Today's blog is short and sweet. I received an email at the end of the day letting me know that I will be awarded $4000 for literature books to use at school this year! I am so excited and blessed because today was definitely a Monday - you teachers get my drift!
We will be able to get lots of books on lots of different interest levels on many different reading levels! This will really help us meet our students needs and differentiate our instruction by interest levels.
If you haven't ever wrote a grant and your a teacher - I highly recommend it. It takes a little work and even more time but it can be worth it. Practice takes perfect.
Some tips for those just starting:
1. Keep track of all your grants applications and make a folder for you submissions so you know what you are doing when you get the grant.
2. Copy all your recipts and all emails or letters stating your due dates and expectations.
3. Share you experience with your kids. It is a great example of how writing for a cause can make things happen.
4. Don't forget to keep track of progress and take pictures of your students using any materials you bought with the money.
5. Take a video showing how you are using the materials.
Here are some other grants to check out!
www.walmartfoundation.com
www.target.com - field trip grants
Home Depot, Florida Department of Ag and Lowes have a garden grant
I have a load of money to order books with! What are some of books you recommend for literature circles?
Tiff
Monday, August 27, 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
First week down...
I made it! The first week was a real success. I can honestly say 2 things.
1. I really like my kids. I think I will love them soon.
2. My kids are going to drain me for all I am worth.
I am really privileged to have our ESE kids this year (and I say I but I mean WE because my co-teacher is sharing in this responsibility) and I am glad for this push professionally. I have a couple of kids that are on the autism spectrum - who besides being great kids - are super entertaining. I really like their quirks and nuances though I am sure some days not so much.
I had the ESE kids a while back and the biggest thing they need is just love and encouragement. Something I think I am good at, only because I know God's love on a personal level. He comes to the rescue when I feel swallowed up. Plusvthey might never score the highest score on the FCAT but that's not the goal. Not anymore. I just want them to grow and have confidence. I want them to see that they can still learn and like it! There has been a few students in the past that I have had the pleasure of seeing this happen in them. I love knowing I may of had a small part in that change. That is what teachers live for. I am aiming for that this year. If I can turn any of my kids onto learning, I did my job.
So let's recap.
Monday was rough. But no tears so that was good! From me or the students. Ha.
Tuesday was awesome. I incorporated lots of Kagan structures like Mix Pair Share and did a fun brain break where we ended up dancing the Macarena.
Wednesday a student told me that he was a Warlock. Uhhhh....ok.
My two Autistic kids work together well, minus some tears on Thursday because he was not the Zookeeper that day, and all he wanted was to hang out by my guinea pigs cage. One student must have the last word, and that will not work in the long run. I emailed parents faster than an eye could bat, and I fell really supported by my parents this year. Praise God.
Friday I managed to light a spark for reading with Voices in the Park, I highly recommend it for Character Point of View, and with my annual reading of The Tale of Despereaux. I even Differentiated my morning work with a tiered activity with our vocabulary words. Yep. I rock.
Some things that are working great!
1. Poem of the day - we have a great poem that is really catchy that we say as we transition everywhere!
2. Implementing Kagan structures. Mix pair share is the one that I have done the most. I also have reverted back to my Teach Ok! from whole brain because it is comfortable for me. I want to use Rally Reader and Rally Coach but I didn't feel comfortable with starting too many structures. My goal for next week is Fan and Pick.
3. Brain Breaks - Mirror Mirror and Freeze tag made it into the plans. Next week I am going to do a Congo line with only the leader's eyes open. That should be fun.
4. Carpet time - I have really used my rug for meeting time. Though I need to work harder with sharing a current event. My co-teacher is doing great with this but I haven't found my niche yet. We want a student to share a newspaper article each morning to make our students more Globally Minded.
5. Band-aid lesson on fairness. I did the lesson on Pinterest, where you ask the students to pretend they have a cut, then you put a band-aid on the same spot on each child like the wrist. The kids were already wondering why, telling me that didn't make sense. I am being fair, I answered. Then we talked about why that wasn't the best way to treat a cut. I explained that everybody is going to get what they need to succeed, not the same thing all the time. Fair is not everybody getting the same thing but everybody getting what they need to succeed. Since it was my first time doing it, I thought it went ok. They got the point.
