• Daily Schedule- I want the students to be able to see exactly what is going to happen and when.  Using a clock to tell the time. Then per-created labels to go beside the time to tell the plans of the day.  That way if anything changes I can change the time, rearrange the labels and continue. 
• Learning Statements- I want these posted at the beginning of each lesson or at the beginning of the day. Not positive which is more convenient.  Then have a "Check Yourself" board which would have the specifics of what I would want to see for the assignment so students can check before turning in. Plus, Love the idea of them highlighting their name!
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The Last Day of School

Well today was the last day of school and while I am not sure if it was the nap I took upon getting home or the four glasses of tea I had with a friend in celebration... I can't sleep! My mind is already on next year and all the possibilities!
No, I don't have a classroom yet :( but if I did these are the ideas I have been thinking about instead of sleeping...

• Writer Journals- Give them a chart or calender of choices.  Allow them to pick whichever one interests them for the day.  Then each day choose randomly five (or however so you hear everyone once a week) students to share.  Then the day they share you mark that they shared on the index card to keep track. & in the child's writer journal so parents know you listened too!
• Library Labels- First divide the library into Fiction (F) or Non-Fiction (NF).  Then from there create general categories that will stay out year round (ie- Animal Characters, Mystery, Animals, People).  Then create ones that change based on A) Season and B) Holiday. The colored sticker will tell students reading levels. Now a checkout system... a class job will be librarian and it will be their responsibility to keep the library neat and organized.  Plus watch the checkout system and perhaps have one day a week where the books are all accounted for.  A laminated picture list (of the same labels that are on the front of the books) will be attached to a clip board with a dry erase marker.  When a students 'checks out' a book they simple choose the area they got the book from and write their name/number beside it.  So if Amy takes a Magic Tree House book then she would write her name by the "Magic Tree House" picture on the list.
• Book Challenge- When I say this I am talking about a way to motivate kids to read so many books of different types/styles during the school year.  Basically depending on the age I would choose the number (perhaps to read before Christmas?) and from there break it up into styles (ie- 2 picture, 2 chapter books, 2 historical fiction, 3 non fiction historic/people, 2 nonfiction science, 5 free choice) There are two ways this might work from here: A) I keep/display a list and the students write the title in once completed. The students keep a folder with their book reviews in it with everyone's in one place. B) I set up a ring display area with different colored index cards correlating with the books and the students can take the ring down, fill in the card with their book and hang it back up.  This would need more organization/setup for the index cards. Again I think I would have a folder to keep the reviews in.
• Word Wall- These seem to change depending on the teacher.  The most haves- Students Names, Spelling Words (after the test each Friday they are put up!), Common Misspells.  The wall will be kids height. That being said, I want to be able to keep it organized.  Words will be typed out and printed.  I feel like they need to be sturdy.  so options A) back with construction paper then wipe modge podge on the night before putting them on the next morning but idk if that would curl up. B) if the board was prepped with newspaper under it and then colorful paper put on top could I modge podge the words right to the paper without having to worry about the backing step? plus they would not fall off or get yucky edges?

Alright, I do believe I have started to get sleepy! Although I know I have more ideas in me hopefully they will let me sleep for now! Goodnight everyone!

A Two Day Stay in Kindergarten

First @ "F" for a Kingdom of Talk

Third @ "B" was lots of Firsts

PE @ "F" was a Day in the Sun

Fourth Grade w/ "S" was a Shadow Day

STOPHER ELEMENTARY- 4th Grade- Tue- Science Fair teacher

SPRING BREAK

Well, its the week were everyone gets a break! I have to say I am enjoyed myself (even if I got sick) just knowing I had time to think and dream.  I have been doing a lot of that with Pinterest help! I would so dearly love to have my own classroom to set up and teach within each day.  I have such a desire to try positive discipline and classroom meetings my way! Sigh!

Happy Spring!

This week has meant that I had plenty of time to e-mail all of the principles of schools I have worked at to remind them of my desire to work at their school! So far just one response.. but keeping my chin up! Only God truly knows!

Fifth Grade @ "F" left me Full of Ideas

A Great "Fair" School.... That's where I was for Monday and Tuesday.  It was my first time at this school so I was not really sure what to expect.  Boy was I surprised! I really enjoyed myself!  I had a fifth grade job with an amazing group of teachers. Truly, I think I did very little for the two days.  So much was done for me.  Even to the point where they wrote the HW on the board! Loved it! That being said, I did enjoy my time and the students were SO well behaved.  It was so refreshing to see a group of fifth graders acting their age!

