Smart Active Learning: Rockin' Around the Clock

I love October in the classroom!  The routines have been established, the students know your expectations, and their attention span has increased.  However, I  look for ways to keep them up and moving and learning at the same time!

This week we brushed up on the telling time skills as we will dig deeper into the complex skill of elapsed time next week!

I begin by assessing the students with a pretest from my Rockin' Around the Clock Worksheet Pack.

Next, I  tape my Rockin' Around the Clock Task Cards on the walls of the classroom.  Students are given an answer sheet and are placed at one card to begin.

Then the music starts . . . I play Rockin' Around the Clock!!

The students start a rockin' to the next card when the music is played.  They write down the time on the card and dance their way to the next card when the music starts.

How do you keep your students a movin' and a learnin' at the same time?

Amy

Smart Paint Storage

Are you one of those teachers that teaches EVERYTHING like me?  Reading, writing, arithmetic plus art, music, physical education, technology etc...  Sometimes it really is enough to make your head spin.  The key to success is to be super organized!  My wonderful art teacher sister gave me this smart idea to store tempera paint.

Paint stored in covered condiment cups

This week my class is going to mix primary colors to create colorful paper that we will use in another project.  Do I need to spend hours setting up the classroom for painting?  No!  I have these lovely primary colored cups already in trays (foil muffin tins) stored in paper box lids  all ready to go in my closet!

My students love to paint so I am so excited that everything they need is just a few steps away! 

Can't wait to create!

What organization tricks do you have to save time?

Amy

Smart Science Vocabulary Foldables

Do you take an active hands-on approach to science?  I love NOT using a textbook and using fun and engaging activities for student to explore science. I have found, however, that students need an organized system for keeping key notes and concepts.

I love interactive notebooks, but since I use them for ELA, Math and Religion choosing an interactive notebook for science would be a little over the top for my class.

Instead I create ways for students to compile key concepts and vocabulary a unit at a time.  In our animal adaptation unit we are making these foldables.

Students write down the key concepts and vocabulary as we study them.   They research to find examples and the next class period they share their findings.

I store these foldables in a dishpan in my classroom to help avoid the dreaded, "I can't find mine."

What ways do you use to keep students organized in science?

Here are some animal adaptation products in my store.

Amy

Smart Ways to Purchase Classroom Decor

It's finally here . . .  the big TpT Sale.  I have a growing wishlist of so many wonderful products from amazing teachers.  Lately I have been reflecting back on how the purchasing of teacher supplies has changed since I first began my educational journey in the 80's. (gasp!)

When I first began teaching I would actually fill out a paper order form of a publishing company and mail (you remember stamps) in the form and wait a couple weeks to receive the materials.  Some of you might remember those days!?

For many years I made a few trips each August to a teacher supply store.  I would spend hours there pondering over the materials.  Sometimes I had to bring my little kiddos along so it was a challenge keeping them in line and looking at products. Don't miss those stares of "Why didn't you leave your kiddos at home?!"

A few years ago I discovered Teacher's Pay Teachers!  This collaboration of teacher products has changed my life SO much!  To have the most amazing resources just a click away is beyond what I ever dreamed!  Here are just some of the advantages of purchasing at TpT:
1. Quick: To purchase a material and use it that day-yes, I've done this-is amazing!
2. Price Break: The products are so reasonably priced--especially during a sale.
3. Classroom Tested: Most of the materials have been used in the creators classrooms so you know  that is will work in yours in most cases.
4. Custom: Many sellers will customize materials.  Just ask!  (I will!)
5. Support a Teacher: Many times the profits the teachers receive from their sales go to amazing projects: adopting a child, charity, paying for the family's health insurance, college tuition, college loans,buying groceries,  and purchasing their own supplies in their classrooms. You are really helping a fellow worker!

If you are stilling pondering classroom decor I have some beautiful nautical theme products in my store--and they are classroom tested, teacher designed, reasonably priced, can be customized, and just a click away!

Happy buying!

Amy

Smartly Organized Classroom Stations

I love to watch my students work together in learning stations or groups. When I design my room in July for the beginning of the year set-up, I try to incorporate my five stations.  Having the station places ready to go is a great incentive to use them frequently during the school year when time is a huge factor.

This year my stations have the nautical theme.  Many of them are just benches where two or three students can sit and work together on a task.

These  benches are made with materials I basically had around the house--two milk crates, boards from my boys old bunk beds and  nautical themed beach towels from Wal-Mart.  I don't attach the towels because sometimes we take them off when we are using the benches as tables. 

