Teacher Minions

Back to School Craft: Painted Pencils

 

I love this idea for a back to school craft. It can also be an "at home" idea for teacher so that the "teacher pencils" are easily identified and returned....

 

Kids can decorate pencils by winding extra-thin tape around a plain pencil, painting it, and then unwrapping the tape.

 

See full, detailed instructions, materials list and examples at the source: CLICK HERE

Monday Quote....

Currently...

 

 

Listening:
To my daughter and her friend giggling in the room next to me. It's the last slumber party of the summer.

Loving:
The weather we have been having. There was a wicked thunder storm the other night and the rain watered my garden for me. Since then it has been sunny and beautiful.

Thinking:
About back to school.

Wanting:
A job! I am a bit anxious knowing there are no classes available for many teachers, including me. I really hoped I would be able to know before school starts.

[For those new to my blog, our district had a major budget deficit and laid off approx 500 teachers. As of last week 200 were still not placed back in a classroom... there are no jobs... yikes!]

Needing:
To get my house cleaned! And not stress of things I can not control [like when I get my class assignement]
Love Yourself Spot:
1. Drink more water 
2. Learn to say 'no' sometimes
3. Scrapbook more

If you want to participate in 'Currently' check out Farley's blog - Oh Boy 4th Grade I try to participate every month and even use the idea with the mentors group I work with as an opening write sometimes!

Reflecting on Summer....

Back to School Tuesday!

In June I posted this "A Teacher's Summer Bucket List " as well as my own "Summer List" Here

So... How did I do?

Well, summer seems to pass by faster and faster each year, but I did try this summer to do as much as I could! I think it is so important to relax, rejuvinate and have fun in the summer...

1. I did not organize my garage of resources. Though a few teacher friends have offered to come help me soon.
2. I did go camping for 5 glorious days with two other families! 6 adults, 6 children, 3 dogs. It was amazing! One of my longest friends and his wife and two children were one of the families we camped with and they are pro-campers, so we ate in style! Slow smoked pork sandwiches, ribs, steaks, and late night campfire snacks like bean dip and potato skins... delicious!
3. I did not plan for the upcoming school year. I am on recall and there is no job for me yet, so I can't plan as I don't know what class/grade/school/subject I will be in, when I am in...
4. I read a few novels, not as many as I hoped, but I really enjoyed them!
5. Beach trips were few and far between, the weather was beautiful, but almost too hot to go to a busy beach. We did go to the lake while camping a lot though!
6. Summer Conference and FIT were awesome! I really enjoyed Kamloops
7. SDCC (Comic-Con) was epic! I had the most amazing time with friends and attending panels, celebrity filled parties and cool exhibits.

Also, not on my list but quite rewarding:

• Scrapbooking with my daughter
• BBQs
• movie dates
• hanging out with my husband, daughter and our puppy at the dog park, river, trails and lake
• coffee dates with friends
• tutoring

And now, it is back to school... I am excited for my daughter, entering her final year of Elementary School and I am anxious to learn where I will be teaching this year.... Good-Bye Summer!

What did you do this summer that was most enjoyable?

Pintrest in Action... Setting up the classroom

My good friend and colleague has been back at school all week setting up her Grade 4/5 classroom.

She is active on pintrest and used a lot of the pins she found over the summer to implement in her classroom.

Background:
Last year she changed the set-up of her class. She wanted to observe how students worked in different seating arrangements and how it changed when she set up sseating assignments vs. when students chose their own.

The Options:
She had tables lined up on each side of the classroom with bleachers at one end (and clipboards) as well as big comfy rugs in the middle. There is also a cloak room area to work in, the hallway and a table in a cubby area down the hall. Students often have the choice of where to work during work time.

This Year:
She has continued with the lay out of the classroom listed above and has implemented some awesome pintrest ideas. I wanted to share some of the photos...



On her desk to organize everything easily



Drop Zone - handing in work



Help Wanted and Job applications for class jobs



Clothespins with students names or numbers will be attached to this chart and be moved if needed throughout the day.



Each student has a number and they can move their magnet if they leave the room (Especially good in this class given the choices of where they may go work in and around the school)



No Name? No Problem! Clip up work here



Class volume

See similar: Voice O Meter



If they get too noisy she will add one of these letters up on the board. If they spell noise it becomes a 'no talking' time



Book Hospital, a tub to put damaged books into so they can be fixed



Clip boards (for workers on the bleachers) and school supplies



Dry Erase pens with "puff balls" attached to lids for easy erasing



Shelves she  bought to put tubs on, each student gets a tub to keep their supplies (since she doesn't have traditional desks with storage in them)



Shout Out Box, if you have something nice to say about someone, write it down and put it in the box



Her class library, full of all the books she has bought and some comfy chairs

She writes a blog here and recently did her masters exploring classroom design. I always love going to her class and have talked about her classroom design before.

I had to share these photos she posted of her class, because she is an amazing teacher and has some great ideas! Her students are very lucky to have such a caring teacher and a welcoming and innovative classroom!

For TTOCs:

Which of these could you implement as a TTOC? I like the "NOISE" letter idea for classroom management as well as the number magnets for leaving the room.

Check out this post with some more ideas: HERE

Special Chair in Class

The idea of a special chair in class is not new. As a TTOC I have seen the aithour's chair, L'aime Speciale chaise, the reader's chair, the calendar "leader" chair and so on and so forth.

I saw this post and really loved the creativity of the chair decor.

 

 

 

See many more amazing chairs at Source: http://teachingmyfriends.blogspot.ca/2013/08/authors-chair-share-chair.html

Portrait Project

I remember as a kid tracing our shadows and profiles and cutting them out in black paper.... I like this modern twist on that activity that allows students to then decorate their profile with things they like and that show a bit about them. This is a great back to school activity.


http://pinterest.com/pin/61431982389822972/

The Best part of Me Project

I like this idea. I am a fan of photography and enjoy incorporating it into lessons and projects in my classes. I have printed photos out just on regular paper through the photocopier when I don't have the time or money to print actual photos. This is a neat project that would work well back to school week in September.


http://pinterest.com/pin/61431982390326917/

Monday Quote: Everyone Deserves the Chance to Fly...

I know some of my teacher friends and readers in the States have already returned to the classroom and since we will next week here as well, I thought I'd start up my Monday Quotes again... I love this one and I love Wicked the musical so I thought this was fitting and wanted to share it with you all.....


HAPPY MONDAY!!!





http://pinterest.com/pin/61431982390432634/

Classroom Ideas: Voice O Meter

I love this idea. I have used Red/Yellow/Green lights to indicate volume, but this cute homemade poster is clear on the expectations.

How might you adapt this as a TTOC? Maybe a small size that you can take with you to each class? Drawing it on the board in a classroom?

http://pinterest.com/pin/61431982390432623/