Awesome website and You know School is Back n' Sesh when...

It's Friday!  You don't even know how great tonight is!  I know you, you are asking yourself why I am posting at 9:30 on a Friday night.  Well, I'm watching the Olympics in my pajamas, wrapped up in a blanket (love that it's only 65 degrees right now!), and hanging with my dogs.  The hubs is camping with his buddies getting ready for a Warrior Dash tomorrow.  This is heaven!  I have officially been back to school for two weeks, and students start on Wednesday, so I am taking a breather tonight.


Awesome Website
While Pinteresting (can I make it a verb?!) tonight, I came across this great website that I can't wait to use this year.  The website is YouAreYourWords.  What it does is allow you to upload or take a picture on the computer, type words into the site, and then combine them to create an image like the ones below.  The one on the left is a sample from the site's gallery and the one on the right is my practice one.

 

My job this year will be coordinating and working with all of the EL students.  Since I am new to the school, and all of these students will be working with me for the whole school year, I thought this would be a great way to get to know each other, work on familiar vocabulary, and tell about ourselves! I can't wait to put these up near my room (it's really a converted storage closet, but I'm okay with that!) with the students I serve.

School is Back in Sesh!

I know school is Back n' Sesh because...my lunch consists of a PBJ, yogurt, and Dr. Pepper!  No more fast food for me!  I also know school is back n' sesh because my dishwasher is full of Glad plastic containers again.

  

So what should you do?

Leave your own thoughts in the comments section so that others can see!  

Your Task: Plan your School's Beginning of School Mtg.

Short and simple post tonight...but looking for some big things!

If you were the principal and could plan your Back to School Staff Meeting...

What would you put on the agenda?!?!

Don't you wish your principal asked you this every year?  Well, my principal and I are looking into our agenda for our back to school staff meeting the day before school starts.  We've thrown around a lot of ideas, but I thought I'd come back to my trusty, friendly, compassionate, superstar teachers to give me some real. honest. answers.

Would you want to:
Go over nuts and bolts of the school year?
Protocols? Procedures?
Start looking at student data?
Take an in depth look at your school improvement plan?
Deconstruct Common Core standards?
Do team building activities?
What else? 

What would be THE BEST use of your time, while also tapping into the excellence that is inside of all of you?  And I'm not just asking questions to ask, I really want to know! :)

Your task: Comment with a few things you would put on your agenda, and maybe even one thing you wouldn't put on the agenda

Katie Wood Ray, Currently, New Literacy Ideas!

So I warned you all that I was heading to a 3-day literacy conference and I would be back with awesome things!  I was really excited to hear/see/experience Katie Wood Ray.  After reading her books, I knew she'd have great things to share.  I was creepy and asked for a photo, and she obliged!  The best part is that the first person accidentally took a video of us instead of a photo, so this is actually round 2 of our photo sesh, and I brought on a different photographer who could use the iPhone (hence, the poor quality)! 

So what did I learn from the writing guru?  Well, a lot of things.  First, I guess I had never realized how primary she was in her writings.  Her focus was on K-2, but she had wonderful ideas.  My takeaway was that students don't have to be writing words just to make books.  She showed a video of a Kindergarten teacher having students make books on their first, YES FIRST, day of school!  Do any of you have them doing this?  Her only requirement at this point is that there is writing and a picture on each page.  Now some students don't know how to do their letters, so they use an Alphabet chart to just try scribbling something.  

What I liked best about this was that it was telling students that things don't have to be spelled correctly, there doesn't have to be a main idea with details, a book doesn't have to be 32 pages, etc.  It takes away those boundaries that scare kids off from writing.  This allows them to be an author on day 1!  

With this model, it also gives the power to the students, and sets HIGH expectations from the start.  Love doing this for our 5 year olds.  Just think what would happen if we all started doing things like this.  

