What I'm Loving Party!

I'm linking up with Megan at I Teach, What's your Super Power? for her What I'm Loving linky party!

 

These are some of the wonderful things I made over the summer that I found through Pinterest and other blogs.

 

 

First, I love my organizational drawers! I keep all of my copies of work, homework, any flat materials that are needed each day. These keep me so organized! I fill them up for the next week on Friday before I leave, so I'm ready to go on Monday morning!

 

I also love, love, love my pencil sharpener! I kept trying to win one over the summer, but finally broke down and bought one! Everyone in my building is so jealous!! My paras even fight over sharpening pencils!

 

 

I also love my homemade dry erase sheets. They are lightweight, colorful, and easy to store!

 

 

I also am loving my water bottles. They keep me hydrated and stay cold (my room has a/c and is on the cold side!

Which brings me to sweaters. Seriously, even though it's 80 degrees outside, my room is a chilly 68 - 70! I wear cardigan sweaters everyday!! It can take me 20 minutes in my sun-warmed car to thaw out!! I have solids and prints in various colors that I wear over my tees! *I don't wear low cut shirts like this model, though- my shirts are plain crew neck!! 

 

Finally, Cooking Light magazine subscription has been a life saver! I've found so many easy and quick recipes that taste delicious! Most of the recipes can be made under 40 minutes!

 

Now, it's your turn to link up with Megan! Let everyone know what you are loving right now! I'm hoping to gain more ideas!!

 

 











Reflections

I've been in school with students for about 3 weeks. Mid-terms are due next Monday! There has been so many changes already in the schedule! First, I decided that I couldn't fit in science and social studies every day, so I'm teaching science one week and social studies the next. I'm hoping my students will be able to retain the information, otherwise I might teach every other day or every other 2 days... My specials are driving me crazy! I have a whole class speech infused lesson on Tuesdays for 30 minutes, then on Fridays, we have OT, sensory time, music class (pull out) and gym! I had gym for the past 3 weeks on Wednesday, but the gym teacher (who also was an aide in my room) was offered a full time position teaching gym in several other schools in the county. He had to change my school's scheduled day for gym to fit the other schools' schedules. So now I'm down one aide- that will be replaced hopefully soon, as I have 3 students who are runners. Last week, I completed my math and reading placement assessments so this week I am starting to form the groups. There really weren't any big surprizes, as I could tell with my informal assessments where the students struggled or excelled.

I've also decided to begin a Daily 5 type of reading style. I think with my students this will help them. I'm still going to meet with groups of students to do a guided reading style of lesson. I will also schedule the rotations for them. We will probably only get through 3 rotations in a day- read to self, word work, and work with teacher. I also will have a work on writing and read to someone to rotate with the word work and work with teacher or read to self. I read to my students everyday after lunch, so I figure that's their listen to reading! They love the Humphrey books!

I also added a positive motivator, besides giving golden tickets for on task and ignoring others, if my students are safe for 3 days, they will get a prize from my prize box. I have various items like fun pencils, erasers, little notepads, toy cars, puzzles, basically anything that I can find that is under $1.00. I'm hoping this will motivate my one students who only has had 2 safe days since the beginning of school! He is a tough kid- and doesn't seem motivated by ANYTHING so far! 

So this week end has been some relaxing, a lot of thinking, researching through different blogs and pinterest (thanks to all of you) and printing, laminating,creating, and buying items for my room!

September Currently and Back in Action!

Sorry I've been neglecting my blog. I'm trying to figure out how to get everything done in a day! I've revamped my lesson plans, schedule, and moved my youngest son back to college. He goes to a college in Virginia, which is about 9 hours away! While I love the scenery around the area with all the mountains, I don't really care for sitting in the car for that long! I took some pictures to compare the landscapes...


 

Flat land in Northwestern Ohio

 

Mountains in Virginia

We moved him back this past week end, so our house is back being quiet and somewhat organized! At least I don't have all of his boxes for college around in his room and the basement!
I also had to rethink things in my classroom. They are in 4th and 5th grades, but are so immature and below grade level in reading and math. I'm hoping that this will be the last week on place value, but will continue to provide practice! We gone over the rules, procedures, made a respect sounds/looks like chart, written up a respect agreement and pledge, came up with positive and negative consequences, but they still continue to talk out and walk around! The biggest complaint today was that I expect them to read and write during the day! Oh well, we don't have any more long week ends until Thanksgiving, so maybe that will help!

I can't believe that it's already the 4th of September! So I've linked up with Farley for September's Currently.

 

I love watching people look through houses and then buy a house! And ever since I've come back from Virginia, my cat Pepper, won't leave me alone! She has to keep close enough to me and have at least a paw on me! I wish that I could have a long week end with nothing to do and no place to go! Doesn't that sound wonderful? I do need to start getting into shape, my lunches at school usually consist of cheese and crackers and a granola bar. I like taking food that I can eat quickly and on the go! Why does it seem like when I take food that requires heating up or utensils, that is when I have a student in crisis and 10 other pressing things to do? Finally, I love, love shoes! I don't buy expensive ones, I buy at Target and Kohl's- the more colorful, the better! Also, after being in a car all week end, I loved the Queen and The Who CDs that we listened to and sang along with!

So I hope to be able to blog more this week and the coming weeks and months! Thanks for sticking with me and have a great day!