Inspiration for Displays and Bulletin Boards

Here is my collection of ideas for displays and bulletin boards. I will have a long magnetic whiteboard and a shorter magnetic whiteboard in my room. Each is flanked by two square bulletin boards. 

We are starting to display our Learning Targets each day. Last year I just created a section next to our class schedule with two border strips running down the side and blue painter's tape sectioning off each subject area. This year, I'd like to make it a little nicer.

I found this idea on Pinterest but would definitely revamp it a little. When I went to click on the link, it said that it might go to spam so Pinterest is blocking the website. 

These are dollar store frames with scrapbook paper behind them. You can write on them with a whiteboard marker and erase. I liked the idea of being able to customize them to fit my decor.

I also like the idea of "I Can" statements like these from F is for First Grade:

Then I saw this magnet set from Really Good Stuff and had an idea.

I usually write up the supplies that kids need to take out on the board when I give directions. This makes it much easier for me since I won't get asked 100 times what else needs to get taken out- I just get asked maybe 5 times instead. So my idea is to separate these magnets- use the supplies for showing the kids what they need and use the subject magnets for the Learning Targets. I think I like this idea...the magnet set is only $12.99. I could store them in one of these magnetic whiteboard pockets:

Since I'll have more bulletin board space, I would like to fancy up my calendar area. I found this on a blog and loved it!

Now Mama Jenn (the creator of this amazingness) is a homeschooler, so I think I will nix the prayer and put my helpers there. But I love the different things she has included. Our math series has a few other pieces that they would like us to use so I will also supplement those. You might be wondering if she has made your life easier by putting all of these things on her blog for free to print. Why, yes! Click on the picture for the link.

I'm also debating about using my smaller whiteboard for a reference wall like this one at Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits:

She has freebies, too! Just click the photo.

On tap for tomorrow: Inspiration for Notebooks and Journals!

Inspiration for the Room

I've been thinking about how to set up my new room and have gotten some wonderful ideas from Pinterest and bloggers that I follow. I've also been scouring those Really Good Stuff catalogs to see what I might need or what I might make myself. This will be my third year teaching 2nd grade in a row- I used to loop first to second (I did that for six years) and then I volunteered to take over a class for another teacher who was transitioning out of the classroom and into a specialist position. This year, our principal decided that we would begin looping second to third grade so I will start a new loop with second grade this year. I'm excited because I know the curriculum in my sleep and I have a lot of siblings of kiddos I used to have in this group.

I am so lucky to be in a school that is fairly new. We opened in 2005 and the rooms in our building are beautiful and there are very few that don't have windows. We all take our turns in those rooms. :) This year I have a room style I've never been in before. It has extra cabinets! Well, just two extra but you know how nice those can be!

Here are some of my ideas for my room so far. I'm not sure if I'll have desks or tables (since we loop, we usually have desks one year and then tables but we'll have to see how my group of teachers divides them up).

This idea is from Pre-kpages.com. She used inexpensive crates and zip-tied them together. I think I might have to do this to house some of my math whiteboards, games, and flashcards. Last year I bought a shoe rack organizer from Target that was somehow used as a step stool and was broken. Such a bummer. I'm toying with the idea of using crates like this or waiting until those shoe racks go on sale again. The good news is that if I do buy the crates and the shoe rack, I could always make these instead:

Another option for seating/storage is this lovely:

Isn't she gorgeous? It's actually an Ikea Expedit bookshelf laid on it's side and covered with foam and fabric. LOVE THIS! I have a bench that has seen better days and would love to replace it with one set of these. 

I also have a shelving unit like the one below sitting in my garage.

I found this photo on Really Good Stuff- and the drawers are almost $100! Yikes! I waited until the Recollections brand one was on sale at Michaels and used my 15% teacher discount. I don't even think it was full price at Michaels for $100. I've seen ones that have the ten drawers in two columns which I do like better but this will work fine for me. I am going to use it for my centers- not sure if it will be word work or math yet.

