More New Classroom Pics (and a special thanks to the hubby)

Seriously after all the work...I really hope I don't have to move for at LEAST ten years.
My heart is in third grade, I enjoy my school, and wellllllllll I don't want to have to box everything up AGAIN.

Last year I used fadeless paper (see above). This year I took the advice of my new teammate and went and got felt for my boards. SO GLAD THAT I DID. Thanks to my awesome hubby my boards look incredible and the backgrounds will hold up for years to come.

My new favorite addition (as far as bulletin boards go) is my "Instabooks" bulletin board.

#keepcalm & #readon (spelled out in Lilly Pulitzer patterns of course!)

I actually created an instagram account (@mrsnpartyka) to photo and filter pictures of the books we have read. As the year goes on I will post pictures of the books on the board. This way students have a remind of all the books we have read. PLUS since I use many of the same read alouds from year-to-year I can save them to put back up next year. In my opinion it is way more fun (and current) than having a long list of titles and authors. 

(PS found the cute Surf's up sign at my favorite teacher place--Dollar Tree!)

This picture above shows one of the areas I am MOST excited about--above my cubbies and cabinets.  Once the hubby finished putting my felt on the large bulletin board I measured it out and realized I had enough to cover the ugly ugly dirty looking walls above my cabinet.  Fortunately my incredible hubby is over six feet tall (he's an entire foot taller than my practically legal midget status) so we were able to staple all the left over felt up there. (Years ago the entire wall was a bulletin board). Afterwards while I continued to organize and set-up my awesome hubby added some underwater cutouts and bordette for me. Then he places all the super cute stuffed animals of book characters my former first grade teacher grandmother had given me. 

It is incredible how much brighter and cleaner my classroom looks with this little touch. Plus it will keep me from getting lazy and throwing old materials up there. I hate how cluttered some classrooms look because of that!

So another great reason NOT to move...I don't want to have to make the hubby redo his incredible bulletin board! <3

All Hands On Deck! Pirate Job Chart & Description

 

 

All hands on deck!! All hands on deck!!

 

After dividing my giant bulletin board into three sections

(CAFE Menu, Class Contract, and Job Chart)

 

I wrestled yellow (fadeless!) paper onto the last chunk to brighten it up and display my job board.

 

Again I used my favorite dollar store find of ocean boarders and dressed it up with some fish from Oriental Trader.

(See previous posts for more info about those)

 

Keeping with the themed signs around my room I titled my job chart "All Hands on Deck" using the sane beach-y chalkboard labels I used in the rest of the room.

 

In order to keep things simple I only have six jobs in my room.

I have seen some classes that have enough jobs for a student to have a job everyday but for my management style it is much easier to just rotate jobs once a week.

 

In my job chart packet (click here for yours!)

I included blank outlines of boat anchors. I wrote the names of my students on the anchors and used clear thumbtacks (another love of mine!) to secure them to the board.

 

I randomly assign a student to each job, and sometimes two to post master.

 

Jobs:

First Mate:

Basically my teacher's helper. My first mate brings down the lunch count and notes to the office, helps me lead our morning meeting (more details on that here), assists with calendar time, and acts as my line leader.

 

Ship's Librarian:

Responsible for making sure our library looks neat and tidy. Also responsible for checking periodically to make sure books are in the right bins. Since I allow students to return the books from their book bags themselves it is helpful to have another set of eyes making sure materials are placed back correctly so we can find them in the future.

 

Ship's Reporter:

My newest and the job I am most excited about this year! This helper is responsible for writing a blog post for our class blog at the end of the week. Throughout the week I use my iPad and iPhone to take pictures and upload them to our blog but I LOVE LOVE LOVE having a student perspective. They can pick anything they want to write about (that we did that week) and I help them find/take pictures to add to their posts. I love seeing what they took away from the week and parents LOVE reading it when their children are the "Ship's Reporter"

 

Quartermaster:

This student is responsible for the organization of our community school supplies and sharpening our pencils. Nothing annoys me more than a student interrupting a lesson because they do not have a pencil or loudly sharpening a pencil when we are having a discussion. So each morning, and if need be during snack or break times, the Quartermaster takes pencils from the "need to sharpen bin" sharpens them and places them in the "good to go bin." The Quartermaster also takes a minute to check that extra glue, crayons, pens, and dry erase markers are in the proper bins. When students need a pencil they simply drop their old pencil in the "need to sharpen bin' and grab a ready-to-go pencil.

 

Postmaster:

One of my favorite jobs! I hate spending my time sorting mail into students mailboxes--especially when it's not just a flyer but something with their names on it--or putting things into their portfolios--yuck! So that is the job of my postmasters. Before school or during snack they sort the papers and flyers into students mailboxes. Love, love, love! In order to make sure we don't fall behind on handing back papers I normally have two students assigned to this job.

 

Boatswain:

The last of my classroom jobs--and possibly the simplest. The boatswain is around to make sure our floors and cubbies look clean. If not they remind tables and friends to tidy up!

 

 

 

 http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pirate-Themed-Job-Chart-919151

Whalen--A Whale To Help Kinesthetic Learners With Fact Fluency

 

 

Whalen is a class favorite!!

