Teachers on Periscope!!

Hi friends!

This is me on periscope!!  @MissTeacher101

Come find me and let's chat and hang!!! 
                        

I definitely am enjoying Periscope and it's definitely the major buzz in the teacher community!!  It's so fun to see people in real time talking about their passion and love for teaching.  Teachers on Periscope are sharing tons of tips and tricks!!!  

Just from going on Periscope, I am finding so many amazing teachers to follow and be inspired by!!!  Loving it!!!

I personally am enjoying creating scopes (this is what the live video feeds are called)!  I've put up a couple in the last couple of days just about myself and trying to get to know some others.  I will be posting more in the near future on different areas of focus such as classroom set up (coming to you in August)!, classroom management, centers in my classroom, differentiation, etc.!  I hope to see you on my feed sometime soon!!  I am always looking to inspire and be inspired!!  

Hop over to the fabulous Sheila Jane Teaching blog to check link up with other #PeriscopeTeachers!!  

July Currently, Goals, and Twitter - Oh my!

Hi All!  Summer is in full Swing!!  The weather is hot, but amazing here in New York!  I truly hope that everyone reading this is enjoying a well-deserved summer!!  

Thought I would link up for Farley's July Currently!


Listening:
I live in a cute little village where people can actually walk to get to places.  My apartment is pretty close to the street so I am enjoying the sounds of people enjoying some beautiful weather!

Loving:
I am absolutely loving summer!  There is so much time to do everything!!  Summer is allowing me to be better at sticking to goals.  For example, working out goals, wedding planning goals, blogging goals, TpT goals, relaxing goals - lots of goals and well.. it's getting there!

Thinking: 
I currently have an episode of Drop Dead Divas on pause that I can not wait to watch!  Has anyone else watched this show and enjoyed it??

Wanting:
I want to stick to all of the goals I mentioned above (and then some).

Needing:
I need to keep my motivation going and keep in mind where I want to go.

All Star:
I can take this in so many directions but I'll keep it related to my profession.
Like so many of you - Every year that I take on a class I put 200% into everything that I do.  My class becomes like a little family.  People that I love to educate and watch grow so much.  I am a Special Education teacher.  And honestly, not everyone that teaches can be a Special Education Teacher.  I truly think it takes people with big hearts and that are accepting to make all the difference.

In case you all didn't know - I am on twitter too!  I would love to connect with you - find me here: Twitter Link

Full Speed Ahead! Plan Books, Organization, Galore!

Wow!!  It feels good to be back on my journey with my blog!!  Part of my reason for being MIA is that this entire 2015 year has been a complete WHIRLWIND and there is honestly no end in sight.  I've experienced some good and bad events in 2015.  But I think it's safe to say that many of them have been good.  I have so many upcoming and exciting events for the near future.  For one, my brother is getting married this July 31st.  There are so many things to yet prepare for his wedding.  It's such an exciting time for my family!!  

Now that summer is in full swing, (my last day of work was June 26th), I am finally beginning to go full speed ahead with planning my own wedding (I can't even believe I am saying that BTW)!.  Rich proposed in February of this year and we are all booked and set for our wedding next June 17th (I'm sure you will be getting some updates along the way).

This is an old photo - but I love it!  Here's me and my fiancé, Rich!



Well friends, I am getting excited to start posting a couple of new resources in the next week or so!  I have a nice long, hefty to do list this summer!  While one part of my to do list means creating, creating, creating .. the other part means getting more organized, organized, organized.  I brought home tons of papers for filing from work - It is truly my goal to become a master at being organized with all of my binders.  This topic will be covered further in a future blog post about getting organized ... but for now, I will leave you with this quote:


Another thing on my to do list is updating those plan books in my store.  If you happen to have a planner from me, and you are anxiously awaiting updates, don't fret that will be here soon!!  Just in case you haven't seen my planners, here's a glimpse.


Black and White Paisley Planner










A few more planners will be debuted this summer as well. 

I can't wait to show you some more beautiful planners!

Hot Cocoa Math Fun!

At my school, we periodically have to change bulletin boards to reflect current and updated student work.  Work must be standards related, differentiated, and graded with a standards based rubric that includes glow and grow comments --- Sounds like a lot right??  Naturally, every time bulletin boards are due, my mind goes a little haywire!  What can I do that's different?! ... What reflects my students and the work we are doing currently?! ... What can I do that will show a little creativity or originality?!  Are you puzzled like me??  It's always a huge, what can I showcase on this this outdoor board anxiousness kind of moment?  Can you maybe kind of relate??  

Well this month, I decided to do something a little different.. something fun... bright... hands on... and math related!  (my previous 2 outdoor boards from this school year were ELA related!).  All that is really needed are the materials from this packet... some pretty border for your bulletin board... and marshmallows!!!

