Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Getting Ready for School T-22 Days!

Hi Friends, 
I wanted to write about what I am doing to prep for school. Here in Connecticut, we don't start school until late August, but my mind is already spinning with school thoughts. When I went into school this week, some of my friends already have their rooms 100% ready to go! Me, it is in boxes. Tomorrow I am heading in (with my 9 & 11 year old) to rearrange and set up my welcoming door. 

This year I used my cricut on Print and Cut to create a fun door decoration. My daughter was avocado obsessed this summer, most days making her own version of avocado toast for breakfast before swim team. Maybe that inspired my door decor, but here is my first part of room set up...my door. I will update tomorrow, when I put this up! Hopefully my class list doesn't change too much in the next 21 days, but either way, it's an easy fix with the cricut. 




Do you create a welcome door? If so what does yours say this fall? I'd love to know. 

Follow us on IG & Facebook to watch us unpack and set up our rooms. 

(P.S. Robyn's room is done and ready to go... 😳...pictures coming soon!)


Monday, September 28, 2020

Sneaking Math Vocabulary into Notebooks for a Quick Game!

Hi Friends, 

It's been so long since I've blogged, but I am trying to bring my blog back and update my TPT store. I changed subjects AGAIN, so you will see more Math resources as well as Science and ELA (hopefully from Robyn). Together, we can cover it all. Our school has been going under major renovations and someday, when it is finished, it should look really nice. Right now, I am still getting used to it with the ever changing cohorts and plans. Tuesday, I am welcoming cohorts A and B into the classroom. It will be basically like a first day of school with 21 in class and 4 online until further notice. On the bright side, 4 online should be easier to manage than 13 online. 




Anyways, I wanted to show off a little teacher hack that I just thought of and love. I created these really cute Math Vocabulary posters for my Unit 1 Math lessons. I wanted cards to match my curriculum, but have the vocabulary word, definition, and example picture all on the front. Once I created these, I thought they would be great for a student's math journal as well as be a great reference point on my bulletin board. 


I printed them as slides 9 to a page and had students cut them out. We added a small piece of tape to the tops, taped them upside down (so we could flip them up) and wrote the vocabulary word on the back. On the board I wrote some examples, students lift the mini poster, read the word and definition and find where my board examples go in their notebook. Basically I've created an interactive notebook game for a concept understand/vocabulary check. Pretty cool, right? It's perfect for the last few minutes of class when there isn't enough time to log into Xtramath or students need to reference vocabulary.  I can leave my examples on the board all week and give the students the full week to finish before we do a quick share out check. 



So here is what the notebook looks like and so far the students have really enjoyed using it as a reference. I am definitely hearing an increase in math vocabulary during discussions as well! win/win! 





I will definitely be making these for future units, so keep an eye out! What math games are your favorite? Since it's my first year teaching math, I'd love to learn some fun activities! 




Friday, July 26, 2019

Calling All Science Teachers!

Do you teach science? If so, they you probably stumbled by our blog and realized I (Theresa) teach science and love it. Robyn teaches ELA and couldn't imagine teaching any other subject. I love being departmentalized in school and focusing on one subject matter. I am able to bring clarity to my students because focusing on planning one class (taught three times a day) is much easier than teaching every subject, every day. Props to you elementary school teachers who teach it all, I don't know how you do it.

Anyways, we have an amazing online science curriculum that I love, called StemScopes. We teach through inquiry and use Claim, Evidence, & Reasoning to write about our science learning. I'd love to hear about what you do in science class. I've written a few more blog posts about specific lessons I teach in science, so be sure to search the blog for ideas and lessons.

As I print out materials for my classroom since I moved rooms and our entire school is getting renovated (see my last post). I wanted to share these awesome posters I will be hanging up in my classroom again.

My students come into 4th grade knowing what a claim is and how to talk about evidence, but they do not move into reasoning until the end of 4th/beginning of 5th. We use the same vocabulary in reading and math, so understanding what CER means is very important for success. My students find these posters so helpful and easy to understand.

Today there are over 41 *five star* ratings on this product and some feedback the feedback we have received is so positive:







I love knowing I've helped out other teachers and even better helped SO many students feel successful in science. Let me know what you use in science to help your students explain their understanding.


