Day 2: Routines

Today we were ready.  The students came in, made their lunch choices, and got to work.  I only had to remind a few about turning in their take-home folders.  I had to remind most of them to work QUIETLY!

We buzzed through the morning, reviewing reading comprehension skills in language arts in order to apply them to a short story we are reading in parts this week.  We also reviewed how to take a spelling pretest and check over the words.  (My program has leveled spelling lists each week, and the pretest helps me determine which list to give each student for the week.)  I had to remind students to number down the side of a page, and to not skip random lines while doing so.  I can see I will need to model that a few more times this year!  Tomorrow they will learn about the spelling homework policies.  Took a bathroom break and reviewed those rules.  By then it was time for short recess (15 minutes), where I had duty.

After recess we reviewed our Daily Edit.  Some of you may call it Daily Language Practice or something similar.  Ours is assigned as part of morning work (the first thing done each day), and is comprised of four pages.  The first involves phonics skills and proofreading simple sentences, the second has a vocabulary word of the day and two analogies, the third had five mixed math problems, and the last is a logic problem that needs to be drawn out to be solved.  It takes the kids a while before they get the hang of it, so we do them together for the first week.

Lunch follows Daily Edit, which is then followed by a short read-aloud.  Today's was Ruby the Copycat by Peggy Rathman.  Very cute story about being yourself.

Special today was Computer.  We don't have an official computer teacher, so I went over the expectations of the lab and what types of projects we will be working on this year.  Then I assigned seats and let them explore some links on the PBS Kids website.  (I like WordGirl and Martha Speaks for vocabulary, Cyberchase for math, Between the Lions for phonics and reading, and SuperWHY! for problem solving.  Dr. Seuss stories will be available once the show airs next week.  I plan to use that link as well.

After that, we took the first half of the beginning-of-the-year inventory.  It's actually the end of the year test the students took in first grade, but we give it again at the beginning of second grade to look for gaps and help us plan.  Then it was on to long recess (30 minutes).

During long recess (no duty this time), I wrote out a thank you for another giraffe added to the classroom, wrote a note to another parent about snack, and checked/read the 14 e-mails that were waiting for me.  Then it was time to pick the class up from recess.

We got drinks (It was another 90-plus degree day today.), copied reminders and behavior colors for the day (more on that later), got planners signed, checked mailboxes, packed up, and listened to poems from the book The New Kid on the Block by Jack Prelutsky.

I got through dismissal with no missed buses or lost children! (Woohoo!)

After school I went to the doctor for a pain I've had in my right knee for about a week.  Turns out, I have a slightly torn meniscus.  (I think I tore it when I stepped off the curb and landed in an awkward position.  That was during a car wash for my church's youth ministry on the 21st.  The same car wash where I proceeded to bend and squat drying cars for several hours.  Oh, and I guess moving furniture around my classroom last week in order to get ready for this week didn't help matters.  Oh well.)  Thankfully, I don't have to wear a leg immobilizer--you know, one of those brace things that go from your calf to your hip.  (Can you imagine chasing after 19 second graders in one of those things?!?  I actually laughed when the doctor mentioned it!)  I just need to elevate it at home, ice it, and take some Motrin to take the swelling away and help the healing process.

Well, well. Tomorrow's another day.  Let's see what it brings.

Sister Blog Alert!

Check out my newest blog, http://www.lia-180days.blogspot.com/.  Experience what I experience on my journey through 180 days of school. 

T-Minus...

It's Sunday afternoon.  Less than 24 hours to go before the First Day of School.  Wow.  Where did summer go?

My room is ready, my clothes are ready, my plans are ready.  But am I ready?  I think so.  Haircuts have been gotten, new medications for school nurses have been gotten and delivered, school shopping is (partly) done (see earlier post on that one), and the kids are getting their backpacks ready. 

We're going to enjoy these last few hours of freedom, for tomorrow, it begins!

Room Arranging Has Begun!

Oh, the joys of organization.  Right.  I was in the building this past week arranging my room.  Painfully so.  Here's the deal:  temps were in the high 80s/low 90s, my building has no air conditioning, my room faces the bus loop (which is on the sunny side of the building--of course!), and air flow is not the best.  Needless to say, I was a sweaty, stinky, tired mess at the end of the day each day.  And I have more this week.  Joy.

With all that said, however, I did make some progress.  I cleaned out two of the four drawers of my filing cabinet.  They all looked like this:

Overflowing. 
This is my Language Arts drawer.  I have stories, writing projects, journals, and daily language practice in here.  Sadly, this was not one of the two drawers I made it through on Friday.  I just didn't have the energy to do it after the other two.  However,  Monday is a different story.

But then, about an hour and a half later...

Progress! 
This is the first half of my math program, Units 1-6.  Units 7-12 are in the drawer underneath.  I literally could not get any more papers in this drawer before cleaning it out.  Doesn't it look purty? 

Aside from the filing cabinet, I also managed to arrange my desks, get some posters up, and clean out my desk.  I still need to reorganize my class library, and finish my last two file drawers.  Really looking forward to that.   (You can hear the sarcasm, right?) 

On a brighter note, I did come up with more ideas to help make life a little easier.  Grab a pencil or hit "Print"; here they are!

