tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-684043398543551962024-03-13T08:56:01.556-04:00Littlest Learners / Clutter-Free Classroom BlogClutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.comBlogger202125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-55958678354890978662011-08-30T19:00:00.000-04:002012-05-17T16:44:44.501-04:00Must Do / May Do Board - classroom management series<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This post is part of my Classroom Management Series. <a href="http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/p/classroom-management.html">Click here</a> to read other posts from the series.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'trebuchet ms', verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I wish I could take credit for this. It has made my role so much easier. I first saw this in a co-workers classroom. She found it somewhere else. Regardless of where it came from, you NEED it!
<br />The "must do / may do" board is exactly what the title says. It's a visual reminder of what tasks need to be accomplished and what can be done once they are. I created my board using electrical tape as a divider on my white board. This allows me to use dry erase markers to record the daily activities. I printed the subjects on cardstock, laminated them and hot glued magnets on the bag. This lets me move them around as space is needed.
<br />After I complete a lesson and assign a task I write it on the must-do board. The children know to reference it when they need a reminder on what to do. After everything is complete they may select and activity from the "may-do" side of the board. I don't include activities that would encourage the children to rush through their assignments. My "may-dos" typically include things like: independent reading, free-choice writing, and math fact practice.
<br />It's a great tool for keeping everyone on track with their assignments and eliminates the "I'm done...What Do I Do Next? Chorus."</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DjgqZgk5wZw/Tkl2yvOOsdI/AAAAAAAADAw/m2sicYtqiPU/s1600/managementseries.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641170622299943378" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DjgqZgk5wZw/Tkl2yvOOsdI/AAAAAAAADAw/m2sicYtqiPU/s320/managementseries.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 120px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">managing a classroom classroom routines classroom procedures best practices classroom management ideas classroom management tips classroom management pictures classroom management strategies effective classroom management plan examples of classroom procedures </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">elementary classroom procedures primary classroom procedures middle school classroom procedures kindergarten classroom procedures first grade classroom procedures sample classroom procedures manual harry wong first days of school rules routines daily classroom routines that really work children printable free freebie second grade third grade fourth grade fifth grade education behavior management clutter free classroom organized classroom tips for organizing a classroom unfinished work what to do with early finishers</span></span></span></div>
</span></span>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-43034936824129557642011-07-01T13:53:00.002-04:002011-07-01T13:55:11.715-04:00Time for an Annual FavoriteIn honor of the holiday weekend, I am reposting this from last year. FWIW, I did get a whole boatload of emails from people RAVING about these tasty treats. So if you were a skeptic last year, I suggest taking a leap of faith and making the day of those around you.<div><br /></div><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">If you are visiting for the first time, you're probably thinking, "oh look...a cooking blog."</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; min-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Not even close. In fact, I hate to cook.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; min-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">As in loathe it.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; min-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I don't so much care for baking either. But, with 4th of July weekend upon us I feel it is my civic duty to share with you THE BEST STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE RECIPE EVER!!</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; min-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Don't get too excited. It's not like I'm about to whisper great gramma's secret recipe to you. This is just something that I discovered by accident.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; min-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Here's what you need to do.</span></span></span></p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TCoiHn05tAI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/_O4zM0ARhrE/s1600/P1270330.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TCoiHn05tAI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/_O4zM0ARhrE/s320/P1270330.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488236610249667586" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Get some strawberries.<br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; min-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "></span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Buy a box of Bisquick.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Follow the directions on the box for making Strawberry Shortcakes.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; min-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">BUT,...</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; min-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">When the good people at Betty Crocker instruct you to put in 3TBS of sugar substitute that with 1/2 cup of sugar.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; min-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Yeah, I know that makes it even less healthy, but whatever. I never claimed to be making organic health foods.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; min-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The recipe actually lists sugar twice. It calls for 1/2 cup to be mixed in with the cut strawberries to create that juicy goodness that you pour on top. It also calls for 3 TBS to be baked into the shortcakes.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; min-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Silly me mixed that up once.</span></span></span></p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TCoiHes7tJI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/5MV9lO5yUFQ/s1600/P1270333.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TCoiHes7tJI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/5MV9lO5yUFQ/s320/P1270333.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488236607800325266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">And much like the accidental discovery of penicillin, the yummiest shortcakes in the world were created.<br /></span></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TCoiG1jlD-I/AAAAAAAAAZs/ydtjLw-45Sk/s1600/P1270455.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TCoiG1jlD-I/AAAAAAAAAZs/ydtjLw-45Sk/s320/P1270455.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488236596755238882" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px; " /></a><div><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Another tip from me to you...roll the dough into little balls instead of plopping them onto the pan.</span></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; min-height: 19px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "></span><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Maybe someday my great grandchildren will whisper my secret recipe to others. For added Patriotic flair I suggest adding blueberries and one of those cute little paper flags.</span></span></span></p></div></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-35423203065651323652011-06-30T15:58:00.005-04:002012-05-17T16:48:45.475-04:00Hollywood Comes to My Neighborhood<div style="text-align: center;">
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<b>I've created a new daily blog specifically dedicated to classroom organization and management. Please visit me there at: </b><a href="http://www.cfclassroom.com/"><b>The Clutter-Free Classroom</b></a></div>
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We went to get the pool water tested this weekend. On the way home I looked out the window of our oh-so-cool minivan and spotted this sign.</div>
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624105159122425074" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KGVfDwJSmQI/TgzV2CzvFPI/AAAAAAAACQM/fXSYG6XzD9I/s320/image.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 160px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" />In case you can't read the fine print (since it isn't illuminated in all of it's neon glory in the photo) it reads, "Classy Rick's Bacon & Leggs."<br />
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Here...let's get a closer look.</div>
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And, because if wake up one morning and find yourself at that place in life when you are riding in a minivan with your 3 kids in the back it is pretty much required that you be offended by such a thing.</div>
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I blurted out a shocked, "Are you kidding me?"</div>
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To which my son replied with an inquisitive, "What mommy?"</div>
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And I had to quickly think up some lie on the fly...because while I view the sign as morally offensive it appears that I have no problem lying to my child so as to distract him from looking out the window to the right. Whatever.</div>
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Anyhow, although this fine establishment has always been a strip club, it was sort of set back off the road and didn't stand out. This sign changed that. I questioned my husband, "How can they get away with that? There is something very wrong about it."</div>
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We tossed in the pool chemicals and I wanted to have it retested before having people over for the 4th so I once again ventured to the pool store. It should have been a quick trip because it was 2:00 pm on a Wednesday and those poor fools who weren't smart enough to check off the "Elementary Education" box on the college application in response to "Intended Major" are all at work while I am stopping at the pool store on my way home from the beach. As we pulled out of said pool store, we found ourselves in bumper-to-bumper traffic. It barely moved. However as we slowly progressed down the one way-nowhere to turn off road-I realized the</div>
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hold up was at "Classy Rick's Bacon and Leggs." And there were police officers out front.</div>
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I pondered if there were people picketing the new sign.</div>
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I wondered if there were really THAT many people eating Bacon and Eggs at 2 pm on a Wednesday that they needed a police detail.</div>
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Alas, we made our way in front and I discovered the real cause was none other than Adam Sandler. It seems that the new and improved sign on what it normally known as the elegant "Cabaret Lounge" is just staging for a movie he is filming there.</div>
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With Vanilla Ice by the way. </div>