6. Judy Rex inspired us to have new jobs each day and allot a time for them. So before dismissal every student has a job. Here is the list: Desk Swabber, Sweeper, Rug Doctor, Board Cleaner, Zookeeper, Pencil Monitor, Filer, Morning Message, Cubby Cleaner, Messanger, Librarian and Gardener. My classroom is spotless. Lovely.
7. My twitter board!
8. My Welcome Note for the first day!
9. My portfolio wall - Something to Tweet About!
Some things I could do better:
1. Current events.
2. Reciting our motto.
3. Using Kagan strategies.
So not too bad.
What are you doing well? Need to do better? Drop a line!
Tiffany
1. I really like my kids. I think I will love them soon.
2. My kids are going to drain me for all I am worth.
I am really privileged to have our ESE kids this year (and I say I but I mean WE because my co-teacher is sharing in this responsibility) and I am glad for this push professionally. I have a couple of kids that are on the autism spectrum - who besides being great kids - are super entertaining. I really like their quirks and nuances though I am sure some days not so much.
I had the ESE kids a while back and the biggest thing they need is just love and encouragement. Something I think I am good at, only because I know God's love on a personal level. He comes to the rescue when I feel swallowed up. Plusvthey might never score the highest score on the FCAT but that's not the goal. Not anymore. I just want them to grow and have confidence. I want them to see that they can still learn and like it! There has been a few students in the past that I have had the pleasure of seeing this happen in them. I love knowing I may of had a small part in that change. That is what teachers live for. I am aiming for that this year. If I can turn any of my kids onto learning, I did my job.
So let's recap.
Monday was rough. But no tears so that was good! From me or the students. Ha.
Tuesday was awesome. I incorporated lots of Kagan structures like Mix Pair Share and did a fun brain break where we ended up dancing the Macarena.
Wednesday a student told me that he was a Warlock. Uhhhh....ok.
My two Autistic kids work together well, minus some tears on Thursday because he was not the Zookeeper that day, and all he wanted was to hang out by my guinea pigs cage. One student must have the last word, and that will not work in the long run. I emailed parents faster than an eye could bat, and I fell really supported by my parents this year. Praise God.
Friday I managed to light a spark for reading with Voices in the Park, I highly recommend it for Character Point of View, and with my annual reading of The Tale of Despereaux. I even Differentiated my morning work with a tiered activity with our vocabulary words. Yep. I rock.
Some things that are working great!
1. Poem of the day - we have a great poem that is really catchy that we say as we transition everywhere!
2. Implementing Kagan structures. Mix pair share is the one that I have done the most. I also have reverted back to my Teach Ok! from whole brain because it is comfortable for me. I want to use Rally Reader and Rally Coach but I didn't feel comfortable with starting too many structures. My goal for next week is Fan and Pick.
3. Brain Breaks - Mirror Mirror and Freeze tag made it into the plans. Next week I am going to do a Congo line with only the leader's eyes open. That should be fun.
4. Carpet time - I have really used my rug for meeting time. Though I need to work harder with sharing a current event. My co-teacher is doing great with this but I haven't found my niche yet. We want a student to share a newspaper article each morning to make our students more Globally Minded.
5. Band-aid lesson on fairness. I did the lesson on Pinterest, where you ask the students to pretend they have a cut, then you put a band-aid on the same spot on each child like the wrist. The kids were already wondering why, telling me that didn't make sense. I am being fair, I answered. Then we talked about why that wasn't the best way to treat a cut. I explained that everybody is going to get what they need to succeed, not the same thing all the time. Fair is not everybody getting the same thing but everybody getting what they need to succeed. Since it was my first time doing it, I thought it went ok. They got the point.
6. Judy Rex inspired us to have new jobs each day and allot a time for them. So before dismissal every student has a job. Here is the list: Desk Swabber, Sweeper, Rug Doctor, Board Cleaner, Zookeeper, Pencil Monitor, Filer, Morning Message, Cubby Cleaner, Messanger, Librarian and Gardener. My classroom is spotless. Lovely.
7. My twitter board!
8. My Welcome Note for the first day!
9. My portfolio wall - Something to Tweet About!
1. Current events.
2. Reciting our motto.
3. Using Kagan strategies.
So not too bad.