Currently

Wow!  It's August, and I'm already behind...at least with Farley's Currently.  I love her back to school must haves section at the end.  Great idea!  Right now, I am listening, living, and loving the Olympics, but I thought I'd try to share some other things too!

I always need a good pair of scissors for all of the laminate, paper, decorations, etc. that I am cutting at the beginning of the year.  I have to say though, that with my new position I don't have a classroom to set up.  This is a little bit sad for me.  I always loved going in and setting up.  It reenergized me for a new group, the new learning, and the greatness that would happen for the next 180 school days.  Right now, I've been spending my day interviewing candidates for positions and calling references.  Who knew it would take so long to call references!  Btw.  If you are ever applying for a position and list a reference from a school...DO NOT list the school's phone number.  The teacher's aren't usually there during the summer when people are trying to get a hold of them.  Cell or home phone numbers are great!  Okay, off my soap box.  

Join the Linky by heading over the Farley's awesome blog!!

Finally, I thought I'd share a little bit more about our conference.  Kelly Gallagher was another presenter that I got to see for an entire day.  I didn't know much about him before this, but he was really great.  Extremely engaging with very insightful ideas when it comes to the amount of writing students should be doing and the amount of grading teachers should be doing.  

Thoughts and Ideas from Kelly:

1. 3 Truths and a Lie Writing Activity
Do you play 3 truths and a lie at the beginning of the year?  Kelly says to use this at the beginning and have them try to stump the teacher on a notecard.  Collect the cards, highlight the one you think is the lie.  The students think it's fun to stump the teacher.  Then, when you pass them back, their truths become writing ideas!  They pick one truth to write about in narrative form.  What would you write as you model the activity for your students?

2. Teaching Tone 
Write the phrase, "Hi. How are you?" on the board.  Then have students think about all of the ways they would say this to various people.  They can write it down, talk about it with their neighbors, etc.
Examples:
To your grandma. "Hi mammaw.  How are you today?" - my grandma is very formal
In an interview. "Hi Mr. Smith.  How are you?"
To your best friend. "What up, dog?"
To the grocery store clerk.
To the principal.
To a friend if there aren't any adults around...beware! :)

3. Beginning of Year Writing Idea
Have students trace their hand on paper.  Then write anything (school appropriate) that their hands have done or been.  They can then pick one, two, or all to write about.  For our "practice" hand, I wrote plant flowers, typing on my blog, petting my dogs, changing songs on my iPod while running, cleaning the house, etc. It's a great way to let kids share about some things they have done over the summer, but also get them thinking about writing ideas.

Well this post is getting long, and I could share forever and ever, so I'll do a little literacy conference potpourri in future posts!

Enjoy your Sunday... probably the last one or two before you have papers to look at, parents to call, etc.  ENJOY IT!

The Color Run, Focus, and Katie Wood Ray

So I had a pretty good weekend, and next week is shaping up to look pretty good too!  My husband and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary at Benihana's.  It was a new experience for him, and we definitely enjoyed the corniness of the cooking tricks they do!  I wish I could take credit for this picture, but it captures the excitement!

The Color Run
Saturday morning I woke up earlier than I have all summer, but I was pumped to do it!  Six other girls and I did The Color Run!  Some of you may have heard of it, but it's a fun 5K where you wear white and you get sprayed with different colors at each kilometer.  I said this was a FUN run...definitely not a competitive run.  Actually, the 7 of us got crazy looks for actually running the course.  Check out our before and after pictures.  It was awesome, and the race is for ANY type of exerciser.  There were families with kids, strollers, joggers, and runners, but nobody trying to get a PR.  It's definitely something you should look into around your home town! Click the link below to see if it gets close to you.  The more fun you have with your outfits and group, the better it will be!  We already know our outfit improvements for next year's race!

Here we are before we started!  We were also celebrating Lindsey's (girl on the right) birthday!

Our crazy hands after the race!  My legs were actually worse than this!

The motley crew afterward!  We had a blast, and figured out why it's the called "The Happiest 5K on the Planet!"