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Who doesn't love a little, "Ice, Ice Baby?" </div>
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OK so perhaps I'm alone on that one.</div>
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Adam Sandler and I go way back. I first saw him perform at the University of Central Florida back in the day when I was young and fun.</div>
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Around that same time I "starred" in one of his films.</div>
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Maybe "starred" was a bit of a stretch, but I did appear in one of his films.</div>
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Did you see the Waterboy? I was one of the screaming fans on the crowd at the Citrus Bowl. I basically sat here wearing an orange shirt with thousands of other people sitting there in orange shirts.</div>
<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624113672264935538" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2VXdoT754FU/TgzdlkvE6HI/AAAAAAAACQc/TV_gLLmzHM0/s320/300px-Citrus_Bowl_aerial_view.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 199px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" />You're probably thinking, "Doh! That's where I know her from." :)<br />
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Two summers ago Mr. Sandler thwarted my dinner plans by filming GrownUps at the restaurant that we were taking my dad to dinner at for Father's Day. The place was shut down for days. My dad refuses to watch any of his movies because of it.</div>
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And so it goes that the offensive sign will be taken down in a few days. Due to the bumper to bumper traffic today though my 6 year old son was able to get a good long look at it. </div>
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More upsetting than the sign however is the fact that the movie they are filming placed Adam Sandler in the role of some guy's father. The premise is that Sandler moves in with his son and his son's fiance. That would mean that Adam Sandler is old enough to play the father of someone who is old enough to get married. And that my friends makes me feel older than my reaction to the sign made me feel.</div>
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I just might join my father in the boycotting of his films. Make that all his FUTURE films because it's not possible for my remote to stumble upon Billy Madison or the Wedding Singer without watching the rest of it.</div>
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</div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-899711759685839542011-06-17T05:48:00.003-04:002012-05-17T16:45:54.082-04:00Doobiddy Doo<br />
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<img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X43x8hpPb-Y/T7Vi1zR80nI/AAAAAAAAEl4/S8KEJ0opqv0/s400/cfcsign.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4rmTzMgwXYw/TfsjFMemxjI/AAAAAAAAB30/-OcQJy8GQ-E/s1600/oompaloompa.png"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619123532230739506" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4rmTzMgwXYw/TfsjFMemxjI/AAAAAAAAB30/-OcQJy8GQ-E/s320/oompaloompa.png" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 195px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 192px;" /></a>The end of the year is bittersweet.<br />
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I mean, let's be honest, we're all psyched for a hiatus in the sun and surf. But, it also means the closing of a chapter.</div>
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As crazy and chaotic as it can be, there is something awesome about this time of year. The atmosphere is relaxed and, with the stress of testing behind us, we simply enjoy creative projects and activities.</div>
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I had to laugh when one of my kids randomly came out with, "Mrs. D What are you going to do without us next year? We're like your little Oompa Loompas. We're cute. We're funny. And we work for you without getting paid."</div>
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I love third graders.<a href="http://www.cfclassroom.com/">www.cfclassroom.com</a></div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-27993526172513618052011-06-15T05:13:00.001-04:002011-06-15T05:13:43.637-04:00Countdown to Summer Sale - 10 Days = 10%<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_vFXsjSHTE/TfAqQ3FqCVI/AAAAAAAABt8/ihpu62OUbBM/s1600/countdown.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_vFXsjSHTE/TfAqQ3FqCVI/AAAAAAAABt8/ihpu62OUbBM/s320/countdown.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616035204484958546" /></a><div>When I posted the first Countdown to Summer Sale five days ago temps were in the 90s.</div><div><br /></div><div>Here we are less than a week later.</div><div><br /></div><div>And temps are in the 50s.</div><div><br /></div><div>Gotta love New England weather.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not going to lie, and I apologize if this makes me a bad person, but I'm happy about it.</div><div><br /></div><div>If I'm not able to enjoy all that summer has to offer and am going to spend my days in an (unairconditioned) classroom then I'm quite content with a drizzly 56 degree day. It also helps create the illusion that we are still knee-deep in the academic year and not on the brink of singing, "no more pencils, no more books." The kids are much more focused on cool, rainy days then on the days that the classroom smells of sunscreen.</div><div><br /></div><div>Which is good because we still have ten days left.</div><div><br /></div><div>TEN.</div><div><br /></div><div>DAYS.</div><div><br /></div><div>LEFT.</div><div><br /></div><div>In honor of the countdown I'm throwing a "Countdown to Summer Sale!" For the next 24 hours, I've marked everything in my store down by 10%.</div><div><br /></div><div>This includes <a href="http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/p/products.html">my Clutter-Free Classroom Guide, my plan book and grade book</a> as well as all of my <a href="http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/p/classroom-themes.html">classroom theme kits</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">There had been some problems at TPT with my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FROGS-Themed-Classroom-Kit-Printables-More">new Frog Themed Classroom Kit </a>as well as my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/BEES-Themed-Classroom-Kit-Printables-More">Bee Themed Classroom Kit</a>. Buyers were letting me know that they could place the product in their cart, but it would disappear when they went to check out. Both seem to be working now. Thanks to those of you who let me know and thanks to TPT for fixing it.</span></div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-21319303901044259442011-06-14T20:25:00.004-04:002012-05-17T16:46:50.482-04:00Some Lunch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X43x8hpPb-Y/T7Vi1zR80nI/AAAAAAAAEl4/S8KEJ0opqv0/s400/cfcsign.jpg" width="400" /></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6K2vUlZ-C_U/TfgBUBhq8wI/AAAAAAAAB1g/SNI46YvQf7M/s1600/thebarnyardbigst6.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618241978663367426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6K2vUlZ-C_U/TfgBUBhq8wI/AAAAAAAAB1g/SNI46YvQf7M/s200/thebarnyardbigst6.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 200px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 150px;" /></a><br />
Today was the day I dread each year. <br />
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Charlotte died.</div>
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I know it's coming, and yet it chokes me up every time. </div>
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And just when I start to recover, the next chapter comes along and talks about Fern growing up and it tugs at my mama-side and stabs me in the heart again.</div>
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The kids always take it hard too. </div>
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So we finish the book and the mood is quiet, but luckily it was time for lunch.</div>
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The routine is that my class lines up and I walk them down to the door near the playground. An aide meets us there and I go into the teacher's room for lunch. The routine has also become that they ask me what I brought for lunch that day.</div>
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9 times out of 10 the answer is some variation of pasta or chicken. </div>
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But not today.</div>
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Today went something like this:</div>
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Class: "So what's for lunch today Mrs. D?"</div>
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Me: "My husband cooked last night so I have leftover potatoes, carrots and pork chops."</div>
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Class: Collective gasp of horror and a few, "How could yous?" Followed by, "Mrs. D, first Charlotte died and now you're eating Wilbur!?!?"</div>
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Needless to say I did not enjoy my lunch today.<a href="http://www.cfclassroom.com/">www.cfclassroom.com</a></div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-73575611634018445092011-06-08T22:04:00.003-04:002011-06-08T22:12:40.519-04:00My Pain is Your Gain<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_vFXsjSHTE/TfAqQ3FqCVI/AAAAAAAABt8/ihpu62OUbBM/s1600/countdown.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m_vFXsjSHTE/TfAqQ3FqCVI/AAAAAAAABt8/ihpu62OUbBM/s320/countdown.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616035204484958546" /></a>It was in the 90s here today.<div><br /></div><div>It's supposed to be close to 100 tomorrow.</div><div><br /></div><div>The pool is open. The beach is open.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh, yeah...and school is still open.</div><div><br /></div><div>And will be for another 15 days.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've decided to throw a "Countdown to Summer Sale!" For the next 24 hours, I've marked everything in my store down by 15%.</div><div><br /></div><div>This includes <a href="http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/p/products.html">my Clutter-Free Classroom Guide, my plan book and grade book</a> as well as all of my <a href="http://clutterfreeclassroom.blogspot.com/p/classroom-themes.html">classroom theme kits</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm also throwing a contest over <a href="http://www.cfclassroom.com">at my new blog</a>. Check it out if you haven't stopped by yet. :)</div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-20557916910206277472011-05-31T20:23:00.002-04:002012-05-17T16:47:42.468-04:00There Should Be a Stipend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X43x8hpPb-Y/T7Vi1zR80nI/AAAAAAAAEl4/S8KEJ0opqv0/s400/cfcsign.jpg" width="400" /></div>
