STAR Binders and Agendas

My students have a S.T.A.R. (Students Taking Active Responsibility) Binder where they keep all of their homework, goal setting sheets, reading logs, spelling assignments, notes to home, etc. We started the year with a simple agenda sheet where they would write down homework, and the agenda has evolved as they have come up with different ideas of what they would like to include to help them stay organized.

Throughout the year, the students have given suggestions on how we could change the agenda to make it more useful. I have put together a file with all of the different iterations of the agenda (a one-page weekly homework sheet, and 3 different two-page versions) and the STAR Binder cover sheet. The agenda sheets should be copied front to back and stapled together to create a small booklet. I usually copy extras of each sheet one-sided to make the front and back of the booklets. There are spaces to write in helpful websites (class websites, school lunch menus etc.) on some of the forms before copying.

If you would like to use them with your students, you can find them in my TpT store. Enjoy!

Chapter 4 Everyday Math Pretest

Another one finished! Chapter 4 Everyday Math pretest is now available! If you are interested in using them in your own classroom, Chapters 1, Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 are all available. Enjoy!

Math Pretests... Continued

Well, I'm 3 for 3 now with pretests! My goal is to make one for each of the 12 units, so I'm a quarter of the way done! If you are interested in using them in your own classroom, Chapters 1, Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 are all available. Enjoy!

Spelling Headaches Finally Solved

It's always a challenge moving to a new grade level, and I've been feeling like I'm trying to dig my way out of a hole ever since the year started.  All of the wonderful plans I had put together in my head, and in some cases on paper, finally had their chance to be implemented, and while some of them worked out well, some of them didn't go as well as I'd hoped.

Spelling has been my biggest nemesis so far this year, but I think I have finally gained the upper hand! Last year I continued using Words Their Way, but I just wasn't happy with it in the end.  My summer planning put me on a path to use a modified version of Spelling Connections so that students would have their own, individualized list of words, practice with using words in context (something I just couldn't get to work for me with the way we were using WTW), and get extra practice with grammar skills.  I used the WTW spelling inventory at the start of the year, and I just couldn't figure out how to mesh the missing spelling patterns for some kids with the lessons in the book.  So, a new plan was needed.

I finally decided on using both programs (Spelling Connections and WTW), alternating between lists each week, but the details were still fuzzy on how exactly to implement everything.  First, I had to go back to the original assessments and place each student at an appropriate spot in both programs.  Out of 10 kids (yes, 10... it's part of the reason that I CAN do this!) I have 4 groups in SC and 6 groups in WTW.  I decided to use the SC program the first week since it was easier to wrap my head around, and the lists were already premade, which made it easier to get everyone started with Spelling City.  Thankfully, that all went smoothly!

No matter how many times I thought I'd had a plan for the WTW weeks, I just kept finding problems with my solutions.  When I left work on Friday, I knew that next week would be a WTW week, and I still didn't have the details sorted out on how to implement it smoothly! After hours of working on it this weekend, I FINALLY have a plan!

I started going through the WTW program and creating lists of 15 words from each sort that represent all of the different spelling patterns being covered, including some of the extra words that are listed in the book but are not part of the sorts.  I then double checked my lists against the different lessons that use those patterns in the SC book and made any necessary changes.  Each list is being printed out and put on a 4x6 index card with a heading like WW Sort 19 (Within Words Sort 19) or SA Sort 4 (Syllables and Affixes Sort 4).  The lists are also color coded by which book they came from to help us keep them organized.  Those short headings will then be used for the Spelling City lists, and hopefully will be easy enough for the kids to remember.

So, on Monday morning, each child will get their sort card (they may have to share with a friend) so that they can copy their 15 spelling pattern words into their agenda.  I will meet with each student/group to discuss their sort.  They will then add any words they misspelled from last week's test to their list, followed by any words on their misspelled words card (which is where I've been writing down any words they have misspelled in their writing).  If they still have spaces to go in their list of 20 words, I have a few math vocabulary words they can choose from.

Their homework/classwork will be from a spelling packet where I've broken the activities down into groups... Practicing the Pattern, What Does It Mean?, Break It Down, Playing With Words, and Just for Fun!  That way, I can assign work based on what they need... spelling patterns, vocabulary, etc.  They will also be able to use Spelling City for practice, although they will have to go in and practice their list in two parts... the WTW sort words and their individual list.

Whew!

An example of the WTW lists I am printing for the 4x6 cards

The Dreaded Basic Math Facts

I knew at the end of last year that there would still be some students who really struggled with basic facts.  Watching a child sit there adding 7+7+7+7+7+7 on their fingers can be almost painful, so I wanted to try doing the 1 minute timed tests this year as just another technique that might help reach some students.  I spent the summer putting together a set of multiplication/division tests, but alas, it seems that many of my students need to brush up on their addition and subtraction!  So, I put together a smaller review set of +/- timed tests and added it to the multiplication/division packet I had already done.  That means there is now a total of 54 tests with answer keys, and student and teacher recording sheets.  If you are interested in purchasing the new, extended version, I have it available on my TpT store.

When You Enter...

I came to the sudden realization the other day that except for the little welcome bird I made, my doors were quite empty!  Worse yet, I have two doors to my classroom.  So, a quick Pinterest search, a hunt for fonts, a little scrapbook paper... and voila!  It's nothing too fancy, but I like that it gives credence to so many different roles that students may take on within the course of a day in my classroom.

Classroom Tour

Well, I'm not done, but I at least left today with a room full of clean tables that look presentable.  I'm still waiting for my TV to be remounted in my new room, and after that is done I can hang the framed posters I made. I'm also still looking for the cursive alphabet chart that went missing over the summer, and lockers and cubbies still need to be labeled, and... well, the list never really ends, does it?  But, I snapped a few overall pictures of the room before I left today.

 Supply shelves, reading area, and possibly the wall where the TV will be mounted.  The bird nests look really tiny hanging up there in these pictures. Maybe once the rest of the wall stuff goes up, it won't look so odd.

 Looking towards the back table where I will work with students.  Love those curtains and windows, but dislike the black blinds underneath.  They will stay hidden as much as possible!

 Just going around the room... my desk is in the back corner.

Computer and extra work tables, cubby "island", and my little storage cube that I *love*, but that flag needs to be moved to another location. I keep running into it when I stand at the cube and do any work there.

The front of the room... the crates managed to last the year last year, though the fabric looks a little worn.  Hoping I can get another year out of them.  And I like my little pennant... adds just enough of a splash of color.

And, just to compare... this was what the room looked when I first started setting up... black blinds, no bulletin board on the far wall.