Tomorrow I will share with you some display and bulletin board ideas!

Summer can finally begin! Right?

Our last day of school was June 7. Most of that day was autographs for the kiddos' yearbooks, playing outside with our grade level, having our pizza party with the entire 2nd grade, and watching "A Bug's Life" since we had just finished our unit on mealworms. I started not feeling to great but I chalked it up to the stress of the end of the year, moving classrooms, meetings, etc.

The next day I spent moving my junk out of my classroom and into a storage room so I wouldn't make the other teacher (who is on maternity leave) feel like she was being kicked out. Her sub did a great job of moving her stuff to another closet closer to that new room. Still didn't feel great, though- and knew I'd be back the following week for a book study meeting so I figured I'd get more done then.

My husband was out of town beginning that Friday and for the entire week so that meant me and the boys (ages 5 and 6 mos.) solo 24/7. We went into school on Tuesday and my room was already cleared out to be cleaned! The custodians were fast!! I felt bad that my stuff was all out and not put away but it will be so nice to have my room cleaned and ready for next time I'm in.

All week I just wasn't hungry and not feeling well.

My husband got home the day before Father's Day and I was about ready to drive myself to urgent care- my stomach felt awful. We waited until Sunday (Father's Day) and dropped the kids off with the grandmas and went in. I was immediately sent to the emergency room at our local hospital (which is where I had my baby a few months ago- that hospital is amazing!) and hours later I went in for surgery to remove my gallbladder.

What a way to start my summer!

I'm feeling a lot better now but still sore. The worst part is that I'm not supposed to lift anything over 15 pounds- which is just shy of my 17 pound baby! Poor guy! He sits on my lap but I really can't take care of him like I should. Luckily for me my mom had this week off (total coincidence) so she took good care of me and the boys.

I've been on Pinterest a lot lately since I haven't really been able to do much else so I have a LOT of classroom projects and ideas stirring in my brain. I'm planning a few posts next week to share.

Meanwhile, check out Clutter-Free Classroom's "mini-series" called "Inspired" where she lists some of the ideas she used for her classroom. Her reveal is on June 27 and I'm so excited to see how she used all of the things she's shared!

Trimester 3: Checking In

We all know how antsy kids get in the spring. Our spring has been full of odd weather so my class is definitely out of sorts. Our staff also found out that our school will be changing from having looping classes for grades 1-2 and 4-5 to having first grade stand alone and looping 2-3 and then 4-5. Our principal had us fill out a wish list of grades we would like to teach and we haven't heard her final staffing decisions yet. 'Tis the season for changes for next year!

Here is an update on my goals for Trimester 3:

1. Change Daily 5 Stations

          My students are starting to use some of the word work boxes in ways in which they are not intended 

          (ahem- play dough). I plan to make them more accountable for practicing their spelling words.
          Update- success! My plan is working! We started Daily 5 notebooks and now the students write their choices for each round daily. I check their notebooks each day when they meet with me for Daily 5. So far I've seen a good improvement in their spelling scores! I've also added easy and creative ideas for them to use during Word Work. 

    2. Write More

      

        I am going to have them write more across all areas of curriculum, making sure they have proper 

        sentence structure.
        Update- going well so far! I have been trying to plan more cross-curricular lessons and using writing in them. We've been writing poems about insects in our poetry books, writing letters to characters in stories, and working more on proper grammar.

    3. More Consequences

        This sounds bad but I don't mean it to be. I need to hold the kids more accountable for their actions

        and this means creating consequences and following through.

        Update- I've started a rainbow behavior chart that some other classes are having success with. The kids all start on green and can move "up" to blue and purple by being good listeners and going above and beyond our expectations for behavior. They move down if I need to remind them of the expectations. It is going fantastically. I've had a few kids on purple (which is really hard to get!) and they get a note home to Mom and Dad. I've been pairing that with my beaded key chains from #5 and if they are green or blue at the end of they day they earn a bead for their key chain. If they are on purple they get to choose a special bead. The kids LOVE it and it has been extremely motivating. To be honest, it has worked better than I thought it would.

