Bulletin Boards/Pirate vs Sailor

I know yesterday was "Made it Monday" but I was too tired to post after a 12 hour day at school.
Our new reading unit has to do with Energy and the teachers book tells us to make a Concept Board that students can post questions on but Me being...well Me I can't STOP there! Gotta go Crazy, wear myself out, and make it Higher Order Thinking/Artsy aka "Gifted-style". Students are creating various pictures, lists, and research onto the board based on what story we are reading and the goal is to make everything they add look like apps or folders with apps inside. We did one today and its looking great =]







The second thing I made yesterday was the complete make-over that I gave to my workshop rotations. 20 students in 4 perfect groups working on various skills was not something I was prepared for as a first year teacher but I'm completely using it to my advantage. Obviously one of my centers is my iPad concept board, small group with me and the others change. About half my students have watched an episode of Legends of the Hidden Temple so they picked up on the theme. They LOVE the idea of their group having a mascot!!
The name tags above the mascots are Velcro and move with the rotations. Now for the incentive. Each person within their group must earn 2-4 100% between the 4-8 centers (depending on the week) for their team to earn a gold coin. This incentive is keeping them from goofing off and talking so I'm loving it right there with them. The coins will attach to the tens mascot on the board to help the other students create goals.










Something I have learned this year, I've created multiple incentives for students to succeed and it's hard to stay ontop of but if they are learning and eager to earn 100% or turn in all their work then how can I complain how stressed I am about it?!? (what a run on sentence).

The 4th week of school was rough for my class and I. They ran down the stairs during a fire drill got complained about in Special Area and as a class collected 26 Tallys (negative behavior plan through whole 5th grade). We needed to Tidy up our Ship, none the less. It so happened to also be Talk Like a Pirate Day =D I created an entire 30 minute lesson plan about what a "Pirate Student" looks and acts like and how we are a class of Sailors. We compared and contrasted the two through art. Dawned our Pirate hats, mustaches, and eye patches one last day to get the pirate out. Ever since then when my class is acting out or I've had a sub I just ask "what hat are you wearing" and they stop and put on their (metaphoric) Sailor hat.
I had students color/decorate their Sailor Hats and Pirate Hats because I want to display their pirate hats in a way that reminds them they left the pirate behind. Their Sailor hats they'll wear when they are the Sailor of the Week and get to be my First Mate.

This Sailor theme is AhhhMazing!!!! So happy with my choice!! Pin It Now!

Classroom all set up

Two weeks ago I started setting up my classroom with its nautical feel. It turned out amazing!!! Take a tour!!!  I have more pictures to come with some things that weren't complete for the first day or two. I will say this I LOVE my class.  They are absorbing my passion for Science and they LOVE my punch cards and being Caught Cards!!!  It makes me soooo happy to know that they love the things that I spent all summer creating.
Did and awesome science plan yesterday that I am pretty proud of.  I'll post more about it soon!

I could not have asked for a cuter desk!!!  LOOOVVVEE using Wrapping paper!

  this used to be a tampon box just covered in scrapbook paper =]

this is a behavior system that my gradelevel is using. It's needed and I have nothing against it.  However it's for consequences and each teacher is using it

My remember bracelets from Oriental Trading are on that table

 these are my table numbers

Common Board.. we have to have them with Morzano

I saw this on Pinterest with TRAILOR instead of Cover.,... My students LOOOOOOVVVEE It

Those are this years Sunshine State Books that students must read

transportation ribbon for clips.  Hall Passes and student supplies!

here are those passes being put to use.  I made them in an earlier post.  The lanyards are from Oriental Trading!

Made this binder with some clipart I purchased!  My students LOVE that it's all about "Actively Involved"

This is the "Nook" my desk is in.  I wish I could move but that wall is my door and apparently my computer has me stuck there.  I'm learning to love my private bulletin board!

These little baggies greeted them on the first day.  The pencil baskets with my name on the pencils (from earlier post) have been a success.  The little baskets have 1 highlighter, 1 glue stick, 1 large eraser, and sticky notes for when we do reading!

Pin It Now!

buttons, passes, and fishbowls?

It's been a few weeks since I last posted but I have purchased quiet a few things for my classroom and have been doing "Make it Monday's" basically everyday of the week.  Every idea I'm about to show you I took off of Pinterest so if you are looking for the original please follow my pin boards.

My business cards came in the mail and look AMAZING!!  Target Dollar Section had business card holders and it was a match made in heaven!  The whole punch was $2 on Amazon!

I've updated my buttons since the last post!  They match my nautical theme and I made about 56 this time!  They are my pride and joy at the moment!

I saw "germ Juice" and thought 'what a great idea!'  My thinking is that the students place this on their desk while in the bathroom so I can see who is gone and when they return they feel obligated to get a squirt.  I'm really hoping this woks!

Next, just a simple crate for students to turn work into and to pass papers back into.  It's simple, it's cute, and this is one of the best things I learned from my internship... makes grading papers EASIER!

