Where are we?

Do you use a “Where are we?” board to let anyone know where the class is when you are not in the room?  It is a helpful tool for those students that come in a little late.  They just look at the board and meet you where you are.  It is also helpful when another teacher is looking for a student or teacher.  There are many forms of the “Where are we?” boards that are floating around the internet and pinterest.  I have used several forms myself until I saw a sweet colleague's “Where are we?” board.  I knew I had to have one like it, so, I made one with my own little twist and I love the way it turned out!  

You can make one too.  Here is how:

Gather your supplies.  You will need a magnetic board, ribbon, packing tape, scissors, hot-glue materials, and a print out of this freebie.

Cut out the printed pieces and tape them on the magnet board with packing tape.  Then cut and hot glue the ribbon to the magnet board. 

Attach the top label with packing tape and a magnetic tape strip to the back of the HERE piece.  Add a piece of ribbon to the back of the board to create a hanging look. 

To use, place the board outside your classroom door.  Have a student change the board every time you have a change of location.  This makes a great class job that can be rotated student to student throughout the year. 

Here is the link for the pictures if you didn’t see it above.  Where are we picture cards.

Have a great time making your board,

Coconut Cutie

TEACHER...I'm DONE!

Do you hear from your students, "I'm done!" while the other students are still working hard?  You know that if you don't find something for this friend to do {AND FAST}, it could be bad...that student gets bored, starts talking to others, starts doing something to distract the other...ugh!  

That's why in my room I like to be prepared for moments like those by having an "I'm Done" bucket of stuff.  I want this to be beneficial to the students who are completed with their work, not just a time filler so I came up with this.

When a student is finished with their work, they quietly put their work in the basket and go to the "I'm Through...Now What To Do?" box.  They keep track of which envelopes they have done and not done by using their checklist.

They grab the envelope that they need and take it quietly back to their desk to work on.  On the pocket of the envelope it gives them the directions of what to do in word and picture form.  Inside of the envelope are the recording sheets to complete the task.

In this case, the student has already done envelopes 1 and 2 so they would need envelope number 3.  

Students then keep their completed pages in their pocket {see pictures below} which they just keep in their work in progress folders.  At the end of the month, it gets stapled together, I look at their packet and review what they missed with them, and it goes home.  At the beginning of the month, I put all new envelopes in the box and the process repeats.  

 

“I’m Through” Pocket:

It is simply a 12” X 12” piece of scrapbook paper or construction paper that I folded in half, put a label on it, stapled together, and cut a small wedge out of.  I also laminated them so that they would last for the year.  Each month the pockets are cleared out and taken home to begin the new month.  We attach the tracking page to the stack and staple it together.

I keep my materials organized by putting it all in zip lock bags.

 I put the originals in there as well as the envelopes so when the new month comes around, I grab the bag, make the copies {there are 2 recording sheets per page}, put the copies in the envelopes and put them in the box.  Another month's worth of stuff done in about 5 minutes.  Easy!

Don't want it as a "I'm Done!" box?  That is OK!  These work great for small groups, centers, tutoring, interventions, RTI practice, bellwork/morning work, etc.  The skills get harder each month and continue to spiral.  It should be a review of what they have already learned/know!  Each kit {except for August} comes with 24 envelope tasks.These are great for independent first grades, high kinders, or low second graders.

There will be a packet for every month *except for June and July*.  I have uploaded August {a brief sample}, September, and October.  More will be coming soon!

BUT WAIT...THERE'S MORE!  

You can start getting this ready by downloading my FREEBIE *August* "I'm Through...Now What To Do?" kit by clicking the picture below. 

Don't forget to leave me feedback, comments, questions, etc.  Also, don't forget to check out my September and October kits as well! 

Happy Classroom Management,

Coconut Cutie

Spring Break FREEBIE #5

Alright y'all, I must confess something but I'll try hard not to rub it in. I am typing this post on my ipad at the beach while basking in the sun and watching dolphins! YES, DOLPHINS! I saw them the other day too and I tried to swim with them but they weren't havin it :0(  I also did a bit of stand up paddle boarding in the ocean.  That is the board that I used today {it is upside down at the moment}

Anywho, needless to say, I am having a wonderful time and sad to see my time here end tomorrow. Then, it's back to the daily grind on Monday.