Well you know just how much I love Puzzles! Check out the Punctuation Puzzles!

Check this Out! It's the Reading Board. Each student has a loop where they keep the reviews of the books they had read for the year.  Perhaps they could have them color coded based on the type like Blue for Fiction ect.  Then the color would match the dot on the book which would keep the bookshelf organized! Yet. Love the Idea!

This was posted right by the door where they would line up. Simple- Visual- Perfect!

These were in each room.  I like the idea but I have to say I sometimes wonder if the teachers have actually gone over what each word means.  So my thought was to post them all year but get see though color sheets to lay over top.  It would be one color say Red if we had yet to talk about it! Kinda like a Here is what's to come!

Add a Tension Rod with pretty curtain to shelves to hide the mess of stuff said shelf holds.

Give a room more style and comfort by using picnic table cloths! Even better for me would be to attach them to the table underneath so they done more around so much! Do it different places like the computer station too!

How Helpful! Each room had one and the teachers and students actually refereed to it!

They did this at the beginning when talking about the class expectations!

Puzzles for each student! Just what I want to do!

W Elementary as a Computer Teacher

Kindergarten @ "T" a change of Speed

I'd love the idea of using this to display the math things! Cute!

Easy Enough... I would do this!

SWEET! Its the ABC's but with animals.

Middle of each table would be a color for each student.  They get packed up and leave the boxes right in the middle.        Its good to see the names and the sameness.

Looks a little like the Happy Day chart that I created for my preschool class.  It would work so well for visual learning students. Its got the basics included. I would be interested in doing something like this...

"T" Elementary

"S" ELEMENTARY

2nd Grade @ "L"Modern School for the Arts

Well I was at the newly renovated "L" school for the arts! I have to say it was pretty amazing! Being downtown I knew going in it was going to be a diverse population (to which i was not disappointed!) what surprised me though was how much the school seems to work together! The teachers were all super nice! Loved the teachers beside me! She was the biggest help pointing out names and who to watch ect.  Plus, there was lots of people around so help with a situation was never far away.
The students (YES EVERYONE) began with a School Wide Morning Meeting where announcements were given, a school "dance" was preformed and exercises were preformed as a whole group!  Impressed right? I was.
Now the fun part began- I was warned that they were a tough group (of course!) and started in just as tough as could be which worked out well for the first part of the day with reading in both whole, independently and in groups.  I know the independent work was lacking although I am not sure what I could have done differently to make it go more smooth/on topic.  Loved leading the small reading group again!
That was the whole morning! From there we were heading to lunch and somehow between the class door and say 10 feet--- two girls got in it calling names and YA just leave it at that- let's just say after I separated them, got everyone to lunch I got to spend my lunch writing my first two referrals! Yippee!
Writing and Adjectives were after lunch. I just love teaching curvy Q's. ;)
Next was Drama and Dance- Sweet Right! Two Special areas and 45minutes for me to clean up the room and start the paperwork!  But, upon picking up the class they were all in trouble and being threatened to loose the concert/assembly privilege which was where were were supposed to be heading!
Deep Breath! We made it to our seats and with the trouble makers all around me it began! Sadly, only two of my original four survived to see the end of the show... I did gain two first graders in their place though! Sweet!
My favorite part of this musical presentation was when the artist asked everyone to,  "Pretend you are holding a Flower in one hand and a candle in the other.  Now, Smell the Flower. Blow out the Candle. Smell the Flower. Blow out the Candle..." Yep, the speaker called it air conditioning for your brain!
Now- Keep in mind its like 85 Degrees, its about to rain so its Sticky Hot, they have yet to get any 'down time' or as the schools call it now "Wellness Time" and I am about to force them to sit till the end of the day doing MATH!  O-yes, you guessed correctly! That was the worst part of my day! I had a kid just up and leave (long story short I called the office and they brought her back after a while but with a piece of candy! *rolls eyes* ugg!)  Math was also the part least prepared for I had spent much of the day teaching in a 'I show you' now you do it manor-- suddenly I didn't have the sheets and the kids were (at least I began to realized they were!) learning something new!  At least there was manipulatives right? that's kinda fun?!
Alas its started to rain and driving home the images of the lightning were something rather amazing!
What I've Learned:
*Loved the School Wide Morning Meeting in the Gym
* Flower, Candle 
*Positive feedback from other teachers matters 