<a href="http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/ais/img/rustycrayfish/rusty_crayfish_01_low.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" src="http://www.seagrant.umn.edu/ais/img/rustycrayfish/rusty_crayfish_01_low.jpg" style="display: block; height: 600px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 800px;" width="400" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0000ee;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></u></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Here's the thing. Most days I go to work and think, "I can't believe they pay me to do this!"</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Because I truly love my job. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">But some days are different and I think, "They don't pay me enough to do this!" And today was one of those days. Because today I introduced the crayfish.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The creepy, bottom-dwelling, scary crayfish.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">They are the stuff that nightmares are made of. Supposedly they will teach the children about the life cycle and biology. Whatever. I'm petrified of them. I can't get past their beady little eyes and their floppy antennae and those claws that threaten to pinch you in their attack position. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Luckily, one of my students had a pet crayfish because a few years back her older brother won the "Crayfish Lottery" </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">If the kids bring in a signed permission slip and a </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">tupperware</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> container to bring it home in, they are entered into the crayfish lottery and they have the chance to take home a bottom-feeder of their very own.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Anyhow, she was kind enough to pick them up and put them into their clear, observation containers for me. With great excitement, the kids gathered round their assigned containers and made scientific observations. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I bravely assisted one group in lifting their container so that they could observe the bottom of the critter and determine if it had boy parts or girl parts (as if the experience wasn't fun enough already). </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And that's when it lunged at me. It's pincers were opening and closing like the jaws of a rabid Pit Bull. I swear I saw it breathe fire. It tried to eat me.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Last week in Social Studies we talked about the Revolutionary War and learned about "The Shot Heard Round the World." </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Today in science they got to hear "The Scream Heard Round the School."</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It was a blood-curdling, top-of-my-lungs, horror movie quality scream.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I'm quite certain that several children peed their pants while others clutched their stomaches and rolled on the floor in hysterical laughter.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I really think there should be a stipend in our contract based on the live animals you must encounter at your grade level.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What types of living creatures have you had the pleasure of experiencing in your classrooms? </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><a href="http://www.cfclassroom.com/">www.cfclassroom.com</a></span></span></div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-23716531761242310782011-05-30T06:26:00.003-04:002011-05-30T06:40:16.634-04:00Drumroll Please...I'm super-duper excited to kick off my new blog: <a href="http://www.CFClassroom.com">The Clutter-Free Classroom Blog</a>. Watch the video to learn more about it and then hop over there to follow along and enter my debut contest!<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pE41ra0-1pY?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-66311909897613197442011-05-29T15:15:00.002-04:002012-05-17T16:49:11.611-04:00How I'll Spend My Summer Vacation<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>I've created a new daily blog specifically dedicated to classroom organization and management. Please visit me there at: </b><a href="http://www.cfclassroom.com/"><b>The Clutter-Free Classroom</b></a></div>
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5624449120781717298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c6YVGvIqf40/Tg4OrP1zzzI/AAAAAAAACWk/DIKy7Mz9h6c/s320/CFC%2BLOGO3.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 160px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></div>
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<a href="http://www.cfclassroom.com/"></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CdjB6MXd2DY/TeKbU_BnBnI/AAAAAAAABhI/UlENLNjKPOg/s1600/DSCN8159.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5612218870474933874" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CdjB6MXd2DY/TeKbU_BnBnI/AAAAAAAABhI/UlENLNjKPOg/s320/DSCN8159.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">As I mentioned in my post explaining the <a href="http://littlestlearners.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-are-you-planning.html">What Are You Planning Linky Party</a> (it's not too late...go post your list), I always make my summer to do list at the beach on Memorial Day Weekend (more on our beach fun later). So here are my plans for the summer:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">1. Maintain Pretty Piggies- I'm a New Englander. Flip flop season is far too short. I intend to treat myself to a pedicure every couple of weeks. It makes me happy. And it's sort of a nice thing to do for the rest of the world who needs to view my hooves since I never, ever, EVER wear closed-toe shoes between April 1st and October 31st with the exception of my morning walk during which I begrudgingly sport the sneakers.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">2. Pretend to Homeschool - I'm intrigued by this whole homeschool thing. Realistically, I need the salary and insurance and I do love my job so I don't see this as being something I would do full time. However, I thought it would be fun to see what it's like for the summer so I'm going to plan some structured things to do with the kids and some educational projects and outings. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">3. Blah-Blah-Blog: I love summer blogging. It's such fun to connect with so many people and while I tend to let it fall by the wayside during the school year, I spend a lot of summer hours blogging and blogsurfing. Check back tomorrow for my latest blogventure!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">4. Reclaim my Coupon Queen Crown: Back in the day I was a couponing diva. I saved so. much. money! I would play The Price is Right with hubby after each trip and make him guess how much I paid for the abundance of loot before him. It was my own Showcase Showdown. I've been too busy to do so lately and really need to get back into the swing of things. It kills me that I've been paying full price for cereal and toothpaste!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">5. Discover the Magic of the iPad: Hubby gave me an ipad for Christmas and while I love it's sleekness, I am not using it to it's potential. I need to spend some time bonding with it.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">6. Create Photobooks: I made Hubby a photobook for Christmas using photoshop to design the pages and had it printed as a hardcover album. I swoon each and every time I open it and it brings me great comfort having hard copies of my pictures since I live in fear of losing the digital version. I need to go back and make albums for previous years and trips.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">7. Purge: I loathe clutter (surprise, surprise). I've been really good about getting rid of stuff, but I need to go all Rambo on the stuff that is left and do another thorough scan of every nook and cranny and take no prisoners. I need to Craigslist, donate, recycle and trash whatever is not needed.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">8. Work on my Class Website: It's such a great resource and the kids use it regularly. I want to update links for all units.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">9. Math Workshop: Oh, how I love teaching math this way. My goal for the summer is to align things with the common core instead of the MA Frameworks.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">10. Word Study: I've been working on creating Word Study centers and curriculum a lot this year. Much like the math workshop it needs some tweaking.</span></div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-91061510015899762182011-05-27T05:55:00.001-04:002011-05-27T05:55:00.205-04:00What Are You Planning?<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wnh5cW4uIdo/Td7MWcWMXnI/AAAAAAAABgk/FhtNiUSjPXs/s1600/7day_wide_629x354.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 180px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wnh5cW4uIdo/Td7MWcWMXnI/AAAAAAAABgk/FhtNiUSjPXs/s320/7day_wide_629x354.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611146871688683122" /></a>This is the weather in my neck of the woods.<div><br /></div><div>I'm giddy with a capital G!</div><div><br /></div><div>Memorial Day Weekend is one of my mostest favoritest times of the year. The entire summer is laid out before me complete with the promise of long l-a-z-y days, countless hours in the pool and limited responsibility.</div><div><br /></div><div>Summer always means the start of a new to do list for me. I view summer much like people view New Years. Complete with resolution-ish type items. </div><div><br /></div><div>Our tradition is to go to the beach and I always take along a notebook. In it I scribble down my plans for the summer. </div><div><br /></div><div>Some are simple: clean out the sunroom cabinet.</div><div><br /></div><div>Others are lofty: Make a baby...FYI this was on the list a few years back...we reached our baby quota in 2009 in this house.</div><div><br /></div><div>What are your goals, to-dos, resolutions for the summer? </div><div><br /></div><div>Join my very first linky party to post about them. Simply blog about what you are hoping to accomplish as we roll into summer, link back here and sign the list below. I can't wait to see what y'all have in the works. I'll post mine after our annual beach trek on Saturday.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><!-- start InLinkz script --><br /><div id=wpImg56406><a href="http://www.inlinkz.com/wpview.php?id=56406"><img style="border:0px" src="http://www.inlinkz.com/wpImg.php?id=56406"></a></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=56406"></script><br /><!-- end InLinkz script -->Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-47025403561764697642011-05-26T16:28:00.002-04:002012-05-17T16:49:27.547-04:00Crisis Averted<br />
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<b>I've created a new daily blog specifically dedicated to classroom organization and management. Please visit me there at: </b><a href="http://www.cfclassroom.com/"><b>The Clutter-Free Classroom</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1J8O0_GvWW0/Td64I0hJPnI/AAAAAAAABgc/J1rEglVz7iw/s1600/DSCN0775.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611124647426342514" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1J8O0_GvWW0/Td64I0hJPnI/AAAAAAAABgc/J1rEglVz7iw/s320/DSCN0775.JPG" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a>I live 1 mile from my school. <br />
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Me loves this fact. I'm lazy like that.</div>
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That means I live in the district in which I teach. </div>
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As such, my son goes to my school. It's been great. I'm able to volunteer in his classroom during my lunch and since he attends the afterschool program, I simply need to stop by the cafeteria or gym and snag him when I'm leaving. </div>
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I try very hard to keep a distinct line between parent and teacher which means I don't take him to school with me in the morning. I leave for work and 20 minutes later my husband drops him off.</div>
