My Weekly Lesson Plans in Pictures {August 14-19}

Back to School was a huge success!  I was so happy to meet my class and our first three days together were amazing!  I love that we started on a Wednesday this year.  Those three days are a great opportunity to take it slow and learn our routines, procedures and expectations and then we can hit the ground running on our first full week.

Monday will start our first full week of the school year and here is what our week looks like in pictures!

Spelling:

We won't officially start our spelling time until next week.  We still need to finish assessing our kiddos and then meet as a grade level to work out our spelling groups.  We switch classes during this time to do targeted instruction on phonograms and spelling rules that each group specifically needs to work on.

During our spelling time this week I will continue to focus on our classroom routines, procedures and expectations.

We learned most of our routines last week, thanks to my trusty Routines and Procedures Binder I was able to stay on track and not forget any!  This week we will discuss what to do when you finish an assignment early and learn the "Fun When You're Done," options.

We will also continue to learn our classroom expectations during our Morning Meeting.  We have already learned to Be Respectful, Be Trustworthy and Be an Active Listener.  This week we will work on Be Safe and Be Your Best.

Classroom Expectations

Grammar:

Grammar this week will focus on reviewing and learning the Parts of Speech.  We will do lots of interactive and get up out of your seat activities!

Reading:

This first part of our week will focus on learning how to "Table Talk."  We do a LOT of taking about our learning in our classroom and I think it is sooo important to teach them HOW to have a good conversation.  We started last week and will finish learning about it early this week.  We will have our first "official," Table Talk using First Day Jitters toward the end of the week.  The great thing about Table Talk is that once they learn how to do it, I can use for ANY content area!  

Writing:

This week during writing we will focus on  how to write a good paragraph using Color Coded Paragraphs.  In third grade they need to begin writing multiple paragraphs, so I spend a little time at the beginning of the year making sure they know the parts of a paragraph and how to write a good paragraph.  We also write a friendly letter in our Home Journal every Friday so I need them to be able to write a good paragraph for that!  Head to my TpT store to download the freebie!!

Math:

Our first Instructional Unit in Math is Understanding Multiplication and Division.  I'm excited to have a new resource this year, our district adopted My Math and it will be so nice to have some resources!  I will still use my Monster Multiplication resource to introduce the concept of multiplication, as well as my journal companion to Each Orange Had 8 Slices.  I love using hands on and fun activities to introduce and practice this new skill!

Science:

I'm excited to get our Earth Science unit underway.  I love teaching this unit and I have so many fun...and yummy things up my sleeve!  This week we will learn about the different types of rocks!

To check out any of the products I will be using click on the links!  

It should a fun and busy week in third grade this week and I can't wait!!!

Invest Now {Part 2: Establishing Classroom Expectations}

Establishing clear classroom expectations is so important, and laying that strong foundation will pay out throughout the school year.  Whatever you use for your classroom...rules, expectations, whatever you call them, I hope that you will find some of these ideas helpful.

In our classroom we don't have "rules," we have expectations.  These are the things that I expect because you are one of Wood's kids.  We do the same thing at home with our own children and it has worked great for our family.  I also like that instead of a list of negative things like, "Don't do this and don't do that," it's a list of behaviors that are expected and it pretty much covers the gamut of behaviors that could come up.

We call them "The 5 Ways to Be"

I begin by introducing them to the 5 Ways to Be during our very first Morning Meeting of the year.  {You can read more about Morning Meeting and why I think it is one of the most important things we do each day by clicking HERE.}

At that first Morning Meeting the first thing I tell them about The 5 Ways to Be is that we don't have classroom rules.  I love to see the confused looks on their faces when I say this!  I then talk to them about what expectations are and why they are important and give them a brief overview of The 5 Ways to Be.  

For the next 5 days, we go in depth with one of the 5 ways each morning.  For each of the expectations I do a few different things.  

My favorite thing and I think the MOST beneficial is the Looks Like/Sounds Like charts.  There are a few ways that you can do these and in the past I have done all 5 Ways to Be on the first day of school and using the carousel cooperative learning strategy.  Last year I decided to slow it down and focus on one a day.  I think it is important to take the time to really build an understanding of what each of these expectations really mean.