What are you doing well? Need to do better? Drop a line!
Tiffany
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
My day in a nutshell...
The first day jitters. They happened and spread throughout me like a bad rash. I was not feeling so confident when my students rushed in yesterday morning. The first day is so unstructured I felt like I didn't have enough to do. I guess the day was ok until the end when dismissal started. I was responsible for about 30 kids from my pod to escort them to the car rider line. Well, let's just say I only got about 12 there. The big kids were swarming the hallways at the same time and my darling 3rd graders hadn't listen to a word I said about where to go. Wonderful. Luckily, they all managed to find my curly head and maneuver their way to the correct classroom. Then another teacher and I waited until 3:45 to get all the kids picked up. I guess there was a bad accident. Jeez, how inconvenient. Try keeping 50 3rd graders entertained at the end of the first day...no thanks. Overall, they were great and I knew that the second day of school would have to be better.
The second day rolled around and was absolutely perfect. Students came in, responded to my greeting, got straight to work and were complete gems. My afternoon group came over with smiles and no drama. We tweeted about our day, finished our math pre-test, started our interest inventory, and then danced to the Macarena! Definitely the most fun I had all day. It really helped to laugh with them and show them how we care and have fun together. Highly recommend it.
Then it was dismissal time again. My nerves suddenly on edge...I see the thunder clouds and know that here in Florida, those thunderclouds are coming to do a job and they will not disappoint. I lead my kids out and decide to wait in the open sidewalk so the 4th graders can pass. "I will not loose a child in this mass of bodies!" I said out loud. Then of course it started to rain. Pelt. Pelting us with penny size drops. "Okay guys, let's go! Stay together!" I had no choice. I joined the river of moving students that are all flowing downstream and pray that I can make it out alive. It was hard too, because the fourth graders all want to hug me and all I can think about is "What did my new kids look like? Was that one my kid who ran to the cafeteria?" Jeez. We finally made it to our drop off location and the lightening is really coming down. The stop calling names because of the lightening and thunder. Then I see some lightening, rain, hear people yelling then lights flicker and a overwhelming sound erupts in my ears. So I scream.
Yep. I scream. Shriek maybe. In front of all the 3rd grade car riders which leads to chaos, of course. I terrify a 3rd grade girl so much she starts to cry and shake like a leaf. She latches on to my co-teacher, who is bug-eying me. She and my team lead are looking at me like I have lost my mind. They quickly try to calm everyone down."That thunder was loud!" I spit out to try to save face. My team leader looks at me and says, "That was the toilet flushing. Way to go under pressure teach."
Well, everyone (except the girl who is crying) start to laugh hysterically and we can't hear if any of our kids are even being called to the pick - up gate. So my apologies from the third grade dismissal room. We were a little off today.
Lesson learned: I am not so great, in severe weather...
My most embarrassing moment is done and out of the way. Whew.
Tiff
The second day rolled around and was absolutely perfect. Students came in, responded to my greeting, got straight to work and were complete gems. My afternoon group came over with smiles and no drama. We tweeted about our day, finished our math pre-test, started our interest inventory, and then danced to the Macarena! Definitely the most fun I had all day. It really helped to laugh with them and show them how we care and have fun together. Highly recommend it.
Then it was dismissal time again. My nerves suddenly on edge...I see the thunder clouds and know that here in Florida, those thunderclouds are coming to do a job and they will not disappoint. I lead my kids out and decide to wait in the open sidewalk so the 4th graders can pass. "I will not loose a child in this mass of bodies!" I said out loud. Then of course it started to rain. Pelt. Pelting us with penny size drops. "Okay guys, let's go! Stay together!" I had no choice. I joined the river of moving students that are all flowing downstream and pray that I can make it out alive. It was hard too, because the fourth graders all want to hug me and all I can think about is "What did my new kids look like? Was that one my kid who ran to the cafeteria?" Jeez. We finally made it to our drop off location and the lightening is really coming down. The stop calling names because of the lightening and thunder. Then I see some lightening, rain, hear people yelling then lights flicker and a overwhelming sound erupts in my ears. So I scream.
