Books, Books, and More Books

I have TONS of books in my classroom!  That's a great thing, but they need to be organized in order for children to find what they need.  I divided my books into two groups-- picture books and independent reading books.

My picture books currently span three bookshelves.  My sweet Dad made my bookshelves when I first found out I had a teaching job.  They even have wheels on the bottom :)  I bought my tubs from Dollar General the summer before I started teaching.  They are slowly starting to crack and need to be replaced.  I like to sort these books by theme because it's easier for me to find the book I'm looking for (I don't always know a specific title or author).  Each tub has a different dot label code.  I used the circle labels and rectangle labels for more combinations.  Many of these books also have a reading level sticker at the top (to help my kiddos make better book choices).  The Scholastic Book Wizzard is an a-ma-zing resource for levelizing books.  My kids' book bins are stored across the top of the shelf.  Here's a picture of my picture book library.  Sorry it's not the greatest picture.  It was taken at the beginning of last school year, with no intent of using it for a blog. 

Click here to download my picture book labels.  The last page was left blank so you can add your own themes.  I used CK Handprint if you want your font to match.

Another spot in the room is only for leveled books.  These are the books my kids pick from to fill up their book bins each week.  As they get better at book selection, they are allowed to also pick picture books to add to their independent reading boxes.  I love storing these books in the little crates, found at Dollar General.  They fit just perfectly in there.

Click here to download my leveled book labels (these are pretty plain and simple)

I also have the reading sets from our reading series, StoryTown.  I think we originally were given 6 copies of each book.  I never use all 6 books at once, so I took one book from each set and added it to the books on the shelf above.  The other 5 are stored together where children don't have access.


How do you organize your books?

Hairy Number Patterns

I loved the Lettering Delights clipart used by Teacher Bits and Bobs to create a math activity called "Eat Drink and Be Hairy."  I decided to use the same pictures to create a number pattern activity.  I think creating and extending number patterns (counting by 1's, 2's, 5's, and 10's) are essential for building number sense.  Here's a little activity I've been working on.

If you download it, and like what you see, please leave me a comment.  Thanks!

Click on the picture to download

Math Work Stations - Chapters 1 and 2

I'm excited to be learning more about Debbie Diller's book, "Math Work Stations."  I read it a few months ago, but now I want to see how others are actually putting her ideas into action. 

I'll admit I'm more of a "center" gal than a "work station" gal.  I have always loved teaching with a theme.  My biggest fear with using work stations is the children will get bored with the same activities for several weeks at a time.  I can't wait to see how others are implementing Debbie's ideas.  I'm really hoping to learn a lot this summer-- thanks to all of you.


On a different note, this year I made a lot of changes to the way I do math, and I LOVE it!  I've devoted much more time in my day to student hands-on practice and my kids LOVED it!  My team decided to use our "assigned" curriculum, Everyday Math more as a tool than the Math Bible.  It's been more work for me to supplement (a whole bunch) but it really paid off. 


I'm linking up with with Mrs. Wills for Chapters 1 and 2.

Chapter 1: The Checklist
1. Materials used by the teacher first, then placed in the station: half of the time
2. Materials do not change weekly, but rather to reflect the students' learning objectives: No- my materials change each week. They are created to reflect their needs, and often they are the same activity with a new look.
3. All students go to stations daily: Yes!!
4. Materials are differentiated: No- I need more pointers on this one
5. The teacher observes work or meets with groups- Yes!!


Chapter 2: Organization
I wish I had some pictures to share, but my room is packed up for the summer.  I love to keep things organized.  Unfortunately, my room is very tiny, and it doesn't offer a lot of space for anything extra.

I use the white plastic three-drawer systems to store materials for each month.  Each drawer is labeled with a month.  I have 4 sets stacked together in a tall cabinet.

I use binders to store all of my teacher masters (for all subjects).  I put the originals in plastic sleeves and it makes things so easy to see.  Binders work SO MUCH BETTER than files in a filing cabinet.