Thursday, July 18, 2019

**Freebie Inside** Cactus Flower Welcome Banner!

Good morning!

If you liked the cute editable name tags I created yesterday, you should check out this free welcome banner. I love hanging welcome banners above my classroom door. It's a great place to set the tone for your classroom before your students even enter.

My friend hangs a welcome banner on her bulletin board and takes student pictures below the banner on the first day of school. They always come out adorable and the parents really enjoy them.



However you decide to use this, I'm sure it will be great. If you like it, let me know!

Enjoy!


Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Thinking Ahead...

Hello Friends,

It's been quite a while since I've blogged, but I'm excited to have a minute to do so now. So guess what? Our school is getting renovated! Basically torn down to the studs, and built back up again. I won't have a new classroom this year, but next fall (2020) I'll have an amazingly clean room with AC! I am thinking ahead and excited about what's to come. Check out the pictures we received in an update today. We are starting school right after Labor Day, so a lot has to happen before it is safe for students. We do however have to teach and work through a year of crazy renovations. Has anyone else gone through something like this before?



Crazy, isn't it?

Anyways I am starting to think ahead to what my classroom is going to look like. I don't think we will have floors, but will there even be bulletin boards or will the walls be studs? I still want to make my classroom feel like home for my fourth grade students, so I have to be creative in decor. I LOVE the lama, cactus, succulent ideas I am seeing, so I started creating today. I love these cute lama/cactus name tags I whipped up.





They are perfect for any grade because they aren't too babyish, gender neutral, and bright/fun.



**Teacher Hack** I teach 75 students, so three classes of 25. Name tags are a must at the beginning of the year. Don't want to take up too much room on a desk? These name tags will open up into Power Point. This will allow you to print them as slides, four or even six slides to a page. This will leave you with smaller name tags.




Check them out on my TPT page, for just $2, you can download, type directly onto them, and print them out.

Stay tuned for some more fun creations!
Enjoy!


Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Classroom Themes & Decor

Classroom themes may seem like a trend, but sometimes as teachers, we spend more time in the classroom than in our houses. I love to decorate my classroom and make it fun, bright, and comfortable for my students. 

For the past few years, I've had a camping themed classroom. I still love it and haven't changed it much, just added to it. I picked a few of my favorite colors to accent the decor and used wood backgrounds. 

I actually put all of my decorations into a bundle, in case you wanted a camping or woodland themed room. Check it out by clicking on the pictures below. 






I also just created adorable cactus name tags. I know many people have cactus themed classrooms and I find this clipart so fun and bright! 



What theme do you have or plan to have in your classroom? 





Wednesday, July 25, 2018

3 Ways to Kick the End of Summer Blues!

Raise your hand if you can see the end of your summer in sight? Do you see your sweet freedom slowly slipping out of your reach? Have you been training your bladder to only explode every six hours? Are you ready to get up at dawn? Here in Connecticut, most school districts start after Labor Day, but my school starts PD, August 23rd. We are starting early due to renovations next summer, they are trying to give us a longer summer next year. This year we had a short summer due to twelve snow days and a TORNADO in May! Nobody was expecting that surprise that led to an extended school year! 
Anyways how can you fight the back to school blues? Here are three simple tips that help me look forward to getting back to school. 

#1. Buy school supplies that makes you excited! This year I have purchased an awesome Happy Planner, a bunch of fun flair pens in mouth watering colors, florescent expo markers, and really cute smiley face binder clips. I really am looking forward to using it all. Does any teacher NOT have a school supply addiction? What are some of your favorites? 

#2. Pamper Yourself! Before I start school, I always schedule a hair cut/color, mani/pedi, and massage. Why? Well, why not!? It is a great way to unwind and mentally prepare yourself for a new year and fresh start. 

#3. Sleep! I plan on sleeping in and being lazy for a day or two before school starts. For the next eight months I will have to get my kids up at 5:30, make lunches, pack backpacks, shove breakfast down everyone's throat, and fight about outfits daily ... so I deserve some rest time now. 

Will these ideas help? Hopefully, because it is my plan! If you have a routine you follow before the start of school, we'd love to hear your ideas! 

Have a wonderful rest of summer teacher friends, we know you will kick butt in the 2018-2019 year!