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Oh how handy that can be.</div>
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This morning I did the unthinkable.</div>
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I left my coffee at home.</div>
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I make the coffee the night before so it's icy goodness is waiting me when I awake.</div>
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Usually, it's been sucked down by 5:15, but for whatever reason (I'm looking at you toddler twins) the morning was hectic and it sat idle in the fridge waiting to come to work with me.</div>
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Halfway into my commute (yes, I realize that means 1/2 a mile from home, but it's still a commute), I realized my cupholder was empty. Not cool.</div>
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Unfortunately, I was crunched for time and couldn't doubleback and grab it.</div>
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Fortunately, hubby would be dropping the Boy off soon after so I put in the call. </div>
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My coffee was delivered and I was a happy teacher.</div>
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As an aside, the cup was a gift from a student last year. I coveted that stinking cup for months. I so wanted to buy it, but my track record of not properly caring for travel mugs made it hard to justify the purchase. I adore that cup. It looks like a regular Starbucks cup, but is hard, insulated plastic with a screw on top. The straw has a catch to keep it from coming out all the way. Best. Cup. Ever!</div>
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So...how long is your commute? Do you think you would want to live in the district you teach in?</div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-81447191571613366722011-05-24T15:59:00.003-04:002012-05-17T16:50:10.861-04:00Hungry<br />
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<b>I've created a new daily blog specifically dedicated to classroom organization and management. Please visit me there at: </b><a href="http://www.cfclassroom.com/"><b>The Clutter-Free Classroom</b></a></div>
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You know how I've been hinting at something new that I've been working on? <br />
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Well, it's coming soon. </div>
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As in This Weekend!!!</div>
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I've set Memorial Day Weekend as my official launch weekend and have been working diligently to get all the ducks in a row. </div>
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I'm super excited to share.</div>
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I'm also super duper hungry.</div>
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Third grade eats lunch at 11:00 at my school.</div>
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Yes, that would be 11:00 a.m.</div>
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It's not really lunch.</div>
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It's more like 2nd breakfast.</div>
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The problem is that by 3:10 I am about ready to eat my own arm off.</div>
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But then I'm torn because 3:10 is way too early for dinner. I usually am good about distracting myself, but then there are those days when I can't be stopped.</div>
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Today I consumed several forkfuls of chicken that was waiting for me in the crockpot when I got home along with 2 slices of toast w/ Nutella (food of the Gods), a glass of milk and a handful of popcorn.</div>
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What time do you eat lunch?</div>
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What is your favorite after school snack? </div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-90163844744781667092011-05-21T05:52:00.004-04:002012-05-17T16:51:01.059-04:00End of Year Activities and Ideas<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 78%;"></span></span></span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<b>I've created a new daily blog specifically dedicated to classroom organization and management. Please visit me there at: </b><a href="http://www.cfclassroom.com/"><b>The Clutter-Free Classroom</b></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 78%;">(reposted from May 2010 with new pics added)<br /></span>Do you smell that?</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It the perfect combination of sunscreen, iced coffee, grills and ocean air. That my friends is the aroma of summer vacation and it is so close I can smell it.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So close!</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">But before my toes can go without shoes for 10 consecutive weeks, the school year must wrap up. </span></span></div>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e8iwWigBLCs/TdeNhzKsdII/AAAAAAAABbY/GwnuZhPUVKg/s1600/DSCN8048.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609107472723506306" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e8iwWigBLCs/TdeNhzKsdII/AAAAAAAABbY/GwnuZhPUVKg/s320/DSCN8048.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Those last few weeks can get tricky. The kids shut down, your to do list grows, the classrooms heat up and schedules get all jumbly which adds to the chaos. It's important to have an arsenal of end-of-the-year activities to balance out the nostalgia for the school year and the anticipation of the vacation. It helps to keep the wee ones engaged.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OrtsTmJ2pd4/TdeNhB-h9WI/AAAAAAAABbQ/Zown5vcunbQ/s1600/DSCN8044.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609107459519149410" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OrtsTmJ2pd4/TdeNhB-h9WI/AAAAAAAABbQ/Zown5vcunbQ/s320/DSCN8044.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Below is a </span></span><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/END-OF-THE-YEAR-MEMORY-BOOK-PRINTABLE-KIT"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">thematic kit of activities</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> I've developed to keep the kiddos on task. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Below that is a collection of ideas that I like to use during those last few weeks of school. Hopefully, you'll find something new to try.<br /></span></span><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-70MVnfuRFxA/TdeNg26WLnI/AAAAAAAABbI/YfXnczb-JOk/s1600/DSCN8045.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609107456548810354" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-70MVnfuRFxA/TdeNg26WLnI/AAAAAAAABbI/YfXnczb-JOk/s320/DSCN8045.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QHDFFojFPZQ/TdeNgh8A4wI/AAAAAAAABbA/UfAyFdRQDeY/s1600/DSCN8051.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609107450918658818" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-QHDFFojFPZQ/TdeNgh8A4wI/AAAAAAAABbA/UfAyFdRQDeY/s320/DSCN8051.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 240px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The following pictures show my most recent kit designed for the End of the School Year. It includes over 35 reproducible pages that are ideal for grades 1-5 and can easily be adapted for preschool and Kindergarten. Included are a:</span></span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/S-GV3gcjp2I/AAAAAAAAAQY/AN8t7DLY4eQ/s1600/endofyearmemorybook1.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467816203439548258" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/S-GV3gcjp2I/AAAAAAAAAQY/AN8t7DLY4eQ/s200/endofyearmemorybook1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 163px; width: 200px;" /></span></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/S-GWioH60XI/AAAAAAAAAQg/S1g-Ff32Mfo/s1600/endofyearmemorybook2.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467816944234844530" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/S-GWioH60XI/AAAAAAAAAQg/S1g-Ff32Mfo/s200/endofyearmemorybook2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 163px; text-decoration: underline; width: 200px;" /></span></a><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: red;">28 page Memory Book</span> ~ <span style="font-size: 100%;">(click on the picture to see larger versions) These pages allow students to reflect on the past year. There are pages for the funniest thing that happened, field trips, favorite lunch, what they did at recess, what is popular now, and much more. Print them all out or select just the ones you want to include. There is even a blank template that they can customize (my kiddos use them to add in student teachers, aides and one child even created a page for each classmate). You can assemble the book using a binding machine or just staple it. What I do is copy the pages and 3-hole punch them. When the students finish writing and illustrating them, I give them the choice of binding the book with ribbons and pipe cleaners or putting them into folders with prongs.</span></span></span></li>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/S-GWjME0biI/AAAAAAAAAQo/7c-MN8J4DOk/s1600/endofyear10things.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467816953885519394" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/S-GWjME0biI/AAAAAAAAAQo/7c-MN8J4DOk/s200/endofyear10things.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 200px; width: 146px;" /></span></a><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="color: red;">Top 10 list Template for each grade level</span> ~ It reads, "The Top 10 Things You Need to Know About ___ Grade" and I've included a copy for each grade level starting with preschool. There is clip art on the side that the students can color or you could cut that off before photocopying and have your kids decorate the border themselves. These make a great back to school bulletin board for the fall (hello, timesaver!) and also a nice class book to have available to your new class.</span></span></li>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/S-GWjt91QVI/AAAAAAAAAQw/4MntmvgpWNg/s1600/endofyearnoteforteacher.jpg" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467816962983018834" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/S-GWjt91QVI/AAAAAAAAAQw/4MntmvgpWNg/s200/endofyearnoteforteacher.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 163px; text-decoration: underline; width: 200px;" /></span></a><br />
