Sunday, August 4, 2013

Daily 5 Folders


This will be my first year implementing Daily 5 in my classroom. Last year as a Curriculum Coach and Resource Teacher, I was exposed to it in the classrooms I visited. I have read the book and am excited to start using it in my classroom, as well as, learning about it through others.

As I have been planning different activities and deciding how I’m going to set up my classroom, I came up with an idea of how my students are going to hold papers for the activities that they complete along with holding them accountable for their work. Well, I created this folder.





This is the front cover, where my students will write their names. Here is what the completed folders look like. (I go through step by step on how to make one.)

 

 
Here is the first folder which has a pocket for Read to Self/Read to Someone Response papers. It also has a pocket for Listen to Reading Response papers.
 
 
When you turn the first folder, I placed a sheet protector with a Daily 5 checklist and rubric.
 
 
 
The next folder has a pocket for Word Work and Work on Writing papers.
 
 
On the back cover, I placed "EEKK!" and "I PICK" reminders for my students.
 
Now here is how you make these Daily 5 folders.
 
 
First, you need 2 folders with pockets and prongs, as well as, a sheet protector.
 
 
Next, print off the papers to make the folders. You can do so by clicking here.
 
 
Now, open up one of the folders. Fold it in half so the pockets are facing out. Like the image below.
 
 
 
Then, open up the other folder and place it in front of you. Place the folded folder inside the flaps where the prongs are located.
 
 
Now, you line up the prongs and holes and close the folder just like you would if you were placing papers inside it.
 
 
Turn the folder to the next and do the same.
 

 
Once you have closed all the prongs, your folder will look like this closed. You now have two folders fastened together for durability.
 
 
Now, to add the sheet protector page. Open the folders to the very inside of the folders. You will see the back of one folder and the front of the other. I simply place the sheet protector down and taped it with colored masking tape on both sides.
 
 
 
You are now done making the folder but you have a few more steps.
 
 
Glue the front cover on.
 
 
Then, cut out the labels for the pockets. I cut around the design, however to save you time you can just cut them into a rectangle and glue to the pockets.
 
 
You then, need to place the Daily 5 Checklist and Rubric into the sheet protector. Why are they going into a sheet protector you might be asking yourself? How are they going to mark on the checklist and rubric? Well to save on paper each week, I will be having my students use dry erase markers to mark on the sheet protector. Each day my students will circle the Daily 5 activities that they completed on their Checklist. I can then easily look at it at the end of the day or at the end of my Reading Block. Next, the rubric will be completed at the end of each week with the students circling their score and then writing the number in the box.
 
 
 Finally, I glued the "EEKK!" and "I PICK" reminders on the back of the folder for students to review if needed.
 
 
 
I hope you find these folders as a great resource for your classroom. I am looking forward to using them in mine and know it will be a great way for them to be held accountable for their work.
I will also be participating with First Grade in Foxwell Forest, for her monthly Daily 5 on the Fifth Linky Party. Click below to stop by and check out all the wonderful things others are doing in their classrooms with Daily 5.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Classroom Makeover Day 2



How are you all doing? I have been busy working in my room organizing and starting to decorate. Can I say I am completely overwhelmed and stressed out? I have SO much stuff to go through. Ugh! Does anyone else feel this way? I have officially moved everything into my new classroom.
This is just some of the bins that I brought in. Inside many of my bins are books for my classroom library. As I unpacked them, I had to repack many of them because I can't use them in a Kindergarten classroom. Remember, I'm going back into the classroom from teaching K, 1, and 2 Reading for several years. So in a box they went into my closet. I started sorting them by levels and then topics. I still have to straighten them up and add labels to the front of the bins.
Here is a picture of the empty bins in my library. I forgot to take a picture of them before I left today. Duh! I had to take a break from the books. My eyes were getting blurry. So, I moved on to cleaning my cabinets and closet. I literally took everything out of them. There was stuff EVERYWHERE! The teacher whose room it was before mine came in and took her things out. She said a lot of the things were in there when she came in. I ended up boxing up a lot of the items and am going to put them out for teachers and aftercare to peruse when we officially return next week. I also got rid of broken crayons that were in bins and other miscellaneous stuff.

The teacher that had the room last year came in and removed majority of the stuff that is by the window. The only things I'm waiting to be removed are the Intermediate student chairs and two teacher desks. I was so happy when she showed up today. I was starting to feel claustrophobic.
I also put up my bulletin board paper and border with my husbands help. Oh yeah, my little one had to do some modeling in front of the board. He also, put up my Alphabet and Numbers. 




