2 Stars and a Wish.. A Little Back To School Classroom Organization

Hi Sweet Friends!

If you are like me, you are gearing up for another school year.

I couldn't want to link up with Mandy's Tips for Teachers for

I'm ALL about staying organized in my classroom.  I feel like I teach better when my classroom is organized and runs efficiently.  SO I wanted to share with you 2 things ( my STARS)  I feel help me stay organized and  something I wish I could do better.  ( I'm hoping you all will have some tips to help me with this WISH.)

Use magazine boxes labeled with the days of the week to keep your needed copies and other items needed for that particular day.

( My magazine boxes are located on the right hand side of this picture.)

I used to keep my copies and needed items in a file folder in my desk.  I LOVE these magazine boxes.  They hold so much more material, AND they are easy for another teacher to access if needed.  It also helps with those last minute emergency plans for a sub if one of my little ones wakes up and is ill that morning.   My parent volunteer comes in every Thursday or Friday and makes the copies for the following week.  Once the copies are made, I quickly refer to my teacher plans and place the copies in the corresponding box for the following week. 

Forgot My Homework Binder

A teacher on my team introduced this to me last year, and I LOVED it.

I am forever trying to keep track of students who have forgotten their homework, didn't do their reading assignment and etc.  The school in which I teach does a monthly Homework Club Reward, and I have a Homework incentive in my classroom as well.  I used to keep track of missed reading assignments and etc in my teacher planner.  BUT with all of the other notes I jotted down, the student names and assignments missed were hard to find.  I needed something easier and more organized to help me keep track of missing homework.   The "Forgot My Homework Binder" has a tab with each student's name.  Inside of the Binder, each student has a homework sheet.  Each student simply writes the date, assignment that is missing or not completed, and I initial the entry.   I have it sitting by the homework basket in my classroom.  Each morning I check student's planners while they are working on their Daily Morning Warm-Ups.  If a student is missing an assignment or did not complete their reading minutes, I ask them to sign the homework binder.

To create the homework binder, I purchased a 3 ring binder along with enough of the tabbed file folders for each student in my class.  I wrote each student's name on a tab.  Then I made a homework sheet that included a column for the date, item not completed, and my initials.

You can download the cover for the "Missing Homework Binder" and the 'Missing Homework" sheet for FREE from Google Docs by clicking on either photo above or HERE.

Classroom Library Check Out System

Oh my, I need SO much help with this one.  I would love ANY and ALL ideas that have worked for you.  I have YET to find a system that keeps my students responsible for classroom books that they check out of our library.  What do all of you use?  I WISH for a system that is easy for the students to use, helps keep the responsible for returning the library books back to the classroom library, and helps me keep track of my classroom library books.  I loose OODLES of books every year.  I also don't want to have to spend a lot of time managing this system.  

I have entered all of my classroom books online into LibraryThing. I've even reorganized my books by subjects. Here's a little peek into my classroom library.

 Thanks so much for stopping by.  Good luck on a new school year!!  I would LOVE to hear your suggestions on my WISH. 

For more STAR ideas, please check out the links from my FRIENDS below.

An InLinkzLink-up

Effectively Organizing Student Materials

Hi Sweet Friends!

As I've been finding time to sneak a few hours a week in my classroom, I wanted to share with you some ways I organize my classroom.

I'm also linking up with Elizabeth at Fun in Room 4B and Ladybug's teacher Files for their Optimum Organizational Linky Party.

1. Organizing student supplies

I have struggled for years finding just the right place for my students to keep their supplies.  FINALLY, I found something that works in my classroom.  I have my student desks arranged in 4 tables.  At the end of each table, I have a black shelf that I purchased for about $15.00 from Wal-Mart.  In this shelf, I have plastic shoe boxes for each student in that group.  These shoe boxes contain their markers, scissors, glue, rulers, and etc.   I also have the book boxes in these shelves also.  These store my students reading, math, and writing journals, six minute solution folders, and rocket math folders.   Also notice that the book boxes and shoe boxes are numbered. Each student in my classroom receives a number at the beginning of the year.  This helps me organize papers collected, locker tags, and many other things.

2.  Organizing supplies for student activities

I purchased these colorful caddies from The Dollar Tree.  Each caddy is numbered for each table/group in my classroom.  Each day after school, as I am preparing for the next day, I fill each caddy with items needed for the first subject that my students will need some important materials.  I started using this last year, and LOVE it.  It really helps increase my time spent on instruction rather than that time spend on passing out materials.  When being evaluated by my administrator last year, she even commented on the fact that this was such a great organizing tool to help effectively use instructional time.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Best of luck to all of you that are beginning to prepare your classroom for the start of a new school year.

