Student Progress

I'm constantly trying to organize my classroom better.  I'm a freak about organization.  I have to actively tell myself "I will not straighten those books", etc. :)  I'm also CONSTANTLY hearing "What do we do when we are done?" and "Where do I put this?"  So, I decided to try this idea and see if it would be helpful in any way.  I hope it will help STUDENTS by forcing them to READ THE DIRECTIONS again, after I explain them aloud.  And that it will also help ME to monitor how fast they are completing tasks and who needs more to do or who needs more support.

I think the idea is pretty self explanatory but, to be totally clear--
*I labeled clips with numbers 1-30 (being that my largest class is 38... I plan to add more :).
*I'll write various steps on tag board and put in the appropriate order each time.
*Students move their clips to the row of the step they are on.
*One thing I've noticed after just ONE CLASS using it- I'll be more detailed with my written direction.  Instead of just "Finish Paper", I'd have "Finish paper. Put in "IN" box".  (That is one of my most frequent question/answers.  They ALWAYS hand in to the "IN" box. ALWAYS.  Why do they always ask??)

Again, remember I am a music teacher, so I have over 400 kids.  I like the idea of having NAMES on the clips, but I can't.  Students in 2nd grade or higher typically have a student number in their classroom and have it memorized, so I'm trying the number system out.

I could use 'sticks' instead but I like how these are clip-able, more sturdy and skinny.
It's an idea.  We'll see!

Student gifts

Being a 'specials' teacher isn't the same as being a classroom teacher.  I don't have a classroom party or gift exchange... good thing because I have 450 students instead of just 20-30. :)  But, I occasionally do get gifts from students and I like to give a special little gift in return to say thanks.

Over my few years, I've come up with this little 'trick': I buy little, durable ornaments at after Christmas sales and give those along with a tag/thank you note to each gift-giver.

My students really like to get a special present from me and I've heard parents say their kids think it's really cool to get their OWN ornament. :)  It's quick and simple enough that I can do it for each gift.

On a side note, my mom made a point each Christmas to put a teeny tag on each of my ornaments, noting the year and who it was from. She did the same for my 5 siblings, so you can imagine the amount of time it took.  But, now we each have our own collection of ornaments and can see who we got each from and how old the ornament is.  It's awesome.  I plan to do the same thing with my kids- I hope!

Merry Christmas everyone!  The giving is the best! :)

Instant Garment bag: whatt!??!

Am I the only person who hadn't already discovered this?  Or am I the first green, lazy, cheap person to try it?

 

Big T- shirt = instant Garment bag = awesome

Seriously.  I can't believe this never occurred to me before!
Enjoy!  Reduce, Recycle and Reuse! :D

Vocabulary Board

It seems crazy that I didn't think of this before- a vocab bulletin board.  I have 4 bulletin boards in my classroom--

• One is full of teacher stuff/notes/schedules/etc.
• One has behavior reminders and forms all over it.
• The other two are basically fluff.  I rarely change them until pre-concert (I put lyric sheets up for kids to take home and practice). 
  
  I have been keeping a list of musical vocabulary words that we cover in each grade level to add to through the year.  But I had the list filed away and secret. :)
  Duh- cover a board with that!  So, here it is.

I added the little background color blob (red, orange, purple, etc) because all my grades are color coded.  I also got a little crazy and decided to try to cut the number/letter of the grade into the corners of the paper- snowflake style.  See if you know what I mean in these pictures:

 

Then I added (double layer) of white scrap paper to write the words on and a little space to expand, if needed.  Now, I have posted lists of words we 'know'. :)  And, I told students if we learn a musical word and they are the first to catch it so we can add it to the board, I'll give them a prize.  More eyes and brains engaged on related info.  I hope. :)

Time for kitties

Haven't had kitties pictured in a while so....

UFO & Pesto

In order to spice & healthy up my typical summer breakfast, I came up with this "recipe".  My typical breakfast is a "UFO"- a piece of bread with a circle cut in the middle where an egg is cooked.  For the "pesto," I just took whatever vegetables and spices I had and thought would go well together, blended/chopped them up in my magic bullet and cooked them quick.  See pictures below for the details :)

 My ingredients: egg, bread and whatever else sounds good

  

 I chose some spinach, red onion, red pepper, jalapeño and cilantro.

 Cook in pan with a little extra virgin olive oil until veggies are done to your liking. Set aside.

 Cut a circle in your bread.

 Again (in the same pan), with a little EVOO, toss in the bread until it gets a little toasted.  Then flip.

Crack the egg into the center of the bread and cook for a bit (very technical) then flip and cook until desired 'doneness'. :) 

Oh yeah- finish off the circle of bread!  Depending on what is left in the pan, I may or may not add EVOO to toast it.

UFO with 'pesto' on top. Tah-dah!

Mary Wore Her Red Dress

Here is the completed torn paper art project.  (See the beginning here.)