Handling Bathroom Use

Last school year, my class had bathroom issues.  I'm not talking have to go all the time (I mean they did, but they're 7!) I mean - trying to sneak their way out when someone else is already out because they want to go with them, making lots of noise, and not making other smart choices that we had talked about a gazillion bajillion times. Sigh.

So I came up with a plan that I'm not going to take out this year unless I need it, but it worked for the group I had last year, so I thought I'd share!  I had 2 clothes pins.  One labeled "boys" one labeled "girls".  I attached them to my clothes each morning.  Anytime anyone had to use the restroom, they had to come ask me (Yes, I know- I really had kids asking me to go to the bathroom 257 times a day which I normally don't do, but this group needed it).  If I had the clothes pin, I attached it to their clothes and they went happily on their way.  If not, they needed to wait. When they returned, they unhooked the pin and I reattached for the next kid.  Voila- bathroom issues solved!

Oh side note: You have to attach the pin to the TOP of their clothes, I usually attached it to the sleeve of a short sleeve shirt or the collar.  If it's anywhere else, I don't even want to think about the bathroom nastiness that will come back on that thing.

How do you handle bathroom issues? 

Tour my {unfinished} room

It's teacher work week! Wow oh wow, that intersession went FAST.  My room is not completely finished, I need to do a little more organizing, labeling, etc, but I thought I'd go ahead and share it because I'm in {L.O.V.E.}.  I moved classrooms this year.  My old room was ginormo, like really!  I was sad to move to a much smaller room but I'm quickly warming up to my new digs. 

Small group area. Justin traded tables with me so I'm basically in love with my new blue one!

In love with my word wall.  So glad Justin had these letters that he wasn't planning on using, they make the board awesome! The board to the right will have the Pirate ways on it :)

Student desks - so tough arranging them in this little room! It would have probably been easier if I put my small group table in the back of the room but then there would probably be too much traffic distraction.

Student desks. I've got about half of my stability balls I need to re-blow up. I put baskets from the dollar store inside their desk to keep the desk bomb from going off.

Meeting area: my Favorite Place <3

Meeting area / Essential Questions board/Desk-ish.  The table will leave enough room for a document camera and space for kids to work if they so choose, so it's not REALLY "my" desk - I haven't had one of those, ever! ha

Over the table is our phone guidelines.  When the phone rings, the kiddo closest will answer it.  Hooray for no more running to the phone. I put a sticky note pad and plenty of pencils so there's never a problem.  Under the message for students it lets students know what to do when someone calls that needs me.  If you want this, {click here.}  Make a copy of the doc and change it to suit your classroom.

This board will allow kids to leave the room without interrupting me but if I need to know where they are, I can look on the board.  It's right next to the door so that they remember to do it before they walk out. They have little anchor magnets with their name that they'll put in the box. I made sure to only put enough room for one person for the bathrooms!

For lunch count in the a.m. Lunch calendar will go where that magnetic notepad is.  Magnets with student numbers to be added.

This is where our HUGE computer cart needs to go (to the right of the green screen).  I'm super excited to use that green screen next year for fun shtuff. I'm also pretty stoked to have a class set of laptops - Oh the possibilities.

Our mailboxes - I need to add a few more. 

Our library.  I did a lot of work on it today.  You can see I got the chapter books done before I took this picture.  Most of the books are labeled and in baskets now, ready to be put into the hands of readers.

Supplies / math games will be stored here.  Also a place for students to work comfortably on the floor if they'd like.

Almost full classroom view :) Isn't it lovely??? <3 

Look forward to seeing pictures of everyone else's after your summer is over!

Until then, enjoy the rest of your summer! :)

Bring Your Welcome Letter from drab to FAB

How many of you get to send a welcome letter to your students before the start of the new year?  I was under the impression that this was a common practice, but maybe I am mistaken.  If this isn't something that your school does, I highly encourage you to suggest it!  It doesn't have to be letters that the school has to spend money on sending out, it could be an e-mail the teacher sends to the families.  Or if it's not a school-wide practice, maybe even ask if you could have your students addresses.  Seriously, I think it is one of the best ways to build students excitement before the year begins.  