Yep. I scream. Shriek maybe. In front of all the 3rd grade car riders which leads to chaos, of course. I terrify a 3rd grade girl so much she starts to cry and shake like a leaf. She latches on to my co-teacher, who is bug-eying me. She and my team lead are looking at me like I have lost my mind. They quickly try to calm everyone down."That thunder was loud!" I spit out to try to save face. My team leader looks at me and says, "That was the toilet flushing. Way to go under pressure teach."
Well, everyone (except the girl who is crying) start to laugh hysterically and we can't hear if any of our kids are even being called to the pick - up gate. So my apologies from the third grade dismissal room. We were a little off today.
Lesson learned: I am not so great, in severe weather...
My most embarrassing moment is done and out of the way. Whew.
Tiff
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Break a Leg!
I always compared teaching to acting. For most of my life I wanted to be an actress and to this day I do believe my wish came true. I sing, dance, evoke emotion, motivate, inspire, and am a one person comedy act every day. Teachers everywhere should be nominated for Emmys and Tonys and Oscars. We should be flown out to LA and have the red carpet adorned by our comfy teacher shoes and stretchy waistbands....well okay maybe we will put on heels and a sparkly dress. And everyone would admire us and whisper "How do they do it so seamlessly?" Tom Cruise would high five us and invite us to be on the next Mission Impossible. We would interview with the reporters who would ask us our favorite class and we would say with completely surprise, "Teachers don't have favorites!" Such great acting, we would think in our heads.
So maybe it is not the same as acting but the show starts tomorrow and we all need to get psyched up. My wardrobe is laid out and my mind is buzzing with my lines. All of the stars are awaiting my support as I act in their show. Not my own. But that is okay because you have seen those movies where the supporting actor doesn't really support, isn't really funny and has no chemistry with the main actor, and the movie is a lemon. Well, not this movie! I plan on winning that Golden Globe this year for best supporting actress.
To my teachers everywhere - Break a Leg!
Tiffany
So maybe it is not the same as acting but the show starts tomorrow and we all need to get psyched up. My wardrobe is laid out and my mind is buzzing with my lines. All of the stars are awaiting my support as I act in their show. Not my own. But that is okay because you have seen those movies where the supporting actor doesn't really support, isn't really funny and has no chemistry with the main actor, and the movie is a lemon. Well, not this movie! I plan on winning that Golden Globe this year for best supporting actress.
To my teachers everywhere - Break a Leg!
Tiffany
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Meet the Teacher! Success!
Our school does Meet the Teacher the Friday before school starts from 9-11. Sometimes we get loads of parents coming to check you out and sometimes you don't.
This year a rumor must have gotten out about my classroom pet because I have 13 out of 16 parents show up! Woot! Woot! To be really honest, I haven't had much interactions with kids over the summer as most of our friends have babies or toddlers. So I felt rusty. Right before parents would come skipping (ha) into my room, I was NERVOUS. I was like, "How do I act, what should I say?" Blank. That is what I went. Scared. That is how I felt. And I was suppose to put these kids to ease? Not gonna happen!
Then that door opened and I saw that nervous, scared face and CLICK! It all came back. "I can totally do this!" I told myself. I smoothly walked over greeting my new student, shook hands, introduced my self to the family and said something witty (who knows what it was) everybody laughed, smiled and relaxed and I guided them to the sign in station, while asking my new student if they would like to meet my special class pet. This is how it went all morning. I also do this thing where I try to guess each students name as they come in....it is like my super power. I am not joking. I look at my roster and see who they look like. Totally fun way to start the day. It never fails to see the look of surprise on everyone's face when I guess right and compliment the parents on naming their kid correctly.
Here where some interesting things that were said to me at MtheT:
1. Hey Mrs. Forsyth, look at my muscles...(takes shirt off) now feel my back muscles!
2. Ummm. Rusty pooped. That is so gross. He is adorable.
3. I left you a pencil, sharpened under Rusty's cage for you Mrs. Forsyth
4. I like to pretend fight a lot. That is why my muscles are so big.
Some previous years quotes:
1. My name is Timothy and I like dirt bikes do you?
2. I am part wolf. I was raised by them when I was a baby and then my parents found me when I was two.
3. I don't like school but mom says that's ok because I am pretty.
4. My mom said my dad is Sting.
Seriously. I couldn't make these up.
Monday is the big day and I already feel good about the year!
So what about you? What was your favorite Meet the Teacher quote?
