Reader Reponse Post-Its

I was checking through my favorite blogs and found this post from the Ladybug's Teacher Files about using sticky notes for reader response. It made me think of a few things that I sometimes do for reader response - and should remember to do more often.

1. I ordered sticky notes when they were free from Vista Print. If you haven't used this service yet, it is amazing! Several teachers on the web have great examples of things you can have made. I have sticky notes made with "Reader Response" printed on them. This way the kids remember it is homework. I would also like to have some made with specific skills. I would also like to try using the self-inking stamps to stamp the response job on the sticky note. Again, these things can be free depending on the current deal and all you have to pay is shipping.

2. There is a sticky note glue made by Elmers. I found some at an art supply store, but recently also found it at Michaels in the glue section. You can turn any paper into a sticky note. So, you could print out the response job, roll some glue on, and stick it to the book. It isn't too sticky, but it does the job.

3. I also recently borrowed an idea from a friend that I used to teach with. We have both since moved on to different school , but she is so brilliant that I sometimes e-mail her to get ideas. She copies response jobs from graphic organizer books and reader response books. She then binds them with a comb and a cute cover. These response books then go back and forth with reading homework. That way, you can assign a response page and they are already copied for the kids - just mark the relevant one.

I love these ideas - I just need to remember to use them more consistently!

Tip Tuesday - Photo Holder/Sign Holder

I went to a staff development a few years ago and a wonderful special education teacher showed us how she used acrylic photo frame - you know the ones that stand up on their own - to display and breakdown instructions for students. It was AMAZING! You can print off your center directions and then write on the front with a dry erase marker if you need to. They can be used to individualize or differentiate when needed. I loved the idea, but it drove me nuts cutting papers to fit every time I wanted to put a new one in the frame.

So, today I was at Staples and found these wonderful "Sign Holders". They are the same thing, only made to hold a regular sheet of paper. Print out your directions and slap them in! They had both vertical and horizontal. I debated for quite a while and then decided to get the 4 pack that contained the vertical ones. The individual ones were on sale for $6 and the 4 pack was at regular price, just under $24. Can't wait to use them during centers!

So Much on My Brain!

We are in the home stretch - 6ish more weeks of school, less that 30 days left! Things have been super crazy. We have a musical coming up with 4 of our 1st grade classes. It has a really cute country theme. Fortunately, we have a basement full of past musical costumes in my building, so we were able to pull together almost everything. I had a few things I needed to spruce up or make. Every year I try not to get stressed out over the grade level musical. It is so much work and takes so much class time - especially when it is crunch time! The cuteness factor always outweighs all of the work. It will be a load off my shoulders when it is done.

In math, I need to wrap up my money unit and begin on estimation before our big end of the year assessment. I have left spelling in the dust for a little while because of the musical and the shear amount of time that it takes to keep up with individualized lists. Hopefully I can plan to turn this over to a parent next year. I did assess all of our spelling words to see where my kids are. I had moved on to the second grade list, but am concerned about the retention of the first grade words, so I think we will round out the year practicing our grade level words.

I feel so on top of copies right now! I made a list of things I can copy to get ready for next year and have been copying on thing a night. I have all of my hand writing packets and end of the year assessments copied. I plan to work on desk and cubby tags, portfolio documents, and language arts information letters. I am concerned there may be a paper shortage next year and when your building does not use workbooks, the copy load is huge.

I had a lovely Teacher's Appreciation Week - our school celebrated a week later than everyone else. One of my cuties brought a bag full of office supplies and other little goodies like chocolate and a candle. Another made a beautiful plate to hang on the wall. I LOVE my new Vera Bradley mug and sticky notepad. The mug has a lid - so perfect. I tend to make a cup of coffee first thing int he morning and sometimes it sits for a while - maybe it will be lukewarm when I get around to drinking it! I have wonted to buy one for a while, but it just wasn't a necessity. We also had a lovely lunch provided by our PTA.Oh, I almost forgot, our PTA had a raffle for 5 gift baskets. We put our tickets in for the basket we wanted. I won! I can't believe because I NEVER and I mean NEVER win anything! I won a doggy themed basket with treats for my puppy. The kids in my class were so thrilled because by dog is the feature of many WW stories!

BTW - if anyone out there is reading my posts, I would dearly love to post more pics., but the whole process on blogger drives me crazy! I have been trying to taking more pictures and hope to post more soon!

Well, off the see if I can put my house into some sort of order before going back to work tomorrow!

Thrifty Thursday - Goodwill Trip!!!

I LOVE a Goodwill trip!!! I now have 2 - count them 2 - within close distance! I went last weekend and found way too many goodies. The one I went to is in a college town and there is a huge school of education, so not only can I find cute clothes, but sometimes there are great teaching items. I found it to be a great source for picture books. I am really, really trying to limit my book purchases because I have so many books that I don't even remember what I have now.

I also found 4 great teaching resources. I figure if I can't use them, either another teacher can or I can add them to some of my personal resources that I would like to sell on Ebay this summer. I have a bunch of things I bought when I taught kindergarten years ago and I have just been storing and moving them for years. they need to go!

I also found hanging file folders and cardstock - both of which I needed and had forgotten to pick up when I went shopping. They were supper cheap! I picked up a Safari Animal stamp set for 99 cents and a Leap Frog game/book for $1.99.

Not only were these things cheap, but I as reused some items that could have ended up in a landfill. Check out your local thrift stores for some goodies!

Tip Tuesday - Photo Holder/Sign Holder

I went to a staff development a few years ago and a wonderful special education teacher showed us how she used acrylic photo frames - you know the ones that stand up on their own - to display and breakdown instructions for students. It was AMAZING! You can print off your center directions and then write on the front with a dry erase marker if you need to. They can be used to individualize or differentiate when needed. I loved the idea, but it drove me nuts cutting papers to fit every time I wanted to put a new one in the frame.

So, today I was at Staples and found these wonderful "Sign Holders". They are the same thing, only made to hold a regular sheet of paper. Print out your directions and slap them in! They had both vertical and horizontal. I debated for quite a while and then decided to get the 4 pack that contained the vertical ones. The individual ones were on sale for $6 and the 4 pack was at regular price, just under $24. Can't wait to use them during centers!

Management Monday - Business Board

When I was student teaching, one of my cooperating teachers had a business board where all of the information for the day was contained. It gives a central location to contain a calendar, the date, lunch menu, class jobs, and so on. I tried to do without it for a few years and always found myself recreating it keep my sanity.

I printed out a small banner to put at the top, proclaiming it as the "Business Board". This is really helpful for substitutes too - one place for everything. Here is what is on my board:

1. White board where I write the code date for students to add to their papers and journal
2. Calendar
3. Basket held on the board with push pins to hold writing implements
4. VIP ring - I only have one person who is the daily helper for everything. If he/she needs a helper, he/she picks one. I could never keep up with changing and tracking all of the weekly jobs!
5. Schedule with the days special classes, support staff schedule, classroom teaming, and any other things I need to remember on our ABCDE day schedule
6. Behavior strategies sheet - for those impromptu mini-lessons
7. Lunch menu

For now, this is what I have up and it has worked SO well! I couldn't survive the day without my Business Board!

Argh! Computers!

I think my work laptop has crashed! I backed up all of my files, except my most important one - my language arts folder. Unfortunately, the files did all copy when I went to back it up. Now I am hoping and praying that I can get the computer going to just save that one file...we shall see!