Carson Dellosa Winner & Classroom Pics

Yep, I moved again this year.  While I loved pretty much everything about my room last year, it was in the 5th grade hall and left me a little disconnected from my team.  So this year I'm down in the kindergarten hall & had the chance to start over with a new classroom set up!  {see the positive attitude I chose to use there instead of dwelling on the fact that I had to move everything...again...while pregnant??}  ;)

Today was my first day.  The room isn't perfect but it's ready to roll for whenever baby girl arrives and I have to peace out!  Here's a few snapshots...

{view from the back of the room}

{front door & behavior clip chart}

{writing center}

{listening center & computer station}

{guided reading table}

{SUPER organized guided reading cabinet...so pumped about this!!}

{ginormous library for lots of reading}

{calendar & math board...will be added to throughout the year}

{teacher area hiding behind magnet center & unfinished work pockets}

And the winner of the fabulous Carson Dellosa giveaway...

Congratulations Sara!  Check your email!!  :)

how to organize guided reading?!

My guided reading {readers workshop} rotation is down pat.  It is the most reliable thing in my classroom.

I write the kids' names on the board so their name is in the same place every day, which eliminates a lot of "Where am I going?" when it's their center time.  The shapes next to their names are my 4 groups.  {I call them by shape but use the colors to match baskets or folders that differentiate the work at each center.}  The picture cards are the open centers which I rotate each afternoon.  {Some years I have used more than 5 centers so students don't necessarily get to them all in a given week but it also means I don't have to switch out activities as often!}  Easy.  Cheesy.

However {dun dun dun}, it is now the 6th week of school and my guided reading routine has changed 4 times.  No joke.  It is no wonder we're still trying to learn procedures...they change as soon as we get them down pat.  {these are out of my control changes, FYI, not just changes in groups due to data.  enter big smile here.}

I think hope have decided that we finally have the schedule set.  Unfortunately, it leaves me with the question...how in the world am I ever going to remember who goes where on a which day?!  Thank you, Google.  Here are some ideas I've come across in case you're also looking for a way to display your reading groups.  Even if they don't work perfectly for my wacko rotation, they're still great ideas and they may work for you!

{Lesson Plan SOS} uses student pictures on a "Now Starring" board to remember who's in each group.

{What the Teacher Wants} uses a weekly calendar to help her remember when to meet with each group.

{Mrs. VanDyke} gives each group a number and rotates them each day for the students to remember where they go when.

{Leaping Into Third} uses the SmartBoard.  Easy to change and a big display for everyone to see!

{Down Under Teacher} uses a separate poster for each group to remember where to go.

So many options!  I'd like to keep something similar where the students names don't move {unless their ability group changes} but that also includes centers, my group, the TA group and the ESL on group, on days that she is with us.  Also, my OCD won't allow for a big grid hanging at the front of the room. In the meantime, I'm using this chart in my binder and just calling them out.  {not so efficient}

Any other ideas??  How do you organize and display your groups?!

my classroom.

Finally...my classroom is all put together.  And let me say {once again} that I am super jealous of those of you who get access to your room all summer.  Whew...I am tired!!  But Open House was successful and {minus a few adjustments} it is done!  I think this might be my favorite classroom set up ever.

P.S. If you're following Little Miss Glamour on Facebook you'll already have seen a few previews and 2 easy Back to School centers!  ;)

Ok!  Are you excited yet??  Ready to see it?!  :)

{click on the pictures for a larger view}

{view from the front door.}

{view from the back door.}

{front wall}

Ok, now some up closeness.  ;)

{guided reading area}

{library corner...with new furniture coming soon!}

{schedule, objectives & calendar will be here}

{science, math & social studies words under the SmartBoard}

I love my framed quotes above the SmartBoard from Technology Rocks.  Seriously.

{world's easiest Back to School bulletin board & construction zone.} 

I use this bulletin board every fall.  The photos are pictures from past students engaged in math tasks, special theme days and other enticing kindergarteny activities.  The large white paper is student work telling why kindergarten {or their teacher} is awesome.  Parents love reading these!!

{student cubbies & behavior system}

{word wall & soon-to-be writing center}

{cool down corner, math tubs & front door}

{graffiti wall & pocket chart center}

{magnet center}

{creative corner for puppets, dress up & other imaginative play}

{back counter & books}

Don't you love those polka dots and letters?!  They're vinyl wall decals that go on quickly & peel off even easier.  Perfect for adding quick color!

{teacher corner.  pictures from past students above.  binders & teacher books below.}

{paper cart ie. my desk and the supply center.} 

{our school theme is all about being college bound.}

{meet me!}

Since I'm behind so many others I'm needing to play catch-up with linky parties.  Check out Teaching Blog Addict, Swimming into Second, Brigid's Daily Lesson Log and Blog Hoppin' for even more classroom pictures and ideas!!  :)

cute to-do lists. {because organization should still be stylish}

It's August!!  ie. Back to School time.  ie. Woops I didn't get anything done realization time.  ie. Currently link up with Farley!