Fifth Grade @ "T" Over for some Southwest

Highschool Freshman/Seniors @ the local "J"

Clean, Organized and Simple

This was my first Substitute Teaching Job! Woot! I had actually said i would do it a few weeks ago when I noticed it jump on the the screen (as I realized just how hard it was gonna be to get jobs in my area of both town & degree)

Created a Substitute Bag

My Substitute Bag

I have Created a Substitute Bag with all kinds of things within... yes, these are things that shall grow as I grow... But for now this is what I am entering my first SubJob with...

• Blue Binder with a Bingo Math Game: It's enough for a class of 26, with dice plus its age group can be anywhere from first to fifth. 

• Red Binder with Important Documents, Worksheets

This has starting from the front a : 

• Pouch to hold my Business Cards, Pens, Post-it Notes
•  My Identification Information including how to sign into computers/email
• Job's I've Done Slips (given to you by each school so I am told)
•  Handbook
• Map of the School District 
• School Names, Addresses, and how far they are from my home
• AND WORKSHEETS- All types for all types of grades although I need more for the older grades as of now its a lot of younger math.

• Math and Social Study Book : With lesson plan ideas I can do with the students in grades first to fifth. 
• Treats: I went for the fruit snacks :) There are counted out in 25 items so I don't have to carry loads!

Now I realize this is certainly only the tip of the iceberg so to speak as far as what I shall need so I will try to keep updating both this blog and my bag at the same time! 

the First Monday

O-How lovely a Monday! I awoke to snow covering the ground leaving a wonderful fluffy white world to enjoy.  I did need to finish creating myself a Substitute Bag so I headed out into the wonderland for some Pencil Pouches, Dice, and Rewards! Although on my way inside I got a tad bit distracted with the snow... a quick walk turned into building a snowman for the front door which turned into building two more snow people in the front yard! I enjoyed myself O-So Very Much!  I have to say what a way to start my 'new' career!  Now I need to get off here and go finish my SubPack!

My Final Day

Flowers from a Little Girl

Well it was an interesting last day... that much is for sure.  A set of storms came across Kentucky today... one while I wake for my day meaning I arrived in work and was immediately told to be on High Alert. We could have to leave for the basement shelter due to tornadoes at any time.  My amazing co-teacher came in and brought me the sweetest gift of tea and dark chocolate. Both of my favorite things! Plus, She had planned for us to have a cute little party with a cookie cake saying "We will Miss You!" and everything! I admit upon hearing it I got a little teary eyed!  Thankfully my classroom is above the basement so we ended up staying tell around 230 when (right at the end of nap!) we were called to round up the kiddos and get them downstairs!
So Cookie Cake GoodBye Party ended up being Cookie Cake in Cups sitting on a basement floor with me and my little kiddos! So it was a small little party instead of a bigger with my co teachers party!
Now as no Tornado hit- It was just an amazing day were most everyone left early! Except me! I stayed till the end of my chapter at The Plainview School.

I've Turned in my Two Weeks

My Crazy Two's watching a Science Experiment

Well the wait to begin this journey into the world of Substitute Teaching is over.  After two years of working with my adorable high energy two year olds I have turned in my two week notice... I am truly gonna miss them.  The hugs and laughs... even the potty training mishaps.  How can I explain to you the joy I get out of knowing I made a connection with the one little boy everyone else thought was a handful. Or how it feels to spend time with a down syndrome little guy who gets over looked so often yet can do just as much as the other kids (in his own way of course!).  Or the little girl (my former student) who passes my door each day now a big three year old who still when asked if she is "Crazy" sticks out her tongue and laughs and laughs!  I will miss the relationships I have made and the young lives  I have share life with for the last two years. Yet, I know in my heart that it is now time to experience the ups and downs of an ever changing field of work- Substitute Teaching.  My hope is to be able to get noticed by one of the many schools I should be working in over the next three months thus getting a teaching job in the elementary classroom setting for next year! So Fingers Crossed~ Say a little Prayer for me!