A table is always needed for one or two stations which can be for messy or larger materials.

The favorite station site is the comfy library couch!  

I keep my students' classroom numbers in a magnetic spice holder from World Market.

It is so easy to pick the station groups at random and keep them on the board for easy rotation.

I can't wait to plan fun and exciting station adventures for my new students.  I noticed at recess last year that many of my new crew loved insects.  So, I developed an insect unit this summer that will fit their needs and work very well  in our 5 classroom stations. 

How do you encourage collaborative learning in your classroom?

Amy

Ways to Infuse Scripture into the Christian Classroom Decor

Since I teach my students for two years, I find it very important to change my classroom decor and theme each year.  The fourth graders are always amazed at the transformation to their old third grade classroom every fall.

There are so many products available on the market for classroom decor.  It is a little more challenging to bring in the heart and soul of my school--God's Word-- into the decor.  There are just so many designs from which to choose.  So I pick the theme and then find ways to infuse scripture.

This year's nautical theme is always my favorite.  It is so easy to connect the theme to the Word of God.  First, I found 5 scripture passages that connected to the nautical theme.  I made posters to display in the room.  I decided to group the posters on a bulletin board.

I put this together mostly with materials that I already had handy in my classroom stock.  Next, I created student desktags that matched the posters.  I created five different types so that all students wouldn't have the same type.  The students seem to like variety.  I will probably print them off again only smaller later on in the year as the tags wear out.

My posters and nametags are available in my TpT Store.

Don't forget about stocking up during next week's TpT sale!!

If you teach in a Christian classroom, how do you infuse scripture into your decor?

Amy

Smart Classroom Library Transformations

I so love that my classroom is large enough to have a small library in the corner.  I think a HUGE part of encouraging kids to read is to "sell" it.  What sells is better than a comfy couch that is also attractive?
   Last year when I arrived in my new classroom I was so happy that some generous person had donated a couch for our reading corner.  It looked like this.

Last year I found four  2 dollar fleece blankets at Wal-Mart to cover it for my Zebra Theme.

 The kids loved it.

For my nautical theme this year, I wasn't sure what to do with the couch.  I didn't want to spend a lot of money, but yet a Zebra Couch in a Nautical Theme classroom was NOT going to work.

Then last week at Target a shower curtain caught my eye.  It was even on sale!  Perfect!  I had some navy fleece at home left over from a project and  in just a few minutes--Zebra gone-hello Nautical.

While vacationing in Cincinnati I found a clearance sale pillow at IKEA!  Also, while on vacation, I found an end of the season sale on a red Adirondack chair at Kroger.  We squeezed it in the van and now it sits perfectly in the classroom library!

So, for less than $30 dollars the library has a fun new nautical look!

Where have you found some classroom library treasures?

Amy

The Teacher Next Door Makes Life Interesting

Yes, it's me.  I'm that teacher next door.  I am that person that might go out early on a cold February morning to get the newspaper in some crazy dress-up week outfit.  You might see me return from the public library with a huge crate of kids books. You might even see me drive to school in my pajamas or a Laura Ingalls Wilder dress.  I am the neighbor who returns back home many mornings just a few minutes after leaving for school because I forgot  some needed supply such as the cabbage juice for a science experiment. Well, last night, I was that teacher out in my backyard spray painting  my teacher stool.

 Do you ever wonder what the neighbors think about your "teacher mannerisms"?

Last night was perfect painting weather so I took the time to redesign my teacher stool.  My teacher stool has been with me for about 20 years.  I think is was a Target purchase for $9.99.  For many years it was basic black with blond wooden legs. And then-- tragedy struck--the black vinyl seat ripped!!! Not wanting to part with my stool I recovered my stool with Duct Tape.  This "reducting" is now a yearly event as I design my stool to match my classroom theme.

In 2012 my stool was the "Zebra Stool."

 Last year it was transformed into "Polka Dot Perch."

Since this "Polka Dot Perch" would greatly clash with this year's Nautical Theme, I was outside into the dark evening painting and "ducting." 

2014 brings . . . The Captain's Chair!

I am sure that my neighbors are wondering about my new house decor.  Perhaps, they think that I am being a little over patriotic.  Or they have just gotten used to the strange things that occur--with the teacher next door.

Have your teacher projects ever caused curiosity in your neighborhood?

Amy

Smart Reading Rotation Boards

Ahoy Mateys!  Time to decorate the classroom! 