    4. Change Their Line Order

         I have been having them line up in all sorts of orders to mix them up- by birthdays, last names, 

         first names, etc. but I think I'm going to have to have them boy/girl from now on. 

         Update- we did have boy/girl lines for awhile but the behavior chart has led me away from that. The kids are making great choices to try to move up so we don't need assigned places anymore.

    5. Create Brain Builders

         I found this idea on Pinterest and I think I'm going to try it in my room. I was trying to figure out a 

         way to teach all the skills from the NWEA MAP tests and I think this might be the ticket. I am going

         to make different cards on rings for some of the strands and let the kids learn them in their free time.

         I have a list of things to start with and I'm already working on some synonym/antonym cards. I plan

         to start this after spring break, though, so we have a good amount of time.
         Update- I've printed and laminated some of the cards but haven't used them in the way that I intended. I use them for small and large group lessons but not as independent work. They don't earn beads for these but the cards are great for reinforcement and review.

Prang Challenge

Have you heard of the Prang Challenge? In conjunction with The Mailbox, Prang is challenging teachers to compare their markers to that of the leading brand. They had a giveaway for teachers wanting to test their markers. They chose winners each week and asked them to create a short video of themselves comparing the two brands of markers.

I registered.
Thought nothing of it.
Got a phone call at work from a strange area code.
Didn't answer.
Listened to a voicemail telling me I was a winner and to check my e-mail.
I thought, "Yeah, right!"
Checked my e-mail.
There it was.

I WON!

The next day they sent me two packs of markers to compare and a FlipCam (to keep!) to record my tests.
I sent my video back and a few days later a HUGE box of fun came to school.
Here is what was inside:

Class Pack of Prang Markers

Class Pack of Prang Crayons

Class Pack of Watercolor Paint (the best watercolors ever!)

Two 30-packs of Ticonderoga Pencils (also the best pencils ever!)

Class Pack of Lyra Grooved Slim Colored Pencils

In the original box was:

Flip Mino HD

Pack of Crayola Markers (for the comparison)

Pack of Prang Markers (for the comparison)

The website says that the prize pack is valued at $502.22!
I was practically drooling when I opened up all of these splendiferous art supplies.

My video hasn't been posted as of today but here is a link to past videos so you can see what we all discovered when we compared the brands. You will be amazed! Make sure to watch mine to see what happened when I left the caps off of both types of markers for 24 hours.

Trimester 3

Fellow looping teachers, 'tis the season for the kiddos to get too comfortable with each other. I am in the second year of a loop- though I wasn't their teacher last year they were all together in class as first graders. They start to act like brothers and sisters around spring time. Our third trimester starts on Monday and I spent Friday writing report cards and cleaning the room to be prepared for third grade boot camp. I won't actually call it that but I need to get these kiddos in shape for next year. Here are my goals:

1. Change Daily 5 Stations

          My students are starting to use some of the word work boxes in ways in which they are not intended 

          (ahem- play dough). I plan to make them more accountable for practicing their spelling words.

    2. Write More

      

        I am going to have them write more across all areas of curriculum, making sure they have proper 

        sentence structure.

    3. More Consequences

        This sounds bad but I don't mean it to be. I need to hold the kids more accountable for their actions

        and this means creating consequences and following through.

    4. Change Their Line Order

 

         I have been having them line up in all sorts of orders to mix them up- by birthdays, last names, 

         first names, etc. but I think I'm going to have to have them boy/girl from now on. 

    5. Create Brain Builders

         I found this idea on Pinterest and I think I'm going to try it in my room. I was trying to figure out a 

         way to teach all the skills from the NWEA MAP tests and I think this might be the ticket. I am going

         to make different cards on rings for some of the strands and let the kids learn them in their free time.

         I have a list of things to start with and I'm already working on some synonym/antonym cards. I plan

         to start this after spring break, though, so we have a good amount of time.

So true.

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