 

I snagged him off of Amazon.com back in the spring along with the inflatable pool he sits in.

 

Wal*Mart was a great place to find the ball-pit balls.

 

Each ball has a different math fact-to start the year I only have addition and subtraction balls in the pit.

 

In order to help me differentiate I tried to use "cool colors" for subtraction and "warm colors" for addition--so I can quickly grab a type of fact and throw it at a student.

 

I use it as a quick check in and students can dig out facts as a math station as well.

 

It is a great classroom management tool--students quite down the minute they see me with the fact balls--only quiet students get a ball thrown their way.

 

Every now and then I use Whalen. The balls pop out of his spout and the students catch them.

 

SOOOOO much fun!

 

A tip I picked up I need to do?

After writing on the balls with permanent markers seal the writing with clear nail polish!

 

Even though I remind my students to hold the ball where there writing isn't it is still rubbing off.

So that'll be my next project, coating the writing in clear nail polish.

 



 

Rocking Chairs & Wall Hangings--Underwater Theme

Best Dollar Store Find EVER!

I spent weeks trolling the internet looking for an underwater or beach themed wall hanging that would fit the space between my cubbies and the window perfectly.

Most hangings were FAR too wide and WAY too short.

At Dollar Tree I stumbled upon this super cute whale wall hanging...obvious for ONE DOLLAR!!

I stapled it to my wall and the rest is history!

Downside? I wish I bought a few more to put away. It has the feel of a cheap tablecloth so I am afraid it will not last too long and I'll never find another one for such a great price!!

My rocking chair was an old family piece collecting dust and cobwebs in the basket. However, it was a horrible weird gray faded plaid patterns...yuck.

I sent my husband (yikes!!) to JoAnn's Fabric for me while I was working on setting up my classroom.

I BEGGED him to find something blue/green/ocean like. He came back with a really nice shiny blue silk-like fabric. Would I have chosen it myself? Honestly? Probably not.

Do I love it? Do my kids love it? Answer to both is yes. I love sliding into my nice blue rocking chair to lead Morning Meeting or read a book to my 19 eager 8 year olds. So a special thank you to my hubby for picking the perfect fabric for my rocking chair.

Never be afraid to repurpose an old piece of furniture for your classroom! $10 worth of fabric and a staple gun and I have a beautiful glider in the corner of my room.

Check future blogs to learn more about my morning meetings (or sneak a peek at my best selling morning meeting packet here) and my "word wall winners" for read alouds!!

Teacher Time & Guided Reading Groups

One of my favorite spots in my whole classroom is my small group table.

I am trying so hard not to call it my reading table as I also meet with my guided math groups there but it is definitely easy to fall into that trap!!

I love the shape of my table and being able to work so closely with my students! I try to make it feel welcoming for both math and reading. I love hearing that my students can't WAIT for "teacher time" in math or to meet with their "book club" (check future blog post for more info on those!!) in reader's workshop.

My worse habit is letting papers pile up on my reading table!! With 100% online homework this year that has definitely gotten better but sometimes my small group table becomes a 'catch-all' for extra paper work.

This year I have worked hard to devise a folder system for copies and a folder system for master copies to avoid the "paper trap" in my room. Check back soon for a future blog post about those!

 

This year I added a few nice features to my small group area. I decorated the underside of the table with blue under the sea fringe from Oriental Trader.Com. While we have lost a few strands of blue over the course of the last few weeks with students the majority of it remains intact. I also used the same table skirt to block off my library from the rest of the classroom to create a nice little "nook" and circle time area.

 

My favorite find for my small group table were these FANTASTIC surfboard "whiteboard" stickers from oriental trader. http://www.orientaltrading.com/surfboard-dry-erase-stickers-a2-56_54.fltr

They were ONLY $1.29 for three on sale! I placed four on my table and have two spares in the closet! Can't wait to use them!

 

Behind my table I have a bookcase full of my teaching resources and binders...covered of course by some super cute blue fish fabric---super cheap at Wal*Mart!! I even got an extra foot for free because it was the end of the roll!

 

At my small group table I also have a whiteboard stand in case I need it and a basket full of supplies. I try to keep enough pencils, pens, glue sticks, and highlighters in a basket so my students do not need to bring these supplies when they come to group.

 

It definitely cuts down on the running back and forth to their seats for supplies.

 

Make sure to check future blog post for resources for small groups in math & reading!! <3

 

 



More Fun with Nemo & Friends

I loved my Nemo clock numbers so much---and so did my students---that I felt the need to create a Nemo alphabet for my word wall.

In the front of my room I already have a great cute underwater alphabet from Oriental Trader and an alphabet for cursive from Handwriting Without Tears buttttttt I wanted something different for my cabinets in the back of the room where I planned to post my spelling words and create my word wall.

I took the same format I used for my clock numbers to create a super cute Word Wall on my back cabinets. To break it up a bit I used star fish for A, E, I, O, and U.

 

Click here to grab a FREEBIE word wall alphabet for your room!!