This year will be my 29th year of teaching and I am still amazed at how long it takes to decorate the classroom for a new year!  Yesterday, I journeyed to Michael's and JoAnn Crafts to be inspired. Michael's slogan is "Where Creativity Happens" so let's see if that is true!

 I purchased a few items that were on sale-red burlap, netting border, and some twine-- not exactly knowing how I was going to put everything together.

Today, I spent 7 hours at school trying to put it all together!  The result is my new:

 Reading Workshop Rotation Board 

Reading Rotation Board by  Amy's Smart Designs

My Reading changes so much during the year, depending on the needs of the students and the genre we are studying,  so I wanted a board that I could change quickly.  I pinned the stations on for a quick change if I decide on new station topics or  when I have a couple weeks of literature circle groups. Then I can pin the book title up.

Station pinned on for a quick change

Since my classroom theme is nautical  this year, I couldn't pass up this twine I found at Michael's.  I bought it for my students' reading bins, but I had enough left to use for this project too.

The boats can be easily rotated by hanging them on the paperclip hook.

Boat tags available in my store--Tons of Tags-Just click

Do you have a rotation board for reading?  What changes are you implementing this year?

Amy

Smartly Organizing your Students for Success

One of the elements that surprised me most when I entered teaching many years ago was how much time had to be spent on teaching kids to be organized!  I grew up in a home where my mother was an amazing organizer.  I am still in awe at how she managed and organized our household of five children!

 Many students come to school either lacking organizational skills because they haven't been exposed to such an environment,  a parent tends to do "too much" for them, or the student just doesn't make organizing a priority.

To help organize a student's day many teachers put up a schedule or schedule cards.  Today, I was lucky enough to spend time in my classroom (all cleaned, floors waxed!) and I mainly worked on setting up my schedule board.

My calendar dates head my schedule board.  Since its my sister's birthday today I hung up the birthday cupcake above the number, snapped a picture and sent it to her. (She texted back that teachers shouldn't be at school in July and that I should go home and celebrate her birthday--she's a teacher too--who practically lives at school!)

My schedule cards stick with magnets to my whiteboard. After laminating and cutting them out I discovered I was missing my Social Studies/Science page--guess I need to get organized!  So I will need to reprint or search for them.

Each morning I write the students' assignments on the whiteboard after each schedule card.  When they arrive at school they copy down the assignments in their assignment notebooks.  Sometimes the assignments may change depending on how the day goes, but at least the students have a good start to organizing their day when they arrive in the morning. I check their assignment books once before lunch and at the end of the day to make sure they are completing this important organizational task.

My nautical theme schedule cards and calendar are available at my  TpT store.

What new things are you doing to help organize your students this year?

Amy

Smart and Meaningful Home Office Finishing Touches

In June my home office went from this . . .

1990's wallpaper and blah beige

to this  . . . . . . .

calm 2014 "Ocean Kiss"

Mission Possible: Keep my office uncluttered and calm as an ocean.  I have worked hard to keep it that way despite the growing amount of projects that I am presently working on.

I  have taken my time to add the remaining decor simply because I fear that it will get cluttered.

My goal is to make the decor attractive since it is the first room guests see when they enter through our front door, yet meaningful since it is my teacher office. 

Here are some meaningful items that I have added lately.

I was puzzled about whether to add a chalkboard/ memo board or add photos of my family on the office wall.  Today, I found this Memo Board at Bed, Bath and Beyond!  Perfect!  It is magnetic so it works perfectly for both attaching memos of reminders and the kids photos. Just couldn't pass this up!

My memo/picture board

No more blank wall--memo board looks great!

 My bookshelf holds the projects I am presently working on, but it also displays some meaningful items.

A" must read" book each year and two angels given to me by two special students.

This bear has been with me at least 15 years.  It is a great reminder of another special student who had a very wonderful and thankful mother.  I think I should have given her the bear for all the support she gave to me.

This awesome project from http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/ is my favorite. ( I so love Jen's blog and she is even from my hometown!)  A couple summers ago my daughter and I each made one.  It is so handy to carry around the house when working on projects. Last year I had it at school. (Container is from Target--I saw them there this year and was tempted to make a few more!)

 This is my view when I walk out of my office.  The cross is not only my strength each day, but it was made by a former colleague who inspired me as a teacher more than he will ever know.  The bag is also another gift from a student appropriately named "Grace."

Amazing Grace

What special items do you surround yourself with to continue to give meaning to your workspace?

Amy