Classroom Reveal!

Where did the summer go??  We decide to take a late vacation this summer the last week in July.  However that was also the first week I could have gotten into my classroom!  Instead I was enjoying this view!!

I wish I had that outside my classroom window!

As soon as we got back, it was time to get into school mode.  I felt a little behind the eight ball, but at least I was well rested and had a nice tan too!

Here's what I came back to...

It's always so daunting to return after the summer with everything removed and packed up.  Luckily I had a little help, as you can see in my photo!  

I am a teacher that doesn't mind a bit of rearranging and change in my set up.  However with the SMARTboard and computers tied to where you see them in the photo it is a little challenging to do that! I spent so many late hours at school--but it's almost like a little reunion every time you go in, right??  Someone is always around, we catch up on how our summer went and try to get some work done!!  I found it a little easier to spend my nights prepping the classroom, since I spent my days with these kiddos!  

It's hard enough being a teacher's kid or nephew--they don't want to have to 'go back to school' earlier than everyone else too!!

So here's the end product!

My reveal picture is the room set up for our supply drop off.  

As a grade level we purchased these awesome folders for our take home folders.  They have a pocket in the front, so I jazzed them up with a cute beach-y cover.

I also made these...  Any guesses what they are???

  They are containers from Crystal Light...but they fit markers PERFECTLY!  I put little chalkboard label stickers on them, and had been saving them all summer--each student got one to store their markers.  Now I have no ripped boxes, or markers rolling all over the place, or markers taking up the entire pencil box. 

More goodies for my new class!!

If you didn't notice, my room has a bit of a beach theme!  Remember the vacation I just returned from??  At least I get some bright sunny beach decorations all year long. I've been adding to my theme for the last 3 years.  

Here is a closer look at some of my favorites items around the room...

I created these cute name tags this year for my desks this year with Thistle Girl clip art!  I am constantly fighting the contact paper war.  They peeled off almost immediately. Last year I tried velcro dots, but that wasn't much better...  so for now we do scotch tape!

I created this art on some wood frames. I just printed these off, painted the edges, and then I modge-podged them to the wood.  They are so cute!

If you like these you can download these for free at my TPT store!

To help with classroom management, I use 2 important tools.  One is our behavior clip chart--all beach themed of course!  This allows each student to monitor their own behavior throughout the day.  The children have the opportunity to move up the chart or down, depending on the choices that they make.  In years past I have used liquid tie-dye to dye my clips fun colors--but I had trouble finding it this year!  So we settled for using chalk markers on our clips.

The other item I use for whole class management is my beach behavior bingo!  I love this and the kids are always so excited about it.  They are practicing reading 3 digit numbers, it incorporates technology, and encourages a collaborative, cooperative team atmosphere!  What more could a second grader ask for!?!

Here is how we use this... when the class is following rules and routines as a whole group, or if we get a compliment from another teacher in the building!  The children earn a bingo chip!  When we pull a chip, then the students have to read that 3 digit number and find it on the chart!  The reward is a big surprise until we get a bingo!!  Once we do, they scan the QR code on top and it is revealed!  Some of my prizes were movie day, pajama day, bubble party (we chew gum and blew bubbles outside), technology party, and board game party!  If you like this item it is available in my TPT store as well!  QR codes are not included!

I'm a little bit of a tech nerd too, so I had to incorporate a little of that into my classroom as well!  My job board is a giant tablet.  Then as one of our activities the first week, my kiddos each create their own 'app' card to place on the board for their job.  I just use velcro dots to secure them and then I rotate them one spot over each week!

We hired a new principal at our school this year, and one of her new requests is to post learning targets for the students.  I created these little posters and then just purchased some document frames to make them look a little prettier!  I can easily write on them with dry erase markers to change them once we hit our target!

No classroom is complete without a library!  I had my very handy husband build these 2 shelves for me last summer to hold these cute baskets.  

My newest little obsession is those chalk markers and little chalkboards--so I picked one up at Hobby Lobby!  How cute!  It just adds a little pizzazz to our classroom and helps us get through those first few crazy days of school!

Thanks for taking your time to read all about my classroom! I hope I gave you a few new ideas for yours!  

Go on over to Lucky Little Learners to check out all the other great classrooms!

#2getherwearebetter

Open House Notes

We are well into the swing of things now at school.  We just finished up our second full week of school.  This week was especially crazy because we had parent orientation one evening as well.  No matter how much I prepare and adjust my power point, it always seems that I forget some important tidbit that I want to share with parents!  However, I do love meeting moms and dads and letting them know what being in second grade is all about! As a beginning writing project we created a small display for the parents and wrote about ourselves in my Guess Who project.  There are many of these available for purchase, but I created my own and like that I added a line at the bottom asking them what the best thing about them was.  I love seeing all of their thoughts, from being good at football to being smart or being pretty!  Here are some of my kiddos hard at work...

One of my students finished a little quicker so I asked them to draw my picture.  I'm holding a pencil and you can see my desk in the background.