We both don't like the numbers being scattered around and will be changing it. I can't wait to finish decorating my room. It's my favorite part. I have so many cool things still to put up. I'm off to take a break for the night. I don't feel like cooking after cleaning ALL day, so I sent my husband to pick up a pizza and Chicken Parmesan from our favorite pizza place. Yum!
 
I hope you enjoy this post. Still a lot more to do. How are you all feeling as you start going back into your classrooms?
 
One more thing before I go, I'm 9 people away from 200 followers. When I get to 200, I'll have a giveaway and freebie for everyone! 

Monday, July 29, 2013

Classroom Makeover: Day 1


Today, I was able to get into my new classroom. My husband and daughter came with me. I was able to put my husband to work bringing in the first load of boxes that I currently have stored at my parents house. (We live in a condo so, I was lucky that they allowed me to use their spare bedroom to store my things.) I spent most of the morning just placing my furniture where I wanted it to go. I still have a lot of the previous teacher's items in my room, along with maintenance storing things like light bulbs, ceiling tiles, etc. in my new room. I simply just moved most of the items to one area in the room and didn't even touch the other teacher's items in my closet or cabinets. I talked to her briefly today and she is coming in on Wednesday to get her things and move them into her new room. Here is how I decided to setup my classroom for now.
 
This is looking from the front of the room towards the back. Most of the items on the shelf are the other teacher's and some is manipulatives. I have to go through that tomorrow. My plan is to have this area be my guided teaching table.

 
This is looking from the front towards the back where the closet is located. I ended up moving the filing cabinet after taking this picture to another area of the room and placed another bookshelf there. I will be using the filing cabinet as a center for students to make words or do math centers with magnets.

 
This will be my classroom library and whole group instruction area. The carpet for this area is getting cleaned.

 
This is looking from the back towards the front door. If you notice, you can see some of the items that belong to the other teacher along with some maintenance items off to the right. (I didn't take a picture of that because it is very cluttered.) *Notice my little "Flash" running in the picture. LOL! She was having a ball playing with the linking cubes.

 
Another view of my students tables. There she is again playing with the math bins.

 
This is the last hexagon table towards my other door. I also have a kitchen that I placed under the bulletin board. I'm thinking about moving it. I am debating whether or not to make that bulletin board my calendar math board or making the small bulletin board in my library the calendar math board. I was also thinking that the small bulletin board could be used to post my weekly poem. Hmmmm....what do you think? Opinions please.
 


Saturday, July 27, 2013

New Alphabet- Opinions Please



I can't believe that July is almost over and that we will be starting school soon. I don't know about you guys but I have been enjoying my time off. We just returned today from a week at Disney World. We saw A LOT of princesses this past week. (I'll post some pictures after I upload them.) Well, I decided to tweak my Alphabet that I made for my new theme this past week and wanted to get some opinions. Please let me know what you think.

I'm going in to my new classroom on Monday to start working. I'll post pics of it up in my room and also my classroom makeover as I begin the process. I'm off now to redesign my Word Wall letters. Have a good night everyone!

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Summer Flash Sale- One Day Only


I was planning on posting about my Classroom Economy tonight but I am having some difficulties uploading the pictures. So, it is going to have to wait a bit.
Today, has been a very busy dad. We had gymnastics this morning, followed by a haircut for my daughter and then I took her for lunch at Chik Fil A. Oh yeah, I didn't mention that we are under a boil water notice for the next 48 hours due to them finding traces of E. Coli from the recent storms in our area. Ugh! I had to tap into my hurricane supplies to use the bottled water for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, etc. Plus, I had to come home and pack for our trip tomorrow to Disney's Vero Beach Resort. We leave tomorrow and I hadn't even packed until today. Can you tell my brain is definitely on Summer Vacation? Ha!
Anywhoo, I decided to join in on the fabulous Kinderland Summer Flash Sale tomorrow, since I will be teaching Kinder next year! Super excited about that!!!! Click on the picture to go to my TPT store.
 
There are so many wonderful bloggers who are joining in as well. Click here to check out the other bloggers who will be participating.
 
Have fun shopping and I can't wait to return from my trip and share pics with you.

Switchin to Blog Lovin


I know many of you have heard the Google Reader will be no longer as of July 1st. I, along with many others, are making the switch to Blog Lovin'. It's very easy to make the switch, just a few simple clicks. Make sure to follow me at The Teacher's Backpack.
Click on the pic above to follow me. Thanks to Anna at Crazy for First Grade for the pic.
 