Plus...cuteness always diminishes stress, right?  I know it's not just me, ladies!  So whether you've already gone back, you're starting soon or you still have until Labor Day {lucky dogs!} one of these should help make life sweeter...and more FABulous.  ;)

guided reading notebook.

There are SO many Guided Reading notebooks out there but I can still never find one that I love!  Creating my own was a major thing on my summer to-do list.  Since I start back next week with a 4 day math training {blech} I figured I better go ahead and get it started while I still have a chance.

The first page is for Guided Reading notes.  I have to create a separate weekly plan so this is more for my own sake.  Book titles, skill sets, activities, etc all go in my lesson plan notebook...which I never even look at.  This will stay in a binder on my table so I can make notes as my kids read and use it to plan future lessons.  {anyone else with me on that?!}

Then there are skill mastery checklists for blends, digraphs & dipthongs, vowel patterns, word endings and beginning reading skills like tracking or being able to isolate just the beginning sound of a word.

What's missing?  What's confusing?  What else should I add?  This is a work in progress and will probably be updated as I move through the school year but at least it's a start!  :)  Hope it helps!

schedule picture cards {updated}

In case you missed it the first time around - or you want the updated version - there are 9 more pages {that's 18 extra labels} in the new packet!

A few questions I've received to answer your questions:

*Can you add color to the pictures that are blank?  I can't.  These graphics aren't my own, they're from Lettering Delights and I'm not authorized to edit them.  {ha...nor would I know how!}  In my classroom I've just printed them out & colored them in before laminating.  Word to the wise: do NOT use crayons as they will m-e-l-t in the laminating machine, ie. leak out of the lines.

*Can you add this, that and the other to the file?  Sure!  Let me know what's missing, give me a few days to update and I'll get it back to you.

*How do I add the time to the blank boxes?  A couple of options.  1 - open it in a word processing file that allows you to add a text box over top of the graphic.  Format the text box so the box itself {the line} doesn't show.  Print.  2 - use a photo layering program like picmonkey to add the text.  Upload it like a picture and use the text {P on the left menu} to add your times.  There are various fonts available to choose from!  3 - print your time in whatever font you want from Word, then glue it in the box before laminating.  As long as you cut it down, it shouldn't show at all.  4 - good old fashioned write it in.  ;)

*Are there any other uses?  Always.  :)  Make labels by printing 2 copies.  Hang one in your schedule and the other in the part of the room set aside for that activity.  {drama in Housekeeping, science at your Exploration table, calendar by...well, the calendar, etc}  I did that in my room & my kids were able to easily find the area they were looking for because everything was consistent!  Mix up your regular schedule.  Instead of keeping it hung at the front of the room all day, take each card down as you finish the activity.  Transitions will be easier & you'll get less "What time is _____?" throughout the day!

There you go!  If you download, please leave a comment & become a follower.  Why?  So I can track what you're interested in.  I want to tailor my stuff to what you actually want and receiving feedback helps me to do that.  Why follow?  Honestly, because it's nice & makes me know you're really out there.  :)

classroom must-haves. {and some news}

As I told you yesterday, I have some news.  I've lost my mind with the new nail color trends.

Ok, no, that's not really it.

{deep breath}

I will be switching schools next year.  My current school is the only place I've ever taught and certainly feels like home.  I teach with my best friends and our staff has a definite sense of family.  I've grown up and learned who I am not only as a teacher, but as a person, within the walls of that classroom.  I've made mistakes, received recognition, worked toward a graduate degree and my National Board certification and learned what it really means to be an educator in today's world.

But next year I will be moving.

I'm excited and sad about it all at the same time.  I never thought I'd leave this school, especially of my own accord.  Nothing happened to make me transfer, the opportunity just kind of fell in my lap.  And while I know that the new school will be different {plus closer and with an earlier dismissal bell!} I'm so excited about the possibility of what can happen there.  Maybe I'll go for my doctorate!  This will be the place our kids will most likely end up for their first school experiences!  I can continue to learn and grow while sharing my ideas - and yours! ;) - with a brand new team of awesome educators.  I'm nervous because it's always hard to be the new addition to the family but I also know that change is good and this transition is one I am meant to make for the next season of my life.

One of the most exciting things is that I feel like I can start anew with my classroom!  I'll have no choice to break out of the same layout and routine I've used the past 6 years.  While my head is spinning with organization and possibility, I need to begin to narrow it down and think more concretely.  {After all, the only way to complete a Pinterest project is to choose just one and actually start it, right?!}  So that's why I've created this Linky Party.

What's on your Top 5 {gotta have it} list for the classroom?

Here's mine:

To play along just {right click} copy the picture below, paste it {in Microsoft Word} and add a text box over top.  Save it as a picture and upload it to your blog.  Then come back here with the link and add it!

Help me figure out what to add, delete, change, edit, create, toss or keep for next year!  Imagine it's your dream classroom.  Anything is possible!  :)  And hopefully you'll all find some inspiration as well!