Teacher thought of the day!

I reflect today on all the ways we impact our children. Every time we smile, give a hug, and listen, it matters. E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G matters. As teachers, we have the unique platform in which we impact our student’s lives. That GIFT should be taken seriously with every decision we make.  Strongly contemplate the impact you choose to make.

DAILY 5 - POSTERS

A WONDERFUL book for helping you create a very successful framework for literacy in your classroom. 

After reading (and re-reading) the wonderfully inspirational book: The Daily 5 – Fostering Literacy Independence in the Elementary Grades  written by Gail Boushey & Joan Moser “The 2 Sisters” I put together some posters for my classroom. I take credit for NOTHING what-so-ever in regards to the teaching of The Daily 5. I simply used The 2 Sister’s inspiring words to help create posters to match the décor of my classroom. Use them if you can. I also have several other chalkboard theme items that match this décor. Check out the rest of my TPT store for more options for your classroom.

Teacher thought of the day!

Summer is a wonderful time to reflect on the classroom and ways to improve student learning, student connections, and the overall experience your class will have. I have put together some of my reflections to help inspire you to make the most of your teaching experience. I will post a teacher though for each day. Elementary school is such a short time in our children's lives.... Let's all strive to make that time not only educational rich, but wonderfully fulfilling for the soul of our students....They are our future. We are lucky enough to be involved in molding and creating the idea of what our future will look like. MAKE IT COUNT. First… BE KIND.

June 4, 2015

Well, the end of the year has come. I (like many, many teachers) am filled with bittersweet emotions. As our year was coming to a close, I sent my last (heartfelt) letter to my parents. The intent of this letter was to thank them for a fantastic year with their child. I expressed my gratitude in the ability to share a little bit of their lives. With my own boys off to college, I know there is really never any "going back." My time with these first graders is OVER as we have know it. It was a WONDERFUL year, and my heart aches knowing they too (like my boys) normally, and naturally... move on!! I closed my letter expressing to the parents that I hoped all we had done during the year was enough. I hoped they knew the deep feeling of being cared for, loved. I hoped the lessons taught were solid and would help lay the proper foundation for their educational years. I hoped they enjoyed their year and would possibly come back (if even for a short visit or much needed familiar hug.) I hoped our year had been enough. I was beyond touched to find a framed picture given to my by some of the students in my class on the last day of school. Although I promise every year that I won't, I cried. For me, that silly promise is almost like a New Year's resolution: I make it darn well knowing I will not likely keep it :)

Ready for the NEW YEAR?!!

2015

Happy New Year!  Here it is...Friday, January 2nd and "I am ready......(can't believe I am going to finish this phrase)..... to go back to school." I said it.... It's out!!! The holiday was wonderful, relaxing, full of food and family, and I am yearning for a little structure and routine to the day. I'm sure that as January D-R-A-G-S into its final days I will be wondering what I was thinking. But for now, I am ready to see my little darlins' again. 2105...."I'm ready for YOU!"

We have an in-service on Monday, January 5th with the kids coming back on Tuesday, January 6th. I have spent some time over the break cleaning my room...I will be posting pics soon.... and I think I have MOST of my "stuff" back in its place so I can surge forward with few remnants of the "old" left over. 

Whenever we start again after Christmas break I always find it necessary to reteach the expectations for the classroom. The first expectation I will start with is what our DAILY 5 routines look like. http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Bizzy-Teaching

I also use Daily 5 bookmarks. For a large part of the year we will all "Listen to Reading" as a group. I read stories to the class. We are about to start one of my FAVORITE books: The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. I don't need the class to complete that round in their independent work time. Also, they "Read to Someone" when our 5th grade friends come into the classroom (sometimes once a week.) Therefore, I don't always want that round in our independent work either. I have found that I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY try to make time for "READ TO SELF, WORK ON WRITING, and WORD WORK" every day. I use the Daily 3 book marks. They are on each of the student's desks. We simply determine if we are on round 1, 2, or 3 and they know exactly what they should be doing. I do have three choices of the chalkboard bookmarks in my TPT store (Daily 5, Daily 4, and Daily 3) so you can customize what works for your class as the year progresses.