#BTS 2016

So...It's been a while....a really long while...like I work at a new school while...



I love my new school and my new classroom.  I can't wait to show you around and get back into this blogging thing.  I'm so excited to be on a new adventure with a great group of kids and colleagues.

BUT...I've been planning all summer :)

Click here to find in my TPT store

I love using this long term planner to pace out my units of study.  It has one grading period per page, so it is super easy to pace long term projects.  Check out this FREEBIE in my TPT store.  It is editable so that you can customize it with your own dates and breaks.

Ok, It's been awhile

So, the circus got the best of the ringmaster, but I'm back and better than ever.  I thought I'd begin with a post of how I never seem to be able to  try to stay organized.

Organization is one of those things that is SO AWESOME when it is working...and so TERRIBLE when it is not working.  My number one rule is clean off your desk at the end of the day.

because this is NOT what I want to walk 

into in the morning.

Now, this is a little extreme.  It was the end of the grading period and everything was needing to be graded all at once, but we all have these days!  

What is your number one rule to stay organized?  Can't wait to get back into blogging and hopefully sharing some great resources and ideas with all you fabulous teachers out there :)

Lunch Box Linky Party

I'm so excited to rejoin the blogging world with this awesome Linky Party!
Tara over at 4th Grade Frolics is hosting...I love linky parties because that is how I find new blogs to follow...yay!


Ok so...here's my lunch box and lunch

I usually take a whole container of something (hummus and carrots and pita chips) and eat on it all week.  That really cuts down on the things I need to remember as I walk out the door in the morning.  I love my insulated cup to drink water at work...I find that when I teach all day, I get really dehydrated.  So this allows me to keep ice and water on hand with out the cup sweating all over my desk! Plus, my managers love being the one who gets me ice...I know, right?  They also really like washing my dishes...

So...I am part of a Team that does EVERYTHING together...so my class eats lunch at 11:38, but my teammate takes them down so my lunch starts right then...I pick up both our classes at 12:08 and start the bathroom routine so that she can take a few more minutes at the end.  This works so well for us because we all get a few more minutes to eat!

Another Award

The Versatile Blogger Award rules:

1.  Thank the person who nominated you with a link back to them.  

Emily over at Circus of Learning passed this award on to me...thanks!  I'm honored.

2.  Tell 7 things about yourself.

•  I've lived in a 5 mile radius my whole life...including college
• I married my high school sweet heart
• I work on the most fabulous, hardworking 4th grade team EVER!!
• I'm a DIY diva
• My favorite way to waste time is pinterest
• I get joy out of organizing things into boxes and files
• I love tv that has no point whatsoever

3.  Pass this award on to 12 other newly discovered blogs and let them know they received an award...

I'm not quite ready to pass on my award...I'm new to blogging and everyone I follow has a TON of followers.  This has made me realize I need to venture further out into the blog world. 

I'm Loving NOTEBOOKS!

I'm saving my science notebooks until they are complete.  Masterpiece kinda thing...

but here are some pics of my S.S. notebooks...

Table of Contents.  Next year...date will be added 

Map Features. 

Facts about Ancient Civilizations.  Came from group presentations.  

Conquistadors Web.  Kids loved this one...

Although time consuming, I think the kids really learn more.  When they have to think about making the graphic organizer, they actually think about the connections it represents.  LOVE IT!

Thanks for the Awards!!!

So...I'm SO Honored to have been awarded two different awards.  Sorry it has taken a little extra amount of time to say thanks!

Loose Shoelaces and Third Grade Rock Star

Gave me the ...

The goal of the award is to spotlight up-and-coming blogs with less than 200 followers. The rules are:

1. copy and paste the award on your blog
2. thank the giver and link back to them
3. reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog
4. hope that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers

I'm not quite ready to pass on the award, but I wanted to say thank you!!!

What is the Plan?

So, I've identified my clutter with the encouragement of ...

Unfortunately, teachers tend to not be very good stewards of our resources.  Nothing bothers me more than to make copies that don't get used or clean out old binders and throw away reams and reams of paper.  I try to use it as scrap paper, but how much scrap paper can you have before that is now your clutter?

I will RECYCLE A LOT of paper in the next few weeks.  I will REUSE a lot a binder in the next few weeks. I will REDUCE the number of things I print off the internet and copy for my class.
(That's an example of modeling targeted skill...points on evaluation?)

Ok...I'm going to tackle my huge grey cabinet first...here's the before and the plan.

1. Organize plastic drawers into like items and label.

2.  Purge empty cardboard boxes just because they were there when I moved in does not mean they have to stay.

3. Ask the curriculum coach to store the extra box of leveled readers that I have (should note that I already convinced the ESL teacher to take one extra box.  How do you end up with 2 extra boxes of ESL readers!!!)

4. Label plastic shoe boxes of supplies.

5.  Find new, covered home for EVERYTHING on top.

6.  Figure out how to organize and store my large collection of posters.

Click HERE to join this awesome linky party!