I have one shelf for manipulatives.  I really had to purge and get down to what was really needed/used because of the lack of space. 


I use the Sterilite tubs (that hold 8.5 X 11" paper) for the materials that my kids are using each week.  They are labeled "Tub 1", "Tub 2", etc.

It's Random

I know this is random, but I just wanted to mention that I LOVE the new Heinz ketchup packets.  So far, the only place I've seen them is Chick-fil-A.  These are the greatest.  No more squeezing pack after pack of ketchup onto a napkin or hamburger wrapper.  It leaves me thinking, "why didn't I think of that?"

Summer To-Do List

Apparently starting a blog at the end of the school year was a bad idea...  It seems like the last two weeks have flown by.  I actually started three different posts and was interrupted all three times.  So sorry to all 11 of you that follow my little blog (LOL).  Hopefully as I post more, more will come and follow.  I digress...  Assessments, report cards, cummulative records, room cleaning, end of the year parties, have all ended.  SUMMER IS HERE!!  While I'm sad to see this year's class leave, I'm so happy to be a stay at home mom for the next couple of months.
But, we teachers know that school is never too far removed.  There will still be professional development, grade level get-togethers, classroom organizing, and curriculum creating. 
Since I've seen so many other teachers already planning how they will use their summer break I thought I'd do the same.  Let's face it-- I need a little accountability or else it could just be a lazy summer out by the pool with the kiddos.

1. Take a week off-- I need one week to just sleep in late (well as late as a K and C will let me sleep) and stay in P.J.s until lunchtime.

2. Vacation Bible School-- I'll be teaching upcoming first graders.  It's always a good reality check to remember how those babies come into the classroom each August.

3. Math Tubs- Because of teacher blogs I was inspired to totally change how I manage independent work time.  I love math tubs now.  I printed, laminated and cut out TONS of terrific math activities from February-May.  Now it's time to start creating some great ideas to use for the first half of the year.

4. Math Curriculum- I'm ready to start alligning my math lessons to the Core Standards.  Sounds like fun, huh?

5. Crafting- My mom just bought a Cricut and the Sure Cuts A Lot software.  Thank goodness for me she just lives 5 minutes away.  I've already found lots of ideas I can't wait to try out.

6. Short Vowel Word Work- I'm planning to create some word work to be used while I teach short vowels.

7. Purging of Toys- Am I the only one that seems over-run with toys at home??  I really didn't think that would ever happen to me, but it has!  I will be donating lots of toys by the end of the summer :)

On the Home Stretch

We've finally made it to single digits-- now that today is over there's only 8 more student days left!!!  And as much as I L.O.V.E my class this year, May certainly has a way of making you ready for summer.  We are through with the Harcourt reading series, "structured" math lessons, report card assessments, and DIBELS.  I've devoted the last two weeks to fun, themed lessons. 

This week it's all about animals.  What better way to learn about nonfiction texts than through hands-on projects.  Today we learned about 5 of the 6 main habitats. 

We first learned what animals need for survival: food, water and shelter.  "Shelter" naturally led us right into discussing habitats.

Next, we watched the five habitat videos on Brain Pop Jr.  Hey, what can I say, Mrs. Morse has to have time to grade assessments and enter them into the computer.

Then it was on to the fun stuff.  I divided the class into 5 groups, 4 kids in each group.  They used lots of nonfiction books to draw their habitats onto large butcher paper.  Before each group got started I showed them how to pull out coordinating colors for their habitat.

The groups worked really hard on their backgrounds for a long time.

When they were ready, each child chose at least 3 animals to illustrate, cut out, add to their posters.

The children wrote their habitat facts on seperate pieces of paper.  They had to list the animals and plants.  Then tell a few interesting facts.

After their projects were finished we shared the final products. 

Lightning Bug Round-Up Word Work

Here's a little game I made to review the long i sound (spelled -ight and -ite).  This is my first time to link something to Google Docs.  Fingers crossed it works!  Click here to download.