Classroom Procedures

I've been tempted to link up with the To Do List linky that is going around but I was afraid that if I started to write down ALL the things I wanted/needed to get done for school,  I'd start panicking! LOL. . . and I've just started my summer break . . . I don't go back until after Labour Day!  I am feeling a little under the gun though, because I'm going away in 2 weeks for a fab 3 week vacay to Europe (OMG,OMG!) which leaves me a week after I get back to get organized before school starts.

So. . . I've started by revamping my classroom procedures & routines (thanks to the influence of Clutter Free Classroom) into a more cohesive and thorough document that I can keep in my teacher binder AND in my sub binder AND in a copy for students to access. :)

It took me 3 days (they were leisurely days, but anyway...) but I'm quite happy with  what I ended up with.  If you'd like to check it out and perhaps use part or all of it you can download it here.

Up next. . . revamping clipboards, start putting together my Pensieve, teacher binder and sub binder, revamp an old easel into a clip chart stand, create Daily Math lessons for the SMARTboard. . . oh, geez . . . I'm making a list! . . . NOOOOO!......LOL

Newbie Blog Hop!

If, like me, you are relatively new to blogging, you may want to link up with this blog hop.  A great opportunity to meet bloggers who are still trying to figure out this blogging 'stuff' (like:  how to create a grab button, how to link up <grin>, how to create a cool signature...) LOL.  For all the details, check out the link above to Grade 3 Is The Place For Me.  You have to do a little bit of work, but you're on summer break, right?! LOL

    1.  what state you are in I'm actually in a province (British Columbia)

    2.  your current teaching position   Gr. 3/4

    3.  your teaching experience  I'm going into my 17th year having taught  

             everything from Gr. 3 to Gr. 7 with a bit of Learning Assistance thrown in :)

    4.  when you started blogging  This blog in March, officially 2010

    5.  share a blogging tip / blogging resource Pinterest is a great way to

             find great teaching resources/ideas AND teaching blogs. Participating in Linky parties is a 

             great way to get your blog out there and to find new blogs. :)

Blog Design Makeover Giveaway

I'm linking up with Christi over at Ms. Fultz's Corner.  She's giving away a free design blog package!
Who doesn't need a makeover?!  I know, I could use one! LOL  Check it out!

Daily 5 Book Study Ch. 6 Questions/Musings on Word Work

I've been following the Daily 5 book study hosted by We Read, We Blog, We Teach, anxiously waiting for discussion about Chapter 6 and specifically about Word Work.

Word Work is the one component of Daily 5 that is causing me some concern.  I've always had issues with the typical spelling program (you know...the one where you give out the list of weekly spelling words to all students on Monday, assign some homework sheets for the week and then give the spelling test on Friday.)  And typically, I found that students promptly 'forgot' how to spell those words, as it didn't transfer to their writing, which is really why we do spelling in the first place, isn't it??

It didn't take me long after I started teaching (many moons ago) to realize that this type of spelling format didn't work for me OR my students and so, over the past 10 odd years I have played around with spelling/word study, searching for the structure that would work for me and more importantly work for ALL my students, not just the middle of the road students (which most spelling programs seem to target).

 A few years ago, I discovered Words Their Way and thought I had finally found a program that would work...well, it worked for the kids, but it didn't quite work for me...I had a heck of a time juggling the four different spelling groups and getting the kids to work independently while I was working with a spelling group.  I know now, in hindsight after reading the Daily 5, that we needed to do way MORE modeling of behaviour and expectations in the class.

Last year, I implemented what I call a 'compromise spelling program' which I based on Beth Newingham's word study program.  It followed the developmental phase outlined in Words Their Way, but all the students followed the same pattern of study, with the exception of challenge word lists for students who got 90% or better on the pretest.  I also made up games & activities to go along with every unit of study (a lot of work on my part!) which students rotated through on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, & Thursdays and created a word study homework packet for each unit that students took home on Monday and brought back on Friday.  It was a lot of work and although the kids (and the parents) liked the program, I was left feeling that:

• a) I wasn't meeting all my students needs (my lowest students found the words too challenging and my highest students didn't find the challenge words challenging!)
• b) I was working harder than my students (there was a lot of prep involved)

On a positive note, these were the things I liked about the program:

• a)  They had a list of 5 high frequency words they needed to learn each week (based on where they were) and worked through the list, highlighting the words they spelled correctly
• b) They got to work on their spelling pattern words through games and activities regularly through the week
• c) It DID follow a developmental pattern
• d) Parents liked the program (Let's face it...half the time we do spelling to appease the parents!)