Don't forget to check out all of the amazing organizational ideas by clicking on the linky button below.

Bloglovin' Giveaway Winners and a TO DO list linky party

Oh my goodness friends!

It's July  and that back to school clock has started ticking for me.

We begin school August 13 with students, but the room preparations and planning begin now for me.

So I couldn't wait to link up with Lorraine at Fabulous 4th Grade Froggies for :

First I'll give you a quick synopsis of my projects around the house to do list.  Paint and decorate the kids' bathroom, clean out kiddos' closets, and clean upstairs carpets

I REALLY, TRULY tried to keep a list of 5 things to accomplish each day during the summer.  After the first week I was such a stressed out mess over trying to get these things completed, that I just gave up.

Now here's my to do list for school:

1. Prepare my math workshop area

2. Spruce up my writer's workshop area

3.  Put my classroom library back together ( We had to pack up EVERYTHING at the end of the school year for summer cleaning.)

4. Create a new birthday chart and birthday treats

5. Order necklaces for brag tags and print out tags ( I created my own last year)

6. Prepare my teacher material area.  I am not putting a teacher desk in my room this year, so I need to be more organized about where to put my teacher materials for each day, and office supplies that I normally kept in my desk.

7. Prepare my clip chart for behavior with students's names on the clips.

8. Copy and laminate all of my back to school resources I will be using

9. PLAN, PLAN, PLAN

Don't forget to stop by Fabulous 4th grade Froggies to find out what is on everyone else's list.

Just click on the picture below.

AND now for the winners of my Bloglovin' Giveaway

The winners have already been contacted via e-mail.  Congratulations ladies!

Thank you all so much for entering the giveaway and becoming a new follower of my blog or Facebook fan page.  I appreciate all of you!  I enjoy reading your sweet comments and all of your words of support and encouragement.  I truly enjoy creating materials for my classroom and sharing with all of you.  ( It's my creative outlet at the end of a busy or stressful day.)

Shopping Fun and Teacher Appreciation

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week Dear Friends!!!

Thank you so much for all that you do for  children.  

My children have  been so blessed to have such amazing teachers that have made such an imprint in their lives .  My Sweeties LOVE to go to school most of the time.

Some of my most favorite things as a teacher are those sweet notes that I receive from students.  Today a couple of my former students stopped by my classroom to deliver a "thank you" note.  These notes made my day!!

NOW onto shopping fun...

I filled my TPT cart up with lots of clip art and fonts during the TPT Teacher Appreciation Sale.

It's an obsession!

Look at all this fabulous clip art I found from Krista Wallden!

AND MORE clip art from The LibraryFox

 I couldn't resist these fonts from Cara Carroll

AND with only a couple of hours left.. I'm filling up my cart again.

You can check out what other goodies bloggers purchased on Blog Hoppin'

Have a great rest of the week!  Friday is just around the corner!!!

The Most Fabulous Feedback

Hi Sweet Friends!

I am so thankful for your support and kind words that many of you leave on my blog, facebook page, or in my TPT store! Thank you!  You are the best! Countless of you have brightened my day with your kind words when I was having one of those "blah" days.  It makes such a difference!

So when I heard that Christina from Bunting, Books, and Bainbridge was having a fabulous feedback linky party, I just had to join in the fun.

So here are 3 products with my some of my favorite feedback..
AND here's a twist.. I will include the name of the buyer on the feedback and if the buyer is reading this post, please  comment below, and I will send you any product of your choice from my TPT store.

Product #1
Biography Mega Pack aligned to the Common Core Standards

AND here's the sweet feedback I received from this buyer:

So kristimarie9588, if you are reading this, THANK YOU, and leave me a comment below for a free product from my store.

Product #2
My Morning "Core"Warm-ups..  December, January, February, March, and May
The feedback left was for the April unit.

This sweet buyer has left me wonderful feedback on each month of the "Core" morning Warm-ups I have created.  She has helped motivate me to continue creating these warm-ups for the summer months and the rest of the year.  Thank you!!

Pamela Wendt, if you are reading this post, please comment below so that I can send you a free product of your choosing from my store.  Thank you again!

Product #3
Common Core Fractions Mega Pack *Bundle*

I had to share two of my favorite from this unit.

