of color. 

This is my small group table and most of my supplies/important things.  Now the table has yoga balls surrounding it for the kids to sit at and work. 

A view to the front of the room. 

TIP: Use a desktop calendar for your board and then you don't have to change the days every month.  I was THE WORST at that when I taught primary!! 

 A closer up view of the "window"  HA!

Here's our makerspace.  The kids love this area.  It's easy to use and keeps all of those items that look like junk out of sight!  The bulletin board is used to display the projects and plans they make in the makerspace.  

The doors to enter the classroom have two windows.  I used tension rods, 3M hooks, and sheets from WalMart to hang inexpensive curtains to add a little homey look. 

These shelves house our current read alouds, pictures of our class, and a few student supplies such as clipboards and dry erase boards. 

As I said before, a few things have evolved and been added, but this is mostly what our room looks like!  Hope you enjoyed!  Thanks for stopping by!  

21 Day Kindness Challenge

With the school year winding down and students winding up, I needed something quick and easy but still meaningful to help them stay on track and to continue to be kind to others.  So I implemented this 21 day challenge.  The best part?  All you need is a rubber band!  Which I already had in the classroom.  

When I was in college in one of my education classes I was assigned to read the book: A Complaint Free World by Will Bowen.  In the book Bowen talks all about how it takes 21 days to create a new habit.  He uses a wristband to help him form a habit of NOT complaining.  Every time he complains he switches his wristband to a new wrist.  The purpose of the wristband is to make himself more aware of when he complaining.  

I twisted it a little bit to make it more applicable to my student’s needs.  I gave each student a rubber band and challenged them to form the habit of always saying and thinking kind things.  Each time they say or do something unkind they move their rubber band to a different wrist.  It’s been really cool to watch them support each other this week!  

I keep a basket of extra rubber bands on my table….because 5th graders.  

So if you need an easy way to encourage your students try it out!  And if you haven’t read the book, I highly recommend it!  

Reading Through Multiple Lenses

Everyone has heard the saying to "walk in someone else's shoes".  This week, we read through multiple lenses!  This time of year it's always tough to keep students focused.  So why not spice things up a bit with some neon glasses?  

We are studying social issues in reading and many of the characters in the books we are reading do things that we don't necessarily agree with.  The lesson focused on seeing things from their point of view before reacting negatively to them.  The students worked with their reading partner and each student got a different color pair of glasses.  They discussed and answered the two questions: 

1. How would I feel if I were experiencing what the character is experiencing? 

2. What choices might I make in this situation?  

Then they switched glasses.  It was a quick and easy ways to get kids excited, talking, and laughing about books!  

Click the image to download the poster and glasses!  

To-Do Tags

I'm fortunate enough to have volunteers in my room every week and students who have paper-handling jobs.  They help me make copies, file, and prep things.  But I was SO sick of using all my sticky notes to label piles and give directions so I created some super easy To-Do Tags to use.  All I did was print them, laminate them, and used a glue dot to attach them to a clothespin.  I think if I used hot glue I could have attached them to a paper clip, but I was using what I had on hand!!  Please enjoy!!

 

Hello 2017!

Well I'm a little late to the party, but HELLLOOOO 2017!  I don't know where the time goes, but man it sure goes fast.  I'm excited for all of the things 2017 is going to bring and what I plan to accomplish (and not accomplish) this year.  These goals are mostly focused on all things Teach Jane Teach and in my classroom.  Do you have goals for your teaching life?  I'd love to hear them, so please share!  We can all hold each other accountable!  

People, I waste SO MUCH TIME!! Whether it's on pinterest or instagram or chatting with co-workers in the hall.  This year I want to get better at knowing exactly where my precious minutes are going.  And I want to be sure they are going exactly where I want them to go!  Any tips on this?  Help a sista out!  

I am the queen of starting projects and NEVER finishing them.  I started a project nearly two years ago...that is still unfinished.  Who does that?!  Me apparently.  So my goal is to finish all those projects that are sitting around on my computer or in my camera or on my desk.  Some of them are really cool too, so I will definitely be sharing them here!  

I am SO EXCITED about this.  I will be holding a poster session this summer at the ISTE conference in San Antonio.  I am presenting on integrating reading and STEM.  I also plan to share some of my thoughts and ideas here so be on the lookout. (This goes back to finishing my projects!  ha!)

Since I'm presenting at ISTE I thought I'd add this to my list.  I plan to invest in myself to further my educational practices.  I recently signed up for a restorative practices class through my district that starts the first of February and I will finish up a class on reading recovery in April.  #ilovelearning

My professional learning goal this school year is to focus on getting students engaged and keeping them engaged all while keeping the content rigorous.  I'm doing my second classroom transformation tomorrow, so I'll be sure to let you know how it goes!  I already have 3 more planned.  Try to keep things interesting! 

So there you have it!  I hope to stick to these and share my progress here!  Please let me know your goals!