So, here I am in the summer, stressing over thinking about how I can redo tweak word study in my classroom for next year, within the Daily 5 structure.

Here's what I'm wondering/thinking:

1. Are teachers doing word work in addition to a more traditional spelling program?
2.  How can I use Words Their Way (which I really like) within the Daily 5 structure?
3. Do I really need to have a Friday spelling test and how do I justify NOT doing it to parents?
4. If I don't do a weekly spelling test, what will I use to assess student spelling abilities?
5. Can I/should I delegate some of the Words Their Way activities for homework thereby freeing up some time for other word study activities in class (knowing that there will be some students who will not get the support they need at home?)
6. How can I use  Words Their Way within the Daily 5 structure (I know, I've already mentioned this one, but it's a biggy!LOL)

I will be reading all the comments related to Word Work from the book study, but if you have any suggestions or if you have managed to find a way to meld Words Their Way with Daily 5 I would LOVE to hear from you! Pretty please! :)

Made It Monday Link Up Late!

OK...in some places, it's already Tuesday, but please bear with me ...it's my first real linky! :)
AND. . . I'm not crafty. . . in fact, some of my friends have called me the 'anti-Martha Stewart" <gasp!> I know, heartless wouldn't you say?

Anyways,  since discovering the wonder of PATTERNED Duck Tape, I have been eager to try my hand at craftiness!  Here is my first attempt:

A simple project but I am so pleased it turned out and I love the colourful dot pattern which will go well with the colourful button trim on my BBs.  I've got a few more of these to do before I tackle the CLIPBOARDS!

Theme Day Photos

As promised, I am including a few photos of the various theme days we had for the last 5 days of school.  Only 2 theme days are presented because:

1. I don't remember to take pictures, hence I have none and 
2. I had to rely on my teaching partner to supply the photos and this is what I have to work with.

WACKY HAIR DAY!

 FAV CELEBRITY/MOVIE CHARACTER DAY!

Lady Gaga?

Your guess is as good as mine!?

 The kids really enjoyed the theme days...made the last few days of school a bit more special.  We had a few other classes start doing their own theme day once we got ours going.  It was a nice way to end the school year, it wasn't too chaotic, so I will probably do it again next year! . . . but remember to take pictures! :)

Blog Slow Poke, Theme Day Pic & Summer Goal

I am a procastinating blogger.  Have no idea how my fav bloggers can be so consistent in their blogging?, so regular, so prolific?  LOL

Yesterday was the last day of school for the kids.  We had been doing a theme a day for the last week, partially because of our field trip fiasco.  I said I would post pics of each theme day but there is one problem . . . I don't take pictures!  My teaching partner did and she has promised to email me some, so that I can post.  I have ONE picture from our Favourite Decade Day . . . but my friend took the picture of 'moi' and frankly, I'm a bit embarrassed to be seen 'reliving' the 80's!  However, I feel it is only fair that,  since I'm not really living up to my promise of providing photos, I should do my penance and put the picture up.

So here it is . . .try not to bust a gut, laughing!

Sadly, I probably dressed like this back in the 80's.

Being the last day of school, I had good intentions to take pictures of the kids.  Alas, it did not happen . . . even with my iPhone burning a hole in my pant pocket.  This is definitely a fault that must be rectified if I'm ever to keep and expand my blog following.  (Am I right?!) What is a blog without accompanying photos? . . . a boring blog, I say! LOL

So, It is my goal to be a much more prolific photo-taker and I am starting with my classroom.  Since stalking following Clutter Free Classroom I have been waiting for the end of the school year to do a major makeover of my classroom.  I've set aside the first week of summer break to organize, coordinate, and decorate my classroom.  Can you tell I'm a Clutter-Free-Classroom wannabee??

And I promise to take lots of pictures and actually share them on Blogger!  Wish me luck!