So, each morning at Morning Meeting we work together as a class to complete the Looks Like/Sounds Like chart. 

When we finish with each chart I laminate it and hang it on the wall for the year.  It is so powerful because it is their ideas!  These are the things that they came up with from a class discussion and so when they need a reminder it is so much more powerful to be able to say, "Remember, YOU told me that being respectful means that you aren't making faces at people when they are sharing an idea!"

I also like for my students to do some self reflecting and think of something that they can do or will work on for each of the 5 Ways to Be.

The last thing that I do is I leave out compliment cards as we learn each of the expectations.  I encourage students to keep an eye on their classmates and when they see them being respectful or safe...grab a compliment card and fill it out.  We often save these for the compliment part of Morning Meeting but you can have students leave them at their classmates desks or pass them out at pack up time.  I love to fill them out when I see a student really living up to our expectations too.  It's a great way to send a positive note home with students too!

Once we've learned all of our classroom expectations, we fill out this flip book.  It's a great tool for them to take home and be able to communicate to their parents what is expected of them at school.

If you would like to try using The 5 Ways to Be in your classroom, I've put everything together for you in this little pack.

Click HERE to check it out and grab it on sale today only!

It's also available in my Back to School Essentials Bundle...you can grab that HERE...it's on sale also!

Whether you use The 5 Ways to Be or your own set of rules, I highly recommend trying Looks Like/Sounds Like charts!  I would love for you to comment and share some of your go to strategies for teaching your rules/expectations in your classroom.  Let's help each other to make an invest now, at the beginning of the year, that will pay out for the entire school year!

Invest Now {Part 1: Teaching and Practicing Routines and Procedures}

If I could give any advice to new teachers it would be this....the first two weeks of school are critical...Invest NOW or you will pay later.  If you spend time these first two weeks really teaching and practicing your routines and procedures it will pay off for the rest of the year.  It takes time yes, you have to go sloooow yes, sometimes it means practicing how we line up several times yes....but trust me, if you take the time to do it now it will help your classroom run smoothly the rest of the year.  

Here are some things that I do to teach and practice our classroom routines and procedures with intention.

Every year, I make a book of all of our routines and procedures.  Years ago that meant typing them out, printing them, gluing them onto construction paper, coloring a cover and binding them.  Old school sytle at its best!  Now, thanks to cute clip art and power point...I have a much cuter version that is easy to edit!

One of the great things about making this binder is that it forces me to sit down and really think through how we do things in our classroom.  Over the years some of those things have changed, I've found what works best for me.  

And if we are being real...sometimes things change throughout the year because they just aren't working the way I thought they would.  When that happens, I can just go in, edit and reprint!  

I love this binder because it helps me stay on track during those first two weeks when I'm teaching the procedures and we are practicing them.  It's a great reference tool for students {I keep it front and center those first few weeks and easily accessible} and it's super easy to leave for a sub so they can see how your room runs!

I've made a completely editable version of my Routines and Procedures Binder if you'd like to make one of your own!  You can check it out HERE!  

Teaching your classroom routines and procedures is just the beginning.  It is so important to practice...practice...practice until they get them right.  So, what are some ways that we practice?

1.  Model!

I always model for my students exactly how the routine or procedure should be done.  Seeing the teacher model it is one thing, but it's so much more engaging when it's one of their own modeling it.  One of my students' favorites is when we play, "What NOT to do!"  I choose a student to model the incorrect way to do the routine or procedure.  I encourage the audience to be looking for all of the things they did incorrectly, and then we discuss what went wrong!  They absolutely love getting to act "naughty!"  I ALWAYS follow this up with a student modeling the correct way to do it, with a discussion about what they did well!

2.  Practice Whole Group

After the routine or procedure is modeled we then practice as a class.  If we are practicing how we line up, for example, we watch students model what not to do, what to do, discuss both and then practice lining up.  I always give specific feedback about what they did well and what we can work on for next time.  Some times our next time happens right away, I never let them end practice on a bad note! Since they are lined up I will usually then get something else out of the way, like talking a quick walk to show them where the closest restrooms are.  

