Classroom Reveal! Where has this summer gone!

Hi Friends,
I have been B.U.S.Y. ... moving into my new(old) classroom, having my blog redesigned ... COMING SOON! (Thank you Entwine Design!), and attending High Ability parent meetings! I have also been working hard on my year long curriculum planning! Boy is that a task!

I'd have to say that organizing/decorating, designing and meeting is much more fun than curriculum! Here are a few pictures I took as I was beginning to organize all my junk treasures in my new(old) room! The really messy ones somehow got lost in the shuffle! [I decided to reformat my SD card in the middle of taking pics ... don't ask!]

After organizing, I began working on my bulletin boards. I L.O.V.E. interactive bulletin boards to build with my students ... this allows my kiddos to take ownership and really understand what we have displayed in the room. (more pics to follow as they get filled up!) As you can see below, I have one board for each subject! Complete with objectives and a place for vocabulary!

The objectives holder is simply a sheet protector that I sewed in half! G.E.N.I.U.S! I used red thread because that is what I had handy but you could use a clear thread so that it isn't as visible! As you can see I have one of these for each bulletin board! I am also working on a binder to house all of these lovely objective cards! Who does't LOVE organized objectives! Organized anything for that matter! You can see the cards I use here at Jason's Online Classroom and they are just P.E.R.F.E.C.T! I love the graphics he used to help students comprehend the objective! I also have Megan Newman's Third Grade Essential Standards for Science and Social Studies! You can find those here! 

 

Above is my WWW board! This is where I will display various tasks students are learning in Technology class and some websites they can visit. I am very excited that my class is going to have access to their very own gmail accounts this year! So, I just might post their class email addresses here so that they can send emails about what they are learning to eachother! (No worries ... ALL emails are monitored and copied directly to me!)

On the first day of school I will be adding pictures to my birthday board! I love personalizing this with their pictures! It helps students to meet a new friend who has a birthday that is close to theirs!

  

Here you see my teacher station complete with write on wipe off calendar cards! Find those in my TpT store for FREE! Along with a few other items!

Below is my Twitter wall ... great for lesson exit cards! I found really cute Twitter style exit cards as a freebie somewhere but can't seem to locate them again!! (I'll add those in when they turn up!)

Next is my homework turn in station! I love how easy it is to see who did not turn in their homework! Also, notice the different colored numbers ... I did this to help differentiation between my high ability students and my "gen. ed" students (I don't like referring to them like that but I have yet to think of a new term ... just for the record I don't call them HA and Gen Ed in class they are the Chameleons and the Otters!). I often give different assignments and this helps me to know who should have turned in what!

Finally, below is the skeleton of my data wall! On the first day of school we will add our classroom rules, math facts graph, spelling/vocabulary graph, and possibly fluency charts too! The "Our Classroom News" pocket chart is used to hold our weekly newsletter and an updated AR points list! Then the final two pockets are for any special events coming up!

One last picture! My cursive alphabet banner! Get it for FREE here! (Be sure to leave me some feedback!) I LOVE this new product! And I am in LOVE with my new color scheme! Much of it was inspired by free digital papers I picked up from SheryKDesigns and Ashley Hughes! Thank you Shery and Ashley!

If you are interested in my classroom decor 'style' visit my TpT store! You just might find a few FREEBIES! (I am also up for customizing my pennant flags with your color scheme if you would like!)

Soon you will see my new blog design I've been working on it with Entwine Design! (It's nice to have a graphic designer as a boyfriend! Thanks Jason! You ROCK!) If you are interested in redesigning your blog let me know and I will refer you!

Now, off to get working on that ... oh yeah ... curriculum! School starts TOMORROW! Ahh!

BELIEVE & ACHIEVE
Susan

Liebster Award!

The WHAT?! Award! What is the Liebster Award?! ... I have no idea but hey if it's an award then I'll take it! Who doesn't LOVE awards?!