Saw these "Unfinished work" folders on Pinterest.  The idea is that you place them on the front of side of students desks to place all their unfinished work so it doesn't get lost forever in their desks.  I bought a roll of magnets to place on the back of them so that the folder can move as I move their desks around all year. I may need 'earth magnets' instead??  Anyone know anything about them?
Anyways, since my classroom theme is nautical/frogs I picked these up in the Target Dollar Section and glued them onto folders.  I also clear duck-taped the sides shut.  Over-all each folder cost me probably $0.02

My newest pin is a 'caught ya being good' jar and I was like AHHHH, thank you jesus!  I bought those business cards about catching students being good or having a clean desk.  Now when the students turn them in I can place them in this jar and then at the end of the week or month I will draw a name or two out of the jar for prizes/coupons!  Very excited about this!
Plastic 1/2 gallon fish bowl for $5 and some stickers and ribbon from Target's Dollar Section and I'm done!

One thing I CAN NOT STAND is the sound of pencils being sharpened.  Last semester I sharpened them for everyone every morning and it got old fast... I wanted to give mechanical pencils a try.  Students will still have their pencils that need to be sharpened but once it's dull they'll have to switch to mine.  People are warning me that students will break these and start taking them apart, but I still want to try.  I placed my name on them with labels from the Target Dollar Section.  I think they are CUTE!

I'm not sure why it won't rotate....



I have about 125 things that I need to print out and get laminated within the next two weeks.  Lots of things to get posted soon.
It's crazy how everything is coming together, yet I feel like I have soooooo much left to do.  Being a first year teacher means I really don't know what to expect and I'm really nervous about doing too much.

My classroom library STINKS so if anyone has suggestions on how to get books for cheap I'd be soooo happy! Pin It Now!

No Homework/Reward cards... for CHEAP

VistaPrint was running a special on Free cards and such so I made my incentive punch cards and no homework passes.  I saw an idea on Pinterest that said to use VistaPrint in the classroom... I'm really excited to try these outs.  I got a free stamp, 250 free cards, and the rest of my order came out to $22 .48 plus shipping.

Personal Business Cards with Customization by Vistaprint

This is my No Homework Pass!!!  Works PERFECT with my Nautical Theme!  (100 Cards for $7.49)

Loyalty Cards by Vistaprint

After 8 punches my students can either earn some Captains Cash or go to the prize box.  Students can get cards punched by moving their clip on the behavior chart, having a clean desk, and other various incentives based on student needs. (250 cards for $14.99)

Free Business Cards by Vistaprint

These cards were FREE on VistaPrint.  I wanted a way to let students know I caught them doing something good and that they can move their clip.  I had a problem with clip moving interrupting lessons so I started using sticky notes... then those were getting forgotten.  I think these are so cute, I couldn't resist!! (250 cards for FREE)

Last but not least.... I got a new stamp!!! It was also FREE on VistaPrint!!!! I love Penguins and it's a self-inking stamp! Easy to stamp, easy to bring home, super super super excited!

I hope my behavior management skills are through the rood this year.... thank goodness for Pinterest leading me to some great ideas!!!!! Pin It Now!

Started making some stuff

I've added pictures of things I have already created and the supplies I have purchased for my classroom, decor wise

Try to ignore my Penguin collection on the couch.... hahaha

 The fluffy pom pom things are going to be part of my table signs.... there are numbers that will hang below.
The little bucket will store colored pencils, tape, and white out for each table

 The ribbon is for hanging various things.
Red wrapping paper will be on my bulletin boards with blue polka dot borders

 Saw these on Pinterest and thought they'd be great for Celebrating Success.  I have more to make in other colors.  Students will only wear these if they score a 100% on a test or I feel like they need a confidence booster.  I'm not gonna lie, I'm excited for the staff to see these and ask my students 20 times a day "What did you make on your test".  I HATED taking tests in school, hope this makes it more fun!

 

 This is my clipboard, also an idea off Pinterest.  I tried to stay nautical but I LOVE Disney and it is MY clipboard! =)

These are little baskets I spiced up with some ribbon and an iron on patch.  This will also go on the tables for pencils because I cannot stand the sound of a pencil sharpener!

I have name plates, a behavioral chart, and a whole 100 page pdf that I bought from the TeachersPayTeachers.com site that I need to go have printed and laminated before I can do much other stuff.

Next project... bathroom passes and No Homework Passes
My theme is more difficult than I thought mostly because it isn't "popular" at the moment like Owls are.   But hey!, I love to reinvent the wheel, make my own! Pin It Now!

The beginning...

About to enter my first year of teaching I wanted to create a blog to remind me of my struggles and triumphs throughout the year.  I'm about to start teaching 5th grade (thank goodness my mom has been teaching it for years)!  I'm excited to have a classroom, at a school I'm familiar with, and to be on my own.  I'm nervous about evaluations, the new Common Core, and of course the FCAT.

My theme is Sailing/Nautical and its a mixture of my own odd ideas and what I see on Pinterest.  I've got a month or so until school starts and all though it appears that I am abandoning my love of Penguins, I'm not... I just don't want to get sick of penguins (they are my favorite animals, I'd hate to tire of the them)!  Sailing Frogs it is... Sailing into 5th Grade.... can't find a non-cheesy slogan.

Join me on my adventure as a first year teacher!

Pin It Now!