So here's what I came up with ... hot cocoa addition!!  Such a cute concept once I started really pulling my ideas together!!  Click on any of the pictures or the link at the bottom to bring you to the actual packet.








Even the students enjoyed this because it demonstrates addition that really made sense to them and it allowed them to do fun things like color and use marshmallows as manipulatives... and hey... isn't that what being a kindergarten student is all about??



I will be honest that I did do this project in 1 day, however it could really be broken up into a 2 day (or 2 part) project.  Coloring for part 1 and then math work for part 2 would be my recommendation... and truthfully, that is the only thing I would do differently next time!  I go into more tips and tricks in my actual packet!  Everything that is on my board is included in this packet!  Plus additional images and bulletin board letters (I didn't have letters created when I put up this bulletin board)!  I just thought that it would be a nice addition to the packet for all of you!  Next year, I just may use those bulletin board letters in this packet as well. :)



You can find that packet here!



Hope you enjoy!


Classroom Setup, Tour and Organization 2014

Wow!  It has been a crazy beginning of the school year!  My first day back to school with students was on September 4th and boy have I felt like I've been in full speed since then.  Actually.. probably even since before then!  I've been working on s-l-o-w-l-y revamping my classroom all while trying to enjoy the last remainders of gorgeous summer-like weather.  

On today's post I'm going to share parts of my classroom with you.  I will continue to share additional parts of my classroom this week as things transform and take more shape.  I have so many different projects and ideas and products to share and I can't wait!

This year I decided to entirely go for the bright, colorful, vibrant look.  I have had so much fun organizing and setting up my room.

Here is an example of what the majority of my bulletin boards look like.  (No student work yet).  I love the colors that I chose ... especially the lime green border and turquoise paper!  I love the way it all pops!


One thing that I decided to do this year was paint my clothespins.  I used acrylic paint of various colors.  Pink... yellow... green... orange...blue.  The pink and blue clothespins I used for my student behavior chart.  The yellow, green, and orange pins are being used for my writer's board.  I spent a lot of time painting, making a mess, and hot glueing pushpins on the back of clothes pins for my writers board.  

I was actually informed of a little trick from Hadar of Miss Kindergarten via Instagram ... So now I'm going to share this with you in case you think it's a cool, neurotic, thing to paint your clothespins like me... The advice is this: Put clothespins on a sturdy box (i.e., a shoebox) and then you can paint the sides of the clothespin without making a mess!  Sheesh.. I wish I  knew this before painting clothespins on 3 separate occasions!!  :)




This was a beginning of the school year writing piece that we did.  It was a great way to quickly assess if students knew how to write their names, letter formation, and overall familiarity with writing.  As you can see, it is hanging up on my Writer's Board and I am using the clothespins to make my life a little bit easier and well thought out this year! :)


Isn't Kindergarten work seriously the cutest?!  It's just so innocent!


Here is one of my behavior management systems that I use in my classroom.  Although now that I was introduced to DoJo - Thank you Erica Bohrer for HIGHLY recommending it - I will be focusing on a combination of behavior management modifications... but that's a whole other topic for a whole other post at a whole other time! :)  Don't mind the blurred out names on the painted clothespins! ;)




I used Carson Dellosa's amazing bunting for my Focus Wall!  What do you think of the bunting?  I personally LOVE it!  I found it in the teachers store and knew I had to have it!  I used this same pack of bunting and bulletin board letters to make a "Library" sign as well.

I made those Literacy/Reading/Writing/Math/S.S./Science focus wall headers.  Do you like them??  I will be adding these to my store ASAP!!  I'm having some trouble right now with my Adobe!  (Grr)!!  Anyways, this product is completely black and white and I simply printed it onto color card stock.  



I set up the schedule pocket chart.  My little tip for extra pieces (calendar pieces, schedule pieces, where are we now pieces, is to keep them in a brightly colored pocket envelope.  It keeps everything neat and organized.  Also find this schedule set in my store for free!!


I kind of really enjoyed using Washi Tape for my special project that I can't wait to share with you!


This special project is another form of Behavior Management that I got for free from A Cupcake for the Teacher.  Check out Are You a Secret Star here.  

I used washi tape on woodsy sticks.  I put one color on one side of the stick and another color on the opposite side of the stick.  I hand wrote numbers onto the sticks.  I still haven't introduced this to my students and I might give it a little bit more time before I do.. but seriously I adore it!!  



Here's how it works... I used 2 kinds of washi tape so that when I pick a stick, I can flip it over so that I know I already picked that stick.