Focus
Earlier in the summer I posted about my Summer To-Do List.  In it was to read the book Focus by Mike Schmoker.  Well, I finished the book in June, and I really enjoyed it!  It gives a deep analysis of standards, and how not all standards warrant the same amount of time to master.  Using PLCs to discuss as a grade level which standards you feel are most important will help the teachers, but most importantly, the students, learn concepts and content that is crucial to their development.  Enough rambling since you can read it yourself, but I loved the book.  The best part though, is I get to actually hear Schmoker this week!!  My new administrative team is heading to a 3-day Literacy conference with some big Huge HUMUNGO people that I'm excited about!


Katie Wood Ray
Also at this conference will be one of my writing heros Katie Wood Ray!  I have read her books, but have never actually seen her in action.  I can't wait to go back to school with her writing enthusiasm.  In case you don't know her work, these are probably her most well known books.  Come back and see what I have to share after listening to her brilliance!

Okay, well I really, really, really, really, really, need to go pack for our trip!  Oh, and have I told you that I hate the term "business casual".  That can mean so many things for so many people!  I'll pack so that I'm better safe than sorry, but how can you be business and casual all in one?!

Have a great week, and GO USA!!

Organizing for Math Workshop and App Happy Linky

Math Workshop Organizing

Late last Spring, my principal had loaned me a couple of books to read about Math Workshop.  I was really excited to begin implementing a workshop-style approach to math, especially since our new curriculum wasn't very good was AWFUL!!  This would give me an opportunity to reach all of my students in authentic and meaningful ways in math.  Upon reading these two books, I realized that the first step was getting things organized so that I would know what resources I had for each concept, and have a place where my students would be able to get their materials.  

            

I love Debbie Diller, so I started reading the Math Work Stations first, and then I headed into the Guided Math book.  They were both helpful, and although they present it a bit differently, it gave me an idea for how I could make it work for my students in the best way possible.

I wouldn't say my classroom is every extremely neat and organized, but I knew where things were, the students could access things easily, and it appeared clean on the outside...until you opened a cabinet.  :) Okay, so maybe I thought I knew where things were.  I spent a day just cleaning out my math materials.  Although I came across  other things that needed some work, the books tell you to just focus on math, and get it done!  So I started by pulling EVERYTHING out that was math related.  I pulled my math picture books, manipulatives, tubs, etc.  Oh, and don't spend money buying new tubs, you'll be amazed how many you have already that aren't really being utilized effectively.  

The mess on the floor, table, cabinets before I started sorting. 

Wow!  My tall cabinet before I pulled everything out, and then after.  Notice the loose legos, indoor recess games just thrown in, scrap paper is everywhere, and it's a wreck.  When you see all the empty storage space, your mind will start to go crazy with ideas and excitement! :)

My next step was to sort by content, not by chapter or lesson, or personal supplies vs. school curriculum supplies.  I started with categories for geometry, fractions, place value, geometry, measurement, etc. and then found some subgroups of smaller concepts, or things I can use for multiple concepts.  I made sure to label these well.  I also created a bin for my picture books related to math, so that I could pull those into work stations and make it an option if they finish their task early.  

Then, I used the bins I already had, labeled them, and neatly put them away in my cabinets.  Can I tell you, it was like that feeling when all of the laundry is done!  A jump around, do a little dance, a silent squeal, and an "Oh my!  Look at how organized I am type of deal!"  Now, I know many of you have color coordinated bins, etc. but for me this was a step in the right direction, and I just really didn't want to spend money on something I already had.  Maybe some cute labels with coordinating paper would do the trick for me.  

 I wish I had a before picture of this...you would have said, "Oh my word!"

But now, it's all organized where everything has a place, and I can easily see what I have.  