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<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> <span style="color: red;">3 different templates for letters to the child's future teacher</span> ~ <span style="font-size: 100%;">It's nice for the next teacher to get a letter from the student and the kids feel better knowing that their teacher knows something about them. I designed three versions of this so that it can be used by different developmental levels. There is one for students to just draw on, one with a headline/midline/baseline and one with smaller lines for advanced writers.</span></span></span></li>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It's available at </span><a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/END-OF-THE-YEAR-MEMORY-BOOK-PRINTABLE-KIT"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">my online TPT store</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span>as an instant download for only $5.00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">. I have them do a few pages each day. It's great as an instant filler when you find they need a low key activity and it's such fun to hear them chatting and remembering the year. I find it is great closure and a wonderful keepsake. I typically print some photos from the year and make a page for each student's book as well with a note from me.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I promise it will make those hectic last weeks easier for you. Wouldn't you rather spend your upcoming nights and weekends picking out new flip flops and browsing Barnes and Noble for beach reads instead of creating end of the year projects on your own. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000099; font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;">IDEAS FOR YOUR CLASSROOM</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES:</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Fresh Air Reading:</b> </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Have the students bring in sheets or beach towels from home. Spend some time outside reading in the fresh air. Give the parents a head’s up so that they may apply bug spray or sunblock.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Sidewalk Chalk:</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Use sidewalk chalk to create some outdoor art to enhance a lesson. Anything you would normally do on paper can be done using chalk outside. Some ideas include: webbing stories, character sketches, illustrating scenes from a book, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>Water Painting:</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Take the kids outside with cups of water and paintbrushes. Let them “paint” their spelling or vocabulary words onto the wall of the school or the playground.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Use clipboards and allow the kids to sit outside and journal, compose poems or write descriptive paragraphs about an object that they can observe outside.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>So Many Nouns:</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Go on a walk around the schoolgrounds and list all of the nouns that can be seen.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>SUMMER SAFETY:</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Now is a great time to do some safety lessons and activities. Topics such as sun safty, water safety, bike safety and fireworks safety are timely and important.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Have kids write persuasive paragraphs on why bike helmets should be worn.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Research summer safety tips and design posters that can be hung around the school or town.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Contact the local police and fire department. They are often willing to come to schools and do presentations on these topics.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>CAMP THEME:</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Read and write campfire stories.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Research and write about woodland creatures. Use model magic to create them.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Make “solar s’mores” by wrapping marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers in foil and setting them in the sun.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Tye-Dye tshirts or use watercolors and coffee filters to make pretend shirts.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>PLAY GAMES:</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Give the children posterboards and allow them to create their own board game. Provide them with parameters and guides. They can design the game board, write trivia cards, write out instructions for play, etc.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Do an “in-class game day” where the students bring games from home. Allow them time to teach each other how to play the game and let them enjoy playing together.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Use online programs to create word searches using words that relate to your school year.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Play a whole class game of Pictionary.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Challenge another class to a kickball game.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>CREATE:</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Make playdough and allow the children to be creative.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Collect recycled items (newspapers, egg cartons, cans, etc) and let the kids create interesting artwork.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Make collages.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Water color murals. Put on some quiet music and see how calm the classroom becomes.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Read the book, </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;">It’s Not a Box</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">. Have each child bring in a box from home and use classroom supplies to transform it into something else. Allow time for each student to share with the class.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>TAKE TO THE STAGE:</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Print out reader’s theaters scripts and have your students work in small groups to plan a performance. Supply them with some art materials to make props, costumes and scenery.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Hold a “class talent show.” Let kids practice and perform on their own or with a friend.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b>LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!</b></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It’s so tempting to put in a movie during those last few days. Justify it by reading a novel that has been made into a film. My personal favorite is Charlotte’s Web.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Watch SchoolHouse Rocks and then have the kids make up their own songs to teach a concept.</span></div>
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<span style="color: white; font-size: 78%;">end of year ideas end of the school year end of year activities for the classroom preschool kindergarten first grade second grade third grade fourth grade fifth grade sixth grade end of year celebration memory book yearbook printable free ideas</span></div>
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</div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-45034777902107194752011-05-04T21:00:00.002-04:002012-05-17T16:52:15.705-04:00Sunflower vs Pumpkin<br />
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<b>I've created a new daily blog specifically dedicated to classroom organization and management. Please visit me there at: </b><a href="http://www.cfclassroom.com/"><b>The Clutter-Free Classroom</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jeUhs650CnA/TcH2xlQyW0I/AAAAAAAABDg/fN1XZZ9quDs/s1600/sunflower.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603030743102151490" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jeUhs650CnA/TcH2xlQyW0I/AAAAAAAABDg/fN1XZZ9quDs/s320/sunflower.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 225px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 225px;" /></a><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">I've been very lucky this year. By having my son at school with me, I've been able to volunteer in his classroom during my lunchtime. Admittedly, the reason I'm skipping my brown bagged nourishment and hanging with the K Crew is because my son is in the class. However, if you have the opportunity, you should totally spend some time in other grade levels. First of all, Kindergarten is a hoot. Those kids are funny. Secondly, it's really neat to see the spiral in the curriculum. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">In third grade we are learning about life cycles in science including the life cycle of plants. Yesterday I planted seeds in little cups of dirt with 5 year olds. I love seeing where they are coming from knowing where they are going. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Anyhow, while I was showing off my green thumb and getting dirt under my nails with small groups, the kids were also working at their seats on a writing activity that the teacher had modeled. They had to choose between two seeds: a sunflower and a pumpkin. They then had to write if it was big or little and what it would grow into.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">My son selected the pumpkin. It was a 50/50 option so I thought nothing of it.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Last night at dinner I made conversation by asking why he picked that seed. I expected the shoulder-shrug-I-Dunno-Thing or maybe the "I like Halloween" answer.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">Instead, I got..."It's easier to write 'big' than 'little' and there are more letters in 'sunflower.' </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">I couldn't decide if I was disappointed in his laziness or impressed by his cleverness.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial;">I opted for the latter. </span></div>
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<br /></div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-15903985532344602092011-05-03T06:05:00.004-04:002011-05-03T06:40:50.348-04:00Getting My Sale On<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 212px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oXgcpT18UzA/Tb_XhJT0ZII/AAAAAAAABAQ/CLT4dhmepaY/s320/1sale.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602433425906885762" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Are you feeling appreciated?<div>You should. It's teacher appreciation week.</div><div><br /></div><div>I told my husband he needed to appreciate me this week.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>He said, "You're not my teacher."</div><div><br /></div><div>I proposed, "It'll be good practice for you for doting on me on Sunday."</div><div><br /></div><div>He replied, "You're not my mother."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>Do you feel the love?</div><div><br /></div><div>Just so you know....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>YOU are appreciated. And to show my appreciation, I have marked everything in my Teacher Pay Teacher store on sale.</div><div><br /></div><div>This includes the <a href="http://littlestlearners.blogspot.com/2010/08/lets-wrap-this-puppy-up.html">Ultimate Teacher Organizer</a>, <a href="http://littlestlearners.blogspot.com/p/planning-for-substitute-teacher.html">My Emergency Sub Plan Kit</a> and the number one selling book: <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Clutter-Free-Classroom-Guide-to-Organizing-Managing-Your-Classroom">The Clutter-Free Classroom Guide</a>.</div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 220px; height: 164px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TAApN7Pnevs/Tb_XqAJw74I/AAAAAAAABAY/121BSNYzh7A/s320/clutterfreepostcardtoupload.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602433578067619714" /></div><div>I should probably clarify that by "number one selling" I mean in comparison to my other products and not that it tops the NY Best Seller's list or anything like that. You know...in case you were wondering. ;)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-16512913007449805452011-05-02T16:23:00.003-04:002012-05-17T16:54:38.670-04:00SPAM I AM<br />