I'm off to gymnastics, but I'll be back later for a new post on my classroom economy.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

A New Beginning Means A New Chapter


Well, this school year has officially come to a close. It marks a new beginning for me at a new school and a new classroom position. All of this means... A New Chapter. I am so ecstatic for all of it. I hope the new school year brings a lot more exciting things. With that being said if you have noticed to mark my "New Chapter", I have also had my blog redesigned. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, it! Alicia at Dreamlike Magic is amazing. 
 

To begin my brand new start, I was able to snap some pictures of my NEW classroom for next year.
Students cubby area.
Bathroom and cabinets
 
View towards back
Back door- the TV isn't mine. It's the aftercare programs.
Front of room
 
Front of room by the front door
Words can't express how extremely excited I am. I have already started planning my theme for next year and can't wait to reveal it to you all in August. I'm going to keep it a surprise! Maybe, I'll drop a few hints, here and there. Well, I know many of you have been waiting to find out what grade I will be teaching next year. Drumroll please....
....
....
....
What did you think I would tell you right away!
....
....
...
I
will
be
teaching...
....
....
KINDERGARTEN!!!

Yippee! (insert cartwheels) I ABSOLUTELY LOVE Kindergarten! When I found out, I cried and wanted to tell everyone, but I had to wait. Trust me the wait, KILLED me. My poor husband had to listen to my excitement for many days and nights. Ha! Love him for that! I am truly blessed to be working at an Amazing School with Amazing and Wonderful staff. All I can say is that I am truly blessed to be apart of this team.

Well, I am off for now. Today, marks my First Official Day of Summer Vacation. My days will be filled with a lot of this.
Spending so much time with my little princess. This is her in her new Ariel dress that I got at the Disney Store's Twice Upon a Year Sale. I was able to get this dress for up to 50% off. Score! She absolutely loves it with her Sleeping Beauty shoes. Totally mismatched, but still Rockin' the princess style! Love it!

Oh one more thing before I go, check out my facebook page. I just started it as well. I can't wait to have giveaways on there for everyone.

Take care and enjoy your weekend!



Sunday, June 2, 2013

June Currently

Well, this weekend currently seems to be going by fast. Last weekend, we went to Disney World and yesterday was my daughter's First Dance Recital. She looked so precious up on stage. I cried. I can't believe how big she has gotten. Here are some of her dance photos.



I can't believe I am in my last week of school. This week entails me finalizing alternative testing and some more odds and ends. I can't wait to be back in a classroom next year. Woohoo! I sure miss it a lot.
Well, it is that time again to link up with Farley's Currently. I love doing this each month. Stop by and check out what everyone else is up to. 

1. I'm listening to "Sofia the First" which is one of my daughter's current favorite shows. Does anyone else's kids love that show?
2. I'm loving the fact that it's my last week. This has been a year of learning for me and I have come to realize that I am really one who needs to be in a classroom. I'm am so excited that next year I will be back in the classroom. Can anyone guess what grade I will be teaching?
3. I'm thinking about vacation. We will be going to Disney's Vero Beach Resort at the end of June for 3 days. Then, to Disney World for a week at the end of July. We live in South Florida so, both of these places are only a few hours away.
4. I'm wanting to loss weight this summer. This is my number 1 goal.
5. I'm needing to start planning and organizing for my daughter's 3rd Birthday. She wants a Lion King theme. She LOVES that movie and LOVES anything to do with animals. I've bought things here and there at different stores to go with the theme and need to organize them. I'm planning on making decorations as well. I definitely will be sharing pictures along the way.
6. My 3 Vacay Essentials are flip flops. I live in those during the summer.  Family- I will be spending lots of time with my daughter and husband during the summer. I'm lucky that my husband is also a teach so we have the same schedule. Fun- This is what we ALL need during the summer.
Can't wait to hear what everyone else is doing this summer!

Monday, May 27, 2013

Holy Cow It's been that LONG!!!

I can't believe I haven't updated since April. Oh my goodness! Telling you all that I haven't been busy is an understatement.  Between birthdays, dance schedules, testing, tutoring, and some much needed family time, I haven't had a chance to blog much. Let's just say I can't wait until summer for many reasons! 1) It will mark the end of our hectic schedules the past few weeks. 2) I will be getting my NEW blog design. 3) I get to spend quality time with my little girl and husband (who is also a teacher). 4) VACATIONS!!!!!!! Need I say more. 5) I get to make a BIG announcement soon. NO, I'm not expecting! Actually, I'll give you a hint! I'll be returning to the classroom next year. Yup, no more being a pull out teacher. I will be back where I feel I belong, in a classroom full time. Yippee! In the meantime, I'd like to see where you all think I will end up? Take a wild guess. Also, have any of you started thinking about classroom décor for next year? I know I have. If so, share your ideas. I'd love to hear about them.