As many of you know, I have changed roles, so I won't actually get to implement Math Workshop, but I couldn't help but share the initial steps in getting ready for them.   After putting some music on, getting a large Dr. Pepper, and closing my door, I really had fun doing this.  I hope you all can find some time for an "Oh my!" moment after it's all done!

Now onto App Happy with Hope King at 2nd Grade Shenanigans!  

So I have a couple of Apps that make me happy!  

The first one, seems obvious, but it's an App with the Common Core Standards listed.  The app is called: Common Core Standards.  Creative, huh?  I usually print these off, and put them in my teacher binder, but if I forget to bring it home or to a team meeting, I know I'll always have it on my phone.  It's so easy to use...and it's free!

 The second app is probably my most recent favorite, but it's called Apps Gone Free.  Each day, this posts apps that the publishers have made free for the day.  Sometimes there won't be any apps that you want, and other days you'll think you hit the jackpot.  Most apps that are listed are usually $0.99, but sometimes there will be one that was originally $4.99.  I have downloaded some great educational apps from here, and some other fun games for myself!  Happy Free Shopping!

Link up with Hope and her App Happy Linky Party to join in on the fun!

I'm a TBA Blogger!

Okay, so maybe I'm just a Teacher Feature, not a full time blogger for TBA, but nonetheless, I am super excited to be their feature today!  My focus for the post is on Student Led Conferences.   Come check out my post on TBA by clicking on the image below!

It's perfect timing too because my Student Led Conference Data Binder on TpT was just updated with new things!  In an earlier post, I wrote about my To Do List for this summer, and now I get to cross this one off!  Yay for anal retentive lists, crossing things off, and redoing this unit!  It now includes Science and Social Studies, generic templates for you to fill in for you specific data targets, as well as trimester and quarterly graphs for those of you on different grading periods!  WooWoo!!

I have been getting several emails from people wanting specific changes, and am working on those!  If anyone else needs anything school specific, let me know!!  It may not be perfect, but it'll be functional.  Enjoy the rest of your Sunday without lesson planning or grading.  There won't be many of these left before we get into crazy school mode again!

School Retreat and Determining a Classroom Theme

Good afternoon!  Well I had my first "official" item of business with my new staff today, and I'd say it was a success!  They always have a staff "retreat" in the summer where they address their school improvement goals and our route to achieving them.  It was so nice to see everyone, continue to learn names, and see how amazing the teachers are!  I can't wait to learn from them as my work with them continues.

For the last week, I've been at a 5 day EL conference.  Yes, I said 5 days!  I was by myself, so I had a lot of the think time.  Anyway, the presenter talked about some great things, and I'm going to share some of those as time goes on.  The one I want to start with today made me think about my classroom themes.  Obviously, with EL students, we want to make sure we are culturally responsive and think about the things we do and say that reflect these cultures.

The presenter talked about an ENL teacher that had a Colts theme.  She said it was beautiful!  Blue and white, coordinating name tags on desks, a behavior plan that was centered around it, stationary for newsletters, word wall letters that reflected a football theme, etc.  Everything we dream of when thinking about creating an environment that is cohesive and "matchy matchy".  However, all of her students are spanish speaking students.  What sport would they really relate to? Football? Or futbol?

So I thought back about my own themes.  Who created them?  I did.  Who thought of the colors?  I did.  Who decorated everything?  I did.

Who is the room for? The students.

It's a lot easier for me to think about this since I'm not setting up a room this year, but if I were, I might have to rethink some things.  I had started creating a Pinterest board on a Pirate theme, had purchased some clearance items in April, and had already designed my postcard to introduce students to the room. However, what type of environment would my students really relate to?  What would they want?  As I rethink this, I might have a fairly dull and boring room to begin with and let the students do the creation of the theme.  Yes, I would want to assist and make things neat, but shouldn't they own the room? 

Food for thought:  As you all are setting up your rooms in the coming weeks are you going to go with football or futbol?  Are you going to let your students take ownership?  Is your theme culturally responsive?  

That's all for now!