Stacey at Teaching Ever After, taught me that the Liebster Award is an award given to new bloggers to help encourage and promote them in the bloggy world. Just what I am in need of! As you can see I am so new to the blogging world that my posts haven't even reached the double digits yet! I couldn't thank Stacey at 

enough for nominating me! Stacey is not only the author of a great blog (aren't her kiddos so adorable!) but she is a great friend, a fantastic colleague, and an AMAZING teacher! I had the pleasure of working with her as a grade level teammate a few years ago and I'd have to say she is a pretty AWESOME teacher! 

So, after checking out Stacey's blog and what this Liebster Award is all about, I am ready to get started! 

Here are the rules:
1. Link back to the blog that nominated me.
2. Answer the questions posted for me by my nominator.
3. Share 11 random facts about myself.
4. Create 11 questions for my nominees.
5. Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers.
6. Contact my nominees to let them know that I nominated them.

So here it goes .... I did #1 above so be sure to check out Stacey's blog and her awesome Lemonade themed Behavior Management Tools!

#2 Questions from Stacey

1. Why did you choose to go into teaching?

I wanted to be a teacher since I was in 1st grade. It is the only career I ever saw myself doing and it is what I set my mind to. I have always loved children and watching them grow. 

2. What are your 3 favorite books to read to your class?

*Just this past year I picked up the novel Wonder by R.J. Palacio. It is such a great story and really encourages empathy which is a trait third graders rarely have. Grab you box of tissues and enjoy!

*Another favorite is The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies. I picked up this book one year during the Scholastic Book Fair because it had math problems intertwined within the novel. Little did I know that it has a fantastic story line as well! One the kids could really relate to, especially now that I am teaching an advanced class! Don't pass this one by 3rd & 4th grade teachers!

*Finally, my all time favorite would have to be The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. I have seen the movie a hundred times but this past school year we incorporated this novel as a part of the 3rd grade Advanced reading curriculum and we couldn't have chosen a better novel! It was AMAZING! This details that are within the novel and left out in to movie are shocking. They always say books are better than movies and this is so true with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Come back to hear more about the novel study I teach utilizing this book!

3. What do you do in your free time?

In my free time I try to stay active. I am currently running with a run group through Fleet Feet. I love running and getting out there with a group makes it much more enjoyable! I also am diving into the blogging world and trying to keep my house clean! LOL! That is a task in itself!

4. Who is your biggest inspiration? Why?

This is a tough one for me. I'm not sure if she is my biggest inspiration but Kristina Smekens! is amazing and I am in love with her 6 traits of writing. I have been utilizing her writer's workshop in my room for the past 4 years now and the products I get out of my students are UNBELIEVABLE! I have been to many of Kristina's workshops and she is so down to earth. I LOVE her ambition and drive to educate others. I am even a little famous on her site! She asked me for a pic of my yearlong bulletin board! Over the year, I hope to share with you how I make the 6 traits work within my high ability classroom!

5. If you were stuck on a desert island, what is the one thing you would have to have? Why?

Humm ... not including the essential things to survive ... I would have to say, my boyfriend, Jason. (I know, sappy right?!) He is everything to me but more importantly he would have to ability to build us some sort of raft or figure out a way to get us rescued. And if worse came to worse he isn't skin and bones so I wouldn't starve. JK! LOL!

6. What is your biggest pet peeve in the classroom?

LYING ... By the end of third grade the drama filled sweet girls are on my last nerve and when something happens and they don't want to get into trouble the lies start spilling out. I always tell my students that "I will trust you until you give me a reason not to" and when they first lie to me I don't let them live that lie down when other things come up. They have to win back my trust by being truthful in future situations. A little bit of tough love goes a long way with third grade girls. After all I am there to teach them, not be their best friend.