Tiffany
This year a rumor must have gotten out about my classroom pet because I have 13 out of 16 parents show up! Woot! Woot! To be really honest, I haven't had much interactions with kids over the summer as most of our friends have babies or toddlers. So I felt rusty. Right before parents would come skipping (ha) into my room, I was NERVOUS. I was like, "How do I act, what should I say?" Blank. That is what I went. Scared. That is how I felt. And I was suppose to put these kids to ease? Not gonna happen!
Then that door opened and I saw that nervous, scared face and CLICK! It all came back. "I can totally do this!" I told myself. I smoothly walked over greeting my new student, shook hands, introduced my self to the family and said something witty (who knows what it was) everybody laughed, smiled and relaxed and I guided them to the sign in station, while asking my new student if they would like to meet my special class pet. This is how it went all morning. I also do this thing where I try to guess each students name as they come in....it is like my super power. I am not joking. I look at my roster and see who they look like. Totally fun way to start the day. It never fails to see the look of surprise on everyone's face when I guess right and compliment the parents on naming their kid correctly.
Here where some interesting things that were said to me at MtheT:
1. Hey Mrs. Forsyth, look at my muscles...(takes shirt off) now feel my back muscles!
2. Ummm. Rusty pooped. That is so gross. He is adorable.
3. I left you a pencil, sharpened under Rusty's cage for you Mrs. Forsyth
4. I like to pretend fight a lot. That is why my muscles are so big.
Some previous years quotes:
1. My name is Timothy and I like dirt bikes do you?
2. I am part wolf. I was raised by them when I was a baby and then my parents found me when I was two.
3. I don't like school but mom says that's ok because I am pretty.
4. My mom said my dad is Sting.
Seriously. I couldn't make these up.
Monday is the big day and I already feel good about the year!
So what about you? What was your favorite Meet the Teacher quote?
Tiffany
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Finally Finished!
I have finally finished my room...just in time for Meet the Teacher Tomorrow! I am looking forward to seeing my new bunch of kiddos!
Here are some tips for Meet the Teacher:
1. The first 7 seconds are the most important! Smile, shake hands, give a positive greeting and say something unique to that student! Don't say the same thing to everyone...they will catch on that you are being lazy.
2. Next, greet the parents! It is important to see the child first then the parents! This shows where your interest lies. Shake hands and smile!
3. Encourage the students to look around the room and explore their new classroom! I like to have something that they have to look for - give them a purpose - for example: I will say, "We have a special classmate. See if you can find our squeaky friend!" they will search for my class pet Rusty the Guinea Pig.
4. Sit the parents down and get them to sign EVERYTHING you can. Our school district is doing things really easy now. If you do NOT want your student to get on the internet, video, picture ect...they have to sign. So if they don't sign it is an automatic YES! Love it. However, we do have some iPad forms, Pet Permissions, and info cards that need to be filled out. Another teacher of mine, gives our brownies for "brownie points" for filling our paperwork! Very creative!
5. If supplies are brought, I wait till the first day of school and have the kiddos sort, so for today I just have them set it on the table.
6. I like to fill out the student's name tags as they come in. Often time students go by a nickname or middle name and I like to write what they like to be called. I make it out and then show them where I would like them to sit on the first day. This helps with jitters!
7. I try not to talk to one parent too much but encourage them to sign up for a conference. This way you can mingle and chat with more people. Sometimes it is hard to pull away from a "talker" but I always just say "I think we need more time to talk, so when are you free next week for a conference?" This shows you were listening to their concerns and want to have a more proper time with them.
8. Remember this is the first impression families have of you - Look Nice! Smile! Eye Contact!
Now for the fun part! Here is my classroom - finished!
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| My co-teacher and I's doors! They turned out great! |
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| Welcome Sign - Thanks Marie and Kim! |
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| My connecting door to my favorite grade level boss! His baseball theme is a hit! |
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| My door ;) |
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| My desk - nothing special but CLEAN! |
 |
| Left Side |
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| Middle |
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| Right Side |
 |
| Twitter Board on the back of door...that birdy was the inspiration to our theme! It hold the markers for the twitter board and our job sticks. |
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| My writing work station |
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| My fabulous Common Board - duct tape from Kmart! |
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| My motto and rules board |
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| My library with anchor chart tree, plus my Tale of Despereaux Poster and book - can you find it? |
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| Portfolio wall - hooks with key rings. Anything that the students are proud of will go on their key ring to celebrate! It doesn't have to be a test but whatever they would like to keep to show their parents at the end of they year. The blue says "Something to Tweet About" |
 | ||||||
| My Pinterest Filing Cabinet and some awesome Sorting Mats! Thanks Cathy! You rock! |
Tiffany
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
So 'tweet' of you to stop by!