• Keep two copies of all worksheets.  One for sending away to copy; one to have as a backup.
• File according to math lesson, social studies lesson, language arts story, etc.  All sheets, models, overheads, and patterns go in the file folder.  I also file writing, daily language practice, holidays, etc. by themselves.  I'm a fan of color coding by subject, too. 
• Keep a list of reference books written in the inside cover.  For example, in my Black History Month folder, I've listed all of the books and stories I have in my library so I can pull them when needed.   
• Keep duplicate overheads.  When you have the same overhead to reference across several lessons, you won't have to hunt around or try to remember which story/lesson to file it with.
• Before sending out your family welcome letters, check your roster against the nurse's roster for food allergies.  You can put the information in your letter so parents are aware before school even starts.  Useful for snack time and class parties.  
• If your materials come in shrink wrap, use an envelope opener.  You will save time and your scissors can take a break.
• Use painter's tape to put up decorations.  It's less messy than Sticky Clips and comes off better than regular masking tape.  Your custodians will thank you.
• When putting your items together for students, make at least one extra set.  (This means books, folders, journals, parent info sent during the first week, etc.)  If you get a new student during the year, you don't have to hunt around for the materials.  A set is already there. See below. 

Ready for a new student.  Paperwork is in a separate folder in my desk.

Hope this helps.  More to come; stay tuned!  

More Preparation

I've been slowly getting my school supplies.  (I like to catch the sales, so I get a little each week.)  This week I stocked up on Crayola crayons, 25 cents a box, down from $1.19 a box at Target.  Good deal made better considering I had to buy 24 boxes! 

I also bought my pens from Office Max. If you are like me, I am particular about what I write with on a daily basis.  I like pens with brightly colored ink, medium to large points, and thick barrels, preferably with a gel cushion or something.  I usually buy Pentech pens, but I found some pens with my specifications at a great price:  two packs of five for just over $3.00.  (They are buy one, get one this week.) 

I still need to order school supplies online; that will be done in the next two days or so.  Hopefully what I need will still be in stock.  It's a bit late, true, but I also have two school-age children I've been simultaneously buying supplies for as well. 

We're finally down to the school clothes part.  Although, I don't usually buy new clothes before school starts.  I buy shoes and a few basics, but then I wait until after the school year begins to get the rest (when it's on clearance!).  This is not to say my kids go to school in raggedy clothes. Definitely not. They have play clothes and regular clothes (for errands, doctor's appointments, church, and now, school).  Play clothes stay home. (Although my youngest would have no problems wearing his favorite play shirt EVERYWHERE!)

Anyhow, I found that Jo Ann Fabrics and Big Lots are having their Teacher Appreciation Days this weekend, August 14 (Big Lots) and August 14-15 (Jo Ann Fabrics).  Be sure to check your local area for offers from other stores, especially Borders/Waldenbooks, and some of the larger department stores.  I've got my eye on a wicker chair at Big Lots; I've been looking for a new reading chair for class.  I also have my eye on some safari-themed fabric at Jo Ann Fabrics.  I want to make a new cushion for my chair and maybe new curtains for my classroom windows to add color.  The beige and giraffe curtains I currently have are a little drab against the beige walls and cabinets of the room.  Now I know I told you I was able to make said curtains for under $20.  I am not going to spend a ton on fabric if I decide to make new curtains.  With the current sale on the safari-themed fabric, (50% off), it comes to $3.50 a yard.  Add an extra 20% off if I go on Saturday, and I can still get what I need for under $20.  I guess I need to make a decision because time is ticking fast!
 
Three weeks.  Sigh.

I'm slooowly getting there.

Planning

Okay.  Today was spent going through my beginning-of-the-year checklist.  You know, the list that reminds me of what needs to be done to prepare for the school year and what to get finished.  I've begun gathering things for this school year.  I've gathered plastic twin-pocket folders to use for take-home folders. (I like these better than laminated folders because they are extremely durable.  Got them on sale at Target this week for 35 cents each.)

I also purchased my personal planner.  I use a Mead student planner because I prefer the layout to other planners I've used--and I'll admit, I like the funky patterns.  

Past that, I've been taking inventory of extras.  You know, the things you wish you had when something happens, but didn't really think of getting until something happens.  My classroom "extras" list is comprised of:

• Band-Aids
• Kleenex
• Select-a-size paper towels (Just the right size for little hands.)
• Hand sanitizer (If your school permits it.)
• Ziploc baggies in snack and sandwich sizes (SO many uses!)
• Baby wipes (If you use them for the overhead or wiping small hands, you can usually get away with cutting them in half before use. They last twice as long.)
• Hand soap refills (I find that foaming hand soap is easier to rinse and lasts much longer than regular liquid soap.) 

I usually display little cards with the name of an item from the list above during Parent Night.  That way, parents can choose what item(s) to donate.  I also display them during conference days so I can be stocked throughout the year. 

My personal "extras" list consists of:

• Deodorant (No A/C in my building!)
• Safety pins
• Extra body spray (See note about deodorant!)
• Mints
• Lip gloss
• Personal hand sanitizer (For use after sneezing, coughing, touching student papers and folders, etc.)
• Excedrin
• Personal sewing kit (For those little mishaps.) 

I keep these locked in my class closet.  (Except the mints, lip gloss, and personal hand sanitizer; those stay at my desk for quick access.) 

Other things you may want to keep (locked away) in your room are:

• Extra batteries (For games and gadgets that need them.)
• Screwdriver  (For getting backs off of said games and gadgets.)
• Disinfectant like Lysol
• All-purpose cleaner
• Sponges 

I've also been gleaning through my worksheets and organization papers for centers, rules, etc.  I've found that I have quite a few saved on my computer at school, and need to get them off.  Hopefully I can get into my room Monday.  I found my sheets for centers, test folders, behavior tracking grid, desk fairy, and student background.  Now if you're not familiar with some of these, don't fret.  All explanations will accompany the sheets when posted.