7. Why did you join the bloggy world?

A few reasons come to mind here. First, I wanted to be on the up and up and many of the resources out there are now posted within blogs! Second, I couldn't pass up a way to make a little more money. (keep your eyes peeled! My first TpT product is coming out soon! Bloom's anyone?) And finally, I wanted to find a way to share with other teachers more about High Ability education. By no means am I an expert but through my High Ability course work and with the expansion of my districts High Ability program I have learned a great deal about what it means to be Gifted and how we as teachers don't always understand the difference between Gifted and Bright... More to come on that topic too! (Boy my to do list is growing! How exciting!)

8. What are you most proud of?

This is another difficult one. Back when I was in college I was a part of the Indiana Student Education Foundation and served as chair of the Outreach to Teach project. This is an annual project put together by ISEA to help public schools with minor repairs and updates. This project was very rewarding! We helped update and repair LaCrosse School which houses grades K-6 and 9-12. LaCrosse, Indiana is a very small town with a very small budget and with the help of many volunteers and ISEA we were able to spruce up the place! Like them on Facebook to find out where their next project will be!

9. Where would you go on your dream vacation?

I would love to travel through Europe and see all the history it has to offer! Or any one of those dream locations The Bachelor and Bachelorette go to! (Yes, I am addicted to that show! Shh! Don't tell anyone!)

B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L!

10. What toy do you miss from your childhood?

That would have to be Tamagachi and Dream Phone! I LOVED taking care of that little critter and calling those boys on Dream Phone couldn't be more fun!!

11. What is your favorite song?
This is a bad question for me ... I am not a music junkie by any means and I will listen to just about anything. I really do not have a favorite song or a favorite type of music. Let me know what your favorites are and maybe I can adopt something! :)

#3 11 Random Facts about Me!
1. I visited Alaska when I was 12. (I'd love to go back someday!)
2. I did not fly on a plane until just last year, December 2012!
3. As a matter of fact, I had never even been to an airport until then!
4. I have been with my boyfriend for 10 years now and I wouldn't have it any other way!
5. I have two dogs that love to pee on visitors feet .... bring an extra pair of sock please!
6. I still feel nervous when I buy alcohol ... and I never bought it when I was underage!
7. I often find myself moving post-it notes from one place to another for no reason. (It's an organization thing ... and a way to procrastinate!)
8. I am addicted to Hershey's chocolate that has been kept in the refrigerator. I love the snap and crunch of the cold chocolate! Yumm! (I'm currently trying to break this addiction! Ugh!)
9. I enjoy crocheting ... and no, I am not a grandma! :)
10. I had lice as a kid and am terrified of getting it as an adult! Yuck!
11. I recently finished my first half marathon, 13.1 miles, in only 2 hours and 25 minutes!

#4 11 Questions for my Nominees!
1. What inspired you to begin blogging?
2. What are 3 of your favorite strategies you use in your classroom?
3. What are you most interested in learning about High Ability education?
4. They say it is a good idea to make positive phone calls home to parents. What are some things you like to call home about?
5. I am going to have my very 1st student teacher in the fall. What are 3 tips I should give her about teaching? Or what are 3 tips for me about having a student teacher?
6. What blogs to you follow religiously?
7. What is the one classroom item you could not teach without?
8. What is your favorite non-school related book?
9. If you could live anywhere, where would you live? Why?
10. What is your go to recipe when answering the dreaded question "What's for dinner?"
11. How do you spend your summer breaks?

#5 Nominate 5-11 blogs with fewer than 200 followers.

Tangled with Teaching

Wee Wise Ones

The Mysterious Gifted Society

That's So Second Grade

Ladybug's Lounge

Teachers Give a Hoot!

#6 Contact my nominees to let them know that I nominated them.
The nominees have been contacted and I am excited to hear their answers to my questions! Thank you in advance for participating in the Liebster Award nomination. I know it is a bit of work but who doesn't LOVE blog surfing! Each of you have inspired me in some way just by visiting your blog! Keep up the AMAZING work!