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<b>I've created a new daily blog specifically dedicated to classroom organization and management. Please visit me there at: </b><a href="http://www.cfclassroom.com/"><b>The Clutter-Free Classroom</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v-3a8bEMBok/Tb8XopelZ3I/AAAAAAAABAI/BKzJhJBp3k8/s1600/spam.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602222448568526706" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v-3a8bEMBok/Tb8XopelZ3I/AAAAAAAABAI/BKzJhJBp3k8/s320/spam.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 223px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 226px;" /></a><br />
When I was little, my mother used to make a culinary delight.<br />
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It was a treat for the senses.</div>
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We called it Goulash.</div>
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I Googled Goulash (try saying "Google Goulash" 3 x fast) and found out that it was all a lie. The results for "goulash" do not even remotely resemble this dietary staple of my childhood.</div>
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So I called my sister and said, "Take a casserole dish, line it with Spam, dump in Velveeta Cheese, a can of corn, and instant mashed potatoes. Bake it in the oven until the instant taters from a box get all brown and crunchy. What's it called?"</div>
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Her response, "I call it GROSS! Why?"</div>
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I found myself discussing this dish as the culmination of one of my rambling tangents today. </div>
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You know the ones where you start to tell a story and then get off topic and forget your point.</div>
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In this case my path lead me to a description of Mama's Goulash. Want to know where it started? Spam. </div>
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But, not the nasty processed 'meat-product' spam. The kind you get in your inbox.</div>
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The reason...</div>
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I discovered today that I've been spamming people for months and months. Unknowingly.</div>
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When my classes started in January I used the email account that I use for this blog and my business. I needed to set up a gmail account for the course and since I already had this one I figured it would be easiest to use it. </div>
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No big deal.</div>
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Except I forgot that there is a signature file attached to my email with links to my blog and store. I didn't realize until today that it automatically attached to all my messages. </div>
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That means that every. single. email. that I sent over the course of the semester (and there were a bunch) all had the signature. Hopefully they knew that it was an automatic thing and weren't just figuring I was using the course for marketing purposes.</div>
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So if you are here because you clicked on the link in an email...well, welcome.</div>
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If you are here because you are one of my regular readers, and you were just asking yourself, "What's for dinner?" Well then, might I suggest a heaping helping of Spam Casserole? Now you have the recipe. Go crazy. I triple dog dare you to bring it to a potluck and try to keep a straight face.</div>
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And on that note...what's the yuckiest thing you were forced to eat as a child?</div>
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<br /></div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-7528163481549076062011-02-16T04:19:00.003-05:002012-05-17T16:55:32.653-04:00Silence<br />
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<b>I've created a new daily blog specifically dedicated to classroom organization and management. Please visit me there at: </b><a href="http://www.cfclassroom.com/"><b>The Clutter-Free Classroom</b></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bXswGOotSRc/TVuYmLmhxrI/AAAAAAAAA-I/0bsW3LxGPhA/s1600/quiet.gif"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574216745517958834" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bXswGOotSRc/TVuYmLmhxrI/AAAAAAAAA-I/0bsW3LxGPhA/s320/quiet.gif" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 301px;" /></a><br />
Did you hear that?<br />
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Listen closer.</div>
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OK...Did you hear it?</div>
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I didn't think so. That was me trying to talk.</div>
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Except I have no voice. </div>
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None. Nada. Zilch.</div>
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A slight whisper comes out. But nothing more.</div>
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I'm about to start day 3 in the classroom sans vocals. It's actually kind of nice. There is a calm in the room. The kids are working together to make our days successful and it's been doable. I figure: I feel fine with the exception of not being able to speak and they will get more out of my lessons on mute than they would from having a sub so in I go.</div>
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Yesterday I had some students lead lessons. It was A-MAZ-ING. They directed whole group and small group pairings. They worked with partners. I circulated, listened in and beamed with pride at how the room was running itself. Cooperative learning at its finest. </div>
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My goal s always to manage my classroom so that ultimately I can step away and have it be self-sufficient. However, I've never really been forced to let it happen before. </div>
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Perhaps I could spend a week in the Caribbean and nobody would notice. :)</div>
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What kind of happy surprise have you had in the classroom?</div>
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<br /></div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-51465092863939124752011-02-10T05:23:00.002-05:002011-02-10T05:49:54.140-05:00WHAT IS LOVE SALE?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TTOOX7R8AcI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/zs7lXutor-k/s320/unitcover.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 258px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TTOOX7R8AcI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/zs7lXutor-k/s320/unitcover.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Way back when I taught first grade.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I loved teaching first grade!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I made a class book titled, "What is Love?"</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It was so stinking cute. I even displayed it at my wedding.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Those innocent, sweet little first graders wrote things like, "Love is getting licked by a puppy."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">They also wrote, "Love is my mommy making my favorite cookies."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I haven't done the project in awhile. But, since I am now teaching writing to all the 3rd graders I thought it would be fun.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I forgot how "worldly" kids can become between first and third.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The wrote paragraphs instead of one sentence. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The content was different too.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Let's just say my editing sessions focused more on the phrase, "Let's reword this so that it is 'school appropriate," and less on punctuation and capitalization. They weren't THAT bad, but they did fall into the "hey can of worms...let me open you" category.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I had a few that had me laughing real hard though. I was going to wait until Valentine's Day to share them, but thought maybe you might like to do the project with your class so I'm mentioning it today. I <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Valentines-Day-Thematic-Activities">also marked my Valentine's Unit on sale at TpT...check it out.</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">And now onto some of my favs:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">From my appearantly over-confident boy (points to him for incorporating our work on inferencing skills):</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">"Love is having a crush on someone. I hope nobody in this class has a crush on me. Do you think anyone in this class has a crush on me? I wouldn't be surprised if they did. I mean I look like Justin Beiber and the girls love Justin Beiber so I can infer that at least the people who love Justin Beiber have a crush on me. What should I do?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">From Little-Miss-Sunshine:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Love is hearts and flowers. It is feeling warm and fuzzy. Love is wonderful. You can not see love. You can only feel love and it feels so magical. XOXOXOXO</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FF0000;">From the kid you need to know to appreciate:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Love is disgusting and makes me want to puke. Since I don't think you want me to write about puking this is all I have to say about the subject.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-9319166640043972142011-02-02T06:17:00.003-05:002011-02-02T07:44:39.895-05:00Groundhog Day...Literally!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TUk-N9i7HjI/AAAAAAAAA8s/Hhe-Cxdxxls/s1600/51KY3PdeaeL.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TUk-N9i7HjI/AAAAAAAAA8s/Hhe-Cxdxxls/s320/51KY3PdeaeL.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569050823800593970" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0378319/" style="color: rgb(19, 108, 178); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">D.J. #1</span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">: Okay, campers, rise and shine, and don't forget your booties 'cause it's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">cooooold</span> out there today.<br /></span></span><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0727156/" style="color: rgb(19, 108, 178); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">D.J. #2</span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">: It's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">coooold</span> out there every day. What is this, Miami Beach?<br /></span></span><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0378319/" style="color: rgb(19, 108, 178); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">D.J. #1</span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">: Not hardly. And you know, you can expect hazardous travel later today with that, you know, that, uh, that </span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> blizzard thing.<br /></span></span><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0727156/" style="color: rgb(19, 108, 178); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">D.J. #2</span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">: [</span></span><i class="fine"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">mockingly</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">] That blizzard - thing. That blizzard - thing. Oh, well, here's the report! The National Weather Service is calling for a "big blizzard thing!"