There are so many different ways to do Meet the Teacher. I have compressed them down into 3 categories:
1. Choose a candy/cereal/food to go with your witty welcome note wrapping it up in some adorable baggie, buying an outfit to match your theme for the year, and having a plate of brownies or doughnuts to hype everyone up on sugar, all to show them how glad that they came to meet you.
2. Do something half way cute but not too cute because your husband will kill you if you spend anymore money...this week.
3. Don't do much of anything besides writing Welcome to Third Grade on your really old easel that has stains on it because some kid couldn't tell the difference between a sharpie and an Expo marker.
So which one will I be....Teacher number.....2. Yep. I did do something absolutely adorable but it was quick and not too expensive. My co-teacher actually bought everything so I just need to pay her back! As you know we are doing bird theme this year and I am really excited about how my room is coming together. Meet the Teacher is Friday morning and I hope to finish everything tomorrow! My laminating came back today and I sat and cut with the Hubby for about 30 minutes while dinner was simmer away. Side note - Rachel Ray's magazine is so good. Look what I cooked tonight!
Back to Meet the Teacher. So you never know how many parents will actually show up and then you have all the kids from last year who want to stop by and hug you. It always does my heart good to see their familiar smiles and firm hugs as they go see their new teacher and I meet my new kiddos. I am hoping for a packed room and lots of hugs/handshakes/high fives. We made these ridiculously cute "nests" for our welcome note. I hope we have 100% turnout!
I also key ringed my favorite Kagan strategies and have them loaded and ready on my white board. Whew. That's another thing to cross off the list. If you are wondering about my yellow and blue poster next to it - they are my 3 essentials for the first week of school from The Essential 55 by Ron Clark. He is the reason I went into teaching. If you haven't read his book and you are a teacher...seriously get on it!
Which teacher are you this year? I have been them all at one time or another!!! Leave me a comment and let me know!
Tiff
1. Choose a candy/cereal/food to go with your witty welcome note wrapping it up in some adorable baggie, buying an outfit to match your theme for the year, and having a plate of brownies or doughnuts to hype everyone up on sugar, all to show them how glad that they came to meet you.
2. Do something half way cute but not too cute because your husband will kill you if you spend anymore money...this week.
3. Don't do much of anything besides writing Welcome to Third Grade on your really old easel that has stains on it because some kid couldn't tell the difference between a sharpie and an Expo marker.
So which one will I be....Teacher number.....2. Yep. I did do something absolutely adorable but it was quick and not too expensive. My co-teacher actually bought everything so I just need to pay her back! As you know we are doing bird theme this year and I am really excited about how my room is coming together. Meet the Teacher is Friday morning and I hope to finish everything tomorrow! My laminating came back today and I sat and cut with the Hubby for about 30 minutes while dinner was simmer away. Side note - Rachel Ray's magazine is so good. Look what I cooked tonight!
White Ragu Sauce with Pici
Back to Meet the Teacher. So you never know how many parents will actually show up and then you have all the kids from last year who want to stop by and hug you. It always does my heart good to see their familiar smiles and firm hugs as they go see their new teacher and I meet my new kiddos. I am hoping for a packed room and lots of hugs/handshakes/high fives. We made these ridiculously cute "nests" for our welcome note. I hope we have 100% turnout!
 |
| That is my coveted Kagan Timer in the background too! Love that thing. We put mints and rolos in the "nests". Thanks Noris! |
I also key ringed my favorite Kagan strategies and have them loaded and ready on my white board. Whew. That's another thing to cross off the list. If you are wondering about my yellow and blue poster next to it - they are my 3 essentials for the first week of school from The Essential 55 by Ron Clark. He is the reason I went into teaching. If you haven't read his book and you are a teacher...seriously get on it!
Tiff
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