3.  Have Students Review the Routine/Procedure

Throughout the day during the first two weeks or so of school, I will call on students to review the routine or procedure and tell us step by step how it's done.  Sometimes I have them review with a shoulder or eye ball partner at their tables first and then I ask them to share what they discussed with their partners.  If needed, I will have students model it again!

I use every free second I have during the first two weeks to review and practice how we do things in our room. It takes time.  And sometimes we have to do things more than once.  But,  it is without a doubt time well spent. 

I promise that if you take the time to invest NOW...at the beginning of the year it will pay off with a classroom that runs smoothly!

Back to School 2016 Part 2: Making Students Feel Welcome

I am so excited to meet my new class this year!  Meet the Teacher is a great opportunity to ease some of their nerves and begin to establish your classroom culture.  Here are some things that I do to help students feel welcome at Meet the Teacher.

Being prepared for your students at Meet the Teacher looks a little different than being prepared for parents!  If you didn't read Part 1 in this series be sure to check it out HERE.

In part 1 I talked about a lot of the forms that I have ready for parents.  So, what are the students doing while their parents are filling out paperwork?  Well, if you aren't prepared Meet the Teacher can turn into a mess!  

I like to have my students look around the classroom, get comfortable and start locating things!  I do that by giving them a half sheet of paper with things to find in the room, once they find everything they can bring me their paper for a little treat!

If you'd like to make one for your class you can download an editable version HERE!

One of the steps on the Get to Know Our Classroom paper is to find the boxes and sort their supplies.  Many of our students bring their supplies from their supply list to Meet the Teacher so they don't have to carry them in themselves on the first day.  I have big plastic containers ready with labels for them to sort their community supplies into.  Supplies like glue sticks, pencils, paper, and black dry erase markers are considered community supplies.  All of the other supplies are kept at their desks.  This also saves me a lot of time on the first day of school!  I also make sure to have extra supply lists handy for those parents who need one!

Nothing quite says welcome like seeing your name on things and ready for you!  Students love to walk into the room and see that you have taken the time to use their name and label their things!  I do get name tags ready for them ahead of time, but I do not tape them down until after Meet the Teacher.  I will have to change at least 1 to 2 of them because a student goes by a nickname or uses their middle name instead of the first name, etc...  It is a little extra work, but it's worth it to me to have it ready for them!  

I use the editable skinny name tags by Learning in Wonderland so it's a pretty easy fix...just retype the name and print!

Thanks to the genius @learninginwonderland and the bright colors of @astrobrights my class has new name tags. And they hardly took any time to tape down! #iteachtoo #iteachthird #teachersofinstagram #teacherspayteachers #teachersfollowteachers

A photo posted by theblessedteacher (@theblessedteacher) on Jan 21, 2016 at 2:54pm PST

Another thing that I do that is always a big hit is my Welcome to 3rd Grade slideshow.  I make a slide for each student and have the slideshow playing on a loop for the entire Meet the Teacher.  Students love to see their name come up and it makes for a great photo op for parents!

It's a little hard to see in this picture but the slideshow is playing on my SmartBoard at the front of my room.

If you'd like to do a welcome slideshow of your own, I've made one that is editable and includes slides for Kindergarten through sixth grade. 

 Directions for how to make it are included.  You can check it out HERE!

In Part 1 of this series I talked about the photo booth that we use at Meet the Teacher.  

We put it in the hallway for all of third grade and encourage our students to take pictures with friends.  I also have a sign hanging by my door with my email address and I ask parents to email me the pictures they take of their students.  I save them in a file to be used in our end of the year slideshow!  

I hope that you have found some of these tips useful.  Helping students and parents feel welcome is such an important part of starting the year off right!  

Stay tuned for my next series of posts about investing time at the beginning of the year so that your class runs smoothly all year long!

Back to School, Visual Plans, Freebies and Sale!

It’s here.  The first day of school!  I’m linking up my visual plans for a peek at my week! 


I’ve spent the last 2 weeks prepping my room and getting organized.  We’ve had Meet the Teacher….I’m ready to get started!