I wrote last year about my welcome letter.  That post is {here}. 

Today, I'm going to give you a few suggestions to bring your letter from drab to FAB!  

 A drab welcome letter might look like this: (I'm going to go with a sort of "worst case" scenario with this letter here. For FABULIZING purposes - yes I just made up the word) This stuff is totally made up....

So, how do you take this letter from drab to FAB?

1. Instead of addressing the parents, address the student.  Not only will kids be excited when they hear "Johnny, you got a letter from your teacher!", it gives them the feeling of this is MY teacher, MY classroom and the anticipation and excitement begins to build for the new year. I imagine this is what my students look like when they get their letter from me.

2. Tell them a little bit about you.  What do you like to do in your free time? What about your family? Kids? Pets? Our students think we sleep at school! Let them know you are human and they'll be able to connect with you better.

3. Set up their expectations for the year.  Tell them what kind of year it will be.  What they'll learn. What they'll experience.  Your hopes for the year.  And I'm not just talking reading, writing, math, science, social studies.. I'm talking new friends, collaborating, how to use twitter, reading with classrooms around the world, skype - whatever will get them giddy about the upcoming year!

4. Tell them that you've been thinking of them or a little bit about the classroom.  Something that will excite them. Last year I told them I knew a little secret about them - that I had heard they were all geniuses and that the year was going to be EPIC.  This year, I told them a little bit about what it means to be a PIRATE (based on Learn Like a Pirate by Paul Solarz- which I HIGHLY recommend). 

You can click the picture below to purchase the book (just a sidenote: This is not an affiliate link) 

5. If you can, invite them to stop by the classroom during a set time to say "Hello", meet you, see their classroom, and get even more stoked for the year ahead.  This helps relieve some stress and anxiety the first day of school.  

Here are my letters from the past 2 years:

I hope I've given you some useful tips that you an apply to your welcome letter!  And if this is not something that your school does, please SUGGEST it! It's worth the excitement and anticipation this one little piece of paper builds for your new students.

Happy Holiday Weekend

Wishing you all a fun-filled weekend of celebrations, family, memories, and sunshine!  Be safe and enjoy yourself.  

Hashtag Goals

It's only a few days before I begin my FOURTH year teaching! I can't believe 3 have already flown by.  We begin our teacher work week on the 6th and the kids start on the 13th.  Oh.Em.Gee.

Since I only have a few days left of summer I thought I would share my goals for the year.  Someone tweeted a picture that I think perfectly sums these us....

I've always taken risks in the classroom but this year I want to go even farther.  I want to build a student led classroom that thrives on learning, collaboration, and love of school.  I want students to seek out knowledge, to be able to solve problems on their own, and to take CHARGE of their learning. I want to teach kids how to connect globally, how to use their ideas to change the world, how to make a difference, and to always Choose King.  This is a big leap, to sort of "give up" control, but thanks to Paul Solarz, Dave Burgess, Teach Like a Pirate, and Learn like a Pirate - I think I'm pretty well planned to take the risk and give it a shot.  

Cheers to the new year! 

My {Summer}

When you teach at a year round school, you don't really get too much of a summer.  We got out on June 5th and are back on July 6th, just 1 week after summer has truly begun. This is why I so look forward to that September intersession.  Getting ready for a new year is tough, but to do it in 4 weeks is even tougher. 

This past school year I found out that I would be moving from 2nd grade to 3rd grade.  That makes enjoying summer even more difficult.  Changing rooms...changing curriculum...changing mindset. However, I did find some time to enjoy myself this summer. Enjoy a "tour of my summer" through pictures :)

I moved classrooms.  I had to move from my ginormous, wonderful,painted classroom...

to a much smaller, not so welcoming, plain ole boring room... No worries, I'll make it mine :)

I spent some time with the wonderful staff I work with.  Said "see ya later" to my awesome, amazing teammate who gets rids of spiders in my classroom when I'm too scared to. And took one last "Team Pic" with this AMAZING 2nd grade team! I don't know what I'm going to do without my teaching BFF across the hall.