Well, back to business!
Do you label everything? I have a way of doing that because staying organized is a challenge for me, especially when I'm trying to finish one week's materials and plan for the next week. My team and I have an awesome plan for the entire year that we all keep in our plan book, in addition to our weekly lesson plan {we always know what is coming up next} so that's not the issue. 

What is the issue is all the papers and activities for the week. So, to help myself out, I created a little spot in my room to keep it organized. See for yourself below:

This is AWESOME if I do say so myself because it allows me to work for the week and also gather/prepare for the next week.

First I gathered some 3 drawer containers, stacked them and labeled them one for each day of the week. After making my copies for the week, I look at my lesson plans and sort the papers into the appropriate weekday drawer. I pull out the papers as needed. I also put any books or tracers, etc. in the drawer as well.

In the blue bins next to the drawers, I have one labeled "lessons for THIS week" and "lessons for NEXT week". These bins are where I keep the bigger items that don't fit in the drawers or the storage baggies for the materials being taught. In the bin for n ext week is where I keep all of the material that I pull for the next weeks lessons.

The green caddy is a new addition to my little organization station and I have yet to place the labels on but I will as soon as I return to school. This green caddy is where I store my file folders {filled with my original copies for each content area} for the week on the right side and on the left side the file folders for next week.

Behind the green caddy is a clear file organizer that houses my copies that I need weekly {center maps, book logs, homework logs}

Your freebie for today is my organizational labels. Hopefully you too will find them as helpful as I do.

Get your organization labels here!

I'm also curious, how do you organize your materials? Let me know! I can use all of the organizational info that I can.

Happy organizing,
Coconut Cutie

Guided Reading-Setting Up Your Books

Hey y'all!  Hope this post finds you well and your reading groups organized.  Today's FREEBIE is all about organizing your books.  If you are like me, you get most of your books from Scholastic and if you don't, you should really check it out.  They have great rates, the shipping is FAST, and its easy to rack up points for free, that's right, FREE books.  Who doesn't love free books?  Anywho, I love Scholastic for another reason and that is their Teacher Book Wizard http://www.scholastic.com/bookwizard/.  This is a wonderful tool for leveling your books. 

So...let's get started.  Here is how I set up my guided reading books.  First, I leveled all of my books by using the book wizard and then I label each book.  I gathered baskets (one for each level) and labeled each basket with a reading level letter.  I also got a lot of gallon size zip-lock bags.  I put all book copies and guided reading lesson plans (and what ever else goes with that books) into the zip-lock bag.  Then I place the whole kit into the correct leveled basket.

At the beginning of each week, I think about what story and skill would best meet the needs of each group.  Then I pull the books that best fit those needs.  I move each guided reading kit needed over to a basket that I keep by my guided reading table (a.k.a. rainbow table)  and is separated by color group tabs.  When I call each group, the books and everything I need to teach that book are right at my finger tips.

 

For the materials needed to set up your guided reading books, click on the link Setting Up Your Books FREEBIE

Happy reading and organizing,

Coconut Cutie

Guided Reading-Getting Started

It’s the middle of the year and it is time for that dreaded MOY (middle of year testing).  BUT...what I love about MOY testing in first grade is seeing my students SOAR!!!  Each year I am blown away at how far they come on their reading levels.  In my district, we use the DRA assessment to find out each student’s reading level (based on letter levels).  For instance, an emergent reader who is still reading repetitive text with MANY pictures would be on a level A and progress up the alphabet.  Hooray for me because I have WONDERFUL readers this year and so many of my children are reading on a level I or higher ALREADY!  Wowie, wow, wow, in the words of Junie B. Jones (one of my most favorite characters).

So...how do I do it?  Lots and lots of reading.  Whole group reading, guided reading, homework reading, shared reading, partner reading,  reading center, reading, reading, reading.  

For guided reading, I only put 3 kids in each group.  Yes, this means that I must see many groups but I love working with only 3 as I feel that the students get more of what they need.  After setting up guided reading groups based on abilities, I put a color to each group.  This way they never know who is higher or lower, they are just a group.  When I want a particular group, I call that color group over.  They know who is in which group by looking at the posters on my cabinet door. 

To differentiate my reading center I put leveled books in to baskets marked with the color groups.  When my kiddos go to the reading center they select their colored basket and read from those books.

Click on the link for the Guided Reading Management pages.

Happy reading!!!