Great Station and Phonics Resources!

I found a website that I really like that has different activities for work stations. Even if you're not a teacher, this could be great activities for your child at home to use as phonics or "word work".

Have Fun Teaching - Phonics Centers

I typically print this stuff out on my colored printer, then glue it onto construction paper and laminate for durability. Hopefully it will last at least a couple years.

Holy Guacamole...

As Skippyjon Jones would say! I'm still in shock that I was named campus Teacher of the Year 12-13. I really don't know what to say other than thank you to those of you who noticed how much I do for our kiddos. I do my best everyday to give those children what they need to be successful in life. Somedays are more challenging than others, but I wouldn't survive without my awesome team and staff. Thank you for always being a listening ear and a helping hand. Love you!

Happy (Early) St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I know it's a little early but my kiddos will be on Spring Break on the actual day. I decided to make these as treats tomorrow. I may also make them for my Sunday School class.

To get the freebie printable visit Teaching Blog Addict

Enjoy!!

Prize Catalog and Punch Cards

This is typically the time of year that teachers find themselves struggling to motivate students. Its even hard to motivate ourselves! Students don't seem to want to work anymore. The usual "treasure box" has lost its magic touch. I found this Prize Catalog on Pinterest from a teaching blog. I really want to try this with must students when we get back from Spring Break. I love that the ideas are free and are centered around making a student feel special that they've filled up their "punch card". I think its a great idea. I'll let you know how it turns out in my classroom.

8 Hour Days

This picture on Facebook just made me laugh. It's so true! I seriously put in at least 10 hours a day just to feel as if I'm doing what's best for my students. Even with that, I've usually not completed everything that needs to be done. That's when I just have to say ok tomorrow is another day. But tomorrow I'll still have 20 students expecting me to have put in all the hours. I'll still have reports to run, meetings to attend, phone calls, emails, tutoring, lesson plans for all content areas with differentiation and modifications in place. But I get the summer off, right?Teachers have it so easy.

People who are that naive need to come spend a day with me. Or of you have the college hours go be a sub for a school district. You'll see how much work goes into being a good teacher. I work extremely hard everyday to make sure those kids are provided with everything they need to succeed in this world. Teachers are not just teachers.

I found this on Pinterest

Guided Reading Binder

Now that I'm in my 5th year teaching, I have realized that I will continue to learn and improve on my reading instruction. It's like I feel like I've finally got the hang of something, then I watch another teacher and I'm like oh, I like that! I love learning from others and I love teaching reading.

My simple binder. Maybe I should decorate it?

One thing that has really helped me is keeping a binder on my reading groups. Nothing spectacular. Just a binder.

I created a spreadsheet based on "The Art of Teaching Writing" and a list from Becky Koesel. This is where I record the books that my students are reading, dates that we discussed different skills, and any other notes on student's reading. I keep a spreadsheet on each student. This is mainly for parent conferences and intervention meetings with our administrative team.

My binder is organized by DRA level. I put students names on post it notes on the outside of the folder tab that indicates their instructional DRA level. The spreadsheet goes behind the tab. I used to create group names or numbers, but the groups are meant to be fluid. So rather than a student having to remember what group they are in, I just call the students each time.

I recently revamped my schedule and started using Becky Koesel's Guided Reading lesson plan. I am hoping that this will maximize my reading instruction time.

Love And Logic

"Teaching with Love and Logic" has become a staple in my classroom. I really don't think I would have managed and been successful over the past year without it. I've heard some people say that teaching gets easier as you go along. While some aspects have become easier, I feel that each year I have been challenged in new ways to improve my interactions with students and therefore improving learning.

I've also heard some teachers say that L&L was natural to them and was apart of their classroom before they could label it as such. Not for me. It wasn't until last year that I was sent to a L&L workshop that I really began to look at how I interacted with my students. I was never mean or anything, I just felt like sometimes I was carrying all their issues and they never had any responsibility for their actions. The whole warning and conduct mark system just didn't work.

I continue to use a conduct mark system in my room as that is part of our communication with parents on the daily interactions within our classroom. However now I try to focus more on the behaviors and the problem that is causing the behavior.

If you're a teacher and you've never heard of Love and Logic I cannot recommend their materials enough. They have books, audio CDs and even clips on you tube about working with children. This includes information for parents!

In the future I plan to blog more about how L&L has helped me become a better teacher. Im still learning and changing the way I think about discipline and classroom management. I feel as if all universities should add a L&L management course (or at the very least a book) to their curriculum.

So go check it out!