<br /></span></span><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0378319/" style="color: rgb(19, 108, 178); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">D.J. #1</span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Yessss</span>, they are. But you know, there's another reason why today is especially exciting.<br /></span></span><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0727156/" style="color: rgb(19, 108, 178); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">D.J. #2</span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">: Especially cold!<br /></span></span><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0378319/" style="color: rgb(19, 108, 178); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">D.J. #1</span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">: Especially cold, okay, but the big question on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">everybody's</span> lips...<br /></span></span><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0727156/" style="color: rgb(19, 108, 178); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">D.J. #2</span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">: - On their chapped lips...<br /></span></span><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0378319/" style="color: rgb(19, 108, 178); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">D.J. #1</span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">: - On their chapped lips, right: Do ya think Phil is gonna come out and see his shadow?<br /></span></span><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0727156/" style="color: rgb(19, 108, 178); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">D.J. #2</span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">: <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Punxsutawney</span> Phil!<br /></span></span><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0378319/" style="color: rgb(19, 108, 178); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">D.J. #1</span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">: That's right, woodchuck-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">chuckers</span> - it's...<br /></span></span><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0378319/" style="color: rgb(19, 108, 178); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">D.J. #1</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">, </span></span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0727156/" style="color: rgb(19, 108, 178); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">D.J. #2</span></span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">: [</span></span><i class="fine"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">in unison</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">] GROUNDHOG DAY! </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It's ironic that today is Groundhog Day because, like the movie, I sort of feel like I've lived this day before. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">School Canceled - Snow Storm - Stay if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">PJs</span> - fire up the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">crockpot</span> - bake cookies - shovel the stairs - try to squeeze in grad school work between grading 3rd grade work between playing with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">littles</span>...</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Oh wait.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I have lived this day before.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Last week.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And the week before that.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And the week before that.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">AND the week. before. THAT!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We are on our 5<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">th</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">make that FIFTH</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">actually...make the #$!@ FIFTH SNOW DAY since we returned from Winter Break on January 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">nd</span>. This puts our current last day of school at June 28<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">th</span>. UGH!</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We actually had school yesterday as 9-12" inches fluttered down outside...and nobody paid attention to it.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">A plow came barreling by within 6 feet of the classroom window - 5 times - and nobody even looked up.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">It's becoming the norm. You can tell it's getting old when your class of third graders begs you to send home all of Wednesday's work on Tuesday because they want to do it at home if there is a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">snowday</span> and not make the day up in June.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I wish it worked like that.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">How's the weather in your neck of the woods?</span></span></span></div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-63415246699849158102011-01-31T05:37:00.003-05:002011-01-31T06:22:51.164-05:00Burrito with a side of ADD<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TUaZiI9hBmI/AAAAAAAAA8g/SqGVLZlR1Mk/s1600/chipotle_burrito.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 249px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TUaZiI9hBmI/AAAAAAAAA8g/SqGVLZlR1Mk/s320/chipotle_burrito.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568306801090299490" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />We're doomed.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">And by "we" I mean teachers.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I'm certainly not a wise old sage when it comes to teaching, but I've been around long enough to have noticed that kids are changing. Each year I find myself needing to do a little more tap dancing and juggling to keep their attention. I'm sure you have too.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yesterday the fam went to Chipotle for lunch. Do you have a Chipotle near you? Oh, how I love Chipotle. It's loud so people don't notice that my twins are loud. It's counter service so I can enjoy my giant burrito without feeling bad for any waitress that got stuck waiting on "Littlest Learners: Party of 5" and the trail of crumbs we leave that would rival anything Hansel and Gretel could have tossed in the woods. It's fast food so I don't need to entertain the younguns' while we wait for cooked to order edibles. Plus, it is cheap (by dining out standards) and oh-so-yummy! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Anyhow, if you aren't familiar with it, you basically cattle herd through an assembly line of burrito goodness while a team of workers wearing Tshirts with such cleverness as "Foil Shizzle" written on them builds you the burrito of your dreams. The whole process takes only minutes.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Minutes.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Yet, in line in front of me there were three separate families with children under the age of 6. One was playing games on an iTouch, one was playing Angry Birds on an iPhone and the third was reporting current wait times for Test Track and Toy Story Mania using the Disney App on her mom's cell phone. This was not to be rivaled by the (estimated) barely 2 year old sitting in the stroller with the Dsi. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Seriously?!?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Do you understand how hard it is going to be to attempt to teach these kids and hold their attention in a classroom if they can't even wait in line for 5 minutes with live burrito action in front of them without needing high-tech entertainment? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I love technology. I'm guilty of sitting on the couch with OnDemand on the TV, my smartphone by my side, my MacBook in my lap and my iPad in my hand. I check Facebook constantly for fear I may miss an important update on what an acquaintance from high school (who's existence I had completely forgotten about until he friend requested me) had for dinner. I can Doodle Jump with the best of them. I stream video. I rock the Smartboard. I buy Xbox games for my husband who should have retired from "the sport" fifteen year ago. I get it. I really do. But, I just don't see how we will ever have the means or the funding to meet the changing needs of kids who have had so many bells and whistles, lights, touchscreens and apps from such a young age.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What do y'all think? Am I just old and crotchety or are you finding that you are battling the effects of instant gratification too?</span></span></div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-64738402909156466222011-01-30T05:39:00.003-05:002011-01-30T06:37:40.709-05:00Classroom Organization GIVEAWAY!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TUVMhIvu6uI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/t-O_vhr4dQo/s1600/cfcgiveaway.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 202px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TUVMhIvu6uI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/t-O_vhr4dQo/s320/cfcgiveaway.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567940646480571106" /></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Last summer I made my humble little publication available to the public and wrote </span><a href="http://littlestlearners.blogspot.com/2010/06/clutter-free-classroom-guide.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">this blog post about it's grand release.</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> I bought a package of 50 large envelopes figuring I would need 24 for my class in the fall anyhow and that would leave me with 26 extras just in case anyone actually bought a copy and I needed to mail it.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Holy Underestimation Batman! I ended up mailing out over 1000 of them between June and September. I had it listed in my online store, which I only run when I'm on summer vacation. We all went back to school and I didn't really think about it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I'm not sure if someone posted a link somewhere or what happened, but lately I've been receiving emails with requests for info on how to order a copy.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Not wanting to disappoint my fans (because that would be 3 angry people), I have once again made it available online. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="http://www.teacherbargains.ecrater.com/p/10471046/clutter-free-guide"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">You can buy it here for $5.00</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">...that's like the cost of a magazine....or 5 items at Dollar Tree...or 2 of the $2.5o items at the Dollar Spot at Target. You get the idea.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">And because I had so much fun with the "spread the love" <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Valentines-Day-Thematic-Activities">Valentine's Giveaway</a> I want to give one of these hot-off-the-press-inspirational-motivational-booklets away too. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Heck, I'll even increase it's value by making it a signed copy. You can't get a valuable autograph link that on a Kindle or the Nook, can you? :P</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Anyhow, all kidding aside, it does have quite a bit of useful information and helpful tips and I did get a lot of really nice feedback and blushworthy emails. So...do you want to win one?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b>Mandatory 1st Entry: </b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Blog, Facebook, Messageboard or Tweet about this (I love how those are all now verbs) with a link to this blog (www.LittlestLearners.com), leave a separate comment with a link to each one.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Feel free to copy and paste the image above into your post.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><b>Unlimited Additional Entries:</b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Leave a comment with one of your favorite organization or time-saving tips. Do a separate comment for each tip for extra entries.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I'll do a random comment drawing on Wednesday.</span></div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-80328778206221740282011-01-28T04:45:00.003-05:002011-01-28T04:51:43.327-05:00COLLEGE: Then and Now<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TUKQZFwW_BI/AAAAAAAAA8E/UogL6U2rASY/s1600/computer%2Band%2Bcoffee%2Bcup.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TUKQZFwW_BI/AAAAAAAAA8E/UogL6U2rASY/s320/computer%2Band%2Bcoffee%2Bcup.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5567170850099493906" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />Think back to college.<br /><br />And yes I do realize for some of you spring chickens it was only last year, but that’s fine.<br /><br />You know that annoying person that was in every. single. class. She was easy to spot because she sat in the front row and monopolized 85% of the discussion. She thought she was so much older and wiser because she had “life experience.” Yeah, that’s the one.<br /><br />I had a sad realization today when I concluded that I am now THAT person.<br /><br />Don’t mess with karma people.<br /><br />I made fun of THAT person. I rolled my eyes at THAT person. Now I am THAT person.<br /><br />Karma will get you every time.<br /><br />I’m convinced that is why there is a minivan in my driveway.<br /><br />But, do you want to know something? THAT person really was wiser. Or at least I think I am. :P<br /><br />So much has changed since I’ve taken classes. Which incidentally wasn’t as long ago as it feels. The coffee is better. The technology is better. The parties are probably better too, but I wouldn’t know because I don’t get out at night.<br /><br />So as I sit surrounded by PDFs with scribbled notes in the margins, empty Starbucks mugs and other school-related clutter that cause me anxiety, I’ve decided to take a break and focus on how things are the same.<br /><br />TOP 10 WAYS COLLEGE HASN'T CHANGED FOR ME:</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br />10. I live in a house with roommates who are party animals and want nothing more than to have fun all the time. They tend to be too loud at night and want to nap during the day.<br /><br />9. I find it hard to concentrate with loud music in the background, yet somebody always has it on. I will say I did prefer Dave Matthews to the theme song to Elmo’s World.<br /><br />8. It’s still OK to wear your jeans more than once without washing them.<br /><br />7. I ate Ramen Noodles for lunch last week. Don’t judge me.<br /><br />6. Textbooks are still way overpriced.<br /><br />5. There are always empty bottles lying around. Granted these have traces of milk and not Bud Light, but still there are always empty bottles lying around,<br /><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">4. I only have two hairstyles: ponytail or wet and up in a towel<br /><br />3. Highlighters are fun.<br /><br />2. I spend more time debating whose turn it is to clean the dishes than it would take to just do them.<br /><br />1. Two Words: Pizza. Delivery.<br /><br />Only now when he comes to the door I can hand him a twenty and wait for my change instead of paying him in chage...that was collected from pockets, couch cushions and the floor of a car. Although given the rate of tuition I'm pretty sure that will be the case by next semester.<br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-66168391112116477822011-01-27T09:36:00.003-05:002011-01-27T09:52:09.057-05:00Target Stampede<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Seriously folks. Get in your car and go. Now! I have found me a Target Dollar Spot Treasure and you need them too.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Behold:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">They are clipboards. </span></div></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TUGF-tApsjI/AAAAAAAAA78/bkETUp9PEn0/s1600/clipboard2_littlest_learners_dot_com.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TUGF-tApsjI/AAAAAAAAA78/bkETUp9PEn0/s320/clipboard2_littlest_learners_dot_com.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566877926687355442" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> Cheaply-made, cardboard clipboards.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I almost passed them up because unlike Timex which "takes a licking and keeps on ticking," there was no way that these puppies would stand even a day of abuse by the third grade crowd.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">But, the funky patterns and cool colors which totally match my new...um, make that work in progress...</span><a href="http://littlestlearners.blogspot.com/2010/12/extreme-makeoverclassroom-edition.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">classroom decor</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">, had me at Hello and I just couldn't stop myself from tossing three of them into my big red cart.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I took them out of their bag the next morning (along with the matching file folders that also hopped into my cart because I died just a little when I saw them) and there was a chorus of ooohs and ahhhs in the classroom. I love my class for many-a-reason, but the fact that they appreciate a colorful office supply as much as I do gets them bonus points.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">That's when I had my light bulb moment.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">They are thin and lightweight and come with a retractable little metal hook with a hole in it.</span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TUGF-HKR1GI/AAAAAAAAA70/E4hx8ATlcVI/s1600/clipboard_littlest_learners_dot_com.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TUGF-HKR1GI/AAAAAAAAA70/E4hx8ATlcVI/s320/clipboard_littlest_learners_dot_com.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566877916527187042" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">You can pushpin it into the wall or you could hot glue it to a bulletin board. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">And then just lift the metal clip and attach papers underneath. So here's what I'm thinking...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I will stalk every Target in the area and acquire an entire class set of these bad boys. I will then mount them onto a bulletin board, put a friend's name next to each one and easily display their work by slipping it under the clip. It will be a thing of beauty.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Too bad we're snowed in again or I would be at Target right now. Actually that's a lie. If we weren't snowed in I would be at school right now. But, alas I am home today and as of today's snow day I will also be in school on June 27th. Summer officially starts on June 21st. Color me bitter.</span></div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68404339854355196.post-39173516803432674862011-01-25T05:53:00.003-05:002011-01-25T20:18:06.975-05:00Write On!<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I mentioned in passing that my teammate and I have started mixin' and matchin' our kids for science and writing. In the past we've attempted something similar where she taught science and I taught social studies and we would just switch our entire classes.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Hated it!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">It always felt out of sorts to have an entirely different class of kids in front of me. This time we have split our classes in half and mixed them together for those two subjects.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">LOVE it!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Teaching writing is my absolute favorite. She loathes it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Teaching science makes my head spin. She loves it.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Mixing our kids together has been fantabulous! While we've tried to align our procedures and routines this year, it is helpful to also have 50% of the kids in front of you knowing where the highlighters are, where the paper is, etc. I also love that there is a change in chemistry in the classroom.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">We have a direction we are hoping to go in and this was our way of dipping our toe in the water. I so want to dive in.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">More to come on that at another time.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">For now I want to share with you something I came up with and started doing this year that has knocked my socks off. I call it "writing tours."</span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TT91yUqiRUI/AAAAAAAAA7k/J4NJaUwOsLE/s320/writingtour2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566297171854247234" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">I have the kids leave their work at their seat, take their pencil in hand and go on a tour of the tables reading the work of others. This gives them a chance to move around and be inspired by their peers. It also motivates them because they know those same peers are going to be reading their work. It also creates a feeling of teamwork because while they are doing their own work, they are also collaborating.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The reason they have the pencil is because they play a role in providing feedback to the writer.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Last week I had them each compose three possible topic sentences for a descriptive paragraph about something they love. While on the writing tour the class put one checkmark next to the sentence they liked the best out of the three. Afterwards I asked, "does anyone want to share a sentence that the fans went crazy for and those who voted can tell you why they selected it."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Yesterday we divided a paper in 1/2 and labeled one side as compliment and the other as advice. We did talk about advice being constructive criticism and not a cruel remark. We also discussed how a compliment should be specific. </span></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TT91yoJrVGI/AAAAAAAAA7s/6cDh-0kHOzk/s1600/writingtour1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_c2Zp1wR0bNA/TT91yoJrVGI/AAAAAAAAA7s/6cDh-0kHOzk/s320/writingtour1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566297177085138018" /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"> I was blown away by their maturity and the usefulness of their comments. It's a bit like peer editing, but allows for the feedback from many. The students then used those pieces of advice to make revisions.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Clutter-Free Classroomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11121652586389900769noreply@blogger.com3