BELIEVE & ACHIEVE
Susan

Grab My Button - How To

So, as you know I am new to blogging and I wanted to set up my button for everyone to grab!

I thought I had done it correctly but found that there was no code for others to grab. So ... I did some searching. Just click this button to begin creating your unique button code!

 

I was so excited to figure this out and hope that others can benefit from this post! If you have any questions please let me know. My awesome boyfriend, Jason, was able to help me adjust the code a bit to make it left aligned, too!

A special shout out to the GrabMyButton peeps for their AWESOME user friendly code generator!

BELIEVE & ACHIEVE

Susan

End of the Year Camp Out!

At the end of the school year we have a camp out in my classroom! I put the kids into groups of 4 or 5 and they come to school wearing their P.J.s and have their sleeping bags in tow! 

Throughout the day the kids complete group activities that sum up the school year! The major activity they complete is a camp brochure complete with a description of camp, the cost for one week of camp, some activities campers will participate in, the layout of the cabins, and some illustrations! (This year I even incorporated technology! The kids created a brochure in Publisher!)

 

Later in the day, we tell stories by the campfire and talk about the things we learned throughout the year and what we will miss most! How could I forget, campfire time is complete with S'MORES and a heartfelt story, Oh the Places You Will Go or another favorite Thank you, Mr. Faulkner. 

We end the day with camp awards, a summer treat from me, and a little summer homework packet to keep our noggins sharp over the summer months.

Hope you have enjoyed a peak into my end of the year activities! Thank you, Mel D, for this fantastic linky party! It is my first of many!

BELIEVE & ACHIEVE

Susan 

Grab My Button!

Hi There,
As you can see I just figured out how to design and attach my very own button!

This is exciting as I am new to the blogging world. So many things to learn! My friends and colleagues over at Teaching Ever After and Seusstastic Classroom Inspirations inspired me to get this blog started! Now, I just need to have a little mini-lesson from the experts!

As I am learning how this thing works. Grab my button and leave me some feedback!

What are you most interested in learning about High Ability education?

BELIEVE & ACHIEVE
Susan

Hooray! It's Officially Summer!

It is official! Summer Break is here! I never would have thought I would be so busy since my first blog post. Many exciting things have happened over the past month. I wrapped up one of my most successful school years yet, I learned I will be moving my classroom ... AGAIN (this is the 4th time in 5 years of teaching ... AND we will be moving into the new building in December! No worries though, I will just be able to enjoy my winter break a little more than others! ... RIGHT?!), I got most of my stuff moved over in less than a week (Hip Hip Hooray!) and I taught an AMAZING week long summer camp program, AKA Camp Invention! For those of you who have never heard of Camp Invention, it is a high interest, hands on science based camp, that promotes problem solving, team work and higher level thinking skills. An AWESOME experience for kids entering grades 1-5! Learn more at http://www.invent.org/camp/default.aspx.

Well, with a day of rest under my belt, I am ready to get moving on my plans for next year! It is always exciting moving into a new classroom and I would love to jump into decorating and organizing but first things first ... refining my curriculum! Where to begin!? Until next time ....

BELIEVE and ACHIEVE!

Time Flies

With only 10 day of school left, I am beginning to make my summer plans and to do lists. I remember back to  the start of this school year, 170 school days ago, and think about the crazy ambitions I had with blogging and my classroom. Now here I am, writing my first post with only 10 days left in the year. Where did time go? And what happened that I didn't get this going sooner? We all know the answer to that ... something more important came up ... my students needs, the dreaded RISE, and those household chores I often neglected!

I love my job and have truly enjoyed the new adventures teaching a high ability class has allowed me to explore. I have even enjoyed the challenge of having a cluster group! (Shhh ... That's a secret between us!)

This summer I will share with you the things I learned along the way, many activities I incorporated into my curriculum, and the plans I have for the future within my high ability classroom and career!

BELIEVE and ACHIEVE!