I also used this activity to set the expectation for drawing in second grade.  We talk about no stick people drawing, making sure we are wearing clothes, and adding some detail into our drawings so that we are not floating in space!  Unfortunately our school district does not have art for the elementary students, and loving drawing myself, I try to include some of that into our work in class.  I draw for the students on the board and they can follow along if they like on their own paper to help with their drawings.

These were hanging in the hallway as their parents came into our classroom for them to see and guess who was who!  You can buy this activity in my TPT store!

I also use parent night to emphasize how important our nightly reading is!  We have calendars in second grade that the students fill out and have parents initial.  I check these calendars every Monday.  I have tried checking them once a month, however, I found that some children were not keeping up with the daily expectation.  I created this calendar of September.  It is also available in my TPT store.  Please be on the look out for upcoming months!

It was a busy week!  I know many of you may just be starting school this week!  I hope you can find some of these useful!  

On a more fun note, we are enjoying the "last" weekend of summer with some family fun!

 A BBQ!  My grandmother immigrated to the USA from Germany in 1925.  She went on to become a Kindergarten teacher until she started her family and had 6 children.  She passed away almost 20 years ago.  There are 11 grandchildren and now many, many great grandchildren. Here are many of us pictured along with her sister's family.  Enjoy your long weekend!

Classroom Behavior 101

I have to admit one of my least favorite things to do is teach and teach and teach and teach and teach again those classroom rules each year. Wouldn't it be wonderful if all of these little angels came to school ready to learn, respectful, polite, and obsessive rule followers?? BTW, I have 2 of those students living with me at home, and maybe it's not all it's cracked up to be ;)

But EVERY teacher knows that Classroom Management sets the tone for your entire year and it is THE KEY to having a successful year! Children need to know the expectations in your classroom if you want them to be successful for the school year. Here are a few of the tools I use with my second graders:

 The Rainbow Clip Chart

 I know that there is some controversy about this chart--comments akin to 'would you as an adult want to have to move your clip in front of your co-workers?' But honestly, I love that the students have the opportunity to move back up, and also that those students behaving appropriately are rewarded by moving up.  My original chart uses scrapbook paper for the backgrounds, my TPT version has the backgrounds included.   I have created quite a few of these for fellow teachers, and love coming up with the wording to go with the themes!  You can purchase my beach theme chart here!

 Beach Behavior Bingo 

 This is my absolute favorite item I introduced last year, Beach Behavior Bingo! The kids are so into it, I also include a QR code that holds our reward for when we finally get a bingo. Plus it works on reading and identifying 3 digit numbers (Common Core tie in!). The rewards are fun (code for FREE) things like pajama day, class move, bubble gum party, etc.  Here is a version I have on TPT!  Check it out, I even have it on sale for back to school.

Cool Tools Book

Lastly, our school uses PBIS to help with classroom management.  We teach Cool Tools to help set expectations for each area in the school.  I have created this writing activity to go along with your PBIS lessons.  In my classroom I have the students complete the top of the sheet, our three words are Responsible, Respectful, and Ready.  Then they write a few sentences explaining how they are following the '3 R's' in our school and draw a picture to go along with it.  I also have my students include our school creed.  I included a fill in the blank in my TPT version.  

The countdown begins

I've spent the past few weeks working in my classroom.  #teachershavethesummeroff?  I like a little change every year in my environment and I've just about got it right.  I will be sure to share pictures this week of it all done!  I've been searching for some perfect pieces to add that extra special touch to my beach themed classroom, but I just couldn't seem to find it!  So...of course, I created my own!  Wood frames, printer, and modge-podge and help brainstorming with my mom, #creativityishereditary!  I am so excited with how they turned out and I can't wait to find the perfect spot in my classroom.

Here's the most exciting new!  I have my Teacher Pay Teacher's store up and running.  I hope you will take the time to follow my store.  I am working on quite a few new things and hope to get them up there in the near future.  In the meantime, you can get these cute posters for FREE at my store.  While you are there please become a follower!

And we are at 10 days till the kids are back!

TMI??

It's about that time! I have been starting to work on getting my classroom ready for the upcoming school year, I have been stressing out because I can't get it exactly how I want it, but I'm working on that! Anyways, we have a tentative class list, 26 brand new faces set to join me in just a few short weeks. I am in a interesting position of already knowing several of my students. You see up until I joined the second grade team last year, I was teaching PreK in my building, so I have had a handful of these children before. Also, I do live in the neighborhood I teach, which has it's ups and downs. For the most part, I don't really mind it, and But I have many teacher friends who would never want to do it! Just today I was walking my dog and happened upon a few of last year's second graders who cheerily waved and shouted out "Hi Mrs. Driscoll!" That I love! So with the push for data driven instruction and RtI, we are expected to start interventions within the first few weeks of school it seems we are expected to get to know these kids and super quick! In my years of teaching, I have heard some teachers say they want to form their own opinions on their students, some want the heads up for any of those who need some special..ahem.. attention. So what's your thoughts? Do you like to know as much as you can?? Or would you rather know nothing?? Or maybe it's somewhere in between?? Comment below with your thoughts! As a thank you!! Here's a student info sheet I send home with my parents