I also put some washi tape around my picture frame.  (Did I mention I bought this frame at A.C. Moore for $5.00?! - This girl loves a good deal! :))


Here is my 2D Shape Wall.  Right under there is my behavior management ladder and underneath that are an additional 2 shape posters.  I have my 3D shape posters on the other side of this large column.



I hope you enjoyed part 1 of my classroom tour!  I'm hoping to come back with EVEN more photos later this week of things like my classroom door... My classroom library... different back to school projects and hopefully some new products coming your way!!  

Don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin' so you can get my latest posts! 

Back to School Classroom Prep

Okay ... it's official!  I am officially in "oh my goodness there are so many projects to finish to prepare for Back to School 2014" mode!  That means it's time to finish all of my latest back to school packets so I can have them printed and laminated and ready for the beginning of the school year.  It also means, hurry and print and cut and laminate so I can make everything look good in my classroom!!  My first official day with students isn't technically until September 4th, but I will be going in next week to start setting up.  

The funny thing about being TpT obsessed is that I constantly feel the need to improve ... improve my products for buyers and improve my classroom by constantly creating and finding better things to add or use for the most current school year.  Does anyone else have this problem?

I am excited to get my hands in there and try to make this my prettiest, nicest, most organized classroom yet!  Combine a little OCD and a little perfectionistic tendencies and you have a girl on a mission!!


In case you are a tad bit curious, these are some of the items that I have been working on.  Click on the pictures or headers to bring you to links.


Freebie


{ The bright colored alphabet cards will be coming to my store soon in a handwriting packet I am putting together.  Stay tuned!!  :) }


Here is a new rules freebie that I posted!  I absolutely ADORE it for the primary grades!!  I haven't decided if I will use this in addition to my adapted Whole Brain Teaching rules or not.  They are so different that I just might decide to use them both!



Here are some Schedule Cards, an editable freebie.  There are so many more cards than this but this is all I could get in my picture!



Finally today I got my "Where We Are" Poster Set uploaded that I've been meaning to do for quite a few days!  I spent a long weekend away with my boyfriend so I haven't had the time!  I love this one because there are so many choices (polka dot, sunburst, and chevron - with 3 different font choices).   It's SO cute!


I made that heart out of lime green and hot pink glitter polka dot ribbon!!!



Meanwhile ... I have been working on cutting all of this while ... **** Wait for it ... and drum roll please **** working beach and poolside!  

Word Wall Cards

Those are Fry's sight word wall word cards from my TpT shop.


Here are product covers to go along with the above pictures:








I promise that a new blog post with more classroom preparations will be coming soon!!  I have so much more to prepare and share! :)

P.S. - That handwriting packet will be finished SOON!  I promise!

My Back to School 2014 Must Haves!!

Okay this is my first link up ever and I hope I'm doing this right!  I'm linking up for "Show Us What You Bought" by Blog Hoppin'!  Feeling exhilarated and really want to share some of my must have recommendations with you!

Classroom Purchases

I seriously feel like I bought some amazing items that are going to be so amazing essential for my classroom!!  


Must Haves!!

Click on the names to take you directly to the products I purchased for my classroom!

A Teeny Tiny Teacher - Reader's Theater

Creation Castle - Calendar Cards

Karen Jones - Kindergarten Interactive Math Notebook - For the Year!

Owl in a Vowel Tree - Editable Book Bin Labels

Reagan Tunstall - All About Me Flip Book


Clip Art


And of course I couldn't not get clip art!!


Here are some of the people that I purchased all of that BEAUTIFUL clipart from.  Click on the name below to take you to some of the products that I purchased!  

Ashley Hughes

Whimsy Clips

Teacher's Gumbo (I JUST discovered her clip art and it's freaking amazing)!

Krista Wallden

Graphics From the Pond

Teaching Super Power

Essentials from My Store


Miss Teacher Resources 101

Here are some back to school items that you can find in my store as well!  These are some of my favorites and are (in some cases will be) staples in my classroom.  I hope you will check some of them out!  Here are some links:

Word Wall Posters - Colorful Polka Dots {Maches Fry's First 200 Sight Words)
Scoopin' Up Beginning Sound Sundaes
Beginning Sounds Phonics Printables
Fry's First 200 Words - Colorful Polka Dots {Matches New Word Wall Posters}
Fry's First 200 Words - Black and White Polka Dots
Center and Early Finisher Choice Cards
Editable Lesson Plan Book & Organizer
Seasonal Word Cards - Part 1
Plane Shape Posters with Faces


I hope you have had a wonderful 2 days of shopping galore!  But since I DEFINITELY know that feeling of discovering must have items too late (meaning after the sale), I am going to keep everything in my store discounted at 20% for the next 24 hours!!  

Also, don't forget to link up with your Back to School 2014 "Show Us What You Bought" here!