Here are my plans for the first week!


I'm linking up with the fabulous Mrs. Wills for a Peek at my Week!






The first week will be busy with First Day Jitters, getting to know you activities and learning how to Table Talk!  Our first framework is called Collaborate and Communicate and we spend several days learning how to have conversations about our learning using activities and lesson from my Table Talk pack.  Once students learn how to “Table Talk,”  we use it all year long and across content areas!  This pack will take you through it step by step! 


I forgot to include the link to Jivey's amazing Mentor Sentence pack in the picture so HERE it is. If you don't already own these...run to her store and grab them.  They are amazing and I will never teach grammar with worksheets again.


I’ve also included in my visual plans cards to use to practice Table Talking after reading First Day Jitters!  Don’t forget to download the visual plans to get all of the links to the products and FREEBIES!  Click on the pictures of the plans to download!  Any product of mine featured in my plans will also be on SALE for the next 2 days!!!






I love teaching math and I LOVE teaching multiplication!  It is so fun and they always come to thrid grade so excited to learn it!  I love using the picture book Each Orange Had Eight Slices to introduce multiplication and this summer I made a little journal companion to use with it!  I’m so excited to get started! You can read my blog post about it HERE.


I also LOVE Number Talks and I can’t wait to start them again this year!  If you haven’t already read about my love for Number Talks you can find that post HERE. 


I plan on beginning to introduce our new M.A.T.H. centers slowly this week.  I’ve learned over the years to take it very slow when introducing math centers and Daily 5.  The more intentional you are at the beginning of the year about teaching and practicing those procedures the more it will pay off in smooth sailing down the road!  I’m excited to get started and I love how cute my new board turned out!  The packs to create the bulletin boards are available in my TpT store!





I’m so excited to get this year started tomorrow!  How many of you go back this week?  If not this week, when do you go back?


Happy Back to School Season everyone!

100 Followers Back to School Blowout!

 

I am so excited to have reached this milestone on my blog, TpT, and Instagram all in the same week!  To celebrate, I will be giving away freebies, having items on sale throughout the week, and having giveaways!

Here is the first giveaway and some freebies!  I just finished updating all of my parent and student beginning of the year forms and all of my first week back activities. 

 

 

Click here or on the picture to download my parent and student forms for free!

I also finished my Welcome Back Activities Pack.  It includes a Fan-n-Pick getting to know you activity, a time capsule activity, Find Someone Who, “This is Me….,” file folder project, and a class banner activity.  These activities are a great way to get to know your students and start building a classroom community.

 

 

To celebrate my 100 followers, this pack will be on sale for 50% in my store today and tomorrow, click here or on the picture to grab yours now!  It will also be part of the giveaway so make sure you keep reading until the end and enter!

 

Okay, hang in there, this is a long post but it’ll be worth it…promise! 

 

I have been planning for the first few weeks like crazy and updated my “Table Talk,” file AGAIN!  If you’ve already purchased it make sure you go download the updates.  If you haven’t gotten a copy yet, now is your chance!  “Table Talk,” will be part of my giveaway and will also be on sale in my TpT store until Sunday!  I added a few flap books since I will be using interactive reading notebooks this year.

 

 

Flap Book #1

 

 

Flap Book #2

 

 

Flap Book #3

 

I also made Table Talk questions to go with the story First Day Jitters.  I decided that I want the first attempt at Table Talk to be focused on having a conversation, looking at the speaker, and really listening to each other.  Not about trying to come up with questions to ask.  So, I made questions ahead of time for the students to use.  They will also serve a second purpose.  When we learn about the difference between “book questions,” and “brain questions,” we will go back to the First Day Jitters questions and sort them.  You can download the questions for First Day Jitters to use with “Table Talk,” here for FREE!

 

Now, here is your chance to enter to win your own copy of my Welcome Back Activities Pack, Table Talk, and any item of your choice from my TpT store!  The giveaway will end on Sunday so that I can get everything out to the winner before we go hang out with the cast of Dance Moms!  (more to come on that later!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

 

 

Thanks everyone for all of your love and support over the last almost year!  Love you guys!