I said "farewell" to a friend who was moving away. Sadsville.

I dropped this fella off at his Grammy and Grampys, and took his Grammy with me to NY.

Where I enjoyed my incredible bridal shower thrown by my mom, my maids of honor/sisters, my mother-in-law to be, and my beautiful flower girls.

                                           

Went jet-skiing on the lake and even tipped Justin and I off into the warm lake water!

Saved a turtle...

Spend some time with family...

Soaked up some sun by the pool...

And started getting ready for the year ahead. Teachers start back officially on July 6th and the kids start 1 week later, on the 13th.  Now I'm in full on school year mode!

Green Screen!

Hope you've enjoyed taking a peek at my summer and I hope you enjoy the rest of yours! :)

Being Real...

A lot of times, people read teacher blogs (I'm totally guilty of this) and it seems all puppies and rainbows in the world of teaching... like everything is just wonderful..and you think, "Why in the world didn't I think of that?" or "Why can't I control my class like that?" or "So jealous of him/her..." They seem like they've got this teaching thing all figured out, and you wish you could be more like them...

Well I'm here to be a little real with you.. (sorry if I'm long winded today) I promise you, even though it may seem like it....It's not ALL puppies and rainbows for us bloggers anymore than it is for you! 

I don't have many followers and I'm not sure if anyone's noticed but I really haven't posted much of anything this past school year - Want to know why?

Because this was the most incredibly challenging, trying, exhausting year EVER - (In my entire 3 years that's sooo many, right? :))  

Without saying too much, this group had A LOT of energy, many struggled to get along, they argued about anything and everything - (I mean really....The sky is Carolina Blue! NO, it's just blue! NO! YES! NO! NO!! MS G!!! ugh) .  I had students who showed their feelings in ways I've never had to deal with in my classroom before. Students who said they hated me. Students who couldn't control their impulsiveness no matter what I did to help them. Students who I thought I was failing.  Students that I spent less time with than others because I had serious behavior issues to deal with. Students that I wish I could have helped grown more but didn't because I struggled to keep up.  There were so many days that I felt like just giving up - thought that this wasn't for me (3 year burnout anyone?). I felt like I was sinking...drowning with an anchor strapped to my ankle. I felt like a horrible teacher and felt bad for my students, no matter how many times parents, teachers, admin, my students told me how wonderful I was, I just didn't believe them.  Now, this does not mean that I tried less - I still put my whole heart into everything I did - it just felt like everything I did was a failure.  But no matter how hard things got, I never gave up (And I have so many people to thank for that!).

I'm so glad I didn't.  Because by the end of the year, even though it was still difficult, I could see that so many of my efforts were beginning to pay off.  Arguments grew in fairly smaller numbers. Impulsive students were finding ways to be in control of themselves. We had fewer angry outbursts that ruined entire days. Those students who refused to even look at eachother could sit in closer proximity with fewer issues.  Students who came to me as shy, timid writers, grew into fluent, vivacious writers that took risks.  Students who would sit and watch us dancing like crazy people to KooKooKangaroo were up dancing and laughing with us.  That student that started at a reading level H? She grew to an N! And that student that said he hated me? That one came up to me and said "Ms. G, I hope I get you next year for third grade."

If that doesn't tell you why we do what we do...Honestly, I'm not sure what does.  While this year was far from perfect - I learned so many valuable things to take to my future classrooms, and I know there are so many teachers that have been in similar situations.

Teaching is hard.  Some years are harder than others - but no matter what, we are ALL important. We  ALL make a difference.  We ALL change lives. We ALL matter.  Blogger or not.