The first is from a fabulously kind buyer that always takes the time to leave such great feedback!  Thank you!

AND here is the second:

 

If teacher858 and staceypowers76 is reading this post, please comment below so that I can send you a free product of your choice from my store.

Thank you again for all of your kind feedback!  It really makes my day.  I am SO FLATTERED when you purchase my products to use with your students.  You are AMAZING!

Five For Friday!! and a FREEBIE

Hi Sweet Friends!

Hooray for Friday!!!  

We've slowly been getting back into a routine after spring break this week... at home and in my classroom. 

I couldn't wait to link up with Doodle Bugs Teaching for:

1. A little organization

I'm ashamed to admit this, but FINALLY something that I have wanted to do since September is finally finished.  It's only taken me 7 months.  Each group/table now has their own space to store their important things.  I love it!  Before I had a section of the classroom for their supply boxes, a tub for their writing journals, and one for their math journals, and so forth.  Now, all of these items are in one easy to find place. 

2. Jealous!!!

I had the opportunity to visit another school in our area this past week.  I LOVE to observe other classrooms.  Don't you just love to look at the classroom set up, posters on the walls, and the class libraries?  I DO!   We were there to observe a new reading series that our school district would like to adopt.  It wasn't the reading series that blew me away, it was the 1:1 ratio of IPADS to students in this third grade classroom.  I am so jealous!!!  My mind was going a million miles a minute thinking of all the "possibilities" and those students of mine who would benefit the most from this.  The ratio in my classroom is currently 1:25.  That is 1 Ipad for 25 students.    I love technology and watching this particular lesson in action with the Ipads for each student was AH-MAZING!  Oh the possibilities!!!
Do any of you have a 1:1 ratio of Ipads to students?  

3. S-P-R-I-N-G freebie

My little darlings whipped up these adorable spring acrostic poems.  You can download this for free by clicking on the picture below.

4. Math Baseball

My students love to play a game called Math baseball.  We use it when reviewing addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division facts. I choose two baseball teams and divide the students up accordingly.  Then one team is chosen to be up to "bat" and the other team is in the "outfield".  I am the pitcher and hold up fact cards.  All students have a white board and marker.   A team member from each team verse each other at the plate.  Whoever gets the fact first correct on their whiteboard either gets to go to first base if their team is up to "bat" or gets an out if their team is the one in the "outfield". 



5. Fun with Foldables and Lap books... I've been on a lap book kick lately with my students.  They LOVE them and so do I.  We've been working on a couple this week with our science and reading unit.  Take a peek! There are still many more things we need to add to the lap books. They've gotten so many compliments from other teachers about these fun and engaging lap books.

 This is our story elements  lap book for A Taste of Blackberries. You can find this in my " A Taste of Blackberries Literacy Unit aligned to the Common Core Standards".

This is our solar system lap book.  It is part of my "Solar System Mega Pack Unit aligned to the Common Core Standards".

Have a great weekend Friends!  Don't forget to check out the other "Five For Fridays" by clicking on Doodle Bugs For Teaching link at the top of this post.

Some of my favorite things....

It's already Wednesday!!

The week has been flying by.

I'm sure those of you on spring break right now will DEFINITELY agree!

I couldn't wait to link up with Latoya at Flying into First Grade for her fun linky.

I thought I'd share a little more about ME!

1.  My favorite place to shop is Ann Taylor the Loft.

LOVE their clothes!  The Loft often has a great sale.

2.  My favorite tv show is " The Voice".

Honestly, I don't watch much television aside from sports.  I always feel like I have so many other things that I need to get accomplished that I never find the time to watch tv.  I do enjoy watching "The Voice".  I adore Blake Shelton.  Shhh!  Don't tell my husband!

3. My favorite sweet treat is Russell Stover's Sugar Free Delights.

I am on this new eating plan which has helped me to lose over 18 lbs so far SO most sweet treats are NOT ALLOWED.   BUT... I've found that when I'm craving something sweet, I can have 1 or 2 of these.  They only have 1 carb per candy.  Bonus!!!   

4. My favorite food is pasta with white sauce.

It's one of those "guilty pleasures" for me right now because pasta is not on my healthy eating plan, BUT I can indulge on a "cheat" day.

5.  My favorite place to eat is Chili's.

So there you have it... some of my favorite things.

Please check out all of my bloggy friends' favorite things by clicking on the linky photo at the top of the post.

Have a great rest of the week!!