Crunch time!

There has been a lack of blogs due to the ungodly heat in our house. I just can't function when it is so hot - I know writing a blog isn't manual labor or anything, but it requires me to sit at the table..away from the AC. To say that we are excited for snow, blankets, and long sleeves is the understatement of the year.

Forgive me for jumping around on topics.. I just write whatever pops in my head!

Only a few days left in my room before my kids get there!
I have a training tomorrow (Thursday) and on Friday and I couldn't be more excited. Tomorrows training is on Common Core and blahblah..but it is information that I want to hear! Friday is my schools inservice..we are learning about the tech lab, new attendance programs, grading programs and more. I'm looking forward to knowing more about my schools ins and outs!

I may not have a grade level team, but I am extremely thankful for my school secretary. She is literally the coolest gal ever - she is the Momma Bear of the school - and she has answered ALL of my silly questions so far like, "do I walk my kids to recess?" "do I have PE in the gym?" She also said she will take care of it when my kids get sick.
THANK GOD FOR THIS WOMAN.

I went down to 17 kids but now I'm up to 19. I am feeling LOADS more comfortable today than I was say..last night (when I had a mini breakdown at Nick's expense) Poor Nicholas..I am the worst when I am stressed but he has stuck with me through it all. I probably don't say it enough, but I appreciate him SO much! I love you Nick!

I am feeling more comfortable because I finally got to ask all those silly questions about what if the kids are sick, do they need notes to go to the office, how do they deal with tardies, do I pick them up from recess/lunch, what do they do with their lunch money..
You get it..I had a ton of questions!

 Here is what has happened in my room over the last few days!

 So proud that I finally figured out a way to store that dang construction paper..the long kind..my gracious that was a challenge. But it is done and I am happy with it!

 The completed Physical/Emotional/attendance check in chart.
OH DANG - I just realized I didn't add my new kiddos to this!
The kids come in every morning..pick an emotion (at the bottom) put it in their name slot then choose if they are getting milk or lunch and go to their desks.
I then get to take attendance without ever disrupting them doing their "brain breakfast".
Cutest name ever for "morning work", right?

 From the back looking towards the front of the room.

 Side angle..
Can you tell I'm proud?

Books books books! As a new teacher, I don't have the greatest book supply but it will grow! I purposely left out 4 boxes of books that are not AR. I want to see how it goes with this selection first. There are 4 book collections in the blue and red bins on top that the kids can choose from as well.

 Haha. This side of the room makes me laugh..I don't have anything to really go in these bookshelves, but I know that if I get rid of them now..I will regret it in 2 months. So for now they hold my word work bins and will be my "writing center". There will be a variety of handwriting sheet they can choose from here.
Reminder to myself: PRINT THOSE SHEETS!

 You are probably looking at this and saying, "what a piss poor job of decorating a blank space.."
I agree.
However, I need to have some blank space to hang student work (other than my clothesline - see above picture)

 I am strangely in love with this section of my board. My college professors would be so proud!

 I mentioned in an earlier post that the bunting was in a tentative place...(along with everything else in my room) so I moved this to decorate the front of my (messy) desk. I LOVE IT.
Thanks Aurora!

These bad boys (inside out jumbo book covers) are a hit with the staff - they think I came up with the idea on my own - which is very flattering.
They obviously are not on the Pinterest bandwagon yet!

 





I almost forgot to mention that I met two of my boys yesterday. The first one I met was huge..as in..very tall, he ooked like a 4th grader and wanted nothing to do with me. I panicked and thought all my kids were going to be giants and grown ups but then my other kiddo came in all sweet and shy and shook my hand. I just about died, he was so small. I have regained faith that my kids will in fact NOT be grown adults and I in fact am CAPABLE of teaching small children. :)

Loves.

Clip it!

Here is an explanation of my behavior management system.

My classroom will use a clip chart to monitor behavior. A clip chart is a great tool that allows students to be rewarded for positive behavior, while discouraging negative behavior. Each student has a clothespin, or clip, with his or her name on it. everyone will start on green at the beginning of each day, and clips can be moved up and down throughout the day based on behavior.

At the end of each day, the students will get a hole punch on the level they ended on. Once that level is full (10 hole punches) they will get to choose a classroom coupon! Coupon values vary by level and will be accumulated over time.

I have created coupons for the kiddos to choose for each level - from Lunch with Miss Sabrina, being the class photographer to writing with a 'fancy' pen for the day. Little things that make 7 year olds go crazy!

The Super Student level is reserved for outstanding behavior. This student did an excellent job being safe, respectful, and responsible!

Students can move to the Great Job level for continuing to display good behavior. Parents should be very proud of their child for reaching this level!

Students will move to the Good Choices level for showing that they are making the right behavior decisions! Ending the day on this level is great!

Every student will start the day on the Ready to Learn level. As the day goes on, clips can be moved up and down, based on behavior. This level is a good one to be on!

 

A student will be moved to the Think About It level as a warning about his/her behavior, and a reminder to follow the rules.

 

Students who continue to display poor behavior can move down to the Teacher’s Choice level. Here, the teacher can decide what action to take. Loss of free time or few minutes of recess may be taken off to practice the appropriate behavior.

 When a student moves to the Parent Contact level, I will notify parents via a note or phone call. A visit to the Principal's office might also be in order. Students on this level may also lose recess time, etc. 

All the credit goes to this lovely lady over at A Cupcake for the Teacher.  I made some tweaks to make it my own but she did all the hard work! She has a Teachers Pay Teachers store that I have bought almost everything for my room from! She is AMAZING.

Loves.