 

 

Pencils, and highlighters, and glue-oh my!--My Pencil Management Plan

Continuing the tour of my "underwater classroom"

 

Nestled underneath my counter in my math workshop area I have a really fun bright pink laundry basket from Target! I was 3.99 and I found it mixed in with the college items. Much more exiting than a boring black or white basket! It's exactly the right size to store my privacy dividers from ReallyGoodStuff.

 

The decorative art on my cabinets came from the Dollar Tree! I ran them through the laminator and used packing tape to flatten them against the cabinets. This way I can still slide them open if I find the need!

 

I love Dollar Tree!! Also got my inflatable palm trees and seahorses there. Already drooling to see what they will have next summer (and for Halloween!!)

 

On my back counter is where I store my extra school supplies and baskets for students to hand in their work from Reader's Workshop (more about that in a future post!)

 

One of my BIGGEST pet peeves is students getting out of their seat and trying to use the pencil sharpener during a lesson. Or to avoid doing work.

 

Not in my room! Students keep a single pencil in their sand pails at their seats (check out a future post for pics!!) if their pencil is dull or the tip breaks they simple place it in the "used" bin and grab a new pencil.

 

Before school or during snack break whoever is the "Quartermaster" for the week (check back for a post and goodies to set up your Pirate Themed job board!!) is responsible for making sure all the pencils are sharpened and have good easers on the ends. 

 

It eliminates the constant noise of the sharpener and makes sure all the kids are ready to go!

 

On my back work table (a space I let groups work together, or have my Tutor meet with a small group) you'll notice a very old fashioned classroom accessory-the mini chalkboard!

 

I have a few of these scattered around my classroom that label different areas--confession time? They're actually a left over prop from my wedding photos!

 

I made them myself and was just not ready to part with them. I bought spray paint chalk paint from Michaels and gathered the frames up on sale from TJ Maxx. I simply removed the glass, spray painted it with the chalkboard paint, and placed the glass back in the frames. Super cute and I love the style it adds to my room.

 

Make sure to check out my next blog post for some ideas on Word Work Stations and some FREEBIES!



Under The Sea in Grade Three...(Magnetic Bulletin Board=Win!!)

I am love love loving how all of my "under the sea" and beach ideas are coming together.
I can't wait for the kids to see the room next week!

Math Workshop:
Last year I struggled with being able to easily regroup my students and tell them which stations they were supposed to be at.

This year the answer seemed obvious--magnetic bulletin board for grouping!

(Grab my custom math workshop

signs here to complete this board!)

 

First I wrestled some fade resistant (I plan on leaving it up for a while...)

green paper onto my metal closet doors.

(I wasn't TOO worried about the edges being perfect because of the boarder trim)

 

I used packing tape to tape the green paper directly to the closet doors. Quick and Easy!

 

I found the great board at the Dollar Tree! I got 16 pieces, about 18 inches long for a DOLLAR!

(Needless to say I bought the last three packets at that Dollar Tree

and was SUPER tempted to visit a few more and stock up!)

 

Since I was going through all the trouble of creating magnets I decided to run the boarder trim and all of my other bulletin board decorations through the laminator for longevity!

 

I bought the largest role of magnets I could find at Michael's.

With the teacher discount (yes!) and a 40% coupon

 I spent about $6 or $7 on several yards of magnets

(you'll see later I use magnets in several other areas of my classroom)

 

After I laid out the boarder trim (magnets are SO much easier than staples!!)

I added some snails and shells from Oriental Trader's Under the Sea kit

While I normally enjoy making my own embellishments, I loved the letters in this kit!

 

 

Next, I printed and laminated (work smarter, not harder--I want this to last!)

my "Math Marina" group signs.

 

I like to divide my students into 4 or 5 groups depending on the topic/size of the class.

 

I use the left side of the bulletin board to show students what group they are in.

To stick with my classroom theme I have:

Flip Flops,

Sand Pails,

Anchors,

Palm Trees,

& Dolphins.

 

I grabbed the starfish labels from another TPT user click here to check them out!

 

I did typed the names of my students onto the labels, printed, and laminated them.

(I also laminated a couple of blank ones just in case I get that January surprise student and don't have time to type, print, and laminate before I need it!)

 

I did make the student's names in magnets as well.

This way I can easily manipulate what group they are in.

Plus future planning? Cute to add to an end-of-the-year gift!

A custom magnet!

 

 

 

On the right side I have these great wooden pieces from Michael's again.

Even before the teacher discount (wooo!) I think they were maybe 59 cents each?

 

I normally do two rotations during math workshop a day.

So once students see which picture their name is under,

they then check which station their symbol is under. 

 

It takes a little practice but after a few days the transition runs rather smoothly.

 

Note: While I LOVE these little wooden pieces, I did have to hot glue the magnets to the back.

The stickiness on the back of the magnet was just not enough to hold the wood up!

 

Check back soon to hear about my different math work stations and grab some

great math workshop printables!

 

 

Under The Sea in Grade Three! (Before...)

Phew!
What a long hot and crazy summer it has been!
I am so happy to finally have my classroom ready to go for the new year!!

I decided to go for an underwater and beach theme this year.
I love having all the bright colors and calming blues!

Of course to fully understand the transformation one must look at the "before" pictures...yikes!