Whats Ahead 2013-Linky Party!

Gearing up for January and the rest of the school year is both exciting and stressful for me! However, a few days before Christmas break is over, I always enjoy changing a few things in my classroom, creating better and more engaging lessons, and getting as much sleep and relaxation as possible.

I have decided to join Michelle, over at "Making It as a Middle School Teacher," to look at what's ahead in 2013:

 

Whats Ahead 2013-Linky Party!

Hope I did this correctly....I am still a newbie to linky parties!!!

Class Dojo REWARD IDEAS

So, many people were excited about my post on the Dojo, but they still had questions.

This is how I use it throughout the day:

1. I log into Class Dojo every morning.
2. Whenever a child comes in, they are able to see my morning message as well as their running weekly total. I believe this gives them a chance to either fix their behavior that day, or keep on keepin' on!
3. During class, I simply MINIMIZE the screen and/or Create a New Tab on the internet if something in my presentation uses it.

Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary

CLASS DOJO for classroom management! IT WORKS!!

CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT HELP!

 

I have been hearing a lot of people talk about "Class Dojo" and I had my doubts. However, after much deliberation, and some time on their website, I decided to try it out with my class.

IT WORKED! My rowdy kids got quieter, my quiet kids became more involved...it seemed like a miracle. But will this dream end? I will keep you posted.

 

Class Dojo

 

P.S. I was not paid to advertise this site, nor do I know anyone associated with it. I just took a colleagues advice, tried it, and it seems to be working with some of my blurters and troublemakers.
So.....I must share it with those who teach the upper grades as well as my loyal blog followers!

Literacy Workshop Station

My students actually had some fun learning about nonfiction text features!
 I created this literacy workstation using my SC PASS Practice book.

Building of the Panama Canal

It's funny how one powerpoint presentation can take FOREVER to make, you know!??!?!

Welcome!

Just wanted to say thanks to my new followers! It's so cool sharing ideas with all of you!

Sight-Word Summary Activity

My husband is a middle school teacher and he is AWESOME! He has the best ideas for getting kids excited about history and reading. Here is one of the activities my kiddos will be doing tomorrow to understand how the United States became a world power.

Liebster Award...again! Thanks!!!

 I've been nominated not once, but twice for the Liebster Award!

Thank you so much  Fabulous 5th Grade Fun! for giving me this award! It's really cool that people are following my little teaching life and getting something out of it!  :) 

 

The Liebster Award is given by bloggers to up and coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. It is to show new bloggers that they are appreciated and to help spread the word about new blogs.

QUESTIONS I MUST ANSWER:

 

 

1. Beach or Snow? BEACH! I grew up in Long Beach, NY and live near Myrtle Beach, SC!

2. Sweet or Salty? BOTH

3. Do you collect anything? If so, what? If not, what would you start collecting? I collect pins on Pinterest...I am obsessed!

4. Family tradition? Lasagna on Christmas

5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Closer to family and still loving teaching

6. If you could change one thing in education, what would it be? Red Tape and Classroom Walk-throughs

7. What is your favorite dinner recipe? My mom's Italian Onion Soup

8. Do you have a TpT store? If yes, what's the link? Nope

9. What is your best teaching memory? Helpingone of my 4th graders get the help he needed. Now, years later, I saw him on Halloween and he and his mom said he was on the honor roll in high school! AWESOME

10. Something you have always wanted to do? Live in Paris for at least 6 months (I got engaged there!)

11. The lottery question...what would be your first purchase? A home in my hometown for my parents and sisters. They would appreciate it since they were hit by Sandy

 

 =====================================================================

The Rules:

• You must post 11 random things about yourself.
• Answer the questions that the nominator set for you.
• Create 11 questions for the people you nominate.
• Choose 11 blogs you love (with less than 200 followers and link them in your post.)
• No tag back, but please leave me a comment on this post with the URL to your Liebster post so I can learn more about you!

MY NOMINEES ARE.....

Ramblings of a 5th grade Teacher
Surviving-the-first-year
Ramblings of a 5th and 6th grade Teacher
5th Grade Tomfoolery
The Reading Sage
Learning in Bliss
Fifth grade Dugout
Nerdy, Nerdy, Nerdy
Sixthgradescribbles
Mrs. Tilmon Says
Bayside Teacher


MY QUESTIONS:
1. What is a book you’ve read that changed your life or affected you strongly in some way?
2. What were your favorite things to do when you were a kid?
3. What are your top 3 movies?
4. Which goal for yourself are you most proud of accomplishing?
5. What do you do to pamper yourself after a tough day?
6. What is your favorite holiday and why?
7. How do you balance blogging and teaching with the rest of your life?
8. What trait do you admire most in others? Why?
9. How did you get into education?
10. Why do you blog? What inspired you to start?
11. If you could live in another part of the world, where would it be? Why?

Science Notebooks:Student Work

It is truly amazing what my students come up with ON THEIR OWN. I didn't even have them take notes...these children just took it upon themselves to create their own! Awesome pictures, colors, and use of content vocabulary!

Studyisland.com

 

The Study Island Common Core Benchmarking Program gives teachers a snapshot of student proficiencies in relation to the Common Core State Standards. At any time, teachers can assess student progress and pinpoint areas in which students are excelling or need extra practice.

 

Study Island Prices by Location

 

I love this site! It was worth the money out of my own pocket! I can use it for small group instruction, morning work, and independent reading stations!

Classroom Photos 11-2012

What's Happening in Room 303?

SOCIAL STUDIES

iPads have invaded our classroom...and we're loving it!

Create a comic strip on the iPad about the Progressive Reforms during the Industrial Revolution in America

Create a comic strip on the iPad about the Progressive Reforms during the Industrial Revolution in America

SCIENCE

Lab Sheet: Separation of Mixtures

Lab Sheet: Separation of Mixtures

Separation of Mixtures

Separation of Mixtures



Mixtures and Solutions: Kool Aid Lab. Which one was more concentrated?

Chromatography with Markers



Mixtures and Solutions: Kool Aid Lab. Which one was more concentrated?



Mixtures and Solutions: Kool Aid Lab. Which one was more concentrated?

 ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS

Test Prep Imagine It Unit 2 Lesson 4. Timed answers with a partner



 MATH TEST PREP

Differentiated Math 

Compass Odyssey Math Practice

Compass Odyssey Math Practice

Compass Odyssey Math Practice

Compass Odyssey Math Practice

Compass Odyssey Math Practice

CCSS Math Practice Standards

After our Everyday math Coach visited, she left us with the CCSS practice standards. I created these labbels that I have placed next to my SMARTboard. I have been placing asterisks next to the standards we use for each EDM lesson.

BIG BUSINESS in America social studies activities

Classroom and Activity PICTURES